What a wonderful weekend indeed. How relaxing it was to visit the Valley and family, to take lovely drives, and to read my Tasha Tudor book.
Upon arriving the Bear Lake Valley in Idaho, you will notice that civilization has been left behind and you are entering into a special place. Now that I am older, and the world a little less appealing, I am beginning to realize what a gem this valley truly is.
The valley was settled in 1863 by Mormon pioneers.
It is rich in history and many of the remnants of their homes, churches, schools, and barns are still intact.
The valley houses a hardworking community of farmers, school teachers, and miners. The way of life is slower, the people are friendlier, and you feel as though you've left the world behind when you visit.
I love to take drives through the valley and around the pristine lake to take photographs of the past. Here are just some of the houses and barns I captured this visit.
Please, let me know which is your favorite. Mine is the barn with the silo and this last picture.
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We took the kids ice fishing over the weekend. Here is the frozen lake.
Heading with Dad and Grandpa to find the perfect spot.
Yea!! Baby helped pull up a trout.
Sweet Little Middle was so excited to bring them in. Just a baby Perch and just the right size for kids.
My oldest had so much fun "collecting" fish in her sled and burying them in the snow.
Here's the crew, watching the fish finder and daddy do their work.
The next day we had a fish fry with yummy fish tacos.
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In the evenings, when the kids were asleep, I would snuggle up on the couch next to the wood stove and read my book "Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts". Tricia had recommended this read to us so I took her up on it. I am so glad I did. What an amazing woman she was. I recommend it as well.
I can't wait to start reading this one.
Thanks for making through this long and very picturesque post today. I just had a ton to share and was so excited about it. Have a lovely day.
23 comments:
Beautiful photos~ my favorite of the old buildings is # 11 down the old home~ with ginger bread trim, then it would be the church~ so much character in all the old buildings~
the family photos are so cute & the landscape is breathtaking~
smiles
Teresa
My absolute favorite picture..is "Middle" with her big toothless smile! OMG...I could just squeeze her! How adorable. Then...I had to giggle at the pink and purple snowpants. All I could think was...oh no fish guts all over those pretty pants. THEN I laughed even more...because as a Mother of boys you NEVER think those things. They wear ugly black snow pants, lol...so fish gut stains aren't a big deal!! As for the houses...oh how awesome were all the pics. My mind just goes crazy imagining what they were in their glory days. My favorite has to be the reddish/brownish (hows that for a color). Oh how Id love to live there. Thank you for sharing your wonderful weekend. I will have to check out the book too. It will give me something to do at work on nights its peaceful! We dont' use the "Q" word! Katie
Hello Steph-
What Beautiful photos. They are all so Beautiful.
What adorable little girls. Looks like they had a good
time. My 11 yr old son went out ice fishing with his
Dad this past weekend. Alot of fish were caught. Northerns, Perch and Blue Gills. I think my son was born a Fisherman, Lol! Ever since he was 9 months old
and stuck his hand in the minnow bucket, catching minnows. He's been fishing the Lake since age 2.(with his dad of course)My they grow up fast. Hang on to those memories! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Steph, I am so happy you loved ready Tasha Tudor. I signed up for her tour they have at her homestead in Vermont. One of her children emailed me and he said the tickets go fast, within 1 day. He is going to send the information in March. I am hoping I will be feeling up to it.
They also have a museum of Tasha's work and items from her homestead and a gift shop. If ken and I do go I will be sure to buy you something there and send it to you.
See we have alot in common!
Have fun reading near the wood stove, when you said that, that is what I do I sit in the living room near our wood stove and my quilt and read her books and even has cook books!
Will will need to send me your address.
I loved also seeing the old houses and barns and the kiddo's having fun in the snow! XO
Hugs,
Tricia
Oh it's been a pleasure to have a peek at Bear Lake and share the fun with your girls!
All the photos are absolutely beautiful but I like the barn with the silo too and the old home in the next photo!
glad you all had a blast!
Christine
I love them all, the one that big, reddish brown with all the trim and rooms is my favorite though. And the white one with the red roof. I would love to explore them both! Lovely photo visit with you!
Hi, Steph:
What a great time you all had. I have seen the Tasha Tudor books on Tricia's blog and some others so now I want to find out about her.
Hugs,
Susan
Hi Steph,
Your weekend looked like fun and it was great to see many of the buildings that I recognize from that area. My fav is the old two story home with all the "fret" work. Your kiddos reminded me of ours when my hubby would go ice fishing on Bear Lake when we lived in Soda Springs many years ago.
Have you ever been over to Paris and visited the Mormon Tabernacle? Fascinating history of how it was built. The pioneers cut all that pinkish stone on the other side of the lake and took it across the frozen lake to use for the building of the Tabernacle.
Thanks for sharing your photos and evoking old memories.
Blessings,
Sheila
Oh, Steph, thanks so much for sharing all these beautiful pictures with us, my favorite is the second one, of the old house that looks to be abandoned. The architecture is so interesting, it looks like it has many additions, and I can imagine all the neat nooks and crannies inside. It is so sad so many barns are going to disrepair, it is like that here in Ohio, too. I guess people just don't have the many anymore, :(
Melinda
The second would be my pick. The shape & detail is eye catching. The tall doors give it a look of a church entrance but no steaple. My mind can get going with all the thoughts to remodel when looking at the shell. Planning gardens placing the creature houses about the grounds. Wish they gave these kind of places away. So sad that wonderful places are just falling apart. You will love the second Tasha Tudor book. The photos are beautiful. I really liked the kitchen. I hated to take it back to the library. I am sure Tasha's life was filled with hard work but her way of life to me was peaceful & simple. I will have to check the library for the first book. Beautiful faces show the fun the girls had. Blessings!
Lara
Steph, Love the pics such a beautiful peaceful drive , sometimes its just nice to leave the world behind ! Love the girls ice fishing how fun! Have a great weekend! hugs lil raggedy angie
I love them all! but the one of the outhouse is very charming. I envy your snow. Kids are so cute!!!!!!
You are a lucky Mom!
I would LOVE to explore the large white schoo/church at the top of the post.. any idea what it used to be?
Beautiful post friend!
I just got a TASHA TUDOR book in the mail a few days ago. Only peeked in once as I am saving it for my girls get away this weekend. Love her.
Congrats on your award friend.
Hugs to you
Trace
www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com
Your photos of the buildings are amazing, I couldn't pick just one! And your family, too, of course! It was wonderful seeing it all through your eyes. Thank you!
I love them all but picture 2 really tugged at my heartstrings. I have a "thing" for weathered white houses and I have no idea why....no one in my family or friends has even lived in one buit they just speak to me no matter what the style of the home is.
Loved all of your pictures. Those girls are adorable. I have been a Tasha Tudor fan for years. One of my friends went to Her candle making workshop prior to her death. I have several of her books and always enjoy them, as well as the videos. One of my prints in my kitchen is the TT kitchen scene. Glad you have discovered her. I love her cook books too.
Have a great rest of the week and can't wait to hear how you like the TT books.
Told ya I was coming to visit - and here I am! And thank goodness I didn't miss out on this amazing post! What wonderful old buildings - and your photography captures them expertly!! All our gorgeous - but my favorites are the round bales with snow and the old white house immediately above it. WOW!!! Those look like fine paintings....I looked twice! They definitely need to be enlarged and framed somewhere.... Love the family photos too - what sweet little girls - gee, wonder whey they get THAT from! ;o) Reminds me when my nieces would go bunny hunting - the oldest came carrying one back in her arms like a baby doll....made me cry.... I haven't read any of the Tasha Tudor books, although I know of her. I'll need to check into them. They look fascinating.....Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin
What a fun family trip! My favorite is the house after the barn with the silo. Are all these buildings vacant? So sad if they are. ~Ann
Oops, I was pinning some of your pictures to Pinterest and got side tracked! You can look on my Pinterest and see which pictures are my favorite. =] It was gorgeous there with all the beautiful snow, love all your pictures!
The girls looks so cute all bundled up in their snow suits, looks like they were having a blast! And what wonderful evenings you had! That's exactly what I would have done to, either read or stitch.
I enjoyed looking at your trip pictures! Glad you all had a good time. Have a wonderful week~
Such awesome photo's ! I too love Tasha Tudor and her books are really reasonable on Amazon . Your girls are adorable and cherish every moment . They grow up too fast !
Hugs
Deb
Your photos are simply wonderful! My favorite...and it was hard to narrow it down...is #7...the brown barn with the rail fence in front.
Such a lovely family you have! I just found you today, I'll be back to visit again.
Robyn
Steph! Those pictures are fabulous. It is so fun to see the pictures and place them in my mind. You've brought beauty to the buildings that I've never noticed before. I just love those old buildings, too. I'm glad you had fun on your drive taking pictures! It was so fun to see you and catch up. Your little family is so fun to be around and you always have something fun planned. :) It is so fun to be able to read your blog. You've definitely opened the world of primitives to me that I didn't know existed. Keep up the good work!
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