Beautiful

Meet Caleb.

Just like any 2 year old, he wasn't holding still. Nor would he look into the camera. BUT I did capture him in his natural coyness and curiosity. "I'm not sure of your contraption Jess, but I guess looking up like this will give you what you want." Yes his little mind DID think that.

Oh, how he glows with life. The sunlight is your friend Mr. Cawthon. Your eyes are as wide as the world and as pretty as Christmas morning. I just love your little lips and the string of slobber that follows you around everywhere you go.

Good thing for photoshop in this case you cant see it)

Your parents are amazing. You are such a smart little boy with a family that loves you. You will be oh so intelligent just like your mommy. And big, strong and compassionate just like your dad.

"When you teach your son, you teach your son's son." The Talmud

I'll tell you what, this kid is going to be a good man.

The everyday dealings with a working man

Seems normal right? Just a medicine cabinet with the basic bathroom doodads.

But wait! To the NAKED eye this looks normal. To me, it is an unnecessary collection of dental decor.

Ah! Ill start by spilling a little known secret. Bobby is oddly obsessed with his teeth. He brushes for 2 and half minutes every morning and night. Not kidding, 2 and a half. Then flosses, twice a day. THEN he MUST have mouth wash. In fact, he uses mouth was so much, his dentist told him his teeth were turning blue and should slow down on the washing of the mouth. That lasted for a month.

After Bobby returned home from his hospital stay he was not worried about his broken face. Oh no! He was PISSED, incredibly IRATE at the fact that he had a chipped tooth from this accident and had developed odd food sensitivities and new crevices. You can only imagine the reaction when he got a crown.... Yes my friends- he's got a fake one.

Now I shouldn't complain. Some men have horrible teeth and could care less what happens to them and probably havn't seen a dentist in years. But this kid cares more about his teeth than he does about wearing clean underwear. Okay okay, it's not that bad.

But this is what brings me to blog. Let's start in the top left corner. The Bleach Trays. The Bleach Trays came to us 2 months ago when Mr.Bobby Bicuspid decided he would like to whiten his smile. And of course he not dare be caught with Crest White Strips in his pie eater. NOOOO. He had to get professional ones. Ones that require impressions, and waiting a week for them to be ready. Much like any man, he didn't bother to ask the cost on such thing that didn't have a motor in it, and he seems to think since he has insurance- its free. Let's just say there will be no Mexico vacation this summer.

Moving on to the top middle. The Flossers. I will admit these lil suckers are convenient. I hate floss really because you have to wrap it around your finger, so these little spinach grabbers are cool. Except when they are on every surface in your house. The dresser, the sink, the desk, the night-stand, the arm of the chair, in the lunch box, in the pants pocket, hanging on the loofah hanger in the shower. Why doesn't he throw them away? God, he does have a weird obsession... and now he has to SAVE everything that touches his mouth.

Third top arrow. More floss. Back-up, in-case-of-emergency floss.

Bottom left arrow. The insanely expensive tooth brush. It times him. (2.5 minutes) Can you find my tooth brush? Yep, the normal one in the fish cup.

Ah, and lastly- The Water Bottle. This is the opposite of a tooth obsession.

This my friends...is a spitter.

Enough said.

The Ten Pin Hens

Us three hens and this little chick went bowling for the weekend to raise money for the SPCA. I raised $200! Thanks to all of my wonderful coworkers at Mary Lake Thompson for their generous donations. You guys have helped helpless animals survive.

For those of you who know me well, know that I have a soft spot the size of Jupiter for animals. So to know that I was spending my time and money for them was warming. I am anxious for my next opportunity for animal philanthropy.

I want to suggest that if you have never donated you TIME for a good cause, you should. No money has to be involved. Simply showing selfless acts of kindness and support for something you believe in can have powering effects. Perhaps you feel down or depressed? Missing something? Giving can never be the wrong answer. In fact I want to do a run/walk- maybe for Susan G. Komen, March of Dimes? Anyone want to participate with me?

Thank you to my sponsors:

Richard and Mary Lake Thompson

Kristina Silva

Jennifer Lopez

Sara Thompson

Bobby Anthony

And lastly to my friends Tara (for the opportunity) Heather for getting the highest score without even trying and Mason... well for being the cutest little bowler I've ever seen.

He won a trophy for best effort!

Way to go Mason and The Ten Pin Hens!

It looked WAY easier in my head...

I acquired some free frames. They were painted yellow and white and in good condition. I have so many ideas for them! I could do a mirror, a cork board, a chalk board, a decorated frame! Oh my! I decided on a cut picture board with ribbon. You know? The ones you see at Target all the time. Oh so simple! I just need cute fabric, cute ribbon and some paint right?!?.... WRONG.

Goodness! I needed way more than that.

First off, if I wanted a smooth paint finish, I would need to strip the current color off. This required:

a paint brush

paint stripper

a troul (for scraping)

chemical gloves

(paint stipping on skin HURTS so I found)

My work station:

I have no pictures of me painting. But how fun is that anyways? I used:

Brown acrylic paint

a sponge brush

Moving on.... Next I needed to make the middle. So I found a 2x2 piece 1/4 inch plywood and cut it to fit. For this particular project I used cork board pieces as the next layer. Then used spray adhesive to adhere 1 layer of batting. Lastly, I adhered a layer of cute pink fabric.

Supplies:

2x2 1/4 in plywood

fabric

batting

cork spray

adhesive

scissors

ribbon

measuring tape

Krazy glue

There were several hours where I didnt take pictures because Bobby and I were having trouble getting the backboard to stay flat. And we needed to figure out how we would get it to stay.

So the next picture is this:
Making my flimbsy bead wire strong enough to support this heavy frame on a wall. This was not my idea. But Bobby insisted that if Im going to make the frame I have to make it right. In his words: "You can't make someone a shirt and hand them the needle and thread to sew the sleeves on themselves." :)

More tools needed:

hanging eye thing (Haha, I cant think of the name right now)

wire

Clamps (yes clamps)

wood glue

Beads

thumb tacks

wood letters

And finally the finished project! A cute personalized bulleton board!
As you can tell, this was a lot more work than I originally anticipated. But I think it was totally worth it! It was hand made and personalized and although it would have been soo much easier to go to Target, I am glad that I made this.

Bobby was so helpful too. Without his manly knowledge this would not be as solid as it is. Thanks babe! I didnt even have to ask for your help!

So, I have three more frames that I get to decorate. I have plans to do the same project so that I can perfect it. For example, I will use a top coat on the frame for a better finish. And no beads.

Okay, that is all. Im off the strip some more paint!

It's the hillbilly way

Warning!

The following images are not for the sqeemish or easily grossed out.....

Luckily non of my readers will be offended :)

FREE DINNER!! For those of who can catch it :) Here is my lesson on preparation:

1. Slice open the belly of your decent Coho Salmon you caught from the river.

2. Slice the bottom of the jaw about one inch.

3. Stick your right thumb in it's mouth and hold the head with your left. Pull down with your right hand and carefully remove the guts of the fish.

(Luckily for you the camera did not arrive until after the de-gutting)

*Important* Use hose water to rinse. It's the true hillbilly way. Also, make sure you do all of this outside, preferably on the sidewalk.

4.Remove head.

5. Remove tail. Do not remove too much meat.

6. Remove "poop shoot" Yeah we are real technical 'round here.

See all that black stuff? Poop.

7. Stick the fish in your pocket and clean up the guts. Make sure to spray the sidewalk so the dogs don't bring fish blood in with them.

8.Once you toss the guts, wrap the fish in plastic wrap and foil and put in freezer unitl really to use.

I will post my experience with cooking when the time comes!

Some really funny s%!t. !

A good while back, I commented on my facebook about the recent Urban Dictionary craze. People would say: "Type in your name, its hilarious!" I did. And was not impressed. I even made a sarcastic comment about it... something like "Urban dictionary name game is not funny or original" or something negative like it.

Well, let me tell you! I have TOTALLY changed my mind. Perhaps I was in a horrible "I hate the world" mood that day. But today, TODAY it is the funniest thing Ive ever read!

Thanks to my dear friend Beth, I ventured to her briefing of Urban Dictionary and I have fallen in love. She kindly listed some of her favorites. For example she listed:

Upper Case Voice
Noun. To raise your voice or accentuate part of a sentence to stress significance as you would in the digital world.

Or

Shituation
A dramatic, usually negative happening, resulting in utter shit in one's life.

Or my personal favorite:

Running Latte
Running late for work because you stopped for coffee along the way.

Totally excusable right!?!

So,now that Im not in an "I hate the world" mood I will share some of my findings:

That's Crazy

The perfect response when you haven't been listening at all.

This IS THE MOST overused phrase of all time in my opinion. Anything can be said, anything can happen, every situation that is totally normal, BUT if you're not listening, or rather dont care really, "that's crazy" will save the day.

Ex: Look at all of those cows eating!!

Respond: That's crazy.

(No its not! It's totally normal!)

Mondaze

A daze you find yourself in because it is Monday.

(Luckily I dont work Mondays, however I get Tuesdazed, and Wednesdazed and Thursdazed... You get the picture)

People Voice
The voice that someone uses when talking to people who aren't their friends. This voice is automatically happier, nicer and sweeter than their normal voice. It is often more high pitched.

*Funny we all use the people voice. For some reason we want others to think we are oh so this nice all the time.... NOT!*

Dish Envy
Sudden intense longing and regret derived from watching a particular appetizing dish being delivered to a nearby table and then realizing that one has made an inferior menu selection.

(This is when you need an extensionfork)

Mascary

When a person wears a scary amount of mascara.

I could go on for hours! But rather bore you with urbanized definitions I'll leave you with this visual:

Here is my very own definition of this: Airplane Mode Srooling: the super heavy sleepiness one gets on long plane rides; resulting in large pools of drool. As a courtesy one should use a cover for their face otherwise pictures like this will be taken.

Gone adventuring!

We went for a walk yesterday with ALL of the dogs.... all 4 of them. We tied Sammy and Oscar in the back, and Mattie and Frank in the cab. God only knows what would have happened if all 4 were in the back.... together. Oh man.....

Enjoying the warm air

Loafer Creek is not like I remember. Its actually okay. I always remember is as trashed with too many people. But of coarse now its just empty. So as we made our way down, we suddenly became just tiny specks of life among the vast open earth...

A few years ago this was all under water.

So we continued walking, curoius to know how far the water was down. We found the creek. Tweedle dee and tweedle dumb had never adventured before. Our dogs are experienced outdoorsmen... outdoorsdogs... adventer-dogs... creatures of the wilderness! Whatever...

Lovely isn't it? The feeling of freedom really takes over out here. Fear also. We were all alone in these massive hills and canyons. I dont know why I felt scared, like the water was coming to drown me or something. Or a mountain lion, or a bear. Or a tick infested rabid deer! Geesh, worry much?

6 creatures exploring the dried up underwaters of Lake Oroville!

We made it to the bottom! It was not a bad walk at all. Very mellow, not strenous. All the dogs got a swim session in. Well, King Frank was just a teeny tiny bit resistant.

Just a tiny bit...

Sammy dove in not knowing what would happen. Face down, nub up on the floor of the lake for a good 5 seconds (which seemed like 5 hours to me!) His instincts kicked in and he started paddling. Bobby had kicked off his shoes preparing to dive in for him. I changed my pants...

So, we came, we saw, we clouded up the water. Then we headed back up the hills. Nothing too interesting except crazy dried up lake wildlife. Oh and tons of fish habitats. But we both oh so much enjoy watching our dogs go crazy simply being free. Wide open spaces. It was nice for us too. Nothing around; no people, no cars, no noise.

Just us

And nature.

A day with an old friend

Doing new things, like trying on wedding dresses. Not for me!

A beautiful friend with a beautiful mind.

She is so simple yet so complex, I think that is why we are friends.

You know who you are.

The End.

Pooches

My first born.

He is the most caring, generous, loving compassionate thing I know.

Not only does he connect emotionally with me, I connect with him.

He is overly sensitive at times, but aren't we all?



His senses are so in tune. He knows when we are leaving him. So sad.


And he hates his picture being taken.

And I take it all the time.

How lucky I am to have such a wonderful companion. Thank you Frankie for making my life that much closer to "perfect".



And then there was Mattie....She is so lovable. The most amazing cuddle bug.


So smart and intuitive.


Yet such a tomboy. Romps in the mud more than Frank.


She loves her some Bobby and Frankie.


Of course she is my baby and I'm not sure what I would do without her sweet little bark when she's excited.

Thank you baby Mattie for being so small and filling that large empty space in my heart.

Whooooo are you?

So I chose a new background. I didn't realize it had owls on it until it was on my blog. Oh well, I can work with it. These little owls are staring at me, I swear. They are whooo-ing at me with the boog-a-ly eyes. Whooo whooo whooo whoo..... Who are you?

Lately, I find myself in a darker place than I'm used to. I am questioning every decision I've ever made. I feel like I have failed. I am failing at my own life test. I hate failing. I was the girl in school with the highest score, the coolest project, the girl in the front of the class. Now, I am failing. Did I mention I hate failing?

This feeling is hitting me hard.

Every day the pressure is more intense. Heavier.

But everyday I see a part of me that needs to change.

Is this feeling of failure a result of never actually focusing on my own success? My own needs? Wants? Dreams? Does anybody know that about me? I don't.

I take a deep breath as type this... the sentence that I always thought of negative, annoying selfish, conceited, careless, self-indulgent......

It's all about me.

Yes, I said it. The annoying sparkly pink sticker on binders and car windows. The stupid pink t-shirts with glitter.... It's all about me.

This doesn't mean I am all of these things that I once thought about this statement. I was wrong about the meaning behind it... obviously my is a much more intelligent one.

To me, I now take this statement much more positively. It is all about me because; I care about me. I want to take care of me. I want to be me. I want to take a look at me and like me. I want to be proud of me. I want to be my example.

Here is a visual:

Mr. Frank. Good boy. I want to be him too. Perhaps a pink glittery t-shirt would be appropriate in this situation.

"I like being free and feeling the wind in my ears. Everybody smiles as they pass my truck. Yeah, Im cool.

Now roll down the damn window, I have some impressing to do."

Slippers

I had a conversation to today with my slippers. Actually they aren't even mine, they are Bobby's, but I wear them more than he does. They are camel brownish, from Target, squishy as could be soles,about 4 sizes too big and ugly as sin. An educated individual guided me to find these slippers as I mentioned them in a dream I had. She said that perhaps such a little thing, like your slippers, could help you find your way (in real life) That perhaps my slippers could guide me to find... me.
So, as I sat, staring at my slippers; I told them how much I liked them. They were so warm and cozy. I could wear them in any room of the house without getting dirty socks, or stepping in doggie water drippings. I would wear them to do laundry, I could wear them while sitting in the lazy boy. I realize now that my slippers do something for me. As my life these days is unsuccessful, dull and lacks motivation- my slippers make me happy. When tasks become too stressfull and nothing seems to go right, my slippers can be worn.

I will be thanking my slippers now for keeping my tootsies warm and later for keeping my head moving.

Today is the day I will start my adventure.... tomorrow morning after my coffee

So much has happened in the past year. We have moved to Phoenix, met life-long friends, learned lessons, had a near fatal accident.... and here we are now. . YOu would think that after all that life has handed me, it would be easy for me to see through the fog, and recongnize the sunshine that will burn it all away. But I have been being super negative, only thinking of the worst possible situations, only thinking of what we dont have anymore; our own space, our routine, our privacy.
And here is where "easier said than done" comes into play. Well, since I can recognize this, I am now determined to change my attitude. I need to be thankful for what it is and not complain about what it isnt.
I have found the differences between want and need and also the timing that comes with it. Do I need my own kitchen? No, I want my own kitchen. When the other elemants are right, I will once again have my own. But for now I have Bobby and Frankie and Mattie. And we have family that loves us and we are getting along just fine.
So my new adventure will start with something being done every-single-day. Something that I can say was accomplished, started, finished, learned, taught. Today, I unloaded out trailer that has been sitting since last Thursday. Loaded the bikes and unloaded everything else.