Here's a map for those whom I've promised it to! I'll try to keep y'all posted and share some of my adventures. Hope to see ya.
-m

I’m HOME!

I’m HOME! It’s crazy how wonderful it felt to pull into Willows & know that it’s all mine. Scott & I got here just before dark last night.

Today was my birthday. It was a fabulous day! We slept in, I woke up to the noises & sounds that are home to me (mostly the river which is running quite high). Went down to Chris’ for breakfast (best country gravy other than mine & Dinner Bell’s) Gathered up my supplies at Anderson Cove, and stopped by Thom & Judy’s to visit my Willow Darlin and play with Mucuy. I’ve missed those guys a tons! Mom & Glenn showed up this afternoon & helped me clean up the sites. It was a great surprise! I rode my trike around & It really is gonna be as awesome as I thought it might be. Oscar spent the day watching the wild critters and strutting around the camper asking “Where’s Spazz?” Don brought up WONDER CART (I believe he must have fixed the front tires cuz it’s way less prone to steer it’s self in random directions), he also broke into my shed for me, and then figured out how to turn the water on. The canyon managers (Jim & Max) brought me uniforms, receipt book, and a leaf blower. So I’m in business!

Welcome to Willows! A good time will be had by all!
And if not, don’t tell me about it! =)

Wildlife sightings for yesterday & today:
Red Fox
Hawk
Gross Beak
Humming Birds
Snake (ewe, yes I screamed like a girl)
Jack Rabit
And if it counts Mom & Glenn picked up pieces (bones) of a dear that were scattered all over camp

Scott’s cooking me a mystery casserole for dinner (we skipped on going to the grocery store tonight since we were both worn out). Dessert will be the two slices of sparkly purple marble cake that I brought from work. Fran is the awesomest! She not only got me delicious cake, but it was purple with magenta neon glitter writing. The blue frosting roses stained all of our mouths bright blue, and also colored Byron’s mustache. It was a great party, and I’m already missing them! Good thing I get to go back Tuesday for a few days.

I have in mind a picture project for the summer. I’ll set the camera in the same place every day and snap a photo. Should be pretty interesting to look at when the season’s over. & it’ll motivate me to get my camera out every day and snap pics. I hate that I only have a few from last year.

I believe it’s time to turn of the computer and enjoy the sunset.
Be well.
-m


p.s. we just got our first camper of the year, it's official! He came to our door with two giant puppies (I think they're chow) He's a brave soul to camp in this weather, but I'm pretty sure the dogs will keep him warm. Oscar wanted to see the BIG kitties and had to go into his room (the bathroom) just in case. He & Scotty seem to be getting along a bit better in these tight quarters. We all miss the kitties!

Shifting Gears!

Mother's day is over, Tulip Tree is moving, and I'm headed for Willows. Fran always says if you want something done give it to a busy person. Things are getting DONE and I'm BUSY. Scott & I are hoping to pull the camper north either Thursday night or Friday morning. I'm pretty sure it'll be Friday, but I'm trying to stay optimistic. Quite looking forward to a change.

Tomorrow I'm going to Paramore with Jessie Whitman. Should be fun, it's been forever since I went to a concert.

I'm exhausted and in the mood for a movie. I believe it's time for a little Kenneth Branagh & kitty snuggles!
Happy trails y'all!
-m

Aunty Cheryl's in town!

Here's a long awaited video of Steph's wedding. It was a fairytale day & I'm so happy for her!

Junior & Stephani Wedding Trailer from Michael Winget on Vimeo.

Last night I had a nightmare about overcooked steak. Eww. So lunch today was Sizzler. They're not fabulous, but I've rarely had an overcooked steak there, & I dare send it back if it is. And the salad bar is pretty good. Unfortunately they've gone to a microwave brownie, it's a tragedy. But other than that lunch was good.

After we went out to Bluffdale for a visit. Lynns purging her stuff ( I understand but it's still scary). We brought home a couple dutch ovens and theses awesome bird prints that were Scott's grandma's. I plan to hang them in the bedroom. Also Scott got his grandpa's ships wheel. Not sure where we're gonna put it but it's heavy & awesome.

Aunty Cheryl's here for a couple weeks. I really wish we'd had a bit more time to visit, but she's the kind of family /friend who doesn't judge. So I'm not berating myself. Still I love her dearly & if she didn't live in Alabama I'd be running over to visit her as often as I could (not that I'm super good at that). Guess I'll just be glad that she's a good texter! I am way better at texting than phone calls. She is Lynn's sister and they are so very similar, and yet completely different! I don't know how I ever lived without them!

Had a fun visit with Lynn's fur people. Buddy has lost weight, he's less of a sausage and more dog shaped. He still has his adorable curly soft hair that is unlike any other healer I've ever known. Bandit (his subservient little brother dog) is just the cutest little beast i've seen in a while! He has a headstand trick that just makes my eyes water with laughter! I took a pic so that willow's not the only heeler in this blog. So here's Bandit's happy side!

He's learned to do this when you say "show me your tail. & then once he's done it it's such fun that he does it a few more times just for fun. I love Lynn's dogs!

Spazz has a new trick. She lays on my pillow and puts her face on mine to purr me to sleep. The down side of this is that her tail is on Scott's pillow...hmmm. Purrrrrrrrr.....snmffff, nnnnnjjjhhhkkk, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Life's good! I love my kitties.
-m

Wow.

Today I was not my best. It was a long frustrating, exhausting day. Oscar has never heard me cry before. Perhaps that's a good thing, he sat next to me in his cage and made sneezing noises cuz he couldn't figure out what I was doing. I am not ready for Mother's Day, nor is the Tulip Tree, if one more person walks in and expects to be the first one who's figured out that's a problem I may just may burst into tears again! Seriously folks, it's not funny. We know, and there's nothing we can do. It's going to be horrible, no matter how hard we work, no matter what plans we make, it's gonna be awful! I'm trying to accept that, it's not easy.

I believe any post I could write tonight would be depressing, so I'm not gonna put too much effort into it.

Scott got the brakes fixed on the truck, we're loading the camper tomorrow.

Today sucked.
-m

Wheeee!

Today I got to eat breakfast with my mom, it's funny how even an over easy egg standing in the kitchen is oh so comforting when my mom's there to eat it with me. She spent the early part of the morning spoiling Yahzi (every time he asked she turned the faucet on for him) and shivering. Apparently Scott & I keep our house abnormally cool and don't notice it. Perhaps it has something to do with the 15lb space heater who follows us around, lays on us, and likes the water faucet turned on for him when he asks (neither Scott or I are as well trained at that as mom was). Or we hate paying the gas bill and have learned to shiver without feeling it.

After she left I found myself standing in my driveway in the sunshine with no specific plan for the day (I had anticipated spending a day pacifying screaming back muscles). I wasn't exactly limber and painless but was ambulatory, so I twisted my own arm and went for a motorcycle ride. It was SO worth it.

I've missed those times when the process of getting somewhere is WAY more important than the destination. Today I just wandered. No surprise, I ended up out in Bluffdale. Shucks, that's where Lynn lives I haven't been out to see her in too long so I located her recently much improved driveway entrance (2 years of road construction has to have some kind of silver lining :) and stopped by. Much to my surprise Aunty Sheryl was there! I got to have a delightful visit with her while Lynn napped and then all three of us talked for a while. There are few people in the world whom I am that comfortable with. I am SO very happy to be part of that family! Also, they are the few brave enough to choose my side when either of the boys pick on me *not that either of them wouldn't skin me alive if I really hurt either Scott or Matt*. Love my Brown family!

Whilst I was on my wander and enjoying my visit Scott & Chris were at home shoveling mulch and mowing the lawn. I believe I got the best end of that deal! Best of all it was completely justified! Bike hasn't been ridden in way too long & I needed to burn old fuel and replace it. Had to be done :D

Thom & Judy got back to Utah this week! I can't wait to see them and give Willow skritches. It'll probably be a couple weeks before I get up to Ogden though. I believe I've missed them! Even though I get to keep track of them on Judy's blog and texting, it's not the same. I find myself missing those times when we all just sit and talk, about nothing or everything, or watch tv together.

This morning I watched a little siamese cat hunt doves in my backyard, I believe it must have been a domestic animal because there was altogether too much tail wagging for real hunting behavior. The doves are used to seeing my cats through the windows and were very secure being 8 feet off the ground on top of the kitty cage. After I noticed Spazz & Yahzi came over to watch the other cat (they think the doves are boring because they see the several times a day at our feeder). Oscar then came over to watch the cats, watch the cat, watching the doves. Oscar promptly began mimicking Spazz' clicking noises. This example is yet more proof that my pack is messed up. But they're all mine & I love them. Bawk-Meow.

Oscar has reached a new twist in his terrible 2s he's in love with my left hand and considers my right hand his competition. I've had a few VERY sharp warning bites on my right hand while I'm trying to type and he's snuggling my left. Go figure!

Tonight one of my camping friends Jessie (Mike & Lisa's teenager) talked me into being the adult escort for a paramore concert. Shucks! I guess I can torture myself that much. Being the grown up just isn't a natural role for me though. Mom said a while ago that I waited to start my teenage rebellion after I was 20...and I haven't stopped. Not sure what I'm rebelling, but it's fun so why stop?

It's late, I'm exhausted, and I haven't seen Scott in the whole time I've been typing this. Bet he's asleep at his computer in the office! I'd better go tuck him in.
Peace love & kitty snugs!
-m

Oh What A World We Live In!

Today was Stephie's princess day. I believe she had a fantastic day & I am oh so happy to have helped pull it off. Mom came down a day early and helped me kick butt and take names on all the tiny details that she's OH SO Fantastic at seeing. I've always said that if she ever quits her job I'm gonna move up there and take over...but honestly I don't think I could do what she does. She is amazing. Junior (steph's husband, gosh isn't that a fun thing to say finally) is one of the funnest guys I've met and I can definitely see why Steph loves him.

Unfortunately I did NOT get a chance to take pictures...too much else going on. However the reception hall, the cake lady, and the photographer (steph's co worker) are all fantastic professionals and got pictures. I intend to grovel for copies because I DEFINITELY want this one in my portfolio.

I LOVED seeing so many familiar faces... mnnkay maybe I only knew about 10 people at the whole wedding. But I LOVE the Lambs and have missed them so it felt like coming home. Heidi JUSTINE *she always made me call her that* is a darling, John is a daddy (:, Bart is as sweet as he always was, and Carl...well at least once tonight my mind went blank & I told him he was cute...he's just so big and handsome I couldn't help it. Wasn't he supposed to stay that adorable little guy with the BIG blue eyes forever? He grew into his eyes folks, and they're just as adorable as they ever were. *blush* Steve & Dawn still feel like my other parents even though I haven't seen them for years. They are all so THEM and I sorta felt like curling up there in that moment to enjoy being at HOME again. I guess I did spend nearly as much time at their house growing up as I did at my own.

I remember when dad died one of the hardest phone calls I made was to Steve. He was dad's friend, but also another kind of parent to me. Poor guy pulled off the road on his way to work in order to concentrate & make sure I was ok. I don't remember a lot of the details from that day, but that one is crystal clear.

Diane and John Knight were also there tonight. I didn't get much time to visit, but golly was it fun to see them! I just can't think of Diane without picturing her in her Queen B do rag from girls camp our beehive year. I do believe that part of my camping 'attitude' came from her example...that reminds me I must get her to demonstrate the exact knot sequence to create that hat. It was AWESOME.

Fran did two weddings on her own today. Proving the point that it never rains but it POURS. Fortunately all of our people came in and helped out and I didn't get any panic calls so hopefully all went well. I suppose it was some sort of radical preparation for me being gone over the summer. I hope they still need me come Monday. LOL. We've decided that even if the city won't let us move for the dreaded M day (they're being fussy about permits) we're going to at least set up a table and store finished arrangements down there. There is just NOT room for them and us in the temporary place. We're probably gonna be using tents out front to work under just to get things done.

Glenn was down to check on us today. He stopped by Anderson Cove on his way home and apparently chatted with a few of my friends.

Don if you read this I lost your phone # and have had no way to talk to you in order to get your sound card to you! Please do NOT give me a cart with flat tires and a dead battery! I didn't do it on purpose. My supreme talent for dropping my phone and getting it wet did all the work for me. The card's loaded & I have it ready! I wanted to mail it after christmas, but had no way to get it to you. I was VERY relieved when Carla said you'd be back this summer. I owe ya for the screw up, but please don't mess up WONDER CART worse than it already is! I work pretty hard not to hit the rocks as it is! (notice how the front wheels point different directions, that's pretty unpredictable on gravel). I've missed ya & I look forward to seeing your well behaved parrots showing off.

I am having a terrible/wonderful time transitioning from one world I LOVE into another...I'm pretty sure I'll spend the summer MISSING Tulip Tree and LOVING the campground. At least I'll be able to call Fran and vicariously experience the tulip tree. I really hope Adda follows through on her promise to visit. She's a tough little thing & I would love to spend some time with her when she's got nothin' better to do than fish.

Today was such a good day, I hurt so bad I can't think, but I can't stop smiling. It's great. Besides, I have ibuprofen and Yahzi snuggles, how can I complain? Also I gave Tiandra (no idea if that's even close to the spelling) our neighbor child (mike & andrea's) the extra corsages from today and the smile on her face was totally validating for how crazy everything was. I know I'm broken, but I've accepted it, and no one else pointed it out today. Well except mom, and she does it with sympathy and love. She stayed over because both of us were COMPLETELY exhausted and couldn't even think far enough to drive a few miles let alone 100. So tomorrow we'll have breakfast sort out all our accessories, share a few smiling tears about Daddy & enjoy a slow morning. I'm kinda looking forward to it.

That's way more than I thought I'd come up with tonight! Hope it makes sense to anyone else!
Peace love and kitty snuggs!
-m