Late Summer in the City

It's no secret that I am in love with Boise. I love the river and the fact that our citizens had the fore site long ago to protect its banks and create a path (our greenbelt) for people to enjoy. I ride my bike home on it most days, even though it is a bit longer than riding through downtown. The greenbelt wanders along next to the clean water of the river through several large parks filled with people laying on blankets enjoying the warmth of the sun, geese honking at ducks, ducks ignoring the geese, kids on paddle boats in the pond, the football stadium with the sound of the marching band practicing, adults on rafts in the river floating lazily by, an occasional bald eagle swooping into the river looking for dinner. It's an amazing commute, kind of like the utopia they try to create at theme parks that usually falls flat and ends up feeling a bit creepy.
I love the foothills and the fact that our citizens are currently fighting to keep the development away from our trail system. I rode my mountain bike last night from my front door to a system of trails that I had never even seen before. It's not that I don't get out a lot, I do. And I've lived here at the base of these hills my entire life. It's just that we have such an amazing variety of trails in this city, just short of 100 miles of them in the lower foothills alone. Its hard for me to venture out of the Hulls Gulch area because its my first love, but there is so much more to explore! I love how friendly people are. How mountain bikers all feel a need to smile and wave at you as you ride by. How people with dogs will step off the trail for you to pass. How the runners, almost completely out of breath as they huff up a hill still take that extra effort for a friendly "hello" and a quick wave. Last night I went back into Military Reserve where there were several softball games going. The sound of a cheering crowd as someone rounds the plate is enough to make you turn off your MP3 player and just soak it all in.
I love Boise's downtown. I love living three blocks from art galleries, and an independent music store, and great restaurants, and fun bars filled with live music and vibrant people. I love the little wine bar down the street. The couple that owns it met in Boise even though she's from England and he's from Brazil. Further down is a pub that only sells beers on tap that are micros from the Northwest. Across the street one of our friends plays music on Thursday nights. Kitty corner from that is a little hole in the wall that sells the best burgers in town, and the owner's wife used to work with my mom. I even love that hardly anyone you ever meet is actually from Boise, but they probably know someone that you know. There are about three degrees of separation between everyone in this town.
I love the Northend. I love the huge trees that cause the sidewalks to be like roller coasters because the roots push them up do far. I love walking through our neighborhood with the dogs at night and looking in people's windows as they eat dinner, or vacuum, or talk on the phone while gesturing wildly with their hands. I love how one house can look like it's about to fall over and the one next to it looks like it could be on the cover of Cottage Living. I love how the schools are all made completely out of brick, have huge playing fields, and are tucked away into the neighborhood. I love how an old hippie, a lawyer and a sculptor all live next to each other on the same block. I love going to Hyde Park and sitting on the patio at Luck 13, where Michael and I met, and people watching. I love the anticipation this time of year of the leaves changing colors and setting the entire area on fire. I love the smell of the Northend, so much so that I won't even try to describe it.
I hope everyone out there is cyberland is in love with where they live, too. Don't let the horrible behavior of one sad, pathetic man (that I never voted for) color your view of Idaho. Boise is only one small part of an incredible state that seems to only get in the headlines for disturbing reasons.
Lots of love, -M

Even MORE pictures!

Our pictures from Todd turned out so great that I don't seem to be able to stop myself from posting them... the funny thing is that he hasn't even "worked his magic" on them (as MJ likes to say) and done any of the touch up work or special effects yet. I changed a couple of them to black and white myself just for fun... so... there will probably be a couple more in the future... hope that's OK with everyone!

What a month!

Wow, the past four weeks have been crazy! It's all self-inflicted crazy, but crazy none-the-less!
In addition to getting married we've been camping three times, installed slate tile on our front walk way and steps, went to a baseball game, spent as much time as possible with my friend Geneva while she was here visiting from Australia, drove through three states to go to a music festival in Sandpoint (near the border of Canada) and I still managed to make it to work and Bunco.

Shew... I. Am. Tired.

Sorry the thank you cards haven't gotten out yet. One of these days...

More Pictures From Stanley

Wedding Week - Part Three: The Reception

Roasting s'mores after dinner.

First dance.

The college ladies.

Bunco ladies.

The Girl's Night ladies.

Now that is service! MJ grabbing a beer while swinging with his sister & mom.

Chloe & Shanna.

Me with Susan & Michelle.

Cheryl & Mark

Ami and Jarrod.

Annie & Michelle.

Boogie on down!

Dave & MJ.

Bob & Teddy.

Adorable!

Love it!

Poor David - his head got cut off!

Frank (the manager of Terrace Lakes) and I toasting to the wrap of a hugely successful event.

Garden Valley feels like home to me. We felt so fortunate to be surrounded by so many incredible friends and family as we celebrated our marriage that Saturday. We estimated there to be about 140 (we didn't have enough tables, but no one seemed to mind too much). I'll post more of these soon. All of the pictures I have posted today are courtesy of Dawn, she did a stellar job of documenting our week.

Wedding Week - Part Two: Camping at Petit Lake

After the ceremony and a night at Redfish Lake in their plush cabins Wendy, Alisha, Dawn, Scott, Joe, Kathy, MJ and I loaded up the left over wine and champagne headed south to Petit Lake.


Wendy & Zack in beautiful Petit Lake.

How many Johnstons, Hodsons & Headricks doe it take to build a camp fire?

Sheesh getting ready for our ride.

Wendy and Alisha looking on at all the talented music going on.

Having Joe play while we sang around the camp fire made my year. He is amazing, he knew so many of the songs we threw out at him. Fantastic.

Newlyweds.

I think I was attempting to dance here... and yes, that is definitely a glass of wine in my hand influencing my desire to dance...

Sing it sista! Kat rocking out!

Scott can play anything... he's an incredibly talented musician, but I think he was missing his drums!

Part One Continued - The Dinner in Stanley

Peggy had bought us salt and pepper shakers after we got engaged to use as a cake topper. I accidentally (I swear it wasn't on purpose!) broke off the groom's head the night before the wedding. Fortunately no one could tell after we applied the tried and true Gorilla Glue we keep around emergencies such as this.

The moms.

The brothers.

Skol!

After our incredibly long 9 -1/2 minute ceremony and some pictures by the famous Stanley fence we walked down to a covered area for dinner. My family and MJ's had prepared kabobs to barbecue. Joe & Scott manned the grill and I can honestly say that I had the best skewers of my life that night. Everything was fabulous.