Trixie's Travels...

My Papa

This afternoon, part of me seemed to be emptied.  I got a phone call that my Papa had passed away.  He was 92.

My Nana, Papa's wife, had passed away 5 years ago and he was my remaining link to the fondest memories one could ever have growing up.  Papa had retired the year I was born from air traffic controlling and they moved to Montana from sunny California.  It was a move that I never heard they regretted and I was so glad that they moved there.

I spent almost every summer of my life with Nana and Papa in Montana.  Days after school ended, I was with them until a few days before school started.  As grandparents, they were perfect to me.  No one loved me like they did.  They were stability in a life that was unstable because of divorce. 

They owned a log cabin part of the time they lived in Montana.  It was on five acres near the Swan River.  You had to drive on a dirt road, no faster than 10 miles an hour because dust would fly everywhere if you went any faster.  At the loggy, the wind would howl under the house and Papa would tell me and my sister that an alligator lived under there and was waiting to get us.  It scared the living daylights out of us and Nana would laugh and say "Oh Bernie, quit scaring the girls like that." 

He taught me to drown gophers in a garden.  He taught me to listen to music, though I could never keep time and I don't know how many times he tried to teach me.  He listened to my concerts on Nana's organ - the self-taught songs that I needed to accompany with singing. 

He taught me that pulling a weed without the root is useless.  If you are going to do something, do it right the first time. He taught me that it is good to sit and enjoy the company of those around you after you have worked hard.  He would share a Coors with my Nana in the afternoon about 3pm everyday during the week.  It was his "treat" for the hard work that was done around the house.

He never did let me mow his lawn or drive his car.  He thought I would wreck the driving lawn mower and his car.  Even going up to visit as an adult, he wouldn't let me drive his car - so I always made sure to bring my own! ha ha

Before I was married, I asked him how I would know that the guy would be the right one.  He told me that "I would just know.  That person would be the one that just makes you whole but until that time I would change my mind about a dozen times - because that is the way a woman thinks."  I took that advice as gold.

Yes, my Papa was an incredibly important person in my life.  He and Nana share a place in my heart that will always be a huge part of what has molded and shaped me as a person.  They were there when no one else was and for that I am grateful. 

My love for Montana isn't because it is a beautiful place, it is because that is where my Nana and Papa loved me the most and that makes it one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

Papa, you will be missed but I am ever so thankful to Jesus to the memories that He has given me to think about - those are priceless.

A kiss on your forehead, a tight hug around your waist and an "I Love You" forever until we see each other again. 

My heart,

Your Bald Bubble-Blowing Granddaughter

Red Boot Nightmare

My boots that are on the banner of this blog have been with me for a very long time, since 1989.  Back in the day, I was a nanny at a Dude Ranch to these two adorable boys who are now old enough to have their own families.  The term for the boots were "ropers" - I have no idea if they are called that still because I just don't go shopping for boots; mine have lasted quite well. 

Hot Rocks tried to get me to buy a new pair of boots but I felt like I was cheating on the ones I already had and I just couldn't do it.  We work well together...we are a perfect fit.  They have kept themselves in great shape until I went to bed and started to dream about them.

I have NEVER dreamt about my boots - at least not that I can recall, but this time it was a full-blown nightmare.  I was going somewhere in my dream...I can't remember where but I was in a hurry.  I went to pull my boots on and my foot went through the bottom of it!  The sole had completely worn off.  I was aghast! I went driving through town to see who could resole my boot but no one could.  It was wild - I awoke really saddened about my boots - crazy I know - but what makes it worse is that Hot Rocks dreamt about my boots too!! THE VERY SAME NITE!!!

Let me make this clear, I do not have regular conversations about boots with my husband.  I rarely talk about shoes - I am quite content with what I have. 

His dream was that I went to put on my boots but my foot went through the bottom so I STOLE a pair of boots because I was LATE for BANJO class!

Remember I am NOT musically inclined.

From his dream you can obviously tell where he thinks my morals stand - HA!

To think that we had both dreamed about my boots just cracks me up - we didn't even talk about them during the day. 

Where is Joseph when you need him?  Think Old Testament - God gave him the ability to interpret dreams.  I have no idea what these dreams meant.

I got out of bed and just thought, "This will be a weird day! Thank God my boots are OK."

 

Two Words and Clarification

In our house we use two different words for urinate.  One is the common verbiage of "pee" and the other is "tinkle".  Now, tinkle came from my grandmother and because I had Sis first that is the term that I used. 

Today the terms were clarified to me by Mem.  I asked her to let the dogs out to go to the bathroom; as we are dog-sitting a puppy and it has nailed our carpet a number of times - we are trying to be VERY pro-active about taking it outside BEFORE our carpet gets nailed!

As she was coming back in I asked her if the puppy had tinkled...her response was "Mom, dog's don't tinkle, they pee."  So I flipped the question on her and asked her, "Well, who tinkles then?"  Her response to me was like "Come on, don't cha know" attitude. 

"Mom, we tinkle but sometimes we pee."  At that point, I thought to myself - do I really want to know the rest of this reasoning.  I found that I was quite satisfied with the conversation as it stood and let the rest go.

Just know that in our house, according to Mem, dogs pee and people tinkle but occasionally pee.

Drawings by Mem

As of late, our littlest one, Mem,  has been carrying around a sketch pad wherever we have gone. 

She drew this one for her Auntie Karrie...

 

Mem said "Auntie likes owls and this is for her."

The next one was a dilemma for her.  She wanted to draw a giraffe BUT she didn't know how to draw the body. 

Instead she just drew the spots and the face - she just couldn't figure out how to draw the body around the spots!

The last one is my favorite.  I think all of my kids have drawn in a similar fashion at one time or another.  These little guys look like little hamsters!

It cracks me up when their drawings really start to take shape. 

It means two things - 1.  They are growing up and 2. They are growing up to fast!

Garden Bugs

Garden bugs that were in our soil....

Garden bugs that are NOT in our soil anymore...

and very happy chickens!

Our Home Garden

Last year we took the plunge and really made an effort with our own home garden.  I put in a few raised beds; two for flowers and two for veggies or herbs. 

In one of the slightly raised beds, I planted artichokes. 

I planted four artichoke plants...this is important information to remember as you will soon see why.  I did not realize how BIG and how much room they would take; not only that, they spread!  Monster artichoke plants have taken over!

We don't mind as our family really LIKES artichokes and would eat them every day if we could.  I had planted two different types of artichokes both a globe artichoke but because I was slow on the garden journaling there is not any record of what kind I planted!

Put that on my list of things to do:

 - Need to write down what I plant

Ok, that has now gone to the bottom of my list with 100 other things to do above it!

Hot Rocks was getting a work out in the heat yesterday. Gosh! That man is HOT! In more ways than one..if I do say so myself and I do say so!

We decided to replace the fencing around the garden to accommodate more vine growing seeds. Check out the terminator glasses! They crack me up!

He tore down the fence and started to flip the dirt so we could add some amendments. He found the random plantings of Pook's potatoes from this winter.

Pretty good for a first time planting and really just "winging" it.

Look at the iris blooms - aren't they lovely? 

These were iris plants from the the man who owned the home prior to us.  They are somewhere around 20 years old.  I will separate the tubers later on and put some in another spot. 

The blooms last for such a brief time, but I was so glad we were here to see them.  We are hoping to get the fence and the watering system up this week so that planting will start on the weekend. Can't wait to start filling in those rows!

We are adding another area to the garden but I will save those pictures for another time! The area is a humdinger of a spot!

Oh, to be diggin' in the dirt again!

Garden Bug

On Friday, I woke up in the morning in complete anticipation...it was like I had been away from home for a great length of time and I was headin' back.  The morning was gorgeous - it would be a perfect day.  Then the plane was delayed!  I had to wait..the kids were in that very lazy way of getting ready and we were running behind schedule to get out of the house.  I was going to be late!  The thought of it was driving me NUTS!

You see, I love the garden.  Getting dirty, digging up the soil, feeling the earth at my fingertips, having your muscles ache...planting a little bit of life and seeing what God will allow to happen....now that is what I am talkin' about!  

The thing that has made this particular garden so dear to my heart is the people.  It is more than just work - it is a whole lot of great relationships.  

It is like hibernating all winter and when it is starting to get nice outside, everyone else shows up!  The garden is a unique community of people and we love it!

It is a Homeschool Community Garden.  Each family pays dues for the year to provide for the materials that will be needed that season.  One family has donated the use of their land for years for this project.  We finally came up with a name for their place the "Crooked Rows Farm" - we can't get the rows straight!

This is only our second season but our family has felt like we have been a part of this for years - that is how wonderful the friendships are here.  The kids work part of the time and socialize the rest...HA!  They learn a great deal throughout the whole growing season.  

This year we are branching out and after the families have gathered what they need for that week, we will offer baskets of produce for sale to other homeschool families in the area.  

We are also going to have a chicken co-op.  A 10-week class on raising chickens for the dinner table.  We were part of the "pilot" program last year (without the classes). We did what it took to "prepare" the chickens for the table! 

There are more families than even last year and last year had the most participants since Homeschool Harvesters originated.  

There isn't anything quite like driving down the gravel road each week.  You never know who will be there, what the conversations will entail or how much work you will get done.  That is the great thing about the garden - you just go and get to be surprised!

Good Eats....

On the Menu:

Breakfast for the kids.....

Dessert for all of us....

 

The above is poached pear - compliments of Chef Hot Rocks

Poached Pear, French Vanilla Ice Cream and a Berry-Red Wine Sauce - again compliments of Chef Hot Rocks

Yum!!!

Aaaaarooorooorooo!

....has Duke got an announcement for you! You see a new addition has arrived in our family.  I never thought it would happen...I didn't think it was possible - EVER!!!! In my wildest imagination, I never dreamed of this...

and then it happened!  This nice man in a blue uniform brought a box to my door (actually I ran to his little box car at the curb)!  I gently brought the box in and placed it ever so carefully on my counter then I whipped out a pair of scissors and busted through the tape and there it was......a dream come true!

My very own MACbook!  Oh my goodness! My crazy sister and her crazy husband sent it to me!!!! As soon as it arrived, I picked up the phone... dialed her number... put it on speaker phone and yelled like a WILD woman - they are way to good to me and no, I am not sharing them - they are mine FOREVER or until they disown me. LOL!

You see my sister looks at it like this - she MUST have access to me at ALL times and so she makes it happen because she is a make it happen kind of gal and I LOVE that about her - she can make it happen!

What would I do without them?  Now I can blog EVERYWHERE - no need to put a "vacation hold" on blogging and not letting the rest of the world know about our run-of-the-mill life. 

How fun!  I can't even begin to send them enough coffee cards to repay them but I can certainly try....hee hee

Here's to the fun that is to come!

P.S. You guys are GREAT! and thank you from the deepest part of my heart!

Fit to Win!

In an effort to lighten my load a little more during the day...when Hot Rocks is home he has taken over the P.E. portion of school. 

The battle cry rang in the house and the kids hustled to get it together and present themselves in an orderly fashion before their Father.....actually it was more of "Where are my shoes?"..."Has anyone seen my helmet?"..."Dad, can you get my bike out?"...."Wait a minute, I have to put my hair up!"..."You didn't tell us last night that we were going out this morning!"..."I haven't eaten breakfast." and so on....

Hot Rocks was not deterred though...our kids were going to get it together and get out in the windy chilly morning air and sweat a little.  We were headed to the City Park which is not to far from our house.

Sis and Mem boogied along on their bikes, while Hot Rocks and Pook hit the pavement running....what happened to me you ask?  Well, I opted to pull up the rear at a nice leisurely stroll to make sure that "no man was left behind". LOL!

Once we arrived at our destination, the kids dropped their gear and off they ran through the playground.  They were on a mission.  Hot Rocks had taken them before and made them run it like it was an obstacle course.

Pook scaled the rocket....

Look at that technique!



Pull it through!



The duty assigned to me was to watch Mem and can I just tell you she hustled!

Over the ropes....

.

and throughout the structure!

I would see Sis running around but she wasn't caught on film until at last she was seen manning her own ship...

Next up was a set of what is known as "The Motivator" - it did not motivate our kids but to greater complaining! We obviously need to work on that....actually I will just let the PE Instructor deal with that one! ha!

Pook and Hot Rocks finished a mile run while I supervised the girl's ride home.  All in all,it was a little rough with room for improvement! 

I am always amazed at how much complaining can happen but when you arrive at the final destination you will undoubtedly hear, "Can we go out again tomorrow?"

Kids are great...aren't they?