Clarence

It's been 2 days since we returned home and we've seen no sign of Clarence. My heart is starting to break as I can't imagine the farm here without him. I found Clarence (the Siamese) and his 3 orange brothers one morning crying in the hay. I don't know what happened to their mom or even which cat she was, the kittens were barely old enough to start lapping milk from a bowl. These 2 brothers are the ones that made it and have been my constant companions for the past couple of years.

They go on every walk with me and the dogs, love to pretend they are big hunters and stalkers but are actually just big lovable kittens. Clarence loved to try to jump from beam to beam in the barn and actually got quite good at walking the 2x4 rafters. I really hope beyond hope that he is just out hunting, that someone picked him up or that he is on his way back home, but that's a long shot....

Miss you Clarence!

Me and Skid

More Candids

I love the black and whites....

So Much to be Thankful for...

Today was the best Thanksgiving ever! My whole family (all 7 kids and mom and dad) were together for a special picture taking event. Seeing everyone and hanging out was such pure joy to me, I loved seeing and being with everyone of my brothers and sisters. It was a very special day, and I am so grateful for the effort everyone put into making it happen. I love my family even with all it's flaws and glitches.

It was a special treat to hook up with Dan's family later in the afternoon and just shoot the breeze for awhile, quite the houseful of big and little kids. Thanks Eisha and Brinley for the hula dancing and thanks Dan for smoking the meat, it was INCREDIBLE!

My heart is just so full tonight, thank you all for making it such an awesome day!

Could've been really bad

Yesterday morning we discovered that we had a water leak at our Hurricane Hacienda. A distress call to my brother Barry:

"Barry I have water seeping out of the ground at the sprinkler box, what do I do?"
"Open the gray box and turn the blue handle to shut the water off"
"I turned the handle but the water is still bubbling up, what else should I do?"
"Go out to the box by the road, find the lever with the 2 holes and turn the knob until the 2 holes line up"
"ok that stopped the water, now what?"
"We're just leaving SLC, I'll be there about 5:00"

Did I mention it was Sunday???? Barry drove straight out to our house and started digging in the sopping wet red clay dirt. He got down deep enough to expose the pipes, then had me turn the water main back on.

"TURN IT BACK OFF!!!"

Water was not coming from the sprinkler lines, but deeper in the hole. After a lot more digging and a lot more mud, he determined that the leak is in the main water line to the house. By now it is past dark, he is muddy head to toe and it is cold.

"Hello Dan...." "I'll be there first thing in the morning, just leave the water off and don't use the toilets."

Dan showed up this morning and dug a lot more mud out of the hole. The water line in directly under the sewer line. He has to cut the sewer line to get to the water line. What a stinky, wet, muddy cold, yucky job! After a quick trip back to his shop for parts and a swing by the Chevron for a diet Coke, we are back at the mud hole. My brother is amazing! He is on his belly with his head in the hole fixing the pipes.

"Ok, turn the water back on" "SHUT IT OFF! SHUT IT OFF!" The water is coming now from the sprinkler line, no problem, just cap the line.....Sweet Success!

After a couple of cuss words, the water goes back on, the sewer line is reconnected and we can flush our toilets.

"Dan you are so awesome, what do we owe you?" "Nothing, just glad I was here to help, Barry did all the hard work anyway, he dug the hole out for me"

I Love my brothers!

Apple Dumplings and Small Town Bazaar's

Today was the Elbert Women's Christmas Bazaar. Elbert is probably smaller than Virgin, but man can they host a bazaar! The event was held in 3 locations, the Old Mercatile building, the old Post Office building and up the hill at the school. It smelled like heaven when you walked in and there was all kinds of hand made stuff, from the cool to the small town strange. I got some awesome peppermint soap, some knock your socks off green chili a couple of other odds and ends and went back for the apple dumplings. The dumplings seemed to be the one thing everyone was stocking up on so I bought 3 of them and we had one for dessert....it was AMAZING! Now I will be on the quest to get the recipe or find someone to teach me how they do it. The crust was so flaky and light, it just melted in your mouth. I'll try to score it for the recipe card project. Wow, is all I can say, it was beyond words!

Things to ponder...

A few people have begun gratitude postings, blessing boards and such as a great way to get ready for the holidays. I wonder if part of it isn't to try and keep our heads above water in a very troubling time. I have a couple random thoughts and ramblings, so if you are still reading, bear with me...

Since reading The Shack, 2 things have stuck to me like glue #1 being aware of just how many times I make a judgement and then trying not too and #2 the part at the end where he keeps repeating, "I forgive you" 7x70 is what the bible says, in real life it's harder, but I read a long time ago that you don't have to KNOW how to forgive, just be WILLING to forgive. Not easy for a stubborn Capricorn, but I keep trying.

In the Tao Te Ching writings, my favorite verse is...when your cup is full, stop pouring. Great advice for every area of our lifes. For those of us who like to continue to fill our cup to overflowing, maybe we should consider sipping awhile.

And still my favorite, taking time each day to write out 5 things you are thankful for, so you have a good list on those days you think the world is out to get you.

I sign off with this question: If you don't have all the things you want, are you grateful for all the things you DON'T have that you didn't want?

New Moon

Last night's full moon was pretty spectacular! Just started re-reading New Moon in anticipation of the movie this month, I can't wait!

Skunked

Last night the absolute worst happened, a skunk got into my garage and sprayed! That after spraying all 3 dogs. I burned candles all night, have the windows all cranked open today, more candles, Febreeze and it is still so thick it burns your eyes and throat. I don't know what to do at this point, I can't spray tomatoe juice on everything and I don't know what else will help. Any suggestions? Besides moving?

If I could have found the 22, I would have dropped my first kill....argh!!!

Incredible Day!

After the snow and cold this past week, we got treated to a PERFECT weekend. Couldn't pass up the flying. Check out these 2 chick pilots.
Oh and that's my hangar neighbor Joe Tib... sitting on his vintage P-38 Mustang, YES!

All that and grilled burgers for dinner, does it get any better than that?