5th Day of School

Most mothers would brag about the first day of school and post pictures of the kids at the doors of the school.  Not me,  I am a super dork!   Since we weren't here the first day we totally missed that one.  Then there is the rest of the story.   The third day of school, my children's first, I pack up the camera and we head to school. I get to the school and realize that the camera never made it to the car. I'll try again tomorrow.  The next day, being Tuesday, I'm so happy, headed down the street, camera in my hand, so I know for sure today, I am getting this picture of the kids at the school.  We get out of the car and the kids are like, "Mom, do you really have to do that?"  Yes, of course I do.  That is my job as a mom, to embarrass and harass.   Reluctantly they hurry to the front of the car where they are thinking no one can see them and they pose.  Cheese.  There we go, finally I got their picture on the first week of school.  Yeah for me.  I get home from work so anxious to look at the picture and blog all about how cute the kids are, how big they are getting, so on and so forth.  You know the drill.  At the very instant I get all excited about blogging, I realize that the SD memory card for my camera is in my computer.  I pull the camera up and take a look and guess what!  No picture card to store a picture on.  I missed the dang picture again.  Am I ever going to get this right?  I told you guys, I am a super dork.

Today is Wednesday, the kids 5th day of school.  And I finally did get there picture.  Not at the school, but hey, at this point I am glad to get any picture!

This morning Parker and Madi said "Mom are you going to take our picture everyday that we leave for school?"  "Of course,  I am documenting every step of your life, aren't you glad? " "Please mom, NO MORE PICTURES!"

What goes around, does in fact come around.  Huh mom?

Oh, How I missed you!

Is it weird to miss your flat iron and blow dryer?  I went for nine days without using either one of them.  You know how hard is is to let your hair air dry?  Especially with thick, natural curly hair. I was so happy to get to use them both this morning!  It makes getting ready fun.  I know I am weird, you don't have to say anything.  Before you make fun of me, you need to try to go for a week without a blow dryer.  It is not easy.  I promise.  Really try it, I challenge you!

A Green Solution

We found a solution to my drying problem.  I have gone green in the laundry area! 

It is amazing how fast all of my laundry piles disappeared.  I wasn't always waiting on the dryer.  I have my last load left to fold and I will be all caught up!  Thank goodness for the power of the earth today.  The sheets smell wonderful.   I am so excited that I have this clothesline!

UGH, Laundry!

You would think that we had been gone for months.  The laundry piles are a little overwhelming.  This is all that I have left. 

 

That is after four loads.  It is taking longer to dry than it is to wash.  I really need that washer and dryer set that Kelly Ripa advertises.  I need it bad.  Then again, I should be thankful that I have the washer and dryer that I do.  If I had to do the laundry in the mountains I would be in trouble.  Modern day conveniences are something we take for granted.

I will get this done. Someday!  HAHA

Homeward Bound

We arrived home safely yesterday, or should I say this morning.  As it was after midnight on Sunday.  We left the cabin Saturday morning, spry and excited.  As we packed up it was a cool crisp 35 degrees.  It was a wonderful morning.  We headed out at about 9:00 am mountain time.  We were all packed and moving along.  We made to the highway and into Creede, Colorado.  Not to long after getting on the highway, Jerry started slowing down.  We thought maybe he was just pulling over to catch on last glimpse of the mountain valley before we left.  Nope, he was having pickup trouble.  Oh, my.  This made for a really long, stressful trip home.  We made it to Creede and did a little shopping.  Jerry said the truck ran fine until the engine heated up.  It wasn't over heated just running at the normal temp.  Now onto South Fork.  After pulling over a couple times, and traveling at the speed of snails we finally made it.  I feel like I am going to panic.  Breathe,  No need in getting worked up.  Finding a diesel mechanic in the mountains is not easy.  We stopped at a tire shop in South Fork, but he did not work on diesel engines.  Jerry said lets just try and make it to Alamosa.  Surely, there is a mechanic there.  On a Saturday?  Ok, Cathy, be positive.  I was trying.  But seeing Jerry worry, made me worry.  In between South Fork and Alamosa there are two smaller towns,  Monte Vista and Del Norte.  At one of these towns we pulled over and Jerry decided to try opening the fuel cap.  So we sat there a while and waited.  We loaded up and whatever he did to the truck, it helped!  We were moving at a normal speed finally and hoping to make it on home.  We traveled on like this for a long time and then it happened again.  Back to snail speed.  As traffic backed up behind us, moving along with flashers on, we decided to pull over.  We rested on the roadside, letting the pickup cool down and then we were off again.  At this point, we were almost to Walsenburg, Colorado.  All in all we only had to pull over one last time. It was between Raton, NM and Clayton, NM.  Out in the middle of nowhere. 

This was our view most of the day.  Nothing for miles.  Seriously, out in the middle of nowhere.  Just all of a sudden after moving along a 65-70 mph we start slowing down and had to pull over.  At this point, I was a basketcase!  Are we ever going to make it?  The lights of home never looked so good.  To see the courthouse pop up over the horizon, was such a welcomed site.  Thank you God for watching over us and leading us safely home. 

Living In Colorado? Could I?

Today has been the last day here in Colorado.  I love it here.  Lost Trail Ranch is currently up for sale.  I have done a lot of thinking today about possibilities for my future. (Maybe I should say our future)

Purchases, Relocation, Jobs, Money, etc.....

Could I relocate and live here?  Yes, I most definitely could.  Could I move here and survive?  Questionable.  I do love it here no question.  The rain, the coolness, even the cold and the snow wouldn't factor in on my decision.  I only ponder seriously about the kids and schooling.  The closest school here is oh let's say an hour and ten minutes.  Not really a possibility for a bus or driving them in everyday.  Home schooling?  I'm not sure if I would survive that. 

Today was an absolute beautiful day. No rain, no clouds, just a breeze and sunshine, all day long.  A nice 67 degrees for the high temperature.   Our friend, Laverne, and the two boys packed up and headed home to Shawnee, Ok.  They said that the temperature gauge read 32 degrees this morning, before packing to leave.  He said that the horses were shivering! And, ICE, yes I said ICE, everywhere.  On the grass and on the horses water.  So since they headed home, there goes Parker's ride.  So....he stayed here at the cabin with Madi, Tina, and I.  So... you see that my morning was not quiet and peaceful today.  Oh yes, the men did return but not until 2.  They only took a short ride.  Thank goodness, I was at my wits end by then.  It only takes a short time in a cabin, in the middle of nowhere, for me to lose my religion.  Oh please forgive me Lord.  I do love my children.  But it was a long morning.  This was the only day that both of the kids stayed here with me at the cabin.  I finally said, "Shoes on, coats on, you two ARE going outside."  Period.  No questions asked.  Don't drift out farther than you can hear me if I holler at you.  Of course, then again, why on earth would I call them back just to listen to arguing and fighting.  I decided since they were going out I also would go out.  So, I took my book and went out to sit on the deck.  Even though they were probably a full half-mile away I could still hear them.  Except their fighting changed to laughing and giggles.  Oh, how I love to hear them compromising and getting along.  What a wonderful echo of children's laughter in the wilderness.  They played and had a wonderful time.  (See, I do love them. I really do!)

After a short time, I called them and they came back to the cabin.  They had me walk around to the north side to show me what they had found.  As I walked around to see what they had found, Parker begins rolling this huge ball.  No, upon on second look it is a rock.  "Where did you find that" I said.  "Up the hill" .  "What are you going to do with it?"  "Take it home, mom, it is a geode!"  "Ok, fine, load it up." 

Souvenirs.  The best reminder of the trip!  I guess the geode will just have to be our little piece of Colorado, until I become independently wealthy, and purchase our own cabin. (Even if it is not a geode and turns out to be a big, plain rock.)

 

Eventful Thursday

Chris and the guys had a great day on the trail Thursday.  They ended up going up to Slide Lake.  This lake got its name from how it was formed.  At the very top of the mountain range is this huge rock slide.  During heavy snowfalls in the winter, the snow piles up and during the early spring months, the melt off causes a rock slide.  Almost like the mud slides that they show on television.  So at the base of the peak, a lake was formed.  And somehow, trout are in this lake.  I am not an expert on all of this.  If what I have put here sounds confusing, ask Jerry.  Or maybe Chris.  They can clarify.  I haven't been there, so I am giving all of this information to you second hand.  For sure it is not the gospel!  Haha 

This is Slide Lake.  You can't see the rock slide area that formed it in this picture.  But from looking at the mountain in the distance you can kinda get an idea. 

On the way up to Slide Lake, Chris and the guys did see some moose.  (mooses? plural)  Anyway, he saw a couple of them.  He did get a picture.  It may be a little blurry, our horses have yet to be trained in photography!

The best part about this trip was the trout that they caught and brought home.  Jerry cleaned them and we cooked them for dinner.  So we wouldn't starve to death out here if we stayed a little longer than we originally planned.  We could always eat trout!

Maybe no one would miss us back home if we stayed for a few extra days, weeks, oh heck maybe a month or two!  LOL