reaching perfection

last night was perfect...just perfect. after getting a few things done in the yard...
-spending the day at work
-mowing the lawn
-weeding the garden/planter beds
-eating dinner
paul asked me if i would like to go on a walk with him...of course, then he asked how long of a walk i wanted and i looked up at him and said (with a huge grin) "anywhere you go i go". he wanted to take a walk down to rocky mountain chocolate factory, get an apple and share it on the way home. i believe tears gathered...i love spending time with paul and to just be with paul...an answer to prayer. it was heavenly...
-a clear blue sky
-hands intertwined
-talking about the future
-planning the future
-counting our blessings
-telling the funny stories of the day
i love being married to a boy who loves simple things just like me...(topped with his favorite apple doesn't hurt)
-ash

finally!

almost a year ago, pebbles had a main water line issue...frustrating. on saturday, paul had some extra sod and before i knew it, the lawn no longer looked sad. it looked so much better and almost ready for a picnic. i had a cold, so i spent most of my time inside taking care of my nose and watery eyes (blowing my nose of course in private). every once and while, he would tap on the window and motion for water, which was done promptly i might add. i am so glad paul is a "let's do this now, instead of later" boy. me/pebbles is lucky!
-ash

not as scary...

i knew it was coming... i could feel it... and i was not happy! i am not supposed to get sick, and i took every precaution to stay away from those who were, but i guess getting my darn spring cold is inevitable.
you see...when i get my spring cold, it isn't a normal cold. only 1 side of my face has issues and then it moves to the other. my left nose will be closed off and then it will tingle. followed immediately by watery eye, which i will fight and pretend is not watering. then another tingle, followed by a huge sneeze. tears fall and little spots of mascara on my cheek. miserable, that continues until it moves to the other side. that is when i know the cold is almost done.
last night, i was up most of the night. i couldn't breath and yet my nose was running. then i remembered a friend of mine who bought a netipot and loved it. i was tempted at 2:15am to run and get one, but i knew i could tough it out.
this morning, before work, i ran to good earth and bought a pot and some salt. i was so nervous to try it. i don't like water up my nose, and this is a lot of water up the nose. i got to work, got out the instructions and watched the tutorial online (the lady on the tutorial was collected and acted as though it was a completely natural thing to do, i was not collected). prepared, i went to the bathroom and began. it wasn't that bad. it felt so nice so clear out the nose, and i did get better and didn't have many "tingles" after that. i did it a couple more times during the day, and felt so much better.

simple life...

we use wood and coal in our stove to heat our little home. call me crazy, but i love the simple life we live. i love our country home and know that the ingles family would be proud. i love coming into the house with the smell of our stove. it is comforting to me. this last winter lasted a long time. last year we stopped burning in march...this year, we have gone into may. what is mother nature thinking? of course we haven't burned everyday, but a few days here and there to keep the house warm.
so naturally all summer long, we gather wood. paul is so meticulous with his wood. he has a pile of green that is drying out, a pile of dry that needs to be split and a pile that is ready. and of course, they are piled just right. one summer, we moved the wood pile (again), and i wanted to help paul while he was out running errands. i thought i would do the bulk of it and when he would get home, he would be so tickled...too bad i didn't stack it the way he liked. he said thank you, we went to a movie and over the next few days, i noticed the pile looking different. well, i tried and by darn, i will try again!
i love my country life and always think of my little family. what we are missing now are elk, chickens, beautiful berries, way more than a home cooked meal and of course them.
-ash