TN, AR, and TX

It's been quite a while since I've written and I have quite a few memos to make today. The last time I wrote was 10 days ago. And, while that isn't an incredibly long period of time- life has changed.

In Tennessee, I found out I was pregnant. Adam was in Texarkana, and I away from him with my sweet daughter and family. I knew it. I could feel it. It's an amazing change that happens when all of a sudden you feel this life in your body. It's got wonderful good parts, and hard challenging spots too. Either way, a new baby, a new life, a human is growing inside of me. I love it already. The only thing I don't love is my stomach. My stomach constantly hurts or is uncomfortable. I'm hungry but somewhat uninterested in food. It's a crazy thing. This pregnancy is going to be different from my last. And, I'm going to keep it that way. No sickness... no vomiting...just getting better everyday. Dear, God, Please relieve my pain and give my body strength to do this. Amen.

It's hard to be away from the person you love and hold on to such a big important secret. I couldn't. I figured out a cute way to fill Adam in on the phone. I had Ryan tell him that "She's going to be a big sister." It went right over his head, but I tried. So, he was elated. thrilled. so happy. Our plan was to get pregnant this year, so we met that goal in a hurry. We're having another baby!

So, we played with family and friends in Tennessee. Ryan and I went to the zoo with a sweet Christian woman that I went to high school with. She's lovely, and Ryan and her girl played well together. It was a hot summer afternoon good for picnicking and seeing animals. All of us girls laughed and played and made it a memorable afternoon. I pray that we can keep our friendship up whenever we're in each others city. I think it will be wonderful to watch our children grow together and talk about all things related to our life that is good--- we shared the fact that we love being happy and working for the betterment of our families.  I loved it.

We also spent time with my sister--- and Ryan loves her auntie! They grew close and I'm glad we had the time to spend together. It's special and I'll never forget it.

Ryan and I found a ride to Searcy to see my sister in law and her children. We spent a couple of nights there and explored that part of Arkansas. She and I were pregnant together the first go round and her baby was born first.... CKM. They are about  8 weeks apart. She and Ryan had a blast playing and laughing. We sang songs and the baby girl (ZAM) and I spent sometime giggling and watching each other.  Amongst all the family time, I wanted to fully dedicate myself to that, and I did. It's wonderful that we spent so much time with family when we have the opportunity. And, I know Ryan loved playing with someone other than me!

And, we caught a ride with my other sister-in-law to TEXARKANA! And, we got to finally reunite with my husband. And, I missed him! For a family outing we saw Monsters University in 3D, and we enjoyed it. It's a nice thing to miss and be missed!

Fireflies and Sunsets

I am so surprised by my visit home! I can't remember the last time I ran into someone from my high school. Yes, I grew up in a small town and everybody know my mom. I've come home for holidays primarily to see family. Last night, my little family and a I (minus Adam) went to the music in the park for Logan-Jenkins Band. And they played some awesome songs. I have to give them credit for being awesome themselves too. Warren Haynes, OCMS, Cash, and their own songs too- it was stellar. I recorded a song that I plan on posting FB because it is a true southern boys' heart felt song. Lyrics that pull at the heart strings- it was so good! And a nice time to see old friends from school- people that are dear to my heart even though I don't see them often. Today is the Summer Solstice and it means that every day gets shorter from here on out. It also reminds me that I should look around and enjoy the view. Last night we had a spectacular sunset outside my mom's back door and fireflies abundant. They lit up the meadow filled with rolled hay bales. Their flicker is just mesmerizing and the sudns that fill the air seem beautifully orchestrated. It was a good warm night with a huge waxing moon rising to the East. I smiled and thought of my husband- we love looking at La Luna. We've been apart a week now and I miss him! He's working hard in this heat, making himself meals, and calling us when possible. I know he would have loved the live music and I would have liked to have him in my little town to see our girl dance and play the way I used to. She wanted to dance as we love dance parties, but I have to admit it wasn't the same with out my dance partner, Adam. We still did dance, but it made me miss dancing with him. And under the sweet Southern sunset would have made it even more memorable. Anyway, I love seeing people doing well, and these fellas (Logan-Jenkins Band) that played last night- they are going to do well. i'm glad I could witness them in their early stages!

The Luxury Life

I call it luxury because I have tan. I get to rest and cook as I please. We are having fun just playing. My sister and I have been bonding and working on other projects that I will share later. Today my sister and I made a day of a swimming outing. She had Vacation Bible School and I made a picnic lunch to go. We had fruit, BBQ chicken and bisuits, chips and drinks. It reminded me of growing up and being at the pool with other kids who spent all day there. We didn't do that since my mom worked full time though. But,today, I got to be the cool mom with food and snacks. It may not happen often since I'll got back to work but for one day I was! We also used the invention of floaties too and my little girl is a swimmer! She's seemingly been pretty acclimated to the pool since we were members of Maplewood pool last summer. My little family and I would ride almost dailyto the pool on the bike and swim. We have a nice wave area and big slides. It was a memorable summer of 108 degree weather. And the bike ride was work- the reward was the pool. And then, we would ride home. What I love though, and miss now while write about it, is biking through downtown Maplewood. Cute little shops and restaurants, people watching, and the feel of a small town. I recommend driving through it and sampling Schafly's Brewery and Foundation Grounds for coffee. Other stores that I love included on the strip are Vom Fass, Penzey's Spices, and Cacao Chocolate. It's a lovely area. Back to my point, it is a luxury to have things available like pools and specialty shops. It's a luxury to play with my child. And I'm soaking it up. We are playing in swings, riding see-saws, sliding slides, and swimming- passing away the dog days of summer. It's such an life to be able to have this chance to live the luxury life. We are headed to the Somerville Sqaure for music in the park- and the band members are fellas I grew up with in elementary school. And since I love live music, I'm in. I'm going to enjoy this night.

Home

A very wise friend would say: "Your family is where you came from, your home is where you came from, but it's all about where you go." And as I grow up, it rings true.I do love my home- its southern. There's the people who'll always know your name. And those people who never forget you, no matter how long you are gone. It's always home, and this time around it is refreshing.

 I can get pretty nostalagic- the road I drove home during my high school years looks exactly the same. The back yard at my house is lush and green. The fields high with corn remind me of what summer really looks like. It even makes me want to walk down to the lagoon near the country club to go swim. A childhood friend of mine that passed spent many hours there. The trees are oak and big. The warm winds blow and never cool off. It's cliche to say that the tea is sweet, and the people are sweeter. It just never leaves me, and I carry pieces of my home with.        me where ever I go. I love it- to be southern is to be blessed. Blessed in social graces of yes ma'ams- blessed in the gift of hospitality- and blessed in the thought of living close to the Earth. Now I can't say that midwesterners or coast dwellers don't have the same feeling, but I know we do it with flair. It's just that talk- the twang and the slow speed. I just love it. It makes me miss my accent cause it's faded a bit. I hope it returns with this visit. Have you seen big rolled hay bales? Oh man. I have a weakness for them. And open air churches? And old barns?

 I'm home.

We went for a drive today- listlessly for once. We drove down Raleigh-LaGrange road. It's beautiful. Big white stately homes line the road. Farm land abundant. We drove to LaGrange which holds a special place in my heart. My granddaddy is buried at the cemetery there. It's been a long time since I'd driven through but we did today. It's so old and unique. It's also an official arboretum. Trees so big around and loving the good untouched soil. It was a nice spot to remember him- especially since I recently wrote of him and it was published in the 2013 National Field Trial Review.

So I came full circle- I see it. I've been traveling a good while now and it always means more when you have family to love. Remember your home and keep carrying on.

Walking in Memphis

It's been a long week. It's been a great one though.
We left Jamestown, ND and camped in Iowa. We camped out in 78 degree weather, watched a glorious sunset... slept under huge ancient Aspens. We flew our kite by sunset- we ate steak by candlelight. We had another lovely camping spot at Lewis and Clark State Park.  It was a clear night so we star gazed with Ryan on a blanket, and told stories about mythology. It was pretty memorable.

Then, we made it to St. Louis. We saw our house really quickly. Adam and I had a sushi date, and after a month of being away- we left again. Ryan and I are in Tennessee and we're loving it. We had fathers day with my dad, and we called sweet daddy Adam in Texarkana. It's hard to be away, but it will be a good reunion.

Ryan and I have been swimming and we've seen my side of the family. We had a cookout and I made asparagus "green machine" risotto. It was pretty good. We saw my cousins and my uncle... some dear close friends and we fellowshiped as good friends do.

It's raining today, so we've read lots of stories: Miss Rumphius which is now one of my very favorite and Three Billy Goats Gruff. And the poem Wykin, Blyinkin, and Nod.

We have had some good family time, and I'm hoping we work out our plans for the next week. It'll be good either way.

Here's a quick update... sorry there's not more exciting yet!

Britain

Jamestown, North Dakota

We've been here two full days, and today is the first time I've ventured out and about. We didn't hike though, but, it's on my list for this afternoon or evening if I can swing it.

We've had a bit of housekeeping today since we arrived. I forgot to pay a bill at home before we left, so I did that. I had to wash clothes again- at a laundromat. And, it was awesome compared to Rapid City. It was called Rainbow, and it was a laundromat/tanning salon. We had wifi and the staff was really attentive and kind.

Adam's been working lots of hours, but last night, we helped him. It was pretty fun! One of the best things was a dance party in the hallway of a vacant hotel to Neon Trees song "Everybody Talks." Which I happen to love. It's pretty happy- got some good beats and lyrics. Ryan loved it. Mom and Dad bouncing around dancing-- being free and happy. It was a moment.

My job was to put hardware on doors i.e. hinges. So I used my powertool knowledge and we got to work. I'm pretty sure we made a lot of progress, and that helps us. Adam and I make a pretty good team, and tonight, we might help him with a few other small jobs. I'm his help partner, and I want to be active in this decision we made. I am Ryan's mom, the cook, the organizer, and the planner. I try to be supportive and thankful for a sweet husband that wants to work and provide. So, eventhough we were working last evening until about 8:45, we still made time for fun. And fun is what keeps you going through really tedious tasks.

Today Ryan and I slept in... which never happens. I guess we stayed up too late last night after our work. We had breakfast and then we made a plan of the other tasks that we have to take care of before our trip south. We did find out that the western author Louis L'amour was born here. We also went to the frontier village (which was cool) and saw the largest Bison structure in the world. And we went to the National Buffalo Museum where we also an albino bison that's considered sacred called White Cloud.

Next, We're headed to TX-- but I may get to stop in and say hello to good ol' Tennessee. I sure hope so. It's still in the works right now, but I hope that I do.

Otherwise, we'll still be on the road tomorrow. We'll be camping all the way down. I probably won't get to post much but I need a break from technology already.

Montage of Photos-

Missing Friends and Family

It's wonderful for my little family unit to be together all the time, and we're tight. It's the longest period of time we've all being together in months. And, we've dealt with major life changes, hesitation, and the unknown.

We are so fortunate to have a wonderful blended family from our marriage. Adam's family is big and wonderful! We often ask for advice and help. We mull things over with his parents, sisters, and brother.  We also get a perspective from my parents, and they are usually pretty different from what we've heard; however, they usually aren't conflicting ideas. That's gives us a lot to think about, and it gives us a great ability to make an educated decision, too. I think it would be difficult if both sides had an opinion that were conflicting.  Our family sets interact well together, and that's amazing really.

When we were doing our premarital counseling, we learned how often in-laws become "out-laws." It would be a pretty challenging relationship because there would be drama. And, I, for one, am so thankful that we have caring, interested, helpful family members on both sides.

So, my point. When we decided to take this traveling gig, a lot happened quickly.  We had another scenario offered to Adam in October/November of last year, and we tried to work it all out. It obviously did not, but we talked to everyone. We got lots of ideas, and I really didn't feel comfortable yet about things. A few unsaid things just gave me the intuition to stay put for a while longer.

When this opportunity came along, it was from the same person for whom Adam had been working. We had just been to Buffalo, and we had a brief interaction. It was a positive one. With in a day of Adam taking his new offer, I had put in my two weeks notice at work. And, plans just started falling into place.

We talked to my family, and we got affirmation again to go for it. Then, everything with our house, our money, our new situation just fell into place. God had his hand in it. We had no real problems with the change. Everyone was sad that we would be out of town for a while, but they understood that we needed to be together.

Then, I think about the future. I think about my "career" and how this break in my work history will look. Adam questions his future with his company in St. Louis, and how he will maintain relationships and connections for work. It's a very scary thing to look to the future after this wonderful experience.  We know that this isn't the traditional American lifestyle. Most people want a house and a car and to grow in their work.... We do too, and we have those things! However, I'm a traveler, and I can't help it.

I know lots of people who travel and are often away from their families and friends. And, I'm feeling that. I miss my girlfriends, and I do miss the dinner parties and friends that are back home. I also miss our sweet family and how often we see them. We missed a few big family events, and that isn't something we planned. I have been so fortunate for my dearest friend to move back to St. Louis, and for 10 months we got to play together. A friend from college was travelling with her family, and she's now back in St. Louis too with her children.... then, we leave. I know it's part of life and they will still be there- it's just a reminder that life is always changing.

Change can be really difficult with to deal. One thing that I have learned while being with Adam-- that I really didn't know before is that change is constant. In Tennessee, life was pretty steady. Things started changing a great deal after I left for college.  Once I lived in Wyoming, I learned that as soon as I felt comfortable, things were about to change big time.... and they did. Every time.

I left work at Signal Mountain, and got an apartment. I lived in a loft with another person-- smaller than a dorm room. Adam stayed there sometimes. I had no privacy at all. I worked at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and then I moved to nannying. Soon, I moved apartments again.  Adam and I got comfortable there, and then, he decided to go to Chile. I moved to TN. I applied for a job in Chile. I got it. I moved to Chile. I would settle in and finally get comfortable, then we'd leave. We lived in IL, and then, moved to St. Louis.  We settled for the longest thus far-- 4 years. But, then, again, we moved once while there when we bought our house. And, then, we left it. It's still belongs to us, but someone else is staying there. It's home and I miss it. But, I miss our friends and family most.

The mountain are calling, and I must go.  - John Muir  (And I did.)

Earth Conscious?

Yesterday, sadly, we left the mountainous region of our country. We headed east for Adam's work in Jamestown, North Dakota. On our way out we decided to go through Montana, and we went through the Beartooth Absaroka Ranges. We took the scenic route. And boy, was it scenic! After we exited Yellowstone at the Northeast entrance, we had coffee in Silver Gate, Montana. We enjoyed the view and read the Prayer of the Woods. Beautiful.


THE PRAYER OF THE WOODS

I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights, the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun, and my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on.
I am the beam that holds your house, the board of your table, the bed on which you lie, and the timber that builds your boat.
I am the handle of your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle, and the shell of your coffin.
I am the bread of and the flower of beauty. Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer: Harm me not.


I am a lover of the woods. I appreciate our Earth. In the wild, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. We have trees all around us and we breath the air they create. The lichen in Yellowstone grows because the air is so clean. Oh, trees. I love thee.  

This got me thinking about an old Indain Proverb- that my sweet friend always had above her desk. I love it because sooner than later, we as a human race, will have to figure out what it si that we are going to do to protect our world for our children.  It follows here: 


"Only when the last tree has died, and the last river been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money. ” Cree Indian Proverb

I'd like to think that my family and I are conscious about our decisions of what we purchase and what we use. I used cloth diapers for a year. And, then, Ryan started to have really bad diaper rashes. And, now, I really wish she would just use the bathroom. She does, but I think she's not quite there yet on how to hold it and when she really needs to go. It's frustrating though because we battle the diaper! I do not want to use them. And, we've used Seventh Generation, and then out of convenience, we've used the regular old diapers. Ugh! 

Everything now, we should be conscious about. Food, Soaps, laundry detergent, soda, wasting water, garbage, recycling, paper, and electronic waste. It's disgusting. It's frustrating. We, as in all of us, don't use everything we buy. We have garbage, wasted food, and container waste which I despise the most.  Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.... every little bit counts. 

So, I battle with purchasing organic items. I battle with buying soaps that have no detergents that are bad for water. I battle using plastic sacks because we need garbage sacks (we reuse them as such.) We  use reusable sacks. We reuse bottles. We recycle at every opportunity. 

I guess my point in this rant (ouch!) is that I battle with doing what's best- out of convenience. Is it better that I recognize that there's a choice? Is it bad that I don't always choose the best "eco" option? I get overwhelmed, but I do think that we should be conscious, and I try. I try diligently. 

So, here's one of my arguments-- just for the heck of it.  In Yellowstone, the hotels and franchises use Keurig's for coffee and tea. Ok, those make the single serve coffees, and they apparently save water. However, the containers that the coffee/tea come in are not recyclable.... Which is worse? Losing water, or filling up landfills with plastic? I vote plastic. I guess they have researched the less of two evils, but I still think that plastic waste is worse as it's toxic. And, water is water... at least we can purify it. 

Do you turn your water off when you're brushing your teeth? Do you wash dishes with running water? Do you hand wash dishes?  Do you shower longer than 6 minutes? Do you let it mellow when it's yellow? (sorry, yuck factor?)  

I do turn the water off when I'm brushing my teeth. I do hand wash dishes, and I try not to always wash with running water. Yes, I shower longer than 6 minutes.. have you seen my hair? And, sometimes we let it mellow..... Do those things count too?

Other things we do for our conscience:

1. Try not to waste food. 
2.  Turn lights off/energy off when we're not using it.
3. Don't run the A/C... we open the windows until we can't take it anymore.
4. We don't use the oven in the summer. 
5. We use programmable thermostats. 

This list can go on and on. We try!!

As long as Adam and I have been together, we have recycled. I turned him on to it. It just takes alittle bit more effort, and it helps. It all helps, so this is just a reminder for myself-- through rant... that we can't always do it all, but we can try to make a difference in choices we make. I would like to forever go to places like Yellowstone and Grand Teton, and with out these small choices, they wouldn't be continuing to thrive. 

The Last Week

Yellowstone. The words to describe this place do not give it justice.  I'm glad that I had 5 days to spend in this National Park. It's enormous and spread out. It's expensive (ugh)--  But, the views and vistas make it totally worth the drive.

When we got to the Park, Adam immediately had to start working, so Ryan and I got settled in to the cabin at the old Lake Lodge. It wasn't open for the season, so it was placement of temporary  "employees." We were in a tiny, tiny room, but it was comfortable. We had no hot water for the first 2 days, but hey, that's okay too. We were camping in!

The fun we had was unmatched thus far. I figured that I'd just list what we saw and write about my favorite things.

1. Storm Point Hike.
2. Uncle Tom's Hike/Upper and Lower Falls.
3. Artist's Point.
4. Norris Geyser Basin.
5. Artist Paint Pots.
6. Hayden Valley.
7. Virginia Cascades.
8. Tower.
9. Lost Lake Hike at Roosevelt Lodge. (my favorite).
10. Mammoth Hot Springs.

The hike to Lost Lake was great. It's loop that starts and ends at Roosevelt Lodge. We (Adam, Ryan and I) gained only about 300 ft. to hike to the lake. We had a lunch there beside the lake under a tree. Lilypads lined the lake and a sage covered hill. We continued on the hike to Petrified Tree, and up a steep butte. Once we hit the top of the butte, the view of the Beartooth and Absarokas was breath-taking. It was worth it. Sweet Ryan fell asleep on the way down, but this hike was the most memorable. The lodge had closed the gate on us, so I had to push it open for us to leave.  It was spectacular.

Storm Point was a ranger-led hike for Ryan and I. I totally recommend these if you are by yourself and want to hike. I am terrified of bears, so it was the perfect way to still go hiking without Adam. I learned a great amount of information too. Yellowstone is a breathing active part of our Earth, and it's just incredibly abstract to wrap my brain around. However, the ranger helped explain questions and also share information about wildlife too.

We saw wildlife galore! Mountain Bluebirds (one of my favorite things west!), Black bears, bison, elk, otters, ducks, canadian geese, ravens... the list goes on and on.

I also still did some cooking! Although some of our meat went bad in the cooler. W
e lost ten dollars in meat. That was really challenging the last two days. For our dinner after our hike, we had homemade french fries, and they were delicious. I should say, my husband cooked those in olive oil--- out of this world good.  We had a whole chicken in the crockpot, pasta with chicken in a tomato garlic sauce, and quesadillas.

I have a camera!! So, I'll leave you with some photos from the last week--- From Dubois until yesterday:

A short story of weight.

I've been weight conscious for a good part of my life. I was an overweight child. I have stretch marks from early adolescence, and I have done weight watchers more than I can count. My father is overweight, and my mother is a healthy eater. When I was in eighth grade, I weighed 200 lbs. And, I decided on my own that I was going to learn how to be healthy. I have learned a great deal about my body, about gaining and losing weight, and I also know that my weight is a forever journey of ups and downs.

I don't know what my ideal weight is. I have liked my body when I felt healthiest. Right now, I feel healthy. And, I just weighed myself for the first time in 8 months. And, How do I put this? It wasn't what I expected. I still feel great. But, I'm heavier than what I think I am. I'm less than I weighed when I went to the doctor 8 months ago, and I looked at the scale. We don't own a scale.  I weigh the same amount as my husband. How's that for a comparison? Now, Adam is tall and has a great metabolism. I'm active and eat healthy, but I'm a woman- I have curves, I have muscle, and I'm pretty darn strong. I can carry a 30 lbs. baby on my back for a good long time. But, I'm not a skinny girl, and I like food. I enjoy eating... I have a good relationship with food in that I don't overeat. I enjoy good flavors. I love fruit and veggies more than meat. And, fish is my favorite thing on this earth. So, what gives??

I know genetics are something that people excuse themselves with, but I don't. I have lost weight where I was thin. 120 lbs thin. I was eating soy and I was eating enough to give me energy to get by. But, now, I have a child. I get emotionally tired. I burn lots of calories, and I'm happy. Weight doesn't define happiness, or does it?

I think that everyone should be different. The skinny jean style that we're in right now, I can handle. It's not my favorite, but I wear my skinny jeans. And, I am curvy. That's okay. I feel good. I have a couple of places  where I wish things looked a little different-- and maybe it will change.

Yet, this is my body. I earned it. I lost 80 pounds once.I gained 65 pounds when I had my little baby girl. I lost that again. I workout. I run. I hike. I bike. I  play. I drink water. I eat fruit and veggies. I feel like we should own our bodies and their imperfections. Be it known, that yes, I have stretchmarks, and I didn't get them from my pregnancy with my child. I have flab under my arms that I am constantly working on. It's a process. But, a body is a tool-- it's a organ. It needs love and protection. NO MATTER WHAT! Nurture it- spend time loving it by drinking water and getting enough sleep. Exercise or hike or what ever you want to do to get those endorphines going!

Hey, our bodies are our bodies, and they aren't perfect. Mine isn't at all- I have scars and battlewounds, and I had a baby, but I love my body--- even if I'm not skinny. I'm me and I love me (faults and all.)

Cowgirl Boots

I inherited a pair of boots from my mom, and they are now really old. They've been to Chile, to Europe, around the United States a couple of times, and they are some of my favorite daily wear. In St. Louis, I'd get looks for wearing them, but I'm from Good Ol' Somerville, Tennessee, and I just can't bear to part with them. I have two other pair, but there's nothing like those- I've had them since I was 16 years old, and I've had them resoled at least once.

My husband got a pair of boots a few years ago from his family for Christmas, and he wasn't really keen on the idea of wearing them. When we lived in Jackson, I tried desperately a couple of times to invest in a pair for him to no avail. Well, let me tell you what--- he has worn the pair that he finally recieved out. He's worn them around everywhere too. When I first met Adam, he wasn't really opposed to cowboy boots, he just wasn't ready to embrace his love of the boot. With help, my sister in laws got him really feeling how wonderful they are. And, now, I can't really get him to wear much of anything else. He says, "They just feel so good on my feet. I love 'em."

Yeah, baby, I know. They are the most amazing footwear, and for that reason, they aren't going out of style for me anytime soon.

On our way through Wyoming, we bought Ryan a pair of pink boots. I was bummed that they were out of the red style in her size. But, she's just as attached to her boots already-- just like we are. We bought them at one of the lovely Co-ops that have gas, food, farm materials, etc. Just like in my hometown--- I miss that.

So, our little girl has a pair of her own boots, and now, we're all in style.

Update on a past post:
In regards to a last post, about climbing to Louise Lake, we have been talking to the locals, and we climbed a mountain. We climbed to the top of Whiskey mountain, and it was 3000 feet up. They (the locals) were pretty darn impressed that some city slickers like us made it to the top. And, we, being uneducated, didn't know until yesterday that we'd topped it. Wow.

So, We've made it to the top of a mountain, We hiked to Leidy. We're taking it easy today--- and I'm planning on making a nice dinner.

More later... I promise.

Want to hear something different?

Well, I ain't got much for ya!

Sorry, we didn't go canoeing in the Winds.... we did something better. Much better. We went to Leidy Lake, and the road wasn't open. Yes, we hiked in!.. We got all the way back in the van except for a mile and one half. We hiked from there, and the view was totally worth it.There was turquoise water, flowers sprouting, and snow surrounding the lake. It was magical. It reminded me of my first visit there. Except, maybe, it was better.

My little family loved it. I hadn't been there since the day I was engaged, and I tell you what, it's still pristine-- untouched. We were probably the first people (yeah, buddy, the 1st!) to see it this year. I could not not go, even though the roads from Togwotee are snowed in fully. We had to finish the drive, all the way, no stopping. We made the hike. We fished, and we sat in the sun... we didn't camp. It's definitely too cold. Snow on the ground...chilly wind... yes... we still saw it, and we still loved it.

We drove a  great distance today, but we saw the Tetons today! And, Leidy! It was a very pleasant surprise since everyone we talked to said it was all the way snowed in. That wasn't the truth! I saw it with my own two eyes. Today.


I did get a little emotional during our visit. It's a place that I just can't forget. It's overwhelming with memories  and lovely times, lovely moments, moments of realization that I was in love. I slept there. I ate there.I drank there. I hiked there. I did many other unspeakable wonderful things there.

I cried for a minute on the walk back. I was overwhielmed by the feeling of God's love and happiness. I was overwhelmed by leaving this place again. I know I will do it again and again. I can't help but know it will be there forever, but I can't help but feel attached. I cry because I love it, but the beauty and the past just over take me.

Do you have something that you love, and it makes you feel sad and glad at the same time? Man, that's a crazy feeling. It's good, bad, lovely, sad, happy, bad.... it's everything! I guess that's love. But, more so it just reminded me of a time that I made the most of, and fell in love. It's just happy.


" La La La, I'm singing, La La La, I'm so happy I was singing La La La"-- Pokey LaFarge and The South City Three

Looking for Louise

I'm so tired right now. I want to lie down and go to sleep. My eyes are so heavy, and my feet are too. We had a beautiful day today in Dubois, Wyoming. The sun was out and the rain stayed away until we stepped in the van.

Today we went to the Shoshone National Forest. Adam got to hike with us, too! It's really a special event. He's been off of work this week, and we've had a blast. We found a hike that looked beautiful- relatively short, and very, very near us. We decided we would try to hike up to Louise Lake. One thousand feet increase in altitude, moderately strenuous, slow hike. I definitely thought we could do it. Ryan and I are in pretty good shape, so I thought "Let's go for it!"  Well.... let me say this.... It's didn't end as beautifully as I just wrote.

Nope. Not at all. We started out the right way... The Whiskey Mountain trail.... until a split, then we stayed on that trail. Well, we summited the mountain about 6 miles later. JEEZ. One little turn! We should have turned on to Glacier Trail. We didn't. We wanted that lake so badly, that we just kept going, and going, and going.... and no signs for Lake Louise, no signs for anything until we reached the top. I could feel the burn in my legs, my arms, my whole body. Not to mention that yesterday, I went for a run and did a really hard yoga session.  I was beat half way through... that's not good.  We chatted and took lots of breaks-- I was totally winded. Totally grasping for air... wanting to quit. Well, we did quit finally.  Ryan and I took a break right at the ridge, and Adam went up to take some better pictures.

We had ham on tortillas for lunch. Sad. I was running on E. We had fruit and plenty of water, but I burned some serious calories today, and I felt at the end of my rope at the top. I was spent.

Our little love, Ryan fell asleep in my arms at this time- she didn't whine once. She was such a trooper! She walked through snow; She walked through mud; She hiked up and down. She was an absolute delight today. What do you do when you realize that you've taken a wrong turn? I think its so frustrating to have a plan and have it change with no warning. Just at least a tad bit of a warning would have been nice!

Our turn around was so fast. Downhill works completely other muscles in your legs from going  up, but it's hard in its own way. We could see the van down below us a the parking lot, and step by step, we were approaching it. The reward... dinner awaiting us below. The only thing is that the first mile; it was a quiet walk... frustration sitting in that we never reached our Lake. Louise? Where are you?  Adam and I try to always have a good attitude-- even when things don't really work out.

On the way down, we remembered to look at what we had already tread. We looked to the South, and there, those beautiful Winds stand... canyons, snow capped, and majestic. They stood there for us-- in the sunshine for us to use our little disposable camera. (All of our cameras are shot. I'm waiting on one to come in the mail.)  It was unreal. The weather was cool. We had some snow falling from the top in to the desert like area that we were climbing.  We saw old snow around bases of trees, and we hiked through it.

It a wonderful feeling to overcome frustration. Even if it's just after walking for so long. We were frustrated, but we enjoyed our time together, and we never gave up! Really. We just went for a really long walk, and we saw something different than we intended, but hey, that's awesome too!

I think tomorrow is another fishing day. I am whipped.  Boy, howdy, whipped!

Last thing:
We didn't discover that we made a wrong until the end and a nice couple said, "Oh yeah, you should have taken Glacier Trail..." Will we try it again?

Making Memories and Making our way West

In my last post, I mentioned a brief synopsis of our trip. We've seen some amazing Earth, and we've made some memories. It's amazing what traveling will help you appreciate, and how camping can humble your soul. Wyoming is wonderful; it's vast, wide open, ever-changing landscape. Rock juts out of the earth, lunging up into the sky, kissing it with snow or trees. It is just mesmerizing.

We started in Rapid City in the Black Hills. We stopped in Deadwood for drinks and walked the streets where Outlaw Wild Bill Hickok was killed. The town is small, but in a canyon. We heard some good old mountain music, and we had a dance time with Ryan. Then, we drove through Spearfish and hit the Wyoming border. A few more miles later, we passed through Sheridan  and the first set of mountain. The Bighorn Mountains are snow capped right now, and we headed straight up on the scenic road. There are lots of pine trees and appear to have not been damaged by the pine beetle. There are an immense amount of trees. It's millions of trees in a single viewpoint, and it's lovely. Indescribably lovely.

We stopped in Sheridan for food for our camping the next couple of days, and then we meandered up the mountains to an unmarked spot on the map for camping. Sibley Lake remains undisturbed. The water was pristine; snow lined the lake in areas; water ran in and out. The fresh water sound never ending. We did have a hail storm ten minutes after arriving, but we found the camping spot at the top of a butte-- and luckily, someone who and previously camped there left a plastic and wood structure tent. A lean-to if you will. It was just perfect for us... tent campers fearing the storm. It definitely helped us stay dry, and we were thankful for that. Whenever there's something that's left behind from previous campers, it's a blessing. Whether it's wood or a lean-to, it's something to appreciate. A small blessing from above for someone to use.

We slept there, and it was pretty chilly. Ryan slept in our sleeping bag, and we realized that we should have had one for her own. It's still a learning process, but we made it work. At 8000 feet, it dropped to 34 degrees. And, my bag is for 40-50 degrees. I wore my Ugg boots the second night and that helped my feet. I also had layer upon layer of clothing-- I also wore the same clothing for 3 days. It's hard not to, when you want to stay warm and taking clothes does not seem like a way to do that.   In the morning, we used our camping stove to have hot oatmeal, coffee, and hot cocoa. We snuggled, and then headed out of the tent. Ryan loved eating in bed, and it was a sweet memory that I'll never forget.

Once we took down camp, we loaded down the van. I was looking forward to some warmer temperatures, so we also considered the mineral hot springs. Thermopolis sounded pretty nice, but it wasn't what we expected. We drove through the state park, but it's pretty commercialized. I wasn't impressed. However, we did take a break there and walked around.  Between Sibley Lake and Thermopolis, we saw Shell Falls, and it's beautiful. It almost puts Niagara Falls to shame. Water rushes between Huge rock walls, falling down 100s of feet, headed to the Bighorn River. From mountain through canyon to desert like conditions, the water flows.

After Thermopolis, we tried for a camping spot at Boysten Lake, and it's a different landscape all together. It's desert, with crystal ice blue water. Beaches and higher ground line the lake, but it was raining so we kept moving.

Ryan finally fell asleep on the trip, and we just kept heading west. Finally she woke up, and we were around Riverton and WY287 the scenic drive to Grand Teton National Park. We actually camped  this night at 4000 feet and the weather was nice. It was summer compared to what we'd been in already. Bull Lake is in the Wind River Range, and the lake is 9 miles long. Bear Mountain is to the left of the lake, and the Winds link to the lake past that summit. The Wind River Range is beautiful and houses Gannett Peak- the tallest mountain in Wyoming.

Ryan played here with her dolls and enjoyed the camp fire here best. The temperature allowed us to be a bit more free. She almost fell asleep by the fire, and she says she loves being outside. She hasn't flinched at being in the great outdoors. It's a wonderful thing for our family to be together and see the country. We are loaded to the brim in the van, but it's worth it to see the sky and stars.

I hope that I never forget this. I hope I can read it and smile as I age. I hope that it will be something that Ryan will read and love. She'll love that she was two and travelled with her parents all around our beautiful country. I will keep documenting that.

 Keep doing what I love--- keep being outside-- Keep investing in our family. I LOVE IT!

Hail a lujah!

We've been camping for the last two days, and I was packing for our next move. I'm sorry about my short absence.

We went camping in Wyoming instead of Montana though. And, guess what? It's cold. Ten minutes after we arrived, we were in a hail storm. Yes, A hail storm.

We found Sibley Lake in the Bighorn National Forest. It's really remote. It's at about 8,000 feet altitude too. When we arrived, it was about 6 in the evening. There were some other RVers, but no campers that we saw that night.

The water was beautiful. The trees were plentiful. Every.where. It's been a very long time since I have seen that many evergreen trees at once. My eyes were mesmerized.

We found our spot, and it was close to the lake, but on top of a nice hill. We could hear the water rushing around us, and we explored after we feared the first (yes, first) hail storm. There was a lean-to at our camping spot, and it was made of trees and black plastic. Thank the Lord for the person who left that there. It was a life saver, and it wasn't planned. The tent fit perfectly under it, and some other items as well.  We waited for the storm to clear, as it always does, and we made dinner.

IT WAS COLD! My feet were cold. And, We snuggled Ryan in to each of our sleeping bags. We had to adjust, and Ryan hadn't had a nap. She was a bit inconsolable. So, we called it a night early... after we enjoyed a nice view of our new lake.

We caught fish the next day, and walked about the lake. It was gorgeous. We had 5 trout to cook-- Thanks to the hubs! Thanks, hubs....

I made the butter sauce with red onion, thyme, and garlic. We grilled them over the open fire. We had a foil pack with carrots, onion, and potatoes, and canned corn. It was gourmet! I can't believe we had the fish we caught that day.

We're on our way to Boysen State Park now, and we're in Thermopolis, WY. And, we saw the hot springs. I'm not impressed. So, Until tomorrow....

The Sunshine

I love sunshine. I thank the Lord that I get to stand and walk in it. On our hike today, Ryan was stellar. She was loving the wind and the sunshine. She was singing and laughing. She loves to sing 'Amazing Grace' and it just makes my heart swell when I hear it. She'll ask me what I want to hear, and I usually say, "whatever you feel like," or "whatever makes you happy."

Since we've been hiking together, I have noticed that Ryan getting better at hiking on her own. She's not always thrilled about going hiking, but once we're out there in the wide open she's delightful. Today, I was impressed.

We went to Downtown Rapid City, to Founder's Park and Memorial-Larsen Trail System. It's not far away from us, and it's pretty spectacular for being downtown. There are mountain biking trails, hiking and running trails, and it is always nice to get a view of the city from a new perspective. From the first steps, we were gaining altitude. We started going straight up immediately, and Ryan was not in the back pack. She made it all the way to the top! She was determined to do so. I saw her little legs just moving over rocks...her arms balancing.. her little body stabilizing.  She was going to make it.  She would take breaks, but she just kept persevering. She made it!

Was this a reaction to what she's been seeing me do? Is this routine? Is she's just now doing it because she sees me do it? Either way, she impressed me.

There's always plenty to look at whether it's people or nature. Today, there were lots of boulders and people bouldering. A number of mountain bikers passed us, and Ryan would say, "Look at those boys."

 Ryan finally asked me to put her in the back pack once we were at the top, and we had to find a place to snack. She was loving the break for a while. She sat and had her PB & J. And, we chatted for a while. She's recently learned "why?" And I now hear it about 350 times a day. It's funny.

Once we were ready to go down, Ryan said she wanted to walk again. So, she did. She gave it her all. She wasn't going back in the pack. at. all. And, she made it all the way back down.

I learn so much from that little girl. I learn to keep on going. I learn that if she can do it, I surely can too.  I learn that if I give, I'll get.  All is all, this is special quality time together. She gets to explore and learn.  I have noticed an improvement in her speech. I have seen advances in her knowledge of colors and letters.  We look around and talk about it.  The wildflowers were exceptional today... yellow, purple, and bluebells....

Thank you, Lord, for sunshine. I'm so thankful for it today. We made the most of our sunshine today!

Camping and Water

We're planning for the next section on our road trip which is from Rapid City to West Yellowstone, Montana. And, we've been very concerned about water, lakes, rivers, and ponds. We have a very dear friend that lost a child when she was young. They were camping, and he crawled out of the tent, went to the water, and they had no idea he was gone. Tragic and disturbing.

We went to Randolph Lake last summer for Memorial Day weekend. We packed up the canoe, tent, and Ryan's lifevest. Ryan wasn't a strong walker yet, so we weren't really concerned with her figuring out how to get out the tent. But, this year, now, I'm worried.

Ryan is pretty creative when it comes to figuring our problems. She's a climber. She's interested and curious. We talked about our plans for camping near water this year, and I thought of getting those little luggage locks so that we can lock the tent while we are in it. It's just a deterrent from the possibility of us not knowing she's left the tent. We will be near water in Wyoming-- at our favorite camping spot, our engagement spot, and most special place in the world: Leidy Lake.  I would hate to tarnish that spot with anything tragic.

I feel so sad that these thoughts have to be addressed, but I know other parents think and discuss the "what ifs." Water and Camping go hand in hand to brew some wonderful memories, but we were warned after this terrible story was divulged to us. We rethink our moves in a different way because of the love we have for our beautiful child.

Speaking of Leidy Lake, I am so excited to spend a few days there. Some of my best adult memories are at this spot. It's just pristine, and my husband and I got to know each other there under the stars. It was the summer of 2007. We were from two different places, and we found so many commonalities. We had a fresh slate. Nothing connecting us. Out of chaos, we became dancing stars (Nietchze). We double dazzled. Our lives changed.

Leidy Lake is a place of relaxing, fishing, dancing, hammocking, laughing, and being merry. We spent time together with our friends. We had bonfires; we had parties. We listened to our favorite music and lived a boheme lifestyle. We knew in a way it was a fleeting moment. We wouldn't forever live in Jackson, Wyoming. And, obviously, we didn't.

If there's one thing Adam and I miss from our life in Wyoming, it's Leidy Lake. We have a few special photos from camping there, but mostly, we just lived in the moment.

There's been tears shed about the times we had there. We've missed it, and I'm so glad to see that water and those mountains again. It's a hard thing to live and to love a place, but let me tell you, I lived, loved, and left that place. It will be a happy reunion.

Lady Leidy isn't well known, and I hope that it stays that way. I'm not saying its the most spectacular place, but it's home to Adam and I. It's where we fell in love.

Finally

"The waiting place....Waiting on the snow to snow or the rain to pass, or waiting around for friday night... Everyone is just waiting"-- Dr. Seuss

I have been waiting for the rain to pass, and today it did. It's over and gone. And today and tomorrow are supposed to be beautiful. Ryan and I went on a hike today, and we did some rock scrambling. It was cold up high where we were trying to climb, but the view was worth it!

In other news, my camera has died. I could have cried. I really don't have very good luck with cameras or phones, or anything electronic. I'm desperately trying to decide whether to ebay the same one, so I can get it in Wyoming, or just to send home for our second mediocre camera. BUMMER! I'm not happy.  So, I have to wait for that too... either way. Wait for it to ship or wait for a new one to come it.

I could go to a pawn shop? Any one have feeling about pawn shopping???


Today, my brain is scattered. We were off to our hike by 8 and returned by 10. We met Adam for lunch, and that was nice....

What can I write about with focus?

I'm thinking about going thrift shopping today.

I'm thinking about going on another hike this afternoon, but in Rapid City.

I'm thinking how nice it would be to have a picnic outside. Or camp under the stars.

I'm hoping we get to do that for a couple of days next week when we're in between places. Montana, here we come.

I'm thinking that I feel sleepy.

I think I'll read a book this afternoon. I can't have a cup of coffee. I over did it yesterday. I do love a good cup of joe though... every morning.

I'd like to dance too....

Speaking of dance parties and tea parties:

Ryan and I had both of those yesterday when we were stuck in the room. We invited teddy and our crocodile stuffed animals. We listened to bluegrass and danced all about the room. It was really fun. Ryan loves to dance.

We also did something really fun last night with Daddy. We had milkshakes and dessert! And, sometimes it's the really small things that can give so much joy. I had a strawberry rhubarb rustic pie with vanilla ice cream, and Ryan had a strawberry milkshake. Check out my 2 favorite people!

I'm sorry today is scatterbrained. I'll focus and write a second post today.

Hotel Camping

My husband asked me yesterday, "what are you going to write about when we're not traveling? Will you still write?"

I said, "I'll write about all the things we do at home too. Our home is in the middle of remodel... I'm sure that's something that I can write about... especially how we interact and how our relationship works when we have a project...  I'm sure there's still plenty to write about even though we're not traveling."

I brainstormed a little bit today about that, and I figured what the hey, I'll tell you about a simple day here in the hotel room. I will tell you about day that we can't really go hike or outside and play. A lot of planning has to go into planning our cooking here. Here are my tools:

1. electric skillet
2. crock pot.
3. microwave that's available in the lobby.
4. mini fridge.
5. cutting board and knife.
6. salt and pepper and a few bottled spices.

That's it in a nutshell.  I have to be pretty creative with what I make. I have high standards for myself when it comes to cooking food. I especially like savory flavors, so I'm not all about mushy, unsatisfying  fill your belly food. I'm a snob. I can't help it.

I wrote what I had been cooking last week.  This week has been a bit different since Adam has been working late, but I still have made a few meals.

One thing I do before or at the grocery is think about 5 or less ingredients. I also look in our dry crate (bread, dried fruit, crackers, olive oil, worcheshire sauce, nuts) to see what's something I can use. Then I decide what is healthy and what are we lacking in most. We always have fruit, and we eat 4-5 pieces a day

Monday: Whole Wheat Pasta Carbonara (bacon, yes!) with Mushrooms, Edamame, and Caramelized Onions.  Yes, I boiled noodles and I fried a pound of bacon in an electric skillet....  Holy bacon! And, I didn't eat much of it, but my husband and daughter LOVE bacon.

Tuesday: I made my own rendition of Apricot Chicken (thighs) in the crock pot. It had raisins, apricots, onions, herbs, and a hint lemon. Adam gave it a ten, and I served it with green beans and rice. A TEN! Ryan also inhaled the chicken--- so moist and flavorful.

Wednesday: It's leftover night. I guess that's a way that we can be thrifty. I'll admit that I'm not a fan of leftovers, but it will allow us to eat out tomorrow night.

The cooking is a process, and I do have to put a little thought into the order in which I should prepare things, so that the food doesn't get cold or I can let something sit out while I'm preparing another part in the same skillet.  I have learned that simple flavors are sometimes the most outstanding. Lemon can really heighten flavors. I use it at home too, but I happen to like lemon.

Another good tip is that if you are going to cook something, make enough for leftovers.... like that pound of bacon... BLTs, baby. Or breakfast. Or in a salad.  I know bacon gets a bad wrap, but it really has some amazing flavors. Also, the italians use pancetta and no one complains about that. I'm up for using it.  Besides, as long as it's in moderation, I think its okay. And, I'm southern, so there ya go!

What do you think about my hotel cooking? Any one interested in recipes? I thought about taking a picture last night, but then I over thought it, and I didn't.  Are you interested in seeing the process? Do you imagine what the room smells like??  Ha! I keep a spray container of Febreze for that reason. And, I clean up immediately after cooking- empty garbage cans.  I do my own housekeeping most days unless I need something particularly.   That comes from my days from being a housekeeper. It's just rude to leave nasty stuff for them.. totally Unacceptable.