A "Beautiful" Break!

I took a "break" last weekend and went to the city to visit my daughter and her husband for a few days. It was so much fun. We laughed and visited and went garage sale shopping, talked about crafts that we want to make, ate great food and played with their puppy ANN. I had a wonderful weekend and had a great time visiting my long lost children. It was bitter sweet to head back home....sad because I would miss my kids and my break, but I was also looking forward to getting back home to my hubby and kids that I had left behind for a few days.

As I jetted over the mountain, homeward bound, I was AW-STRUCK by all the water that was running EVERYWHERE! It was running in every direction, so it seemed. It was hard to tell where the rivers and streams were really supposed to be because there was just water scattered all over the mountain tops. I knew that our rivers were overflowing because of the high snow pack, but it gave me an entirely different perspective on things when I actually came face to face with the source of our FULL rivers. THERE IS SO MUCH more water still to come down the mountains...its melting quickly and there's not only ALOT of water, but ALOT of power behind it. It's moving so rapidly that it almost seems as though you can watch the water gain speed as you stare at it. It was mesmerizing to watch it as I was driving, I found myself wanting to stop to snap a picture or two and just take it all in....BUT because of "ROAD CONSTRUCTION" I had to stay between the "orange cones" and was instructed to "keep moving"....so I didn't get any pictures to share (sorry)...but take my word for it, there is more water on the mountain side than I have ever seen before, and I have lived in this area for MOST, if not ALL of my life...the rivers are definitely going to be flooding for quite some time.

After a LONG drive of 35 mph speeds...I finally drove out of the orange cones and back onto "even pavement", double lanes and a place to pull over and stretch my tired legs. I got out and walked around a bit... admiring this favorite spot of mine, one that I have adored for many years. My pictures don't do it justice...but its a gem of a spot and I think it would be so much fun to live down there amongst the cows, the green fields and the wide open space...even if it was only for a weekend here and there...I would love it!

The river, of course, was "ROARING" and loud as it rushed over the rocks....

...and the wild flowers were blooming everywhere, yellow ones, red ones, purple and pink ones...

The desert is in full bloom and I am once again reminded of what a beautiful place I live in.

Yes, the snow that we've had definitely has given us a "greener" and more colorful

look to our desert this year...!

It's about TiMe~

I love clocks!! If you were to come into my house you would find AT LEAST one clock in every room...yes, that includes the bathrooms. I like to know what time it is where ever I am and in any room that I might happen to be in. I have tall clocks, short ones, small ones, large ones, old ones, new ones, black clocks, yellow clocks, brown clocks, white clocks....I even have 3 or 4 different watches. I am not a fan of the "digital clock" although, it has it has its purpose in my life too (along side my bed with a dandy little alarm clock on it). I don't know why- and I have never really understood my obsession with them, but I've always LOVED, LOVED, LOVED face clocks.

Several years back I got an oak looking "Grandfather" clock for Christmas...no, he wasn't an AUTHENTIC grandfather clock, but I didn't care...I loved my imitation and he was exactly what I wanted. At the "time" I even loved the wood look of the clock....because my house was full of it and it was what I was sporting at the time. As the years passed, the "wood look" on my grandfather clock got tiresome and terribly boring. I had updated my living room, (several times...you know me~) where the old clock resided and he just didn't "fit" with the look I was going for anymore. So down the hall he went...to reside all by himself. Although he wasn't in my living room anymore, I never tired of my old grandfather clock. I knew someday he would make his way back into my living room. Over the years, I have tossed around the idea of painting him but talked myself out of it EVERY single TIME...you know the thoughts that run through your mind, "I don't have time to do that" "what if it doesn't look good when I'm finished?" "what if I hate it?" "what if I go to all that bother and I ruin it?"...those are the thoughts that muddled my mind UNTIL one morning, last week, I just jumped up and painted him without even thinking! I pulled out the black paint and quickly put the firsts of many coats on his old oak frame, before I could talk myself out of it...

I can't believe the difference a few coats of paint and some poly-urethane can make...

oh, and a little sanding of the edges to make him look old and "antiquish"-

MY FAVORITE look!!!!

I love him even more than I did before....and YES, he made it right back into my living room... no questions asked! I put some new batteries in him, shined him up and he looks as good as new!!! WOO HOO for a little time and energy and some good ol' fashioned "elbow grease"! I love projects, especially when I can get them accomplished in a day's time and even more so, when they turn out as beautiful as this old man did!!!

NOW ONTO THE NEXT PROJECT~

OH what a BEauTIFUL morning, oh what a beautiful DaY~

I woke up this morning...a little later than usual, which set my day back a bit. I really should be thrilled that I slept more than 3-4 hours, but instead, I am feeling behind on everything that I need to get done today.

As I sat in the kitchen early this morning, I thought of all the things that make me happy today. There is something to be said for having time to meditate early in the morning and to "listening quietly" as the world awakes around you...the kind of quite time with no interruptions- the phone wasn't ringing, the kids weren't arguing, there weren't car's driving back and forth down the road yet, there wasn't the sound of the television or music in the background...just quiet, peaceful, "morning noise"....ahhhhh...SuMMer just MAKEs me happy!!

and so does...........

*the sound of the crickets singing gently as the sun comes up over the mountains

*the smell of a crisp summer morning

*the sound of birds chirping and fighting over "who gets the first worm"

*my children all curled up in the beds fast asleep, looking so peaceful and calm

*the feel of morning dew between my toes

*hearing my hubby whistle as he comes up for breakfast

*watching the flowers bloom as the sun starts to shine

*feeling GOOD!

* reminiscing about the days when my kids were all playing outside in their wadding pool, splashing and throwing water at each other as they giggled and got wet

I'm just loving today!!! Looks like its going to be one of those wonderful, warmish, peaceful, nice DAYs!

So glad to be ALIVE and able to enjoy this wonderful DAY!

All's WeLL!

I know Summer is here when we start making trips up to the Lake! We took a little time off from our everyday, humdrum, monotonous week and drove up the road for a little R&R in the sun. We hiked in to our own little private beach spot that we enjoy hanging out in....only to find that it was no longer full of water. The lake is being emptied right now, getting ready to fill back up with the abundance of water coming down the mountains so many of the "fun" spots at the lake are extremely low...since our spot was empty and didn't appeal to us much this trip, we hiked over to a different spot, one that offered some nice sandy beaches and lots of water to play in.

The kids jumped right into the water...they squealed a bit, shivered a lot and played until they

couldn't stand the cold water anymore.

We hiked around the rocks...played in the sand...AND-

...found a Crawdad wondering up onto our sandy little beach.

Cameron couldn't help but pick it up and tease it a bit.

...and then Draego found the little critter.

HE HAD A HAYDAY...he tossed it around, taunted it, teased it AND

then did what any smart person would do...he ATE IT! YUM!

Yes...give me a plate of these little guys,

all cooked up, with some melted butter and I would have ate up as well!

They're a little "redneck" delicacy!

We all enjoyed the sun..."JUST a BIT"...and we have LOBSTER skin to prove it!

Halle slipped and fell on the mossy rocks,

making it a bit of a challenge to get back to shore~ so she took Kimber up on her offer to

come out and play in the water....

...only to discover the water was deeper than

she thought-she panicked a little...okay ALOT...

and she practically drowned Kim!

Somehow Kim was able to get Halle back to the side so she could climb

out of the water...but it was a bit terrifying for a minute.

(no, I wasn't snapping pics at the time...this was taken before our little incident)

All is well that ended well, right?!

We had a great time, enjoyed the sun, enjoyed the sand,

enjoyed the break and ENJOYED each other!

THIS is what FRIDAY's were made ARE FOR!!!

Following the LeaDeR!

I know...I just posted pictures of this gorgeous little man...but I had to share his

ADORABLE little face some more~

...he just makes me smile when he smiles!

...he just makes us all (including Kim) talk when he talks~

...he just makes me laugh when he laughs~

...I even wiggle my tongue when he wiggles his~

...he makes me so extremely happy whenever I get to be with him~

Just look at that adorable little face, how could HE NOT make the

world a better place just by existing in it??!!

This little man makes the world go round, he makes me want to be a better person

and to be the best grandma I can be!!!

I sure LOVE this little guy!!!

Eating MY ElePHant one bite at a time~

I made myself a bucket list a few years back...(frequent readers will remember when I did that) you know, those "infamous lists" of things we want to do before we die?! I've been working on my list (of 75 things) little by little and I've actually crossed off 10 things that I've "always" wanted to do. Strangely enough though, as I cross one thing off, I have the urge to add another one. It's so satisfying to set a goal, make a plan, and then to set out and "DO IT". With that satisfaction, comes the desire to accomplish more and more...I've actually thought of at least another 10 things that I want to do before my life comes to an end..so I'll be adding those to my list as well!

One thing that I have on my "bucket list" is to "plant an herb garden that will grow"...kind of corny I know...I've planted an herb garden before, several times in fact- and every time I planted one, it died (sometimes because I thought it was a weed and disposed of it). So this time has to be different. I actually have to make it work by succeeding in the "growing" part of it.

SO FAR, SO GOOD!

I'm actually "watching" the weeds grow too...

they seem to survive no matter

what I do!

I've got a little "Lemon Thyme" growing~

...some Oregano

...and some garlic.

I planted all my little herbs in the greenhouse this time, making it possible for me to know exactly where they are-

(this way I will know that they aren't WEED's sprouting up in my garden) and come Spring next year ...

I won't till them back into the ground (only because I don't use the tiller in my greenhouse).

I am actually really excited to start using fresh herbs in my cooking. I still want to get some Basil and Dill and then my little herb garden will be complete!....now to just remember to water the silly thing so it will grow...then I can cross growing an "herb garden" off my Bucket list!

I'm also training for a 5K that I will be doing in October of this year (crossing off yet another "to do" on my Bucket List). I'm an avid power walker and I actually power walk a 5K or more every day...but I would really love to RUN/JOG a good part of this 5K...which would be a HUGE

accomplishment for me. Since having 6 children, my hips and back have never been the same... and running any distance, well that's pretty much been NON-existent for me for many years. Running almost always ends in my hips and back popping out, sending me to the chiropractor for several intense treatments and an ORDER NOT to RUN OR JOG anymore. THIS time I am working up slowly and listening to my body. If its hurting, I don't run. If I feel like my hip is going to pop out, I stop... So far I'm doing really well.

I can run off and on and haven't had any problems.

NO, I don't "glide" like a Gazelle or one of those"real runners",

my running is not pretty to watch and anyone who saw me would

probably laugh at my attempt ...

but that's okay...

I AM GOING TO run anyway!!

PS...if you see me running...don't judge my efforts please~

On the RISE~

As the snow begins to melt high up in the mountain tops, its continually bringing concern and alarm to our little town. It isn't that our little area is new to the idea of flooding....BUT what we are new to, is the amount of snow that IS IN the mountains (12+ feet) that has to make its way down the canyons, filling the rivers that run through our little town, and then moving on to the big wide open ocean. There is just SOOOOO much water! With the onset of warmer days, the rivers are now rapidly on the rise (have been for some time) and are beginning to ease their way over the tops of the river banks in some area, spreading out to any open ground available.

This cute little pond/small lake...is really a pasture for horses~

The water has spread over to where the trees grow~

Kim jumped the "Caution" tape and ran out over the board walk to see the water...its NOT supposed to be running UNDER the board walk AT ALL!

.....and to think the flooding has "only just begun"...there's alot more to come!

I am worried where its all going to go... *sigh*

Heavy Heart...

I've been up since 2:30 am...haven't been feeling my best the last few days, but I am on the mend and I am feeling better every day.

As I've been watching/listening to the news this quiet, dark morning, I can't help but feel very saddened as I hear about all the devastating tornado's, floods and fires around the country...some as close as a few hours drive from home. It seems Mother Nature is on a rampage and leaving her mark in so many peoples lives. My heart goes out to those who have suffered a loss, whether it be someone they know and love or in many cases, the loss of their homes and property. Our homes are a place of refuge, a place of peace and solitude, a place to feel AND to keep us safe...and to have all that ripped right out from under you is devastating to me. I realize that THINGS can be replaced, but can the feeling of peace and safety every truly return? So many of these people have no where to turn, no where to go and no one to ask for help. Loved ones were lost in some of these awful disasters...children, parents, daughters, sons, grandchildren, grandparents...relatives...some still haven't been found! I can't imagine the pain, the suffering, as well as the loss they must feel. I sit here as the sun is coming up over the mountains, listening to the birds chirping outside my window. I can smell the fresh aroma of the lilacs as the breeze brush past them...and I feel a little guilty. What are some of these people waking up to? What happiness are the finding in their lives? I know people eventually recover from adversity, I know that people in general, are strong and very resilient...but sometimes life can be tough and deal us an awful hand of cards and it takes a long time to recover from such trauma and life altering experiences!...its not always easy to "come back" from the devastation of things that happen in our lives.

This morning, I am grateful for where I live. I am grateful for the beautiful green grass, the tall swaying trees (that are rooted in the ground), the chirping of the birds, the barking of the dogs...I'm extremely thankful for a warm, dry, safe home, for a soft bed and for my family who are all safe and sound, and for the wonderful neighbors that we have. I am thankful that I am able to watch the sun come up, the dawning of a new day- without having the worries and stress that many people around the world are waking up to this morning.

My heart is heavy for these devastated families.

There isn't much I can do, but I will be keeping them in my prayers.

Messy StuFF~

It won't surprise most of you, especially those that know me, that I don't deal well with stress...I never have. Stress drives me CRAZY! I am not the kind of person that loves to work under pressure, not the kind of girl that saves things to the last minute or the woman that flies by the seat of her pants...so its no surprise that this little "bathroom" redo has me a little UN-WIRED!

We had a leak from a pipe that was in the wall... evidently for longer than we were aware of. We didn't realize what was going on until the wall literally started to fall down...UHG! Piece by piece it crumbled to the floor..unveiling MOLD...surprise, surprise. We fixed the leak but that didn't take care of the mold issue. We have had people in and out of the house for several weeks now. Some cleaning, some ripping out anything covered in mold and some testing for mold spores. FINALLY~the mold is GONE (woo hoo, woo hoo!!!!)...but now we are waiting to see what our insurance will cover...and then comes the WORK! I DESPISE remodeling projects. I know I will be thrilled with my bathroom when its finished...but the process, well thats another story!

No judging please...this house WAS built in the 70's and still resembles that in some areas,

like the bathroom!

The mold men ripped out the carpet in the bathroom...because it was moldy. They cut

out parts of the wall....

...took out the shower, completely...its all GONE~

They used a big machine to clean the air and rid our room and bathroom from

any mold spores (and smells)...its amazing how fresh the air is now that

the mold is gone. We didn't even realize how bad it was until its no

longer lingering around.

They cut out parts of our bedroom wall...and some of the carpet there too.

its going to be a long process I'm afraid, one that I will appreciate when

its done...but I'm a bit worried about how to deal with this ADDED STRESS

in my life UNTIL its done.

I realize that some people can just "go with the flow" "deal with whats dealt to them" as well as

"smile and enjoy the ride"...I'm NOT one of those girls. Stress isn't my friend (thats putting it lightly)!!! I'm doing my best to NOT think about it and trying very hard to not dwell on the mess or the bigger mess that is to come...I'm trying to stay focused on the FINISHED project...but its been difficult to say the least. What I wouldn't do for a genie in a bottle right now!!!! For now...we are sitting and waiting for an estimate from the insurance and then we will go from there......

I will keep you updated as this story progresses...

HOPEFULLY it will progress quickly!!!

Bragging rights~

May is always a busy month for us. It seems like we have a calendar full of events that have to take place during the last big month of school that are both fun as well as tiring. The kids have papers and projects that need to be finished. There are school activities and year end celebrations. There are recitals and banquets as well as food that needs to be prepared for such events....its both exhausting as well as fun.

Halle had her year end recitals for dance as well as piano this month and they ended up being on the same day, which made for ONE HECTIC FEW HOURS! It was a little chaotic, but we made it through without a hitch.

She did an amazing job at both events....

but I think she was revealed to have them over and done all in one day.

She stressed and worried for days

about forgetting her dances as well as the songs she would

be playing for the piano recital, but she performed wonderfully...her worry was for nothing!

We are so grateful for ALL the wonderful teachers who help Halle excel in

each area of her life, but today we are grateful for the extraordinary ladies who

teach her the ARTS...both piano and dance.

They not only teach her the general skills,

but they also teach her to be disciplined and dedicated in

her practice and performances.

I love watching each of my children develop their talents and

be able to excel in areas that

make them feel good about themselves...

Great Job Halle!