I said yesterday that I was not going to complain anymore about the heat. Okay, I haven't. But when we turned on the swamp coolers dirt bombs last night I lost my meek and quiet spirit. I mean, it flew clear to Mississippi or somewhere that-away. I don't know why we tried to catch the dust in wet towels. Why bother? What is the difference whether you have to clean up one ton of dirt or two? Anyhow, that one thing just set me off, and I had to clamp my jaw shut to keep from hollering about all the things about the desert that I hated at that moment, that I didn't hate a minute before that. Well, I ran to the bathroom and had a good cry, and today I am better. If only I could be like Mrs. Moody of Mary Emma and Company. I sure do like that lady. She's my character hero. I think I am still waiting to get the "new creature". 
It was a good morning. The fact that I overcame my hate of the desert is a biggie. I thought I had made much more progress than that.
Also went to WalMart and had money left over when I came home. That is another biggie. Hooray!
And, I did a couple loads of wash with my new home-made laundry soap. It's at least as good as the cheap stuff I got at Smart and Final, which I have NOT been impressed with. I was not able to find essential oils -- where do you find those things? -- so I did not add any fragrance to the soap, but the clothes smell good and clean. I'll give a gallon of it to my elderly friend and see what she thinks.
My dear husband called a little bit ago from partway up Spirit Mountain, which is near the Nevada-Arizona border. He organized a men's mountain climb with three other guys from church. They were supposed to be doing this six-hour climb (both ways) and leaving one guy at the top to spend the night., then drive back to pick him up tomorrow morning. Well, after climbing for two or three hours they had gone less than two miles, but some are complaining of noodley legs, and they lost one guy over the edge... he's okay, just beat up. That was the guy who was going to spend the night. He is struggling under a big pack (which is the reason he went over the side -- the pack threw him off balance). One of the men is young and part mountain goat. That guy brought enough food and water with him for a three week survival trip. Another guy brought only a 20 oz. water bottle and two Milky Way bars. ROFL!! You have to know these guys -- this is so typical. Update: The real story is that that particular man had SIX water bottles, not one. That's better. My mistake. And then there is my husband, who also packed plenty of food and water, but is leading the pack and has no idea how to get to the top of this thing. So what we have here is a real motley crew. It certainly will be a day to remember. Maybe they'll get to the top next year... An old Indian legend around here says the mountain is sacred and if a man climbs to the top his feet will burn. That might be true if a man attempted this climb in July or August.
It was a good morning. The fact that I overcame my hate of the desert is a biggie. I thought I had made much more progress than that.
Also went to WalMart and had money left over when I came home. That is another biggie. Hooray! And, I did a couple loads of wash with my new home-made laundry soap. It's at least as good as the cheap stuff I got at Smart and Final, which I have NOT been impressed with. I was not able to find essential oils -- where do you find those things? -- so I did not add any fragrance to the soap, but the clothes smell good and clean. I'll give a gallon of it to my elderly friend and see what she thinks.
My dear husband called a little bit ago from partway up Spirit Mountain, which is near the Nevada-Arizona border. He organized a men's mountain climb with three other guys from church. They were supposed to be doing this six-hour climb (both ways) and leaving one guy at the top to spend the night., then drive back to pick him up tomorrow morning. Well, after climbing for two or three hours they had gone less than two miles, but some are complaining of noodley legs, and they lost one guy over the edge... he's okay, just beat up. That was the guy who was going to spend the night. He is struggling under a big pack (which is the reason he went over the side -- the pack threw him off balance). One of the men is young and part mountain goat. That guy brought enough food and water with him for a three week survival trip. Another guy brought only a 20 oz. water bottle and two Milky Way bars. ROFL!! You have to know these guys -- this is so typical. Update: The real story is that that particular man had SIX water bottles, not one. That's better. My mistake. And then there is my husband, who also packed plenty of food and water, but is leading the pack and has no idea how to get to the top of this thing. So what we have here is a real motley crew. It certainly will be a day to remember. Maybe they'll get to the top next year... An old Indian legend around here says the mountain is sacred and if a man climbs to the top his feet will burn. That might be true if a man attempted this climb in July or August.
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking:
and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exodus 20:18
Oh brother..
ReplyDeleteKristy
I did read that the earth is actually on a cooling trend, rather than warming....if that's any consolation for ya....:-)=)
ReplyDelete(to above comment - oh, no, I can't take it any cool then it was this past winter).
ReplyDeleteLOL, I didn't know your man was on a mtn. climbing trip - Jeff would love to join them I'm sure, but after hearing about one going over, maybe I shouldn't tell him. It's not good to lose church members literally.
We all have our mountains don't we...I have a whole chain. But, thank goodness our God is the Master Chiseler, even though it hurts a bit when He has to use the dynamite to do some leveling!
ReplyDeleteI pray everything went safe for your Hubby up in the mountains. Boulder-hopping is definitely not one of my favorite things to do.
I hope you finally got all the dust out of the vents...I've sorta noticed it a bit dustier than usual here, hmmm.
Blessings and have a wonderful weekend!
Yes I do go there. And I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteI hate heat too and I can't believe it's so hot there already. As you know, dh has been looking for available churches and I saw one in NM and one in TX....I'm like "uh, nope, God ain't in that!" lol
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love those swamp coolers. Putting out that cold, moist air into those hot desert homes. And the cheap cost to run those, can't be beat. Except for that little bit of dust at the beginning of the year, they are top in my books. Can you tell I pay the electric bill?
ReplyDeleteI was remembering when I first moved to the desert. I was a young bride from Denver who got yanked out of that lovely city at the base of the Rocky Mtns., to the middle of no-where in Nevada. Truly, it was the shock of my life! Now, I love the desert, but it definitely took some hard work on the Lord's part and some real submission on my part to come to this place in my life. I still don't like the dust (the winds have been HORRIBLE here the past few days) and I'm not crazy about the heat, either. However, there really is a beauty about the desert that grows on you. Give it time - it will happen. :o)
ReplyDeleteI hope everything is going well with you! I'm going to try and come by and visit more often!! Take care and God bless you!
Love, Julie
Hey, saw that you were as crazy as I am, being up and online at such a late hour of the night, and I thought I'd stop by and see what was up. I'm glad you're feeling better about the world.
ReplyDeleteI will make plans to read more of the Ralph Moody series this summer. I couldn't quite appreciate The Home Ranch as much--it details his life while on the ranch with Mr. Batchlett, et al before going home to Mom. I suppose if I were a cowgirl or had some love for horses, it might be better, but that's not me, and I think it shows in my reading the story to the kids. It's taken us longer to get through this book than the others, but some of that is the busy-ness of the school year vs. summer time, which is when we began The Home Ranch. Anyway, hopefully we'll get back to the story at the point that they crept out of Littleton to avoid testifying against the elderly man and headed back east.
God bless you, Sally, and I hope that your husband and the other men make it safely back. I laughed as I read your post, thinking about a fishing trip that my husband took with the men's group at our church. They wound up in a canoe making circles in the Guadalupe before they got straight, and the Bible study went out the window when the leader lost the Word in the same river. Men are so special--LOL.
Belinda
Okay, I'm going to bed, but I just wanted to respond while I had a minute and was still somewhat coherent.
ReplyDeleteWe've actually been to Ft. Davis, the home of the Buffalo Soldiers, and the kids have been to two of the Buffalo Soldier museums/ exhibits, one of which is here locally.
You're right--they are a wonderful piecce of our history. Normally for WWII, I make a point of mentioning the Tuskegee Airmen--another exciting piece of history. But, as I said, you never see Native Americans after the 1700's, so I'm excited to read a more recent book that continues their story.
Finally, as I said to another blogging buddy, I don't really consider myself a classical purist, although Charlotte Mason is, in essence, a classical approach. We don't focus as much on memorization--this year they've memorized US Presidents, which, outside of scripture and a poem or two over six years, is about as much memorization as they get. I have not involved them as much as I perhaps should in the core of what we're learning (they do get some options in how and when we learn certain "electives.") Thus, they don't get much of a choice, and they know me well enough to know that complaining has limited results, and those are usually negative. I suppose it is a function of child training--we don't do much delight-directed around here--LOL!
Thanks so much for sharing, and God bless!
Hi, I saw your comment on Belinda's blog, and wanted to come over to encourage you. I don't believe that children not wanting to be educated in the classical manner is any indication of a discipline problem. It is an indication of learning styles and preferences. Forcing our children to "learn" in a way that is not good for them is breeding rebellion and stiffling learning. We must each go with what God has placed in our hearts, not out of fear or comparing ourselves to others. My children (and most) learn best by being given the freedom to explore the world around them and study deeply things that are interesting to them. Others learn well under classical or "traditional" methods. There is nothing wrong with you or your children if you have chosen a different way!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to meet you. My computer time is over, but I want to mark your site and come back to read some more!
Letitia