Keep On Keeping On

Well, it is heating right up around here.  Down in town it's hit 100 for the last week or so, and up in our hills we are only a few degrees behind.  Today it hit 103 and Cam noted that is a full 100 degree change from some of the coldest days in winter.  While it has limited our "heat of the day" activity, we seem to be tolerating it, and last night was the first that Cam mentioned he had a hard time sleeping due to the warmth.  It has been cooling down some at night and the early morning is a beautiful time.  The kids seem to be enjoying the summer, although every once in a while Bear asks when it's going to snow! 

Heading back to school was rough after my break.  I enjoyed my days at home with the family and being back on the kid schedule.  This is a quick quarter though, and at the end I will have my LPN and only 3 quarters left until my RN.  I can't believe we've already been here the best part of a year, and have now seen ALL seasons.  Summer is yet another beast.  It's harder on animals, little people, and the land.  The threat of wildfires is already here, and it's just another reminder that we are actually part of the natural world around us; that as much as technology has advanced us, mother nature still has the final say.  Luckily we have a metal shop distanced from the timber, but still worry for those around us, and what such a dry year may bring. 

 The three of us took a little journey over to the Spokane area to scout camping sites for the week we will spend when I have to work over there in July.  It's fun being in a new region, and while I am a bit nervous about the job at hand, having my family there will make it all the better.  We stayed a night in Spokane, went out for Italian food, and explored the city a bit.  Home of my beloved Gonzaga Bulldogs, so I wasn't complaining.  Then it was back home for kids doctor's appointments and real world chores.  The kids and I took a quick trip back to the coast to make the rounds with the family before school started up again.  We enjoyed some quality time with my folks and grandparents.  Cal and Dottie spent several days with us last week.  We enjoyed their company, many good meals, and they were able to explore a bit on their quad; Cam and I even got out on a date night!  Cal helped Cam build an overhang above the door to our shop, and over the area where we stack wood in the wintertime.  This was really the one chore that needed to get completed before the cold weather sets in, so I'd say our winter list is looking good; we have plenty of wood, a weather proof shelter, and now a place to keep our wood supply dry and easily accessible.  We also had a great visit from my cousin and his family.  It is such an amazing thing to see those you love grow and flourish.  I loved sharing our new world with them, but I especially loved seeing the happiness they have as well, and our visit definitely left my heart full!  There are many ways to go about this life, but it's a personal choice to make it how you'd like, and it takes a strong person to make strong decisions for themselves and a family. 

After our company had gone, it was back to the grind for me.  The big event at home has been the filling of our pool!  We were a bit nervous about testing our well, so spread it out by 4 days, and have been enjoying the cool water ever since (and the water supply seems to be holding nicely).  A nice dip definitely helps to ease the heat of some of these days, and I often feel like I sizzle upon entering the water.  I have a feeling Cam was right, that it might just be a necessity this summer. 

The other BIG BIG news around the ranch involves our game cameras.  After a couple weeks off from checking them, we rode up after dinner last night to discover a ton of new pictures that included a LARGE COUGAR.  Cam and I have seen one cougar together in the wild, the only one either of us has ever laid eyes on.  We were bear hunting up behind the North Fork Brewery up the Mount Baker Highway, cruising along the backroads, when I spotted a cat on the side of the road.  I let out the only words I could muster, and we slowed.  It was like a slow motion movie when that animal looked right at us for what seemed like forever.  LONG, skinny, and powerful, is what I remember, with a very long tail, and eyes that have anything BUT fear.  Cam of course wanted to shoot, but I asked him not too and remarkably he watched the animal athletically head into the trees.  I told him he would have good hunting karma for allowing what he considers one of the hardest kills to walk on.  THIS cougar, looks a little bigger than what we saw.  We caught the picture at about 10pm above the lake by our house.  Here's the thing... we know we are surrounded by them, we even talk about it when hiking sometimes, wondering how many we have probably passed.  With little ones, there is of course a greater concern, and if I could send out a memo to all the mountain lions in the area, I would tell them my hat is off, you have my respect, I'll gladly keep my distance and enjoy your legend as long as you stay away from my legacy.  Very cool to see really, but makes you think a little more when you are running in the morning.......

Apart from being in awe with our surroundings, we haven't been doing all that much.  I'm back to late nights and early mornings, and IT's HOT.  I feel like we should be planning for next year, as far as a garden, animals, and food storage, but with building a house on the horizon, it seems we are ok with a bit of "down time."  That's not to say it's all smooth sailing around here (it wouldn't be Team Brown without a little excitement), for today the washing machine broke, and the AC in both our travel trailer and my car went out.  The travel trailer was an easy fix, Cam will look at my car tomorrow, and order a part for the washer... Does anyone know where the gravy train is?? Because we certainly have yet to find it!  Needless to say, we high tailed it to the lake today to cool off and get out of the shop for a bit.  Cam made me crab stuffed salmon (courtesy of Jeremy and Elicia---such good fish!) for dinner, and now all is quiet on the Eastern front.  There is a lot of work heading our way that I'm guessing will be accompanied by copious amounts of sweat, to the soundtrack of thunderstorms and joyful children and nail guns.  In this moment though, I'm happy to be on this journey; I'm tired because I work hard to have a career that will be good for my family, my husband can fix anything that breaks, our kids are thriving, and we are keeping on together. 

On Hiatus.... and Back Again

Well, I certainly apologize for the delay in postage.  I have had threats of discontinued subscriptions and calls for change in management.... my editor, Mr. Brown, has been encouraging, (aka bugging) me nightly to sit down and write.  I must admit, I needed a brain break during and after my spring finals.  I was happy to finish the quarter on a good note, but it did take it's toll as I developed quite the cold, that I am happy to be free of now.  I'm amazed we have made it through nine months of nursing school, and I do say WE because it is an all consuming undertaking.  It feels good to check goals off, and to be moving forward, but also to have a little break to be home and enjoy all that is around me.

Evening Hike in the Heat

Lake Time

Wow... where to start to catch up on two weeks of the Browns!  As you can imagine I probably

haven't been all that blog worthy with my stuffy nose stuck in a book for the last few weeks.  If you found alterations in cell functions or pharmacology noteworthy... well I'd say you're probably reading the wrong blog, or we can chat later :)!  The weather has really been heating up around here, pushing 100 degrees on more than a handful of days.  We seem to have become lake dwellers, whether it is up the driveway or up near the border, we can often be found on the banks enjoying the sun after a cool dip and watching the kids play.  Cam was able to travel home to attend Derrick and Anna's son's graduation a few weekends back.  He enjoyed his time there, slept out under the stars with his buddy, and represented our family at the special occasion.  Derrick also generously lent us his aluminum boat, which has become quite the centerpiece of life around here.  12 feet of pure lake born freedom.  Cam added some seats and away we have been exploring several local lakes.  The kids seem to enjoy the water, and Bear is trying his hand at driving.  It reminds me a bit of a treasure map when he drives, zig-zagging all over the place,  but with a big smile on his face.  The first night we took it out, it was so gorgeous.. the kids were turtle hunting, it was a picturesque night, and we saw tons of wildlife, including a beaver right at the boat launch that slapped his tail and made the kids jump a foot!  We've also been back up to Blue Lake, the alkaline lake with the baby turtles, and boated the length of the glass like water and went swimming at the far end. 

 A big highlight for the kids lately has been watching their caterpillars transform into butterflies.  Aunt Connie got them a little kit, and we immediately sent off for the caterpillars which soon arrived in a small jar.  Over the next couple weeks we watched them climb around, hang from the top of the jar and form their chrysalises,  complete metamorphosis into a butterfly, and hatch.  We read the book that came with and learned about the process, and the kids tried their best to say both "metamorphosis" and "chrysalis."  This study was culminated with the release of 5 beautiful butterflies.  I love seeing curiosity peaked, and there is nothing that can do that quite like nature.  It's amazing how fast they learn, just being a part of the world around them.  My parents always thought I

Morning Butterfly Release

would be a teacher, because I would come home, construct a seating chart and lesson plan and carry out a school day with my stuffed animals.... I guess there is part of me that loves to "teach," but as a parent I'm amazed at how much of a spark already exists, and how time, attention, and adventuring together are powerful ways to nurture their growing lives.  Pretty cool stuff to be a part of.

After my tests were over, we were able to celebrate with our friends Jeremy and Elisha and their daughter Madison.  We so enjoyed their company and being able to show them around our new neck of the woods.  We went to quite a few lakes (like I said... lake people!), did a lot of relaxing, a little fishing, and ate way too much good food!  The kids enjoyed playing together, and we even hit the

Pine Cone Bird Seed Feeders

waterslides in Chelan, which was quite the hit!  It was nice to sit around with real folks, and even have some moments of doing NOTHING.  While the weather had cooled off for the beginning of their trip, it warmed up, and we had some gorgeous evenings, and star filled nights.  We do of course miss our dinners together, but we are happy to share in a new chapter of our lives, and know that most understand the logic for our move, and we enjoy when people can see that first hand.   



Like all vacations though, time flies, and it seems reality comes around much too quickly to snap you out of the day dream.........  So after our guests departed today, we were back to work.  I had a couple of things to handle for school, and then we made a stop at the building supply store in town to talk to a gentleman about drawing our house plans!!  It seems my uncle has pulled off a less than 24 hour deal with the first person who placed an escalated offer on Rudy's house, and it has officially closed.  I'm not sure it could have gone more smoothly, once on the market.  We feel pretty lucky, and humbled.  But, in true Team Brown fashion, one door closing, means the construction of another.  Exciting, and overwhelming at the same time, when you are doing it yourself.  There is a zillion items running through our minds right now, but at the end of the day, I am certain nothing will stop us.