Soft Rock Mama

November 2

2010-10-30T10:09:00.001-06:00

My favorite celebration day!
Do you celebrate?

Exciting times my friends

2010-10-26T10:46:00.007-06:00

Last night we added to our collection.

The kids thought it fitting that our pumpkin family had the same number of members as our human family.
And we needed a dog.

So there we are. The five of us.

Wondrous things were going on under the cover of dark..........

While we slept this happened

I started the morning with a happy dance.
Squeeeeeeeeeeee!
Took pictures.
Looked on-line at the cameras the road department has placed
on top of the passes.
Saw that the roads had been plowed.
7" of snow. SEVEN.INCHES!!!!
Did many more happy dances.
Went down into the crawl space and retrieved my ski boots.
To the ski shop I must (read, get to) go!

Flying away

2010-10-13T09:49:00.009-06:00

Yesterday, Saturday, our family went out.
Off the mountain and into town.
We were soaking up the last bits of warmish weather.
When we left the house at 10am the temperature read 37-degrees F.
Not so warm.
The geese were rallying their flocks as they were circling the grain fields
setting their compasses for the long flight south.

We adjusted our flight north in search of adventures ~

It was one of the last of the farmers market's for the season.
A time that always makes me sad.
Saying goodbye to those who I see weekly and feed my family off their land.
I will miss the ritual of market.
And the fresh food.
The farmers are tired and ready for winters rest.
They deserve to put their feet up and take a break.
I guess I am ready to put my boots on and do some sliding,
as I may have mentioned, I love skiing!

Harvest celebrations were being held at many different farms.
We choose one and went to partake in the celebration.
Our local farmer had hauled in his pumpkin harvest and was selling them.
They were in four different sections - Small($5), Medium($6), Large($7) and Extra Large($8)
We choose two from the large section, carried them out to the car and went on to enjoy the rest of the festivities at the farm.
Which included wagon hay rides, live bluegrass music, bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving-for those so inclined, apple pressing and of course fresh apple cider, bee keepers collecting fresh honey(free samples!) and pony rides.

Even with the wrath of heavy frost I still find beauty in this sunflower.
It's head turned down. Sun at her back.
Sad to see Summer and her warmth go.

The precision with which the bees create is amazing.
Mind blowing.
Perfect.
Tasty!

Great day together as a family.

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Fall has firmly planted her feet on my valley.
You can feel her presence in the way the grasses along the ponds blow west, instead of their summer lean towards south,
in the way colors are starting to show on the mountain sides
and tree lined river banks.

We have had our first nights of heavy frost.
Frost that left us scrambling in the morning to find the ice scrapers,
ice scrapers that will now reside inside the vehicles
till late May or early June.
Frost that made all things green and growing in the garden a desperate
shade of blackish-green.
And all that was looking up for so long, now looks down to the earth
in such a longingly way.

Our first sightings of snow on the peaks
have brought great joy and excitement.
These are just the type of clouds that we will be needing
to fill our mountains with snow.

The light shows and productions that have been put on by the
clouds have been stunning.

But before winter slides in for the next five months,
a little fall action

Heading into town for an evening game

A beautiful setting for a soccer game

Our #10 in motion

As we headed home from the game, the sun had set
and the temperature had dropped
to a balmy 38 degrees.

I'm glad we only have two more week of this.
It is freaking cold standing on the side lines.

Wanderings

2010-10-08T09:31:00.008-06:00

I wonder how many garments this machine
sewed in the years it was used?
The patterns laying on the table were labeled Trousers.

This summer one of our family adventures was to an abandoned town.
Left amazingly in tact.
I was overwhelmed with strong urges to back
the truck up and start loading.
There were so many treasures.
Of course, I did not.

I was in awe by the sense of place.

As if one day everybody just decided to get up and leave.
Taking very little.
What struck me and really blew me over was the respect that has been shown by all of us strangers who have walked through their lives and
been blessed to peak back into a simpler time,
and left it there.

How many people made love on this bed,
took a sip of water during the night,
relieved themselves?

This was a hotel/boarding house for the workers in the area
The rooms were tiny and the walls were thin.
B said the wood slats were less than one half inch thick.
Apply cloth wall coverings to each side and that was it.
No insulation. I can't imagine the cold in the winter.
Imagine conversations and the eves dropping one could do.

I loved the feel of this kitchen.
I could imagine the hustle and bustle of busy meal times.
But wondered out here, out in the middle of the mountains where did they get there ingredients.
What did they cook?
I would imagine wild game was on the menu quite often.
Did they have huge gardens and preserve?
How often would they take the horses and mules into town to
re-ration?
That trip must of taken at least two days in and two days back.
At the very least!
It took us, on modern roads with our spiffy modern truck,
just over 2 hours to drive from the closest re-ration town to here.
Back in the day when this town was in full swing there were no roads! Only trails on which four legged animals moved what ever was needed or produced in the town.

Pffft, simpler times my ass.

Which brings us to these....

...why is it that OLD outhouses always have side by side seats?
Was it common to want to take a piss or a crap next to someone.
Makes no sense to me.
But a least the seats are pink(ish)!!

My boy wanted to go in all the tunnels.

Lots of conversations were had about safety, how things deteriorate and how to make wise choices in choosing whether to do something.
Or not.
So we compromised and came to the agreement that looking in the first few feet on some was okay.
He loved it!

Not a bad view from the couch

B and Miss I checking out a house

The kids were impressed at how close the mine shaft was to the house.
We figured it was the best way to protect the miners work and investment.

Stream Crossings, old tar paper, moss and summer shoes.

B checking out a tunnel that was started
but for some reason was abandoned

Every time we saw a new place we stopped
and got out and looked around.
Made up stories of who lived here.
Why they chose this remote area.
Why they left.

We had a great day!

Then we headed home.

Thankful for all of our modern amenities.
Especially the toilets!!

Three Things ~ In my opinion

2010-10-06T09:08:00.006-06:00

1. Beer should be consumed fresh.

Straight from a brewery. I would include wine, but grapes are not known to grow very well at my elevation. But would love to be able to buy that too!

Every town, village, community, borough whatever you call your surrounding place, lets say within 38 miles, should have a local brewer. Then hopefully you will have a farmer or a local co-op with a way of procuring locally grown barley (malted of course) and if possible fresh local hops.

No cans. No freaking glass! No pasteurization shit. Just the fine elixir of life. Pure and real. In half gallon refillable containers. 2 or 3 at a time. Or as one dear lady does, fill up at least 6 every week. One of each on tap. All the girls moan and run when they see the milk crates bearing empty growlers.

And for crap's sake no damn fruit in the brew!!! {Though just to be honest, I once asked the brewer to brew a coconut porter....let that sink in.....it was incredible, that is if you like coconut, which I do VERY much and if you like porter which I'm not so fond of. But ohhh my that is one fruit that once a year in very skilled hands is a treat to partake of.}

[Oh, and I like stickers]

And for reality and truth....I have full growlers in my refrigerator right now. Sitting along side a few cans and glass bottles of beer.
One does NOT take glass of any sort on the river, so cans are used. Often.

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2. Our neighboring community scarecrows were the best!!

This won Peoples choice

And why wouldn't it!??!!!

The sign reads - All in a day's work!

Fantastic! Well done local vet folks. Well done!

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3. My home is beautiful

One of the views from my backyard

Summer discoveries with the family

A view of my daily drive, thought not normally wrapped in a lovely blanket of fog.

Do not swerve. Look down. Meet oncoming traffic, because if you do, one of you is going to backing up. Very.Carefully!

My favorite roof line
From my favorite barn
Proportions are just right, so is the dilapidation

{this moment}

2010-10-04T09:24:00.003-06:00

*****************************************************************
This is where I long to be

Tonight's Sunset

2010-10-01T01:47:00.000-06:00

Spectacular

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Now is the time

2010-09-30T09:22:00.004-06:00

This week has been one of the nicest of the summer.
Even though it is now fall.
Our summer weather was odd.
And now our fall weather is odd - in a nice way.
The sun has decided to shine her smiling face and warm us up as we prepare for the cold.
Even though I would like to see the snow accumulating up in the mountains. I know it will come.
I'm trusting Mama Nature to do it up right this winter and give us a glorious spanking of snow on a daily basis. Please.

Out of respect for all of Miss Nature's efforts in boggling our minds with exceptional days, beautiful colors and nights that still beg for windows to be left open so she can wander in and out of rooms gathering a last glimpse before we shut our windows to Winter, I have been playing...

B and I took out the motorbikes and cruised 178 miles
Smiles and smiles all on dirt roads through the mountains

I took a day trip to a lake with a new friend.
No kids. Gosset champagne. Sunny skies. Warm gentle breeze.

She laughed when she saw me taking these pictures, but not as hard as when I pulled out the glassware. Silly girl thought we would be enjoying our beverage out of paper cups.
Ewwwwwww ~ Indeed NOT!
I may have been born and lived my whole life here in the sparse world of amenities and refinement. But I know how to have a good time and that we did.

The trees are just starting to show us their colors.
Disrobing just for us.
I tried not to stare, but that was hardly possible.
Such beauty all around us.
Each time we rounded another bend in the road and caught a new glimpse of the lake we remarked about the beauty of where we live.
Stunning really. Living here in this general place my whole life I forget to take it all in on a daily basis and revel in the place that is my home.

We sat for a long time talking and sitting in comfortable silence listening to the 'waves' lapping at the shore. I made mental notes to bring the family here next summer. Many times. It is so worth the drive.
We ate lunch at a great little dive restaurant with a quirky menu and an even more interesting wine list.
Made a quick stop into a brewery. Had the worst flavored beer I have ever tried. I just don't understand the whole fruit in beer crap. I'll take hops. Lots of them, please.

On the drive home got stuck for just under and hour as the brilliant ranchers moved several hundred head of cows across the highway (2 lanes) and then proceeded to have to chase several juveniles who had decided that they would skip out of the herd.
Perhaps on a Wednesday at 4:30pm is NOT the time to do this. There isn't a whole hell of a lot of rush hour traffic, but I'm thinking 1o:30 in the morning when school buses are not trying to take kids home and folks are not trying to get home from town might be a better option. Just saying. I'm no rancher, but...
This nutty mayhem resulted in my missing of my boys soccer game and my friend being very late to pick up her boy from his sitters.
Thankfully we were laughing the whole time. Not much else we could do. Getting all pissy wouldn't have helped the cows cooperate any better. So we had fun.

Fall is nearly here....then comes WINTER!

2010-08-31T07:32:00.009-06:00

{ my boy heading up the trail}

This summer we have spent many hours walking trails, riding bikes, floating rivers, climbing rocks, sitting stream-side, going to the lake and best of all being together.
It has been fun to have the both kids at an age where they can walk into the mountain lakes, ride for miles and we all have fun.
The complaining is very minimal.
Which is SO nice.
Makes me want to get up early pack up our packs with food, water and GO.
I like going.
A lot.

On this particular day we headed up a trail for a walk, it was only a few miles into our destination so Chaco's were the footwear needed instead of heavy duty hiking boots. Plus we needed water worthy shoes, for we were headed to the most amazing natural water slides.
Well, maybe not the most amazing.
I have seen photographs of natural water slides on tropical islands. And those, with their warm water, SMOOTH rocks and tropical flowers blooming, must be most amazing.
But for us and where we live, we were excited to go slide down bumpy granite slabs of rock and splash into icy cold pools.
On a hot day and after a 3 mile hike they sure seemed amazing to me.
Or maybe that was the nips of Sauza while trekking up the trail.
Who knows.

What fun we had!
In the midst of all the fun, I forgot to take pictures of the water slides.
Oh, well.

At least we didn't leave our sunglasses sitting on a bed of moss along side the trail.
The Boy was concerned for the person who had left them.
Sweet he is.

After we had all the cold water we could take, we headed down the trail towards home.

I love the contrast between the rocks on the trail and foliage of the trees.
Hard and cold. Soft and warm.

My trail gear...sun hat, backpack, water bottle, sun glasses and camera.

This summer has been great.

Thank you summer. We have enjoyed playing with you.

(I am starting to look forward to winter.....SKIING!!!!!)

Remember when I

2010-08-28T09:42:00.001-06:00

said that there were no forests fires.
Well, we now have several.
Great. Let the sneezing and watering eyes begin.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Thursday Sunset

2010-08-26T20:11:00.002-06:00

Laundry on the line.
Sun setting across the valley.
Beautiful.
What a spectacular way to end a fine day.

We took in another hike up into the mountains today. Splashed in the icy waters and hung out.
Maybe pictures later, who knows.

On belay? Belay on. Climbing! Climb on.

2010-08-26T08:41:00.006-06:00

After they braved the 40 minute drive up the side of the mountain. Navigated all of the switch-backs and managed to park their cars...
We asked them to walk out to the overlook and hang out till we started the wedding.

The topic at hand...where was the groom??!?

Of course, I knew.
I was smiling.

I knew that 70 feet below the ledge, my man was roping up*, getting ready to make his final climb as a single man. His good friend JB had surprised him by making the trip from the east coast to belay* him on our wedding day.
B was surprised. I was delighted*.

(* B had wanted to solo the climb that day, meaning climb up with no ropes. No protection.
I said "what the hell are you thinking????!!!!!!!!!!!! No way in HELL are you doing any such thing!"
Then, I quickly got on the phone and enlisted help from his climbing partners)

I know many of the activities B loves involve risk. A lot of risk.
I'm okay with that.
I was not okay with that kind of risk on our wedding day.
Nope, I'm an odd one that way.

After what seemed like an eternity, this is what everybody saw.
(And when my snot started flowing)

His Grandmothers wanted to kill him and smother him with kisses all at once.
I was proud and anxious to have him next to me.
We had told no one of this plan, the climb.
People freaked out, but in a good way.

B in a tux, harness, shoes and a chalk bag = SEXY!

Our wedding day is still discussed and talked about by all who were there.
It was all rather unusual, but then so are B & I.
We like it that way.

This one is for you Eleanor, thanks for asking!

Okay, so I can't count

2010-08-25T11:51:00.004-06:00

(a peek at our wedding day) (14years + 1 day)

On the 16th I said only 9 days left. Should have been 8 days. Must have not been using both hands to count on. Geesh. [Perhaps I should rethink this home schooling thing]

For us it was the perfect setting. On an overlook's edge, looking out into the wilderness.

A place where we fell in love.

A place where I worked harder than any other job. InMyLife!!

See the ledge behind us, right below my elbow...B climbed up that to me.

I know. I know! Awesome.

I should show you B in his tux, climbing harness and shoes...just coming over the ridge. My favorite moment of the wedding.

Tears have dried - Snot is gone - Let's celebrate!!

2010-08-24T15:54:00.009-06:00

Fourteen years ago this morning, I was sobbing.
My eyes and nose were leaking in the most unfortunate of ways.
Not a cute, I'm nervous and getting married cry.
Oh no.
A snot dripping, tears streaming, body shaking and mascara running messy sob.

I was standing on the ledge of a mountain surrounded by the beauty of nature and having this little melt down in front of 40 of our family members and closest friends.

We were in the middle of our wedding.

I was scared shitless.
Excited beyond words.
But so very mixed-up.

I was not fearing marriage.
But all that I may be passing by. All of the loss. All of the unknown.

B stood there beside me. Holding me. Not having to say a thing.
With his presence I knew that this unknown I(we) was embarking on would be okay.
I wanted to be a part of it. I was excited for the journey.
I was Terrified! Yes, with a capital T

This is what I knew;
- The love B gave was extraordinary (and still is, I might add)
- I wanted no other
- Things would work themselves out
- B was my dream of a man
- With B, I felt safe, loved and secure in myself

So, why the gut wrenching tears?
Perhaps a healthy system of checks and balances for my brain?
I'm still not exactly sure.

This is what I know now;
- 14 years later the love B gives to me and to our children is still extraordinary
- I still want no other
- Relationships require more work than I ever imagined
- I could have NOT asked for a better father for my children
- I still freak about all the what could haves, but now its only in my head
- Most, if not all, of the things I feared missing out on are going to be even better to experience with a little age and wisdom under my belt, instead of psychedelics
- B keeps getting sexier
- Having kids at a younger age turned out just fine
- I want to grow all old and wrinkled with B, sit on the porch, reminisce and drink good beer
- There is not a right way to do marriage...we found what works and rolled with it
- I am not always right (sneezecoughbullshit)
- Fighting is okay, as long as resolution follows
- Insight without action is useless
- To have a partner, for me, is better than not
- Living with other humans is hard
- Communication is imperative
- Love does not conquer all - but hard fucking work and sheer determination helps. A lot.
- I am one lucky woman

Happy Anniversary B. I love you.
You still make butterfly's dance in my stomach.
When you kiss me, I melt.
Our two kidders are very lucky to have you as their Daddy.
You can make the most unpleasant, fun.

Things you have shown me to appreciate; (in no special order)
* Onions, raw
* Hottest of hot sauces
* Riding motorcycles (even when I refuse to ride behind, and insist on my own)
* Sunsets and sunrises
* Hard work
* Family
* Beer :)
* Sex
* Good food
* Mountain biking
* Rock climbing
* Being outside, digging into nature and loving all of it, ticks and all
* Wonders of homemade sauce
* Friendships
* Importance of wilderness and the freedom the mountains bring
* Love can be hard but oh so worth working for......hello, 14 years!!!!
* Drunks suck
* Nothing worth having comes easy (damn)
* Skiing in the deep powder is the bomb
* The kids joined our lives, we didn't join theirs....lets keep doing what we do and bring them along. Brilliant advice that man gives, smart he is!!

Okay so the tears are starting to spring and the snot is starting to run. Time to wrap this up.

Love him!

This is where I am...

2010-08-21T17:01:00.000-06:00

...right now!
4miles in at a hanging mountain lake.
Serene

Doesn't seem right to have cell service in the wilderness.
Kinda fun.
Totally unethical.
Gotta power down.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Life ~ Love ~ Memories

2010-08-20T09:34:00.002-06:00

{picture from the mid 80's. Somewhere on the east coast, summer vacation - B is lovingly strangling his grandmother}

My husbands grandmother is dying.
His heart is breaking. As is ours.
We are separated by thousands of miles. A road trip was made cross country so he could hug on her and in a way, say goodbye. Though that was not spoken of.
He lived with his grandparents for the last two years of high school, as his family had to relocate due to work.
The bonds that he shared with his grandparents, gramma especially is amazing.
To watch them was a beautiful thing.
They both claimed they were telepathically in touch. I can recall SO many times in the middle of a conversation or dinner, B would suddenly stop and excuse himself to go call her.

It was just a feeling.

Beautiful, really.

I never knew my grandparents and am always in awe of their relationship.

Today he called me in tears, he is just so sad.
I want to swallow him up in my love and take all his pain away.
But I am not that powerful....so we walk through the forest of sadness. Looking for glimpses of the rainbow, finding blessings in the path of life.
Finding the good in the midst of loosing one so cherished.

These times are sad.
Memories are wonderful.

I feel so blessed to have know and loved her for the past 14 years.
My in-laws have been most amazing during this process. They moved back to NY last fall. Put their life on hold to be with her, to keep her out of an institution and in her home. What an example of selfless love they have shown. They have been amazing.

Life & Death.
Both normal. Both hard.
Both can bring gifts.

Wednesday Sunrise

2010-08-18T06:52:00.001-06:00

I love it when the sun shows itself off in such spectacular fashion.
Good morning!

Tuesday Hike

2010-08-18T06:45:00.001-06:00

The light was beautiful.
Kids were full of energy.
It was one of those perfect afternoons.

Happenings of another kind

2010-08-17T20:32:00.003-06:00

Sooooooo - we have been on this journey. A journey towards home.
Buying a home.
Our first.
I remember talking about this journey with my dear Aunt Sondra (she is fantastic. I will tell you about her some time) whilst I was pregnant with the youngest. 7 short years ago. We are still traveling on the path. Persistent we are.

Today was the 'day' we put in the 5th offer on the 5th house....biggest difference, this home is not a short sale.
So, in theory things should move MUCH faster. We will see. We should have a reply by Thursday 9am.

Holy Shit!!!!

Excitement muddled with a fresh smidgen of fear.
A good fear.
Not a bury my head in the sand kind of fear.....no, a giddy scariness. Like the first time I jumped off the bridge into the river. Like the first time I headed out on a extended road trip by my self.

Fingers Crossed!

Odd random note - last Thursday night while tripping my brains out and watching Michael sing, life became suddenly clearer. As if the sands have settled, oh yes, still available to be stirred up at any time ~ but I don't have to. Or I can. My Choice.
Fantastic!

Happenings

2010-08-17T20:28:00.003-06:00

Sunsets that are blowing my mind....and there are NO forest fires at the moment.
Shocking.
Both the beauty of sunsets and lack of smoke.
Lovely really.

9 days from now

2010-08-16T21:25:00.004-06:00

Anniversary draws near.
14 years.
Lots of hard work, tons of laughs & smiles. 2 fantastic kids.
Love that is ever growing. Surprise being planned.
Excitement

Post Edit....damn if I could count. I would say 8 days from now.....geesh

Team Me 1 - Team fear 0

2010-07-29T10:19:00.005-06:00

Hello. I'm back.
Thought of writing often...then thought of other things.
I do want to want to leave a trail of sorts, a record of our lives.
When I think back to my childhood memories are a struggle.
I want our kids to have memories. Traditions. Joy. Family. I must create this.
But having none...and now waiting 13.75 years to start any, I find my self at a loss. Trying to figure out what traditions i want for our family. How? When? What?
It is times like this when I would have normally preferred to my 'stick my head in the sand' so to speak and wait for time to pass. But I'm afraid that another 13 years will pass and both kids will have moved out and on to their lives and I will still be sitting wishing.
I'm changing.
I'm checking in, coming off the bleachers and getting into the game of life. Playing full out. Balls to the wall, as the saying goes.
I'm scared.
Scared of failure.
But....
Failure is not an option for me.
Neither is being stagnate.
Participating is. Perfection is not required.
Let the games begin.

Ohh, and there is a wedding at the farm this weekend. I'm so excited for my friend.

Gratitude X5
*Floating the river with the family
*Summer time thunder storms
*My family - quirks and all
*Riversong
*Sunsets

This is what we ate...

2010-02-18T13:13:00.005-07:00

{I don't know why everything is all squished up...i put spaces in between. It looked all nice, then I hit publish and see a bunch of squished together lines.....rrrggghh)

or should I say served. There was no sitting for hours. But lots of speedy walking.

I wanted to share the menu that we came up with. It was much more challenging than I thought.
This took (oh, the hardships) four meetings starting back in December to get all the pairings set and the beer brewed. We tasted all sorts of different foods and drank every beer we had on tap and thought of ones we could brew, to see what went best. Finally we got everything to please the brewer's palate, the caterer's palate, and mine. Then we started brewing some specialties. And pulled one beer out of a Bourbon barrel to let mellow. Three of the beers we poured that night are part of our flagship line and three of them were specialties. (I am editing the beer names)

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Here it is...

Our Brewing Company's Valentine's Day Beer Feast

5 Courses ~ 5 Beers

February 14th ~ 6:30 pm

B****** Blonde (an american style hefe)

Smoked and Spicy Adobo Shrimp

(these were served with homemade tortillas strips and cilantro)

P.........********* Pale (Pale Ale)

Local Apple and Caramelized Sweet Onion Peirogie's

IPA (India Pale Ale...my beer of choice, most of the time)

Braised Pork Belly with Tangerine & Thyme Marmalade

Oatmeal Stout

Aged Stilton, Roasted Beet, and Candied Pecans over fresh Micro Greens

Barrel-Aged Barleywine

Flourless Dark Chocolate Torte with Plum Compote and Fresh Whipped Cream

(oh my goodness this pairing was out. of. this. world. GOOD!)

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I am trying to get some photos ready, but editing them is proving to be a bit more tricky than I thought. And of course that night I didn't think of taking Internet safe/privacy saving photos. Or, great food photos for that matter.

The feed back I have gotten so far has been great. Check out what on of my more challenging customers wrote me...

"...What an awesome time T and I had last night. The brew was outstanding (as always), the company was great, and the atmosphere was perfect...I don't know how you guys will be able to top that performance. Thanks again for a great evening!!!!! ~ M"

I was so excited! No complaints. This dear man can always find something to criticize. So to hear niceness was really cool.

I think we will do it again. In a couple months.

2010-02-15T00:45:00.001-07:00

The evening was great!
Everything went off without a hitch.
Details later.

2010-02-14T11:06:00.004-07:00

Happy Valentines Day

It has been a crazy week. Fun. But crazy.
Last night is a blurr. Music was great.
Friday ski day was great. My SIL came along. Friends were up. Fresh powder in the morning. Snow fell off and on all day. The clouds were fantastic. Sights were refreshingly odd...

{Can you see she is wearing camouflage pants?? brilliant. she was wearing a crown of flowing ribbons too}

Tonight at the brewery we have 57 guest in for a 5-course beer paired feast. I'm worried. The menu is going to be great. The chef catering is fantastic. The folks will have fun-i hope. But this is a first for us. I have attended many others but never done one myself. I'm worried about the seating chart. Hope I matched folks well. I worry that I should have stuck with my initial limit of 35 - but had a hard time telling so many no. I worried. 10 hours from now all will be over. I'd like to take pictures and tell you all about it, but I worry about privacy. Tomorrow I will share the menu. If tonight I don't over indulge in the 5 beers we will serve. One just released yesterday sits at a 9.5% (the reason last night is a bit blurry). I worry about its reception - it is a new style for us. Taste buds can be fickle. I'll let you know how it all goes.

Since I'm sharing, here is more. A one word meme stolen from BB and Catstevens.

Cell phone? crackberry

Hair? long

Mother? missing

Father? helpful

Favorite Food? cheese

Dream last night? unknown

Drink? smoothies

Dream/Goal? adventure

Room you are in? bedroom

Hobby? skiing

Fear? failure

Where do you see yourself in 6 years? home

Something you are not? singer

Favorite Muffins? yuk

Wish list item? house

Where did you grow up? here

What is the last thing you did? talked

What are you wearing? sweatshirt

Favorite TV Show? nature

Pets? elsie

Friends? fantastic

Your life? interesting

Your mood? thoughtful

Facebook? yep

Favorite place to eat? italy

Missing Someone? always

Your vehicle? crv

What you aren't wearing? spandex

Favorite Store? internet

Favorite Color? green

Last time you laughed? today

Last time you cried? unknown

Best friend? b

That's all. For now.
Now I must-

shower
order balloons (pink, red and white)
finish up center pieces
help close up the tap-room
decorate for tonight
find something nicer to wear
have a grand time
ensure others do too
shower love on my 3 valentines

List of a different sort

2010-02-09T10:46:00.006-07:00

Gratitude...comes in all forms and for all sorts of things. At times when I feel like running, it is best to get present with all the blessings in my life. Here are a few....................

Family rising to the occasions (And really, when isn't there a occasion)
B - I love that man. For over 14years we have been lovers. Amazing!
Eldest girl - always singing. Thankfully sings beautifully - challenges that I never imagined, but definitely dished out to my parents. What's that? It comes back ten-fold. Ohh, crap. Grace~give me grace
Youngest boy - love of all things star wars. Snuggles each and every morning. Gapped smiles. Constant movement. 10lbs 9oz that didn't want to leave my body, but we worked together and all was good. The next George Lucas, he says.
Medicine. Flowers. Herbs. Tea. Glass. Stevia. Coconut. Kisses. Sweet-tarts. Carmel.
Kind, caring kids - who generally are pretty nice to each other
Birthday breakfast with new friends
Showing new friends one of my favorite shops downtown - it still has the heavenly smell that instantly transports me back to childhood. (even though I don't think I was ever in this shop as a kid)
My job
Hubbsters unemployment check
B's willingness to step up and help, actually rescue our school year
My parents help in our education process
WWW ladies - every person should be so lucky to have the three of you in their corner
Season passes for the family up at our local ski hill
Desire to learn
Great teachers
Smokeless winter skies (scared for this summer-we need snow! or a really wet long spring)
Pbs ~ commercial free 50 minutes (no me yelling 'turn the commercial off')
Alan Alda - fantastic things he shares
I.P.A + Pale + Ambers + Porters + Barley Wines + Blondes + the folks who appreciate them
Skunks....not really a fan of them-but here in our neck of the woods the arrival of spring is when skunks and red winged black birds return regardless of what the calendar says - now watching for the rwbb
New calves scampering across the fields
Cashmere sweaters and cozy pants
Crisp clean sheets that have been frozen/dehydrated out on the line. Heavenly. Makes me long for summer suns and all of our clothes being dried in such luxury
New music (do you, dear reader, have any music suggestions for me?)
Frye boots
Darn Tough socks...(if you have never owned a pair. you should)
Coconut shampoo and split end mender...but really its the coconutty smell-yum
Jean size going down. woo-hoo
Elsie's adoring eyes and thumping tail

The list goes on. But my time and attention must switch. For now.

What? I thought it was my day off

2010-02-04T10:51:00.007-07:00

{** Post edited to show what I actually accomplished ~ Hmmmm...not as productive as I hoped but the biggies got done and now tomorrow is mine. (and it is still snowing-yippee!)}

This is what I'll be doing today, so I do indeed have the day off tomorrow......

Publish the newsletter for work
finish it first
Get ski boots packed out - so my heals stay put on tomorrow's powder day. (as i sit here B has the kids up at the ski hill - the house is quiet. QUIET!!!!! and its snowing)
Clean the bathroom
Check the fermenters...make notes on what was brewed. Start my other learning list. (list #54,658)(but this list is exciting and fun)(changes, people, changes)
Develop a proposal for HBM (perhaps this will just get started on and not completed)
Finish mug club paper work and be done with it. and okay with it.
Prep ski stuff (get pass from B)
Correct music booking at work(this one i hate. calling and disappointing people)sucks!! {the calls were made and i avoided, i hope, canceling either one. I'm still waiting for one phone call to confirm everything...looks like that week we will be having live music three times. Could be worse.)
Re-work schedules for work
Breath....visualize swift silence, the blurred greens and brown of hillsides sliding up, sparkling whiteness, quiet car rides, really loud rockin tunes*, hot tea, sunrise, red topped mountains, frozen rivers, flocks of wild turkeys, herds of elk(please not on the road!), jagged peaks and smiles. And feet of fluffy, white, powder. (maybe tonight)
*must find mp3 player!! for both car and hill (where in the hell did I leave that thing..."KIDS") (YEAH!!! i found it.!) (sorry kids, never mind)
feed dear Elsie, and Virgil too ~ Done - and miss Elsie took a car ride to town, got to hang with me at work for a bit, took a walk down main street to have copies made, back to work, then to the grocery store and then finally home. which is still quiet.
think about updating/maintaining work blog...run away screaming...thinking ...umm yeah didn't go there. At. All.

Well, I never!

2010-02-01T11:19:00.002-07:00

Is it really true...I can post from my crackberry.
I have to test...
Here goes it~

- edited to say -
So nuts that i can post to the internet from my phone!!?! (though I seem to be unable to leave comments...thinking)
I have learned I can not post pictures/mms...hmmmm, or perhaps i have more to learn.(when is that not true?)

Also, my camera is in San Diego...since mid November 2009!!
I'm freaking out. Really, I want it back.
NOW! please

Tomorrow, I must send a self-stamped, self-addresses box to retrieve my camera.
I miss it. Greatly.

Clearing out cobwebs

2010-01-31T17:00:00.006-07:00

Hello, little blog.
Remember me?
I'm the one who so excitedly started to chat with you.
Then ran away.

All freaked out.

I'm back.

Shall we start to see each other again?
I'm thinking -

Yes.

It's winter and a new year.
Time to dust off the dashboard and clean out the cobwebs of this little home.

There is much to share ~
New job
Changes
Growth
Trips
Challenges
Love
Family

Graditude x5;
-work
-a sweet husband who loves to cook, and is great at it
-new challenges
-that Friday's are still gifted to me to ski/get away on my own
-i'm here
(-new ski boots)

Choices

2009-06-19T10:51:00.003-06:00

Fear is a powerful emotion.
And I am done with it.
I have let fear rule my posting. (and many other areas of my life)
No more.
Here - I capture MY life. The truth of my life.
Not the edited, cleaned up, pretty version I think you would be comfortable seeing. The truth.
If it is not liked, that is not my issue.
Being authentic, my goal.
Leaving our kids a peek of their childhood, my reason.
Creating new possibilities - my life.
Completing the past. Leaving it there.
Choices.

GRADITUDEX5
- Family who gives me time and space to work on myself.
- Insights with the tools of ACTION because-Insights without action are meaningless.
- Ocean Beaches and kind hearts who open their homes to me a stranger.
- Landmark Forum and our coach Lonny McG. {& Miss Jo W for introducing me to landmark}
- My husbands arms around me and his lips on mine.
- My kiddos surprise party for me including salad and cake.

Thursday and Friday

2009-03-07T10:16:00.011-07:00

Family Thursday

For the past 3 to 4 weeks we have been waiting for snow.

A snow storm to be precise.

Each week when we head to the ski area

we hope for a fresh layer of silky crystals for our skis to dance over.

This week the weather looked promising.

Low clouds wrapped themselves around our mountains

and didn't let go for days.

Perfect.

Thursday morning we loaded up the truck

Precipitation at last! - our guesses

B - 5"

Princess - 3"

Prince - 74" (but with his hands shows 2')

Soft Rock Mama - 7.5"

Snow was the hot topic of conversation.

Until the stop for fresh warm doughnuts.

Then, which frosting was the best, took over.

We can be easily distracted.

The mountains surprised us.

They held 11" of perfect powder.

Which meant Prince was up to his knees.

He didn't seem to mind.

Neither did she.

Both kids are catching the untracked powder bug.

That makes us parents proud

and very happy.

Last year, this would never have happened.

Now our girl is ripping through the terrain park

going off jumps and sliding down rails.

This mama is proud, proud, proud!

Daddy too.

Check this out

Coming off the rail slide

Carving it up on her way down to...

...the next jump.

B looks on with pride.

All the way up, every time, the boy talks about jumping from the chair.

When it would be best -

How it would be best -

The amount of snow needed.

We explain that it will NEVER be a

good time or good place to jump from the lift.

Never.

He still tries to convince us that if there was enough fresh snow,

as in 20 feet or more,

he could do it. And we wouldn't need to worry,

he would be safe and not get hurt.

Lord help us.

{Notice the impromptu retaining device. Smart man that B.}

We took a detour through the trees.

Looking up

Untouched lines.

My boy and my man

Fixing gloves

For a few runs Prince needed one of my poles

(it made things awkward for me, I felt lop sided. As if, all the sudden I didn't have a clue what to do with my left hand. Should it just hang there, pretend to hold and imaginary pole, flop around, pick my nose.

So I requested it back.)

Our day was perfect. We all skied together all day long, not even minding that we were not skiing the other side of the mountain.

B and I were hatching a plan.

It was all started by this.

A text from my sister in-law -----

Sister In Law: Hey soft rock are you going skiing on friday? and do u have an available ticket?? Jon-zen :-)

Soft Rock Mama: Yep & yep! It is dumping up here this morn. They have got 4 more inches since 7am! Call u later

SIL: Sweet!

[A couple of hours pass, B and I come up with a brilliant plan - texts start flying]

SRM: we are kid free 2morrow! Any chance both u & my brother can ski? It is going to be sick

SIL: I do know hed give his left nut in order to go-we'll see what he can wrangle-yippee!

[side note - said seester and brother have 5 kiddos to pawn off, I mean arrange care for]

SRM: I spit beer out my nose, all over myself. Funny girl. Chat later.

SIL: Gales keepin kidlets! (and by no means does she want scotts nut-so he's in the clear) lets talk am meeting.

SRM: Freaking fantastic - lets meet 7:30

SIL: Yes indeed!

SRM: Filled the growler! We have at least 2 new inches here at the house. Ski area must be getting pounded. C u in the morn.

SIL: Sweet-ass buckets-o-pow with barley juice flowin-yes! C u in the am-luv to my sista!

That led us to...

Adult Friday

and 6 new inches

Clouds hung low all day.

Skiing off the top with limited visibility made you

very aware of trees and your speed.

Snow piled up on the trees

The winds never came!

The sun came out for about 4 minutes

providing great light for a few pictures

This one is my favorite

We skied hard all day long.

We all thought it was by far our best day of the season.

J, my SIL, thought it was her best day of skiing EVER!

We ended the day with pitchers of beer around the fire.

Swapping stories with other smiling skiers.

The lodge was buzzing with tales of freshies,

smiles were worn by all.

We headed home to our kids

With a quick stop on the way for sunsets and

He just barely escaped.

GraditudeX5

- Small arms around my neck, with strength to choke. Sticky fingers that he swears taste like chocolate and an invitation to sample them.

- A day of powder skiing with B. And my brother and sil.

- Grandparents help on short notice

- Sleeping in while kids play together in the living room. PBS cartoons.

- Egg in a baskets that quickly satisfy starving boys.

- Our family.

Etiquette and Muscles

2009-03-03T07:57:00.006-07:00

Last night I schooled myself in proper netiquette. And found out I'm failing on almost every subject.
I had wondered what was the proper way to respond to comments, do I respond on their blog, via email, in my comment box, telepathically, handwritten notes with flowers and warm cookies? I wasn't sure.

But now I know.

Please forgive my poor blog etiquette.

I'm still learning.

Speaking of learning - Yesterday afternoon we loaded the family up in the truck and headed to the big town. Kids and B wanted to ice skate. I had errands that needed tending to. I asked B load up my (actually his) bike and thought I would ride to all my stops.

I discovered a winter without bike riding means my legs were screaming a mere 6 minutes into my ride. My lesson learned, muscles used for skiing are NOT the same muscles used in bike riding. Crap.

Thankfully we have several weeks left to play on these before bike season is upon us. Aren't these flakes HUGE?

The way the crystals were layered was amazing.

I have never seen anything like it.

Saturday Adventures

2009-03-01T10:55:00.009-07:00

Saturday morning was sunny and the sky was the brightest of blues.

After spending the last two days on the ski slope

with the family and 11" of fresh light, crystal filled powder

a change of pace was in order.

B and the Princess stayed at home.

Work needed to be done at the shop.

Movies had to be watched.

Bonds must always be strengthened.

Today was their day together.

That left the Prince and I.

We headed out to our neighbouring town

98 miles away.

I promised adventures and cheese burgers.

Take a look at how we spent our Saturday...

We headed down the highway - the mountains are our destination. But not these mountains

The Prince was busy snapping pictures from his back seat as we drove. I have shown you this peak before. It always empresses, even at 65mph through a very dirty tinted window.

We made it to the hanging valley that is beautifully untouched

Every where you look you are surrounded by mountains, valley fields, and snow.

We arrived at our destination.
An annual event that brings out people and horses from communities all around.
Last year it was -20 degrees. Today it was a balmy 18 degrees.

Are you getting a sense of what is coming? Look at what is leaning against the fence. (That is my teacher in the purple and green...hint hint)

Corral sections and skis.
Perfection, nearly.
Are you ready to see how they go together?
If you ever get the chance, you should try and take in some of this action.
It is fun, fast and very entertaining.
And, according to many
a great reason for drinking bud-light
at 10:30 in the morning.

You should here the sound of the horses hooves of the road, it is wonderful.
Yes sir-ree, it is just one of the roads in town shut down so gates and jumps can be placed on the 900 foot long course.

With a lead rope attached to the horn of a saddle, the cowboy encouraging his animal beneath him to gallop at full speed they are off and flying down the course.
This guy is sporting a grayish beard,
so it is not "just the young and stupid" as a fur clad, perfume laden, obviously from out of state lady,
stupidly said -
standing not far from me.
I wanted her to go back to her place wherever that was.
And take her friends with her.
She was very annoying.

Prince played on piled snow and frozen straw bales.
We both wished I had remembered his sunglasses.

Mo getting ready for the record run. She won last year and holds the fastest time record.

She is a rad woman.

I couldn't get enough of the cowboy/horse/skier mix.

Love it.

Fastening the helmet

Bringing in the speed factor

They are off...

LUNCH BREAK

Nearly all the folks went to one of the two places to get lunch. Those ladies ran for an hour straight. Burgers and beers were the popular choice. This made Prince very happy. One of his favorites is a cheese burger with tomatoes. That is what he ate, in about 37 seconds. He wanted to get back and watch more. I need a bit more time to chew and taste my burger. And drink my beer.

This is main street.

What? your streets have cars and not horses?

Oh, and they have stop lights?

Well, not here.

We have horses more than cars, and people crossing dictates if and when a car would need to stop. If you look hard above the woman on the right, on a pole we have a speaker that in the summer plays country music.

All the time.

That is one of my first memories of being in this place as young kid,

the country music over the speaker on main street.

And

the smell of the leather in the saddle shop.

I digress.

Back to this.

I love the rope flying around in this shot.

Go, Mo, go!

and this one too.

Prince ran and played in between races.

I wish this happened more than once a year.

But ranches need tending and cows are getting ready to birth their young.

Water is still freezing within hours of last chopping an access hole.

Feeding takes hours.

If new snow has fallen in great amounts or wind has blown the snow into substance greatly resembling concrete. Cattle trails need to be plowed to water and food sources.

Life in the country is demanding that way.

Little time for play. But when they do, they do it right.

Tonight after horses are curried, fed and watered, a community dance will be held. And the pot-luck, I can't forget the pot-luck.

Beef will be well represented.

As will potatoes, rolls, and ice-burg lettuce.

Deserts will be in sheet pans or jell-o molds.

Coffee will be thick and strong.

Real cream and real sugar will be offered.

Laughs and handshakes will be shared.

Good times.

Prince and I voted this cowboy 'Best Chaps'.

Sheep skin chaps that nearly matched his horse.

They weren't giving style points,

but I did. He won.

These are not your stall and pen horses.

No.No.No.

These are daily working ranch and farm horses.

They wanted to win, you could see it in their eyes

and hear it in the echo of their hooves.

Pure raw power and beauty.

Trucks, horses, campers, snow and wall-tents.

A perfect way to end our day.

We headed home.

Faces pink from hours of high elevation sun, minus sun block.

Smiles on our faces and conversation that freely flowed between mama and son.

We had one more quick stop.

One more brief adventure.

I wanted to see the place we retreat when summer heat lays itself on thick.

To the lake.

To appreciate the contrast of seasons.

To pee.

It was worth the detour. Beautiful.

Home and the other half of our family were waiting.

We headed towards them.

GraditudeX5

- One on one time with my children

- Adventures and showing and experiencing new things with the kids.

- Frozen lakes at days end. Summer memories of the lake

- A clean bathroom. For a young boy who is getting better at aiming or paying attention. I'm not sure which. I'll take either, preferably both.

- Lazy Sundays

Our January Get Away

2009-02-24T14:43:00.006-07:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we received a most wonderful Christmas gift from my parents. Let me tell you about it --

Four adults, who were without their seven offspring

Boarded a plane headed for Arizona

To spend a week, a week doing whatever we wanted

Whenever we wanted

It was fantastic

Wonderful

Fun

Relaxing

A must-do again, soon

We left these beauties, snow and below zero winds

(this picture is from fall - think no leaves, no green grasses and lots of snow)

For these, ancient drawings in a warm climate

And huge, ancient junipers growing out of desert rock

I wanted to hear the stories these walls could tell. Of children giggling, mothers grinding corn for family meals and of waterfalls cascading down from high above during the rainy season. We saw ancient fingerprints held in clay mortar that, so amazingly, is still holding the house walls together

We found this high atop a land-bridge. It was 17 seats in a circle, with some sort of covered fire pit. The seats were all in this huge sunken circle and for the most part quite comfortable. It was one of those very unexpected finds that makes you stop and ask questions. Why? Who? How? Why? I'll probably never know.

I do want to go back some time to sit and watch the sunset and drink a glass of wine with my B, my husband. It was pretty magical

We added to the great number of these. Those hands are my brothers. It was he and his wife who were with us. They minus five offspring. B and I missing our two.

We did a lot of this

Saw these, I loved them. Found out the indigenous people used this plant for food, fiber, hunting implements, and poison too. Food and poison, a mere 4 hours (or was it days), of roasting in difference. I'm sure there are many other uses but that is what comes to my mind

Sedona, Arizona

Book a flight now, run, go do it, you really should.

I had never spent any amount of time in the desert. I loved it and can't wait to go back someday.

Thanks mom and dad for your great thoughtfulness in setting up this vacation for us. All the details were perfect.

Oh, and many, many thanks for keeping all the grand-kids, they had a great time being with you and being with each other.

What do you say, Hawaii next?

GraditudeX5

- Clouds low on the mountains (I'm also thankful for the snow falling up high)

- Little hands who are willing to help

- Princess and her love of her brother, even when he is being a pain

- Meyer Lemons

- Great Parents - Really Fantastic Parents - Parents who show love and patience

Sunday - Family Walk

2009-02-22T19:10:00.007-07:00

It was just too sunny to stay inside so we loaded up into the truck and headed to the river to go on a walk and give Elsie a bath.

Smiles were worn by all.Elsie loves to ride in the back seat with the kids

First things first - find Elsie a stick

The hubster found me a heart rock

Princess found an ice arrow

I really like heart shaped rocks

Elsie waiting for the stick to be thrown

She stands funny when anticipating the next throw

Looking up to the west - can you see the lookout? We all hiked up there last summer. Princess did it in her socks.

Rivers are a great place to think

We tossed rocks through thin ice

The prince managed to stay dry

Elsie got her bath/swim

We walked and discovered

She smiled a beautiful smile

We saw things dying

We saw new growth, that reminded us spring is coming.

Our beloved winter is leaving.

We came home and cooked chicken burritos and watched movies.

Today was a great Sunday.

GraditudeX5

- Digital cameras

- Netflix

- A husband who likes to cook

- Sunday walks by river edge

- Jalapenos

Friday in pictures {with a few words too}

2009-02-22T12:10:00.024-07:00

Fridays are my days.

Thanks to a great husband who understands skiing weekly, on my own, is much cheaper than therapy.
I love Fridays. I LOVE my man.

Waking before my alarm goes off. A great way to start my day. Having all my gear laid out, ready for me to silently get dressed. A great way to start my day. Kisses in the dark, saying goodbye and letting him know I love him and his gift of my escape. A great way to start my day.

MY DAY

The moon was low in the east. Skies were beautiful.

Driving down our road I had to stop and capture another glance at my morning

35 minutes into my drive these beauties came into view. (My husband and I got married at their base and they wowed all of our family with their beauty. They witnessed our profession of love and commitment to each other. I love these peeks, The Three Sisters, we call them.)

And then at 8:27am this is what I'm driving past. Not a bad sight on my day.

Actually, this is my view. I wanted to show the peak up close and personal. And, I didn't want to admit that there is no snow on our valley floor. That makes me sad.

Thankfully the mountains are holding lots of snow. And that is where I'm headed.

The drive continues...

Starting up the pass. My first look at runs on the mountain. My dashboard, the braided thing? you ask. It is sweet-grass. Never smelled it? You really should. It smells wonderful. Natures car freshener.

The ridge that connects north and south mountains. Off this ridge is where I'll play today.

Self portrait heading up the chair.

Chair #2 - One of my favorite runs! - View from midway looking north - I love this tree

Another reason I love my Fridays, ski classes. Not only do I get away from the house and all of its duties, but I get to learn.

Learn from her...

And this my friends, is my all time greatest ski teacher. She pushes me to places I wouldn't go on my own. She has helped to groom me into the skier that I am today. I have SO much to learn. She is trying to bring back the word 'rad'. She is soo RAD! Hella Rad. She carries saws (aka chainsaw) up hills and fights fires all summer. She grew up on a real working ranch. Someday (soon) I'm going to be able to keep up with her flying down the hill, letting our 'mother-ship' lead. That is one of my goals.

Me and my Friday ladies only ski class
(I am second from the left)

This is how we ended another perfect day. With food and beer. Ended as any good day should.

I LOVE MY Fridays!!!!

GraditutdeX5

- Shaped skis

- Blue skies and mountains

- Caring husband who provides for our family (who lets me play)

- Low pressure systems that bring snow to our mountains

- Teachers, friends, and the Grassers. Oh we love the Grassers

- Snow. Lovely white snow

Graditude

2009-02-18T13:03:00.010-07:00

Part of my WWW* homework is to be more consistent. To pick one or two things and maintain consistency. Yikes! I am not a creature of habit, normally.

One of the my choices, after kids school and thinking about dinner before 4:20pm, was this, blogging. I'm still not 100% sure how I will or want to use this 'journal'. But I'm thinking a good way to figure that out is to just do it. I don't have expectations of daily entries but twice a week is reasonable.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

One of the new things I am doing with the kids is creating a 'This I Believe List' with each of them. I think it will be an interesting snippet of things important to them at this time in their lives. It may be very interesting to look back at in future years.

New found family fun. Ice Skating.
We are all enjoying frozen lakes and ponds. We have even went to the rink a couple of times. It is so funny to see Prince in his little hockey skates cruising all over the lake. I love being able to expose them/me to new and challenging experiences.
I never really enjoyed skating when I was young. I always had those horrid white figure skates that never fit properly, floppy ankles and freezing toes, hurting fingers and a cold body.
Thank goodness for my mountaineering husband who makes sure we are all outfitted with great fitting skates and layers of merino wool, capaline and gortex. He is all about going into the outdoors well prepared.
Prepared for most everything.
This used to annoy me.
All the packing and the 'just in-case' preparations. I saw it as time wasted. Now, after 12.75 years of marriage I have reaped the benefits of his preparations many many times. Rain coats when unexpected showers fell. Fleece pullovers on mountain peaks where it was near frigid, though sweltering hot in the valley and I thought he was nuts to carry the extra weight. Not nuts just smart.

This is the man I love and am grateful for everyday.

GraditudeX5

- My family, both near and far

- Wisdom from www ladies

- Season Pass for skiing

- Library Cards

- Choices

* I'll tell more about this in the near future. It is one of those blessings that everybody should have, if they want.

Lots of this and that with pictures

2009-02-04T23:44:00.011-07:00

Here I am.

I am soooooo sucking at this regular blogging concept. Oh well, it is only for me and for the kids when they are older. While we are on that subject, that being kids, let me digress. As I call him, Little A let me know today that 1. he is not little and 2. his name is NOT Little A. OK, fine. He is right - he is neither of those. For me that poses a question, what shall I call him and Miss I for that matter, so that someday there future employer doesn't read all about their childhood. So, after our chat I asked what they would pick for internet names. Note to self, don't ask for input where I don't really need it. After much discussion this is what they have came up with. 'Miss I' my girl prefers to be known as Princess and 'Little A' prefers Prince. Believe me this did not come easy. There must have been 20 to 40minutes of discussion figuring out what they wanted their names to be in cyber land. Not bad, not great. I can deal with their new cyber names.

I'm giving up trying to fill in all the blanks of what happened during the days/weeks I don't write. Ya get what ya get and ya don't throw a fit, per the kids.

So here we go... Oh, and forget what I said about not going back,cause we are going way back but for just a moment or two, possibly five. I feel the need. Having just lost my entire hard drive and NO I didn't have an external hard drive. I want to save some of these photos from being lost.

The Prince lost his first tooth way back on Sept. 26 2008. Oh, he is so cute! He pulled it out himself. I really should write the story of the MIA tooth fairy, perhaps one day soon. Lets just say the tooth fairy got hung up in Hong Kong and was a night late in visiting. We have a note to prove the Hong Hong trip too. In tiny tiny fairy handwriting no less.

Then came the second tooth 16 days later. Tooth fairy was on time. And payed good. I'm thinking of losing a couple.

Here is a fun little side note, see those baby blues? Wouldn't you think that his daddy or I have blue eyes? You might, but you would be wrong. Wrong, wrong. We are both brownish green. Now for the funky part - both of our mothers fathers had blue eyes. And now both of our kids have the most beautiful big blue eyes. I love them. And they some how got the blondish hair color, while we are both dark brown.

Genetics, pretty amazing.

Then came walks and picnics. This happened to be 10-08-08. Leaves were just starting to turn and fall. Weather was brisk. Snow was on the mountain tops and we were dreaming of...

Skiing. This was the first year that the kiddos got their own downhill ski gear. It was so funny to watch them walk/clomp all around the house in their skis. We were just waiting for snow.

One more picture from our day at the river..............

The Prince is 5 and 1/2 the Princess is 10 and 1/2

Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas all came and went. I have photos but won't add them at this time.
January brought many inches of snow down in the valleys and feet of the fluffy white stuff in the mountains. Which will hopefully keep the forest fires and smoke this summer to a minimum. And keep all of us smiling and playing till March.

That's all for this post. Next time the greatest Christmas gift of all - A trip with just adults to someplace warm and sunny. Wonderful. Wonderful. Many thanks to my parents.

Peace.

Confession

2009-01-21T09:59:00.003-07:00

Are ya ready? I still have Christmas decorations up. Don't judge me. Well, let me be even more transparent. Not only do I still have decorations up, our tree is still up. OK, now you can pass a little bit of the kindest judgment. Yep, we are still stuck on Dec. 27, some presents are still under the tree, and yes they are opened.
Ya know, we just have a great tree this year. Mr. A really thinks we should leave it up until his birthday which is at the end of March. But that is not going to happen. My plan is to take it down this weekend. Although that has been my plan for the past three weekends.
I'll let ya know how it all turns out.
Ciao.

Thursdays and such

2009-01-18T17:57:00.004-07:00

Yes, I know today is Sunday but I'm thinking back. And I'm sitting in a brewery on my second beer so I'm allowed. I'd be allowed even if I wasn't here, just sayin.
Last week was great. simply, great. Nothing bad happened sun --> wed., but on Thursday, well Thursday was where great started.
Thursday actually started wed. night. Well, in reality wed. afternoon while doing laundry and setting certain capalene 'unders' aside. Darn tough and smart wool socks hung drying in front of the heater. And helmets, goggles and gloves all sat assembled ready to be packed into the ever ready bag. Thursday's lunch was prepared and packed. Skis were loaded. Alarm was set and we were ready for Thursday.
Thursday came early, around 6:30. But the light was scarce and beautifully tinted. I started breakfast, which consisted of fried egg sandwiches on english muffins with a sharp cheddar cheese, that is except for A he 'doesn't do melty cheese'. Funny fella. Kids wake and go to their piles of clothes all laid out waiting for them. Dressed and fed. Bathroom used, pack boots on, ski bags loaded into the trusty CRV. We head to the hill. Oh I wish you could all experience my little jewel. actually truth be told I don't want ya any where near it. I love its small town feel and small town crowds. So, please stay away. ever so kindly.
Our drive is beautiful, serene, slick and not to long. This particular Thursday morning were greeted with 4inches of dry silky powder. Let me bring you up to speed - A is 51/2 and I is 101/2 . This is our first year with a family season pass and we are using it at every opportunity. Both kiddos have their own gear. And miss I kicks it all over the mountain and she is willing to do it by herself. Great kid. Really great kid. And as this Thursday progresses Mr.A is 'getting it.' He now really understands his snowplow and how he makes a turn. And he is smiling. And I am not stressing/yelling. (this is huge I tell ya, huge) So we are all sliding down snow on curvy sticks and smiling. What a beautiful fricking day. Oh and by the way it was a blue-bird day,as they say. Blue skies and lots of sun.
Thursday led to Friday which was a ski day for Jen and I. Again another beautiful day and the skiing rocked. Which led to Saturday a family day which really rocked. But I'll write about that later.
Tomorrow skiing on the great MLK day. Hopefully pics too.
Life is good.

Have you made cheese?

2008-09-25T21:35:00.006-06:00

The package said mozzarella in 30 minutes. Reality was, mozzarella in 75 minutes with another 15minutes of working with the whey to get a small tub of ricotta. But it was fun. And we will be doing it again. Soon.

We started by cleaning our glass jars and heading over to the dairy to gather fresh milk. The smell brought me back to childhood. My parents had friends who family owned a dairy. Besides the typical cow smell, walking into the actual dairy was a blast from 1981. There is no real way for me to describe that smell, but I'm pretty sure there is no other smell like it on earth. The kids thought it was one of the most offensive they had ever smelled. I was hoping the farmer wouldn't walk in while they were holding their noses and nearly gagging, while over and over telling each other how much the building stunk.

The dairy is a small operation, I didn't count, but my guess is less than 50 cows. I was surprised at how small the tank was. We were scooping, yes scooping, out of the tank.

The room had the obligatory money box for the milk. The box was labeled 'milk for dogs and pigs $2 per gallon'. Which provided a great opportunity for the Miss I and me to have an honest conversation about rules and laws. Why the farmer couldn't legally sell unpasteurized milk for human consumption. Why we have so many mindless laws. Why people don't think for themselves. And why we must.

So back to cheese...the mozzarella turned out great (my husband needed the camera for work, so we have no pictures of the process), very tasty and a great consistency. We made pizza dough that afternoon and ate pizza for dinner. I think we will do a lasagna this weekend and use the ricotta in that. The next time we will get a couple of gallons and do a bigger batch since the kitchen is consumed in milk and whey.

Both the kids had soccer practice and games this week. Miss I's game was Wednesday with the win going to her team. And, Little A had his first game tonight. He was so excited to have a real soccer uniform. He got up early this morning and put it on, he wore it all day. I think he would have worn it to bed if I hadn't objected. Watching the mass of little bodies chase after the green soccer ball was pretty comical. They were a clump of five and six year old's, going every which way, not knowing any better. Miss I has another game tomorrow evening after choir practice.
The joys of fall.

Autumn and pyrex

2008-09-22T14:04:00.004-06:00

So it happened at 9:44 this morning, according to the NPR fellow. Autumn is here. It sure does feel like it, cool and breezy, even with the sun trying to give us some rays as it moves ever farther away from our northern hemisphere.

I had the best intentions to have the kids put on warmer clothes and we would go for a hike to observe and be in nature. But, um well that didn't happen. Nope we are still in our little house them working on school and me cleaning out kitchen cupboards. An interesting and frustrating job. Why did I feel the need to save every glass vase that I have received during the past 12 years of marriage? Why? I don't have flower gardens to fill these empty vases. Nor do I see that happening in the near future. And the seemingly endless pieces of corning oven ware that I have never used, some that I didn't even know I owned. Why do I keep them? My lil brain tells me I keep them in case. In case of what? All my other shelves burdened with baking dishes suddenly crash to the floor and they all break into a million little pieces...but just wait, isn't corning/pyrex nearly impossible to break. Aaaaggghhhh. I baffle myself.

This evening holds soccer practice for the kiddos and husband. I'm trying my hand at making a vegi minestrone soup for dinner, baking some sort of bread and creating a salad. Oh and putting back all of my cupboard contents, minus the glass vases. But at least all that ovenware will be nicely organized to collect dust for another 12 years.

Tomorrow we make mozzarella for the first time. I'll try and get some pictures.

Fall day - evening too

2008-09-21T13:10:00.006-06:00

Today is cool, damp and gray. Not normal for our mountains this time of year. This past week we have had temps in the upper 70's and one afternoon we enjoyed a brief reminder of what 82degrees feels like. Though at night we are dropping down into the low 40's and high 30's. The few nights that mother earth has taken off the blankets (cloud free, clear skies) we have had frosts. My poor garden has been nipped by jack frost. Leaves are starting to die back, and it appears that the rest of my tomatoes will have to ripen in a newspaper and cardboard shelter. I'm trying to decided if I should transplant my herbs into pots to be brought inside for the duration of winter. I love being able to gather what is needed for cooking, fresh. I love even more the fact that it is all free. And always tastes better than that bought at the market. Our small house won't hold all my potted herbs, so I'm thinking rosemary and parsley will be the ones I try to overwinter inside.

Yesterday morning the kiddos played outside, kicking soccer balls all over the lawn, climbing up crab apple trees, feasting on many. Free-ranging the rabbit. Digging tunnels into the hillside. Making forts complete with grass roofs and separate rooms. It is so great to see them at play. Enjoying nature and all it has to offer. We must get into the mountains before trails become muddy and then icy. We have time, at least several weeks.

In the afternoon winds and rain whipped out of the canyons, soaking the ground and blanketing the peaks with a fresh white layer of snow. This isn't the first snow our peaks have seen this fall but the first time the snow lines came down past the high alpine rocky slopes and into the trees. I suspect we will start seeing the larch trees starting to turn their tell tale yellow. I say keep on snowing(up high) and building up our base layer, last year we enjoyed a really fantastic snow year. Skiing was great. And even better was the lack of smoke from forest fires this late summer and early fall.

I helped a friend who was catering a wedding at a 'summer cabin' at the base of the mountains. A couple of observations; 1-cabin?, try huge log house in the woods, 2-high heel's and silky dresses are a tough gig to pull off on uneven, unpaved mountain terrain (and just perhaps the 12 glasses of wine don't help much either), 3-when setting up a ridiculously huge tent to feed 134 guest, use all the stakes and tie downs, they are there for a purpose, 4-it is entertaining to see folks scramble (in heavy winds and spattering rain) (and high heels and suits) trying to tie down a tent that is catching gust's of wind and threatening to take flight, 5-when in Rome/mountains - do as the Romans do...wear jeans, layers of fleece and aggressive tread shoes, especially if you are consuming LARGE amounts of alcohol and are a city slicker in the mountains. Really folks who you trying to empress with your prada and kate spade wear. For the love of pete return to your city homes quickly. Now, please. Rant over. All of us locals did get many laughs all evening and night long, ya gotta admit it's interesting watching humans (especially when they are so far out of their comfort zone).

It felt great to crawl into bed last night. Under our wool blankets with windows wide open and cool breezes blowing in. I refuse to shut our house up just yet, when we will be with out fresh air moving about our house for the better part of 5 months. And no, my dear kiddos the heater may not come on, but feel free to put on a sweater and a pair of smartwools. Cold noses are healthy noses, or at least that's what Grammy used to tell me, so it must be true.

Now for a warm dinner-let's see what the pantry has for us.

The Beginning

2008-09-18T14:47:00.000-06:00

So today is the day. I've been saying I'll start, soon. And years have gone by.
Today is a day of many beginnings, but more on that at a later time.
Here, I hope to capture a slice of our lives together, my family and me. A place when our kiddos are older they can reference reality of daily life, as I see it. And perhaps see things weren't so odd.
Thanks to my dear fabulous husband for encouraging me to just do it and write. I love you. Not you - but him, he rocks.
I am a wife, a mama to two terrific kiddos, a home-schooler trying to figure it out, an aspiring midwife apprentice, a cook, a friend, a sister, an aunt and a daughter. I'm a woman on a mission. The thing is, I haven't figured out what my mission is. There are so many to choose from.

One of my goals for this year was to try new things. One of the things that I most recently tried was making jam. Peach jam to be exact. I (with the help of my husband and kids) have put up 32pints and 12quarts of jam. We are all loving eating what we made. Such a great feeling. I want to do more preserving of one kind or another. This here blog would be another new thing ( and a way of preserving, too). I have really loved finding the world of wonderful blogs, I just discovered them this year. Yeah, I know I'm a late bloomer. But my computer skills are much past a comodor 64(sp?) or floppy discs. So I guess that will be added to my list of trying new things, gaining computer skills.
I'll share more as I go along.

And now soccer practice calls.