Off to church we go....

 Finding a church home can be a challenge these days.
  We are all human, with human frailties, therefore none of us will ever be perfect. Each of us has different ideas on how "the perfect" church conducts itself. Having said that, Jeff & I have drawn a line in the sand of biblical issues our family will not bend on and the church issues that are of less importance to us. Some ideals are merely opinion, or more clearly stated, they are tradition. Some areas God clearly lays out in scripture. God has taught us not to box Him in. To truly define what belongs in each of these categories. Pastor George Posthumous and Mrs. Carol Mckercher have been very  instrumental in helping us come to terms with this. The funny thing  is, I'm sure neither one of them are aware of that.
  Searching (through trial and error) we have found a lovely church we can call home.  We made the decision to leave a few years ago, not because of some terrible catastrophe rather due to the 45 minute drive it took to get there. We began searching for a church closer to our home. We did indeed find a church, unfortunately that church fell apart. In the return of the mountain folk we now find ourselves driving 45 minutes yet again. We are back at Riverpark Bible Church where the teaching is sound and the worship is delightful. Where child and adult alike are biblically, scientifically, historically, theologically and philosophically challenged. The Pastor here is going deaf. He has shared his deepened desire to give the congregation all he can before his time runs out...what a neat man to sit under.
  We have many wonderful opportunities available to us via this church such as the Crown Financial seminar Jeff & I attended last weekend. All four of us have found our little spots. Ricky is in the Jr High Sunday School, Youth Group & Small Group. Billy is in the High School Sunday School, Small Group and Youth Group. Jeff & I are in a multi age Sunday School class and Small Group together. Jeff is in a Men's Bible Study and I am in a Women's Bible Study. Once a month I will be attending a Homeschool Moms Meeting sponsored by the church. I hear there are around 40 families that homeschool attending this church...wow!
 The world...and the church have a tendency to push fragmentation of the family. I suppose most people seem to be okay with that. I'm of a strange breed who disagrees. Now, don't get me wrong, I want my boys to do things on there own...I encourage it. However this type of splitting up of the family I cannot stand behind. I am not going to make a big stink about it, for the most part I will play the game. However we will take a stand and sit TOGETHER and worship our Lord Jesus Christ as a family in the sanctuary! Again, there is no perfect church.
    I choose to ask my self where this lines up in light of eternity.

Photo's another Back-to-School Tradition

  A few weeks ago we headed on over to Fashion Fair in hopes of hunting down two shirts for school pictures. It wasn't the best of days to embark on such a journey being that cat fights tend to break out in the heat of "Autumn". However this would be our only chance to deal with it prior to the picture date.
  Ricky's wardrobe was fine as it sat due to previous shopping trips (although in the end he wore the same shirt from last years photos...nut!) It was the dreaded Billster we had to shop with. FYI teen guys do have strong opinions about what they are wearing...its not just a female issues. Nuf said.
  At any rate we shopped and shopped until teenage finickiness finally met with parental money choice. Ahhh, sweet relief, and so it was shirts for both CHEFA, which happened last week and BEST which happens next month were acquired. Ta-da! Budget and fashion meet.
  I go through this activity , in which my head explodes, for the Grandma's most especially. Yet the kids do need their pictures in the yearbook as well as an updated version for our wall. The ID cards are kind of a joke. We've never really needed them, at this point its more of a collectors item then anything else. Although we did use them when we first started homeschooling around ten years ago. This was during the curfew law drama. Who knows , maybe a need will arise this school year....playin' it safe. Affidavit filed, check. HSLDA membership updated, check. BEST, CHEFA & CHEA memberships updated, check, check, check! and last but not least ID cards ordered, check.
  *Oh, this year we had to fake our annual "1st-day-of-school-photo" because I was not much more than a lump of snot due to a bad head cold. I didn't even think about it until well after the day had come and gone, darn! Oh, and yes they cooperated with me on this and also with the photographer last week.

*Happy thought* At least we have moved beyond the little guy stage of this endeavor. I heart cooperative children!

When parents get sick...and kids don't

 Oh boy....Jeff & I were sick, I mean really sick for over a week. The worst part was that I woke up to all this yuck the first day of our school year. So besides stealing a glance every now and then, I was of no use to my students. "Son I'm sorry I cannot access my brain today, I have the duhs"

 I do have to make you aware that each boy knows what is expected of him, even on the first day of the new school year. This is because individual calendars and day planners are reviewed each weekend...before the school week. So this was done before I knew I was sick. I also need to give props to my guys. They cleaned, they cooked and they did as much of  their school work as they could. They really did try their best. Wow, that's awesome! Just when I think I'm going to put them in a box in front of the grocery store (free to a good home) they come shining through. You gotta jump, even if just internally, at times like that!

 Now some silly people have said, "oh but you homeschool so what's the big deal...just bump it forward". As nice as that sounds, its not that easy! We have a schedule and try very hard to stick to it, there's always going to be lots of life going on and we do have sick days set aside, but come on!  All mom's everywhere want to yell out "sorry, I'm too busy to get sick, call back later".... it's no different for the homeschool mom. We are needed, that is that. When we are down life doesn't run as it should...the end. It's just not the best way to start off the year.

 What really stinks is this makes the second year in a row this has happened. I've had it suggested "its because the public and private school have been in session for about a month before we start. They have that time to spread germs all around and let them trickle down to us as we begin to start our own schooling".  Whatever the reason it must stop!

 Now, two weeks later I am still dealing with the aftershock of it all.  I'm adrift in a sea of to-do's. It's amazing how far behind we get when missing just one week of the chaotic game called life. I've been realigning the school work that was clear as mud to the poor guys trying to work it out on their own (with no direction while I was out of commission) and so it didn't get done. As well as correcting and filing school work that was completed during that same time period. I'm finally finding some post-sickie relief and a little zest is back in my step.

 As a family we rock! We cleaned this whole house! Wall, cabinets, sofa's, bathrooms...everything got sanitized! I've been pumping the vitamin cocktails into everyone and heavily pushing the hand sanitizer! B&R seem to have been able to skip over this virus. Thank you Jesus!

 On to better...healthier days we march!

"Part of life is learning to accept the limitations of any given situation" Susan Shaffer Mucaulay

The Back to School Picnic

This was quite the learning experience. Bringing an interesting test of character and strength. Shedding light on who people "really" are & where they "really" stand.

I was able to draw strength from the godly people around me in the school group and in my own home. I really enjoyed getting to know a new mom to the group. As would be expected, this was my first time working with her. I was just hoping I didn't need to micro-manage her and that she didn't get the wrong idea about how homeschoolers conduct themselves. She brought much more than I ever asked of her to the table...WOW, thank you Brooke.

 After much drama and grief the day finally arrived. The weather was nice, for summer in Fresno. Especially once the sun went down and the gentle breeze picked up. We had a decent turnout, I guess. The food was plentiful and all seemed to have fun with the root beer floats and cookies. Brooke & I played old fashioned picnic games such as water balloon toss, over under sponge relay and sack races with the little ones. Meanwhile Kelly oversaw a volleyball tournament and Jeff manned the giant home made slip and slide.

Oh and yes, we did try it out at home before we brought it to the party. We were told to pour dish soap to make the slide more "slippery"...well I guess I put too much on the first time because Jeff & I flew right off the other end of the slide. Yep...right into stickers and dry wild grasses ( we have the giant scratches to prove it!) Thanks for the idea Jacki!

"Back up the pineapple this luau's over!"

Though we have enjoyed our wonderfully, lazy, much needed 3 months off, we have succumbed to emerge from the fog of the summer lifestyle where calendars mean nothing and clocks are ignored. We move into the responsibility of it all, joining the ranks of all those already "in" school. Which means I will be on somewhat of a computer sabbatical. I know that is going to be hard, because I have been playing on F.B. so much that people look for me there to inform me of this and that. Note to self, realign communication avenue.

The school year has been trickling upon us. Billy began physics at the beginning off August, he really likes his class by the way. Ricky began choir two weeks ago. Which was like going to a giant family reunion-what fun for everyone! Next Billy will add Bembe and Ricky will add Boy Scouts to the schedule (in about a week). Both boys will start Art Appreciation/History with our homeschool co-op. Each guy also begins a youth group at the church we were going to in Fresno & have now returned to. As you can see the momentum is picking up fast.

We've cut hair, bought clothes, school supplies and curriculum. We have a nice & orderly school space. We spent a few weeks getting our bodies and minds acclimated to our new schedule and completing our final preparations. It is now time for mind-work and routine physical endurance. So look out year..here we come!

Oh and to all those apposed or puzzled by my delaying our start date, I have this for you......

Back off Jack, your not the criterion in this town! I enjoy milkin' summer, squeezing every last drop. My boys have in the past and will continue to have a solid education-complete with 180 hours of each subject taught. I take their education quite seriously. More importantly I take their whole person into account. So....Labor Day to Memorial Day it shall remain. Please, please think before you assume neglect! I really am paying attention. I really am being responsible.

Kings Canyon according to Ricky, a guest blogger

 I know my Mom and my brother have already written about this trip, but I don't care because this is my version. We went to Kings earlier this month. There were no camp sites left for us, so we reserved one in Sequoia. We hiked around in our campground which had a couple of mapped out hikes leading off from the main road. We choose a hike that lead to a giant grove of Sequoias and the next day we went to another giant sequoia grove. This one was more famous, its called Grants Grove. Then we drove into the canyon of Kings Canyon, it was really cool!

Ricky V.

Drivin' on up to the East Side

Well I woke to a misty gray morning . I sat in the muted light & sipped my freshly brewed coffee, enjoying the silence. I had already surrendered to the inevitable. I was okay, it's a happy day in Charityland when I've seen clouds, and that was the view out my window. The neatly gathered pile sitting on the kitchen counter was not going to be used, well not today anyway, or that's what I thought.

However as Jeff came down the stairs he said, "why not? What's a little rain gonna do?" So it was go-time, off we went on our great adventurous return to the Eastern Sierras. We went through Yosemite, Over Tioga Pass. We stopped to check out the beautiful Tenaya Lake for a bit of inspiration. At Olmsted Point we took the short hike to check out the amazing view of the backside of Yosemite's Valley and the canyon below, promising a certain death (in the rain), it's just so beautiful, we risked it none-the-less.

We then exited onto 395, we exhaled with a nice view of Mono Lake as we made our way a little further down to the June Lake Loop in June CA. We like to enter through the north side of this incredible area. You are entertained by viewing high desert, an aspen forest and then a pine forest, returning to high desert as you leave this secret jewel. Yet not before passing four pristine lakes and a quaint little village. We had our lunch at the beach of June Lake in our 4runner, because it was raining pretty good.

As we sat there looking into the clear/ turquoise water and beautiful pebbles below,  Ricky began his campaign in getting us to let him swim out to a boulder in this alpine ICE COLD glacier gem. Remembering, of course the rain & cold, COLD wind. As I circled my head around the Switzerland looking snow capped, heavily misted high mountain peaks. As I looked at the steam rising from the lake, I found myself saying...fine...go ahead. The rest of us readied towels, underneath our clothing to keep the rain off, while Ricky swam out to a boulder he set his eyes on. He Climbed out, stood up & shouted his victory! He then  swam back to shore, where we wrapped him and stuffed him the car.

After a quick stop at the visitor center for some literature  for a newspaper article we drove on to Mammoth. On this route we spotted snow along the highway. We had never been to this area before, but knew there was quit a bit to it, so we just picked one destination.We hiked the amazing Devils Postpile Monument trail. (both in front and overlook). On the way back we stopped at the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Very clear. Very cold. Very beautiful. I was humbled to realize how far up we were & that this very river cuts all the way across Fresno, out by 99. Wow. oh, and yes, it stopped raining so we could take our hike. Absolutely incredible.

We had to ride with the bus service from the town of Mammoth all the way down the Red Meadow Canyon because only certain privileged  few were allowed to use the road. Summer road trips usually bring roads we crawl on carefully passing over hairpin turns on steep mountain roads, but this was two way traffic on a one way road, on the side of a canyon...in buses!!!. I was clinging to an arm hold the whole time. The good news is we lived! Hee-hee. Actually, the good news is we had two drivers that really wanted to share their knowledge of the area...you know me, I took plenty of notes! Let us not forget the most excellent news of all...there was snow...in August! Thank you Lord Jesus for the respite.

Goodbye Summer

Oh how I adore quiet mornings and lovely lazy days. How I wish it would stay this way a bit longer.
I hate the heat, as everyone knows, but even I can admit that the clear blue mountain sky, golden (burnt) hillsides and a good portion of Valley Oaks make for a striking display-like a child's picture book.
Yes, summer has its charm. I will miss summer, but not the heat. I will miss the free time to read for hours on end. I will miss feeling the sweet, gentle mountain breeze as I sit out late at night star gazing. I will miss actually watching movies all the way through on a regular basis. I will miss listening to waves hit the beach and soaking in sunshine after a bracing swim in an alpine lake or river. I will even miss facebook as it has become a fun time waster.
Alas, Jeff & I finished making our schooling decisions under a canopy of trees at a picnic table along the shores of Bass lake. We have attended two of the four fall homeschool meetings. Billy began his Physics class last week and is preparing to take the PSAT. Ricky will start choir, guitar and piano soon. Yes, the school year is creeping up on us. Though we have no choice but to submit, I anxiously await my dear Autumn, which brings a different kind of exhale in a most busy schedule.

Exploring the Kings Canyon (said to be the deepest in the US)

Unfortunately when we went to reserve a campsite, there were NONE available in Kings Canyon, so we opted to stay next door in Sequoia. We landed in Dorst Creek, which was a nice spot. We played around in Dorst Creek for awhile and then took to the majestic Muir Grove Trail . Billy and I had a wonderful long, sweet, funny talk. Something I will always treasure. On our way back we soaked our weary feet in Cabin Creek. These are the only two creeks we visited here. However we hear that there are many more that run through the area. As we were leaving Sequoia we stopped at the Lost Grove and were able to witness a bear at play.
Of course we did get to visit the Kings Canyon as was planned. After stopping at the Kings Canyon visitor center museum, we walked through Grants Grove. Then it was down the STEEP canyon all the way to the Cedar Grove area. Here we braved the South Fork of the Kings River. Of course Ricky was the bravest of us all, he swam all the way across and climbed out to sun on the opposite bank. It was a little scary watching the river under tow carry him off to the side a ways, but he is a very strong swimmer and did just fine!
Jeff felt the need to drive all the way to the end of the road. The area called "Roads End" has such a name because of the impassable gargantuan mountains in this u-shaped spot.
We also hiked the breath taking Zumwalt Meadow Loop. The boys were walking a bit faster than J & I. When we looked up we saw Ricky hanging from the suspension wires on the pedestrian bridge that lays across the river. We, of course made him get down, but secretly wish we got a picture first.
We stopped at the Roaring River, an off shoot of the Kings to take in the Roaring River Falls. Here Ricky swam in the pools below the falls. Jeff waded in a bit.
After a quick stop at Knapp's Cabin we were on our way back up the canyon and onto home.

My boys have a blog

So if you want to read what they have to say about our adventures and other such happenings in the lives of two teenage guys head on over to http://mostlysanevincents.blogspot.com/

Adventures in Moro and Pismo

Moro Strand State Beach Campground is a great place if what you want to do is use it as a jumping off point, as its right off highway 1. It is most especially convenient because this is one of the stops for the local trolley system. However if you are looking for a great outdoorsy experience, you may want to look elsewhere. The parking lot feel is inescapable. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the few steps it took to get to the beach, not to mention seeing the ocean from our campsite. Sinking into the sand, vs hard earth was wonderful, as it contoured to the shape of your body. The sound of the tide as we sat by our fire, fell asleep and especially in the early morning as we woke made it all worth it, but I don't think we'll stay here again.
After setting up camp, we made our way over a bit to Moro Bays Natural History Museum & Observation "Hill". We had a good time and got a few great shots of the saltwater marsh.
We visited Spooner's Cove in Montana de Oro State Park. This place has the coolest rock formations and a huge diversity of colored pebbles on the beach. It has exceptionally nice tidepools as well. We have passed by this park many times. So before we left home I asked some fellow stupendous goal setting creatures, you know people starving for some time among nature, what ONE destination we shouldn't miss, this is where they sent us. After realizing this park is of such colossal proportions we've decided we simply must camp here for some more in depth exploration.
After swinging back by Moro Bay to take in Moro Rock Preserve (here we saw a family of otters playing in Moro's Estero Bay) and bird watching at the Moro Estuary Channels. We ended the evening with the usual rituals and then took in the sunset on the beach, just lovely.
Sunday, as I already stated we arose to the sound of the waves hitting the beach. We were up early, and so we had an early start. We enjoyed an air of quiet activity in the Blue Heron Rookery, El Moro Elfin Forest and the Los Oso Oaks Preserve (where I collected some poison oak on the back of my knees).
Before noon we found a parking spot and spent the rest of the day at Pismo Beach where we soaked in the sun. Jeff and I took a long walk collecting shells, sand dollars and sea stones. Billy & Jeff went scim boarding. Ricky and Jeff went boogie boarding.
Our last stop was to our favorite funky little fish & chip spot in shell beach. We got our dinner to go and had a picnic over looking the ocean and tide pools below craggy cliff sides. We all came home with sun burns.

Out there havin' fun in the warm California sun!!

This was another spontaneous trip, seems to be the trend these days. We had a lovely deep sleep the night before and had a relaxing easy morning.
A late breakfast conversation found us suddenly suggesting, hey lets go to Dinkey Creek! So it was that after a quick gathering of food, drinks, towels, river shoes, sun block and books we hit the road.
None of the guys had ever been in the summer before. We took a short unremarkable trip in the winter one year. My sketchy memory was of a camping trip that I went on when I was maybe 9ish. It was fun for me to reminisce the happenings and landmarks of that trip and try to retrace some of the treasured memories.
Even though it was kin to the blind leading the blind we found our way to a gorgeous pool with high granite domes on each side, the guys had fun cliff jumping . The other visitors informed us that this place is called "the bathtub".
Again, due to help of the regulars, we were lead to a spot called "The Slicks" which is a series of very smooth rocks making for a natural water park. Jeff and I sat in the crystal clear shallow water and leisurely took it all in for quite a while.
After that we decided to join Billy & Ricky in their exploration. We found ourselves at another swim hole, this one had the charm of a waterfall flowing into it ( never did discover its name). Jeff & I borrowed Ricky's inner tube for a relaxing float. Ricky insisted on hiking with it around his neck and then didn't want to use it when we arrived here.
The last stop before we went home was, as we soon found out, "Honeymoon Pool". Here B&R floated, floated and floated some more. Jeff & I sat on a giant Granite "hillside" completely sheltered in a tent of pine trees, absolutely breathtaking!

In light of national friendship day, this post and the next few will honor my girl friends

Regina

1. Regina hosted a girls night out party....and got her ears pierced. She is the first Mom I've known to do that.

2. Regina has an RV in her drive way filled with games, videos and snacks.

3. Regina introduced me to Lewis Creek.

4. Regina & her girls are our board game buddies.

5. Regina was the first person I informed when I moved up to Coarsegold.

6. Regina is the toughest softy I've ever met.

7. Regina is true to her beliefs, what richness in her spirit.

8. Regina delights in her faithfulness to do her best mothering, consistent in her homeschooling efforts, what zeal she brings to the table!

9. Throughout the years our like mindedness has continued to bring us together in sometimes unexpected ways.

10. Regina remembered our love of fruit popsicles and brought "the right ones" to us, just cuz.

11. Regina took my Ricky aside and helped him with his baseball woes. She painted a smile on a difficult day.

12. Regina, myself & our families enjoy hiking together....we talk, talk, talk the whole time!!

Dorie

1. Dorie & I along with our husbands solve the worlds problems via conversation. The four of us sit and talk for hours and seem to never run out of solutions.

2. Dorie challenges me to eat better, she is a wonderful nutritionist.

3. Dorie & her family shared a cabin with us at Huntington lake. We enjoyed time down at the lake as well as a brisk hike & lovely picnic sitting on boulders amongst a trickling creek.

4. Dorie, and her family introduced us to rock climbing.

5. Dorie is secretly silly, as is Jet. I like her spunky side. Her smile is infectious.

6. Dorie is an awesome hostess. We always enjoy time at her house.

7. Dorie 1st words when she walked into this new house were "Oh Charity, this is you". She just understands what I had to speak to others.

8. Dorie is lovely. She has been kind and honest-a refreshing spirit.

9. Dorie (& Jet) have an amazing slide show of their trip to the Mount Everest area. Dorie cracked me up, as she relayed her story. I'll never forget, she said she was disappointed at finally viewing Everest after all the hype. She had the feeling of "That's it?"

10. Dorie, our children & I had an Egyptian feast in celebration of the school years study in ancient civilizations.

11. Dorie is style. Dorie is grace. I want to be Dorie when I grow up.

12. Dorie is easy to talk to. Dorie is easy going. Streamlined and not fussy. We have had a picnic in Peoples church parking lot and at a local park & the only requirement was shade. I appreciate her accommodating nature. Dorie is a jewel.

Jenny Dawn

1. When I go to Jenny's house, I take my shoes off. I know I will be there for a while. She makes me that comfortable. I can be me.

2. Jenny & I drove to Aptos (& went by Mount Madonna hee-hee) to get Eddy-Bo. This is the dog she pushed for Ricky to get. Jenny's dog Mandy is our Leroy's Mama.

3. Jenny or I used to call each other-we'd talk virtually everyday. We'd share our dreams to come & the life we were currently living.

4. Jenny & I shouted obscene things into the night outside of our apartments. Our units were side by side. CJ & Billy had a system of morse code that they played each night as their beds touched the same wall. In this same complex we had a neighborhood party complete with ferrets (due to a Fresno Heat Black out)

5. Jenny..& her family served me a "special plate". If you receive your meal on this plate everyone present has to pay you a complement..I cried.

6. Jenny is Genuine. She is honest. She doesn't pretend to be something she's not. Jenny is tough, but she is fragile.

7. Jenny sneaks her special desserts past the kids & husbands to share with me every holiday.

8. Jenny & I decorated her house until we were delirious. We hung a picture upside down & eventually we couldn't even see the nails on the wall to hang other pictures. We fell to the floor laughing trying not to pee our pants.

9. Jenny made my boys custom quilts, throw pillows & pillow cases with her own two hands.

10. Jenny reminds me of the simple joys in life. To be still. To read my Bible. To rest.

11. Jenny & I have looked in tidepools, fed squirrels, watched elephant seals, gone to rivers and beaches. We have walked to neighborhood ponds. We share a love for Gods marvelous creation.

12. Jenny's family started calling me Charity Annie & now many many people do that too. Jenny's family also taught us how to properly sing the birthday song as well as to release our fear of flatulence.

My Jacki

(First off my step mom's name is Jackie, that's my Dads Jackie. That is why I call this lady My Jacki.)
1. Jacki & I sang "Froggie went a courtin'" and many other nursery rhymes. We got our groove on during a road trip in a car full of teenyboppers.(and at a gas station music blasting, windows rolled down)

2. Jacki & I love Lays BBQ chips, Pepsi & Snickers bars. They make us happy.

3. Jacki & I like long talks over Hot Tea or Coffee

4. I got to be one of the first people to meet Jacki's first Grand baby, little Miss Miley Elizabeth.

5. Jacki & I..& our kids dressed up in the goofiest outfits we could find in the goodwill and took pictures. We had our own little "fashion" show right then and there.

6. I got to celebrate Jacki's 1 year anniversary of her store with her. I helped her in the Dog gone Cute Costume Contest. "Puppy Love" who lives across the street from my in laws won 1st place.

7. Jacki has trusted me with her thoughts. She has cried. She has laughed. She has let me in her heart.

8. Jacki taught my boys about Top Roman Noodles, Kool Aid, Coffee Creamer in Milk and many other FUN things to consume.

9. Jacki taught my boys to make Tortillas as we celebrated Cinco de Mayo together. Jacki & I held an art co-op together.

10. Jacki & I shot boogers at each other, got in trouble for climbing on art structures, traveled hours and hours to get a pumpkin...cuz the ones at the market weren't good enough & scraped the top of her truck in a parking garage in Sacramento. We like field trips.

11. Jacki makes a side dish of her Broccoli Salad without bacon for me because she knows I don't like to eat pork.

12. Jacki & I watched as our kids made Lemonade for a stand by the road.

Delightful!

These are our borrowed jewels.

Lizzy & Fiddy-Foo

Elizabeth is the studious, artistic, quiet thing....

Trisitea is lightening in a bottle.

Glorious Boredom

Our days have been spent in a cycle of staying up much to late and in turn sleeping in far to long.

We have been busy: laying around reading and movie watching!

Some of us like to mix things up a bit, taking boredom to an art form.

Last night I laid out on the trampoline for a long time, just starring up at the star filled sky.

Yeah, its a hard life.

Okay, so maybe that was bit of an exaggeration. We are writing newspaper articles, keeping up with our blogs, cleaning, caring for pets, organizing closets & drawers, planning for the next school year etc...etc...However we really are getting some much needed boring down time.

California: the passageway for Mavericks

Farewell and hello again to you, and you ..and you and you and you. A bit like ocean waves, constantly moving in and out.

We went to the Bigg's farewell swim/potluck. Another one bites the dust, they are off to a wonderful adventure...a new life in Kansas. Although it was a happy day, there was an underlying tone of sorrow-as we knew this could very well be the last time we see them. B&R are saying, thank goodness for facebook. I agree, it makes the world a little smaller. It allows us to keep up with others as well, including the Winter's.

The same day the Biggs left for their new adventure, the Winter family arrived for a visit here. THE SAME DAY!

We had a wonderful time celebrating our friendships at their welcome back picnic at Woodward park. We also had a swim party, went to Blackbeard's, took in a movie & a pizza dinner. We managed to squeeze one last visit in before they headed back to Tennessee to send the kiddos off with a little something-something.

Want to know one universal interesting thing, that I've observed by listening to friends who have moved all over this country..leaving California? Their neighbors are so much more friendly. Why is that? Is it our faster lifestyle? Is it because we don't see a point in attaching ourselves because of the great California exodus? Is it because we have too many rules, so we are cranky? Is it because we are preoccupied with "business, and nothing personal" After all we have a country to lead!!

I have noticed that people who love California are here for the climate & money. I've noticed that those who want an engaging community life..well, they leave. Of course there are exceptions to the rule. There are also a whole lot of people who move through life in a complaining fog. They aren't happy, but it never occurs to them that they could have another job, live some place else.

I remember going to Indiana and people talking to me every where I went. At the gas station, White Castle, grocery store..everywhere I went they tried to strike a conversation. I was taken aback by the friendliness, I didn't know how to handle it. We don't do that in California for the most part. Now I will give these silly mountain folk some props, some of them are more friendly then in Fresno. However a whole lot of them are up here hiding from people..the word is not friendly!

I'm not stupid enough to think that once you leave California soil, you waltz into a world of bliss. Everyone knows we bemoan living here , but I'm really not doing the "grass is greener" thing. California bashing is kinda like a sport, but I'm sure residents of other states have their own issues they contend with, its a pick your evil kind thing..I guess. I want to be content here, really I do. It just gets frustrating when most every time we find a normal friend, they move..out of state! Oh, and about the transplants? Most I meet are freaks. They are here expressing their freakdom, that's their whole goal in life.

The man camping trip

Due to the crazy mama kitty and adolescent Dalmatian Eddy I was unable to join the family on our first camping trip this summer. However I punched out almost all I need to for next school year in the time I had alone. At this point all I need to do is get information in regards to field trips from our school group and buy a few more supplies, the bulk of which will happen with the local back to school sales.

In preparation for this trip Ricky got his bake on! First he made snicker doodles, but they all got eaten. Then he made oatmeal raisin cookies. He ended with a batch of brownies.

CJ came along on this trip. Thursday evening he was with us so he got a crazy Chitudo workout. The next morning the 3 boys packed up the 4 runner while Jeff worked. After some minor set backs they were on their way. Unfortunately self employment kept the phone ringing most of the ride over.

Their first stop was at Fort Ord Dunes

..and then it was on to the Pfieffer Big Sur St. Pk. Camp ground (it runs along the Big Sur River) They set up camp. The night ended with cocoa smores and a story circle...surprised?

This trip was intended for Billy to fulfill part of his congressional award goals. Billy pick the stop, made the reservations and was completely in charge on Saturday. We decided to add a day before and a day after to make travel a little easier. However he still had to get the spot for all three days.

Billy's plans;

Morning: wake up, make fire...

Breakfast: pancakes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, coffee and cocoa
Clean up campsite and pack lunch for trails.(Deli sandwiches, granola bars, beef jerky and lots of water.

Hikes: #1 Mc Way Falls (a waterfall flowing over a cliff into the ocean below).
#2 Mount Manuel (a very steep, very narrow, loose graveled cliff-side trail with shoulder high weeds and poison oak.) Billy's original 2nd hike was inaccessible do to fire damage, this was his alternative.

Back at camp: Swimming the Big Sur river

Dinner: Chili Cheese Dogs & soda

Desert: Smores & Cocoa

Sunday everyone slept in. Ricky was the first one up, so he already had the fire going..yes safely. After breakfast and packing everything up they made their way to Point Lobos.

After that they went to Sand City in Monterrey. Again they had a crazy drive, this time the culprit was traffic, two hours of waiting on Pacheco pass. Then they dropped CJ off and came home. The evening was spent taking showers, shaving and staring at the TV.

After Mothers Day Comes Fathers Day

True to the setting of making the day special for the person you are recognizing , Billy and Ricky woke Jeff with a pillow fight. They pounced him from both sides as he lay slumbering!!

After that we enjoyed a lunch of pancakes made with the beloved Mrs Butterworths, Jeff's food bliss. This day fell at the end of a very busy season, so the goal was to give Jeff the gift of rest. This is why he had a lunch, not a breakfast to enjoy.

The day was very easy. We had a slow day of Net Flix numb-out. We called the Dads in our world. The day ended with a simple dinner.

However what he really wanted to do, if he wasn't so sleepy was to explore Hetch Hetchy. So on July 5th we made that Belated Fathers Day trip.

We went in through the Mariposa Grove entrance, and just after the tunnel, fire was among us. As we drove it increased..bummer! We new we wouldn't be able to leave that way, no biggy, we left through the Arch. The funny thing is the Arch is really close to the town of Mariposa, yet the other side of the park hosts the Mariposa Grove, go figure.

At any rate on the way to Hetch Htechy we found a shady campground with a day use area called Diamond O. This place boasts a lovely swim hole on the Toulmne River. This is where we ate our picnic lunch.

We drove onto the beautiful backwoods of Yosemite, HetchHetchy . We walked across the O'Shaughnessy Dam and through the tunnel on the other side. Some of the waterfalls were still flowing, so that was an unexpected treat.

As we left we landed at the Cascade swimhole/picnic area. We swam and ate our dinner here before heading home.

As often as we visit Yosemite, as much as we have seen, we continue to find new treasures.