What a Mess

In honor of the Winter Project project Dave and I are spending our time in a very messy family room. Dave has brought in his box of nuts, bolts an washers from the garage and has big plans to sort and organize them. He says the tarp stays til spring. I say out by Saturday. Once you let them bring a tarp in, the next thing you know there is a motorcycle engine in pieces as part of the decor. "It's cold in the garage!"

I am currently obsessed with family history and love some of the stories I am finding. On my mom's side we have a Mordecai that came over from Germany and signed the Non-Importation Agreement in 1765 and refused to import goods from Great Britain until the repeal of the Stamp act. Interesting! On my Dad's side, one of his father's ancestors was in the rescue company that helped save the pioneers in the Martin Company (where one of Dad's mother's ancestors was in bad shape). On the other hand there was also slave-trading, "general disregard of women" and other unsavory practices. Here are some of the names I looking for: Clemence, Ayers, Kimbrell, Wickham, Luna, Kemp, Lawrence, Collette, York and of course Smith and Jones.

Maverick Football

We have enjoyed watching Bryson play football this fall. He plays defensive tackle, middle linebacker and fullback. He is on the JV team and has to dress down for the Varsity games also. We drove to Caldwell for the last game today. It started at 4:00 pm and was about 70 degrees - warm and clear. They started off strong and it turned into a defensive game. The defense scored 18 points! Two interceptions for touchdowns and Bryson scored a touchback (a recovered fumble in our end zone for the football novice). He gets a steak dinner from Coach Bravo for that one.

The final score was 27 to 12. Good way to end the season.

Best Marriage Advice I've Received

A couple of years ago Lucille Johnson gave a talk on marriage relationships and I wrote down what she said about the five things men need and the five things women need most from each other. There can be so many challenges in having a happy marriage that I have loved this advice and try to keep it in mind. It's not one size fits all but is pretty basic and you can tailor it to your specific situation. For instance, if both have careers, then both should share the domestic chores. There was a time after Dave graduated before he got a job that I worked full time and he was home with Ben and Kristen (4 and 2). It was a good experience for both of us.

Although we can drive each other crazy once in a while, we both know that we are each other's top priority.

Here's to love and happy marriages!

WHAT MEN NEED/WHAT WOMEN NEED

MEN
Physical Intimacy (see http://strengtheningmarriage.com/ )
Have fun together/do recreational things with him
Praise and Admiration
Attractive Wife (smile, sense of humor)
Domestic Support (clean house)



WOMEN
Affection without other motives. “You are
important. I will protect you.”
Talking—Thoughts, fears, feelings
Fidelity and Trust
Financial Support
Spiritual Leadership in the Home

Fall Day Hike

Dave took the day off and we went for a hike in the Boise foothills. It was a fun date and we walked and talked and enjoyed the scenery. Nice to get some sunshine before it gets cold. Dave learned that one of my favorite books is Where the Red Fern Grows and I learned (again) that "adventure" is Dave's middle name.

You Can't Play Until Your Work is Done...

Ben and Chantal flew to Boise from Mesa last weekend to help us do some work in McCall. They came in time to watch Bryson play football Thursday night. Early Friday morning we drove up and started the work. Chantal and I bundled up and went outside to remove the temp. fencing put up by the road crew while Dave and Ben replaced some windows and exchanged the propane insert for a pellet insert in the fireplace. (That required some muscles!) We also replaced the window in the front door.

Ben, Chantal and I made a run to town to by a TON of pellets. Then Ben (2 at a time) and Chantal (1 at a time) took them downstairs to the basement. Fri night we watched the first Harry Potter (Ben hadn't seen it before) and went to sleep. Sat after some more chores we took them to Gold Fork to soak their tired muscles in the hot springs. We do want them to come back, afterall.

Family History...

which I tend to do in bits and pieces, now and then. Here is an obituary of Dave's Great Grandfather Parley Pratt Carver we came across on the internet.

Fill 'em up!

I don't particularly enjoying canning but I like the feeling of storing up for the winter like a squirrel with both cheeks full of nuts. Dave and I did O'Henry peaches last week -yum. Yesterday I supplemented my tomatoes with a box I bought at the fruit stand. (Most of mine are still green). My parents arrived in Boise just in time to help me fill up the jars. And, they brought over some apples from their trees, so with another box from the fruit stand we will have enough for a couple of batches of applesauce. The grapes should be ready any time (we drank our last bottle of grape juice two weeks ago) and THEN we can put away the canning equipment. I am still picking raspberries and making freezer jam or eating the fresh ones mixed with the fresh peaches. I like planting and love harvesting, but still haven't gotten the weeding thing down. Maybe next year.