The Bargain

A B&B in The Wales Countryside

I bargained with life for a penny

And life would pay no more

But Oh! How I begged every evening

When I counted my scanty score

For Life is a just employer

She will give you what you ask...

And once you set the price

Well...then you must bear the task

I bargained with Life for a penny

Only to learn dismayed

That ANY price I would have asked of Life

Life would have willingly paid

-Jessie Belle Rittenhouse

JUST ASK, WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND GOOD INTENT, JUST ASK

Well the girls are getting big!  Their wings are coming in and cleaning the pen is taking longer because they are harder to catch!

The only thing I can relate it to is that they seem to be just like typical teenagers; they are giving me dirty looks, hiding out, not wanting to socialize with mom (unless there is food) and their general demeaner is just...well...pissy.  But guess what?  I still love them!

I clean their 'coop' before I get ready for work and it's a good thing that I do because this morning I got a nice lump of wet used chicken pine shavings in my hair!  I had to laugh really (after I said a few choice words of course)  I understand why farmers get up early.  It's a funny thing though because I am no longer looking at them like pets all cut and cuddly.  They already want to rip my face off when I move them around and handle them!  But I am looking at them with an eye I've never had for anything before.  They will work for my family in a way...they will provide nice healthy fresh eggs and we will care for them and make them as stress free as possible so they can carry this task out.  

I haven't given much thought to the distant future when their egg production (ha! like mine) will surely diminish.  Will they end up in a soup pot?  I hear an old bird is tough - I can attest to that one.  But even a tough cut of meat can be marinated and made into a meal in tough economic times.   This is touching my self sufficient desires big time folks...and it feels so...well...correct.

I also know why nature makes babies so cute and heart softening...because the teens are gangly, moody, ungrateful!  But you look at them and can see the helpless little babies they once were and you press on.  It's only been a few weeks and I am having something strange being born in my heart - a strange sense of gratitude and confidence...I guess all girlys need that!

Here's to the teen times!

One Year Anniversary (Belated!)

My Brother at the Local Pub - The Irish Cottage 

St. Patrick's Day 2013

The Boy is Jimi Hendrix on the Pipes!

But Scotland the Brave Holds my Heart til my dyin' day!

Funny thing I didn't notice until I went looking for a quote...this blog has been actively worked for a year!  My goal was to have this and I missed it's anniversary by a week!  

Sometimes we get so busy plowing forward we forget to look back...may seem silly but my commitment to this has been an accomplishment for me...it's been a forum...personal therapy, triumph and tears.  But above all of that it has been a place of hope for me.  Messages in a bottle...yes I still believe in them.  Because it isn't how much we are different...it's how much we humans are the same that does it for me!

I'm still amazed when people email me or run into me and tell me they are reading it - I love the feedback, although the voluntary feedback on this blog has eluded me - I just haven't had the time to fix the comment/like option.  So a year under my belt!  I hope it has been as fun for you as it has for me!  The readership has grown - Hello Russia, Australia, Canada, Italy, Ireland, USA, Puerto Rico...actually hello World - Boy we are both big and small at the same time!

My goal for the coming year is to expand the blog, fix the damn comment situation, dream more, stress less, hope all around!  Maybe interact a bit more with my readers, feature some things... but always learn, always pass the torch of Hope - After all we are all in this world, this life, this existence together.  It took every moment from the beginning of time to make right now...to make this moment - so please make it count!

  Promise me you will learn one new thing, write down a new goal, strive for a more authentic existence!  You know I'll be praying for you and sending good energy with every post!

So Happy Anniversary to us World, and of course Many More!

XXXOOO!!!

All work but you gotta play...

This morning started out very spiritually, very much so in fact I have been unable to really gather my thoughts on it to blog it out.  Let's just say it was good until I can flesh it out for everyone...

On a much lighter note the middle of my day was not spent listing projects, planting plants, or cutting wood...It was about a nice reprieve from the work load I've been plowing through.  Today was all about a baby that is on the way!!

My very close friend Cheryl's sister is due in about 3 weeks - folks when I tell you she is BARELY showing it is the truth...some gal's get all the luck!  So I arrived very early (I am a chronically late person so Cheryl fibbed the time to get me there correctly...does she know me folks or does she know me?)

I walked into a place called Sonny's on The Lake and was greeted by a HUGE expanse of windows looking out over a lovely lovely lake!  After the recent series of unfortunate events, this was like an ice cold water in a desert.  Being that close to that much water has a complete positive and serene effect on my being.  I felt my belly relax, my chest open, and my smile soften... and I just had to sigh in it's beauty...then I saw the tables!

Cheryl is a floral designer, wedding planner extraordinaire!  This is pure talent and art!  It was on the water and everything from the flowers to the sea glass to the shells created an ambiance that set the soul right!

Thistle, greens, blues, and creams created watery dreams!

No detail was overlooked...

Bits of sea glass, shells, sand and moon colored candles oh my!

Sea Glass Candy Favors in Quilted Ball Jars!! (they knew I was coming!)

The view from our table!

The food was good and might I say so was the afternoon wine spritzer!  Many times a day like this with friends in celebration grounds you in a way no yoga mat could.  I pray we always take the time celebrate life's gifts...in this case a baby boy...Life is good and I was blessed to be there!  I can't wait to meet the Little Man!

Namaste