The Toby Show

Pressing the pause button...

I'm in Texas dealing with a family medical crisis.  More blogging when there's time for frivolity again.

The Crud

Here's the deal... Circumstances have conspired to keep me away from the blog for a while.  It couldn't be helped and I've missed it.  I know you understand but my apologies.

I beleive I've already mentioned that my laptop is toast. Soggy, soggy toast. Thank you, Jemima.  But besides that, all 4 of us here have been sick over the last 2 weeks. In fact, I still feel pretty crummy. It's not the Swine Flu just the plain old Crud.  Stuffy head, sore throat, cough, dog tired.  But I'm on the mend so expect more action around here.

ANd for anyone else suffering these days, here's my recipe for a great throat and cough tea.  Tea is kind if a misnomer as there's no tea in it, it's more of an infusion.  I drink this all the time when I'm sick, especially at night.  It's my own concoction and I do not claim that it has any real medicinal benefits.  All I can tell you is it's mild, harmless and it makes me feel better.

 

JL's Sick Tea

3-4 slices of fresh ginger root

1-2 tsp honey

juice from 1 slice of fresh lemon

Toss the ginger in a mug, squeeze the lemon slice and drop it in, poor in boiling water from the kettle and stir in the honey.  Steep for about 5 minutes and drink between moans.

When I'm sick I keep ginger root in a small snack bag (unsliced) and put it in a glass container along with lemon wedges (sliced).  It's all in the fridge when I need a hit and the honey is already next to the kettle.

Hope everyone is scrubbing those hands and staying healthy.

Sheriff's Log :: 46

SEPT. 28

10:28 a.m. A forest fire was reported.

10:32 p.m. A reckless driver in a white Jeep was reported.

SEPT. 29

11:55 a.m. A funeral escort was requested.

1:44 p.m. Malicious injury to property was reported after bus windows had rocks thrown through them.

11:11 p.m. Suspicious activity was reported.

SEPT. 30

10:33 a.m. Identity theft was reported.

10:49 a.m. A controlled fire was reported in Victor.

12:10 p.m. Illegal dumping was called in.

1:41 p.m. A road hazard was reported.

2:11 p.m. Narcotics were reported found.

8:12 p.m. A fire was reported on Packsaddle.

OCT. 1

8:28 a.m. One arrest occurred.

12:42 p.m. A dog bite was reported.

2:25 p.m. A barn fire was reported.

OCT. 2

4:21 a.m. A residence called to report sickness

8:51 a.m. A trailer house fire was reported.

8:33 p.m. Bullying was reported.

8:46 p.m. A deer was reported hit.

9:22 p.m. A lost dog was reported.

OCT. 3

6:26 p.m. A brush fire was reported in Tetonia.

8:05 p.m. A noise disturbance was reported.

 

Sheriff's Log :: 45

SEPT. 21

10:17 a.m. A yellow lab was reported found in Victor.

11:09 a.m. Suspicious activity was reported in Driggs.

11:58 a.m. A traffic complaint was reported at Pole Canyon.

12:29 p.m. Theft of a wedding ring was reported.

1:12 p.m. A hit and run accident was reported.

1:43 p.m. A reckless driver was reported in Victor.

2:51 p.m. A bike was reported stolen.

4:36 p.m. A controlled burn was reported.

SEPT. 22

6:22 p.m. Suspicious activity was reported in Driggs.

9:31 p.m. Harassment was reported after a boy received a threatening text message.

SEPT. 23

12:07 p.m. Theft of a 4-wheeler was reported.

2:44 p.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported.

3:26 p.m. Kids were reported smoking pot at the skate park.

4:13 p.m. Gang vandalism was reported.

10:22 p.m. A disturbance was reported at the Super 8 Motel.

SEPT. 24

9:20 a.m. Litter on the road was reported.

3:08 p.m. A disturbance was reported at the kindergarten.

9:25 p.m. A dog was reported missing.

SEPT. 25

11:49 a.m. Suspicious activity was reported in Victor.

3:54 p.m. Suspicious people taking photos were reported.

5:26 p.m. Bullying was reported at the high school.

8:48 p.m. Trespassing occurred.

10:23 p.m. A noise complaint was reported.

SEPT. 26

9:49 a.m. Joy riding was reported in Victor.

Fire Pit Inauguration

Stephen and my Dad build a rocking fire pit at our house this summer and it's finally been the right weather to fire it up.  We used the occasion to introduce Huck to his very first Smore.    

Fire, pokey sticks, sweets, staying up late--what more could an almost 4 year old ask for?

How about that lifted pinky?  He's got class dammit.

Shoulder Season

Well Jemima decided to knock a glass of water on my laptop and it's fried.  It was on its last leg anyway but I've been finding it harder to post now that I'm tethered to the desktop upstairs.  I usually posted in bed at night so I'm having to change my ways and that's never easy.

We're in the middle of what the rest of you call Fall.  Or maybe you call it Autumn.  We call it Shoulder Season.  Up here it goes Summer, Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, Mud Season, then finally Summer again.  Some people say we really only have 2 seasons: Winter and Construction or Winter and Company, depending on who you talk to.

Here's a picture of the peak of fall which we enjoyed for about 3 weeks.

This is what it looked like on the same day, about 15 minutes later, but 3000 feet straight up on Teton Pass.

And this is what it looked like behind our house.

That's Shoulder Season.  Right on the shoulder between fall and winter.

 

Sheriff's Log :: 44

SEPT 14

10:52 a.m. A resident called to report stolen auto parts.

1:14 p.m. A found handgun was reported.

2:44 p.m. Prescription drugs were reported stolen.

4:44 p.m. Shots were reported fired in Victor.

5:07 p.m. Trespassing was reported.

5:42 p.m. Harassment via text was reported.

6:24 p.m. A lightening fire was reported.

SEPT 15

4:11 p.m. A dog was found in Driggs.

8:35 p.m. Public assistance was requested.

10:03 p.m. A dog was found in Tetonia.

SEPT 16

12:39 a.m. Suspicious activity was reported in Victor.

1:04 a.m. A suspicious vehicle was reported at MD Nursery.

2:19 a.m. A dog disturbance was reported in Victor.

9:26 a.m. A fire was reported near Mud Lake.

3:10 p.m. A brush fire was reported.

3:16 p.m. Suspicious activity was reported.

3:22 p.m. Vandalism at Huntsman Springs was reported.

8:59 p.m. A brush fire was reported.

SEPT 17

1:20 p.m. An accident was reported at the post office in Driggs.

7:06 p.m. A horse was reported running loose.

7:16 p.m. Shots were reported fired in Victor.

7:23 p.m. Fraud was reported in Tetonia.

8:22 p.m. A disturbance was reported at the skate park.

9:27 p.m. A bad check was reported.

SEPT 19

1:29 a.m. A disturbance was reported in Driggs.

3:17 a.m. A horse was reported running loose.

5:16 p.m. A fight was reported in Victor.

7:19 p.m. An abandoned vehicle was reported.

SEPT 20

5:41 p.m. A noise complaint was called in.

Do you have a Surprise Box?

If you aren't already doing this, you must start.  

Find a box, or a bin, or a crate, or a tub.  And begin filling it with little things--books, art projects, special treats, a DVD, Brain Quests, puzzles, small toys, craft project kits and art supplies.  Keep an eye out for good sales or pick things up at rummage sales and thrift stores.   I also stash some of the items sent by Huck's Jazz and Pop.  I occasionally buy a book for Huck and decide it's really too old for him right then.  It all goes in the bin.

Ours currently holds the first 4 Magic Tree House Books , some Pop Rocks and a Take-Along Watercolor Set along with assorted other things.  I've also got The Little Traveler's British Isles DVD waiting in the wings.

I missed the boat on this one but I will tell you that it's best if you keep the location of the surprise box a secret.   I also try to avoid using it as a reward box too often, but, you know...

So when we just need something new to get us over the midday hump, or the weather is crummy, or a play date gets cancelled, or I'm just feeling particularly generous... I hit the Surprise Box and Huck gets a little pick-me-up and feels extra special that day.  

It's a win-win.

Ah-Ah-Ah-Choooooooo!

They're cutting the hay for the last time right now.  Stephen's allergies are going insane.  He didn't actually know he suffered from hay fever until we moved into a house that's adjacent to this...

 
OOPS!
 

In Eastern Idaho they mainly make three things: potatoes, gravel and hay.  Doesn't sound like it'd be as pretty as it is.  Go figure.

Big Boy Things

In the span of one week Huck got his first watch and his first wallet.  He thinks he's hot stuff.  

Of course, he can't tell time but he's now fond of looking at his watch and yelling, "Hurry! It's ten four hundred!  We're going to be late."

And he doesn't have a pants pocket big enough to put that wallet in but that's a minor detail.  What he was really concerned about was what kinds of things he should put inside the wallet.  

I gave him a little change and some photos (of him) and his Great Aunt gave him a dollar.  He was thrilled with all these treasures.  But he needed more.  We dug through my purse and scavanged an out-of-date Sam's card, and a Curious George bandaid.  Big winners.  I also suggested he keep his library card in it. He's still on the lookout for good wallet swag and I can see him sizing up everything he touches. 

Hmmm.  Might this fit in my new froggy wallet?  Let's just find out, shall we?

Yesterday, I was checking out what all he had in there--and I swear this wasn't set up!--and I found this...

Because, well...you never know.  

Hey, at least it wasn't a condom.