Double Party at Broken Arrow Crossing

Broken Arrow Crossing balloon, Winchester, Idaho

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 .

Broken Arrow Crossing roof cleaning crew

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.

Broken Arrow Crossing bags full of pine needles & cones

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.

 

 

Broken Arrow Crossing pruning crew

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.

 

 

Broken Arrow Crossing sandbox supervisor Aaron Bly

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.

Broken Arrow Crossing sandbox crew

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.

 

Broken Arrow Crossing raking crew

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?)

Broken Arrow Crossing youngest worker, Jason Eli Ross (2 yrs) with daddy Chris

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!

Broken Arrow Crossing swing tested by Zach Bly

Zach Bly testing Grandpa Steve’s swing

Grandpa Steve’s tree swing still holds!

 

 

 

 

Broken Arrow Crossing 1880 Replica Flag Raising

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 …”

 

 

Bly Family remembering author Stephen Bly at cemetery...

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!

* * * * *

Broken Arrow Crossing work crew member, Marina Wold

Broken Arrow Crossing work crew member, Russ Bly

Broken Arrow Crossing work crew member, Mike Bly

Broken Arrow Crossing sandbox crew: Keaton Bly, Jason Ross, Alayah RossAuthor Stephen Bly final resting placeBroken Arrow Crossing raking crew: Chris & Miranda Ross

 

 

 

 

 

* * * * *

Western Author Stephen Bly

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.

STEPHEN BLY COWBOY POETRY

Broken Arrow Crossing false front town Hotel Miranda, built by author Stephen Bly, Winchester, Idaho

Broken Arrow Crossing Hotel Miranda

 

 

Broken Arrow Crossing 38-star 1880 U.S. flag

**38 stars on the 1880 replica U.S. flag

 

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4 Responses to Double Party at Broken Arrow Crossing

  1. Connie Sue Larson June 9, 2015 at 6:36 am #

    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.

  2. Janet Chester Bly June 9, 2015 at 1:23 pm #

    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…

  3. Deanna Jewel July 10, 2015 at 5:38 pm #

    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!

    • Janet Chester Bly
      Janet Chester Bly July 10, 2015 at 7:10 pm #

      Deanna: Thanks for the note! Love having people use the Crossing as a photo op … one of the reasons my hubby built it!

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