McKenzie Elizabeth

McKenzie Elizabeth came into our lives on a hot late June day. She had been taken from her mom at a very young age.  We took her home at 6 weeks of age. None of the pups had fresh water or food available. We took Kenzie and my sisters friend took in the rest of the pups and found them good homes.

 

This sweet lil girl was born on May 24, 2001..which was also the hunky hubbys golden birthday.

At a couple years of age she was diagnosed with hip diplasia.  She never ever let it slow her own. She traveled the 48 continental United States and several Providences in Canada. She sure enjoyed being a trucking pup.

Within the past year we had to finally put her on medication for her hips. Her health was going downhill and she was hurting...I am devestated to report that on October 9th, 2015 we took McKenzie to the veterinarian and held her as she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I'm at loss for words. We lost three of our furbabies this year...Arizona on 2/18/15 from cancer, Brayden on 7/18/15 from old age and his body just shut down & now Kenzie...It's hard to wrap my head and heart around this. It hurts.

Rest in sweet peace my baby girl.

Brayden Michael

On November 12, 2000 our sweet boy Brayden Michael was born. On July 18, 2015 he crossed the rainbow bridge. Brayden came to us at about 8 weeks old. He was a bloated fluff ball. He had some health issue which we got taken care of right away and he never had any other issues until this year when he came down with a vestibular issue. He bounced back from that for the most part and remained his active lovable self. To some, he was just a dog. He was my best friend, my son, my baby boy. Both Ken and I held him in our arms in our den until he breathed his last breath and then we held him more. Brayden changed us and made us better. He lit up the room with his silly spunk and his adorable pearly white doggy smile. He would jump in my arms and loved to be held like a baby. My heart is broken and our house is empty without him but I am ever thankful for the almost 15yrs he gave us. RIP Brayden Michael

I see a wish

 

 

This is where I am at in life. 

Some see a weed,

Some see a wish.

 

  A dandelion makes it's way through the most difficult places.  It doesn't always have room to grow, but it does. So, in life, I choose to be a dandelion.  Rather, I should say, I am trying my darndest.

I am learning to slow down, to allow the changes and to be patient.

It's not always easy.  In fact, it's hard as hell. 

But, I will get through this particular season in life.

Nothing is impossible.

 

 

Times, they are a changin'

 

In December 2013 we went to our local animal shelter and adopted this senior sweetie that we named Isabella Jewels.  She showed up in a persons back yard during an ice storm.  She was frostbitten and very thin and scared.  She showed us more love in the almost 3 months we had her than one could ever imagine.  She crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 27th, 2014.

 

 

 

Also, On February 27th , 2014 we had to say goodbye to our sweet Allison Jeanne.  She crossed the Rainbow Bridge minutes before Isabella.  She was 12yrs old.  Twelve years was not enough time with our lil silly girl.

 

 

 

 

 On the same day that we said goodbye to our Isabella and Allison, we were contacted by my cousin about a doggy that needed a home.  We knew it was too soon...but, all weekend long we couldn't stop thinking of this little 1yr old pup that needed us.  We loaded Brayden, McKenzie & Arizona into the Yukon and headed to the local animal shelter to meet miss Zoey Marie.  Within minutes, we had ourselves a sweet little girl.  Our hearts were filled with joy.  However, Zoey became very aggressive toward the other pups as time went on and we had to rehome her. She left our home December 2014. She is doing absolutely amazing and is spoiled rotten.  The lil stinker just needs one on one attention.

 

Our house was far too quiet and the morbid part in us knew we needed to plan for the future.  Our oldest pup Brayden is turning 15 in November and McKenzie will be 14 in May & Arizona would be turning 7 in April.  We knew statistically speaking that our time with the Bray & Kenzie would be limited.  Arizona being an Alaskan Husky and the youngest of the pack has only known other animals.  We opted to look into adopting a puppy to keep her company. 

 

Wellllllllll......we went to get one puppy and came back with two 10 week old little girls.  We couldn't see separating them so Penny Marie and Jazmine Joy came home with us mid December.

 

 

 

Time went on and we knew our home was complete again.  Arizona, McKenzie, & Brayden were adjusting well and loved their little sisters.  I had an appointment set up for Jazmine and Penny to get the last round of their booster shots and opted to have Arizona checked out as well.  She didn't seem to be eating very well. 

 

The vet did xrays and blood work on Zona and found a large mass in her abdomen.  We opted to do whatever it took to save our lil girl. I had a terrible pit in my stomach about what they found.  We opted to take a run in the semi with the pups.  I had a hunch this would be Zona's last ride.

 

 We brought her for surgery two days after her appointment which was Wednesday,  February 17th.  I had to sign a waiver that if the mass in Zona's abdomen was not operable that she would not wake up from surgery.  About two hours after we dropped her off at the vet we were called....Zona didn't make it.  The mass was attached to everything.  We hopped in the Yukon and headed to the vets office to say our last goodbye.  Arizona Claire, just shy of her 8th birthday crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 17th, 2015.

To say this past year has been rough is an utter understatement.  We continue to miss our pups and at the same time, we continue to enjoy every minute we have with our Brayden Michael, McKenzie Elizabeth, Jazmine Joy & Penny Marie

 
Brayden Michael continues to love big riggin even though he suffers from a vestibular condition.

 
McKenzie Elizabeth still hops on the couch and barks at every possible thing that moves.

Last Week I took Jazmine Joy and Penny Marie for a walk (the older pups can't make it farther than a couple blocks at most these days). We ended up at my dad and step moms.  My little sisters and brother wore the puppies right out.  For hecklets I put the pups in the kiddy swing.  Oh my goodness they loved it!  Especially Penny!   Call me crazy, but, I am seriously contemplating on putting a swing like this up for our girls.

 

 

Times have and continue to change in the Woodbury casa.  Love remains and each day is an adventure.

Not your "typical" girl

Tomorrow is going to be so super exciting!! We are going on a lil road trip to Green Bay, Wi. It's the Green Bay Packer family night celebration. Both the hunky hubby and I are avid Packer fans. In fact, we may even bleed green and gold. 

We will be meeting up with two of our other friends and two of our nieces for lunch. That's sure to be an excellent time. We've been mighty blessed with amazing friends and family.

I'm looking forward to trying out a new BBQ place in the city before we head to Cabellas. I'm not the "typical" gal. I don't fancy big malls and fine jewelry, etc. Tomorrow will be filled to the brim with friends, family, BBQ, swimming, football and Cabellas. We are in the market for a Dutch oven...and that has me flip flippan stoked!!!

 Enjoy your weekend peeps and be blessed. I'll have a post in the near future of our dutch oven investment. 

In the meantime, feel free to share any Dutch oven cooking recipes with me. I'd be superly duperly appreciative. 

Gardeny Goodness

Today I rode my bike to our big garden.  The sun was shining.  It was a perfect day to be in the garden.  Wait, who am I kidding, any day in the garden is a perfect day!!

Last winter was harsh and we even had a snow storm in May.  That, combined with my surgery on May 27th put a slow start on the garden.  Thank goodness for my green eyed geek and lil brother.  They got the garden fence up and then they, along with our neighbor and a bit of myself, got it all planted. 

The beans and peas are finally flowering and in a week or two I should be picking some gorgeous delicious produce.  We have 56 tomato plants, green peppers, cantaloupe, watermelon, acorn squash, butternut squash, buttercup squash, onions, carrots, green beans, yellow beans, corn, peas, pumpkins, zucchini, broccoli & purple cabbage planted. Growing food is so extremely fun and rewarding.  I don't mind the labor and work one bit. 

Life...

I titled this  entry "Life."  It's what happens when days turn into weeks, weeks into months...so on and so forth. So many things and events...events that seemed to take away my writing mojo.  It is my hope to get back to writing as my life has started to come back together. So what has gone on in my life for the past several months?  Let me kinda sorta fill you all in. 

I continued to be unwell physically and emotionally.  Hormones will do that to you.  I finally had a full hysterectomy/ bilateral oophorectomy in May.  I haven't felt this good in years! It's no wonder as I found out after surgery that my left ovary was tangled in my colon and intestines.  Also, my other "lady guts" as I refer to them were filled with endometriosis and some other type of "osis." The dr said those organs were all stuck to other things.  So I was a mess.  I have no regrets at all about having everything removed.  It's a real celebration and such a relief to have the junk gone.  I am currently working with some natural hormone replacement therapy.

We adopted a senior doggy from our local shelter in December.  We named her Isabella.  She came to us frostbitten and thin.  We celebrated Christmas with her and gave her the best we were able to.  She even went big riggin with us.  Unfortunately she got very ill and she crossed the rainbow bridge on February 27th, 2014. 

February 27th, 2014 also brought us a sad farewell to our little Allison Jeanne.  Allison brought us so much love and joy in the 12 years we had her.

Losing Zander in August, Macey in October, and Isabella and Allison in February was incredibly hard and very emotional for us.  I still miss them so much.  On March 1st I got a tattoo on the inside of my right wrist of three pawprints in memory of my girls.

Winter was not only hard on our emotions, but it was also a rough winter weather-wise of record setting low temps and plenty of snow.  We haven't had a big winter like this past one in years.

Summer is going by so fast.  The garden is growing and soon I will be up to my eyeballs in gorgeous, delicious produce.  I am thankful I am getting my health back on track and am looking forward to getting myself back in shape and running races.  I am also quite excited to begin writing again.  I have oodles to share.  Canning, domesticness, gardening, cooking, the crazy Woodbury fur babies, big riggin with my babe, crocheting projects, and you know, all the crazy, ridiculous, scatterbrained thoughts that pop into my head.

Hope you all are doing super awesome!! 

It's never goodbye, it's, see you later

 

 

It is with a completely heavy heart that I inform you, that our beloved Macey Jewels crossed the rainbow bridge at 3:49pm on October 2, 2013 at the wise age of 13. 

 

Macey was our first pup and she taught us more than we could imagine. We adopted her from our local Animal shelter as a weee pup.  She was splattered with white paint and she fit in my jacket.  She was the original Woodbury trucking pup.  Having traveled to the 48 continental United States and four Providences in Canada.  She was a well traveled girl.  Everybody that met Macey Jewels loved her, and she loved them also.  Our home is not the same without her and our hearts are broken.

 

 

 

Macey Jewels

11-22-99 to 10-2-13

17th Anniversary

March 23rd, 2013 the green eyed geek and I celebrated our 17th anniversary.  We had his works award banquet that night so we rented a room...actually, it was a fancy suite!  We have never ever done that before ever so this was a real treat!  I am so completely blessed to have found my soulmate at such a young age.  He completes me. 

2013 Aspirations

How I begin every New year is with a random list of aspirations.  This year I've got a lot on my mind to try to accomplish.  I don't necessarily plan out when I will tackle these aspirations.  I take them as they come...and sometimes they don't come and are rolled over to the next year to work on.  Life is all about creating new experiences, and moving on.  These are just a fraction of the things I am hoping to work on in my life in 2013.

~Ride a Mechanical Bull
~Knit
~Make myself a sweater, preferably out of non scratchy wool
~Learn something new
~visit the dentist (I am a huge sally)
~Exercise
~Try a new food...not octopus!
~Have a veggie and successful flower garden
~Plant a tree
~Make bread
~Pick wild fruits
~Camp at least 4 times
~host game nights
~hug more
~swear less
~write more
~Save $
~use my treadle sewing machine to make something dandy
~volunteer
~witness a miracle
~pay for a strangers meal
~make candles
~drive across the mighty Mac. This is HUGE!!!
~Declutter Oh boy, have I got my work cut out for me with that one
~Try a turnip
~watch more sunrises and sunsets
~Picnic in the park
~Wear a bathing suit in public and not be all skiddish
~learn to make sausage
~take bikerides
~adopt better sleeping habits
~borrow books from the library
~eat breakfast
~make gifts for giving
~read more books
~less time on facebook
~have more real conversations...less on the computer. That means ~more phone calls, in person lunches, visits, etc. Time to disconnect a bit to reconnect
~Call an old friend
~forgive someone
~stress less
~ride my bike or walk to places more
~say no. No to if I don't want to do something. I always say yes, even when I know it's too much on my already filled agenda
~say yes. At times I refrain from doing things for fear of a mm attack.

~and the biggest thing I am going to try to overcome is the feeling I have that I failed as a possible parent when we let Joy go. It has been two years and I think about her everyday and the day she left our home goes through my mind play by play often. I remember handing her over to a remarkable loving woman who I knew would love Joy and give her everything I knew I couldn't. I have never ever regretted the decision we made to let her go...but the feeling of being a failure and letting our family and my husband down still lingers. I need to start believing I had a part in giving Joy the best home that she deserves & put away her blanket that I'd snuggle her in night after night that still smells like her that sits in the laundry room. It's time to let go of the negative feelings I have about myself, and know that when I see Joy, it won't remind me of being a failure. Instead I will be reminded of the gift I helped to give Joy and her beautiful, loving family.

Fa La La La La

 The sprinkling of Yuletide joy has begun at the Woodbury casa.

 The angel ornament we bought 16yrs ago in honor of our babies Angel and Alex graces the tree.

 And the humminbird ornament that reminds us of Nana.

Day two of sprinkling some Christmas magic begins today.  The real magic is when the home is filled with loved ones making memories.

Embrace the beauty of the seaons

 This year we purchased a new Christmas tree. Our blue spruce was ohhhh, almost a couple decades old and it was time to get a new one.  Don't fear though, this gal did not throw out the old blue spruce.  It will make it's way into another room into our home. I may have to move some furniture around or out to the garage....hehe

Well, lil ole me couldn't wait to put the new 9 footer up so I opted to decorate it for my most favorite season in the U.P., Autumn.  We truly have the greatest seasons up north. 

The trees are bare now, and we have had a few flurries.  Today the transformation of the Woodbury casa (no it's not a real casa) begins.  Bring on the Christmas magic!!

Embrace the seasons and celebrate their beauty

Laaaa Laaaa Laaaa LAMBEAU!!!!

On October 28, 2012 the green eyed geek and I went to our first game at Lambeau together.  This was my very first time watching my boys in green & Gold play at La la la Lambeau.  This was a total dream come true for me.  I've waited 37yrs for this day....and I got to experience it with my very bestest friend, the hunky hubby =)  I've got Lambeau fever and can't even wait to go watch another game!!! 

Happy Easter!!!

Sixteenth wedding anniversary

Snow

When Mother nature finally decides to give you snow....

Be sure get get your buns outside

and make a snowman!!!!

Day one in the 100 day challenge

‎1. My favorite color is currently green

2. My eyes are hazel, not brown

3. My mom died at age 55 & my biological mother died at age 52.…and that scares me

4. I rarely, if ever drink

5. I have never done illegal drugs

6. I talk to my pets

7. My best friend is a brown haired green eyed hunk…aka the hubby Ken

8. I smoke a swisher sweet on my birthday

9. I love my job as a domestic goddess

10. I oftentimes wonder what my calling in life is

11. I believe in forgiveness

12. I used to go to camp with my real dad on the weekends and we would munch on a tube of Pringles and squirt cheese on the way there.

13. I love to run & hope to do a half marathon this summer…as long as my shin splints behave

14. I have soil from Kens grandparents grave in a jar in our bedroom.

15. I’m no longer scared of going deaf

16. I have awesometastic inlaws that treat me like I am their own daughter.

17. I like to spin my own yarn

18. I would love to make or buy a kite and head to the park and fly it.

19. Octopuss’ scare the living shite out of me!!!

20. I actually have come to love how faduckled up my life has been & cannot imagine it any other way.


21. I pray every night

22. I am a firm believer that one cannot read too many books

23. I have never had a pedicure.

2011 in Review

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? went to Grand Island, asked for help

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make resolutions...I like to call them aspirations. I was able achieve most of them. I like to have many aspirations/goals

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? yup, my beautimus sister Elizabeth had my handsome nephew Asher
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. Aunty Ev & Most people do not really know or understand that my real mom and I actually had quite a nice relationship. She passed away on December 8th, 2011 & I sure do miss her silly self. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity of getting to know her.
5. What places did you visit? family & friends homes, Otter Lake, Lyman Lake

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? I was not lacking in 2011. I have the most awesome friends and family and I HAVE enough. People need to quit wanting more more more and realize what they DO have is all they really NEED.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 23~ our 15th wedding anniversary. April 30th~ We put together a benefit for our friend who had been involved in a car accident, November 8th~the day I thought my life was ending, December 8th~getting the call from my real mothers fiance saying my 52yr old real mom had died

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Organizing a benefit for our friend Steve and his family.

9. What was your biggest failure? I'm not a failure, I make mistakes and I learn from them.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, gotta love being a woman

11. What was the best thing you bought? my hearing aids. they flippan rock!!! I swear I could hear a mouse fart =)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? anyone who stood up for what they believe in and worked to make our world a better place

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Not for me to judge or to advertise

14. Where did most of your money go? trucking stuff....

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Running races, golfing, camping, Lake Superior Adventures, being with family and friends, crocheting, saving our kitty Jade Noel from the Animal shelter, going to the Eskymo football games and watchign my lil brother play.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011? Eric Church's "Smoke a lil smoke"

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I'm happy go lucky
b) thinner or fatter? same, maybe a bit thinner
c) richer or poorer? about the same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? writing, learning, hugging

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? worrying

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2011? We went to Ken's grandparents for Christmas Eve, went to midnight mass with my brothers Mike & Kelly, opened gifts that night, slept in Christmas morning and then headed to the VFW for the Pepin Christmas shindig. After the hall several family members came to our house to watch the rest of the packer game.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011? I fall in love with my hubby more and more as time goes on. He truly is one remarkable nerd.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Big Bang Theory, Switched at Birth

23. What did you do for your birthday in 2011? Went camping at Otter lake and took a lil day trip to Grand Island
24. What was the best book you read?South of Superior was one of the many awesoem books I read this year.

25. What did you want and get? help

26. What did you want and not get? for all the homeless animals to be adopted

27. What was your favorite film of this year? "We Built a Zoo"

28. Did you make some new friends this year? I sure did!! I am sooo sooo blessed

29.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I am quite satisfied

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 20011? I wear what I am comfortable in

31. What kept you sane? a supportive and wonderful husband, family, my fab friends & our furry kids
,
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I honestly don't get into the whole celebrity thing

33. What political issue stirred you the most? I always get stirred about supporting our troops, gay rights and welfare reform

34. Who did you miss? Nana, Joy, Mom & Dad, Karen

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. To Love me for who I am. I don't ALWAYS have to be strong. I cannot change certain things about myself. I am beautiful in my imperfect skin and it's ok to think that.

2012 Aspirations

It's a new year & with a new year comes a new list of aspirations for the coming year. I look forward to what 2012 has in store for us and our lil furry family & I wish you all the love, light and happiness for a Happy New Year!!!


~Make butter
~Tap a maple tree and make syrup
~Lay in the back of the truck under lots of blankets and gaze at the stars
~Knit a project
~Try new recipes
~Drive across the Mackinac bridge
~Run 8 races
~Grow a successful garden
~Do something extraordinary for a stranger
~Forgive someone
~Milk a cow
~Ride a mechanical bull
~Sew 6 projects
~Clean & organize craft room…and keep it that way
~Repaint the craft room
~Print off pictures of family and put into an album
~Handmake gifts
~Plan at least two family fun days
~Go to a new campground
~Host 6 game nights with family and friends
~Make birthday cakes
~Stay on budget
~Hug more
~Make lip balm and other cosmetics
~Do something for charity
~Put up a new clothesline and use it often
~Decorate for all holidays
~Read as many books as possible
~Take a class (college, art center)
~Attend play performances
~Crochet socks
~Go hiking on Grand Island
~Go to a Packer game
~Do something that scares me
~Swim
~hand wax our vehicles monthly & get them serviced
~Go to a Hooters
~Simplify
~Learn how to cut snowflakes out of paper
~Make a huge snowman
~Wear a dress at least 6 times
~Change oil in our vehicle
~Ride in a taxi or public transportation
~Volunteer
~Learn something new
~Write
~Learn Yoga, Zumba
~Pray
~Visit where my real mom Karen’s ashes are scattered
~Visit our babies memorial twice
~Plant flowers at Mom & dads grave
~Adopt a family for the holiday
~Go to Massachusetts
~Learn to play an instrument
~Have my nieces and nephews and young siblings over for a slumber party
~Run in the rain
~Paint the garage
~Preserve food from the garden
~Buy locally
~Repair or make the items we need when possible
~Purchase as many of our necessities from independent businesses as we can
~Play Twister

Suicide Mud Plunge 2011

Our team "The Flying Feathers" participated in the first Mud Plunge last Saturday in Ishpeming, MI. It was a 5k run in mud pits with 6 different obstacles. I totally knew it was going to rock all sorts of butt when we signed up. This gal right here LOVES getting dirty!!

This is my Anytime Fitness family. Joining the gym last November was one of THE most rewarding things we have ever done. It's brought us closer, met new friends, not to mention the crazy amount of benefits it has done to our bodies. Have you seen my Ken lately??? Check out those guns!! Yum Ok, back to the race....

We ran through fields, the forest, muddy roads, over hurdles made of logs, through a rope spiderweb, through tires, climbed a 10ft wall, crawled on our tummies through a fantastic mud pit, stood in front of firehoses to rinse off.....ohhh I'm tellin ya, it. was. AWESOME!!! I was so completely terrified of the darn climbing wall. Remember, I can trip on my own shadow and my balance is super wonky. But I DID IT!!!!! CHAAAACHING!!!

Not only was it fun, but mud is good for your skin!! And who doesn't fancy a muddy hunky hubby...and firemen spraying you off with hoses. Man, that water was FREEZING!!!

Can't wait till next years event!! You can bet your buns we will be back!!!

Team Flying Feathers: Derek & Shelli, Kathy & Ken