The latest in our life, as by the Han.

My older sister, Harmony (the short, spunky, sassy one) has gone a bit weirdy lately with her food choices. I don't remember the last time I went home and we had normal food. This weekend:

Me: Why have you gone weird? And how long is it going to last? I'm sick of waffles made with flax seed.

Harmony: With a name like Harmony it was going to happen sooner or later. Deal with it.

Me: Ugh.

   later...

Me: Do we have any Otter Pops?

Harmony: No, do you want a spinach smoothie? It has fruit in it.

Me: Fruit and spinach? No thanks, I would like an Otter Pop.

Harmony: Let me make you a smoothie.

Derek: We have some Otter Pops in the freezer.

Me: Hurray!

Harmony: No! Let me make you a smoothie.

Me: Noooo. Harm, Otter Pops are delicious, they make the world go 'round.

Harmony: Yeah, round.  

   ...delayed response...

Me: HA! That WAS funny! Very clever, good one.

Harmony: I know, I know. So let me make you a spinach smoothie.

Me: Nope, got an Otter Pop, I'm gonna go eat it with Kona.

Little sister, Hali (the long-haired exotic-looking one), was also home this weekend. I wanted to watch Swamp People (a story for another day), Harmony wanted to reupholster a couch, Derek wanted to do...something (probably a nerdy computer game), and Hali...well...

Hali: Coooooome outside and sit with me! 

Harmony: How 'bout we do my couch!

Derek: Neither of those sound fun.

Hali: Buuuuuut it's nice outside. Anana, come outside with me.

Me: Meh...I want to cuddle with The Kona and watch Swamp People.

   ...a few minutes passed, Hali disappeared and the rest of us went about what we were previously doing.

Harmony: Where is Hali?

Me: I dunno...

   ...I went to the front room and looked out the window...

Hahaha. Of course, we laughed and took photos before joining her, it was just so cute and precious...gotta love the baby of the family. She was sooooo happy and wanted nothing more than to use her new hammock. Coincidentally, she was reading one of the crazy food books that Harmony has been reading.

And the reason I love my family? After sitting outside and talking for a while, Harmony did make us weird smoothies (which I fed to Kona), I helped her reupholster her couch, and then we watched Swamp People all together! Swamp People has become a recent obsession which I will explain in further detail at a later date.

The rest of the weekend was spent helping out in the yard and garden at G-Ma Oka's where I skillfully pruned her bonsai trees into practically perfect spheres. I wielded that electric pruner with great talent. Unfortunately, Grandma is getting up there in years and is no longer able to come outside. Such a shame that she was not there to kibitz that I missed a spot here or there like tradition holds. Or to tell me how lucky I am to have the miracle of electricity, because years ago she did this by hand with naught but some hand sheers.

And what about Kona, you ask? What did one of the most featured characters on this blog do with her weekend? The usual: laid around, went with us everywhere and watched us work.

Went Camping

A couple of months ago we went camping with some friends and family and found this fabulous secret camp site. Only 4 wheel drive could make it, plus it is free! We're assuming hunters use it because of the awesome view!




And also because we (meaning Kona) saw some deer, which she barked at forever, and a moose and her baby. Which I thought was a bear. (Cheap Binoculars + big black thing running up the mountain = could look like mother bear and cub)




It was a fun first stop. I haven't seen the stars like that since Old Iron Town!!! Annoyingly enough, Kona barked the whole FREAKIN night due to animals scurrying.

Derek decided that our first camp spot was not ideal for the pale skinned freckled person. There was no shade so we traveled down and found a paying campsite.


This is a very USUAL setting. Derek eating his licorice and Kona nearby. Derek eats some licorice, Kona eats the end piece of Derek's Licorice. By the looks of things it seems like I interrupted something extremely important.








Look who we found in the woods!! Grams, Mitsie and Mama came and camped out with us.






Luckily, for our guests we had fresh fish. (No, sadly I did not catch them, my fishing rod is still broken as well as my spirit) but a nice man and son gave us 3 fish.

Unfortunately, I am not the best planner, luckily, I did bring some pots, but no forks, spoons, plates, etc. All the necessary things for food. I was just going to eat hot dogs (we did take some ketchup and mustard packets from a gas station) and S'mores (mmmm marshmallows) So, we cooked the fish up on the pan, with some hash browns (don't know why), then threw in the fish plus some potato chips (greasy right?) and Viola! Instant fish and crunch. With that cooked, we peeled off the meat, placed it in cups, and ate with our fingers. (I do carry hand sanitizer for some reason)




Some pretty weeds. Our new camera can take some awesome pictures. *Note not the taker.






A poor little leaf stuck on the river.
Mama on the nature walk.

Derek and I were discussing how the forest service can justify charging so much for camp sites. This is why - their newly laid concrete walkway.

We also spent the day Kayaking in Causey. It was a nice lazy day on the water. Derek got sunburned on his knees (??) I find this really still baffling.

Imagine this, Kona in her dog life jacket (blue with white polka dots) laying on the front of Derek's Neon tye dye orange/yellow boat, with her paw, lazily, drifting in the water, finished with a far off look. Sadly, I know words cannot fully encompass the silliness of this, but I have yet to get a picture, since water and cameras do not mix well. (hint hint Hali)