Summer Beauty

The garden is in full bloom...
we have been taking time to enjoy it.
Come for a walk with me, I want to share it with you...

The roses are exceptional this year...

The front walk is lined with a trail of rose petals...

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet..."
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, 1600

I have no idea what these beautiful purple blooms are...
but they are lovely

The garden is alive with new growth...

The Clematis is lovely... it just started opening it's blooms a few days ago...

These Blanket Flowers just make me smile!

Psalm 111

Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the LORD;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.

He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.

They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.

He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Camping in the Sawtooth Mountain Wilderness

We have been enjoying a little break from the normal
this week.

We have a very dear friend visiting us
...all the way from Germany.

Andreas ready to go!

Andreas has been an adopted family member from early on in my husband's life. He was a foreign exchange student many years ago in the home of my husband... and they became fast friends for life. I met him the week before my husband and I were to be married, 20 years ago, and he has been a very dear companion to us all of these years.

He and my husband enjoy a lot in common.

A lazy afternoon by Redfish Lake

Mostly, it is their enthusiasm for adventure and exploration through travel...gravel roads... and paths that lead to unpredictable and foreign places.

The difference, Andreas has a bit more "rustic style" running through his veins still... whereas my man has had to forgo the rustic, and adopt a more civilized approach to travel, in order to encourage his bride to travel along side of him.

A Butterfly we found on our Journey

This week, because of my love for Andreas and my husband, I agreed to endure a rustic adventure, in the wilds of the Idaho mountains... tent camping.

Our deluxe three room travel lodge!

My men chopping wood for the fire!

Sarah and Andreas tending the camp fire...

Lucky after our 4 mile hike!

Lumberjack Thomas keeping busy

We enjoyed the beauty of the great outdoors, the smell of cooked bacon and eggs by the camp fire, smores before bed, freezing temperatures and thunderstorms at night.

Our first day was spectacular!

We hiked near Alturas Lake and into the alpine meadows.

Hiking in the forest around Alturas Lake, Idaho

Sarah working on her Nature Notebook

We drove over to Stanley the next day and toured a bit of Red Fish Lake as well.

Stanley, Idaho

Redfish Lake
A penny for his thoughts...

Resting by Redfish Lake

What ended up to be our final night, we found ourselves in a terrifying thunderstorm that would not end for over four hours... lightening showered the valley all around us, thunder boomed and echoed against the mountains, sleet, peas sized hail, high winds and torrential downpours pummeled our tent ...yet, through a lot of prayer and laughter, we survived the night none worse for wear.

As we packed up our soggy tent in the rain, we all looked forward to returning to civilization and warmth.

Today my husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary... it began early in the morning adjusting tarps over our tent together to insure the dryness and safety of our family... and ended dining by candlelight, just the two of us, in a lovely Italian restaurant.

We reminisced over all the adventures our life has afforded thus far and looking forward to many more to come!

Me and my best friend...my love...and fellow adventurer, in the journey of life.