We got snogged!

I must remind myself it is winter and well winter is unpredictable.  I judge that partially by the fact the weather folks are never quite sure what will really happen.

One day I can be ecstatic that the sun is out and well the next day..... it's snog.

Snow + Fog = Snog

 But there is a different beauty in snog.  With snow the snow piles up on top of a surface leaving the underside barren.  With snog the the moisture encases the entire surfaces with crystals that would sparkle if we just had a little light to catch the reflection.

 

Weeping willows are beautiful in any season but they are stunning in winter. 

 

 With time on my hands, Auntie and I have started to make a place for myself here.  I have been moving furniture.... boxes, and assorted other stuff in the basement.  We are making a bedroom with a sitting area in the basement.    Compared to the size of my little trailer is is positively spacious.  We are also having some finishing work done on a bathroom next to my room.  I bought a new bed and it is comfy .  New carpeting and a new comforter and it will be a cheery nest for me during the winter months.  Pictures will follow once it is all complete.

We went five days without seeing even a glimpse.  No blue sky,  No puffy clouds....

         Just Fog, Fog, Fog!

Even though the sun has not been out......

 A little buddy did come out to play and have a little snack.

 Yet another little life lesson for me......

Find beauty and peace whatever you are.

~ Happy Trails ~ 

Welcome Back Sun!!

The sun finally came out, the temperatures are actually near 50 which is almost balmy for January in Eastern Washington State.  I just about  broke into song, but in the interest of being a good neighbor I decide on going for a walk instead. 

It has been so long since I have been out walking I decided that I really needed a nature fix so I choose a trail along the river not far from where I live.

I drove through some seedy sections of town to get there but the views and proximity to city and nature make it a desirable destination.   I locked my truck and (armed with my whistle and cell phone and camera) I headed out for a brisk walk.   I did not need to worry.  I found the trail to be very a popular spot with plenty of people embracing the wonderful day.  

Does anyone know what kind of bike this is?   He certainly seemed to enjoy himself but it looked like a lot of work to me especially when going up hill.

looking from the trail west

The newly paved trail, borders the north side of the river a short distance from the downtown area.  The north side of the river goes has remained undeveloped until now.  Currently a new upscale condo and housing development is being constructed with the trail maintaining the edge overlooking the river and views.
 

 


Due to careful planning, everyone will have access and have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful area into the future.

Some of the wildness will be lost as the condo's densely occupy the space but the green space along the river will be preserved.






The closer you get to the city,
                            the better the views.

Across the river is another area of Spokane called Browne's Addition.  The big buildings you see contain the Museum and Campbell house that we visited last Fall.

 

Looking again to the East, is Riverfront Park.  It was the site of the 1974 Exposition known as the World's Fair.  The clock tower on the right and the tent like structure shown in the center remain in the park which is the anchor of the downtown area.

The Expo began a city center rejuvenation that continues modernizing the downtown area.

North of the Expo area is the Courthouse (spiral shown on the far right) and the Public Safety Building on the left.  What an odd name for the County Jail! The  first section of the new Condo, Townhouses are shown in the foreground.

 

Evening casts a different glow to the familiar site as the lights begin to twinkle.

It was a good day.....

What did you do today?

Straddling Two Worlds

It's time to post when followers comment on your blog to check if you are OK.  Yep I'm fine , just finding myself without a lot of noteworthy things to say...  It does amaze me when I realize that some followers leap beyond the pages to become a support network and even friends.  I never imagined that followers would still hang around if I wasn't on the road full time.  I'm so appreciative of your support. 

Before the holidays I left you as I was straddled with one foot remaining in full time mode and the other with roots planted in Spokane.

In full time mode I am ever poised, watching the weather for a break that allows me some soul refilling outdoor time.  But alas, it is winter here and outdoor time for me at least is fleeting.  Icy roads have limited outdoor excursions but sunny sky's beckon me with the promise of the days to come.  Outdoor walks have become infrequent and the high calorie treats of the holiday have come home to roost.  I detest the idea of living my life on hold until I am able to fit in some travel time which leads to unsettled feelings.  But at the same time I feel unable (unwilling?) to build a stationary life.

How long can I bed down in the family room without defined space to call home.  At these moments I have found myself perusing the want adds looking a small little houses that I could use as a home base during the winter months and a launch pad during the fair weather non-school months.  Yet, I do NOT want to be tied financially and problematically to a home that I will eventually need to divest of in order to travel. (I just did that and it was hard!)   


Wander lust prevails and I find myself  thinking about how far away I can go over Spring Break....

I hate the idea of putting my desires out to the universe as it almost dares fate to mess with my ideas. but I'm thinking Utah sounds like a great place to get away to....

 Utah was one of my original desired destinations.  I believe I could loose myself in Utah for quite some time.  I hate whirlwind travel so I am more likely to set up the trailer in one or two basecamps and explore around those areas.

 

While two weeks is not long enough, it just might tide me over until warmer weather.  I'm looking forward to March when the trailer will come out of storage and I can get it ready for road travel.

Now to get through a couple of ugly months until the weather begins to turn.  I guess that is the best time for dreaming and ordering travel maps and materials. I am definetely wanting to spend a couple of days at Antelope Island and time around Moab.  

So what are your NOT TO BE MISSED spots in Utah?

Winter Solstice - The countdown to Spring Begins

Winter Solstice is finally here.... the daylight will become longer each day.

 In March my Trailer will come out of storage..... Let the countdown begin!! 

 In March my Trailer will come out of storage..... Let the countdown begin!!

  Be still my heart, camping season is just around the corner.

I have long had a tradition of baking cookies on the longest day of the year.  My all time favorite cookies are Pepparkakor, a traditional  beloved Swedish Christmas tradition.  They are thin and lightly spicy, similar to Gingerbread (only better!!)

 

They are the best tea - dunking cookie I can imagine.

Since I am not on the road this winter...I can at least enjoy these wonderful treats.

We had a picture taken at Church today in front of the Christmas tree I decorated at Church.  The ornaments were had made by women of the Church who have now passed on.  What a wonderful way to keep their spirits alive within the Church that they loved.

Auntie Margie, Hailey, Karen

 This picture is not the best.... but it is the best we have.


From our Home to Yours ~ Have the Very Merriest of Christmas !

Christmas Traditions - Keep the Old or Built New?

Last year, as Christmas neared, I was preparing for life on the road.  I sold or re-homed 95% of my worldly good in preparation for my new life.  It was a tug-a-war between my sentimental longing to hold on to everything that told my heart a story and my need to shake off the things that accumulated in the bowels of my home and ranch consuming my time and energy.

By the end of February, I had a house ready for sale.

The most difficult things to sort through for me were the family pieces, handed down from generation to generation, and all the holiday decorations and dishes, that occupied a room of their own.  I purged and gave many pieces to my children.  What remained was contained in 2 bins.  I saved one small bin for the trailer and one large bin to remain in storage along with the family pieces at my Aunties.


So times and life directions have since changed, and I am now at my Aunties with my Granddaughter.  My remaining things are here in bins, my trailer is in storage for winter, awaiting new adventures and I'm feeling a bit like a fish out of water.

After Thanksgiving I helped decorate the church for Christmas so it seemed natural to come home and decorate the house for the holidays.

Years ago, I made a tree in a sleigh for my Auntie and Uncle.  We redid the decorations with Teddy Bears for this year....With a Teddy Bear Standing Guard. 
I brought up my Aunties decorations and we decorated the living room.  With Aunties blessing, I decorated the family room with the remaining Christmas decorations I had saved.  

 Oh how, the sentimental feelings flowed. 

 
 Obviously, reducing the amount of things I possess has not my diminished my ability to form sentimental feelings to things.  Although I have observed that having some of my things around me has helped me approach Christmas not as it was, nor as it was planned, but in a new way.

 It certainly is a mix of old and new.

 While I feel somewhat suspended between the life that was and the life I planned, I am busy embracing life each day.  

 Emmit got his 'collar' off today.... and proceeds to check out the decorations.

There wasn't room for all of the ranch village I had saved but it was good to see this bit of the ole ranch.







     The decorations are in place,

                                       The cooking begun,

                                                          Now it's time to.....

Do you preserve old traditions or have you found new ways to celebrate the holidays?

Dammit Emmit

Currently, Travels have been suspended due to frigid weather.  Just when I think that life has become predictable without travels, Emmett surprises us.  I awoke to discover that Emmett was bleeding from a wound under his mouth.  Off to the Vet for Emmit.

Obviously Emmitt has been catting around. 

He comes home later in the day after surgery sporting a new collar.

(Taken a couple of days post surgery when he was feeling a little better)

He had a bite mark that abscessed under his chin probably from a cat fight......
His mane has been shaved and he is certainly feeling punk.  A drain tube will be removed on Monday... Stitches will come out in about 10 days.

 Spook and Socks have you been up to no good? 

Missy doesn't know what to think but certainly is finding his predicament fascinating. 

What's up with you Emmit?

After one night in the kennel I let him out but he is staggering around.  Guess he will have to relearn how to walk and get around furniture.

Thus far his Vet Bill is $300.
Merry Christmas poor little Emmit.

 Hope you are feeling better by then!

Latest update.... Missy has joined Emmit in the land of coneheads.

Life is just a barrel of monkeys at our house!!

A Thankful Heart....

For me, gratitude needs to be a state of mind and soul... not just a day in November.  As is often the case I wonder how much of holidays celebrations become a routine without much thought or reflection.

Thanksgiving is one such day. 

A quiet moment while dinner cooks

Last Year my leg was in a cast and I was on crutches, so cooking was out of the question for me.  We went to the local diner and had a free dinner that the owners do for the local community as a thank-you to the local community.

So for beginners, I am grateful to be standing on both lgs.

Thanksgiving finds me living a very different life than I had planned.  There are blessings in all kind of circumstances but sometimes it is necessary for us to really LOOK.   

What a challenge it is to cook a Thanksgiving feast for one vegetarian, another who is lactose intolerant and another who follows a low fat and low sugar diet.  I did lots of searching for receipes to accommodate everyone's needs.

 

 With three people eating turkey, it seemed a little overkill to place the whole turkey on the platter so I put the sliced turkey on the platter and surrounded it with Sauteed Brussel Sprouts.  It certainly turned out colorful.

 

I had a great time shopping for Thanksgiving dinner at Trader Joe's.  I love that place.  My latest find is multi-colored carrots and they are a rainbow of yellow, orange and red.  I have named them little jewels.  They are very sweet and colorful.  I have already returned and bought 2 more bags.  One of the pleasures and downsides of shopping at Trader Joe's is the constantly changing inventory.  It is fun to try new additions but at TJ's you never know how long it will be available so you buy multiples of things you like.

Time to dish up and dig in!

Oops, no room for fruit salad!

Yep, I ate it all!!

Cherished Family Times.

The next day while suffering from Carb overload I was laying on the couch and watching a circus of squirrels playing in the tree outside of my window.


The sun had  just come up and provided a wonderful glow on the tree.  Without leaves in the tree their nest is fully visable and they were darting in and jumping out, leaping from limb to limb.

I took pictures from inside, and outside...








 and even had company while taking pictures from my perch on the bench beside the garbage can.
 

Emmit wondering what all the fuss is about!!

Don't bother looking too hard..... Romeo and Juliet were moving like greased lightening.... every picture showed branches but no frisky squirrels...

Watch out squirrels.... I will catch you yet!!

 Late but Thankful Days!