The Purcells Blow Up Cans Of Soda and Break Glass

I was working on this project when McCann came to me and said, "Dad, do you have anything I can break? I want to break something!" I put down my tools,...

And we loaded a bunch of stuff into the garden cart including an old clay pot, two broken alarm clocks, a broken tape recorder, seven expired two liter bottles of soda, a case of expired Sprite and four flower vases that we were going to donate to good will (but not anymore). Then we headed to the back field.

We were about to start destroying things, but the horses kept coming over. I didn't think it was safe to have them around. I couldn't get rid of them, so...

We used a few of these fire crackers. That did the trick nicely. 

Don't worry though. I made it up to them. I fed them their favorite treat - bread. They got right back to liking me and following me around the field. 

Now back to destroying things. We put on our protective goggles. Safety first. 

Then we started breaking things. 

Boy what a mess we made. We piled it all in the corner, and decided to clean it up next Saturday. Nobody will even notice it anyway. It's way in the back field. 

When it was all said and done, McCann said, "That was amazing!" We had lots of fun. That is for sure. We may do it again sometime. 

The Purcells Take A Bath At Lolo Hot Springs

Just outside the town of Missoula, Montana is Lolo Hot Springs. 

Here, let me point it out to you. We went there this weekend. 

We got up early and ate breakfast. 

Then we hit the road. And what a long road it was -- full of obstacles. 

Almost immediately, we got stuck behind this.  I got around it quickly, BUT...

We stopped to snap this. We have wanted to take this photo for almost a year. But as a result...

We got stuck behind this again. Uhhhh! It took us a while to get around it the second time. And once we got around it...

We had to get around its pilot car. Finally, I just learned to relax and enjoy the beautiful views, and beautiful they were. 

I forgot to mention. We didn't bring our video player on this trip. We restricted our entertainment to reading newspapers, magazines, books...

Kindles, and...

Coloring books. Oh...

And sight seeing...

We took a stop at Ovando, Montana. Fauneil and I stopped there last week. Nice little town. 

They snowmobile around town in the winter. Sounds good to me. 

They have this inn and country store there. It's like stepping into a movie. 

It comes complete with a wood Indian and...

a store keeper with a dog.

They sell Ovando hats there...

And have this cool poster. 

Anyway, we used the potty and grabbed some soda. 

Then we crusied on over to short street. 

See, it really is short. Right there is the beginning and end to it. 

We were going to stop by The Stray Bullet for a beer, then I realized that my kids were with me... and we don't drink beer...so off we went.

Oh, and Brandon drove. Scary, I know. 

Pause. Here is a picture of my Converse. 

Our next stop was Garnet Ghost town...

or NOT! The road was closed half-way up, so we just enjoyed more views on the way back...

Once we got into Missoula, one of the kids saw a Dairy Queen and said, "Let's go there." Fauneil immediatly put down her foot and said, "We will not be going to any Dairy Queen, or McDonalds, or Subway, or Taco Bell. We will eat some where unique and good." That was that.

Before I forget, we found easy street. It's in Missoula. 

So off we went to our planned destination, the Staggering Ox. We've heard great things about it...

And it is rated as one of Google's favorite places. 

The lines were long. That's a good sign. 

They had a menu as long as the store was wide. Brandon and I had Moose Toes, Lily and McCann had Mouse Traps, and Fauneil had a Saddam Slammed. 

Now here is where the trouble started for me. Our number was 39, but it should have been a representation of how many minutes we had to wait...

and wait...

and wait...finally, McCann and I walked over to this marsh with cat tails, picked a few and watched the red winged black birds...then waited some more.

Finally, our food arrived. My thoughts: I'd give it barely a 3 out of 5 stars (Brandon felt the same). Lily, McCann and Fauneil thought it was great. I'm not too big on Greek food, but If you like Gyros, you will love the Staggering Ox. Me, not so much. 

On our way out, we made a detour and stopped at Big Dipper Ice Cream which has recently gotten attention from Good Morning America and rated America's best by Food and Wine Magazine. 

Now this place lived up to all the rave. We LOVED it. Their ice cream is homemade and A-Ma-Zing!

We sat out in the sunshine and devoured our cones. Next stop...

Lolo hot springs...so we thought.

We drove on and on and on. The kids fell asleep. At one point, we realized that our navigator, Fauneil, had taken us 30 miles off course. Doh! This turned our 30 minute trip from Missoula to the hot springs into an hour and a half. I wanted to scream, but I bit my tongue. It was an innocent mistake and I certainly can't cast that first stone. Plus, once we got to the hot springs, we saw this Lewis and Clark quote: "There are so many paths to and from this spring that our tour guide took a wrong for a mile or two." [Captin William Clark, Setember 13, 1805] See! We are just like Lewis and Clark on a journey. 

We finally got to the lodge. Yay!

McCann hauled our luggage up in a rush. 

We were in room 1F.

It was very nice. A bed for me and Fauneil. One for Lily and McCann...

And a futon couch/bed for Brandon. 

Here is the hot springs. We had to walk to the other end of the parking lot to get there.  It comes out of the source at a warm 109 degrees. Very nice.

They have a pool where we cooled off. It was refreshing.  

They also had a  hot springs in our lodge where we soaked as well.  It's a mineral hot springs and it is said to have healing properties. I think it has much more than that, because...

It turned McCann in to a cape flying super hero. 

Now here is something I thought was funny. I saw this leash laws sign, but not one dog we saw was on a leash...oh wait! I take that back. I did see one dog on a leash, but...

There was no owner attached to the other end. 

We ate dinner that night at the Bear Cave Bar and Grill. Some think it is just a bar and grill, but we knew better once we went inside.

It is also a time machine. Look at the date on their clock.

In addition to time travel, they had great food.  We played Uno while eating and...

Foose ball after.

Well, back to the lodge. We went and hung out with moose...

And dogs. Then we went to our room and went to sleep.

The next morning we woke up and ate waffles.

Yum! 

Then we hopped back in our car and headed back home. 

We passed a lot of beautiful things on the way...

But we were happy to get back home to our white bench and our orchard. Home sweet home.