I hardly ever recommend a book

 because everyone has their own preferences in what subjects interest them.  

When I go to the library for some good reading, I always pick up two books (in case one of them doesn't thrill me).  Usually I choose a novel by an author I know, and then there is a back corner of the room where I seem to always find a book from an author I've never heard of.  In that corner are real life, historical books and biographies.  "Miracle in the Andes" was a favorite as well as early American history about Native Americans.

Just finished a book that really drew me in about a woman who speaks of herself in such a raw honest way before and during an ill-planned hike through the Pacific Crest Trail.  Cheryl Strayed lost her mother and divorced a man she loved, got into heroin before she decided to test herself on the trail.  I loved this book from beginning to end.  Don't usually endorse a book, but this one is well worth the read.  

My favorite movies and books are all about survival and revival.

More . . .

I need to add a few more photos from my Mt. St. Helen's trip with Dawn, Audrey and Kim

We stayed in this busy little rustic resort in Cougar, WA.  (WiFi but no cell service)

It was pretty much self~contained with its own restaurant, swimming pool and karaoke on Friday night.  At full capacity every day!

Kim  couldn't help herself and had play with Big Foot's toes

This area is not only about Mt St Helens, but big on Sasquash as well!!

Mother Daughter Trip

This past week Kim and I, Dawn and Audrey took a trip to Cougar, Washington.  Kim arranged for us to stay in a cabin and strike out from there.

Our first adventure was APE CAVE!  It is the longest lava tube in the world.  So dark and rocky we only went in about a quarter of the way.

Audrey led the expedition

 the ceiling of the tube

into the depths!  We all had flashlights against the pitch black darkness except for Audrey who had a lighted headset

It wasn't easy taking a selfie in the entrance to the cave.  Left to right ~ me, Kim, Audrey and Dawn.

Next day we traveled a couple hours to Mt. St. Helen's

 seen from a meadow miles away

 this pile of mud flow left after the volcano blew on May 18, 1980

 this is the side that blew out and covered areas as far as Montana with ash

As close as we could get

A treat for the Irish in me

Found an old black~paged photo album from Belfast, Ireland at the Thrift yesterday.  The pictures were coming unglued and slipped out as I turned the pages.

I felt the need to rescue these more than 200 old photos from Northern Ireland dated 1942!

Here are just a few

 Saving this one for my glamping friend

       Your turn,  My turn,  My turn

Just a sampling of the more unique photos which are mostly sepia tones.  The smallest is only 1 3/8" x 1"!

Lots of scenery in this group as well with photos of the Castle Carrickfergus in the mix.

I'm envisioning lots of cards, ATCs, tags, collages and on and on and on

Four Pin Friday

A definite highlight of our trip to Florida . . .

the colors and creativity of Leoma Lovegrove!!

Here is the entrance to her gallery on Pine Island

I couldn't stop taking photos in her wild and whacky back yard.  It is just crazy and a must see for anybody travelling to that part of Florida.  Here are only a few of the many Pinterest offerings from her gallery . . .

You get the feeling that whatever doesn't move, she applies her artistic talents to






If these pieces grab you, please check out her amazing artwork on Pinterest.  It will brighten your day and give you a feel for that part of the world!

Walla Walla in the Falla Falla

Spent two wonderful days with friends in Walla Walla, Washington this past weekend.  We all agreed it was a sweet little town . . . shops and galleries to stroll through, wine tasting aplenty, a book store for Dawn and Starbucks for Audrey!  Not to mention some great restaurants we all enjoyed.

Then, of course, there was the balloon stampede . . .

 the roadrunner

 tick tock crazy clock

and in the evening . . . "Night Glow"

spectacular.

Saturday's Farmer's Market with the most colorful array of vegetables 

Dawn and Kim fell in love with these hand~crafted chairs

and wine barrel lazy susans

Walla Walla is all about wine

Heaven for all five of us!

Four Pin Friday

One thing I learned from watching my Mother's life ebb and flow in her final years is that options and opportunities become fewer and fewer . . . your personal world becomes smaller and smaller.  Now I know there are so many adventures and places that, with the time I have left, I will never experience.

Here are some wonderful National Parks that are only a dream for me now . . .

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton National Park

Jasper National Park ~ Canada

Mount Rainier National Park

T.o.b. no longer wants to venture out, and I resist driving freeways so we've been reduced to occasional trips to our lake in North Idaho once or twice a year.

For all you out there who still travel, tomorrow Saturday June 13th, is National Get Outdoors Day . . .  free admission to all state parks!

Take advantage of it if you are able

A day trip to the Silver Valley

80 acres that was swampy and covered with large cedar trees became Wallace, Idaho in 1885 when Lucy Wallace took up the position of postmistress for the population of 14 people.

After 1900, Wallace became the hub of one of the world's richest mining districts and was eventually named the "Silver Capital of the World".

On August 21st, 1910 Wallace suffered the largest forest fire in U. S. history.  It is chronicled in Timothy Eagan's book "The Big Burn".  Read it a few years ago, and it is a fascinating story.  I highly recommend it.

It's history has been preserved in its architecture and museums. Kim, Dawn and I had a wonderful day there last Friday.  Sadly not all the museums would open until May 1st.  Winters usually last longer in that area, but it was a perfect day for us . . . 60 degrees and sunny.

 One of the most famous museums in this little town features the bordello (closed until May 1st).  As you can imagine, it was a booming business back in the mining days.

The courthouse is situated at the site that once was the only stop light on the I-90 freeway between Seattle and the East Coast.

The original stop light rests in peace at the Mining Museum

as well as the original Pulaski prototype firefighting weapon developed during the 1910 blaze and still used today.

A Saturday adventure

The Ds gifted t.o.b. with tickets for the four of us to ride the North Pend Oreille Valley Railroad.  It was a 2~hour trip North by car to a little town called Ione, WA where the Lions Club sponsors a special train offering awesome views along the Pend Oreille River gorge.

 At the end of our trip sat this other small lazy little town called Metalline Falls about 30 miles from the Canadian border.

At that point, our engine disconnected, flew by us and reconnected at the front of the cars to haul us back to our starting point.  Thus, we saw everything in reverse . . . a little bit discombobulating!!

the caboose

The trip was advertised "Autumn Colors train ride provides views second to none of the gorgeous trees changing their colors for the season"

As there were mostly cedars and other evergreens along with aspen (yellow in color), we were disappointed in the lack of variety.

It was a fun trip nevertheless but I could have seen more color in our own front yard . . .