Great Outdoors

Over the hilltops and through the woods,
A moss fort building we a goes.
The kids know the way, to the big "moss cit-ay"
Through fallen timber and dirt which are froze.

Over the hilltops and through the woods,
Grab sticks and moss by the bunch
Lay it here and stack it there
The moose better not think this is lunch.

Over the hilltops and through the woods,
Look out for that big angry moose!
Quick, hide in our fort, don't make a retort
I wish that moose was a goose!

Much Love,
Rachel

Perseverance

Initially the word tunnel apparently didn't click in my head - I mean really, my mind was more set on "maze" - no covering, wide paths. I had it all wrong. The entrance was small, elementary version of me small, but in I went on my hands and knees, flashlight in the strongest death grip my phalanges could muster. I entered, two kiddos before me, none beside or behind me....(pause for an aside - reliving this adventure, is causing the claustrophobia to come back all over again and I currently am in the spacious living room)....straight ahead we went. I was lead left. Left was a dead end and that is when I panicked, internally of course because after all, I am the leader.... (another pause for insider information: did I mention it was pitch black? - I have severe fright of darkness - I mean there is no predictability in it, no way of knowing when something bad will come, which is why my plan is to back myself into a corner - but that's a whole other story)....so there I am in this small tube of stacked hay bales giving myself a mental pep talk. Corners were hard, especially if it was the wrong turn...turning around simply wasn't an easy task for me so it was decided that I could sit in the junctions and send off the rug rats to find the delightful exit. Soon they were so confident in their adventuring they pretty much left me in the dust; actually quite literally there were times I was hollering after them to wait for me. The barn guy, Noah, he was getting quite a chuckle from all my commentary. Some of my comments were along the lines of "you didn't make this with the mindset of Adults going through did you" to which he replied that a 6 month pregnant lady successfully made all the turns. I retorted that my hips are apparently wider than an expectant mother's (insert Lucas' cruel summer joke here: "you have hips that can bare Spartan babies") I heard a belly laugh in the abysmal darkness. After much winding and crawling and jabbing of hay ends, we found a set of stairs that had a covering over them, so this giant (I literally have never felt more gargantuan in my life) crawled up the stairs on her knees (I have the bruises to prove it). We crossed a bridge that I almost ate dirt on (and with my amazing coordination I assumed I would have managed to either fall through the bridge or ensnare my legs in the ropes, rendering myself helplessly upside down and in need of a hero.) Back into the tiny tunnel we go, there was one turn that was so tight I "slithered" through it on my side. We were reaching the end, I could taste it....well, actually, I was tasting the hay but I sent my troops out to scour the lands and alas!! I hear a "I found it guys!!! THIS WAY THIS WAY” I speed crawl down the tunnel to an opening of bright glowing daylight and a victory slide!! SUCCESS!!!! Survival!



and then I did it again. and again, but backwards. :)

Much Love,
Rachel

The cold, dark truth.

The title is a little misleading I suppose. I don't intend on disclosing my deepest secrets or anything, it refers more to the 10 hours of day light in which the sun doesn't peak much over the height of the tree line, so driving at noon causes the strobe light effect which in a nuisance. The air holds a crispness to it, that while it's sunny and what I would consider warm(ish) there is still a bite in the air that reminds me to grab a jacket and soon my mittens.

The mountains, are gorgeously blanketed in snow, the grass still clings to it's shades of green in desperation, the trees barren of their leaves (except for the evergreens)and when it's clear skies, the sun is shining....all of these sights create a spectacular view. My plan is to, this weekend, grab a lovely cup of delicious hot coffee and maybe splurge on a sugary treat and drive.

For now, here are some images of the autumn foliage.

I want to leave you all with some beautiful words a dear friend and someone I hold in high regards to said to me recently. "The weather is turning colder, leaves are becoming gold, and the beautiful flowers are bending under the weight of the frosty air. We are slowly adjusting to the fact that winter is making strides our way and there is nothing we can do to hold it back. I guess that's how life is. It just keeps coming. So, we run the race with it, not with false starts or hesitations, but with direction, boldness, and vigor. We have a reason for living, don't we. And I sense you are getting a feeling that you are just where God wants you to be."

Much Love,
Rachel

...

The wind has all but wiped away the leaves from the branches, rendering the trees a naked silhouette in the cold. These are the sirens warning of the coming snow, and the inevitable bite of Jack Frost.

I don't know why or where it comes from but sometimes I have the most incredible moments of flow where my words are poetic and dripping in imagery. I love those moments. I also love candles, and while growing up with mom always having candles around the house, I didn't truly appreciate them until living with Amy. Now it's rare for me to not have candles burning these days. Unfortunately, I am really picky on scents, most I don't find appealing. Thanks to Tanya and her wonderful sister Suzi, I did find a line of candles that I will probably forever buy from; PartyLite. Nothing like name dropping eh!

I find myself tonight in my room, blasting some rap crap as my dad would call it. I have a laundry list of to-do's:

-Laundry (gotta have clean clothes!!) Also, I am so excited and happy that Jeans and tennis shoes are my go to for work!!!! YAY.
-String white Christmas lights in my room to bring some light to this darkness. Not sure about the rest of the world but Alaska already has Christmas on its mind - it's not uncommon for me to pass by the secretary at work as she sings Christmas songs. :)
-Craft: I am starting to pick up knitting and crochet and let me tell ya, it's rather fun and kinda a thing to do when hanging out with most of the people I know here. I also have a birthday card to make for my boss and I haven't picked up my brushes in awhile.
-Application! not for a job but for training!! woohoo. I have to apply and write a paper explaining why I should be selected for scholarship funds. This will take place in December in Anchorage. I'm really excited about the opportunity to learn how to be a better leader and supervisor which is what this conference focuses on. It's 3 days and then afterwards there is a final project and teleconferences that are mandatory participation in the following weeks. The application deadline is Nov. 1.....

The happenings around camp seem to be focused on the hay tunnel at the barn, which I have yet to check out. But I will!

Hopefully, I can get some pictures taken for my next post.
Until then...Much Love.
Rachel

The week of Mondays

This week wasn't terrible but Friday sure didn't come fast enough. It started Monday morning. I didn't wake up early enough to shower so I washed my hair under the bathtub faucet. In the process of doing so I nearly gave myself a shiner, the bruise never developed (thank God because that would be embarrassing) but I did have a slight cut under my eye.

Work was a fiasco. Nothing went as planned and I was exposed to pink eye to boot. Thankfully nothing has progressed from that.

Speaking of my health, last week I had an ear infection  turn sinus infection turn horrible chest cough. So prayer for this to be over soon would be grand.

Falling into Winter

I'm not ready. I'm not ready for the snow. I'm not ready for the darkness. I'm not ready for the cold.

Luckily as of today, there has been no sight of the white powder in these parts, except for the distant mountains. Up North, however, they had 5 inches or so last weekend. What I get to enjoy for now is the golden array of the trees as they change color and end their time in one last dance, gliding and cutting through the air as the wind leads.

There really isn't fall in Montana, that I can remember, but maybe that's because I wasn't surrounded by the masses of trees stretching to the sky like in the Alaskan wilderness. It's really quite something.





For the last week and a half I have been living in Sterling (10 miles from Soldotna, house sitting for some friends that I have acquired through my Alaskan family. It's been so nice to leave the house 5 minutes before clocking in for work every morning. :) That will be something I will surely miss in the coming months as the days get darker, colder, snowier and icy; but for now, it's a real treat! Due do house sitting, I am currently the proud "owner" if you will of 3 ducks, 3 cats, 2 dogs and a rabbit. I am much more a dog person than a whole farm girl. Being by myself in the middle of nowhere is pretty lonely and scary when one is afraid of the dark. I mean, I love me some solitude but this constant?? NO THANK YOU!

I'm not sure of any new news to share with you - my job is changing a little. I will be doing the same thing, however, I will be splitting my time between two schools as my current case load at my "home base" is dismal and there are some schools needing 2 Care Coordinators because they have an abundance of clients needing services. I am happy to help wherever needed.


Stay warm friends and family.
Much Love. Rachel.

Scaredy Cat

I think I live in a state of constant fear, or maybe it's a state of constant anticipation of being scared.

People too easily have the advantage over me to frighten me and receive the pleasure of watching me jump, scream, and laugh from my foolishness until I cry.

This happened last night.

The power was out. Chad, Steph and I were sitting around the kitchen table, (our faces illuminated by a camping lantern) chatting when ratt tat tat on the front window. I jump...and probably scream - we all laugh when the neighbor Craig walks in. Through the window he saw me, we laughed harder. When he leaves I very wisely lock the sliding glass door behind me (anticipating his attempt to do it again, but from behind - at this point I'm smiling smugly, thinking I'm ahead in the game) but nope! The door didn't cooperate, Craig slid it open, I jumped and bellowed a great cry.

There is no winning for me.