Camping, My Cabin in the Woods.

We listened to a book on tape on the way up. It was so funny. Called "Ten Bears in a Bed". Great story. It is a wonderful parody of all of the classic children's stories.

This is camp.
Just off Forest Rd 300. Above Payson AZ
Off in the woods. Conifers and old Oaks.
We arrived just after noon.
With on sick little girl, who once asleep rested after two hours of dry heaves from car sickness. Her Sensory Integration stuff leaves her very open to motion sickness. The gray wrist bands are used by divers, there is a bottom pressure point. She dismissed us when we had asked her to pace them on. Too little too late and we lost her to the vomiting.

While she slept I tried to set camp not knowing whether we would be leaving. With limited daylight and lots of tasks I just acted as if we were staying. She could not be transported anywhere.

These quilts are matching, found on a clearance rack they are perfect for my "cabin". I wrap the pads in them to block out the cold and insulate the mattresses.

Dash Hawk in his insulated jump suit I found at the good will for $2.50. It is new with a rip of 4" on the back of it. This jump suit kept him warm all weekend. He played "work" in the forest and had a office set up with full security

This fellow had been carved by some previous camp guest and we used a charcoal stick to accent his features. He was our mascot.

Daddy Man and Son cut fire wood while I set up the "cabin" and emptied pans for Sweet Beauty. Poor girl.

The Men set a camp fire and we had some "three of us" time, while Dear Beauty slept for an hour. She woke up more herself and we had a nice cool evening.
The milky way was across the opening in the canopy of pines. The stars were so bright we were awed. Put city life to shame (thats not hard to do) :).

Daddy taught son how to burn the mellows :)
It was much more fun to set them ablaze.

We all walked up to the rock wall. The vista is so open and full!
My Husband. He is so kind. He helped and encouraged me keeping a close watch on my every step. I really took glee in being able to be there with my family on the ridge. I have felt very lonely for them in the past having to wait back at camp. This time I was able to join them in the fun and adventures.

Dash was too cute in his jump suit. It kept him warm and gave him some personality that was so adorable. "The little man", he played that he was doing his "jobs" at work.

Sweet Beauty was stunning above me on a large bolder. She is growing up now. She is becoming a tween, so strange it was just yesterday we were on the train coming into Moscow to fly her home from Russia.

Look at me hiking in the forest. On my own two legs. It was so amazing to be able to do this again. So humbling to be given another chance.

Yes I was VERY careful. Now that I am recovering the final injection after a few days life will be like this for me daily. I have a lot of strengthening to accomplish, but it is happening! I walked in the forest. I realized being in the forest is like getting back up on a horse that threw me off in my youth. I have not allowed the glory of the woods to be robbed from me. I am not afraid in the woods anymore and can now relax and just thrill in the beauty.

When they walked off I just had to follow. I want to be with them not alone back in camp anymore.

Dash blew hard his wish. He had given me all of his wishes. See other post.
That is one of those $1. T-shirts I got it is his favorite Star Wars character.

Making acquaintance with nature. "Wild things best left wild".

We were camped just off of the Crook Trail, there was a large pack team following it 40 miles in. History is in this wood.

The Children created their own "Teribithia" in the wood.
This is the shelter they built alone.

At "Teribithia" we had horse rides into the wood. This fallen tree was a great bouncing ride for hours of fun. Daddy man and I removed the bark and softened the ride by removing any stubs.

Here is my Man, He who I love with a passion that envelops me within the very thought of him. He is everything I longed for in a mate, lover and friend. What a wonderful Father for the children too. I was sitting on a long in "Teribithia" and he sat down in the shade. I just fell in love with this image of him

Father teaches Daughter also to be able to use tools. No gender discrimination "Do what your able and learn to do more"

The "Blue Fairy"
Blue Fairy, Blue Fairy grant me my wish... This played for hours with little brother. These were glow sticks I found at a dollar store.

Autumn Glory, behold the promise.

Fell tree, life rings are cast into design by the loss of one of these.

Beloved took this amazing image. I love this shot!

They went for a hike that was too hard for me to join them.
With a camera I get to live vicariously.

This is the entry to the watch tower. It was closed when they were there. Visitors are welcome during hours.

Many steps climbed and the chicken wire sides reassured me of their safety.

The perfect frame.

This area has so much rich history. Beloved and I enjoy learning about our country and the travelers who were before us.

We lost the battery in the tailor the fourth day. Hubby recharged it and it lasted until Midnight of the last night. It was very cold down into the 40"s?. I awoke to the alarm and we shut down the gas. We awoke to a pretty cold morning. Sweet Man of mine dressed and pulled the truck up to charge the battery for the heat and pump tho work.

Dear sweet Beauty told her Daddy on the hike how much I would love this wild flower. She had him cut it for me. How Kind she is, and thoughtful of me.

The children warmed their toes. Funny I was not cold at all! Then I realized I had forgotten to take my hormone the night before! Ha! Menopause finally showed another benefit! :)

Morning has broken and the meals were needing to be prepared. Beloved stopped time to captured me.
He has captured me.
My heart is refreshed because he pursued my passion for the woods.

Tackle It Tuesday

Good Morning!

My big tackle today is temperance.
I called off my 8:20 dentist apt to get my new crown seated. I have a heavy crown of mercy on my head already today. :) I even had a $109.80 check for an over payment to the dentist. I don't understand this. I think he waved a percentage. So much favor so to tears of gratitude.
I received the last in the series of injections yesterday and am just now coming up from the hours of recline. With much mercy, I made it home. This time I obeyed the "stay off it rule"! Daddy Man took an hour off work and delivered our little bundles of energy home yesterday. His friend stopped by to check on me and gave me a cool drink of water and some nice conversation. The kids did not feel comfortable coming home with him so we never put them in that situation. We are very careful to respect that.

My big tackle is to get the children to school.
I took a hot shower to ease the discomfort in my back and Got dressed up pretty. Tackle the day with feeling good about my reflection:)

I see on the calender that I have parent teacher conferences for both kids this afternoon! Not sure about that one yet. So rest is mandated
TEMPERANCE my great tackle.
After three weeks of injections, a wonderful opportunity to go camping in the forest and life;
This is what I have to do ...
Ignore this.

And this...Ignoring messiness is not my strong suit. I am glad to have to exercise this mussel today.
I'll enjoy catching up on my blog friends. I have the post to do on the trip too.
I will also lay down and elevate my leg until this afternoons teacher conferences.

Well I got the kids to school.
I think I'll love on "blue dogie" and "macutooo"
They have been loved to stitches and are "holy"

Menu Plan Monday

Were Back!

Good evening all!
Wow that was a nice time in the forest with each other. We had a lot of challenges that we had to overcome however.
Sweet Beauty my Miss Fiction fell car sick on the road up. Sweet baby had no moderation and when we pulled over to check on her let her out a moment. I massaged her a bit with a hug and moved out of the way in the nick of time and then held her road side while all that she had in her removed itself. After cleaning her up and letting her sit up front we continued another hour to the high rim country. She was ill with dry heaves all afternoon and into the early evening. Dramamine finally kicked it in time for her to join the camp fire hour with us. So sweet baby ill. I just thought of Jackelyn and prayed for her momma and her . One afternoon of my daughter ill and I was a helpless wreck. Daddy man was so good with her too. He really helped with the pan emptying and such finally she slept. I got so mad at the enemy for hassling my child a had a bit of a fit! I was just frustrated. I thought about Job wondered if he must of got angry when he watched his family suffer . I guess I was feeling a bit sorry for all the battle at hand and the effects of stress it was causing all of us. So for the first several hours I was not sure if we would be packing up and heading home. She was too sick to travel.
Like my beloved said this will pass, it did.
We had a nice fire and marshmallows too. The milky way was right over the top of us where the canopy opened to a starlit night that just put living in the city to shame. Oh it was breath taking!
The kids set up a "Teribithia" encampment near by. Oh what wonder.
I watched as my family went to go visit W>W> (walk wall) This was a spot discovered in the summer past. Our campsite was deeper in the woods this time nearby the last one we stayed at. Then it dawned on me... If I was careful I might join them. So silently I followed far behind with care and ease I found myself HIKING! YES! hiking on this sweet new found freedom of a knee I am recapturing. JOY! I made it to the top> Oh but Miss Fiction was not so pleased she was worried over me. I am so glad that this can end. My child should be freed of worry over her Mother injuring herself. So we were able to address this fear. It was beautiful up on the rim looking North. On the top of the world. My beloved helped me down using switch back maneuver I very carefully slowly climbed down. Muscle still week and sore but the joint was like a well oiled cog. It worked effortlessly and without that tormenting pain I have lived under for so long. It was awesome! Yet another worm that was denied the right to rob me any more!
Oh so much to tell.
I am waiting on the down load for the pictures.
I have the last shot tomarrow in my knee. So I will have a lot of post fodder this week, while I lay low for three more days.

Sunday Smiles

Hello, I'm home.
Thank you all for your well wishes. I'll post more on the trip ,this one just got me.
Dash Hawk and I were picking dandelions in the forest. He hurried ahead of me and just picked almost all of them. I started to say , "hay wait!" , when he came running over to me and said
"Here Mom You can have all of my wishes!"

Challenged tonight. Refreshed tomorrow.

To the woods yonder
My heart doth wander
Heal me with thy beauty
sooth me with they silence
Until all that is clatter departs from my mind
In your forest embrace
my center and peace I find
absent of distraction attune to His voice
With all this hard work
It is why this is my choice
My forest repose

It has been so hard to get ready for this trip.
Hello, all day (week) I have faced one obstacle after another and have just watched them be swept out of the way. I did well with attitude, but when the lights turned green. This hamster had to get off and running with one knee tied behind my back.
Beauty my Miss fiction gets a new nick name. She is transforming into an outwardly expressed inner beauty that is stunning! She was a huge help. Everyone pitched in. The camper is getting closed up as I type. Hubby is out doing it. They just finished story time while I loaded all the bags they carried out into the cupboards. The ice chest are loaded. I have stepped away and sat down to rest my leg.
The kids are growing up. Wow what a difference even three months have made. They see how essential they are. And how we are all a team. This is a real transformation in them. Independence and the joy of self discovery is so impressive to see.

Thankful Thursday

Hear I am just a woman, one soul of many wherry...yet he lifts me up.
Hope deferred yet heart excited at the knowledge of His will being the best thing for me...the peace of just walking into that.
Tired yet refreshed in the promise of a success at the end of each battle.
Saddened
Flawed and yet fleeing from self condemnation
How many Words the "Word" that transforms every trial into a transformation
Every battle into a skilled sword to wield better in the next skirmish
Pained in bone yet comforted in healing

Hear I am ready momentarily rested, iced to move onto the nest phase of preparation
How the ice does numb the pain.
I have every resource all needs met all promise filled
Just one woman of many who live love work and see the fruit of their labor.
Smiling at the future
Renewed like the dawn ready to begin again
Refusing to lay down my weapons and retreat, I am standing at the ready.
Strengthened in spirit. Bring it on!

Hear, I am just one woman. With One mighty God in three looking after me.
Hear. I am...

Waxing poetic :)

Tooth fairy news

Miss Fiction lost her tooth! wahoo!
So Mr Dash Hawk comes to me and says...
"I know who you are...( he is face to face fixed gaze) Tell me where you keep the teeth and I will not tell her who you are(determined and very serious). I promise not to tell her where you keep the teeth... Oh please... I just got to know... Pretty please with PURPLE on it!."
My favorite color is ...purple :)

"A Camping we will go" , Hi Ho the merry oh....

Well it is a Go!!!! We are heading out in the early A.M. I think my beloved will be like this by mid afternoon.

We could not get the truck to malfunction for the mechanic. Not only that the mechanic WAVED THE $89. diagnostic charge!!!!!!!!!
So Daddy man said we will just go. A man from the small mens group Beloved runs will be watching the dogs. He really enjoys them. I know he will do a great job watching over them and the house. We have been very blessed with help with the dogs twice now. Thank you Sis.
So I walked into this not knowing until just a few moments ago if it was to go or not. It has been so cool that I have not been upset over the not knowing. I just felt like God's will be done.
I have four large bags of groceries from the pantry and the clothes are spinning in the washer. I set our stuff out just got to do the kids still. I am off for a weekend of forest crisp air. The fall does not show well here but we might get to see some color.

It will get cold at night, but Miss Fiction LOVES the cold! I got a farmers jump suit size 6 at the thrift store for $2.50! for the Dash who chills easily. It is well insulated. Daddy Man is so skinny he is afraid of the cold because it hurts for him to be cold, so I grabbed his Russia gear. Should work out fine. We have a furnace in the camp tailor.

Wordless Wedensday

"5 Minutes for Mom" is hosting a Weekly Wordless Wednesday

Tales from the scales challenge and group. Wk #2

Hello all, Well...NO LOSS NO Gain. I did see a glimpse of 189 on Friday before I had the second shot in my knee, but after the shot I over did and have been laid low all week end and all week. So I had lost 2 more than the first two. The BBQ ribs my sweet heart brought home so lovingly to encourage my painful days flat on my back with knee held high returned the favor for eating them! You all know that it did not stop at the ribs...I eat comfort when I am in physical pain. Got to stop that!

193 starting

191 week one

191 week two (at 189 on Friday)

I get to go camping this week end, I will get to walk some. I have the third shot on Monday. I will not be physically active then for three more days. I will how ever try to activate some other measure of self comfort than food! I have lessoned my portions significantly.

Our Son.

Our Son

This morning on the hammock all the cuddling and sweetness of my little boy. He wanted attention so after I dressed , I came out of my room and asked him if he might like to sit down a moment together on the couch. SMILE, he did and wide! We Reposed and then with the seriousness of all that is earnest he began...
"Mom I am very concerned about my friends..."
I reply "oh why is that son?"...
"Well mom I got Dog Pee on my hand and I tried to wash it off, but It still smells bad...I think I can not risk going to school Mom. They might get the germs...Then I would be responsible for getting them sick. So, Mom I think it best if I just stay home from school today!."
Holding to the level of his conversation, I inquired..."Son may I ask just how did you get dog pee on your hand?"
"Well Mom.. I was sliding down the slide and I accidentally put my hand in it and it smells"
Diligent mother I am out of a curiosity that doubted the story. Thinking the child was creating a marvel of "get out of school fiction"... SMELLED HIS little boy hand! YEP! Dog pee eeew!
He with strained face said "mom I don't want to give my friends the germs and get them sick!"
"Lets go wash them off together, we'll kill all those old germs and then it will be alright for you to go to school" Endeared to the core was I.

So I took him in and lathered his sweet baby boy hands (6 years is still a baby!) and scrubbed them in mine. His eyes lit up and he was a three year old in my arms all over again. He was watching my face in the mirror with such admiration I thought I would just melt!

On another not. I told him that I miss him looking back when I drop him off in the morning. This morning off he raced out of the car, to the school doors. Then he was bolted in his step looked over his shoulder and smiled that "holy little boyish smile".
I have a wonderful Son who brings so much joy into our lives.

Tackle It Tuesday

The truck is missing again this morning after running flawlessly! I am meeting Beloved at a auto diagnostic shop. I do hope that we can fix the truck easily.
We trust God's will for the weekend.

In order to this this weekend
I have to rest today and let everything go except...

I am going to give this guy and this girl lots of attention.
I swung on the hammock with Dash this morning and snuggled. He wants to be a chef so I gave him a cooking lesson with our eggs. He wanted to have his the way I have mine. Last night he told me how he noticed that every fictional story has to have a bad event happen in it we began to discuss plot and will continue to talk about the antagonist and protagonist. He is 6!

This sweet heart slept until the last moment. She is up reading all night. She is now reading at a just below 5th grade level and thriving! She is in 3rd grade. She needs to sleep some too though. He detox has left her with a little insomnia. That and I think she just loves to read! I taught her how while homeschooling her. I think it may just be perhaps the greatest thing I have ever accomplished.
I had a dentist follow up to go in for the infection, I called this morning and spoke with the dentist he said that he needs to cut the socket open!!!!
I attended the visit and to His amazement it is healing and I just need to stay on the meds. another few days!
It's that armored vest! Dodged another bullet! :)
I got the dishes going and have just learned that my Sisters English husband is being deported in 9 days! They loose everything! Wow! He was so privileged to be here in the U.S.A. all of those years. His hard work really gave him a nice life here.

Autumn Goody Swap

Christine is Doing a very fun

Autumn Goody Swap

Here’s how it works:
*EDITED* This is open to all bloggers.

If you’d like to participate, just add your link to the Mr. Linky below. You have until October 16th to sign-up.

You will be sending your package to the person next in line. For example, I will sign up first and send my package to the 2nd person who signs up, the 2nd person will send to the 3rd, and so on. The last person will send a package to me. Got it?

It is your responsibility to contact your recipient to obtain their mailing address. Use this opportunity to meet a new blogger and possibly make a new friend!

Beginning October 17th, you may start mailing out your goody packages. Please try to get them to their receivers before October 31st.

You should try to spend somewhere between $8 - $10, not including shipping charges.

As an added incentive, the person who refers the most people to join this event will receive (and since I love choices) something chocolately or something from Bath and Body Works. So they need to tell me who sent them.

Once you’ve received your goodies, don’t forget to take pictures so we can all see what you got!

To know each other better, I’ve posted some fun questions to get to know more about you. You can post your answers on your blog or in comments.

Have Fun!

Questions:

What do you like best about Fall?

The cool of the morning. The community all lowers their shoulders and people become more relaxed and less stressed from the heat. They stop complaining and start smiling again.

Do you have any family traditions for this time of year?

I celebrate Harvest and the Joy of Bounty.We rent goof ball movies and shut all the house lights down. I buy bags of candy for the family, each persons favorites. The kids and my Husband and I watch movies and snuggle. We are trying to find an old flick "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes". I will be dressing the kids in costume for school as a literary fictional characters. Because of my family history I can not in good conscience do "trick or treating" . It is just not O.K. for me. I might do a church carnival, maybe?

I also pray a lot this time of year for those who are ill intended that they would be hindered and that children would be covered in the safety of divine protection.

What’s your favorite Halloween chocolate?

I love candy! All sorts of candy. So in like manner as when I was a youth with that pillowcase full of treasure, mine would be a mixed bag assortment. Sours to mellow the sweets and sweets to savor. Chick-o-sticks are one that comes to mind.

Is there any Halloween treat you do not like?

I don't like pixie sticks, ghost candies and ghoulishly decorated things.

Menu Plan Monday

Although the children agree with this guys appetite.
It is hot dogs and chips
via Daddy Man tonight.

This hamster is off the wheel until I get those bearings:)

What wine am I.

Here I have been whining all weekend about my Boo Boo . Sorry I thought you might like some cheese...:) You Are Chardonnay

Fresh, spirited, and classic - you have many facets to your personality. You can be sweet and light. Or deep and complex. You have a little bit of something to offer everyone... no wonder you're so popular. Approachable and never smug, you are easy to get to know (and love!). Deep down you are: Dependable and modest Your partying style: Understated and polite Your company is enjoyed best with: Cold or wild meat

Growing within us.

Miss Fiction wanted to know what it was like in a womb. She wanted to be born again :) . So she proceeded (to my amazement) to climb inside my dress just before bath time last night. I called beloved in to snap an image.
Thats 10 years gestation ladies. Or in reality 16 years wait for my wonderful daughter.

Not Flesh of my Flesh
Nor Bone of my Bone,
But still Miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute
that although you didn't grow under my heart,
you grew in it.

Carnaval Of Family Life.

The Carnival of Family Life. is up over at
My Wealth Builder

Check out my entry "School Fund Raiser" post.

If you love a good laugh go look at this...
Check out "F....is for Follow-up" by Cory
Be sure and Vote for her she is awesome!

Fun Monday

Pamela is the hostess for this Fun Monday. She choose the topic. She said:I want to see what you see on any given morning this week; from somewhere very near where you live. Front porch, back porch, down the street, around the corner. Just makes sure it’s your neighborhood. Post a photo that will send me to the travel agent to book a weekend at your local Bed & Breakfast.

Every morning I make lunches for the family. These loving hands (a cleaner version of them) embrace me and I follow him out to the garage.

Where we bid each other a fine day and I see him drive off in this 4 runner alone on his way into his long work day. It is very warm here even now in October. Many "snow birds" will be flocking their way here shortly for the warm days and cool evenings.

My street looks like this only pirates are seldom witnessed.This is a shot of one such pirate. This is a late evening photograph. Our home is shaded while the sun set illuminates the end of the block.

Retuning indoors I feed these two so I can have a moment of peace with my son. With the exception of the dead of summer the outdoor fun is year round.

This is the yard he plays in while his sister sleeps every available moment she can, most days. I come out and swing on the hammock with him and we talk. Summer monsoons can green a lawn up pretty as do the sprinkler systems many homes have. It's just the water that the desert is running low on :)

To check out more of this Fun Monday’s participants and sign up for this week’s assignment. It’s never too late! click HERE.

Children have loving hearts for art

My Sweet Miss Fiction used a great "draw it write" art book to do this work.


My Dear Dash Hawk gave this note to me on Saturday Morning along with a big hug.

Manic Monday *Tracks*

Morning Tracks from the wet Lawn

across the chalked porch lumber

"What, I did'nt do anything":) ...

Quick dry,the arid eraser.

Thus helped, the entry floor .

Hello

Sunday night. I have laid low all weekend. Chomping at the bit tonight, it's like I can hear the wild horses off in the distance and I want to run wild with them. The moonlight is so free and limitless.
Hubby is exhausted and the kids are now off the sugar high. They had a great time at a birthday party today. I had the house to my lone self this afternoon. Beloved stayed at the party and visited with the other adults, while the kids all played free.
I am working on documented three months of expenditures so as to develop a budget. This is so frustrating for I do not know how to use a paper ledger spread sheet. I want this thing hard copy. I need to be able to touch it and see it and understand it. I am stumbling around with some of the categories and how to do this thing professionally. I used to be able to manage thing so well before the kids, crisis and the loss of 2/3 rd's of our income. I know I can do well with it again it is just tighter and more holes to mend. We are so blessed to only have a mortgage as debt. So I think if a better plan were in place and the leaks stopped up I could try to save again and also pay down the mortgage some day. We also need to have a little travel money to do a trip somewhere and not be stressed out over dong it.
I am trying to fill all the holes we are pretty good about it but I want to improve it.
I admire simple living.
Our home is very energy efficient, I do a great job on bargain hunting. The menu could stand to be more consistent. When I am knocked off the wheel everything changes. It is easier to gain income and learn to live on it than it is to decrease and do so. The sound principals were have lived under all these years are paying off in a big way now. We have no debt other than the house.
We are going camping this next weekend if all goes well with my knee. It is well rested and I think ready for an easy week. I have a ton of laundry to do. The kids rooms have me almost to tears of frustration. everything that was organized is in a disarray. Clothing is "rat holed" and so I am just at wits end with those kids of mine. Often I blame myself due to lack of training them but the fact is Miss fiction is broken here! It is maddening! It is however just who she is. Her mind organizes in her way try putting all the markers away and the pencils too she will have a rush to need to collect everything yellow. I'll find a stash of everything that I have missed in a hole somewhere they will all be yellow. Or round or fury or blue books. It all comes down off the shelf out of the bin from every corner. ARG!!! I know she is just who she is. It is just so maddening I feel crazy from it sometimes. If you cant find it count it lost until I get the umph up to dismantle a bunch of rat holes. We have pack rats hear in the desert. I live with one::)

What are your budget tips??? Do tell...
Maybe I haven't covered them.

Sunday Smiles "They took my bearings out of me wheel!"

Somebody came in and took my bearing out of my wheel!
Man! I have watched a hamster pace they get a bit antsy!
Can you just see her Sister hamster, she approaches the wheel and "what!" no bearings! It is out of service. And not only that but the sign says "Over usage has resulted in momentary setbacks to repairs" Well!
So as I await the installation of the bearings I have had several hours to pace my cage :)
With all of the tidying up around here its that wheel...Just cant get my mind off of it:)

Toasted Organic Tamari Pumpkin Seads

Using a nice large (heavy bottomed)skillet.

Heat skillet (no oil)
Place about a 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds into the hot skillet
Hulled Pumpkin seeds "pop" as you roast them. Stir and toast them until browned lightly.

Remove to a mixing bowl. Add two-three tablespoons of Tamari (wheat free soy sauce) to seeds and toss to coat.
This is a part of my type O meal Plan for a snack. These are very nutritious. I got the pumpkin seeds at my local health food store (Wild Oats) by the pound. Store in freezer to keep fresh.