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!
Monday Matters…
Category: Nature
Rise and Shine, It’s Christmas Time…
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…
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?
Ever The Dreamer…
It just so happens that I spent all day yesterday playing an online game… but that’s not actually the last fun thing I did for fun or play. The funny thing is though, whenever I play a game for numerous consecutive hours in a single day, I’m guaranteed some crazy dreamtime.
So…. the last thing I did for play or fun ended up being the dream I had last night.
All night long I dreamt of either hunting in the forest, or working on the plans for my inn/cottage. Hopefully, we’re about to begin the build today, in-game.
I want it to have the kitchen out behind the inn, so there won’t be any grease fires to cause a catastrophe. It’s right on the edge of the wood, resting beside a river that’s not too far from our clan.
I want the lobby, dining room and hearth on the main floor, obviously, but there will be spacious rooms to rent on the upper floors. There will be a covered outdoor deck that extends about ten feet over the river. This way, we can build some of the guest rooms out over the water.
Hey… the prompt asked! I am just acquiescing to their request, which required giving you some information, making it worth your while to read my response.
Before you start thinking that I’m just goofing off and ignoring my holiday duties, fear not! I’ve already finished preparing your gifts, err… coal… ya, coal for your stockings.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot… I dreamt of cookies, too…
Thursday Thoughts…
Today is this child’s Birthday, and for the first time in all my 56 years I awoke with a plan to celebrate it…. really spend the whole of the day in thankfulness for every single year of this journey!
I am loved!
I am whole!
I am forgiven!
God has given me such purpose!
I truly believe that I have a hope and a future, so I’m gonna celebrate it… all day!
I remember when my kids were young and I would escape for a breather… the whole time I was gone, all I could think about was if they were ok without me being there. I hoped they missed me but worried they would be sad. In the end, I felt better if I just went back home… silly, I know!
In a funny twisty way of thinking, I feel the same way about you! I felt like God was telling me to take today and do whatever I wished for my birthday, so I’d planned to take a break from WP and maybe read a book, or something.
From there, I thought that I would just pop in to check for messages… maybe post a few pics and call it good, right?!
Ever hear of that children’s book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”, about one thing leading to another? Yah…. so here we are people, two hours into “Just” checking my mail!
When it get’s down to the heart of things… I like being here on WordPress, with you folks. I like your stories, your poetry, and your hearts… you draw me back to the lobby every morning and I end up hanging out in there all day. Why? Because, you visit at all different times of my day, being that many hail from countries around this beautiful globe!
Over this last year the lobby has become like a cozy coffee room, with visitors dropping by throughout the day. Many of you come from such a distance to share your views, your culture and your talents.
In an imaginative way, WordPress is like a village. There are streets lined with little cafe’s that overflow with romantic poets and gifted musicians. Other avenues are filled with book shops that offer some amazing literary artists. Down a few alleyways you might find those in need of encouragement, prayer and understanding. We even have our own business class! There’s newspapers that offer reviews of everything from movies and music, to authors and artists. Then there are the retailers, and magazine stands that offer comic books, craft ideas and food recipes.
Folks might share political views, opinions on the market, or their personal views about things ranging from birth to death… basically, a bit of everything!
That’s where Journey With Me fits in!
You’ll find the lobby nestled between several bookstore/coffee shops near the local park. Every community needs a bit of everything to keep the balance, right?! My hope is that the lobby can be of benefit to this community, no matter who you are or how you fit in to this village, as I’ve labeled it.
The front of the lobby holds an open doorway… there are no doors to open or close. Leave your attitude, your opinion, and any unhealthy motives at the doorway! The lobby does not produce judgement or push an agenda… it’s my heart, and my way of reflecting God’s love in the only way I can, at this time.
You just wait… my prayer is that perhaps one day I can do more, because deep in my heart, I believe that I was born for these days, for a bigger purpose. God is calling me for something more!
Warning!!! I am filled with the Holy Spirit and am highly contagious, so being in close proximity to the love of God might make you start doing strange things! In my defense, I am such a sucker for the whole grace, forgiveness and eternal love thing… I just cant help it!
Sorry, not sorry…
Here, you better take a cookie, just in case…
These boots are still made for walking…
Hands down, my favorite physical activity is walking! Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, work or play… I want to be on my feet and moving about.
When I was small, my feet carried me to safety.
When I grew and became a mother, walking was my escape from all the noise and business of things.
Now? Any physical form of exercise or activity I do, tends to fall under the old adage, an object in motion stays in motion… I know everyone’s heard of that reference!
I have always loved exercise and/or anything outdoors and adventurous. Unfortunately, this body can’t handle the truth, as Jack Nicholson so eloquently put it… kind a sorta!
Fortunately for me, walking has always been my first love, and it’s the only form of exercise that doesn’t seem to hurt so badly… so there’s that.
Here, have a cookie…
Tuesday’s Twinkling… I mean Tinkering…
As you can see, it’s Holiday Picture Day in the barnyard!
It is so hard for me to choose between pictures, when it comes to these little ones… their so doggone cute! I’m just going to share the pictures from this mornings photo session and then give it a few days before I make my pics…
Miss Tilly is changing so fast…
She looks so grown up in this dress that it kind of makes me sad.
I like this pic of Dinky, but I don’t think she’s such a fan of that scarf.
Don’t you think she looks happier in this one?
Sooooo hard to choose…
She’s soooo squishieeeeeee!
I think Boomer’s trying too hard to be grown-up in this pic.
Dinky thought so too, and she can change her brother’s appearance in the blink of her eye…
While Dinky thought this was funny… I did not! I told her to lose the ridiculous Santa bangs and try again…
She did a much better job on the next go.
I didn’t need more than one photo of this young lass…
Spot on! This is the Lilly we know and love, wouldn’t you agree?
Auzzie Clawzee kept ruffling his feathers in protest of the scarf…
So it took several tries to get the little guy to settle down.
So I’m now faced with two good choices for the furry bird… I love these shots!
Can you choose? I sure can’t, right this moment!
Oh, and I took a few of Brutus and I, just for fun!
Ha Ha!
Not sure about the red in my hair.
Could I go blonde? I hear they have more fun, but I have a good bit of that already… what do you think?
Monday’s Merriment…
Today called for a snow day, what with all the babes missing young Squagon so much. I know you’re waiting to hear about my visit to Pinion Valley, but not today. I’ll update you on those events later this week.
For the moment, we’re all focusing on making a bunch of snowballs, and then throwing them at Brutus as he flies overhead…
I think the big guy likes all the attention!
Dinky is having so much fun that she actually turned white, just like a snowball!
I had to show you a picture, or you might not have believed me…
Doesn’t she just remind you of fresh snow that blankets a hillside, early on a clear winter’s morning?
Oh, and I gotta show you the ear muffs that I made for Miss Lilly…
Aren’t they adorable for her? I just took the tips off of a cotton Q-Tip and painted the front with a pink highlighter pen. What do you think… pretty cool, right?!
As for it being a Monday and all… make every tiny moment count for something good this week!
Castles and Glades…
I’ve started playing a new game with my husband recently, and it’s very relaxing… sort of like building a settlement from the ground up. The visuals are beautiful, the music is cathartic, and most of the time, you only need to kill what you’re going to eat or use for resources.
No offense to you all, but I want to be adventuring with him more than I want to write at the moment..
Today calls for working on our castle walls and a good bit of wandering, I think!
Thursday Thoughts…
Sometimes, letting the current carry you along is the only option.
If the paddle isn’t helping, stop fighting the rapids and just hold on. Focus on saving your energy for when you reach land…
You’ll need it for climbing out of the boat you’ve been riding in!
Journey With Me! 