OLD TIMER'S DISEASE

Why is my body wearing out? I think it’s a case of overuse rather than age. I have degenerating disc disease in my neck which has gotten painful in the past couple of years. I suspect biking is a contributing factor. My bunion that I’ve had for many years has finally gotten to the point where hunting causes severe stone bruise like pain in my foot. Surgery is scheduled for Dec 5th. I think the bunion is the result of a ¾” leg length difference combined with years of running with no compensating lift, not to mention years of hunting in steep rough terrain. And now I have a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder – probably the result of excessive physical activities such as lifting too heavy weights over the years. And I won’t even mention the recurring dental problems.

However, with all this, I have much to be thankful. I have a loving, supportive and intelligent wife and best friend, great kids whose company I enjoy, a loyal and dependable hunting partner, two homes, a shop, lots of toys, a good part-time job (which is all I want) and the sweetest little birddog in the field. So I’ll try not to complain. M/W

SHINY BRITES

I had always taken it for granted that everyone knew about “Shiny Brights,” those colored but otherwise plain tree balls so much a part of traditional Christmas tree ornaments. My mother called them by that term which I in turn taught my daughter. But a couple of years ago Hallie called to say she had been discussing tree ornaments with someone who knew nothing about “Shiny Brights.” I was unable to provide any information other than “that’s what we always called them and I thought that was what they were called.”

Well, when I opened the December 2007 issue of Country Living, there was the whole story. The trade name was “Shiny Brite” and they were manufactured from the late 1930s until the late 1960s, according to this article. Eventually the original manufacturer, Max Eckardt & Sons, joined forces with Corning Glass due to consumer demand.

There you have it . . . (KW)

PLEASE PASS THE BABY

This is a picture of my mother and Grandma Ina, my dad’s mother, passing baby Kathy back and forth on her first day home from the hospital, Sept. 4, 1949. I am one week old. Grandma is 78. The location is the backyard of our Orofino house. (If you enlarge the picture, you can see the patio fireplace in the background.) KW

THINKING OF RHODA . . .

This time of year always brings thoughts of Rhoda Hayes Smathers, a dear family friend. Her first husband was Bob Hayes, an Orofino grocer, who past away -- I'm guessing in the late 1950s. Her house sat back from the street in the lot adjacent to the Oud Apartments. She loved to work with ceramics; as I remember it, she had a dry kiln in her house. Often I was the recipient of her creative efforts; it's possible she gave those as we give our quilts, afghans, etc. As I unwrap my Christmas ceramics, I find the pieces she gave me -- a tree with Santa, his sleigh and five reindeer. I don't mean to sound ungrateful -- but where are the other three? Everyone knows the real Santa has eight reindeer. Nevertheless it's a charming set that looks so '50s and -- wonder of wonders -- is not broken. (There were always just five reindeer.) Well, the star did break off the tree, but I was able to mend it. And I made a trip to JoAnn's yesterday for glitter to make that star sparkle again. I also have a nativity that Rhoda made -- and yes, there are three wisemen -- but only one shepherd representing the whole group. Other pieces include a Santa mug and a Snowman mug and two choirboys -- all of it appropriate to Kathy's Vintage Christmas.

Guest Blog: Hallie's Condo Addition

I live in a SMALL place. Therefore, I LOVE storage solutions! I'm so excited about the newest addition to my place that I want everyone to see it! This is a shoe holder that is only about 5 or 6 inches deep, mounts to the wall, and holds up to 12 pairs of shoes. I was able to obtain the same finish as the cupboards and doors in my little condo. My boyfriend, Nick, helped with the install (he practically did it all, actually). When you purchase this unit at IKEA it comes with matching wooden knobs. Nick went to Home Depot and got brushed nickel knobs that match everything else in the condo. It really dresses it up! I lucked out and the unit is the PERFECT width for the space right inside my entry. It looks custom built!



Here's a close-up of how the drawers pull out for shoe storage:


Thank you, Niko! Next up, bathroom cabinets!

MEET INA AND HER CHILDREN, 1953

I'm experimenting here to see if I can scan and post some old pictures. This picture of Ina Dobson surrounded by her children was taken in July 1953. From left they are: Myrtle, Earle, Vance, Ethel, and Shirley. The eldest child, Pearl, passed away in this timeframe. The location is the woodshed at the farm. It's not much of a building but picturesque.

Myrtle preferred to be called "Lynn" in her younger years; I always refer to her as "Aunt Lynn." She never married and became Ina's caregiver and companion in her last years. Earle's birth name was Irl; he didn't like the different spelling so he changed it to "Earl" and later to "Earle" so that it would be different. (Hmmmm!) Earle's wife was Bernice Dryden from Peck. They both taught in Idaho Falls. Bernice passed away in the late 1950s and Earle and Lynn eventually lived in Nezperce and made frequent visits to the farm. Vance, of course, is my dad; he took over the farm for Grandma when Grandpa Jack died, but our family lived in Orofino where he was a piano teacher. Ethel and her husband, Ernest Robinson, moved to Orofino in the 1950s where he was retired and she worked for the Employment Office. Ethel and my dad were good friends. Shirley, the youngest, married Henry Shockley in 1936 and they moved to Seattle in the late '30s where he worked for Boeing until retirement. Seattle continued to be their home.

Ina's grandchildren were: Stanley (Pearl's only son), 1920-1995; Shirley Jean (Ethel's daughter), 1926-1996; Roberta (1939?) and Marilyn Shockley (1943?), Shirley's daughters; and Kathy (1949). I have lost touch with Roberta and Marilyn.

There will not be a test -- but I wanted to introduce this family because over the next month I am going to share "Christmas at Ina's House" from letters she and others wrote to my dad in the 1930s. (KW)

QUICK TRIP TO THE FARM

This past week Lewiston’s lows have been in the mid 20s with highs in the mid to upper 30s. We’ve been concerned about the farmhouse plumbing, so today we made a day trip to the farm. We didn’t see snow until about halfway up the grade – just where twin fawn were cavorting in the road while their mama watched from the clearing below. When we arrived on top, we entered a land in which Jack Frost had done some fine work with snow and ice crystals. The trees were decorated in white courtesy of the fog and freezing temperatures.

We were relieved to find that all was well in the house. We set to work according to plan. Mike lit the fireplace, and I searched for old photos, made the guest bed in preparation for Christmas, gathered some things I wanted to take to town, made a trip to the attic for Christmas decorations, pulled the tree out from under a bed and took it to the livingroom, and took a number of outdoor pictures. I guess it was chilly in the house; I didn’t take my coat off but otherwise didn’t think much of the temperature. After a lunch of hot turkey soup, we decided to go ahead and drain the pipes so that we wouldn’t need to worry. We were back in Lewiston before 4:00.

We enjoyed an unhurried holiday week, including a supper with Ken and Ginny in honor of Ken’s birthday, Thanksgiving dinner at the Reece’s with the Nunans and a few from the cousin group, a nice email message from brother Chuck, seeing Clint and meeting his girlfriend, Elisha. I wrapped the first of my Christmas gifts and Clint will deliver them to our Boise family. Mason can think of nothing better than to “fix” VCRs, and as luck would have it, one of ours gave out just in time to be his Christmas gift. Mike enjoyed a day hunt with Ken and his son Michael. And we ordered a 37-inch LCD television set through Sears – an LG. So – that’s what we’ve been up to. What about you?

PHOTO FROM L.J.

My nephew, L.J., shared this photo with me. We know the kids – L.J., his sister Becky, and me (Kathy). We know the place – my parents’ (his grandparents’) home in Orofino. And I can make an educated guess about the date / occasion. I think it was my 9th birthday, August 28, 1958. The doll Becky is holding is probably Ginnette, my birthday gift, and I’m holding the box she came in. That would be our mother / grandmother standing in the background.

Note the “taupe” chair behind us. I have early memories of my mother upholstering that chair in that fabric. I can see her sitting on the floor shaping pieces of fabric to fit the contours of the chair. Its boxy, ‘30s style, dated it in an age when modern meant long, low, sleek lines. And it was important to us – to me, anyway – to appear up-to-date in those years. I don’t think the chair was very comfortable – “too deep,” Mother said -- but it was what they had so Mom made do. Anyway, I always think of that chair at this time of year when I get up and the house is cold. It sat in front of a heat register, and when I was little, I would get dressed behind it because it was a warm place. In fact, I remember coloring there, too, so I think I spent a lot of winter hours behind that chair. In 1960 the folks carpeted the living room and a part of that make-over was to dispose of that chair. We were happy to see it go. Can’t help but think what I could do with it today. Hallie says, “Life’s too short to fill it with regret; stuff’s out there." Harriet says, “Unclutter your life!” Thanks for sharing, L.J. (KW)

THANKSGIVING MORNING 2007

I woke up about 4:30 to the sound of Nellie whining at the back door. It was cold – 20 degrees – and I guess she thought she should be inside with the rest of us humans. She can open her gate and will do so if the stress of circumstances so dictates. She has a light in her house and plenty of fresh shavings, but it evidently wasn’t enough to keep her cozy this morning.

Since I was up, I stayed up. I made the Dr. Pepper salad and began to prepare the turkey for roasting -- my job since Daddy left us 20 years ago. This is the first year I haven’t stuffed the turkey, Harriet having convinced me that a packaged mix heated in the crockpot is the way to go. But – I discovered I didn’t have any turkey roasting bags on hand, and using the bag really does cut the roasting time and make the mess easier to handle. So Mike made an early trip to Family Foods to get some, which I appreciated.

Great Aunt Bertha writes to her sister, Ida Patchen, from the Gilbert homeplace, 1935: “What a time you all had on Thanksgiving and what a big dinner. Mine didn’t come up to it – only we had pork cake and squash pie, too." Pork cake was Great-grandmother Dickson’s recipe – a fruit cake made with plenty of lard.

I wish I could quietly visit each one of you this morning and see what’s happening with you. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE THIS HOUSE IS?

I love this time of year. I love to see the Christmas lights gradually pop out, sending their message of faith and hope -- "Let there be light!"

This is the Cassetto house on 18th Avenue near Broadview in Lewiston, our old neighborhood. The collection grew significantly this year, as you can see, spreading into the neighboring yard. I can hear that discussion now: "Okay, you can use my yard -- but you make sure that electricy cord is connected to your outlet!" The house is decorated in this manner for most every holiday and occasion. Christmas seems to have replaced Thanksgiving already. KW

NATIONAL AIR YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY DAY

Today is National Air Your Dirty Laundry Day -- meaningful to our discussion on clotheslines.

Mike and I have been running errands and working on projects -- probably not interesting reading. We are shopping for a new tv set. We have narrowed the field to a 37" LCD -- probably a Sony since we have had such good luck with the Sony brand over the years. We're thinking that we'll get the smaller set and use it in town for a year or so, then take it to the farm next year and get another for town, perhaps larger. Anyway, we've been to Costco (twice), Largent's, Steiner's, and Sears. Prices are competitive at this time of the year. We were interested in the "rear pro" until the guy at Sears said it would significantly impact our electricity bill.

Over the last few days, Mike has been servicing his Vitas bicycle for Murray. We got a box from the bicycle shop and shipped the bike to Philadelphia by FedEx yesterday.

And, Mike purchased mud flaps and installed them on the Magnum to protect it some on the gravel roads. I made pear chutney for Thanksgiving dinner.

WILL YOU LOOK AT THIS NEW FORMAT!!! HALLIE, IS THIS YOUR WORK?

ON FRUGALITY

Sometimes when I think of my children – of their attitudes toward money and things and how they live in their world, or even how they would roll their eyes as we pinched pennies when they were growing up – I mentally say to them, “You just don’t know!”

I’ve been doing a little sewing lately – well, not sewing but organizing so that I can sew – and sewing always brings thoughts of my mother. Now my mother was a good seamstress – much better than I will ever be. While I struggle to be good and always seem substandard in my efforts, she was naturally good – or so it seems to me. But sometimes I find myself shaking my head and rolling my eyes as I think of some of the things I was taught to do. For instance, we saved thread. Yes, you heard me – we saved thread. We had a spool of thread we used just for basting – thread pulled from other projects. And if I wanted to use new thread for basting, I had to ask first. Then, of course, that thread when pulled would be wound onto the “basting spool.” Eventually, someone at a fabric shop mentioned to my mother not to use old thread for basting because it could leave marks on the fabric. Always baste with the same thread with which you are sewing, she said. At that point, Mother loosened her rules.

Now about buttons – I have lots of buttons. I have my mother’s button box, my grandmother’s button box, and the buttons from what few shirts Mike has parted with over the 32 years we’ve been married. “You never know when you’ll need a button,” my mother said. The buttons on a pair of slacks are broken and need to be replaced, so Mike says, “Just replace them with whatever you have that would be appropriate.” Hah!!! Do you think in all those buttons there’s even one style that’s the right color, the right size, the right type. Even if I do find one, it’s just one, and I need three. And how long is it taking me to find these buttons? It’s truly more cost-effective to buy new buttons.

Then there’s “cutting to advantage.” Yesterday as I cut fabric to make pillowcases, I carefully folded the fabric so as not to wastefully cut from the middle, then laughed at myself as I threw away that narrow strip anyway. In my mother’s world, that scrap would have been saved.

I was raised by people who suffered the consequences when not only money but goods were scarce. Old habits die hard.

RECYCLING DAY

I heard on the news that today is National Recycling Day. I didn't know such a day existed, but I did note to myself on our recent trip that all the children recycle. I'm grateful for that and for any part our philosophy had in fostering a caring attitude toward the world environment.

I'm making chili tonight. Do you make chili? How do you season it? I am not a connoisseur of chili. This time I added a little molassas and a little brown sugar plus some cinnamon and allspice. Of course, it has chili powder.

Mike and Ken went bird hunting this afternoon while I headed out for some shopping. This morning I climbed into the shop loft for Christmas decorations. I tried to avoid the lengthy trip down memory lane as I checked out various boxes of toys, stuffed animals, baby clothes, etc. In the last year I've made strides in unpacking and putting away. My theory is that items in storage are out of sight and out of mind. Sure, some things need to be stored but some things should be tossed if not used.

Stay warm!!! KW

CISTERN "A-BORNING"

As I read old family letters, I find it especially interesting when I come across firsthand information relating to some aspect of life as I know it now. In a letter to my dad dated January 3, 1937, his sister, Ethel, wrote the following from the farm:

“You’ll rejoice to know the rainwater cistern is a-borning – it is now down to 7’ in depth and is 8’ across. The digging is very hard, for it is now frozen hardpan, but it won’t have to go a great deal deeper. It’s going to be a real boon, for it will more than cut this awful chore of hauling water in half. E.G. [her husband, Ernest] is planning to put a timber cribbing around the top on the outside of the bricks to bring the well top to the same level as the porch. Then we can just walk right to the pump from the porch with no steps to climb up and down. ‘I can’t hardly wait until Saturday night to try it.’”

We still use that rainwater cistern at the back door. In the early 1960s, my dad replaced the cribbing with a concrete top. In our renovation project, a heavy concrete lid was constructed and an electric pump and pipes installed so that we have more efficient use of the water. Run-off from the roof is captured through the eaves troughs but there’s also some seepage of ground water during the wetter parts of the year. We’ve found we have plenty of irrigation water from this source until August. Mike judges the level of water in the cistern by the level of the water in the pond.

STORMY MONDAY

Yesterday (Monday - Veterans' Day) was really stormy at the farm with wind and rain. We were basically confined to the house all day. Mike vacuumed and cleaned the stove, and since he was cleaning, I decided I should make a couple of machines work. I ran the dishwasher and the washing machine. Yes, I washed clothes and hung them out in the wind. I noted the time -- 10:00 a.m. -- and laughed outloud when I found myself thinking that I was surely glad Chris and Hallie don't live on my street. (See comments on Sunday's blog.) Also, Mike finished the handrail and installed it. We are pleased with it. Now those of you with balance issues or those who have had hips replaced or those who just want a handrail to steady their use of the stairs can now proceed to the second floor with confidence! (Kathy's vintage sewing room is on the second floor.) This morning I planted four Crown Imperial bulbs and 12 daffodil bulbs. I was surprised to note after yesterday's storm that the soil was quite dry under the first few inches.

We returned to town this afternoon. After having read the manual on the Magnum, Mike couldn't wait to customize it for our use. He sat in it for an hour or so putting it through its paces. Well, at least I knew where he was! KW

Guest Blog: Hallie's Field Trip

This is my first guest blog on Mom and Dad's page. I thought it might be nice to share my field trip with any interested readers. Mom has many times told me that we had family that lived in the Seattle area. When she and Dad visited in the spring we thought it would be fun to visit the houses where family once lived, but were unable to track down addresses. In Mom's rainy day exploration (see previous blog) she found the addresses prompting my exploration. The photo to the left is 8824 12th Ave SW--the once home of Aunt Pearle and Uncle Al. Mom explains this relationship as her grandmother Portfors' brother married to her dad's (Vance) sister. So for me, I describe this as my great great Uncle married to my great aunt. Did I get that right, Mom? If that sounds incestuous, read it again...it's not. Either way, it could be my great aunt and uncle or my great great aunt and uncle. That's funny!

The next stop is Aunt Shirley's and Uncle Henry's house. This one is easy. Aunt Shirley is my mom's aunt, and therefore, my great aunt. Follow? Perfect. This is 10827 10th Ave SW.

Did anything look familiar, Mom?

CLOTHESLINES

As you might know, I can procrastinate when it comes to cleaning, and putting away the clutter is really frustrating for me. It’s hard for me to get into projects, and cleaning is a project. But I’m pretty good at running the washing machine and the dishwasher. I feel I’ve accomplished something when I turn on a machine so that it can do the work.

Recently I’ve read some interesting articles on clotheslines – one in The Christian Science Monitor and the other in the Denver Post. There’s evidently a movement in our country encouraging folks to use clotheslines instead of driers because clothes driers are among the worst energy consumers. Our family has always used a clothesline as part of our conservation and economizing effort. Anyway, apparently clotheslines are considered unsightly in some neighborhoods and are often banned by housing associations. There are now organizations working to reverse this trend, promoting the benefits of hanging clothes outdoors.

To paraphrase son Clint, “It’s best to use the drier on most anything you’re going to wear.” He makes a point. Socks, other knits, and towels come off the line fairly stiff. Milo complained about stiff socks when he was growing up; they were truly harsh on his feet. On the other hand, sheets and even towels (despite stiffness) take on that outdoor fresh-air aroma that can’t be beat. Regardless, here on the farm I hang clothes year-round because we don’t have a drier. I have clothes on the line even as I write on this cool fall day. I will probably have to finish drying them by the fire this afternoon.

My mother told me that when she was growing up in Orofino (she graduated high school in 1927), the housewives competed to see who could be the first to get her wash on the line. They would get out of bed and get started on the laundry before daylight. The sooner you could get it out there for all to see, the better. This in part determined your status in the housewifely arts. Can you imagine?! What a waste of womanhood. How catty! KW

RAINY FALL DAY

We awoke to rain this morning. We were glad that Mike got a deer yesterday. Actually I think we are both relieved that this phase of hunting is over for us for the year. Mike made a trip to the meat packing plant in Orofino while Nellie and I stayed here. So, with the rain and all it seemed like a day to open Grandma's trunk and take a trip down memory lane. My Grandmother Ina allowed her children to look at the special things in her trunk on rainy days, a privilege I allow myself anytime. On this visit I found the original land patent on this property signed by Theodore Roosevelt. I think we'll frame it. I also discovered that during World War II soldiers wrote home free of charge. They just wrote their rank and military address as the return and the word "free" where the stamp goes. I also went to the attic and brought down some of the Dept. 56 Christmas pieces and the electric candles for the windows. Mike has been watching the Boise State game. Yesterday I made gingersnaps; tonight Mike will barbecue a small pork roast and sweet potatoes while I bake an impossible French apple pie. Won't you come for supper? KW

DODGE MAGNUM

Here it is – a picture of our 2006 Dodge Magnum. We picked it up on Thursday. It took another hour – waiting and paperwork. (Town time involves a lot of waiting.)

Our first stop in the new car was Rosauer’s, where their 13-hour bake sale was in progress. As we approached the parking lot, I explained to Mike that this sale was a big deal. We parked at the back of the lot – not just because it seemed prudent with our "new" car but because that was the available parking. I don’t do much holiday baking any more and this sale is really not the last opportunity to buy at savings, but it is a sale that I enjoy taking in. Mike struck up a conversation with a manager who said the bake sale is one of their biggest of the year.

Then we drove the Magnum home, put it in the garage, loaded the Dakota, and came to the farm. We had to use the pick-up because we brought the handrail for the stairwell – too long for the Magnum The house was a bit chilly but really not uncomfortable. It hasn’t been cold or damp enough to really impact comfort level. The pond is still really low.

NITTY GRITTY TOWN TIME

Mike had appointments today -- the dentist and the podiatrist. He has scheduled surgery to have the bunion on his left foot removed on November 28 (the Wednesday after Thanksgiving). The podiatrist says it is imperitive that he not put any weight on that foot for six weeks, so he will be on crutches during the holidays. His goal is to get surgery and the recovery out of the way as much as possible before mid-January when tax prep begins. So we'll be busy the next two weeks as we prepare for his convalescence. That will include putting up outside Christmas lights on the town house and installing a stairway banister on the farm. I guess it's a good thing I'm retired. In fact, I think he put this off until such time as I was retired. KW

WE BOUGHT A DODGE MAGNUM

Yes, having just driven 2500 miles in the Subaru WRX we came home to buy a “new” car. (Mike says we bought it because he didn’t want to change the oil in the Subaru.) Our new vehicle is a 2006 Dodge Magnum AWD with Hemi engine, fully loaded, 13,000 miles, metallic gray, gray leather interior. We bought it through Kendall Dodge. They gave us a decent trade on the Subaru. We pick up the Magnum on Thursday. Although space constraints in the WRX have not been a problem for us, we look forward to having the comfort and capacity of a larger car. You may know that Mike finds the seats in the Subaru very uncomfortable. We hope he will like the Magnum. It’s like trying shoes – difficult to judge when you first put them on. We expect the Magnum’s gas mileage to be about the same as the WRX, but the Magnum will use regular while the WRX takes premium.

It took a significant amount of town time for us to make this deal -- all morning.

BE SURE TO CHECK THE TRIP POSTS (BELOW) FOR PHOTOS

AND NOW WE'RE HOME

It was a great trip and we had a good time. We left from the farm on Wednesday, October 25, and arrived home Saturday, November 3. The three of us – Mike, Kathy, and Nellie --traveled 2500 miles in our Subaru WRX. We saw three of our five children and four of our five grandchildren. We saw Annie play softball in a tournament, watched Jackson play basketball, took them to a museum, and went trick-or-treating. We greeted Mason on his 7th birthday. We found 11 geo-caches, two of them with Jackson. I found some yarn I needed. I watched a good movie (The Illusionist). We saw where Clint works. And I came home with great ideas. (I’ve already reorganized my kitchen.) The weather was great. In fact, the afternoons were warm and I had taken mostly sweatshirts. Here at home our thermometer said the high had been 78 while the low was 26. After ten days on Mountain Daylight Time, we returned home to an immediate change to Pacific Standard Time. Our internal clocks are actually experiencing a two-hour time change.

Well, you know what they say: “There’s no place like home.” We’re glad we went; we’re glad to be home. Love to all -- KW

HERE WE ARE AT MILO'S

Pulling up at Milo’s house, we were greeted at the car by an exuberant Mason who couldn’t wait to show us his latest project. He was carrying a VCR his dad was allowing him to take apart and “fix.” He loves electronics and examining parts. He has a great imagination! Here’s a picture of Mason opening our birthday gift to him, a “Tamagochi,” which Annie and Jack recommended. As it happened, we were able to delay our return home by one day in order to see Mason on his 7th birthday. Our visit was all too brief – we were anxious to get home. It was fun to stop in; wish we could do it more often. XO

THE TINY RING IN THE MEDICINE CABINET

Clint's guest room is actually the master bedroom. He prefers to use one of the other bedrooms as his room and to use the main bath. So, Mike and I had the use of the master bathroom -- and because Clint admittedly does not use that room at all, I snooped! Checking out the medicine cabinet, I found nothing in it but the tiniest Black Hills Gold ring I have ever seen. I am guessing that it was a keepsake gift to a baby that was somehow overlooked when the previous occupants of this house moved on. Really odd to find it in the medicine cabinet, though. I'd keep it in my jewelry box. And that's where it's going. KW

A DAY WITH CLINTON

This morning Clinton gave us a tour of the Hagerman area, including a site where ruts of the Oregon Trail could be seen and also the Hagerman fossil beds. Then he gave us a tour of the Shoshone Falls Power Plant where he is team leader on a maintenance project. We saw some beautiful scenery. Driving into Twin Falls, we shopped at Winco. We returned to Clint's house mid-afternoon, and Mike, Nellie, and I found three geo-caches right here in the neighborhood. This evening we grilled a beer can chicken which was delicious. We might watch a movie from Clint's collection tonight. Tomorrow we'll leave for Boise after breakfast. I talked with Milo last night and arranged to spend the morning with his family. It's Mason's seventh birthday, but they aren't having a party until a later date. We expect to leave for our town house in the early afternoon. It's been a wonderful vacation -- I wouldn't have missed it. Now it's time to get back to routine. KW

HALLOWEEN OVER -- HOMEWARD BOUND

Mike and I had a wonderful time visiting Yancey, Kelly and family. We so appreciated the opportunity to share their world for a few days. I enjoyed every minute, including "trick or treat-ing" with Annie and Jack. Annie dressed as a hockey player; Jack was a girl in a "shocking pink" formal. (Some of you may remember when shocking pink was the name of a color.) Mike wore his devil mask. And Yancey also dressed in costume as a rough-looking convict. He was convincing, too, hobbling along on one crutch. However, he returned home after a few blocks because his leg was bothering him. With a pending trip to Minneapolis for work, he decided not to overdo. I did not wear a costume this year. While pressing my witch's dress, I noticed the old satin fabric was turning from black to red. Time for a new costume! Anyway, Mike and I accompanied Annie and Jack through the neighborhood for 1 1/2 hours. Mike estimated their candy hauls to be about 10 pounds each. Of course, they generously shared a few Tootsie Rolls with Grandpa.

We left Yancey's at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, arriving at Clint's in Hagerman at suppertime. We had no road problems. We stopped for two geo-caches, which we found. These were both great spots for Nellie to exercise. She's such a great traveler! I complain more than she does!