Always an Adventure

(WARNING - Long blog follows). Well, we're back home at the ranch after a very nice mini-vacation in Richland. We'd hoped to have our truck ready to go when we got there, but unfortunately it has far more problems than we anticipated. So, it sits at the Bond Ranch (Thanks Gordon!) for the near future. We plan to just wait & buy one in June or July - but that means no new bed for me for awhile since all the cash will have to go to a different truck. :(

I DID get lots of used jeans for the quilt I'm working on. I went to the second hand store & they have piles of "freebies" and I found everything I needed! AND... I also visited the quilt shop of course and got the other things I needed to be able to finish the quilt. Now I just need time.

Our first Shareholder's meeting went very well. We met a LOT of people at the banquet on Friday eve and then on Saturday was the board meeting. Jeff's report was well received and they pretty much just told him to do what he needs to do unless it require large sums of money. Then, just get approval first. So, he was pleased with that, as well as the extra sums of $ they allocated to him to purchase horses. So, he plans on buying at least 12 animals at the upcoming sale.

Our trip home was an adventure - as always. (Louis L'mour says that "Adventure is just another word for poor planning!) We left Richland on Tues eve and drove nearly to Boise. We stayed the night in a La Quinta Motel (which I'll shamelessly plug here - it was great. Clean, no pet fee, very good price, excellent free breakfast, good beds!) Then, Wednesday we slept in and after breakfast decided to take the "short cut" through Idaho City, which is supposed to be an hour and a half shorter (notice I said "supposed to be").

So, everything went well for awhile, except that the road is VERY windy (twisty-turny, not like blowing wind) over the first pass. Then, we went through Lowman & Idaho City & up the next pass - and this is where it got interesting! It had been raining & of course up high - it was snow. (Remember that we are in the little green machine - my Geo Metro - with 3 adult-size people, 2 dogs and all our luggage). It wasn't long before the tires started slipping (which was quite surprising since it usually goes great) and then there we were - stuck. So, we got out our one chain (yes, ONE chain) and put it on the tire w/ the least tread. But, realized that we didn't have any bungee cords to keep it tight. So, I said a little prayer and sure enough, a pickup stopped to help & they had bungee cords. So, problem solved - until we started moving. The chain stayed on all of about 10 seconds & spun off, but we were moving (kinda) & Jeff didn't want to stop. So, we spun our way about mile up the road. And then were stuck again. So, Jeff trooped back the mile & got the chain (I resisted the urge for the "I told you so"). Put it back on & we went about another 1/4 mile - & were stuck & lost the chain again. We put the chain in the car & debated what to do. Finally decided that all the weight in the car was keeping the weight OFF the front tires where it needed to be, so Jeff & Ben got out & pushed. Jeff said if I got going, not to stop until I got to the top (which was supposed to be quite close according to all the people who went by). So, it only took about 10 feet to get going and off I went - & left them. And it was NOT as close as we thought to the top. But, I got there & pulled over to wait - and worry (It was about this time I was recalling a quote from a survivor of the Donner Party. She was giving a cousin advice that said "Never take shortcuts and hurry along as fast as you can").

Pretty soon an Idaho DOT truck pulls up and I asked if they'd seen my guys. They said "Yes, but they didn't want a ride" I said "Do they know how far it is?" and they replied "We told them at least a mile and a half". I said "I'm worried about them on the road". So, they responded "Do you want us to go back & get them?" (Well, duh!!) "Yes, please" I asked. So, off they went. They returned shortly w/ Jeff & Ben & we were on our way (and so were they - a truck had stopped & said another couple was stuck back down the pass & pretty panicked). So, that was our adventure getting home.

And, as my final story of the day (maybe, unless I think of more) we had a very cool activity going on here across from the ranch. Idaho Fish & Game are in here to radio collar deer. So, they've been bringing in supplies in a helicopter and then used the heli to herd deer into a net they set up. We have a front-row seat to watch! AND.. they are short help, so said Ben & anyone else who wants to can help. Tonight we didn't get our schedules right, but in the a.m. we hope to go help them tackle deer. How cool huh? Ben & I took lots of pics today & I think he'll post the best ones on his site, so be sure & check that in the next day or so. We'll try & take more tomorrow if we actually get to help.

Final note - we have sheetrock on our walls! And a pile of rocks waiting to be a fire hearth. If the pic uploads, I'll put one on here, otherwise it'll be on tomorrow's blog. Boy, the place looks a lot smaller w/ walls! But, I'm very excited. I got paint samples while I was out so will be working on that.