Labor Day Weekend

Over labor day Barry and I headed up to Pinetop, Az. to see Tami, Ryne and sweet baby Blake for his blessing. It was great to see family and be out of the heat and...Tami made cafe Rio sweet pork tacos which was worth the trip alone. wink. We spent the night with Tami and Ryne where we took a stroll in their back yard, watched Americas funniest home videos, ate some razzelberry pie and played games. Then Monday Barry and I got our hike on!! We headed out for Strawberry to hike to Fossil Springs. Barry had hiked it before awhile ago and all he could remember is that all these girls were about to die of dehydration and Barry was determined to NOT be dehydrated and LOADED up a big hiker pack FULL of waters and gateraids and all our snacks, camera etc. I swear it was 100 lbs. So off we go down the 5 miles to the bottom. Of course down was an easy hike. It was so refreshing to be out in the mountain air, see the pretty views and get some exercise. I really enjoyed the hike. It was so pretty when we got to the bottom with all the green, big trees and running water. The water fall was great. The water was freezing though. We did get in the water but not much swimming went on for us. There was quite the crowd of people that kept us entertained.  So we spend a few hours at the bottom and then headed back UP the mountain.  UP took us (Barry) a little longer.  He has a bad knee and 100 extra pounds still even after drinking a lot of water. So I carried up a 10 pack of Gateraid, which is not that light after 1 mile or two, to help ease his burden. After a lot of sweating and breaks Barry make it out alive and I was proud of him. When we got to the top all he could say was where  is the truck, lets get to the truck and then once we were in the truck he said "lets not do that again fore a while!!" We hit up Arby's for some beef and cheddar's and went home. I like it a lot and would do it again soon. Barry needs a new knee and then we can go more often, so he says.

 

 

My little adventure with a RAOK

Random Act Of Kindness.
My sister in law Becki  inspired me to take some time and be KIND to others. So I I took a few hours out of my Saturday and this is what transpired:
It began with my love of chocolate. Next with the reality that I do not know (did not know) a single one of my neighbors.  So I though I'd introduce Barry and I to our neighbors by taking them some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with a little "Hello" note attached.  I bagged up my goods and ventured  out to seek that which seems to be lost,  friendly neighborly  banter. I was happy to meet a few of my neighbors.  Some people chose not to answer their doors, others barely cracked it.   Others invited me in and introduced themselves to me.  Sometimes it was super awkward. I had very suspicious takers. . . "are these poisoned? Why else would someone make cookies for people they don't know? Should I take them?" In the end I was able to give all my cookies away. I think it a good place to start and I plan on doing it again soon.  I felt happy and I think the people who got cookies felt a twinge of kindness in their day, at least I hope so.  Try it! surprise people.