10 Doables to a Daily Wonderful Life...

~ the bliss of October ~

Little did I know when I took the month of September off from blogging, it would turn into October and most of November as well. The computer hard drive crashed and, through friend Mary, I found someone to fix the problem...for a day or two. Then, other problems began and the computer stopped working, again, leaving me in a muddle. In October we celebrated Mom's 80th birthday (photos and story at a later date) and her and Daddy's 63rd wedding anniversary! My siblings always want me to be master of ceremonies and the single most on point thing I said was, "Mom and Daddy's lives are a long obedience in the right direction." The most wonderful memory I have of them both are when they read their Bibles. Daddy reads his every morning, before breakfast, and Mom reads her Bible sometime during the day. They've both studied God's word for decades, used the Bible to guide them in making sound decisions about all of life and, by example, taught their children, other family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances what it means to "live a life of long obedience in the right direction."

Other folks spoke up and one comment was, "When I think of Jim and Gladys, I think of the word "faithful". They are faithful to God, to each other, to their family, to their community...". Everyone should have a time in their lives when they hear the good stuff; don't save it for a funeral or wake. Make it a point to tell someone ASAP what they mean to you; what a fine example they've set, what a blessing they've been to you or how much you appreciate them.

Do Not Wait because it's later than you think.

 

~ the view in November ~

Now...I'm in a list making kinda mood so here are my suggestions for things to do everyday to add life to your years, quality to your life and joy all 'round.

10 Doables to a Daily Wonderful Life

1. Move, if possible, outside. Walk, run, bike, jump on a (mini) trampoline, lift weights... do something physical every day. Leave the ear buds behind as you take a walk or run; watch and listen to nature, to what's around you. Look, listen and be attentive and where ever you are, be fully there.

~ Daisy, full gallop ~

2. Encourage others and don't forget to encourage yourself as well. Hand write notes or letters and mail them, send a free e-card, make an agreement with yourself to never return to the house without giving at least one compliment to a stranger. Watch their face light up and know you've done a Very Good Thing. Encouragement can be such a small thing to do yet such a huge gift, both to give and receive. Cast your bread upon the water and know it will return, full fold, to you.

3. Practice gratitude. In your journal, save a few pages to being thankful in all things. You don't have to be thankful for all things but there's always a blessing peeking around the cloud. The small things in life are the bricks that make love's foundation.

4. Make something. Be crafty and creative...sew, knit, crochet, weave, use textiles, fiber, paper, found objects, make a meal from scratch, garden, can produce, tie flies for fishing, woodwork...there's no end to being crafty and creative. Stifle that (bad) teacher's voice who told you, "You're no artist, give it up" and make something anyway. Don't worry about perfect...it'll never be perfect but you can make it perfectly yours and that's a good thing.

5. Be judicious in watching television which can be a time suck that devours minutes, hours, days of your one precious life! Watching television leaves not much to show other than more creative things being left undone. Television is a trade off; be careful what you trade because, essentially, you're trading your life...

6. Be kind. Everyone has struggles that make life challenging. No matter how others behave, be kind to them. If they aren't kind in return, if possible, as soon as possible, remove yourself from their sphere and negative influence. Be kind to yourself and treat yourself with gentleness and respect in what you say and do and how you act. Practice being kind with yourself so it becomes a habit with others.

7. Read uplifting material. Light a candle, make a favorite beverage and prepare to fuel your life with goodness. An old term is GIGO which means garbage in, garbage out; what you put into your head and thoughts will come out through your mouth and life. Now, that, my lovelies, is a frightening thought!

8. Get plenty of rest and sleep. An interview with Martha Stewart quoted her as saying she didn't need more than four or five hours of sleep a night. P'raps so but I need a solid eight and will, when bone weary and exhausted, dip into nine or ten hours. The results are the next day I'm better able to handle what life throws at me.

9. Eat and drink healthfully. Women's bodies are approximately 50% water while men's bodies are approximately 60% water (adults). There's a reason we're told to drink 64 ounces of water a day; it keeps headaches and constipation at bay, gives a more radiant glow, flushes toxins from our body and keeps us healthier. Eat servings of fruit, vegetables, dairy, protein and carbs every day; if you have allergies, stay away from that which negatively affects you. There are almost as many diets as they are people and I once heard someone say, "Everything in moderation, including moderation." I've also heard the best exercise is a "push away"...as in we should all eat more slowly and, when we feel full, push away from the table.

10. Be a generous giver and gracious taker. Mom has always said, "There are two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers and most fall into the second category." I maintain there's a third category and that's a "generous giver and gracious taker." Do you find most givers are dreadful takers? I think it's difficult for givers to take with grace and I've often wondered why; do you know? (I ask because I'm a giver and know it's difficult for me to take without doing/giving something in return...which, rather negates and, more than likely, takes pleasure from the original giver. hmmm...and, I should add, I've stopped giving to those who are mostly takers. That is a deep well of misery that I choose not to dip my ladle into these days.)

What are your 10 Doables to a Daily Wonderful Life?

Want to share?

Well, Blog Buddies, this is what comes of not having a computer. My brain goes all introspective and I come up with list after list after list... you have been warned...

October was brilliant in color but extremely rainy and the first weekend in November, six inches of snow fell on the farm. So far, November is a reminder winter is close and closing in. Tonight, it's snowing and I started a fire in the wood stove so the house is warm and cozy. The kitten is giving the evil eye to Miss Emma who is responding with threatening growls of, "Try it and I'll kick you to Tuesday." The dogs are crashed out on sofas and floor and (other than the absence of Dave) all is right with my inside world. Earlier, the kitten was snugged against Sam P. Spade, Secret Agent who has had a name change to Sam P. Spade, Secret Saint. Some readers may remember I rescued the kitten from roadside ditch, brought him home and, bless me! if he doesn't keep growing. Even so, he was thrown away young, misses his mother and Sam was the only family member who allowed nursing and cuddling.

~ Sam P. Spade, Secret Saint with "his" kitten ~

Meri Go Lightly, my easy keeper mare, has laminitis (again) and has been on a short lot with short rations and meds twice a day. Last night in the bitter cold, Dr. Anne came by to say it's time for new meds, which she ordered today and I bought straw bales to put on the ground so Lightly could have a barrier against the cold earth. My horses are American Curly horses and giving free choice shelter which, generally, they choose not to use. Their winter coats are heavy with curls and provide excellent insulation against the elements.

~ Meri Go Lightly ~

For some reason, it's taking me a long time to download, or is it upload, photos. Since that's the case, I'm closing down and headed to bed robed in a flannel night gown, with a good book or magazine and three dogs for company. The temperature is now hovering around 22 and it's, officially, a three dog night. Sweet dreams, all.

Blessings ~ a wonderful vet ~ a fire in the wood stove ~ Godly parents ~ a long obedience in the right direction ~ a daily wonderful life ~ you, for reading my blog...thank you! ~

I Very Nearly Lost My Story

Taking some time off was a Very Good Thing but I can't report that anything wonderful happened. Life went along as usual...rescued another dog, rescued another kitten, made some delicious snacks that turned out to be supper, was going to visit family but ended up spending two weeks sick. It's some sort of upper respiratory infection and I'm in the middle of the second week of antibiotics, feeling some better and expecting a full recovery. Still and all, a blog break let me rest and breath and just be. I highly recommend it!

~ Tigger ~ 

I wouldn't put my hand on the Bible and swear but the facts are...a man and woman parked at the bottom of the hill, in front of gates (stoopid, stoopid), and got out with their dog. (The Cove is a favorite place to walk in Autumn.) I looked away and, a few seconds later, looked again. I could see a small critter winding around the legs of the dog and the man would stoop down, do "something" and then stand. This went on for a bit so I got the spyglasses to have a look see. What I saw was the bit of fluff above...the man was trying to get himself and the dog away from the kitten. 

I am so proud of ME! I didn't say any bad words...not a single, nary one! What I did was run to the garage, get the car and speed down the road...dressed in my Lanz nightgown and Ugg bedroom slippers, morning coffee breath and hair sticking everywhere. (I have almost absolutely no shame when it comes to an animal rescue!) When I got to the bottom of the hill, I saw a flash to my left. I stopped the car, got out and started calling, "here kitty, here kitty, meow! meow!" and the bit of fluff ran to me! He was meowing, cold, wet and totally unafraid which makes me think he was dropped. Also, his ears are clean, his coat is clean and he hasn't any fleas. A feral cat will not approach a human and this little thing absolutely threw himself at me! So, I drove on to the nasty mean wicked disgraceful humans and said, "The next time y'all visit the Cove, please don't block gates. We're a farming community and trying to get silage and hay put up; when you block our gates, you make our job so much more difficult." The woman replied, in rather a snitty voice (at least to my ear), "Well, I suppose we could go move our car." I smiled sweetly grimaced at her, "Oh, it's okay for now but this is your only warning. The next time it happens, we'll just have it towed."  Then I snugged the kitten and said, "Come on, kitty; this time you've found someone kind to love you." Then I drove home, leaving the nasty humans to talk about the crazy woman me.

~ Daisy Mae Redbone ~

This beautiful girl was dropped on the mountain and looks to be a pure bred Redbone Coon Hound and is about a year old. Redbones are used for hunting coon, bear, and even cougar. Daisy Mae has a beautiful red coat, lovely expression and feet the size of Montana. smile She's had her shots and is scheduled to be spayed next week. I'd love to find a great home for her but not around here. Around here she would be kept on a chain and beaten...shudder! The centuries old breed dates back to red foxhounds brought over by Scottish immigrants in the 1700's and, prior to the War Between the States, red foxhounds imported by Irishmen. Redbone's are easy to train, eager to please and Daisy is a love bug! Yes, she sleeps with Sadie, Sam and me and I wake to Daisy throwing her front leg over me, snuggled in as close as she can get, giving sloppy kisses in a frenzy of delight. Please, do you know someone who could give this girl a loving home? I'm willing to travel a ways...

So, what do you think of OCTOBER?  I dearly love October , although it's very confusing as it's name means "eighth"...?...but my absolute favorite month is the one I'm in. Forrest and me...we're alike thataway. (BTW, have I ever mentioned Dave's first name was Forrest? Yeah, he was a Gump too! LOL) Winston Groom's book, made into an award winning movie and, I believe, is Tom Hanks' best work. Ever. He was brilliant as Forrest, in virtually every scene and never fails to astound, delight, bring me to tears and laughter. Brilliant!

As the poet said, "I have been younger in October than all the months of spring..." and it's true. Is it the crispness of the air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the last gasp of harvest before the deep sleep? I'm not sure but the air has a quality of absolute clarity that is stunning and overwhelms my senses. The Milky Way is seen on cloudless nights with stars cast as glitter from overhead to the far distance; its beauty devastates my heart. 

If you want a challenge, the Shepheardes Calender for October may be read here but I should warn you...it isn't an easy read but it is an interesting one. 

~ bread, goat cheese, evoo, tomatoes ~

Later this week, I want to give you a recipe suggestion for a tasty meal snack  hors devours or, as my SIL likes to say, horsey de overs. Let me give you a hint...it involves EVOO, tomatoes and goat cheese. I'm also going to giveaway a year's subscription to the food network magazine. I love magazine subscriptions and only today, found the food network magazine (yeah, yeah, if it doesn't hit Walmart, I'm the last to know) and that magazine is going to ruin me! Oh mercy. October's cover is quick bread...be still my heart! I'm going to make quick bread every day of this month! (Not really but it sounded good.) I am going to make bread...it's that time of year...bread making and my hands need some dough. (Oh goodness. I can go so many different directions with that one! Someone, please stop me!!!) 

AND...PUMPKIN SPICED COFFEE and NUTS and BREAD and...quick, help me! I'm hyperventilating! Around here, only Mickie D's has pumpkin spiced coffee but the FNM (yeah, I'm cool thataway...my new favorite mag is now called FNM...snicker, snort, guffaw!) has a recipe...wowza! You'll get that as well with the mag giveaway post so stay tuned.

Not really all that much happening for taking a few weeks off, eh? Even so, that little break kept me from losing my story...losing my touch. In the end, it's just life and God being good, that's good enough. 

That's all, y'all! Bye for now...

Blessings ~ good food ~ Daisy Mae ~ Tigger ~ October ~ Forrest Grump ~ a good life ~

October Is...

~the moon pours light on the sea ~

"October is a symphony of permanence and change."

~ B. W. Overstreet ~

Even the rainy days are golden when looked at with a certain light in one's eyes. Recently, I read, "today is tomorrow's yesterday" and that gave me pause. In a manner of speaking, our future is now, caught between yesterday and tomorrow, one that was and one that isn't. In an effort to live purposefully, with intent and totally in the moment, we I have to push back tomorrow. Don't you find it difficult? The planning for the future yet preparing for the end? The whole hearted gulping of now, the embracing of today. Helen Keller said, "Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind...Hear the music of voices, the song of the bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow. touch each object as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of the flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and tates again. make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you." She would know, wouldn't you agree, about "the pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you."

 

~ Roseate Spoonbill ~

"Grace growest best in winter," said Samuel Rytherford and he would know; click on his name to read more about him. The farm is prepared, mostly, for winter; hay for the horses and sheep is both in the barn and in the hay lot; garden produce has been canned, dried and frozen, supplies laid in and hand work close at hand. As best I can, we're prepared; I've done my part and am now, as always, totally dependent upon God for His grace and mercy. In the meantime, Dave and I are spending a few splendid days at the beach, visiting my BFF, eating delicious seafood, storing up vitamin D in the form of sunshine, resting, relaxing, regrouping for the tomorrow's that will face us all.

 ~ God's Grace for the journey ~

Almost every day, Sandra K., the other Sandra, and I have had great...to us anyway but we're simple sisters...adventures and nary a thrift store has been safe! Sandra is an artist and a university prof and we've been friends for more than thirty years which hardly seems possible! She's a friend who loves unconditionally, listens without judgement and is unreserved in her happiness for, not only me, but other people. Just yesterday, I saw her rejoice with a complete stranger over that stranger's "find" in a store.

Other "friends" who don't do any of those things, pale in comparison and, in time, drop behind. One of many lessons life has taught me is No is perfectly acceptable, both to say and to hear, and it's okay to move ahead. As a matter of fact, it's perfectly wonderful to move ahead; people can make the choice to catch up or stay behind but each of us is only responsible for ourselves. People can't be tugged along if fear keeps them from moving but isn't fear simply a catalyst for forward motion? God hasn't given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. Thank You, God, I'll take that every day!

What keeps you from moving ahead? 

Blessings ~ grace for the journey ~ power ~ love ~ a sound mind ~

I Love October

 ~ Sedum ~

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence ~

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came -

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band."

~ George Cooper, October's Party ~

 ~ TCF ~

 "I saw old Autumn in the misty morn 
              Stand, shadowless like Silence, listening 
                         To Silence." ~ Thomas Hood ~

"...I have been younger in October
than in all the months of spring
walnut and may leaves the color
of shoulders at the end of summer
a month that has been to the mountain
and become light there..."
~ W. S. Merwin,  The Love of October ~ 

"As I went out walking this fall afternoon,
I heard a whisper whispering.
I heard a whisper whispering,
Upon this fine fall day...

As I went out walking this fall afternoon,
I heard a laugh a' laughing.
I heard a laugh a' laughing,
Upon this fine fall day...

I heard this whisper and I wondered,
I heard this laugh and then I knew.
The time is getting near my friends,
The time that I hold dear my friends,
The veil is getting thin my friends,
And strange things will pass through."
~ The Veil is Getting Thinner ~

~ deer in alfalfa field ~

"Youth is like spring, an over-praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. 
Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."
~  Samuel Butler ~

~ sheep, moondancing ~

"Well, it's a marvelous night for a Moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
And I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and low
And all the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush."
~  Van Morrison, Moondance ~

Blessings ~ October ~ Autumn ~ moondancing ~ poetry ~

Grace and Peace,
Sandra