Summer is winding down.  The tell-tale signs are the back-to-school ads, feverish efforts to finish highway construction projects and the push to have a few more weeks of summer fun.  When school starts folks are locked into the routine of school and work and the activities of fall.  Since life as most of us knew it has changed because of the economy – a word has crept into our vocabulary – the word is “staycation.”  This means you stay at home or closer to instead of traveling far from home for relaxation and fun.  I read an article last week where the author actually stayed in his home and surfed the endless channels on his tv and gave a report of the unusual programs available.  If your idea of fun and relaxation is different….may we suggest: 

• A County Fair – upcoming are fairs in Jerome, Cassia, Gooding and Twin Falls Counties.  Fairs are terrific events with something for every member of your family.

• The last literal enactment of the crossing of the Snake River by the pioneers at Three Island State Park west of Mountain Home.

• Get Outside!  Explore and hike and bike  or just soak in the surrounding scenery at City of Rocks NationalReserve and Castle Rocks State Park or the nine units of Thousand Springs State Park in and around Hagerman. 

• When we were kids we used to call it “sleeping out”  - what we did was go camping…and there are great places…the South Hills – part of the Sawtooth National Forest is a terrific place.  Be careful – the fire danger is high and as Smoky says – “only you can prevent wildfires.”

• And indeed if you want to stay closer to home – explore the various parks within our communities  - they are great places to while away an afternoon.

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

Take Care * Be Safe and we’ll see you soon in Southern Idaho.

VFR – in tourism-talk this is the acronym for visiting friends and family.  This weekend is my husband’s 40^th class reunion and there are many others in our valley, it is the time to re-connect with old friends and visit family.  Time is a great equalizer – we all experience challenges just living our lives – what was perhaps important in high school is no more.  Time is valuable – it is better spent sharing memories and reconnecting with old friends in a new and meaningful way.  I did not grow up here or go to high school here – yet I know the Class of ’69 Reunion will be a highlight of our summer.  It will be the warm and good memories we will reflect on during the cold days of winter; we will have “new” old friends to email back and forth or literally spend time with.  And we will draw on these good memories as we face or support friends and family through the heartbreaks life will present. Yet – this weekend here and in countless communities it is a time of celebration, of life, of change, of growing up, of good friends and the coming together again.  We welcome the families coming together and the reuniting of classmates for the many class reunions– a special welcome to the Twin Falls High School Class of 1969 – welcome home to Southern Idaho…have fun making memories!

Upcoming over the next few weeks are some terrific events:  It is County Fair season – this week the Camas County Fair and the Minidoka County Fair swing into action….county fairs are a microcosm of our lives – experience and enjoy!  The world comes to the Magic Valley with the 5^th Annual International Dance and Music Festival in Burley.  Teams of international musicians and dancers share their native drama, music and culture in one of the most captivating events in Southern Idaho – this is a must-see!!! 

Take care * Be Safe * Be Happy and we’ll see you soon in Southern Idaho

On this the 40^th anniversary of the first man on the moon…we invite you to visit the moon….Craters of the Moon that is.  This is a National Park property, jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service.  You can drive or walk. We recommend walking; marvel at the forces that created this amazing and weird landscape some 2000 years ago.  The lava flows, softened this time of year by Syringa flowers is an unforgettable site.  Craters of the Moon is part of of the legacy of space exploration  In 1969, NASA astronauts Alan Shepherd, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan, and Joe Engle explored Craters of the Moon while training to visit the moon.  Their first steps before landing on the moon were on the moon-like landscape of Craters of the Moon. Travel to Craters via Highway 20- it is the construction season….check 511.gov for road construction updates.  Craters of the Moon is only a click-away if you want more information.  Space exploration tells us anything is possible – we just have to show up daily and make it reality! Take care – stay safe and we’ll talk soon!

Southern Idaho is remarkable for the variety of unique events and recreational opportunities.  Last weekend was an amazing time – for those of you who celebrated the 4^th of July with us….thank you!  I went to Buhl for Sagebrush Days  - had a great time – ran a little  and marveled at this small community swelling to twice its size for the 4^th of July parade.  Yesterday I was in Rupert   - if you haven’t been to the Historic Rupert Square – do so….there are historic buildings, great shops and great restaurants tucked right in the center of town.  Be sure to stop by the Historic Wilson Theatre – the town has combined human and financial resources to restore this wonderful building.  Immediately, outside of the Wilson Theatre is the story of Rupert – it used to be known as WellFirst…and it boasts having the first all-electric high school in the US.  Of course, if you are a quilter (or not) – The Gathering Place is feast for the eyes and makes you want to get creative! This weekend is two great events – the Lavender Festival just outside of Buhl.  Go early and follow the signs.  Experience lavender in all ways possible!!!  Or if you want a great old-fashioned community celebration it is Good Neighbor Days in Kimberly – a fun run, breakfast and events in the park in a truly great community – have fun with all the good neighborly citizens of Kimberly.  Coming up July 17 is the Star Party at Castle Rocks State Park in Almo….view the stars among the magnificent spires of this gem of a park.  And of course, the county fairs in our communities start the end of July – each is unique and fun…. come be our guest!!!  If you travel with a pet – make sure your furry family member has an ID tag – we learned that puppies and kitties wander away or in our case tunneled out of the back yard to get away from the sound of the fireworks – there was no reprieve.  Good neighbors rescued our Bu from the busy streets and were looking for his home; when we arrived after walking a few blocks for a clear view of the fireworks.  Bu now has a tag with his address and telephone number.  Lesson learned!