Idaho Roses

HERE'S HOW THE IDAHO ROSES CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS First, an update.  After months (6) of research, and some (lots) of whining, Cammi finally got her new car!   And to complete the happiness, she got a RED car!!!  Each Rose now has a red car....so, of course, it became a photo op.  We are celebrating Tracy's Birthday month, and before lunch we all met at my home.  Previously deciding on a nose to nose (of the cars, of course!) shot, Tracy, the last to arrive (huh?) Decided that we were parked incorrectly and had to move each vehicle. Michelle and I "helping" Tracy position her car correctly.   Hubby George graciously consented to be our official photographer, which led to the following silliness...... As you can see, Bump was not impressed..... BUT ON TO THE BUSINESS OF BIRTHDAYS Tracy chose a downtown Boise location for her lunch, not only downtown, but in the Basque District.   This is a must see for anyone visiting, charming area,...

Well, Michelle has done it again!  Roped the Idaho Roses into another of her schemes!  This one involved Blazing Hot Sun, Rickety Ladders, Quarts of Gold Bond Hand Lotion, Several Boxes of Cheezits, and Lots of Hanging Around in ALLEYS!!! I’ll let her explain why she led us astray........ Michelle here...what my sister refers to as a “scheme”, was actually an amazing artistic opportunity to expand our creativity and share with the world our unique talents (well, MY corner of the world).  These lovely ladies entered into to this venture with willing hearts and ready paintbrushes.  How to explain such a wildly diverse description of the same event is best done by presenting the facts and letting you, our gentle reader, decide for yourselves. Community Canvas of Mountain Home began 3 years ago, the brainchild of Brenda Raub, Amber Cobos and Eric Tautfest. Each year local artists submit artwork in preparation of getting approval from business owners to paint their...

These HORRIFIED expressions are the result of our never ending Quest for Beauty and Youth!  If you look closely in the background, you will see Sister Tracy about to undergo a procedure that we are sure will result in much pain and disfigurement!!   Per usual, one sister is never enough to do anything new, so Michelle and I traipsed along while Tracy had her EYEBROWS MICRO-BLADED!!! Notice this procedure has the word “Blade”in it......all of you who know what a sissy I am can’t imagine ME doing anything like this.....but Tracy, being the bold one, decided this was a great idea. In theory, small incisions are made in your brow area, and dye placed there.  There are many mirror checks to make sure the brows are even, properly placed, and colored.  Even topical anesthesia is used.     Michelle and I are included in the consulting processes.  Michelle is all  “Oh, Tracy, they will look so nice!  Just beautiful!”   I’m not so sure, and halfwa...

Well, Dear Readers, this blog is most certainly NOT a true How-To about Vacation Planning.  We all know that 50% of vacation joy is anticipation.  Planning activities.  Buying new clothes.  Researching restaurants.  Fighting anxiety.... Dear Tracy had invited us back to Hawaii several times and Michelle’s and my schedule just didn’t quite work out, so Tracy, ever the Take Charge Sorta Gal, forged ahead and invited her good friend Stephanie to join her this year at the condo. Thursday, Feb 22, snow falls in Mountain Home and Meridian.  Michelle is the first one to succumb. Mind you, Tracy leaves on Saturday morning and the skiff of snow was just Too Much for a middle sister to bear!  So, off to Hawaii..... Never one to complain, I happily planned the trip to Provo Utah with George to watch Gonzaga play basketball that weekend.  However, nasty winter driving weather raised its evil head, and two hours into the drive, we made the decisi...

We grew up frequently hearing the phrase “when ya got kids, ya got nothing “.  I’m here to tell you that “when ya got sisters, ya have chaos”! Our dear brother-in-law, Dane, planned to have a getaway at a cowboy shindig, which gave us the perfect opportunity to plan a sister extravaganza!  (We ever only have extravaganzas, no ordinary shindig for the Idaho Roses!) If you know anything at all about Vedder women, then you must be aware of our incredible gift of language. And, never at a loss for a word, if we can’t find one, we create one!  This became evident as I made my trek to Elkhorn. In convo with baby sister, Tracy, on whether or not to call me to give me the condition of the fog on the interstate in the Boise area, I replied, in not so many words, that whatever was fine, “as may”.  She, of course, called me on it.  However, upon explaining that it was as valid as “needs must”, I quickly convinced her of the validity of the phrase.  Thus, we ha...

THE IDAHO ROSES JOIN WEIGHT WATCHERS  (Or Misery Loves Company) Well, Dear Readers, I got sucked in to another of my sisters demented schemes!!  Only this time it will involve much suffering and self denial........and from ME!  I don’t mind when THEY suffer and deny themselves, but to bring the Queen Mother into this is a whole new level of ridiculousness.  It seems they have actually done this before.  “Join us!” they said.  “ It will be fun!” they said. “ You can eat anything you want.”    They lied. A  typical daily conversation You can eat anything you want, but it costs you POINTS....so after my first breakfast that I usually eat, I had spent most of my days points, leaving me with undressed salad and hard boiled eggs for the rest of the day! POINTS.  I think that’s the new six letter curse word...Actually this is a lot of fun. I love to complain and this hits all their buttons. ...

We Three Roses of Idaho Are...... Baking Cookies With Spices From Afar.......         December 14th marked the First Annual Vedder Sisters Christmas  Cookie and Candy Extravaganza!   Since this was clearly a collaborative effort, we shall all contribute to this blog.  (This also discourages lies, exaggerations, and highly suspicious hyperbole...) Michelle here...being the most angelic one of the bunch, I must clarify that I have NEVER been accused of lying, exaggerating or using highly suspicious hyperbole... Tracy here - Mishka lies when she says she's never been accused of above - why here am I now, accusing her of just that!  And that angel thing?  Totally not true.  And, as the final copy and photo editor - I pretty much get to say whatever I want.    Bwahahahaha. (Sister Cammi needed help deciphering spoon measurements?) Since I am the first born, I shall go first.   Tracy has the perfect kitche...

Sammy on a typical afternoon (or morning, evening, lunchtime, suppertime....) This is Samantha Josephine, our full-bred mutt.   Or, as some refer to her, a Labradoodle, designer-dog.  With that type of heritage she is a born hunter.  And our back pasture is rife with prey.  Prey of the gopher variety.   Left to their own devices, gophers would turn our back pasture into a full-fledged subdivision of Meridian; complete with traffic circles and a community pool.  That's where Sammy the Wonder Dog stepped in.  She has perfected the art of hunting the pesky gophers on their own turf.  Literally.  She's a digging fool. Sammy jumps in nose first Sammy is far from decimating the gopher population but not for lack of trying.  On any given day we can find her out in the back pasture, doing her part to keep the family ranch in good working order.   While gophers are her main target, she als...

I try to be a good person, I really do. But this morning would try the patience of a saint.... After being awake from 3:30 to 5 am, I snuggled back under the covers for a few snoozes, while George went to an early Mass......   Bang!  Scratch, Scratch!  This was Babs, begging for admittance to the Inner Sanctum.  (Or, at least, under the covers.). “No!  Go away,”... of course, Babs is now hard of hearing, so she continued to bang and scratch on the door, and I continued to holler. This went on for at least half an hour, neither one of us willing to give in. Finally, the Zero Hour looming (getting ready for church, and to pick Tracy up) I stumble out of bed and proceed about my day.  After taking my pills, I decide to call the pharmacy and reorder electronically.  Halfway thru the call I noticed that Miss  Bump has attempted to excavate the lemon tree George has recently purchased and nurtured. Notice that she has to stand on the coffee t...