Trip to Idaho with Don Don and Grangie

Last weekend the family drove to Heyburn State Park in Idaho to meet up with Don-Don and Grangie and the dogs.  

Amy and Chris stayed in a tiny rustic cabin, and Anya slept with the Grandparents and the dogs in their trailer.

It was 3 and a half days of perfect weather in the woods watching Buster fetch rocks, taking long walks, casing rabbits, catching may fish, watching the osprey hunt, tooling around in Don's single-person pontoon boat, and basically having a wonderfully relaxing time with the family.  

The only two points of trauma were when Don Don and dad had to convince her to let us cut a big sliver out of her palm with a buck knife (she took it like a champ) and when the cold she had sent sharp pain into her ears while crossing Snoqualmie pass on the way home.  

Anya wanted to remember: 

• The moths that landed on us while fishing so they could avoid being eaten by the swallows.
• The moth she caught which she picked up from the ground.
• Goldie the golden beetle
• When she fell and got the afore mentioned splinter

It was Grangie's birthday so we showed up with a cake 

As far as Anya is concerned, anyone's birthday is her birthday too, and since she doesn't like chocolate like a normal person, she got her own cup cake. All was well with the world.

 Anya discovered the joy of playing with fire.  Here she is igniting a punk which she will proceed to leave in various piles of dry leaves and bump into with her bare arms.

 Anya is a remarkably patient fisherperson.  She can literally fish for hours.  Also she is just as happy to net a fish as catch one herself.  A wonderful fishing buddy for dad.  Since discovering how to tell if a worm is pregnant (yes there is a tell) she does have a pension for sorting the night crawlers into those who should or should not be spared the hook.  Don and Dad had to admonish her several times for releasing subsets of our bait with an, "Okay girl, you're free, take care of your babies!" Here she is with Amy in the background, rowing away on Don-dons boat. 

 Here's Don Don offering Anya a ride on his one-man fishing vessel.  

Anya with her prized perch.  She free-netted this one (I'm pretty sure I caught and released it a few minutes earlier, but it was gravely and mortally injured in the process. Upon releasing it again, a small boy also netted it, and he brought it home to eat)

Anya doesn't like to pose as much as she used to.  Now she makes funny faces.  This was a gorgeous marsh walk with geese and ducks and many cat tails which, as it turns out, are completely edible.  Who knew? 

Buster informing Don Don that there are rocks to be thrown and retrieved. Don Don retorting that there are beers to be enjoyed.. 

A pretty view from the marsh.

Anya on a Rabbit Hunt, Narrated by Chris. We saw this rabbit every day we were in Heyburn. Anya was fascinated by him. Turn on the cc (close captioning) to hear what we're saying.