This Blog Just Might Get Interesting...

question- What do you do when your husband decides to become a volunteer fire-fighter?

answer- Oh, you agree it would be a neat way to help the community and you support him. And you get used to the pager waking you up at night and the gear hanging in the hallway eventually doesn't scare you when you see it out of the corner of your eye in the darkness.

question- Now. What do you do when your husband becomes increasingly serious about this fire thing and decides he has to obtain MANY certifications IMMEDIATELY. Then sets his heart on doing it as an actual-real-life-grown-up job?

answer- You know it's what he is meant to do and get used to weeks and months and months of him working full time during the day and studying and training nights and weekends. (I know, lots of confusing "ands". That's what that time felt like too.)


question- Then. How do you handle it when he becomes certified and trained and ready for a paid position and he is offered not one, but two, and he chooses the risky one because he feels it is right?

answer- Even though you aren't sure about it yourself, you gulp and know that you will both figure everything out as it comes. Just as you always have.

question- (Last one, I promise.) Then, when he finally has two possibilities for a great career in front of him after over 70 letters and almost as many applications and tests and heartache and waiting and the one we all wanted and hoped for doesn't come through?

But the second one does, and could be very good in the long run...

...but it is impossibly, terribly far away.

In Alaska.

answer- You cry a little. Feel equally excited and devastated and try to understand those feelings. Then you wipe your tears because you feel so very proud of him. Proud of the both of you.

Then you start making plans to move to Alaska.

Because you always figure things out as they come.

Teardroppin'-Bones.

So the boys spent the night with their cousins the other night (and had a mega blast of a time) leaving J and us two gals on our own. I took the time to hang out and do building stuff with J.

Well, I stood around taking pictures and went along for the ride to the hardware store and lumber yard. I did not realize how complicated wood choice can be. No matter, we came home with wood that would soon become the walls and inside frame for the trailer. I wish I could say I helped carry stuff but again, too busy taking pictures.

The next day I went to the grocery store and came back to...

THIS! The distinct skeleton of a teardrop! Do you see it? I have to say I was pretty excited. I think Jeff felt good about the progress he had made after his grown-up job had to go and get in the way of building time. It happens.

Sully is constantly geared up and ready to help wherever he can. He did a lot of drilling today on the frame for the wall that will go between the cooking and sleeping area. Neat! He is too cute with his gogs on.

Of course we have all tried it on for size. It's bigger than it looks and oh-so-cozy. Jeff's Mom is worried that it will feel like a coffin. Not at all! Just plain cozy I tell you. We have decided to forgo cabinets on the interior and instead add little bunks for the littles so we will have more options for sleeping. They can choose tent, under the stars, truck bed or a bunk to rest their achin' bones after a long day at the lake.

Teardrop camping luxury.

*********

TRVFD Annual Pancake Breakfast is this Sunday from 7am-noon.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for the kiddos.

Two Rock Social Hall

7618 Valley Ford Rd.

Come on out!

Stuffin' Some Stuff.

I will only keep you for a second.

It's late and I am about to watch a movie with a certain husband that doesn't have to to work tomorrow, yay! I will leave you with a glimpse of the busy stuff that I personally have been up to today.

I stuffed this canvas bag to the brim with crafty fun stuff. We are donating it to the Two Rock Volunteer Fire Dept. for this weekend's Pancake Breakfast raffle. Yum-that time of year again!

I am calling it the "Summery Days Family Craft Kit" and it has bits and pieces tucked in that are inspired by this very blog. I also made another "Happy Stitching" bundle with a rainbow of floss to go along with it.

There is one lucky little crafty embroiderer out there...

...could be YOU if you come on out Sunday to join us for the morning.

More details tomorrow!

Happy One Year Out Here!

One year!

I don't really have any meaningful or poignant things to say today really. Yet it has been a full year and it has been very meaningful for me to be able to process and put it all together here for myself and for anyone remotely interested.

Here is a run down of the big stuff...

A new, intense, fulfilling job and along with it a new intense schedule for all of us. We are doing it though!

A sweet little baby became a sweet little girl.

A beginner crafter made lots of stuff, got brave and tried to sell some of that stuff. (Made a few sales too!)

And in between the bigger events, I have been so lucky to have another year of days discovering and learning and playing and growing with this amazing family of mine...

...out here, in this amazing place we get to call home.

That's a darn good year.

Our Easter and Bring On The Color!

Hope everyone had a splendid Easter Sunday!

Ours was very busy but sweet. After a special trip to Grammie and Grampie's Friday and Saturday, we were up early on Sunday, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (well, three of us were anyway:). Baskets were found and ransacked thoroughly before we got into our Easter best and headed to the firehouse to be with J.

When I got Minna in her little bunny shirt and fluffy skirt I realized that the poor girl ended up in mismatched, hand-me-down, boy jammies again, just like last year! I figure I have 12 months to get her some proper, matching jams for Easter pictures next April...

Back to the firehouse! There we had the best ham I have ever tasted and huge root-beer floats. (I am talkin' HUGE!) Then, with bellies full of soda and ice cream, the kids were set loose to explore, yet again, every nook and cranny of the place. Oh, the guys were such tolerant hosts.

In other news, I got back at the craft table and started some embroidery that required lots of cutting and ironing of a rainbow of fabrics. So very pleasing to the eye. Minna helped iron, as you can see. I enjoy prepping fabric and I especially enjoy when I can seamlessly balance "making time" with mommy-kid time. Usually, the making time has to wait but this weekend, the boys were content working by my side with their latest obsession-origami. It's amazing and I can't wait to share their masterpieces AND the origami portfolio idea that I have brewing in my head. Stay tuned...

Well, this has been a long one because I think I will be away from the computer for a few days, for good reason of course! Birthday parties, friends popping by, photo-shoots and maybe even a trip to the sea if I am really lucky, which I am.

So very lucky.

Just Had To Share.

SOMEONE got to see S.F. and the Golden Gate
from a very different angle the other day.


He managed to get some breathtaking shots too.
Not a bad day at the office and it never hurts to look at things in a new way.


That way of thinking has helped me out a lot the past few weeks.
Makes for not so bad days at home.

Actually, makes for pretty great days at home. :)

Invaders.

A special fire station had some extremely excited and wiggly visitors over the weekend!

We buzzed around the building.

Inspected every corner. Mesmerized by all the red.

We crawled all over the equipment.

And tinkered with every heavy tool and silvery gadget.

We unraveled miles of hose and sprayed.

Putting on a show for all that passed by.

And I, of course, intruded with my camera.

I just couldn't resist the shiny, impressive red.

Dinner And A Movie.

We have had a hot week! 

The cool of our coast hasn't been bringing the temperatures of the evenings down like we are used to. With the 5 of us cooking and living in the house our little place gets quite warm. So outside we go for dinner! We grab our plates, the highchair the Thanksgiving table cloth, (well we were very thankful) and to the deck we went. It felt good...

Then off to the fire house for movie night! I forgot my camera so let me paint you a picture...

Many little ones in their jammies and pillows cuddled with friends, old and new. Babies, cozy and nursing. Homemade hot chocolate and whipped cream made right on sight. Don't forget baby marshmallows! Kettle popped popcorn served in little kid-sized tubs that had the perfect ratio of butter and salt. Excited kids with flushed cheeks who got to run around and play afterward in the dark and on the fire engines when they know they really should be in bed already. (Remember how wonderful that was when you were a kid?)

Fun night and it is finally cool! Good thing we got the left-over hot chocolate. I think I may be ready for a cup shortly.

Sleep tight and have a fun weekend!

A Good First Week And Good Things To Come.

I took these photos the night before J started his new job. I wanted to get shots of him in his Two Rock Volunteer Fire gear before he put on his new uniform. 

We were all excited for his first day and what the future has in store. There is so much uncertainty surrounding this amazing new job that we strive to hold onto what we do know for certain. 

We know that no matter what, we have each other,  

and boy oh boy, are we proud of our Dad!

Good First Day.

Yikes.

Morning, it's early.

After some huddling close in a sleeping house over some eggs, I just listened to J's motorcycle speed off.

After A LOT of work, training, devotion and a tad of luck, he just rode off in the direction of his first day as a paid firefighter in San Fransisco. 

It is a scary and bold move.

He leaves monotonous hours behind a desk (not at all where he belongs), for ever-changing, hectic overnight shifts. The days of feeling secure, especially by today's standards, in a stable federal job are over. Instead, he will be gaining priceless experience in a less-than-stable job that makes his heart race. A job that he is meant to do. A job that he has done happily, free of charge for two years. 

I am really proud of him, of course, but mostly I am happy for him. It is not easy being a one income family and he has always carried that responsibility without complaint. Now, he's doing what he loves. Few experience that.

Still a scary move? Sure. Will it be easy? Nope. Not for any of us. Worrying about job permanence, his safety, missing one another, and that schedule!

Not easy for sure. For him, there is no doubt that it was the right move and worth it, worth it all.

As for me?

HE'S worth it.

A Hit!

So we are home. All showered, dirty camp laundry going and the kids relaxing. 

I just wanted to stop in before I finish getting life back in order and say that the pancake breakfast was a success! I don't know yet how many tickets were sold or the numbers brought in from the raffle, but I do know that it was bigger and better than last year and that is a good sign. 

Thanks to all who came out to support Two Rock Fire and to see Jeff cooking up eggs. They were the best.

Also, for the next few days I will be posting updates on some little projects and on our time with the cousins this past week. It has been so busy I just now got all the pictures in order! 

Hope you all are having a good week and staying cool. We came home to some heat...

Pancakes Anyone?

Do you have any Sunday morn breakfast plans yet? I know it is short notice but I have a great suggestion...

THE TWO ROCK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT-ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST!

Come see our neat fire station and social hall and help support a great community and an amazing group of volunteers.

Hope to see you there!

An Intro to Two Rock Fire...

What was born in the year 1927, is selflessly dedicated, collectively volunteers hours on end and operates out of a teeny building over 100 years old? 

You guessed it, the Two Rock Volunteer Fire Department! (www.tworockfire.com)

Jeff (my husband), is just one of the wonderful volunteers of various talents and certifications that make up this much needed department. He is always waiting on pins-and-needles for that next call. I will never forget the day he got one of his first. He did a combat roll into his gear and in one fluid motion, disappeared backwards into the car with the door magically slamming behind him. Then he was gone in a cloud of dust and flying gravel.

Now that's passion and dedication. 

I never met a group of folks that care more about 35 square miles of land, people and history. It's a lovely thing, so I will be posting news and pictures of cool community events that involve The Trenery Fam and Two Rock Fire. 

Thanks for reading and have a good Friday!