Forest People and the construction of a tree fort

Take a good look at the line-up of rubber boots.
As Auntie and I were looking UP at the soles of these six feet, we realized that two girls were wearing one of each others shoe.
That explains a lot because the other day Sue was telling me that one "didn't fit quite right".
Auntie told me that Cousin E complained of the same thing this morning.  How many size 11's are there laying around anyway?

I guess it's time to mark every pair of boots.

I've actually gotten outside this year (as opposed to last year when I was 7 months pregnant and as big as a beached whale) and started building a tree fort together with the Buglets. If I may boast, it looks to be an elaborate affair.  Those Forest People are hard workers when the air is tickled by sun:-)

Other news in the life of Me: I joined the ranks of the Old (notice that's spelled with a capital O?).
I received my first (and Please Lord, my last) Root Canal yesterday.  Can't say I'd rather be in labor, but if I WERE in labor, I wouldn't rather have a Root Canal.
I think.
My dentist and his staff was wonderful.  It's just that I have lots of ways I'd rather spend three hours alone. Combine that with scraping your nails on a chalkboard for that length of time...
I'm pretty sentimental.  I wasn't prepared to part with that tooth - I mean, it's been a part of my life for nigh on 30 years!
Picture it this way:
If I had been handed 1700 dollars and given three hours ALL BY MYSELF to spend it any way I wanted,  I believe I can say with certainty that a Root Canal wouldn't have been at the top of my list.
Scratch that.  It wouldn't have been on my list. Period.
Now that I've complained sufficiently I have to add how thankful I am that I am not a dentist, and that there is someone else willing to fix my teeth before they become serious problems, topping that with an amazing husband who watched six children for over three hours and BOUGHT me that Root Canal.  (I bet he could think of some better things to do with that time and money as well).
Thanks Babe!

On a side note, you girls that are having babies: TAKE YOUR VITAMINS!  My cavities showed up all of a sudden in the last two years and my theory is that babies are hard to make.  I think my body put up a protest about using any more Calcium for teeth when those Buglets needed it more.  All in all I think my body made the best decision and put it where it counted most.
So that's my plug for prenatals.  Take them.  Root Canals are not fun. ;-)

Rainbow before the rain

This is a lovely sight.

But it is very hard to get your clothes dry on a clothesline when there are sudden cloudbursts that cast forth every variety of precipitation!
(Which is exactly what occurred for two or three days before I grabbed them while damp and finished them off by the wood stove.)

Wherein the Forest People discover the thrill of four wheels and an Uncle

Quads are AWESOME but a good Uncle is pretty hard to beat!

Wherin the forest comes alive.

The Forest People have finally begun emerge.

They hail not from the moss blanketed depths of the woods (strangely enough) nor the lush glades where sun sparkles cheerfully; rather, their kind originate from within four solid walls. A rustic (though not uncomfortable) cabin of humble proportions is where they bed down at night, and dwell for the barely-endured school hours of daylight.

However despite their docile indoor existence, the Forest People have highly adventurous hearts with which every beat throbs for the untamed outdoors; and as soon as weather and schoolmarm permit, their merry feet take them into that part of the world for which they are named - firstly the forest and after that, any wilderness which attaches itself and for which a conquering spirit is prerequisite.

The Forest People, mostly smallish,  blend in with their mountain-colored surroundings. 
They can be seen climbing on rocks and trees of large dimension, or mucking through snow run-off and mud.
Especially mud.
Boots are worn at nearly every season for obvious reasons:
Forrest People like mud.

People of the Forest tend to run in bands of two or more, their group often as large as seven in number.
Though I fore-mentioned that Forrest People are "mostly smallish", it's true that larger versions can regularly be spotted where mud and tree abound.

In Summer the Forest Peoples appearance comes alive in vibrant hue, almost as if to compete with the wild Strawberry and native flowers in every happy color. At that warmer time of year a bluish stain around the mouth is a tell tale indicator that you that you are face to face with a Forest Person in true blood.
It is also at this time that you must be most careful, because if introduced by the Forest People to the Mountain Huckleberry (from which the blue stain hails), one has an almost certainty of falling in love with the forests of the far North and the endearing People who dwell within.

Baby Blue Eyes

I Thought it was Spring?

It SNOWED today!

I stole my precious new neighbor (my sis-in-law and friend) away from her family for an hour and we had Tea in the living room.

The children are still sick, but we've had lots of productive school time.

I saw "THE EYES" last night on the way to the outhouse.  They were small and close together and... yellow this time.  I think it was a Fox (?)  It's fun to guess anyway.  When I brought AJ out to show him, my "Eyes" were gone and his encouraging words were: "I think a Mountain Lion is stalking you."
Thanks Babe.


Now for a good story:

A ways back I made a new friend in the blogosphere. She goes by  Xenia Katherine and is an amazing artist - I love her work! Some months ago, Xenia Katherine said she'd like a copy of the Marvel Hill Poster I painted for AJ... IN TRADE.
I asked if she was serious, and we agreed to trade original artwork.  I painted an original Marvel Hill for her with some minor differences tailored to her family, and she?
Well I said "I'd like a lot of color, but surprise me!"
On our way through Oregon I had the pleasure to meet my new blogging friend as we made the trade.  I couldn't believe she pulled it off - I know what real life looks like after all - but she did!
I am so very delighted with the beautiful Ink and Watercolor she created for me (and I hope you don't mind me sharing it friend).
I am blessed beyond words!

Dear K.T.,


Thank you my friend, for staying up late and letting me drop in on you.  I'm sure that was a little risky - we never having met!  
I can't tell you how much I am enjoying your beautiful artwork - it just makes me smile.  And smile...
Thank you.


Please ask Steven to forgive me for calling him Jon.  It's fairly evident that I am losing my marbles and I feel terrible, just terrible about giving him a name that isn't his!  (Steven, thanks for not throwing me out of your house! HA!)
I really would have loved to study every beautiful thing on your walls - your home was so warm and friendly.  I'm sorry we didn't get to let the children play, but I'm glad you didn't get exposed to our sickness.
I got a matting cut for your painting yesterday, but didn't find the frame I wanted.  However, I did find one here in the house that needs a new life.  Perhaps it is meant to be.  If not, I'll have a place to keep it from getting ruined until I find that "perfect frame".


I love you dear friend!  I am so excited to get out my Ink and colors - you inspire me!  Keep up the wonderful wonderful work.




Love,
Analene

Ta-Dah!

Catching you up with a few pictures, as today... (drum roll please) we got the zippy-fast Internet connection (for a fee and the price of one gorgeous tree limbed bare so an antenna could be installed at the top).

It IS fast though, so what does that mean?  Uploading pictures will now be a breeze.  Truth to tell, we didn't get our new antenna for my blog.  It's intended use is for AJ's work, and it will be an amazing blessing for that purpose!
Since we have it though...

Moving dirt (just out the front door)

Holding up a tree

Moving rocks

Making a new friend

New neighbors :-)



































New gas lights



















New kitchen cabinets (I love you IKEA!)

Playing Gin (I just adore that lovely ACE toilet in the background!)

My poor children are still sick.  I haven't even let them out of the house to play with our new neighbors (their cousins).  Partly because the Cousins are Sick with a stomach bug, and since that is about the one thing we haven't got...
I don't want it. Selfish, I know.
All that to say, they have the most real form of Cabin Fever you ever heard of.  I mean, we DO live in a cabin after all!
I took them on a walk this evening while there was still sunlight, but it was hard for the boys especially because I kept saying:

"Don't run!'

"Don't climb on that!"

"Don't yank on that tree!"

"Come here!"

"Slow down!"

And that is because any time any one of the kiddos gets little rowdy, a coughing fit ensues.
I'm trying to avoid that.
I want them well.
THEY want them well.
We all -
want to be well.

It's Springtime in Idaho for goodness sakes!

Promised Moose

Out our kitchen window past the Aladin lamp on the sill...
a Moose.  
















You can see how Olivia thought it was a Horse.  It does look rather similar, but... we were above it in elevation.
If seen from the same level plane, I'm pretty sure that she would have appeared her right and gangly size: LARGE.

Due to a CD recommended by Uncle Gordon and given to the kiddos by Gramsie, whenever we see a Moose we now break out in song!
Yes, we ARE a little zany.  But then... did I need to tell you that?

*FYI (CD is called "Moose Tunes" and our favorite song is "A Moose With A Cowlick")
Shauna, Lauren, Christabelle, I think you need this ;-)

He Bought Me Pie

Driving from Here to There we made an unexpected detour (unexpected to me) to a local restaurant where my Great Guy went in and came out carrying a pie box.

We were on our way to dinner with some friends and I supposed that my husband had been tasked with picking up dessert, but nay, that was not the case.

Facts be known, upon embarking our mode of transportation he handed me the box and said:

"This isn't for tonight.  

I got it for you and I to share."

At that moment I was delighted, but am now sorry to admit that the romance of the gesture didn't completely sink in until three days and six Berry-filled slices later.

It had been a surprise. 
A treat meant just for the two of us, and with sick kiddos we could easily justify being so selfish.

So what we did, was cut two slices and sit at the kitchen table together after the breakfast rush.

And then two more slices on the upstairs porch while having a heart-to-heart.  That piece took longer to eat than the first, and the scrumptiousness of a couple bites were unfortunately lost on my taste buds.  That piece was the most precious though. The time accompanying it was very dear.

The last two pieces were cut somewhat unequal.  What was left in the pan looked pretty tiny and I just wanted to savor a taste, so after the Buglets were tucked into bed we indulged, Beloved receiving the larger of the last two nibbles.

Three dates out of one pie!  How neat is that?
I never knew a boxed pie could be so romantic. 

*Sigh*

Marvelous marvelous Idaho...

Dear Friends,
I am alive!

It's just that Marvel Hill has more to keep me busy and even busy having fun than three lifetimes worth of activity anywhere else.
Thanks Gals, for your kind words and encouragement.
We arrived on Thursday  April 15th, and this is the first opportunity I've had to crack my computer.  The children got sick before we left, and still have juicy coughs.  We braved Pink Eye, and Croup in the last week (thank us for not stopping to see you Sarah!), and let me tell you, it was hard work keeping the girls indoors!  Olivia even slipped past me on day and stole out to see Dad "on her way to the outhouse".  Ahem.
They have wanted to be out playing SO BADLY and I can't say I blame them.  In fact, when I make a morning trek to the john, I am often tempted to to "steal away", sit in the sunshine and not return to the morning's chores!

I think most my readers have followed us in the journey of purchasing this 20 acre piece of land in the panhandle of Idaho; if not, you can read about it and see pictures under the label "Idaho".  There will certainly be pictures to come if we get faster Internet (coming soon...), but you will have to put up with words tonight because I have more interesting things to do than wait  ten years for pictures to upload!

Brief status on things up here:
No snow, Spring is beginning to spring!  One day there is sunshine and up over 70 degree weather, and another day will be a cool day with rain - cold enough to heat the house.

While we were gone all the gas was plumbed up which means that our stove and fridge are operational (who gets to "fire up" their refrigerator? - we actually light a pilot underneath!), and that the four new wall mounted gas lights are giving us light in the evenings. Whoopeeeee!

Additionally all the water has been plumbed in to the house.  This is spectacular news, but perhaps not exactly what you'd imagine.  So far we only have one sink (so WHO CARES!  I don't do dishes in the dark or snow anymore!!), and that sink only has cold water (again I say SO WHAT?  I have a six burner Wolf range across from it to heat pots of water which I didn't have to hike outside to retrieve.)
So... yes, we still shower on the porch using  a 2 gallon Coleman shower.
Yes we will have a washing machine before long,
and the tub/shower will be usable.
Also another sink and vanity in the "Pantry" for washing hands and brushing teeth.
All this and HOT WATER to boot!

Everything looks good in the house although I spotted a MOUSE on my counter not two days after I had washed EVE*RY*THING on it!  Thankfully for me, I married a smart and able man who bagged that mouse for me by the very next morning.
All's well in that department.

Outdoors, we had a pad cleared for a pole barn or shop.  We also hired a contractor to do some earth work and put in t a nice gravel driveway.  Progress was made up to a point, but we called a halt when the rock kept sinking into the muck and only nine truckloads of gravel had been delivered.
We'll see our gumption is still in tact when the ground drys out.  We hate to spend money on ROCK.

I told you that the water is plumbed to the house, but that includes a lot of trenching and pipe-laying that was accomplished.  When our dirt-guy couldn't make it up again for a couple weeks, he offered to let AJ use his Back Hoe (if you can imagine a little boy getting a BB gun for Christmas...), so AJ has been moving some boulders to various parts of the yard.  Our campfire pit now has some awesomely big rocks around it!

Our New Neighbors arrived this evening.  That's our biggest news of the day!  They looked tired out but glad to be done driving :-)  Can't wait to see what they do next.  Their living arrangements leave a little to be desired as well, but Char and Hannah are seasoned users of  the under appreciated virtue: INGENUITY.
Not many people leave their childhood home with most their worldly possessions in tow - including (but not limited to) 2 dogs, a couple goats, and chickens.  Their venture will entertain me immensely!  

In the area of wildlife I have been thrilled to see many Robbins already!  I haven't seen any up here the last two years we've been here.
Our trash was hauled out of a covered bin and carried into the woods where it was picked apart and sorted.  I assume that was a small bear.
There were some tracks under the deck - a fox maybe?  And the boys found some cat prints in the mud behind the house.  They were a bit larger than a house cat, and deeply imprinted.  We think possibly a bobcat.
Best one so far, was Olivia standing on a kitchen chair looking past me and Dad out the window.  She said "Hey LOOK!  A HORSE!!"
Just outside was a hungry MOOSE munching the new growth on a forest shrub.

YEEE-HAW!  We're in IDAHO now!!!
 
So anyway... who wants to visit?  I've had some big talkers, but I'm serious folks!  We'd LOVE to see you.
We're working on guest arrangements, but certainly we'll have some sweet accommodations on our fabulous upstairs porch - VERY SAFE from the wildlife with a great view of it all!  I bait the hook...

Looking forward to posting some pictures for you (in my spare time HA!), and looking forward to hearing from any of you thrill-seekers looking for Summer adventure!

Marvel Hill,

You did not disappoint.

~Momma Bug.
  Over and out.