Fourth/Fourth and Sixth/Sixth

I have been challenged! Christy at Farm Dreams has invited me to browse my picture folders and choose either/or both.

I did not look at what it was, I just counted. If it is bad, sorry. I have not caught up on editing. I usually burn them every so often. I have a fear of my computer crashing and loosing my pictures. That has happened.

So now I wait to see what the 4/4 and 6/6 are.

And here they are...ta daaa!

My nephew, Toni, at Marcy's Voice doctor's office.

And, of course, Marcy Art

Dumb As A Rock

I have heard that comment many times through the years. I want you to really think about this.

You know how I get a hold of somethin' and chew on it and I thought...what a blog!

Just how dumb is a rock? It sits there, doesn't have to do anything. It is not affected by much, if any, very little. The sun warms it, the rain cleans it, animals enjoy traveling over it, it nurtures with no questions and it gets its picture on world wide web. It does not affect it whether it is in a group or sitting alone. It takes millions of year for a good one to break down...now why would we not be proud to be told we are as dumb as a rock?

Other random thoughts for today were:

I am so glad that all my Christmas decorations are hidden...and it is only 346 days 'til Christmas.

Sharon loves glassware so I'm showing one of my favorite pieces. Yes, they are artificial grapes(the purple ones, I know the gold would not fool you).

The last thought for today is....drum rollllll, please! I wonder why when my daughter visits to use my appliances (when I'm not here), my last load from the dryer is crammed, not lightly laid, nor neatly folded with love, but CRAMMED into a laundry basket.

Plenty to think about!

Lessons From Geese

This was transcribed from a speech given by Angeles Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network, based on the work of Milton Olson.

Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock add 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help, and give help to others.

Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position. Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those in front to keep up their speed. Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is greater. The power of encouragement(to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help or protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock. Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

HONK, HONK! Gail

I Want...

a new blog skin or template or whatever you call it!

I tried once and lost all my widgets, whatever that is! I know all my sidebar stuff got lost somewhere in no man's land. I found a three column(will that even work?) layout or skin that I loved. That's when I lost them all. Remember when all the new side pictures appeared? That was my lucky adventure day in blog changing.

Now, you must have guessed, I am computer illiterate. I know how to turn it on, sell a few things on Ebay, save many pictures and that's about it.

I am better with a hammer and nails than with a computer. Sometimes I have thought about using the hammer while operating the computer.

In fact I'm not good at many electronic gadgets. I have a cell phone that is never on. In fact, my message is: This is Gail, my phone is probably turned off, leave a message, I may check. I have one picture locked in my camera, an Olympus Stylus, and I can't figure out how to get it off there! The picture is the hanging gallows in Fort Smith, isn't that a little ironic?

Help! The only ones available on this Blog spot are boring! I want to try my newly grown computer wings but I need someone to help me jump out of the nest.

Any suggestions or sites I might try...only one qualification...it must be free or very cheap.

The Barn

I have been cleaning. I ran across this piece I had written in February 1998. This is about the barn at my home place. Mom and Dad let me have a corn crib for my play house. I have no pictures. We still own that place but someone has stolen the barn a board at a time.

The Barn

Twenty years had passed
The barn had grown so small
Memories were lurking there
In the corn crib, lot and stall.

Echoes of my laughter
And even of my tears
Bounced from loft to chicken run
Not silenced by the years.

In this barn, I learned of birth
Of death and in between
Never questioned or considered
It could be cruel or mean.

To the barn, I talked aloud
Shouted questions to the walls
Searched for answers to everything
Silently the barn supplied them all.

Twenty years would pass again
Before I could finally see
The Barn was my cathedral
Where God talked to me.

I Am Back!!!!!!!!!

Marcy Art

I am sure you have been biting your nails and sitting on pins and needles waiting for me to get over it. That is my Motto, Get Over It! But for some unfortunate reason I could not. I was lower than a snake's belly, I mean underground!

Thanks to all my blogland Buddies, I have survived and am on the way to the top! Funny isn't it, how you can be kissing dirt one minute and flying among the trees the next. It wasn't that easy but from this good side, it seems that way. From the bottom, I could not see the sky.

Thanks everybody for not ignoring my whining. Thanks for all the good kind words. Most of all, thank you for letting me know I was not alone.

First step was taking a shower and painting my fingernails. Funny how showers don't seem so important. In the afternoon, I ventured out into the lovely warm afternoon in a clean pair of pjs and my painted nails.

Guess who would not leave me alone? Princess, that wonderful goat, that belongs to my sister. I think okay, I've had my shower so I no longer smell like a billy goat. I do not know if she was attracted to wonderful Bath & Body Works lotion or if she was just glad to see me. She circled all around me, rubbing her horns on me, bleating and just having a good time. I escaped into the house and she was at the door, at the window, bleating to me! I grabbed the bb gun and thought that might persuade her to go home...NO! Princess wanted me for some reason. By this time I am regretting my shower. My husband saves me with the paint ball gun. Princess is now brown, yellow, orange and white. Looks quite artsy and seems to know it.

The Paint is on the other side.

Marcy with Buddy, TP and of course, Princess

Today was much better. Den had been building fence on the west side and had asked me yesterday to come see. He knew better than asking me to come help. Today Marcy and I headed up the hill, behind the new pond, to see the wondrous work of THE MAN!

As you can see, I am really helping. It was cold on that hill!

The cold did not stop Seymour from running down the creek.

After that freezing trip, I came back and started to work. The Christmas tree and Santas are all tucked away. The kitchen was clean until Den cooked. Sent(bribed) my daughter's mate and Andrew to go pick up my groceries. Did ALL the laundry. Changed my sheets and even had time to watch a movie!!!! Even repainted my nails...how's that for recovery?

Work tomorrow and I am actually not dreading it.

Thanks to all you guys who dug me out when I needed more shovels than I could find!

My camera, God's art.

The Blues

I walked a mile with Pleasure
She chatted all the way;
And left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow
And n'er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When sorrow walked with me.

Written by Robert Browning Hamilton


Have discovered it is my new meds and these are side effects. Did not take one last night so hopefully the symptoms will go away. Took me three weeks to get here so am hoping it does not take three weeks to recover.

I am totally in numbville after three weeks of these. I knew I was having headaches and muscle aches but did not connect. Just one...several of those days when you don't give a poop about anything.

I WILL SURVIVE!

Skywatch Friday And Post Holiday Depression

WARNING!!!!! This could be depressing
Note that my skies are dark...
refections of my thoughts.

Totally Dark!

The Christmas tree lays in pieces in the living room, not in its box. The ornaments are piled alone. No one seems to care whether they are put away or not, especially me.

My Santas are wondering when they are to be tucked into storage. Sometimes I think they glare at me when I walk by.

I am still in the gown that I wore yesterday. Is this an indication of what lies ahead?

I shame myself for being so ungrateful, but it does no good. The dark clouds are around me and the winds are not blowing.

Sounds annoy me. The incessant (it feels that way, though it is not) barking of dogs, the crowing of roosters, the electronic noises beat into my brain.

I care not whether the clothes are washed, nor the dishes clean, nor if the family is happy with my new turn. I crave compassion but no one seems to know that word.

It is my fault. Although it is not. I can not proctect myself from these dark thoughts and no one sees them but me. Outside I am normal, but inside me, today is dark and sad.

Forgive me!

A Pictorial Tribute

A tribute to peacefulness and nature.