Flume Anyone?

Unless I am surrounded by locals, when I mention the flume, I receive some pretty strange looks - like I am speaking another language.  I then explain that the flume is the local spot for some cheap summer fun.  We visit it quite regularly!  It's a half pipe that takes the canal over the road.  

It's great because it's free, always open, and the water is really refreshing and cool.......clean, not so much!

The fact that it's a canal should let you know that there's more than just moss in the water, so germaphobes may be leery of venturing in!

The city cousins from San Diego were not afraid!  All except, for Timmie.  He wasn't quite sure it looked like his brand of fun.

Like any other summer activity.....treats are a must!!

Running back for more - one time down the flume is never enough!

 The temperature of the water can be a little shocking, especially for those use to heated pools!

And just one more time!!

Half Full or Half Empty

There is nothing like getting up early on a summer morning and seeing the sprinklers glistening in the sunshine.  The sparkle reminds me of fireworks......well, fireworks on the ground, during the day, in only one color, and  less dangerous!  Okay - maybe not the best analogy.  Anyway, it's peaceful and beautiful.

I have quite a large yard and it takes a lot to keep it green.  You see, I still live in the dark ages and pull a half a dozen hoses around my yard.  About this time of year, I get pretty tired of my hourly irrigation duties and very jealous of those with sprinkling systems.  I try hard to appreciate the ritual and avoid becoming cynical.  This can be difficult.

This summer has been pretty dry and pretty much rain free.  The days have been hotter than average and summer temperatures came much earlier than expected.  This does not aid me in anyway in having a good attitude.  This morning I tried really hard to be grateful for the water I have.  It might be more difficult for me than for others, but I have the water to use.  What would my yard be like if I simply didn't have irrigation... dry and ugly.  So today I choose to be appreciative for the blessing of water.  It keeps my yard green, my flowers happy, and me busy.

Summer is Here!!

Even though we've had much higher than normal temperatures and the irrigation pipe have been going for a few months now, it hasn't truly felt like summer until just the other day.  The heat has been relentless - the animals don't even dare venture out into the sun.  We are all feeling drained, thirsty, and are wearing our traditional red cloak of the "sun burn" race.  All of this should/would make it feel like summer, but something was missing.........our henna tattoos!!

Just being honest, like most people, we tend to wear less in the summer than at other times.  I try really hard not to offend those around me by showing mostly just my feet.  With more skin on display, we all really enjoy getting hennaed.  We were first introduced to henna tattoos at our local gardener's market.  It was kind of expensive, but thankfully not permanent!!  It only lasts a week or so and it's slightly less noticeable than it's real counterpart, being that it ends up a few shades darker than your own skin.  We love them!

Last year, Emilee decided that she would try free-handing her own henna tattoo.  We found some henna at a local shop that offered different goods from around the world.  Just looking around the store was an adventure in itself!  The henna we found came in a kit with everything needed.  It was much less than getting just one done at the gardener's market so we figured, why not?  We googled some images and found the most amazing designs.  It's culturally so fascinating and beautiful!!

A year later and a few hennas under her belt, Em is quite good and we are all happy to decorate our pasty white skin with something other than a sunburn!!

Lottie had Em do a guitar......it's her love as of late!

Em working her magic on Hannah!!

Good job girl!!

A Moment to Breathe

 Today is the first day in a long time that I've found myself with some discretionary "free" time.  Ever since Emilee's graduation the end of May, life here as been slightly beyond busy and past the point of crazy.  We've all been busy working on the farm, in the yard, various school camps and lessons, and squeezing in some fun here and there.

I woke up this morning a little lost - wondering what to do with myself.  I took some time to roam around the yard and take some fun pictures.  It was so peaceful, nice, and......necessary!  I love it when in still moments, I can reflect on all the beauty around me.  I am so grateful for the small miracles of nature.  I am in awe....and inspired!!

I cannot lie.  Most of the time, I am happiest when I am busy - busy working, creating, or laughing - all done with my family right along side of me.  Along with working together, we have some awesome summer traditions that we do as a family.  We go to the flume, get ice cream, have cookouts, show cows, pick huckleberries, and watch episodes of our favorite T.V. shows on DVD.  It's so nice to do all of these things together.

Our most sacred of traditions is our celebration of Memorial Day.  David has proclaimed this is OUR holiday.  As the kids grow up and move on with their own families, we will always gather on Memorial Day to celebrate and remember our heritage, and take our traditional Memorial Day photos.  David and I take one kissing overlooking Bear Lake.  This is where we had our very first kiss.  It's fun to hear the kids giggle and gag as their parents relive this experience.  

The other photo that is important to us, is one of the kids at Strawberry Springs.  This year we looked back at all the photos of years previous.  We enjoyed seeing the changes we've all gone through.  It's amazing how time flies and I am amazed by what David and I have created together.  Whether the "busy" is for work or for play, I am truly grateful for every moment I get to spend with these awesome people!  I am truly blessed!

Lasts and Firsts

As I was sweeping out the garage yesterday morning, the girls came out to take off for school.  Hannah announced, "This will be our last day of school together".  I really hadn't put it together, and for a moment I felt a rush of emotion.  I have taken pictures of these two on their first day of school for years.  You see, they are only a year apart and have had a lot of "togethers".  Then I was shocked as Hannah suggested that I take a picture (she hates having her picture taken!).  So I realized that this was a fleeting moment and even the girls felt it's importance.

These two have come a long way.  They are two very different personalities and have very different interest and talents.  For years the differences kept them at odds, but once they embraced the idea that they didn't have to be the same and that the differences would be a benefit to them, they have been very real friends.  I am not sure that there is anything more pleasing to a parent than when your children are truly friends!

 Later that day a "first" took place.  I took our new puppy up to pet day for Steven.  He's our youngest and I am sure that there will be complaints from the older kids.  It's Herman's puppy, so I got him out of class to help out.

The kids loved Maybell and I think she loved all of the attention!

I think Steven didn't mind it either!

"Dandy"lions

Why did it have to end?  Why can't dandelion and I be like we used to?  Our relationship was once full of fun, mischief, and laughter.  Can we regain what we've lost?  I don't know, but I'm willing to do my part to bring us back together.........

Once this little, sunny flower meant happy days laying under a summer sky, making glorious crowns of gold, and rubbing each others cheeks to see if we liked butter.  Those days seem like so long ago.  I miss them.  Now, with a yard full of the dandelions, I just seem to find myself annoyed.  I don't like to be annoyed.  It's a negative, joy-sucking parasite that doesn't help anyone.  So I find myself at a crossroads......either I spray my lawn incessantly or I change my attitude.  (I'm not quite sure which would be more difficult.)  One option guarantees grumbling and cussing the cute little plants that came there no fault of their own or I can choose to re-embrace my youthful attitude.  If I can embrace anything youthful, I think now is the time to do it.  So, I chose the latter of the two........or at least I am trying to!

 It's fun to remember how I used to love dandelions - didn't we all.  Even when they were past their prime, they were still fun......fun to blow and watch drift away.  And in some ways, they were still beautiful with their puffy, white heads.  It was always a challenge to try and find the perfect orb with all of it's billowy seeds barely hanging on and quickly blow them all away before the breeze would.  It was fun.  They were fun.  Now the only challenge is to get rid of them before they reach any kind of billowy beauty.

 I also remember thinking about each little individual seed as it launched from it's mother plant.  Wondering how far and where it would go.  Would it end up across the road or miles away?  I would never know and not knowing made it wonderful.  So fun to wonder about things.......

As I sat there taking this picture I was mesmerized by the little seed barely hanging on and I couldn't look away as it did battle with the breeze blowing slightly.  I was surprised at how long it took before the breeze finally set it aloft.

So, after some reflection, I find dandelions much more pleasing.  I think of the joy they've brought me in the past, the metaphors that can be derived from them at the present and I do see a future for us together. A new perspective can cure a lot of ills.  So much of what we find annoying in life can be changed if we only change our attitudes toward them. It's not an easy thing to do, but worth the time and effort. That's the lesson learned from my yard of dandelions.  So when you drive by and wonder why I've let my yard go, no, I'm not ill, not on vacation, and I'm not suffering a nervous breakdown.  I've just been busy adjusting my attitude!!

*Life on the Farm - Boys Need Not Apply

The Opal of My Eye

I haven't blogged in awhile.  I feel a little bad, but I've been lured away by a new love.........my '63 Lil Loafer trailer.  I acquired it while hanging with some of my best pals a few weeks back.  Since that time, I have been consumed with my "make-over" ambition and spent every extra minute painting, sewing, and dreaming.  Yesterday, I finally finished!  Well, I finished the inside, at least for now.  I've heard that these little trailers can cause an infatuation that keeps you tweaking, updating, and working on them.  It's a real love affair!  I wanted to share some of my before and after photos.  I would love nothing more than to hear your comments!

Here's the "before" eating/sitting area.  The birch interior was in great shape, so not too much work  was needed - just dollying it up a bit.  It was missing the table, so I re-purposed an old door.  David even commented how much he liked my new "table"!

The other end of the trailer had old wood paneling and brown appliances.  It did not have that glamping feeling!  So I painted the paneling cream and the appliances a deep turquoise.  I also painted the drawer fronts a pale pink and added clear glass pulls.  Some might find it a little girly, but that's the point - I am a girl and it's my trailer!

Here's the "after"!  I just love how much lighter and brighter it is!  Check out the cool original back splash behind the stove.......so cute!

 And here's the in-between space, the closet.  It gives some of my kids a headache that one door is wood while the other is painted.  Truth is that one was the nice birch and the other the yucky paneling. I guess I am too lazy to replace one of the doors and/or paint over the wood (that just seems morally wrong).  The only solution was to paint the paneled door and leave the other.  It doesn't bother me and well, it's my trailer!!

After spending so much time and effort, I feel as if I've birthed another child - one of my creative self.  I now understand why the women who re-do these vintage trailers name them!  In that spirit, I have named my sweet, little bundle of fun, Opal!  Because, well, she's a real gem.......and I love her!!

* Check out the new recipe I tried yesterday - Citrus Coconut Butter Cookie -

under the recipe tab!