Murphy's Hot Springs

 Cheese! Miss Blue Eyes trying to take my vitamins.

 WE went up to Barry's co-workers cabin to do some work on it. IT was a horrible day. Barry had to hang by a rope to access the part of the cabin's roof that needed fixing. Not fun to watch. I sat in the shade and swatted flies. Some friends of ours came up too and the kids played together.

 It was a LONG way up. At one point Barry cut his finger really deep on some metal. Scared me. I sent him up the gauze and duct tape, that I had been inspired to bring. He got blood all over the new metal on the roof. Nasty.

 I do bathe my children, but this One, just loves to play in the dirt. The extra eyebrows are chocolate ice-cream I believe.

Our trip this weekend, was to a place only Barry had been before. IT was a surprise destination. I brought my emergency-have-a-baby-in-the-car-kit just in case.

 First we drove out by Salmon Damn. I have been THERE before. Then we kept on driving ....into the wilderness.

 Just the middle of nowhere. This lake is called Roseworth. James would like to fish there someday.
As you can see. There is NOTHING around.

 So... when I got out to go to the bathroom and felt someone watching me, I was a bit alarmed.

 Then I spied him. Just a lonely bull.

 Turkey Vulture flew right by our car. Looking for lunch.

 The scenery was quite beautiful ....for a desert.

 Out in the middle of the dessert is an awesome ravine(see later pictures), and in that ravine is a little tiny town called Murphy's Hot Springs. IT was a bizarre little place. I kept the doors locked, and Barry said to keep my camera down. :) We saw no evidence of a swimming pool or hot springs. Very Odd.

  I think this little "lot" patch of ground was for sale. Just enough space for you to park your camp trailer and live in it. (Can you believe someone would do that?!?)

 Then out of town to our true destination, the Jarbridge River. Barry came out here a lot when he was a wilderness firefighter. He wanted to show it to us.

 a view straight up.

 A beautiful river in the middle of the dessert. I've never seen anything quite like it.

 James catching minnows. (He did not want his picture taken)

 Ellie forded the river to get some shale from the other side.

 Love Love this tree.

 Golden Trout. It was stunning. First time I've ever seen one.

 I told Ellie not to get her shorts wet. She has a knack of falling into streams.

 Emmy requested I take pictures of dozens and dozens of "pretty" rocks. We brought several home to add to our flower garden.

 Emmy didn't seem to heed my warning about not getting wet. Lauren ended up falling in too. Silly girls.

 Barry made us lunch, then took a nap on the deck.

 Such  strange rock formations.

 This is the top of the ravine, that that bizarre little town is in.

 Lauren and Emmy were required to get out of their wet clothes before getting in the car. Lauren was soo embarrassed. I guess she was worried about the golden trout and turkey vulture seeing her in her undies.

Heading home.

 It was a good day for an adventure.

Rhubarb Cake and Summer Projects

The kids and I made this recipe today and it was super yummy!!!!!

Our Rhubarb plant is doing awesome this year and has beautiful red color to it. I wanted to make something special with it. ;)



Special Rhubarb Cake
From Taste if Home

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling

MAKES:9 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups chopped fresh or frozen rhubarb
• STREUSEL TOPPING:
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• VANILLA SAUCE:
• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating just until moistened. Fold in the rhubarb. Pour into a greased 9-in. square baking dish.
2. Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over batter. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
3. For sauce, melt butter in a saucepan. Add sugar and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Serve with cake.Yield: 9 servings (1-1/4 cups sauce).

Editor's Note: If using frozen rhubarb, measure rhubarb while still frozen, then thaw completely. Drain in a colander, but do not press liquid out.

On a different Note, we've been busy around here. I've been trying to take the kids swimming as much as possible this summer. I would really like them to develop some skills. I can't really afford lessons for all of them, so I bought a family swim pass and have been teaching them myself. :D 

I also sorted out James's clothes and washed and packed away the too small ones. What a ton of work! Phew!

Then I had Barry dig out the newborn boy clothes. They are soo tiny. I am washing them up and getting very excited to meet our new little one.

Barry has mostly finished painting the sunroom, the doors and trim need another coat. Currently, he is working on tile and hopefully we can get some new carpet, in there before Baby arrives. At least that's my goal. ;)

Our summer squashes are ripe and our raspberries bushes are moving into full production. Soon we'll have raspberries coming out our ears. Mmmmmm.

We've also been making lots of Apricot Jam and drying apricots this week. I love Apricot Jam and so does the rest of the Family. Everybody helped and we filled as many bottles as we could find with the sweet stuff. 

 My Lauren, the pickiest eater I have ever met, snitching Apricots. She eats them with the skin on. I'm really not sure what to make of that. :D

 James keeps me company while I cook the jam....(it takes forever to boil if you don't want it spitting all over you). He is doing great with his summer reading goals.

Snitching another.... Crazy girl. 

Fish, whales and babies.

 32 weeks 6 days. Ultrasound says 33 weeks 5 days. I'm going with the second. 

 Meet Baby Pate. Isn't he cute?? 4 lbs 9 oz. Long legs and a big head, sounds like my kid. :D

 Barry got a message on his phone asking us to say the prayers at church on Sunday. We were out of town  until late Saturday and didn't get back to the person. So I was not very happy Sunday morning to see they went ahead and put my name on the program.

!!!!!

Barry took these photos with his phone. I thought they were pretty. Salmon Dam. 2016

Just wanted you to know, Emma participated in the sack races too. She hoped like a bunny. It was super cute.