Broken Arrow Crossing
(busted) party balloon
Memorial Day Weekend 2015 Events at Broken Arrow Crossing
Five helium balloons traveled up the mountain from the Lewiston Valley but before my Chevy Equinox arrived at Broken Arrow Crossing, one of the balloons popped with a huge kaboom! I thought a boulder hit my windshield. Or a gunshot! Might have something to do with driving from 700′ to 4,200 foot elevation.
What was the occasion? Two parties scheduled for my place on the same day.
Party 1) Work Party for the official summer opening of the Old West false front town of Broken Arrow Crossing.* Party 2) A very special birthday celebration. The Bly family rallied to the call and converged on the village of Winchester, Idaho .
Michelle on ladder & Zach with his own broom extender
My wonderful Work Party crew bagged plenty of pine needles and pine cones and various other forest debris before the Broken Arrow Crossing birthday party began.
Part of the Broken Arrow Crossing bags full of pine needles & cones
Michelle, Russ and grandson Zach comprised the roof cleaning crew. Zach invented an on-the-spot extender for his broom and found it worked so good he didn’t have to navigate the big ladder.
Michelle Bly &
Russ Bly pruning
D-i-l Michelle and son Russ did the honors of pruning my pathetic dogwood bushes. Mike apologized for his wife’s overzealous use of the shears. I told him she sure couldn’t hurt them (the bushes or the shears)! They had to cut one down completely … deader than a nit! I so don’t have a green thumb. With a purchase of hanging petunias every year at Walmart, I call that gardening.
Aaron Bly
Sandbox Supervisor
Youngest son supervisor Aaron Bly corralled the sandbox crew for the Broken Arrow Crossing work party. I couldn’t get him to smile for this official photo.
Alayah Ross, Keaton Bly & Deckard Bly
Sandbox crew included cousins Alayah (Ally) Ross, Keaton Bly, and Deckard Bly (already practicing the cheesy grin for Grandma). Two-year-old Jason, brother of Alayah, joined them later.
Michelle Bly & Lois Bly raking up needles & cones…can you guess which Big O for Lois?
D-i-l Lois Bly was the birthday party girl. She turned one of those big O’s. (Can you guess which one?)
Youngest helper, Jason, with daddy Chris
She had to work hard for her yummy Baskin Robbins Grasshopper Pie. And her grandson, Jason Eli Ross, was the youngest member of the Broken Arrow Crossing Work Party crew to help with picking up pine needles.
Zach took one more swipe with his extender broom and did a test swing as we all held our breaths!
Zach Bly testing Grandpa Steve’s swing
Grandpa Steve’s tree swing still holds!
1880 Replica U.S. Flag Raising
We ended with a Broken Arrow Crossing flag raising ceremony. Do you know how many stars on this replica 1880s flag?** We sang Happy Birthday to d-i-l Lois to the tune of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Actually, it worked pretty good! Try it sometime. “O Happy Birthday to you …”
Remembering Grandpa Steve 4 years later
A few days after the Broken Arrow Crossing event, we met at the cemetery to commemorate the passing of author Stephen Bly four years ago — much loved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband. With many thoughts about heaven since this loss, I read from the intro in Revelation 1 and Revelation 21. Wanted to know a bit more about what Stephen Bly is experiencing right now. So curious about what he is doing there! And a reminder to us all to make sure our names are listed in the Book of Life!
* * * * *
* * * * *
Author Stephen Bly
(1944-2011)
*Broken Arrow Crossing is an Old West false front town built by author Stephen Bly in the yard of his Winchester, Idaho home. Now an AirB&B many still enjoy barbecues there, along with the sandbox, wooden horse, horseshoe pits, fire ring and picnic tables. Included in the false front town decor: Lois Bly Schoolhouse, Michelle Bly Dance Den, jail for Marshall Mike Bly, Janni-Rae Gift Shop, Rina Joye Bly Drover’s Cafe, Sentinel Newspaper with editor Zach Bly, Hotel Miranda, Jim Grueter Blacksmith Shop, and Russ Bly Mercantile.
Broken Arrow Crossing Hotel Miranda
**38 stars on the 1880 replica U.S. flag
I cam across all my pictures of Broken Arrow Crossing the other day. Have some of our “sister day” too which brought back such fun memories. Love seeing all the latest pictures of the family working hard there. Fun times no doubt.
Connie Sue: Thanks for the note. Yes, lots of fun memories from events at Broken Arrow Crossing thru the years! Sister Day was especially fun! Even the Work Party day was very special…
Hi Janet!! I didn’t realize that was your place! I love the little town and so does everyone else who visits. Hubby took my picture there in the winter several years ago. Chat at you soon!
Deanna: Thanks for the note! Love having people use the Crossing as a photo op … one of the reasons my hubby built it!