We have a routine. Finally it begins to press out. Lots of wrinkles with computer issues and book errors. Today is a new day. The first where it is more like it will be each day. Kids up at 8-8:30 dishwasher emptied, chickens fed, dog fed and computers on warming before 9 a.m. Kids fed as in actually making it with me getting the ingredients out for themselves. All is well this morning and no fuss.
This is a process and it is now becoming smooth.
Dove is doing great as is Dash. The last semester ended with Dash on honor roll. Dove has tested out at an 11th grade reading level. With the higher levels of seventh grade algebra being a math of reading; she will show good improvement now we trust.
As a bouncing ball I am at a beck and call to each child. Dove in in the office so walking has increased substantially for me. It is a good thing for my knee is needing the activity, however it gets to be a long afternoon and a tired evening hour. Like a young woman it is a labor of love, it may perhaps even keep me young longer.
Many changes have been made to accommodate the lifestyle. This lifestyle however has also made many wonderful opportunities. The children and I were able to take Monday off to attend a K12 sledding event in the high country. After a long four hour drive we arrived in Pinetop, AZ.
We stopped here to put on a layer of clothing of socks for the temp had come down below 30*
I was very hesitant to drive up the cinder pit road so I walked it with cane in hand first. Dash was poorly behaved and took off up the road without us. After walking up to the cinder pit I was given a lift back to the truck. The snow was almost to the axle, powder snow. There were only three vehicles up there and one back at the road a real low turn out of folks. Only one other family from the valley. Not too surprising given the economy and fuel costs. I had saved up in the budget to give the kids a chance to see the snow. It was a real disappointment for within 45 minutes we had to be packed back up to leave. The event ended at 3p.m., but this was not told to me. All I knew was it started at 1p.m.. Due to a bad turn that left me backing up 1/4 of mile on a snow packed tree lined path we arrived at 2:10p.m.. Being alone without a cell phone staying was not an option. I offered up some hot cocoa to the folks for the camp stove came along with us. So the other family stayed until the hot coco was heated on my tail gait. My kids each had only four runs down the hill. They were covered in powder snow, fresh fallen just the day before. Then they waited while the kids got back into our truck. We all pulled out at 3:33p.m.. The sun set was due at 5:30, in the high country it chills fast. When we left it had dropped to 17*in a hurry.
My two kids saw this courageous woman drive 4-5 hours one way up into the Northern mountains of Arizona almost to New Mexico. It was fun to spend long hours with the children sharing knowledge. I had been reading about Native American Wisdom. This I spoke of for hours with them.Then a 5 hour drive home.
As you can see the snow was pristine.
The truck is parked down on the road here the drive into the cinder pit is to the right behind the yellow sign. Snow had fallen the day before. 18 inches of powder that I had no intention of being on alone.
On the way down we saw a sunset on the Moggioon Rim. White snow with black shadowed trees against a vivid rose/orange sky. IT was so beautiful. We stopped in Overgaurd for a restroom break and down the mountains platou we drove. At one point two cars were stopped on the road ahead of us. Two elk were just off the side of the road, as we slowed to a standstill the other cars were driving off. We saw the elk with the full fur on the neck. They were so beautiful. Of course it was all eyes to the sides of the road all the way through that section. Sunset is the crossing time for elk.
Now today we work and tomorrow we work on school, tasks and such.
It is a wonderful life.
