High Tech Luxury

This is the greatest high-end luxury automobile of all time! And affordable, even a common man as myself can afford this cutting edge technology!

Super Wrestlers

Preston, Ruby, and Spencer

Meet the newest super wrestlers from Star Valley. Preston, Ruby and Spencer began their spring training tonight and will be hitting the mat soon against competition from across Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. The wrestling program in Star Valley is top notch. The high school has won the State title several years in a row and has produced such prolific wrestlers as Olympic great Rulon Gardner. Will Spencer be the next Rulon? How about Preston? Ruby...well we will see. One never knows!

Photo taken: February 27, 2008

SnagIt Oh So Cool!

I opened my browser and there on my home page, a chance to try SnagIt for free! For those of you who do not know what SnagIt is, its a screen capture software, but so much more than that! I use it at work all the time, and I even have it at home and use it for my blog! The image below was created using SnagIt off of my home page.

Some of the other post I have created using SnagIt images include this recent post, and this not so recent post. It is very user friendly, has several niffty tools and I highly recommend it!

Click any of the SnagIt links to try it free for 30 days!

Random Tag Meme

I was tagged by Cocoa at Chocolate On My Cranium with a meme.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you. (See above.)
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag at least three people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the fun begin!

1. I am allergic to shellfish. Can you say anaphylactic shock?
2. I am the oldest of 8 children. (Also the smartest)! :D
3. I usually only sleep 4 or 5 hours a night. It's not by choice...I wish I could sleep more..zzzz
4. I eat with my fork in my left hand, and upside down, even though I am right handed.
5. I have a birthmark in the middle of my forehead. It doesn't show up much, unless I have been out in cold weather.
6. I have 16 Nephews, but only 2 neices.

I tag Tiffany, Makayla, and Kassi. They are about the only people I know, other than Cocoa, who blog!

Activity Day Project

Nicely Decorated Baby Sitters Tote

Ruby attended the Stake Activity Day today. She spent 2 hours learning all about the ins and outs of baby sitting. She made this handsome tote, and filled it with items for activities for the little ones she is sitting. It also contains various items to keep them safe! She had a load of fun and is eager to start baby sitting.

Also as a side note; Ruby, (and her Mom), has been bugging me for quite some to time to let her get her ears pierced. I haven't been to keen on the idea, but this last Christmas I bought Ruby a pair of earrings. It was my way of telling her she could go ahead and get her ears pierced. About a week ago Angela took Ruby to the local Jewelery store and had the job done. Ever since Ruby has been wanting me to do a post showing off her new earrings. So, here it is. Ruby has her hair pulled back, just to show them off.

A Solution to Grease Splatters

I often cook breakfast on the weekends, and Spencer always wants to help! The problem is if I cook bacon, eggs, sausage, or hashbrowns, there is a lot of grease splatter, so Spencer doesn't get to help much. Today when I told him he couldn't put the potatoes in the oil or the bacon in the pan he ran off to his bedroom and came back with a solution to his problem!

Spencers Answer to Grease Splatter

Photo taken: February 23, 2003

Flavoring Fools

I can find amusement just about any where. The latest source to provide a laugh for me came from a school project that Ruby is working on. She came home with a binder with a historical account of Star Valley inside. The title of the history is 'A Bend in the River - The History of Star Valley and Lincoln County'.

As I was reading a section about the town of Auburn I came across a sentence that is worth sharing! Click on the image if you must to see it! It is too funny and worth a click!

Earthquake Centered Near Wells NV

As many of you all ready know, there was an earthquake in Northeastern Nevada this morning. Grandma and Grandpa Howes reported their house being rattled a bit, but otherwise no damage. They live 120 miles from the epicenter. The epicenter, at last report, was located 5 miles east of Wells Nevada. Many of the structures in Wells recieved severe damage. I have to give kudos to Lahontanvalleynews.com - they have the best coverage and photos I can find on the internet. Check them out here, here, and here!

Up Swift Creek

After are soup lunch yesterday, we took a ride up Swift Creek. The road is plowed to the mouth of the canyon, which is where we parked and played in the snow for awhile.

Preston, Ruby, and Spencer

Icy Spillway

Photos taken: February 18, 2008

Soup at The Chocolate Factory

I had the day off and the kids were out of school for Presidents day. We took advantage of the situation to spend some time together. We went to town, walked the bussiness district, and did a little window shopping. We then stopped in at Star Valley Chocolates, but not for the chocolates, rather for a bowl of their homemade soup.

Take Your Coat Off and Stay Awhile

Spencer waits patiently for his soup.

What a Display

Angela and Ruby Check out the Confections

Preston Would Eat Them All if He Could

Ruby Enjoys the Soup

Chocolate-opoly Anyone?

Tomorrow I will post about what else we did today!

Photos taken: February 18, 2007

From the Front Porch - Foggy River Bottom

I have published a couple of 'From the Front Porch' post before. We are blessed with some wonderful views out our windows!

Today was foggy all day long. It was hard to see across the street let alone across the valley. Then this evening, just before the sun was about to set, the fog burned back to the banks of the Salt River and left us to marvel at the view. We opened the blinds and enjoyed the awe of the mountains to the east as the sun slowly set in the west.

Swift Creek is at the far right of this photo. 'Star Mountain' just to the left of Swift Creek Canyon.

Swift Creek is at the far left of this photo, with Cottonwood Lake sitting between the two ridges to the right.

Photos taken: February 17, 2008

Alfalfa for Lunch

Deer and Tractors

These mule deer are feeding on a hay bale at a house near the high school. This years snow has pushed the deer into the valley, and they find a nutritious meal wherever they can!

Photo taken: February 16, 2008

Spending the Morning at the Mine

Spencer has been bugging Dad to take him to work and show him the mine. Dad finally committed and today I took the entire family for a tour. The kids were amazed that Dad would have pictures of them in his office.

Thanks to Jed Miller for having the Yukon nice and toasty warm when we arrived, and Whompa (Robert Roberts), for the shirts he gave the kids.

After playing around the mine all morning we drove back to town and took the kids to Burger King.

The Ultimate Big Wheel

Ruby, Spencer and Preston pose next to a 150 ton haul truck.

Sitting on the Edge

Spencer, Ruby, and Preston sit on the highwall of panel B3. Before rushing to judgement, that I am putting my children in danger, pictures are not as they always appear!

Photos taken: February 15, 2008

Most Unusual Valentine Gift

Apple Flavored Scorpion Sucker

Angela gave me this most unusual gift today for Valentines Day. It is an apple flavored sucker with a REAL roasted scorpion inside! She and the kids have been daring me to eat it all evening. I think it will end up on my desk at work as a conversation piece.

Photo Taken: February 14, 2008

99th Percentile

Ruby's Report

You may remember my post of last November, Ruby Aces Terra Nova. In that post I told of how Ruby had aced the math portion of the Terra Nova test. What I didn't post about yet is that a couple of days later she did the same with the reading portion of the test! She scored a perfect 100% on two of three portions of the test. Ruby rates in the 99th percentile nationaly in math, reading, and her total score. "This means that your student scored higher than 99% of the students in the Nation". She scored in the 62nd percentile in language. We'll have to work on that one.

We have been very pleased with how Ruby has progressed in school. A lot of credit goes to her teachers and the school system in Star Valley. We have been very impressed with the quality of education our kids are receiving. The school system is certainly an advantage of living in Star Valley!

Global Warming...Here's the Proof!

I have been a skeptic.....but how can I doubt now?

Thanks for the clip Chris!

Craig's Southwestern Pork Stew

This is a great stew! The cumin and green chilies give it a bit of a Southwestern flair!

I hope you enjoy it!

Near Normal

If yesterdays post with pictures of 8' snow drifts didn't impress you, how about the headline in the local paper the Star Valley Independent?

There it is....we are "inching toward normal". I know this has been a pretty decent year for snow totals in the Western US. Since we have moved to Star Valley I would judge this year to be second. The first year we moved here (2004-2005 winter) had the most snow fall so far. But this year is certainly catching up. What is so impressive to me about this year, again, is the fact that it all started so late.

One thing is for certain, if you do not like winter, Star Valley is not the place for you. However; if four distinct seasons suits you, and especially the most awesome summers, then Western Wyoming maybe right for you. Many of the people who live here are snow birds. They fly in for summer and leave by the end of fall. Many of the houses sit empty all winter long......hmm wonder why?

How's the Weather?

Wow! Have we been getting the snow as of late! The year started slow. The first real snow came just before Christmas. Since then it hasn't stopped!

Is That Broom Enough?

Angela is working away trying to clear the snow away from the propane tank. And that is no ordinary 250 gallon residential propane tank burried under all that snow. Ours is a 1,000 gallon tank. We fill once a year, in summer when the prices are cheap.

I Know it's Here Somewhere!

All that snow is in the drive where we park our cars. I had to shovel a 'hole' before I could even begin to use the plow on my quad. And even then I became stuck several times. Angela stayed on standby to pull me out with the jeep.

The Front Porch

This is what snowed and blew in over night onto the front porch. The porch is somewhat in the air, so it didn't get the worse of it!

Eight Foot Drift

This impressive drift has formed on the north end of our house. The area between the end of the house and the hill that slopes away form a perfect wind block for the snow to drift into.

A View From the Front

The snow in front of the garage windows has drifted in. That is not from shoveling.

Across the Street

Comparing the depth of the snow to the garage door makes this photo more impressive. The cedar fence behind the house is a 6' fence.

Heidi's House

Neighbor Heidi is about snow bound!

Icicles

Icicles

These impressive icicles were found on Washington Street in Afton on the Aviat building. Aviat is the manufacturer of Husky, Pitts, and Eagle aircraft.

Photo taken: January 12, 2008

14 Years Ago Today...

Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else” (D&C 42:22).

14 years ago today Angela and I were married. 11 years ago today we were sealed in the Oakland Temple.

I love you Angela.

9 Tractors...All In A Row

John Deere Bone Yard

These tractors seem to be patiently waiting for spring to arrive!

Frosted Trees

I made the 2 hour trip to Idaho Falls today. It is a regular routine for us. We usually go for shopping at least once per month. It may seem like a long way to go to shop, and not worth the bother, however prices in Star Valley are just to high. Last week Angela sent me to the store for some parmesan cheese. I bought 16 oz size of the Kraft brand. It was $11.95. I am not making that up! Today in Idaho Falls I checked what 16 oz's of Kraft cost. $5.23. Less than half. I spent $275 on groceries today. If I had bought the same groceries in Afton, I would have spent $700 plus.

The drive in the winter can be brutal, but there is some nice scenery along the way.

These trees grace the skyline of Kelly Mountain in Eastern Idaho. (Between Idaho Falls and Swan Valley). They were striking in the sunlight.

You Know You Live in Wyoming When....

The past few weeks I have been after Angela to buy her and Ruby some new shoes. Their church shoes are sandals and they are not practical this time of year in Wyoming.

Today just before the bus was to arrive I asked Angela if she would pick Ruby up at the bus stop and head into town and buy the shoes. When they came home Ruby was excited to sport her new umm well boots. Cowgirl boots.

I guess you know you live in Wyoming when your little girls church going shoes are cowgirl boots.

Her New Kickers