I’m Back!

 

Well kind of…

The new laptop came awhile back and it came with Windows 8. I’m sure for most upgrading isn’t a problem and most likely understand all the new stuff available and how it functions. We have been acquiring more of these new devices and we do enjoy their convenience's. I tried using hubby’s iPad but I couldn’t become comfortable with typing on it. I did like that while I was waiting for this laptop to arrive I was at least able to stay connected, regardless of my limits. It’s not that I don’t want to learn these things, nor that I can’t, for I can and I am, it’s just not happening very quickly.

Be it a number of unpleasant distractions, the fact my mind seems to be having a lot of mental blocks, just not writers block, and to top it off, I’m still dealing with the darn health issues, all while pushing myself up and along everyday. It gets pretty exhausting. I am left with no energy some days to even try and put the many thoughts swimming around in my head into a sentence, it just becomes so blurred and bewildering.

So after a week of no computer, to a month with one that was a stranger, we’re doing pretty good and have slowly become friends. It took awhile for me to get Live Write up and running and will take even longer for me to get caught up with this journey, but I have learned patience is my best weapon. All in God’s time, right.

Before the computer thing we were in the process of creating a “Grand” Campout. Bet you thought I forgot or blew it off. No way! With all that was and is going on, it was the perfect medicine I needed to perk me up.

Just the other day, while as I was resting, having another one of those wonderful conversation with the hubby, we both agreed that this campout would more then likely be shared in 30 years with their children. “Once my grandma turned her yard into a camp grounds because she was unable to go do the real thing.”

                          

                        

                        

Our first night was awesome. A BBQ and a campfire with s’mores topped it off. Grandpa did his water trick. The kids made it till 5 AM sleeping in the tent, before they came in one by one from the cold. It was a good thing. Our neighbor had his weekends mixed up and irrigated which means I get run off, which meant by 9 AM the tent was wet.

After breakfast we went out turkey hunting but only got a glimpse as they were headed back to their yard.

Saturday was spent in the beach and in the pool.

                        

                         

The girls made a beautiful sign for our beach…

                              

Even Bella has to join in on the fun…

 

Every year I seem to get mermaids washed up on the beach!

 

With a flooded tent, air mattresses were lined up in a spare room and after a fun long day of play they all crashed out the minute their heads hit the pillows. Bella and Tucker were happy they slpet inside and curled up and sprawled out on the beds with them.

The next morning, a feast of pancakes, eggs and ham filled their bellies and out they went for their last few hours of their time together. We filled part of that time planting their pumpkins. Since their pumpkins from last fall were still in good condition (well, 2 of them were beginning to get a little ripe) and my trial of a pinterest I saw where you cut off the top like for a jack-o-lantern but bigger and fill with dirt and water turned out…

                         

And this is what it looks like today. Yesterday I found our first pumpkin!

I decided I wanted to make a “Grand Pumpkin Patch” with the 8 I had on my railing…

                        

…and this is what they looked like last week…

I’m back…thinking we are going to have one “Grand Pumpkin Patch”!

I’m back…thinking “Our Journey Through LIFE” is growing, not just in the garden but in life and will enjoy each and every moment of it!

I’m back…thinking this new computer is going to be just fine catching up and sharing all those special moments!

A BIG Oops!

The summer of 2011my old computer crashed. We tried to revive it but it was old and had lived a well life. Since I was happy with my first Dell, I got another but this time from Staples. Great price, earned awesome points, and again I was happy.

With a new device came a learning curve and it wasn't long before I was settled into navigating it. That computer was with me for almost two years, until...

Last Thursday when our "Grand" from Colorado arrived, and in all the excitement her spaghetti legs swung about which kicked a soda can off the side table and landed on my laptop. After drying it off, kept it turned off for a number of hours, it still wouldn't turn on. After a day, nothing. After 3 days, still nothing. From the get go we called Staples for the damage claim. to our surprise, seems the accidental damages part doesn't include liquid. Dropping, smashing, getting run ver by a car might qualify, but not a soda. So now I have a fried mother board or something. With the cost of laptops today, to fix this would not be cost effective. My daughter is checking into the extended warranty again, trying to get to someone who can help or not. But of course the not won!

So a new laptop has been ordered and will be here Wednesday. Until then I get to use this iPad thingy. It has never been set up for my needs since it is hubby's, but he is being nice and sharing. I have no pictures on here and the ones that are I can't figure out how to get them on this post. Live Writer has spoiled me. I am not enjoying being a guest on a device not of mine own. I miss the drafts I had been working on. I miss the familiar key board and bookmarks.

We recently had a "Grand" Campout in our yard since I am unable to do the real thing right now. I was just starting to draft it when....now I can't wait for you all to see the 'Joy' we shared together.

I will enjoy reorganizing and setting up the new device. Getting all that is familiar back in its place so I can continue sharing Our Journey Through  LIFE!

They Hatched!

Well not the ones from January, in fact she is still sitting. Will talk to the neighbor about taking the eggs so she will move on.

I’m excited because the ones that were laid under the kids bikes…

   

…began hatching this morning.

First I got a call as hubby left for work that there was a turkey in the field with babies. I ran out with my camera…

     

…but only got a few pictures before it died.

As I went out I noticed it was not the one we have been watching among the toys, she was still sitting there. But as I came back into our yard I stopped to talk to her and to my surprise, out popped a baby. It had just hatched, probably while I was out snapping pictures of her sister and her babies. The baby still looked very wet. Since my batteries had died on my camera, I snapped a picture with my phone and I ran back into the house to reload my camera.

For the next few hours, this is what I watched…

       

As of 2:00p.m. we’re up to 5 or 6 of the 11 have hatched. Hard to tell since they kind of all look alike and they keep going in and out from under her. It has really been neat to watch. I keep checking on her every hour. I’ve watched the first one squeak it’s first chirp and get up on its little feet and take its first steps.

I don’t really know what I am doing. Most thought they wouldn’t hatch. I have read a lot and have listened to others and am thinking these little chirper's just might be hanging out for a while.Going to head to the feed store and get a few supplies to make them more comfortable and we’ll just see how this winged adventure flies on Our Journey Through LIFE!

Color Me Rad!

Have you heard of Color Me Rad?

It seems to be making it’s way around and it made it’s way here this last weekend.

However, with all that is going on in Our Journey, I wasn’t going to get to excited since I really shouldn’t push my limits that far right now. But when our daughter, who has some really awesome friends, was given 3 tickets for her and the kids, (her hubby had to work) I had to at least go as a spectator and cheer them on!

There were 5 stations where they got bombed with color. We got there early in order to park close to station #3 and we’re surprised for it to be the pink! Who doesn’t love pink!. My daughter is an awesome mom and she gave her older the kids the freedom to run, or walk, the course ahead. They knew where we were and really enjoyed being cheered for and photographed. They looked tired, hot, but were not quitting. They finished the 5K in 1:40-1:50 respectfully. Not bad for a first time ever 5K run/walk. They were by no means last either. So proud of them.

If they come back next year, I told the kids that I will attempt it if possible, after all we have a year to train for it. With all the progress I made last year, had I not caught that bug, I know I probably could have made it, and once all this testing and results are in, I plan to get right back at it.

Love the color Our Journey Through LIFE! had over the weekend!