A fish only has so many lives...

RIP Prince (our fish) he didn't make it. I guess bringing him back from the dead 3 times was enough for him. 

First time we froze him to death, I brought him back to life with my body heat while they ran for hot water, he lived. Then hubby and oldest were handing the tank off and the fish gets dumped on the asphalt, I hear "OMG! OMG! THE FISH! THE FISH!" I jump out of the car, bottle of water in hand pouring water into the tank as the fish is thrown back in...he lived. Then I was driving down the road, hit a bump, the dog jumps knocks the tank out of hubby's hands (the kid didn't want to carry the fish tank because he always gets wet from it) and there is hubby yelling, "THE FISH!!! STOP!" I stop the car, all while trying to figure out where the fish is, found him, dumped water into the tank, he survived. He had spent many cold nights bundled in blankets, towels, etc. on the ground, this time we put him up off the ground and I think that was the thing that killed him. 

He definitely was a special fish. Fish just aren't meant for tent camping especially when it gets cold outside. His tank was to small to have a heater, and we did the best we could for him but after a month he just couldn't hack it. 

Oldest is torn up but knows we all tried to keep him alive. Loss hurts no matter the size.

Until later...

Wild Ride, wild times!

Ahhh gotta love mother nature! Our second hand tent was obliterated in a 70mph gusting wind storm after a tree fell on us (more specifically me) while the boys napped (all of them). I laughed and said it made a skylight, but it was that or cry!

 Out with the OLD! In with the NEW!

The new tent is one big open space. It will work out much better for us! We also installed lights, makes it look magical at night!

Until later...

Just wow...

Never in a million years would I thought that I would be awake at 4am calling 911...the screams of a woman yelling "he us going to kill me over and over" then nothingness will haunt me now. I had woken up man to let him know I was going potty (didn't want him to wake to me gone) and when I got back he was there awake waiting, then the screams...I looked at him and said is it a joke or real? We didn't know, but in my gut I knew I would want someone to call if it was me. So we called, the came two short honks and a long honk. Meanwhile I am on the phone with 9-1-1 and hubby is dressing frantically to run to the park host a couple sites down, we see a truck leave from that direction. 15 various sheriffs, cop and state patrol cars show up. Another couple near the gate saw the truck too...now we wait and hope that that girl is ok.

I will ask for an update shortly but this was a pretty scary late night/early morning. I can't sleep just keep hearing her screams and wondering where is she?! Is she ok?! Did she have kids?! Did she have pets?! What about her family?!

Man is back to sleep, kids slept through it (or so we thought), dogs are both on me as they heard it too, we just wait...for daylight, for news for something.

So the ranger who came by a bit ago only got vague details when he got on shift, but was told nothing about what happened, only that it was resolved quietly!? WTF that means I have no clue, but I can't do more than that. The boys have been asking all day if there was a murderer loose. I guess our attempt to shield them this AM didn't work out so well, I guess who could it with 15 cop cars from various agencies descending upon your campsite at 4am!

Until later...

Nitty Gritty...

I have to say I was very upset for a week or two after leaving. I mean come on...we gave up so much to leave and come to TX. I personally gave up friends who were like family to me, personal possessions that I treasured, things we as a couple spent years (10.5) collecting together and the kids gave up things too. One granted due to his own fault (wanted to play thinking I was going to pack him and lost a lot of things because he didn't get them to the truck on time). I was very bitter I must say. My friend would call me (she was one of the amazing women who came and helped us get out and get stuff sold) and tell me what was sold or selling or given away. It hurt. There was no other explanation.

We have been staying in the tent (or motel/hotels on the weekends) now for a good two weeks. It is fine for the most part. We miss things like a bathroom right down the hall, heat, a/c, and a microwave. All in all we are fine, we are together and we don't have to sit there and watch someone waste away.

Until later...

How it all came to be...

It was one of those pipe dreams, you know the talk you have about your hopes, dreams and wishes for the future? That is where it all started.

When my father died January 2010, I thought my world had pretty much come to an end. I was devastated. I quit Microsoft, a career I had had for 10 years and thought I would never leave. I loved the chaos and fire drills, the meetings, the work and the people. I needed something to full-fill the void and take my mind off of things. I pursued cake decorating and sugar flower making. People tell me I am really good. An artist is its own worst critic!

Here is a flower I made for a dear friend. She loves Lilies.

I make cakes, decorate them and also make all sorts of desserts and breads now. I also found my passion again for cooking meals of all sorts, frugal, gourmet, vegan, etc.

Eventually me being at home led to me homeschooling our two young boys plus doing my new found passion!

Fast-forward three years...

I get a call that my mom's husband has pancreatic cancer, and needs us. So we sold or gave away everything  that we didn't want or couldn't take with us (due to size of the truck) and moved to Austin, TX. Upon getting here we needed a place to live. For the past three years we have been wanting to be an RV FTF (full-time family), the thing was we had no RV! What to do?! We decided to tent it! Yes, tent living with two boys, two dogs, a cat, mom and dad.

Here we are in Austin, TX!

Until later...