It worked again!

Time away is always good for me. I am so blessed to be able to have this little sanctuary to escape to. I'm not sure what I did before it. I had a wonderful 3 days in Pine at my sweet cabin. It was however an emotional weekend for me. I am not really sure why...

I arrived late thursday evening. I had worked that day too so I was really tired when I got there. It was just starting to get dark and the moon was looking beautiful. Of course my picture does not do it justice. So I made it an early night. I read a little of one of the books I brought, Dakota Born By Debbie Macomber and went to bed early.

Friday morning I woke up refreshed and ready for all the splendor Autumn in Pine had ready for me. I took the boys for an early morning walk, read some more, crocheted a bit then after lunch went out exploring. I found this beautiful little spot. It captivated me really, I was so happy there. I felt like I was a million miles away from everything when the reality was that I was only a few turns off Hwy 87. It was so peaceful,I was so relaxed and then....I started to cry. I don't know what came over me. It lasted a good while. I felt really scared and lonely. This is not normal for me. I don't know why, I just all of a sudden felt like I should be enjoying the beauty around me with someone. Then that started a string of thinking about life and dreams and goals and wishes etc. This only happens to me once every few months. Most of the time I just go about my business without harping on the fact that I am still single, but sometimes it hits me. And when it does it usually hits pretty hard. Anyway, I am okay now. After my little excursion I went back to the cabin to make Velvet Bricks Pumpkin corn chowder...Oh my! It was fantastic! I love anything pumpkin but this was outstanding. I am so grateful that she shared this recipe. It is one that will be added to my fall menu year after year.

Saturday was another gorgeous morning. I set out early with the boys for our walk then headed down to the laundromat. While waiting for sheets and towels to wash and dry I walked the little fall festival in town. It was everything a small town festival should be. It is always a little hokey but that is also what makes it fun. I walked around and treated myself to a pumpkin ice cream cone. It was really yummy. I also found a cute little black bench for $3 that you will see in a later post when I figure out what I am going to do with it.

I made a delicious pot roast for dinner in my crock pot which came out better than I could have imagined. I also met some new neighbors saturday afternoon. They have the cabin next door and I have never met them. It is actually their parents cabin and they don't get up to Pine very often. They were very nice, we exchanged information and are going to meet for coffee tomorrow. I love making new friends. These little guys were wondering the neighborhood and were very patient while I took a few pictures of them.

Sunday is tough...the day to pack up and come down the mountain. I had planned on leaving at noon but did not wind up getting going till almost 3. It was such a beautiful day and I just was in no rush to leave. But I did, with a journal full of emotional entries, two books read, a scarf almost completed, a spirit rejuvenated, cozy fires in my memory and my two faithful companions I headed home.

A beautiful morning for a hike

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! (My grandma used to sing me that song when I was little) Anyway, I woke up before the sun to get ready and meet my friends from my singles group for an exhilarating hike on South Mountain. It was a fantastic experience that I enjoyed tremendously. Physically it was harder for me than I originally thought it would be but emotionally and spiritually it was more than I could have hoped for.

The morning was perfect. It was cool and breezy and the air felt wonderful. We set out at 6:45am and hiked for 4 hours. The hike we did was Mormon Loop at South Mountain. It was an awesome trail. The beginning was a lot of inclines and then we went down in to a valley, called "Hidden Valley" it was cool and quiet. We took a 15 minute rest there and then we were off again to finish our hike before Mr. Sun got too strong.

The hike was a total of 6 miles (so they said, it felt more like 10 to me and my legs) We finished around 11. My legs felt like jello but I felt invigorated to have accomplished a hike of this length. I used to hike all the time but the past year or two have gotten away from it. It is something I really enjoy and am going to make a part of my life again. This group goes every Saturday so I am going to try to take off one Saturday a month to join them.

This is called "fat mans pass" it should be called "fat man can't pass" We all were laughing so hard. I thought I was going to have to be pulled through it! It was the hiking leaders way of being funny. Little did we know there was another way, we could have hiked "over" fat mans pass. It was fun. I had a wonderful time and can't wait to get out and hike again soon!

This and That

I have been hearing a lot of people talking lately about change. This is not an easy thing for me. It never has been. I wish I was someone who embraced change but instead it makes me quite tense and stressed. So this is what I am working on right now in my life, adjusting to change. I read a new blog last night and it was very well said. It was written by Cassie, my dear friend Jessamyn's sister. It is inevitable so I might as well try harder to embrace it. I have been going through a lot of change lately and although most is good stuff, I still have a hard time with it.

My new job is going great. I really like it a lot. It is so much work and there is so much to learn. Some days, most days, I feel like I am working 10-12 hours and hardly accomplishing anything! But I know that little by little I will get there and start to see improvements. So the change to my life outside work has been dramatic. At my last job I was at a desk all day with maybe 4 hours of work to do in an 8 hour day. That left plenty of time for me to do my online banking, check my favorite blogs, read a magazine, catch up on phone calls etc. Now I am feeling like I have no time to get "life stuff" done. So basically for the first time in 5 years, I feel like the rest of the working world. Although for part of that time I was working 2 jobs between Real Estate and Starbucks I still had more flexibility. So I am working on being more organized, that definitely helps a lot. And planning social things, since I am no good at all at being spontaneous. Each day will get better and I will adjust appropriately I am sure.

I did make it up to the cabin this week on my 2 days off. The experience was very different than most of my trips up there. My parents came with us, and although it was nice to spend time with them, they are not really "cabin" people. So instead of reading, crocheting, watching a DVD, cooking a yummy meal in the crock pot, sitting in front of the fire like I normally would. I was out in town, going out for each meal, went to see a movie at the theatre etc. So it was good, just not my kind of cabin time. I am trying to get a few days off at the end of the month to go up and do it "my way"

Until then, I will keep striving to be better at my job, to be a better friend, a better dog mommy, a better daughter, a brighter spirit and be more open to change.

Count down to cabin time

Why doesn't it feel like fall yet? It is the 5th of October and it is suppose to be close to 100 degree's again today! I am so ready to feel the cooler weather. I want to smell the leaves....do you know the smell I am talking about. I love fall, it is my absolute favorite season. I have 5 days of work left then I am cabin bound! I am so excited to get up there. I just checked the weather in Pine and it is suppose to be 72 degree's today. WooHoo! I am going to make Velvet Brick's Pumpkin Corn Chowder. If it is a favorite of hers I am sure it will be fabulous. It should also be cool enough at night to have a fire going. I plan on reading a bunch and crocheting a bunch too. I'll me sure to write after my little escape.

Sorry I have been gone for a while....I've been selling cards...

Might seem like a strange post but I wanted to fill you in on my new work life. I started working for Hallmark about 2 weeks ago. I was hired on as a store manager and have been going through a very vigorous training program. I would have never thought so much goes into running a store such as this. I am really excited about this new venture. It feels like a really good fit for what I am looking for in my life. I was assigned to a really great store that is already making its sales plan. So I am entering it at a good time. I am sure the next few months will be really busy with holiday season upon us. I have been working a ton of hours but don't expect that to be the norm. I hope to get in my groove in the next few weeks. Thank you all for your continued support as I went through this change in career....again!