New Beginnings...

Moving 1300 miles can be stressful... to put it lightly. It can make you dead dog tired and cranky and hungry for the most unhealthiest of foods. We tried so hard to eat well... but there are some things that only fried food can help you through... like LA. We set out on September 1st in a 16 foot Budget truck with a tow dolly towing our car, two cats in kennels, and a dog eager to hit the road. What an adventure... oy. 

Amazingly, though, the move wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be. I think having an open path of communication between Hubs and I was the saving grace. Also, our cats - the ones that were locked up in kennels between our chairs in the car - did amazing! They meowed a little, but after a while they "relaxed" and let fate take Her course. We were so impressed.

Izzie was fantastic which was to no surprise. She is a pretty amazing pup and loves the car. All in all, I think the pets were just happy to know that they were coming with us. 

The changing landscape was beautiful and we both exhaled a deep sigh of relief once we had survived Los Angeles and the Grapevine... we celebrated with Jack in the Box.  We stayed the night in Stockton and set out the next day for our new home, only 8 hours away. The last bit of the trip was rather anxiety filled as it required many up and down hill treks with the 16 wheelers as our guides. Slow and steady wins the race, right?! 

Eventually we made it to Grants Pass, OR where the following conversation ensued:

Me: "No honey, they pump the gas for you."

Hubs: "Why? I can just do it myself."

Me: "No honey, that is illegal. We are in Oregon now."

Hubs: "Illegal?!!? Well why the heck for?!"

Me: "It gives jobs honey, think about it. 3-5 gas station attendants per gas station across Oregon. That's thousands of people working. Plus it comes in handy when it is pouring rain or blizzarding snow and all you have to do is crack your window, hand over your money, and ask 'fill with unleaded, please.'"

Hubs: "Well I suppose you make a point. Wait... now what are they doing?!"

Me: "They are washing our windshield. It is ok. This is a good thing..."

And so on. He still isn't convinced... but come Winter, he may change his mind.

After Grants Pass, it was only a hop, skip, and a jump away to our new home in Oakland, Oregon. Once we arrived we knew it was just where we were supposed to be... but that is for another blog post. 

We picked up our truck and loaded the babes in.

Leaving Phoenix.

Arizona landscape...

She is a trooper in the car. The cats were too.

We survived LA!

Coming down from the Grapevine...

She's pooped.

Hills! I love my husband so much...
he loaded up the truck mostly by himself, drove us the whole way,
and survived my "honey, slow down... honey, slow down!!!"

Oh look, another gas station. $105 a tank... somehow I have grown to
 be more thankful for our little Honda Civic.

Lake Shasta

This is starting to look more like home.

Happy girl.

Yeah it does!

Ahh... perfect.

Home!
~Birdie

Bittersweet Endings

The last days of yoga were amazingly perfect in every way. I couldn't imagine a better way to have spent my summer than with these incredible people. The community we shared, the space we created for one another, the safety and support offered by complete strangers... strangers who quickly became friends. 

Thank you all for what you have offered me. I hope that I was able to return the favor. See you all again soon, I am sure! 

Our teachers were phenomenal. While their wisdom was offered freely,
their care and love, respect and honor for their students resounds beyond the class room.
Thank you Christy, Walter, and Astara!

This is my family. I love them all.

With the Sincerest of Gratitude,
~Birdie

Moving...

While I am over the moon excited about this incredible adventure approaching us in only FOUR DAYS, there is still an insane amount left to be done... like packing up our house... finishing tests and homework for school... going to school... going to work... getting the animals prepared... enjoying our "last times" at our favorite restaurants...and, most importantly, saying goodbyes, farewells, and "see you laters" to our friends and family. This last task is the most difficult, most bittersweet part of this whole experience. 


Luckily, it isn't like we are dropping off the face of the earth or embarking on a no-return, 3 hour tour-esque journey. We are only going to be a few states north and one state over, so there is plenty of opportunity for visits and possibly even the importing of said friends and family. 


(I am working on that last part.) 


(If you build it, they will come!)


In the meantime, allow me this moment to include a photo-bomb of my summer and what we have been working through these last few days.

This is how I spend my days... looking at where we are. Looking at where we are going to be.
 Looking at where I want to be!

Yes, it is as hot out as it looks.

This copy machine, in my dreams, shares the same fate as the fax machine in Office Space. 

I love my baby.

Perhaps the most missed item from Arizona (food wise)... Serranos Salsa. 

Our last dinner at Delux. 

Oh look... I am a yoga teacher! 

I'm going to miss these incredible people. Huge Yoga photo-bomb to come next!

Just amazing.

Some aren't as enthusiastic as we are about this whole idea of moving.

Spirit of Yoga... my home for the last three months.

Our last trip to Rainbow Donuts.

We adventured down to Kartchner Caverns. It was incredible.

I think he wants me to know that he wants to come with us.

I am sure there will be some time for reflection regarding my time here in Arizona. While I feel like I am getting a dose of freedom, returning to my home state and feeling blessed enough to have it be under such wonderful circumstances, I need to embrace and honor what Arizona has given me. Perhaps I will share... perhaps I will tuck it away in my heart. We will see.

Thank you for Sharing in my Journey,

~Birdie

Giveaway Winners!

Well, I know I am a few days late on this announcement... but it is really really hot outside and really really hot in my house (regardless of the a/c running full blast)... so please beg your pardon!


Nonetheless! The two winners of the Milestone Giveaway were followers Number 12 and Number 13 (go figure... thanks "Random Number Generator). 


Theresa Ann and Lisa Mills - both wonderful, incredible women... both very deserving of a treat!

Thank you all for your continuing support and patience as I work through this crazy summer hiatus from Nitty Gritty... our move is only 7 days away!!! Be prepared for a ton of photos of our trip and of our new home! Adventures are surely to ensue!


Love and Kindess,
~Birdie

Milestone Giveaway!

Well... although it seems that I have been too busy to update my blog recently... which is true... I may have been reluctant to make a new post because, well, it is post 100. I feel like it is a big deal. It is a milestone. I have hit 100.

SO! What better way to celebrate 100 than to make it a GIVEAWAY?


I suppose this will be my last giveaway while here in Arizona, so let's make it a good one, shall we?
There will be TWO winners and all you have to do is look over to the left of the page and "Keep Tabs." Sign up to follow my page, and I will automatically put you in a drawing!


I will draw names on Sunday, August 21st at 12:00PM (ish). So you have until then to start follow my blog!


Prizes:


Each winner will get to choose one of the items available for sale at

Oak Tree Apothecary!

Best of Luck!
~Birdie