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 »

May 152015
 

The Road To Kalaloch State Park on the Olympic Peninsula via J5MM.com // #Airstream #GoRVing

Hwy 101, as it meanders around and occasionally hugs the Washington coastline takes us to our last stop during our road trip through the Olympic Peninsula not too long ago.  I have shared our OP trips on GoRVing’s blog up until this one.  This one, I’ve been saving for J5MM.

Here is a map I designed detailing our road trip in visual detail with our three stops:

Map of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State via J5MM.comj // #Airstream #GoRVing

My first post for GoRVing shared our experiences at the Waterfront at Potlatch . . . Continue reading »

Mar 182015
 

basemap

Come travel with me to the breathtaking Olympic Peninsula as we embark on a seven day journey visiting three idyllic campsites.  We begin the first leg of our trip with a visit to The Waterfront at Potlatch RV Park along the Hood Canal.  We spend our first day in the cool misty mountains that are just a hop skip and a jump away from camp adventuring in the rainforest.  After we return to camp along the waterfront where we dig for clams that will soon become our delicious dinner.  B makes new friends, I make a refreshing oyster appetizer with Oliver by my side and hubby relaxes.  We experience pastel sunsets unparalleled anywhere else all while in the loving company of each other and our sweet silver girl.  I hope you can join me at my new writing venue with GoRVing // The Scenic Route.

Shall we go?

“The Magic and Beauty of the Olympic Peninsula”

xoxo
Monica

PS  I hope you enjoy the trip :)

 

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

Jul 292014
 

Rafting in Hells Canyon

Sitting on the edge of the Airstream bed while petting Oliver, B watches me with a curious eye as I pack his dry bag.  A nice {big} dry bag that Kurt and Heidi from Hells Canyon Raft dropped off with us at our campsite at the McCall RV Resort.  Tomorrow morning we begin a multi-day whitewater rafting trip with them. Where the Snake River heads north and carves the border between Idaho and Oregon, it forms the infamous Hells Canyon which happens to be the deepest gorge in North America (and deeper than the Grand Canyon!) and just happens to be where our rafting trip will take us . . . Continue reading »

May 042014
 

Suncadia and Tumble Creek in the Wenatchee National Forest Setting

When hubby and I first met, one of our very first trips taken together was to the Bennett cabin which is located next to the Wenatchee National Forest.  I’ve heard a lot about this cabin and how it took many, many years for the Bennett family to build, by hand — all themselves.  No machinery here, just pulley systems and lots of muscles to get the logs one on top of the other. Continue reading »

Mar 202014
 

skijoring at Sandpoint Winter Carnival 2014 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds

“Honey, it looks like when we’ll be in Sandpoint, ID for our trip, the annual Winter Carnival will be in full swing,” hubby tells me one night over dinner months before our trip was to be.

“Wow, really? Do you know what kind of activities will be happening?” I asked.

“Well for one, they’ll have Skijoring . . .”

(He knew by the look on my face I was totally clueless)

Continue reading »