A Post in Appreciation

I write my blog for me. I don't know why I feel like I should spew out mundane things. Perhaps it is because of that English teacher who said I couldn't write. Maybe I'm still trying to make a point. But I also enjoy getting feedback from friends and followers - well, maybe because they are positive and not like that English teacher! (Yes, he really did say that. And, 40 years later, when I saw him at my HS reunion, my stomach still did flip-flops and turned inside out!) It has been so interesting to meet people through my blogging. I love that I have friends, many most of whom I have never met, but I feel like I know them and that they know me! Thank you, all, for checking out what I have to say now and then, and for letting me know your thoughts. Thank you, also, for not pointing out errors in grammar or punctuation, or spelling!!!

I noticed I have new followers and would like to thank them for stopping by and caring to read my posts.

Thank you, Laurie! Laurie is a new face-to-face friend. We met over horse poop; outside, in the paddock, picking up after horses. What an amazing world it is as we discovered how many things we have in common.

Mary is also a new follower. She bumped into me while chatting on the farmhouse porch ;-)  Another blogger, Patrice at Everyday Rurality, has a weekly link-up where bloggers can respond to questions and link them to Patrice's site. Then, bloggers can read other's responses to the questions. It is almost like visiting one another. Mary writes Visits with Mary, and Waiting at the Gate.

From Mary's header - this sure reminds me of the south!

Another new follower is Mimi Foxmorton. I love her name! Mimi is so inspirational. She is very artistic - something I aspire to be! She writes a number of blogs and shares so much beauty in them. One is called Sea Gypsy and another is called Collage Pirate. I'll create a bit of mystery here by suggesting you visit one of Mimi's sites and then travel to others that I haven't listed!

Found on Mimi's header for Collage Pirate

My latest follower is Alica. She pens Happily Married... to the Cows. I have a fascination with dairy cows, well, to be honest, I guess with all cows. Perhaps that fascination has its roots in my visits to my grandfather's ranch as a young girl, or maybe it is just that I've wondered how cows can lick their own noses! Whatever, I totally admire dairy farmers and the twice, daily work they do to bring us fresh milk and milk products! Alica also lives in Lancaster, PA and reports that she is from a long line of Mennonites. The Amish and the Mennonites also are a fascination of mine. I love nothing more than visiting Amish areas and talking with a few Amish I have gotten to know through my horses.

Header for Alica's Blog

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. It is time for me to get to work! I have so many things to do to get ready for the holidays! How about you? Are you feeling the stress already?!

Old is New Again

How many times have you heard this before? 

It happens so many times. 

It happens in fashion.... I wish I had kept my empire-waisted, paisley dresses from the early 70's. Or better yet, how about having my mother's shirtwaist dresses from the 50's? I'd be stylin'!

Old is new again in children's names. Have you noticed? Do you have a favorite 'old fashioned' name... or has someone in your family used a name from the past when naming a child (dog, horse...)?

Old is also new again in friends. I have a 'new' Blog friend who is following me, who just happens to be an 'old' friend - er - maybe I should say, 'a friend of old'?!

Welcome, Bridgit! It is so nice to 'see' you again!

Bridgit currently lives in North Pole, Alaska. (She gets the prize for moving the farthest from SC!) Bridgit is a home-schooling mom. She has begun to assist others in teaching Science through Phoenix Productions and has a blog about that. She is a woman of many talents - including a great voice (which she undoubtedly inherited from her Dad, who I worked with and saw in church in days of yore), fantastic face painting, and she can make just about anything out of balloons! 

(I hope you don't mind that I shared one of your FB pictures!)

I first got to know Bridgit as a professional when she was an interpreter for the deaf for a student in my class. 

I am so glad to have the opportunity to connect with her through the Internet, Blogs and other social media. It is fun to keep tabs on her as one never knows just what she is going to do next!

So, what old thing is new again for you?

Gypsy Jabber

I don't like thunder.

D'ya think I'll be safe here?

My new mom told me to welcome her new followers....

I'm new...so I guess I understand that.

Being new means not always knowing everything.

The new followers are:

Moonshadow, who writes KS Born

NeighGirl, who has joined at least a zillion other sites,

Rocy + Indiana at Parker Bourn Farm

I liked reading their blogs.

Indiana is a dog... isn't that great?

Update from Gypsy's new mom:

Gypsy is doing wonderfully. Each day she comes out of her shell a bit more - well, until we had some thunder and lightning! Both of us had to go out this afternoon. Gypsy and Tucker were left by themselves. There were no accidents, no torn-up items, and no evidence of dogs on the furniture.

Welcome New Friends... Come Chat With Me!

I've 'collected' some more friends. I'd like to welcome them to my blog, and let them know how much I appreciate them.

Anna is the author's special name for her jewelry making muse. She writes Anna's Adornments. Since my heritage is Swedish, it's exciting to have another friend from Sweden. Anna's site can also be viewed in Swedish with some translations. Anna also contributes to The Red Cat Society which has cute posts by and about cats.

McGuffyAnn writes about her love of books and writing at McGuffy's Reader.

I met Debbie Huffaker through Chats on the Farmhouse Porch, so how fitting that I welcome her on a chat day! Debbie writes Wise Old Owl Designs and Jeremiah Twenty-Nine Eleven.

Cheryl Ann writes Deserts and Beyond and Desert Horses.... and eight more blogs. I think she is the most prolific blogger I know!

Jaymie writes Family Best, and is my most recent friend. She is a professional writer and I find her work to be very soothing. Jaymie and her family also have a hobby farm and would like to live self-sustainably.


So...it's time to chat. Do you see the chains holding the porch swing? My swing has those... and a few more that anchor the swing to the railing. We've had winds up to 45 MPH over the past 24 hours (and more forecast for tomorrow). The chains keep my swing from blowing into the railings. So, what with the wind and the cold, we'll have to continue chatting inside. Come sit next to my fire, or head over to Patrice's porch!

Click on the image to visit Patrice's site and link to other blogger's responses to Patrice's questions.


Here are Patrice's questions for this week's chat:

1. What did you have for breakfast this morning?
2. What's your favorite kind of juice?
3. Have you tried Pinterest yet?
4. I can't wait for __________ from my garden (or farmers' market/CSA/neighbor with green thumb).
5. The worst job I ever had was __________________.

1. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

I had a granola cereal with vanilla almond milk. The milk is my 'new' thing. When my son visited over Thanksgiving he bought Almond milk. I'd never had it before, but I like almonds... so why not. I'm hooked!

2. What's your favorite kind of juice?

When I was a kid my mom would occasionally buy apricot nectar. To this day, I love it. However, I don't buy it very often as it is packed with calories.

3. Have you tried Pinterest yet?

Yes. I have a Pinterest page. I started it several weeks ago when there was a lot of activity. Now, it seems to have slowed down. I'm not sure I 'get it'! But, I am very visual and forgetful as well, so if I see something I like, I can pin it there and jog my failing memory! 

4. I can't wait for TOMATOES from my garden. I can't believe I just typed that. I never liked tomatoes. Not until a few years ago. Now... I LOVE fresh-off-the-vine tomatoes. M-m-good!

5. The worst job I ever had was working at an insurance agency one summer during college. My job was to process the papers that came from the insurance companies. Each week I'd start with a pile of envelopes. I'd make a list of the policy owners and pull their files. I'd open the policies, file one copy, prepare an envelope and mail the other copy with a cover letter, after affixing the agency stickers on the papers. Then I'd have to refile the folders. I'd process hundreds of insurance policies each week. Monday meant starting all over again. Ugh... I hated it.

New Friends and a Shiny New Year

I love the promise of new things: new toys when I was a child, a new notebook waiting to be filled, a new pair of jeans to break in, new friends, new communities and all that comes with a new year. May the year bring many adventures, much fun and good times for all.

source

I have new friends who are following my blog. I welcome them and look forward to learning more about them as the year unfolds.

source

Welcome Amy! Amy writes Mrs Rooster's Hen House which tells about her busy life, in general. Then she writes two other blogs!  The Morganic Institute of Thinkology chronicles Amy's homeschooling and includes ideas and suggestions for connecting with other homeschoolers. At one point I considered homeschooling. I had a wild idea that we should travel around the country and learn about our wonderful land first hand. But then, sanity returned. I'm thinking I might have only had one child grow to adulthood if I home schooled them both! Amy's other blog, Flosses and Crosses, will be wonderful inspiration for me. I hope to get back to different types of handiwork this year; knitting, embroidery and just maybe, quilting. Oh my... that sounds dangerously close to a 'goal' for the year... something I don't do! 


Another new friend, Dutchman's Daughter writes Dutchman Daughter's Farm. I am thinking that her blog is a bit like mine, chronicling all kinds of day-to-day goings on around a farm. Only... I don't consider my place a farm, yet! But...Dutchman's Daughter talks about chickens... her hen house even has some darling new flower boxes on it, with cute chicken silhouettes! I've been researching chicken coops and hope to have some chickens come into my life. Uh oh... that sounds like another 'goal'. For someone who gets hives thinking of long term goals... I seem to be digging a hole here!


How do these women do it? Suz is another new friend who authors several blogs. Well, OK, here is a deep, dark secret! Shhhh! I have another blog, too. But, I don't update that one quite as often! Suz's blogs include One Thousand Gifts, P.S. Annie!,  Heartstrings by Suzanne,  and the 'umbrella' site: McClendon Villa. You really ought to visit the McClendon Villa site as it links to all of the blogs, sale sights and enterprises of Suz and David McClendon. Be careful... you can get lost in there and spend hours and hours reading and learning new things! Suz writes about genealogy in P.S. Annie! My hubby is, at this very moment, working on his genealogy on Ancestry.com! I'll have to connect him to Suz, too!


Beth is another new friend. She's a mystery friend! I don't know anything about her as her 'About me' link doesn't link to a blog.  So I'm hoping that Beth reads this and lets me know more about her so I can get to know her better!


As I was writing this post, another friend popped up! My newest friend, my first blog friend for 2012, is actually one of my newest face-to-face friends! I joined a local Book Club and I actually hosted the December meeting. The Book Club is new, so the women in the club are all 'new friends'! From the Sidelines writes about her busy life with her husband, children and job. It's fun to have a new friend with so many connections to me. We are both teachers, readers and writers! 

Welcome new friends. 

Welcome new year!

Out Came the Sun...

And dried up all the mud.

So the itty bitty Haffies

Didn't have to wade through all that crud!

Notice that the leaves are gone off the deciduous trees. 

(On the right and on the left)

Well, after our 35 mph gusts yesterday, 

I guess that's to be expected!

I have five new followers that I'd like to welcome.

First, John Markowsi who writes An Obsessive Neurotic Gardener. John lives in NJ and his goal is to have a beautiful yard in 590 days. Stop by to follow his progress, or maybe just to become inspired to work in your own yard!

Another new follower is Lana from Farm Life Lessons. Lana and her family are planning a move out of suburbia and into the country in Texas. Recently Lana has put up several very informative posts about Australian Shepherds. You gotta know how much I enjoyed those!

PJ writes Seens From the Back of my Eyelids. I am enjoying her eclectic posts. Check out her blog to see what I mean!

Leovi is from Spain and has two Web sites. Both focus on his photography, which is truly awesome. The first is La Fotografia Efectista Abstracta and his other is Black & White Abstracts. Leovi is also a Leonard Cohen fan and has a series of abstracts in his honor. I'm not a huge fan of abstract work, but I can get lost just staring at Leovi's photos. They are very luminescent.

My fifth follower is The Crazy Sheep Lady, who writes four blogs. Four.... can you imagine! I've been following one of her blogs for a while, Punkin's Patch, and I enjoy seeing and reading about her sheep, sheering, spinning and knitting. Just check out how cute the sheep are on her blog, oh, and look for Hank, her Great Pyranees... he's oh, so cool and calm!

Lovely Blog and Welcome

My blog received the "One Lovely Blog" award.... from three different bloggers! Wow! Do you realize how nice that makes me feel? Evidently there are real people (at least three of them!) out there that like to read what I write. In fact, I have two new followers I'd like to welcome:

Sheryl, author of ain't for city gals, began following my dreamy adventures a few weeks ago. Sheryl loves camping and renovates vintage campers! I would love to go off camping in a trailer, or a motor home.... but with the horses that becomes a bit impractical. Corinna is my other new follower. She writes a blog that is intriguing to me, Ribbons and Red Tape. Corinna has graduated from Law School and is awaiting her Bar Exam results. She writes about horses and laws specific to the equine world. Her posts are very interesting!

Anyway, back to the award... Thanks for thinking of me and appreciating my blog:

 Wolfie from What Was I Thinking

Allison from Adventures With Shyloh 

and

Minus Pride who writes a blog with that title. 

I am to pass this Lovely Blog Award on to 15 other bloggers. That is tough! All of the blogs I follow are lovely. Many of the blogs I follow have received the award. But, I will choose 15...if I must!

My first two choices are for blogs I love reading... and both bloggers are facing some tough medical times. They are both lovely people with great spirit, incredible strength and beautiful blogs. Prayers to you...oh, and if you don't follow the 'rules' of the award - I understand. That's fine with me! Just enjoy it!

Four Leaf Clover Tales

"Go West" Feral Woman

And on to other Lovely blogs that truly deserve this award for Lovely bloggers take the time to put up beautiful posts! I look forward to learning from you every day!

Between the Fenceposts

Familiar Spirits

Far Side of Fifty

Farmer's Wifey

A Garden of Thoughts

The House on Hilltop Farm

Life in a Little Red Farmhouse

Living Retired in New York State

Moondance Ranch

Morning Bray Farm

7MSN Ranch

The Skoog Farm Journal

Equestrian Ink 

Hmmm this last blog ought to count for 8 awards 

since the site has eight authors writing wonderful posts!

OK...finally, I have to tell seven things about myself. Now, that should be easy, since I love to talk and write... but gee, golly... only 7?!

1. I'm feeling old :-(    I'm not happy that my hands hurt... and now my feet hurt. I am a very, very active person. I am on my feet almost all day (except when I'm sitting here blogging!) and I hate that my feet let me down. So... sometimes I do get that wee little pity violin out and play a sad song!
2. I am a huge fan of therapeutic riding. I have been involved with therapeutic riding programs for over 10 years. I have just signed up to volunteer at another center in this area - so now I will be at one center on Monday's and another on Wednesday's. If you've never seen a program like this, and you care for kids or horses, it is a  'must see' and maybe a 'must do'!
3. I am a 'do-it-yourself' kind of gal. I like getting down and dirty: painting, building, tiling, digging in the dirt. Love it all! I also sew and currently I am working on getting some window treatments up in the house... but they often always take a back seat to the outdoors when the weather is nice!
4. My Dad lives 21 miles from my new home. I try to visit him several times a week. He just turned 90 and his girlfriend just moved into his apartment with him! Oops... this isn't exactly about me! OK... so sometimes his mind isn't as sharp as it was - that's where I come in. I have to work with helping him remember and understand some things. It can be tough! I started a blog about my experiences... but I haven't been a great blogger on that one - trying to get better. That blog is Driving My Dad if you care to visit!
5. I had terrible allergies as a kid. I was allergic to just about every grass. For a while the doctor suggested that I stay in a room with a special air purifier when the pollen count was high. You can just imagine how I felt about that! I did play with my Breyer horses then... a lot! When I was 12 I revolted. I wanted to learn to ride a horse. My mom, wise lady that she was, figured I was old enough to suffer the consequences. If I had terrible allergic reactions from being out at a barn - so be it! I began taking a weekly lesson and learned the basics. Loved those lesson days! I think the repeated exposure to all things allergic actually helped me overcome my allergies! 
6. My husband is the last male in his family line. His grandfather told him he had to have seven sons to carry on the name. I tried! I had seven pregnancies but many miscarriages that just about tore my life apart. But, I do have two wonderful sons. I am so proud of both of them. They are truly the light of my life. Just watch my face when either of them calls! One guy, my oldest, lives in San Francisco. He seems to be living a wonderful life - I hope it continues! My 'baby' is in college about 40 miles from us. He is very busy, but does stop by on occasion. 
7. You know that T-shirt about so many books and not enough time to read? I feel that way about life. There is sooooo much out there that I want to do - and time just gets away from me!

Food for Thought

Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life.

Thanks to all my friends for adding flavor to my life!

You make me smile :-)  

You make me cry :(

You add spice to my day!

I have some new blog friends I'd like to introduce!

Allison writes Adventures with Shyloh. Shyloh is a Haflinger - so you know I already have that connection with Allison. Shyloh sometimes writes on Allison's blog - Doc & Pippin have already taken note of another mare in the blogger world!

To Catch a Pony is one of Antonia's sites. Antonia rides in Glasgow and creates beautiful art - using horses as her subjects. She tells about her riding and shares some of her art on her blog. She has another web site that shows more of her art work. I am impressed (if you've followed my blog for even the last week you've seen my attempt at art!!) 


Another of my new blogger friends taught me a new word! Euthymic is from the Philippines. I learned that euthymic is being a state of mind that is neither depressed, nor overly excited! How cool to find friends in such far places, and still be able to connect so easily! Mona and Ed are both free lance writers. It sounds like they have had many opportunities to write in different arenas. 


Sherry writes Russ-stickacres. She and her husband live a life I envy. They farm 40 acres and live a simple life in norther Michigan. In many ways her life reminds me of Thoreau's experience at Walden pond. 

That Special Friend...

Years ago my son started attending a new preschool. We had a fundraiser for the school, and I ended up meeting and working next to a very nice mom. While we were working, I began to have a feeling that we had some sort of connection, a connection that went deeper than most. Practically overnight we became best friends. Our kids grew up together, spending untold nights at each other's houses. We worked and partied together. We laughed and cried together. We went on trips and went shopping together. My friend moved away 13 years ago - but we have continued to keep in touch and visit when we can. We laughingly blame my friend for our having bought our project house! I was visiting her last year and my hubby was bored. So, he poked around on the Internet and found this house! Well, now my friend wants to see 'her' house, so she is flying in for a visit in two weeks. We'll have long coffee chats in the mornings. We'll go on adventures. We'll sit down and sew - she said she wants to help me make some curtains for 'her' house. We will pick up where we left off without a hiccup - friends do that!


Do you have a life-long friend too? Do you have a friend whose heart is bound to yours by strong, deep ties?