First Day of Nursing School....FINALLY!!

It has been a long time coming, but on Monday I finally started the BSU Nursing Program. I was accepted to the program way back in May of 2007. Shortly after I received my acceptance letter I quit working my corporate job with Albertsons/Supervalu to work at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in the Surgery Prep and Recovery areas. Over a year has passed and I am still excited about becoming a nurse. Now that I am working in the Family Maternity Center I love my job even more and realize the opportunites for growth and learning I will have in the future. Now I just hope the next four semesters go fast! May 2010 will not come soon enough.

Splash Dogs

Splash Dogs finally came to the Western Idaho Fair this year. Splash Dogs is an event where a dog runs down a platform then jumps off the end. The dog that leaps the furthest is the winner. We decided to take Beck down today to see how she would do in a practice round. Needless to say she LOVED it!!! She took about ten runs down the platform making bigger and better jumps each time. The staff was great about giving Mike tips on how to throw the ball to help her leap further.

We had to let a couple other dogs take their practice runs, and while we were waiting Beck whined and moaned all the while staring at her ball. She got to make another set of runs and she was so excited.

The other dogs there had to be man handled from the exit ramp back up the stairs to the top of the platform. Beck had the course down. She would make her way to the exit ramp and run right back to the top of the stairs, drop her ball for Mike, and was ready for another leap.

Mike decided he not to compete with her, but he might change his mind in a day or two. I hope over the next couple of months and next summer we can work with her more and have her ready for 25+ feet next year. Oh, and don't feel bad for Cassius he had to stay home because I don't think there is an event for "Special Splash Dogs". The poor boy can barely swim with a life jacket on.

After we finished at the fair Beck was a little bit excited. I took this funny video of her in the parking lot on our way to the car.

From Tin Grin to Smooth Pearly Whites

After two years, 8 months, and 9 days I got my braces off! I can't begin to say how happy I am to have them off. To celebrate Mike and I went to the movie where I ate my weight (not really) in popcorn. The Western Idaho Fair is going on through the 24th. My friend Steph (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!) and I are going to go and watch the Splash Dog Finals where I am sure I will indulge in some caramel corn and roasted corn on the cob!

Deadwood Reservoir

Monday Mike and I had the day off together and we were pretty bored sitting at home so we decided to scope out the Deadwood Reservoir. We left town later in the morning and drove through Garden Valley and past Danskin Station then turned onto Scott Mountain Road. The road was 26 miles of curves, bumps, and a little bit of washboard. But we made it and the long road was well worth it. We first stopped to look at the dam. The photo below shows the water flowing out of the dam. The water was moving so fast that it was splashing us over the fence.

View of the backside of the dam

We found a nice spot on the beach and set up our stuff for the day. The dogs had an excellent time playing in the water. Cassius is becoming a better swimmer, but still cannot swim well enough to go without his life jacket.

Mike playing fetch with Cassius

Beck (in the water), Cassius, and Mike

Cassius bringing back the stick for another throw

Mike relaxing on the beach

We headed out around 5:30 or 6 and had originally planned to take another route out, but we discovered we were given bad information about the road out so we got to "enjoy" Scott Mountain Road all over again. It was a long day, but well worth it. We can't wait to go back either this fall or next summer to camp with all of our friends.

Washington Lake-The White Cloud Mountains

This past Friday, the 1st, around 5:30 a crew of four people (Wendy, Ian, Russ, & I) met up at The Holley Pack House and headed toward the White Cloud Mountains. We made it to the trail head around 9:30 in the evening and made our way, mostly in the dark, to Washington Lake. Earlier that afternoon Kendall and Christian had secured an excellent camp spot for us and had a nice camp fire waiting for up when we arrived. After setting up camp and having a few laughs it was off to bed to wake up to scenery that we couldn't see on our way in. It was a bit like Christmas, anticipating what we would wake up to. I have never been disappointed by the scenery found in the mountains of Idaho and this time was no exception.

We all got up and made our ways through our morning routines; coffee, breakfast, etc. Then Wendy, Russ, and I decided it was time for a hike while Christian, Kendall, and Ian stayed at camp to fish, read, and listen to music. Those of us who decided to hike set out for an adventure. We were going off trail to climb a peak and get a nice view. We accomplished the task and I saw some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen in a while. Everything was so peaceful. Beck and Wendy's dog Gemini were along for the hike as well. They even had the opportunity to swim in a mountain lake.

Beck & D at the top of our first peak

View from one of the peaks. We visited the lake below.

After about 8 miles we were back at camp and more than ready for a dip in the lake which was followed by some hot chocolate.

Making our way back into camp

Everyone relaxing before dinner

Whenever I go backpacking my diet is pretty simple, and this trip was more than a treat. Ian and Russ blew me away with their back country cooking. On Saturday morning Russ treated us to breakfast burritos complete with fried potatoes and two mixtures of eggs and meat. For dinner on Saturday night the guys really out did themselves by preparing cheese bread over the camp fire followed by curried chicken with couscous and peas.

Russ getting the bread ready to cook over the fire

I have never eaten so well on a back packing trip. Wendy and Kendall even packed in wine, which was greatly appreciated! After dinner we all sat around the camp fire chatting and laughing about almost anything. Beck even sang us a song.

Sunday morning Russ and Ian were at it again with biscuits and gravy. While everyone was enjoying their breakfast I headed to the shore of the lake with Beck for some yoga. I had one of the best yoga sessions of my life. I could not have imagined a better place to practice yoga.

The best place to practice yoga

After everyone ate we cleaned up camp and headed back to the truck. We made a quick stop in Stanley and then hit the road home. We stopped at the Skinny Dipper hot springs on the south fork of the Payette river for a quick soak ( I had to pass due to bad blisters). The weekend was jammed packed with fun and adventure. I couldn't have asked for a better crew to spend the weekend with. I can't wait for the next trip, although this time I would like to contribute to the food a bit more.

Beck is tired after a weekend of hiking

A Mountain Wedding & Backpacking

Friday July 11th Mike, Beck, Cassius, and I took off for Ketchum, Idaho to camp out for a couple of nights. Our friends, Ron & Amy, were getting married on Saturday at Galena Lodge and we wanted to make sure we had a good campsite for the next couple of nights. We arrived late in the afternoon and secured two great campsites for the weekend. After setting up camp we had a great time hanging out and taking Beck to the river for a swim.

The Holley Pack (North Fork Camp Ground, near Ketchum, ID.)

Beck taking a dive into the river

Saturday we spent the day hanging around with Mark, Stevie, and Theresa. We all got as dolled up as we could considering we didn't have any running water and headed to Galena Lodge for the wedding. It was really great to see friends that we haven't seen in a long time.

D & Mike standing near the meadow where the wedding ceremony took place

I guess being a fire fighter really does get a guy chicks :)

L-R: Jen, Deb, Mike, D, & Sarai

After a night of sleep we packed up our stuff and headed over Galena Summit into the Sawtooth Mountain Range. We parked at Pettit Lake and headed into the mountains. We started in the middle of the day and holy crap it was HOT! I went through three liters of water in no time, mainly because I was giving most of it to the dogs. We reached Farley Lake about 2 hours later and filtered more water and had a snack. Next it was off to Toxaway Lake. We initially tried to find a camp site on the lake, but the mosquitoes were horrible so we kept on moving trying to get out of mosquito land. Finally we settled for this camp site:

The bugs were still pretty bad, even at a higher elevation. Did I mention we ran out of bug spray? And that I have a flashing neon sign above my head that is only visible to the mosquito population that says "Buffet"? Needless to say I got eaten alive and the dogs were getting pretty beat up too. I am actually surprised that I don't have West Nile and that the dogs haven't shown signs of heart worm. So after a hurried dinner I stuck the dogs in the tent to keep them from the bugs.

Mike and I soon joined the dogs in the tent, which is only a 2 man, 0 dog tent, so it was quite a squeeze with all of us in there. I think next year's REI dividend will have to go to a three man backpacking tent.

The next morning Cassius didn't feel like getting up because it was too cold, so he ended up sleeping while Mike, Beck and I filtered water and started the coffee.

Rather than hiking over the pass, we didn't know if it was open or not, we headed back down the way we came in to the car. We made pretty good time getting out. We drove into Stanley for the standard after back packing meal: burger and fries. We made another stop just outside of Stanley where I made the dogs pose in front of the Sawtooths. Obviously, they were interested in something moving in the bushes and could care less about my need for blog photos.

After our stops in Stanley we took our time driving to Placerville where we met up with our friends Cody and Kelli to spend a couple of days with them at their family cabin. It was so nice to have running water again! It was a great trip and I can't wait for more backpacking trips.

Cassius & THE CRAZY DAISY

For those of you that new my dog Orion, you probably heard the tale of the Crazy Daisy. A Crazy Daisy is a children's' water toy that you attach to a garden hose and when you turn on the water the daisy flops around in all directions spraying water everywhere.

Orion was obsessed with the Crazy Daisy and it provided endless entertainment for all that watched. I would often set it up in the front yard of the house I lived in on 13th street (a busy street in Hyde Park) and people on their bikes or walking along would stop and watch. Orion didn't even know they were there. It was the ultimate dog sitting toy.

Well, Cassius has always had something against the hose, and I thought he would enjoy a Crazy Daisy. After three summers of looking for one I finally came across one at Target a while back (it was even on sale). Over the 4th of July weekend while my sister and her family were visiting we hooked up the crazy daisy and this was the result.