Guest

I've become a grown-up in the blogosphere today with my very first guest blog post!

I've been reading Pear Shaped Thoughts for about a year and a half now and was excited when Kasey asked me if I would be interested in guest posting.

Of course!
Just click here to see my post.

Be sure to head over to Pear Shaped Thoughts today to check my post out and read through their other posts as well!

Enjoy!

Summa Dreamin

Sometimes I walk out my front door and see my huge wasatch range mountains and just have to smile to myself. I live here. Those mountains mean home. They are so beautiful and are all colorful as Fall is just starting. I feel so blessed to walk right out my door and get a view like this:

Being surrounded by mountains makes for gorgeous scenery at the local lake. My family goes boating non-stop every summer and this year, we added big bubba to the mix. Big bubba is our new tube and well, we used him twice before we popped the beaut. Too much fun I tell you, too much fun! Luckily tube refunds make life even more fun but that is beside the point. Point is, Utah is beautiful. Utah Lake is a gem. Sure its green sometimes with algae. Just means its helpin out the ole eco-system. We don't mind. It's 10 minutes away and meets our boating needs. 

I brought our camera out on our last lake adventure this summer. I didn't edit the photos at all. Nope-no editing needed folks.

I'm missing summer as I type this very blog..

Here's a small vid of big bubba in action...even after he had a split seam. So when it wasn't going flat, imagine the best tubing experience and multiply it by 10. That was our big bubba!

And then we left the lake behind for yet another year with this in the background.

 Amazing...already counting down til next summer.

Elba, Idaho

Part of our journey to Burley included seeing Cole's old stomping grounds just around the bend in Elba.

When we pulled up to the Nelson homestead Phil said, "Oh, when did we pass Elba?"

That's the beauty of it folks. Elba is so small and quaint. We loved spending time there.

We got a private tour from Paula Nelson herself and she told us all about the history of the place.

I love homes with a story!

It was big, open and beautifully serene. We truly felt like we had stepped back in time.

We also got to tour the old mine that Cole's uncle has so beautifully restored. 

To learn more about the labor of love visit here.

I could have stayed there for hours and listened to all the stories about the place. So much fun and so much history. I would love to jump back in time to see places like this in their hay day.

I conveniently forgot my camera that day but it probably was better so we could just enjoy our time exploring. Luckily, cell phones can take a few pics for memory's sake.

A little bit about the builder of the house: Peer Mc-Intire built it for his wife after he fell in love with the area. When Peer brought his wife, Tess, to their new home, she didn't hold the same fascination for the place as her husband did and left shortly thereafter.

The home was advanced for its time. It had electricity and running water through an easement from Albion in 1920. The city of Elba didn't have electricity until 1940! After spending $1 million on the mine, Mc-Intire closed it in 1920. The mansion was left with the china in the closet and bedding on the beds as if someone was still living there.

Here's just half of the huge front porch.

The mansion has a living area of 5,400 square feet, three levels each with 1,800 square feet. The original owner, Peer McIntire, hired an artist who handpainted the living room walls with a floral design. Jones traced the pattern and colors from the original walls. Each room's handpainted designs were meticulously restored.

I'm glad we got a picture of this beautiful stove...I love it though!

 

And a view of the place from the side. It is massive!

Told you - pictures are less than satisfying but it was amazing. It was certainly a fun part of our getaway.

Thanks again Jamie and Cole!