Month: December 2017

The Liebster Award

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The LIEBSTER AWARD

A big thank you to my fellow blogger Emmanuel Rockan, developer of Life lessons, for nominating me for the Liebster Award.  If you haven’t stopped by his blog and checked it out, make sure you do.  He has some great work for you to read.

I started my blog as kind of a sounding board to see what other people thought about my thoughts.  Another perspective so to speak.  I have also had the enjoyment of reading some fine work and hearing from other people around the world.  WARNING:  It can become addictive.  I never really realized that there were so many talented writers out there.  It has been a very welcoming and humbling experience.  My good friend Dr. David Tripp is responsible for getting me involved with writing blogs and I will never be able to thank him enough.

On accepting the nomination, the rules to be followed are:

1)  Create a new post thanking the person who nominated you, provide a link to their             blog.

2)  Include award graphic.

3)  Answer the questions provided.

4)  Make a new set of questions for your nominees to answer.

5)  Nominate 5-11 upcoming or recently followed bloggers and share your post with them       so they see it.

1)  Why did you start your blog?  I basically wanted to see what other people thought of my thoughts and to maybe get some feedback.

2)  What do you find so good about blogging that you can’t quit being a blogger?  I love reading the opinions from people of different countries and cultures and getting their input.

3)  What’s the most frightening situation you ever found yourself in?  I once kicked in the door of a neighbor who was constantly battering his wife, to only find myself staring down the barrel of a pistol.

4) Have you ever wrote a book or a poem?  No

5)  How did you deal with writer’s block?  I load my kayak up and go to the river and recharge my soul and cleanse my spirit completely cleansing my mind of negative thoughts.

6)  What’s the most embarrassing situation you’ve found yourself in?  One time I had to go to the restroom so bad that I rushed in to the bathroom only to find out that I should have done a better job of reading the sign.

7)  What do you find hard about blogging?  Sometimes I know what I want to say but I have a hard time expressing those thoughts in words.

8)  Have you achieved or (achieving) the goal you set for yourself when you started blogging.  Quite honestly I never set any goals.

9)  Have you ever been criticized about something you wrote on your blog?  The night is still young, but no, not at this time.

10)  How do you deal with criticism.  I listen to the criticism and think about what is said and most of the time walk away saying we just need to agree to disagree.  I DO NOT tolerate name calling.  I respect everyone’s opinion as long as they respect mine.

My questions for the nominees:

  1. Who or what is the biggest inspiration in your life?
  2. At the point that you are right now in your life, what, if anything, is your biggest regret?
  3. If you could live in another time in history, when would it be and why?
  4. Of all the books you have read in your lifetime, which book is your favorite?
  5. If you had to pick between living in a cabin, sitting on the shoreline of a lake in the country or a loft in a major city, which would you choose and why?
  6. If you stumbled upon a magic lamp and were granted three wishes what would they be? (Naming in order of importance with 1 being most important.)
  7. What is your favorite quotation of all time?
  8. On the way out of the store you realize that the cashier gave you a $20 bill, and it was supposed to have been a $10 bill, what would you do and why?
  9. How would you describe your perfect mate for life?
  10. Use one word to describe your “blogging” experience.

Trying to pick eleven nominees, when everyone I follow is deserving, is hard to do.  To all of you I say, stay focused on what you do.  Spread the love.  Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and always respect the opinions of others.  Respecting them doesn’t mean you agree with them.  It means you are a person to respect.  Most of all, never, NEVER stop dreaming.

My nominees are:

Dee Kay

Chad and Marie from No Harm In Farmin

sassafrasbeefarm

B.

Kally

Heather C

Christy B

uncertaintyweb

Festenstein

The Little Mermaid

gunroswell

Be sure to check them out.  I have certainly enjoyed them and hope you will also.  Again I would like to thank Emmanuel Rockan for nominating me.

 

2018 Is Knocking On the Door!

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“Your success and happiness lies in you.  Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” – Helen Keller

I don’t know about the rest of you but I don’t know if it is because I am getting older or just busier, but this year reminded me of Secretariat coming down the home stretch at Belmont in 1973.  I didn’t get accomplished what  I wanted to.  That tells me I need to improve my planning for 2018.

To me it is a little ironic that the end of the year and the celebration of the birth of Christ both happen in the month of December.  The Beginning and the End so to speak.  With the celebration of Christmas comes bouts of depression for some.  It is a tough time for those who have lost loved ones, especially those who are celebrating Christmas for the first time after their loved one has passed.  Unfortunately it is the time of year when companies trim their work force getting ready for the year to come, adding stress to the lives of those that lost their jobs.

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is the time of year one needs to go to their safe place and reflect on the year and evaluate what happened in 2017.  Are you disappointed?  Happy?  Ecstatic?  Was last year a good year but if not, what can you do to make 2018 better?  Now the operative word here is “you”, I didn’t say “we”.  What’s that?  You are married.  Congratulations!  Sorry the operative is still “you”.  When you get “you” worked out, then you can sit down with the spouse and finish your planning.

I am going to go out on a limb here and I am going to bet that one of the things you need to change going in to 2018 is (drum roll please) spend more quality time with family.  I went into a restaurant a couple of weeks ago and there were what appeared to be 4 members of a family.  My guess was father, mother, daughter and son.  Youngest (son) was probably 15.  Every one of them were doing something with their phone and maybe, just maybe said 15 words.  Do yourself a favor and make 2018, the year of the Family.

This is going to probably put some of your undies in a wad.  I am sorry but it needs to be said.  If you are one of the many complaining about the current political climate and you DID NOT exercise your explicit right to vote, then shut up!  I don’t care if you don’t agree with me or even if I am not politically correct, you don’t have the right to complain, in my opinion anyway.  Yes it is my opinion and isn’t supported by any law, local, state or federal.  Sad thing though is that these people are the ones that complain the most. (Note:  This pertains only to the U.S. because I do realize exercising that right in some countries could get one killed.)

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.  We can help write that story by setting goals.” – Melody Beattie

The new year can bring us new challenges so in that chapter of life we will be writing about things that we have never experienced before.  Make sure your book of life is an autobiography.  Do your own writing and decision making.  It doesn’t hurt to seek advice but for life decisions, you make them.  After all you are the one that is going to have to live with that decision.

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Work on knowing all your neighbors.  Learn their names and even talk to them.  I know that is asking a lot for some, but think about it.  Spread the love.  I don’t care what your passion is share that love with everyone around you.  Respect those around you.  When other people talk, shut up and listen.  Respect their opinion whether you agree with or not.  I myself have said more than once, “We are just going to have to agree to disagree.”  Learn to walk away when a discussion goes south.  Treat people the way you want to be treated.  Keep your life free of negativity.   Last but not least, love yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Spread the love!  NOTE:  I do not have a degree in psychology and am not a psychologist.  Just an old geezer that has watched and learned as I traveled down the freeway of life.

The Lucky Horseshoe

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“For want of a nail the shoe was lost.  For want of a shoe the horse was lost.  For want of a horse the rider was lost.  For want of a rider the message was lost.  For want of  a message the battle was lost.  For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.  And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” – Phil Jackson

It is said that early horseshoes were made to hold 7 nail holes; seven is considered a lucky number.  Most historians give the Greeks credit for the earliest horseshoe that resembled a crescent moon, a symbol of fertility and good fortune.  It was also believed that iron, which was what the horseshoe was made of, would ward off evil and weaken nature spirits.

The horseshoe got real notoriety when St. Dunstan gave the horseshoe special power against evil.  He was a blacksmith by trade before he became the Archbishop of Canterbury .   He was approached by a stranger one day who asked for horseshoes to be attached to his feet.  Dunstan noticed that the stranger’s feet were cloven.  Suspecting that this stranger was Satan himself, Dunstan agreed to honor the stranger’s request.  Dunstan told the stranger that he would have to shackle him to the wall.  The stranger agreed and once Dunstan had him shackled to the wall, he went to work.  At this point Dunstan took advantage of the shackled Satan and made the process so painful that it wasn’t long before Satan was begging him to stop, and to remove the shoes.  Dunstan stopped and looked Satan in the eyes and told him if he would agree to an oath in which he would agree to never enter a house where a horseshoe was displayed above the door he would stop.  The pain of the shoes was so great Satan agreed to honor St. Dunstan’s demand.  Now that my friends ,is the rest of the story.IMG_2201

It is said that if you find a horseshoe, if you rub it 7 times while making a wish your wish will come true.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Remember to spread the love.  Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is Today’s Youth In Trouble?

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“If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally  die.” – Maya Angelou

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I have fought with myself about tonight’s subject.  I have debated whether or not it is worth writing about because of the fallout it could cause.  I realize I could lose followers and ruffle a few feathers but I guess I like living on the edge because I am going to do it because I feel it really needs to be said.

First I would like to make it perfectly clear that the purpose of this blog is not to “bash” anyone.  It is merely observations I have made and just my opinion.  I do not have a degree in psychology and am only speaking of what I have learned in 63 years.  I do not wish to offend anyone, it is merely meant to be thought provoking.

“Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame.  Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you.” – Ralph Marsten

If I hear one more time, “what is wrong with kids these days?”, I am going to scream.  I ask you who is responsible for seeing that children are reared properly?  Gee, could it be the parents?  However it is easier to blame the children and shirk the responsibility of child rearing.

I don’t know how many times I have heard parents from my generation say, “I just wanted them to have it better than me.”  Really?  I really don’t think we turned out that bad.  After all, we got told no, endured spankings at home and at school, only got a trophy if we won, and lived with second hand smoke.  Didn’t have car seats and rode in the back of a pickup.  We were taught and expected to respect our elders.  The real setback was all those violent cartoons we watched and worked to earn money.  Damn I guess we really did have it rough.   The difference between then and now was that we couldn’t wait to get out of the house and now they don’t want to leave.

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.” – Laurence Sterne

Boys wear there pants below the crack of their arse and girls dress like hookers.  Why is that?  Could it be that they have no manners because no one ever took the time to teach them respect?  If one doesn’t respect themselves then how in the world can they respect others.  If they don’t respect your property, why would you ever think they would respect other people’s property?

One of the problems in the world today is that the parents and grandparents want to be their child’s friend.  They cater to them and shun confrontations.  No one wants to be the “bad guy”.  You know, that person who is trying to prepare the child for the real world.  Not the one where everything revolves around the child.  When are you going to realize that you aren’t doing them any favors by catering to them.  Making them think that they can do anything they want and that the rest of the world will be right there waiting on them hand and foot so that they don’t have to endure any bad experiences.   You do so that must be the real world, so they think.  You are sheltering them in a world that only exists because you have created it.  They didn’t create it, you did.  Do the math.  You are the reason.

“That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.” – William J.H. Boetcker

Folks it is time to quit blaming all the behavioral problems of our children on them and share a lot of that blame.  Maybe sit back and rethink the way you are rearing your child.  I certainly hope I didn’t offend anyone but I seem to see more and more bad behavior every day.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  It is deeply appreciated.  Remember to spread the love.

 

 

 

My Addiction

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“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” – Henry David Thoreau

My adventure began December 16, 2017.  I went to the property we own in Frank Clay that morning and had been cutting wood.  It was a gorgeous day and I was having withdrawal symptoms.  My addiction hadn’t been fed in awhile and I knew the longer I neglected it the worse it would get.

I arrived home around 2:30 and fed the horses.  I then went to work unloading a load of wood that I had brought back.  When that was done I went to work organizing the necessary items for a night in the woods.

I arrived at the property at 5:30 p.m. so I would be setting up in the dark.  First thing I did was get the fire started so that when I was finished setting up I could rustle up some grub.

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My palace for the evening.

It was 47 degrees when I arrived at the property.  They were calling for a low of 40 and light rain by morning.

Once I had supper behind me I began reflecting on the day and the early night.  The temperature had dropped to 40 degtrees and I could feel the fingers of the cold tugging at my toes and feet.

As I sat watching the flames of the fire dancing around the wood I began thinking just how fortunate I am to be able to experience Nature in this way.  I think we tend to get so caught up in our everyday routines that we take our freedoms for granted.  In our minds we tell ourselves that it will be there.  We seem to forget how fragile life is.  It can change in a matter of seconds and we lose the luxury to enjoy the things we hold so dear to our hearts.

As I sat there absorbing my surroundings I tried to imagine what it would be like for someone that has never experienced Nature in this way.  No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t wrap my mind around what it would be like.  I realize that a lot of people don’t exactly have this adventure on their bucket list.  To those people I say, find your “Nature experience”.  That one experience that fills your heart with joy, recharges your spirit and cleanses your soul.  That “me” time that we need to clear our minds and help us cope with life.   Now close your eyes and think what that is.  You got it?  Hold it dear in your heart and don’t ever hesitate to go there and enjoy that time.

Another passion of mine is Dutch Oven cooking.  My favorite is the ten inch.  It is quite versatile and I carry that with me on my camping excursions.  It also works well as a skillet.  That was my choice for Sunday morning.  It is great for cooking the complete meal in one pot.  This morning I chose potatoes, sausage and eggs.  Food tastes so much better when cooked outside, or at least that is my opinion.  As I sat there eating breakfast I watched as the forest came to life.  I watched as two deer made their way past camp and it must have been a squirrel family reunion.  Several were enjoying the mild December weather.  I had ten coyotes visit camp the night before.  They didn’t stay long.  They must have been looking for that roadrunner that was always picking on their cousin Wiley.

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“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” – John Muir

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  If your passion is say Bingo, then take the time to go to that place and renew your spirit and cleanse your soul.  I know it is sometimes hard to find that time you really need.  Learn to schedule this much needed time in your life.  Remember to spread the love.

Why…..?

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“The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.” – Abraham Lincoln

For those of you who don’t know me, I am a farrier by trade and sometimes there can be considerable distance from our jobs so we incur a lot of windshield time.  This was one of those days for me today.  The word of the day seemed to be “why” because it kept popping up in my mind.

Why do people find it necessary to hurt someone because they don’t agree with someone’s point of view?  Just recently a young lady, who’s blog I follow, had some hurtful replies to one particular blog she published.  I am sorry but I find that intolerable.  There are ways of saying you disagree without having to be hateful.  If you are one of those people that hurt people intentionally, please tell me what is gained by doing it.  Enlighten me.

Why do you always have to be right?  News flash folks, it is not the end of the world if you are wrong and the individual that has the fortitude to admit it my hat is off to them.  That tells me that you have class and must be an aspiring individual.

Why does there necessarily have to be a “right” or a “wrong”?  Why can’t we just agree to disagree?  Everyone has their reasons for believing the way they do.  Right now I see this going on in the world of politics at the moment in this country on national, state and local levels of government.  You think POTUS is an idiot and doing a terrible job.  You think the POTUS is doing a great job and pleased with his/her performance.  Neither one of you are right or wrong.  All you have is an opinion of the POTUS formed by different reasons.  opinion : a view or judgement about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.  So please, both of you just agree to disagree and move on.

“When you have the right, doesn’t mean you are right.”– Farrah Ezzatie

Why can’t we just compromise?  What is so wrong with compromising?  compromise : accept standards that are lower than is desirable  First off I want to make something perfectly clear, I am NOT a democrat or republican.  I loathe the party system that we have in this country.  I look at the individuals in the race and form an opinion as to who I feel is the best person for the job and that is how I vote.  I digress, sorry.  Ok the present POTUS, governor, senator, etc. does not meet your standards why can’t you just compromise and in 2 or 4 years vote their arses out of office instead of calling all those that supported them (and heaven forbid didn’t agree with your opinion) stupid, racist, deplorable etc..   What makes you so right or them so wrong?  The name calling and constant attacks on those you do not agree with does no good for anyone.  It just creates a bigger divide in this country.  It is not Russia, Isis, or North Korea we have to fear.  No.  Our biggest fear is ourselves.  We are our own worst enemy.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

Once again I thank you for taking the time to read my post.  This is one I really avoided writing about but I felt I just needed to say it.   Will it change things?  Very doubtful.  Spread the love.

“It has been profoundly said, and how true it is, that the only thing necessary for evil to exist is for good people to remain silent.” – Edmund Burke

We Say “Merry Christmas”

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“Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting.  It is happiness because we see joy in people.  It is forgetting self and finding time for others.  It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values.” – Thomas S. Monson

It seems that it is not politically correct to say Merry Christmas and Christmas tree.  To be politically correct it is suggested that one would say Happy Holiday and Holiday tree.  Really?  Excuse me but just how long have we been saying Merry Christmas and decorating a Christmas tree?

What has happened in this country?   Why are we breaking tradition all of a sudden?  Supposedly it is so we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings that believes differently than we do.  Now the purpose of my blog isn’t to bash those folks that say they get offended.  It is a blog to explain why I say Merry Christmas.

First I would like to point out that Christians and Jews have been living in the U.S. together for many years.  I have had many Jewish friends and I don’t remember any of them being offended when I wished them a Merry Christmas.  Maybe they were and didn’t say anything but I hope not.

You see when I wish you a Merry Christmas it is a greeting of joy, peace and love.  It is in reference to the day that God sent His Son to be born on earth and start a life where He healed the sick, made the blind see and performed many other miracles.  It all ended when my Savior was hung on a cross made of wood and He died for my sins.  That is why I say Merry Christmas.  It is not to insult you or to hurt your feelings.  It is simply my wanting to share with you the joy and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

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“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.  To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge

With that said I would like to say Merry Christmas!  A big thank you to all my followers.  You have no idea how much you are appreciated.  I wish you all a prosperous new year filled with joy, love and success.

Your(Self)- Esteem

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Wikipedia tells us that self-esteem reflects a person’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or her own worth.  It is a judgement of oneself as well as an attitude toward the self.

I believe in today’s society we place to much emphasis on the opinions of other people.  I like this quote by Emerson, “It is easy to live for others, everybody does.  I call on you to live for yourself.”  

There was a time when I worried about what people thought of me.  I would find myself living totally out of my character in hopes that people would like me.  This went on for some time until one day I realized what a fake I was and how unhappy I was, pretending to be someone I wasn’t.  Let’s face it, when you are a red neck, country, hillbilly you can only hide it so long.  I mean you are what you are and you can’t live a lie just to prop up your self-esteem because it won’t last long.

I remember when I was six my dad took me to the barber and had my head practically shaved.  Now this wouldn’t have been so bad for some folks, however I have this curse that hangs over me.  Large, protruding ears.  Now take away the hair and ………OMG all the kids called me “Dumbo” the elephant.  This fiasco did absolutely nothing for my self-esteem.  It was tough but I pulled through and life went on.

“Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own?” – Brigham Young

As I have matured, during my stroll through life, I have learned to appreciate who I am and what I have accomplished.  When ever I see someone belittled or bullied it infuriates me to no end.  I immediately go into “salvage” mode and a lot of times I don’t even wait until the offender leaves Dodge.  I can remember being put down in front of a crowd and everyone just staring where if just one person would have walked up to me and said “that is not true” then gave me a big hug, my confidence level would have never crashed.  Now I am not saying that no one is deserving of a arse chewing.  If I screw up then I have earned everything I get.

What I hate to see is someone that is trying to improve and all they hear is, “you are so stupid”, “you need to just give up”, etc..  What happened to constructive criticism?  We as a society need to develop a bigger heart and the art of kindness.  Unless you are some kind of egotistical maniac, there are going to be times that you question your own self-esteem.

“Social media websites are no longer performing an envisaged function of creating a positive communication link among friends, family and professionals.  It is a veritable battleground, where insults fly from the human quiver, damaging lives, destroying self-esteem and a person’s sense of self-worth.” – Anthony Carmona

I think the above quote pretty much sums up how I feel about today’s social media.  People just don’t seem to care about one another’s feelings.

In closing I want to thank everyone that took the time to read my blog.  Remember to share the love.

 

 

 

The Man Behind the Blog

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If people could be as loyal as a dog.

I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau

I am a simple man who doesn’t relish material things.  I have a problem with most technology because I feel it is the “Achilles Heel” of today’s society.  We have become to dependent on it and if it ever fails we will find ourselves in a world of chaos and ruin.  Maybe I am old school but I just don’t see today’s networks that make this modern technology work as it does, being infallible.  Just ask yourself, what would happen if a virus was able to penetrate our financial systems and erase all the data?  Could we survive a hit like that?  I know what you are sayin, we have safe guards for that.  Yeah right.  Tell that to the folks that had problems with their tax returns being stolen.

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don’t take friendship lightly.  I have a tough time trusting people, but then there are plenty of reasons for that.  Trust is the foundation of a true friendship.  Now I am not talking a casual friendship, I am talking a friendship where you bare your soul to that person.  A lot of things just don’t mean to people what it did 30 years ago.  Friendship is one of those things that I think has lost its true meaning.

I don’t believe in the “everyone gets a trophy” way of life.  I think we do our children an injustice by not letting them experience defeat and disappointment..  We are just delaying the inevitable.  One will never win every battle they encounter.  Such is life so let us prepare them early in life.

Right, wrong or indifferent I believe an individual is responsible for their own fate/destiny.  Yes, some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth but that person can fail himself/herself just as easy as the person who was born into poverty.  If destiny decided my life I guess I could say my life came with a guarantee.  Guaranteed to crash and burn or succeed no matter what I do because destiny has all ready decided that for me.

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.  Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir

I am not a religious person, I am a spiritual person.  I love and respect Mother Earth.  I have always been drawn to nature and when I am in the woods or on the river I am home where I belong.  There is no better place to go to cleanse your soul and recharge your spirit.  Photography is my passion.  Horseback riding is another favorite of mine.  I dislike the way we teach young girls to judge their beauty by what is on the outside and not by what is on the inside.  I would rather be in the wilderness of Montana than on a beach in the Caribbean.  If I could have lunch with anyone I wanted, it would be my Grandma Bobbi.  Damn I miss her.  I would like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.  I would to spend a day with Thoreau and Emerson.  I want my own cabin and Walden Pond.  If I could do one thing to change the world, it would be to put love in everyone’s heart because that would resolve all the other problems.  “Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us, and the greatest was love.” – Alan Jackson (Where Were You)

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Now you know a little more about the man that writes the blogs.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and I hope you enjoyed it.  Don’t forget to spread the love.

 

 

 

 

 

Winter, the Circle Is Complete

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“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter.” – John Burroughs

Here in Missouri we had an extremely mild November with very little moisture and let me tell you we could use the moisture.  It is so dry around here that when I let the dogs out in the morning the trees chase them.

December is the month that autumn rides off into the sunset and gives the reins to “old man winter”.  On Thursday, December 21 winter will officially begin and visit with us until March 20, 2018 at which time spring will once again grace us with its presence.  At this time the seasons have come full circle once again.  The last two winters have left very little snow on the ground and some mild temps and all I can hope for is a real winter this year.  There, I am out of the closet!

Yep, you guessed it.  I am one of those twisted, sick individuals that actually loves the snow.  I absolutely treasure a walk in the woods during and after a fresh snowfall.  The world is so serene and Mother Earth looks so clean and pure.  The most fascinating thing, to me anyway, is how quiet it becomes.  One can actually hear the snow falling.

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 “The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?” – J. B. Priestly

December ushers in the winter and at the same time marks the end of the year.  Winter is the only season that is part of the old year and the new year.   It is the time of year when Mother Nature can bring travel in the United States to a standstill with her massive snowstorms.  Plummeting temperatures can drive people indoors for extended lengths of time.  It’s a time of year that you either love or hate.   The days are shorter and the longer hours of darkness can cause depression.

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Winter can also be exciting.  I remember as a child when they predicted an accumulating snow I would break out the wax to wax the runners of my sled.  It was hard to sleep thinking about the winter wonderland that would be waiting at dawn.   A favorite winter treat was snow cream and hot chocolate gets an honorable mention.

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” – Edith Sitwell

So winter is once again upon us.  I haven’t checked the persimmon seeds or the wooly worms.  I haven’t checked the Farmers Almanac.  I think I will just let this winter surprise me with what is in store and not get my hopes up.

 

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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Don’t forget to spread the love.

Note:  All pictures were taken by me and are the property of Double D Acres LLC.