Feeling Content..and Ramblings

I sit here tonight with a glass of local Chardonnay in hand, and dare I say...a lightweight sweater just put on. Last week, we had temps in the 100's and now at almost 10 p.m. it is almost 60 degrees F.  Heavenly weather after a long hot month.

Tonight, I felt like writing.  Sometimes, I feel words wanting to escape, but are they relevant?  Does anyone want to hear my thoughts, complaints, theories, fascinations?

Tonight everyone piled into our bed for some night time stories.  It already was far later that I had planned for bed time...I guess that is what summer time is for.  As requested, we read a book on poems about bears, and a question and answer book about Earth and Space.   I had the children pick out what they wanted to read about.  Of course they found the section about wildland fire.  For our family this is a very "close to home" topic for many reasons.  I asked them the questions from the book, and they easily answered each one in different ways, and sometimes fighting over who got the answer correct first.  From these questions sparked more questions, answers, and stories.  It was fun for me to tell stories of wildland firefighting both from an engine and handcrew perspective.  My daughter at one point asked me if I had worked as a smoke jumper.  My response with a chuckle was no, but I saw lots of adventure.  Goodness....that would have been an amazing adventure, but in all reality, as hard as I may have tried, I am pretty sure I would never have made the cut at smoke jumper tryouts.

Last Summer, for the wildland firefighting community, it was an incredibly tough year.  Fatalities due to fires brought the risk way to close to home, and we lost many good firefighters.  For my children, I have tried to hide this risk from them.  They are young, and don't need to worry. Right now, we await the arrival of my husband, home sometime soon from working on a large wildland fire, and look forward to the new Planes - Fire and Rescue movie, which looks good, and was techinically advised by federal wildland firefighters.  My husband asked us to wait until he came home, so we can all see it together.  I love that.

I love to hear the sound of my husbands voice when he gets the call to respond to a fire, or hear each night about what is happening out in the forests.  From his regular day to day job, he gets a bit of "escape" to go do what he truly loves....fighting wildland fire.  The rest of the year, he does his regular job for us.  That paycheck that makes sure we have food on the table, a comfortable place to live, and activities that help the children move forward in their development.  With all of this he does an amazing job!  I truly couldn't be more proud of him.  As it is, he calls me his "biggest fan".

As for me, the start of the Summer field season has a bittersweet feel to it.  I truly loved wildland firefighting.  I wanted to do that job since I was a young child.  I come from a family that has worked in agriculture,  natural resources management, and wildland firefighting.  It must be in my blood...that's all I can say.

As a young adult age 18 to be specific, I started out working in wildland firefighting.  With sage advice given to me (from my Uncle), I branched out and a tried different jobs within the realm of natural/forestry resource management.  I even have a degree in Forestry.  What I found though is that my  heart always went back to "fire".  I find wildland fire, prescribed fire and naturally caused fire (especially) so incredibly interesting.

During the time that I found myself immersed in projects, fires, and getting myself to where I wanted to be in the wildland firefighting community, I met my husband.  This man, whom from the first conversation, I thought and found to be the most "incredibly nice man", became my focus.

 From this point, my focus in life change.  From working as many hours possible, wanting and waiting for
"the next fire", my life became a little more balanced.  I don't know if this goes for everyone, or just for me, but marriage changes many things in your life.  Becoming a parent changes even more.

I think where I am going with all my ramlblings is this.  My husband and I both grew up in families where our mothers did not work outside the home.  For both of us this was the norm.  For me the decision to start a family wasn't hard.  I found the man of my dreams, and we were both ready to have children.  The hard part was definitely letting go of something I had worked on for 13 plus years.  Work had been everything to me, and I just walked away from it.  That tends to be my nature...cut and dried, cold turkey.

Now granted, I do not think there is a week and sometimes days (honestly) that I do not think about working in wildland fire/ fuels management etc.  I truly believe that my best work is here at home with my three children.  Granted I see friends, and aquaintances who are "moving up the ladder" so to speak.  All power to them.  It is exciting to see others doing so well!  I just don't think I could have done it.  I am an all or nothing type of person.  I would have been  split wondering about what was going on at the day care with my children, and trying to do my job.  I won't deny though that it doesn't hurt.  I would love to be getting those kudos, promotions, and seeing my own ambitions met.  But this is the choice that I made, and I am really okay with it.  I truly think I would not have done a good job on either end.  So for me I had to make a choice.  I chose my family.

Nowdays with homeschooling, a 2nd grader, pre k, and a baby,  shuttling them around to their activities, and household duties, I can hardly think straight.  Seriously, the house is never in order, and you should see my  to-do lists.

All of this gets me to tonight...my conversations and stories with three little ones about poetry, bears, and wildland fire.  I found myself immersed in snuggles, a child falling asleep at the breast, the oldest snuggled up next to the baby, and the middle child asleep in the crib at the end of the bed with his mama made blanket( I don't even know why we have a crib... it only gets used by the oldest who use it a as a bunk bed...one in it and one under it many nights).  I can't imagine missing any of their growing up years.  It is going so quickly!  In a few years,  I will have a tween, and then a teenager.  How is this?  Serioulsy, I would swear my daugher was just born yesterday.

As the skies darken with thunderheads, and lightening, air tankers fly and aircranes fly overhead, the sirens blare, and smoke fills the sky, I do miss the fun, the mentally and physically exhasuting times, the exciting fire behavior and effects. Yes, I suppose I could have done many things for the public, community and landscape, but I also think of how much I would have missed.

As quiet sighs, and breaths turned to quiet snores and silence, this is where I felt content, and yes this is where I know I should be.

Everyone Should Read This Book!

I find myself not so interested in reading heavy novels these days.  Honestly, I am just too tired come the end of the night to pick up a book and read a chapter or two.  But, I do so love reading to the children!  We belong to a homeschool book group where each month, we read a specific book, and then get together for some type of discussion and activity.  Thankfully with this group, there is lots of play!  For June, we were asked to read "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

Within a few minutes of starting the first chapter, I was getting choked up and found the tears streaming down my face.  I find it so incredible how much differently you view the world once you become a parent.
The story itself is about a young girl growing up with cerebal palsy.  Intellectually, she is brilliant, but she is unable to communicate vocally with the world, and confined to a wheel chair.  Melody, the main character speaks and describes her world and the events that have taken place within the first eleven years of her life.

Sharon Draper whom herself raised a child with disabilities was able to write this story describing with such detail the thoughts and feelings of a child that many "professionals" treated with such disregard.  And, of loving parents and caregivers who helped, and pushed to give Melody the best life possible.

I know that many of us look away when we see someone with disabilities.  I think for most, there is an unsettled feeling as to how to act, and maybe some guilt that we might have it better or easier.  I think this book brought an awareness for my daughter of how someone with a disability feels when someone makes fun of, looks away, or ignores them.  And how it's okay to choose to be a friend.

The book specifically spoke about the equipment needed for someone that needs a wheelchair to get around, and of the special equipment available now for those who cannot speak on their own.  So incredible to know that with the push of one thumb or a finger, the whole world can be opened up for a person.  I'm not sure that all of our new technology is beneficial to society, but a "Medi- Talker", by all means YES!

If this book isn't required reading in public school, it should be!  I am so glad we took the time to read this very thought provoking story.  Many times we can blow through stories pretty quickly.  I found with this one, I needed time to digest, the readings.  I am glad we read it together so that we could discuss what was happening within each chapter, and help guide us through some very emotionally tough experiences for "Melody".

Additionally to the book, Sharon Draper has written a website with answers to questions about the book, and study guide information.  Sharon Draper.com - Out of My Mind

It is so interesting the things children take from a story.  I found our daughter busy one day designing a wheel chair for one of her dolls.  Glue gun, duct tape, cardboard, wooden beads, straws in hand and so excited! She had all sorts of ideas, and was so careful to make sure it had safety belts, and was comfortable for the rider.  It was fun to watch the design process take place.

This book might be identified for children ages 10 and up, but I think it is a must read for all.

Happy Reading!

A Few Hours of Ocean Therapy

It's Summer and it's hot!

We've been busy here with our usual activities plus the addition of a few Summer camps.  Spring temperatures were relatively mild and then came the heat of Summer.  It changed overnight, one day nice and 70ish, and the next 104 degrees F.  Uuugh is all I can say.

This time last year I was pregnant with our little babe, and not up for much adventuring.   We didn't do any trips to the beach, or much of anything for that matter.  While having children is a wonderful thing, I do not relish the preggo part.  I really like adventuring with my children, and it feels like I lose time with them because I feel so crummy, exhausted, huge etc...you get the point.  Anywhoo, I digress.

It is a bit of a long day trip for us to go to the coast.  What I've come to find though is that even just a day trip is so worth it!

This girl can jump, and make a friend anywhere!

 We headed to Whaleshead State Park Day Use Area.  This is one of my favorite places on the Oregon coast. It is a protected little cove like area.  The beach is flat, waves not too big, and some little nooks and crannies to explore.  Plus, the vault toilets are extremely clean.  A bonus!  My children are still a little scared of the vault, so that is always an experience.  Really...who likes a vault toilet.

Exploring a boulder cave.

Velella or By the Wind Sailor - An asymetrical jellyfish that floats on the surface of the ocean.  There were thousands mixed in with the beached sea grass and sea weed.

Such a vibrant green moss

The weather was cool, and the children played and played.  It was fun to see their little souls so free!  I think we all just needed a break from our home life, and this was just the adventure we needed.  The drive home through the Redwoods and deep canyons was peaceful...all three slept most of the way back....that never happens.

Maybe our souls need the ocean more often.

Away For The Day!

A couple of weeks back, my husband and I were feeling the need to get away (desperately).  This is an extremely rare occasion in our house.  The demands of two very busy children, a curious baby, and all those things that need to get done each day had wore us out.

I contacted our babysitter to see if she was available for the whole day.  Yayy!! she was.  Saturday morning, I made food for the children, we packed up the baby and off we went...no looking back.

The day was wonderful!  We had a relaxing breakfast out at the Talent Cafe.   The food was very good, and we actually held an uninterrupted conversation over cups of coffee.  The baby was awesome, he just hung out with us, and did his usual adorably cute routine.  We then headed out to Grizzly Peak for a 6 mile hike.  Beautiful views, wildflowers, perfect temperatures, and wonderful company.  After our hike, we munched on Nachos Grande Ole with grilled jalapenos and drank tasty margaritas.  The perfect end to a wonderful day!

  

My New Favorite Muffin

I have a new favorite muffin. Carrot Almond Muffins

This muffin comes from the cookbook "Nourishing Meals" by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre, MS, CN.  This cookbook has lots of really great recipes.  As you can see from my picture, I have it tabbed with lots of sticky notes.


The authors even have a great blog - Nourishing Meals Blog.

While I tried to follow the recipe exactly, I did make a couple of additions that I think makes them even better.

Dry ingredients:
2 cups raw almonds, finely ground (2 1/2 cups ground)
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Wet ingredients:
2 cups grated carrots
1/4 cup olive oil or melted coconut oil
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup - (I used 1 tbls of Stevia powder instead).
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
4 large eggs

I added:
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.  Mix in raisins and walnuts.  Whisk everything together.  Fill each cup to the top.

Bake for about 30 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

Yields: 1 dozen muffins

These are good for breakfast or a snack later in the day.  Enjoy!

Pom Selleck

Now it has been pretty warm this past week, and I had purchased a large bottle of Pom at Cosco....it was on sale.  So, the other day I decided to find an frosty beverage recipe that include pomegranate juice.  I came upon this.....

                           photo courtesy of http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/the-pom-selleck/

This beauty of a drink is none other than the (drum roll please!!)  Pom Selleck.

Any of my close friends and family know of my fondness for Tom Selleck.  I've loved him since I was young girl watching Magnum P.I.  I like to think that he is pretty laid back and super nice.  I sure hope so.  So when I saw this recipe, I knew I had to make it.

We celebrated the 4th of July with burgers, my moms yummy potato salad and this tasty drink.  To top it off, it is an extremely easy drink to make.

Now if only I had had those fun mustache straws.

Enjoy.

• 3 cups pomegranate juice

• 1 1/4 cups vodka

• 1 cup triple sec

• 1 lime, juiced

• 2 cups seltzer

• ice

directions

1. Combine the pomegranate juice, vodka, triple sec and lime juice in a pitcher; refrigerate until cold. Just before serving, add the seltzer. Pour the mixture into tall, ice-filled glasses and serve each with a mustache straw.

recipe courtesty of http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/the-pom-selleck/