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

Jul 232015
 

Make Every Summer Count

Hubby and I have always taken care to make sure that we make each summer count for B.  Next week, for two weeks, we’re off to Idaho’s cool and refreshing flowing rivers, glorious lakes, majestic mountains and continual non-stop outdoor exhilarating adventures.  We are celebrating the precious #18Summers we have with B (seven left to go before college *snif*) with Visit Idaho and Row Adventures.  There’s a lot on the agenda that I am seriously looking forward to photographing and sharing with YOU.  I understand cell service is zero to nill where we will be, but you never know, I may manage to upload a photo or two to my Instagram Account @J5MM_Blog :)

See you when we get back ❤

Jul 172014
 

Peak to Valley Airstream Road Trip via J5MM.comCampfire Cookout via J5MM.com

It’s getting close to one week when we returned from a beautiful summer road trip through Idaho and Oregon.  In between working in corporate America, taking care of hubby and B, walking Oliver and the rest of the usual day to day activities I am doing my best to sort through all of the photographs I took during our Peak to Valley adventure.  I call it Peak to Valley because our trip took us from the peaks of alpine life in McCall, Idaho to the valleys down below where Hells Canyon in Idaho and the Deschutes river in Oregon call home. 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)

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Mar 102014
 

Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint, ID with our Airstream 2014

There’s always a day during our trips where I like to take it easy.  Easy as in, taking my good ol’ sweet time in the morning preparing breakfast and then heading out the Airstream door to really get acquainted with whatever town we are in.  Ever since arriving in the town of Sandpoint I’ve been eager to check it out.  Since hubby was off on his own skiing with his friend Tom, it was the perfect day to do this.

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Mar 032014
 

Schweitzer Mountain Resort Guided Snowshoeing Hikes

Snowshoeing was big for me at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.  Did you know?  Schweitzer is the largest resort in Idaho and Washington with 2900 acres of amazing terrain and renowned tree skiing located in the rugged Selkirk Mountains.  It was in these these mountains where I enjoyed many days of snowshoeing enjoying the peacefulness of nature while getting a great workout. If you love to ski but are looking to switch up your days with another winter sport, snowshoeing here at Schweitzer Mountain Resort is truly a once in a lifetime experience.  On guided tours you meet at the Information Center which is next to the Selkirk Lodge, get your gear and head out with your group up the chairlift and begin your hike.  Want to go at it alone or with a group?  No problem — enjoy the great trail system where you can hike  to your hearts content.  Just make sure to fuel up with a hearty breakfast that will keep you going all morning long before you head out ♥

Guided Snowshoe Hike and Fondue Dinner at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Idaho via J5MM.com

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Feb 262014
 

Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Beautiful Idaho

Early Saturday morning we packed up the truck, hitched up the Airstream and hit the road.  Six hours later we arrived in Sandpoint, ID (from Seattle).  Our campsite for the next ten days would be at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.  I can see how in summer this place would be super busy!  The amenities here included water and electrical for all sites.  Two sites had full hookups (read: dump out) and those were #30 and #31.  If you plan to come in summer, make sure to reserve either of those two spots.  The bathroom and showers were immaculate and the grounds were well maintained.  All in all we were quite happy with our spot here! Continue reading »

Feb 142014
 

2013 in McCall Idaho

{Pic Above:  2013  Airstream Ski Trip To McCall, Idaho glamped at the McCall RV Resort and Northfork Lodge)

As I sit here writing this post, our Airstream is in our driveway hitched up waiting for us to take her away.

We’re heading to Idaho tomorrow morning for a ski trip and hubby just came over to me and announced that “It’s DUMPING in Schweitzer!”

Which is where we are going — and I can hardly wait for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, tubing and so much more.

Finally a place with SNOW.

We LOVE Idaho!

If you want to follow us along on our adventure you can on Instagram and on Facebook too.  BIG blog posts will follow here on J5MM and on the Huffington Post too!

Stay tuned and follow us along !!

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