Tag: dogs

Tick Tick….bliss

Published on by Wildflowers LoriLeave a comment

Lula is snuggled in the back of the car among two down sleeping bags.  She refused to get up for her pup cup and now refuses to get up to go potty.  Oy!

 

Oh, Lula… could you get any cuter?!?! 🥰

So I decided to park at the beach and stare at the wonder of Michigan’s public access to its waters.  Lol…. There is nothing like this in Ohio along Lake Erie.  I am literally parked about 30 feet from the splashing surf of Lake Huron.  I camped the last few days at Tawas Point State Park.  This is one of my all-time favorite state parks.  The access, the absolutely stunning beauty, the huge off-leash dog-friendly beach, and the impeccably maintained showers and bathrooms.  I have been here once before and always wanted to come back.  They did give it an overhaul a few years ago, but they have maintained (as far as I remember) the simplicity that makes this place so serene.  

Tawas Point State Park, MI. (dog-friendly off-leash beach!)

As I am in my car writing this, I am blissfully aware of how cool it is that I get to, because I love to, travel like this.  However, it is at night and in the morning that I sometimes seriously question this lifestyle.  🤦🏻‍♀️

First, all throughout the day, I am constantly battling the tick population.  Not just on Lula but on me as well.  The ticks are so bad that they almost make me want to get a place in the city, where ticks are rarely found.   My second nemesis is sleep.  Years ago, when I began nomadic life, it was just me.  Now I have Lula, and this town ain’t big enough for the both of us.  Lol….   Not only is my current bed NOT built attached to my car like my last one, but now I am sharing a slightly, and I mean slightly, bigger space with a 62lb dog.  

I keep talking about a bigger space, like a van or an RV, or maybe a tow behind.  I just can’t make a decision.  But now it has come to a poo or get off the pot situation.  I can no longer be squished or climb into the back seat to go to bed, nor can I continue to get dressed while sitting behind the wheel.  Hahaha

As for the rooftop bag I bought to give me more space, it is okay because it does give me more space, but the constant untying of straps and unzipping the bag is a giant pain in the butt.  (REI 20% coupon coming soon Thule or Yakima!)

So today I’m going to look at camper vans.  Hopefully, to buy in the next month or two.  

Fast forward to today,  I am back in Ohio as I write, Deep Purple is jamming away on Spotify, and I am staring at an inland lake.  Rain is softly falling, and once again Lula refuses to get out of the car…hahahaha.   Time to do some housekeeping today, both home and financial.  Road life can be costly if you let it slip out from under you.  Gas is a bit nuts right now.  Up in northern Michigan, I was paying $4.29 a gallon, but it is slightly better back down in northeast Ohio.  

The moments that get me high on this life of mine? Here is an example: As I was driving to where I am now, I was rocking out to Grand Funk Railroad, hot coffee in hand, windows down, Lula’s face against the wind and my soul was/is soooooo happy!  

This lifestyle comes with it’s share of bumpy roads but oh my stars do I love it!!!!!

~L

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” — Lao Tzu

Quiet Morning

Published on by Wildflowers LoriLeave a comment

Snow is covering the patio furniture that I just put out a week ago when it was 70 degrees and sunny. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I just couldn’t wait to sit outside with a cup of coffee and crossword while basking in the morning sun. Well the sun is hiding this morning so I am tucked in bed with a cup of coffee, my hound Lula snoring next to me and the crossword. Which I was doing well at until I wasn’t. But it is always a good idea to let it rest and then come back to it later as some of the answers come to me. What a metaphor for life eh?

I have a birthday coming up and the only thing I really want is a hot plate to keep my mug of whatever hot so that while I am sitting in bed, at the table or outside so my whatever (coffee, tea or hot water with lemon) stays hot.

It has been a while since I have been on here. I have since moved back from Colorado, went back to work at the hospital and moved back home until I purchase a home of sorts.

Colorado was beautiful. The job however was not feasible but I am glad I checked off that item on my bucket list. Working for the national parks would have best worked out for me if I had started in my twenties. Getting paid in sunsets at 46 years old is not doable for me. Also I know this is going to sound like a “oh woe is me” thing to some but I will say it anyways. I HATED working five days a week. The drudgery was sucking my soul dry. Give me three twelves and four days off and I am a happy gal. The sunrises out the windows of the patients rooms are gorgeous and the sunsets walking out of work are gorgeous!

Moving away last year helped me tremendously. I was able to discover a few of things that have helped me feel more settled internally than I have ever felt before.

  1. I am finally content knowing that I will probably never feel content. What I mean is that I have accepted who I am. I know longer feel like I am chasing my life down. I am content in knowing that I am who I am and do not feel the need to subscribe to certain timelines or norms. I always used to feel there was something wrong with me about not wanting to be married, or being uber successful. I do not love concept of marriage. And as far as success goes….one’s uber success can look much different to another’s. I cannot compare my life to others because we are all individuals on our own journeys. But I know now that I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not have anything to prove even to myself. I am who I am with room to grow, learn and love. I am right where I need to be in this moment.
  2. I am content being alone/single. While I would love to live out my dreams with a man that I love, I know I am peaceful and I am content with living them out on my own. I love myself and my place in the world like I have never have before. I love my personality, my spirit, my growth, my mind, my body, my everything. I am enough for this life. Having a partner to share my already fulfilling life would be an added wonderful and loving second cup of coffee to my day. But I am no longer trying to make it fit for “us” nor changing myself to fit the relationship nor seeking one out the way I used to.
  3. Lula. She is single handedly the best being that has come into my life in a very long time. I never thought I had time or space for a dog. I was always running around, traveling or working. However while I was working as a park ranger at the front gate of a national park I saw a TON of people traveling with their pets. I am talking all sorts of pets, from dogs to parrots, hedgehogs to snakes. And sooo many cats just lying atop the sunny dashboards! lol. I kept saying to my coworkers that I was going to adopt a pup and then I’d show up empty handed. Well one weekend the La Plata County Humane Society was over crowed and so I went up there. I walked in without a clue as to which pup I was interested in. With their help I found Lula. She had just had puppies two months before and the last pup was adopted out a week before I went to the shelter. Her and I had our meet and greet and she sat in my lap while she waited to see if the handler was coming back. We went for a little walk and off we went..home. I do not know how a lucked out with such an amazing, loyal, sweet, gentle, quiet, loving, energetic and cuddly best friend but I did. She now lives in the lap of luxury and is 110% spoiled everyday. She has added such love and companionship to my life. She is my soul pup.

~L

~L

“I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.”
― Mary Oliver