Adventure 499: 2018 Trailer Storage Trip

Our campsite: Stoneybrook Farm

After leaving at 5 A.M. two hours into our trip, the rosy fingers of dawn spread her morning light over the edge of the Lewiston grade. So bathed in the promise of a new morning, we felt as giddy as goldfish in an Ani DiFranco song as we made our way down into the serene valley  full of sleepy little castles. From the valley floor, we followed the Clearwater River up and over the Camas Prairie past several signs pointing to Hell's Canyon recreation access along the famed Salmon River (The river of no return). We wiggled our way through McCall and down the snake-like curves that follow the Payette River until we joined I-84 in Boise. From there it was just a scant two and and half hours to Filer, Idaho including the short jaunt out to the Hooley's Stoneybrook Farm where we'll spend the week helping with the MCC sale, a Mennonite endeavor that encourages fair trade world wide, and rewards artisan effort from around the globe.  Our drive totaled just under 500 miles and took an elapsed time just over nine hours. Our incentive is that we get to spend time with the Hooley's, nestled in the safety of their little "bubble". Frac is tucked once again between the garage and the back storage buildings. The aroma of fresh hay, fresh manure, and fresh air compete for our senses along with the crisp fall color and the lordly peacocks that run roughshod over the farm. We always enjoy it here. As for our work load, we do whatever is asked of us. Mostly, that means helping with set up, shlepping boxes, unpacking sale items, and otherwise finding ways to be useful. A lady named Anna, who manages the Ten Thousand Villages store in Boise, comes down for the week to oversee the sale. She has a great eye for set up, vast experience in selling the wares, and is in all ways a benevolent taskmaster. The sale itself begins Thursday. It takes the first part of the week to transform the church by moving furniture, setting up displays, and things "shleppy". Each day one or the other of us is in charge of preparing the noon meal. It's truly a case of many hands making light work, and it's for a cause that furthers justice in the world, which to my mind is sorely needed these days. I read a sign on a billboard on the way down that read: Worry stops where Faith begins. That good thought helps remind me that life is good, especially today.

Our view for much of the drive.

Plastic humor, Idaho style.

 Lake Payette, which borders the main street of McCall.

 The Filer Mennonite Church basement turns into a hot bed of capitalistic activity.

 Boxes and boxes of goods to sell. This is Anna and Judy marking prices in the "Garden Room".

 This is the "Christmas Room. A local family takes charge of setting this room up every year. It's no small feat due to the "zillions" of small items that are sold here.

 In the main room, there are purses, hats, scarves, jewelry, toys, coffee, tea, olive oil,  and carved trinkets of all kinds.

 Sarah Hooley and her sister-in-law, Lisa help make the work load light in the main room..

 By Wednesday night, every horizontal surface and most of the vertical space will be covered with goods to sell.

 Loey, a tireless energizer bunny, makes this week one of her most dear forms of service.

 My Bunny getting started in the Garden Room.

 As for me, I'm starting to build the large pile of boxes and inventory that will take over the sanctuary. Two years ago when we came down to help, the sale netted nearly thirty thousand dollars in three days. None but the profits from the sale of the baked goods goes to the  church, and most of those profits pay for the advertising and promotion of the sale. Beginning Thursday morning, Judy, Loey, Sarah, and most likely Lisa will get up in the wee hours of the morning to bake bread, pie, and sweet rolls to sell. They sell out every day. In an America so divided by poor leadership, self-interest, and outright malice, it's nice to be part of a counter weight that strives for fellowship, love, and equity.