Wagon Train...

Today I leave for Chinle, AZ. We will take the wagons and horses and ten dudes up into the canyon there with a Navajo guide. I will do a photo journal of the trip and share it with you when I return on the 12th of this month. November is here in full force and my fiftieth birthday fast approaches! Then, you get to hear the ordinary ravings of a woman all of fifty years each and everyday for 365 days. Stay tuned, this should be fun!

My nephew in the desert around Mesquite, NV.

Happy Birthday, Taylor!

Today is our middle daughter's birthday. She is 21 years old. She is so beautiful and has the sweetest heart. Ever since we can remember Taylor has been helping others. She would even stay in at recess to tie Dustin's shoes, a special needs kid, to make sure that he got to go outside with the other kids. Twenty one.... no way. I remember the day she was born. I held that little, tiny dark-haired baby in my arms. I nursed her, I changed her, I loved her so much... still do! Our little Tater-bug. We love you. Happy Birthday to You!!

The Great Converter

"She is the cornerstone of the farm. The great converter. She takes grass --that ubiquitous terrestrial plankton--and uses the four-part trick of rumination to unlock its cellulose, release its energy." --Kristin Kimball (The Dirty Life) Of course she is referring to the extraordinary dairy cow. My sister-in-law has one. I want one. She says to think twice about this decision... I already have. I want to milk the cow, skim the cream for my coffee and eat the fresh, soft cheese that I will craft by hand. Will it get old? I hope not. I am ready for this amazing miracle just like the gathering of those hen's eggs!! I love the simplicity of the farm life. More like the constancy and steadfastness of ordinary. Gotta go....hubby needs a ride home from his construction shop. More later.

The Changing of the Guard

Oh how thankful I am for the changing of the seasons. I am ready for the storms of winter. I am ready for the colder weather. I am glad that seasons change. I am ready for the changes outside and in. A natural change of scenery. An inward change of attitude. I can weather this. With God's help, this child can heal. :)

Changes, changes, changes... I wrote this in an email to my brother this morning. We have since moved, again, this past week. Everything changes. Stretching, growing, adapting. This is a good thing. I am choosing to believe it to be a great adventure! I even woke up in the night and smiled at the goodness and greatness of God! "O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and You have healed me!" Psalm 30:2 I know this to be true... I haven't truly smiled in the long, darkness of night

in so long. Today... just for today.

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Happy Birthday to you, my mother, my friend. You have been my constant companion all of my days. You have loved me even when I was unlovable. You have counseled me through the roughest of times. Like and anchor you keep me steady and still when I am ready to take flight. Thank you to my mama. You rock. I am indeed blessed. Nowhere is there a mother like mine. I love you.

My Mom and my little brother!! Isn't she beautiful!

Morning Has Broken...

Good morning. It is about 6:30 am here in Cheyenne. Feels like I've been gone for so long. Went up north this past weekend, developed a whopping headache that took almost two days to subside. Oh well, Tuesday is the new Monday! I love Mondays... put some order back to it. My new cookbook is coming along splendidly. I am excited to hand it down to my girls in the days to come. Handwritten recipes from all the grandmas in our lives compiled in one place. Does anyone else have a gazillion recipes tossed in a box next to your bazillion cookbooks and clippings? Time to put some order to it.

I painted this pie awhile back.