Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the best mom and grammy in the world!

We can't even begin to tell what you mean to us. We thank you for all you do. You are the meaning of love and sacrifice. We hope you have a wonderful day (and many more throughout the year). Hugs and kisses! We love you! You are the best!

Where to begin....

Hello. My name is ..... I used to blog. And now I'm suffering Blogger withdraw. I know no other way to combat this debilitating disease than to BLOG. So, I'm here to tell of moments of fame and misfortune, wonder and surprise. Whatever.... Here's what's up.
You know those little exercise balls for hamsters - well I've been stuck in one. Without a laptop I might add. My little ball is off the stand so I actually go places - spinning and at high rates of speed.
I might have to divide this book up into chapters. I only get several breaks from my "ball" and then I have to get back in and spin.
Chapter 1
We went to a financial seminar the wknd after getting back from Colorado. It was held at our church camp. My spending conscience is definitely fine tuned now. Mr. F. did a great job. We consider him a good mentor. Oh, and by the way, Janella we broke into your room. The room we were to stay in was not unlocked. So, we went down the row of rooms until we found one open. Your hospitality was unbeatable. Thank you!
So, between my dear friends that are followers of Dave, the financial seminar, and the words of the financial advisor that I share a bed with - my racing bike is so on hold. That will be covered in another chapter.

I'm Tagged

OK -- 7 things about me.

1. I was married at the mature age of 18 yrs.

2. I'm still in love with that man I married really... he still makes my belly do flip flops.

3. I would rather clean a horse stall than do inside house work.

4. Most days I'd rather play a game of softball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, etc. than shop.

5. I would rather clean a toilet than go shopping with my offspring. That may be a slight exaggeration, but some days is the absolute truth.

6. I love good friends, family, and food - especially together.

7. You have no idea how long it took me to come up with this.

I'm tagging - Kim S., Heather L., Martha G., Martha C., Candy, Sis E., LaDonna. Go girls - you're it!

The Ultimate Souvenir

When we were in Colorado the girls and I had quite a bit of free time. We were invited one day over to Jodi's house to put up some of that infamous Olathe Sweet corn. I was hoping to get to go over, but due to the guys coming home for lunch and church that evening didn't get over to her place. I was so disappointed thinking about how nice it would have been to have some of that great tasting corn from my mountain country in the middle of the winter -- I went out and bought a case of it. Lauryn, Brooklyn and I managed to get it all done that evening. The next night I bought another case. We did ~ 8 dozen. We had fun doing it and it was so good this afternoon for lunch! Yum, yum! (This afternoon happens to be two Sundays ago! I wrote this but didn't have the pictures uploaded. I'm tryin' to catch up. You thought I had headed back to Colorado didn't you?)

Home at last

I'm sorry for the abrupt stop to the updates. Somehow, somewhere I was overtaken by the mountain way of life. I turned into a backwoods mountain woman who knows nothing of blogging, cell phones or modern life in general. I became a naturalist, a mountain woman keeping house and cooking for her man when he returns from the woods after a hard days hunt. Carin' for my children and taking them on hikes to cool streams for relief on hot days and then showin' them how to put up food for the winter and then observing them become little mountain kids themselves -- gathering eggs and tending to the farm while the men were away.

The short version (non wordy - makes my editor happy).

We are home.

The big elk still roams the mountain.

Long version (wordy - makes me happy and gives me a sense of relief).

We had a great time, although my husband went into some post hunting anticlimactic withdrawal from which I think he recovered as soon as he set feet on his own property and slept in his own bed - away from the lure of the mountains and the beast that resides there.

The hunters were able to call in several elk throughout the week with his handy dandy elk call - better known as the Hoochie Mama (see earlier post Elk Hunting 101). The big bull decided there were hotter cows in the forest and gave up my man for them. If you can believe that - I found it incomprehensible. They saw four bear during the week - I am thankful the bear gave up my man for tastier fare.

We left the Western Slope Friday and went to Jason and Joanna's (Jason is Wayne's cousin). They live in Wetmore, Colorado in the backyard of San Isabel Mountains -- absolutely beautiful. It was so nice to visit with them. We had a great time as they took us to Bishop Castle, the surrounding mountains, a lake and hangin' out with them around their house. The "mile high pizza" Joanna fixed and the campfire dinner Jason served was true mountain hospitality. It is so nice to get to spend time with family we don't get to see often enough. Jason, Joanna, Jessie, Josh, and Juniper -- we'll miss you and your mountains.

So, we left our family Sunday morning and drove and drove and drove and listened to Bro. Stroup at Franklin Bible Methodist Church as we drove and drove and drove. We reached Columbia, Missouri around 11:30 and bedded down for the night in a comfy, clean room with hot, running water! Monday we drove and drove and drove and reached Horseshoe Bend Rd. @ 6:30 p.m. I love my house. I love my bed. I miss my mountains.

I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach as we head toward the Kansas line in eastern Colorado. It feels as if I might get sick. I crane my neck looking out the back window staring at the great mountains until they flatten into the horizon only to be sketches in my memory until next year when I eagerly await their reappearance in living color as we head back to my wild West.

(Camo-wearin', Hoochie Mama-laden, beast hunter at my side. Rocky Mountain Elk - WE'll BE BACK)