Simply, Lesa

This week has been filled with surprising events. I think the biggest was seeing my friend Ms Marsha drive into camp with her Scamp!  (Shh she bought it from me though she can't wait to paint it so people will stop asking her if "that is Lesa's Scamp! ) Ozzie is the campsite gimp - yup he's limping. Perhaps he jumped off the bed wrong because he wasn't limping before. I made a pot of lentils in my Dutch Oven over a campfire yesterday.  The neighbors, all two of them, enjoyed them. I think Marsha was surprised at the simplicity of my recipe as well as the speed with which they cook. The leftovers became my lunch of refried 'beans" with homemade tortillas! Yum. Yesterday afternoon we had yet another surprise as Evelyn and Charlie drove into camp! I rather enjoy the comings and goings. I am learning to relax and enjoy my days more. It's about time a few of you have commented. I spent more reorganizing time the other day and made a huge amount of spac...

Okay sorry no pictures ... What do you make for lunch when you don't want to cook and want something yummy.... Well a tuna sandwich sounded good.  But no bread. Tuna made me sick last time I tried it and I don't have any. .... I did have a tiny jar of wild caught smoked salmon that had been home canned.... What about the crunch? Celery is too fibrous for my system so none of that around. ...hmmm I have an apple and a white onion...... So I made a cross between tuna salad and waldorf salad....and yum Salmon Waldorfish Salad is born....darn I should have taken a picture! Salmon Apple - cut into cubes and drizzled with citrus juice (that keeps the color white.) I had a grapefruit and used a squeeze of that. Onion - mild is best, chives would be pretty. Cut into cubes. Tahini and water - as a dressing.  Use just enough water to thin the tahini. That's it mix it up Share a big spoonful with your fur friend Get a big glass of water Find a lawn chair and enjoy your a...

Hi you all! I've been so busy that I really owe you all an apology for my not blogging the last few days. ..well it's nearly a week. Wow time just flew past. Let's see - Evelyn and Charlie went home.  It rained quite a bit and we had been urban camping at Wal-Mart,  Home Depot and the Casino here in Payson AZ.  Ms Cheri, another RTR Vandwelling buddy came through town.  We had a few days to show her around and visit. That was a nice experience. Cheri and I shared breakfast at the Casino one morning. Steve came up, or maybe it's down, and took me to lunch one day. (And yes I was able to carefully order and stay healthy! Some times it is possible. Because like at the Casino they use real butter not margarine and they don't salt and very lightly season their food) Ozzie and I had been making friends at the dog park. I met a couple who invited me to join them at a community dinner. I did and it was lovely. The Mountain Bible Church in Payson provides a community di...

Well Surprise I am in a cell phone challenged area. Of course it is beautiful and worth staying a few days.  My Wilson cell phone booster is working! And omgosh my hammock is up! On the Music front... I found Keb Mo while meandering around the mall in Richmond VA years ago. I was in the Discovery Store and his first CD was playing. I was sold then and there...here is a tune I particularly like. There's More Than One Way Home. I certainly hope that this posts alright.

B is for Breakfast! How do I maneuver actually cooking breakfast inside my van. First - I did extensive research and tried lots of equipment to find both the safest and most useful items. Key to the process is my HeatMate stove by the Origo company. This stove is very safe as long as you use it correctly.  It runs on Denatured Alcohol fuel. The fuel is NOT pressurized and so no explosive properties. The fuel reservoir has on internal wick which makes the canister spill proof. Yes I tried it, outside of course,  you can fill the reservoir and turn it completely upside down and not one drop spills out. The stove itself was designed for use on boats so the inside has gimbrels that keep it level. Secondly is my work surface. Now not everyone will want what I have. Because I like to cook on fire I have a steel Dutch Oven Table that sits on top of long metal reinforced milk crates. My table has a wind screen and long legs. The legs are removable and I keep them in storage under my...

Ozzie and I have been struggling with our relationship after the last grooming fiasco. Nice enough shop and employees unfortunately the owner and boss was dealing with a personal issue and had five things going on at a time. The sensitivity to a rescue dog with grooming anxiety, depression and PTSD was not there. I've never been called into the grooming session before.  I was instructed to hold my dog because "he's a biter" I was told. Now Ozzie's trust issues are aimed directly at me. For a few days all I could do was cry about it. I made some phone calls for advice, more historical information from the shelter where he had lived, and supportive friends. Then I remembered how we were when we were getting to know each other. I recalled that consistent walks on a short leash and regular meal times were very stabilizing. So we have returned to things that we know without a doubt work. Ozzie is beginning to settle down.  and then I needed to change campsites. and co...

Spring has arrived!

Marilyn Scott I have a weird way of picking out albums. When I lived in Times Square I would walk over to Virgin Records and just look at album covers. That's how I found out about this singer.... enjoy! The Last Day    http://youtu.be/ezxJ9s2NEn8

How about a healthy and yummy meal idea? This week's yum is a Simply Healthy meal. Thermos Quinoa (this was a Bulgar Red Quinoa mix) with Red leaf lettuce and Buffalo Wing style Cauliflower. Yup all made easily in my van kitchen! Equipment used: Pot to boil water Stove Thermos - mine is from a thrift store! Measuring device - a cup works. I use a mini shaker from a vitamin shop. Knife Cutting Board Plate Fry pan - mine is a ceramic mini one serving size. Spatula - again I have a mini one or use a spoon. Ingredients: Quinoa Sea salt Water Cauliflower Hot Sauce Ghee Olive oil Leaf lettuce Quinoa : When making your morning hot beverage of choice boil some extra water. Place 1/2 cup quinoa and salt to taste into your thermos.  Add 1 cup of boiling water and seal with the thermos lid and shake then set aside and forget about it until supper time. This is probably a serving for two people - or if you are very hungry.  I saved half for later. Buffalo Wing style...

Lol - that's all I can do now. Laugh. The noises in the night - are chewing and my ferocious companion is hiding! So I don my untied hiking boots put on a headlamp and brave the dark of night in my pajamas. Trusty can of wasp spray in hand.... Banging, rocking the van, shining the brightest flash light available ensue....spraying the underside of the van with (choke gasp) wasp spray as the culprit is told to move on. ...ya this one really speaks English. ..not. Yet quiet. And a quick check for internet advice. ..yes, open the hood varmints don't like spaces out in the open. Well the sound was in the back near the gas tank. ..it couldn't hurt thinks I as I return to the outside world still clad in my lovely armour! I pull the handle marked hood from under the dash - it doesn't do anything. ..huh Na....I check the hood. Tight as a drum. Closed. Pull handle again.  Nope. You gotta be kidding me! And then I hear him again. ..in the engine! Really! In an effort to...

Well - it's my life. This is my thought process and patterns.  People sometimes want to know how I do what I do. ..and so now you know. I struggle some days and don't for other months at a time. Today was strange.  Social Security Disability stuff was in my mail that I read yesterday along with hospital and medical bills. Sigh. I didn't sleep well as I kept hearing first one and then another sound.  The fact that one of those sounds was a car stereo had me feeling kind of venerable. Then I just locked the doors and made myself sleep by telling myself that it is a distance away and I am safe. (Duh you'd think after years of traveling and sleeping in odd places that I would be past that. .guess not it came up again. ) I felt an enormous amount of stress dealing with Ozzie and his grooming.  We are back at the Bernhard Trail Road campsite. The birds chirping and fresh air are calming my soul or is it my spirit - ? I'm breathing deeply and slowing my pace back to the ...

So some of you know that Ozzie and I are fairly new together. He came to live with me September 9th.  That is actually only 5 months ago. It's hard to believe that it has been such a short time. Doggie Anxiety and PTSD mixed with my own Anxiety, PTSD and recurring depression has been both a blessing and at times a major challenge. Ozzie came to me with very long hair, painfully long nails and curled around dew claws. We quickly learned about his Grooming or foot  anxiety short of getting bitten when attempting to help groom or check feet for cactus thorns.   Today was a grooming day. I found a lovely shop with caring and sensitive people here in Payson. At times it took three of us but Ozzie is not acting up and he is handsome again. Me - well I feel exhausted and emotional. I'm close to tears (yes I am alright) with being stressed out. I'm driving very carefully as I kind of feel like life is in slow motion right now. I noticed old habits of wanting to stop and ea...

A new campsite a bit south of Payson. We are a little warmer. We even made a cup of tea and took an evening walk. A lot was accomplished in town. The Dollar Tree store here is very different I bought Chia seeds and tiny cans of coconut milk - yes incredibly at a Dollar Tree! We picked up mail at the Post Office and went into Wal-Mart. Gotta keep my Straight Talk phone going.  Omgosh I was opening the packages that arrived in the mail. Look at what I got! I've got the best friends ever! I'm rather excited.  My natural first aid kit is underway once more!

And Ozzie and I are doing fine. ..even though he is protesting being in the van tonight!  I've got the heat running and we should be just fine. .. If the roads are safely passable tomorrow we will travel back south a bit to get a little warmer nights. That's the beauty of mobility!