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]

LOL. Hope she'll come visit a bit and tell us what she loves about Idaho. :-)

[Argh]

I'm sure she'll get around to it later. But, Mama, don't you believe her when she says it's because she lives there and I don't! :^)

[Mama_Bear]

don't you believe her when she says it's because she lives there and I don't! :^)

LOL! Okie dokie. ;-)

[Mama_Bear]

An interesting article about the wolves in Idaho.....since everyone knows how much we love wolves and other assorted furry critters around here....

High Country News February 26, 2001
Return of the natives In Idaho, the Nez Perce have become the first tribe to oversee the statewide recovery of an endangered species, the gray wolf, an experience that is energizing the tribe's own political and spiritual recovery.

[GailA]

Hi back at you Dixie Sass. It has turned out to be a beautiful sunny, not to hot day here in Memphis.

[SeaDragon]

Me? A gem? Aw Cupcake, you will make me blush.........

[SeaDragon]

Now, Cupcake, you know that isn't true. Think of all the lunches we could have together if you lived closer.... :-)

Norhtern Idaho is a beautiful place to live. Can't say the winters are wonderful but then I don't hang around too much in the winter time. Do I Arghy?

[Argh]

I don't believe you're ever in Idaho, Miss C, you're always on vacation. :^)

[SeaDragon]

No not always but I am gone a lot. I will give you that. With winter approaching that is soon going to increase....

[Cuttnhorse]

Nice photos PI, makes me homesick. I have a ranch in eastern Idaho, near the Montana border. As soon as I get it paid off, it will be home again.

Have you ever had brunch at the Hotel on Lake Coeur d' Alene? Just about the best I've ever had.

Cheers

[Argh]

But isn't it lovely there with the snow, and romantic fires in the fireplaces, and all the Rocky Mountain oysters a body could crave? :^)

[Jeff Head]

Thanks mama_bear for this wonderul tribute to a wonderful, "Gem" of a state, and thanks to you and AuntB for the ping.

We have lived here for the last eight years, but my wife and her family were from here, and so ever since our marriage almost 27 years ago, we have spent a lot of time here in the state.

Here's couple of links that relate to my current work with the government securing and protecting some of the more remote infrastructure located in the Gem State, the pics at these links will give all a closer view of some of those beautiful, remote areas here.

Securing and Protecting Homeland Infrastucture I

Securing and Protecting Homeland Infrastucture II.

[Mama_Bear]

Norhtern Idaho is a beautiful place to live. Can't say the winters are wonderful but then I don't hang around too much in the winter time.

It's the winters that would keep me from relocating there (that and the fact that I've heard Californians aren't liked much in Idaho - can't say as I blame them). I don't think this ol' bear could survive a winter in Northern Idaho. But otherwise, it looks like a wonderful place to live. The air looks so clean. You know, us Californians aren't used to being able to see all the way to the horizon. LOL

Thanks for stopping by our thread, SeaDragon and Argh.

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks mama_bear for this wonderul tribute to a wonderful, "Gem" of a state, and thanks to you and AuntB for the ping.

Oh, I am so glad you came by, Jeff! And thank you for pinging your FRiends and for the links. There are some gorgeous photos on those links! But it looks awfully cold!

[PrivateIdaho]

Have you ever had brunch at the Hotel on Lake Coeur d' Alene?

Yep, the huckleberry BBQ ribs are awesome.... OK, I think you just made my Sunday brunch plans for me.

[Jeff Head]

In certain of those areas, from about now (give or take three weeks) until late May or early June, it's going to be cold.

But that's part of Idaho!

[SeaDragon]

Yes, to all of those things but I have to tell you I don't have a fireplace to be romantic in front of. There is also a lot to be said for the romantic sunsets in the Caribbean....

[deadhead]

Lovely tour of Idaho. Thank You, Mama_Bear

[SeaDragon]

It's the winters that would keep me from relocating there (that and the fact that I've heard Californians aren't liked much in Idaho

Well that depends on the Californian.......

The winters do suck, I have to give it that.

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Colleen! Glad you enjoyed the tour.....but, darn, your graphic is showing up as a red x. :-(