growing and learning

hanging out in Idaho

well, we survived the drive, Bug having to have a potty break FOUR times in the 3.5 hours to Boise.  and always when baby Roo was sleeping, so I could either let him go into the gas station bathrrom by himself (shudder) or wake the baby and let her scream for the next hour until she falls asleep again.  finally I told him that every time he "has" to stop to pee, it adds another half hour onto our trip (okay, slight exageration, but he would go in there and not come out for 5 minutes.  I mean, how long does it take a little boy, anyway?!?!?!)  he did not have to pee again until we had reached our destination 4 hours out of Boise!  I think he was just tired of being in the car, and took the "I hafta pee" excuse to get out and stretch.  good golly, it is 2 hours to my moms, and he makes that without  a pee break.

We hit wildfire smoke about halfway from Boise and the air has been mostly smokey since then.  On Thursday we went berrying - blackberries, yummy yummy!  we went for huckleberries today, but although we found the great field we harvested 2 years ago, we found only ONE huckleberry.  it was tasty,  but one huckleberry does not make jam.  so I have a gallon bag of frozen blackberries in the freezer to take home and use the special pectin mentioned on the front porch a few months ago for alternative-to-sugar jam.

My cousin with whom I am staying is getting a new kitchen.  Yeah for her.  her husband is re-doing it, from the old 1930-era original woodframe.  which means that from the time I arrived, we had a fridge, a sink, and a dishwasher.  that's it.  tonight when we get back, we will have a fridge.  so, the kids are eating cereal for breakfast every morning, and we made pancakes at my aunt's house and are toasting them for breakfast.  we have been gone every day for lunch, so sandwhiches have been lunch.  Dinner we will be eating at my aunt's house.  we just planned a menu for the next few days.  fun fun fun stuff!

I went to www.eatwild.com a few months ago, looking for natural beef, and found this buffalo ranch online.  I had wanted to stop there while we are in the area this week, but didn't figure it would be worth it, since they probably didn't slaughter till september.  yesterday we were at the county fair and saw a food vendor selling buffalo burgers - from Weippe (pronounced  wee - ip).  so I asked if they were THE buffalo ranch mentioned on eatwild.  turns out htey are, and I had a good talk with the owner about buffalo meat, and how to cook it, and how I could possibly get some after slaughter in a few months.  meanwhile, they have a few roasts left over from last year they will sell me.  So we are headed up there Tuesday to get a frozen roast to take home and try - see if dh likes buffalo better than beef.  I need to get some dry ice for my cooler, but that is ok, I need some anyway for the blackberries.

We are having kind of a down day today.  letting the kids catch up on naps and just letting them run and play.  tomorrow being the Sabbath, we are staying around home, spending time as a family, but Monday we are headed to the river for a day of swimming, and tuesday to the buffalo ranch.  so we are filled up.  anyway, gotta go.  I'll check in again when I can.