Category: Nature

Worth a second read…

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I went back to the archives in search of what last year’s answer was, and the re-read was worth it!

Enjoy a second read of last year’s response to the prompt…

(Ahhh… the memories, was the original title.)

Nobody put an age or timeline limit on this prompt question, so I am going to ride with it… get it… ride with it?!

Bloganuary writing prompt
What are your favorite sports to watch and play?
View all responses

Being that I’m in my mid 50’s, living in an old RV with only my laptop and a walking trail as my company, I no longer participate, watch, or actively pursue any sports venue… at all!

If you had asked me this question 30 years, I could have given you numerous examples of my involvement and love of differing sports, primarily, anything involving horsemanship!

Being born on a farm in Oregon, I was riding horses before I was even out of diapers… I’ve seen pictures!

Over the years I was an avid audience member of countless, horse shows, equestrian events and breeder venues. When I was only 18, I lived and worked for a woman who bred, raised, and trained purebred Appaloosas and Quarter Horses. Later, after I had attended Bible Seminary, I was recruited to work as the wrangler for a Christian girls horsemanship camp, in Battleground, WA. The children were taught general horsemanship and husbandry, along with learning how to ride dressage, as well as vaulting.

All my life I worked hard… and played hard! I’ve been bit, kicked, thrown, stomped and drug through the hills by my ankle. While I regret none of the life of adventure upon the back of a horse, it did come at a cost, later in life. I can no longer sit ON a horse, but I can most assuredly, still appreciate the magnificence and beauty of everything about these amazing creatures. 

Even today, I can fully enjoy watching any Dressage competition, Hunter/Jumper event, Breeders Cup race, or any Disney movie ever made about a horse. Though many movies have been made about horses, my all time favorite is still the 1979 version of The Black Stallion with Kelly Reno, Terri Garr, and Micky Rooney! 

I will end this prompt answer with a little trot down memory lane…

Don’t think I have forgotten your cookie…

Tinker Me This…

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My heart is so grateful to have Tilly back, though she’s still rather overwhelmed with the loss of our babe’s, as well as being lost in the woods, herself! It will take time for her to feel up for any questions, as she still cries frequently. I realize that Tilly loves me, but she feels so lost without all the others. Not only is the little mouse concerned about our missing babies, but she’s filled with fear that the church down the lane will be gone, as well. We’ve not seen any sign of her handsome suitor, young Henry…

While it seems rather simple to just trot down the lane and see if the church is there, but here’s the problem… if we can’t locate the barn, I’ve no way to know where to search for the church. See what I mean?

I’ve a great deal of things on my to-do list here, what with searching for the lost ones, looking for clues on the whereabouts of the barn, worrying about mini-me searching all on her own out there, and repairing the places within the lobby that disappeared in all this mess!

Finding Tilly has given me hope though,

being able to restore the smile that we all fell in love with…

From the confidence gained in finding her, I began my next search for Dinky and Boomer. I thought to go back to the forest that I found Tilly in, hoping that maybe they hadn’t wandered too far off from where I located the missing mouse.

My search was rewarded within only an hour or so of looking. Deep inside the forest, hunkered down together behind an old dead tree, sat my two lost dragons. I’m sure that it’s them, but I must prepare you for the changes that have occurred with both dragons during their absence!

Dinky seems to have shrunk herself back down to the size she was when I first discovered her, probably due to the trauma of being lost in the woods… you know how she gets! But I do know with certainty that it is her, for there is no mistaking her eyes, wouldn’t you agree?!

Though it might not be too terrible that Dinky returned to her original size, as she’s often done whenever feeling frightened or upset. However, I am a bit concerned for Boomer…

The playful, fun loving, and tender Boomer seems uncomfortably different…

He seems more stoic and aloof than before! We must give him time, I think, to soften up and come back to the affectionate little guy that we’re used to seeing. But, keep in mind that he may never be the same, never again resembling that little one… for one thing, he’s much larger now.

The dragon that once mirrored the emotional color and features of his sister, was left to bravely protect Dinky from harm, as well as trying to calm her fears. I have a feeling that the changes are irreversible, either from the trauma or simply because the young dragon was forced to grow up quickly!

Time shall heal the wounds of his heart though… of this, I’m sure! The Boomer we know and love is still in there, even if he looks a little different….

Through my eyes…

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From the moment of our birth, the race to find and become who we believe the world sees suddenly starts with a bang! Groomed from birth on how to speak, what to wear, how to behave, how to please others, and on and on and on we go, sort of like a merry-go-round…

I’ve spent my entire life trying to appear as that which others expect and/or accept, as if I were on one of those merry-go-rounds. Spinning round and round over the years, gaining speed until I became frozen to the bars and unable to get off, followed by a great deal of motion sickness.

Well, finally the ride became so fast that it flung me off into the dirt, so to speak!

If you wondering what on earth an old merry-g0-round ride has to do with one’s image or self-perception (how you see yourself), it just seemed like a good analogy for how it feels to have a good self-image in a world that is so focused on visual bells and whistles… sorry, I often find myself coining phrases or adages to make a point.

What might that point be, you ask?

My point in all this merry-go-round stuff, is this… you’ll have a much more enjoyable ride in life if you learn how to straddle the bars and drag your feet, so you can control the speed of the merry-go-round, thereby strengthening your muscles and allowing you to get off the ride anytime you get dizzy. In reality, I’m saying that you shouldn’t let the world be in control of who you think you are supposed to be!

Me personally, I’ve opted for the carousel over a merry-go-round, in terms of how I see things in the world, and how I see myself…

Don’t let the age fool you,

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Never see yourself as less than you want to be…

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."  2 Timothy 6: 12

Now you know how I see myself whenever I write adventurous tales, passionate poetry, and deep soul searching thoughts for you, my readers and friends. I might seem rather plain on the outside, but that’s my cover story, just like the mild mannered Clark Kent, from Superman. Now, I don’t want to go as far as to call myself a superhero… but in the stories I can be, right?!

Wins and Losses…

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Please don’t panic, but when I got to the lobby yesterday there was no sign of either of the puppies! I spent hours wandering through the archive sections,

and also, both my office and the Father’s counseling chambers, but to no avail. The little fluff balls weren’t anywhere within the lobby, leaving me feeling rather disheartened.

However, in the midst of my disappointment came several unexpected things, one of which is somebody’s puppy that must have been left here from Christmas Morning. Poor darling!

She’s missing her collar so I’m not sure of her name, nor do I fully remember exactly who came that morning. Perhaps, someone wasn’t prepared for taking a puppy home with them, and were afraid I might be disappointed if they rejected my gift. I get it! No offense taken, my friends. Whoever left her behind, was good enough to leave her in the lobby, where she would be safe and can be re-homed. If anyone is looking for a new baby to add into their family, I think she’s a Corgi mix of some sort. She is very affectionate and sweet natured from what I can see. She hasn’t stopped giving me kisses since I found her, poor thing… she must have been so lonely, and probably a good bit frightened. Quite honestly, I’m shocked and rather embarrassed that I didn’t even know she’d been wandering around in the lobby all this time! Now that I think about it, the puppies did seem to be eating a great deal more puppy kibble than is normal for such little things.

Anyway, if you hadn’t noticed it yet, the other discovery I made while searching for the puppies was my purpose! Do you know why it’s felt so important that I locate each and every one of the creatures lost to me? Within each one of those that are not visible to me at the moment, there’s a bit of me… things that I see in each of them that help me make sense of myself.

Somewhere while I was searching through the lobby for the puppies, God showed me that even without physically seeing those that are missing, the real me was still there in the room with Him. The things I write, the creations I invent are merely that… things, as adorable as they are! I am definitely learning more and more each day about the depths of my own heart… and how far God is willing to go, on my behalf. Maybe taking you with me, as I go in search of recovering these parts of what was lost to me (metaphorically speaking), there will be lessons to learn about His nature, which flows through my veins…

I believe!

***Go back and look at the picture of the woman with the puppy, for a moment. Look closely at the woman’s facial features and you will see the real me, or the AI version Avatar creation. It looks as if it’s an actual picture of me laying on the floor of a library with a dog. I gave my AI several actual photographs of my mother, myself, and two of my three daughters. This is the first time that I truly realized how much I look like my mother, as well as my girls! While you might not notice them, I can see exactly where my features are blended with my mother’s, and it’s amazing! If I’m being fully honest with you, it made me a bit emotional when I first saw the image.***

In search of the Barnyard…

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I’ve been searching for the babes for days, it seems. While out searching in the woods last night, you’ll never guess who I found? The tiny mouse was cold, wet, and quite frightened when I got to her, poor darling. As there is no barn to take her back to, at least until it can be rebuilt, she’s sleeping soundly within one of my bags, here in my room.

I’ve been in a bit of panic over the last several days of searching for my lost ones, so finding our sweet Tilly fills me with hope for finding the others soon. While I realize that Brutus is a full grown dragon and can handle himself, Dinky will be terrified… and you know how Boomer get’s when his sister is scared, so he’ll probably be just as scared. I’ve plans to seek out Lilly’s family to see if she went back home, once she couldn’t find the barn. I haven’t heard anything from Pinion Valley, so I don’t even know if Squagon is still there or not!

Now you probably understand why I had to send my mini-me off in search of Eustace… I’m spread pretty thin, here!

I’m going to wrap this up, so I can head to the Lobby, in hopes of finding any clues about Bailey and Gabriel’s whereabouts… maybe we’ll get lucky and find them hiding in there somewhere. You know puppies like to hide in odd places, like behind furniture or underneath blankets, beds, or clothes left on the floor.

I won’t rest, you know… not until I have recovered those lost to me, down to the very last one, and not before!

Toes in the sand…

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You know that refreshing sensation one gets while dipping their toes into the sand, just at the water’s edge?

If you asked me what it feels like to walk with God on a daily basis, well…

Toes in the sand, my friends, toes in the sand!

Tuesday’s Tinkering…

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I’m not really happy with the pictures I used to update Journey With Me’s website for the new year, so I’m sort of on a quest to find a fun theme for this spring.  What to do, what to do?

I could go full nautical, with short stories, ditties, and fun seafaring food recipes… stuff like that.

Or, I could head for the hills with a camping, hiking, woodsy theme…

I don’t think I’m up for foodie stuff on a large scale, and I doubt you are either.  We’ll just keep to the cookies,

with an occasional review from Gabriel, who considers himself a pretty good judge of flavors…

What I am seriously considering is a fun mystery kind of theme.  Some of you may remember when I did several episodes last year called Tuesday Tattler, which read somewhat like a journalist writing a column in a paper…

If I do a mystery theme, I think it would be really fun to take this miniature version of my persona and take her around the world on some hilarious assignments…

If you haven’t noticed yet, I deplore boredom… can’t stand wasting my brain!

And… if I don’t like reading the same old same old, I suspect that you don’t either…

As a writer, it’s important that I keep your reading experience fun and engaging, among other things.  Your thoughts are important to me, so let me know what you want to see more of this year…

And I’ll get right to it!

As Castle says, “It’s what I do!”

Monday Matters…

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Mom is making us sit on these weird matts today. It’s not our fault for peeing and pooing under the big tree in the lobby last night… we didn’t know it would be such a big deal.

Apparently, it is!

Rise and Shine, It’s Christmas Time…

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Merry Christmas to all of my WordPress family! I truly love you guys so much that there’s no way I would put coal into your stockings… not when I’ve been planning and preparing for so long!

By the way, before we start unwrapping things, you’re never going to guess what Santa got me for my present, this year. When I opened my eyes this morning, there, sitting upon my chest and looking at me was none other than an adorable and cheeky little flying squirrel!

Yup! Apparently, Santa had a heart to heart with the Pinion King! It was gently pointed out that the little squirrel, while needed for his new princely duties, also had family at the barn… those that were with him from his earliest days. It obviously softened the old king’s heart and he actually agreed with Santa, allowing Squagon to come home for a whole week!

As I write this, the babes are all having a beautiful reunion with one another, trading presents, eating goodies and playing holiday games with Brutus and miss Tilly. I’ll have the rest of the day to spend at the barn, but this morning is reserved for you, my friends!

You’ll find instructions on the table beside the door that you just entered…

We must set the stage for what is to come

There are items on each table to get the job done…

First pick your jammies, then pick your robe’s

Don’t forget your slippers, you know how this goes…

We’ll all need some cocoa or coffee or tea

Don’t forget all those pastries, or hungry you’ll be…

There’s a cushion for each of you, there by the fire

Sit down and get comfy in your new jammie attire…

You’ll note there are bags placed all about the room

Inside are the gifts that I picked out for you…

There are journals for writing your feelings and thoughts

And the pens that go with them are just there, in that pot…

Now, for all of you pet lovers

You’ll find bags of treats and toys

No flurbies left behind this day

Even they need to feel some joy…

I didn’t forget all you wonderful crafters

whose needlework reflects so much charm

Look for the bright colored bag in the corner

filled with assorted knitting hooks and yarn…

There’s another for all you DIYer’s, filled with many bits and bobs

Cameras, glue and tool kits, for those who like doing odd jobs…

I can’t overlook all the athletic types

They come in all shapes and sizes

For runners or walkers or even sports talkers

This bag is full of surprises…

Last but not least

I’ve one more gift to share

For each and every one of you

to show how much I care…

Please pick out a magic puppy

They don’t shed or poop on your floor

Whenever you turn on your computer

They can greet you at the virtual door!

I wish I could mention you each by name, to show you how much you mean to me… all of you! In truth, there’s too big of a list! Just know that I see you… each of you… and I think of you and pray for you, often!

Yes, this is a silly virtual Christmas I’ve presented, but it’s the best I can do. If nothing else, it brightened everyone’s morning… mine especially!

I love you guys, the lot of you!

God Bless and have a wonderful day!

Holiday Barnyard Business…

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As I’ve already mentioned previously, miss Tilly will be heading for the pole, here shortly… we’re actually standing in the barnyard at this very moment, waiting for Dasher to arrive. He’s supposed to be giving her a lift to the pole, while Santa and Rudolf are busy going over Christmas Eve’s travel plans.

Personally, I couldn’t be more thrilled for Tilly, what with seeing all that goes on at Santa’s place. But, the young mouse is seemingly uninterested in the whole affair. Every time I turn around, she’s distractedly staring off into to woods!

Of all the days to be disinterested in a ride from a reindeer, and a famous one, none-the-less…

If you hadn’t guessed it yet, something’s up with our honorary Santa’s Helper! I don’t know much, but I will tell you what I have learned, thus far…

Tilly met a mouse the other day, and a boy no less! They met when the girls were out picking pine bows for Squagon’s Christmas package, remember?

The only reason I know anything at all about our mysterious mouse, was due to Dinky. Mainly, because she had to traipse back from the forest all by her onesie’s. The poor little thing was not at all impressed!

Apparently, Tilly and her young suitor were so distracted with one another, they weren’t paying any attention to the little dragon. Add to that, the fact that the little dragon’s feet were getting cold… and then they lost her, altogether.

Dinky was rather put out when she got back to the barn… alone! Let me tell you, I received an earful about the whole affair.

Oddly, Tilly refuses to tell me much about the little guy, aside from his name. But, there was definitely a twinkle in her eyes when she spoke of him!

She did briefly mention that young Henry lives with his parents, in the old abandoned church just down the road from our barn.

Oh well… I know that Santa will have miss Tilly well in hand during the next few days, so I will leave things be… for now.

While I could send Brutus to do some snooping, as I normally might, I think I shall leave things to our young mouse maid this time around. Tilly deserves a bit of privacy, in this regard. I knew she was growing up, so I had already been preparing myself for the inevitable.

Clearly, Tilly has changed right before our eyes. From the once feisty little mouse babe that Santa brought me last Christmas, to the lovely creature that she has become…

Today, she’s both different and yet still the same, if that makes any sense. Since we’ve known her, miss Tilly’s always been a feisty, funny and adventurous little mouse, but now she’s more serious about things, you know… things of the heart.

I’m not claiming she’s in love, as I can’t say for certain until she tells me how she feels about the handsome little guy. But if it is love, well then, I want to treat her with the respect she deserves. When she’s ready, I’m certain that Tilly will share her thoughts and feelings about young Henry! Until then, we will just have to be patient, my friends.

Even if I wanted to corner the mouse with my nosy questions, I wouldn’t be able to…

There’s no more time left for anything but good-bye’s and well-wishes, as Dasher has just arrived for pick-up and I have to get Tilly settled onto his back!

Tilly’s going to have so much fun, I think, what with the new outfit their making her, as well as, riding side-kick with Santa, himself! If we’re lucky, the elves won’t take her camera away before she gets a few good shots of the big guy’s workshop…

a girl can dream, can’t she?