Where is Jack, Day 135?

(Oops, we miscounted days) It was cold here during the night and early this morning. We were really lazy, laying around. Nancy talked to Gail, and she looked up the ranch (Picture on yesterday's blog) that is for sale, and they are asking 14M dollars. We also found out that the place we're staying at, McCall RV Resort, is going to be auctioned off in three days for the best offer.

While we were laying around, Nancy was telling me about some of the things I did when I was a puppy. Nancy and Rich had a mirrored wall in the back of their bed. I liked the dog I saw when I was on the bed, but I didn't like the dog I saw when I was on the floor.  No wonder Lizzie used to laugh at me.

Nancy wasn't feeling up to snuff, again, but she decided she wouldn't think about it--that we'd go for a ride. We did. We went down the road past the Fire Jumpers Base. Not a lot to see, but we did find a gazillion cows. They were all standing right by the fence. Nancy quietly got out of the truck (and I was quiet, too) to take a picture and she caused a stampede just like in the old westerns. The pictures of them running away didn't come out--probably because she was laughing. We only drove about 5 miles, and then went home. We slept most of the afternoon. Mary called and when Nancy answered the phone, she was in a fog. When she sleeps in the day time, she doesn't even know where she is when she wakes up. She had called the office earlier and asked if she wasn't feeling better, would it be a problem to stay another day in the same spot. The lady was so nice. She said she'll put a note on it to hold it open. Then, if Nancy's feeling better in the morning, she can just call them.

Mary said she wasn't hungry for dinner. Nancy and I felt badly that we weren't going to see her (and Lady Bug), again, but then Mary said, "Ladybug and I are going to bring Jack's dish and tie out over." So, they did get to say good-bye after all. Mary promised to let us know what the doctor says about her hip. Oh, Mary, if you're reading, I forgot to tell you. Gail had a knee replaced, not her hip. DOH How does Nancy mix these things up. Anyway, Gail said that the hip is supposed to be easier than the knee. We hope you have a good time with your son.

This is the 14M ranch in different light. Lots of cows.

These are the cows that Nancy stampeded.

This one liked her.

We don't remember seeing a baby blue barn before.

Nancy took a couple of pictures of the fire jumper's planes on the way back. I know it's time to move on when she starts taking pictures of the same things, and of cows.

These are the planes that took off last night.

Where is Jack, Day 134?

We slept soundly last night. Nancy decided that we should take it easy one more day. I'm feeling much better, though. We walked quite a few times--it was nice and cool. This morning I tried to eat grass and Nancy called me dumb. I'm very annoyed at her. I overheard her tell Susie, on the phone, that she's going to look for a cloth muzzle so I don't eat grass. The nerve! I'll make her life miserable if she tries that. I don't think she was really serious, but just to make sure I didn't try to eat any grass on my walk tonight.

Nancy was bustling around organizing, today. She's pleased with her closet--she'll be even more pleased if the clothes are still hanging when we get to Stanley on Tuesday.

It was a cool afternoon-sweatshirt weather-Nancy says, yeah! So, after walking and her shower this morning, she decided to sit out and read her book so I could at least get out of the trailer except for walking. It was so funny. She didn't realize that the sprinklers had left a pool of water in her chair last night. She sat down, and jumped up very fast. Her whole behind was wet. I laughed like crazy. Serves her right for mentioning the word "muzzle". Well, she read for a while, then we walked, again, and then we went inside. She hung a few more hooks--they are good for her keys and the bigger ones will do well to hang her wet rain jacket if she has to be out in the rain. We fell asleep for a couple of hours this afternoon. We must have still been tired from being up all night the other night.

Nancy and Mary went to dinner, tonight. Nancy really likes her. So do I.  I'm not allowed to go near Ladybug or Taggy, the yellow lab next door because Nancy's afraid I might have had something that was contagious. Probably not, but better to be safe than sorry.

After dinner, we went to the Fire Jumper's Base right across the road from the campground. They are always on the alert for fires. Tonight, I think there was a bit more activity because of the threatening skies. Everything is dry and lightening is a danger. We heard them taking off most of the day. They have helicopters, too. Very interesting place. They'll give a tour to anyone who wants to go. There are several fires around the state, already, and windy conditions aren't helping. It was very interesting watching them fuel up and load the red fire retardant into the planes. Mary told Nancy the other day that they drop the jumpers first, and then fly over with the retardant. 

Well, darn, half the blog disappeared.  Well, I'll just shorten it. These are the pictures of the Jumper Base.

One engine started.

After watching the planes for a while, we rode about 5 miles down the road. We found a ranch for sale. Nancy said we might take a ride further down, tomorrow.

Well, I couldn't remember everything I said before the blog disappeared, but I'm too tired to write any more.

Where is Jack day 132?

Well, it's another day when I don't have too much to say. We got very little sleep last night because I was sick to my stomach. We were in and out of the trailer every half hour. Nancy only let me walk a little, today, and made me rest. She is mad at me because she says I bring it on myself because I eat grass and dirt. She says I was a walking methane bomb last night.

The day wasn't lost, however, because Nancy went to do the laundry only to find out it's free. So, she came back and washed everything since there was no one else doing wash. It's a big savings because it usually costs upward of $20. to do wash in the campground.

Then she came back and hung her clothes on her newly rigged pole. Before putting the hangars on she wrapped the pole with that no-slip stuff you can buy in Walmart and secured it with duct tape. It's amazing how much more room we have on the queen bed, now--and it doesn't look as messy. Even with clothes in bins, they get wrinkled.

Nancy said she'd take me for a short walk before bed. I've been whining to try to annoy her enough to give me more food. She tries to get me to eat rice-blah. So, she mixed a little of my food that's in a can that she brought from home in with the rice. I think I'm going to just sit here and whine until she gives in.

Oh, I almost forgot, She picked up a new heater, today. One of the two that she had was at least 12 years old and it was making her nervous; the other wouldn't shut off when it got warm enough. Last year she wasted money on a (forgot the word-means moving back and forth) Honeywell, but it was SO noisy AND it made this place so hot we couldn't breathe. She kept that one because she'll put it on the carport (finished room) when she gets home--then she can lower the heat in the rest of the house when we watch TV.

She also stocked up on food in case she has to move to find an emergency vet--of course it's a weekend. There was a craft fair in town, today, but Nancy didn't think I should go. Mary said it was good. If I'm okay, tomorrow, we may take a ride down there just to see what they're selling. Mary and Nancy went for dinner, tonight, at the prettiest place called the Pancake House. It was a huge rustic building with very long porch so full of flowers that it was like being at the botanical gardens.

Just realized I didn't post on Day 77 and 78. That's why the numbers are off. I wonder why?

Where is Jack, Day 131

We hung around the campground, today. There's a really neat trail where I can go off leash, so we did that a few times, and will probably do it once more, tonight. We thought it would be better for Mary to put her feet up and rest, today. There's a fair of some kind in McCall tomorrow; maybe we'll go just to walk. I hope Nancy doesn't buy anything else to carry in this trailer--where will I sleep?

Nancy decided to try to put the clothes pole up in the shower. It didn't work out exactly as she thought. The hardware store where she bought the wooden pole sold them in 5 foot, 4 foot, and 3 foot lengths. Nancy had measured the walls and it was three feet. Along with the pole, they sold her epoxy and the two wooden brackets where the pole fits. When she bought everything, Nancy asked if the 3 foot pole took into account the brackets, and the guy said, yes.

Well, the pole was about an inch too long, but Nancy only found out after putting the end holders on the wall. Okay, enter Rube Goldberg. One end of the pole fit in the bracket with the hole. She put epoxy on the other end of the pole and stuck it directly onto the opposite wall, and then put epoxy on a couple of pieces of things she had handy. It feels like it is going to hold, nothing will budge. According to the directions, she could hang the clothes, tonight, but she figured she'd give it 24 full hours. The guy at the store said once the brackets were up, they'd never come down.  Okay, so it doesn't look so hot, but clothes will hide that, and she never claimed to be a brain surgeon. Still, I couldn't help laughing. If the kids decide to use the trailer, they can leave the pole where it is and still take a shower so there's no harm done, and the trailer now has Nancy's personalized touch. She said she could hear Wilson laughing if she sees this.

If worse comes to worse, she'll ask one of the boys when she gets home if they can saw the inch off the pole and just leave the other two things in place. She'd do it herself, but she doesn't have a saw with her.

Well one out of two isn't bad, right?

Well, we're off for our walk. 

Where is Jack, Day 129?

We woke up early this morning. The windows were open and it was in the forties--just the way we like it. Nancy had gotten up before me and covered me up--I didn't want to get out of bed so we spent some "lazy time" before starting our day.

We finally did get up and took our walk--there are some nice places to walk, here. Nancy said the shower was beautiful. She can't believe that this place is in financial straights. There's even an indoor pool, and the lodge is beautiful inside.

We had some very good news, today. Jim Dolan had his heart and neck surgery and came out just fine. We're so glad it's behind him and Martha. They've had a very rough year. We also heard from Susan, that Michelle's foot surgery went well and the tumor is benign.

We went over to see Mary and Mary had a really beautiful ride planned for us. The four of us took the drive around Payette Lake. It's gorgeous. We also saw Little Payette Lake, Payette River, and there's also and Upper Payette Lake (we didn't see ).

This picture shows a compound that was owned by a super wealthy man named J.R. Simplot.  On the end of the peninsula is an outdoor heated pool. When we got around the road over to that side of the lake, Mary told us that the Governor of Idaho, Butch Otter, has a home in the compound, as well, in a house further along. He was related to Mr. Simplot--brother if I recall, correctly. At any rate, there has been some flooding this year and it washed out a bridge right on the road behind the Governor's house. It was the first thing to be fixed. Can you say politics? While Nancy was driving, it was like having our own private guide. Mary is very knowledgeable about the area and we heard many inside "tidbits" that we otherwise would never have known about--the history was as interesting as the scenery was beautiful. We went through the state park which is within walking distance from her house. Mary and her husband used to cross country ski--the state would clear the paths and make trails. Mary once caught a fish from a rock that they were on that was supposed to be very hard to catch, and always from a boat. They were also boaters. Mary grew up all over the country-only in high school did she complete a full 9 months of school in one school. I imagine this is why she's such a good writer, and so easy to get to know. Mary is also a world traveler, and had many interesting stories to tell about Australia. We look forward to more. We're going to take another ride, tomorrow! On this one, Mary said we can get a CD that will guide us on a self tour.

We were no sooner in the state park when Mary spotted a deer AND her twin fawns. Nancy couldn't believe that she messed the pictures up so badly--she was trying to hurry because she was holding up another car--it was a narrow road. This is the only half way good one out of about 8 pictures. Mary said that she's seen moose and otters while enjoying the park and drive, as well.

Nancy took this picture for our WAC friends back east. They love to kayak, and would love it, here. It's the middle of the week, yet we saw quite a few people enjoying the park and the lake.

On the way back to Mary's house, they decided to go see the log home that Mary and her husband, Gerald had built all by themselves-it was only a couple of blocks away from Mary's house. I got a little upset because I saw the Chalet in her drive way and I thought we were lost.

There was more to the house-Nancy will get out of the truck next time and take another picture. It's a very pretty house, and shows that Mary has talent in many areas. We turned around and went back to Mary's house where we met her next door neighbor-a very nice young man who has a lady dog that is a yellow lab like me. The young man mows part of Mary's lawn--just because she's so nice, I suspect. He and his wife are in business selling hammock chairs like the red one on Mary's porch; the one she was sitting in last night when Nancy took her picture. The name of their business is Hang Loose, which we think is very clever. He and Nancy played ball with me and Taggy, but I lost mine under Mary's house. The young man tried to get it, but he couldn't find it. That was okay. I get tired pretty quickly these days. If anyone is interested in buying one, they are home made, and I'm sure I could get the information for you. Mary's porch is delightful. There's always a breeze-it's so pleasant and cool.

This is Mary's Chalet. It is certainly cleaner than our trailer. That's for sure. One of these days, we'll find a campground where Nancy can wash and wax it, again. I won't even talk about the truck, it's so bad.

After sitting and gabbing for a while, Nancy and Mary decided they were hungry. They went to a restaurant that probably wasn't even three blocks from Mary's house. They ate fish and chips up on the deck outside, and gabbed some more while I waited in the car. Nancy told me that it was really nice having company while eating dinner. We can't wait for our adventure, tomorrow. After that ride, Mary mentioned another ride for another day-I can't remember the name, but we'll ask her, tomorrow.

It's nice and cool, tonight, so our windows are open, again, and we'll be asleep before we know it.

Where is Jack, Day 128?

Nancy got most everything set up to go a little at a time, yesterday, so we were able to leave early this morning for a much awaited real life meeting with her friend, Mary. Thank goodness the 24 hour bug didn't happen a day later. I wouldn't have wanted Nancy to drive the steep grades between Grangeville and White Bird if she wasn't feeling well.

Mary and Nancy have communicated over the web for several years. She is a wonderful writer and Nancy used to look forward to reading her pieces on the internet. She writes every day and has four manuscripts that she's written, and is working on more. The ride down was beautiful. We forgot, however, that we'd be in Mountain Time. There was a lot of highway construction going on so we had a chance to see the scenery and enjoy the ride.

Nancy's meeting with Mary was just as she thought. She feels like she's known her forever. Mary forgot to tell her that she lives in "heaven". They sat and gabbed for hours on her porch with a nice cool breeze blowing through, and just down the road is Payette Lake which is gorgeous as are all the surroundings. Mountains, meadows, streams, lakes, and rivers. What more could anyone want? I'm sure we'll get more pictures.

The only drawback is the snow in the winter, so Mary picks herself up and goes down to Arizona every winter. She's a very interesting person-the afternoon flew by--all of Nancy's WAC friends would love her. Mary was really happy to meet Cheryle, another WAC, when she visited her in Arizona.

We don't have many pictures, but we did take a few to show you how pretty Mary and Lady Bug are. Lady Bug had a hard time figuring out whether she liked me or not, but we settled down and enjoyed the porch and listened to all the "gabbing"-you know how it is when two ladies get together.

Mary has an appointment, tomorrow, so we'll meet after lunch. She is going to show us around the area, and she knows of a special drive that's very pretty and is chock full of history. Nancy signed up here for a week--got a weekly rate, and it was very reasonable for everything we've got. It's like being at a resort only we sleep in our camper! Cable and internet, and everything!

Nancy snapped a couple of pictures of Mary. Isn't she the pretty lady. She asked Nancy if she had to fix her hair first. I couldn't help snickering. Nancy got sick of her overgrown hair and cut it herself the other night. I won't say anything because I've been taught if you can't say anything nice, don't say
anything at all. Well, I'll just say, I never thought I'd like to see her wear her old beat up jean hat. You know Nancy, though. WYSIWYG.

This is Lady Bug. By the time I leave, we are going to be best friends. Isn't she cute?

Just when we thought we'd seen just about everything on this trip, we came across this. We thought we were seeing things. Nancy put on the brakes to investigate.

The trailer is for sale. We're not sure about the wayward plane. It's right on the outskirts of the campground. We wondered how it got there.

Mary said the campground is having some financial problems. It's a very big place. It isn't by any means full. That's surprising because it's a very nice place and very reasonable. Nancy said she thinks it's because it's not well advertised. This is the picture of the lodge. We took a long walk when we got back. Nancy just dropped the trailer when we arrived, set up outside, and then we went to Mary's house. From first glance, there are a lot of trails around the park. It's a little warm, tonight, but the news says cooler weather is coming. I looked up the weather in Stanley and it said 30s at night.

That's about all I have to say, tonight. I'm glad Nancy is feeling better. I felt bad that she had to get up to walk me, but maybe it kept her from getting weak laying around. The truck and trailer do very well on the hills. Nancy is going to stop at a tire dealer in town to see if she can get her tires rotated. Mary said that she had to have the tires on her trailer balanced. Nancy may ask about that, too. She usually checks the tires before a drive, but she didn't feel up to doing it this morning when we left. (Nancy realized that there were times that it was the altitude that was knocking the stuffing out of her.) Well, we'll get that all settled while we're here. Mary has to go out of town overnight one night, so that might be the day to do it.