A Touch of Springtime

"I have many beautiful flowers," he said; "but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all." ~Oscar Wilde

 A quick escape this morning lead us to Spring!  We had know idea it was hiding out around the corner, but here it was- caught in full bloom.

 For a girl that is used to seeing plenty of brown dirt, brown ice, brown bare branches and hmmm... a little more brown...yellow was delicious.

 Wading in icy snow melt- we take what we can get around here.  Or as Mr. Middle would say "ya get what ya get and ya don't throw a fit".  I love that... may steal it.

 The gentlemen examining the best route for a crossing...

 and how could we possibly play in the water without catching something disgusting?

 ... and building them a lovely new home

 My Sweet Pea

 Do you see the Springness?  There is even a little hidden Springness in the left corner.

 Ahhhhh.... I love color.  And this pink was so vivid amongst the dead.

 Gorgeous blooms

  Sis playing doctor.  This little thing is a mama to the core.  I think if she were the oldest her poor brothers would be terrified or maybe traumatized?

And the grand finale...

aren't these the most gorgeous blooms ever???  I had to save the best for last.

Happy Springtime friends!!

Explorations

It was finally a non-snowy Sunday afternoon and the wilds were beckoning.  Caves, ruins, cliffs and caterpillars were calling...

The rocks were incredible.  We hiked through what looked like an enchanted forest and came to the end of a small canyon.  Incredible rock formations soared above us.  My little gentlemen were in heaven.

Please excuse the motionless man staring into the camera.  That would be the handsome Daddy... supposedly seriously filming here, although I think it looks just a tad creepy.
**Don't forget to scroll down to the music (if there is any) and push pause... I think I may just remove it for now.  Enjoy!!

Rich Dad

So, this is not the type of reading material I am typically drawn to.  Generally, you can toss me an old US Weekly and I'm happy as a clam, BUT and yes a big but I have a new love!  My Mom recently directed me to the site richwoman.com .  Kim Kiyosaki is the founder and wife of Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad- the site is phenomenal.  It has changed our lives over the course of a week.  I know, hard to believe such a thing could occur, but I am dead serious.  I am almost finished reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad.  I have been so hooked I haven't been able to put it down, my house is in shambles, didn't make dinner last night, laundry is my new carpet, but I am learning SO much.  Last week I would have never in a million years thought I would be hooked on such a thing.  Facebook was my main addiction.  Today I am Facebook free-  have been for four days now thank you very much.  This isn't about us striking it rich, although I wouldn't mind.  It isn't about making more and more and more money.  It's about growing our assets and diminishing our liabilities.  Yes, it sounds simple.  And it is.  It's about becoming financially savvy, so we aren't left in the dust.  The gap between the rich and no so rich in this country is widening.  What side do we want to be on?  Who runs things around here?  yep, the one's with the Benjamins.  If you are at all interested, I highly recommend this book.  It's an easy read and simple to understand.  I'm definitely behind the times having not read this when it came out a decade ago.  Life had to happen.  We had so many lessons to learn.  Having drug ourselves through financial mud, really taught us valuable lessons.  Last year was one of the hardest years of my entire life and I would never ever want to go back there, BUT I wouldn't change it either.  Going through something so trying only increased our understanding of what we really wanted out of life.  Yes, we had to go through it.  Now we are appreciating so much more getting closer and closer to the other side.

Why Raw Milk

photo via ecoliblog

Here is just a bit about why we drink raw milk taken directly from this site .  I sometimes feel like I know why I do what I do and I believe in it wholeheartedly, but when I go to explain myself the words seem to escape me.  Such a frustrating thing.  So I was hoping if I put it down in writing, it would make more sense to you and me!  

"For over 10,000 years people have enjoyed the wide array of milk products, including fresh milk, buttermilk, clabber, curds, whey and a variety of cheeses. Never were these products pasteurized.

Over the past 70 years, Americans have been inundated with information about pasteurized milk that was incomplete. There was a time when pasteurization may have prevented certain pathogenic bacteria, introduced through poor handling techniques, from being transferred in the milk to the consumer. However, it was no absolute guarantee. The main success that pasteurization afforded the mass milk producers was a longer shelf life, resulting in higher profitability.

What They Didn't Tell You

While pasteurization may destroy harmful bacteria, it also destroys the beneficial ones. These bacteria are vital to a healthy digestive system and need to be replenished. It also destroys or compromises the vitamins and enzymes that make milk such a perfect food.

Modern Handling Techniques and Local Farm Care Eliminate the Need For Pasteurization

Pasteurization was promoted as a remedy to milk problems when low grade milk was being produced by "swill dairies" that were feeding the by-products of whiskey making to the cows. These malnourished animals were not able to create a milk that would normally have fought off pathogenic bacteria. To make matters worse, milk was collected in open containers and often handled by people who were ill. It was no wonder that it made people sick."

Why Raw Milk

 Here is just a bit about why we drink raw milk taken directly from this site .  I sometimes feel like I know why I do what I do and I believe in it wholeheartedly, but when I go to explain myself the words seem to escape me.  Such a frustrating thing.  So I was hoping if I put it down in writing, it would make more sense to you and me!  

"For over 10,000 years people have enjoyed the wide array of milk products, including fresh milk, buttermilk, clabber, curds, whey and a variety of cheeses. Never were these products pasteurized.

Over the past 70 years, Americans have been inundated with information about pasteurized milk that was incomplete. There was a time when pasteurization may have prevented certain pathogenic bacteria, introduced through poor handling techniques, from being transferred in the milk to the consumer. However, it was no absolute guarantee. The main success that pasteurization afforded the mass milk producers was a longer shelf life, resulting in higher profitability.

What They Didn't Tell You

While pasteurization may destroy harmful bacteria, it also destroys the beneficial ones. These bacteria are vital to a healthy digestive system and need to be replenished. It also destroys or compromises the vitamins and enzymes that make milk such a perfect food.

Modern Handling Techniques and Local Farm Care Eliminate the Need For Pasteurization

Pasteurization was promoted as a remedy to milk problems when low grade milk was being produced by "swill dairies" that were feeding the by-products of whiskey making to the cows. These malnourished animals were not able to create a milk that would normally have fought off pathogenic bacteria. To make matters worse, milk was collected in open containers and often handled by people who were ill. It was no wonder that it made people sick."