Adventures in La Grande

So at the end of September Corey, his parents and I drove over to La Grande, Oregon to visit Great Aunt Donna and her husband Archie. We totally came for the Honey because Donna and Archie raise honey bees on their property and every year they harvest the honey and sell it. Ron, Corey's dad, had made a long standing deal with Donna that if he would come and visit her, she would give him some honey but he said he wouldn't come unless she had some work for him to do.

So off we went and I must say that the girls got the better end of the deal. The boys spent the day sheet rocking Donna and Archie's enclosed front porch while the girls got to spend the day helping Donna can stew and make raisins!

This was about the third time I've ever canned anything in my life and it was a blast. We went to the garden and "harvested" the onions, potatoes & carrots. We had celery & remaining veggies from the store. We chopped everything up, layered it in the jars and then pressure cooked them for 30 minutes. If you want the full recipe let me know and I'll post it, but didn't they turn out pretty.

Then after lunch we got to start working on raisins. Aunt Donna has about 4 different kinds of grapes growing in her back yard and we got to go out and pick the grapes from all of the vines and then we had to wash them.

After we rinsed them we had to pull all of them off of their vines and put them into a bowl so they could then head to the dryers. I must say that this was probably the worst part of the whole process but that's just because it was wet and I can't stand getting water all over everything, my forearms in particular.

Off to the dryer to spend the next few days becoming raisins!

Unfortunately we had to head home so I didn't get to see my finished product but I had a blast anyway and the honey that she sent home with us is AMAZING!!! Corey'd live off of it if I would let him, he has such a sweet tooth thanks to his momma.  Until next time let the good times roll!!!

Goin' To the Fair!!!

So Corey and I decided that it would be fun to enter some photos in to the Twin Falls County Fair this year and since some of you may not be in the area we thought we would share them here. Enjoy!

8 days in the Selway Wilderness.

I had the privilege of backpacking into some of God's best creation. We hiked through country few men have ever seen and I can honestly say that no man has been where we just were. I was blessed to have the company of my friend Craig, his dog Misty, and my nephew Jordan. This hike was the hardest of all the hikes I have ever been on, yet it was the most rewarding to accomplish. I am grateful that Jentri let me go, even though it left her at home without me. The hike was a great accomplishment both physically and spiritually. I am honored to have met the great young men I hiked along side. The following are a few of the photos I shot while up there.

This is the group I hiked with. We held a sacrament meeting in this spot on sunday. It was an amazing spiritual experience.

This is Heart Lake as seen from the summit before we drop down into it.

My nephew, Jordan, drinking from Heart Lake. Yes, the water is that clean up there. You can stand on shore and see 20-30 feet down into the lake!

Just before cresting into Golden Trout lake we found what we call the Zen Garden. I dropped my pack and sprawled out in the grass.

Here I am on the outlet of Heart Lake.

This was our fearless leader, Tom Hutchison. Without him there is no way that we could have even seen this beautiful country.

This our SWEET tent setup!

I found Craig this amazing boulder. This was his spiritual experience for the trip.

A few of the boys lashed a log barge together and went fishing early morning on Canyon Lake.

This was me, slacklining in our little Zen garden.

This is an area that I plan on returning to quite regularly. Sorry that the photos are in no particular order. I am still trying to figure out this whole blog thing.

For more photos of my trip visit my photo blog here.

My Pathetic PLEE

I'm alone all week long while Corey is on this stinkin' 50 miler. If you read this please call me, text me, send me smoke signals, something because I have no one to talk to for a whole week and I think I just might go crazy!!!

It's time for a new one

Corey and I have been all over the place lately. So here is a short recap.

JUNE
Work at his uncles cabin in the Uinta Mountains near Evanston, WY
Climb with Craig in the City of Rocks
Kayak with Marcus & Craig in Jackson, WY (I had never done this by the way. We were only in a ducky but still...)
Climb in Lander, WY after kayaking with Marcus
Climb in Echo Canyon (AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Recommend it to anyone & it's even worth the drive. Be prepared to bring a rope gun, love you Craig, most of it is 5.11+ but a BLAST all the same. Oh yea & bring a helmet.)
Send Corey to Climb in Maple Canyon, UT with Craig, Ryan, Jen & the Tolmans while I head to Twin for my nephew's baptism
Let him go even further to Joe's Valley with Craig, Ryan & Jen
Go back to his uncle's cabin (did I forget to mention that we were in Wyoming for the entire month of June) to finish up the fireplace before we head to...

JULY
Family Reunion in Declo 4th of July weekend
Take wedding photos in Twin Falls for my friend Laura's cousin (still working on the edits)
Drive to Boise to go to REI to get stuff for Corey to go on a 50 miler that starts in August
Drive up to Rexburg to see my friends Kristie, Shay, and anyone else in the Comm Department Graduate
Drive to Bear Lake to take Family Photos for my sister's in-laws
Did I mention that the last three were in the same week

Sorry to be so long in not posting and for this one taking so long. I thought I might also share a few photos I look while were were up at Corey's Uncle's Cabin. Enjoy.