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(10/24/2010) Miles helps Meghan blow out the four candles on her birthday cake; three blue ones -- each representing a decade and a pink one. Yes, our Maggie is now 31!! How can that be? We celebrated her birthday, which actually is October 26, the Sunday prior. |
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(10/26/2010) Looking out my laundry room window one afternoon, I was a bit startled to find this bovine looking back at me. Around here, it's not uncommon for a curious cow to find a way outside a fence. However, in spring and summer cattle also move through as they are taken to and from open grazing areas in the national forests higher in elevation. I don't know where this one came from, but for awhile that day, we had 17 head grazing their way through our five acres. Another reason we're glad we didn't put in a lawn! |
It's been awhile since I managed an opportunity post an update to life here in Southeastern Idaho, so I guess given this wee bit of time (Miles is napping) I'll just plunge right in!
Glenn was scheduled to start the long and lonely drive back to the midwest on Monday, October 25 the day after we celebrated Meghan's birthday. However, a few days before he developed flu-like symptoms that really knocked the wind out of his sails. After the weekend came and went but the symptoms didn't, he got himself to an urgent care facility in Pocatello where he was diagnosed with a bacterial infection of some sort. One injection and three prescriptions later, he returned home to settle in for the drugs to take effect. Eventually they did, and the postponed travel commenced on Thursday, October 28.
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(11/02/2010) Art project gone slightly awry. While using his scented markers for coloring, Miles decided to start sniffing them. During a brief moment when I turned my back to do something at the kitchen sink, he proceeed to color his nose. I looked at him and said "You look like a dog!" His response -- "Woof, woof." Aye. We scrubbed that nose during the afternoon, but it wasn't until bathtime later that evening when the "canine effect" was finally eradicated -- just in time before mom and dad came home! |
It's not all napping, though. Miles and I do art projects (he loves tempera paints), and spend lots of time playing with his cars and trucks. We also have an indoor-game, balloon volleyball. Last week was terrific! Unusually warm temps (including one day with a record-setting high) meant we were outside a good deal. In the four days I cared for him last week, we spent about 10 hours outdoors. I took him to his house where we pretty much limited our activities to two: throwing (100's) of stones in the creek which runs through the Jurgen property and having leaf fights! It was fun.
The outdoor stuff came to a grinding halt this week, though. Last Wednesday we were outside in t-shirts. Today, we have 2-3" of snow on the ground. Yikes! I still don't mind winter, but would prefer it hold off until at least December!
In addition to caring for Miles, I've filled my weekend time with a couple of projects -- first, I'm catching up with my photo albums. All of my pictures are captioned and positioned in family album #30 through the September, 2010 Yellowstone trip. I've also undertaken stripping and refinishing a small wooden stool that my dad made years ago. Covered with about six layers of paint, it's been a chore, but I think the underlying patina somewhat attractive. I still need to sand it down, clean the wood and then maybe put some verathane on or something to that effect.
(Sunday, 11/14) Yikes. I started this post five days ago; in the middle Miles woke up and that was that for a time. Wednesday, 11/10 Miles and I spent the day together again, but Thursday began a fun time for all concerned. Meghan's childhood friend Amy Fisher Daughtery and her mom Sharon Fisher flew out from Michigan for a short visit. They arrived Thursday at noon and as I type this -- 9:28 a.m. I can imagine them sitting in their plane at the Pocatello Airport anticipating their 9:30 lift-off time. The two and half days they spent here were great fun; Meghan thoughtfully included me in all the activities of the weekend. Thursday afternoon we gave the gals a short tour of Pocatello and ate lunch at the Portneuf Valley Brewing Company. Friday, a long drive -- mucho gracias to Joshua who played the roles of chaffeur, tour guide and all-around helper -- we took Amy and Sharon to Jackson, WY. The route afforded them the opportunity, also, to see both the Monsanto and Agrium facilities near Soda Springs, where the kids work. We spent several hours meandering downtown Jackson and even hit a thrift store there. Unfortunately, the weather forecast was bit off and the peaks of the Grand Tetons were shrouded in clouds and didn't present quite the best picture. On the return trip, we encountered snow in the Teton Pass area and dined at Stockman's in Idaho Falls.
Yesterday, Meg picked me up about noon -- first affording me the opportuniy to 'show off' my new house. We hit the Idaho Unlimited store for souvenirs, ate lunch at Wingers -- a regional chain, and drove the 'back roads' to Inkom. Later, while Meg scurried about preparing a 'build your own pizza bar' for dinner, I took the gals to Lava Hot Springs for a dip in one of the pools.
It was a busy time, but it was really nice to chat with folks with whom we share a common experience and to get caught up on news from "home." Today and tomorrow I'll be entertaining myself with a bit of packing for my own trip to the midwest commencing Friday and preparing for my next go-round with Miles. He really enjoyed the company and it was fun to see him interact with Amy and Sharon, but come Tuesday he'll be all Grandma's again!
I'll be reunited with Glenn Friday, Nov. 19 when he picks me up at Midway Airport and we'll spend the weekend at Chez Hillesland (sans Seth). The long trek home begins Tuesday morning, Nov. 23. Ideally, the two-day drive will take only two days and we'll be back in Inkom, snuggled in for the Thanksgiving holiday by Wednesday evening.
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