Home Sweet Home

This is our home. It is a Mother-in-law Suite attached to the garage of our landlords... more about them later.

Our driveway.

This is the meadow just beyond our front door. Izzie is a big fan. 
We have to stand in the middle of this meadow to make phone calls.  

Our backyard and view. We see this from our bedroom window.

This is Hambone, the landlord's dog.
We call him Hambrain, Hammy, Handsome, Hams,
Handsome-Hams, Hammer, Hammers, Hammerton... The nicknames are endless.
He is a precious pup who isn't too much into other dogs,
but he has taking a liking to Izzie. 

Watch the kids play together. All three of them.

Hammers is confused as to where the ball is. Izzie is not.

Here is the landlord/neighbor's house. 

I connected with Phil and Bonny via craigslist after I posted an ad for Hubs and I looking for a house to rent. I can tell you here and now, I have never met kinder people. With open hearts and arms they welcomed us to their little slice of paradise, had dinner of Abby's pizza and potato slices waiting for us... and THEN helped us unload our truck. They treated us to dinner the following night after spending some time with us and giving us the scoop about town. THEN, Sunday morning, they invited us over for Sunday Brunch with their family and friends - we had bacon, biscuits and gravy, eggs, fruit, and hashbrowns.  So delicious. And the company was fantastic. Hubs went on a hike with them later that day. On Monday we unpacked although we would have rather gone to the coast with them. We are so fortunate. So blessed to have met these people and look forward to a long friendship with them. 

Our sideyard. Dreamy.

Ok... OK.... OK!!!! I forgot there were tons of these in the woods. Not a fan. Not. At. All! 

So here is a taste of what our house looks like on the inside. We are not fully unpacked, but we are getting there. I am sure there will be more photos to follow and with me cooking much more often, the kitchen is bound to be spotted. I love this little log cabin we have. So beautiful and cozy. Can't wait to light the fire and drink some hot tea on the couch!

We only have room for ONE bookshelf... *sigh* so I had to pick which books
I wanted out on the shelves. It's like a parent picking between children... *sigh*

Hubs' grandpa's marbles from when he was a young lad in the schoolyard.

Hubs' grandpa's toy scout. I love these little family touches.

Don't lie... you know this is the sexiest thing you have ever seen.

Regardless of his scowl, Bubs really is happy to be here.
He has dubbed this "HIS" chair. Given to us from Hubs' parents.
I think it fits in perfectly... a historic beauty.

With more adventures to ensue, keep an eye out. Photos really do speak louder than words. I doubt very much that I would have been able to describe the beauty we are surrounded by. 

Beauty, peace, and quiet all can come at a price though. We have near zero reception at our house nor do we have internet. I am enjoying the break of constant availability, but it sure does make staying connected more difficult. 

However, I have already finished one book and am starting on another. Oh how I have missed my armchair adventures and fairytale friends!

Now to find a piece of property of our own! Day by day, our dreams are coming true! Imagine what a world be like if we all lived in our hearts!

Your Country Bumpkin,

~Birdie

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