Windows Windows

We pushed right ahead with more window installation this weekend.  Accomplishing the four biggest and most difficult windows on our house.  Nick and Zach were a team to reckon with and I did my best to be the "gopher" as Jean calls it. 
"Sarah go-fer the hammer". 
"Sarah go find the insulation". 
"Sarah go get the nails."
But I was happy to do it to keep their progress moving along. 

Before

Removing one of the rake "windows".

Three down one to go.

We still haven't finished the interior jambs and replaced the trim but that doesn't matter as much when the snow start's to fall.  Eight more to go!

Completion!

Ira Glass

The host of one of my favorite radio shows, "This American Life" came to Hailey over the weekend to give a lecture for the Sun Valley Center of the Arts.  It was wonderful to see him and listen to him in person and it truly felt like being in the audience of one of his radio shows. 

Unfortunately, we didn't get to stay for the question and answer portion which I was hoping to get a little more insight on Ira the person.  I felt satisfied though for my brief glimpse into the show and hearing it live!

Yellowstone- Part 2: Zach's Photos

Yellowstone- Part 1: The Story

My first trip to Jelly-stone and I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.  Zach, Lucy, and I headed east to meet up with my mom and Ben for a weekend in the world's first National Park.  Fall is well known for the elk rut which we encountered first hand.

The weekend started in Island Park at the Latham's family cabin.  We are very lucky to be able to use this launching pad to an endless paradise of the outdoors.  Jeannie, Ben, and Luke arrived in their RV and we spent the afternoon canoeing down the Henry's Fork of the Snake River.  The indian summer weather felt warm and relaxing.  A rather close encounter with a bull moose resting in the willows shot us back into reality before we excited the river.

The early bird gets the worm... and we weren't disappointed the next morning with our early start into Yellowstone.  Within fifteen minutes of entering the park we were surrounded by a herd of elk being serenaded by their ever present "bull".    There had to be at least fifty or so people pulled over in their cars witnessing the morning meadow scene and you could have heard a pin drop.  Everyone seemed enthralled to step into a seemingly amazing National Geographic moment.  The rest of the day was chalked full of gorgeous scenery, more wild animal encounters, and a lot of history.  A stop at Old Faithful and another encounter with the elk in rut left us excited for the next days activities in the park.

Our final day in the park we witnessed the volcanic aspects of Yellowstone's varied terrain.  The geyser pools seemed other worldly and literally appeared to be an artists palette in pure turquoise, amber, yellow, crimson, emerald, and whites.  We had a rare mountain goat sighting before leaving which made not seeing a grizzly bear or wolf seem manageable.  But in the short time we spent in the park it's truly amazing how many wild animals you see up close and personal.  Here's our list of sightings: elk (bull, cow, and calves), bison, coyote, bald eagle, blue heron, muskrat, mountain goat, moose, rainbow trout, Sandhill cranes, antelope, Kokanee salmon, and more.

I felt so grateful that a few pioneers had the foresight to save this national treasure from economic development in the early conquest of the American West.  It was wonderful to share this experience with people I love.  I look forward to our next visit and many more to come!

Part 2: Zach's photos...to be continued.

Window World

It's happening!  After years of planning, hoping, and saving, Zach and I have finally acquired new windows for our house.  Mostly thanks to government, state, and local rebate offers we were able to afford these much needed improvements to our home.

Our garage storage unit.

This past weekend the work began.  We have 20 windows to install in a little over a month to receive all the rebates.  We managed to get 8 in over the weekend thanks to Zach and his dad, Nick.  They were like Huey and Duey hammering, sawing, and installing.  Jean and I managed to keep them well fed and help where we could.

Nick and Zach preparing the kitchen window.

My new kitchen view.  Smile Zach :)

Sarah measuring the window tape.  This will keep the water out.

We still have to finish the interior jambs but we are making great progress.  It's like our home has lost 20 years and never looked younger :)

Dining Room.  Just need to finish the interior now.

Final pictures to come.

Labor Day Wagons & Wood

We started our long weekend with a day enjoying some of the activities around town.  The annual Wagon Days parade took place in Ketchum so we sat in the sun with hundreds of other people along main street to watch the action.  The famous "Big Rig" always comes last which is a series of very narrow wagons pulled by about 20 small mules.  It is known to have passed over Galena in the pioneer days.  It's fun for families and friends to watch while enjoying road side picnics and such.

Then it was time to get ready for the next season that is fast approaching, fall.  Learning from our mistakes last year (needless to say) we gathered a free wood cutting permit and headed north with an empty trailer.  We found what we like to call the "honey pot" of wood and made a relatively quick day of falling, marking, cutting, stacking, and splitting our wood. 

 Phew!  Now I think we need a weekend from our weekend.