Oh My GOSH Ohanepecosh!

It is Saturday morning. woke up at 5:45 - really by choice. It is my first day with no obligations until this evening when my dad is coming to dinner. I want to make the most of it. I am reading This Homemade Life - one of my favorite genres, food memoirs, the theme always the same - little stories of the author's life with recipes intertwined. I was lying in bed crying. I finished the chapter of the death of her father and the recipe is one she prepares lovingly the last few weeks before he succumbs to cancer - an egg dish. I asked Shawn if he would make me an omelet this morning. He lovingly obliged. Fresh basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella with day-old crusty artisan bread. Could you ask for anything better?

I plan to garden this morning. I haven't spent ANY time in my garden. While I vowed not to plant one next year, I do have one to tend to this year. Lovingly tend? No, absent-mindedly neglect more like. But I did harvest a lot of snap peas and I am going to yank them and plant pumpkin seeds. Shawn is making fun of me saying they will never grow by Halloween, but it is the only thing the kids asked for in the garden, so I will attempt to honor their sweet request.

Last night Shawn and I watched The Road. I have been avoiding renting it for months. With dark, intense movies that I really do want to watch (such as Precious, which I still haven't worked my way up to) I have to find a framework of one concept and block out the rest. I knew from reading the book it was at its core, a relationship between father and son. When I went to Redbox yesterday (Barbie, of course, for the girls) I decided I was ready. Sure enough, when you view something in the context in which you want to see it, it is slightly less intense. I cried through out - for the sheer beauty of the relationship. It did not disappoint and I found it to be one of the most moving tributes to the father/son relationship ever to be viewed. I absolutely loved it, painful and emotional as it was.

It has been a good few weeks. My mindset shifted on our camping trip with our dear friends to Ohanepecosh two weekends ago. We took the RV and piled in 5 kids and 2 couples and off we went repeatedly exclaiming, " OH MY GOSH OHANEPECOSH!" In between the Moscow Mules (my new summer cocktail) gourmet fish tacos on the open fire, a delightful hike to Silver Falls, skinny-dipping in the stream (kids only), my friend and I broke it down by the campfire. She revealed two things: I haven't owned up to working and I need to hire more babysitters. I have been so attached to this concept of "riding it out" this summer with the studio, but in reality I can't ride it out. It requires my attention and I have been eeking out barely enough time for it so I don't sacrifice the kids' summer. Way too high of expectation. I have had more help this past week and it made all of the difference. I even treated myself to a massage and wine and more breaking it down with said friend over rose at Gilbert Cellars.

Those who know us to our core, like she does, can readily observe and share those areas in our life where we struggle but don't necessarily see (or own up to) ourselves. I am greatful for her insight, laughter, feisty-ness, and honesty. Our bond is unique as we have been friends from birth and remarkably, our daughters are proving to be steadfast friends as well. We decided it was genetic. Our mothers remain as tight as ever and we all love watching the third generation develop this bond as well. I will be devastated when she leaves next week, but we will always have our weeks of summer in Yakima.