Writer on a Horse
And a Dog

The world looks better from the back of a horse and the roads of life are easier with a good dog beside you.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Spiritual Journey for December

We're talking about one little word.  Check out our host for December Irene about her one little word.

My Word for 2017 was Junket


I'm going on a journey of promises...  

 I promise to write every day                nope broke my promise  

I promise to blog every week               nope broke my promise                             

I promise to submit every month        nope broke my promise


   Junket definition: a journey taken for pleasure  


But I have taken a journey this year... my husband was told he was a diabetic this year... he had a stint in his heart the end of 2016 and the roller coaster ride of doctors and medicine has put this super charged A personality in overdrive..... when you ask why you need a certain medicine or procedure DO NOT talk mumble jumble and then get mad when I stop you and request southern English please

Great report this month... off all medicines and A1C is 6  
So if y'all think it would be okay, I think I'm going to give junket another shot.  Don't you just love the word.  
"Oh, I can't made your party.  I have a junket planned with my friends."  OH wait I do... girls day planned for next Monday.... tons of catching up, good food and antiquing.  Best Day Ever.

I want to wish each of you a glorious December, filled with special people, favorite foods, giving hearts and replenished souls. I hope you take the time to embark on a junket that will fulfill your adventurous spirit.  





And finally I would like to share a poem I wrote years ago ... just know I'm not a poet

Renewal

Kindness in a hardened heart
All year it plays the part
Stingy, selfish, mean
Good traits can’t be seen

What is this special potion?
Is it real or just a notion
Caroling, laughter, a feeling of peace
Eggnog, evergreen, a child’s happy face

Family, friends with love abound
Peace goodwill all around
Is this God’s way to heal the heart?
A chance each year for a new start

Deep in human souls
Looms the heavenly father’s goals
Faith, love, charity are the answer
Guided by a babe in a manger



I just have to do it... ROLL TIDE ROLL


Friday, November 3, 2017

Spiritual Journey for November

So today isn't Thursday... I'm always a dollar short and a day late... forgive me

Gratitude is the topic today and be sure to check out Irene blog on this subject. 

I looked up the definition and was intrigued to fine this... I was grateful for the surprise..

Gratitude defined for English-language learners

a feeling of appreciation or thanks

My list of gratitude

1. My mean aunts that thought I didn't matter because I wasn't a boy and couldn't carry on the family name.... you made me strong and independent, happy to be in my own skin

2. My mother who was from Rhode Island, she made me a little bit northern where you mind your own business and shoo
t straight when you do have something to say.

3. My Dad who taught me to be tough... no coddling and to always play to win or don't play

4. My kids who forced me into being able to multitask 

5. My grandkids who taught me how good it felt to love without the pressure of parenting

6. My husband who taught me the unlimited boundary of love and the depths of "I'm going to kill him"

7. And finally to my friends that forgive my many faults, push me to be more, laugh at my jokes and cry with me even if they don't understand why I'm sad.


This week I'm so thankful to my family and one dear friend that made my Christmas wish come true.  Meet my new pup Lottie Mae.  

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Courage lesson from a good friend

I have a dear friend that lives in Florida and works at a hospital ... no chance for her to evacuate.  She has a son that lives in Ocala... her baby.  I've talked to her several times in the last week, giving long distance support, and wishing I could do more.  Yes, she was stressed and yes she was worried but her last text to me said... it's headed toward y'all be careful.  This meaning the hurricane is going to travel up into North Alabama and she was worried about tornadoes.  How much courage it takes to stand and face the storm when your knees are knocking.  To be worried about everyone else and put your fears aside.  True courage is in what you do not what you say.  So glad to call her friend.


A few quotes


 A great deal of talent is lost in this world for the want of a little courage   
Author Unknown

 The hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer   
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The battle is not to the strong alone: it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave 

 Patrick Henry

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Spiritual Journey Thursday for September


The word for this month comes from Ramona, go check out her blog.
So the word is Nourish....


You nourish your mind with books and adventures

You nourish you heart with love... not just for your family but for all living creatures

You nourish body with exercise, good food and meditation

You nourish you soul with prayer and faith

A woman is the perfect example of nourish.  Think about all the ways a woman nourishes her child, husband, family, friends, church, and community.  I'm not going to list all the examples because this is a blog not a book.

Don't forget to nourish yourself and that doesn't mean taking care of yourself...
Nourish with imagination, knowing your own self worth, and to use a cliche, dance like not one is watching.  Embrace LIFE
















I found this poem and to me (since I'm getting older) represents life being nourished


Here, Again: The Autumn Equinox

I’m here, again…
Come riding in, upon the western wave
My hair all wove with golden leaves, my breast
As pale as moonlight on a hidden grave
And all the sins of summer long confessed

I come, again…
In sweeping skirts, with white swan feathers strewn
To brush the summer dust from weary grass
Make ash of aspen, damp the flame of noon
Before the frost freeze water into glass 
 
I bring, to you…
Windfallen apples, berries from the hedge
Long shadows on the barrows, and the chalk
Wild winds to stir the willows and the sedge
And mist, and myth, down every path you walk

I’m here, again…
The promise of the harvest to fulfil
The energy of autumn, streaming through
The swirling springs that spiral round the hill
To drench the land in red and russet hue

I come, again…
Between the longest day and shortest night
To fill the blood and marrow of your bones
With all the orange glory of the light
Before the dark descend upon the stones

I bring, to you…
A cornucopia of ripened fruit
Dark juices of the vine in bottles bright
To nourish soul and body, to transmute
Your thought to dream, your dream to second sight

For I am She…
Am Autumn writ, in every field and tree
Am mistress of the Owl and running Hare
So yield unto my kiss, and blesséd be
And dance with me, oh Druid, if you dare…

@ Gail Foster 23rd September 2016

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Spiritual Journey First Thursday for August

How many times have you said... "I wish I could start over.  I would do things different."  
You're wishing for a new beginning.  Check out Julianne's web page and read about her "New Beginnings" 



Stop and think about it, every step is a new beginning. 

 Heck, every breathe brings you to a new place.  



So instead of new beginnings, I like to say a new awareness of life.  




When I was young everything was in the moment... let tomorrow's worries wait until then but as I got older I pondered on tomorrow.  Such a waste of time.  

 Now I'm older enough to realize you should cherish what you have.... right now...love your life...NOW... plan for a future but not at the expensive of today.  





Take today's steps slowly and relish where they take you... because you might not walk them again. 


Sunday, July 9, 2017

Good Old Days





Being the sixth grandchild of fourteen, I discovered a few things very early in life






1. Granny's lap is only so big and everyone gets a turn being rocked

2.You might be bossy but that doesn't make you the boss

3. Blame everything on the younger kids

4. Granddaddy's are much grumpier than Granny's

5. Don't eat grapes off the vine all day... bad, very bad

6. Don't eat apples off the tree all day... Worst

7.  Don't eat peaches off the tree all day...Worst that worst

8.  Good thing I don't like pears ... I might not be here today

9.  Don't lock any of your cousins or brother in a wrecked car in Granny's field, in July,  with no water... they might sweat some but your butt will be sore for a week

10. Love your family with all your heart even if it seems like they don't love you... they do... maybe this one took me longer to figure out.

I'm only in one of these pictures ... can you pick me out?  I'm the one smirking like I know something everyone else doesn't ... I probably do and I most likely will be in trouble before the night is over.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Spiritual Journey Thursday.. Stepping out of your comfort zone

This is a really hard blog for me.... because I'm open to anything, I will ask anything of anyone, I will talk to anyone, do anything... but water ski and I would do that except I nearly drown every time I try.

I was raised by a Yankee mother who told me every day..."Patty Jean, you're as good as anyone but no better than anyone."

I lived next to a Granny that told me every day..."God has special plans for you, don't let him down."

I had an aunt on my Daddy's side (he was the only boy) that told me I didn't matter because I would not carry on the Trousdale name to which I would say "Thank Goodness!"

If I didn't win in sports, I tried harder until I did.  If I wanted to create something like a quilt, cooking, gardening ... I tried until I did it and was good at it.  My mother died when I was 27 but she was sick three years before that.  My Granny died when I was 18 and I miss talking to her every day.  So, I guess I stepped out of my comfort zone when my mother died.  I had to do more for the family, be more for my brothers, work harder to be sister, daughter, wife, mother.

Now, don't y'all dare feel sorry for me because it has made me a confidant woman.  Able to solve any problem the world throws at me and able to be see and appreciate all the special blessing in my life.

When I was fifty years old, I told my husband I wanted to start writing again.  I had not written anything since high school.  He said okay and turned back to the television.  I said, "I wasn't asking for permission, I was asking for your blessing."  He said, "Okay."  MEN!

I thought about it for about a month... where to start... then my Granny's words of wisdom came to me.

Start walking you'll come out somewhere.




So, I did.  Conferences, reading how-to books, writing, retreats, and making writing friends

Wait, I think I've gotten off topic here... stepping out of comfort zone.  Here are some pointers.

1. When someone you love dies... remember the love ones you have alive. Hold close cherish memories that will keep them alive in spirit.  Write them down and pass them down

2.  Remember who you are but don't be afraid to change.  Take ballroom dancing classes, learn to paint, climb that mountain (oh no scratch that I hate to hike...but you can climb that mountain) ride a horse, scuba dive but don't water ski you might drown.

3. It's okay to end a feud.  You don't have to say their right, just start the conversation.  I'm sorry I upset you, can we talk about it.

4. Fear is your brain saying to be careful... Be careful and proceed

5. Throw your face into the wind and laugh... cry at the beauty of a sunset, kiss your love everyday with the passion you feel in your heart.  Knock down those comfort barriers, grow, reach for dreams, learn something new everyday.

Look in the mirror every morning and say... I can... and do it

I'm going to share one of my flash fiction (only it's not fiction for some)
All I want to say is baby steps toward a goal is all you need.  Believe in yourself and everyone else will believe too.  Afraid to let others read your pieces... get over it ... who cares if they like it or not.... listen to them... think about what they say and grow..... some of my best stuff came from listening to people who didn't like my story.... I got beyond what they were saying and understood what they were saying.  Okay, this is just a piece I wrote one Thanksgiving morning after visiting a nursing home.  You might be sad for what she lost but I'm happy she has that plate and memories.











A winkled finger touches the rose and ivy design on the china plate.  Tears fill her eyes, and she quickly closes them.  Reaching for the handkerchief she always keeps in her sweater pocket, Labecca wipes the evidence of emotion from her cheek. 
Any emotion brought questions, doctors and medicines to stop you from feeling.  Memories should be allowed to flow because they painted joy, hope and love into your life.  With them your essence is like a masterpiece painted by an artist; without them you are like a wisp of smoke waiting to leave. 
Labecca looks around her small room with beige tile on the floor, beige paint on the wall and earth tone bedspread on the bed.  No color!  She feels herself fade into the neutral texture of the room and its nothingness strangles all hope of happiness from her. 
She glances down at the only piece of china left from her life as a daughter, sister, mother and wife.  Every Thanksgiving she had set her wedding china for her family’s feast.  After the meal, she washed each piece by hand to preserve it for the next annual tradition.  But what happens to tradition when you’re the only one left?
Carefully placing the plate in the wire basket attached to her walker, Lebecca struggles to rise and starts the long walk to the dining area.  As she shuffles down the sterile hallway the sound of children laughing haunts her.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Spiritual Journey Thursday... Finding Joy

Check out Margaret  I've put random pictures of my joys and below are my thoughts on finding joy

Finding Joy:  This is such a simple action because it only takes opening you eyes to what is around you, opening your ears to sounds around you, opening your heart to beauty around you.

I have a life long friend that has decline in health and spirit the last five years.  I picked her up early one morning (we both love to yard sale) and I promise you she looked like she hated everything and everybody.  I took her to McDonald instead and bought her coffee and said sit.  "Tell me where has all your joy went."  I was not prepared for to the bitterness and sorrow that poured out the next two hours.  To sum up her lack of joy... her life has not turned out like she planned it.



 Errrr Hello ... you can't just plan it you have to live it... be active in the steps taken .. and stop crying when things happen... change them.

So I cried a river that day... sobs of heartache for a dear friend I couldn't help.   Every plan I suggested was shot down...

Her..I want to travel but can't afford it...
Me..book a low cost trip in advance... plan it with the knowledge of how much you can spend.  Doesn't your brother have a camper.... ask to borrow it that will cut cost in half
Her... we're not talking  he hasn't called me in weeks
Me... have you called him?
Her... oh you always did take his side
Me ... sigh

Then I took the big plunge:  I told her that her lack of happiness was a problem only she could fix.  Thinking up excuses are so much easier that finding an achievable path to joy.  I told her to start small... take a walk and look... really look at the beauty just outside her door.

I went home and hugged my husband, kids, grandkids, dogs and thought about hugging a chicken but thought better of it..... no joy in being pecked and getting chicken poop on you.

So finally, my thoughts on finding joy.... only you can do it... you can't find others joy.  A person's joys are as different as fingerprints.



I"m going to list my top ten

1. Greeting the early morning ... with a cup of coffee in my hand I walk my yard to enjoy my flowers and throw the ball for my dogs then going to the barn

2.  Feeding my chickens and cats... I get up one hour early to spend time with them before I go to work

3. Sitting on my front porch and napping... I have tons to do but everything else can wait

4. Finding a great book that I can't put down

5. yard sale and thrift store visits with friends or by myself

6. Quilting

7. My family... their joys fill my heart... their joys are my joys

8. helping others... I deliver over 12 dozen eggs every week to elderly and single moms

9. Watching movies with my grandbabies... I;m the type person that watches a movie over and over...the babies broadens my selections... they will not watch a movie they've seen... except Harry Potter

10.  finally but not last My husband... he makes me mad enough to spit but he is my joy

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Spiritual Journey First Thursday and the word is REACH



 Donna writes about her one little word for 2017, the word Reach.

Reach can touch so many emotions... you reach for love or you reach to save.  You reach to comfort or you reach to achieve.

So, when we reach  it pulls us out of our comfort zone, over our personal protection wall where we hide so people or the world can not hurt us.

 Hiding... really how boring is that!



I start every morning reaching... for my toes (I wish) a cup of coffee.  That small urn of comfort starts my day quietly and calmly.  No coffee... look out!

I reach out to my friends and family to reassure myself that they are all good.  This is a personal reach.  I'm sure they like to know I care but it eases my mind more than theirs.

I reach out to creative side and try to work but confess that reach has been short lately.

I reach out to my animals and fill my title of caregiver.

There were times that title held much more responsibly.  I was caregiver to sick family members, a parent raising kids and a grandmother just loving those babies.


The reaching out to kids and grandbabies are different today... they don't need raising anymore but they still need to know you love them.


My number one reach every morning is to let my husband of 48 years know he is still my everything.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Shed the tears and move on... words to live by

We all have bad days... painful days... blue days
But who wants to feel like that forever.  Not me!  Being sad over things you can not change is useless energy used to pull you down.  Have feelings ... all of them ... but keep the happy loving ones close to your heart and let the others go...


 These things make me Happy!