10:00am, Sept. 25 and we're off!  The "stuff" of our travel is easily absorbed by our Subaru.  Cascade and Long Valley should be looking a bit different when we return in 5 or 6 weeks.  Right now the only hint of autumn is a slight frostbite on our squash plants and a general brown tinge to the grazing lands around here.  So why are we doing this?  Of the some 25 definitions for the word "trip" in our dictionary, none of them really provide a rationale for why Ruth and I want to make this journey.  Other trips have been about adventure, escape, business, etc. but this one is about gaining a sense of place.  We're visiting some friends and family that we've never visited on their home turf.  We're seeing where things happen, e.g. where the NezPerce finally surrendered, where Theodore Roosevelt developed a conservation ethic, the hubub of where national policy is made in Washington DC.  My guess, seeing the physical context of these places will add much to the facts we've accumulated about people and events that happened.  We'll see about that...

Back to Boise

The Dump
Nate and Alex before the dump
Alex gearing up for tubing at Kelly's Whitewater Park



Dori and the boys recently returned to Boise from their summer with Andrew in Massachusetts. Andrew will join them soon...although I'm sure not soon enough! Dori's grandma and uncle arrived for a visit from Hungary soon after. Dori's uncle is a very adventurous soul and enjoyed biking through Yellowstone and other numerous hikes and biking adventures during his visit to the states. The boys were eager to see Papa. Soon Papa and Mate were off on their traditional visit to the Blue Cow frozen yogurt store in Papa's truck.

Alex, Heidi, and Lorna went back to Idaho for a recent visit. We enjoyed visiting with family and Dori and the boys. We took a hike to a beautiful mountain lake and Alex and Nate tubed the rapids at Kelly Whitewater Park in Cascade. We attended the dedication ceremony at the park for the unveiling of the bronze statue of Kelly Brennan, who the park is named in memory of. Later that evening we enjoyed the Blues Travelers benefit concert in Donnelly.

Larry is now on his way back to join Lorna in Boston to continue their adventure back east.

Playing with Mate'

Nana and Mate' hiding in the vertical tunnel!

The Latest From the Texas Clan

Hi everyone! We are currently back in the Austin area after spending a month with Henry and Ronda in Minnesota. Bill resigned his position at our church since we were not sure of Henry's condition and how long we might need to be in MN. While Henry was in the hospital, a nice snowstorm came for a couple of days and when he saw the ground covered in white, he was ready to head for the Mexican border. Somehow, the snow seemed to have a strengthening affect on Henry, so here we are in Texas!

We are renting a wonderful home in the hill country from some great friends. Henry and Ronda will stay with us until Henry is strong enough to live in their trailer comfortably. I continue to homeschool and I just started working for a foster care and adoption agency part-time. Bill is currently doing art projects for people. He has done a few time-lapsed sketches that he posted on YouTube. On Thanksgiving day, we were shocked when his "Father and Son" sketch was featured on the front page. He received over 4,000 emails that day and the video has been viewed by over 251,000 people! A local, downtown art gallery will be doing a showing of Bill's art next month. We are so excited.

Britain and Sara continue their studies at home (despite Mom's lack of organization due to the seemingly constant relocating). Britain created a page on MySpace, giving himself a new name under which he writes songs. You can see his site at http://www.myspace.com/austinmccoymusic

My favorite song that he has written is "My World Without You."

Sara is passionate about fashion design, so she is always drawing, planning, and dragging us to the mall to look at the latest design. I love hearing her comment on the "cut" and the fabrics.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Poppa playing horse

Dancing with Kids

The Hungarian Peeps have arrived!!

Timo enjoying the park