A Hike

Today as I entered the woods I felt my entire being relax.  It felt so good.  There is no doubt in my mind that if people took to the forest and spent time there, many of our human ills will cease to exist.

Another 30 day challenge

I'm a few days into my Whole 30 challenge, and I'm doing great. Eating only meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, small amounts of fruit and that's it.  No dairy for the month.  As always just trying to feel better. I noticed while I was away, all my aches and pains were gone, because I only ate healthy foods and no grains.  I came home and with in a week after all the stress I was eating all the foods that cause me such horrible issues.  I'm also trying to stay off the wine too, not sure if I will be 100% successful with that. ;-0.

Anyway, aside from that challenge, I just signed up for another 30 day challenge. This challenge is really awesome and enjoyable.  I'm doing the Kamana Sit Spot Challenge, starting August 1st.  I'm committing to sitting in one spot in nature for 20 minute each day, for 30 days.  A pure nature meditation.  Information can be found on their FB page. https://www.facebook.com/KamanaProgram I'm not sure yet where I will sit, maybe just by my pond in the backyard, which I don't do often enough. This way I will have the time no matter what life throws at me.

I spent the last two days caring for my son who had a Rhinoplasty for a deviated septum.  Horrible surgery and recovery. I love having the chance to nurture my adult child again. I miss being a mom to my young children.

Same message as always......

Starting tomorrow! GO!

Committing to this plan for 30 days.  It's just a Paleo plan, that does not allow chocolate or dairy. 

Again!

Next week I begin again,  enough of the self pity party, time to turn off and turn on my life again!  There is so much out there to do! 

Poor Babies!

See the faces of what feeding bears can cause.  Their mom was euthanized because she broke into a house.  Thankfully they are in the care of the best rehabber in all of NYS. 

Wake up and live

No truer message....the time is now!  What are you waiting for? 

Very happy my hubby crossed a very large adult male turtle onto our land yesterday.  That is a great animal message for him!  He has crossed more turtles this year then anyone I know. 

My hubby

For the last 32 years I've been blessed to spend my life with the most amazing human being.  He is the kindest most generous person I know. He embodies what it really means to be a *real man*.  He is the best husband, father, brother, son, cousin, son in law, brother in law. and friend that anyone could have.  He always thinks the best of everyone, and is willing to help anyone in any situation. I love him from the very core of my being.  We have had a life so full of fun and adventure that I've always felt like I've won the lottery.  For our first 30 years together we used to pinch ourselves with disbelief that our lives were so awesome.  Our relationship after the first three years of marriage has been effortless. We have always felt so blessed and grateful for everything. We knew at some point there would be  trials, and then there were.  They start a year ago with his cancer diagnosis, and the closing of our company.  The closing of the company was scarey but has ended up been a blessing.  Hubby's blood pressure is the lowest it's ever been and his state of happiness is contagious.  He is in amazing shape.  Unfortunately he is having his 2nd battle with Cancer .  I'm struggling to stay in the moment and enjoy our lives, each and every precious day we are given together.   I'm worried sick over him and what the future holds for his health.  He on the other hand continues to live each day and is happy and looking forward.  He is someone that I wish that I could emulate.  He doesn't dwell in the past and doesn't worry about the future.  He lives for today.   Lesson learned from my awesome side kick, now to put it in practice.  Each and every single day we have together is a gift, and one that I refuse to ever take for granted ever again. 

After writing this I feel better, I'm not sure why? But I feel as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, first time in over a month.  I've spent the afternoon thinking about all of the stories of our life, and being so thankful for all the fun and happiness I've had.  I was thinking about how 13 years ago when he decided to get back on the motocross bike how many people gave me such grief over it.  That only got worse as he was hurt in several crashes.  I was told to be a real women and make him stop! Even at my dads funeral, my Uncle as he eulogized my dad,  scolded him, saying how much my dad hated his riding.   I've never wavered, have always supported him, he loves his motocross.  Even though we have never had a ton of money.....we have lived our lives together to the fullest.  Instead of spending money on things or our home....we decided it was much more fun to go on trips.  Those memories for us and our boys is irreplaceable.  Right now I have a very full heart, so so grateful for the life I've been living.  So grateful to have this wonderful man by my side. 

2013 Trip out West

I kept my promise to myself and stayed completely off the internet for my entire trip. It's now been 16 days since I've been on FB.  I've very proud that I was finally able to take a break. I feel so good, I may continue for a while longer. I also stayed away from the TV, unless of cause I could catch a little of the Stanley Cup play-offs.  Our trip out West was truly a dream come true for me. We all had an amazing time.  Each place we stayed was so completely different from the previous, that none of us ever got bored.

June 8th, 9th & 10th  Gardiner, MT~Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone was once again the highlight of my trip.  We spent 3 glorious days in Yellowstone National Park.  I can't wait to go back.  Next time I'm going to spend an entire week there.   The house we rented was located a few miles from town, right on the Yellowstone river with the most awesome view of the mountains imaginable.  The weather was cold at night so we were able to leave the windows open and listen to the river flow by.  We cooked all our meals because there isn't a restaurant with in the park that have better views then the house we rented.  Drives into the park were exciting as usual, lots of Buffalo, Elk and Pronghorns. The morning we headed into the Lamar Valley very early was handsomely rewarded.  First off, I stopped and talked to the wolf people and they were not too encouraging about our quest to see a wolf.  Seems the once large Lamar Valley Pack had been broken up after the Alpha female was shot and killed by a rancher.  The pack currently has only 3 members.  Alpha female, male and a Beta female.  The wolf people told me that the day before they had gotten a good look at some of the members who were trying to feed on a dead Bison calf that the herd was continuing to protect. We headed further into the Valley and went onto a dirt road that was full of people with bins and scopes.  We soon had my spotting scope focused in on a Grizzly sow and her cub.  We turned around and there was a large boar Grizzly up on a hill.  We watched both bears for more then an hour.  The female eventually came towards us and ended up swimming across the river with her cub on her back!  What a awesome, awesome sighting!  Listened to a man who volunteers for the Yellowstone association and continued down the road to find a Golden Eagle nest.  We found it, plus a parent, and later heard that there are 3 chicks in the nest.  Next tip was where to find a sow with 3 cubs that were laying down near the river.  I didn't quite catch where they said, so we ended up pulling over at another area, and immediately heard a young boy saying....it looks canine?!  I put my bins up and there were 3 wolves running down a path right across the river from where we stood!  So close you could see them with  your naked eyes!  They continued down the path and soon the Alpha and Beta females crossed the river, while the Alpha male watched for a bit and then made his way as well.  They watched for cars, crossed the road and headed up to the den site.  I was told that yesterday wolf watchers heard the pups howling.  Amazing once in a lifetime sighting.  We did stop to see the sow grizzly and her 3 cubs.  Again....amazing sight!  We continued up to the North East entrance and pulled over to try and find Mountain Goats, which we did!  They were a little harder to spot due to there still being a bit of snow on the rocks.  We saw a couple of goats and babies.  On the way out of the valley right before we came into Mammoth Hot Springs there was a herd of 5 Big Horn Sheep grazing right on the side of the road. 

June 11th Lake Yellowstone, WY 

Wonderful day wondering around all the various guiser areas, including Old Faithful.  We spent the night in a cabin and had a wonderful dinner at the Lodge. 

June 12th & 13th Grand Teton Park, WY

After a amazing drive through the park, we arrived at the Snake River Lodge.  For me it was kind of anticlimactic, very commercial and far from the immersion in nature I was so craving. The place was chosen by my mom and her hubby, and they seemed to enjoy it, and it was important that everyone had a good time.   We did a gondola ride to the top of the mountain at the Jackson Hole Ski lodge, just beautiful scenery.  I don't think that I could snowboard on a mountain that big. 

June 14th Lander, WY

Spent the day with friends of my step-dads.  A delightful older women who has traveled widely and lived a very interesting life.  Her deceased husband was a famous artist.  We went out for the best meal of the entire trip.  Her two wonderful granddaughters went with us.  They are so adorable.  The next day we went out to their family home.  A brand new contemporary home with such interesting details.  Their dad had put fossilized ammonites in several different places, like floors, a water feature.  Just the coolest home.  Really enjoyed our visit with this family. 

June 15th, 16th & 17th Moab, UT

The highlight of my hubby's trip.  I have to agree with him, Moab is stunning. He had taken a trip out there last year and wanted me to see it.  There is no place else on earth that is anything like the mountains of Moab.  It is a Geologist dream scape. Incredible rock formations everywhere, and not just in the two parks.  On the drive down from Lander we were able to see lots of Prairie Dogs just before we arrived at the red rocks.  The house we rented for 3 nights was amazing.  It backed up to a great wildlife area and was just down the street from a Nature Conservancy area.  We rented a 4x4 jeep and my hubby took us for a whole day wild ride out in the desert.  I think that was the highlight of my moms trip.  It was pure adrenaline and FUN!  We also were able to get out and see some petrogliphs, and native ruins.  Such a spiritual area.  I can't wait to return. 

June 18th & 19th Grand Canyon, North Rim, AZ

Long drive through Navaho Reservation areas. So many beautiful rock formations though out the dessert.  Sad how our native Americans have to live.  The Grand Canyon north lodge is just STUNNING!  I don't think that I've ever been in a restaurant with a better view.  The food was not good, but you couldn't beat that the lodge is perched on the edge of the Grand Canyon.  We had a lovely 2 days stay and lots of sight seeing.  My favorite part was when we arrived in the dark, and on the drive in I could see some dark figures on the side of the road, Bison's!  We also saw an owl and lots of mule deer.  Oh and I forgot.....a CALIFORNIA CONDOR!  The first morning I was in the visitor center getting a free brochure and he was gliding over the lodge multiple times.  My mom and her hubby were also watching him! 

June 20th & 21st Gold Canyon, AZ

After many more miles of the Navaho Reservation area, we met up with my cousin in Flagstaff AZ.  Flagstaff is located in the mountains, and has much cooler weather then the rest of AZ.  They get more then 100 inches of snow each year.  We totally enjoyed the trip down from the mountains into the desert. We headed to Sodona first to have lunch.  We had been told by several people not to miss seeing the area,  they all said it was one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Hubby and I found it to be one big shopping, artist area, with views that aren't even close to what you can see in Moab!  What floats one boat sinks another.  Gratefully the house we had rented in Gold Canyon backed right up to the desert.  The house had a great room with huge windows over looking the view.  There were tons of birds to watch. More birds in that backyard then on the entire trip.  I had a nice visit with my cousins and two aunts.  My hubby got in a couple mt bike rides. 

Now that the trip is over.....can I go back on vacation?  I think that I'm going to have to figure out a way to get away a lot more often.  There is nothing I enjoy more then going on an adventure.  Hubby would very much like to start backpacking.....maybe its time I got into good enough shape to do it.  That is one cheap way to see beautiful less traveled places.  My new goal, be able to carry a heavy pack and sleep on the ground! 

2 Blissful weeks....

Saturday we are heading out West for a trip from Gardiner MT all the way down to Gold Canyon AZ. My travel companions are my hubby, mom and her hubby.  We will make quite the merry bunch!  My plan is to simply immerse myself in Nature for 14 Glorious days.  No TV, No Internet.  14 Sunrises, 14 sunsets and 14 skies full of stars. Wildlife and beautiful scenery, what more do I need?   Absolutely a dream come true.