This lonely tree seems to fit in with the cold, gray and wet day we are having...

Words in the Week: "You can't always get what you want..."

Words to get through the week and this song speaks of truth this Wednesday afternoon. "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need." -Rolling Stones

Rose hips

One of my favorite things to do during the fall season is to gather rose hips.  My husband, kids, and I were out in the woods in search of blue grouse when we came upon several patches of rose hips, red and ready to be picked.

Rose hips with a few Oregon grapes mixed in.

People make a variety of things with rose hips: jellies and jams, syrup, wines, and I even read that they can be dried and powdered and then fed to horses to improved coat condition.  I typically dry them and then during the winter make tea with them.

Rose hips are high in vitamin C, contain vitamin A and B and antioxidant properties, and have anti-inflammatory effects among other nutritional values.

It takes close to two weeks for the hips to dry.

Rose hips can also be purchased at herbal stores, but when the snow flakes fall, the experience and the memories of the time spent gathering them go right along with a fresh brewed cup of rose hip tea.

Rose hips washed and ready to be dried.

Dried rose hips ready to be made into tea.
To make tea, steep 1-2 tablespoons of rose hips in 1 cup of boiling water.  Strain the hips before drinking.

Cheap Labor

The fun begins, loosening the engine.

Back in June on a trip across the state, and at 340,000+ miles, the Camry we have been driving "unexpectedly" broke down.  As liquid poured and steamed out of the car my husband spoke the words which we did not want to hear, "That's not good."  Since he is an optimistic and positive person, when he says something is not good, it really means the worst. But even at 340,000+ miles the little purple car really only had one major problem- a dead engine.

With some research and time on the internet my husband soon found an engine for us to buy.  Originally from Japan and taken out of a car there with only 50,000 miles, our solution rested in Canada and my husbands words, "I think I can put it in myself."

After we imported the engine from Canada we embarked on a Labor Day adventure down to my dad's place- who graciously let us work there and use his Skid steer- with a Chilton Manual for a '98 Camry and a lot of hopeful thoughts towards getting the engine put in over the long weekend.

Once my husband dived into the whole process of the engine replacement we began to ask ourselves questions like: What if this engine doesn't work? What if we don't get it replaced in the amount of time we have?  Are we crazy for thinking we could even do this?



Ease that engine out of there!

My husband has never replaced an engine before.  But he does things that he has never done before quite often with a high success rate.  After many, many laborious hours on his part and help from my dad, the engine miraculously turned upon the first crank of the key. The car even moved down the road. We were thrilled!  And I was amazed, once again, at all the talents my husband possesses.  Our scheme of cheap labor certainly paid off!




Sorry, but an adult has to drive!

Just a little higher...

 

 

                                                           And it's out of there!

 

 

 Bring in the new one...

 

Not everybody has to work so hard!

Easy does it...

 Just a little more...

 

It's in!

 

Time for a test drive!

 

 

 

Small Stone #31

I need to be out in the open
moving and exploring
to know that I am alive...

Finds in the Week: Sign of peace

Alongside one of my favorite places I like to go to walk this post stands just off the trail.  Each side has the words "May peace prevail on Earth" written in several different languages, including the pictograph of sign language.  It's a good reminder- even for someone like myself who lives in the peaceful state of Wyoming, and generally peaceful world country.  When I see the sign I think of the Christmas song that Vince Gill sings and the line that goes, "Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me."  And so perhaps from now on when I walk by the sign I'll add my own additional part to it..."May peace prevail on Earth, and may it prevail in me."