Riggins, Idaho

I haven't the foggiest idea how Riggins got its name. Guessing, I would say that it was from rigs carrying trees to the saw mills in Lewiston or Cascade.  Riggins is nestled deep in a canyon where the Salmon River and the Little Salmon River meet. It is about 150 north of Boise and is the only road traveling north into the panhandle of Idaho.

This photo shows the eastward mountain.

To me in my early 20s, Riggins was just a rodeo town with three bars and one grocery store. I am totally amazed that it has grown to a large population of 400.  You say 400 is not large, well it is when 30 years ago, it was a mere 100.

Salmon bench

Magic Valley

It used to take us 8 hours to drive from Salt Lake City, Utah to Boise, Idaho.  The speed limit was 55 miles per hour and we had to stop at least three times to gas up - usually in Snowville, Burley and sometimes Bliss. There is only one freeway between SLC and Boise - can't get lost even if you tried!


I blew by Snowville and made it to Idaho without having to stop. The speed limit is now 75 miles per hour and I get better gas mileage so that I made it to Boise without having to stop for gas even once.  Burley snuck by me so I stopped in Twin Falls and had lunch. This area is called Magic Valley because two dams were built around 1900 turning uninhabitable areas into magical farm lands.

My cats were upside down and giddy when I got home from Idaho.

June 15 - Little Bliss List

I am connecting the the Little Bliss List Party at Liv Lane's blog site. I am a total fan of this bliss list since it makes me really think about all the good things in my life.


1.  Tis blissful to have a migraine-free week.


2.  Tis blissful to have a magnificent blue sky to gaze at 80% of the year. As you can see, there is very little snow left in the cracks of the mountains and they are green. Much of that green will turn to a yellow as the hot dry summer kicks in.


There was just enough wind that day for the two beautiful American flags to show their full colors. Can you find the 2nd flag?

3. Tis blissful to own my own washer and dryer because when I was a teenager, we always spent our Saturday's at the laundromat washing and drying our clothes for the week. 


Monday was wash day at my grandma Clarissas and Tuesday was ironing day.  I learned to iron pillow cases, hankies and the easy parts while listening to the Creeking Door on the radio.


4. Tis blissful to swim in the outdoor pool during my 9 AM water aerobics class. The view of the blue sky next to the mountains is spectacular. The fresh morning air is crisp, clear and free of pollutants.

5. Tis blissful to find several photographs in my mother's photo album which were dated to help me correct a paragraph in my 2nd book which I hope to finish this year after my trip to Poland.

Twas my birthday and not my brother Fred's birthday (he's the one with the blonde blonde hair). I am the one next to the cake with my hands under my chin. All the kids in Elba came to my party.


Sent to me by my grandmother Stella from Illinois - a set of building blocks:

This sheep loves the attention. Wish I knew who the toddlers are! I am not sure if this is in Elba or Almo, Idaho either.

Viewpoints

City Creek Center in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City demolished most of the sky scraper buildings that covered two city blocks and created one of the most unsurpassed and beautiful shopping areas that I have ever seen in a large city. A natural creek ran underneath the buildings and streets, now it meanders right through the middle of the shopping areas.

Looking at the section where a retractable glass roof is open during warm days.


My friend Carrie and I drove into the city to see the new City Creek Center.  We had lunch at the Red Iguana a famous Mexican Restaurant.  Chicken enchilada was our choice with an interesting strawberry mole. As a food critic, the mole was okay but I don't think it would become one of my favorites.  Other than that, the food was delicious.

Next we visited the Godiva store with our mouths just salivating over all the one-of-a-kind chocolates.  We had drizzled chocolate over berries in a cup made from chocolate similar to the photo above only it has no drizzle. I, of course, chose the dark chocolate while Carrie went for the milk chocolate. 

This store front was all mirrors.

The top of a man made waterfall.

City Creek - I actually saw a small trout swimming in it.

A large outdoor fireplace with surrounding seats for sitting and relaxing during a cool evening.

Looking at Temple Square on the skybridge that crosses over Main Street. Notice the old looking clock in the middle of the street.

The second block was just as beautiful with four fountains and it also has the retractable glass roof.

Two of the fountains.

Death of a Tree

This used to be a large globe willow tree. Last year one third of the tree fell into my yard. My neighbor then took down the little short fence that had separated our yards.  Now we have no fencing at all between the three of us. We all get along and his children stay in their yard so it works well - no fencing. Who in this day and age can say that they have property with no fencing?

Last fall the 2nd third of the tree fell again into my yard.  This year it is drooping into my neighbors yard and from this spring the top of the tree split and fell.

If you look closely, you can see the split in the middle of the tree. Perhaps it will wait until the fall storms to just keel over it's last third of its life.