"Every boy (child) should have two things: a dog, and a mother willing to let him have one." -anonymous

We've had the two best dogs in all of history.    :)

"There is only one smartest dog in the world, and every boy has it."      -anonymous

Plaid was a handsome, gentle boy who was balm to our aching hearts when we were wanting children.

 "A house is not a home until it has a dog."     -Durrell

Then there was Kipper. He didn't bark, he bayed. I'd never heard such a sound, except maybe on hound dog movies like "Where the Red Fern Grows." I loved it!



"No symphony orchestra ever played music like a two-year-old girl laughing with a puppy."      -Williams

After Kipper left us to chase cats in that big field in the sky (here) we decided to begin searching for another dog to call our own.

"Every boy (child) who has a dog should also have a mother, so the dog can be fed regularly."     -anonymous

After a few weeks we came across this boy at a rescue shelter. He was just 9 months old which was way more puppy than we were looking for but there was something about those beautiful brown eyes...

"I shall call him Squishy, and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy."     -Dory

He came home with us on a foster to adopt arrangement and was a total keeper! Now we need to decide on a name...oh and get a dozen more tennis balls. He's totally wonkers for tennis balls! 

A Pelton Wheel and a yurt...

UEA weekend we'd hoped to escape to our beloved rock heaven in the desert of Moab but the twigs trumped that plan so we looked for closer and quicker escapes. Our very fun Scottie and April always have at least 3 great ideas ready at the blink of an eye and had carved out a few days to escape with us. They knew of an amazing little place in Southeastern Idaho and away we went to Oneida Narrows Reservoir.

On the banks of the Reservoir is an "off the grid" little hot springs called Maple Grove and was my first encounter with homemade power. I found it very interesting. They used a Pelton Wheel to garner power from water as well as using solar panels and a windmill. Pelton Wheels are noisy! (The Pelton Wheel and windmill are in the bottom left corner.)

That first night we hopped in the hot pool at 10:00 pm and stayed till after midnight. It was perfect! Then we made the mad dash back to the yurt and learned that a little power at midnight to heat a cold yurt is totally fantastic! Did I say Pelton Wheels are noisy - I take it all back, never heard a thing.

Did I say yurt? Why yes, yes I did. Sleeping in a yurt has been on my bucket list for years and it was so much fun I may have to do it again, sans boxelder bugs.   :)

We went for a little ramble out yonder and met this big friendly dog named Diesel. He helped ease our longing for sweet Kipper and made us think maybe we could love another dog.

Scott and April know how to play and come well prepared!  (The Mr. and I think that's the cutest little trailer for two.)

They are also completely generous which tickles the twigs who didn't stop smiling.

Thanks Scottie and April for your rockin' ideas and for being fabulous you!   xoxo