And one more?

We had another really good storm today. We were unfortunately very lucky. Literally about two miles away, the winds and rain were way worse. We had some limbs down, but none that could benefit us. (Hence the "unfortunately very lucky".) I got pictures... pretty amazing - all of this damage is straight winds.. no tornado today.

We drove over this in the Xterra - cuz I'm a bad ass.

The wind pushed the top of this electrical pole off.. and then the wires caught on the stub. Cool, huh?

Roof taken straight off.

Big bad trees. Big dead trees as of today.


Several poles were taken down.




I know this picture just looks like grass to most of you. But it's actually a field of soybeans. Or Alfalfa... I can't remember which and the leaves have all been ripped off by the wind.


This one still has most of it's leaves, but if you look at it bigger you can see how the wind has pushed it all over.

Again... very cool.


In other news... I quit that one job.. and now I have a new, new one. I'm a receptionist at a car dealer. Lots and lots better. Even if I do have to wear pants.

well, I'm out of training

... and sorta working today...

Oh, and we got 3 inches of rain last night! I got a rain gauge from a friend. I love it!

As the storm blows around me...

I actually AM in a thunderstorm right now. Nothing massive but I heard it's hailing out a friend's house. I've gathered up the dog leashes and a couple bottles of water just in case. I'm sure it will just be rain, but you never know.

My brother and Tara did get engaged! I'm so excited and happy for both of them... and can't wait to see them in person to tell them. And give them both huge, teary hugs.

The campground is really struggling. We can't decide what to do or know what we can do. Last night, I had a brilliant idea. Well, brilliant for me. Start a pig farm! Start small - 2 mamas, which would likely = at least 14 babies eventually. I did a ton of internet research and picked the brains (ok, I think thats hail) of some experts and rain the numbers in a spreadsheet last night. That's right, I've got my master's, ya know. Well, I am guessing that we could make about $260 + 1/2 pig worth of pork in the 1st year. Not great numbers. The next year, if we kept 1 girl pig out of the litters, we could probably make about $1000 + 1/2 pig meat. Now we're starting to talk. 3rd year, we'd probably lose again, because now we need more space = more land, bigger fence. Anyway, basically I decided as much fun as it would be to be a pig farmer (and there is absolutely no sarcasm in that) it wouldn't save the campground (farm), so not this year.... but stay in touch.. there's no telling. I leave you with this photo:



From Gracie's point of view: Snack Time!
From Ashes point of view: Oh, shit!

SO much time has passed.

I'm sorry

When a certain amount of time has passed (or a certain number of stories to tell have accumulated) I feel overwhelmed with all I need to say and so... I say nothing.

I've closed the daycare. There were a lot of reasons, but the two biggest were collecting $$ from people who don't think they have to pay for daycare and have a partner who shows up late 3 days a week, I couldn't do it anymore. I was getting up at 5:30 everyday and for the most part dealing with fantastic kids and lousy adults. I've felt that way most of my life, but this re-affirmed it. Kids are cool, grown-ups are not.

I start a new job today at Alpine Access - - just over the computer/phone customer service, so I still get to be a hermit. Mom is back until November-ish, to run the campground, since (I guess b/c of the economy) the campground can't afford to pay me, and I can't afford to not get paid. Sucks.

Been swimming (actually just got out about an hour ago) and mowing and doing stuff.

I really am going to try to get back into the habit of blogging, even if for no other reason than I like to re-read them. I have time, it's just a matter of doing it.

Anyway... love to all, sorry for the hiatus, and in theory, we shall blog again in a few days!

What a difference a week makes

So this time last week, I still had 3 jobs and only one helper. Now I am down to 2 and 2 helpers! I feel almost like I am normal! Jenny and I run the daycare together and Mom came into town this weekend to help with the campground (mostly outside help - she wants to work on her tan tooo) until July! I have gotten more done in my personal jobs in the last 4 days than I have in the past 4 months! Thank God for April 16th!

Pig Varietals

Kyler got his pig for the 4-H show that happens in August. He has to get one more - because apparently pigs are like me...and if they don't have a peer to distract them, they may just run away. He got a York. Polands are my favorite because they have socks.

Pig Tutorship to follow.

York:

Hamp:

Poland:


Duroc:

Guinea:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Dessert:

Om Na Mah Shi Va Ya.

Om Namah Shivaya.

I haven't blogged in over a month. And even then, it was one of dad's updates from Philly. So much to say.

In the past month, I have:

Worked... but not as much as I should have.

Visited Atlanta. I loved it - I got to see almost everyone, including a visit with Elton John and Billy Joel. Elton and Billy were looking and sounding great as usual. I was a little surprised when I learned that Elton had given up caffeine, but they both seemed like they were doing very well.

Read... a lot. Right now I am reading Eat, Pray, Love. We can credit that book with the title of this particular entry which is one of the author's mantras. It means "I honor the divinity that resides within me." I know it's touchy-feely and new-age-y, but I like it. And I like the idea that everything good and divine is here... I am "Cassie seeking... " but maybe I am looking in the wrong places? I am really being cheesy and too sensitive today. I should've (or should I ?) read this book immediately after my divorce. I see the things she thinks about herself and is going through and think...she is me. But she should be writing this blog. You guys were all great before, during and after the divorce and break-down... but I did feel pretty alone in my understanding that I was the cause - I failed at something. To hear (read) this amazing woman in Eat, Pray, Love blamed herself... and to see her forgive herself and really stop blaming herself (not just saying she doesn't blame herself)... well, it sounds good to me. :) I've been reading so much because as a bonus, the tax shop gave me a Kindle 2, which I've named BOB. The kindle is an amazing, amazing invention. I bought a bigger purse to carry Bob with me everywhere I go. This past weekend, I literally pulled Bob out in a bar and read. This trip to Atlanta was even more fantastic thanks to Bob. I carried him on ... and was never bored. My flight from Atlanta to Wichita was delayed... I didn't care.

Missed watching Kyler in Rodeo School. That's right - rodeo school. I was working. He rode a bull for about 7 seconds with no hands. I have a video... I have to get it on Youtube.

Gotten the daycare into full swing. We still only have 2 kids, but I had to battle the city a little. I spoke at a city council meeting... twice. We are now approved and licensed and actually - getting the 1st daycarte paychecks this weekend. They are paltry... but ... getting a paycheck feels pretty durn good.

Made an offer on a house... sort of. We called a realtor because with the stimulus package.. it seems like this is a good year to buy. But the realtor has not called us back in the past week... so annoying. We are going to get a new realtor. It's a little outside of town - but not far - like 1/2 a mile and has 3 acres. Plenty of room for horses, pigs, goats, dogs, humans, chickens...

Seen baby chickens born (or hatched as they say in the city). At least 20 chicks came all at the same time and I helped with the hatching...which mostly involved just picking up broken shells...I am very important.

Bought eyeliner. Someday I should grow up and be an adult. I think eyeliner is required in the inventory. I have used it once. Maybe next month I will be an adult.

Have not blogged. And I'm really sorry about that. I am having this internal struggle. I am busy - and I work a lot. But I find time to go out too. And that makes me feel guilty. And blogging feels like something extra. I have always been very good about completely immersing myself when I am reading. I am in the book (or Bob in this case). But most anything else I do for relaxing... I am usually in the back of my head "...Cassie... get to work..." so...if I blog and show and admit how much I've been just thinking about working, instead of actually doing it... well, I will be even harder on myself tomorrow. Which brings me to our closing mantra, also from Eat, Pray, Love: bar far niente. This isn't actually a mantra, just Italian, but it means, "the beauty of doing nothing". I need to learn to experience bar far niente. I do nothing all the time, but the whole time I'm doing it, I'm beating myself up. I need to experience the beauty of it... and deal with all the crap tomorrow. :)