MOCHA MORNINGS

When Yellowstone NP opened for the 2011 season there had not been a fatal Grizzly attack inside the park since 1986. So far in 2011, there have been two. This will be the first time in the park's history that there has been more than one fatal bear attack in the same year. The first victim was from California and was fatally mauled on July 6, 2011 while hiking with his wife. The second victim, a man from Michigan, was found on August 26, 2011 by two other bikers on a 21 mile trail. It has now been concluded that he was attacked by a grizzly sometime on the 24th or 25th. He was traveling alone, camping and hiking in an area of known grizzly activity and was NOT carrying bear spray! They don't know if the same bear is responsible for both attacks (the bear in the first attack was a mama beat with her cubs so no action was taken), but they are performing tests on fur samples taken from the scenes to determine if this was the same bear. My opinion, for what it's wort...

One of many unique rock formations seen on the way to Yellowstone National Park from Cody Wyoming. It stands almost 100 feet high.

photo by; Abbeville Police Department, AP Joseph Schexnider, 22, disappeared from Abbeville, LA in January 1984.  He was never seen or heard from again until May 2011 when renovations were being done at the Abbeville Jail in LA.  While working on the bank, a construction worker discovered torn clothing and human bones in the chimney.   A DNA test confirmed that the remains were those of Joseph Schexnider.  He was laid to rest on Sunday, August 14, 2011.     GO HERE FOR THE COMPLETE STORY

photo courtesy of  msnbc . Praying for my friends and all those who live on the East Coast that are in the path of Irene.  I have been glued to the t.v. this afternoon watching all of the coverage of the destruction she has already caused and all the preparations currently taking place in NYC and other cities along the coast.  This photo of siding being blown off houses in Nags Head, NC, is evidence of Irene's power to destruct.  Hunker down East Coast, you have a long night ahead of you and you are all in my thoughts and prayers!

Wow. Yum! Get it away from me because I will end up eating the entire jar. Why have I been under the impression all these years that this stuff was over-priced and disgusting? Sure it costs more than peanut butter, but after all it does contain hazelnuts instead of peanuts, as well as skim milk and Cocoa. Thanks to the constant Nutella commercials I have seen all Summer and my 11 year old talking about how good it is, I decided that I would buy the SMALL jar and give it a try. Wow. I put some on a slice of my Sunflower Breakfast Bread I got from the Farmer's Market yesterday and now I am going to have to leave the house in fear that if I stay I will sit here and eat the entire loaf....along with all the Nutella. Dang it, why didn't I go ahead and buy the LARGE jar??

For being such a big boy today while getting his haircut and for sitting patiently while I got mine cut, Jaxon earned a trip to McDonalds for lunch. I placed our order at the drive thru and was told to pull around to get my total. When I got to the window the lady told me our happy meal was FREE today. Apparently a lady comes in everyday and pays for five random Happy Meals and I guess today we got one of them! So, thank you Happy Meal lady for my son's lunch this afternoon and for your random act of kindness!

This is a year of firsts...first year of high school, first year of middle school, and the hardest, first day of kindergarten. E was super excited about his first day of school, until we got there. All of a sudden he didn't feel good and the child that never shuts up was absolutely silent! Like all Mothers do, I hung around for a bit in the hallway and then stuck my head in to make sure he was surviving, and all seemed well....for today.

We were in Yellowstone National Park today and ran into this couple with a Parrot. They have been traveling for a year and their Parrot just travels along with them...on the bike!! It was truly a sight! They talked to this bird like I talk to my kids. Asked him if he wanted water, he nodded, so they poured some bottled water into the lid and he sipped it up. They put him up in the front, started up the bike and took off. I had never seen anything like this before in my life. But as "they" say, there's a first for everything! "Polly want a Harley?"

This post is dedicated to my son, D, who sits and laughs out loud every time he watches this video.  Certain days of the week my sons get stuck watching "mom" shows that I've DVR'd, like the Bachelor, Wife Swap, Dancing With the Stars, Kate plus Eight , etc., etc.  I remember when this episode aired and the boys watched with me.  This was, by far, the CRAZIEST Trading Spouses we had ever seen.  Recently, while hanging out in the family room, Dillon finds this video on YouTube and we both laughed through the entire clip, (this is the very end of the show when the mom's go back home to their families and they find out what they get to do with the $50,000 they are given.)  What did we ever do without YouTube?  Kids are always embarrassed by their parents, at some point in time, but I hope that after seeing this it makes my boys a little more thankful that THEIR mom isn't THIS crazy.  

After traveling through six states in four days, we finally have made it to Wyoming! We have driven many miles, made many stops and seen a lot of amazing things. Even though we are sad to leave Texas we are happy to call Wyoming our new home. I just hope they are ready for this crazy bunch!

Four boys in Dodge City, Kansas, drinking some Sarsaparilla and watching a gun fight. I could practically see visions of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday shooting, in their heads. Couldn't think of a more perfect way to spend our last night in Kansas. Tomorrow, on to South Dakota!

No Joke. It is seriously hot enough here in Texas to melt an ice cream truck. It is a BLAZING 102 degrees today with a high of 107.  40+ days of these temps is frying my brain and my ability to think straight. Someone please, STOP THE INSANITY!! What a World...What a World.....

Being on vacation for two weeks, moving in three days and needing to clean out the refrigerator means that I haven't been grocery shopping since, hmmmm...the first of July.  Therefore, obviously we are being "creative" (if that's what you want to call it) with our meals.  So, what's on the menu when you have a bundle of fresh asparagus, a package of bacon, three eggs, some shredded cheese, left over Rotel and some tortillas that I have had FOREVER....a very YUMMY breakfast taco that has now been jotted down in my book under the category  Brunch.  

Had to Share.  I think we can all relate........

My husband and I are both huge fans of John Grisham's novels.  I have been reading his writings since I was 19 years old.  My husband, on the other hand, got hooked about three years ago when I checked out an audio book from the library for him to listen to when he traveled for work.  Since then we have obtained quite a nice collection of John Grisham books and well, I guess you can  say, we're hooked! I pre-ordered this book when it first came out and this summer finally had a chance to read it and lets just say, I LOVED IT !    The book contains 7 short stories: Blood Drive Fetching Raymond Fish Files Casino Michael's Room Quiet Haven Funny Boy Ford County takes us back to Clanton.  Grisham first introduced us to this southern Mississippi town in his very first novel, A Time To Kill.   This collection of short stories, in my opinion, is one of his greatest works.  Each story is different, yet they seem to be loosely tied toget...

After his stay at the vet's office while we house hunted in Wyoming how fitting that the wonder dog had a bandana tied around his neck when I picked him up this morning. Usually he is sporting some curly ribbons around his collar after his bath, but this is just too stinking cute. Now, all he needs is a cowboy hat and he will be ready to tackle WY in style!