...a recipe for a ride

Ingredients:

• one bike
• one rider
• early morning
• temperatures in the mid-70s
• slight breeze
• blue skies
• beautiful valley

Directions:

Get on the bike and pedal. Repeat for 40 miles. Ride around the entire valley. Soak up the scenery. Smile broadly at dour-faced folks on their way to church. Laugh maniacally as you fly down hills. Grin at the deer standing at the side of the road, watching you approach. Stop to take a picture of a sunflower field. Send the picture to your riding buddies at home with the message, "Wish you were here!" Be grateful for such a perfect day. Enjoy!

(Yes, I'm on my way to Boise to help Arlene move, but she's not ready for me yet.)

...becoming a bag lady

This is the bag that started it all.

I made it over 20 years ago when I was going to college and Katie was a baby. When she went off to college, she took it with her, and wore the poor old thing out. She asked if I could make a new one. I no longer had the pattern, so took the first one apart and copied it. That was in February.

Since then, I've made all of these, six of them in the past week. Throw in some aprons, tissue box covers, a couple of shifts for Arlene, a valance and a doo rag....whew! My machine has been smokin'!

I'm off to Boise tomorrow to help Arlene move into her new house. My ancient sewing machine will be quite grateful to be covered up and left in peace for a while.

...winning the lottery

Wouldn't it be lovely if I won the lottery? Then I could just cycle, read, and sew ALL the time! (Minor detail--might have to buy a lottery ticket.)

...riding with the fast guys

I was the only {not so fast} person to show up for the group ride tonight. That meant I'd be riding alone. Harrumph. But, it was a beautiful, calm evening--no reason to be grumpy. I would ride alone--there are worse things to endure--like not riding at all on such a fine evening. The route was decided upon, and I took off early while the guys still hung around fiddling with tires and what-not. I thought if I could make it up the hill before they passed me, I might have a chance of hanging on for a while. My strategy worked, but then it was inevitable--they dropped me. But wait--there were only four in that group. Where were the others? I kept looking back, but never did see the rest of the guys. I'm not sure what happened to them--they should have caught up to me. The first group waited in Echo and were surprised to see me ride in alone. After refilling my water, I took off again--the days aren't as long as they were just a few short weeks ago, and it would take me a bit to get back to the shop. But--what's this?? The fast guys passed me again, and hollered, "Grab on!" They slowed their pace just a tad, and I was able to hang on all the way back to town. I'm still grinning.

...a baiku

Perfume of hay and mint

fill the air as we fly by.

Ah, summer riding!

...80 years young

My mom's sister, Lorraine, better known as "Aunt Nanie," turned 80 in June. She asked her children for a picnic at Champoeg State Park, but "Please wait until July, when the weather is nicer!" The picnic was yesterday, and I had no intention of going. You see, I have this class to finish. Papers to write. Mom asked on the phone, "Are you going?" Sorry, no. Saturday morning I got up, intending to walk to the farmer's market to buy blueberries, then chain myself to the computer for the rest of the day. I am motivated to get this work done--as soon as Arlene closes on her house I want to be free to GO. But.... I kept thinking about Aunt Nanie's party. And waffled. Should I go? No. Maybe I should. Nope. Too much to do. But...if it were her funeral I would be there and not second guess my decision. A quick conversation with Arlene clinched it. I was going. I quickly packed an overnight bag, texted Katie to let her know I needed a bed for the night, and was out the door by 10:00 a.m. It's almost a four hour drive to the park, but my little ol' truck made it in record time. Luckily, Katie didn't have to work until 5:00, so she met me at the park. It was bigger than I realized, and we didn't know where to find them. No one knew we were coming, and mom's cell phone was turned off. We strolled past several family gatherings, peering carefully at the faces. Do they look like my cousins? (Nope, nope, and nope, but the food smelled good!) Finally, Katie spotted them, and we joined the party. What fun to surprise them all! Lots of hugs all around. A good decision. (And I'll chain myself to the computer tomorrow.)

...Whew! I'm home again.

(Note to readers: I started writing this post earlier in the week, then got busy working on assignments for the class I'm taking. I've decided to post it as is, then pick up the story later when I have the time.)

The past two weeks were busy and fun...and exhausting. It's good to be home again, sleeping in my very own bed. I've done enough yard work (some at the folks', some at Arlene's, and some at Lani's) to satisfy that urge and realize that I really don't miss having a yard that needs constant attention.

Henry the hippie kept us company when we were outside working in the yard. He's a funny little dog--so excited to see me at first, then he gets cranky if I try to love on him. He's too young to be a grumpy old man, so we're not sure what the deal is. (Nothing I lose sleep over, believe me!)

When I got to Boise Arlene greeted me with the news, "I'm moving!" WHERE?? WHEN?? "I don't know. Let's go house hunting!" she said. So long story short--Arlene's offer on this wonderful little house was accepted, and I'll be going back over in a few weeks to help paint and move. I am sooooo happy for her!

Her new house is close to the Greenbelt, a great walking/biking trail, and a cute little park is in the neighborhood--just right for Jadyn.

On Monday I left Boise and headed for Prairie City. I set up my camp in the local RV park (note to self--don't camp in space #1 unless you want to field a lot of questions!). I wasn't so sure if I'd be staying--not a single bike or cyclist was in sight--not exactly what I had imagined. But soon Storie came roaring in on his bike and introduced me to Bill and Lois from California. Small world, they are from Arcata, which is where Nate's ex-girlfriend Genavieve is from. Her mom, Kate, is a midwife there. Bill and Lois' two grandchildren were delivered by a midwife named Kate! I went for a short ride up the canyon that evening (and took a slow-mo spill--ouch!), then met up with my new friends in the morning for a mountain bike ride up to Dixie Summit. So much fun! I hadn't intended to do that ride--my fat-tired bike is not really a mountain bike, but they assured me it would do just fine--and it did.

The view from the hill behind Prairie City was spectacular!

Coming down this logging road was a total blast. Bill took a tumble just before the bottom, but wasn't hurt.

Later on that evening this injured duck flapped its way through my camp. He was not at all happy with me for following him with my camera

To be continued...