a walk in the woods...

Feet up, water beside me, pups resting at my side.  This is our current status.  We're tired.  After a semi-rushed morning to make sure we make it to Emmenegger Nature Park early enough that we were able to walk all alone, we are all in a cool down mode.  They've finished their breakfast and I got the yogurt started, although it will mean I am going to be up late tonight to finish it.  Oh well, it happens.

Yesterday we tackled an extremely steep set of hills at Emmenegger, not the one we thought we were going to tackle.  I assure you. In fact the first steep climb should have convinced me that I am not in my 40's anymore. Heck, maybe my 20's.  But my babies were determined so up we went, several steep sections more. It was completely worth it.  The view from up there was beautiful and peaceful. 

Today, we went back.  We were determined, okay I was, to tackle that loop trail.  It's just shy of a mile, but the darn thing is a serious climb up and then back down.  If I'm questioning life later today, well let's just say I completely deserve it. 

One of my favorite books in my late 20's, early 30's was "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson.  I read it many times, somewhere along my life journey I've lost the book or I would read it again.  As the pups and I spend hours walking down dusty trails I remember it.  It inspired my dream to someday hike the Appalachian Trail.  

It's a dream that will never come to life at this point, but boy oh boy it was a definite dream back in the day.  Now the idea of sleeping in a tent and hiking where there is the possibility of bears, bobcats and other creatures.  Not to mention the dreaded snakes.  Well, lets just say, the mature me wants not part of that! I'll stick to my little local trails, I've been in the Smokey Mountains, it's not a hike for the faint of heart...

We traveled the upper ridge of the walk, looking down through all of the woods, it felt a bit like we were walking through paradise.  Yesterday we got out there late so there were a lot of other people and dogs, that becomes an obstacle course.  Both the pups are people and dog friendly, neither of them have mastered the appropriate way to greet new friends.  It's a struggle when you are walking almost 200 pounds of muscle.  And let me tell you, that little one is STRONG!

Coming down the path we followed yesterday, one that merged with today's path, we arrived at one of the beautiful wooden bridges that are throughout this park.  It was beautiful yesterday.  Today... well, today was sadness.  I didn't take a picture, I didn't want to memorialize the petty destructiveness. All over the beautiful bridge out in the midst of the beauty was ugly white graffiti. Random characters, words written and scribbles. 

Further down we reached the accessible loop again and started to walk that paved trail to give our legs and heart rate a rest.  I am very watchful when out with the pups, I don't listen to music or podcasts instead focusing on my surroundings and what is going on. You simply can't be "blind" anymore. I noticed the man on one of the bridges right away and chose to go the other direction. It wraps in an odd shaped figure 8. 

He had my full attention, as his movements were strange and from a distance I couldn't tell what he was doing.  I wanted to be sure he didn't need help, but also that he didn't have a dog with him and wasn't a threat to us. 

As we passed him, he was on his knees leaning over the edge.  But didn't appear injured and had no dog, so we continued on. Moments later we heard the sander.  This gentleman wasn't a youngster, at least my age, probably closer to Hubs age.  And here he was on his knees sanding off the evidence of more destruction.  As we came around the loop we paused for their water break and watched him for a moment or two. 

Why are there people that have so much disrespect for things?  It's not art.  It's pure destruction. How were they raised?  Have they ever encountered the consequences of their actions? It made me sad, angry and disgusted all at once.  People make we weary lately.  I hate to make a blanket statement like that, but it's where I'm at.  

On the 15 minute rush hour drive today, I was almost hit 4 times.  The first was a lady in an SUV pulling blindly out of the gas station.  She was shoving food into her mouth, holding her cellphone against the steering wheel and just dashed out on a blind hill. She missed us by inches.  A few moments later the guy in a car 3 lanes over realized he'd almost missed his turn, no warning... dash over... and boom there he is zipping in from the right. I was already stressed and hoping that would be it. Unbelievably the driver of the semi-truck beside us evidently had to blow his nose and was driving with his elbows, swerving into both lanes on either side of him.  Leaving the highway, how was that only 5 miles of trauma, I figured I was safe, only a short distance to the exit for the park, and here comes another texting fool, looking down at their phone swerving into our lane head on, thankfully he looked up in time to realize. 

I assure you, I completely needed that hour in the woods with my babies.  I needed to not be by people. I don't understand the need to be absorbed with doing things other than driving, while driving.  Hubs often daydreams about another motorcycle.  The very idea terrifies me.  Not because of his skill, but because of the insanity on the roads. 

Folks, if you get a moment to walk in the woods.  Do it!  Reset your spirit, give your soul a chance to wander freely in nature.  It's hard to find that these days, but it feels vital to our very existence.  I need to get with it, I need to finish my French Butter, it's been fermenting for 48 hours. And then hop in the shower to head out after lunch to go take my art class.  Ironically, in the woods. There might be a theme for my life lately. 

Enjoy this beautiful day, go walk in the woods if you can... 

much love, 

b

I'm standing...

Oh my... sorry folks but today calls for a double dipper!  No not ice cream, blogs!  My experience this morning was so inspiring that I needed to take a deep breath and process the moment.  I might make some of you angry and you will quit reading, sorry, but I am rather tired of bottling up my thoughts, feelings and emotions to prevent someone from getting their panties in a twist. I have thoughts and feelings too, and they matter also. 

As I stood on the bridge overlooking highway 44 waiting for the convoy this morning it was an indescribable feeling.  Flags were waving everywhere, the sky was a brilliant blue, people were laughing and talking to one another, excited to be a part of such an experience. And seeing that first truck roll over the hill took my breath away!

Last night I had watched the rally about the flag mounted proudly on the first truck.  I had heard the story and listened intently with tears rolling down my face.  That flag represented the sacrifice of a soldier from WWII, his wife gave it to them to fly, so that her sweet husband would be part of something that he had fought for so long ago.  The preservation of freedom. 

Don't get me wrong, I do understand that some people do not believe their freedoms have been infringed on, some do not believe that mandates and decrees are strong enough.  Ironically the ONLY two masks I saw graced the faces of people proudly wearing their "press badge".  I fully respect your beliefs, thoughts and ideals.  They aren't mine. So on that point we are going to have to agree to disagree. 

Being part of such a beautifully inspiring peaceful protest this morning was beyond affirming.  Listening to the laughter and the joy.  Wow! Just WOW! 

There was one woman beside us, who evidently is making a name for herself on Telegram - I will say when the media interviewed her - she absolutely made me ill.  Not because she was teary and passionate, but because she turned it on like a faucet.  No different than the other theatrics being played out around the world.  But listening to the people around me, talking, cheering, celebrating being together.  That... was something else all together.  

The media was there for a portion of it, but they got their moments worth of talking points and poof they were gone.  I'm choosing to not listen to any of their shows, I was there, I experienced it first hand.  For 35 minutes straight Semi's of every type, passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, buses, motorcycles you name it poured under the bridge I was standing on.  Waving flags, honking horns, waving to the people that came out to support them.  If your stuff is on one of them FedEx trucks I saw... well it might be late. There were far more than I was prepared to count, three lanes strong at most times. 

Popping up every few moments were the glad handing politicians.  So full of themselves that they failed to notice the event wasn't about them. So eager to tell everyone within earshot that they are there to make a difference.  Hmmmm... didn't feel that way, not in the least. 

All of them prepared to make a stand. All of them putting their lives on hold to make a point.  Freedom isn't free.  And it can be lost in the twinkling of an eye. 

My feet were frozen, the ice hadn't melted away.  The wind was strong, nothing to block it as it whipped past us.  The joyous feeling has my heart filled.  My faith in mankind has been rekindled. 

If I lose friends, so be it.  Please remember for these two wearying years I supported your belief system and your fears.  I didn't judge you.  I didn't agree, but you probably never even knew that. So be it, it is what it is, I chose to stand for freedom.  I am all to aware that we have been on a brutally slippery slope for a long time.  Slowly things have been cancelled, rights have been chipped away, freedoms have been curtailed.  I admit to even buying into the belief that some of those times I supported the action out of fear. 

Not too long ago I sat in the midst of people that I thought were my friends and listened to them bashing the people I happily gathered with today.  Saying they were instilling hatred and fear.  As I stood near a gentleman waving a HUGE Gadsden flag I thought back to a heated discussion about how that flag represented hatred and people were afraid they would be harmed by those displaying it.  At the time it made me angry, I felt my voice was too small to be heard.  Today, it's true meaning rang loud and clear... It represents individual freedoms and limited government.  Funny, I didn't feel any hatred or fear being instilled today.  I felt power and freedom. I still consider some of those people my friends, I am not the kind of person that allows a difference of beliefs to end my friendships. The difference is now I understand what I was missing then. 

I am standing in faith.  I am standing proud of those that are choosing to step into the void, fearless and full of our freedoms.  I needed this morning, I needed to know I wasn't on an island.  In the crowd this morning, I heard someone say... "it's time for the silent majority to speak up".  

Yep... 

jumpy thoughts...

Happy March! I cannot believe it is already a new month, where is the time dashing off to?  It feels like 2021 was just a small moment away and here we are on the brink of spring. I noticed the crocuses are all pushing through this morning on our walk.  I think this is the year that I will finally get mine planted so that next spring I have beautiful flowers are the chill leaves. 

I woke up to the call of the wild this morning, our little Belle has found her voice and is not afraid to use it to make me aware of her displeasure at her situation.  Last night as we climbed the stairs to bed we must have disturbed her and she let me know that she had not received an adequate amount of snuggles before being put in her kennel as she and her brother climbed all over me before going back to sleep about 10 minutes later.  They are such love bugs, I am trying to not reward the demand and make them wait a few minutes calmly.  It's so tough, just like with kiddo's you want to make sure they are okay and know you are there for them. Our training times are making progress but not nearly quick enough. 

waiting for mom to finish showering

I'm antsy this morning.  In a good way.  The People's Convoy is coming down the road just a few moments from our house.  The flag is in the back of my car and I am ready when I get the alert that they have left Cuba, MO.  That puts them just over an hour from my house.  I am excited to go and cheer them on.  I know I haven't been quiet about my displeasure at government over reach, and I would love to be able to hook up my camper and head off with them.  It isn't what I am meant to do, so instead I will definitely be cheering them on their journey! 

I can't wait!  Hubs is taking an early lunch to join me.  Maybe it isn't as large as the group in Canada, but it is just one of many here in the US.  

tattling that mommy said no treats until 
we eat our breakfast...

I think my brain is hopping around a lot this morning.  I feel a bit over here, a bit over there.  So many things are grabbing my attention, filling my heart and making me want to go in a dozen different directions at once.  Pretty sure I needed my self-imposed day off yesterday.  I skipped my work out, but still managed to walk just shy of 6 miles - oh the joy of puppies.  I did odd chores, but mostly I sat in the sunshine and regrouped.  I talked to my sister while she waited for her sweet grandson to come out of surgery, oh that waiting is the hardest part.  I didn't craft, I didn't do big chores, I was simply there. 

I talked with my sister, spent quality time with my Hubs, got to visit with my daughter and my youngest grand for a bit and I just took time to breathe. 

Today, I feel ready.  The sun is already warming the air around us, I have already worked out and taken the babies for their first long walk. We visited with other pups and played in the grasses. Today will be about completing some projects, spending time out in the yard working on the treetop garden (can you believe it is almost time to plant?), soaking up some sunshine and taking my babies on a hike somewhere new - after the convoy of course. 

Springtime gives me energy.  I am ready to spread my wings and tackle the world as soon as the weather starts to promise that spring is on the way. I long to spend countless hours outside, I am not as tired at the end of the day, I am simply ready to stop hibernating. 

successful basil start...

I am planning to paint my front door area and give it a spruce up as we are heading into this beautiful season, less dreary and more cheery. Although that is an odd way to think, as I am leaning into using a darker gray for the door and frame.  It's been blue far too long, I am tired of it.  A lot of my neighbors are painting their doors vibrant colors.  I don't know that I feel that is what I want.  I love some of them, they look so happy and bright, but to me those are accent colors not door colors. I seem to be moving into a deep gray phase, where the color is the accent not the primary.  We'll see.  

I am also debating on painting the back door.  I would love to replace it with a sliding glass door, I am just not sure if Hub's current interest is because he wants to shut me up or he really likes the idea. Hmmm, I wonder how he would feel about one of those beautiful colors on the back door?  No one would see it but us... and it might make a great accent to the treetop garden. 

I haven't told him yet about the idea that occurred to me as I shoo'd a bird out of the house yesterday.  Poor little thing was terrified, I wasn't thrilled, but it was my own fault.  The pups love to lounge in the sun on the back deck.  It is the highlight of their day I do believe so I have been leaving the door to the deck open so they can stroll back and forth.  I didn't think about it when we left for one of our many walks and we came home to a fluttering sound in my plants.  Yikes, bird inside!  I managed to chase it back out, without intervention from my little fur balls, but it was not a good time.  

So... Here's my thought, if we aren't switching out the door maybe I get a bit of my hippie vibe going and put some strands of beads or something like that across the opening.  Two fold reason, one to block a bit of the sun that blasts through there in the summer and two a deterrent to my little feathered friends. I mean it might be a bit too bohemian for my sweet Hubs, but then again.  I guess we'll chat about it while we are on our way out to cheer the convoy. 

handmade socks drying in the springlike sunshine

So as you can see... my brain is all over the place today.  Maybe it is giddy because the little guy did so great yesterday, he might even be able to be without oxygen support after this.  They are able to start planning ahead for his next surgery and frankly his color looks extraordinary now.  Or maybe it's springtime, maybe it's the energy on the planet.  Who knows, but bring it on!

Well, I want to get a few things done before we head out. Just got an update that the trucks are rolling and then it's an hour to here... Gotta get my stuff done... 

love and peace...

 

removing oneself...

I made some decisions yesterday.  I would love to delete Facebook completely, but unfortunately that is the platform for several classes I am taking.  So... there's that. But I did log off and will only be bouncing on to participate in my classes, I need space from the rolling negativity that is out there, from the control that other's are trying to force onto our lives and our free thought.  I can't deal with it any longer, or rather I won't. 

Last time I checked our constitution said we were born free.  So... count me in the free column. I also muted Nextdoor, debating on unsubscribing, but need to find an alternative to find out local community stuff as that seems to be the way everyone is communicating right now. I am only going to allow myself short window's of time to log on and check things out.  

Instead of wasting time in those bubbles, I spent time out at the park in the beautiful sunshine yesterday having a picnic with our youngest grand and the Pups.  I spent time starting my basil indoors (keep your fingers crossed - it's a first for me) and I also got the lavender seeds soaking in the fridge.  We'll see how that experiment turns out. 

A miraculous thing happened when I made the decision to basically stop using social media as a time suck.  My stress immediately went down.  My angst and anxiety ceased to be there.  I wasn't angry. I guess it is similar to when I stopped watching the news, because there was a time that I was a serious news junkie, it was always on, always blaring in some way around me.  It was the only thing I turned the television on for, I read it, I listened on the radio.  Then one day I noticed what they were talking about non-stop wasn't at all related to what I personally was observing and living.  I realized it was simply there to train you to think the way they wanted.  I realized that it was straight up propaganda.  I turned it off.  I've never looked back.  I prefer to see with my own eyes and to feel with my own heart.  I don't want to listen to the b.s. any longer. 

I woke up this morning, with what I had felt all along confirmed.  The other day it was non-stop breaking news that Russia would invade Ukraine at 2:30 in the morning on Feb. 16 - I'm assuming they were lying, as they are in a different time zone than we are and there has been no breaking news of an invasion.  

I'm tired of all of the fear mongering.  I told Hubs that I firmly did not believe the Russian government would announce an invasion - sort of defeats the purpose don't you think? As I wean the last of the propaganda news from my system and days pass from things they try to instill fear in you about - things that never happen, I am sure I will feel even more at peace. 

This morning as the sun dawned a beautiful red and I puttered out in the tree top garden, I am not someone to let 55 degree weather go to waste, I could feel something very right in my soul.  I was cherishing the calmness, having my fingers in dirt and wind in my hair.  I can't be the only human on the planet that is simply over the ignorance?

As the sun was rising we took the pups for a long walk and are now curled up on their respective beds snoozing away the morning.  There is bad weather blowing in as I type, over sixty degrees yesterday and snow by tomorrow - ah the Midwest. 

The confusion on their faces when Hubs and I were down in the yard and they were blocked up on the deck was absolutely priceless.  Tomorrow the guy is coming to give us a couple of bids on fencing, so we needed to get into agreement on what we wanted it to look like and what would be best for our babies.  Sure hope he shows up early in the day before the weather goes from wet to freezing. 

I honestly think I am looking forward to fencing a piece of our property to give them space to run and be silly, but to also give some boundaries to our world.  I know for a fact it will not keep the deer out of the yard, I watch them effortlessly jump over the neighbors fence all the time.  It will probably not give too much of a deterrent to the coyote and fox either, but knowing my babies can run makes me happy.  Besides, I spend a stupid amount of time outside when it isn't freezing, maybe I will find places to plant more plants and expand the beauty surrounding our home.  

photo credit - youngest grand!

Well, I have a ton of things I want to accomplish today, and one must make haste while babies sleep... if you need me, you know how to reach me... 

love and peace...