Saturday, November 23, 2019

So my friend Megan had bought tickets for my birthday to see Shane Smith and the Saints and Koe Wetzel in Wichita. We had plans to meet up about noon-ish and it was about a two hour drive for me to get there.  I have been hard in the trenches of motherhood lately and was SO looking forward to the weekend, and even the two hour drive alone.

I had decided that I was going to leave a little early and do some things on my own, which is kind of big deal for me. I NEVER like to go places alone, it gives me anxiety even thinking about it. But lately I have been feeling a little more adventurous. I set out on my drive with no real plans until it was time to meet up with Megan and Jeff. As I was driving I remembered that there was a pottery shop that I have heard so much about and have wanted to check out for about two years, and it just so happened to be somewhere along-ish my drive. So, I fought with myself for about twenty minutes- I made a pro and con list in my head. Then I said F it and plugged the address into my GPS and off I went. Again, this was a BIG deal. I put the address in and didn't even realize how far off the highway it was. It was bout 35 minutes out of my way, and thankfully I didn't even notice until I was almost there. I was totally caught up in the moment, enjoying the drive, the music, and the sights of a new place I have never been. It was 100% what my SOUL needed.

I pulled into the pottery shop and noticed that it was like a whole thing. Craft booths, food vendors, and... decorated outhouses. Oh yes. Turns out it was the Elk Falls Pottery's annual open house and the town's fall festival- which included the tour of decorated outhouses. I snapchatted a couple friends to tell them of this turn of events and was told to run if I heard banjos- which oddly enough was set to begin shortly after my arrival. There was a bluegrass band about to begin playing!  So, I toured the pottery shop and walked around the outhouses ALL alone. Solo. I got to talk to several people at the shop and in the rock garden outside of the shop, and in these conversations my heart was filling up. 

If you don't know me, I'm a talker and I thrive on meeting new people. IT.WAS.AWESOME.  I seriously cannot tell you just how much going on this adventure alone was exactly what I needed, like what my soul needed. The BEST part of this whole thing was that I still had more fun to come when I got to hug on my Megan Ann.

This man, he always takes care of me. I am so lucky to have him.

 Here are some of the pictures I took. I collect Elephants and there were several around in the garden.

THIS TREE. it was like something from a fairy tale. It had this beautiful chime and wheel with lights strung around it. Seriously, can I stay here forever? As Beautiful as it was in the fall, can you even imagine it in the summer? I will be back, mark my words.

I dont "love" this picture- but I got to talking to a woman and we walked around the garden together chatting and looking at the art. She found several places with good light and convinced me that she should take a pictures of me to remember it by. She kept saying "you are such a beautiful girl". MY.HEART. Such a beautiful memory.

November 7, 2019  I am full of emotions writing this one, I am not sure anyone is going to read it but I feel I have to get this out to pay tribute to my first "son"

Today our family had to say "see ya later" to our sweet boy Toby. I knew this day was coming, as we thought it was "the day" several times prior. This dog, if he could have written a book, would have been one of peril, mystery, and love.

Daniel and I had dated for about two months (if that) and decided that we wanted to get a dog. I tell ya, we both knew we were getting married someday and so it wasn't a big deal. I am sure my parents were thrilled. Anyway, Daniel's friend Cody had come to KC to visit and we decided to spend the day finding our perfect dog. We did the "good" thing and tried finding a shelter dog, we went to NO less than 10 shelters and they would not adopt to us because we lived in an apartment. So we were defeated and decided to head home, we passed Pet Stop and decided what the hell let's see what they have. We went in and snuggled all of the furballs and tiny little cuties, and then saw a sister and brother set of 8 week old Shelties. Daniel picked the girl and I had the boy. We were in LOVE. We seriously almost took both babies home and even several weeks later thought about going back after the sister to our precious boy. But, Toby, our sweet Toby. He was it. So we adopted him and trotted happily home.

This dude was amazing and a terror all in one. I had bought new furniture and it came about a week after we got Toby (who originally was named Busch- but our more liberal friends gave us a hell of a time due to our president at the time). Toby found the best chew toy in my brand new coffee table. I was heartbroken. Then about a month after that, Daniel had surprised me with roses and Toby thought those tasted pretty amazing too. He.was.a.hellion. But we loved him.

Fast forward a few months, Toby had broken his leg by jumping out of my arms and landing wrong. It was terrifying for me, Daniel was in Chanute for Derek and Karra's wedding and I was in KC. Daniel made the fastest drive home to be with us, insert heart eyes. So Toby had to be carried down three flights of stairs to do his business. It was great. During this time, we found out that we had a human baby on the way. So, I am getting big and fat and break my own foot. We have Toby, who was cast free at this point, but still scared shit-less of stairs and me large and-in-charge with my own cast trying to hobble down the stairs anytime he needed to potty. TRAINWRECK.  My parents offered to keep Toby while I recovered and try to train him on how to use the stairs since I was failing miserably.

From that point on Toby became a shared dog. He lived primarily with my parents and I stole him as much as I could. Then when baby T came along, Toby happily chased squirrels and ate rocks at my parent's home.

Toby had been dog-knapped TWICE, endured a spinal stroke resulting in the loss of use in his back right leg, contracted some  mystery illness that made his fur fall out and his paws bleed, and overall had pretty crappy dog luck in the health department. Through all of that he was still the BEST companion any of our family members have ever had. He was a great assistant babysitter for my mom when the boys were little and would lay at the edge of their blankets while they were on the floor. He would also place himself between the stairs and the boys and bark to make sure someone knew the heathens were trying to escape. He also saved my grandpa who had fallen. He somehow got his rear up a flight of stairs and was able to wake my aunt up to let her know that something wasn't right. When I say that we were not worthy of the love of this dog, I mean it. He never showed aggression towards any of "his people" and loved to chase the flashlight around the room- until his leg truly gave out and then I believe he cursed us in his mind for teasing him. He loved hot dogs, and cheese, and nudging you to pet his stank ass breath self. BUT I wouldn't change it, any of it.

November 2, 2019