South for a Week

Last week, I caught a ride to southern Idaho with Marie to see friends and family and attend her wedding at the end of the week.  I started in Pocatello, spending some quality time with my dear friend Tara.  We worked, shopped, painted, enjoyed good food, and chitchatted for hours as friends do!  It was a wonderful two days, and I unfortunately took zero photos...
I arrived back in Burley on Thursday, in time to do the massive grocery-shopping trip for the wedding reception and get busy making the food, under the direction of Chef Suzie.  And, boy did we ever make enough to feed an army!

Andy and Beth arrived Thursday evening, and we spent much of Friday at my parents' house, helping irrigate and seeing all the changes on the farm since we were there last. 

Also finally got to meet my newest niece!  Such an adorable and very mellow kiddo...

Friday night, Marie's female friends and family gathered 'round to celebrate her last night of single life.

There were gifts and root beer floats...

...and a fun "How Well Do You Know Marie" game, with some challenging questions.

Then, it was time to focus on the big event!

We decorated,

 Occupied the kiddos,

Put finishing touches on the cake,

Formed an assembly line to build sandwiches for the soon-to-arrive guests,

and celebrated with the newly-wed couple.

Then, when the kids were wired...

And the chef was tired...

We sent the bride and groom on their merry way,

Cleaned up the show,

And called it a day.

Well...not quite.  Once kiddos were put to bed, we played the hilarious board game, Quelf.  A few hours of laughing at each other was an even better way to end the day!

Dogwood10

Backtracking a little here, the car show season started at the end of April with a trip down to the Dogwood Festival at the beautiful LCSC campus.  We arrived with some of the car club plus a couple of new friends from the Valley, and our little group of hot rods parked side-by-side was a happy sight!

 We had a terrific time, and how could you not when you're in the company of fellows like these?

 After the show, a few of us went to the McKeehan's shop to see their race cars and their newest toy - a motorized bar stool.

Aaron took it for a spin first, with the invincible Bubble Helmet in place.

 Then, I was talked into taking a couple of laps myself!  The first was very cautious, and once I survived that the second lap was much more fun.

 Here's to many more miles in these fun little hot rods!

"The blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearless on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."
-Dinah Maria Mulock Craik