May 282016
 

Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (1 of 14)Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (2 of 14)Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (3 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (4 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (5 of 14)Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (6 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (7 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (8 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (9 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (10 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (11 of 14) Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (12 of 14)
Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (13 of 14)

Last August we took a splendid road trip that lead us through Washington, Idaho and finally Montana.  Towing the Airstream through the contrasting landscapes was like a massive lesson in geology.  Hwy 12 is just one of many of Idaho’s “Scenic Byways,” and I here to tell you first and foremost that this particular stretch of highway took my breath away.  I highly encourage you to come and visit and if you follow my future posts covering this trip of ours, you will see why.

We began the first leg of our trip in Syringa, Idaho which is home to the River Dance Lodge, owned by ROW Adventures.  ROW invited us to come out and experience some outdoor adventures the Lodge offers up such as fly fishing, white water rafting, guided hikes and more.  We had plans to camp on-site as they have two dry camping spots, but since the outdoor temperature was a ridiculous 107 degrees, we opted to camp down the road at the River Junction RV Park that offered up full hookups and with full hookups, we would have A/C (our generator can’t handle running the A/C sadly).

Plans with ROW were a day of guided fly fishing and another day of white water rafting, neither of which did pan out because the rivers were too low for either adventure.  But we did experience a fun tubing and float trip.  It was my first time ever tubing down a cool rushing river and I can tell you, it was the bee’s knees especially considering how scorching hot it was outside.  It was also B’s first time commandeering his very own kayak and the boy had a ridiculously fun time.  So all’s well that ends well.  Thank you ROW Adventures for inviting us out :)

Since it was SO. HOT. I did not cook, at all.  We literally survived on cherries that we picked up from a fellow selling them roadside and goodness, they were the sweetest cherries we’ve ever had.  We also enjoyed tartines, which is just a fancy way of saying, “open faced sandwiches,” :)  Super easy way to eat when you absolutely can not bear to even think about turning on the stove — I still can’t get over how hot it was that summer!  I also realized last summer why the new Airstreams now come with two A/C units.  It took FOREVER to cool down our Airstream in that heat and even then, when it was 107 degrees outside, we could only get down to around 80 degrees inside.

I also feel terrible that it has taken me so long to finally begin writing about this trip!  So much has been happening in our lives.  Hubby has had two operations on his hip this past year.  You see, I have never mentioned this before, at least I don’t think . . . but he suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and because of his disease, he is prone to falling and when you have a hip replacement, the first thing the doctor tells you is, DO NOT FALL WHATEVER YOU DO.  It does not matter how careful a person is — if they are prone to falling, they WILL fall, eventually.  And he did.  And it was the scariest day of my life because I was upstairs and he was downstairs and I heard him fall and I heard him cry out and I tried to run to him so fast, but I couldn’t (B was at his baseball game, thankfully!).  I felt like I was wearing a pair of cement galoshes — I absolutely could not move quick enough to get to him.  When I finally did get to him, he was on the floor in his office, writhing in pain and I was standing over him DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL 911?! — he thought for a moment (and I knew he was thinking about the health insurance’s required co-pay of $500 for ambulance/ER services, because he likes to pinch his pennies) and finally he said YES.  and then I couldn’t remember how to dial 911!  Imagine, I just sat there starring at my phone in shock.  But I eventually did remember and the ambulance did come, and another ambulance came and even a fire truck!  But here we are NOW 12 months later and he is healed up, thank goodness.  In other news, he had an appointment with a neurosurgeon to see if he would be an ideal candidate for deep brain stimulation surgery and he IS.  He absolutely IS!  I was under the impression this surgery only treats people who have uncontrollable shaking (which he does not) but that is just not the case.  It also helps eliminate other symptoms of PD.  In hubby’s case, the man is just SLOW AS MOLASSES.  Forgive me if that sounds a little harsh, but it’s true.  That is his only symptom.  He is slow and gets “stuck.”  Turns out, this surgery will be 100% effective in treating him.  So we are incredibly happy!  B told me the other day, “Mommy, I can’t imagine how daddy is going to be.” (because B was only three years old when hubby was diagnosed, he is now 12), I told him, “Honey, he will be the same daddy, only speedier.” :)

Speaking of B, the boy has straight A’s in school and we are so proud of him.  I still can’t believe that sixth grade will be over for him.  It seems the older I get, the faster time goes.  It’s a little scary!

Oh and at home we are finally finished with the upstairs flooring project.  We went from 16 year old carpet to hickory hardwood floors and I am very pleased with the outcome.  We had to haul 16 years worth of “stuff” from the upstairs to the downstairs and believe me when I tell you, that was quite the job!  I thought twice about hauling all that stuff back upstairs so we ended up giving most of it away to our local Buy Nothing Project.  Have you heard of that?  It’s a generous online community where members get together on Facebook and “gift” items they no longer need!  I learned about this after bumping into my neighbor while we were both walking our pooches and she enlightened me.  I could hardly wait to get home and sign up.

For example, do you see my grand baby’s new red “rock and sleep” in my office below?  I was gifted that from a sweet mom in my neighborhood who no longer needed it!  I literally picked it up this morning.

Now the only thing missing in this picture is a baby!  Lucky me — I am going to see her and my daughter tomorrow.

Can’t wait!

~ Monica XO

Idaho Highway 12 Road Trip via J5MM.com (14 of 14)

One of my favorite pics of hubby (and Oliver) ❤

my sweet hubby

Aug 252015
 

Birthday Flowers via J5MM.com // #GoRVing #Airstream

It’s official.  I am 44 years old.  And for the record, I am very much enjoying my 40s.  Living, loving, working, exploring, cooking, laughing, learning (always learning), being . . .  it all seems to just get better with time.  I am also much smarter than I was in my 30s, 20s, etc.  Thank goodness.

My boys are good to me on my birthday, always have.

“Honey, what would you like to do for your birthday?” hubby asks . . .

“I’d like to go and visit our Airstream and spend the weekend with her,” I replied.

Continue reading »

Apr 222015
 

A Taste of Washington's Coast for #GoRVing via J5MM.com #Airstream

If you haven’t had the chance to visit Grayland Beach State Park along Washington’s coast, it is a trip that I highly recommend.  There you are greeted with beautiful sites — some boast privacy, some are very spacious and all are within close proximity to trails that take you straight to the beach and ocean.

I had the honor to write about our recent trip to Grayland Beach State Park for GoRVing.  There I shared our experiences of  razor clamming for the first time along with catching  Dungeness crab and enjoying starry nights.

Here is a direct link to my piece and I truly hope you enjoy it – and most of all, I hope it inspires you to find your Away :)

Link:  A Taste of Washington’s Coast

xoxo
Monica

A Taste of Washington's Coast for #GoRVing via J5MM.com #AirstreamA Taste of Washington's Coast for #GoRVing via J5MM.com #AirstreamA Taste of Washington's Coast for #GoRVing via J5MM.com #AirstreamA Taste of Washington's Coast for #GoRVing via J5MM.com #AirstreamWACoastJ5MM_23 WACoastJ5MM_24As always, thank you very much for being here :) xoxo
~ Monica

Mar 152015
 

Washi Tape Door Accent via J5MM.com // RV Lifestyle #Airstream Style

Washi tape is a thin, papery tape that comes from Japan.  It comes in hundreds of different prints and widths and has so many uses.  It also removes easily without leaving a residue behind which is perfect for home decorating.

I was quite pleased with my little door experiment — the magenta pop of color made my heart sing.

I also use Washi tape to hang sentimental items, like these napkin roses B made me ❤

Washi Tape Door Accent via J5MM.com // RV Lifestyle #Airstream Style

. . . and his Valentine’s day card to me ❤

Washi Tape RV Decor via J5MM.com // RV Lifestyle #Airstream Style

It also adds some interest to the white shades.

Washi Tape Shade Accent via J5MM.com // RV Lifestyle #Airstream StyleWashi Tape Outlet Cover via J5MM.com // RV Lifestyle #Airstream Style

After having fun decorating the little details in my silver girl, it was time for a snack.

Did I mention my obsession with radishes?  I eat them almost everyday.  A sweet friend of mine shared his favorite way to eat radishes — he puts them sliced onto an “everything” bagel and then sprinkles a few drops of Yuzu Ponzu over the top. Have you ever tried Yuzu Ponzu?  It’s incredibly delicious!  I thank my sweet friend for introducing me to it when he sent me a package in the mail.  Just look at the goodies he sent me :)

In addition to his delicious bagel, another favorite way I enjoy eating radishes is placing them sliced on toasted rustic bread with cream cheese.  A pinch of Maldon sea salt and black sesame seeds finishes it off.   That’s what I enjoyed this weekend with Easter Egg Radishes (which happen to be my favorite).

Easter Egg Radishes via J5MM.com

Easter Egg Radish Tartine via J5MM.com

If you are a fan of radishes, I’d love to hear how you enjoy them.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend :) Spring is in the air, can you feel it?

With Love,
Monica xox

Jan 182015
 

Carrot Soup for the Soul via J5MM.com // Airstream Kitchen

“How much longer daddy?  Can you see Disney World? Can you see it???” 

As a little girl, a child of of the 70’s, sitting in the backseat of my parents big brown Pontiac Le Mans, it was a guarantee that these questions of mine were routinely asked at precise intervals throughout entire road trips. This particular road trip was taking us from Dayton, Ohio to Florida – home to Walt Disney World.  It was the summer of 1976. Continue reading »

Jan 072015
 

LaConner, Washington Town Guide via J5MM.com

Happy shiny 2015 to you!  Hubby, B, Oliver and I are wishing you only the best for 2015 and we hope that your hopes and dreams come true in this brand new year :)

We felt very fortunate to have been able to ring in the new year at the picturesque Thousand Trails campground in LaConner, Washington.  Our site was #164 and has been proudly added to our “must return” list.

Thousand Trails Campground LaConner, Washington Site 164 via J5MM.com Continue reading »

Oct 082014
 

Suddenly Last Summer with our Airstream via J5MM.com

Fall is upon us now and the other day, it suddenly dawned on me, that last summer — a lot of cooking had been done in my silver kitchen which never made it onto J5MM.  Pouring over all my photos I took of my culinary creations made me realize also — what a beautiful, gloriously long summer we had here in Washington.  The warm breezes continue to blow, even now in what should be a chilly October.  We have our funny days where temps reach 80!  But today will be a nice mid 60’s October day according to the weather woman.  I’m ready for warm sweaters in the upcoming season and exhilarating early morning hikes where the frost graces the edges of the creek near my home. Continue reading »

Sep 222014
 

Fishing the Cle Elum River in Washington State via J5MM.com

As sure as the summer sun sets and the big moon rises, my heart is drawn to this river that runs just beyond our property.  I call him Mr. River (and I love him).  Hubby doesn’t seem to mind.

It is here where I feel most at peace.  It is here where most of my summer is spent fly fishing, writing, crafting and frolicking about with Oliver.  Mr. River flows not only through the windy channel he has carved out, but also through my heart.  Our hearts.  I feel my brother is here too.

To get to Mr. River, we must travel through gravely back roads.  Only a few people know of this and I feel proud I can navigate when I do come here alone.

Backwoods River Drive via J5MM.comCle Elum River, Washington Fly Fishing Mecca

To begin our days spent with Mr. River, we enjoy early mornings on our property with simple breakfasts . . .

Glamping Breakfast via J5MM.comEarly Morning Coffee via J5MM.comRiver dog on the Cle Elum River, WashingtonBackroads with Oliver via J5MM.comB Fishing The Cle Elum River via J5MM.comRiverside Snack via J5MM.comCatch and Release Baby Rainbow Trout via J5MM.comRushing RiversFly fishing the Cle Elum River in Washington State via J5MM.comRiver Walk via J5MM.comAfter Fishing Lunch via J5MM.comThe Transforming Cle Elum River, Washington State via J5MM.com

Mr. River’s friends, the tall trees that live along his banks, give B a gift of a bark puzzle.  He is mesmerized by it.

tree puzzle

Some days I fish and other days I sit alongside Mr. River and create.  Sometimes I come with hubby and B and sometimes I come alone. I dip my toes into the water and make sage bundles.  I listen to Mr. River gently talk to me as I craft. He tells me that when I am here, with him, everything in the world is right. I love him.

River Craft via J5MM.comAirstream in Autum via J5MM.com // A River Story //Black Eyed Susanproperty (2 of 8)

The days spent with Mr. River are warm and when we come back to camp, the wind picks up with a slight chill to it.  We make ourselves at home and I prepare a pot of comforting chicken stew.  I love cooking in my silver kitchen.

Airstream Kitchen via J5MM.com

I make Mr. River Earrings.  They serve as a reminder of him and my summer spent here.  The blue stone is for his rushing waters, the chain symbolizes his swiftly flowing movement, the red is for the wild berries that grow alongside his banks and also the strawberries that live alongside my coalminers cabin.  The brown agate stone reminds me of the spotty skin of his trout, or the slippery stones I carefully and gently walk upon — and the pink gem reminds me of the sparkles that radiate off his waters.

Mr. River Earrings via J5MM.comRiver Earrings via J5MM.comRiver Love via J5MM.com

It was a whirlwind love affair I will never forget ♥

Goodnite Airstream