Another day

Windmills lost in the fog outside of Ellensburg, WA

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." 
~ Ernest Hemingway

Today my head and heart are at war...

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed...
~ Rihanna

The latest

The latest recipe:  Scotch Eggs (no link or pic.  Google it!)

The latest fun:  Hanging out with my friend Kara for the night and making wine

The latest holiday:

Valentines day!

 The latest presents: 

Someone knows me!

 My latest view:



Early morning light in the forest

The latest thing to make me smile:

When a 4 year old gives you temporary tattoos - you can't say no!  (if you can't see it's a rainbow and a peace sign)

 My latest FAIL:

The latest snow:

Last week.  2 inches.  Melted in a day.

The latest animal I'm trying to be friends with:

Daisy

"For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice. To make an end is to make a beginning."
~ T.S. Eliot

The beginning of more-self-sufficiency

I've been learning a lot....

Like how to change a tire.  On a Ford F250.  I got to use an airgun and torque wrench.  What this picture doesn't show is I don't have 140 pounds of pressure to properly do this more than once, and my feet kept sliding everywhere.

No, I'm not 300 pounds.  I'm wearing a huge coat and it was snowing outside.

 And how to chop kindling! 

I'm kind of a chopping fool.  It's way more fun than it should be.

 

Also, how to build a fire in a woodstove.  How to operate a pellet stove. 

 

And I occasionally get to feed horses.  

You didn't think I'd make a post without an Atticus picture, did you?

Yet I still cannot figure out windows 8 and how to print from PDF. 

Strong women don't play victim, don't make themselves look pitiful, and don't point fingers.  They stand and they deal.
~ Mandy Hale

Well, hello, end of January

Obviously blogging hasn't been on my mind too much as this is only my second post for January.  New year does not mean more blogging.  Apparently in 2014 it means less.

This can only mean good things though, I think.  I'm keeping busy.  Trying to remain positive.  Keeping busy.

I have a super cool re-do project in the works.  I hope it turns out.  I'm just having trouble finding time to finish it.  Plus, this is the first time I'm re-painting metal, and so I want to make sure I do it right. 

Work is work.  7 OT shifts in 12 work shifts in the last 2/upcoming week.  My goal for this year is to remain positive at work and not let the little things bug me.  I know that doesn't sound like much, but believe me, it is...especially when I spend entire 12 hour shifts with people I can barely tolerate. 

Jonathan and I have been cooking a bunch, crossing off recipes to try on my pinterest board, and making stuff from cook books.  I haven't been taking a ton of pictures lately (my phone is on it's last leg - using it for anything but texting drains the battery a lot), but here's some links:

Mustard crusted pork chops
Stuffed sweet potatoes
Soft Pretzels
Bacon Chocolate Chip cookies

Atticus and I got to see horses being shod for the first time! 

 

 

 

We've had super mild weather all of January so far.  Very rare. I think I heard we're 3/4 behind our normal rainfall.  It gets pretty warm during the day (50's), but cold at night, and the roadways get kinda icy.  I've seen some people already have green poking through the ground in their gardens - even the flowers are confused. 

 

 



I hope the end of January finds you all warm and happy.

Be helpful.  When you see a person without a smile, give them yours.
~Zig Ziglar

Some minor musings

Do you ever wander what motivates people?  I took a training a long time ago about what motivates people to work:  it usually falls into several categories - the need to be needed, the need for money, the need for time off, the need for power.

But what motivates people in life?  The same things I guess.  What motivates people to be so mean and nasty to one another?  Again, I think it's the same things.  I know people are not so simple, but when I am looking for answers, a simple response like this is the best.  I just need to remember that what motivates me is not what motivates someone else, and to stop looking for the "why".  But after that, what do I do?  Do I just let people continue with their mean and nasty actions, who are being spurred on by selfish motivations?  Do I let it roll off my back and essentially ignore it?  Do I fight back?  Do I hope that Karma will rear her lovely head and take over?  I'm not sure what to do.  I just don't like sitting back and watching one person tear another down.  I alternate between sadness, and sickness, and rage. 

And as always, without these helpless and lost feelings, the good times, and the happiness, would not shine so brightly. 

It's a trade-off, really.  Maybe?  Are the hard times worth it so the good times will seem that much sweeter?  I wish I knew. 

Our recent emergency vet stop.

I want to say it will all be worth it.  One year from now, we will look back and breathe a sigh of relief that this trouble is no longer in our lives.  I wish I wish I wish I could find some solace in that.  Right now, it's pretty darn hard.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.
~ Charles M. Schulz

Vacation mode

In vacation mode!!!! 

Ready to take time and do whatever I want...

Dinner and movies with Mariah....

 And spend a lot of time with these two guys...

A ship is always safe at shore, but that is not what it's built for.
~ Albert Einstein