Ready, Aim, Let'er Fly

Meet Bull's-eye Boo! Countrychick has taken up 4-H archery!

She has excellent form!

She seems to be a natural!

Can you see the arrow in the photo below?

Her groupings are very nice! Just look at all those arrows in the center of the target!
These are just two of the bull's-eyes that she shot last Friday!

After three hours of shooting non-stop, I finally made her stop...not because she was tired or I was worried that she might get heat stroke. No, I made her stop because I was hungry and wanted to go eat lunch! Countrychick will be spending lots of time shooting this summer as she hopes to qualify for the 4-H State Shooting match in September! Hey, if you think she is good with a bow, you should see her with a rifle in hand!!

Oh Look.....

A post! Okay, I know that was bad, just as is the photo of the wooden posts below, but hey, I needed to post about something and I was trying to be clever. Humor me here! I have been off the radar only because work has kept me very busy the past few months and I find my free time taken up by things that need to be done at home. There are days when I have some great blog-fodder to share, but for some reason I don't get around to posting. Stay tuned, I just might surprise you with an update soon.........

Up a River Without

Me! Or is it down a river? Whichever it is, I wasn't there, but Hayman was. Last Thursday Hayman was invited to go on a rafting trip. The group left at night and traveled several hours north of us to their destination. After an hour or so of sleep, everyone was up and getting the rafts and equipment ready. They hit the water mid-morning and headed down the Owyahee River.

The weather was sunny and clear. The day time temps were hedging close to 60 degrees. Some in the group started out in shorts, but changed into pants later on as they progressed down the river. I think it got a bit chilly!The water was slow and lazy in places and everyone had the chance to group up and chat now and then.Wonder what's around the bend in the river? Oh look, a big rock! Keep to the left of it, because if you go to the right your going to get stuck! (or so I was told.)The scenery changed as the rafts moved down the river and into the steep canyons. The photo below is of the "weeping wall". Crystal clear water flows down the moss covered rocks.
The photo below is breathtaking with the dramatic changes of color in the rocks! The high desert truly is a beautiful place! Toby manned the raft that Hayman rode in. At one point the rafts were close together and Toby hopped out and left Hayman in the raft alone. Hayman then had to navigate the river on his own for a few miles. That is not Hayman in the photo below, but another in the group! The rapids in this section are probably class three rapids. Nothing too serious, but still one must pay attention and watch for rocks!
A mid-day stop to eat lunch. The group would stop each day in the late afternoon to make camp.

The canyon walls were steep and the views they held were pleasantly surprising.

The ancient peoples of the area left their marks on the rocks and walls.
One can only guess at what the story might have been about. Were they telling others about the river, waterholes or dangers that might await.

If only these rocks could talk, what a story they would tell!Hayman enjoyed the rafting trip. It took a total of three days to travel the river from their starting point to their ending point. Everyone had a great time! All of the above photos were taken by Hayman mostly while moving down the river in the raft.

What I Am Not

SUPERWOMAN!

I am a mere mortal woman! I can not do it all, nor do I want too! I will fail, make mistakes, become tired, fall apart, get emotional, have bad days! That's okay! I love myself enough to give myself permission to experience the above and not feel guilty!

Beauty and the Marine

The following photos were taken last Sunday after church. The previous week had been a busy one for Countrychick. Her boyfriend J. came home for a visit after completing his 13 weeks at Marine boot camp. They were very happy to see each other and spent lots of time together during his visit home. Countrychick and Private M. have known each other for several years, but only became a couple a few months before he left for boot camp. During the week of his visit we went shopping for a dress for Countrychick as he wanted her to have something special for the photos on Sunday. They picked out the dress she is wearing and what a beautiful choice it was! It was a beautiful Sunday, but a tad on the chilly side. Between photos Countrychick was chattering!
They are such a cute couple! I tear up every time I look at these photos. (Its a mom thing!)

We are so proud of Private M. When he enlisted last summer he knew he would be leaving in September for boot camp. That parting was hard, but we made it through it. He didn't actually start boot camp until November due to some hassle from the recruiting office. Most young men would have thrown up their hands and given up, but not this young man. He stuck it out through all the hassle and came out the other side a proud young man and a United States Marine!Darn handsome in the dress blues!
Countrychick, Private M., J and B. J is Countrychick's best friend and B is her boyfriend. They are such a cute couple and very supportive friends! This photo makes me cry too. (its an emotional mom thing!!)Here I am with the kids. Someone didn't have her eyes open, but I like the photo anyway. Private M. left last Sunday to return to base. He has twenty days of infantry training to complete and then he will be off to North Carolina for his job training. He will be a mechanic. He will be in North Carolina for three months and then after that he and we will find out where he will be stationed.

The photo below was taken just before he left. I just kept snapping away and captured this shot! I love it and yes, it makes me cry! I am proud of my sweet, beautiful daughter and her Marine! Very Proud!

Monday Funny

A busy couple of weeks around here. Have lots to post about, just need to find the time to do it!

Seventeen!

Today is Countrychick's seventeenth birthday! Holy Cow! Where have the years gone! It seems like yesterday that she was my little "chicken leg" running around and getting into everything! Wondering about the "chicken leg" comment....well Countrychick had the cutest little chubby legs as a baby and someone in the family said they reminded them of little drumsticks, so we called Countrychick "chicken leg" until she had a little growth spurt and lost those cute chubby legs. I have probably just embarrassed my daughter....Big Grin! Happy Birthday Sweetie! I still can't believe you are seventeen! Big Hugs and Love Ya Lots!!

Yes It's True

Another six weeks of winter for me and you! Happy Groundhog Day!

(I took this photo in the spring of 2008 while on an outing with our homeschool group)