Practicing for HELL….

                             Practicing for HELL….

 We are back at that time of the year… the heat has come..  It is late this year.. and that suited me just fine.

BUT HERE SHE COMES.. today 97 and TOMORROW? 100 and Thursday 102 and Friday it cools off to 101… Now you got to understand.. until a year or two ago.. Idaho’s top temp for here in Northern Idaho has been in the high 90’s…  those 100’s were for the southern part of Idaho and below..

But it seems like we are starting to practice for HELL.

Even when I lived in San Diego, I don’t remember 100’s. Hot yes.. humid yes… I remember laying on the kitchen floor when I was 9 months pregnant because the floor was cooler.. but it wasn’t 100… Global warming.. I guess so..  

So now it is cave time.  Actually what we use to do years ago when I was a kid, before air conditioners.  We had those big  as in a foot fan blades,…black fans that rotated ..  and we would make funny sounds with us blowing or talking into the breeze… and we open windows.. and we SHUT CURTAINS..  so it was dark inside the house.. And that is where I am at now.. the Cave system… all curtains, blinds and shades closed until 8pm..  then open it all up, let the cool air of the night come in.. and shut down at 6am.

I call it the practicing for HELL.. time..

STAY COOL MY FRIENDS..

A man and his tractor….

                        Man and his tractor….           

 

Now I have not a clue what possesses the King to want a tractor..  But he has had this driving desire for one.

Now you might think I am being a little rough on the old boy… of 70… after all what harm is having a tractor?  Well, we do own land.. but you got to understand.. we own land in a TOWN.. meaning we have a house, two garages, (yes, he needed a bigger garage) and two medium lawns…. Yes, I said two MEDIUM LAWNS..   You know the type that you drive a tractor on and have a heck of a problem turning around, so you back it out? 

But HE HAS TO HAVE IT..   Maybe it brings back the good old days of farming..  Maybe it just a man thing.

But he brought it home on Friday, and he is like a kid with a new toy…  He is power washing it, at 6:30AM…. YES.. AM..  our noise ordnance is 7am… and I reminded him that, when I went out there and gave him the signal to cut it off.  And yes this is an old tractor.. 1990 something I believe. A Massey Ferguson .. It brings him pleasure and so who am I to squash that?

His story is.. he NEEDS this tractor.. he needs it to remove the snow in the winter… Now remember we live in a town..  we have a driveway… I am not good at feet, but it is maybe 6 car long length… AND we have a 4x4 Honda with a plow attachment… that has done the job well, for 11 years.

BUT he says… when we have a really bad winter… I need something more powerful.. to push the snow back towards the alley.  And pile it higher.. (it has a shovel thingie on the front.)

MY THOUGHT IS… OH WELL… because we get one of those heavy snow storms. About every 4 or 7 years..  …

What difference does it make..  he is happy..  and a happy guy with a project … stays out of my hair.

By the way he is getting a good fill of farming the past 2 weeks. He has been helping his long time friend  Randy…(about  40 or so years) with his haying. Randy had a fall with his dog knocking him over. So he isn’t getting around as good as he was..   So Ken volunteered to help him out. As in Idaho… you hay as soon as you can.. as fast as you can… as Mother Nature has a weird sense of humor and timing.  What is the old saying..  Making hay while the sun shines?  So there they are 75 and 70 years old's having fun?

 SO you might be asking.. is this driving me nuts..  well, I would be lying, if I said I was thrilled about it.. but that is how long time marriages go...  it is what it is.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PICTURES.... and some words..

 

ON MY HANDS AND KNEES

ON MY HANDS AND KNEES

I have been spending the better part of the last week and this weekend on my hands and knees.

Cleaning up the flower gardens around the house, that got damaged during the house remodel.  Lot got  tramped on by ladders and feet.

 I knew  it was going to happen. Figure collateral damage and there is always next year.

So it was down on my hands and knees, pulling weeds.

Some had grown 4 feet tall in the rose garden part. You know the ones that look like they came from an oat field. They were not to hard, but my childhood friend flower, the butter cup.. (remember putting the flower part  under your chin to prove you like butter).. well, THOSE have at least 2 feet or more roots.. I swear, if one could lift up their lawn in the air about 2 feet, you would see a full lawn of networks of roots from buttercups. NOT EASY TO PULL.   So my fun flower as a child, is not so much fun as an adult.

Also worked on the memorial garden..  which has two plants that are alike  One is pink and the other is white. Forgot what the name of it is. But it is odd.. was given the pink one..  I thought it died..  so bought the white one, the following year.  Never got around to pulling the first one.

Now one flowers and the other doesn’t.. it is like they take a break every other year.. and luckily they are opposite, so I have at least one growing and blooming.. this year is the original one.

PICTURES TOMORROW

 

 

Farming, not to bad when you don’t have to..

Farming, not to bad when you don’t have to..

I know those of you out there who are farmers, must think that is a crazy thing to say…  But…..

 You see when the King was younger, he had horses. So he had to hay, it wasn’t a choice it was a necessary. He worked on the railroad but he also had farm to take care of.

So it was a chore that just had to be done.

 Now of late, he has been helping his friend.  Mainly with the upkeep of keeping the tractors and equipment together, enough to get the hay down before the next rain session.

As they say, you have to make hay while you can.

 I know when I was a kid, we had to help with haying. Sitting on the rake and kicking the lever that we were too short to hold and pull on or push all the way. While a parent was pulling the rake with the pick up truck.  And then we didn’t have bales until I was a teenager. So it was throwing the hay on top of the truck, stacking as high as we could. And then got home and threw it up on the stack next to the barn.  My brother and I hated it. 

Yet years later, I went back home to see the folks and it always seem to be haying season.

And for some reason, it didn’t seem like a chore or so bad..  funny when you don’t HAVE TO… it isn’t so bad.  Guess because you know you don’t HAVE TO do it.

PLAYING ..... USE TO BE THERE

Playing the game of… what use to be there?

Last Friday we went to Cda for the King’s appt at the denist. Only to find out it wasn’t until yesterday..

But as we were traveling the 45 miles down and back we played the game of  WHAT USE TO BE THERE..

 that  use to be... all farm fields.. ..

that use to be...  there was a small bar there..  

There use to be just one warehouse there, and now there is 50 of them.. in rows.. with living quarters above.

There use to be a ZIGGY’S there.. Ziggy’s is a lumber product business.  

And etc..  so many changes..  land filling up with not only houses, (and there were plenty of that) but business..

Not feeling the 4th

Not feeling the 4th

Normally I would be either downtown Sandpoint ..set up on the high porch and taking pictures of those who arrive early for the parade.. or I would be in Clark Fork sitting my chair down for their parade to start. With camera in hand... for years 4th of July has been my all time favorite holiday... It was the parades, and then the cook outs with family and sometimes friends.. and then at night Fireworks.. what is not to love about this holiday.. celebrating our nation... But this year... I don't know why... but I just don't feel it. Decided to not do the parades at all.. not doing a cook out.. Even Ken says, nah, I not really into ribs today.. He went fishing for a while. I didn't get a fishing license yet this year...so I am doing Monday wash. I don't know why but this year.... I feel more sad that joy... But hope everyone is not like me.. I wishing you the greatest 4th ever.. enjoy every bit of it.. Maybe next year I will be more in the mood.

Don’t get me wrong.. I LOVE AMERICA.. but I think of America.. not the government but the people.. Just like church.. I don’t count church as the building I go to.. I count church as the Pastor and the people who go there.  Some are better than others.. but as a whole.. they stick together and try to help each other. No matter how many times you come to church or not..

With our country…. AMERCIA..  there are sooooooooooooo many stories of the good. You hear about the 10 year old child who see the homeless.. who goes home and makes sandwiches to hand out with a bottle of water, that they bought with their money .. they earn from mowing lawns. There are women who come along side of other women, when they are in need…be it clothes, food or just someone to listen to them..   And believe it or not, there are rich people who quietly, give money to help others.. So when you see the rappers, with all their gold around there necks and spewing out hatred, there are other ones who are quiet when private.. and help others without taking credit. There so many stories thru this great country of ours..  Sadly the only ones you really hear about are the angry, hateful sad souls who feel so entitled.. 

The government is a necessary evil.. but that is not who America is.. AMERICA IS those who help without credit. Who see a need and help out.  Be it a farmer who got cancer, and yet his fellow farmers take in his crop with out payment.. not even for fuel..  The mankind helping mankind.. But those stories don’t seem to sell papers, or shows. But for the life of me, I don’t know why..

Let’s keep America great.. hold the arm of your fellow country persons.. Help that child, help that woman and man… we all need a hand up during our life time..

AND THAT IS WHAT IS AMERICA… to be celebrated year round.  

 

 

Waiting to die....... OR...... Living until you die….

Living until you die….

I saw this on Facebook… and it made me think…

My friend Kerri Grote died this morning. While I am still processing, I wanted to share the words she left to be read upon her passing. Life is short. I hope they bring you perspective, inspiration and healing like they did for me. R.I.P Kerri. I love you.

"If you’re reading this, this fu$king brain cancer probably got me.

But let me be crystal clear while I’m able: I did not ”lose a battle” against cancer. This is a ridiculous, steamy pile of horse shit that society has dumped on cancer patients. Western medicine, and Western culture, especially, is so uncomfortable talking about death that instead it created this “battle” analogy that basically shames people who die from cancer.

News flash: None of us gets out alive from this rodeo called life.

There is no shame in dying from cancer – or any serious illness. And it doesn’t need to be a battle. It’s a transition that each of us will go through. I was asked by a shaman, whom I spoke to after my second brain surgery, “Are you running towards life or running away from death?”

Whoa! That got my attention.

There’s a BIG difference. I got it wrong more often than not.

Don’t let fear fuel your choices. Live fearlessly. Run TOWARDS life. Don’t worry about what people will think. Trust me, it doesn’t matter.

Focus on you. Be true to yourself. Be your own best friend. People who tell you you’re selfish are not your people. If the voice in your head says these unkind things, get a new voice. Honor your mental health and seek out a good therapist with the same vigor you’d search for a romantic partner.

Speaking of, be intentional about cultivating friendships that lift you up. As those friendships grow and change, don’t overlook them while you search for that “great love of your life.” (No, I’m not suggesting you sleep with your bestie. But you do you!)

Another unhelpful message that we get from society is that we need a “love of our life,” as a romantic partner.

Single and childless when I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, I looked around my life and came up sputtering and sobbing from the wave of grief washed over me. I thought I’d be doing this alone… no husband, no kids, no “great love.”

How wrong I was. At the first appointment with my neuro oncologists, one of the nurses diligently hauled in chair after chair for the great loves of my life who came with me that horrible day and many days after that.

I sat and listened while the doctor explained the 12-month treatment plan, focusing on my breathing, then looked around the room…. filled with great loves of my life: incredible women friends whom I had met at various stages of my life.

Surround yourself with people who contradict that unkind voice, people who see your light, and remind you who you are: an amazing soul.

Learn how to receive these reflections from your people. Because they are speaking the Truth.

Love yourself, no matter how weird and silly it might feel. Every morning, give yourself a hug before your feet hit the floor. Look deeply into your eyes in a mirror. Say to yourself, out loud, “I trust you.” That voice in your head might say you’re a dork. Ignore it.

As I prepare to leave this body and embark on this mysterious journey of my soul, I hope these observations from my deathbed are somehow useful.

What I know, deep in my bones, is that learning to love myself has led me to be able to say this: I’m so proud of how I lived.

May you, dear reader, feel the same when you head out on your soul journey, too. Until then, enjoy the ride. And always eat dessert first, especially if there’s pie!"

 

After reading it.. it reminded me of a time and a resident at the nursing home I worked for.

When I was working at the nursing home,  there was a woman who was in pretty good shape and in her 70's.. she had given up..

So one day after I got off work, I stopped by her room.. we talked and then I told her.. I told her, that she had a decision to make.... she could sit there and wait to die... and that could be quite a while.. OR she could go out and enjoy everything life has to offer UNTIL she died.. .. I told her, I would leave her to make that decision herself.. I had 4 days off.. when I came back.. one of my fellow workers told me that the woman was gone.. I looked in horror of how fast she passed.. and my co worker told me.. OH NO, SHE DIDN'T DIE... She also left a message for me to tell you..... that message? “Hey Cis... I decided to go find and enjoy life.. THANKS.”. I was blown away.. but so happy for her.. it worked so well... lol.. that I have used it a couple other times.. lol..