EAT WITH ME, SMOKE WITH ME, DREAM WITH ME

Another summer trip to Sun Valley for the benefit concert of Jackie Evancho

Lunch with Petters and Vissers at the Clubhouse

(Do Harry and I look any healthier after our recent juice fast?)

Cigars, the guys' number one choice for dessert

Eleven-year-old Jackie Evancho performs at the Sun Valley Pavilion,
kicking off her "Dream With Me" tour.  The man sitting next to me at the concert, kept saying, "She's a miracle.  She's a miracle."  It is truly astonishing to hear such a mature voice coming out of a little girl.

GO FAST!

My mind is on fasting these days.  Taking inspiration from the documentary "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead", Harry and I are committed to a ten-day juice fast.  The film recommends the fast to "reboot" physically, and finish with a fresh resolve to eat and live better. 

"The best of all medicines are resting and fasting."  

Benjamin Franklin

 I am hoping to feel better as I progress in this experiment.  But, further, I hope this will be a good opportunity to re-align my life spiritually.

"Jesus has many lovers of His kingdom of heaven, but he has few bearers of His Cross. Many desire His consolation, but few desire His tribulation. He finds many comrades in eating and drinking, but He finds few hands who will be with Him in His abstinence and fasting...But those who love Jesus purely for Himself, and not for their own profit or convenience, bless Him as heartily in temptation and tribulation and in all other adversities as they do in time of consolation. And if He never sent them consolation, they would still bless and praise Him." 

Thomas a Kempis

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." 

Matthew 6:16-18

"Our greatest victories are won on our knees and with empty stomachs."
Julio C. Ruibal

"Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food."
Dallas Willard 

"Seek the angel of fresh air, the angel of water, the angel of sunlight, and the angel of the earth, and invite them to stay with you throughout the fast!"
from the writings of the Essenes

"I often observe in fasting participants that. . .concentration seems to improve, creative thinking expands, depression lifts, insomnia stops, anxieties fade, the mind becomes more tranquil, and a natural joy begins to appear. It is my hypothesis that when the physical toxins are cleared from the brain cells, mind-brain function automatically and significantly improves, and spiritual capacities expand."   Gabriel Cousens MD

JARBIDGE ADVENTURE

Another item can be scratched off of my "To-Do" list. This week I finally made it to the town of Jarbidge Nevada!  Jarbidge is an old mining town that saw it's heyday in the early 1900's.  Today there are about ten people who live in the town year-around. We drove in from Castleford , down the Lily grade, through the desert, (which is still green and beautiful), past several remote ranches, on to Murphey's Hot Springs, crossing the Nevada border and continuing into the town of Jarbidge.  What a beautiful drive!  The scenery is always changing.  The history of the little old town is quite interesting, but, for me, the best part of this adventure was  seeing the beauty of the Jarbidge wilderness.

July 20, 2011

The sign that greets visitors to Jarbidge

The Jarbidge River runs alongside the one-lane dirt road that takes you to the isolated town.

The stones in the riverbed are orange-ish, and that makes the water look golden.

Spectacular and rugged beauty surrounds the area.

We had lunch at the Outdoor Inn.  

Though we did not spend the night here, a room could be had for about $70.

 Old buildings speak to the town's history.

Sights along the way.

Did you know that Jarbidge Nevada is rated #1 in air quality?

BLOG OBSERVATION

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READ

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This blog is much like a photo album.
The pictures and the words can only say so much,
especially in such a public forum.
What is presented often looks like a pretty idealized life,
but read between the lines.  A whole other story lives there.

A.M.

KNEE HIGH (ARE WE THERE YET?)

They say that corn should be "knee high by the Fourth of July."

Are we there yet?

With an unseasonably cool spring and cool early summer,

the corn is a little behind this year.  This field just north of the house,

is barely to the knee.

IT DOESN'T HURT. WE PROMISE!

This is why Nicky rarely gets a haircut.

SUN VALLEY WEEKEND

Enroute to Sun Valley, Harry and I, finally, after living in Idaho for thirty-seven years, stopped at the Shoshone Ice Caves.  Though there are many aspects of the attraction that are hokie, we are glad that we took the time to see this odd natural phenomenon.  It is a strange experience to stand in the rocky desert landscape, basking in the heat of the sun, and then, abruptly feel the sudden frigid air as you descend into the ice caves.  We were glad that we brought our coats!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Besides keeping an MD appointment,

enjoying a Mrs Powell's cinnamon roll courtesy of Mark E Jones,

visiting the Shoshone Ice Caves,

browsing antique shows,

walking and biking all around, in and out of town,

being treated to a special dinner at Michel's Christiania Resturant by John Werner,

riding the Gondola to take in lunch-with-a-view at the Roundhouse Restaurant,

Fear of heights had me worried that
I wouldn't be able to handle the Gondola,
but it was fine.

...meeting old friends, 

meeting new friends,

sipping coffee, wine, beer, soda, 

and more tummy treats from Kneadery, Chocolate Factory, Gretchen's and Roosevelt Grill...

besides all these things, the main attraction on this trip was a special concert:  

 Alison Krauss and Union Station. 

Sun Valley Pavilion

July 2, 2011 

THERE IS A REASON

I've seen hard times and I've been told

There isn't any wonder that I fall

Why do we suffer, crossing off the years

There must be a reason for it all

I've trusted in You, Jesus, to save me from my sin

Heaven is the place I call my home

But I keep on getting caught up in this world I'm living in

And Your voice it sometimes fades before I know

Hurtin' brings my heart to You, crying with my need

Depending on Your love to carry me

The love that shed His blood for all the world to see

This must be the reason for it all

Hurtin' brings my heart to You, a fortress in the storm

When what I wrap my heart around is gone

I give my heart so easily to the ruler of this world

When the one who loves me most will give me all

In all the things that cause me pain You give me eyes to see

I do believe but help my unbelief

I've seen hard times and I've been told

There is a reason for it all

These are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs of the evening.

Great concert.

Great weekend.