Piggies in a Pumpkin

You thought I was joking, didn't you?  As Halloween is fast approaching, I couldn't resist posting this picture.  I hope my daughter-in-law doesn't see it, she's already trying to convince my son to get a potbelly pig on top of the six chickens, four rabbits and the dog they already have (in suburban America)!  They want to buy property with additional land.  My son found out that in Florida, if you own six cows, you are only subject to an agricultural tax which is much lower than the typical property tax.  Great - I fear they will soon be raising meat. 

Side Note:  One day while traveling down the highway, we drove by a field of cattle.  My mother asked our grandson what comes from cows.  You can imagine the laughter that erupted when he responded "meat" instead of "milk," as we expected him too.  You never know what is going to come out of that little mouth!

What Do You Drive?

As for me...

Ha Ha!  I'm sure my boys thought I flew around on one of these when they were growing up, especially when they didn't get their way.  As the Rolling Stones lyrics go, "You can't always get what you want."  That was a common theme song in our house when the boys were growing up.  Actually, I don't believe that my broomstick came out too often. 

If you know the lyrics to that Rolling Stones song, you know there is more:  "You can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes, well you might find you get what you need."  Maybe the boys didn't get everything they wanted but we made sure that had what they needed.  Life was different then, it was not centered around instant gratification.  If the boys wanted something, they worked toward it.  Chores were weekly assignments with extra credit benefits built in.  Some things they earned, some they bought on their own.  It was a fair system and taught them how the outside world worked. 

It doesn't seem to work that way anymore.  The ability to discipline our children has been sorely compromised.  A solid drum battle on my backside hurt my pride but never injured me physically.  It certainly got my attention and made me realize that I didn't want to repeat that bad decision again.  Really, it's terrible that we can't discipline in the same way that we were as children.  It taught us boundaries of which there are too few today.  Without boundaries, we become lost, we make poor choices and unfortunately, the world has to live with those choices. 

I am thankful that my boys were brought up the way that they were. Now that they are parents in the driver's seat, they can pull their broomsticks out of the closet as well.  My grandchildren will grow up with boundaries (boundaries and lot's of love as well).

Bad Habits

 

I think this picture depicts what I see in the mirror on Monday morning.  My hair is a little too short for the curlers but the rest of it fits.  Why are Monday's always so hard to get into?  Diets always seem to start on Monday.  Carpool switches happen on Monday.  Downshifting from weekend mode to weekday mode is in full swing.  Monday begins the uphill climb, peaking on Wednesday and racing full out for Friday.  If I had to pick a day of the week that was my least favorite, it would definitely be Monday.  And if it's my least favorite, do I really want to address my bad habits today? 

 





Nah, no-one likes a quitter, especially on Monday. 

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  Don't take risks.  Be checked by a professional.  Have a mammogram.  It's a simple procedure and it may save your life.  Make an appointment today.  All those special people in your life will thank you for it. 

I thank the Lord every day that my mother's cancer was detected early.  She endured surgery, a year of chemotherapy treatment, and beat it!  She is a survivor.  I know there are millions of other breast cancer survivors like her out there whose families are just as thankful as we are.

Love yourself and take care of your body.  It's the only one you've got. 

Colors on Fire

Autumn

 

 

There's nothing as fine

as an autumn day,

with the smell in the air

of fresh mown hay.

Each tree is a wonder

of beauty, untold.

Each leaf brushed with color,

a sight to behold.

There's a nip in the air

-crisp, cool and clear-

to remind us that winter

soon will be here!

But now we have Autumn

the "Show-Off" of seasons!

My favorite by far,

and these are the reasons!

 

-Author June Kellum

 

 

I had to share this.  If there are drawbacks of living in the sunshine state, this would be one - we get oranges in the fall instead of the colorful change of seasons.  



Eyes Wide Open

If it weren't for the bad things in life, we would take the good things for granted.  Appreciation comes from the ability to decipher good from bad.  It's easy to appreciate the good, but in the long run, we come to value the lessons learned, tragedies overcome, illnesses conquered, or even what or whom we've lost.  It's those times, the tough times in life that we grow the most.  We have to dig down deep to find the strength, hope and faith to carry on, even when we don't feel up to it. 

When those bad things are happening in your life, look up.  You're not alone.  God is there, friends and family are there.  Wrap yourself in the arms of each, they will see you through your darkest hours.  And when you come out on the other side, remember your journey.  Appreciate the ways in which your life changed because of it. 

Open your eyes wide, cherish each moment of your life, the good and the bad.  They are part of your human make-up.  Respect yourself.  Love who you are and share yourself and your history with everyone around you.  You never who your story might affect or even help.  You may have helped countless people already and not even know it.  We're not meant to go through this life alone.  Be honest, be appreciative, and most of all, keep your eyes open.         

One Book, Just One Book...

This was me at the bookstore yesterday.  I went in to pick up "The Husband's Secret" for the book club pick and walked out with three books in my bag and a renewed discount card.  For me, it is just not possible to walk out of a bookstore with a single purchase.  It's an addiction for which I prefer not to have an intervention!

I would love it if reading could be a profession.  I'm not talking about writing reviews or sharing opinions or giving speeches, just the pure pleasure of reading day after day.  Our day jobs get in the way of this, not to mention the new television season that just launched.  My DVR stays fifty percent loaded at all times.  I soon as I delete something, I record something else.  It is a vicious circle, my friends. 

If I didn't have a screened-in patio, I'd never go outside.  Just joking - I can't tell you how much running around I do.  Working from home and having an open schedule allows that.  However, there are nights when I work late - much too late.  However, I enjoy the freedom it gives me and wouldn't want to change it. 

Writing is like a drug to me.  It lifts me up, it puts a fire in my belly and makes me happy.  I feel like I'm in control of my life when I'm behind the keyboard.  When I step away from it I have to face things like dead car batteries, a yard that needs to be mowed, a dying dishwasher, and a leaky toilet (all of that is just this week and it's only Wednesday). 

My wish for you is that you find your dream job.  The one that puts fire in your belly.  Do it.  The only regret you'll have is not having the courage to follow it.  That my friend, would be the ultimate tragedy.