Healthful Harvesting

Please see my fitness blog for this post....

The Domestic Altercation At Our Home

I was enjoying a leisurely visit on the phone when all of the chaos erupted. I could hear madness going on about my living quarters, however I chose to lend a deaf ear. It wasn't every day I got to visit with my sister and hear about her new baby and my adorable little nieces. It wasn't until my mother barged into the the bedroom loudly crying "something just ate your puppy!" that I paid any attention at all to the brew-ha. "What?!?!" I gasped, and rushed out to see doors flying, flashlights and men with guns. A sick feeling grabbed the very bottom of my stomach. "Could something really have eaten my puppy?" I stared out into the blackness of the open living room door. It dawned on me that whatever it was was still out there and I ushered the door shut. My puppy was not in her usual place right outside the door on the deck waiting to be let in. I gulped slowly. Fighting panic, I rushed to the next window to look out. Relief flooded me when I saw the troop of armed men and boys with flashlights and the puppy following close behind. How did all this come about anyway? What dangers lurked out there in the black night air?
Here's what happened to the Archer :
The Archer was sitting on the computer looking at hunting gear. He heard a yelping. As he was getting up, he saw something big run by the window. He shouted "somethings got the puppy" while running for his gun. He rushed outside into the darkness.
Here's what happened to my mother, dad and the kids:
They heard The Archer. They rushed around for guns and flashlights. My mom headed for my bedroom and looked out the windows.
Here's what happened to my Husband:
He was outside looking for dry kindling to start a fire. He heard the puppy yelping. He ran around the side of the house to see what was going on. Not having a flashlight with him, he ran around the side of the house under the window that The Archer happened to catch a glimpse out of in the dark. He was anything but pleased at the prospect of having been mistaken for a wild beast of the night.
Here's what happened to the puppy:
Details are sketchy, but we piece together a domestic dispute occurred between she and Puma Kitty. Unfortunately it was followed by a domestic altercation and Puma Kitty resorted to violence. No law enforcement was involved in this dispute, though we have suggested Puma Kitty seek anger management counselling. He is considering the matter, though noncommittal. Libby, our puppy, spent the rest of the evening being coddled by her distraught and relieved foster mother ;-) We all had a good laugh!!

THE RESCUE!!

When the phone rang, I dutifully picked it up. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, and I'd just accomplished my biggest aspiration of the day, namely a 2 hour nap on my outdoor swing. We'd been suddenly awakened by the phone at 6:30 am that morning and I'd had to surrender my warm husband to giving some of our good friends a ride. Really, neither of us minded. They are good friends. But I was in a sleep hungover daze now, and not particularly in the mood for a chat.
Minda our neighbor lady was on the other line with a worrisome voice. Miss Minnie down the road had gone MISSING!! Time stopped and I knew that this meant our peaceful afternoon and evening would be anything but. My husband and Art Dog were out bear hunting. My eldest was sleeping sprawled across the floor. He was getting his well deserved nap after a week of construction work. I hated to wake him. Moonbeam was napping and my eldest daughter, "The Sock Fashion Expert" now named "Saphara" after God's all consuming fire, was taking a well deserved break on the computer.
My mom and dad have been up visiting for the past week. Dad was napping on the couch and mom was reading. It was fine time to go off gallivanting across the country side in search of a missing person, but neighbors are neighbors and ours was in trouble. This is not the first time Miss Minnie has gone missing. Last year, she slept out in the woods with her dogs one night. This was no way for a lady in her 70's to spend the night and we weren't about to allow that to happen again. It was nearing 5pm and I knew I needed to usher the troops off at top speed. Time was of the utmost importance.
Knowing the older kids could cover more ground, I dispatched them on their motorcycles as quickly as I could. Moonbeam turned out to be soaked in urine deep in her slumber. It was a precarious event getting us all out the door, but I knew it must be done. Super Catman was contending with me over his need for weaponry on such an occasion and my mother was rounding up a whistle to blow. Saphara was frustrated at first, but when she went into the basement, God started dealing with her heart. She closed her eyes. God said "Change your attitude. You're going to find her."
When at last we drove away, uncertainty lurked. Partly it was my husband gone. Partly it was the rushing around. Partly it was that The Archer spotted some individuals darting around the woods trying to elude him as he drove by. He'd recently heard there had been theft and vandalism around here.
Dread lurked as I knocked on Miss Minnie's door. Nobody answered. Her husband, "The Woodsman" was no where around. Most likely he was out looking himself. I scrawled a note on the door and we formed a plan of action. Saphara and The Archer parked their motorcycles and headed up one of her trails. The property is a vast acreage. "The Woodsman" was born here. His father homesteaded this property. He'd lived here all his years with the exception of time spent serving our country in war. When he was young, his father was killed. When he was 17 his mother left to remarry. Stubbornly, he remained on his land. Today, with many a year added, he still resides, firm, strong, undaunting. He's not a man of many words, but when he called for help looking, it was without doubt, necessary.
Saphara and The Archer, on motorcycles began driving all over the vast premises. My Mother, Super Catman and I manned the road with Miss Moonbeamer and the stroller in tow. My mother began blowing the shrill whistle. We all took turns yelling and listening as we walked for a couple of miles along the road side of the property. As time passed more people began showing up to join the search party. We were a motley crew. My mother blowing that whistle and yelling at Super Catman to stay in sight. Super Catman wishing "we could be lost so it would be more exciting" and Miss Moonbeam sitting there proud and prissy, getting away with drinking the rest of my Pepsi. Though it didn't seem like much, and my ears were ringing from the constant whistling, I knew we were doing the right thing. Miss Minnie had her dogs with her and every so often I kept thinking I could hear them bark. It was so far away, it was almost impossible to tell where it was coming from.
Saphara had gone a long ways. "I can't imagine her going this far". The still small voice led her on. Finally, in frustration, she knelt down on her knees and began praying. Suddenly the winds of the Spirit blew and Saphara had a vision. She saw tall tall weeds. She saw a big stick. She saw Miss Minnie.........
Saphara walked on. Soon she saw the big field of tall tall weeds. It was the same one she'd seen in her vision. A big fluffy dog emerged. It looked at her and paced back and forth. She followed it into the tall tall weeds. There was Miss Minnie!!! She was waving a big stick in the weeds. She was confused. Saphara gently led her by the hand out of the tall tall field of weeds. She sat her down. She fired 3 shots with her Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt. She waited. Nothing. She was too far away. She was going to have to go for help herself! Saphara gently explained for Miss Minnie to sit there with her dogs. Then she ran for help. She found a couple of men from the search party with a radio. One went for a vehicle. The other came with her.. Saphara led one of the men to her. Miss Minnie was safe at last....
Suddenly an entourage of cars went rushing past from where we'd just been. I heard somebody down the road saying she'd been found. Relief. Imagine how proud I was to hear that it was my daughter who had found her. I knew my kids had a way in the woods and that if anybody could find her it would be them, but I was even more pleased to hear about the vision from God. I've always taught my kids to be sensitive to God's voice. Seeing it in action, helping others, well there's nothing so rewarding. What more could a mom ask for but to know her kids love God and know Him?
Miss Minnie was surrounded by a big group of friends, neighbors and family when we got back to her place. Saphara was smiling, but quiet. It was The Archer who told me about the vision and rescue. I looked over Miss Minnie and gave her a hug. I figured there was enough hoopla going on and it was time for us to head home. Saphara, the heroine, got on her Honda XR 100. She was wearing a simple pair of brown slacks and black sweatshirt, but her Ruger glistened at her side and her metallic, brilliant red hair sparkled in the evening sun. Quiet and modest, nobody could help but to watch her drive away with a bit of awe and respect. It was like the hero riding away modestly after saving the day, come to think of it, thats exactly what it was........ selah.

You Pierced What?!?!

story on my fitness blog

My GUT WRENCHING woes and ohs....

Mr. Grizzly Bear Hung Out Underneath The Archers Tree Stand Last Week - UGH!

Today He Got This Big Ol' She Bear!

Here is the Pack Out Crew!

Normally, I would not put up a blog post so soon after the last one, but its been a week of extraordinary events and lately I've found myself feeling like I'm going to hurl over one thing or another so in the sheer attempt to debrief, I will tell you my many tales of woe and oh!!
Last week, Kevin III was up in his tree stand archery hunting. One day, he missed an elk. Another day, he was stalked by a large bear who he never got a good shot at. The day after that, A GRIZZLY BEAR hung out underneath his tree stand!! If that isn't enough for a mama to pray about, read on......
On Monday, I called the consignment place where we left our Suburban at. It had been on the lot for one day and off the lot for a week and a half. They claimed a week ago it was "being checked out by a mechanic". A week and a half later, it was still missing. I told them I was coming to get it.
Tuesday, I was leery about facing the creepy car salesman. "Be nice" my daughter chastened me. Nervously, we parked at a neighboring lot and walked over. When we got there, nobody was there and the place was locked down. Finally, after making several phone calls, the creepy car salesman showed up. Thankfully, he handed me the title and keys without trouble. Still, my imagination had gone wild, and I was a nervous wreck. After that, i had a several hour computer class at the hospital.
When I got home, the house was a horrible disaster. The boys and Miss Moonbeam had survived the day safely, but the house had not. I escaped outside to focus. Puppy and Miss Moonbeam in tow, I breathed deeply. No sooner had I walked in the house than Super Catman announced "something was wrong with his braces". He had been eating the breakfast cereal I bought for dinner. Quizzically, I gazed in his mouth to discover that HIS BRACES WERE BROKEN AND HE HAD INADVERTENTLY EATEN PART OF THEM!! Well.. just a small piece, but wire none the less!! " OH GOD"I thought. My stomach lurched and I thought I might pass out right there. "Whats next?" With prayers and petitions, I phoned the Orthodontist and Emergency Department. "Uh.. my son accidentally ate part of his braces along with his breakfast cereal" just sounds so so preposterous......
Both MDs assured me that it would likely pass, as did my brother in law "This too shall pass" - lol!! Should he have any cramping or fever it would mean xrays and possible surgery. I am PRAYING it will, indeed, pass. Today, when the boy informed me of his desire to defecate, I sentenced him to Miss Moonbeams potty frog. After that, we took the doodoo outdoors to smear upon a rock together and search for the culprit to our woes. No luck. I guess I will be dissecting poop again tomorrow......
PMS should be enough, but its not. Today, I waited on pins and needles wondering why the Orthodontist hadn't called me back. My husband discovered that the whole spacer was hanging there by one wire. Apparently there was more damage than just the eaten, broken wire. Finally, I called and talked to somebody who gave us instructions on manual dismemberment of a spacer. Again, my guts wretched as my husband laid our boy on the table to do the job. I just don't know if I'm cut out for all of this!! I am literally "all thumbs". Last week, I some how sliced both thumbs (at different times).
This afternoon, my eldest shot a big ol' she bear. As you may guess, my house will soon be overcome with the powerful odor of rendering bear fat. He took the kids along to help him pack it out. I stayed home and gave Miss Moonbeam and puppy undue instruction as I constructed some enchiladas and pear crisp. After that, I talked to the nice body piercing lady about Miss Virtuous and scheduled her dreaded appointment for a NOSE PIERCING. Do pray for me this week..........

Attack of The Mutant Crazy Horror Movie Infestations

Miss Virtuous doing her thang.....

Our Friend and her baby (I still have to give her a blog name)....

Their Family

Goat Girl's Foster Son with the clay cow he made






Goat Girl and her foster boyz

Me and Miss Moona

Playing by the campfire....

Goat girl and Hubby

The boyz having crazy fun - not a flame thrower ;-) Its a sappy stick...

Miss Moonbeam succumbed.....

Art dog with Goat girls #2 Foster son

The Archer finds a pair of $230 Italian Sunglasses snorkeling - the boys are impressed!

Taking Miss Moonbeam on a walk

The Moonbeamer!

Friend with son...

Giving Rides...

Archer with his designer snorkeling find! Isn't he handsome ?!

Me and the girlz

Three Too Cool Here For this Picture!!

Sherlock is giving our pup some lessons in "fetch"

The Archer loves our pooch :-)

My girls in the boat...

Me and my pup!

It was a day I had looked forward to with MUCH anticipation. Having worked most of the week, and working a 12 hour night shift, getting off the morning of the big day, I was EXHAUSTED and ready for sand, sun and water. We had arranged to meet with a bunch of our friends and play in the sand and water together. It was the kind of thing dreams are made of.... except a growing frustration began to overtake me. I was jam packed in the Tundra, with puppy on my lap. Miss Moonbeam was stuffed in her seat next to me. "Stuff" was jammed around us and I could barely breathe it was so warm and stuffy. The beautiful waters were out there awaiting me, but my husband kept looking for the "right place" to camp along them. He loves 4wding and exploring. I was tired, nauseated and I had to go pee.....

We had left the boys with the boat at the boat access in order that my dear husband could "scout". Just when I thought I may get teary, he drove onto the perfect oasis of a place. A giant secluded sandbar in a remote bay. It was perfect. Our friends would gasp at its beauty and vastness. My husband was proud of it. Then we got out. I was supposed to make some quick sandwiches so he could get the boat. I noticed a few yellow jacket type bee things. Then a few more. Gingerly, I opened the bread on the coolers and set up an assembly line of sandwiches along with lovely deli turkey and bread. The rest of the family unloaded THE ENTIRE back of the truck of gear. Suddenly, it happened! Scary music please. REALLY SCARY MUSIC!

Bees flew out of no where. They surrounded me. They started landing on the meat, the cheese, the bread. They crawled on the sandwiches. They were everywhere. As fast as I swatted them off, they jumped back on. Stuff was falling off the coolers, the beautiful expensive pound of meat was getting ruined! One stung me! It burned bad! I rushed into the lake to cool it off. When I got back they had TAKEN OVER the sandwiches. Hurriedly, I tried to stuff them together to hide in the car. Another one stung me! I was just sure that some of the horrid creatures were in between the bread slices and somebody would eat one! As I carried them to the truck they swarmed around me angrily!! I lost it..... My husband was getting ready to drive away and leave us all here! I got hysterical. He got mad. The bees kept circling. The kids were afraid. It was awful. Me, the fearless emergency department nurse and mother of 5 had a melt down right there. No sleep for 34 hours, caffeine with drawl, I don't know. All I know is that I wasn't going to be left here to be stung again. I couldn't even protect the kids. How could anybody possibly cook anything here let alone eat? This beautiful, picturesque place had quickly evolved into TERROR and CHAOS! It was hard to imagine that just a few weeks before these settings were pure heaven for me.....

My husband loaded everything back in, quite annoyed. He took us to another place. He had to drive a crazy 4wd route to get there. I read my Bible trying to pull myself to some semblance of sanity. The Sock Fashion Expert was melting fast. The boys were waiting.... Nothing seemed good. When at last he dropped us off, we hauled EVERYTHING again, out of the back of the truck. We saw a few bees. They milled around. One stung Moonbeam! I could feel myself losing it again. My husband left quickly. The Sock Fashion Expert wilted. She sat out in the water trying to avoid bees with a forlorn look on her face, head between her knees. Would there be any hope for a good weekend with this dire crisis? Read on and see.....

I can't say everything got better instantly. I was tired.... very tired. I couldn't keep functioning without some kind of rest. Bees still flew around, but they were not as bad. We were afraid to eat, but did it quickly. A few came around, but they didn't swarm us. I tried to keep it together. After a swim and rest in the sand, and a beverage, my mood improved significantly. Still, it took the better part of the nice day just to find the spot. That night, my husband wouldn't let puppy in our tent. I wanted to cry again. He left the door open and she ended up sneaking in and sleeping on our feet anyway.

The next morning, early, we zipped puppy out. She proceed to make her own entry by ripping a hole by our heads. Her head popped in. We yelled. She ran away. Five minutes her little head popped in through the hole. Cute as it was, she got her nose smacked. Away she ran again. Things improved. My husband didn't say much about the incident as I feared he would.

That morning was beautiful. My husband decided to move us down the beach 1/4 mile to where there was vehicle access for our friends who were coming. I ran along the beach barefoot with puppy following. It was idyllic. My husband drove the boat along with all our stuff piled in.

Sure enough, there was yellow jacket sign all along the beach. Sock Fashion Expert was concerned. This time,I felt peace. I had read a chapter out of the Bible that morning, and I felt ready to trust God again. My husband said "this is so frustrating - these beautiful places and they just ruin it". Finally, I didn't think he was mad at me about it all. It was the bees, not each other. After unloading stuff, I rested. My husband and the boys went on a killing rampage full of carnage and death. In the wake, scads of yellow jackets lay dead for probably 1/8 of a mile. When I made lunch a few came, but I remained calm. When my husband left to get the truck and meet our friends, my boys went all out making Yellow Jacket traps out of plastic bottles. I had placed a 1 cent bounty on each body. I slept and lounged in the sand and played in the water all day and the Yellow Jackets became few and far between. The power of God and THE FULL FORCE of my family had overcome them. Everything would be okay.

That day turned into the greatest day ever. As friends started showing up, they all were awed by the beauty of the remote sandy cove. Nobody minded that it took some crazy 4wding to get there. Children played. Kids who had never camped before got to camp for the first time ever in this beautiful paradise of powdery sand, sun and water. My friend, Goat Girl, put on some swim stuff I gave her and she looked so beautiful in it. She came alive and played in the water and clay a good long time. It was like God was smiling on us all over again. The horror of the bees had past and everything was happy again. That night we spent a long time around the campfire. Sock Fashion Expert and another friend played guitar and sang worship songs. It was idyllic. The boys ran around with flaming sticks as if they were "Lord of the Flies" or something, uh..not. They built a campfire of their own and I can't say I have ever seen some of those kids have so much fun. I felt so happy to be able to give them this beautiful place to play. The day was beautiful. The sun, the sand and water was simply intoxicating. My husband even conceded and let puppy sleep in our tent ;-)
It kind of makes me think of how many people start out doing something and quit because there is a lot of adversity. Had we never perservered, we'd have never enjoyed the fruit of such a beautiful place. It wasn't just for my family. Our friends benefitted too. Especially the little boys who'd never gone camping or for a boat ride. It was extra special for them, a memory they can always cherish. Don't let fear or adversity ever dictate your path. Plow through it and send those Mutant Crazy Horror Movie Infestations back to kingdom come ;-)

My New Foster Daughter

Isn't she sweet?!




Art Dog teaching her "fetch"

Puma Kitty is rather unhappy about this new turn of events....

We took her to the lake, and she got a little tired walking.....and wanted to be carried.

She was much more presentable after her bath.....









Miss Moonbeam tried walking her and things got a little tangled up.....

In the pink striped dress.....precious

Doesn't she look smart?!?

In the flower dress....sweet!

The Sock Fashion Expert was not all that thrilled, but seems to be warming up to her ;-)

Congratulations are in order! Yes, I am the proud new foster mama (of a dog) lol!! Its quite an exciting tale ( for me anyway)!! I've been waiting a L-O-N-G time :-)


Zinc Arkansas Miracle was the best dog EVER!! Zinc for short. We had him for many many years. He was a once in a lifetime kind of dog, rated right up there with Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. His story was the kind legends are made of...... Back when I was pregnant with Art Dog, I barely got off from work so we could make a trip into the Ozark Mountains of Zinc, Arkansas. It was a cold Spring in Minnesota and we were excited to be going some place warm for the week. Nobody at work wanted to give me the days off and it was nothing short of a miracle. Thrilled, we packed our kiddies up and made the trek over with my in laws. Flowers were blooming there and everybody was anxious to be out hiking. For quite some time, I had deeply desired a dog, a German Shepherd, but my husband had said "no dogs" and "especially no German Shepherds". With that in mind, I didn't even pray for one because I didn't want to go against my husband. Crazy as it would seem, wild dogs were running around down there and somebody had shot one leaving it up on a bluff. The one it ran with would run and snarl and dodge bullets, but once its companion was shot, it loyally remained near the body. Night and day it stayed there. One man held a gun up to it, but something made him stop. This time the dog no longer seemed to care, and just looked at him. "Its up there" he said.

I had been gone shopping and when I got back, my son, The Archer, was petting this wild dog that had come down off the mountains. Scrawny and wild, this dog had survived in the wilderness for some time, though there was something of kindness and intelligence to him. "He's probably full of ticks and worms, but you can take him home if you want to". I couldn't believe my ears. My own real German Shepherd mix dog! It was such an exciting day! That dog was the most wonderful dog ever. His exploits and honorable behavior is too long to mention here, but he learned fast and protected the children many many times. His death was 5 years ago this past spring. He was sadly missed, though he lived a very very full life.

For 5 long years, I waited for my husband to agree to another dog. About 6-9 months ago he said "okay" but had rather strict specifications. Month after month I emailed him pound pups and newspaper ads, but none of them impressed him at all. Many times I'd ask to stop at the pound and many times he'd always say "not today". Still, I never gave up looking. The other night at work, there I was on pet finder again. We happened to be going through another city on the way home and he asked me where all I wanted to stop. "Hmmm....thrift stores and the pound" was my usual answer. After all our stops, there we were driving home and I didn't mention a second thought about the you know what. Would you believe he drove up to the pound?! "Do you want to come in?" I asked gingerly. "No" he said " don't go picking out any run of the mill dogs. It has to be special. If its a special dog, I will come and look." I could hardly believe it! Dogs barked everywhere jumping up and down. It was a little overwhelming. Then I saw this sweet little puppy from across the yard. I just couldn't see any other dog after seeing her. She was so little and lost and my heart just melted. Instead of jumping up and down and barking, she just wanted to be cuddled. I couldn't bear to put her down so I asked the lady if I could show her to my husband. Turns out she couldn't be adopted until she was fixed, but she could be "fostered". I had had an application on file there for months and was already approved. "No puppies" my husband reminded me as I brought her out. "No big dogs" was another specification and she was a Lab puppy. Come to think of it, Labs were also not on his list of favorites ;-) When I explained the "Foster Mama" idea he seemed to think. I didn't have to pay for her yet. We could just take her home and "Foster her". If she didn't work out, she could go back. Amazingly, he said "YES!"

The rest was all a happy blur. There I was all muddy cuddling this little puppy and the nice pound ladies were loading me up with a dog dish, toys and a gigantic bag of puppy food! Since we've gotten her home, she's been such a good girl! Everybody in the family has different plans for her. The Archer has already taken her for walks, a motorcycle ride, swimming a few times and has been teaching her about how to find sheds. He has high hopes she will be quite the hunting dog and shed finder. Super Catman and Art Dog are working on "Fetch". Miss Moonbeam mainly doesn't want to be jumped on. Me, well house training and coming to being called are my biggies. She's making great progress in only a few days.

Today before work, I was lying on the swing trying to get a nap in before my night shift. Miss Moonbeam came to snuggle and poke and do what 3 year olds do. Puppy came home from her "swimming lesson" with Archer and wanted to snuggle too. There I was lying on the swing with a 3 year old and a wet, shivery pup. It was a crowded spot, but a happy one ;-)

We considered a lot of names... Penelope, Patience, Ebony, Dingo, Tabitha, Samantha, Luna, Cinder, the name ideas just kept coming. Finally we settled on Libby Liberty. Libby being her first name and Liberty the middle one. I'm sure we will be having a lot of adventures ahead with little Libby.......