Honk If You Love Empty Nest

I had the most relaxing extended weekend in the most awesome place. Seriously. My pictures can't do it justice.

On the way home today Kenzi and I had a conversation and it went something like this:

Kenzi: I don't want to leave this place.

Me: If you lived out there would you miss the city (Bend is 80,000 which is BIG for us, but I know some of you are laughing!)and go nuts? Or would you like it?

Kenzi: I'm not much of a city girl mom. I like the small towns and out of the way places.

Me: So you like places the size of Sheridan (Wyoming - where we lived - and it was population 15,000)?

Kenzi: Sheridan was awesome and so was this place. Thanks for taking us there. I had a great time.

Kenzi is a girl after my own heart and I honestly don't know if she would be happy in the big city. While she hasn't experienced city life, I do know that she is drawn to people who live a more simple life, in small towns. In a year she will graduate and I guess time will tell where her heart really lies. I want her to experience the 'big city', but I want her to be true to her heart and end up where she is happiest.

~ ************ ~

As for empty nests....I couldn't have picked a more perfect weekend. Temps hovered around 80° and I was able to enjoy more wildlife than I could have imagined. We even almost ran over a coyote (ok, maybe it wasn't THAT close, but it ran across the road in front of us. If we lived out there we'd have to keep Boz close to home because he looks suspiciously close to a coyote...). So what does this have to do with an empty nest?

Remember the goose? Well, I started with this:

Mama goose so patiently sitting on her nest ALL weekend.



Then, I was totally awed when I opened the blinds and saw this:

Mama goose guarding and loving her just hatched babies.





Then yesterday afternoon, Killian and I heard a large 'thump' on the roof and it appeared that 'papa goose' had landed. Well, this morning, when I opened the blinds, this is what I saw:

Papa goose keeping watch (and believe me, he was watching ME!):



It was a little later, when I had crawled back into bed with my coffee and bible, to have my quiet time that I heard a huge commotion. Honking. Seriously. Have you ever heard two geese honking like crazy? So I jumped out of bed to look at the nest and saw this:



I raced out to the deck and ran back in to grab my camera because what I saw was mama and papa marching their little babies, all five little fluff balls, right down to the river...











Before we left, Kenzi and I took some left over bread and went down to feed the geese. Mama and papa were honking and the babies were just cheeping. What a totally amazing sound. And I believe that there is nothing but the hand of God that could have created the beauty and life I witnessed this past weekend. I am awed by the gift He gave ME to enjoy. All I can say is 'YAY God!'

And to all of my friends, I hope you can find the peace and blessings that God has planned for your life. Also, I want to extend the invitation for any of my blog friends to come visit me who long to see this place. As we say in Mexico, 'mi casa es su casa'. (Ok, I'm not Mexican, but if I can't be here, I'd be there...so...!)

Annie

PS -
While some of my friends find squirrels not so enjoyable, this little guy (yes, just a baby) was hanging out by the goose and found this branch the perfect place to nap.



PPS (or is it PSS?)
I will post more videos of Boz. I actually was videoing how peaceful the river was and he got in the video every time. Running around like crazy....Oy...

Peace and Highlights

What a great extended weekend it's been out here on the river. I find that the older I get the more I like solitude, peace and quiet. Maybe it's because peace has been somewhat elusive in my adulthood and out here in the woods I find it in abundance. I want to share some highlights of my weekend, and if nothing else, perhaps it will encourage you to seek the places that feed your soul...

Highlight #1: I can't imagine a better view from my back deck than this.



Highlight #2: This is one of many springs that feed the river. This place is literally my 'well spring of life'.



Highlight #3: Fishing is always better with a buddy and a snack.



Highlight #4: Boys and frogs.



Highlight #5: This goose can be seen from my bedroom window and she has been there sitting on her nest all weekend.



Highlight #6: Her patience paid off.



Highlight #7: This little guy was so intent on what was in the tree he let me get up close and personal (notice the heart shaped hole).



Highlight #8: Helloooo.



Highlight #9: Like mother, like daughter.



Highlight #10: I don't think water gets any more crystal clear than this.



Highlight #11: Life is always better in pairs.



Highlight #12: Boz. Of course.



Blessings and peace to you this awesome Monday!

Dang, Boz Takes A Swim

I was not anticipating having some awesome video of Boz so early into the weekend, but alas, Boz did the plunge. He was getting a drink on a fairly steep part of the bank and Kenz scared him. Yep. SPLASH! I actually had to reach in and save him. This is probably a snort worthy video.



Oh, and this place is awesome, as you can tell from the pictures. I can't wait for the day that Jon is going to buy me a place in the woods and on the river. Happy Friday!

Go Jump In a Lake! (OK, It's Actually a River)

So today actually IS Friday (I've been thinking it's Friday since Wednesday, which makes for an incredibly long week) and this afternoon, me, my kids, the Boz dog and a few of their very lucky friends will be heading out of town. We're heading for a house, on the river and in the woods. My favorite place.

I've told the kids to pack their swim suits because they'll need them for the polar bear plunge tomorrow morning. I hope to be posting some most awesome video of four very wet, cold and probably screaming (once the initial shock wears off) kids. Good times. (Am I jumping in? Are you nuts? Besides, someone has to run the camera and I'm the only professional in the bunch.) Lucky for the kids, I made sure our house house a hot tub (I'm ultra cool that way) so they won't be Popsicles for too long.

If the weatherman is correct, we'll be enjoying lovely temperatures and sunny skies all weekend. If he's wrong, well, that would stink. Let's just hope he's right.

So, happy Friday to all my friends and I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Oh, and for all of you Boz fans out there, I'll do my best to get video of him chasing the squirrels. For now, I'll leave you with a replay of 'Boz, get the kitty!'

I'll Have The Burrito With Salsa But Hold The Meth

So Bend has a serious Meth problem. Just last week, the owners of a local taco shop were busted big time for dealing meth. And it's not like they were doing deals in dark alleys or side streets. Nope. You could pull up to the drive-thru and order your burrito with a side of meth, to go. Seriously. Just yesterday, after church, we drove by the restaurant (that is closed for the time being), and someone had rearranged the letters on the reader board to read "Meth burrito - $2". If I told you I laughed, you may think I am cold, callous and have no empathy for these individuals who have chosen to go down the wrong path. Well, I did laugh and I have absolutely no sympathy for these individuals who knew that what they were doing was wrong and illegal.

Some people are defending these individuals stating, 'I know them and they are good guys.' Good guys? One of the brothers has assault charges against him, 2 recent DUII's and has a warrant out on him for probation violation. And this is a good guy? Sorry, but he's out there with his brother selling meth to our kids and helping to ruin and destroy lives.

And what about the couple busted last week for breaking into over 25 cars? When the police arrived to arrest them, they found two children under three in their feces infested apartment (yes, there were feces on furniture, walls, the children, their clothes and beds) and they also found meth. The couple were breaking into vehicles trying to find money or valuables to sell to fuel their drug habits. What's going to happen to the children? They will probably go to a foster home for a few months and then the State of Oregon will put them right back in the home with their mom.

I know many of you, my loyal readers, will find it hard to believe, but I have some very strong opinions about these people. While I would like to do an Annie rant at this moment, I feel the need to refrain because I received a Jury summons on this very day. Yes, I get to report for Jury duty on of all days, my birthday (Cinco de Mayo y'all). And what if, just what if, I was lucky enough to have a court-room encounter with one of these fine meth users and I can't be on the jury because I ranted about them. So, I'm going to let my loyal readers rant for me. And if you'd like to read the stories for yourself so that you can rant 'informed' I will post the links to the stories.

And if I get a picture of the reader board (I've got someone on it), it will be my picture of the week.

I'll have the burrito with meth. To go.

Fuelling my drug habit is more important than taking care of my kids.

The Lame Disclaimer

Ok, here's the deal. I'm just so dang busy this week and I have all these posts I want to write but no energy to do it by the time I get home. As I'm running (yes, I said RUNNING. So there you go.) down the river trail with Boz, I'm writing great posts in my head. It's just that I don't have the means to osmosis it to my blog from my head. So I'm just saving it all up in there until I have time to sit down and get it all out. Just thought you should know in case you wonder where I am. Pretty much, I'm just a lurker unless I have an unusually witty or snarky comment to leave on your blog.

And you runners out there, don't get your hopes up. I suck at running. I'm just doing it because I'm on a time crunch and I have to make my 3 mile loop faster than normal. There you have it.

Oh, and as I was perusing the news this morning I stumbled upon a little gem at MSN. There was this big study based on who knows what and it was the happiest to unhappiest state to live in. They even included DC in the study. Wanna know where Oregon landed? Fifty-one. Yes. 5-1 We are the most unhappy state. Can you freak-me-out believe that? My only hope is that this news will depress all of the unhappy people here and they'll leave in search of happiness, which would be Nebraska, the happiest state of all.

Ok, I've gotta go attend to my Tater Tot Casserole. Yes, this is the dinner of champions and happy people.

50 Years Strong

This past weekend marked the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Jon's parents. I think in this day and age that is a pretty monumental achievement. Not just to be married for 50 years, but to actually still LOVE and enjoy the person you're married to.

I don't know if Jon and I will make it 50 years. Only because I'll be 84'ish and he'll be pushing 90. And honestly, I don't know that I want to live that long to see the what the state of the world becomes. I kind of hope I've either passed away peacefully in my sleep or been raptured by then. I guess I'm just weird that way.

Jon and his sister had a party for their parents yesterday and I have to say it was a pretty awesome time. Jon's mother has been in a nursing home for the past several months due to an extremely debilitating stroke. She is completely dependant on others for her every need and lost the ability to communicate. What she didn't lose was the ability to laugh and smile, follow conversations, and give Jon's dad 'the look' when necessary. As I made the rounds yesterday, chatting with some I know and some I don't, I made a few observations:

1. After 50 years, Jon's parents are still in love.
2. Family IS so important.
3. True friends can pick up like it was yesterday even if you haven't seen them in year.
4. People DO remember the good stuff.
5. You'll never really know about the 'good old days' unless you ask.
6. Old family photos are priceless (and kind of embarrassing).
7. The 70's and 80's were a fashion nightmare era.
8. Laughter is contagious.
9. 'Old' people can act rather silly and crazy (this is a fun thing to watch).
10. Jon loves me.

Should Jon and I make it 50 years, I sure hope the retirement home we're in allows wheelchair races. We're kind of crazy that way.