Five Minute Friday: Path...

Today is my first day joining in Five Minute Friday with The Gypsy Mama.

Here are the rules set by Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat - no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back to The Gypsy Mama.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.  Seriously.  That is, like, the rule.  And the fun.  And the heart of this community.

So today the word is Path

Start

I happen to like this thought.  A path to me conjures up a road with trees growing overhead - like a tunnel.  Then several years back I went to our family's new property for the first time - there was a path there that was my the perfect image of what I imagined to be wonderful.  


This path is used by 4-wheelers and gators.  We are on an island, there aren't vehicles.  We walk.  We have traveled this road many a time.  


Last week we were on our first walk to the isthmus and at the end of the path is a horse pasture -- horses are big, pretty, and scary.  I always dread the gate being shut.  As we walked closer we saw there was a new path - around the horse pasture.  Yea!  So, our walk on this path now does not require any adrenaline - except for the knowledge there is a bear (or maybe two) on the island right now.


At the end of the path is the joy of exploring the isthmus - tide in or out, it's always beautiful.

Stop

Wow - that was short!  I didn't get to tell you about the tide pools we enjoy, or the random red rock on a beach of pebbles.  I actually already had the collage made up about our walk to the isthmus -- remember my mention of a new addiction the other day?  Ya, so not only was this fun - but I already had a picture ready to go.

I am linking this up to The Gypsy Mama.  You should do this too - if you do, please comment and let me know.  I'd love to read yours too.

Rain, Rain....

First of all....I've found a new addiction - making collages on PicMonkey!  It was soooo much fun.  I've never understood the thrill of digital scrapbooking - wow!  probably just as well.  I spent this rainy day making collages for the blog - you will now see so many more pictures than you would have :-D.

As I mentioned on facebook earlier today - raindrops are dropping on our head....in the 10 days, we have seen one day with the sun.  We only see the mountains around us about half the time it has been so cloudy/rainy/breezy/foggy, and chilly.  But - I LOVE BEING HERE, the view, and the lifestyle promoted when here.  Everything slows down (or comes to a stop). 

Remember I told you about our wonderful shower...oh, it is wonderful!  However, when it is chilly (as in 42-50* with the breeze/wind off the glacier) as it has been - I do choose to time my shower carefully.  We have a small hot water heater, so while the shower includes hot water - you do have to shut the water off while washing your hair, shaving, body scrubbing -- or you will run out of hot water.  The shower is located under the far corner of the deck.  I took a picture so you could see it 'in action' :-D, besides I was waiting for the water to get warm.  What sits in the house is very cold.

See that tuft of grass to the right of the 'floor'?  It is about a foot lower than that front right corner - that is the top of a very steep 'hill'.  It is not a sheer drop off cliff but if you slip and start down, you won't slow down real quick.  The top right picture is the view you get to enjoy, savor (when it's warm out), and look at while in the shower.  The bottom right picture is the 'entrance' to the shower.  You stand under the cabin, leaving clothing & whatever you don't want wet or potential of heading downhill.  Then there are three rock steps down to the platform.  On the left, the wire basket holds shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and razors.  And the stump just in front of it helps hold the wire basket flat - and to set your shower necessities on, or just to keep your balance so you don't head downhill.

{sigh}...

Oh, my heart is happy, happy, happy.  I am in a location I very dearly love.  I have both kids here with me.  AND I have had communication with both of my brothers today - one I got to see & hug and one was via several emails.  {sigh}  From Sept-May my brother, Matt, lives 2 miles up the road from us....it has been over a month since I've seen him.  He kept working out of town this winter, so I've seen him probably 10 times (other than in passing at church) since January - pathetic!  (however, we get his cute little girlie once or twice a week...)  So, he flew down here today bringing a potential work crew to see about framing up the new cabin.  We got to see him for a couple hours before they had to head back.

Would you like to see my view when I work here?  Good, here is my view from sitting on the couch.  Also, I am sleeping on the couch (100% by choice) so I can enjoy this view to its fullest.  I love, Love, LOVE waking up during the night/early morning and seeing the mountains with the sun coming over them.  I soak it up.  I love waking up and just knowing this is my view -- it really does satisfy my core.

Can you even believe this?!  It makes me so, so happy.  Even when I spend hours on the computer here - this is what I get to look up and see.  To my right are two windows just about six inches shorter than the one straight ahead that opens.  The two on the right don't open.  This is basically the whole room - it is 16x16; and two of the four walls are basically windows.  Totally my kinds of room!  The metal ladder will not be the permanent access to the loft above, but it is what we use for right now.  See that "pole" on the left side?  That is actually a tree, it goes through the floor and the roots are still in the ground under the cabin.  I will show you more pictures of that tree later - but for today, that is all you'll see.  'Cuz I'm still gushing over my view...can not get enough of it!

When I stand at the tree, in the center of the room - this is what I see.  I NEVER get tired of this view - it just really sets everything right for me.

This is when I step out the door.  {sigh}

Thank You Lord, it is only because of Your provision this haven on earth is possible for our family.  

I can not even begin to express how much being here makes me happy...I have ached for six years to be able to come and just be.  We are basically glorified camping -- we have an outhouse, our kitchen sink is outside (rain or shine, we wash dishes outside), our shower -- oh, wait until I show you the shower!, we have to fill our 300 gal water tank every couple days, and in general it simply is not convenient.  But it is oh, so very wonderful and worth every bit of extra work it takes just to live here! 

oops....

I thought I posted last week.

When I just signed in I realized I didn't actually post last week, but it was one of the things I "did" in my sleep....*sigh*  For me, one of the signs of not enough rest and too much stress is that I start to have a hard time separating real life from everything I think of in my sleep.

I currently have several posts rambling around in my head.  Last week was INSANE - I had an unexpected job come up that had to be done right then (when I had actually expected those days to be used planning our trip).  Plus my son had his first youth group trip - he left on Friday afternoon, then Friday night & Saturday was a women's conference, and Sunday morning we left, picking up Vince on the way.

I'm super excited to now be here -- but it is no small process.  We are talking pack - load everything into boat on trailer - six+ hour drive - park truck/trailer - 30 min+ boat ride - unload stuff from boat onto shore - wait on shore while dad hiked up the hill to get the Kubota & trailer - load as much as possible onto trailer - then hike quarter of a mile UP - pull plywood from windows & doors - unload things from trailer - get power on - start unpacking while guys go for second load - while getting water tank filled - when trying to put food in frig it was moldy and standing water, find a spray bottle & vinegar, to clean out frig first - get freezer turned on - find toilet paper so we can go to the bathroom - okay, now we're starving (it's 10:30pm!) - back to work, where are the sleeping bags, pillows, etc.  ....  So, when you figure we left at 12:15pm that put us going to bed at 12:46am ... it's funny no matter how we do it, it always seems to be a 12 hour process to get from home to cabin.  This time we were with dad & everything was already loaded into boat because it was the first trip down this year - other times while we may not need to pull plywood off, fill the water tank, or clean out the frig - we have another load/unload process in there.

Anyway, all of that is to say WE'RE HERE!  I even brought plants down and have them all planted.  I anticipate lots of playing with the camera, blogging, writing, reading, note writing, and software learning....and all with a view!  Rain or shine.

 on the way....  Isn't it gorgeous!

 oh, ya! .... so worth the drive and effort!

 This is about 12:30am, as we were brushing our teeth.

{the moon's light peeking through the clouds}

12:40 or so...the view from my bed.  LOVE it!

{This is as dark as it gets right now}

Are you able to get a glimpse of why I'm so happy to be here?  Can you believe that moon?!  Wait until you see more pictures :-D!

Beautiful...Wonderful!

The Cove in fall with snow coming down the mountains.

Fireweed in the fall.

Vince & Hickory creeping up to scare the seagulls.


All of us by the big rock.

This is the first time I've seen fall at our cabin. It is wonderful. Our cabin is finished & so wonderful cozy to hang out in. Here's the view out the window by my bed, where I'm sitting and typing this. We are so blessed to get away for a couple days & enjoy such wonderfulness :).