My new "Westy"

Milton at the 2005 Oktoberfest with his (now my Westy)

So some may know that I am a VW junkie. For those who don't...I'm a VW Junkie! I did have a '72 Bus for a while...that was an adventure. She was a red & white beauty! But we had to sell her to buy our minivan when we had TJ. I have always loved the Bus, plenty of room, you can always turn heads (usually away), and they are a blast to drive (when they run). For a little change, I have been toying with the idea of getting a Beetle or a Ghia to satisfy my VW craving, but haven't came accrost one yet. Well about a month ago the opportunity found me. My friend, Milton, has had this great '79 Westfalia (Westy--a camper) but has decided that it needed another home. After much much negotiation (me telling him that he could not just give it to me)we settled on a trade: his Westy (that didn't run) for my 79 Honda Trail 90 (that likewise did not run). As of yet it has not left his garage...I haven't had time to start working on it, but I just could not pass it up! My kids are excited...can't say the same for Jessica.

Toph is very excited for the Westy--he can't wait to go camping in it.

As for now the plan of action is to first get a battery to check compression. If that shows bad valve heads (as I am told main the problem is), then it will be a trip to Gate City Repair for engine work. Then I will focus on cleaning up the inside (not too bad), removing the 5 gal propane tank on the back and spare tire mount on front, installing a gas heater (Eberspacher BA6), then patch and paint. I think I'd like to do a two tone like my '72 with a dark green and white...then there's the idea of rhino lining. Any ideas? As cool as it is, I think the mural has to go...not quite my personality.

Who's ready to go camping?!

Rexburg Temple, Shoshone Falls & Sand Dunes

The last few weeks have been pretty wild....like always. It has been a huge blessing to be working on the Temple again. First off it is wonderful to be home in the evenings, and then...it's the Temple! It is really enjoyable to work there. I enjoy it-dispite the little setbacks that you encounter (all jobs have setbacks). This week we finished all the windows on the south elevation. This photo is the south elevation...but you can't really see the windows that well. Next week we will either start on the east-or front, or the west-back. These windows will be quite the adventure, very tall.

Rexburg Idaho Temple. 27 April 2007

On the 21st, my dad's brother passed away, so we had a funeral to go to in Boise on Thursday. We drove there on Wednesday, after work then back Thursday. We stopped and saw Shoshone Falls. We needed a break, Jess and the kids had never been there, and the last time I was there it was just a little trickle. It was very nice. Nothing like when Timothy O'Sullivan was there, but nontheless I took a few pictures. Likewise those are nothing like Timothy O'Sullivan's or Mark Klett. That would be a nice place to fisit and photograph more.

The Family at Shoshone Falls April 25, 2007

Friday it was back to work...but afterwards I got to go photograph is Theo and Darren. We went to the Saint Anthony sand dunes. I had never been there to photograph, but I am sure I will go there again. I really liked it. The sun was a bit too intense when we got there, but as the evening progressed, it got much better. I was very happy with the results, I will be making some small prints soon...I think they will even be worthy of the Museo Silver Rag paper I got for my birthday.

Dunes & Motorcycle Tracks April 2007

Island of trees at St. Anthony. April 2007

Rexburg Temple

So the last week we have been working on the "U" windows. Nothing special about the letter, just how each window opening is designated. There are 4 "U" windows. Tomorrow we will finish the last one. They only 20 inches wide...but just over 26 feet tall (devided into 4 sections). This first image was taken Wednesday (with my camera phone--sorry for the nasty color), looking south into the freaking cold wind from the top of one of the "U" windows.

Just before we finished for the day, Jason and I started the last frame. I had to run the lift up to the top to get a measurement of the opening and determine if the opening is out of square and if so how much. While there I made a couple snaps with my camera phone. So my lift is at the level of the basement...then the bottom of this 26' window is at chest level on the second floor...so how high off the ground am I??? I'm on an 80' lift...but I don't know if it is completly extended. On Tuesday I was on the 105' lift, and did have that extended all the way out...any gust of wind or a sudden movement of the lift was a bit freaky.

Work on the Temple

Just when I thought Jessica was about to kill me, we had a great suprise. I got to work on the Temple this week instead of the Visitor Center in Jackson. It has been a great to be able to be home at night. And working on the Temple has been fun too. Yes there are still problems and it is hard work, but I do enjoy it...and the atmosphere is much better too. Today was interesting working in the snow, rain & wind.

It was also a blessing to be in town this week because on Monday, TJ went to a ear-nose-throat doctor. He advised us to have his tonsils and adenoids removed to help him breathe clear and not be so stuffy all the time. They were removed this morning, and Jess and TJ are staying at the hospital all day today and tonight for observation. The sergon said that his tonsils were "HUGE!" Is that a compliment? "Holy cow! You've got huge tonsils!" So he's been miserable all day today, I just hope he can sleep tonight...so that Jessica can too. I also hope this will clear him up so that he won't be so gunky before we go to Shriners...that's less than a month away.

I have a few snapshots of the Temple on my phone...but no way to download them right now. I'll have to remember to take my 10D tomarrow and Friday. Were making some good progress.

Like I said it has been so much better for our little family to be home this week...such a blessing, and the Lord does hear our prayers.