A day off to enjoy this beautiful area

We have the car packed with the art we have ready. I've taken pictures of most of it I think. I'm very proud of these pieces that Laurie and I have.

Laurie has been working very hard on masks, paintings, beading and such. I'm very proud of her.

Yesterday we had a blast going to Lake Lopez and Biddle Park. We found ourselves all over the place taking pictures of all the beauty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Vultures

 These were my son Cory's favorite birds when he was a child. He thought they were majestic he was right!

 

 Beautiful Lopez Lake, Ca

 I loved this tree.

 

 A young buck

 

 From our car

 Deer were everywhere with their young enjoying the early evening in Lopez

 

 

 Going down Hwy 1

 The Oceano Valley This scene hasn't changed much since the 70's, but the amount of people who have moved here has exploded.

Everyone wants to move to paradise. Then it gets crowded and changes the quaint little towns into busy cities! I've seen this happen here in Pismo/Oceano/Avila an the surrounding area's.

All the back roads are just as full of people as ever.

The noise and pollution is incredible.

But still it's a wonderful place to be compared to many others.

There is still a small town feel at times and in various places.

 

Going to Biddle Park was wonderful. There were very few people there. We were able to let the dogs run off leash and it was a nice experience.

 

The sirens around Santa Maria are constant anymore. I am amazed how this town has changed in just a few short years. Murder/gangs/Police chiefs ousted and so much more. I long for the quiet and less of everything.

 

Laurie has really been able to see what I've been talking about and think she is so ready to go as well. Just in the year she's been here the mobile home park has changed personal, attitude, and so forth. The town is just not as it once was, but I suppose that is progress.

 

Just looking for a bit less of it.

 

 

It's Sunday and time to rest now

This weekend has really been trying on me personally.

I have to take Pickles to the vet tomorrow morning, and I'm afraid of how much that will cost. She has an infected tooth I think or something going on in her mouth because it has a smell of infection in it. I feel so bad for her. I just hope they can make her comfortable and it hasn't caused too much damage to any of her organs.

Of course, I'm grateful I have the money, but it will take all the money I've saved for the RV, and that's so disheartening. I've tried so hard to work and save the money to get the RV fixed. I've stayed home and not gone anywhere. I've not gone camping, meetings, visiting, nothing. I've scaled down my bills to practically nothing. I have a free cell phone, we have reduced electricity, every thing we can do to lower our bills we do.

It's a depressing day in many ways. I try to keep up beat, but it's really hard when you have a constant reminder that you are NOT out in the woods but in a nasty dirty city. I hate it here. I hate living in a tin box, and how close everyone is to us. This is really hard, but yet I'm managed to keep a fairly good outlook until today. I'm just so done with being a Pollyanna type person. It's hard to see the good from this all. Yes, I should be and am grateful I have the money to take Pickles to the vet, because there were years gone by that I didn't and lost animals.

But still, I can't help but feel a little sorry for myself for having to scrap all this money up to start my dream on getting back on the road, just to have it gone in a moment. I have to start over saving again.

I am working harder now than before I retired. If this is what retirement is about shit, I'm tired! How do I get myself in these places of having to work harder than I choose. ARF!

My needs are so small, so it amazes me how much money it takes to live.

I'm hoping I don't loose entire hope, but I'm about there. I see people that are dark, and mean spirited get rich and live charmed lives while I see people like myself work their asses off and go nowhere. I'm honest and give back as much as possible, while seeing people that lie, cheat and do wrong prosper. I've seen this all my life. My own Mother never drank, or broke the law, and helped all who needed it, while seeing her go through so much in life. She never had peace, nor did anyone treat her with respect. I only know what I've seen. And I've seen the evil ones get ahead while the peacemakers suffer.

I remember being in the Mormon church how I saw people cheating on their spouses, how I was molested as a young girl, how gossip destroyed my reputation, and yet I was a virgin and keeping the so called rules. Then I saw all those people get temple recommends to do 'God's work, while I wasn't able to do it due to MY SINS! Too funny now. How sill is religion? I truly believe it's for the weak minded! I used to think that when I was a young woman, now I know it to be a fact.

People who turn to religion are looking for someone to tell them how to have a relationship with God, those that don't need religion, are those that HAVE a relationship with God and don't need anyone to define it for them.  A personal relationship with God is all you need. Nothing more.

I'm always amazed at all the rituals, gatherings, do this and do that, to make sure you get a place in heaven. How silly is that?

I'm not a sinner, nor will I ever be. I don't belong to this world, I'm just a visitor and I want to be beamed up because it isn't fun here anymore.

Fabulous lotion bars..........I'm going to make some of these

I found this on the net and thought I'd make some of these. I'll let you know how it goes. But for now, I thought I'd share the recipe just in case you wanted to make your own.

Pain Relief Lotion Bars 

Lotion bars are one of my favorite natural beauty recipes to make. They are a simple way to moisturize and nourish the skin and they can be easily customized for a variety of uses. This variation is one of my favorites, especially for after athletic training or on sore muscles. I don’t use it during pregnancy, but it is great at other times. I also make a diluted version by using half as much Menthol and Essential Oil and omitting the Arnica oil for use on the kids when they get growing pains.
These natural pain relief lotion bars smell excellent and work wonders on sore or tired muscles!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup  coconut oil
• 1/3 cup shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter
• 1/3 cup  beeswax (can add an extra ounce or two if you want a thicker consistency, which leaves less lotion on the skin when used)
• 1 tablespoon of Menthol Crystals
• 10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
• 1/2 tsp Arnica Oil (optional)

This recipe can be adjusted to make any quantity that you’d like. I made with 1/3 cup of each main ingredients, but this can adjusted up for down for bigger or smaller batches.

How to Make:

Combine all ingredients in a quart size glass mason jar and carefully place this jar in a small saucepan of water on the stove.
Turn the burner on and bring water to a low simmer. Stir ingredients constantly until they are melted and smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in the menthol crystals and stir until dissolved.
Add essential oils and arnica oil (optional) and stir until mixed.
Carefully pour into molds or whatever you will be allowing the lotion bars to harden in. I used these silicon loaf molds, though any mold would work.
Allow the lotion bars to cool completely before attempting to pop out of molds. These could be made in different shaped molds or made in a square baking pan and then cut into actual bars.

How to Use:

Store in a cool or dry place for up to six months (I’ve even had some last as long as a year).
To apply to skin: hold bar in hand and carefully rub on dry skin. The heat of the skin will transfer some of the lotion bar to the skin. I store my lotion bars on a small plate on my dresser and bathroom counter. Add more or less menthol for a more or less potent bar.



If you do make some of these let me know how you liked them.





   Now For How My Day Went Today!

To start with, I took the RV in and got it smogged. I got a ride back which was good since I had so many things to do at home.

I pulled up the tomato plants and took off all the little tomatoes. Or I should say, Laurie took all the tomatoes off the plants. I'm going to have to get the food dryer out and dry them. We can use them this winter. I'm trying to keep ours bills as low as possible this winter since we have decided to keep the mobile home and pay for the space rent while gone and that way we will have a place to home too when it's warmer around here.

Laurie has been painting the outside of the trailer white and it looks so much better than the brown it's painted right now. I also want to paint the RV before we go.

But today washing and waxing it really make a big difference. It looks great. The inside looks great. I'm excited about getting back on the road. I know Jade will love it. Hope she enjoys being on the road. I know she will, she likes to get out and ride and also explore new places like Pickles. They will have so much fun together.

When I go to park the RV back in the back area of the mobile home park, we'll let Pickles and Jade run and do their evening duty. The RV looks so nice and shines since I waxed it. I'm trying to keep it as nice as possible.

I went through all the paperwork for the RV to see what all has been done in the past. WoW, I'm amazed how much upgrading has been done and upkeep. So, I know I have a good one.

Just to be able to get the money up to finish getting the shocks, bushings and whatever else is needed. I'll be so happy to get that done and over with. It will ride so much smoother once that is done. Then I'll have to get the generator tuned up. After that, we should be ready to go.

I'll have to really get moving on getting things on Ebay and start really making some extra money to be able to get these repairs done. And if anything goes wrong while on the road, we want to be ale to get the work done.



 

Being Dog Tired after a week-end of working!

Oh my goodness. It's been a busy, Laurie and I have worked harder this week/week-end than we have in a very long time.

Laurie was going to have company, but I asked that he consider another time to come visit, and he agreed. I'm so glad, because last night Laurie was in bed at 11pm. She usually stays up to at least 1 a.m. She's been suffering due to the terrible humidity we've been having. I have to tell ya, I really don't remember it being this humid around her before. But, then again, I didn't have a girlfriend that suffered from MS for me to notice as much.

But when she suffers I worry and hate it. Laurie has been having it rough lately. Having Jade has helped quite a bit. We are training her to walk properly with Laurie while she is still able to walk fairly well. Her training is coming along so well. I'm so proud of not only Jade for how well she's doing and how well she compliments our family.

I don't think I've ever been this content and happy before. Laurie really is the partner I needed to complete me and help me with my journey. Not someone I need to babysit, or tell what to do every moment. But she was brought in to my life to challenge me, and bring out the best in me, and she has done just that.

Just watching Laurie and Jade in their personal journey is so fantastic. Laurie is happy, content and knows she's loved for the very first time in her life. And I can say, I truly feel loved and accepted just as I am. I don't have to change to have her love me. And I KNOW she will never leave me. That is something no one has ever given me. What a precious gift.

I was thinking this today. All the misery others have caused me, all the lies, the betrayal, cheating, gossip, and all that I've gone through with others that professed to love me. Laurie makes up for it all. I'm grateful for those people that have been in my life in the past. I'm also grateful for the lessons learned through them. They say love is never wasted. I'm hoping that is true and they (people from my past) realize how they were once loved, and will look back on our time together and smile and think of the good times. But it's been my experience that those I've left have made me the bad guy so they wouldn't look bad, rather than take responsibility for their own stuff. All in all, it doesn't matter anymore because I've forgiven those that have done these things in my life, and I've also forgiven myself for my own short comings.

When you move forward without regrets it makes for a more peaceful life. After all, we all do our best.

I look forward to coming home when I'm away. I know things are warm and inviting for me.

I've had such a fantastic career. I've done all the things I've wanted. I've worked hard, played hard and known some pretty fantastic people.

I've been to fantastic places and my experiences on the earth has been beyond all my wildest dreams. And more is yet to come.

So this evening, when I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, I sit here with candles shining on my table. My glass of wine close, and my sage burning to send my prayers of thanks to the Great Spirit in the sky, I can't help but smile and know that I have spent this day well.

I had a two hour party tonight in Santa Maria. There was a live Mexican band and they were fantastic. Their costumes were perfect, and the music was so beautiful. The food was great, the people were festive, and I love my job.

After the party, I came home and did some gardening. Our garden is winding down with the tomatoes and the squash is starting to show small veggies. I'm excited and can't wait to be able to cook them and dry some for our trip. The onions are almost ready. In fact, I could pick some now, but I don't really need any now, as I've been getting onions when I dumpster dive.

I'm thinking of doing it in the morning, but as I write tonight, I'm pretty tired. I know diving will involve a lot of work. To be able to get it all out of the dumpster, usually one by one, then go home and wash everything, then cut it up, or whatever needs to be done to preserve it or give it away. I do enjoy giving the food away that I get. I know so many people are on fixed incomes and would love the food rather than seeing it go into the land fill.

That is a pet peeve of mine to see perfectly good food go into the land fill. Tomorrow is trash day, so I have to get to the dumpster before 6 am in order to get anything otherwise it will be gone. So, we'll see how I feel in the morning.

We have so much to do. The RV needs to be registered and get the tags, but I have to have it smogged. So that will be on the list for tomorrow. The rv smogged, then registered, then parked back in storage until I can get the repairs. I'm getting closer so there is hope.

Then we have to give Jade a bath, and take her to get her nails clipped. I don't want to do anything like that anymore and rather pay someone else to do it.

I sold all my grooming tools during the yard sale for a song to a gentlemen that gives haircuts to prisoners in jail. Alrighty then He was as happy as a clam.

I sold so much stuff during the yard sale. I sold every bit of my jewelry! Including the display case. He really thought he got a good deal and he really did. He will be able to triple his money. But I did too, I didn't feel the need to be greedy.

I feel like some really good karma is coming our way. Laurie feels it too. It's our time. We've been helping people all our lives. Both of us had service jobs and did them well. Now, it's our time to enjoy life without worry.

Just wish we had more money to do more things. We believe this will come too. We certainly work hard enough. I'm certain that Laurie's art is going to really take off, and our Seaweed people are going to be loved by many.

I've starting my beadwork again. I'm doing better than ever too. I've been making leather pouches, and purses. They are so nice. People are complimenting me on my work, so I just know that I will be selling more than ever. Actually, I sell them as fast as I make them. I only have like three in stock at this writing because I sell them so quickly. Hope I get a picture of this one before it goes out the door. And I've been making a lot of seaweed rattles. I'll post pictures soon.

This week Laurie and I are going to work on getting our artwork in consignment shops. We've been asked by so many for some of our pieces. Just have to make time and get it done.

I'm so pleased with Jade! Laurie and I were talking of this. How, it could have been so much different, but she fits in perfectly and I can't be more happy. She is our forever dog now. They can't have her back. Now gonna see about getting any and all training we can afford.

I was informed that we might have someone that may be able to pay for Laurie's harness that she will need with Jade to help her walk. I'm so happy and feeling blessed. Everything is coming together for us in so many ways.

The candles are doing their trick. I'm loving this evening of rest and reflection. We have such a blessed life, I just want to scream it from the rooftops.

All the suffering Laurie and I have gone through, it's nice to have this time in our life together. We are both survivors of much abuse in our lives, and yet we aren't bitter, nor do we sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. We have made peace with the past and those that have hurt us, and decided to move forward together and enjoy the rest of our lives happy.

You don't have to be defined by events in your lives. You can get past them, and live a healthy and peaceful life. I'm proof.  Laurie is proof.

It took a lot of work on our part to get where we are. Taking responsibility for our own short comings, and the things we've done in our lives.

I was so wild as a young person. Laurie on the other hand was busy being a New Jersey police officer and keeping herself clean.

I've never been arrested or in jail, so that is a good thing. The difference between them and me, is I didn't get caught. Now, I live such a clean life I could be a nun.

I'm in bed usually around 9. I don't get wild anymore, and no more loud music. At least not while living here in this 55 and above senior park...LOL

I wouldn't leave my home before 9 to go party. Funny how things change.

I'm grateful for my wild times. I got out all the crazy, and now live a more zen type of life, without regrets. I'd rather meditate or walk in the woods than go to a club as I used too.

Besides, I have all I need at home. Clubs are usually filled drama and a lot of women I wouldn't take home to Mother.

Gonna do a little on line gaming with the free casino games before we go on the road. But we are determined to find them all on the road and play at each one. Fun fun fun.

Night all, and don't forget to be grateful for all your blessings.

Namaste'

Our Yard Sale is a Success!

We got up early and had our breakfast. Laurie walked Jade, I walked Pickles and we got started loading up the Toyota with everything we could stuff into it. Our mobile home park was having a yard sale out front and we have been having them every first Saturday for the last three months. Next month is the last one we are going to have this year.

We spread out our blankets and put up the easy up and off we went. WE just pretty much put it out there and it sold. We sold quite a bit of things. Not that many clothes went, but almost all the jewelry went, Laurie sold some of her art. I was so proud of her.

We sold almost all the dog stuff, and the grooming clippers.

I have enough now to pay the registration on the RV, thank goodness.

I have money to put toward the repairs. So all in all our hard work has been paying off.

I have a two hour birthday party tomorrow night. That money will go toward repairs. I'm booked for the rest of the month, so that is really going to help.

I'm finally starting to believe we just may make it out of here this winter.

Laurie and I have decided we are going to work on getting the mobile home ready to be walked through by those that are interested in buying it. It's a great park to live in, and for $15,000, you can have your own place to paint and do with what you will. We have a small yard, but I'm been growing our food in the space since we moved here.

In fact, I have a whole patch of onions, and now have all kinds of squash coming, as well as tomatoes. I now have four avocado tree's coming up that I planted from seed.

I'm pretty proud of all the food I've grown and given away. I have been drying food lately. I have enough veggies to put in soups for the entire winter. And with it being dried, it is really light and won't weigh the RV down like can goods do.

I'm determined we will get better gas mileage that last year. We had way too many heavy things in the RV we didn't really need. Less is best, and the older I get the more I believe it. I want to go light.

That is the reason I was able to sell so many things today I didn't think I could.

But the older I get the less I need.

Wish we'd taken pictures but we were so busy selling things. Some things I didn't pay anything for and others, I made double my money. I'm so proud of Laurie and I for all we've done today.

I know Laurie has been suffering with the humidity today and lately. She looked really spent after the sale, so we've been taking it easy.

Between Laurie painting every night, and we doing bead work again, we've been busier than ever, but that is the only way we are going to get the repairs we need and get the things done we need to do before this winter creeps up on us.

We were going to go to Parker last year, but we didn't make it, and boy did we suffer!! We didn't have heat, because our heater didn't work so we used space heaters and it was still cold. That cost us a pretty penny to say the least! We used all the blanket we owned and don't want to go through that again.

I can only imagine how it is for the elderly in really cold regions. This is enough for us. Sometimes it was like 20 degree's. That's rough. We would light candles and anything else that gave off heat we could find.

I can hardly wait to get in the RV again. It will feel like home again. To sleep in the loft and shut the curtains is good with me. Of course, the RV we are looking to buy now is so much bigger and better. Yep, we are in negotiation with a dealer in AZ for another RV we've had our eye on. We shall see what happens with that. If it's meant to be it shall be. But I can tell you this, it's our dream RV! It has everything we need and want and has less than 30,000 miles. It's practically new. We are hopeful.


      Our Sweet Jade

We are just so happy with our dog Jade. She is also a dream come true for me and Laurie. She needed Jade. They fit together like a glove.

 

She is such a large dog it's hard to walk around her at times. I prefer if she lays on my bed so I can walk around more.

 

 

She is such a joy. Her temperament is so sweet. But we have found out that she doesn't like men one bit. So, we are guessing it was a man that abused her. She is a rescue dog.

She's such a love I can't imagine anyone hitting her or abusing her in any way. I know they hit her, because when I go to pet her at times she'll flinch, and cower. Poor little thing.

 

We are going to give her all the love she can possible handle. We talk to her sing to her, and take her to the dog park daily. And Pickles is starting to warm up to her. When they get up in the morning and greet each other it's so cute.

 

LIFE IS GOOD!

 

 These pictures I took of flowers that some were at the dump and the rest are at Waller Park.

 

 This is our first meeting with Jade. She came at almost 1 am. WE were tired but excited to see her. WE are so grateful for the gal that drove her to us from Lake Havasu, AZ. We are so blessed and that gal will have the most wonderful KARMA!

 

 Laurie and Pickles

 Flowers from the Dog park in Santa Maria. It's known as one of the best Dog Parks in the United States. Fabulous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Waller Park also has two beautiful ponds that are home to some fun feathered friends. I brought some bread and other goodies to feed our duck pals! Love them!

 

 

 The squirrels are so fun at the park. They are so use to people feeding them they come right up to the car. They don't seem to be afraid of anything.

 

 I really loved this tree. I couldn't get enough of it. When I stood under it, the birds were singing so beautifully.

 

 Pickles loved this tree too. She thought there was an animal up there and was determined to climb up, but she didn't make it very far. Either way I think she had a blast thinking about it all.

 

 What could it be Pickles???

 Beautiful little flowers

 Beading my hatband.

 

 Love this!