Future ranch = another dog.

I know you are just dying to know what we do on weekends, here is a little sample of my Saturday :). It seems there is always something happening on Saturdays....

Today, we got up at the crack of down, fired up our GPS, and drove to a Sheepherding aptitude test. Our GSD is a "herding" dog, after all. Or rather, German Sheperds are herding dogs, but not mine LOL. Now we have the certificate to prove it!


Herding 101. What makes a good herder, and why some dogs aren't. Finding out now that each of these 28 dogs will go in one at time, herd, be evaluated, etc. I am glad I brought food....


"Mommy, there are 28 dogs here just dying to play with ME! Please? Please?"


Yeah!! We are number 19, we are next!!



Rex is almost as big as the sheep. He chases them a bit, nibbles one in the butt, runs a bit more, but definitely does not have the prey/hunter instinct a good sheep dog needs/wants. He thought he was playing, LOL.

So, now we know that when we get our ranch, we will have to get a real sheepdog. Thank goodness, since Rex already has a job....Head Guard Dog.

The Life of Me - 30 days to a better butt :)

This is day 3 in the Life of Me.

January is the month of good habits for me. I only have 2 days left to improve myself, so I might have to extend this good thought to February.

All habits take 30 days to form. Since my health is suffering a bit of older age, I decided yesterday that my first new good habit will be to practice the 5 Tibetan Rites daily.

This is what Rex thought about that:



One of the reasons any exercise regime falters in my life is that I never have TIME. Unless I get up super early, or I exercise at 11:30pm, which is prime time for wine. The 5 Rites are perfect: You don't need any equipment, you can do them in about 15 minutes, they strengthen the whole body, and they say it is a fountain of youth!

http://www.lifeevents.org/5-tibetans-energy-rejuvenation-exercises.htm

Get twirling!

In the life of ME

In the past weeks I have been doing a lot soul searching. I have decided to make some changes, and with that comes that I have to dedicate my brain and my energy to my "cause". In this time, I do still have a lot to say, but it is not always appropriate for the public :)...

So, for the next few weeks I will share some snapshots from our crazy, sometimes humerous, sotimes not so, life.

Much love,
Heike

This is one of favorite stomping grounds...a few weeks ago. Now, after all the rain, it looks like this:


The water rose right up to the trees...no swimming here.


Yeah, we found a diving spot! Water, water, water......


Everybody loves them some wet dog.....

It's all good......

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing"
` Agatha Christie


This was in my Simple Abundance today. Isn't it fabulous? There are times when you think nothing worse can happen, not another repair, another unexpected bill, another broken glass....the kids go nuts, the husband stinks, a rotten mood prevails.

When all quiets down, a glass of wine; you have some time to "rebalance", all is good.

Embrace your life, and it will love you back.

What I am grateful for: The opportunity of change.

What I am manifesting: Change :)

What I am reading: "Violin" by Anne Rice

It's official...there are new hormones in the house.

It is here: The Tweens.

Adolescence is kicking me in the butt. My sweet baby is suffering from dual personalities. My sweet little Goddess, every once in a while her alter ego surfaces and turns her into a mainstream TWEEN. All my goddessy, green witchy, natural sweet mama upbringing just VANISHES, and the Tween takes over. Ugh. I knew it was coming....

:)

She is still perfect, though every once in a while I have to bring her back down to earth. It is truly amazing what happens when your child, a baby, begins to find her own identity. They are formed by you, but are definitely beginning to pave their own journey.

I watch her with fascination, frustration, and pride.

I thank the Goddess for this blessing, and thank my baby for choosing me to be her mama :).

Now, to get my big girl panties on and jump right in......

"I have what I need" she says as she hangs everything on the GO BACK rack...

Today I had an hour to myself, and not far from where I dropped off my kids is my favorite thrift store.

"Oh, I will go and browse the books".....

If you recall, last week, in a panic to rid my house of unneeded items, I carted off two carloads full of "stuff". I have no idea what made me go to the thrift store today, as I AM WEAK.

My name is Heike, and I am a thriftoholic.

Even I must admit, though thrifty, I am still spending quite a bit of my grocery money on treasures at the thrift store.

Today was a different day. As always, I found at least 3 fabulous clothes items that someone must have donated just for me. A bohemian linen blouse, a tattered cotton skirt in my favorite green with a cotton slip sewn in, super soft green chinos that were brand new....all three fit perfectly. As I am primping and smiling at myself in the mirror as I do when I snatch....a thought blared at me.

"I have what I need."

Well that sucks. Now how am I supposed to enjoy my treasure?

I put them on the GO BACK rack, bought 3 books and the hand knit cardigan with little flowers for my little Goddess, and left. In the car, I became much happier that I did not purchase yet another fabulous blouse or skirt. Quite frankly, I think I will rework some of the stuff I have. I look pretty dorky in normal chinos anyways.

With everything being tight, every dollar counts. I am becoming even more aware that we have everything we need to live a happy life. Hell, even if you took half of everything away, we would still have plenty. Plus, I would not have so much laundry to fold........


Bliss is in the ones we love, and life's simple pleasures.

Be one with nature :)...and learn.

If you are homeschooling, or if you just want to get out and enjoy Mother Nature with your kids of all ages, this is an excellent resource.

You will find challenges, beautiful pictures, experiences...all from a "real life" mom, and real kids :). This is how we do science!

Check out her beautiful trees & snow, and new ebook. There are also many free resources on her site :).

http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2010/01/winter-series-of-outdoor-hour.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

Happy forging!
Heike