The Relentless Recruiter

And there I was, ringing up the pizza and making change when she came into my life.  The Relentless Recruiter.  I never saw it coming.  The questions were unassuming at first..."Do you volunteer?"...."Where exactly do you live?"....."Have you ever thought about volunteering for the fire department?"......"Did you know it's not all about running into burning buildings?"....."How many bales did you load today?"  and then she found the one question, and the one statement and she had me........the proverbial hook in the mouth and reeling me in, oh yeah, she was smiling.

She asked me if I was interested in EMS, and did I know she could get me trained for FREE!  I have been with Latir Volunteer Fire Department for 4 years now!.

I am claustrophobic, hate heat, have been avoiding UNIFORMS all my life, and my mechanical abilities are few.  I have been a bartender most of my life, not a healthy, run into burning buildings kinda gal, more of a "if I can't fix ya in 15 minutes with a cocktail and a joke then I am not doin' my job" kinda gal. 

I have also spent my life in pretty comfortable situations, almost always in a position to help someone out.  Because of this I have not spent much time challenging myself.  The fire department has changed all that.  One of my favorite quotes I use with the kiddos I teach to ski is "You must do something everyday that scares you", Eleanor Roosevelt.  Back at me. 

When I donn my gear and begin a training I am the one who needs guidance, help and learnin'.  What possessed me? I often wonder, to get soooooo far away from my comfort zone, and then to think I will "help others" or better yet "do no more harm"! HA! So determined, am I, to go on air and into the burning building.  I will keep trying but as of yet it takes me and TWO safety officers just to make it through a controlled burning building during an "exercise" for gosh sakes.  This is helpful?  To whom?

to be continued....

More morning.....

Typical Sunrise Magic

     I've got coffee in my favorite coffee cup and I am surounded by my three beasts.  We are ALL on the couch.  Hunters are outside in the dark trying to locate the elk herd/s before dawn.  Between the hunters and the really large coyote pack (15 coyotes) we saw yesterday my dogs are not allowed out until daybreak!  Gonna get the kiddo up and start him up for school.  We have a costume to make for Halloween.  He's going to be #3 from his favorite movie "9" (Tim Burton).  All I need is 2 or 3 burlap bags and a few hours with Dylan and some paint.  I suspect this may be his last costume for Halloween as a kid looking for candy.  He's growing up so fast.  Time to wake the sleepy head.  Have a wonderful fall day!                                      

     Morning again........
     The pigs are fed and happy.  The dogs are almost behaving.  Dylanator is on his way to school with Liam.  He informed me yesterday when asked about Halloween he is uninterested in the whole costume, trick or treating thing.  He does want to watch Tremors 4! and eat candy.  I can live with this. Tremors 4 may be difficult without cocktails for me......we'll see.  Jay is off for the next three days and the weather is turning cold and snowy today!  I am looking forward to baking some bread, some pastry crust and Joan and I may make soap for the first time.  We are getting more adventurous in making our own everything!  We made a great batch of homemade ketchup. Dylan loves it and as it's one of his 4 food groups we are thrilled.  Today is a day for tending to the fireplace, the old man and the pantry.  Off I go......


     Morning again.....

     Is it really Thanksgiving already?  Today we cook and gather with family and friends.  The weather is bitter and worthy of respect.  Looking forward to being and cooking with Jay - we BOTH have the holiday off.  Since we moved to Northern New Mexico we have been in the "tourist biz" and that means you work the holidays.  It's another special day.

     Morning again.......
     Time has passed and it is now almost Christmas.  The tree is up and the Santa collection displayed.  We've got a beautiful blend of Christmas ornaments from so many family members.  It may seem garish to some but I like to put it all out there.  For me the best part is the lights.  My favorite time is in the early morning turning them on first thing and enjoying my coffee in the glow of thoughts of Christmases past.

                                                                                    

 

                                                                                 

I see you In me......

I flexed my toes
and in the shape of my legs
I saw my father in me

I told my son
I loved him
and felt my mother in me

Generosity ruled the moment
and I knew my father in me

I rearranged the furniture
and knew my mother in me

When I practice tolerance,
not judgement
You are in me,
I am from you

I am worthy
I am you,
 you are in me.

New Words

                                                                     HOAR FROST


          These are pictures from the property.  A friend let me know that what I described as snow/ice on all the trees is Hoar Frost!  I thought you might like to see what I get to see.....please enjoy!

   

Five Days and Saturday too

     Monday

          Today it' 22 BELOW zero, and that's before wind chill gets factored in.  Today, 300' of water hose was dragged into the house and got a hot shower before I did.

     Tuesday

          New routine and thank goodness, it worked.  Got to use a little of my firefighting hose skills to disconnect and drain the water hoses.  Who knew I'd use those skills to water the animals?

     Wednesday

          Finally had the courage to see what damage is done to the guest trailer.  Shoulda found courage sooner.  Bad news......even with the water running.....EVERYTHING is frozen.  Frozen waterfalls from faucets, toilets filled, to the top of the bowl, with ice......now I need the courage to deal with it.  Jay?
Visions of little elves on ice skates doing triple toe loops toilet top side is funny but not useful.

    Thursday

          The wow factor!  A heard of elk.....at least 100.  Joan and I watched for twenty minutes as they went north to south on the neighbors property and then crossed our property to the south and went towards the Valle Vidal east of us.  INCREDIBLE.  The lead stags were tremendous and in charge of the herd.  Made watering everyone this morning joyful.

     Friday

          A brand new day.  While driving the boys to the bustop we got to experience one of my favorite sights of winter. It usually happens a day or two after big snow or freezes.  EVERY tree is competely covered in a cross between frost and ice.  When the sun rises above the Sangre de Christos the trees light up like they are laden with diamonds and shimmy for us like Mother Nature's prom dress.  Somethings never fail to impress me.

     Saturday

          I know it says five days but when I woke up this morning I got to see what looks like a partial lunar eclipse.  It could have been a full ecliplse but the moon dropped into thick fog before setting.  Crazy beautiful.  Everyone should get up at 4am.  Ya never know what you're gonna miss.

Shhh! Skunks under porch......

    We finally found the cabin and slowly drove down the gravel driveway.  The first thing I see is a sign that says "Shhh!  Skunks under porch!".


     I'm gonna back track some.  Jay and I were married 20 years ago in Houston, in an unused bar, at a retirement center. Yep, seriously.  Originally the wedding was planned to happen at the Houston Arboretum, a beautiful place, except for when there are mosquito warnings.  Hence the change of venue to my place of employment.  The only people not there that day were my brother, deployed to Desert Storm,  and my Daddy Bill, as he had passed away.  My wedding was the first time Mom had to spend time with my Dad and his wife Omah, NOT comfortable.  Everyone behaved and we were married.  Our wedding video was taped over with  the 90210 show!  We flew to Albuquerque for our honeymoon, a gift from Jay's parents and good family friends, stayed the night and tried to rent a car.  There we were, I think we had $300, no credit cards, and the rental company needed most of our cash as a deposit.  After another day of delay, family friends bailed us out and we were finally on our way......with one exception......a warning from the best dressed and best behaved state cop Jay and I had ever met.
    
     I suspect some superstitious people would have asked for an anulment at this point just because of all the bad luck.  Not us.  Our honeymoon gift included a weeks stay in a cabin in Dalton Canyon, New Mexico and we were going.  The more we drove the happier we were.  So beautiful, so not Houston!  We were to pick up keys and directions to the cabin from a woman named Francis.

     So, here we are looking at the sign warning us of skunks, wondering how to approach slowly and quietly.
Don't slam the door, walk carefully over the gravel, do we knock on or scratch the door?  We got inside without incident and met the incredible Francis.  I think Jay and I fell in love with her immediately.  Inside it was warm, cozy, smelled of coffee, wood and cigarette smoke. And a dove flew around freely!

     After hugs, coffee, Winstons and much conversation we got our keys and left.  Our honeymoon lasted 6 days, our cabin was beautiful, we were falling in love with New Mexico then and didn't know it yet.  With the exception of one road trip north, and a day long working horseback ride, we spent our time with Francis.  As we sat at her kitchen table listening to her stories of New Mexico, watching her take care of all her birds, (she had many in huge cages attached to the house), her skunks, tend to her fireplace and make us pot after pot of coffee, we knew we wanted her sense of adventure and self-sustainability in our lives.  We did not know the term self-sustainability yet but we've been working towards it since then.

   **  Just a little unsolicited advice.  If you and your loved one are on your honeymoon and you have scheduled a beautiful, romantic horse ride and you seldom ride, DO NOT FORGET TO GET OFF YOUR HORSE AND WALK OCCASIONALLY.  Remember, this is your honeymoon.  Jay and I did not walk, at all, and we spent at least 2 days of our honeymoon feeling like we'd been run over by a truck.  Not romantic, so walk a little and get to love each other a little more.**

     This happened in 1991.  It took us three years to gather the courage, arrange a job transfer, and put on our adventure hats for our return to New Mexico.

GIRLPIG FRIENDS

     We have two new pigs!  Big Daddy hasn't gotten to mingle with the ladies yet.  There is still much animosity through the fence!  The goats must have sensed the upcoming additions because they escaped their pen and joined in the fun.  I cannot decide on names for the new girlpig friends.  One is red and feisty, and I am thinking Fuego for her (fire in Spanish) and Ophelia for the chubby blonde one.  She makes me laugh sitting on her bottom like a dog does.  She also has fat cheeks, making her adorable.

     On another note!  We have a new tractor operator

He's fabulous and careful and hauled dirt for us all day to help get ready for the new pigs.  He is growing so fast!  I can wear his tennis shoes, he's using deoderant, fighting acne, his voice is changing and he eats more than any 8 people I know.