Look Who The Wind Blew In!

 "Besides, I'm a gypsy at heart and I like to travel around"

-Reba McEntire

Melissa and Karlie in service on a windy day!

Moving to Texas has been the right move for John and I, and I believe it is working out nicely for Karlie.   I hesitate to promote the move to most people because as far as Midland, Texas is concerned, the climate is so-so, the scenery is poor, housing is scant and activities are little to non-existent.  Many locals love it here because, I assume they've never been anywhere else and they have large thriving families that tie them to the area, but to outsiders this place is a bit lacking.  This is not only my opinion, but I've met others who share it.

I've had a few friends ask about the area and I tell them just that, but some people just don't listen, and a few weeks ago the wind blew in Miss Melissa Cuthill.  For those of you who don't know her, she's a vibrant beauty in her early twenties who has truly gone where the winds have blown her.  This gypsy girl had blown from Idaho, through Oregon and down to California, but in her wanderlust, she had not established herself financially.  As I always say, you move to Midland for money and not fun, so in need of a way to make money, she soon came where she least thought she would find herself: A whole other country, where everything's bigger in the lone star state...Texas.

Having lived where she could rely on city transportation, she didn't have a vehicle of her own and arrived via Greyhound with a bicycle and a suitcase.  Karlie lovingly provided a couch for her to rest her head and in a weeks time she found herself working for the City of Midland and on the list for low-income, starter apartments.

Downtown near where she works....for now.

You may think that working for the city is a GREAT job, and in most places it is, but here, it's merely mediocre.  The problem is this; in a town where jobs are abundant, a city with a set budget is only able to offer limited pay, in fact less than the local Walmart.  Although she is sticking with the job for now, she hopes to move on to a better job once she gains some office experience, transportation alternatives, and a little bit of base income.

Karlie has become a welcome fixture at our home many evenings and we are happy to have added Melissa too, although the space in front of the TV is really only built for three, with a little wiggling we make it work.  Melissa got accepted to the apartments and will be moving out soon, but only up the street, so we know we won't be seeing the last of her as long as we haven't scared her off yet. (Little did I know, low-income apartments are wayyyyy easier to get into around here because there's so much money floating around that they are in low demand.)

We're all on this ride together!!

So Melissa, welcome to Midland and brace yourself, the heat is on it's way...or so they say.

Spring Fever

 "It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  

And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, 

you want it so! "

-Mark Twain

Harvest of green beans, fava beans, broccoli and yellow squash.

 Living in Idaho I used to get spring fever about this time and calmed it by planting seeds in those little peat disks that expand like a slinky with water, and spreading my sprout project across the dining room table.  Sometimes it was a success, sometimes a failure, and sometimes a success-followed by cats snacking on the new sprouts, which is a semi-failure.

Heirloom veggies, gleaned fruit, and fresh eggs.

A few months later I would plant the surviving seedlings in the rich soil I had developed over the past few years in my ginormous old-person garden (I would call it that cuz they're the only ones who truely have time for a garden that big).  I would cultivate the garden all spring and summer long, all the while enjoying baskets of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, peppers, corn, squash and zucchini.  I also had a reoccurring crop of various herbs: dill, chives, oregano, arugula, chamomile, mint, parsley, and the like.  I also had beds of irises, daffodils, sunflowers and the like adorning the property.

Here in Texas, I've got spring  fever again, but the poor soil conditions combined with water restrictions limits my garden.   I am only planting a few select plants in a a few pots around my patio, though I'm sure there will be a few more plants calling my name before the spring is through.

 Zoey and I chose a few flowers, veggies and herbs, painted a couple new clay pots and in the plants went.  At least here in Texas they can go straight in the dirt instead of staying protected inside for the next couple months.  Hopefully my efforts will produce a bit of beauty and a few yummies.

I loved my gardens in Idaho, but they were a lot of work without a lot of time to do it in. The growing season in Idaho is short and I was balancing household chores with work.  The garden flourished during the first two years Zoey was born and I was at home, but once I went to work the garden didn't see it's full potential due to my lack of energy.  What I have now in Texas is barely a glimmer of the beautiful herb, flower, and vegetable gardens I maintained in Idaho, but this is one of those sacrifices I've made in expectation of a more open future.

When Sheds Fly

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot 

and the wind blows cold:  

when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

 -Charles Dickens

Right behind the house.

It's spring in Texas, and the weather changes are brought on by strong winds. When we moved spaces last fall, we knew we would get a little more wind having lost the windbreaks of other houses, but the shade of the trees and the unobstructed view to the west behind our house is worth the extra little bit of shaking we feel in the trailer.

Our better, shaded spot.

Our new spot had a small metal shed on the lot, which we were excited to use for storage or laundry, but it had been placed on the cement pad, taking up half of our precious patio space.  John moved it to the back of the patio, thus removing it from it's tie-downs.  Result:  High flying shed.  oops

Before I arrived it had taken a few rolls, and since then it has continued to roll.  We thought placing it behind the trailer would help, but it continues to roll when the wind strikes it just right.  You may be thinking, 'why don't you tie it down or put a floor in it?' Well, the truck has been on the fritz so we haven't gotten the supplies and we keep thinking of fixing the problem, but with each roll it looks worse and worse, making us less and less excited about keeping it. For now we have it propped sadly behind the house awaiting a settling ground or to be hauled to recycling. 

Something Old, Something New

  " A new experience can be extremely pleasurable, or extremely irritating, or somewhere in between, and you never know until you try it out."

 -Lemony Snicket

Idaho-Nevada border

 With the closing date on our house in Idaho approaching, John and I had some quick decisions to make.  Our truck had sprung about a hundred leaks and as they fixed one, they had to order a part or hose for another.  With the truck in limbo, we couldn't pull the utility trailer we purchased up to Idaho and clear out the last of our belongings we couldn't part with and couldn't fit in the RV.  Decision:  1) Hire someone to load up our garage, with items still needing a final sorting, and haul it to a storage unit for us; or 2) Rent a vehicle to tow it up at great expense; or 3) Finally get a new vehicle (which John has been wanting to do) as our current car is getting old and haul the trailer up and back with that.

After much procrastination and hoping for the truck to be magically fixed, we decided now or never.  We drove to car lots subjecting ourselves to the flood of pushy salesmen shoving less-than-desirable vehicles upon us.  We finally found a great vehicle to fit the bill and at 9pm Thursday night we signed on a Nissan Armada in blue, a car color I've always wanted.  The next morning John cleared time off with his boss,  I randomly threw clothes and toiletries into suitcases, and by noon we were on the road.

Limited to only a week for travel and time with family, we decided to drive straight through  to Idaho taking the route through Vegas so we would avoid late night bad weather in New Mexico.  At 10pm local time, we paused to say hi to Rob and Donna and then back on the road.  At 3am in Wickenberg, AZ, I took over the wheel for my first time pulling a trailer. I might have over-thought this one; especially being empty it was a piece of cake.  I managed to get us through Vegas where John once again took over. Yep I drove 4 of the 29 hours.  I honestly could have taken us further, but John always takes the lead, or the wheel (pun intended).

About 80 miles south of Ely, NV , as we expected, we encountered a storm system rolling in with ferocity.  The remainder of the trip was fraught with several bouts of extreme weather, but fortunately spaced by clear roads and great weather.  In the end we made it through slowly but safely despite bad drivers and arrived home in Idaho for the last time.

Immediately we were greeted by family as Chrissy and Brandon brought over dinner, a welcome treat after hours on the road.  Over the next several days we camped out in our house, not having any furniture, and spent many great hours catching up with family and friends.  Many of them treated us to wonderful meals and entertainment.  It was so great to spend time with everyone.

Zoey's little goat friends hadn't forgotten her, and she was excited to give them one last goodbye snack.

The Magic Valley still had patches of white snow, which Zoey found perfect for a little snowball fight with mom.

 We managed a swift trip with Chrissy and Brandon to Miracle Hot Springs, which was beautifully renovate, and a drive through the Snake River Canyon along the beautiful Kelly Orchard area. It was great to be visiting old friends and old haunts.

With the garage cleared, we spent one last night in the home where Zoey was born and reached so many childhood milestones.

We set off early Friday morning towards home; although not as early as expected since the newly hooked up trailer brake system had been improperly repaired by the previous owner, causing the brakes to activate when the lights were on. After an hour of trouble shooting John solved the problem and we were off. (Raw wires were crossed.)  I admit Zoey and I both shed a few tears leaving our beautiful home in Idaho.

Driving into Vegas, John found he had a day to spare, so we decided to enjoy the evening in Vegas.  We walked the strip and included a quick stop at the Coca-Cola Store for a Coca-Cola around the world tour.  Zoey really appreciated the street performers and their costumes, something she was oblivious to before.

Hungry for a unique dining experience, we wandered into Todai for our first non-deli sushi experience.  John and I were feeling adventurous, and since it was a large buffet, we decided to try everything: we had eel, squid, octopus, tuna and the like.  We found we loved everything except the roe because it was a bit too fishy for our liking.

This was round one!!

 Next, having missed the first performance, we wandered around waiting to see the Cirque de Soliel performance of Ká. Because cameras are strictly forbidden, they threaten to throw you and it in the fire, you'll just have to take my word that it is an amazing show worth every penny.  Even little Zoey had the time of her life, but had to stand for part of the performance to stay awake at the late hour.

The next morning we set off for Tucson, AZ, but not without a stop at the Dam Helicopter Company to treat ourselves to an aerial view of the Hoover Dam.  The ride was a first for all of us, and Zoey, with her monkey tucked in her life vest so he could come along, became suddenly concerned and asked, "How are we going to remember all these cool things we are doing?"  Good thing mom's got pictures.  We all loved the sudden lift off of the aircraft, the swinging from side-to-side movement as it circled the dam, and the beautiful views.  The ride was over all too quickly, and we were on the road once again.

We arrived in Tucson that evening and Joan, John's sister, joined us for a wonderful burrito dinner deliciously prepared by Donna.  John hasn't been able to spend as much time with his family as I have, due to the fact I've done most of the traveling while he does most of the working, so it was a treat for him to spend a few hours with them.

The next morning we were off bright and early, heading for home, which honestly I was missing.  Texas has become home despite my sadness leaving my beautifully hand-renovated home in Idaho.  (I honestly don't think there is a square inch of that home I haven't touched.) 

Our trip was full of wonderful-old and exciting-new experiences, all of which I am grateful to have shared with my husband and daughter.  I just can't wait to see what wonderful things await us in our future.