Fair Trip

Our Fair Trip

We had such a good time at the Idaho Helm house and at the fair. We were especially glad that Emily got to join us.

On Monday July 3rd, we, Grandma, Angela, Thorpe, Dad and I traveled in the Pickup with the trailer to Uncle Sid and Aunt Susan's where we left Grandma. Unfortunately we left late, traveled slower and got there just before midnight. I imagine it was pretty hard for Grandma, but we couldn't find anyway to get her comfortable here. We traveled on to a camp sight almost where 215 joins the freeway again. A little oily smell once, but a nice clean new place. Next day we traveled on to Melba and immediately to the rodeo. I haven't been for years and it was fun. I think Angela liked it best, and really appreciated Nathans explanations. They had a great place for the wheelchair and family could sit with her. Emily was able to join us Thursday evening.

This fair was not hot and dusty, a real change. We actually enjoyed the rain and had to buy jackets for those who forgot (not me) but I ended up with one of the new jackets anyway!

We ate "fair food," (Nathan has a friend who makes fabulous prime rib sandwiches and pork BBQ) saw all the exhibits, enjoyed the animals, saw the many great entry's from the Helm household, played with the kids and watched the pig events. It was great. In a small town farming and ranching community it is really family oriented and that makes me feel reassured for our future.

We also did Golden Coral, one night, and pizza another. We even had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then a really tasty Sunday dinner that Neita made. All together we ate too much and had so much fun.

The kids did really well with their pigs and we were happy for them. In fact they had quite a few pretty impressive entries. Of course Neita always does! Bailey's photo (Judges choice), and Annaliese's jam got big fancy ribbons as did some of the other things that I can't remember.

Because it was rainy and darker than in the past all my pictures are either dark or blurry or both. Infact I have never had so many unusable pictures. There are a few of Joel though that are worth sharing!



It's hard to drink your pop when you are all tired out.

This will not be in order of happening, but important things first.

Tuesday evening Grandma was having a lot of stomach pain, so we took her to the emergency room. And there we waited an hour--again. They decided that she had a bladder infection, and to keep her overnight to make sure about the pain. We had her admitted and tucked in by 2:30 AM Wed. morning. I got home and to bed just before 3:30 AM. I was back at the hospital that morning by 9:30 AM. Needless to say, I was less cognisant so most of you weren't notified. I came home for a good supper that Angela had made and then Dad and I went back for an hour to make sure she was settled down for the night. She was so very confused being sick, some pain and out of her usual suroundings and pattern of life. She wasn't sure when she looked at the clock if it was morning or evening. When we mentioned taking her home, she wanted to to know where that was.

After one more round of IV antibiotics they let her come home today, Thursday, a little after lunch. They had decided that her pain was related to irritation caused by the infection that was slowing her digestive tract. She was loaded with gas and so is still having pain as is moves around.

She is happy to be home, but wishing everything was good. We hope to be able to catch up on a little sleep.

Hail and more Hail

I'm still learning on the photo thing, maybe it will get better?

Thursday afternoon Angela got me up from a short rest and said that the weather was reporting a hail emergency. We rushed out with beach towels, and old rugs to cover the tomatoes. It was pouring rain with a few small hail stones I thought about trying to cover some of the things in the back vegetable garden, but by then the hail was coming hard and fast and was about the size of my thumb nail. Too much for me to brave. It just kept on hailing and pouring rain. Here are some pictures of the happening and then the resulting damage.

The first one "Coming down "

Out Back Toppled Tomatoes



zucchini leaves now look like watermelon. Standing in the hail trying to fix tomatoes!














Piles from off the roof.


cransbill geranium and other things smashed
We are waiting to see what will recover.