Piddlin' at the park

Today seemed like a super long day. I feel like I got a lot done but nothing at the same time. I know J' was working his lil' fingers to the bone, so he was successful with a hard days work! We went back to that park, Sportsman's Park, over by Davis Dam and parked in that RV spot.

It really is the perfect spot. We can park under the canopy and still get full sun for our solar panels, there's a table that we put the grill on to make lunch, we have our own personal trash can and there's a bunch of room to spread out. It was great! There's even a perfect place to put Savannah's leash so she can walk around the entire area, without it coming off when she's telling everyone that passes by that this is OUR area!

[caption id="attachment_2598" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Soaking up the rays[/caption]

After our morning cafe' and chicken on the grill, J' went to work and I spread out on the table for a mani & pedi...it was definitely time! I swear I worked on my nails for like three hours. It's a lot of work doing the full shebang: taking polish off, pushing back the cuticles, nipping off stuff that doesn't belong, buffing, cutting, filing, then actually painting them (base, two coats of color, and top coat) and letting them dry.

[caption id="attachment_2599" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Picasso of Nails[/caption]

I sat (and did absolutely nothing) to let them dry fully. There's nothing more annoying than spending all of this time on your nails and then doing something to mess them up because you didn't let them dry all the way. I sat at the table for about 30-35 minutes, watching Savannah roll around, talked to J' and just sat.

[caption id="attachment_2600" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Fall colors[/caption]

 I had been waiting to use these colors for the fall season, I was pretty excited about it. After about 45 minutes (in all) of doing absolutely nothing, they looked and felt dry so I started doing little things, still being careful with them...just in case. Wouldn't you know 5 milliseconds later, I'm missing paint on my thumb and there are bulges on three other fingers....WHAT!!!? Oh my gosh, I tried to fix them and within 15 minutes ended up taking all of my fingernail polish off....ugh! So much for that...at least my tootsies look good! I guess that's whatcha get when you buy cheap polish!

Moving on with my day...I got my 'puter out and started up my guitar videos and practiced for about 20 minutes. Sure doesn't take long for those fingers to start hurting! I did a little bit of work on the computer but saw that it was already starting to get dark...what the...? So Nana and I went on a little walk to get some exercise. She loves to run, I tell ya!!

[caption id="attachment_2602" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Could she be any cuter?[/caption]

 We hung out in the grass for a little bit, walked around down by the water and then came back up near the playground. I didn't notice it yesterday when we were here but this playground is so cute...it's like a butterfly or something and the floor is super cushy!

We hung out for just a bit longer, we were the only ones left in the park.

[caption id="attachment_2604" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Park after dark[/caption]

Even though it was only about 6:00 p.m. we didn't want to get shooed out because it was dark now, so we packed everything up and headed back to the casino lots for the night. We had a quick bite to eat to put something in our bellies...a Nutella sammie...it's like dinner and dessert in one! haha Now it's tube & cuddle time with my babies. Nighttime is always the best time, we get to lay in our 'fort', watch TV (and even some people that have no clue there's anyone in 'that' van) and snuggle back into slumberland. Hey, it's a hard job...but somebody's gotta do it!

[caption id="attachment_2605" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sleeping Beauty[/caption]

PEACE

Just another day in the van

The past 2-3 mornings I have been waking up at the crack of dawn. This morning I decided to get out of bed and let J' sleep in a little bit, usually if he's not awake with me it's because he wasn't sleeping during the night. I bundled my nugget (and myself) up and we went for a little walk. Last night we ended up moving up to this plateau right above where we have been camping so I walked her around where the van used to be. It's nice because there are many more potty places for her there and it's nice and flat...no big rocks to climb up and over!

[caption id="attachment_2531" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Our lil perch[/caption]

She has been wanting to go down the big hill to the main road but I never have the right shoes on and knowing me I will slide down that hill! Today I gave in...a little bit and she was so excited!

[caption id="attachment_2532" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Where does she start?[/caption]

That hill is pretty steep and when I started sliding we went back to the top....we would try again another day. The wind was pretty strong already, whipping me around (not helping with the shoes and rocks down the hill) and I could also see Savannah walking a little sideways when a big gust would come through...she's so little!

[caption id="attachment_2533" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The wind in our hairs[/caption]

We got back in the van and snuggled with daddy for a bit before getting up for the day...it's always so nice to snuggle when it's cold outside (about the only thing good about cold weather!). Since she had already been out, all she wanted to do was window hunt, so we ended up getting up sooner than later.

[caption id="attachment_2534" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Would rather be hunting[/caption]

We got up and walked her again together, just up on the perch. She loves it when daddy is up because she doesn't have to be on a leash...she has selective hearing when she's with momma, yep she's a brat!

[caption id="attachment_2535" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Running like the wind![/caption]

We all got back in the van...we are ready for some coffee!! We were getting everything out and ready to brew and J' said, "Holy cow...look!" I turned where he was pointing and boom...my day was automatically made. A herd of Bighorn Sheep were right there on the other side of the mountain feeding. They feed off of the vegetation and were moving from plant to plant, bush to bush, never staying in one spot for more than a minute or two.

[caption id="attachment_2536" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Pretty darn close[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2537" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Biggest Horns[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2538" align="aligncenter" width="300"] J's camera zooms better[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2539" align="aligncenter" width="300"] They are so rad![/caption]

I had to switch cameras about 6 pictures in because J's camera has a lot better zoom than mine...I was just happy to get some really good pics! Aren't they so cool? They stuck around a good part of the day, going up and down the mountain as well as circling it a couple of times. The last time we saw them it was around 3 p.m. or so, they were feeding and nearing the edge closest to town and all of a sudden you see one of them take off running. At first, I thought they were trotting down the hill and gravity was making them run then we realized they probably picked up a scent of one of their predators....they were all booking it and they are fast!! It was amazing to see them run at the speed they were. I told J' I would like to be on the back of one of them...wouldn't that be fun!? I think so...don't know how they would react to it...haha

It was another nice day...windy, cold, in the van with the heater on...but at least we have the van, we have warm clothes and a heater to keep our toes from turning blue (well mine at least, I'm a wimp)! We practiced the guitar a little bit and I hit a new record of staying in my jammies all day long! I don't think much more is going to happen today so I'm writing this post a little early. I think with the sun going down at (what seems like) 3:oo in the afternoon...really like 4:30...I seem to be wrapping my days up a lot earlier than I usually would. I think the rest of the day I might just goof around on Facebook and play some games!

[caption id="attachment_2543" align="aligncenter" width="225"] I obviously thought something was hilarious!![/caption]

I hope you had a great day and get to do a little goofing around yourself!

PEACE

 

Getting creative with our days

Woke up about 6 a.m. this morning and laid in bed gazing out the windows at the beautiful nature surrounding us...wow!

[caption id="attachment_2499" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Good Morning[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2500" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This is what we get to wake up to[/caption]

I turned my ipod on to my Zen Garden playlist and just chilled watching my babies sleep, thinking how lucky I am to have them in my life.. and they're just so cute cuddled up together. Savannah is definitely daddy's little girl!

[caption id="attachment_2498" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sweepy baby[/caption]

After laying in bed, zenning out and messing with Savannah we finally got up and did our morning rituals, still having to bundle up for the breezy, cool day ahead. We cooked up a little brunch of chicken and potatoes...let me tell you about the best find ever! J' found potatoes in a bag...sounds appetizing right! This bag full of flakes are like gourmet potatoes you'd get at Outback or something, they are the bomb AND only cost a buck! Yep, one whole dollar! What a ganga!!

[caption id="attachment_2501" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I see you through the smokey air ♫[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2502" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Home cookin'[/caption]

After brunch we worked, hung out and practiced the guitar for a bit...our fingers can only take so much right now, but we're doing it!

[caption id="attachment_2503" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Looking like a pro[/caption]

It is a little cramped in the van, but it's doable so, we get'r done! I am doing a beginners course that I found on the Internet (for free) back when we lived in the cabin. The guys name is Justin Sandercore (JustinGuitar), he breaks down everything step by step...I downloaded his videos before we left, so I watch them through RealPlayer. When I downloaded them I thought they would all end up in sequence...silly girl. They didn't, so for the rest of the day I renamed every video (84 of them) and put them in the right order. I don't work well unorganized, so now I can turn on the 'puter and go straight to the right video instead of searching for 10 minutes, getting bored and barely doing anything on the guitar. Now, let's see what else I come up with to steer me off course from my Claramae! haha It does help that J' is learning along with me, although he has a little bit of guitar experience from the past, so I think he's a big show-off...haha...but it does help!

Oh and I also found a cool picture program so I messed with that as well for the rest of the day...ya gotta be creative to fill your time sometimes people!

[caption id="attachment_2504" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Kaleidoscopic[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2505" align="aligncenter" width="225"] See the ghost!? Creepy[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2507" align="aligncenter" width="225"] From 1849, haha[/caption]

PEACE

&

CHICKEN GREASE, YA'LL 

 

 

 

 

Can you kill germs with kindness?

Today marks my 101st post! Congratulations to me! haha and thank you to everyone that sits and reads through everything and nothing that I have to say, you are very much appreciated! The last couple of days have just been getting back to the grindstone. J' is working hard and is feeling good about everything he is doing, that's always good & encouraging. I do wish he would take an "re-energizer break" sometimes, but he just wants to go go go and not break his motivation or concentration...understandable. I woke up the other morning not feeling so hot, so I took it easy. The next day (yesterday) I felt even worse, so I didn't really get anything done...other than a lot of coughing, wheezing and spitting (sorry it's gross but it happens). I don't know where it came from, but I am going to blame it on being in Fresno for three days... germies, germies, germies ...ick! I did however tune my sweet Claramae and boy am I glad that I finally went out and bought a cheap lil tuner. I thought for the past year that my guitar was broken, it just turns out my ears are! Playing a guitar or practicing & learning on a tuned guitar has totally changed all motivation and excitement for learning. I am totally stoked now and am more than ready to get 'er done. I can sit and play a little longer too now, it's not as hard on my fingers for some reason...this whole tuning thing has changed my life. I'm so freakin' stoked!! So far this morning, I feel a bit better than yesterday I think this cough is finally starting to break up, even more gross than yesterday but I'd rather have it do this and go away than stay for months and months. I also "tortured" Savannah by cutting her nails, filing them, then brushing her teeth. I swear if anyone could hear her screaming from our camp they would probably think we are trying to clip her whole foot off. The problems with cutting her nails myself are 1- She hates anybody touching her feet. 2- She gets scared when the clippers push down on her nail, I think it's the pressure and I'm not even close to her quick. 3- With her being scared of the clippers before I even push down, she screams and then she bites me. It's a huge ordeal to cut her nails, then I have to file them down with an acrylic file because we don't have  a dremmel. Usually I can do it myself, but this morning after 4 bites/really hard nips (haha, sorry dirty mind) I had to have J' come wrap her in a towel and hold her, she's so much better when daddy gets involved....daddy's little girl! I do have to thank Miss Cherry though, she taught me an easier way to clip the nail, so that part only takes me about 5 minutes now instead of 20...so Thank you Miss Cherry! Super exciting morning going on over here! We are still learning about this new iceless cooler we bought. Every day we talk about a different (refrigeration) situation so we will have to see how it does over the next few days with the solar and the clouds and everything else. Until then or until something else fantastic comes up, I will catch ya on the flip side yo!

Time to find Savannah:

[caption id="attachment_684" align="aligncenter" width="300"] ...in the bushes[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_685" align="aligncenter" width="300"] ...on top of the rock[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_686" align="aligncenter" width="300"] ...under mom's notebook[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_687" align="aligncenter" width="300"] ...or with my flock![/caption]

PEACE

Enjoying the View

I was so amazed when I woke up this morning, I couldn't get back to sleep knowing what beautiful pictures might be slipping through my fingers at this time of morning. It was about 6:45 a.m. (maybe even 7) and the sun was hitting the van so perfect that I could not resist the temptation to get up and get some awesome pics! I got out of the van and headed down...down the slippery rocks. I am not too much for preparation when pictures are at risk! I had on my 'jammers and a pair of shoes I call my California's...I wasn't planning on a full-on hike through scratchy prickly bushes. I headed down the rocks thinking they were going to be easy to get down, then I remembered I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to heights and falling.

[caption id="attachment_566" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Maybe should have worn different shoes[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_568" align="aligncenter" width="225"] ...and maybe some pants![/caption]

I was afraid to sit down anywhere because there are little nooks and crannies everywhere and I just knew as soon as I sat down there was going to be something waiting down there for me, to bite me on the tooshie!

[caption id="attachment_567" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sleepy eyes not liking my idea[/caption]

I sat down for a short second and jumped down into the bushes.... I'm so brave! haha It was so neat though once I got down to the bottom to look up at Joon Van in all of her morning glory.

[caption id="attachment_569" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Finally at the bottom...well worth it[/caption]

The sun was in the most perfect spot and all I could do was snap away. I kept moving back further and further to get better views and vantage points, our new spot rocks... a little bit of a pun there. As I started thinking about how I was going to get back to the top it dawned on me I really had nowhere to go. There are just these crazy spiky tree bushes everywhere, I did not wear the right thing for this at all, and I have nowhere to go but up...oops! I trekked my way around and around, always trying to keep sight of the van...

[caption id="attachment_575" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Barely...but I can still see her[/caption]

I am sooooo crazy scared about getting lost out here it's ridiculous. I finally found a little path and found my way out, woo hoo. I just had to walk back about 5 minutes to the van but I came out at a place that I actually recognized...weird! So here are some pics from my glorious shoot or so I think.

[caption id="attachment_571" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Up on our perch[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_572" align="aligncenter" width="300"] LOVE the sky in this one[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_576" align="aligncenter" width="300"] How razzamatastic is this tree?[/caption]

After I found my way back to camp, I  cleaned the outside of the windows, hopped in the van, cleaned the inside of the windows from snot face (Savannah) and took a few pics of what it looks like from where I lay and what I get to wake up to. Here are some of those...

[caption id="attachment_580" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nugget nuzzled in bed[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_578" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mo'nin' Yawnin'[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_579" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Savannah can hunt from here![/caption]

The rest of the day I messed around and fancied up The Lulu Lounge a little bit, I had to move it all together because it was in a spot where we needed space to be able to maneuver Joon Van in and out of the new spot. I tried tuning Claramae a bit, got really frustrated so what better thing to do....I took some pictures. At least if I can't play it right now I'll have plenty of pictures of what she looks like! haha

[caption id="attachment_581" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Frustrated....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_582" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The New Lulu Lounge[/caption]

 I also found my Angel cards so I did a couple of readings. I don't care what anybody says when I need a little bit of guidance or just some reassurance I lay out my cards and they always seem to be spot on. I've done them for many people and they always have the same response as I do, they love them and want to do them again and again.

[caption id="attachment_583" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My 1st reading[/caption]

 It was a pretty good day, I have to say. One of these days I'll get this guitar tuned so I can actually learn to do something...other than (try to) tune it! ha

Hope ya'll had a peaceful joyous day. Catch ya on the flip side.

PEACE

Yeah, yeah I smell what you're steppin' in

Well the heat is finally giving us a little bit of a break, phew. Now I know why I was always at the beach growing up...it's just nice there: sunny, breezy, surfin' it up, chillin' with your buds....ahhh. Today I planned on getting some things done mainly I needed to fix one of our toilet problems and I desperately wanted to spend some time with Claramae. I was all pumped full of motivation since my talk with my friend yesterday about guitar so I was going to put some of my new found knowledge to the test. I wanted to fix the stank problem of our toilet too. We have been using this freshener type deal to keep the toilet from stinking so damn bad but we both had a bit of a problem with it touching our butts every time we sat on the toilet! haha We took it off and threw it away thinking we could bare the smell until we could find another solution. Yeah, that lasted about two full days until I felt like I was going to throw up every time the lid was lifted. Thank goodness we had one more freshener left out of the packet of two...I had to solve this problem! I thought if maybe the freshener hung down low enough (to not touch the booty) but not low enough for anything else to touch it (ewww, I know) it would work out. Out here in da woods you find very creative ways to do things, so I found some paper clips & some pliers and started on my creative journey! I only had two paper clips so I had to be smart about this. I unbent the paper clips wrapped them around the plunger and each other then around the freshener, rolled up the metal, tweaked it here and there and voila... we now have a low hanging (not too low though) potty freshener. Oh what a wonderful thing this is! No more stankiness in the van at night woo hoo. It really is the little things people!

[caption id="attachment_524" align="aligncenter" width="225"] My handiness at its best[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_525" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Booty Fresh[/caption]

 After my creative achievement I unzipped Claramae so we could play together! Every time I see her I can't believe she's all mine, she's just so pretty. I can't wait to be able to play on her more than 20 minutes.

[caption id="attachment_527" align="aligncenter" width="225"] My sweet Claramae[/caption]

I tried to do the things that my friend and I talked about and some tabs he showed me but after about 10 minutes of pure frustration from not knowing how to read them I just went back to the videos I have that are already on my computer. After my fingers started hurting like mad, I stopped for the day and texted Tyler (my guitar friend) to ask him about the tabs. He sent me some pics with finger placement so I will be trying these out in the next few days. Thank goodness for friends, especially musically inclined friends! I'll let you know how the progress goes...hopefully the motivation keeps up!

Toodle-ooo for now my friends

PEACE