A Ride in the Rockies

Kat and I used our Groupon to go on a guided horseback ride in Estes Park. We went through a bunch of the ranch's land, but also on the Roosevelt National Forest land. Here is my girl on her horse, Pinecone, and I am right behind her on Mama.

This one below is my cowgirl awaiting our ride.

It was a beautiful day for a ride, where the clouds cleared for a mostly sunny ride, without rain and hardly any wind. Just after we got back from our two hour ride, the clouds had gathered again to rain on the ranch, so we were there in the most perfect window.

Garden Patch Delight

Our garden patch is coming along nicely. We have a myriad of items growing, though it is little of each, but variety is the spice, right? We have rainbow chard, snow white carrots, little finger carrots, spinach, miniature bok choy, rainbow beets, red speckled romaine lettuce, lacinato (dinosaur) kale, red and french breakfast radishes, and chives (which came back from last year with a vengeance!). I was watching things sprout and was trying to figure one of them out. The reason being, I didn't remember we had planted any spinach, so it looked curiouser than the chard or kale and, until today, I was scratching my head as to what it could be! Hurray for spinach!

I am looking forward to getting some of these tasty treats soon, but we will be leaving to California soon and will be relying on our house sitter to water them, so we might enjoy the spoils when we return. I think she will do a good job and they will seem ENORMOUS upon our return. The radishes will be ready near our departure, so we may have something to bring with us, yay! They are supposed to be ready 21 days from sprouting and they sprout pretty quickly. I am looking forward to the beets, since I planted them too late last year and I LOVE beets, root and greens! They are super good for you, so if you have never tried them, you should. Chard and beets are in the same family, so just imagine you are eating chard when you eat the beet greens, but know that you are loading up on some serious vitamins when you do!

Well, I think that is all for now, I just wanted to write a little something today.

It's My Wonderful Life!

Some new points of interest that have been thrown my way are as follows: Remember those things we say and do when interacting with one another; no matter how we plan things, our lives with turn out just as they ought, no matter our struggle to the contrary; and just how much my midlife crisis looks an awful lot like the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." Now, to explain myself. I was a juror in a trial case today, which was fairly quick and not that bad, but it was a very good reminder that something, once said or done, cannot always be undone, no matter the scale on which is was offered. Whether it is for the good or bad, but the bad ones can haunt a person for a long time, if not forever. Bad choices, once made, can spiral into things we never mean to have happen. (In case you are wondering, the case was a break up gone bad and police were involved, but no one was hurt.) Even though we have these grand plans, these amazing goals and things we would like to accomplish, we will be who we ought and will impact those we are meant to on whatever level, so long as we are receptive. I have found that, when a person is chronically ill, it takes too much energy to put up the always nice and put together face that we like the world to see. Precious energy that needs to be conserved for whatever reason, but invaluable, just the same. We get to know that person on a different level and I do believe it goes for caretakers, as well, because their energy is just as golden. We plan, we plan, we plan, but what is our real purpose? To touch and love one another. To be a crucial piece in this life puzzle. To understand our beauty and part in this wonderful Creation. We may not get to see all of the pieces, but just having the opportunity to appreciate and care for one another is a gift in itself. And caring for one another does not have to be what many believe it to be, but can simply be a smile or a hug. Perhaps an ear to listen or caring words of understanding. I have known a great many people in my life. I will know a great many more, but I have been having these encounters with new and old friends and family, even someone I just met yesterday. It is like I can hear God telling me to live up to my potential; being obviously nudged into one particular direction. I know, it sounds odd, it really does, now that I type it out, but it is true. Through these people, I can see what I have to offer, even in the midst of, and in some cases, due to, suffering which sprouted growth and understanding. It is a truth that has long lived in my heart, only now was I ready to hear it. It doesn't mean that things will be easy, in fact, it will likely be contrary to it, but I am ready to rise to the challenge and meet it head on. Goodness! What a Bright Week, and today is only thursday!

So, Kat watched a dove up in a tree out front. She was patiently watching and, when the dove flew off, Kat climbed the tree to investigate what this dove was doing up there. Well, this is what she found!

She was one happy kid! Covered in sap and a giant grin, she took this picture and few more. She has been checking on them to see how long it takes before they hatch and there are baby doves!

Sunrise On Pascha

I spent the morning, following the Pascal liturgy, watching the sunrise with Kat. This is what we saw:



It was magnificent and perfect. The time we spent together was amazing and the sunrise will be remembered for the rest of both of our lives, I do believe.

A Home and A Dream

I want a little home on a piece of land to grow things every which place I please. A place with trees in the yard for climbing and bearing fruit. On long, hot summer days, I want a porch to prepare my canning fruits and vegetables while Kat is swaying along in the swing in a tree.

I want a wood stove in that home, where I sit and knit on cold winter nights. A little chimney that puffs out the tired leftovers from the fire that blazes to keep us warm. I want a root cellar to keep all of the things we have grown throughout the long season of fruitful abundance.

I want a place to grow old, where my grandchildren will come to sit and hear stories on my lap. I want long and winding paths that take me out of myself and into a dream of the life and age to come.

Perhaps one day.

Christ is Risen!!!

Albanian: Krishti Ungjall! Vertete Ungjall!
Arabic: Al Maseeh Qam! Haqqan Qam!
Armenian: Christos harjav i merelotz! Orhniale harutjun Christosi!
Byelorussian: Khristos Uvoskros! Zaprowdu Uvoskros!
Chinese: Helisituosi fuhuole! Queshi fuhuole!
Coptic: Pikhirstof aftonf! Khen o methni aftonf!
Czech: Kristus vstal zmrtvy’ch! Skutec ne vstal!
Danish: Kristus er opstanden! Ja, sandelig opstanden!
Dutch: Christus is opgestaan! Hij is waarlijk opgestaan!
English: Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Estonian: Kristus on surnuist ülestõusnud! Tõesti ülestõusnud!
Finnish: Kristus nousi Kuolleista! Totisesti Nousi!
French: Christ est Ressuscité! En Vérité, Il est Ressuscité!
Gaelic: Erid Krist! G’deya! n erid she!
Irish Gaelic: Tá Críosd ar éirigh! Go deimhin, tá e ar éirigh!
Scots’ Gaelic: Tha Crìosd air èiridh! Gu dearbh, tha e air èiridh!
Georgian: Kriste aghsdga! Cheshmaritad aghsdga!
Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!
Hebrew: Ha Mashiyach qam! Ken hoo qam!
Hungarian: Krisztus feltámadt! Valóban feltámadt!
Italian: Cristo è risorto! È veramente risorto!
Japanese: Harisutosu Fukkatsu! Jitsu Ni Fukkatsu!
Latin: Christus resurrexit! Vere resurrexit!
Norwegian: Kristus er oppstanden! Han er sannelig opstanden!
Polish: Khristus Zmartvikstau! Zaiste Zmartvikstau!
Portugese: Christo Ressuscitou! Em Verdade Ressuscitou!
Romanian: Hristos a Inviat! Adevarat a Inviat!
Russian: Khristos voskres! Voistinu voskres!
Serbian: Hristos Vaskrese! Vaistinu Vaskrese!
Slavonic: Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!
Slovak: Kristus vstal zmr’tvych! Skutoc ne vstal!
Spanish: Cristo ha resucitado! Verdaderamente ha resucitado!
Sweedish: Kristus är upstånden! Ja, Han är sannerligen uppstånden!
Syriac: Meshiha qam! Bashrira qam!
Ukranian: Kristos Voskres! Voistinu voskres!
Welsh: Atgyfododd Crist! Atgyfododd in wir!

A Few Days Early...

I know it is still yet early, since this is read for the Paschal Homily in all Orthodox church this sunday, as with every Pascha, but I love it so dearly, I wanted to share it now. It is a good reminder that it matters not when your heart is turned toward God, but rather that it simply matters and will be embraced. As our deacon, Fr. Jan, said today (in summation), lent and Pascha come, whether we participate or not, but at whatever hour we draw near, it is still received in love and understanding.


"If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.
If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.
If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.
If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.
If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.
If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.
If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.
If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.
For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.
He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.
He both honors the work and praises the intention.
Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!
O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!
You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted: let no one go forth hungry!
Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.
Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was taken by death has annihilated it!
He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed: "Hades was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions".
It was embittered, for it was abolished!
It was embittered, for it was mocked!
It was embittered, for it was purged!
It was embittered, for it was despoiled!
It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!
It took a body and came upon God!
It took earth and encountered Ηeaven!
It took what it saw, but crumbled before what it had not seen!
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.
To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages.
Amen." ~ St. John Chrysostom