Geocaching

I have been hiking a good bit the last couple of months.  Running is fine, but hiking is a much more exciting kind of exercise.  I’m really enjoying it.  I always was an outdoor type person anyway.  For my birthday, Keith bought me a GPS and hiking shoes.  He’s a gem!  I went out with my friend and her family yesterday at North Park.  I logged my first 4 cache finds.  I even logged them on www.geocaching.com 

 

This is an interesting activity.  I can’t say that any of the cache’s were overly exciting.  Maybe they were for the kids.  For me it was more about finding the destination, although it was neat to see what was left behind in the box.  After sharing about the experience with Keith last evening, we were trying to think of a trinket that we could leave  behind that is standard for us.  His idea:  monkeys from the Barrel of Monkey’s toy.  Interesting.  So if you followed us from cache to cache you could end up with a Barrel of Monkeys. LOL

 

I was surprised with the number of cache’s on the map.  They are everywhere, even less than a mile from home.  This activity may become a traditional part of our vacations.  There are cache’s all over the world.  Keith even wants to buy a ‘bug’ and give it a destination of Palm Springs, where he would then ask his sister to go find it.  Great idea.  We will see. 

 

My final thought before I wrap this up… last night I dreamed that we planted our own cache on our anniversary.  I have no idea where we put it, but it had a wedding theme of trinkets and a poem about our anniversary.  I cannot remember the poem.  Can you believe I was writing poetry in my sleep?  The trinkets were a bottle of bubbles, a candle, some of those wedding bands like you tie onto favors, and packets of daisy seeds representing my flowers.  WOW… this was a really cool idea.

 

Doesn’t it make YOU want to go geocaching?!  Check out www.geocaching.com to find cache’s near you and for more information about how it works.  

Post Birthday Thoughts

I got some birthday money.  Thank you very much… you know who you are.  I put it in the savings account for safe keeping.  I’m still thinking about what I’d like to spend it on.  I thought about buying the cast-iron grilling skillet that I’ve been eyeing up for a while.  I can always use new clothes and shoes.  I would kind of like a new bridle for my horse.  I’d also like to invest in some riding breeches, but they are kind of expensive and I have to order them via mail so I can’t try them on first.  I really like Robert Duncan artwork.  There are some photos I’d like to have printed/framed.  Hiking gear?  I’m enjoying hiking at least once a week for the past month.  It beats the treadmill any day!  I’m going to try geocaching, but I don’t have a GPS yet.  The one I want is the Garmin eTrex Venture.  I’ve researched this.  It seems like the best model and accessories for the price.  There are cheaper models with less features, but you have to pay more for accessories.  Amazon has it for $116 compared to Dicks $169, but I don’t have THAT much birthday money.  The nice thing is that we have all that we need.  It’s fun to think about what to buy with unplanned money in the budget.  We are so blessed to be provided for and to not be left wanting at the moment.  God is good.  I think I’ll hold that money until I get the nudge on what I should really need it for. 

Family Photo Friday

LETTER "B" = Birthday Ride

Loved it!

Family Photo Friday is hosted at According to Jemit

Tuesdays With Jen – My Memoirs

August 17th is my birthday.  I share that with a cousin and a brother-in-law.  There is no such thing as Christmas in July… It’s Christmas in August with my family.  I don’t have many significant birthday memories.  I remember Mom making a cake with several layers, one for each of the August birthdays.  I remember one year as a teenager that nobody remembered it was my birthday until it was over.  That was kind of depressing.  What’s the big deal about birthdays anyway?  It is nice to get cards and to have that feeling like it’s okay to spoil myself just this one day.  I guess I’m getting older, but I still don’t feel old except maybe first thing in the morning when my knees don’t want to bend to go downstairs.  I wish I could look back and say remember that one birthday…. but I just don’t.  (and it’s not because I’m too old to remember… yet!)  LOL 

Blessings Monday

My bosses wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  She’s in her early 40’s.  They have 4 lovely children.  She is heart-broken, afraid, angry, sad, frustrated, the works.  It’s a very sad thing.  She will have surgery with hopes of survival, but they still don’t know the extent of the cancer yet.  She has had some other symptoms that could point to a rather bleak future.  My heart aches for this family and the trials they will face in the days to come.  It’s situations like these that remind us to count our blessings every day. 

 

I’m grateful for the blessing of health and happiness.  God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, whom I adore.  I’m counting my blessings in abundance right now. 

 

Prayers for this family are appreciated. 

 

  

Count Your Blessings Monday is hosted by Marcy over at Down On The Farm.

Saturday’s Savings & Meal Planning

Ok that’s it!  We MUST re-focus!  FOCUS people!!!!

 

We ate out twice this past week.  We spent almost our whole weekly grocery budget doing it.  Why?  Lack of preparation.  Why?  Lack of focus!  Seriously!!!  We have to get a grip!

 

I did successfully deter the desire to shop at Sam’s Club today.  Don’t get me wrong, there are some deals to be found there.  It’s just dangerous to shop without a list or even an idea of what we need.  YES!  Won that battle. 

 

Used a coupon for a free fruit smoothie at McDonalds.  It probably had too much sugar in it, but it was cold, tasty, and FREE!

 

I must plan our weekly meals before I go in search of the deals at the grocery…  Hmmm…

 

Mexican Bake – I have most of the ingredients already.

Personal Size Pizzas – I have them in the freezer, just need thawed.

Chicken – I have that in the freezer.  Would love to grill it but we aren’t using our grill… so maybe not.  :(

Ham Slice – will need to get that.

Spaghetti – I have that too.

 

So to recap, my grocery list consists of…  salad makings, fruit for snacks, a ham slice, sour cream & milk.  That’s it!  How do I do that?  Why couldn’t I put this together the two nights we went out? Oh, I was exhausted and didn’t want to fire up the oven.  I’d like to try some make-ahead meals, but I’m not sure when I can get that done. 

 

I feel good just having this plan.  :)

Sweet Vacation… It’s never long enough.

We went hiking at Salt Springs State Park.  It was SO worth it!

 

 

Wow! How about that look?!

She HATES the mask. She despises the mask. She abhores the mask! It is a necessary evil. One good thing is that she gets a treat in it every time I put it on her. She EXPECTS that treat. It's the only reason she even lets me put it on her. Silly girl. It's better than a girdle. Poor Baby.

On Our Way Home...

We stopped at this most incredible bridge-like structure just to gawk. Wow it's huge! We couldn't pass up the photo opportunity. Perfect sky... such a beautiful site!

Thursday’s Thankful Heart

 

My Daily Thankfulness Journal stayed home while we were on vacation last week.  A few sites, moments, or thoughts I cherish and am thankful for are:

• Time OFF work!
• Having a plan, a list, a direction.
• Lovely drive with good conversation.
• He loaded the car & unloaded it.
• Comfortable and Free accommodations.
• Steam rising from the water in the morning.
• The sun reflecting off of the water.
• The joy of catching a fish.
• The bigger joy of watching HIM catch fish!
• The sounds of the birds singing.
• God’s beautiful creation.
• He went hiking with me.  He helped me up the steep hills and over gigantic logs, always watching out for me.  Such a sweet gentleman.
• We shared a cool drink.
• The wild sounds of the nieces and nephews discovering our arrival.  So precious!
• The excitement of giving them cheesy gifts for birthdays past.
• Delicious meals provided and shared by family.
• Children vying for my attention.
• Wine tasting.  Mmmm…
• Beautiful sites.
• Snuggling with my man.
• He rubbed my feet. (again)
• Plenty of food prepared in advance this week.
• He said my lasagna was delicious!  Yay!
• He’s thinking about our future and considering a possible investment.
• A special date with my niece, Essie.  She brushed all the horses and they loved it.
• Life, family, journey…