Around our hood...

Driving home the other night while the sun was setting the vineyards were a glow. It was so beautiful that I parked my car and went for an impromptu walk.

"If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it". ~ Toni Morrison

 

I love this quote and have referenced it before but when I saw the Aermotor,  I knew I would use it again.

Happy Thursday!

Happy Memorial Day

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.  ~ Lee Greenwood

For me, it sometimes feels like the world we live in gets more crazy with each passing day.  Thank you to those who have fought, given their lives and those who continue to work everyday to keep us safe and free. God bless you and Thank you!

We enjoyed the long weekend with friends, music, barn time and time thinking about all of those who gave so dearly to protect our freedom.  Photos are from Friday night while visiting Huntington Beach and linked to Our World Tuesday.

Some good stuff...

linked to Skywatch Friday

Five weeks to the day after the music man took his inspectors test we got the news.... He passed!  Oh my gosh, all these balls that have been in the air are really starting to land.  I am  so thankful for how things are progressing into the next chapter of our lives.  Just like the bridge over the Colorado River, we too are crossing over uncertain waters.  I am feeling so thankful for these days...God's Grace and the reminder to keep things simple, life really is so very good. 

This weekend I am going up north to shoot a band, having some buddies come into town for a visit and looking forward to the long weekend. 

Happy Weekending,

Jen

These sweet little faces...

These sweet little faces need names. The two little black one's are getting their silver threads and the three brown bantams are huge. Look how they tower over the barred rocks. I'm thinking Thelma and Louise for the black and silver girls but need three more names and would love to hear from you, what cha think?

Sending Love...

Sending love and prayers to Oklahoma...

Wine, Cars and Some Stones...What a weekend!

This weekend was another busy one and packed with fun. Friday night the music man played at a local winery, it was a cool but gorgeous night. The sky was rocking too. As I walked through their vines the sun seemed to be out running the clouds that were blowing in, rendering the most beautiful sunset.

(i phone photo)

Saturday night we saw the Rolling Stone, 50 and counting tour. Oh my gosh it was amazing. They are amazing, still rocking and sounding good.  WOW...Seriously, I wasn't sure what to expect and was completely blown away!  The stage, the band and the energy they gave us for 2 1/2 hours was incredible. I am so thankful we were able to see them and we got to do with with my sister, her in laws and my parents.

And if all that wasn't enough, yesterday I bought a car!  After researching within our budget I focused on a little gas economy car and found a perfect match. I went with a hatchback so in addition to 38 miles a gallon I can haul feed or a bike to the beach.

Of course there was time spent with Chancie, the garden and the girls all done with the brown dog by my side, he's been getting around a bit better the last few days. BIG ((smiles)) I love that dog! Okay back to the girls, our babies are growing up quickly. Next post I'll be sharing some pics of them and hoping for some help with names.

Life is SO good! How was your weekend?

Happy Monday,
Jen

One step at a time..

The days are flying by so incredibly fast right now and I'm doing my very best to keep up. I am making progress though, BIG progress one step at a time.  We still have a lot of balls in the air but decisions are being made and some are starting to float down towards the ground. I am hopeful that over the next few months they will all be comfortably resting on the ground, fingers crossed.

I spent the first few days after hearing about my job praying, sitting quietly and listening.  I can't explain it but I know everything will be okay, perhaps even great.  I really don't know where or what tomorrow will bring us but I do know that today life is amazing and we are so blessed. I'm at peace and excited for this next phase in mine and my families lives.

So far this week,  I have been approved for a car loan and am looking for the perfect little gas efficient car that will initially be used to drive to my new office but will also be used to haul feed.  I have decided to try the long commute to work. I'm not sure how this will work out long term or even short term for that matter due to my back but I feel I need to at least give it try. Besides I need a car anyways and timing wise well,  it couldn't have worked out any better. I just paid off a debt I had been paying on for some time last month so I can use those funds towards a small car payment and not increase our monthly budget by doing so. That's a huge relief, I'd been thinking car payments just don't pair well with my view of becoming more self sustaining and that bothered me... for half a second. I have justified this as a used car that I could pay cash for would be a gas hog and kill me in buying gasoline at four plus bucks a gallon.

This week I've also purchased my domain name, started a website and my business Facebook page for Jen Sale Photography. Awesome, right!  I have decided to jump both feet into the business side of photography.  Everything here is a work in progress for me and I have a ways to go but I know I'll get there... one step at a time.

I want to thank you guys so very much for your amazing and kind words of encouragement, your support and your friendships. I received lots of comments and private messages from so many and appreciate them all.

I am working on linking FB to my blog and website and as you know my computer skills aren't the best haha. It may take a bit to get it all together but I know I can do it. In the meantime if you're a FB'er I would appreciate it so much if you could click here and "like" my new page, please share as well.  I am trying to build numbers as quickly as possible.

Have a great day!
Jen

Our weekend in photos

This weekend I shot three different bands and had a blast. Good music, good wine and camera in hand, good fun!

Of course,  there was time spent with Chancie. Ohhh I love him and his sweet face and look at those eyes. I swear they pull me in every time I look into them, kiss kiss.

This weekend we were finally able to find some time to pick up some new girls to add to our flock.   I had planned for four but came home with five, two Barred Rocks and three Bantams. The brooder has been waiting empty for over a month but not anymore... It's full and resonating sweet little chirping sounds that make my heart so very happy.

My Mothers Day was spent with Monkey and the Music Man in the garden planting veggies. I'm hoping our cucumbers will survive the daily squirrel attack (its a full blown war over here with them).  The day also included a nice call from my bug and time floating in the pool.

Naturally my sweet brown dog was by my side most of time.  He's slowing down so much now so not to many trips away from the property these days but what a happy guy. I love him tons. He went up the driveway a week ago and came back with a rawhide. He was in such a trance while chewing on it he fell asleep with it in his mouth.

We've experienced some hot weather the last two days where the temps have been 100 plus degrees. I'm not quite ready for summer and am hoping we still have some of the spring season left. Looks like a couple more days before it will cool down a bit so I'm thinking flip flops and sun screen.  Yep, that should get me through..

How was your weekend?

Perhaps...

Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together ~ Marilyn Monroe

Before leaving work last Friday I got a phone call stating that there were BIG changes coming to my employer that were going to directly impact me. The company that I've worked for since early 2002 was being acquired and with this my ability to work from home was being discontinued.  I know,  BIG bummer.

I was seriously injured in an off road accident that took me three years to heal. When I was finally able to go back to work I was set up with a home office which I have been working in for the last four years.

Having the ability to work at home with my back has been a huge blessing and we have structured our lives around it.  Downsizing, simplifying and moving out to wine country where we are slowing and steadily moving towards a more self sustaining life everyday.

The news of the sale has greatly impacted me and left me with two tough options but at the same time is completing a goal set a very long time ago that is incredibly positive for some people I care very much for. It sounds like the company itself will continue to be great and prosperous.  I am incredibly thankful for all the opportunities I've had because of my job over the last ten years. In the phone call I was given a choice and now have a decision to make...

A.  lose my job as they have phased out my status
or
B. buy a little economy car and drive 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day to get to and from the office.

Since it's hard for me to stay in any one position (sitting or standing) for any amount of time option B looks to be a challenge but not working is not an option for me at this time. A new car payment, gas and time on the road... Does it make sense? Will there be a net profit? Can I physically pull this off?

We still have many balls in the air and they are not landing softly yet instead they're multiplying. I'm happy and relieved that the Music Man is climbing the ladder at his job quickly and should have his test results in the next couple weeks.

We absolutely love where we live and do not want to move so perhaps there is a third choice? Stepping up my photography. I have been feeding my brain and learning how to grow in this art for several years now. For several months I've been receiving positive feedback and interest in my work and have even sold a few shots and have a few shoots set up.

There is so much to learn on the business side of this, nothing to do with photos so I've been slowing wading into this pool.  Perhaps I can build my photography website and put more than my big toe in this awesome, challenging, fun and a little bit scary field. Perhaps ready... or not,  maybe the time is now.

Changes are super scary aren't they.  For we don't know what they'll bring us but I find comfort in knowing that usually changes bring things for the better. I hope the odds are in our favor and things will work out for my family and me.  God is so good. He works in mysterious ways doesn't He? I'm nervous, unsure of what tomorrow will bring but excited to see where this change will take us.  I pray that we will in fact be better off tomorrow than we are today.

Oh my gosh isn't this super cute! Chancie and his girlfriend Lilly.

Jen

This one's for the girls...

My mama, sister and I spent the weekend together at a resort in Carlsbad. We spent our time lounging around like that old TV show life styles of the rich and famous, soaking up all this beautiful place had to offer. Oh my gosh was it amazing! The warm sunshine, the smell of salt in the air, gentle breezes and the occasional golf carts reverse beep to let us know we weren't dreaming. This was a quick little get away to celebrate my mom and what is now known as our first "Annual Mama" tradition and it was awesome.

This weekend we ate
we laughed
we drank,  I had a cucumber mojito (or two) made with cucumber vodka and wow was is good!
we laughed
we went on walks
we laughed A LOT... The kind that leaves your cheeks and bellies sore
we had a message
we played cards, my sister won
and yep you guessed it, laughed some more...

We also spent some time laying by the pool, over looking the golf course and decided to make it an annual event. Hoping in the future as our girls grow, marry and become mama's of their own they'll want to join in as well.  

Did I mention we laughed our booties off? Yes... Okay.
Do you have any traditions that you do with family?

It's squirrel-a-geddon...

So it's said that we in the states welcome the month of May with a dance around a flag pole and bouquet of flowers.  I don't have a flag pole or fresh cut flowers but I do have a little video of the girls from this afternoon and want to wish you a wonderful May Day.

Earlier this week I went outside to water the garden and saw this...

   this...

    and this...

Gardens and squirrels are a very bad combination and I'm feeling a little Elmer Fudd today.  These nasty little rodents have moved on from enjoying the chicken feed and are now destroying row after row in my garden. Last year I battled rabbits, thankfully with the music mans help I have been able to keep them out of my garden ever since. But the squirrel thing is an entirely different story altogether.  They Climb, they dig and they pig the *bleep* out.

They dug up a row of carrots,  half a row of potatoes, snacked on a few of my fava beans and dug up a huge chunk of my zucchini and cucumber transplants all in a single day!

    I'm very thankful that they didn't eat everything. Sheesh they mowed down my crop SO fast.

I'm also thankful that the lady bugs are back and just in time before the big warm up that's coming our way. And I'm off to grab some CO2 for the ole pellet gun.

Happy May Day, I hope spring has sprung in your area and if you garden your harvest will be healthy.
Jen