Family life in South Dakota...

Life is good.... in most places, but mostly in South Dakota... for me.....

We have had a wonderful time visiting with my father, brother, sister, mom, Uncle George,and Aunt Dianne for the last 3 weeks.... Fortunately, for us, they have experienced the phenomenon of 3 seasons in 3 weeks (something we spoken of that none have believed) Spring... Winter.. Summer... They arrived to Spring... nice, tepid weather.... then the snow arrived.... and it snowed and snowed (winter)... then the heat arrived... and once again, someone was awed....in the Black Hills of South Dakota.... We also experienced "Adventures in SoDak" when we hulled a felled tree from the road with our (every smart SoDak resident has one...) TOW ROPE from the back of my car...rode horses, caught fish (in the snow, in the rain, in the sun... all in the same day).....GOTTA LOVE IT....

Here are some pictures (and video) of our joyous time together... First one is Andrew riding Lacy and the second one we call... "If a tree falls in the forest in South Dakota...get'er done!"

Some things change yet somethings stay the same

It always amazes me when I realize how much things seem the same, but in reality they are totally different. On the first morning on my recent vacation with Rick back on Isla Mujeres, I sat on the beach and contemplated all the beauty around me and how it appeared to have not changed at all when at that very moment it was changing. The waves where not the same waves I enjoyed a year ago and every piece of sand and most of the seashells had been moved, removed, replaced, changed. The clouds were different, the air was different.... I was deep in thought when low and behold... God sent me something that hadn't changed. Bounding through the bushes, just like the first day of my first trip with Gina, came 2 of the 3 beach dogs from the year before.


They were still here greeting the new visitors to the Isle. The sun was the same, the simple beauty of the Mexican lifestyle was the same, and I was here again. At peace.



I enjoyed seeing this beautiful Isle again and this time sharing it with Rick. I found myself stunned that I could be somewhere, exactly where I was, almost exactly a year later, and it seemed like a totally different place because although it was still the magical stage from a year before, the characters changed, the daily activities changed, the overall chemistry of individuals held a dynamic that was totally different from the trip a year before. In my quiet time, my solo time, this trip I enjoyed the locals, the simple, beautiful, delicious food that they prepare daily as a means of income. As always, I attempted to increase my Spanish language skills, which are minimal at best, but heartfelt none-the-less and of course, I was able to make several individuals giggle at my failed attempts at saying things, which would then make me wonder what I had said. :) Needless to say, the magic of the Isle hadn't changed at all, it was just a bit like a mistress I had to steal away alone with, in order to find.



As she charms, the Isle had us all in love with her. Rick, Brent, and Berta had a fabulous time diving. Their mornings were filled with undersea adventures, and the days would grow into experiencing some of the local fare as well as sampling the Mexican Caribbean Liquid Gold and Silver.... Don Julio. It got to the point where we changed Brent's name to "Don" and Rick's name to "Julio" and we would introduce them as such. Between the tequila and the "Cuban" (yeah, right) cigars, Rick and Brent brought prosperity to the people. Berta and I got to the point where if the boys were missing we knew just where to find them. The local bar at Casa Ixchel, literally the bar "two doors down". Through the boys' tequila tastings, and their adventures, we were able to meet the owner, his family and friends, and enjoy complementary food and drinks.








A different year, a different view, a different love for all this very versatile LADY had to offer to each of us.

A year ago today... a week from tomorrow.....

All week I've been reminiscing about my time with my wonderful friend Gina, on Isla Mujeres. AND, all week I've been dreaming about sharing Isla's beauty with Rick. Chica (the dog who found herself on a plane home with me) and I have been having the "Do you remember what we were doing exactly a year ago today?" conversations. I looked at her pictures and see such a different dog now...she's confident, owned... ready to attack.... Amazing really.

A year ago today...




A week from tomorrow....

Apparently a good thing to keep on hand

1. To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The stuff dissolves adhesive.

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2. To clean the caulking around bathtubs and showers, fill a trigger-spray bottle with vodka, spray the caulking, let set five minutes and wash clean. The alcohol in the vodka kills mold and mildew.

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3. To clean your eyeglasses, simply wipe the lenses with a soft, clean cloth dampened with vodka. The alcohol in the vodka cleans the glass and kills germs.

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4. Prolong the life of razors by filling a cup with vodka and letting your safety razor blade soak in the alcohol after shaving. The vodka disinfects the blade and prevents rusting.

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5. Spray vodka on wine stains, scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.

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6. Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.

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7. Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.

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8. Fill a sixteen-ounce trigger-spray bottle with vodka and spray bees or wasps to kill them.

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9. Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water into a Ziploc freezer bag and freeze for a slushy, refreshing ice pack for aches, pain or black eyes.

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10. Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.

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11. To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.

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12. To cure foot odor, wash your feet with vodka.

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13. Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.

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14. Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the urushiol oil from your skin.

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15. Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.

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Silly me! I used to drink the shit!

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Yep, it's that time again, when you're ready to get outta dodge. After months of saving money, you begin the "countdown" to your vacation. You're ready for that time when you get to go somewhere different and make new memories.

I'm officially less than 2 months from returning to Isla, this time with Rick. I want to give to him what my friend Gina gave to me. A wonderful adventure on a magical island. Trust me, I've already begun to dream about the fresh ceveche, cheap, cold beer, fresh veggies, street tacos, tamales, and the like. I can't wait to walk the downtown streets and see all the lovely people. To vistit Casa de Animales, to lie in the sun and take it in. To recharge, and rejuvenate.

I borrowed that cap picture from a fellow blogger. I loved it when I saw it. I just wish I could have tasted the beer that was underneath it.

Finding our own oasis - Shangri-La

I don't know what to say.... I LOVE... ADORE.... the snow. It is really, really, REALLY COLD here... It's so cold, even our fire pit is outta commission....but I still absolutely adore the beauty of winter. I can't explain it... but I love that Christmas really feels like Christmas. I went to a kids holiday pagent the other day, and the kids were adorable. Goofy stage antics, pigtails, plaid dresses and skirts. I don't think any one child was in any sort of "designer" clothing.... they reminded me of the when I was in my school pagent.

It snowed the last few days so inevitiably I had to take the Trailblazer into the cul-de-sac and do DONUTS.... it was a gas! I went for a drive and took some pix, grained the ponies, basically, enjoyed the view. When you sit back, take a deep breath of fresh, cold, clean South Dakota air, you basically take it in and think.... "Shit, it is REALLY COLD here!"

Anyway.... we're bundled up in down..... enjoying the heat of our jacuzzi... and thanking our glorious, visible, winter stars above.....

Don't you just love the family fotog?????

It happens to all of us... eventually....the silly desire to send the family photograph to all our friends and family, showing what a handsome family we have. Of course, it's always the "young" children that throw a wrench in the operation. Wiggly and fussy... constantly drawing attention to themselves until you literally have to smack them on the ass and make them "shape up or ship out!" Fortunately, for me, today, smacking your horse on it's ass isn't a crime.

The Bible warned, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Well, my girls know about "rods". Don't worry... whenever I HAVE to use them I chide..."Be as gentle as possible but as firm as necessary... gentle as possible... firm AS NECESSARY..." They are BIG animals, even lil Bella... she weighs in more than TWICE what I weigh (we're not going there....) even more than twice what Rick weighs.... and she is only, like 7 months old! Anyhow... Rick decided this was OUR year to send the family holiday photo card.

So, last week I got a coupon for a great deal and knowing he wanted to do this, I sent him the link to the info. He scheduled a photo shoot for us with our friend. Ricks original, artistic concept was one which included he and I, the two dogs, and the horses.... until I said, "No, that's not going to happen, well not without an ambulance being involved." Bella is just barely halter broke... I had visions of introducing Syd (Yikes!) and Chica to her.... and I just saw kicking, bucking, Rick laying on the ground, bruises, possibly a broken femur.... My voice of reason kicked in and said, "You need to choose... dogs or horses." He said, "I want both." So, we had to think out of the box. Well, at least outside the boundaries of the photo.

Needless to say, it all worked out in the end and we have successfully ordered up the "Family Holiday Cards". You can all anxiously await your arrival in your mailbox sometime in mid December. And no.... we didn't use these photos.