Birds, Baskets & Bedtimes

Okay so I know the dates are a little screwy but that's what I (& you) get when I don't keep up with myself! So the last post was about the 2nd when we went and did all of our schtuff in town and so today's post will be about the 3rd when we got to go through everything. Hooray, fun times! First things first, the fruit. Remember I was telling you we got a whole big box full of fruit, plus some free goodies...I wasn't joking.

[caption id="attachment_399" align="aligncenter" width="300"] ♫ Fruit, Fruit it's good for the Heart!! ♫[/caption]

We accomplished to walk out with, let me see if I can get the numbers straight... 6 potatoes, 6 yellow onions, 4 big mama tomatoes, 5 avocadoes, 7-8 nectarines, 4 peaches, and a bushel of bananas for $16.34 and then the "mom" (the lady that owns the stand) gave us 4 dandy dapple plums and a couple of peach doughnuts for free. Man do I love that fruit stand!! Even J' was impressed and excited...this NEVER happens over fruit and veggies for this man! After digging through the fruit and enjoying a peach doughnut I looked over to find J' pulling our new basket out of the box.

[caption id="attachment_401" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It's a peach that looks like a doughnut! How cute![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_400" align="aligncenter" width="300"] He's a basket case[/caption]

We got a basket to put on the roof of Joon Van behind the solar panels so all of our crap wasn't always floating around the van. You know what this means? Yep, more room but also more holes in Joon Van...scary stuff! I helped a little bit, it wasn't that big of a project but I helped by holding it up and in certain places and then ratcheting some things. Sounds like I know what I was doing, huh! Everything fit right into place and now we have a basket to put stuff in...now, we just can't get any more stuff! haha

[caption id="attachment_402" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Lookin' good[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_403" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It can be done[/caption]

It was pretty hot all day until we were done with the basket, then it became really overcast all of a sudden. It stayed overcast for the remainder of the day with a few light sprinkles here and there, nothing to write home (wherever that is) about. The birds came out too....the BIG birds. Usually we'll see Crows flying overhead or by us on a daily but today these Hawks were circling us, stalking us and I'm pretty sure they were sizing Savannah up.

[caption id="attachment_405" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sizin' Nana Bug up[/caption]

She's just a bit too big for them, but after walking around the van and looking up into the trees and seeing 5 of them just sitting and watching, I brought Savannah into the van for a while...I don't need a heart attack happening right now!

[caption id="attachment_404" align="aligncenter" width="225"] This was taken from the side of the van. Do you see all the birds? There's at least three in this shot, 2 on the left in the back and one on the right. There were two more not in this pic![/caption]

The next couple of days were pretty much blah for me. I went off of all of my medications and started using supplements and vitamins in their place and changed my diet so you could imagine the fun I was having..woo hoo (very sarcastically). I've learned how to "whip" up (in 45 minutes of course) some brown rice and make some pretty good mixtures in the last week. J' said to me the other day, "I think this is the most I've ever seen you cook." haha I said, "Me too!" My mother would be proud I'm sure!

[caption id="attachment_406" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Brown rice, french green beans, mushrooms and chicken with some gravy[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_408" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Brown rice seasoned with soy sauce and sweet potatoes[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_409" align="aligncenter" width="300"] An ultimate fave; tomato & avocado on whole wheat whole grain bread. YUM![/caption]

Sleep has not really been happening for me at night, I mostly want to do that during the day but pass on it thinking if I do nap then I won't get any sleep at night, then I still get no sleep at night...it's a vicious cycle. Sometimes I can hear that sleep medication calling out my name, but I need to figure something else out for when I'm out of that, I'm out. I've tried Melatonin, it keeps me more awake then restful. I've tried Passion Flower Extract, Trace Minerals, tea, magnesium, all of that together, all of it at different times...I don't know.

[caption id="attachment_407" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Trying to figure out sleepy time[/caption]

It's a learning process and I'm learning what works for a lot of people doesn't work for me but there's gotta be something out there that can get this girl to sleep! Insomnia is a bitch and runs in my family but there's gotta be a natural cure, there's just gotta be...and I'm bound to find it! So yeah, I got my guitar out a few days ago thinking if I saw it on a daily I would pick it up, but that motivation thing has just not been there since "the change". I'm sure it will pick back up... so she sits waiting for me. It's just so hard to sit and be motivated to do something you don't know how to do and have to teach yourself when you don't know what you're doing! haha The few videos I downloaded before we left Georgia are getting old to me, but we can't really afford to be downloading a whole bunch of crappy videos to go against our data if I don't know if they are even going to help me. I know, I know, the things I have to worry about! I guess I would rather have this problem then the thousand I would have otherwise in 'that other life'. Keep wishing me well on this transition...and wish J' well too, sometimes I think he needs it more than I do...poor guy. We'll get through it, we've been through much much worse together. Keep us in your good juju as you are always in ours.

[caption id="attachment_410" align="aligncenter" width="300"] She lives the roughest life![/caption]

PEACE

Change for change

Okay I think an update is in order here! I would say things have been hectic but I think it's just that way in my head and before I know it several days have gone by! haha Anyway let's see what have we been up to...?? Well...oh Lúnasa sásta (that's Happy August to the people that don't speak Irish...I don't either I just think it's fun to translate stuff!) On the 2nd of August we went down to Fresno to pick up some stuff at the Postal place and grocery shop, among other things as always. We didn't leave super early thinking we could definitely get all of our stuff done by the time the sun would be setting...haha we are silly, yes we are! We left about 10-10:30 a.m. We went down with a plan this time, a list written out for the groceries, a list or budget you might say for the entire day. We thought this would lessen our stress but we can be fooled ya know!? We picked up our stuff and a few things for Bob & Miss Cherry at the Postal place then headed onto the rest of our errands. We proceeded to the laundromat with our 6 loads of filthy laundry. I didn't think it was that bad, we did 6 loads of laundry for $15.00 roughly and we were only there for about an hour and a half...maybe 2 hours (I'm quick and to the point man, I'm a folding machine). There is something strange about going to the laundromat though, it makes me feel like a normal person...maybe it's the domestication. J' helped by making the bed while I folded the rest of the clothes, this helped on time immensely...thanks babaa'! We went to a self car wash instead of the one we went to before because we now have the solar on the roof...not good to go through a car wash with that!

[caption id="attachment_388" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Dirty girl[/caption]

We got to the car wash and their coin machine didn't work so we drove back to the laundromat to get change and then back to the car wash. The van was filthy, just like everything else we own haha...including our feet (yes we washed those too!)

[caption id="attachment_391" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Gotta get the tootsies clean![/caption]

We thought it was neat when we got to the car wash there was a couple of guys, that looked like they just bought this Westfalia, they were cleaning it out and up. It was pretty nostalgic.

[caption id="attachment_389" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wonder what they're going to do with her?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Just like new[/caption]

Now that our clothes were clean and Joon Van was clean, it was time to grocery shop...ugh...the dreaded Wal-mart. We had to get some vitamins there anyway, so we just planned on getting what we needed and getting the hell out...we had a list, should be a breeze. I swear this place just sucks the life out of J' & I, the only time we argue is when we are in THIS store, it's so annoying. We got what was on the list and didn't get a lot of stuff on the list, too and left. We still had two more stops to make before we even thought about making it home and it was already 5:15p.m.

[caption id="attachment_393" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wonder what an Ice Sandwich tastes like?? Ice cold![/caption]

We made a stop into The Vitamin Shoppe to get my new supplements and since I had done all of my research and knew exactly what to look for (& I had someone helping me) we were only there for about 10 minutes. Out the door we go to the Fruit Stand, oh and I found out their name it's, Takahashi Farms Fruit Stand at Copper Avenue & Auberry Road.

[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I ♥ you[/caption]

I was, again, like a little girl in a candy store and since we budgeted this time for about $20 in fruit and veggies here, I was grabbing everything I could think to put in or on something...without it going bad. We walked out with a big box full of goodies and the mom (the lady that yelled at me last time) even gave us a free bag full of fruit. She was saying to me, "Grab some of those doughnut peaches and some dapple dandy plums and some of those." I was grabbing things I didn't even know what they were, just thankful that we had the chance. By the time we got back up the mountain the sun was starting to sink but we still needed to get water and be Santa Claus to Bob & Miss Cherry....rollin' rollin' rollin'. We got our water, handed everything out and got back to camp just in enough time to make a quick bite and get in the van by night fall.

[caption id="attachment_395" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Cookin' in the dark[/caption]

The next day would be like Christmas for us we will open the bags of groceries, fruit and the boxes we got from the Postal place and access "the damage" once again!

[caption id="attachment_390" align="aligncenter" width="300"] What a nice sign[/caption]

PEACE

This day will definitely pay off

Phew, let me sit down a second to catch my breath from all of the running around we did today! We woke up at a half-way decent time to get out of here, probably 8:15 or so. I was actually still in bed but was woken up by J' starting the van. I said, "We're not like leaving, leaving right now, are we?" He says," Yeah, we're gone." I love how he is so cute to let me sleep in but not when my clothes and my shoes are sitting outside...and he's like come on, let's go! I have to laugh about it now, but at that time I wasn't finding it very humorous. I understand he just wanted to get on the road and down there, we had a lot to do. I got dressed, got my shoes, "did my hair", and hopped in Joon Van. We headed straight to the Postal place, well with a slight detour to Burger King for breakfast...they made us Whoppers at 9:50 in the morning! We figured it wasn't what we planned on but it's better to fill the belly with something rather than nothing, especially when we have to go deal with a lot of stuff (that could potentially be damaged or broken). We get to the Postal place, open the van and J' starts bringing one (big) box at a time. It was a good thing that we left all of our stuff at Tai Shan, these boxes were super big and heavy, there would have been no room for them. After we loaded them in the van, we opened them to make sure there was no damage...better to open them here than get all the way home and then have to make the trek all the way back. Everything looked in good condition, so off to the grocery store we go. Since I sincerely loathe the Wal-mart in Clovis, I wanted to go to a different Wal-mart. J' suggested we just go to a regular grocery store instead of Wal-mart. We found a Save Mart (reminded me of a Winn Dixie). They had some pretty good veggies, so we got just a few potatoes, onions and apples (we were planning on stopping by the fruit stand on the way back). We got some things that they are always out of at that Clovis Wal-mart and a few other things and then had to wrap it up... the prices are definitely not Wal-mart prices.

[caption id="attachment_214" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I think we lost Nana![/caption]

We tried to find another Wal-mart that's a little better than Clovis and it kept putting us at Sam's Club. Our food was starting to get a little warm so cringingly we had to go to the Clovis Wal-mart because there was still a lot of stuff we needed that the other store didn't have and I needed to pick-up a Rx up there. I cannot emphasize enough how much this Wal-mart makes me never want to be around people ever again! They are so unorganized, the people (customers & staff) are so very rude, there's no room to walk, yet alone push your cart anywhere in the entire store, they are always out of everything and are of no help when you ask them for anything, half the time they make up crap just to get you to walk away. It's horrible. We are going to have to find a solution to this because I don't think I can walk in there one more time. I thought it was just me because I am very sensitive to things like that, especially big crowds, but even J' said something to me the last time we were down there about it. Anyway, sorry I think I rant every single time we go there...it's sad to think that's what the human race looks and acts like...sad, very sad. Moving on~ We were almost done and J' just had to run into Home Depot real quick to get the rest of the parts and tools for the Solar install....I stayed in the car with the bug. Forty-five minutes (and counting) later, out emerges J' with his handy little bag of implements! Hooray!! We had one more stop...the fruit stand of course. This was one of my favorite parts of the day. There is a little fruit stand that sits on the corner of these two streets that we come down to drive into town (sorry don't know the names of the streets). I LOVE fresh fruit so we stopped on our way back 'home'. It's just the cutest little stand, probably a small bathroom in a regular sized house. At the very front there is nothing but tomatoes, this probably changes with season.

[caption id="attachment_215" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Maters Maters Maters[/caption]

As you walk into the little "hut" area, there are tons of fresh fruits and veggies. Let's see if I can remember a bit of what they had; Tomatoes, Summer Squash, Zucchini, Italian Peppers, Bell Peppers, Onions, Potatoes, Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Figs, Plums, Peaches, White Peaches, Apricots, Grapes, Cherries and they had more than that but that's all I can remember.

[caption id="attachment_217" align="aligncenter" width="225"] So delectably delicious[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_216" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ummm... I'll just take everything. Thanks.[/caption]

And guess who got 'yelled' at??? haha Yep, I'm not even kidding. I told you I get 'yelled' at everywhere I go! Unknowingly, I put my fruit in plastic bags ... crime of the Century I know, well I was told I am supposed to have Fruit in papa' bag and Vege-tables in pwastic bag. Apparently they have signs up that say all of this. I guess I was overwhelmed from all the excitement! I wish J' was there to see me gettin' told by this cute little Asian woman, but I asked him to go get my camera out of the van...rats! In the end, I walked with 4 amazing Tomatoes and 4 Peaches & 1 White Peach equaling out to a whole $3.74!!! Ganga for fresh Fruit...you know this girl (ME) is jumping for Jehoshaphat's!!!

[caption id="attachment_218" align="aligncenter" width="225"] I got some goodies![/caption]

When we got back up to Shaver Lake, we stopped and filled up on water. Don't know if some of ya'll even know this (because we didn't), but in the state of California gas stations HAVE to supply free air and water (they say for automotive purposes, but how do they know what you're using it for!?) We filled up both of our gallon jugs, water bottles, and then our 5 gallon jug, we call it the water cooler.

All stocked up, off we go again, to home, to get this stuff on some ice before all that money goes down the drain. I'm sure J' wants to sit and look at all the new "toys" for the install tomorrow.

[caption id="attachment_223" align="aligncenter" width="300"] We got new solar and lots of other things...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_224" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Our Brand New batteries[/caption]

All of this craziness and racing around (and we were rushing) still took us about 7 hours. No trip to town is ever a 'hurry and come back' ordeal, just glad all of our food is safe, bagged and cooling again. We're going to (try) to eat like Kings tonight baby!!

[caption id="attachment_222" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Only a lot burnt, but still edible[/caption]

PEACE