Saturday, March 13, 2010

What the Hail?!

Today we decided to meet up with some friends and take a nice fishing trip, hike, and picnic.

Our day started pretty early, even early for us... Canyon was up, Arden was up, and that combination meant Rory, Carl and I were not far behind. After being up for a few minutes, I decided to go outside and reinstall one of our car seats, and when I went out I was face to face with one of the most beautiful late-winter/early spring mornings that I have ever seen. The soft yellow light from the sun made the grass the most bright and beautiful shade of green, the sky was perfectly blue, and the light dusting of dew on the ground added to the effect. It was just amazing.

So after eating our breakfast, we packed up and decided to head out to the river. As we were leaving, we talked about maybe grabbing some rain coats, but decided against it because of the beautiful weather. It was sunny, and very warm, warm enough that I wore shorts with my thermals.

Very soon we realized that we may not have made the best choice (and by we, I really mean Carl because I was going to get the coats when he said not to). It was pouring. By the time we arrived to the park, the rain had let up to a sprinkle, and soon stopped.

When we got there, it didn't take long to see that the roads we were going to travel were closed because driving was unsafe from the snow that is still on the mountains. So we changed our plans and found a nice area at a lower elevation.

We had a great lunch with our friends and hung out for a few hours.


Pretty soon after lunch, Arden decided he needed to poop, so Carl takes him to the composting toilette. Arden wouldn't go, so I took him, and he did. As Arden and I walk back out of the outhouse to the trail, I noticed it was much cooler, almost cold enough that I needed another layer.

When we got to the table, everyone had packed up, and I realized why, the sky had turned black. We quickly walked back to the vans and chatted, as soon as I got the trunk opened the skies opened and the precipitation began to fall.

It took me a minute to figure out what was happening, it was hail. Pea sized hail, falling hard and fast. It continued to fall for almost 45 minutes! It was crazy... there were an inch of hail stones on the ground when we left. It went from 55 degrees to freezing in a matter of moments.

I took a few photos of the hail as we left, I cannot believe how long it hailed and how much!


On a side note, our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends and family dealing with the severe flooding in WV. Stay safe.

Friday, March 12, 2010

The Rain Comes Home...

Today was a wonderful, rainy, stormy day. We were blessed to sit here this afternoon enjoying the first thunderstorms of the season.

I have mentioned in the past how much I love the rain. There is something special and wonderful about it. I love to see the clouds come over the mountains; I love to smell the rain approaching; I love standing in the rain; I love feeling the coolness running on my face and in my hair, and more than the rest, I love to feel the cool wetness and mud squeezing under my bare feet.

I'm so happy the warmth and wet are finally here.

Here is a photo from a few hours ago:


On a side note, I am so thrilled that one of my best friends just found out she is having a baby girl! I can't wait to make her some cute hats!!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

New Nature Center Friend...

Today we went to the WNC Nature Center for a picnic and to meet a new Nature Center creature!

Olive the Otter finally has a new partner, and he is quite handsome. He doesn't have a name yet, is a little bashful when it comes to the camera, but he loves to swim and play! We planned on getting a lot of photos while we were there, but mom forgot to charge the camera. (You would think that I know better by now, the darn thing barely holds a charge, lol.)

We sat for about 30-40 minutes and watched as he and Olive became a little more accustomed to each other. They had a great game of chase going on, and were playing in the water a lot! He seemed eager to play and interact, she was less sure. Olive ran around rubbing herself on everything she could, I am assuming to leave her scent and to "claim" the items? It was very amusing to listen to her calls and screams at her new friend when he would get close to her or an item she had claimed.

Without further-to-do, here is our newest friend at the nature center:


Arden also really likes looking for the turtles, and over the last week, the beautiful weather has drawn a few out to warm in the sun... Arden insisted on having me take a photo of this one, luckily my camera held on long enough.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Heart Stopping Mothering Moments...

Have you ever had one of those moments as a mother where your heart stops?

Well, I just did. It was one of those moments where you can't find your child and begin to freak out.

About 30 minutes ago, I sent Arden to his room to go take a nap while I got Canyon to sleep. When I went to put Canyon into his bed, I looked for Arden... but he wasn't in his bed.

I looked over to Rory's bed, and he wasn't there either.

I started to freak out. I knew he hadn't gotten out, I was just out side of his room, I saw him go in...

Then I heard a snore... and I found him.

Where you ask?

Well, take a look: (he was well hidden!)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Another Perfect Day!

Today was another perfect WNC day. We had the windows open in the house and we stayed outside all day!

I love these early spring days, the brisk (yet warm) air, the outdoor trips, the hikes, and the time with family. It doesn't get any better!

Here are a few shots of Canyon and Arden at the Nature Center, while Rory was in school.






Sunday, March 7, 2010

My middle darling, Arden...

I think all of my boys are gorgeous, but between his behavior and facial expressions, Arden is so darned cute. Here are a few photos of him from today... Don't you think he is adorable (and goofy)?


 

We also went to the Biltmore Estates today... if you live in the area, a season pass is totally worth it, and you should think about getting one!

I think today might have been the last of the snow on the estates, and the weather has gotten beautiful! Here are just a few shots of the house, I didn't get the camera out much, we were too busy having fun!







Saturday, March 6, 2010

Every Step Counts... Mark this one for the midwives!


katie@thebigpushformidwives.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, March 4, 2010

CDC Report: Demand for Out-of-Hospital Midwife Births Sharply Increases
Research Debunks Physician Group Claims that Actress Ricki Lake is Responsible for Rise in Out-of-Hospital Births

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2010)—
A Centers for Disease Control National Health Statistics report released this week showed a five percent increase in demand for out-of-hospital midwife births in 2005. Seventeen states reported an increase of ten percent or more, numbers that continued for 2006. The increase predates the release of actress Ricki Lake’s film, The Business of Being Born, which the American Medical Association cited as a leading factor behind the new consumer demand, a claim echoed in an anti-home birth position statement from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“The idea that American women choose out-of-hospital delivery because a celebrity had her baby at home or because they value the birth ‘experience’ over the health of their babies is not only insulting, but it reveals an appalling lack of awareness on the part of ACOG and the AMA about the economic pressures influencing the health care decisions that people are making,” said Katherine Prown, PhD, Campaign Manager of The Big Push for Midwives.

The CDC report identified the reduced costs associated with out-of-hospital maternity care as a factor in the increased demand, as well as religious and cultural practices and personal preferences for birth settings that are both safe and private.

Consistent with the medical literature on the safety of home birth under the care of Certified Professional Midwives, the report also found significantly reduced rates of pre-term and low-birth weight in out-ofhospital
populations. Certified Professional Midwives, who specialize in out-of-hospital birth and who deliver the majority of U.S. babies born in private homes and freestanding birth centers, provide intensive, individualized pre-natal care that focuses on prevention and risk assessment. The authors of the report identify appropriate risk assessment as a likely factor in the reduced rates of pre-term and low-birth weight in out-of-hospital settings.

“Those of us who have been advocating for increased access to Certified Professional Midwives and outof-hospital maternity care have long known that the research shows that AMA and ACOG statements about the safety of home birth and the reasons why women choose out-of-hospital delivery have no basis in the evidence,“ said Prown. “It’s great to be able to cite even more research on the safety of out-of-hospital birth and to be able to point to data showing that women in the United States do not, in fact, make decisions about where to have their babies for frivolous, selfish, or trendy reasons.”

The Big Push for Midwives Campaign represents tens of thousands of grassroots advocates in the United States who support expanding access to Certified Professional Midwives and out-of-hospital maternity care. The mission of The Big Push for Midwives is to educate state and national policymakers about the reduced costs and improved outcomes associated with out-of-hospital maternity care and to advocate for expanding access to the services of Certified Professional Midwives, who are specially trained to provide it. Media inquiries: Katherine Prown (414) 550-8025, katie@thebigpushformidwives.org

Thursday, February 25, 2010

So much for spring?

Well, we were given a slight taste of what the normal weather pattern this time of year is... and then it was yankd from us! We went from 60degrees to snow, all in one day.

The weather here in WNC never ceases to amaze me. It changes so quickly and without warning.

Yesterday, Carl built a ramp for the neighbor's dog. Poor Blackie has lost the full use of his hind leg/hip on one side. He is a beautiful, old, greyhound rescue. He wasn't able to get up and down the 3-4 steps from the door to the yard, and this was the solution. Carl's skills never cease to amaze me :)


While Carl was working on the ramp, it really began to snow! I have to admit, it was gorgeous, but I am ready for spring.

The woods, rivers, and just all of nature is calling me. I can't wait until all the access roads to our favorite hiking areas are re-opened. I heard that the National Forest Roads will be open this week if they didn't today.

Thanks to Deb that treated us to dinner as a thank-you! It made it easy to go to bed early.

On a side note, is it wrong that I love that my child had a two-hour-delay today? I got a nice long night of sleep for the first time in a while!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Giving Thanks for a wonderful fellowship dinner...

Last night I was lucky enough to have a wonderful fellowship dinner with some couples from church, at the pastor's home.

Dinner was delicious, and the company was great. I hope we get to do it again soon!

Thanks again to Jim and Jane for a wonderful evening.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

And this is why you listen to mom...

So, over the weekend WNC had perfect weather. I think we even hit 60degrees on Sunday...

Well, we took the boys for a hike and picnic at the river, and while I was making lunch I kept telling the boys to stop throwing rocks into the water. I had a few reasons for stopping it, one was because they would scare away the fish, two was because the beach was really sandy and they needed clean hands, and third was because I didn't want them to fall in...

I was making sandwiches as we sat, and handed them out according to age, with Rory being first. I reminded him again to stop throwing rocks.

As I was finishing making all the sandwiches and handing them out... I hear Rory start crying.

I turn to him and see that he has a rock in his hand and no sandwich.

It didn't take long to realize what happened. Rory threw his sandwich in the water instead of the intended rock... That definitely wasn't the reason I was telling him not to throw rocks, but hey, it works as a reason to listen to mom!

Here is Rory right after throwing his lunch away:


And here is the floating sandwich (which became fish food):

Saturday, February 20, 2010

The warmth is here...

And not a moment too soon!

Today we went hiking in what I hope was the last of the season's snow. It was perfect out. The temperature held in the 50's, the boys played in the water, the fish were jumping... it was great.

I hope that this weather is here to stay, we were right around the normal temps for today...


Going for these late winter/early spring hikes do so much to lift your spirit! I love that feeling you get as you inhale that first breath of pure mountain air, and smell the creek, trees, and the dirt... There are very few things that I love more.

The boys had a blast. We ate lunch on a cobblestone beach, sat on a tree, and took some photos. Rory is getting the hang of the camera!

 
  
  
  

Thursday, February 18, 2010

An awesome mini-vacation!

We had an awesome set of friends who invited us to Wilderness in the Smokies and since Rory had a snow-day on Monday, and no school on Tuesday, we decided to take them up on their offer and to go.

It was AWESOME. Probably one of the coolest things I have ever been to. They have a HUGE indoor waterpark with anything you can imagine!

Arden and Canyon got to play in the kiddie pools (there were 2!) and Rory was tall enough to go on all the rides except for one waterslide. I found out later why he couldn't go on that slide... it was HUGE and like nothing I have ever be on!!!!

They also have an indoor wave pool, 3 other big slides, and an awesome surf wave. Rory rode it all, and rode hard all day. He got on the surf wave and body boarded!! He was so good at it that people stopped, watched him, and cheered!!!!! He would start to wash out, and then paddle back down it with his hands to get back into the sweet spot, it was great. I didn't get any photos of him or me, (but we hope to order them) I did however get a few good ones of Carl! He had a blast, he wiped out trying to do tricks... So here are a handful of photos, I was too busy having fun to get many.

And again, Steph and Chris, thank you SO much :)

 

 

 

  

 

  

  

 

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Long week!

We had a long week last week that kept us from getting to blog!

Canyon dislocated his elbow, I got mastitis, and the list kept going on... talk about busy and long ;)

Here are a handful of photos from this week, I will post another blog tonight with a few more!

 

Sunday, February 7, 2010

13 Days of Love... Day 7

We are completely blessed to have such a wonderful church family.

I really don't have much to say other then I love our church, I love our pastor, and I love our church family.

Every time we go to church, I sit and listen to our pastor preach, and am reminded how good he really is. It is incredibly hard to find a minister that really preaches the bible in a way that feels right and touches your heart. We must have visited 5-6 different baptist churches before we found our perfect church.

Each week that Jim gets up to the pulpit, I know that we are going to hear a wonderful sermon. He is well educated, worldly, and has both an open heart and open mind. (Which is surprisingly hard to find in many Christians now-a-days).

He reminds me of listening to Carl's dad when he was the pastor at our old church, and makes me want to go to WV to listen to Carl's mom (who is now the pastor at the old church).

Our church family is so generous, and so loving. It is amazing that we found a church where we never feel judged, or looked down on.

When life get's hard for me, I tend to back off a little, and seclude myself. It makes it easier for me to deal with the problems and situations. When Canyon got sick, I felt the need to back away from a lot of things (my blog and church included). We have recently started to go back to church, and it is wonderful to see how much we were missed, and how much people care. Everyone was respectful of our space while we were away, prayed for Canyon and the family, checked up on us, and then welcomed us back with open arms. We couldn't ask for more.

Today's service impacted me pretty hard, and I am spending time thinking about the real reason things happen here on Earth... but that is another discussion.

Today's love is my church family. Thank you all for your love and support.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

13 Days of Love... Day 6.

My love today is Asheville and it's local commerce and food...

There are a lot of places in the country that don't have available local stores and local food. We here in Asheville are blessed to have both all year.

This morning I got up, and took Rory to the "Toy Box" store down the road from our house. He was able to pick out a gift for a friend, and look at a ton of toys that ToysRUs or Walmart wouldn't have. Every week we go to local restaurants to eat, and many of those use local foods as much as possible. We do our shopping at neighborhood grocers and even at the local farmer's market.

I think that shopping locally for both food and other items is one of the most important things we can do for our planet, our economy, and our children.

Here in Asheville, we have Walmarts, McDonalds, ToysRUs, and even a mall, but you want to know a secret? We don't need them. We have such a great local selection of small family owned stores and restaurants, that you don't need those big chains and discount stores.

We get our hair cut at a local salon, we get our food at small local stores, we get most of our clothes from local stores, and even our toys and gifts come from 2 small toy stores in town.


I LOVE ASHEVILLE and the opportunity it gives us to eat and shop locally!

Friday, February 5, 2010

13 Days of Love... Day 5

I have spent a lot of time traveling around, and living in different places. One thing I have found is how much I love the mountains.

As a little girl, I grew up in the Potomac Valley in Maryland. There were hills, and mountains near by, but we never got to see them or to experience what they had to offer us. I used to go to visit my Granny Eva in southern West Virginia. Her home is in this beautiful location, and when I would stay, I would tell her that someday I was going to live there. I did for a while, and someday, I probably will again.

I have lived in river valleys, in the "low country", close to the beaches, in the midwest, and somehow, I always come back to the mountains. They literally pull at my heart. When we take trips to visit friends and family on the beaches, and in other parts of the country, I miss the call of our mountains. As we travel back over the foothills, I can feel the mountains, and I know we are coming home. I feel at peace knowing that we will soon be able to see them.

We have been blessed to live here in Western North Carolina. Both the Appalachian and Smokey Mountains run here, and offer us their life and their beauty. The mountains here thought smaller then the ones out west, are breathtaking.

They offer us clean water, fresh air, naturally grown fish, and the opportunity to explore and "disappear" into the wilderness. They offer the chance to kayak, ski, hike, fish, bike, and really to do anything our hearts desire.

I still desire to travel, and to leave the mountains for a brief time... but I know that I will always come home.

My love for today is the mountains. They hold a special place in my heart.