Gimpa's Last Adventure

There are times in life when we don't realize the precious weight of those simple everyday moments we take for granted.  Our Idaho camping trip with Steve was one of those times.  This trip was the last trip we would ever take with our beloved Gimpa.  There are no words for the depth of this loss.  These memories are more precious than ever... and if there is one thing that Steve gave us all plenty of, it's wonderful memories.

Feeding the ducks at Alton Baker Park in Eugene.

Grilled Cheese is good for ducks... right?!

Gimpa and Norah settle in for our first night of camping at  Hell's Gate State Park in Lewiston, Idaho.  It was a long drive... but we made it in time for a wonderful sunset!

We went in search of petroglyphs and I lead the crew up a cactus-riddled slope having sworn that I saw them... only to discover that it was just very creatively splattered bird poop.  Oops!

Steve still took the opportunity to take in the scenery... which was quite lovely overlooking the Snake River.

One cool cat!

Gimpa and Norah built quite the fortress of sand castles!

So many sand castles... under a full moon... and on a sunny day?!

Here are the real petroglyphs... I'd like to see a bird pull that off mid flight!!

Norah was amazed at Gimpa's juggling!  He really knew how to put on a show!

Gimpa taught Norah a thing or two about hand-eye coordination.  His genuine patience, interest and love in his children and grandchildren was one of Steve's most beautiful legacies.

The top of the Spiral Highway, overlooking Idaho, Washington and Oregon

Love this shot so much it hurts.

Born to be wild

I stole a spin with Steve on our last day together in Farragut State Park... 

he went 35 miles per hour (tops!) and I was holding on for dear life!  It was exhilerating!  Steve said he loved feeling like he was right in the middle of things on his bike.  A part of the landscape.  Like seeing the world in surround sound.  (And speaking of surround sound... Steve didn't wear headphones or blast the radio when he was riding... he jammed out to song koodies.  I imagine a lot of Skinamarinky Dinky Dink :)  

Thanks for the good times Steve!

You will be sorely missed.

Our last night at Hells Gate State Park we built a camp fire, which Steve was really looking forward to because he had so many 'deep thoughts to share' with us.  We talked a lot about family history and his parents and what they did and how they lived.  A conversation that I will always treasure.  He would peek into his binoculars every now and then and spy on the lighted windows of the ritzy houses across the river.  "They don't know what they're missing", he said dropping his binoculars and looking up at the star-riddled sky.  "They're too busy being busy to see what's around them.  People don't know how to slow down anymore.  I don't understand how someone could ever be bored.  People just don't know how to be still.  Me?  I could just sit in a chair and stare at the dust in the corner, for... ever.  Watch a moth in a fire, a bee on a flower.  Whatever.  I can do nothing for hours and never be bored."  I took this picture the day he left.  Excited to share with him just how philosophically deep and affecting his thoughts truly were.  His gentle wisdom will be sorely missed.

After we said 'Good-bye' to Gimpa we spend the rest of the day exploring the park and taking it easy.  Norah found a great swinging spot, her favorite thing in the world is to swing.  Shouting "Higher!  Higher!"

Greg's all natural lake spa

Beach Nappin

Park nappin.  Norah actually fell asleep for a good hour and a half... as did everyone else!

Family photo op

You may see this one on your Christmas cards...

Our little tree monkey!  So happy!

Beautiful Lake Pend d'Oreille

Taking in the view at Lake Coeur d'Alene

Goofy Girls.

This was pretty much the extent of the wildlife we saw!

Sarah's Third Decade

As August came, my twenties went.  I rang in the coming of a new decade with a fantastic backyard bash featuring pizza and pinatas.  It was a wonderful party.  Our guest of honor, Gimpa, came all the way from Wisconsin to share the adventure that Greg and I had planned for the time between our birthdays.  Having him here was the best birthday gift of all.

Norah was a little hesitant to tack a whack at the toucan pinata... but she liked to spectate!

Our neighbor Logan was happy to take Norah's turn!

Diane got in her batter's stance and ended the game with a bang!

It was a fond farewell to a fabulous decade!

Classmates to co-workers!  We all graduated together and are now happily employed on the cardiac unit!

Enjoying the new patio

We caught bluegrass night at Sam Bond's and had a great round of Jenga... on a wobbly table!

Northwest String Summit

As a last hoorah before I turn 30 next week, we took the family to the Northwest String Summit, one of the biggest bluegrass festivals in the Northwest.  Five thousand people pitch their tents at the beautiful Horning Hideout for three days of banjo pickin' good times.  There was music from nine in the morning till three in the morning, amazing food and craft vendors, and peacocks roaming amongst the crowd! 

 We tried to pack light... alas...

Our little neighborhood amongst the vast village of tents.

  We camped with Jon and a few of his Portland parent pals, it was a nice mellow scene... and it was great to have others who left the show early to put kids to bed!

We took Norah for a paddle boat ride to beat the heat!

We rescued a butterfly (after Greg shot it down with the water gun!)

Norah loved having it crawl all over her as its wings dried off.

Jon and Wilson hit the water to cool off in the pond.  

Hornings Hideout stock the pond with rainbow trout and you can see them jumping all over!  They have fishing there, but the five osprey and three bald eagles give good competition!

10th Anniversary of the Northwest String Summit... it sold out for the first time!

The acoustic stage, a smaller more intimate scene among the trees.

Wilson catches a nap in Daynia's arms... so sweet!

Norah and Wilson entertain their caterpillar friend

The mellow mid-day party scene over in Brett and Daynia's camp, the shade was a nice reprieve from the blazing sun of our family camp!

Our precious peacock!

Did I mention that there were about forty peacocks wandering the grounds?  Norah was positively enchanted by them! 

Coolin off any way we can!

Mid-afternoon at the main stage.  The hula-hoopers were amazing... these two are actually passing a beer while hooping... impressive!!

We played this game alot... can you find Norah?!

The only nap of the whole weekend!

Norah loved playing with the hula-hoops... 

she was excited to find one just her size!

Our version of hula-hooping was a little different

Festie Family

There were lots of little ones there and Norah had no problem making herself at home!

Dancing and spinning in the hula-hoop!

The main stage in its mid-day glow!

Hee-cock!  (As Norah calls them ;)

Norah and Wilson dueling light sabors... NOT swords!

Jon and Wilson and Norah settling in to catch Railroad Earth's amazing set!

The call of these peacocks would put a rooster to shame! 

 It's quite a way to wake up in the morning!

Norah and Wilson had a great weekend together!  

They were good buddies by the time we said good-bye!

Norah loved it when the released a bunch of pink balloons during the last Yonder Mountain set on Sunday!  The guy in the fuzzy hat was Conrad, they had quite the game of 'keep the balloon off the ground'!

Feeling the groove!

This cockatiel was amazing!  It gave kisses and danced with its tye-dyed master like a pro!  He would swing the bird upside-down and all around and it would just hang on!

The peacocks gave us a fine fanned farewell!  

I took it as an omen that we should return next year!