Breaking Ties Making New Ones

I don’t know about you but for the past year I have had several culprits following me around.  Invading my life, and I have to finally break the ties with “Trama” and “Drama”.  Not that “Drama” is always a bad thing to have around, because I like being in touch with her occasionally but lately, “Trama along with “Drama” has taken a toll on my emotions.  I am using these terms in the 3rd person because I feel like they have been a monkey on my back with all their other friends of whom I will list shortly.

“Spontaneous” has always accompanied me in my life and seems to just shout out and do things crazy and make me do things crazy too, and a couple of weeks ago, (after making the peach pie I NEVER had one bite of) we visited my hair dresser for a “little” trim and while sitting in the chair ole Spontie decided to shout out. After being asked several times by my friend and beautician she kept screaming inside me….so…

 

sorry these were camera phone pics the before and after.

Well it’s just hair right? and mine seems to grow very quickly, about 5 inches fell to the floor.  I  loved it….at first.  Now I am very upset with “Spontaneous”.  And now, my hair has decided to NOT GROW and my natural curls…yes I have LOTS of natural curls, un-taming natural curls that like to flip every where when ever they choose and I hate them.  Thank goodness for flat irons.

Huh-Honey loves it….I guess that is what counts.

So…during this time I had another visit from “Pitty Pot”, “Cry Baby” and “I don’t give a  ___”.  Now these are no friends of mine  but all at once they decided to pay me a visit.  Huh-Honey said they have been lingering around just waiting to pounce on me for a while now, but that I had been snapping back at them and lashing out at the weirdest times.  So off to the doctor who is giving me helpers to conquer my RA.  Huh-Honey insisted that she introduce me to “Happiness”.  I was teary as I said I already knew “Happiness” but maybe she was on vacation or something then proceeded to cry.  Crying at the doctor’s office is special.  Even if you think you are a big girl.

I have always been a believer that “Happiness” was always there when ever I wanted to see her, that she was at my beck and call at all times.  I have always considered myself a STRONG lady, VERY STRONG lady.  I don’t need anyone except my Huh-Honey, children and grandchildren to bring me “Happiness”.  I think I might have been a little harsh on her.  So…I have invited her to stay for a visit, let me lean on her a little and when she has done her job, she can go visit someone else that may need her more, although I will never forget her. (does this make any sense?)

Anyway….Labor Day weekend we decided to go on a camping trip which would take us to a place called “Potters Pond” which is a beautiful fishing hole in the Manti-LaSal mountains.  Important information in case you decide to go: Please bring your own drinking water. Please bring garbage bags, as the campground is pack-in, pack-out.  There is no electricity, water, or sewer hook-ups.  Services: “Primitive” campsites with fire rings, 3 vault toilets.  So we decided that if we are staying in a tent (which we did, on cots of course) we would do the whole thing, (we are prepared, we use to do this almost every weekend when the kids were younger) got the ole tent heater out, nice cozy bags, lantern, we were set.

Wednesday night campsite was beautiful, but not big enough for those who would be joining the next day.  The ride to this campsite, well that is another whole 3 page chapter.  It was hair raising since we took a WRONG TURN, and it was MY fault.  Thank goodness “Happiness” was with me or I would probably have had to walk. LOL oh by they way….NO PHONE SERVICE, so we didn’t get to camp where son Mike and family were waiting for our arrival about 3 hours earlier!

In the morning before getting the word officially that we could move camp, we had a yummy breakfast of “French Toasted” bread, and gooey syrup, bacon, juice, and happy children! (we didn’t eat the children of course)

There is nothing better than happy children, waiting for a surprise after eating, from their Oma!

 

Marshmallow Blasters!  Papa made EVERYONE a blaster!  And what a blast that was!  I don’t think that Owen and Kyler put theirs down for 2 days!  There were marshmallows everywhere in camp!  I am sure we made the forest animals very happy!

Lock and Load Owen, (actually you just drop one miniature mellow into the 1/2 in tube, then you have to BLOW with all your  might…

 

Sometimes at targets on trees….other times….well at each other…that is the funniest! And they don’t hurt…

 

This is how to make this FUN, FUN, toy.  We plan on making a lot and selling them around here at a garage sale a few times before Christmas.  You have to paint them camo and princess colors though!  I don’t think I got a picture of Huh-Honey’s finished product! Hmmm

The children enjoyed a game of Simon Say’s, Mike is such a fun daddy!

 

 

Koltyn loved playing peek-a-boo

 

 

 

 

Our sweet Ryan had a 24 hour flu bug and it totally wiped him out for a full day! Poor little guy!

but the next day he was just fine and joined in all the fun to be had.

This is pic of Ryan the day before he got sick.

 

 

 

When Huh-Honey and I were not hiking with the kids, we would hike by ourselves..

 

 

 

 

Then I would take a hike with the children…

 

 

and they would let me take pictures of them…

 

Isn’t this the cutest darn brother, sister you have ever seen!  I just say ok smile you two and Lauren wrapped her arm around Owen then Owen wrapped his arm around her….they really love each other! 

 

My sweet DIL is the best Dutch Oven cook I have ever known!  She is amazing!  Her pineapple upside down cake was so delicious, and chicken, and chocolate yummy cake and cornbread.  AHHHH, she is such a wonderful cook!

 

 

there was a 4-wheeler to ride…

 

 

 

plenty of time to chuck rocks into the river…

 

 

 

SPLASH!

 

 

 

 

 

Find dinosaur teeth..

 

 

Play catch with a glow in the dark Frisbee…with your best friends Dad and Papa..

Just lounge around after playing 2 hours of card games with Oma…

 

 

 

 

LAUGHING!

 

 

 

 

Gathering firewood with Papa…

 

 

 

 

Hanging out with your daddy and stick to him like glue…

 

 

pose together because I was the ultimate picture taker (Camille,  Best camp Hostess EVER Mikes wife) and  son Brad.

 

 

Get smoke in your eyes by the camp fire remembering to wear your cowgirl boots so as not to toast your toes…Take lots and lots of pictures so that you can post them all over the trailer….to remind you of how much fun you are having!

 

know that being NAKED (meaning without make-up) for 4 days is OK..and actually very liberating! but also embarrassing to show anyone !  but knowing REAL friends and family don’t care and never mention to you how different you really look.  Hmm maybe I don’t look any different….NAH….

sitting around a blazing fire at night with family and friends (of which  pics I could not download for some reason off of my little cool-pix so this one will have to do.  Just imagine family and friends in the background…

With all this excitement the last weekend, wonderful family and friends around me and relaxing (well sort of relaxing) in the great out-doors, I “broke ties” with Miss Pity Pot, Cry Baby, Miss Anxiety and made friends with “Happiness” once again…..AHHHHH life is good…… and I am in love with it!

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Hugs and Smiles across the miles….

PEACH PIE

Birds have to eat you know, and I have shared my sweet little peach tree with them for a couple of weeks….but they have become stingy….and have randomly pecked at my precious little peaches until Huh-Honey and I said….ENOUGH!

This year is my first crop!  We planted this peach tree only last Fall, so I think it is fair to be selfish when it comes to my peaches…

we picked about 50 of these Alberta beauties….we just had dinner and I decided….I am making a peach pie! 7:30 in the evening.

WHY???? because I know my house will smell wonderful and Bob will eat it.

so I began the process, and this very simple recipe tells me that the preparation time is only 15 minutes….. (LIAR!) my prep time was more like 45 minutes! cook time 40…

I want to tell you….I am not a wonderful cook.  I have never considered myself a wonderful cook but sometimes when I get the bug…..I can be a wonderful cook (baker, whatever). 6 cups of these sweet peaches.

 

Mixed and tossed with “stuff”

 

 

 

Then dumped into a yummy crumbly pie crust…(I quit rolling pie crust when I found this one)

 

 

Topped with more crumbly buttery brown sugar cinnamon “stuff”

 

 

 

It was really full!  My mouth was watering…

 

 

 

 

Popped that baby into the oven for 40 mins.

and……

watched America’s Got Talent while the house was filled with blissful aroma….

 

Then wahhh-laaaa

 

 

 

 

I TOOK IT OUT OF THE OVEN*

LET IT COOL A BIT *

PLACED IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR………….

AND WENT TO BED!!

YEP EVEN HUH-HONEY was too full from dinner to have a piece LOL.

Yeah…I know….CRAZY huh….I am hoping it is as yummy tonight for dessert……

(sorry I forgot to bring the recipe to post with the measurements, I will do that if you would like me to!)

hugs and smiles across the miles….linda

He sends me roses

I know, it totally doesn’t make sense to anyone, but after being gone for a while do you just NOT know where to begin?  That has been my problem.  So just a few minutes ago, I decided.  Just begin at the latest memorable date….which was August 2nd 2010.

He sends me roses.  I think there just has to be a song or poem in that phrase SOMEWHERE and I probably have it in me…SOMEWHERE but not this minute in time…it will have to come later.  Maybe tomorrow.  But today I am sharing a verse I wrote years ago.  I have never shared it.  There hasn’t been a reason to.

He sends me roses…..every year….this year was no different.  If he could afford to send 40 he would have…but I would have skinned him alive….

I don’t know why, maybe because he sent me red roses for our first anniversary….and it has become….significant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fun weekend of fishing with friends set the pace for that special Monday….we were doing what we both love to do…even though it wasn’t a fancy expensive extravaganza…

Think of two old seafaring captains,

Telling a tale about their adventures on the sea

Or a story about the life they lead

Or maybe a story of you and me.

They would talk about the mighty storms that rocked their grand ole ships;

About the sunsets on a paradise island, about gold and jewels and pirates;

They would tell of squabbles and brag a bit,

Each would think his tale was the better one,

Of life and loves, and it seems to me…

our life is a story just like the sea, never ending.

Think of two old friends, sitting in front of a barber shop;

Having a coke, and sharing a joke, telling a story;

They would talk about the good ole days, what it was like to be young and courting;

They would mention a love not soon to be be forgotten; a love with laughter, sorrow, and mourning.

These two old friends would chat a while and watch as people walked by;

Sometimes not having to say a word, each knowing what the other was thinking about….without being heard.

Think of two young lovers, sitting on an old porch swing; holding hands and giggling, watching falling leaves and listening to birds sing.  Stealing a kiss now and then and blushing; wondering if anyone was watching.

It is a story our lives once knew…innocent, tender and still true.

Think of a story, with a beginning and no end;

Of two lovers who have become the best of friends;

Two friends who became the best of lovers;

This is a story like no others.

It could be told by two seafaring captains

Or two old friends

Or two young lovers

This story is a special one, still being written, with all I have spoken of.

And

“He still sends me roses”

40 years…still going strong…I am one lucky (blessed) lady.

There Heeeeerrrrreeeee! (say it like the poltergeist movie)

Well….there was much anticipation…I could hardly stand it.  I took the day off and we drove the 150 miles to Las Vegas to pick up “the girls”.  It is actually only an hour and a half drive if you don’t hit the Las Vegas traffic.

We arrived early enough for me to sit and people watch for about 30 minutes… there are some interesting people at the Las Vegas airport.

 

 

 

  I forgot to charge my camera battery and I wanted to save my shots for “the girls”

 

 

In between each flight landing the escalators are empty.  Then a flight lands and all of a sudden they are full of people…as Natalie texted me that the “EAGLE HAD LANDED” I got a huge lump in my throat as I stood at the bottom of the escalator.  You see, even though I talk to my daughter almost every day…I haven’t see her or “the girls” in a year since their last visit.  I was really excited this time…

Then they came…down a different escalator of course!  and they started running towards me…I didn’t know which one to hug first….”OH MY GOSH” “the girls” are so big!

 

My “Madi girl” is all grown up…..in ONE year!  she is in high school now so she is wearing a little eye makeup of course and she has braces now…and her hair is growing out again!  She cut it 2 years ago real short after having waist long hair her whole life…it was a teenager thing to do ya know!

 

My six year old “Brookie Cookie” is still the clone of her mother and will always be!  Such a cutie pie!  AHHH where does the time go?  She calls me “Mema”.  Madi calls me “Grammy” or “Grams” for short.  It is just these 2 that have a special name for me.

 

My “Madi girl” has grown, in height.  She is almost as tall as me.  She has legs that don’t stop!  Legs to be envious of….not like me…LOL  it kills me to think of her getting this mature…she is my first grandchild.

and where is a picture of my sweet daughter???well here is the back of her as I try and keep up with them as we leave the luggage pick-up.

I cried when we met, I couldn’t stop hugging her.  I mean…..I just couldn’t!  She means the world to me.  She is so smart and pretty and such a good daughter.

LOL I guess I just was not fast enough with the camera to get her front..anyway she has always hated her picture taken…not like the girls in that way at all…

 

see  how she turns her face away from the camera….

Well we stopped at “Joe’s Crab Shack” to get some lunch before heading to St. George.  It is a stop we do each time they come to visit.   Funny thing is…we are at a Crab Shack in the middle of the desert!  LOL we laugh about that because the East Cost Crab is much better than desert crab lol!

Papa (Huhoney) was a sport and put the bib on. So far this is the last photo I have taken.  I know I know, what have I been doing since?  Well unfortunately…working.  Yes, going to work.  For now anyway.  Taking 3 weeks off just isn’t an option for me at this time.  But I will be taking some time off soon.  I imagine this weekend “the girls” and I will be busy doing what girls do.  I just need a day to lay out at my pool and catch up with girl talk.

I love my girls. 

Huhoney is doing alright.  He has a procedure scheduled for July 6th to get the  hole in his heart fixed.  There will be a lot going on that week.  Forgive me if I only drop in occasionally.  I think of my village friends often and I feel so blessed to have your prayers continually in our behalf.

I know everything will go well with the procedure.  The clot remains.  There is risk in everything but we are putting our faith in the doctors and trusting they know what is the best thing to do.

For now……my brain is in vacation mode.  Even though I am at work. LOL

Hugs and smiles across the miles……