Exploring

Thursday morning we decided we'd take the morning off...we completed our animal rounds and jumped in the car to go down to the river. Let's explore...we started off at a beach area we'd been to before and just walked, and walked along the water line until there was no beach left to walk on. A beautiful day, sunshine, shells, rocks, small fishes, tons of laughter, wading to our knee's. Its nice to take off and forget about the house chores calling our names or anything else and just go on an adventure...even a small one a few minutes away from our house. A lovely morning and just what we needed.

 

Fun in the sun together.

{this moment}

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{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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Linking to Soule Mama 

 Exploring, Collecting, Laughing, Loving.

Pups - My 'other' kids

It took us so very long to decide to get a dog and now we can't imagine our lives without them. I doubt I will ever be without a dog for as long as I live. Each so different, with their own personalities. Moving out of state to where we are now, 4 years ago....with just 1 dog...a year later adding another and a year after that one more...now we have 3. It seems like a lot...sometimes it feels like a lot but most of the time its just fun, lots of snuggles and lots of love. They make our home complete.

8 year old Swiss Mountain Dog (Sadie), 6 year old Jack Russel Mix (Rusty), 2 year old Swiss Mountain/Beagle Mix (Ernie)

Unconditional love and devotion. Love my pups.

For the Love of Goats & Exercise Inspiration

My husband knows me so well. I think its crazy sometimes how different we are yet on the same token how the same we are in regards to our family, our children and the path our lives have taken. I always continue to think there is no one else I could have gone on this journey with. He bought a magazine to read at work the other night...also knowing that I'd appreciate the articles too. He was proud to turn to the Goat article and show me. Yes...I dream of goats. Maybe not today, or even months down the road...but some day is a nice thought. I don't know what it is that draws me to them- their quirky playful personalities, the endearing sounds they make, those goofy eyes, the thought of a natural weed-eater, the possibility of goat-cheese? since we as 'vegetarians' still do partake in some cheese. Who knows. Who knows when and for what. But I've never had the inkling for a cow or a pig or a sheep...just a goat. And maybe way down the road a horse or two. But for now, thoughts and dreams, reading and research.

  

After some evening reading the other eve after dinner, me with my goats, our daughter with the Hunger Games and our son with Guardians of Gahoole, our daughter suggested some evening exercise and our son suggested a game of soccer in the baseball field near our home. Our daughter wanting to improve physically with goals of becoming stronger with more stamina and strength is an inspiration. She is encouraging me to do the exercise program she found herself online - so I agreed. Two nights now we have ventured to the field to do sit ups, push ups, pull ups, weights, running, walking and ending with a game of soccer - in which I swear the game of soccer is rougher on me that the work out! Blessed that the kids are inspiring and encouraging me to work out and get into shape as well. Between a day of yard work and an eve of exercising my body was hating me...yet in the morning felt great. I think this is a routine we will keep up- our daughter's goal is to follow this exercise program to build herself up for at least 3 months. I'm so proud of her for setting her own goals to achieve.

Inspiration and encouragement lifts the soul, heart and mind.

Fun Friday

Morning of Sweet Treats, 

Art Appreciation at the Library..and our daughter talking about art techniques, 

Choosing tons of books to borrow,

Park fun..nature walk, 

bird watching, plants and flowers, playground sillyness, sister having peaceful reading time.

A beautiful fun Friday.

 

Into the weekend we come...

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . .

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

Linking to Soule Mama 

 

"Mom, can we take a walk to the park?

Sure.

Mom, we used to take evening walks together all the time, why haven't we done it for a while?

It's been so hot.  I suppose that's why.

I love walks with you. I love bird watching, playing and exploring with you. I'm glad its going to be autumn soon.

Me too buddy, me too"

 

4H Practice, Babies & Breadsticks

Excitement this week - when going around doing animal chores Monday morning we peeked into our pregnant cavy sow's cage and there sat 4 little babies...2 dry and the other two still drying, so recently born. Its always amazing to see them, fully furred, eyes open, walking around- ready to go explore life. Going to 4H practice this week was extra fun, our daughter getting to tell everyone about the new babies. The kids practiced hard and had fun with their friends. The week has brought some errands, tires for our mini van, a trip to the bank and Home Depot, getting our dumpster finally emptied so we can pursue cleaning up more around the house and property. We had gotten in a rut with the heat and have been eating out more than usual so this week I vowed with heat or no heat I would cook- and I have. It seems to have helped sometimes prepping dishes in the morning and then heating and finishing them up in the eve so as to not cook the entire dish when the heat is its strongest. We are blessed to have some kind of air- a swamper- but when the storms come and it turns humid it doesn't work as well- but a few more weeks and we'll be on the downhill from the heat as well. Thankful for that. We look forward to our Friday tomorrow, heading to the library and hopefully the park for a few minutes and relaxing, resting and reading. A day to just be without heavy chores or errands sounds like a nice way to end the week. 

24 hour babies..Born Monday 8/18/14

White Crested Cavies

Golden Agouti Momma, Golden Agouti Daddy

Babies: 1 red sow, 1 red boar, 1 black sow, 1 golden agouti boar

Recipe - - Crazy Bread 

It was quite humorous- I went in search of a bread stick recipe to have with dinner - the majority of the recipes I found called for you to buy 'can dough' from the grocery store. Our daughter even laughed saying how can 'canned dough' be called a recipe, isn't a recipe something you 'make'. Home made is what I was thinking and canned dough seemed to be everywhere. The I stumbled onto this recipe..finally.  Incredible easy, quick to make and everyone loved it. Two batches - the first one the kids said more butter, more garlic and more parm cheese...the second batch they said 'perfect'. We will definitely be using this recipe again.

Over the hump of the week...rolling downhill towards the weekend.

Sun Rising

Hello Tuesday! Another new day, a new start, opportunities are endless. I love mornings. Being the first one up. The quiet of just me and the dogs, a cup of tea, seeing the sun rise, some morning prayers and devotions and jumping into my work. It just always kicks my day off right taking a few moments of quiet. I'm at my best in the morning and daily attempt to bring that feeling through until the end when the day nears bedtime. Each day making a conscious effort to be better than the day before. We are all a work in progress.

"The sun comes up 

Its a new day dawning

Its time to sing

Your song again

 Whatever may pass 

And whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes"

Blessings to you, hoping that you find that quiet moment for yourself today.

Bird Watching with the Bird Boy

The bird boy is our son. Saying he is fanatic about birds is an understatement. He owns pigeons and chickens and has a parakeet and loves every type of bird imaginable. He even asked for his 9th birthday for a field guide on birds in North America. He was thrilled when Momma and Daddy fulfilled that wish and exceptionally happy when Grame and Grandpa also bought him a guide with Owl breeds. So today, after dropping sister at a friends house for a sleepover we ventured to the park...a little dinner, a little swinging time and bird watching. We had an amazing show- a Golden Eagle - first swooping in, flying- then picking a pigeon quickly off the ground in its talons, taking it to a pole as it sat on top with it. Then it flew over the grass where some vultures tried to take the kill and off to another stump to sit. Finally pulling out all the feathers and enjoying its meal. And the most amazing thing- we got to watch the whole episode as our son claimed this was the best time EVER. Love my bird boy.

Both my kids laughter makes my heart SO incredibly happy! - Feeling very blessed.

Park Trip, Work Trip....Long Week

As fair approaches our 4H meetings have become weekly giving the kids extra time to practice, extra time to prepare, extra time just to hang out and have fun together. We made a trip up to the next town to deliver paperwork for fair, stopped and had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the beautiful weather at the park and then ventured to a book store to browse and read. Momma then had a work trip out of town Friday to Vegas. It was a long week between storms, meetings, and travel. We are thankful Saturday has come and this weekend brings indoor organization time and relaxing time as well.

 (our daughter said no pictures please :)

Into the weekend we come...ready to relax after a long week.