FIRST TOOFER LOST

LOVE this BOY!!!

LOVE these pictures of Jax and I. He hates his picture taken and I am lucky if I get one.

Summer Movies

We LOVE having a $2.00 movie so close to our house and we love that we can afford to go. We don't always get popcorn and drinks and we save for those goodies. We have had fun play dates with Jerome and Alexander and this day we went and saw RIO 2. It's fun to watch boys. How they interact and what they talk about.

  I LOVE when they hold hands. Good friends.

Lasagna our Turtle~

I had a dream the night before of Turtles. Every where were turtles walking around. Craziest thing ever and I told the boys "I had the strangest dreams of turtles all night long" and then wouldn't you know...... that morning there was Lasagna right in the middle of the road. It was pouring down rain and he wasn't moving. Under his belly was cracked and he was bleeding slightly. He spent the night with us and the next day we took him to the NC Vet school. What a neat place. Makes me want to be a Vet.

We were sad to see him go but we were excited that he was getting the help he needed. Did you know the box turtle is very low in numbers and there is a worry about how fast they are diminishing?

The vet school picked food names this year for naming the turtles. We had to pick our favorite food to eat for his name. We picked quite a few names but they were taken as Lasagna is #186 of the turtles caught and in rehab just for this year.  So Lasagna it is!!!!!

We signed paper work to get him back if he makes it and place him back to where I found him. We are hoping he makes it.

Spring is here~

I LOVE Spring! My body and soul love GREEN, and colors and the heat and sunshine. The past few weeks have been wonderful weather wise. Still a little chilly in the mornings but warmer and sweeter in the afternoons.

This week was the first bloom from one of my Strawberry plants. So sweet and simple. Life. The bees were busy buzzing around it and I think it's well germinated.

Ashton and I found this sweet Prince and he has stayed around the yard. We are so excited and hope he continues to stay. Our yard is wonderful for a Frog as we have tons of garden, hiding places and food sources here. We put him in a fish tank for a bit and I have live crickets always on hand so Ash and I really enjoyed watching him slurp some up!

I have one beatuiful Azalea bush in my yard and she is overflowing with blossoms. I just love to walk out the door and see her full of light, color, and love!

Ash and I found another friend on our Hasta plants. I LOVE Hastas! We are keeping/feeding this caterpillar until he decides to go in to a beautiful sleep and surprises us one day with wings and a new life. I believe in reincarnation and butterflies remind me how lovely reincarnation is. We are hoping to find lots more pillars this Spring/Summer.

Jax Birthday

No one could come to Jax's surprise birthday party on the 20th but could come Saturday so I said lets party on Saturday as I really wanted to give him a big 10 party.

I wasn't quite sure how I was gonna pull off getting a cake and doing all with out a car but being the good Mom I am I told the kids we were getting a cake for a friend and had Jax pick out a cake he would like. I am more then ever thankful for our little red wagon that hauls our food home.

 It was a very simple party and I have to say the best one we have had. I wanted a pinata and other things but the kids just wanted to run around and see the animals which was perfect. They played sticks/light sabers Star Wars and we literally just had cake and Jax was just happy.

I LOVE that he is so simple and I love that he loved his cake and just loved me for what "was". I gave him more Skylander figures and he and Ash played the whole weekend. And it turned out I got some much needed alone time reading in the sun and gardening.

Sam took a video of cutting the cake but I don't know how to attach it the blog. I will work on it.

My Sweet Sis

Sis is so sweet. She is a very loving and funny cat. She has moved in next door. She was starting to show attitude when the chickens came. Very grumpy and growling and just didn't adjust to them. The neighbors next door have always loved her so they made a place for on the porch so she sleeps there.

I keep every ones food in the van or I have holes in the bags and it cuts down on the middle of the night snacking. Sis most def  hears the van door open so she comes home to eat.

She also LOVES the dryer. She begs to go in there so I open the door and she will spend lots of time in there, taking baths, napping or just hanging out and most definitely hissing at who ever pokes their head in.

She walks with us to the bus stop. Very sweet.

HAPPY EEFFFTER

HOPPY EASTER

My 4 year old just said " Mom! You can't fool me. I know you are the Easter Bunny!" "Thanks for putting everything I Love in my basket".... Of course, i denied it and he walked out of the room and said "Seriously, Mom!" I don't want him to grow up!

It's been a fun morning. Easter Egg hunt, fun baskets that I didn't get a picture of, and jelly beans.

I guess Ashton really doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny and while he was telling me he knew it was me he also told me he knows I am the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus. I keep denying it because I want that excitement every year but I realize Christmas and all this stuff can be and is still exciting.

Jax~

My sweet Jax~ He will be 10 soon and he is growing up so fast. I love this picture because it's really him. He never sits still. Always going a mile a minute. Hates his pics taken so I rarely get good ones. It's been a rough and good year for Jax school wise and he has come such a long way. He is my fighter. He works hard to please and things don't come easy for him but he hangs in there.

Oh! so Serious! Jax HATES his picture taken. I'm lucky to get this picture. He is looking more and more like his Dad. We have had the Dad talk, I framed his Dad's pictures and he now gets a little money from his Dad thru child support. We love his Dad regardless of not being in his life and it's kinda funny how Jax just seems to get and understand his Dad.

I just love Jax so much. We struggle together in this figuring out Aspbergers, ADHD, OCD and ODD thing and we both try to have patience with each other. And days we don't well, we both fight, have truckers mouths, but end the day with lots of love. We have a ritual where we sit and talk/forgive before bed. So important to do.

Jax is an amazing math guru, loves science. Teaches me all about mechanics on the car and his ear for music is amazing. He has so many talents. He just picked up art and WOW, the kid can create. He can also write rhymes and poems in a heart beat.

There are no words to express my deep love for him and how he has shown and taught me so many things about myself. I always say kids do all the teaching to the parents and we do nothing. This is the case with Jax.

My Sweet Ashton~

I just love my little Ash. He is 4 now. Always happy. Especially, when waking up, and he is my Saving Grace. He is so forgiving, loving and kind. Especially, to his brother who isn't always so kind. Ash LOVES chickens. When I was in the bathroom he let the chickens come in.. they always want in.. and he giggled so hard when he saw my reaction. He was putting little pieces of toliet paper down and told them to poop on the pieces... yeah right.

Looking like Grandma Carolyn. He never met her but he looks and acts like her. Ash tells me countless times a day he loves me and is always thinking of me. My favorite surprises are picked flowers and rocks in his pants. Love doing laundry and finding his treasures.

Ash still LOVES his TaTa aka binky. I let him have it. When it's time he will give it up and that phase will be over. He doesn't have it as much as he used. He is growing up.

We went to our neighbor Kathys and planted veggies and then dyed eggs. Of course, there were not enough to dye. It's so much fun.

This is the first time we have dyed brown eggs and the colors turned out really cool.

 White eggs.. gorgeous

Jax helping Ash with eggs.

Happy Pictures

One bad thing about having the van not working is well.... the van not working ...but the one great thing about the van not working is that the boys and I walk to the store with our little red wagon. We have had lots of giggles and adventures on our walks.

Today we went to give my favorite grocer Henry some chicken eggs. We also picked up some fun things to make Easter baskets for neighbors.

I love the smirk on Ash's face. Both boys are tired of me taking pictures. I just can't help it and I haven't taken pics in a long time. He was also tired. Ready for nap.

Cheesy smile but so dang cute!

Relaxing and ready for a snooze.

Happy Spring!

It's been a while since I posted. It seems a lot is happening but then again not. Every day life is flying by so fast.

We had a pretty mild Winter which I am grateful for and I am excited that Spring is on it's way.

The boys are growing up fast. Jax will soon be 10 which is really wild to me.

I love being at home and at my happy place working at Casa De Caca. The lastest addition to our farm is 4 baby guinea pigs and a squirrel. We have also added lots of veggies for our garden and flowers as well.

This is Al. I have had him for about 3 weeks now and I guesstimate his age about 10 weeks on Friday. A lady was cutting down her ceiling in the attic and all the other squirrels ran and he fell out. He is really fun and he has grown so much. He now has top teeth. He still eats every three hours around the clock. I just introduced brocolli, acorns and bananas in his diet. Hopefully Al will continue to do good so I can release him.

The universe is a funny thing because a week later little Patrick was outside and my cat was trying to get him and he was lucky he didn't get bit. I guess I needed another squirrel. He died 3 days later. It's hard to keep wild animals, especially squirrels alive.

Sweet Patrick. He was so little and had no teeth and not alot of fur. I wrapped in a T-shirt and he died about an hour after I took this picture. We all had a little cry but death is a great teacher.
Mango, our Mama Guniea Pig, surprised me with a litter and four sweet babies were born. Very exciting. We already have homes for all four. We have enough piggies.

This wast taken 2 hours after they were born. GP's come out fully ready and in two hours after birth they are running around and being wild and eating and nursing. We will keep the babes for 3 weeks and then they will go to the Eyre family. You also have to seperate them at 3 weeks or they all party and get each other pregnant.. I'm wondering how come it takes humans so long to develop..not fair  :)

Some funnies

Wabbits

These are the wabbits. They are super friendly and so cute. When Jax gets home we are putting the cage on blocks I have already set up and then putting a tarp over the cage so they don't get wet. The rabbits ended up being New Zealand  breed instead of a meat rabbit and that is okay. They are cute and fun and it makes it interesting. The below picture will show you how interesting it gets. ha! snort!

This poor rabbit is in his teenage years. He humps the other rabbit, the water bottle, the feeder, the straw. No wonder Carole wanted to get rid of these wabbits so badly.. urp!  

Firewood

After Jax left for school, Ash, Aubrey (the little girl I watch) and myself loaded in the van and picked up a big load of fire wood from a few streets over. I sure love seeing a "FREE, PLEASE TAKE" sign.  The kids earned their keep by making a stack just their size next to where we will build the fire pit this weekend. We made a fun fire pit last year at our old house but left it there.

Alot of "first's" for the kittens and the Pigs. They have never been outside so we loaded the piggies in a crate and let them eat the grass. They oinked and rolled in the dirt and ate the grass. Very fun to watch. I brought them back to their cages outside around noon and they took a nap.. zonked out piggies. Very cute to see them enjoy their natual habitat.

MotorBoat and Fred LOVED the outdoors. They chased anything and every thing that moved and so far they have been crying at the door to go out... this is a good thing. I want them all out :)

The piggies: Sterling, Eddy, Gizmo, Scooter and Mango.

Jax with his new Jersey Giant chickens. These are the sweetest chickens. Jax carries them all over and they don't seem to mind at all.

:)

I love this pic of Jax. He looks just like me as a kid.

Sometimes I look at them and think they are vultures. But really cute vultures.

Dumpster Diving

Yes! I am a dumpster diver. I have my limits, of course. I don't take matresses, couches, sheets or pillows home. I don't eat the food from the dumpsters even if the grocery stores have newly put it out and it looks edible. All my animals get those treats. I don't keep a stool and a pincher grabby thing like my friend Carole in my van 24/7. I don't wear grubby clothes and get in the actual dumpster, well, like Carole!  She loves it and I laugh and pee my pants every time we go together. She just loves getting in there and she has found some treasures.  Edible and non edible.

The kids and I love to take drives around apartment complexes. Especially, when the college students move out because they leave perfectly great stuff, like microwaves, dishes, car mats, coffee pots, Tv's, Dvd players, Wii's,... you name it. I even found condoms once.. SCORE! I threw those away cuz  they would expire at my house and it grossed me out. Even though they were in the wrappers.

When I go to Food Lion and other stores I don't take the kids with me. I have never been stopped by the police and they mainly tell ya to move on but just in case the rare chance I do get into trouble. Who would watch the kids.  :)

We drive around and look at what is on the outside of the dumpster.  Here is a perfect example of what I found on Sunday when we went for our Sunday drive. This was left at an apartment complex next to our house. Now I get a high.. yes.. I do!! So excited. Especially, with planters, a grill, a working vaccum and a coffee maker that came with a box of filters. I gave it to my neighbor. And yes, he knows were I got it and he is happy and doesn't care. He bleached it and it's making some sweet coffee.

This is the dog igloo Carole got from her dumpster dive the other day!! Score! And I got it from my bartering.

Here is Sunday's find. How awesome is that. The vaccuum cleaner works but not as great as my current one I found when the college kids moved out so Jax is now in the process of taking it apart.

Found this website. I haven't looked into it much but it's something fun to check out....

http://dumpsterdiversparadise.com/Pictures.html

My kids have found basketballs, skates, old but working bikes, big wheels, games, cards, hats, and a ton of other stuff. We do have a rule. We must put one item in the dumpster when we find something we want to keep.

I will say I love to DD. I even have a map that Carole and I made of what days this street and that area has trashed picked up so we can go on week days when we have time and see what's in the trash. Carole even found $50.00 bucks in an old jacket that was thrown out and it was at the bottom of the dumpster.

One of the best ways to find clothes that are in huge bags and unopened and other stuff is at the flea market. It's sickening to see how people who don't want to deal with "items that don't sell" just throw them in these huge dumpsters. Lots of people wait for them to dump and we load our vans up with clothes. Most with price tags on. We sort/swap clothes, keep them and/or then donate or we have people we e-mail.

It takes a village.

Do you have any dumpster diving stories? If so, comment below.

A Funny! :)

Will you be the next homeless person/family?

One of my biggest fears is being homeless. But this fear motivates me every day to get up and get going. To work hard and network even if nothing happens in that day you don't know what tomorrow will bring.

That is also why I am working hard on a self sufficient home where I eat off my land and do small farming. The world is not getting any easier and I really believe communal living will be a major thing in the years to come. Whether you live with your parents, friends, in a tent on some one's property or live on the street.

The following clip is the reality of lots of people now. Whether they have mental problems, criminal records or those who have had good jobs but have no place to go. Raleigh has a high number of homeless people and it's heart breaking to see. And it's only going to get worse. I hope you watch this and to keep in the back of your mind that this could be you. There are three people on my street who has/had very high paying jobs and they have all just been laid off.  And they are all wondering.. "What do we do now?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=obho7uBg3-A&feature=endscreen