Cereal and Sweet Potato's
Evy had her checkup on Monday, complete with vaccinations, and we got the go-ahead to start her on foods. This is huge for Andy who has been DYING to feed her! So Tuesday night Gidget put her in one of her little chairs and prepared some rice cereal. The first feeding was interesting as she wasn't quite sure what to do with what was in her mouth but she has very quickly caught on! When she is put into that seat with a bib her little legs start kicking and she gets super excited. She doesn't appear to like the apple juice, but the cereal and the yams were great. Gidget gets to try new things every few days so its a process! I'm waiting for the nasty diapers to start....
Its been a busy week and I am going to be working at Andy's office once a week now. He has one assistant in the office and she has fallen behind on filing/paperwork and needs help. So I went in on Thursday and helped for a few hours and will continue going in every Thursday. Gidget and I are getting into the hang of things, and until I get another part time job and my hours change, we are pushing my start time to 9 a.m. That gives her more time in the afternoon which seems to work better for her and the baby.
Evy is getting used to me being around - if she gets fussy I can calm her down fairly quickly, and we have good interaction. She still sometimes stares at me, processing the fact that I'm there. She is talking to me a little more, as she gets more comfortable with me, but its not the same as with Gidget. When Gidget is with her, she squeals and coos and babbles constantly. With me, its only occasionally and usually right after she's been with Gidget haha! But we are getting there.
My little house is really starting to feel like home. Today I got a lot done as far as putting more stuff in storage (to give me more space) and I hung some pictures. I'm limited on decorating since one side is all cinderblock and the other side is not. So its slightly lopsided. But I found my curtains in storage and will hang those up on hte cinderblock using velcro which will help. Maybe it will deter Ty from pulling on the blinds in my bedroom! He loves the windows. Lady wants to dash out the door every time it opens - she has no concept that the dogs will eat her. Leo and Paco have had an encounter with the cats (cats inside the door, dogs outside) and they don't really do anything, but Gidget says if Lady got out and started running, the chase would be on and it would not end happily. I need to find their leashes so I can take her outside! I have adopted Jack, the jack russell terrier. He's the sweetest dog. But he's not too sure about actually coming inside with me. Other cats have actually beat up on him so mine terrify him (they are kind of big). When the weather gets a little warmer, I will give him a bath and let him inside more often. I think he'll get used to it. I really like him- surprisingly, since I'm not normally a dog person. But he's older and while he's active, he's not hyper. And Gidget has trained him well - he smiles, he obeys orders and he doesn't lick or jump. I'll have to get a picture of him smiling because its hilarious and sweet. When I'm hanging out at hte house watching tv or watching movies, he lays on my lap or next to me. He doesn't do that with anyone else really!
So I'm really settling in, its been a few weeks and starting to really feel like home.
free cone friday
I just had a free cone of frozen yogurt at Beriyo and laughed hysterically at the crazy college/high schoolers coming through for their free stuff too. woo hoo!
Let it Snow...
Well, I woke up Wednesday morning to a very shocking and unexpected site!
So I bundled up and ran outside to take more pictures. I got this fabulous one of the horses and dogs running around as we went to put another round bale of hay out.
Here's me covered in snow flakes.
Here's the view from the deck of the ranch.
and Here is the BEAUTIFUL picture I got a few days earlier when we had the ice. I love where I live!
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Cabin Fever
Well I am free at last after 3 days of being iced in! Friday Gidget and I drove to the mall in Forth Worth and spent 6 hours looking for a dress/shoes/jewelry that she could wear to the Governor's Innauguration ball (she and Andy were invited by their pastor). On our way home it was raining and we made it home before the sleet started. A mere day before it had felt like 80 outside and within 24 hours our world was frozen and glossy. I slept in on Saturday and then wandered over for lunch and spent the rest of the day watching movies with them because it was COLD outside and COLD in my little house! we got the call Saturday evening that church was cancelled so around 10 a.m. Sunday Gidget texted me that Andy was cooking breakfast. It was still chilly in my house so I bundled up and slipped and slid across the driveway for warmth, food and more movies. We watched Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring. Monday it wasn't any warmer, still very slipper and shiny outside and I had not slept well Sunday night. SO COLD. There are gaps in the door thats in my bedroom and the cold air was rushing through and across my face all night. I don't use the door to go in and out so it is now ducktaped. True country charm - ducktape on the door! I took a picture but my camera isn't downloading quickly for some reason so I'll post that pic later. Anyway, due to the cold and sleet, things were not looking good for the Austin trip. We had planned to leave Monday night (I was going along to care for the baby while they were gallavanting with the rich people) - but the news was telling us they were getting our "wintry mix" and it would be getting worse. Finally the decision was made that we would not go - it wasn't worth the risk. Despite the fact that Gidget and I had shopped for SO LONG and done SO WELL at staying within the budget! *sigh* Now she has a fancy outfit to wear and told Andy he has to take her somewhere super nice so she can wear it! I worked on Monday but Andy stayed home and so at 3 I went "off the clock" and we watched LOTR The Two Towers. After the ducktape and a sheet over the door, I slept much more comfortably last night and woke up to find it was slightly warmer (above freezing, yay!). I still slipped and slid over to the house and the wind was COLD but the sun was out. Unfortunately Gidget seems to be getting a cold - started out seemingly as allergies but has progressed since she can't take any medication. Hopefully Evy is not getting it. But thanks to a slight raise in the temperature, I made the venture into town to run to Wal Mart, Blockbuster, and back here at Beriyo for INTERNET! CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD! Out on the ranch, sleet/ice is even more trapping because our road is not "well travelled". Its one thing to choose to stay home, another to have no choice!
Life is good out here, but time really does seem to stand still. That part is strange and I'm not sure how long it will take to get used to it. But I'm trying. Things are looking good for a job at the church, its just a matter of time - not sure when it will all take place.
Hope you all stayed warm and are staying warm - I don't think the cold is close to over, although a very hopeful weather man stated it will be warmer this weekend!
My new life
(from the entrance to the ranch, looking out over the property. If you look carefully you can see the house far in the back)
Yesterday Gidget and I had lunch at the Morgan Mill General Store. We were there just before the regulars showed up and it proved much entertainment for me. The General Store is just that. Along the left wall are shelves stocked with everything from cheap brand toilet paper to Drain-O to cans of Spam and Salmon Fillet in a can. Yes, that is correct - Salmon in a can. They also have gas pumps, a fountain machine, and serve food. They have specials each day of the week and know the regulars by name and order. The regulars yesterday were almost all men - cowboys in from their hard labor of training horses, plumbing, construction or electricity. Their big pickup trucks filled the space in front of the store because there are no parking places. Folks just pull up parallel on the side of the highway and park! The woman who took our order wrote it down word for word in full - no shorthand. And then the owner came by to make sure our order was right and everything tasted right. Gidget later told me he's Tuff Hedeman's father in law (if you know who Tuff Hedeman is). There is rodeo and Texas memorabilia everywhere, old fashioned looking toys, and candles on the shelves as well. But from the highway you would drive right past and may not even realize its a business in operation! It looks like a run down gas station in passing.
Life on the ranch is great. Gidget is working me hard for sure, but its worth it. Somehow taking care of them and serving them as a family is rewarding. I've always been a bit of a servant at heart and it seems to come naturally for me to pick up and clean up after them daily - at least so far I don't mind it much! Evy is a super easy baby and when she is awake we have a blast just hanging out and playing. She just goes with me wherever I am working and occupies herself with babbling or playing with her toys or just watching me work. She definitely comes more to life with Gidget and talks incessantly. She tells Gidget what I do haha! Anyway, I'm settling in. I enjoy leaving the house after dark and looking up at the stars. I enjoy Jack the dog sleeping outside my door on the blanket I put out for him. I enjoy the quiet mornings when I drink my coffee and prepare for the work day. I enjoy the quiet nights laying in bed listening to the dogs occasional bark or a coyote howl. I'm truly at home here.
And the change begins
Well, I'm officially living on the ranch and I gotta tell you - its still a bit surreal. Moving on Saturday was completely chaotic as it turns out I have WAY TOO MUCH STUFF!!! Here is a pic of the 4Runner packed to the limit (literally front to back, top to bottom) and this is the SECOND trip we made. We didn't fit everything into three vehicles on the first trip!
Anyway, here is my new home - the front door/porch anyway. It doesn't look like much but I actually like it. I especially like that its about 25 steps away from work!
Tuesday was my last day at CSAB and I must admit it was hard. For many reasons - I was stressed out about leaving loose ends, I was stressed about the change and I was sad to leave many friends. THat was my first real "grown up" job that lasted and it lasted 5 years! But I know I've made the right decision and despite the tears and sadness, it feels good to be here. So far my new job hasn't been so bad other than that it really doesn't feel like a job! I mean, I know that it is but I'm working in a house I'm familiar with so I just feel sort of like I'm cleaning my own house. Maybe thats a good thing, I don't know. But either way, its great. I'm sore - not used to so much vacuuming and lifting and being on my feet all day - but its a good sore. Anyway, I'm getting settled and hopefully it will only take a few weeks to really feel normal out here. I'm officially "Nanna Jan"!
