Project 365 - The Random Approach -End of June

Jake With His Rain Maker
(Cub Scout Camp Project)
Jake got to spend 5 days at Scout Camp this month!

Peace on Wallowa Lake
A short visit. But it was, peaceful.

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So.. Summer has finally arrived! Our last storms (in the forecast) left us on Friday. The Full Moon was last night - and I got to see it again when I woke. I love seeing the summer moon in the morning. It sits right over the Blues (our mountains).

This week I went on a 'quick' retreat with my work mates to Wallowa Lake - we rented a gorgeous cabin (2.5 hours from home - need to take the family)! But let me tell you. We were in a meeting from the moment we arrived to the moment we left - and every spare moment (during meals) in between - 2 days worth. The setting and the ability to 'get away' from outside distractions was the best. So needed. But, I was tired when I left, and I was tired when I got home. Our power was out when I got home - Thunderstorms - for a couple hours. So. I dozed before dinner. Long days do that to me. Wednesday night I was up until 11pm (after waking at 4am!). So not my daily schedule! And then Dick and the kids have been staying up until 10 or 10:30 each night as well.

Yes. It is Summer. We really do try to get in every minute we can!

Yesterday when Jake and I got home from the La Grande market, both kennel dogs had escaped and had chased one of Sami's bummer lambs (and chewed on her) quite extensively. Not good.

I'll spare you the details. It's so heartbreaking when things like this happen. When 'natural' things occur against our will. It's hard to accept. Jake cried when he found her. I picked her up and ran with her - away from the place I found her - and to a shady spot to rest. And I cried to God. For help. For understanding. I don't blame God for any of life's trials. Sometimes life is so hard.

Sami and Dick did not get back from their Portland market until 8pm - so we had to break the news about Tulip, the lamb that was still alive when we woke, but, hardly. Another heart broke.

Today is Sunday. And it was a beautiful day. I started out raking grass for 2 hours, and then had hoped to mow the lawn - try as I might that darn mower would not start! HA! So.. there you have it.

Here's hoping next week goes a little smoother.

Have a great evening. And check out that moon!

Project 365 - Day 79 - and Hitting the Road!

Day 79 - Favorite Things
Yesterday I left at 7am for Boise, ID
Did not return until 6pm
Met customers at noon
Had a meeting from 1pm until 4pm for the Capital City Public Market
During my lunch, these goodies were my indulgence!
Love sushi and great mags!

Recycling Fun Stuff
And see the cute green grass on the container?
I saved it.
I know it's going to end up on an Easter Card!!!

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So, the bucket of bolts and I made it during the 300 mile round trip.
My car has 260,000 miles now... plus a few more.

(My car was in the shop Thurs and Fri - went in to be serviced, and was quoted 1,500 in work!)
HA! I chose not to do the work.. and it was misdiagnosed anyway. A water pump fix turned into a thermostat issue. WHATEVER!

Anyway, it was absolutely gorgeous in Boise yesterday!

And, today is Sunday...
In less than 2 hours the kids and I are hitting the roadster for a short trip.
Back Tues night.
Then I leave Wed through Sat for training....

Not sure when I'll be blogging again...

Most Likely -Going Unplugged!!!

Have a great week!

Project 365 - Random Days/Week in the Life?

Project 365 Day 77 -Baby Goat - Car Shop Mascot
While I was waiting for my car to get serviced on Thursday,
this little bugger decided to visit me, the contents of my purse,
and the paper I was reading.
Yes. A goat. Inside the Shop Waiting Room.

Project 365 - Day 75 - All in a Days Work!
I love my job!
That's me, on the left, and having way too much fun!
The two ladies with me are co-chairs of UcFitKids
one is the director of the Commission on Children and Families
the other is the head researcher, PhD at OHSU, in LaGrande,
very important women in the 'kids health' arena.
We are reviewing survey instruments for our Farm 2 School program.
The gal behind the camera is my assistant/coworker!
PS. I was wearing all my St. Patty's green - a day early...
Just because I knew I would be stuck on the ranch on Wednesday!
(My socks have little bunnies on them!)

Day 72 - Morning Sun Through My Granny Glasses
I started wearing the chain on my glasses back in December
I got tired of sticking my glasses on my head!
This was a morning for last week's Delivery Day - My papework to the right

Day 72 - Old Wagon Wheel - Spring Snow
Out doing morning chores and catching the beautiful sun!

Day 72 - Steer Head
Decor on the back deck

Day 76 - Redneck Slippers
All of us need new slippers!
We have a 'no shoes allowed' in the house rule

Day 75 -Ranch 'Hot' Rods
A chevy that runs (the one that broke down on the way to Wy)
A Ford that doesn't (at the shop to get fixed)
Fladbed trailer (needed necessity)
Back Hoe in the Back (another needed necessity)

Just a few photos from a week in my life!
Have a great day!!

Happy Valentine's Day! Project 365 Randomness

Project 365 - Random - Day 45

The Breakfast Table

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Happy Day of Kindness, Love and Sweet Things!

Just a few photos from the breakfast table before everyone sat down then went off in different directions! Sami's breakfast is actually in the fridge. She got up, left everything on the table , and went to help her dad feed. She doesn't like to miss out on the action!

Jake, he clipped his V. Day helium balloon to his hair and walked around like that for a while. Goofball.

Me? Things to do!

The Valentine's List

• Crab is defrosting (purchased in Jan. from the Crab Man.. some guy who shows up annually with ice chests full of crabs, and other seafood from the coast
• Rack of lamb also to defrost
• Strawberries to dip in chocolate
• Yet, got some household duties calling me!!!!

The Reality List

• Discovered a leak under the laundry room sink - innocently went to get cleaning supplies from under the sink and saw the mess.. RATS. Cleared everything out. Need Mr. Plumber to come home and fix it...
• Cant' stand the site of the dog kennels... Chatted with darling daughter about proper animal care a few days ago. But, I'm going to go out and do some cleaning!
• Did Deliveries yesterday. Gotta enter data
• Still in my jammies!
  

Gotta get moving!
Have a great day everyone:)

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 31

Project 365 - Day 31

And the rest of the photos!

The Sheep and Llama eating breakfast

The Back of our house

What? I have to come out and step in that white stuff, again?

My House
(that's my favorite tree, the tall one on the right!)

Dick's Morning Commute
Out feeding critters

Delivering Groceries to the Goats

Sami is inside directing Traffic
And making sure the babies out of the way

Last night we went out to dinner at some friends. All four of us. The kids had a great time and were the only children yet treated like young adults and part of the festivities and conversations. It started snowing when we left, and had snowed quite a bit while we were dining, laughing, and chatting the evening away. I took a photo of the beautiful table and our hosts - but I left my little camera there! These photos are from Dick's camera that I borrowed this morning.

We got home about 10pm.

I went out to put the chickens to bed and it was gorgeous. Not a sound. Fresh snow. And it was still snowing. A true winter wonderland. And bright! Even with the cloud cover, that big ol' full moon was still lighting things up.

We woke to a beautiful snowy world this morning... Six inches of new fluffy snow.

And, again, our world is quiet.

A beautiful Sunday.

I'm still in my jammies at 2pm.

Life is goooood!

(Dick's computer crashed last week, and it's such a bummer (sure it is!) that I can't do all the payroll reports, end of year taxes, and other nasty stuff that gives me a headache!)...

Guess I'll just have to get inky!

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 29

Rosies' Babies
Already kickin' it up!

Betty's Babies
Born 1/25/10

More goat babies for you!

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 27

Day 27 - My Favorite Birch Tree
Love that fog in the background!
And the wheel line.
See it?
In the back?
Or the mountains?
What about all those critter prints in the snow?

Here is a photo from yesterday.. (day 27)..

This is my favorite tree.

I love it in the spring. When new leaves are bursting through.

I love it in the Fall. When the colors spark and change. Gorgeous.

I love it in the Summer. When I am on the mower, navigating under it, and the branches brush gently over my back. Or, if I'm going too fast, the occasional to the face 'wack'.

I love it in the Winter. That's when the white bark get's more of my respect. and those itty bitty leaf buds, that whisper 'we'll be back'!

I love it, all.

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 26

Rosie's Twins
Born: 1/24/10
Zoey and Caitlin.
Don't ask who's who!

My camera has been busy!

There are so many photos of the new baby goats that I have taken that I wish I could just toss up here! But I'm trying to contain myself.. just one photo... So here is one taken today...

Sami's goats have been having babies! Sami's boy goat was a very busy boy!

Rosie had twins, on Sunday.
Olive has one baby, yesterday.

Ramon's goat has twins, Saturday! Or was it Friday... I forget... Ramon works for us. All 'his girl critters' get visited by 'our boy critters'. Sheep, dogs, and now goats...

Ranch life.

5 goat babies since Sunday....

What's her name, Betty, still has not given birth. She's the one we brought in before Christmas! So while she was spoiled rotten in a barn, the others gave birth out in the elements... brrrrrrrrr.

And, as is the circle of life.. this morning Sami found one of her bunnies had died during the night. One of Bitsy's girls. Sigh.

It also snowed today.. I took some real fun pictures, but shucks... will just have to save them for another day.. and share just one!

Yesterday morning we woke to a layer of ice. I drove over the pass yesterday...to La Grande, but did not leave until about 9:30am. A semi had done a 180 (black ice) and flipped and spilled a bunch of batteries. When I saw the truck, I said a prayer for the driver and any one else that might have been around...

And I got to thinking.. Does anyone else do that? Say prayers for people you don't know, but sure hope are OK and taken care of? I do it mostly when I hear the news. Bad news.

But I also say prayers of Thanks... Like when I catch myself loving the day. I thank God for that day and bit of joy. Sunshine. Happy family moments. Contentment. When I feel 'full', I just have to thank God.

Anyway, the accident. Hazmat was on duty.. It was a one lane, slow drive. When I came back the Hazmat team was still working.

Hope all is well.

Thanks for listening to my random thoughts:)

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 11!

Day 11
Remains of the Day
(click on image to savor the full effect!)

Yesterday was a 'golden' photo opportunity.

Does this happen to anyone else out there in blogland? Please tell me I am not alone!

So there we were, my husband and I, cooking dinner.. The 'A' team. Clicking...

We decide we are going to broil our entree.

Problem was.. something was in the oven!

Fumes?

My husband freaked! I knew exactly what happened....

That morning, I made three eggs for breakfast.

Jake asked how many he should have. I said leave one for me and put it back in the oven.

As you can see, he put it back in the oven. On one of the 'kid proof' plates.

He knows better that this!
He blamed it on his dad. Apparently Dick told him to put the plate in the oven. So he did.

Anyway, it was pretty funny... I have several photos... inside of the oven - a blue blob.

And let me tell ya.. That plastic? Holy! It gets real real real hard after it cools! I can not get it off that rack!

Dick has to take a blow torch to it, outside, and let it melt over the snow...

Crazy...Days..

Project 365 - The Random Approach!

Project 365 - Day 6 - Nirvana in a Coffee Shop
Wed. Jan 6 - Big meeting night.
Went to the 'office' to get organized, but it just did not work out!
Office is 45 minutes away from my cozy home office.
Cozy home office is my office of choice.
Too many 'this ain't workin' issues'
Septic System was shot
Electricity was funkified (construction)
Office computer/power cord would not work
Place was cold!
So, after messing with it for an hour, I split.
I went and hung out at a Coffee Shop instead.
It was cozy, tasty, and pure bliss!

Project 365 - Day 6
(Better Late than Never!)
And, I had a backup project.
My Christmas Cards!
Got 'em wrapped up and done.
Before the meeting!
Postmarked this past Friday.

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OK.. So, lots of organized peeps are participating in Project 365 - where you take a photo each day of something in your day to day life, and post it or share it on your blog. It can be of anything from your day.

I've been 'attracted' to the idea for the reason of well, capturing 'real' life! The little things that have meaning - other than the big milestones. Sometimes we take for granted what really makes us smile inside - our passions, our loves, those little zen private moments.

I know I am not organized enough post Project 365 on a daily basis.. So, I thought I would just every now and then capture a day...

However, I will share with you a couple of links that have inspired me with ideas and recommendations:

First, is Designs by Diana. I love her photos! I love what she shares! Fun sweet things, from everyday life. Click on her Project 365 link on the right side of her blog to see what I mean.

Then, I've been checking out the Daily Digi. The folks over there have a ton of resource links for the project, as well as organizing all the photos. This is the place I drool over for my 'future' delving into digistuff.


That's it for today!

Happy Sunday...