Let's catch up

Well, a lot has happened since January. We still live in West Jordan, and work at Lowe's but, Sophie now lives with my mom and is during somewhat better. She moved because she started chewing up Carter's things, like his blinds and the carpet under the door. She was being a pretty good dog, but then she started killing chickens. They are now working on making her a run so they can still keep her. So she will only be out when my dad is home.

Dalas moved in a few weeks ago, and he fills the last room in the house, making us have a person in every room. Dalas did take over Pippin's room, so Pippin likes hanging out with him a lot. He will sit and wait outside his door, even if Dalas is not home to let him in. With him moving in has made it easier to see each other, plan trips and dates. Even though we live together, we don't always see each other everyday. He has a set schedule and for the most part I do not. After telling my manager which shift I like working he changed my schedule. So for about the next two weeks, Dalas and I will almost have the same schedule. He'll start work an hour earlier but we'll get off at the same time. So we will see each other before and after..

Pippin is now a year old and still loves going to Lowe's. He has a route he does when we go. He kind of walks the perimeter of the store, and looks for certain people before he can say hi to everyone else. His favorite person works in receiving, and if we don't find him first, he is a grump the rest of the day. He enjoys car rides, even if its just to the gas station for a car wash. The older he gets the whiter his fur becomes, and he has developed white spots in his copper socks.

Earlier this year we went on a small girls trip to a small town in California and it was probably one of the best trips I had this year. We stayed in Edgewood, at a little Airbnb with a gorgeous view of Mt. Shasta. We went thrift shopping, walked around different towns, met some fun people, ate very good food and went on a hike. On the hike we went to see a waterfall (I've forgotten the name of it), the trail went right underneath the waterfall, close enough that we were able to drink from it. Only a few of us actually drank from it. But it was a fun experience. Following the trail it led to a lookout which is where we got to view a river. The hike wasn't very long but we got to walk around the town after.

We drove up there with our little sister, cousin, and mom. One of the main reasons for going was to go to Five Marys Burger House in Fort Jones. We follow Five Marys Farm on Instagram, and when we saw they had opened a restaurant, my mom and I wanted to go and try it. It was amazing and worth driving twelve hours. Overall we had a great time and did everything we planned on doing. It was such a great and relaxing vacation from work, stress, and having too much to think about.

We are currently planning the girls trip to somewhere else in California, this time our cousin is planning it, and I can't wait to see what we do next!

We got a puppy, We moved again, Sophie joined the family.

It's been a long time since this was updated. A lot has happened since October, if you don’t follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you wouldn’t know but, we got a dog. His name is Pippin (or Peregrin Took if you ask certain employees), he is a Silver Heeler with oddly round ears, and he is now six months old and last time I weighed him he was thirty pounds. We did have Niklaus and Lewi when we got Pippin. They hated us for it. A few months with all three made us realize that having Pippin was putting more stress on Klaus than needed. We thought about giving them up for adoption when our cousins mentioned that they were looking to get cats, so we talked to them, and took them over to get introduced to their new home. 

Because the first couple months we had Pippin, he played, learned, grew with the cats, he now will knead while he stretches, and grabs things, like a cat grabbing a toy. He oddly likes the toys with bells and feathers.

We’ve moved in with our two brothers, in West Jordan. We are still working at Lowe’s, it’s just a farther drive then before. Although our apartment was closer, the house we are in has a fully fenced yard, and more space for him and his things. It’s a five-bedroom house, and there are only four of us, so Pippin has his own room. There are now three dogs living here.

Carter’s dog is a familiar one, our work friend couldn’t keep her dog, Sophie, anymore. She is a one-year old Silver Heeler, who is Pippin’s older sister. She started misbehaving while our friend was at work. One day at work I asked how Sophie was doing and I was told that she was going to the pound, I told her to wait and I would find someone to take her. I then posted that she was looking for a good family, I also texted my brother to see if he would want her. A few messages later with a few people, and we now have Sophie, who is getting more used to being with two very energetic pups who like to run. Yesterday morning she woke me up to play with her. That just led to her and Pippin playing outside before we went to work.

That’s all that you missed!

Here are some pictures of our dogs!

Here are some of Sophie

This is Taylor's dog, Rallo

 This is my Pippin

This picture is his progression picture

Counseling

I started going to counseling to see if there was a way to, change what my mind was conditioned to think and do from an early age. Due to childhood trauma, in certain situations my first thought and reaction is to, hide. Hide and don’t be seen. If I hide and turn invisible I’ll be safe, if they can’t see me, I can’t get hurt. I do this because someone I have never met, had issues and had dealt with them very incorrectly.

I was nervous about going to see her the first session. Ever since I knew sort of what had happened and how it might have affected me, I had thought that a counselor would, of dig into my mind and have me try to remember things that I know, might be there but haven’t come up. The first session she stated she wasn’t a digger and I was so relived. She believes that if you remember something, you remember, but if you don’t, she’s not going to look for it.

For as long as I can remember, whenever I was in an uncomfortable situation, a situation where someone is yelling at or near me or I’m in a new place, I would turn invisible. I would just be as still and quiet as I could be, mom tells me she has never seen someone breathe that quietly before, but it’s what used to keep my safe. Now that I’m twenty almost twenty-one, that instinct or coping skill is no longer needed. However; because I’ve done it my entire life, I don’t know I am doing it until, I’ve dug myself too deep and I can’t get back up from being the quiet, invisible girl in the group or at the workplace. Since I have started seeing our lovely counselor, she has suggested I try a couple new coping skills to still be safe and me. Part of it is to go or do something I wouldn’t normally do, like going into a store that I’ve never been into. Doing something small, but safe, alone. So far, they are going great, Martina and I went shopping with a friend to a place we have never been, and tonight we are going to dinner with a group for a birthday dinner.

Every job I’ve had, have been in customer service. You know, the place where everyone goes when they have a problem? Yeah, I’ve only worked there. At work, I am normally at the Customer Service Desk which is, as we know, usually where all the angry customers come to yell and accuse. I had an upset customer come to the desk while I was working. He didn’t really yell at me, but he was already angry and was set to yell at someone. He raised his voice at me, and I shrunk. I shrunk into myself so much that I felt very small. The only reason he was upset was, because we didn’t have the item he had ordered. After explaining that I could call the vendor to try to figure out what’s going on, he took down my name and left. After he had left, the vendor didn’t answer. I asked my head cashier if she would call back the customer because I couldn’t get yelled at for not having the information he wanted, when she asked why, I told her, “PTSD, trauma and yelling don’t mix well.” She shrugged it off and laughed. I then asked a manager and told him the same thing when asked why, he sort of chuckled but, he told me he would. The next day I had an email from my manager saying that he had contacted the customer and taken care of everything. It was that interaction, that small interaction, where he didn’t even have to yell at me for me to shrink and try to be invisible that I thought, “This is stupid! It’s your job to deal with people, he wasn’t even mad about anything you did!” This was a week before my first session. Now have new things to do when customers like that come to the desk, like putting up a “shield” in between the customer and I, so I know that it can’t and I shouldn’t let it get to me. I also am trying to remember not to shrink, but to stay the same or even get bigger, but to continue to stay calm. Not shrinking has taken a little longer than the shield, but I’m working on it, and that’s what matters.

Earlier this week an older lady came through my line, on one of those glorious days that I’m on a register, and when I got to ringing her up, she looked at me and said, “I just must tell you how gorgeous you are, you’re just so pretty. I love the way you act and your _____ personality!” she kept repeating this while I rang her up. Now, I don’t remember what she said about my personality, all I remember is a thought I had after she said it. All I thought was, “If you knew me, you wouldn’t think that.” However, after she told me that, I couldn’t stop smiling. I’ve also never had a negative thought like that, when someone has complimented or pointed out my personality. I don’t usually let strangers in long enough to see it. Until that moment. For a moment I let someone in, I let a stranger in, a new person that I didn’t know and I didn’t’ get hurt. I was still safe and nothing happened. Although the moment only lasted probably five minutes, the only thing that matters is that, someone saw me for me. Not what a stranger has made me.

Since my first session, I’ve decided that, I was given a very small demon from a someone I have never met, who has a hold on how I think and the way I have always acted, and I am going to get rid of it. It’s not mine to carry and not mine to deal with! I am tired and done, with thinking and acting in ways that are no longer helpful, and ways that don’t always keep me safe. I’m going to get rid of it, because a small child shouldn’t grow up thinking that this is how you must be to stay safe. It’s unfair and mean what that stranger left me, and I’m dealing with it and fixing what they did. 

Hey there!

Hey you guys,

       I didn’t realize until today that it had been two months since I last posted. But, since then we have been super busy. We got all moved in to the apartment. Last month we adopted two foster cats, only one of their profile cards had an actual breed. Martina’s cat is a Russian Blue mix named, Niklaus (Klaus-babe). He has one and a half ears, because he has a hematoma scar on his left ear. They told us he also has chronic upper respiratory issue, but we haven’t noticed anything weird, other than he sneezes often. My cat is a domestic short hair named, Lewi (Lew-Bug). He has taken a month to warm up to us, but, now he is very loving and he reaches up your leg to get loves.

Niklaus

Lewi

We have gone through three different types of litter boxes, because of Klaus. He plays in them like a sand box…we first got a regular one, so it was short. That didn’t work, so we got one that came with an attachment that made the sides taller, we thought that would work. But we now have a third, so it didn’t work. The last one has a lid with a door. We no longer have litter on the floor. However, Lewi didn’t really like going through the door, so now it doesn’t have a door.

                

           We both now work at Lowe’s very much; our little brother works at Domino’s and is moving is with us and it’s great! We’ve been so busy with work that we haven’t been able to go out and see mom very often. Sunday, we are going out for a Father’s Day dinner. We did manage, by some miracle, to make it to Carter’s graduation right after we got off work.

Until next month!

My life is so much better!

Last November I thought my life was never going to get better, I thought it was over and nothing was going to make me happy again. Well, it's five months later, I have an awesome job, with fun people, and I'm packing to move into an apartment with Martina. 

Two days ago, Martina and I went to look at apartments. We put in an application for The Park Apartments, and she told us that she would get back to us by Friday about whether everything went through. We didn't think anything was going to happen because we had been calling places for weeks with no response. So, when we got the email saying what apartment we have and when we can move in, we were excited! 

I am so happy with where my life is right now. I have a reliable car, an excellent job, and now I have my own apartment. I honestly don't think my life would be like this if I wasn't broken up with. It's kind of a sad thought, that if I was still in a relationship, I wouldn't have everything I have now. But it's true. I wouldn't have wanted to move, or to get a better job. 

Today was the best!

Today was my second day at Lowe's. We are still just doing orientation, and working on getting to know the store and how it works. I was interviewed for two different jobs, and I ended up being assigned as a Front-end Cashier. I'm excited to be working there with everyone I have met.

I also got a car today! It's my first car and I'm so excited! When I brought it to my sister's house her daughter accidentally decided that it was a boy (she was talking about how old it was and kept saying he), so we started thinking of names. She came up with Angel. We then had the other two come up with names and we ended up all agreeing on Evans. So, this is Evans and he is 24 years old.

I'm moving again

GUYS!! I got a job in Bountiful! I start next month, and I'll be living with Tina again! I'm so excited! I also might be getting a car. But that's not completely set yet, but the job is and I can't wait to start!!

That's really all I have for you. I can't wait though! I'll write to you next week!!

To a new year.

So, in my last blog post, I updated you about my job. I ended it with saying, “That's the only update I have right now, I'll post when something new happens.” Well something happened almost exactly a month before that post. I’ve been trying to think of how to put it in a post. It's not been an easy post to write, but here goes, the weekend of 'Hey' Adam and I broke up.

Adam and I spent the day together like we usually do. We went to lunch with his family then we went to a store with his brother and sister-in-law. After that we then went to his house and hung out. The day went on and he asked if I wanted to go for a drive. On the drive, he asked if I had a specific destination I wanted it to end at, I said no. Usually we end up at the park and just talk about the day or whatever comes to mind. Then he called me by my name, which might not sound weird, but when we were alone he didn’t really call me by my name. Following that was, “At the moment I don’t think this relationship is working, and I think we should see other people.” All I could say was, okay. I didn’t know what else to say. He asked if I was okay and I just started crying. We parked and cried and talked for a while. He then took me back to his house so I could get my stuff and go home with my dad. When we got home, Adam told me that after he broke up with me that he was waiting for me to hit him, and tell him I hated him. Which didn’t even cross my mind as something to do. I don’t hate him, I didn’t hate him then and I don’t hate him now, nor do I think I ever will. I hate that we broke up after three years, but I don’t hate him.

And so, for the first time in three years, I’m single. For the first time in three years, I don’t have to think or check with another person when making plans. For the first time in three years, I can see other people. For the first time in three years, I must get used to being my own person. 

Siver Sage

 I finally found a job! There is a little cafe/gas station/mini mart across from our house, that was hiring. On the days that I work, I run the whole store. I get to cook, run the register, and get you gas. My first Saturday working, half of my family came to see me and get food. Also that day I was working with the one of the owners and he called up some of his friends, and told them breakfast was on him. He thought they would all order something different, but they all ordered the Sage Breakfast, which is just, hash browns, sausage or bacon, eggs any way you want and toast. I just had to change the meat and eggs for each order, the only one who had something different was the owner, he had a smothered breakfast burrito.

My first day working totally alone was yesterday, it wasn't as busy, but I still got to talk to people and cook. Also I have a guy I have to call to sell beer to people. Yesterday was the first time I had to call him, and I honestly just asked him to come stand in the store so I could ring up the customers. He did, he just came in and stood in front of the register until I was done, then left. It was great. Jessica came by and bought some stuff, we watched this big semi for a couple minutes to see if he would come in and ask for food because the kitchen was closing. He never did, he fixed his semi and left. It was a pretty good day. I work again on Friday.

That's the only update I have right now, I'll post when something new happens.

Hey guys!! Long time no write

Hey everyone!! So since the last time I posted I have moved twice, had a birthday, and have had two jobs. We can start with my birthday.. it was great! I turned 22 Yay!!!!! A couple of weeks after my birthday I moved in with my cousin Devan!! It was fun then I got a job at the Smiths fuel center right down from her house! It was an okay job but it was only part time and the money was not what I needed. So like a month ago I got a job with our friend Ellen and her family and moved down to bountiful from Ogden three weeks ago. I help out with the kids and help her husband with a growing business. So that is what had been going on with me. I promise to post more often!

Hey

Hello. I lost my charger for a couple months, but I found it today! The most recent changes to happened are, we now have four goats and two horses. I cut my hair, I am a nursery leader, Adam and I celebrated our third anniversary. This week I am at Ellen's house to hang out with Tina and look for a job. I am still living with my mom.

Halloween is over and my birthday and Thanksgiving are this month and I could not be happier! I turn twenty and the next Thursday is Thanksgiving, How great is that!? I've been trying to convince Adam to take me to The Puppy Barn, and it hasn't been successful. I told him he could take me there for my birthday and it would be okay. He just laughed and said, "Okay." I don't think it's going to happen.

Updates

Like Martina said I do have a summer job, I am watching my older sister's kids. I have this week off because it is her wedding week. For that day Martina and I have been requested to make 96 (100 really), cupcakes. We are making Red Velvet and Boybait cupcakes. 

This weeks adventures have Chet's gopher count to 8, and I got Chet a new friend.

This is Dolly. She is part australian shepherd, border collie and blue heeler. Mostly australian shepherd. She is a month old and is very lazy. She plays in the early morning and the early evening. In the afternoon she lounges with Chet. She has met India, Rose, Honeysuckle, and the cats. Our Lucy chicken and the others don't mind her, its the Stella chicken that challenges her everyday. In a few months that won't happen. 

After getting used to not being in a pile of puppies, she follows and copies Chet. Yesterday they were sitting in shade, today they have been taking naps. They have been in two different positions since they started their naps, with Chet starting both. Saturday will be her first camping trip to my sister's wedding.

My older brother also got a puppy, he has Dolly's brother who has been renamed Rollo. I'll get pictures on Friday. 

Summer Life

So, it's summer and not much is going on. Faith got a summer job and I am still looking for one. I am super excited this fall we are going to be getting some more goats! I am super excited! My goats name is Darth Juan. He is a cutie!My oldest sis is getting married next weekend. I am very excited for her! My job search is still on going....so far no luck but I am still looking. If anybody knows of anyone hiring that would be great.

The animal adventures we've had so far.

At the beginning of the week we had done the usual animal rounds for the night and were getting ready for bed, when my little sister heard Eris at the back door and noticed Mara frozen between the house and the shed, where they sleep. Our Button kitty had brought the kittens to the house. After we picked them up and brought them in the house, she disappeared under the porch. With Button seeming worried and a bit shaken, my dad went out to see if he could find anything. Button followed and was double checking every were my dad went. We don't know what she was hunting that night, but it was big or scary enough that the shed was not safe for Eris, or Mara. This happened a second time but the cause was the neighbors dogs viciously barking and growling at something. When Martina and I went to check on the cats, the dogs stopped baring, and the Button calmed down.

The following day we let our goats, Honeysuckle and Rose, graze in the field next to the alfalfa field. A few moments after we came inside, my mom yelled for me. When I got outside the goats had gotten lose and were happily grazing on new grass and slowly making their way down the road, now this wouldn't have been a big deal, except for the fact that we don't have a gate yet. So mom and I had to get their attention, then either keep it or grab their collars. We ended up grabbing their collars and walking them back to the pen. Since then we have fixed the ropes and the goats graze happily where we want them now. 

 A few days later, my mom's friend came over with her family, and while she was here Button finally caught the gopher she has been trying to get. She didn't really wound it bad enough to die quickly, she just wounded it enough that he came out of the hole and wondered around and tried to dig more holes. During the weird running and hole digging Button just watched and occasionally hit him. The boys that were visiting couldn't stand it suffering, so they killed it. Button then grabbed it and ran into the shed and did what a cat would normally do with its kill.

New animals!!

We have new kittens to share with you! Our neighbors are moving at the end of the month and are only keepinng the momma cat, so we went and got Eris. 

She is the smallest one. She is calm and curious. So curious that she tried to fight a chicken before she realized how big it was. Then we had her meet Button and that didn't go over very well. So we thought she might need a friend.That's how we got our Mara. 

She is much bigger than Eris, and she is our cautious fighter. She is very careful and cautious about things around her, but she'll fight anything that's not too big.

Oreo cookies and cream Cupcakes

 Today, we made these cupcakes so we thought we would share them with everyone!

Cupcakes

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
• 1 ½ cups sour cream

Whipped cream:

·        2 pints of heavy Whipping cream
·        6 tablespoons of Granulated sugar
·        1 teaspoon of Vanilla

Topping and filling:

·        1 row of crushed Oreos
·        Oreo cookies and cream instant pudding or *cook and serve

1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cupcake pans with paper cupcake cups.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy, about 30 seconds. Gradually add the sugar and beat at high speed until light, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in the vanilla and almond extract.
4. Reduce the speed to low and add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating them with the sour cream and mixing just until blended. 
5. Divide the batter among the cupcake cups 1/3 of the way full. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool cupcakes on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
6. While the cupcakes are cooling make the cookies and cream pudding. *If you use cook and serve make sure you make it before you start your cupcakes. After you make your pudding start on the whipped cream.  
7. Pour the whipping cream into a medium size bowl; with an electric mixer beat the whipping cream until soft peaks form. After soft peaks form add the vanilla and sugar; then continue beating until stiff peaks form.
8. Once the whipping cream is done, it’s time to take the middle out of the cupcakes. Take the cupcakes one by one and with a melon baller or knife take out the middle of your cupcake. Once that is done pipe in pudding to the top of the cupcakes; now go ahead and pipe the whip cream to cover pudding then add the crushed Oreos to the top.

Sorry!

Hey, sorry I am late with my post. So last weekend my mom, Carter, Clarissa, Talya, and I all went to Wyoming to see my moms friend Tara. We had a blast, well besides th 5 1/2 hour car ride there and back. At Tara's we held baby goats, beheaded 5 roosters, tried goats milk ( I rather like it), made dinner, shot a bow and arrow, we also got to see her spinning wheel. It was a good trip and I had tons of fun!

Animals and pictures

I promised you pictures, but I didn't see a point in posting them on my blog, when they are also on my mother's blog. Our Little Homestead: Our little city homestead has moved to the country. Also I gave my talk yesterday along with my dad. Being the center of attention is not something I enjoy.

Here's an update on the animals, last night Adam brought some comfrey over to put on Chet’s nose. After we washed his face again he didn't seem to mind it. This morning my dad washed it again and put more liquid Band-Aid, this time though, he tried to put it in a small container to put it on, rather than spraying on his nose. Chet still hates it. It doesn't look as bad yesterday, but it still looks gross. Today I believe we are taking him to the vet to see what's wrong. I'll post an update on how it goes. Even though he has a cone on, he is still our happy Chet. I am able to post pictures of his nose but it's rather gross. If you would like me to can, but you'll have to comment so I know.

Yesterday while my dad cleaned the rabbit cage, we let Flynn out in a fenced area to be outside. She didn't really know what to do. This was her second time outside in the Vernon house. In the old house she was able to play in the entire backyard, however, here our backyard is 5 acres and if we let her loose we might never see her again.

We've been walking India around to let her eat some of the unwanted grass or weeds we have. The neighbors have horses as well, and when India is out of her field she likes talk to them as she walks by. Yesterday I had her out for about an hour and when she went back into her field the other horses got out to graze and she had a fit. She was running her fence neighing at them and trying to get them to look at her. Yesterday we had her out to eat the grass in the garden.

My family got back from Wyoming yesterday, and brought back Button. She is the new hunter. We have her mainly for mice and the pocket gophers we have. At the moment she won't go outside. Even though this is the first time she has been in a house in her life. 

She really likes my brother, and will only nap, if you are in his room with her. You don't have to be on the bed or next to her, just in the room. 

Martina will update you on the trip to Wyoming. Have a great day!

An apology, update and more.

Hey guys, sorry for totally not posting for a very long while, we've been moving, unpacking and just getting organized. However during all of the craziness of packing the old house, our Riley-Kitty got lost, it has been weeks and we haven't seen him, we've had our neighbors look for him, but they haven't had much luck, so we came to the conclusion that he left us to be in a better place.

Upon this thought I had my grandmother write something about him, (he really was her cat). And this is what she came up with,

We have said good-bye to our sweet, delicate, independent, best kitty ever there was. We will miss his walking us to the door, we will miss his sleeping on our beds and climbing up our chests and giving us a scratchy massage. Most of all we will miss how much Riley loved us. 

Here's a quick update. We enjoy being here we are boarding my aunts horse, and we take her on walks around the property everyday possible. Something happened to Chet and his face is all gross. We have tried a few things like, a cone of shame, Neosporin, and liquid Band-Aid for dogs. But each time we let him outside he scratches his face and makes it worse, I'd post a picture but its really gross. Yesterday during ballet I hung out with Adam for a few hours. This weekend my mom took some of the family to Wyoming to visit a friend. She is bringing back two new kittens. My dad and Kielee are at the sand dunes, and I am home with some of the little kids. Adam is coming over after work, last time he was here it was raining so we weren't able to take a tour of the property, today it's a great sunny day. 

Again I apologize for not posting for almost a month. Now that we are getting settled We'll post more.

OH! P.s. I'll post pictures of the property when I can. Also my dad and I are talking in sacrament tomorrow. Wish me luck!

We need your opinion on this one.

Hey guys, for this post we would really like you to comment.

We are home from college and moving, so this would no longer be The College Life, we were wondering if you would still be interested in reading the blog if it was, Two Sisters. Because we are both getting ready to do different things together. It would be about what we are doing, planning on doing, and what happens during our life.

It would be fantastic if you could comment, so we know if we should continue with Two Sisters, or not. Thanks guys!