Jennifer McKenzie
Romance--Boy meets girl. Romantic Suspense--Boy meets girl with dead bodies.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Earthly Valhalla
As often as I complain about the Redneck and the two dirt faced Okie kids, I wouldn't trade them for anything. We often refrain from killing each other so that we can enjoy days like Saturday.
Not that it started auspiciously.
First, Mama was hormonal. And the Redneck had a difficult time making up his mind what he wanted to do this weekend. The plans changed about five or six times. Knowing us, however, we could have planned all week and STILL been unprepared. After waking up at 5am (the dogs hate me. They really do), I'd already been doing the "mom" thing for three hours when the Redneck announced the final change of plans. We were all going to Shanty Creek for the day. Well, after we went out to breakfast, bought new "floaties" for the boys and sandals for the adults. *shakes head*
Let's just say that getting out the door and on the road with a Redneck, two kids and three dogs was....interesting.
And I wasn't exactly......sunshine and lollipops.
Eventually, we headed out Highway 36 and into the hills. My attitude was the adult version of the whiney "I'm tired. Can't we go home? My stomach hurts." Of course, the kids had the full on kid version. Ah, good times. Oh, and the dog got sick in the cab of the truck. Believe me, Highway 36 does it to the best of us. I could only have sympathy for the poor thing.
Of course, by the time we got to our usual watering hole (Shanty Creek), it was chock full of people. Ugh. That's one thing the Redneck and I share. We go up to the hills to avoid people, not hang with them. So, we kept on driving. Luckily, there's always an "ace in the hole" for us.
George's Folly Camp is not well known, even with the locals. It's almost a family secret for the McKenzie family. We drove down the gravel road lined with Manzanita and tall Douglas Fir with trepidation. Would our other favorite spot be riddled with human presence?
As the clearing came into view, I relaxed. No one was there. We piled out of the car like a group of teenagers at a Greenday concert. It was like coming home after being gone for a long time.
The weather was perfect--hot but not too hot. The water was clear and not too cold. The Van Duzen River can be VERY cold, even in July, but on this day, it was a pleasant brisk temperature.
The kids had the dogs and the water. The Redneck had the water flow to "fix". (This involves moving big rocks around. I don't know. I just stay out of it.) I had a new book (another one I couldn't afford) by a new author. It just doesn't get any better than that.
We left George's Folly Camp at 6pm and then meandered home, driving around Grizzly Mountain for a Redneck Tourist view of Red Lassik and Black Lassik, two cinder cone volcanoes. We checked for deer sign (Yep, I'm not kidding. I was just along for a hunting scout trip. But it was fun) and quail. I snapped off pictures that I'll put on my blog when I develop them (I don't do digital yet. I'm old fashioned).
All and all, a wonderful trip.
Considering all that's gone on for the last few weeks, this little jaunt may have saved their lives and my sanity.
The best thing was that the Redneck followed it up with taking the boys clamming Sunday morning and I had about five hours to myself. I got a lot of writing done and felt up to the week.
I think I'll keep him.
So, tell me. Do any of you have a place that's special like that for you? Your lazyboy? Your kitchen? A bookstore? What's your earthly Valhalla?
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Name:: Jennifer McKenzie Location:: California
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