A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-29-04....Idaho ~ "The Gem State"

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

We're
"On the Road Again"...

Please join "A Few of FR's Finest" as we make a cyber-visit to another state in this great Union of ours.

Over the past year each "Finest" hostess has profiled her home state for the Finest Thread. The remaining states are being presented, about one a month, in random order. We hope you are enjoying these visits to our beautiful United States. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your Fine state. I would appreciate your ideas and suggestions on what you would like to see highlighted.

These are the states
we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada 08-26-03 Wash DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia 10-17-03 Louisiana

10-22-03 Michigan 11-04-03 South Dakota 11-14-03 California 01-09-04 South Carolina 02-06-04 West Virginia 02-20-04 Oregon 03-09-04 Pennsylvania 03-30-04 Wyoming 04-13-04 Mississippi 04-27-04 Missouri 05-25-04 Indiana 07-21-04 Virginia 08-18-04 Colorado

Today's featured state is beautiful Idaho!

116 proud FReepers
fly this state's flag on their profile page.

THE "GEM OF THE MOUNTAINS",
the state whose name means....
.....absolutely nothing.

The name "Idaho" was used for a steamship which traveled the Columbia River, but "Idaho" is a coined or invented word. It is not a derivation of an Indian phrase "E Dah Hoe (How)" supposedly meaning "gem of the mountains." However "The Gem State" and "The Gem of the Mountains" remains Idaho's nickname.

And a "Gem" this state is, from the desolate moonscape of the "Craters of the Moon" National Monument, a volcanic landscape where nearly a quarter-million visitors come each year to explore the caves and craters, to Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America.

Idaho's History in Brief....

The area that is now Idaho was settled more than 12,000 years ago by Native Americans. Later tribes included the Shoshone, Nez Perce (Sahaptin), Bannock, Kootenai, Coeur d'Alene and others. Lewis and Clark encountered the Nez Perce along the Snake, Salmon and Clearwater Rivers when they explored the area in 1805. After Lewis and Clark, fur traders entered the area. Missionaries, gold prospectors and Mormon settlers followed. The Idaho Territory was officially formed in 1863. It would be almost 30 years -- well after the arrival of the railroads and the end of Native American resistance -- before Idaho won its statehood in 1890.

Range wars and violent labor disputes in the mines kept Idaho in a state of social upheaval until the early 1900s. But the rapid growth of farming and forestry soon helped to stabilize Idaho both socially and economically. In recent years, it has attracted many high-tech businesses and serves as the headquarters for many corporations. Agriculture and timber remain important to the state, as do manufacturing, mining and tourism.

Boise, in the southwestern Idaho area known as the Treasure Valley, became the territorial capital in 1865 and the state capital when Idaho was admitted to statehood in 1890.

Click HERE for more detailed
information on the history of Idaho.

...any time of year!

"Fields and forests glisten in shades of amber, and ocher. Yellow-needled tamarack punctuate deep evergreen thickets with dazzling color. Morning mountain air grows heavy with the scent of wood smoke and fallen leaves. At night, starshine dazzles the eye and sparks the imagination. Autumn is the perfect time to fall in love with one of America’s best-kept secrets".....IDAHO! - By Amanda Bjerke for Skywest Magazine.

Winter sizzles in Idaho! Get outside under her sunny blue skies. If gravity moves you, try Idaho's feather-light powder and short lift lines. With over 16,000 acres in 16 downhill areas, there's something for every taste and ability. 46 Nordic ski areas offer lots of room to glide, and Idaho's more than 7,200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails will get your motor running. Take in a festival or winter carnival, try ice skating, or go tubing with the kids. Your adventure is waiting!

Spring in Idaho is spectacular! The backcountry comes alive with flowers and wildlife. The warm pine scented mountain breezes, blue sky, crystal clear streams and blue green forests are a sure way to melt the stress of everyday life away. Hike or ride into the back country. Fish for wild trout in a pristine mountain stream or lake or explore old gold mining areas. Bring your camera and photograph the incredible wildlife; Deer, Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose and if you're lucky maybe a Wolf!

Idaho summers are a frenzy of outdoor activity. So many rivers offer a fast ride. So many trails beg to be explored. So many golf courses, so many restaurants with fresh-air dining, so many campgrounds and alpine lakes. Summer shimmers in Idaho!

Famous Idahoans

Joe Albertson grocery chain founder
T. H. Bell educator
Gutzon Borglum Mt. Rushmore sculptor, Bear Lake
Carol R. Brink author
Frank F. Church senator
Fred Dubois senator
Vardis Fisher author, Annis
Harmon Killebrew baseball player, Payette
Ezra Pound poet, Hailey
J. R. Simplot industrialist
Robert E. Smylie political leader
Henry Spalding missionary, Lapwai Valley
Frank Steunenberg governor
Picabo Street skier, Triumph
Lana Turner actress, Wallace

And, last but not least,
Idaho's pride and joy and America's favorite vegetable,
the potato.

Idaho's unique environment provides nearly perfect growing conditions for potatoes. The soil, water, clean air and climate in Idaho contribute to those consistently high-quality potatoes that have made Idaho famous for so many years. Idaho's rich volcanic soil is ideally suited for potatoes. Warm, sunny days, cool nights and water from melting snow in nearby mountains make the perfect combination for growing the world's best potatoes.

Did you know...?

A Presbyterian missionary named Henry H. Spalding established a mission near Lapwai in 1836, where he printed the Northwest's first book, established Idaho's first school, developed Idaho's first irrigation system, and grew the state's first potatoes.

The average US person eats 142.7 pounds of potatoes each year.

Idaho produces 30% of the total American output, and enough to give 3 lb of spuds to every human being on the planet.

We cannot leave Idaho without at least one Idaho potato recipe. Just in time for Halloween.....

Mummified Mashed Idaho Potatoes

This recipe, courtesy of the Idaho Potato Commission, is too cute for words! Your favorite mashed potatoes can be used here instead of instant - leftover ones work expecially well.

4 cups Instant Mashed Idaho Potatoes
Corn husk (fresh or packaged)*
Assorted vegetables

Recommended vegetables:
- Peas and carrots for eyes
- Herbs for eyelashes
- Black olive slices for eyebrows
- Corn kernels for ears
- Sliced radishes and olive halves for shoes

Additional suggestions:
- Red, yellow, green bell pepper slices
- Sugar snap peas
- cucumbers
- Green beans
- Zucchini
- Eggplant

Directions:

After preparing instant mashed potatoes according to box directions, let potatoes cool to touch.
Place opened cornhusk on plate and put on large dollop (approximately 3/4 cup) of potatoes in center of husk. Gently mold potatoes into the oblong shape of a mummy.
Select vegetables to create mummy features and choose approximate location where to place. Carefully press the vegetables into potatoes.


*Note: Corn husks are used to enhance the visual appearance (they are not edible). Mummified Mashed Idaho Potatoes can be prepared without corn husks.

Makes 4 servings.

Thank you to the following websites
for providing information and graphics.
Winter in Idaho
Idaho Potatoes
Perfect Entertaining
Spring in Idaho







The History and Origin of the Appaloosa


Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-27-04 Military Monday 09-28-04 Hall of Fame #9

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

CLICK

[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

I am off to bed. I will catch up with everyone in the morning. :-)

(If you would like to be added to or removed from the Finest Ping List, FReepMail me.)

[jkphoto]

Pretty page . . . looks really nice on my new laptop.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mama.

[Pippin]

good morning!

I'll have some fried potatoes with my eggs this morning! :o)

[Aeronaut]

Hi Pip.

[GailA]

Good morning FInest looks to be a beautiful day here in Memphis today.

[The Mayor]

September 29, 2004

A Web Of Relationships

Read: John 15:1-14

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. —Mark 12:30

Bible In One Year: Isaiah 7-8; Ephesians 2

---

A Harvard Business School professor wrote an open letter to the nation's graduates. He told them that in one sense they needed to forget what they had learned in school. He said that schools tend to put too much emphasis on the idea that success comes as a result of passing tests. The professor pointed out that in the workplace doing well depends largely on learning to succeed in what he called a "web of relationships"—the ability to cooperate with others and function as an effective team.

This truth also applies to living the Christian life. We often think that spiritual maturity and success result from how much we know about biblical facts and principles.

Jesus showed us, however, that real success comes from something else—from loving one another in the same way He loved us. He made it clear that we can do this only if we "abide" in Him (John 15:7). This means that we must stay close to Him through prayer and willingly obey His commands (v.10). Our web of relationships must extend first to God and then to others.

The secret of spiritual success is not just in acquiring individual knowledge—it's in combining that knowledge with love in all our relationships. —Mart De Haan

Lord, help us learn from what You did
When You lived on this earth;
You spread Your love to all You met—
You gave each one true worth. —Branon

As Christians draw close to Christ, they draw closer to one another.

[DollyCali]

Thank you for great read & the coffee you two! I have heard that Idaho & MOntana are gorgeous treasures that the locals want to keep hush , hush.

will be forwarding to a friend of mine in Montana..

[tame]

good morning :o)

i'm thinking of moving to idaho someday.

[tame]

This Idaho thing is BEAUTIFUL, mama_bear! i hate to admit it, but it's the first time i've read one of the state profiles. it's absolutely beautiful, and underscores why our's is the greatest country on earth.

[ST.LOUIE1]

WOW! A wonderful post, fuzzy. : )
I didn't know Idaho had so many good things going for it.

Morning SMOOOOOCH!
(((((((((((Mama_Bear)))))))))))))

[ST.LOUIE1]

Morning, Mayor! Cool graphic. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Morning, Mr. Fox! : )

[The Mayor]

Yes, I would love to get one of those mugs but, it is just a cyber mug for now..

[The Mayor]

JOB APPLICATION

NAME:

John Kerry

RESIDENCE:

Seven mansions, including one in Washington DC, altogether worth multi-millions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Law Enforcement. I voted to cut every law enforcement, CIA and defense bill in my career as a US Senator. I ordered Boston to remove an ugly fire hydrant in front of my mansion, thereby endangering my neighbors in the event of fire.

MILITARY:

I used three minor injuries to get an early discharge from the military and from service in Vietnam (as documented by the attending doctor).

I then returned to the US, joined Jane Fonda in protesting the war, and insulted all returning Vietnam vets by claiming they committed atrocities and were baby killers. I threw "my" medals, ribbons, or something away in protest?. or did I? (John still has his medals framed in his office... he actually threw away someone else's medals) My book - Vietnam Veterans Against the War: The New Soldier - shows how I truly feel about the military.

COLLEGE:

I graduated from Yale University with a low "C" average. Unlike my counterpart George Bush, I have no higher education and did not get admitted to Harvard nor did I graduate from anywhere with an MBA.

PAST WORK EXPERIENCE:

I ran for U.S. Congress and have been there ever since. I have no real-world experience except for marrying a rich woman and running HJ Heinz vicariously through my wife Teresa.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

As a US Senator I set the record for the most liberal voting record, exceeding even Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton. I have consistently failed to support our military and CIA by voting against their budgets, thus gutting our country's ability to defend itself. I also supported the Torricelli Amendment that stopped the CIA from using human intelligence against terrorists and terrorist states, so that we are now effectively a decade behind in this effort. Although I voted for the Iraq War, now I am against it and refuse to admit that I voted for it. I voted for every liberal piece of legislation that I came across, becoming on record the Most Liberal Senator. I have no plan to help this country, but I intend to raise taxes significantly if I am elected and am sure we will find ways to spend your money.

My personal wealth so far exceeds that of my counterpart, George Bush, that he will never catch up. I make no or little charitable contributions and have never agreed to pay any voluntary excess taxes in Massachusetts, despite a family wealth estimated to be between $700 million and $1.5 billion.

I (we) own 28 manufacturing plants (Heinz) outside of the U.S. in places like Asia, Mexico and Europe. We can make more profit off of the cheaper cost of labor in those countries, although I blame George Bush for sending all of the jobs out of country.

Although I claim to be in favor of alternative energy sources, Ted Kennedy and I opposed windmills off Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard as it might spoil our view of the ocean as we cruise on our yachts.

RECORDS AND REFERENCES:

None.

PERSONAL:

I ride a $7500 Serotta bicycle. My $30 million Gulfstream V private jet I call The Flying Squirrel. I call my $850,000 42-foot Hinckley twin diesel yacht the "Scaramouch". I am fascinated with rap and hip-hop and feel it reflects our real culture.

I also own several "large" SUVs, including those parked at my Nantucket and Vail summer mansions, though I am against large polluting inefficient vehicles and blame George Bush for the energy problems.

PLEASE CONSIDER MY EXPERIENCE WHEN VOTING IN 2004.

[dutchess]

Absolutely beautiful Lori. Another state I have not visited...and another one I want to go to because of your cybertour! Mr. D. rues the day you started these :o) Have a wonderful day dear sistah. Off to work!

[Mama_Bear]

Pretty page . . .

Thank you. This is one you didn't get to see until it was posted. :-)

looks really nice on my new laptop.

Everything looks nice on your new laptop. LOL! It's a beauty. Maybe Santa will bring me a snazzy laptop like yours. ;-)

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, Mr. Aeronaut.

[Mama_Bear]

I'll have some fried potatoes with my eggs this morning! :o)

Oh, that sounds GOOD!

Congrats on your new grandniece, Pip.