Grandma's Begonias

Begonias of many colors - whites, light pink, dark pink, red - and other pretty flowers to keep her front garden looking purdy!

The Cutting of The Lightning Tree

Papa's Lightning Tree
It was hit multiple times over the years. Papa decided he wanted it cut down and Ryan with his Husqvarna chainsaw was happy to oblige him.

The stuff that looks like dust in this photo actually are the large wood chips spewing from Ryan's chainsaw. It made a massive pile of chips. What a big tree!

Photo courtesy of Mama Becky.
Me documenting the fall of the tree on video.

Photo Courtesy of Mama Becky.
The tree falls!! Papa worked his magic with an axe and wedge and scored the final blow for the tree to go down.

Ryan then proceeded to chop it to pieces...LARGE pieces. We couldn't even move them to the wood shed - Papa had to bring the wood splitter out to the field to chop these rounds up!

Ryan taking the limbs off one by one.

The cows keep a close eye on us when we're out in the field. I hear they think the sound of four wheelers mean food is coming - sorry cows, just wood for Papa and Grandma to keep warm in the snowy months!

Here are links to the videos I shot of the Lightning Tree falling and of Ryan using his chainsaw on the tree after it was on the ground:

The tree falls!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02l3qmYXLt4

Ryan chopping up the HUGE rounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZci6_kGSBU

The Canoe Experiences Pend Oreille Lake

Our lovely canoe about to embark on adventures on Pend Oreille Lake the last weekend of August. It was a cloudy and cool day - perfect for donning jackets and going for a cruise with our family!

Photo Courtesy of Mama Becky.

Corey, Jeffrey, Papa & Grandma, & Uncle Guy see us off while getting into their own boats for the afternoon. Aunt Annie and Mama were already in another canoe - they couldn't wait to be on the water!

Photo Courtesy of Mama Becky.
The canoes converge for a meeting - Ryan & Mandie, Corey & Jeffrey, and Uncle Guy & Aunt Annie.

Photo Courtesy of Mama Becky.
Oh! We've been spotted, paddle, paddle, paddle to split up! :)

Sun on the lake after a cloudy day.

We borrowed a small motor from Papa & Grandma's boat and made our way across a channel to this shoreline. Great views along the way - it was exciting to have my camera out the whole time instead of paddling across the water.

Floating and happy about it.

Heading back to the dock with our awesome canoe. You can see Scotchman Peaks in the distance! What a beautiful place to hang out with the family and make some great memories on the water.
<3

Idaho

Josh Ritter - Moscow, Idaho

New Planting Experiment

I have had this little 2 gallon tank for a long time. I also have not used it in a long time. During our move to Greenacres I rediscovered it and decided to have a mini aquarium with live plants! I have not worked with aquatic plants before, so I decided to give it a go. Once conditions stabilize and the plants start to thrive, I hope to had a tiny colony of small fish. I'm still deciding on exactly what type - Zebra Danio, Bumblebee Goby, or White Cloud Minnows? Decisions, decisions... I will keep the blog updated with the status of my mini tank aquatic environment experiment!

The plants I used are: Crested Java Fern (right), Peacock Fern (back) and Aqua Fern (left).
I also found a nice lava rock for decoration and hopefully entertainment for the fish to come. I already had the little blue rocks. I thought a little color (my wedding colors actually!) would add that extra touch to the tank.