Monday Messages…

Can you believe that we’re already halfway through September? Summer is rapidly dwindling, as the cooling winds of the fall season begin transforming the lush green foliage to all those differing shades of glorious reds, yellows and golds.

I think that it should be a law that the moment the fall arrives, everybody has to put their Christmas lights up! Well, think about it for a moment! There’s far less lighting in the fall and winter months, so it would make things far brighter.

I think Halloween and Thanksgiving can still do their own thing, but just work around the lights, that’s all.

I mean, come on. All the stores put all their holiday products on the shelves at least two months before the actual holiday, so I say we fight back!

From the moment the stores start piling up candy and pumpkins all over the place, we should all put up our Christmas lights as an act of defiant solidarity!

Maybe I want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in December on my birthday, I don’t know. That way I might get an actual gift. Honestly, I feel sorry for anyone who is born on or near a holiday. Everyone just figures they can do a twofer… no fun! I am praying my granddaughter is born on or near my daughter’s birthday in November, because her due date is the day after Thanksgiving.

Also, why can’t we just combine Mother’s day with Father’s day and just call it Parent’s Day. You know, I asked Google how many holidays there were. First of all, it has to break them down into categories. That should be our first clue that we humans have far too many holidays, memorials, tributes, Month long celebrations for nearly every nationality out there, and special events commemorating this or that! Seriously, we should really think about extending our 365 day cycles to like 600 or so, just to really have recovery time in between parties!

Remember watching Little House on the Prairie, when they would celebrate Christmas? They gave each other handmade gifts and items needed for survival, and they didn’t have cars to drive to and from their festivities… they had to risk life and limb to travel through the wilderness in six feet of snow, just to bring gifts!

I don’t know, in a world where time waits for no man, as they say, we sure do have a lot of time to waste on all these “pat yourself on the back” parties. Now, I’m not saying that everyone behaves this way, so don’t go there! I’m simply basing my findings on what I see, hear, and experience from where I’m sitting. You wouldn’t believe the immense pressure that is put on folks living in poverty. It was so humbling for me to attend my daughter’s baby shower on Saturday, with no gift to offer… nothing.

Of all the things I’ve ever done wrong in my life, the people I’ve hurt, and the pain I’ve caused others, namely my children, God tells me I did something right. You know how? In the character of my children. My youngest daughter, who turned 30 this year, pulled me aside, and produced a gift for me to give her sister. Maybe it was for my sake, or perhaps it was her sister she was thinking about, but I don’t suppose it really matters.

Why am I rambling on about all this silly nonsense about too many holidays and celebrations? First of all, everyone is already seeing the stores gear up for cavity night, so I know you are feeling the beginning birth pains from your wallets… and the parties haven’t even started, yet. And, secondly, because I am fairly confident in saying that many of you already purchased holiday items for this year, but at the close-out after holiday sales from last year. Don’t panic, nobody will call you out on it, most of all myself. I get it! A bargain is a bargain, am I right?!

I suppose that I wanted use this mid-September Monday Messages just to start prepping you for what’s inbound for these upcoming months, so nobody can say they DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH NOTICE to get me their virtual Christmas list, which seems to be very difficult. This will be our third Virtual Christmas, and I have plans! So suck it up, Buttercups, and get it together!

I mean it!

If you don’t, it may spoil the whole thing. I know I’ve probably said this in the past, but this time, I’m being fully serious! I have some major surprises, not to mention my third installment of Tilly and Santa’s adventures. Oh, and there’s so much more, but I can’t say a thing, yet. So, now do you see why it’s so important that I get your lists ahead of time. I need time to put everything together.

So, your jobs… virtual Christmas lists mailed before Thanksgiving, and, show up for the party on Christmas morning. Last years idea of a bag of puppies was exhausting! I had to hand deliver most of them, since there were too many absentee guests… holes in the corners of my couches, poo doo on the floor, and somebody peed on the Christmas tree, shorting out the lights!

So, if a puppy is on your list… you better show up this time, or it won’t be charcoal that Santa leaves in your stocking! Tilly has quite a bit of influence with ole Saint Nick, seriously. If I were you, I wouldn’t risk it!

Fall Back Friday!

As usual, I sat down at the computer this morning, ready to work on the day’s writing projects. Even though the daily prompts are usually enough to get my creative side moving… it just wasn’t happening for this normally active brain! But, I did wake up far earlier than normal today. Unfortunately, my peppermint tea just isn’t cutting it, today.

Anyways, I thought to visit the photo archives, hoping for some inspiration, motivation, or any other kind of __ation that might encourage me to get something done.

Have you ever gone through your image archives from earlier writing seasons, discovering that you can remember which photos went with what writings? For me, it’s like a imaginary baby album!

Can you believe that I started writing my first full Fantasy/Fiction book just two years ago?

No, it’s not published… yet. It’s fully finished but as I’m my only editor, agent, and publisher, it waits.

I went back and found all the beginning baby pictures that I used for Tilly, Brutus… and, our favorite flying squirrel. They were all so adorable…

It’s shocking, to say the least, how many thousands of images my albums hold! And, yes, I said thousands. Don’t judge! Now, I’ll admit that my collections have gotten a bit out of hand, but surely, I’m not the only photo hoarder that ever owned a bookshop on our WordPressame Street!

So, I think it’s only fair that I should put your literary feet to the fire here, as well! Come on… be honest! On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the worst picture propagator out there, and 1 being unable to hold a smartphone in your hand, which are you?

Take your time…

No rush, or anything…

Seriously, I can wait…

Here, have a snack while you gather the courage to be truthful about your hidden hoarding habits…

Not my cup of tea…

Daily writing prompt
Do you see yourself as a leader?

I’m pushing 57 this year, and as of yet, I’ve not found myself to be a leader.

I’ve found myself cleaning up after everyone else’s messes, broken up sibling fights that could have ended in death, and took responsibility for many mistakes that I didn’t make. Though it may sound like the talents of many active leaders, today, there’s no recollection that I’ve ever been compensated.

All the work with no pay? No thanks!

I will bake you cookies, though…

Thursday Thoughts…

Thought #1 – Why did we ever stop writing letters to one another?

Thought #2 – Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, during the winter months, families regularly met to read and share stories from when they were young?

Thought #3 – If a bag of chocolate chips spill all over the kitchen floor, but there’s nobody in the room, does it make a sound? I know my kids could hear a candy bar wrapper being opened from the neighbor’s house across the street.

Thought #4 – I hope it doesn’t rain on Saturday. At least, not until after my daughter’s baby shower.

Thought #5 – Whatever happened to that Samaritan woman, after Christ left her village? I wonder how differently her life was, after the fact?

Thought #6 – Then there’s Simon of Cyrene, the man forced to carry Jesus cross. What must his life have become, after encountering the Son of God on the day of his crucifixion?

Thought #7 – I miss watching Little House on the Prairie!

Thought #8 – Well that last thought did it! Now I’m thinking how much I miss shows like Grizzly Adams, Land of the Lost, J.P. Patches, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Leave it to Beaver, Fantasia, the early Sesame Street episodes, The Electric Company, and so many others that filled my childhood with imagination… aaaaahhhhhhhh, the good ole days of television.

Thought #9 – If I were traveling for years, on foot, in the desert, and with nearly a million other tired, frightened, and grumpy fellow walkers… how long would it take before I, myself, began to whine about eating only manna and quail?

Thought #10 – Why can’t my cup of Peppermint tea stay hot longer than 10 minutes?

Thought #11 – If I were given a bag that could only hold 10 items for survival, just before being dumped in the middle of nowhere, what would I choose… and could I survive? When I say nowhere, I mean no cell service, no electricity, and no other people. Ewwww!

Thought #12 – How old is too old for one to skinny dip?

Thought #13 – Why is it that I can sing to the skies when I’m in a church, or alone on a walking path, but the thought of doing it in front of a Karaoke machine fills me with dread? There’s other people in both places, so what’s the difference?

Thought #14 – I used to wish that God would make me smell like cookies, whenever children passed by, but I also really love the smell of Cotton Candy, so now I’m not so sure which I like better.

Thought #15 –

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Psalm 119:105

Do I have a favorite?

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite word?

Even scouring the archives didn’t help this morning, when I desperately hoped I’d come up with something good last year, or even the one before.

Nope! I did find one from last year, but it literally had about a sentence and a half worth of explanation regarding the word Grace. Honestly, it wasn’t worth the copy and paste effort.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I love many different words, and readily use them on a daily basis. Asking a person to pick only a single favorite word is similar to asking a child to pick just one candy from the dish… and, I think that’s rather mean.

While I won’t be answering today’s prompt, I will be leaving cookies…

Why? Because I don’t want to fail this class, that’s why! Missing assignments are quite bothersome. Oh, come on… at least give me an E for Effort!

Wednesday Words…

Eustace hadn’t been expecting the mandatory vaccine’s he’d been forced to undergo, once back in the office. It was in the fine print of his employee contract, which he never bothered to read. Do any of us actually read all that stuff we have to sign, just to get a job?

By the look on his face, I’m guessing he’s wishing he had read his own paperwork…

Sorry, Eustace!

Need I say more?

Daily writing prompt
Describe your ideal week.

Seriously, I wasn’t going to say anything else.

Nope! Not going to say any more.

I mean it, I’m not!

……..

………….

Ok, fine! There’ll obviously be cookies…

But, I mean it… I won’t say another word!

Does “Hugs” count?

Lazy Saturdays…

This is how we should all be spending our Saturdays. Cats have perfected this behavior, leading me to try it out, myself… minus the belly rubs, that is!

Have a purrrrrrfect Saturday, all!

P.S. If you want to include the belly rubs in your Saturday routine, it’s all right. I won’t say anything, I promise!

Actually, this behavior also aids in relaxing your canine’s, as well…

… five minute’s later…

See? It really does work!

Barnyard Business…

Today must be one of the laziest days we’ve had in quite some time. Honestly, I didn’t realize how good it would be to get back to the barnyard. There isn’t much better of a feeling than sleeping in your own bed, after a long time away from home.

Eustace was invited to a company retreat, so I’m not exactly sure what he’s doing, just this moment, but I can hear snores coming from the porch, the barn, and my upstairs bedroom. It seems that everyone around here is sleeping in, this lovely Friday morning. Everyone, that is, aside from myself.

While I might not be able to enjoy coffee anymore, I still love to sit in the still of the morning, with a good cup of tea. It’s so quiet, aside from the wind in the trees or the occasional birdsong floating across the meadow.

Well, I should say that it’s usually very quiet. As for this morning, it’s a fair bit away from being the normal serene calm that I’m used to experiencing. Funnily enough, I’m not bothered in the least from all the snorts, mumbles, and growls calling to me from every corner of the barnyard. In fact, I find it rather comforting, like a warm blanket on a winters day.

Snoring babes means happy babes, as far as I’m concerned. Life at sea has it’s benefits, but when it comes to rack-time aboard a massive ship on the water… well, you never know if you’ll wake up in your bunk, or on the floor, what with rough waters and high winds!

Take Osrig, for instance. He barely came out from under my bed while on the ship, but now that we’re home, he rarely comes in the house. His favorite spot for napping is just outside the kitchen window, on the porch…

Honestly, I don’t know that we’ve ever seen him so happy and relaxed.

Speaking of seeing someone happy, oh my goodness, you should see miss Tilly! Well, you can’t actually see her, right this second. She woke up when I did, begging me to help her pack a basket of fruit for young Henry, and his family. She left straight-away, headed for the river where the two lovebirds often meet. I don’t suspect she’ll be back til this evening…

Ahhhh, young love! Something tells me that she will be spending a great deal of time with her sweetheart’s family, which I am glad for. Tilly has grown up right before our eyes, and in such a short time, it seems. Besides, Henry spends a lot of time here with us, as well. I’m thinking of inviting them all for Thanksgiving dinner. There’ll already be an army of ants, from Lilly’s kin, and Squagon has invited family members from both his Acorn and Pinion Valley clans. The more the merrier, I always say!

Well, my tea has gone cold, and my tummy is shouting “Oatmeal… Oatmeal… Oatmeal!” I best get busy making breakfast.

Oh, yeah… and it’s FRIDAY, everyone! Have a blessed weekend… hugs

Chicken?

Daily writing prompt
If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

The only birds I use regularly would be chickens, but if I had to do it, I suppose I could send them on vacation, or something.

Oh, wait! I am so sorry! They asked for a word, not a bird… my bad! If I can’t even manage to read the question correctly, I don’t think it’s wise to ask if I can give up one of my regular words. Just sayin…

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