2008 March 17th 1908 St. Patrick's Day Remembered

2008 St. Patricks Day was on a Monday and passed like most others. But it was only a few years ago when a family mystery about St. Patrick's day 1908 came up again. My mom had asked a local geneology expert about information

on my Dad's great-grandma Mary.

The reply, "Oh, you mean the Irish woman who killed her husband on St Patrick's Day." That's just hear-say....but it did fill in some gaps on an old newspaper story that my cousin had found.

Anyway.....R.I.P. Mary and James...and Long Live St. Patrick's Day

2008 March14th St. Patrick's Day Weekend Kick-Off

Friday was the annual St. Patrick's Day weekend kick off party. Every year I wonder why bother to go to all the trouble. Then I look at the ingenious stories on previous years' banners, and smell the slow cooked Guinness Corned Beef and it all seems worth-while. Not to mention the babes who brought Irish Brown Bread, Pastry Perfection Cake, and fresh carrot sticks too.

What an animated gathering:

2008 February 9 Idaho ABE LINCOLN 200 Year Exhibit

February 12 2008 is the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Abraham Lincoln. In commemoration, the Idaho Historical Museum had a special display on the life of Lincoln, and also Lincoln's special connection to creating the State of Idaho. Lincoln fought the war to preserve the American Union, and only later emancipated the slaves in the rebel territories. Lincoln didn't think he would be re-elected in 1864.

2008 Jan13 FRESH SUN AND SNOW

What a difference a day can make.
Saturday in Boise--gloomy, overcast, not much be cheery about (thought the Packers did beat the Seahawks.
Sunday---drove up toward Bogus Basin resort and got up above the very thick carpet of clouds to some fresh sun. Amazing what a difference the just getting up above the hill can do. Being in town can be deceiving when it is cloudy and overcast for days, it seems as if it must be that way everywhere. Not true. Remember to just drive out of it a ways. I hope next week when its the same way, I won't give up and hide indoors---but instead, drive out in search of some Fresh Sun

2008 Jan1 BANNER RIDGE SNOW SHOE

A New Year---2008.
Snow-shoeing on new year's day is almost becoming a tradition.

A trip to Banner Ridge north of Idaho for Snow-Shoeing with the gang. Plenty of recent snow, sun, and now wind----just about a perfect day.
And a good reminder of why I live in Idaho, not just to work in an office all day, but to be close to such amazing places as Banner Ridge in the winter
Only down part to the day was hurring home to watch the Sugar Bowl---and seeing the WAC Champ Hawaii Warriors be crushed by the Georgia Bulldogs.

2007 Dec 25 CHRISTMAS ON THE RIVER

After some extra time in the airports and a surprise night spent at the War-Bonnet Inn in Butte, MT, Christmas was a blast this year. Some of the time was spent, hanging around down by the Missouri River: playing on the ice with my nephew, or viewing the old bridge at night.

Decmber 2007 CORPORATE SUNRISE

Going to work at the same office complex the same day isn't always fun.....but at least I get to see some great sunrise views from the 5th floor, including this day. Colorful sunrises don't last long, but if even for a moment they do get a lot of people's attention.

Dec 14 2007 GLADIATOR HOLIDAY BEER TOUR

December is a busy time with Christmas parties and year end deadlines. With a lot already going on, I figured a roving, virtual Christmas gatherering was for the best. After meeting at my house for Wheat Chile, the Gladiator Van and Six Revelers made its way to three local brew houses with holiday beer: Sockeye Brewery, Highlands Hollow, and Table Rock Brew Pub. Additional friends met us at each stop, including for a viewing of the award for "Most Festive"---a silver Christmas Tree.





The High Point of the evening was also on the drive home when the whole van sang along to The Bare-Naked-Ladies version of "I saw three ships come sailing in, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day......."

Special thanks to Derek, the Designated Driver.

Deember 2004 WINTER GARDEN AGLOW

Here is a look back at the Idaho Botanical Gardens, "Winter Garden Aglow." A good place to get some roasted nuts.

Sept 2005, SACAGAWEA SPRINGS, Morony, MT

Much was made of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. But with such a long commemoration, and so many locations, it was hard to digest what was really a "must see." As far as I'm concerned, the trek to the Sulpher Spings is hands -down the most interesting site to see.

It is a mile walk, but after a few minutes you get the feeling of being out on a journey into the unknown, with nothing but rolling prairie and the sound of the Missouri River in the distance. Just when you think you're not going to see anything, there it is---a sulpher spring out in the middle of no where.


The Story: "Sacagawea was deathly ill in the spring of 1805 when she drank "the water of the Sulpher (sic) spring" near the "great falls" of the Missouri.
She felt much better the following day.
Before drinking the water, Sacagawea suffered a week with no improvement from several other attempted remedies, including two bloodlettings."

http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=848






The trail also has a great view of where Belt Creek meets the Missouri River---which was the start of the June 1805 portage around the Great Falls area.

June 2005, FIRST PEOPLE'S BUFFALO JUMP State Park Great Falls, MT

For a wide open open vision of the West, try Ulm Pishkun Buffalo Jump state park. The park was recently renamed, "First Peoples Buffalo Jump," but will always be Ulm Pishkun to me. From a distance, the cliffs look unimpressive as they so subtly blend into the rolling planes---but that is what made the buffalo jump so effective for thousands of years.

Best time to visit is when there has recently been rain, and the sky has opened up.

http://fwp.mt.gov/lands/site_282807.aspx
http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/section3/montanacities/greatfalls/ulmpishkun/

July 4, 2007 S FORK OF PAYETTE FLOAT

Mid week July 4th Holiday this year, so no time to go very far out of town. A scorching hot day, so it was a good time to take the day-long raft trip through "Swirly Canyon" on the South Fork of the Payette River.


I had done the same float in Sept 1997, and experienced a spectacular flip going over Little Falls.
Relatively tame this year in 2007.