tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82847897669288544422024-03-24T10:47:17.452-07:00earthy crunchyhomeschooling , homesteading , hiking in the sierras and other radical stuff.kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-53208040014288406162014-10-20T17:10:00.000-07:002014-10-21T09:35:08.694-07:00deep springs reunionSummer came and went. Now fall seems to be racing by. We started the school year and it's more packed full of co-ops and teaching commitments than last year. It all seemed really great on paper, but it's been a bit overwhelming to me. The kids seem to by liking everything though. <br />
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Amelia turned 16 last week which blows my mind. She'll be going off to college in a few years and that makes me nervous, excited, sad and proud. We've managed to challenge her with homeschooling and our plan is to take it all the way through with the help of tutors and classes at community college. This semester she's loving her first college level English class. It seems like just yesterday we were sitting with her while she felt like giving up on her first grade research project. I remember it so vividly, the table we were sitting at, the thoughts going through my mind, the real pain she was feeling. She is really an exceptional writer and I wish I could take some credit for that, but it's all her hard work and desire to express herself with words that's gotten her to where she is today. <br />
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This past weekend we went to a Deep Springs reunion which was the last camping trip we had planned for the year. It's the 4th time we've had the privilege of being invited to experience the magic of this valley. (Jonathan went to college here in the 80's) The first time, Amelia was tucked safely in my womb as we visited this isolated, all male college back in the summer of 1998. She hopes to go to college here in a few years if co-education is passed. We're crossing our fingers.<br />
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We arrived after dark on Friday night and set up camp near the dairy and promptly went to see if there were any calves. Sure enough, Richard and Frederick, two bulls born to the dairy cows were curled up in their shelter. They shyly came to the fence to meet us and we fell in love. Richard was born only 7 days prior and Frederick was a month old. They are the sweetest things ever. </div>
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The next few days were spent exploring the farm and the college, going to talks with other alumni, hiking, eating excellent farm food, and getting to know the students. Of course, a lot of our energy was consumed by the farm animals and wildlife. We were after all camping near the alfalfa field where the coyotes hunt at night for rabbits and we slept under the tall, ancient trees that the owls perch in. The first night in fact was so exciting with the chorus of the coyotes hunting that we barely slept a wink. And, it didn't help that the air mattress failed miserably and the tent blew every which way from the strong winds. Then the dairy boys wake up at dawn to milk the cows right next to our tent. So, between the coyotes yelping, the dairy boys milking and the owls hooting and everything else, I felt a bit ragged in the morning.</div>
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We were pleasantly surprised however to spend time talking with some students. Usually, they are extremely stand-offish. Most of the year, unless they get a visitor from town, these kids are completely isolated from the outside world. It's the isolation policy that makes this college so unique and while I understand, in the past it's been a bummer to feel like an outsider. I really want to get to know them and learn about their studies and life at Deep Springs. We were invited to plant garlic with them while we were there and had a really awesome conversation with one of the students. It really made me happy to see Solomon and the him chatting it up while planting garlic. It was a really awesome change from past trips and an appreciated shift. </div>
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Jonathan took us to see the petroglyphs near the college. What a cool place. It's hard to be in a bad mood (from lack of sleep) when there are so many unforgettable and special things to see. Of course a nice, (cold) shower in the basement of the main building didn't hurt.<br />
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Who had the most fun on our trip? Zephyr of course. He met the cows and wanted to go in and play with them which I highly discouraged him from doing. He met a new dog friend seen above. Her name is Annie and she belongs to one of the students. Her mama was abandoned in the valley while pregnant with her. She's the only one who got to stay while the others were adopted out. Annie and Zephyr were good friends and spent many a meal begging together under the dinner table. <br />
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We had to sadly say goodbye to the valley on Monday morning and on the way home we drove up the mountain to see the oldest trees in the world. The Bristlecones are pretty amazing trees, some here are 5,000 years old. <br />
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I'm glad to be able to write in this space again. Amelia has this agreement with me that if she writes in her blog, I have to also. So, you may see me here again soon. Happy Autumn to you!<br />
<br />kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-44877643959319096862014-04-03T13:15:00.001-07:002014-10-18T22:10:26.293-07:00wrapping up the school year<br />
I have to remember that change is hard for me. Every spring and fall especially. I suppose in the spring I'm trying to wrap up school. I'm tired, stressed out and can't wait to sleep in! There's never a lack of activities I'm involved with, but surely they'll be less going on in just a few short weeks. <br />
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I teach a class on Tuesdays, you might say a small cooperative with my two boys and a friend. Actually, I'm pretty proud of myself for sticking with it and seeing it almost to the end. We've tackled physical science and history while getting time with friends. I've learned a lot about myself and about history and science which is a bonus in my book. But, I decided that I'm going to finish by the end of the month. I want my Tuesdays back. <br />
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On Fridays, we attend another co-op for A's Latin which I have to contribute my time. On two other days, A spends the day with other teens learning biology, writing and history.<br />
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My ceramics class every Wednesday is almost finished. It's been a challenge on many levels. But, I love what the kids create and it brings me great joy to watch them as they wrap up their glazed pieces. The experience has actually pushed me to start my own home based business with ceramics. More on that another time.<br />
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I just have a lot on my plate right now. Everything is worthwhile and enrich our homeschooling experience, but I'll be so glad when I can finish up some of it.<br />
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Meanwhile, I'd like to show you what the kids have been making!<br />
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Happy spring to you!! ♥kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-13644306764079470932014-03-05T15:48:00.000-08:002014-03-05T15:51:16.120-08:00play with clay<br />
I just taught the 4th week of ceramics at our home school co-op. This time the ages are 3rd grade and up. I can't even tell you how much I receive back from the kids as I help them learn about hand-building with clay. The energy in the classroom is so positive, and well...creative. It's palpable. <br />
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I want to chronicle their creations as we go!<br />
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kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-55676428122636793982014-02-28T19:02:00.000-08:002014-02-28T19:02:49.106-08:00playI thought these blocks were never going to be played with again. They had been collecting dust for a few years and I really thought I would put them in the garage, otherwise known as the toy graveyard. It seems like these days my boys would rather play on the computer than do anything else and I had really reached my breaking point the other day. They were fighting and I just yelled, "play with the blocks dangit!!!" (or something like that) And they did. My blood pressure lowered a bit and I realized how beautiful it is to have a mess in the family room. <br />
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Honestly, I miss the days when my kids just played with toys. I feel nostalgic about those days when I had an ever present little one on my hip and the house was a disaster zone most of the time.<br />
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My kids, at the moment, are playing flashlight hide-n-seek with dad. My heart is really happy. <br />
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<br />kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-75717497982716731472014-02-21T10:37:00.003-08:002014-02-21T10:37:58.366-08:00more<br />
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This time last year we had already been skiing for a month. It's been a really bad year for snow in the Sierras. I see all the pictures of the snow falling in other parts of the country and I feel envious. We need the snow, not only for fun, but for the precious water it gives us. I want <b>MORE</b> snow! I don't know if we're going to get lots more. It's starting to feel like spring.<br />
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I called the <a href="http://www.skytavern.com/">Sky Tavern</a> office this morning to see what their plan is. I have lots of planning to do myself. This snow situation has really put a wrench in my plans. And if the ski program is really going to happen, I have a huge problem on my hands. Because, I have a lot <b>MORE</b> going on this spring. Do you feel my stress? All three kids are signed up for soccer and the first game starts on March 29th and practices usually start two weeks before that. Between soccer practice 4 or 5 nights a week and soccer games on Saturday and skiing all day on Sunday....Well, I can't even go there. <br />
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I had a talk with the kids this morning and asked them how they felt about all these commitments and they agree that they like their afternoons free to play, read or just do nothing. I don't like this overlap of activities.<br />
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This weekend is a no-go for skiing which means that I'm free this Sunday for a walk out in the desert with my people or just to catch up with life. This last picture shows Mount Rose in the distance. That's close to where we ski.<br />
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Time will tell how this all pans out. Meanwhile, I still wish for <b>MORE</b> snow and I still hope for<b> MORE </b>time in the day.<br />
<br />kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-35580016894600168282014-01-19T19:35:00.000-08:002014-01-28T18:03:35.148-08:00winter hikeThis space here has seemed like a far off distant life I used to live. Where did I even find the time to post so much? I found myself going through this blog and <a href="http://earthycrunchy.typepad.com/">the previous one</a> last night and I felt kind of melancholic. My kids have grown up so much. Amelia is in high school! In a way, when the kids were littler than they are now, only a year ago even, life seemed simpler to me. Cuter almost and most definitely more tender. There seemed to be more art going on, although much of our days are spent drawing, painting and being creative. It's just different. We stayed home a lot! These days we are involved in so many activities outside of the house.<br />
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One thing I can say is that I've found my home school groove. Five years ago when I started this journey of teaching my kids at home, I really struggled with what kind of homeschooler I was. Was I an unschooler? I kind of was/am. Was I a Waldorfy kind of mom? Most definitely I feel drawn to that style. I can't even remember how many years I've been homeschooling but it's definitely been at least 5. I think it takes that long to feel confident. If you would have told me that I'd be homeschooling my daughter through high school, I would have laughed in your face! <br />
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We went for our hike this weekend along a canyon just east of Reno. We'll be skiing soon and we won't be able to do much of it in the next couple of months. It was a beautiful day, sunny but cold enough to need layers the first mile.<br />
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I'd like to get back into posting pictures and words here. At the moment I feel a bit rusty. But, I'm going to give it a try. kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-68498068020484937422013-08-11T15:48:00.000-07:002013-08-12T09:25:03.322-07:00fermenting the cukes<br />
Lately, my preferred method for preserving cucumbers has been fermenting. Too bad we planted so many Japanese cucumbers because I could have used them this year. Instead, I ordered a lug from our local organic farmer. You don't know what a lug is? Neither did I. But, I ordered one from the farmer. It turns out that a lug is just a measurement that they use. In this case it was a box of cucumbers. Maybe 20-30 pounds? Anyway, a lot of cucumbers!!<br />
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Obviously I decided I was going to ferment a LOT of pickles this year. You might say I love fermented pickles. And last year I didn't make enough.<br />
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I may have forgotten one little detail which is where the heck I'm going to store all these jars! I always make things work.<br />
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I am now the proud mama of these beautifully, bubbly, cloudy, garlicky fermented pickles. I actually got one more larger jar and filled that up. My husband took all the really large cucumbers left over and made a batch of bread and butter pickles today while I was at the store. I think we're set in the pickle department?!<br />
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Do you ferment?kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-4168380165896296292013-07-24T09:45:00.000-07:002013-07-24T09:58:56.764-07:00lazy summerThese lazy summer days. Yesterday I had some things to do and I totally blew them off in exchange for staying close to home. We did a little laundry, a trip to the farmer's market and a stop by the post office to send Amelia a care package (a duffel bag, gluten free lemon bars, toothpaste and a card). But mainly, we did much of nothing. I'm not much for packing my schedule full of activities because we do enough of that during the school year.<br />
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Summer = LAZY<br />
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Not that my summer has been uneventful. Amelia has been away at <a href="http://www.nmhschool.org/summer-program">summer school </a>for 5 excruciating weeks. The boys and I have been sprinkling our days with fun activities while she's been gone. <br />
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Months ago when summer was just a page on my calender, we applied for a two night <a href="http://mtoyouthoutdoorskills.com/">summer camp</a> for Solomon. That happened last weekend and I envisioned that page on my calender in my mind and checked it off of our summer plans. I'm now looking forward to Amelia coming home in 12 days.<br />
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We still have plenty of summer left and I'm happy about that. I need that recharge time in the summer to think and plan for the school year coming up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on our way to Solomon's summer camp</td></tr>
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I hope you're summer has been fun!kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-41287408137878179152013-07-04T14:48:00.001-07:002013-07-04T14:48:15.894-07:00mountain cool<br />
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This is up in the Sierras and part of the Pacific Crest Trail. We've been here many times and have backpacked on this same trail. It's a beautiful spot and because it's up in the mountains, it's cooler than the valley floor. Summer hiking has officially started!kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-88408461218103236862013-02-17T15:48:00.002-08:002013-02-17T15:48:48.114-08:00sunny daysAlthough we could use more snow here in Nevada, I can't complain about these sunny days we've been having. It's important that I take advantage of these moments of goodness when I can.<br />
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I've been thinking more about what I'm going to grow this summer, taking inventory of our seeds and plotting my rows. I love this time of year because it's still winter, yet I can take these warm days and really start to imagine the seedlings coming up, the sunflowers rising to the sky and the endless days of watering, weeding, harvesting and preserving. But, I won't get ahead of myself.<br />
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This is what's going on in our garden right now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garlic peeking out. It's under the the chicken wire to keep our chickens from scratching it all up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amelia's handy work. She's made a fort in her garden with sunflower stocks and tree branches.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solomon helped too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our silly broody chicken. At least it's cool so she won't bake in the chicken house.</td></tr>
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Are you thinking about summer?kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-11709160082409082582013-01-27T16:27:00.002-08:002013-01-27T16:27:40.181-08:00I've missed you!Happy New Year! I've not been here in a long time!<br />
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Actually, I've taken very few photos with my camera recently because I've been taking almost all of my pictures with my phone and posting to Instagram instead. You can find me there under kyndal3. So, not much to show you here but I just took these off of my camera.<br />
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We have our kiln up and running. We've done a few firings but the kiln we have was given to us and it's like an old car. There's plenty of things going on with it that requires us to put money and time into it. Last night we were finishing up a glaze firing and it wouldn't get up to temperature. Some of the elements burned up and that means we'll have to take everything out, pull the kiln apart and replace some elements. But, I have to say that I am LOVING it. I love working with clay and the sky's the limit. In the next few weeks I'm going to be taking a pottery class and I'm looking forward to what I can create on the wheel. <br />
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This shows you how old these pictures are. I literally just took them off my camera. Here we have our Christmas tree. Remember Christmas? The next one was when I took Solomon aside and gave him the Santa talk. He'd been asking me so many questions and I think we held out long enough. I hate lying to my kids and at this point, it doesn't feel good to keep up the whole Santa story. He was so sweet about it. I was upset and he was telling me, "mom, it's okay, it's okay!" What a relief. Just one more kid to go.<br />
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I knitted a lot of these scarves this Christmas. You can find the pattern on Ravelry (link at the side). Fun knit that I used a lot of scrap yarn for.<br />
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And finally a recipe for you. This one came from my mother-in-law. I've been changing my diet around a lot lately. I've actually been working toward less and less grains. I tell you, it's hard. This recipe has lentils but I'm thinking that I could use some greens instead of lentils. It's a hearty meal that would go well with a side salad for dinner. It's super yummy. I took shortcuts in writing the recipe as if you know how to cook lentils and roast squash. : )<br />
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Roasted Squash and Lentils<br />
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1 cp French Lentils cooked, cooled and drained<br />
1 lb. winter squash, cut into 1/2 inch cubes roasted in olive oil<br />
4 Tbs. olive oil divided<br />
2 Tbs. country Dijon mustard<br />
1 Tbs. red wine vinegar<br />
2 Tbs. minced red onion<br />
1 tsp. honey<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
freshly ground pepper<br />
1/4 cup chopped walnuts<br />
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Whisk together mustard,, vinegar, onion, honey and 3 Tbs olive oil. Gently toss with lentils and squash. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with walnuts. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-37103859392855147402012-12-22T17:14:00.000-08:002012-12-22T17:16:55.730-08:00gearing upIt looks like it's going to be a white Christmas this year. I can't tell you how thrilled I am.<br />
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We went sledding last weekend. It's one of those things that takes a hell of a lot of preparation but I'll tell you the trick. See, every year we have to go through the glove/scarf bin for things to keep us warm up there. And this year, as if a light bulb went off, I realized that we just really needed ski gloves for the kids. I've just given them super warm mittens. Usually, we've had to change them after they get wet. And for myself, I've always gone up there in my jeans with long underwear. It's crazy. So, we went and made sure we all have ski gloves. Now, I have to go get myself some ski pants. The lesson is that you have to have the right gear.<br />
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As you can see, we had fun sledding. No matter how cold, no matter how ill prepared we are (and I blame myself always), we manage to make some good memories.<br />
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This dog of ours is so freaking silly in the snow. I love him. We need to get him a ski suit too. I'm sure they make dog ski suits right?<br />
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I ended up taking a shaky, cold dog in the car to warm him up. I watched the kids and my husband from my toasty vehicle. My daughter was spending the day with a friend, you know teenage kind of stuff, if you were wondering.<br />
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And as we head into next week, I see snow in the forecast. It's good stuff this winter is. I hope we'll have more snow on the valley floor for snowmen. I'm planning on taking it easy until Tuesday, finishing up some pajamas for the kids and my new favorite snake scarves found <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/toddler-snake-scarf">here</a>. <br />
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I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-11833295928222390692012-12-05T20:08:00.000-08:002012-12-05T20:13:59.313-08:00around town in the rainIt's been raining here for the past few weeks. A lot. So much so that the locals were watching the Truckee River to see if it was going to flood. <br />
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Solomon and I went shopping together early on Sunday and took these pictures of the river and other spots in town. The Truckee literally splits Reno in two but I don't think it really hit home until we tried to get across the river in several places to be turned away by barricades. The industrial areas near the river were on high alert and my yarn shop was sand bagged shut for a few days, all the yarn moved up high just in case.<br />
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The rain is slowing down and I'm feeling a bit less soggy!<br />
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<br />kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-9109595828563612782012-11-26T21:12:00.000-08:002012-12-05T20:12:05.691-08:00traditionsThere's a shift that happens right about now with me. I seriously get into creating this warm and cozy home filled with food and other things made with our hands. Yeah, I get a serious bug around Thanksgiving to create things that borders on crazy or at least renewed purpose!<br />
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I'm trying to keep it real with the kids. I'm trying to keep us all focused on the true meaning of the season and not get swept away with all that other stuff. Most mornings you'll find us all huddled around the kitchen table with paint or clay and that, to me, is exactly where I care to spend my time.<br />
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I'm still trying to define for myself what "the holidays" mean to us. I think that when two people come together and a family is made, there's much to blend, compromise and create. It's always a work in progress no matter how you slice it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrfkoLD6kgBaPKvSjioE4T8QFjYTzitWYtjiroSHVueTYvd-v70WZCy8gbclgbGlkDHO2FkLi6nPSlua3eyePLEY4pfk5fp4x692RZcUHd34KVHWDHCN0nJQQ74rFFphhIiNwLwqDuCI/s1600/now2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrfkoLD6kgBaPKvSjioE4T8QFjYTzitWYtjiroSHVueTYvd-v70WZCy8gbclgbGlkDHO2FkLi6nPSlua3eyePLEY4pfk5fp4x692RZcUHd34KVHWDHCN0nJQQ74rFFphhIiNwLwqDuCI/s640/now2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Solomon's freckles!</td></tr>
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It wasn't until this Thanksgiving that I really embraced the responsibility wholeheartedly of creating a meal and the traditions that we want to pass on to my kids. It's been muddy in the past but it's becoming more clear to us what defines the holidays in our family. I'm feeling more like a grown up!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kabocha squash I used for pie.</td></tr>
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Our meal was very simple this year. We made turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Everything was delicious (so I've been told!) and the kids helped out with the preparation which is as much a part of the tradition as anything. We gotta pass on that knowledge! <br />
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We set the table with my great grandma's wedding china, our tie dyed napkins and a beautifully embroidered table cloth that a friend gave us. We said what we were thankful for, enjoyed our meal and went for a walk afterwards in the desert behind our house. It was as perfect really as any day could be.<br />
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My kids know that Thanksgiving means dusting off the pretty dishes and being together to make a special meal. It can be as simple as that really. And of course practicing gratitude which is as important as the pumpkin pie.<br />
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Our family has, weather permitting, cut down our own tree for almost 9 years now. It's what the kids know and it's how they mark the passing of time. That rhythm that feels comfortable to them, like breathing. It's not always been easy (crying babies, slippery roads and cold hands). We don't always agree on the perfect tree either but every time we get home and start decorating it, their fully invested into the process. We talk about previous years with fondness.<br />
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Creating these traditions with my family has been a very healing process for me.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot chai with milk and honey!</td></tr>
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I am grateful for you all and hope that you had a successful Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it) filled with the traditions that are meaningful to you! kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-91399910348211453052012-11-13T20:00:00.000-08:002012-11-13T20:02:34.513-08:00before 8 and a surpriseAll this before 8 am this morning.<br />
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Amelia holding her chin up as she listens to dad tell her all the corrections he would make to her essay that was due today (She takes a couple classes with a bunch of homeschooling teens twice a week). I told her that if she's going to ask him what he thinks about her paper, she's going to see red. After all, he writes technical papers for a living and he enjoys it very much. Marking up drafts that is. She looks pretty bored her but I assure you, we were cracking up at the whole thing.<br />
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And a spirited game of soccer in the kitchen. Please tell me I'm not the only one who lets their kids play soccer in the house!?<br />
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And guess who left us a surprise today?<br />
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Yep. Our girls started laying. I wasn't expecting this because we got them so late in the spring. I was so excited. Happy Tuesday!<br />
<br />kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-91795461053179628312012-11-11T13:55:00.002-08:002012-11-11T15:22:27.725-08:00working with dadMy kids and my husband have had a little project they've been working on. I let them do it on their own while I took care of the little one because it involved carrying heavy cables and equipment and frankly, I've been tired on the weekends. It's a nice break being home, catching up on things even if it involves a 6 year old. But, every time they came home I would hear some great stories about encounters with wild horses or hobos and the pride in their voice that comes with working on a project with dad.<br />
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Whenever my husband does research, it will most likely involve working outside. This particular day was the fourth reading he took on the Truckee River and the kids were worn out. I volunteered to carry some equipment because I wanted to see the wild horses and I think he really wanted to be done with it!<br />
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We got to this railroad bridge and waited for a time when we knew the trains weren't coming through. I admit it's pretty sketchy but we wouldn't totally be smooshed by a train. It would just be extremely uncomfortable. I error on the side of safety more often than not, I <i>promise</i>. We waited and waited for a train to come because we knew that it would be at least 45 minutes before another train came. We were either going to go home if a train didn't come or get over the bridge. <br />
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We all made it over safely and got to work before our light went away.<br />
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Amelia knew how to set up the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geophone">geo phones</a> that detect seismic waves. She worked on one side while my husband set up the other side. We were working fast, getting the equipment placed so that we could get the 10 minutes of data that he needed. Meanwhile two trains came by. There were two hobos sitting between the cars. It was going to be a cold night on the train.<br />
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Solomon is letting out the cable for dad. It was a really fun trip and of course educational. It's just a beautiful spot. We finished up just in time. The sun had completely gone down by the time we got to the car! Mission accomplished.<br />
<br />kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-50544255689688346932012-11-03T09:59:00.000-07:002012-11-03T09:59:03.740-07:00apple 911Honestly, I've been staring at these bags of apples in my kitchen for a few weeks now, procrastinating and putting them further and further down on my to-do list. Yesterday, when we certainly had more important things to do, I looked at my sad apples and knew I had to do something with them A.S.A.P. <br />
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The ways in which I preserve them; apple rings, frozen apple slices, apple muffins, apple sauce, apple pie bars, apples crisps, apples stuffed into my crisper bins. We still have a 5 gallon bucket of newspaper wrapped apples in the garage that we have to bury in the ground. Sort of a make-shift root cellar.<br />
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This apple-peeler-corer has been one of our best investments. We've used it many times since we bought it a few years ago. It's a bit fussy at times but once I get in the groove, these apple slices pile up quickly.<br />
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One of my favorite ways I've discovered to preserve apples is by dehydrating them. My freezer is stuffed which means we have to start getting creative. At least more creative than we've had to be in years past when there were barely any apples on our trees to preserve.<br />
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We bought a sheet aluminum screen and used it in our oven instead of buying a dehydrator. I thought about it, I truly did but I'm a minimalist when it comes to kitchen gadgets. I like to keep it simple in the kitchen. Depending on how long I kept them in the oven, they turned out either like pliable apple rings or apple chips. I don't soak them in lemon water. I just slice them and dehydrate them in a 170 degree (F) oven for about 2 hours.<br />
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Something else on my mind this past week has been the devastation caused by hurricane Sandy. The kids and I have had our ears peeled on the radio listening to what's been going on there. I'm sending my good thoughts to everyone who has been affected by this natural disaster. kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-40928035086076999142012-10-28T17:10:00.000-07:002012-10-28T18:41:18.825-07:00my first Bald Eagle and Taylor CreekThis past week was like a jigsaw puzzle because I had all of the pieces of our days fitting precisely into their places without much wiggle room. If one piece didn't fit I had to set it aside, find a place where it fit or just say "no" to it. Not my favorite way to operate but sometimes the way it is. It was our last week of soccer games and soccer practices. We had soccer parties and field trips and home school co-op and the Halloween parties and more apple picking. I tried to stay calm and not hurry through it. It's always a very conscious choice on my part.<br />
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On Friday I scheduled a field trip up to Tahoe at <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110519&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003741&navid=110000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&recid=11785&ttype=recarea&pname=Lake%2520Tahoe%2520Basin%2520Mgt%2520Unit%2520-%2520Taylor%2520Creek%2520Visitor%2520Center">Taylor Creek</a> to see the Kokanee salmon run. We had to wake up really early for the drive up there and I wasn't really looking forward to <i>that</i> but it all turned out really well. After a long drive and some crankiness (from me), we made it there. Who hates being late and landing yourself in traffic? Not this mama, even if it's one of the most beautiful places on earth.<br />
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So, I was late of course to our scheduled tour time. Only by a few minutes but the ranger and our friends were waiting for us. I apologized and took a deep breath.<br />
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This salmon species was introduced into Lake Tahoe in 1944 and are the landlocked cousins of the seagoing sockeye salmon. They quickly adapted to the alpine environment and now spawn every year on Taylor Creek with the help of humans. I say with the help of humans because the creek has to be artificially flooded from the dam at Fallen Leaf Lake for this to occur and there is a breeding program that supplements the stock. You can see above the spawning pairs hovering over their redds to protect them.<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">There are lots of dead salmon in the river. When we left I asked the kids what they learned and Eli said, "I learned about the cycle of life." These salmon spawn and die in the same spot where they began their life. When they enter the lake as silvers they circle the lake clockwise until they are genetically predisposed to return to the creek. This can happen when they are 2, 3 or 4 years old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Ranger Jean was awesome. At the end of our tour she told the kids that she really enjoys her job.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">The cherry on the top of this day was the Bald Eagle we saw while eating lunch after our tour. It was the first one I have ever seen in the wild. Although Amelia has seen them in Florida.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Pretty cool.</span></span>kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-50820728715364495532012-10-23T11:41:00.001-07:002012-10-23T11:59:09.830-07:00apples and clayI changed my blog around a bit. I felt like I really needed it in order to feel inspired. What I like about this format is that I can really see my pictures from the last few years in minutes. I may not keep it this way but for now the change feels good, you know? Have you ever just sat for an hour going down memory lane on your blog? You can also view my blog in other ways by using the tabs on the top left of the homepage.<br />
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So, what have we been up to lately? Two words could sum it all up. Apples and clay. Or if I wanted to expand on that a bit it would include tomatoes and daily art. Oh yeah and soccer and homeschooling too. I've been busy in a good way. Just like every fall is for me, trying to wrap up the garden and starting a new school year can be chaos. <br />
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Our tomatoes. They were abundant this year. I've spent many a day roasting tomatoes two trays at a time, cooking them down, seasoning and canning them. It's become second nature to me, this canning thing. Two days ago, when the weather started turning, I pulled the rest of the tomatoes and our last volunteer cantaloupe in anticipation of our first frost which never happened. But, it will soon. We got our first snow in the mountains.<br />
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Oh, my apples. Our trees were so full this summer that we had to prop them up so the branches wouldn't break off. The lack of late frost was a bonanza this year all around town. We have Pippin and Jonathan apples in our yard but these red beauties, came from a 75 year old tree in town. The owner said that they probably didn't taste that good because the tree was so old and we could pick them. They are the most crispy, sweet apples and a nice change from what we have coming out of our ears already. Why is it that I can go crazy over more apples when I have ten bags sitting all over the kitchen? It's totally irrational but I think we'll be enjoying apple crisp for dinner this winter. We will be gorging on apple sauce and apple rings like nobody's business too. Joy.<br />
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Daily art. We've discovered the big, heavy weight paper is the best for everyday art. First, it can be taken anywhere and the pencils won't poke through. Second, it's big enough to draw large dragons, ninjas or castles. Eli asked the other day to bring out the fermented pickles so he could draw them. The two boys drew the jar of pickles (while Amelia was reading of course) and then ate them. <br />
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We've been tinkering with clay lately. It's strange how we know certain things about ourselves. For instance, I knew from a young age that when I grew up I wanted to drive a VW Bug. I did and I also married a guy who drove a VW bug. Funny how that is. Well, I've also known that I wanted to work with clay. A few years ago someone just gave us an old kiln. I didn't even tell them how much I loved hand thrown ceramics. My husband just recently got some work done on the kiln and we did a test run. I'm so excited.<br />
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Happy Fall to you and yours!kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-17016873251744837162012-10-16T21:34:00.000-07:002012-10-16T21:36:32.742-07:0014My daughter turned 14 today. <br />
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I crawled in bed with her this morning while she slept and tried to imagine her as a baby. I stared at her almost adult face and sent my love to her. When she was first born, I would crawl in bed with her and stare at her for hours (when she was my only child and I had that luxury!), even though I should have slept myself. But, I couldn't stop staring at my first child. My heart had burst open with love.<br />
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I still feel that intense love for her even though she's a teen and I can tell she's pulling away from me a bit. Her and I are connected so strongly and I am GRATEFUL<br />
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So grateful. <br />
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Happy Birthday Amelia!<br />
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♥kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-75062667893565196662012-10-13T20:21:00.001-07:002012-10-17T07:48:30.671-07:00the huntersWhen I started raising chickens a few years back, I had no idea how much I would get attached to them. I'm pretty hooked on chickens.<br />
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They never stop amusing us. Like last weekend we were at the kitchen table processing a gazillion apples and I noticed one of the chickens running around with something in its mouth. <br />
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Well, evidently, one of them had caught and killed a mouse and was playing keep away with the other girls. Then they just stopped and stared at the mouse in the grass for a while....<br />
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until one of them decided to take off with the mouse in her mouth. These girls crack me up.<br />
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note: I'm sorry to all who may have been offended by this post (I changed the title too). I guess I wanted to show you a little of what it's like to raise chickens and possibly my point should have been that chickens are definitely not just herbivores. I had never actually seen my chickens catch mice although I've heard that chickens did. I'm just always surprised by them and they really are very amusing. Sorry also to the mouse. Sorry little guy.kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-47204178976467564372012-10-03T07:16:00.002-07:002012-10-03T07:16:35.245-07:00This girl loves to read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This girl loves to read in bed, in the hammock, on the couch and anywhere she can steal an hour or two. It's kind of a running joke in our house about this addiction of hers. She can immerse herself so deeply into a book that she's able to completely block out everything around her (the boys wrestling on the couch where she's reading, Legos being flung around her head or my requests for dish duty). This is not at all a concern for me however. I know it's a gift. Rock on Amelia!kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-19057952852256589802012-09-06T15:54:00.000-07:002012-09-06T15:54:11.071-07:00another school year<br />
Public school officially started here and I'm finding lately the urge to really get our rhythm going. We'll be starting our co-op classes next week and Amelia will be going to weekly classes (two days a week) the following week. We've been getting our supplies in order and the house cleaned and organized. It feels good to start the year with a a clean house. I've been making lots of trips to the thrift store and I feel especially lighter now!<br />
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For the next few weeks, we'll be gradually incorporating something new into the mix. We'll be trying ideas out, keeping what works and taking out what doesn't. Tweaking and making things manageable. When the end of summer gets here, I've thrown all the rules out the window and I'm in desperate need for order. Not that there's a lot of order in my house but I really feel more comfortable having a weekly rhythm. It's cliche but true. This week we've started a morning "circle time", a little reading and math.<br />
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Last night I woke up to the rain coming down. It's one of those sounds
that makes me happy, especially living in the desert. And when I woke
to the cool breeze coming through my window, it made we want to get out
early and enjoy the weather. Everything blends together when you're
homeschooling but one day a week we'll get outside the house for some some learning. Today was our science field trip day! That's what I decided I guess.<br />
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Not that we stop learning in the summer but this school year has officially started!
kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-31787139866000469172012-09-01T10:45:00.000-07:002012-09-01T10:45:41.487-07:00the week in pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284789766928854442.post-80083705630008845432012-08-25T19:20:00.000-07:002012-08-25T21:18:05.138-07:00alohaThree years ago Jonathan, Amelia and Solomon went up to<a href="http://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=details&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72202"> this this special place</a> for a few days of backpacking. Eli and I stayed home because he was four and I wasn't sure he was ready for it. But the last two years Eli and I have gone and he's been a good sport about it.<br />
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Actually, I've dug my heals and have made up all kinds of excuses for not going. This year is was the weather. It had been really hot down in the valley and I told Jonathan that I couldn't possibly leave my garden for a few days. I thought it would be best to go up there in the fall when the weather was cool. Cooler for backpacking and my garden. Jonathan then explained that the lake is dammed up and would be very low if we went later. I caved and asked my mom to water.<br />
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As the backpacking supplies were being brought in the house and we looked at what we had, I kind of panicked again. We're not fully equipped to go backpacking easily because we don't all have light weight sleeping bags and other equipment. We just have to make due with whatever we have.<br />
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I started realizing every time I go through this when we go overnight somewhere, even if it's car camping, I just have to push through it. So, I did the shopping, we all got our packs ready and we left.<br />
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It's always an adventure. When we got to Echo Lake it had started sprinkling. The perfect weather for packing up the mountain.<br />
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We take the water taxi up Echo Lake to shave off 3 miles from the trek.<br />
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When we got to the dock where the boat left us, Jonathan's heel on his hiking boots fell off. So, the kids and I waited while he took the boat back to find some shoe goo at the little supply store or get his tennis shoes from the car. He ended up getting his other shoes while the kids and I stayed at the dock and watched the minnows and the raindrops on the lake.<br />
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This is the trail. It's rocky and steep and lots of work. Happily the kids bounce up the hill and people are amazed, even stopping us asking how we get our kids to do this kind of stuff. I guess it's just doing it a lot. The kids love it now.<br />
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The first thing of course when we get up there is trying to find the perfect spot. The lake was pretty low and we found a spot that last year was under a few feet of water. Next time though I want to try another part of the lake that's along the edge just to avoid day hikers. After all, I think the reason why I enjoy backpacking is to be by ourselves. It's such a beautiful spot as you can see.<br />
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Then after we get our tent all set up, it's time to filter water to replenish our camelbaks and to start cooking. We always have noodles the first night with some sort of vegetable. We boiled some broccoli and used the water for our hot chocolate. The kids were calling it broccolate and Eli sprinkled the cups with fairy dust. Camping magic!<br />
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The next day, after shaky sleep, we explored and swam and spread mud all over each other! Well, except for the adults. We try and keep clean because we're no fun!<br />
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For two hours the next afternoon it rained. We stayed inside and read. But the sun came out eventually and we dried everything out and made dinner.<br />
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We left on the third day. It was warm and we were thankful to have had such great weather coming up the mountain. We can't wait for next year but I think Christmas might be backpacking themed! Our stove took a dumper and our 13 year old water filter doesn't seem to be working too well either!kyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881089642043005142noreply@blogger.com6