Keeping it Simple

These last few weeks have been difficult and I've been using the time to reflect and seeking spiritual peace and how I got away from it. It's easy when you stop doing the things that work in your life. For the last 6.5 years I've searched out what it is to be happy and it all starts with a decision to be happy which includes love, peace, kindness, patience & honesty. We learn lessons from our experiences and if we don't learn from them then we will repeat them until we do, it's really our choice. The problem is that most people seem to like staying in the past and others like the future, both of which aren't NOW and that is really all we have because we can't change the things from the past and the future hasn't arrived, what we can do is make our today the very best we can.
I believe that everyday I learn is another day of life, when I stop learning then that will be the end of this experience. I was raised in church and had many questions even as a kid that were never answered in a satisfactory manner, usually only causing more confusion, as things just didn't add up. For the last few years I started reading and for the first time hearing answers and explanations that made sense for the first time, things that witnessed to my spirit. When I moved to Trinity and being surrounded by majestic mountains, the rivers and creeks, the wildlife, I found Paradise and realized the beauty that is the Universal Spirit.
For the last 3+ years I've changed the way I look at life and realized that living in the past was not where I wanted to be. I've taken the lessons I've learned from it but to continue to talk about of live out the past brings spiritual death to each of us, we have today and making the best out of it is all we can do to spiritually alive. It all starts with a choice to be happy and to see what the day has to offer, what chance I will have to give to someone else. One thing is for sure we can not give what we don't have, we can't share love or peace if we don't have it in us first. I first have to love myself to love others, and if it works don't fix it but if something you try doesn't work you must change something in order to get different results.
These past 5 days with Peace being at Trinity has been a great lesson in living in the NOW. She discovered snow on our first outing to the dam on Monday morning, since then when we are out walking she has to go through every patch of snow she sees, slipping, sliding and biting the snow. She finds pleasure in everything she sees, constantly running to keep up, finding sticks and weeds swaying in the wind each a treasure for her but as fast as she picked it up she finds something new, constantly changing according to where she is. That is what I want to do, to enjoy every moment and to be in awe of the things I see and experience. For a period of time I quit doing the things that worked in my life to try to make someone else happy but we can't make anyone else happy, I've made a choice to be happy here at Trinity it's where I feel very connected to Spirit, magic happens here, but it isn't for everyone, it is hard if you think it is but for me it's ideal. The biggest thing I'm learning from watching Peace is that she doesn't take ownership of the things she picks up, instead just enjoys it for the moment, I believe it is what I am going to do, not worry about the what if's or the could have beens, just stay in today taking moment by moment giving thanks for every moment. Getting back on track, happy, grateful, loving and caring and living in Paradise. Life is Good , to be enjoyed, not watched as it passes you by.
I found my Paradise, hope you find your too.

Creeks & Rivers Raging

The Chiwawa River and Phelps Creek are raging right now and at the dam it is running everywhere, you can barely see the dam under all of the water right now. It is finally starting to clear up a bit after being muddy and full of debris from this past fall season. After finally getting to the dam for the first time since Nov which was not an easy task due to all of the trees on the road and the snow slide remnants on the road to the dam, one area still has over 6' of snow on the road along with trees and rocks from a late season avalanche. We had to walk the last 1.25 mi because of everything on the road. The screens have been filling up with debris or trees coming down the creek have been blocking the water flow to the powerplant so we have been going up a couple of times a day since Mon just to clear things out and keep the water flowing. I was amazed to see how high the water in the creek was and Reid mentioned that it was the highest he has ever seen. The Chiwawa River has cut new channels to the east this year and part of the river is running right through the back pond which is flooding the Buck Creek Tr and it is under 5-6' of water right now. Not only is there lots of water everywhere but the road into Trinity is only open to Atkinson Flats, the 2nd snow gate is closed due to large numbers of trees being down and blocking the road in places and even part of the road is gone washed out with a creek running across where the road was before Nov. It looks like a war zone and the question is now does the Forest Service have the funds to make the needed repairs & to clear the trees and debris from the road alongwith repairing the washout, not looking too good at this point. Back to going to the dam Peace and I have made several trips to the dam since early Monday morning after the plant dumped Sun night from lack of water due to the screens being clogged with debris and silt, we cleared the screens twice Monday and once Tues, this is my busiest time of year just keeping them cleaned and the plant up, once the water clears up it will be easier then there is more water than we can handle. Peace is a trooper and keeps up getting plenty of exercise and then sleeping after we get back, she's a joy to have here but definitely keeps me on my toes. So if you are planning to get out in the woods be prepared for anything especially with the high water and trees down everywhere pack a saw and shovel and some extra rope you might just need to tie off to be safe. Even with all of this that has happened out here and the difficulty driving in and out, it's still Paradise to me.
I found my Paradise, hope you find yours too.

10th Annual Bike & Brews Fest @ Gibbs Farm

This past Saturday at Gibbs Farm was the 10th annual Bike & Brew Fest with Chumstick Liberation Front. It was hot for most of the day but once the beer garden opened the crowd started growing in anticipation of the beer that was flowing & music by Chumstick Liberation Front a local band that has recently gotten back together with some new members and new songs. It was great getting to see many people that I haven't seen in some time and meeting many new friends.Spending the morning with Ivan and some of his friends and visiting all the homes at the farm, lots of exercise. When the music first started it was still rather hot so there weren't too many people dancing but as the evening got cooler the dance crowd got bigger, lasting well past dark. It was Peace 2Toes first big event in her short 6 weeks but she was a trooper she's a quick learner finding that the shade is much cooler than in the sun to take a nap. Peace had many volunteers to watch her especially Chelsea & Travis, thanks alot I appreciated it and so did she. It was my first Bike & Brew Fest but it won't be my last. A big thank you to all the Gibbs Family, and all of those others involved in making this happen. A great way to start of the summer in Leavenworth. This is just the beginning.
I found my Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Introducing Peace 2Toes

I'd like to take this moment to introduce the newest member at Trinity, she's my new road dog, Peace 2Toes. I got her from Jessica a friend of mine this weekend, she has a great temperment and yes she will be big she's Chocolate Lab, Rott/Pitbull/St. Bernard. She got to play in snow yesterday and is willing to go wherever I am going. She'll be a great companion. This weekend she went to Blackbird Is, and the Bike & Brews Fest and this morning early we even went up to the dam because we lost water to the powerplant, not that there wasn't enough but the screens were plugged up with debris as the creek is up and very dirty because of the warm days we have had this past week. This evening we went back up to the dam and she wanted to walk not be carried even in he slide areas, it's a great way to get her to sleep through the night. More soon on the Bike & Brews Fest.
I found my Paradise, hope you find yours too.