One We Will Never Forget

Well the elusive winter set in on our side of the mountain.  A friend and I were talking the other day and she eluded to the fact that Cam and I never seem to be on the easy path... it's always the path of MOST resistance.  Maybe we like to punish ourselves, or maybe we don't feel alive unless we are hanging upside down by the tip of our toes over a burning fire...

Most of you probably know, but we used to love all the Alaskan survival shows... one thing we always noted was how much time is spent merely surviving.  Getting water, making fire, acquiring food, staying warm.  It all becomes very basic when you take modern conveniences out of the picture, but that doesn't mean it doesn't take time and lots of work.  Granted, we are still cruising to the grocery store, but it is amazing the hours Cam has spent collecting water, thawing pipes, or contemplating how to keep our water supply running in the almost two months we have been living in the trailer.  I make a bonfire daily when I get home from school, and while we have a good stack of wood, it's disappearing quickly!   On the other side of our life, I am in a super intense nursing program that requires I am prepared... and don't look like a dirty pioneer in the mornings. 

It's taken me a while to contemplate this post, because there is a fine line between talking about struggles and whining.. but I want to give an accurate portrait of some of the challenges we have been facing...

• Laundry: I used to do at least a load of laundry a day..  With kids and a hard working guy I had plenty to do!  Now we try to stretch it to once weekly.  Not our most favorite chore.  The Laundromat is a combination between the mall and Jerry Springer.  It would be a great place to study society. 
• Cold:  It hit 9 degrees on my way to clinicals the other morning... There has literally been ice on the inside of some of our trailer walls!  Luckily our neighbor gave us some hay bales to put under our trailer... WOW!!! What a difference that made.  Nevertheless it has forced us inside at earlier hours which makes for some crazy toddlers at times. 
• Water: Constantly running water was just a passing luxury as pipes are frozen daily now, adding another task to Cam's schedule and taking time away from other projects.  Showers are timed at just the right point in the afternoon where they are late enough to last into the next day and early enough that the pipes are still ok. 
• Shop: Building is coming along, doors should be up soon and then we will get inspected and be able to move our trailer in and get going on the luxuries (washer/dryer, TOILET, and fireplace).  It's really looking good. 
• School:  Talk about a challenge!  This is an intense and unforgiving program... You fail a test and you are done.... Yikes.. Talk about pressure. I had to re do my first, (#5 of 6) skills test, which was a hit to my ego, but I'm trying to remember all the good sports psychology I know and keep my head right!  We are finally out working in the community though and that has resurged my commitment to become a great nurse. 

It is  crazy, and I know for our loved ones it seems REALLY crazy.  But Cam and I have yet to back down or give up on a challenge and we certainly aren't going to start now. 

Oh and for anyone who hunts... talk about bucks galore... cold weather really brings them in!

Snowflakes on the Horizon

Woke this morning and saw a snowflake on the forecast for this coming Thursday... WOW!!!  I never knew so many emotions could be tied to the weather app.  It's very exciting to be living in a land of true seasons now, but of course we are in a hurry to get our living conditions up to the challenge of surviving a winter.  Today was definitely one of the coldest we have had yet, but spending so much time outside we seem to be well adapted, and just seem to build bigger and better fires!

Cal and Dottie joined us for the weekend.  It's so nice having them, and although we are so busy, it's a definite comfort.  Enjoyed good times around the campfire, and the kids love running down to their trailer in the mornings.  Today we trailed the quads up Sinlahekin Valley again.  The kids were bundled... wrapped... squished... and then some!  It was a chilly ride, but oh so gorgeous and fun to have our quad family all in a row.  We made it up to the middle of no where and made a big fire right in the middle of the "road."  Kendyl fell asleep in-between Cal and Dottie on both the way up and back down.  Bear started nodding off behind me as well and I had to rouse him so he wouldn't fly off on a corner... I've tried to take pictures of the land we ride around in, but it really doesn't do the landscape justice.  It's a combination of typical Eastern Washington awesomeness.... and the alps.  You come around some corners and it just opens up before you.  Although the colors are fading as winter nears, the expansiveness is breathtaking.  


































Back at home the guys got to work hanging lights in our shop.  It was so weird to see light.  We have been so used to the darkness after sunset, the shop looks so foreign down there now.  The trailer is getting quite small though, and I'm day dreaming of a washer/dryer, bathroom, and a few more square feet.   

150 Square Feet... Or LESS

I calculated today that we live in around 160 square feet... That being the shell of our trailer, so I would say realistically it's about 100 square feet of "livable, movable, breathable space."  I mean, sit down and think about that for a minute!  That is an 18th of our modest 1800 sq. foot house we previously lived in.  Add two busy kids, a three foot stack of nursing books, my laptop and printer, and all the accessories we all come with, and you can only imagine what mayhem often ensues... AND that is not counting my closet hahahah (Most of that lives in a Rubbermaid under the trailer).    Like I've said though it's really not that bad.  Cam and I still seem to really like eachother, the kids think endless camping is great, and we are still living a relatively posh life (never hungry, cold, or miserable).  There are times at the height of child chaos where Cam and I just look at each other and all we can do is laugh... But the best option really is to not be in 100 square feet... The best option is to be outside. 

 
Sunday was really a great day.  We trailered the quads up the Sinlahekin Valley where we unloaded and set out on our first longer ride.  It was a little chilly, but the scenery was unbelievable.  Heading up the canyon we followed a frosty creek winding up roads lined with Aspens, whose yellowy orange leaves carpeted the logging road and framed the roads like a something out of a painting.  We road through a herd of cattle and squared off with two enormous bulls.  Yes, Kendyl was delighted and yelling "Moo Cow!" the rest of the trip.  After one quick pit stop we made
it up to Cam's late archery high hunting camp and made a fire.  It was nice to warm our hands and give the kids a chance to stretch their legs.  We finally decided we should head back down before it got too cold, so we loaded the troops pointed our trusty machines downhill.  Must have been a smooth ride because Kendyl zonked right out and I had to ride the rest of the way with her in front of me.. belly to belly.  It's a rough life I tell ya.






Back at the homestead fires have been blazing and the kids have been occupied with a pile of mill ends that they organize and build things out of.  It's childhood at it's finest to watch.  Even Riggs the dog lucked out and Cam built him a dog mansion that is insulated to
boot!  Cam is trying to research ways to train him to find sheds, and we were out hiking around looking for some today after school.  The weather is really changing and brings a sense of urgency to get prepared to deal with snow.  Maybe because it's our first year over here, or we just are enjoying our pioneer life, but facing these challenges is somewhat of a thrill... Everything is a little harder, riskier, and takes conscious effort.  This is our opportunity to grow and instill a sense of confidence in our kids.  We have a long way to go, but we are on the journey. 

A Day Home On The Range

Enjoyed such a nice day at home after a CRAZY week.  I put in 15 hours Wednesday for a nursing conference in Wenatchee followed by my first clinical days at the long term care facility in town.  Cam and the kiddos were limited by rain, as were the workers and shop progress.  As always, we made it through though.  Rising to the occasion seems to be a specialty around here.  No pain, No Gain!

Halloween is one of my favorite times... All fun, No stress.  Luckily my clinicals started at 6am
(early!!) so I was done by a decent hour and home to dress up the little guys.  Minnie Mouse and Spiderman were soon pillaging the local businesses for candy.  Kendyl was a little unsure about some of the kids' costumes and both of them became mutes when they actually had to say trick or treat, but all in all a great night. 

Done early, we visited our neighbors and let the kids play with their crew of 5.  Good talks about self-sufficient living, schooling options for kids, and family life.  The variety of life is amazing; and though you are certain to encounter differences, it's amazing the common ground you can find with near strangers.  It's a bit intimidating at times breaking in to a new world, and we have been hesitant to do so (Not to mention we have no free time); but it is nice having a little connection here and there.  We are recreating every aspect of our world it seems, forming into what we want.

 After much excitement, the kids slept well and we woke to a beautiful clear day.  After a good breakfast we decided we were going to stay home ALL day!  So, we set out on the quads to do some more exploring.  Up to the state land and we were met by the views that I can't seem to get enough of. Cam found a really cool shed (deer antler) and we saw some SNOW... in the distance at least.  The wind was blowing pretty good on the lookout, but the kids didn't seem to be bothered by it and they scouted the area.  Explored some new areas on the way home and checked out progress on the shop. 

 

 

Our bones are ready for a roof!  The walls are framed in and things are taking shape.  Although our living space will still be small, boy are we ready :)  It has really changed the landscape to see a structure evolving.  Cam got a good amount of work in with the two man crew while me and the kids caught up on some much needed sleep which energized us for an afternoon hike.  It was really a good day!  Chickens and bees are my springtime goal.... I like to have something to look forward to. :)