Sunday Walk in the Woods

But first, the Kia.

So, he got smacked but he did 2 things I would never have thought of  First, he took his foot off the brake which let the car roll ahead since there was no one in front of him.  This, admittedly, was in preparation to floor it once he saw the guy was not stopping, but it still saved them some whiplash.

Also, he had his wheels straight ahead.  If I had gotten rear ended, it would lead to me being pushed over into oncoming traffic because I would have had my wheels cut to make the turn.  In this situation, that would have ended with Jake taking the full brunt of being T-boned, something that I try not to dwell on.

The rear passenger tire wheel well.

The other side...not so bad!

This is the trunk space from underneath.

Damage to the tire.  We JUST replaced this tire because Matt had gotten something in it on the edge and it could not be patched.  It's the only one that doesn't match!

All of his drum hardware was in the trunk from his $30 plastic case to the $400 bass pedal.

The only things damaged that we know of so far-he still needs to set up the whole thing and see-is that locker above and the high hat stand below.  AMAZING.

We got the call Friday night that they will repair the car and should have it ready by New Year's Eve.

Allstate is covering a rental for the duration, so that's nice!

On Saturday, I got my Cairn Obsidian box in.  I get Cairn (getcairn.com) (use roamschool at gmail for your reference!!) every month already. It's just over $20 a month when you sign up for a whole year and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  

It's seriously that same feeling I used to get at birthday parties when I just KNEW one of the boxes had just the thing I really, really wanted.  I get that EVERY MONTH. And it's always awesome and it's always backpacking/hiking/camping stuff I USE. Granted, I probably won't buy any of the snacks they include because $4 for a snack bar is INSANE, but I have used loads of the coupons for gear. And for things like free Mountain House meals, got new hammock straps for $22 (for the new double hammock in the Obsidian box!) It's been an awesome gift to myself.  Eep

When they offered Obsidian, which is $200 4 times a year, I gave it some thought and that thought was 'I WANT'.   So, I did it.  They gave me back 500 points, which is 2 free monthly boxes! And I was so excited when it arrived, I almost could not open the package. hehehehe  Totally worth it.

This is my new Prana hat, tags still on, that Ben took immediately and I will probably never get back.

I do share the goodies.  On occasion.  haha

I also got a waterproof backpack, a waterproof bluetooth speaker, 7 Picky bars, 3 chocolate bars, a full set of Sierra Sage outdoor products (I use their green goo bug spray and green goo first aid ointment and was STOKED to get more!) that hat and a 2 person Thermarest hammock.  $342 in goodies.

The backpack is awesome, we already came up with a half dozen trips to take with it, but the best thing other than kayaking was that we can take it caving with Park and it will spray clean!  The clay in the caves around Monteagle is STICKY.  I'm already booked on an overnight canoe trip this spring, so I can use it then, too!

Okay.  I guess I have wound down.  Even cooler is that-the regular December Cairn box has not shipped yet, so I still have THAT to look forward to!

Saturday afternoon we had to do some work on the fence because Murphy just leaves on a whim. He will have a new spot he can fit through soon enough, but while the gate was open and we were going in and out working on it, I promised Kuma I would take him out Sunday to the creek.  Because having the back gate open only means one thing and that's running around in the woods time!

8 a.m. Sunday morning, he's barking at the door, then under my window.  I poked my head out and he started jumping around like a bronco.  hahaha. I love that dog so much.

So, I crammed on some shoes and gaiters and Matt put on some orange and we walked down to the creek with all 4 dogs for the first time. I haven't taken Murphy yet because he's hard to predict, he spent the first few months running away, I wasn't going to give him free reign over 800 acres.  He's not my favorite animal ever, but I don't want him lost for good.

EVERY fire ant hill was covered in deer poop.

WHY?

The water is low!

View from our resting perch, should have brought a hammock!

I love all the poplar trees down in the hollow

My obligatory "WOW.  Mushrooms in December!" pic.  Because I have one every year.  hahaha

Nia awaits a snack

Murphy is horrified that he was made to sit, he wanted the goodie and human flesh.

He's a snatching little shit, still working on that bad behaviour!

LOOK!  All four dogs in ONE SHOT.

Jessie is always up for a snuggle.

She's 10 this month.  WOW

Planning a backpacking trip to this spot above the cliffs, looks like a good spot for many hammocks!

The pasture is SO overgrown.  We have someone coming to see about bushhogging, we picked a few trees to leave, though.

This is a SOLID wall of blackberry about 50 feet thick.  I told Matt I am getting the mowers out, that's miserable trying to get through!

Doggie Day

Today we had set aside the afternoon to get the dogs in for their annual check-up and finish out Nia's puppy shots and get them all vaccinated for rabies.  To keep it from being just a run to town for a poke and prod and a run back home, I called to see if we could swing by Mr. Holmes' pond on the way in and let the dogs run a while.  He said sure.

The vet, we are using a new vet now, was happy with how well Nia is doing, she said she would be 22 pounds.  No more than 30.  That's perfect!  Of course, our old vet said Jessie would max out at 40 pounds.  She weighs 100.  Well, 99.8.  Kuma is 77 pounds, per usual.

I had these in order and Blogger said pshaw to that.  I am too sleepy to dink with moving them back around, so look at them as an abstract work.

 

 Nia does not look 100% dog.  It's like she has other little creature mixed in there.  Rabbit or burro...I thought she might be part pit bull, but her structure is too small.  We are back to thinking border terrier/corgi mix.  It would fit her coloring, stature, size and personality.

This IS rural North Alabama in the winter.  Field stubble, scrub trees, a rolling hill.

I stopped this one WAY down to increase the contrast to make the red maple blooms show up. 
It looks weird on purpose.  Sometimes, they look weird and I don't know what happened.

Saturday of Mild

One of the last tornado-damaged houses still standing in Cullman.

I love an easy-going weekend, well, an easy-going life.  But having down time and a chance to just hang out and be with people we really like without much in the way of heavy planning or effort-it's the best.

It started off yesterday when we dropped the kids off with Suzette and Matt and I headed to Athens and picked up our new papasan chair and couch!  I bought it off Craigslist from a guy who was moving, I had my doubts given the amazing price he was asking.  When we got there, his house was very clean, the furniture was in excellent condition and he was quite nice to boot!  I had asked about cats and smokers and the shape of the frame and all checked out perfectly-some minor marks, nothing damaged, we loaded it all up and came toward home. 

We opted to stop in Decatur and gave Daddy some ear mite stuff for Stoney on the way to Athens to kill a little time and we ate before picking up the furniture, so on the way back down the Interstate, we stopped in at the Refuge and talked to Daphne a little while, then walked a couple miles on Airport Road until Matt's foot started hurting from his shoe.

We decided to go on in to town and hit Academy and the thrift store, so we picked up a few things at both places-socks and a pull over at Academy and pants at the thrift store.  Ben has 2 pairs that fit him at the moment, he shot up again and is taller than Chan.  Now he has 6 pairs!  Go, Thrift!

Back at home, we set up the new stuff and moved things around a little, then lounged and ate nachos and watched 4 episodes of Fringe back to back.  I have NO idea why we thought Fringe would be a safe 'eating' show, there were giant worms coming out of people's mouths in the first episode alone, plus a vivid dissection and something covered in red Jell-o.  LOL  By LOL, I mean *barf*.  

When we got in, Chan's new backpack had arrived and was in Matt's car, so I looked it over and put it in her room.  This afternoon I had a little more time, so I pulled it back out to look over more closely and checked all the buckles, straps, zippers and grommets.  It's in GREAT shape, I think she will get many years use from it.  It's identical to the one I have used for the past 20 years.  I paid $40 for it, delivered and was happy to get such a great price.  When I put it back in her room, I saw a tag and pulled it out from under the shoulder strap and it said $12 Salvation Army.  hahahaha!  Ah well.

Today we went to Suzette's and got Ben and Chandler back along with Britney.  She bartered Jake off for a few days elsewhere.  We met up with Katy and her family and Gina and walked a little over 5 miles on the Refuge.  Afterward, Ben went home with Alex and Chan went home with Britney, so Matt and I have had TWO nights to ourselves!  I can't think when that last happened, maybe once last year.  Last night he played on his computer while I messed with my farm on Harvest Moon.  We stumbled to bed around midnight and crashed.  Not quite super-romantic. I'd like to say tonight we will make more of an effort, but I really want to check on my pumpkins and he's already playing his game!  hahaha 

Here is my haircut:

Sunset on the main road the other night:

 

A few shots from our walk, I was really too busy talking non stop to mess with photos.

 

I LOVE Matt's 3 day weekends, we still have a whole nother day left!  We just got in from downtown and picked up Looper to watch and a few goodies from the store (and pet food and laundry detergent).  Matt is making dinner now, what a great day!  One for the records.  : )