Happy Saturday !

Oh how I have neglected all of you dear hearts out there. It might seemas if I have simply stepped away. I have been rather introverted for a while now. Please forgive my absence all you who care so deeply. This blog has dried up so. All things go through transition yes...
simply a phase trials challenges and the dross up to the top can do such things. That dross a real bad reflection leaves the view rather dimmed. When I am not clear I try to keep silent more. I have already spewed out some uck coming up and out over the months. :)

So this day clearly I see and so I am sean.
Sleep so sweet gifted me last night with rest, real rest. The mask of the CPAP machine stayed on, once having to get up to use the bathroom it was pulled off. Coming back to bed half in rem my dear husband gently suggested to put it back on. When so asleep it is easy to just go back to sleep and overlook the efforts to put the straps of the head gear back on. Last night NO AIR LEAKS! It went very well and even though bedtime was late at midnight sleep gave me a fresh since of well being this morning.

Please pray
A very dear friend has a boy child who had to be amitted to hospital last night and is facing either a surgery this morning or a procedure. Please pray for M. and his MOTHER T.
T. has recently lost her mom and many trials have stretched her far and she really could use some hearts and hand to hold her up right now.

"I'm Bored" Summer's Magic Idea box

"Oh the magic box"

This is our solution to the lack of activities during those hot summer days.

Most are free and many have lasting memories.

For example here are a few...

Exchange a secret and keep it all day

Create a secrete code word

Play a board game 

Set out a large puzzle on a cardboard leave it out sit down a few times during the week together

Alphabet biscuits

build a fort out of chairs and sheets, spread stuffed animals on blankets

Decorate and parade bike rides

Be a detective solve a mystery

Organize a scavenger hunt

Write a letter to a friend, include at least 3 great things that have happened this summer

Paper plate crafts

Ice cream Sundays

Shaved Ice cups

Watch the stars

Macaroni collage

Water the plants

Feed the wild birds and watch in the cool through the window

Eat watermelon outside , let the juice run all over the place

(MOM) sit outside and drink ice tea

Make sun tea

camp out in a tent in a secured back yard yard

Make fresh lemonade (frozen juice from the winter here)

Catch fireflies (I wish)

Take pictures of the kids having fun

Walk in the grass bare foot

Paint your toenails

Use lotion, soap or shampoo that smells like coconuts

Put on a theatrical performance

write the play, line, costumes

Create food sculptures then eat it
Build a fun house

Make friendship jewelry

Make a pizza

play hide and seek

tour an observatory 

Learn about different religions

try playing gulf

go to a drive in movie

have a block party

visit a clock maker

make cookies

learn about winter wild flowers

discuss marriage

go horseback riding 

start a rock collection

tour a train station

make a homemade musical instrument 

try archery

visit the airport 

climb trees

visit a farm

have a discussion about sexual issues

play kick the can

swing on swings

Have a family talent show and record it

try a walk in the rain get all wet during the monsoon here

Learn about boating

Have a fire drill

paint a picture by numbers, acrylic for kids NO OIL PAINT FOR KIDS

Make a shoebox cinema

visit different parks in town

discuss being an adult

pick your own fruit

take flowers to a friend

visit a senior care facility

Talk about the galaxy

Tour a college campus

go for a train ride or the metro

Study local cacti

pan for gold

Play charades

discuss the effects of alcohol on the body

write a family history

study a culture

make mud pies

visit the fire station

Make a wind chime

attend a city council meeting and discuss

take turns playing favorite CD's

visit a tree farm

try decoupage

visit a museum

Play 20 questions

write a poem 

have a taffy pull

do a soap carving

explore the attic

Let adolescent/teenagers sleep in and play with the little ones

Make paper hats

Plan a surprise birthday party

Paint a mural

play a card game

discuss sexual abuse and what to do

raise money for charity

write a story

go to a high school graduation

visit a mining town

Study dear and visit a forest

make popcorn balls

skip stones on a nearby lake

go jogging  or power walk a mall

flay Frisbee

pick up litter off the streets

clean the closets

learn about adoption

go to an auction

wash the dishes together

make someone breakfast in bed

try sponge painting

read a biblical scripture and discuss

go fishing

play "I see something you don't"

tell each other about school experiences

Learn how to budget money

learn how to get water in the desert

FLAG DAY?MEMORIAL DAY learn about patriotism

Tell stories about your ancestors

start planning a summer vacation or camp trip

prepare a menu together

roast marshmallows

play hopscotch

set up a lemonade stand (remember to stop at one)

build a wooden toy

learn CPR

learn about clan systems

Have a family awards night

bake bread

make up puns

go bowling $$set up in a long hallway with the doors closed

go to the library and check out a book or a film

father's day talk about male role models

visit grandparents

make the grocery list together

spend an afternoon at a local flea or farmers market

work on a crossword puzzle

talk about gun safety

learn about herbs

visit a lake

try canoeing

go wading in a creek

visit a hospital

have a wiener roast in the park

go to a baseball game

play badminton

learn about archaeological history

discuss what it is like to be in the hospital

have a family portrait taken

attend an arts and crafts fair

make a greeting card for a grandparent

design your own wrapping paper

play charades

attend an athletic event

visit the solid waste plant

have a bonfire

visit a neighboring state

make a wind chime

visit a relative

build a house of cards

visit the neighbors

whistle together

learn a new dance or just dance to rock and roll or big band

Watch the full moon come up

tour mom/dad's work place

listen to a radio show (we love prairie home companion)

wash all the windows in the house

visit the snow bowl

exercise or diet together 

find a new recipe and make it

learn how to save energy

find and read a very old newspaper

make and fly paper airplanes

cook a meal and eat by candlelight

play miniature gulf

talk to each other in pig Latin

invite friends over for breakfast/lunch/supper

Watch for meteors

have an indoor picnic

create and tell jokes

learn a new game (check out a trift store watch for all parts to be there)

Have an indoor scavenger hunt

make caramel corn

go to a movie

hug one another

dig out old yearbooks and share experiences

switch roles for the evening

discuss water safety 

hike a canyon

read a book together taking turns out loud

sew a stuffed animal

study the clouds

make your own trail mix

talk about love

have a backgammon or checker tournament

feed some ducks

visit the post office

take pictures

discuss ice safety

discuss the importance of the civil war

read poetry out loud

have a sing a long

watch a TV show and discuss

so many more but I do hope that this is a fun list for you too

enjoy the summer with the children

making memories is a gift that gives for a lifetime

copy by
high lite the list
control c, then control v
over to word and then cut and paste on 3x5 cards

The last day of School

Summers here and I am so jazzed! I love having the children home. The giggles and fusses make everyday a teaching and pleasure opportunity. Yes I know I am a strange bird. But it is the summer that we have so many chances to tie ropes that bind us together. It is the time of ease when they slow down in conversation that and have time to build up the courage to ask questions that are on their mind.

Dash said to me this morning...
"mom I am sad to leave my old class. Even though there were a few rotten kids they were my class. I am going to miss Mrs. M. so bad mom. She is an awesome teacher. I will miss you almost as much as when my dog got out on the big road and almost got hit.

"I really do not want the school year to end mom"

Yep we are uncommon alright.
I am excited the kids will be home and my son does not want the school year to end. Ha!

This pup will be happy for all the play to come.

Dove had an end of school hard lesson. Yes mom really does love me.

She had be deceiving us that she no longer needed her planner signed everyday.

Repeatedly she has been asked..."no mam we don't do that anymore"

Well yesterday I found that planner when she left her back pack home and ...

Since February she has forged not only mine by Daddy Man's signature.

You may ask...Well why did the teacher not tell me?

Well she has the other kids Peers stamp the planners each day for a parental signature.

???

Two weeks restriction and the loss of the End of year Slumber party that her friend was having.

I called the mom and cancelled with her support.

Dove found it all out after school.

A terrible fit for a good hours time (during a visit for the allergy shots)

I kept my cool! almost lost it one time but sucked air :)

I let her know I was really angry. That I was so looking forward to playing and now that we will just have a lot to do around here, housework and chores. She was reticent.

  ret·i·cent  (rt-snt)

adj.

1. Inclined to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself. See Synonyms at silent.

2. Restrained or reserved in style.

3. Reluctant; unwilling.

However...

Last night it was amazing !

I trimed her poor hair.

She had torn it out badly  due to anxiety over expecting when her menstruation would start.

Poor thing. We used an instruction book and she got a nice hair cut. Then we started sharing. She told of things she was experiencing at school. Boys saying crude sexual things and kids that were being hurt by their parents. After all of the talk and the cut she went to get her night clothes on. 

She said 

"mom I will meet you on your big bed alright?"

I heard the opportunity to bind our hearts and did so.

That child who had just lost every privlidge for 2 weeks and even the party ...

She met me there to have tickle bug time. 

She sang for me and I was so stunned at her talent, really she is soprano and clear clean strong voice. She drummed on my back and the rhythm that child has is amazing even with complex beats.

She was so happy! As am I.

Summer time and the living's easy...

A lesson in contentment

This morning while counting out the change collected around (the only cash on hand) the house to cover Doves roller skating field trip today...

All of the coins collected counted up into $9. or so, an uneven amount. Dash and I were sitting there and he asked why I was counting up all the coins. Upon telling this child of mine that Dove needed $5 for her field trip and that I was trying to see how much I had so I could share it evenly with him.

he said

"Mom you keep that extra for yourself for I do not want the money, there is nothing I really need or want"

Trees were dancing in the wind

We were so fortunate to have used our budget wisely enough to take a trip up to the high country yesterday. I love it! Knowing right where we stand to the dollar.

Dave Ramsey knew his stuff.

This was the stopping point for the wind was so stiff that we ate our sandwiches fast on the court house lawn. That breeze was at 50* or so. Strange early summer weather.

We drove on into the national forest of Thumb Butte.

This is a large granite outcrop of a stone butte. The image makes it look too small but then we were half way up the trail. The sun warmed us just perfectly on the trail and the trees kept the wind off of us.

Do you love the forest like I do?

Boy the children sure do. It was so hard for them to understand that they had to stay on trail. Our populous has grown so that if not there would be no forest left.

My two play so well together. They were playing army and had all the guns and ammo they could imagine and boy did they imagine. 

That is the best part of children in the forest don't you think?

Explain this to a kid...

The cattle is one thing but this was really made just for them to have fun on.

The elevation change was so that on the low land of the trail the jojoba berries were plenty, up the hill the bushes were just coming into full bloom. Jojoba is a very useful plant used for centuries by the Native North American Indians and now often in hair care products.

I am always so fascinated by wild life and the history of both flora and fauna.

My hopes are to see what grows in your area

This is Lambs Ear...=bum wipe in the history of pre-paper. Soft almost succulent like this native is as cotton ball soft. Leaf is large enough for the practical purpose of old.

The image is one of four like it. Looking off left, then right, then up finally forward.

The movie Night at the museum...My dear daddy Man is so fun always full of humor

Are your families silly that way?

At times it is a little frustrating but the lessons I have learned about lightening up are so wonderful.

Humor was never much in my childhood.

Good thing to add to life folks.

Dove took picture of the old folks...:)

Oh the vista. Everyone must stop and stretch the vision sometime.

It is far too long a time in between. We realized we had not come up here in 3 years time.

It is only a few hours drive and a nice road to travel if the freeway stays clear. We had a traffic jam due to a very bad accident and were stalled for a good 45 minutes. 

Just took the time to pray for the responders and the victims.

If it were not a fatality I would just know God gave them angles to watch over them.

It was real bad.

 

LIKE A ROCK!
My Beloved stands a man of honor who could desire more?

This is granite a large as you can see, specimen.
It was real nice of him to hold it up while we passed.

Stones like these fell down off of the butte over many many decades.

You just know they make the trail go around it. 

I hope all of you enjoyed your trip to Prescott Arizona, Granite Thumb Butte we sure did.

Are you getting away from the city at all.

It was so refreshing to do so. 

Many many events and adventures. Just got to love adventure.

Oh youth we were once so young

30 years later

Dogs off leach...what would you do?

Leach laws are often ignored.

Today It almost cost this woman injury and the life of this dog.

In addition the safety of my children.

The owner was threatening our bodily safety as well

We had a wonderful day up in the mountains today. At the end Steve and I sat and watched the children just a little longer...Thank GOD!
For a large beautiful pit bull dog was off leach. The owner was asked by me to please put your dog on leach as I told the kids stay right where you are! Do not move!
Then it happened again only moments latter as I was rather ticked off at this point for the dog was moving toward my kids in a defensive manner.
The man took the dog off to his car and then stood there at the back of his car and TOOK THE DOG OFF LEAD!
With my radar up I watched him do it.

Then I saw it an elder with her dog on trail entering the parking lot.

I signaled to her to stop! 

She did not understand IN AN INSTANT that pit bull was running full bore at the woman and her dog! The owner runs behind cursing us! 

That we upset his dog because we were screaming for him to control the dog!

The woman and the dog were getting attacked!!

The man told the elder to let go of her dog as the pit was full on top of it in the mating position biting it!
She was trying to save her dog and I was yelling at the man to get his dog.

The dog then let go of her dog and headed for my KIDS!

The man finally got the dog and then verbally became VERY threatening to us telling it was our fault that we upset his dog!

What would you do?

remember this is a "G" rated blog

:)

I borrowed a phone called 911, tended to the elder and the dog. 

The man raging at us threatening saying 

"go ahead and call the cops, Good luck with that!"

So after waiting for the sheriff an hour in the cold wind we all got tired and headed to find the police station. 

It was CLOSED!!

The Sheriff had jurisdiction. 

The Sheriff WAS CLOSED!

Finally the ANIMAL CONTROL Sheriff came and met us all in the parking lot of the sheriff department. 911 operator  did not even bother to say more than"there was a dog incident up at the park"! No mention of the attack, verbal threat that was given and the endangerment of my kids as well as Steve and I.

How would ya all do that one?!

So we stayed with this dear heart and at the end of a TWO hour effort just to make a report were told that because the woman's dog was alright there was nothing she could do. The license number was bogus.
The only thing she could even charge him with would be get this...
dog off leach violation! a $130. Fine!

But we stayed course and made witness to the assault, tended the elder and even though nothing leagal came of it...we stayed with her and did the right thing by her. Sweet lady. Say a prayer for Maude.

Think about it...how would you respond if a pit bull was running at you full force to attack you and your dog, or child? STUPID man, beautiful dog un-leached. Wonder why they get a bad wrap it is the idiots who act all tough that do it! If that dog got my kid or that woman's dog was killed or bitten then they could of/would of given us support. Rather thank GOD that non of us were made his meal.

They should shoot owners like that not the dogs

:)

Daddy man...well we all prayed for the dog owners salvation. "we never know another mans story...it is far too easy to hate and much more difficult to understand why a person would do such a stupid thing." said father to children

Query...What made that man the way he is. 

Thus what the father of my children...forgave. 

Yet it was that we would the man be held accountable for his actions.

He taught...

Pray for your adversary rather than too curse him

We met a new forever friend in Maude the un-wounded woman with the living dog.

Because we were made to be there just a few more moments in time.