Back in the Saddle Again

Yep, it's been a year. I'm nothing if not inconsistent. But you know what they say about foolish consistencies being the hobgoblin of little minds. Well, just one person said it. Now I copy it. I like it, because it justifies my flaky nature.

Updates...hmmm...

well, our family hasn't grown in the way I planned quite yet. No kids...but somehow now we have a horse. A stubborn, spirited mare named Whisper Cinnamon Stix. I'm having a hard time adjusting, but mostly to the creative spelling of Stix--it's too reminiscent of "Kwik Mart" and other businesses that manage to cleverly trademark a name by grossly misspelling it. But the horse, I like.

Riding again (after 10ish years) was an appalling experience. I apparently lost my coordination and courage with age. But now, after numerous lessons, I can indeed get on and off the horse, and ride (at a dignified walk) around the very safe indoor arena. I rock.

I'm sure Whisper will give me all kinds of fodder for the blog--mostly embarrassing, but still, it's material.

A friend inspired me to dig up the old blog again--you must check out her blog, o' non-existent readers--Stuff by Jen. You must read the MRI post, and the post about the team meeting, from about three days ago. I was there--and Jen captured all the funny moments perfectly. :)

First Flight

I know my little happies have tended to all be around the same theme--country living--lately. I guess you can tell where my contentment is coming from...and why I've been too busy to write.

A hawk perches on a white metal barn roof, white hot in the summer sun. Proud and tall, he surveys the surrounding fields, ready to take off in a perfect dive over the pasture. Wait, we take a closer look.
This hawk is newly fledged. It's almost full-sized, but it's tail-feathers are the long, striped training feathers that help a new hawk learn to fly, rather than a striking fan of red. This hawk isn't perched for flight, it's peeking nervously over the edge of the barn roof, flexing its wings, considering trying another test flight. Finally, it launches over the edge. No striking dive after a mouse. This hawk frantically flaps his wings, reaching, reaching, reaching for the nearest tree branch. Finally, awkwardly, he makes it.

We've been excited to have a nest of hawks in the trees on the edge of our property, and today, the first hawk fledged. We were lucky to watch his first flight!

Cat Patrol

My Adventures in the Country, Part Two: Cat Patrol

My dachshund Nixie is, in many ways, a prissy princess--a city dog. She prefers the sidewalk to the grass. She barely tolerates the yard if it's not freshly mown. She puts one paw into snow and steps back in disdain. And she'll do absolutely anything to avoid getting wet. The closest she's come to normal dog instincts was the unforgettable day a few years ago, when she actually caught a squirrel. The fact that it was a young, confused squirrel that ran toward the house instead of the trees, and the fact that because she was on a leash, we were able to pull her away from her catch within seconds, did not in the least take away from her glorious victory. She was able to shake that squirrel thoroughly for a few satisfying moments. I'm convinced that squirrel was severely mocked by his squirrel friends.

But now, Nixie may actually be starting to enjoy being a country dog. We have let the grass grow into hay in part of the pasture, but we've mowed paths throughout. Nixie bounds across the backyard to reach the paths, apparently because paths are the closest things to sidewalks the country has to offer. She explores each path rigorously, every day.

For several days we've noticed a stray cat wandering through the paths, stalking our birds. Well, yesterday, Nixie finally caught the scent of the cat. I didn't even know she had a single tracking instinct. The only thing I've seen her scent out is barbecue brisket cooking in the crock pot, or a stray jelly bean under the couch. But her excitement when she picked up the scent was all-consuming. She bounded around the yard like a deer, her tail straight up behind her like a hunting meerkat. She was positively quivering in anticipation. Of course, though she tracked the cat all the way to the creek, she didn't manage to capture it. But she was clearly satisfied to have chased it off the property--she pranced about proudly, having successfully ensured her yard was completely cat free.

Just another rousing day in the country!

Time Waits for No Tweet, or, The Taming of the Shrew

So I've not kept up with my blog. And I was so proud of myself for a solid start. Sigh. I don't have time to tweet, poke, blog...I'm failing my technology. Ah, well...an update a few times a month is probably more my style. Everyone can officially lower their expectations of me now.

Here's my happy for the day (or at least a little funny)...

My Adventures in the Country, Part 1: Taming of the Shrew

First, our birdseed drew in the mice (into our garage). We set traps, caught the whole happy little family.
Sad day for mice. But our traps were probably more humane than what would have happened if Nixie or Hayley ever noticed them.

Anyway, so yesterday morning we hear a scream from the downstairs, where the garage in question is, as well as my mom's walk-out apartment. The reason for the scream is the baby mouse she sees running from under her bed. So, in keeping with the traditions of strong, brave women in our family--she proceeds to scream, while beating wildly at it with her shoe. A plaid house shoe, I believe.

She then runs upstairs to ask for my help--apparently the mouse is unconscious, but breathing. So I go and get a sack. Okay three plastic bags, used to fashion a glove, and a big paper bag. Must not be too careful. We safely bag the mouse, thinking it's not unconscious, but actually dead.

We had a nagging doubt, though. This baby mouse didn't look much like the other mice we caught. So I went to my husband, bag in hand. He opened the bags, and low and behold, there was a live, uninjured SHREW prancing around in the paper bag. A baby shrew, no less. Suddenly we pronounced the former pest adorable (it really was quite cute, scurrying around the bag like it was happy with a new home, or just happy not to be presented with any more plaid footwear). So glad it wasn't dead, we decided to save it, and let it go at the creek behind our house. So it can breed more shrews to invade our house, I'm sure.

And what didn't occur to me until later, was the fact that shrews are actually carnivorous. If the birdseed didn't draw it in, what did? And where, oh where, are its parents? I must say, country living is not for the fainthearted!

Spring Sunshine

Today I was good to the environment, but hard on my aching bones. I planted eight, yes, eight, trees today. All fruit trees...our own little orchard! This was one of those perfect Spring days--sunny and inviting, but with one of those rare gentle Spring breezes. (So much more pleasant than the gales we see much of the year out here.) I spent most of the day outdoors.

I hauled the trees and dirt around with the lawn mower (it pulls a small trailer). It reminded me so much of my Grandpa. Papa was more like a Dad to me, and we lost him a few years ago to cancer. Almost every day summer day in my childhood Papa would be working in the backyard. I'd hop in the little trailer behind the mower and he would drive me all over the pasture. He would tell me to get my "workies" on (overalls), and I'd go out and "help" him gather wood, or pick watermelons, or collect acorns. I feel like we're creating something here that he would have loved.

As we gear up for a new work week, here are a few quotes as food for thought. I LOVE this Emerson quote...it puts things in perspective.

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have a "creative" job, so I'm always on the look out for inspiration. That's what drew me to this silly little Suess quote...

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!"
— Dr. Seuss

Almost Friday Funnies

Today I'll just pass along a few funnies...

Easter warning! If you plan to have an egg hunt, beware of the notorious Easter egg snatcher...he may be in your neighborhood...
http://www.youtube.com/

I love my job. I feel lucky to be able to say that. But I've gotta admit, this place looks pretty fun, too! ;)
http://www.gnn.com/

And finally...watch this trailer for the next 007...
http://www.youtube.com/

Happiness, Come Find Me

Today was a good day and a bad day. It's my hubby's birthday, but he also found today out he has to have a pretty serious surgery in a few weeks. So that shadow is hanging over right now. But we're prayin' that it all goes well. And we're keepin' it positive. And keepin' it real. And keepin' laughin'. We're just keepin' it. And apparently we're usin' an excessive amount of apostrophes while we're keepin' it.

A few bits and pieces...

I was bummed driving home today to notice that most of the spring trees I love so much are starting to fade. I just love those dramatic blooms. There are some right by our parking lot at work I especially love.
Check out these gorgeous trees still blooming in Washington State, at this lovely little blog.

We had Chinese takeout tonight, and I had to laugh when I saw my fortune. It said "Happiness will find you today." I immediately thought of this blog. This little time every day really is my own personal happy.

For all you readers out there, these photos and excerpts from The Secret Garden are simply perfect.

If you're still up reading this tonight, step outside and drink in the full moon before you go to bed. It's lovely. If there's not a full moon where you are, you can always take in the stars. If it's cloudy tonight, I'm sorry. But there's always tomorrow!

Happy for Me, Happy for You

My happy moment for the day: buying our first trees for our yard! We bought two serviceberry trees on sale at the nursery. I also fell in love with a bush. (Sometimes I develop an unreasonable attachment to a plant when I go to the nursery. When I do, it's usually not just a type of plant, but one particular one, and I feel very protective of the little thing, and have to take it home.) This one was a viburnum bush that has blooms that turn from pink to white as they open. This particular one was covered in buds, none quite open yet, small and sweetly shaped. It was perfect. And of course, I took it home.

If you haven't had a happy yet today, here's one for you. (And no, it's not a plant. But it is silly, I warn you.) Pick your clip based on your snack preference:

If you like raisins, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPP_sGuqNhI&feature=PlayList&p=E725B29ECCA1C8A7&index=4&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

If you like popcorn, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfqNXADl3kU&feature=related

Lovely Little Things

This weekend was all about enjoying the little things. I didn't get far from home, but it was one of those weekends that felt long, because it was a series of simple, enjoyable moments. People ask us on Mondays what we did over the weekend, and we usually just list the one or two "big" things we did. (It's just a hallway conversation, after all.) But this weekend what I want to remember are the little things. Here are a few of my favorites:

--Watching a favorite movie that I've seen with people who haven't. (This time is was Twilight, big surprise.)
--The intense look of concentration on the face of my little 16 month old niece as she pushed an empty laundry basket up and down the hall (over and over again).
--The crunch of crisp bread-and-butter pickles on my turkey sandwich. (This was an all-time-top-10 sandwich, people.)
--Finding out that a pair of hawks are building a nest in our treeline. (Though I don't think it will make the bluebirds incredibly happy.)
--Sitting on the floor with my niece, playing with her fisher price farm set.
--The satisfaction of hitting "print" on the tax program once all the fields have finally been filled in. (Yes, major procrastination here.)

Hope your weekend was just as full of lovely little things, too!

Yellow Treehouse

Look at me, several posts within twelve hours, on a weekend, no less! Chalk it up to the snowstorm. This place really keeps magic alive. Seeing this place brought me back to the treehouse my Papa built for me years ago. (It wasn't quite this elaborate, but it did have a tower, which I thought was pretty cool.)

This is a restaurant in New Zealand's redwood forest. The restaurant is shortly to close and reopen as a spot for special functions. Could you imaging getting married here?

http://myendlessinspiration.blogspot.com/2009/03/up-in-trees.html

The blog that shared this lovely story is another one of my faves, called Endless Inspiration. I also love her post about the house from the movie Practical Magic. Old houses are another happy of mine. The opportunity to explore a big, historic house is one of my very favorite things. (Okay, I have a lot of favorite things.)

By the way, wanna know what I'm doing right now? (I'll assume an emphatic "yes, please!".) I'm laying on the floor of my living room while I type this, watching for the birds to return to my patio. I'm taking pictures of a bluebird eating a worm, and the juncos battling over birdseed we scattered over the yard. I had to get on the floor, the silly birds are smart enough to fly away every time I walk near to the window. It's snowy and icy, but it's awfully nice to be snugly settled in for the day, enjoying the outdoors from a comfortable distance. There's a reason the bluebird is the bird of happiness--you can't help but smile looking at something so cheerful, even if the poor bird looks a little worse for wear from the rain.

Birds of a Feather

Today's happy moment can only be appreciated by a nature-lover. We decided to put out our birdhouses this afternoon at the new place. Since we have a little bit of land now, we have been hoping to attract some wildlife. Anyway, within literally 15 minutes of the houses going up, there were a pair of bluebirds checking them out. They stayed all afternoon...I think we may have some new neighbors!

Life is so complex, constantly evolving, and it seems like our focus is all about getting over that next hurdle, or getting that next big new thing. I used to love the non-stop pace. My Saturdays were a whirlwind of errands, movies, shopping...and I loved it. I'm the planner--I could always fit it all in. And I still can. But as I've gotten older and life just seems to keep throwing more things in to juggle, my hobbies have started to change. I appreciate the kind of vacation now that involves sitting by a lake or taking a country drive...more relaxation than stimulation. And I've finally done the unthinkable, and become a full-fledged (no pun intended) birdwatcher like my Mom. I'm actually quite addicted. There's something so refreshing about watching something so simple as a pair of bluebirds keeping house. It's such a nice reminder that there are some things that stay the same, and that's actually a good thing. And it's good to stop once in a while, and see the beautiful details that make everything all worthwhile in the first place.

Okay, now I'm philosophizing a bit too much for a Saturday night. Gotta fly!