Who's in a Playful Mood?

"Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible, and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature."~ Tom Robbins

"It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes." ~ Saint Thomas Aquinas


"Indian names were either characteristic nicknames given in a playful spirit, deed names, birth names, or such as have a religious and symbolic meaning." ~ Charles Eastman





Moody Monday has offered the Mood of Playful for today's challenge.. I am actually a very playful person.. Or at least I can be.. OK! OK! I used to BE!! I love games and am always making up my own wild and crazy games for parties.. below is the hop a mile with a beach ball game. And two of my beautiful daughters~~ (I had to update this after I was reminded that neither of these girls is actually my child... to the person who reminded me.. Bite me.. I raised one of them and the other is my daughter by marriage.. she married my son!)~~ competing to get there first.. Shoot!! I had lifesavers up there at the end of that race track.... you know you would hop a mile with a beach ball between your knees for those!!!


I also like to throw a twist into the game as in this one pictured below.. I gave two large fake needles and huge rolls of string to two of my sisters.. their job was to sew as many people as they could onto their own string..The very last rule I stated was that if one could sew their thread through the other team leader they would take over every person on the other string.. Trudy~ pictured here in the green lei ~was busy running around getting people to sew themselves onto her string..

Martha got a few people on her string.. she was only two or three short of being tied with Trudy.. suddenly Martha's eyes lit up as it dawned on her what the last rule was.. that is Martha's red string sewn quietly and quickly through the back of Trudy's shirt.. taking ownership of Trudy's string full of people and of the game!

We laughed so much that day.. Dave cooked a ton of food that day.. I had cooked for a week and all the visitors brought more.. I really need to plan a family play day at my house soon.. Times are trying for most people these days... Most of us forget that being playful is relaxing and rejuvenating.. I know I am not nearly as playful as I used to be... I guess it could be that I am getting old.. I don't like to think about that though.. I would much rather think about all the parties I have thrown for my children over the years with crazy made up games... candy and gum prizes...hot dogs and homemade birthday cakes... and Adults and children all hopping with clothespins on the toe of their shoe and roaring with laughter as they played silly games together.. all of us kids for just a little while... Just thinking about it all almost makes me want to be playful.... try to be playful.. have fun with your children if you have them.. Maybe you can borrow some if you don't??..Share a playful laugh with your best friend.... Have a great day!!
Patsy

Q&A : The Photographic Interview

"When you crop the photo, you tell a lie." ~ Doug Coupland

"A photo is a creation. " ~ Eva Herzigova

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
~Ansel Adams

Sh1ft.org Has been running some new and different Photo challenges.. The brains and the brawn behind the sight is Tracey a 28 year old wife and Mother of two from Sydney Australia.. she says that the sh1ft.org projects is her labor of love.. her own special way of bringing photography to people, and people to photography... Thanks Tracey for all the hard work you put forth for the ones of us who visit your Sight!!

1. What is the first thing you see in the morning? ~ Did Y'all really want to see a picture of the back of Dave's head? I thought not! I am pretty much blind till I have had a cup of coffee anyway....
The first thing I really see every morning is my chickens... I always have coffee in the chicken garden.. I know you think it smells bad but I have herbs and blooming plants planted in containers in all of the paths between the different pens.. It's a great place to watch the sunrise with coffee and sometimes a friend...

2. The biggest thing to happen to you recently/soon? ~ Someone .. gave me a pig... I have only rarely had the gift of a living breathing thing!.. I love animals.. I am tickled me to death with my new gift.. I love her.. Pork Chop.. she is still a little skittish around people.. but yesterday she took some pea hulls from my hand and today she let me scratch her hiney.. I happen to know that pigs love to be scratched..I'll win her over by scratching her back..



3. Your best mirror shot.. Let me tell you .. there are no good mirror shots when it comes to me.. I rarely look at myself in the mirror and My daughter almost fell over when she realized I had actually made a photo in the mirror for this blog thing..


4. The person that you see the most in a week ~ That poor over -burdened soul would be Dave.. I sometimes think we see too much of each other..Maybe tomorrow every time I walk passed him I'll close my eyes..I will have him close his too...



5. Your favorite shoes.. I really hate shoes..
I do wear flip flops when I have to.. or when I can get away with it.. I have them in all colors...


6. Your favorite meal.. I love Grits and eggs.. I prefer the eggs fresh from the hen too.. I also love a sliced tomato along with my meal of grits and eggs.. I will take bacon or ham or even sausage if it's there and cooked but I can make a meal off of grits and eggs..



7. The color of your eyes.. People always comment on my eyes.. to me they are just eyes and lately they are old eyes at best.. They are Blue.. Blue.. Blue..
My eyes are blue...


8. Your favorite place to be on a Friday night.. My favorite place to be every night is at my own home.. I love to sit outside under the car port/patio/gathering space in my hanging swing chair and swing as I listen to the sounds of nature..
I guess I am odd to some people.. I like home better than anywhere else!


I have managed to get a photo for the answer of each question..
Please visit sh1ft.org to check out their newest project ideas. I can think of a few people right now who love taking pictures and who would enjoy the projects.. I won't name you since I know... you know who you are!! Now I'm going to swing in the cool night air!
I hope you enjoy some small glimpses into my world!
Have a great Night..
Patsy

Tuesday is here yet again.. do you know what I have?

"It's a wonderful feeling when your father becomes not a god but a man to you, when he comes down from the mountain and you see he's this man with weaknesses. And you love him as this whole being, not as a figurehead." ~Robin Williams

"Is the glass half full, or half empty? It depends on whether you're pouring, or drinking."
~ Bill Cosby

"Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance." ~ Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr.

Hi and welcome to another Tuesday in my world.. I do have an item for you to try and identify and I am sure someone will know what it is.. I thought I knew what it was.. I was wrong.. I have watched this item in my best friends house for many many years and wanted it.. I'm not sure why I wanted it but I did.. Some times when I visited her I asked her if I could have it yet and she always said " No, I need it for Temple! You No can have!" Then she would shake her head at me and Add.. " One day you have! Not today!" I quit asking about five years ago.. I still wanted it but I figured I would never
have it so I didn't want to be a pest.. She and I have played the can I have game for so many years now..

I first met her when I was newly married and sixteen.. she was well into her first marriage but new to American and twenty four.. she became my best friend.. My almost sister.. my protector!
I became her first American friend.. her "American Sister", her translator.. ( No I don't speak Thai!) Even though we spoke different languages.. we often finished each others sentences.. She would often say " what word I trying to say?" and somehow I would answer with the right word..

If she comes to my house and sees something she likes she usually leaves with it.. Sometimes I leave with what I want too; but with this item she always said 'NO!"... until today!

Early this morning she called because her lawn mower simply wouldn't crank.. she had pulled it enough times to sweat she explained " and still it never crank up!" She said she had cut with it yesterday and could a lawn mower break itself while it rested since yesterday? I will admit I smiled but I never laugh at her.. she is way to dear to me for that.. I knew she was leading up to her husband having died; ~ mine was now her nearest "sister's" Husband.. You see I have heard it so many times before.. Glancing at the clock to see if Dave could squeeze in a lawn mower repair project before his night shift I told her we would be over in about ten minutes... Then I went to break the news to him.. he gathered up a few tools and away we went.. (Yes! I know how lucky I am to have a wonderful; "Nearest sisters" .. husband!!) He never complains.. just gathers tools and away we go..

Dave was outside in the sweltering heat working on her cranky lawn mower and she was peeking out the window at him snickering as she informed me that he was "speaking to the lawn mower!" I watched her and wondered why she was reaching her hand up towards my much wanted basket.. I was simply dumbfounded when she handed it to me and said.. "today you carry with you..You my nearest sister!" She then told me about how she brought it with her from her country.. so many years ago and how she had had it so many years before that and " now she give to me.. You take care!".. She told a few funny tales of when she herself had used it in Thailand.. way back when she was a girl.... I didn't argue with her.. I just put it inside my big pocket book so that maybe if she didn't see it she wouldn't change her mind!!

What is this beautiful basket for? I am sure someone out there knows.. maybe you have one too.. It is not used for what I thought it was for.. But is is a very useful item.. Do you know what it's for? Please leave me a comment and share with me if you have one or if you have ever used one.. Maybe you just want to say hi and a comment can do that too....

I will treasure it forever.. I will most likely never use it for it's intended purpose.. Then again.. who knows maybe one day I might! You never can tell about us "nearest sisters"... we might do anything! Have a great day!
Patsy

Update!~ The basket is not a rice steamer.. In fact I myself thought it was a steamer for all these years as I have seen it and a larger one like it hanging in my friend's kitchen.. I finally asked yesterday what I was getting.. when she gave it to me.. This basket is a sticky rice serving basket... sticky rice being a certain kind of rice that is most often eaten by Thai people..Sticky rice is a staple in Northern Thailand and Northeastern Thailand where people eat it instead of long grain rice. Sticky rice is eaten with your hands. Many people roll it into little balls and dip into sauces.. The hand woven bottom basket holds the rice and the lid is another hand woven basket that fits over the bottom basket and is held together with red cord. The top basket is tucked under the bottom section to elegantly serve rice. Steamed rice will not stick to the rattan basket and the rattan actually adds a nice flavor to the rice. The rice steamer she uses looks like a spittoon with a straw hat on top of it.. As for the questions about why she would need it to take to Temple~ She has for years told me wonderful stories of going to temple every morning when she was a little girl.. How the people would bring food so the Monks could bless it and then also to feed the Monks who would pray all day.. Thoi was a bit of a rebel and would often get weary of waiting for the huge bells to ring for the people to eat.. After the Monks were fed the other food would be eaten by everyone else.. She talks about how poor people would gather there and that she knew that was sometimes their only meal of the day.. Apparently she had a soft spot for the children and would often times sneak into the Temple and with a nod from who I am assuming to be "the Head Monk in charge".. She would run and jump onto the rope and swing back and forth ringing the huge bells some times as much as an hour or more early.. she would then climb up in the bell tower to watch as the people hurried from great distances to the Temple.. wondering how they had been so off with the time.. She says the basket she gave to me was her own.. when she was a child.. she told me to~ "think of it as a box like today bad children take to school..." From her wonderful stories I believe that Thai Temple was and is not just a Church but a place where families and communities gather for many reasons.. She still carries food when she goes to Temple.. I do know they have many strict rules as to how you dress and behave while there.. Children can learn how to play musical instruments, dance and learn the Thai language; and history.. Families and friends can gather and eat and be with others who speak their own language..
I am glad everyone enjoyed My new what is it Item.. thanks to everyone who played along.. Have a wonderful day!
Patsy

A Time for Resolutions??

"In the end, the poem is not a thing we see; it is, rather, a light by which we may see--and what we see is life." -Robert Penn Warren

"There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad." -Salvador Dali, painter (1904-1989)

"Neither genius, fame, nor love show the greatness of the soul. Only kindness can do that. "-Jean Baptiste Henri Lacordaire, preacher, journalist and activist (1802-1861)

"To be nobody but myself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting." -E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

I never make New Years resolutions. I never lie to myself! I know that most people intend to keep their resolutions. A few people will actually accomplish the keeping of maybe one or two that they make. I only promise to continue to live the best I can and be me! My dear friend Thoi asked me yesterday if I was going to promise to be nice this next year. Wow! I thought I was already being nice. This is me. This is my nice.

With a pat on my hand she told me she would pray for me to promise to be nice next year. Then she prayed over me in Twai and I didn't understand a single word of it. But when she looked me in the eye and added "Now you WILL be nice!!" I agreed that I would! She kept on till I promised to be nice enough to plant more vegetables and less flowers and above all else to share and stick together with friends and family. Do I have to do all that to be nice? I love flowers. I see I'll be adding containers so that I can have both and still be nice. And the friends and Family part; Well I think they all know that I can be nice.. I can also be very UN- NICE if I have to.

Tonight I will gather with friends and I will hope for a Great New Year. I will laugh and make Merry even though I will not make resolutions. I will share in their hopes and dreams and will applaud their attempts at keeping the resolutions they will make. I will be me!

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Be safe; Drive carefully; if you are driving leave the drinking to others;
BE NICE!!

See you next year!
Patsy


Winter Rainbows

Blanket swaddled
Face pressed against
Icy glass.

Amazed!

Sunlight shooting
beautiful rainbows
from hanging Icicles.

Written By: Patricia Sawyer
12-15-2008




Life Breathes Wonder

Squatting lakeside
darting swimmers
at their feet.

Shouldered burdens
over shadow even
family time.

Prayers for Peace
carried in whispers
breath after breath.

Gods coloring book
pages of hope,
peace, beauty.

Just inhale
the wonder!

written By: Patricia Sawyer
12-15-2008

I Love Sesame Street!

"Me do anything for cookie!" ~ Cookie Monster

"This is Sesame Street. A place where people, birds, monsters all live in perfect harmony."
~ Phil Donahue

"It's not easy being green." ~Kermit the Frog

"Sesame Street has been brought to you today by the letters W, S and E, and by the numbers 2 and 3." ~Mr. Hooper


On this day, November tenth, in 1969, the very first episode of Sesame Street was aired on public television. I was almost ten years old, but I loved it. It came on at 5 o'clock in the afternoon back then. We watched it on channel 14, the public television station. I had never seen anything like this new show with people and giant fuzzy things called Muppets. I would learn a lot through the years from those crazy creatures. I had found myself a new favorite television show. Apparently a lot of other children loved it too. Sesame Street has become the longest running children's program on American television. The show is now produced in the United States by the non-profit organization Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), founded by Joan Ganz Cooney and Ralph Rogers.


Because of its positive influence, Sesame Street has become one of the most highly regarded educational shows for children in the world. No other children's show has matched its level of international success. The original series has been televised in more than 120 countries, and 25 independent versions have been produced. It is the most viewed children's program in the world. Sesame Street uses combinations of animation, puppets, and live actors to stimulate young children's minds, improve their letter and word recognition, basic math , shapes, simple problem solving, and socialization by showing children or people in their daily lives. Since the shows beginning, they have also added basic life skills, such as how to cross the street safely, proper hygiene, healthy eating habits, and social skills.


The show displays a subtle sense of humor that has appealed to older viewers since it first began ; this was devised as a means to encourage parents and older siblings to watch the series with younger children, and becoming involved in the learning process, rather than having Sesame Street act as a babysitter. A 1996 survey found that 95% of American preschoolers have watched the show by the time they are three years old. I loved the show myself and all of my children watched it. Anthony and I especially loved Oscar the grouch. Cooper always loved Cookie monster the "very best". Emily , David , and Jennifer all loved Kermit the frog. In honor of today being a birthday of sorts for one of our Favorite shows, I will share with you some fast facts about Sesame Street!


1.) ~Big Bird is 8'2" tall.

2.) ~Barkley was originally called Woof-Woof.

3.) ~The Count was born on 9 October 1,830,653 B.C.- ( I love the count too!)

4.) ~ Oscar the Grouch was inspired by two people. His attitude comes from a nasty waiter that served Jim Henson and former director Jon Stone at a restaurant called Oscar's Tavern in Manhattan. The voice was inspired by a cab-driver that used to drive 'Carroll Spinney' to the set every day during the first season.

5.) ~In 2004, Cookie Monster revealed that, before trying cookies for the first time, his name was Sid. ( Mason and I watched that show. Along with other children I was babysitting at the time. Who would have ever guessed his name was Sid?)

6.) ~Snuffy's baby sister is named Alice.

7.) ~ Elmo's goldfish is named Dorothy. ( Mason loves Elmo and he once named a goldfish here Dorothy after Elmo's fish.)

8.) ~Ernie originally had his own bedroom instead of sharing a bedroom with Bert. ( I remember that actually.. I wonder why they changed it?)

9.) ~ After the death of Jim Henson in 1990, the show stopped producing new sketches featuring Kermit the Frog. Kermit appeared only in reruns of old sketches until 1998, when he popped up to do a Sesame Street News Flash when Oscar the Grouch's pet worm Slimy went into space. He appeared again in 2001, reporting on a hurricane with Al Roker. Kermit is now voiced by Steve Whitmire, who has also assumed the role of Ernie since Henson's passing. ( didn't Y'all wonder what had happened to Kermit.. I did!)

10.) ~ To answer the immortal question, here is how to get to Sesame Street: Take the "R" or "V" train to Steinway Street. Stay on back of train. Walk west on 34th Avenue, three blocks to 36th Street. Turn left on 36th Street. The entrance to Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens is mid-block (between 34th & 35th Avenues). And there you shall find Sesame Street! ( or at least the sets where it is filmed!)


I hope you have enjoyed our visit to Sesame Street today. I watched it with my children and we would count and spell and learn together. We would sing and laugh together at the muppets and at each other. Mason still watches it when he is here and sits down long enough to watch Television. Sometimes I just turn it on and enjoy it all by myself. You can laugh at me if you want to. I won't care. I'll be too busy laughing at all the funny creatures That enjoy a good life together down On Sesame Street. If you have small children or any children, I invite you to watch TV with them. If you truly hate Sesame Street~ ( yes, I have met people who do!)~ then choose something else. But sit and relax and simply enjoy the show just for a little while. Give them just a small amount of your time. You might even enjoy it. I promise you that you will build memories and a special bond with your children by sharing fun time with them. Have a wonderful Day and as Cookie monster always says ~ Cowabunga!
Patsy

A Thursday Tale.

“God made man because he loves stories.”
~Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlev

“Stories tell us of what we already knew and forgot, and remind us of what we haven’t yet imagined.”
~Anne Watson



Rosco's Surprise

Once upon a time in a land we have long forgotten~

Rosco was chasing dragonflies in the meadow, near his home in the twisted old stump.
He went hopping along with his ears flopping and his pink nose twitching.
He was trying very hard to behave for a change. It seemed he was always
in some kind of trouble. Suddenly his nosed twitched up, then down. His long
ears sprang up, then flopped back down. He smelled carrot pie! Rosco loved carrot pie!


In the cottage across the meadow, Mrs. Rabbit was very excited. Tomorrow was the county fair
and she was entering the cooking contests. Her pies were sure to win a prize. All morning she had been busy grating carrots, measuring spices and rolling dough. Three pies for the fair. Three carrot pies cooling on the window sill.


Mrs. Rabbit was finally ready to wrap her pies for the fair, but just as she reached out for one, It MOVED! "Oh MY!" she exclaimed, clutching her apron and hopping back. Suddenly two long floppy ears peeked out and across the meadow ran Roscoe. He ran away with Mrs. Rabbit close behind. Getting a little ahead and Hopping into the twisted stump he was gone. "Oh me ! Oh My!" said Mrs. Rabbit to herself, " Now I will have to bake another pie for the fair. She walked slowly home trying to figure out a way to make Rosco behave, surely there must be a way.


As she walked along she was joined by some of her family and friends. She sadly told them about the missing pie. "I Like Rosco," she said' " but he must be taught not to take things that don't belong to him."
"Are you going to twist His fine floppy ears?" asked Father Rabbit.
"Or maybe," added Mr. Bird, "you could wrinkle up his fur!"
"And then," Laughed Mrs Mouse," you could crease his handsome whiskers. He would hate that!"
"Oh Me! Oh MY! exclaimed Mrs Rabbit, I couldn't do any of those things to Rosco, but I am going to teach him a lesson and I will need your help."


As the sun rose and the meadow awoke the next morning everyone was busy at the Rabbit cottage. Father and Bunny grated carrots. Mrs. Mouse and Mr. Bird measured spices and Mrs rabbit rolled dough. Soon they had baked another pie for the fair, and a surprise for Rosco.
They slipped across the meadow and left the surprise beside the twisted old stump and then away they all went, happily, to the fair.


At the fair they played a few games and rode the rides. Finally it was time for the judging of the pies. The judges tasted all different kinds of pies. They all agreed that the carrot pies were the very best. They gave Mrs. Rabbit a big Red ribbon and small trophy. It was time for the weary bunch to head for the meadow and home.


As they neared the Rabbit cottage they were surprised to see an untidy bundle on the front steps. Then it raised up. It was Rosco! His long floppy ears were twisted and he had smudges all around his tiny punk nose. Something orange was all over his little feet and his fur was wrinkled and stained. He even had creases in his handsome whiskers.

"My goodness." said Bunny. What in the world happened to you Roscoe?" He sadly explained that he had taken the pie from their kitchen window and that it had tasted so good that he had wished for one as big as him. "when I woke up this morning there it was. So I ate, and ate, and ate. I ate it all up!" He cried.
"Oh NO! " exclaimed Mr. Bird. "Dear me! " added Mrs Mouse. "Are you angry with me for taking your pie, Mrs Rabbit " asked Rosco.
"Oh no" said Mrs Rabbit, "and now to show everyone how happy I am, I'm inviting everyone inside for a nice warm slice of Carrot pie!"

"Oh NO! Oh NO! No carrot pie for me!" yelled Rosco as he bounded across the meadow to his twisted stump and hopped away inside. They were all sure that tomorrow the rumpled little rabbit would be into trouble again. And because they also knew that he would love carrot pie again in the morning, they made sure to save him one teeny, tiny slice!

~ The End~

Written By: Patricia Sawyer
July 1, 1986


Today being a Thursday I decided to share with everyone a tall tale. It is really a story for children and please read it to yours if you think they might enjoy it. I don't often write stories for children so this one is rare. My Grandson, Mason, loves this story because we have all the animals living here on our property. I have watched him chase a rabbit across the field and heard him call it Rosco. He knows how quickly they can hop into a tangle of brambles or a hollow stump and be gone. Maybe Thursdays will become tall tale days.. You can never tell with me.
Today if you have a chance share a story with a child or maybe just with the child with-in you.
Relax and let your self believe in the wonder of Tall tales. Let imagination soar through you.
Have a great day!
Patsy

Tag I'm It! A different kind of Chase!

“If you feel the urge, don't be afraid to go on a wild goose chase. What do you think wild geese are for anyway?” ~ Will Rogers~





Wow!! I didn't know that we could play Tag on our blogs. I used to love to play tag with My Family. We would make up all kinds of chasing and Tagging games. Running around ans squatting down yelling Pepsi Cola... Dr. Pepper!




Oh wait that would be a fact and I should be saving those for the game.. I guess y'all got that one free. ~ I have been Memed ~7 things!~ is the game of tag that I have been tagged for; by Theresa Komor over at her blog . http://bumpypath.blogspot.com/



I am supposed to now follow these rules and share with everyone some facts about myself. I can do this.. And here we go!


Here's the rules:

1. List these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.




Now for my Seven amazing or maybe just plain facts about me.

Fact #1~ My Middle Name is Roberta. Or Maybe it's not the middle name any more. But it's for sure in there some where. I scared a teacher last year by telling her my "whole" Name. Well that and she said she had never met a divorced person before. And No I won't tell you country we got her from.. She is a good teacher.. Just a little easily frightened by country Girls like me!

Fact #2~ I have a slew of siblings. 3 sisters~ Trudy; Mary; and Martha ~
and 4 Brothers~ David; Franklin; Jim; and Reuben~ I could tell you a secret fact about each of them too But I want to live a few more years... If you read my blog often you'll learn all their secrets eventually anyway!

Fact #3~ I can move very fast when Mad. (and Pregnant!) Just ask my nieces and nephews... .. they will also tell you that I do believe in a spanking sometimes... (a Lot!) .. rarely then?!.... . On the other hand they all Love me even if I was known in the Trailer park as "Miss Meany!" And you would be mean too if you lived in that Trailer park. Mean was the way to survive!

Fact #4~ I once watched my Cousin get his Butt whipped with a smile as he was blamed for setting free the Opossum Daddy had caged in a plan to cook for Thanksgiving... I was NOT eating My friend Butch... and The Cousin needed a whipping anyway because he was mean to his mama. I did confess to My Daddy right before he died and he and I shared a laugh over it.. Turns out he knew all along I turned the Possum loose. He said he would Never have cooked it anyway. I guess I should be ashamed that I smiled while my cousin got my whipping.. But ~ well~ I am still NOT ashamed..

Fact #5~ When I was in High School I used to do homework for others and sell it to them.. I'd meet them in the library and sell them homework. Can I help it I was smart? And they were lazy? OK.. I am a little sorry for doing that But hey they all turned out OK anyway.. They all have good jobs... I reckon they do at least. Or they married well one or the other.. Isn't it a fact that all is well that ends well? At the very least that's MY story and I'm sticking to it.

Fact #6~ Me and My cousin used to go everywhere our parents told us not to. They said stay away from the railroad tracks because hobo's would get us. We set up a camp sight and left notes for the hobo's just in case. We were hurrying home through the woods to her house once when she fell off the bike's handle bars and rolled onto the tracks as a train was coming from a ways off.. . I cried all the way to her house and all the time I was climbing the tree and all the while I was telling her Daddy that she was in the bathroom. I didn't quit till she finally made it home; Limping; all bruised and Briar- scratched an hour later. Sorry Sheron! I should have waited to see if the train Hit you. You were and still are my best Cuz!

Fact #7~ I can be a real ass when I am crossed. I can throw a red brick through your windshield and not bat an eye. I will lay on the ground and wait for you to bring your stupid self into my yard and then I will Jump Up and run at you with My brick drawn back and BAM! Right in the front seat with you. I will have a stack there if I need them. But I won't miss. I won't care if you cry. In fact if you cry I'll throw another at you because you are not only stupid but also a sissy.. I have no sense when you mess with my family or my kids. So Don't make me act stupid please.. I'm getting too old to learn new things and Jail is a place I haven't learned yet! .. But I will if I have too.

~~ I have shared facts with you today that I hope will bring a smile to your face. I love to help make folks smile. Everything I have said here is true.. even the one about the brick Yes I have done that too. I am of course a lot older and More settled now than I was then..( OK I'm still a crazy thing and I am even making me sick by telling y'all that I'm calm.. ) OK Now on to the last part of the rules!~

~ The list of those who I am tagging. I have enjoyed all of these blogs and really hope they join in for the tagging fun. Also I ask everyone who reads my blog to go to theirs and check them out. See if you agree that they are great bloggers!





1:) Lora Mortier at ~http://lora.mortier.org/



2:) Jamie at ~ http://suburbqueen.blogspot.com/



3:) a really funny Chick at ~ http://confessionsofarandomchick.blogspot.com/
(Maybe one of her facts will be a clue as to her name huh? or NOT!)



4:) Christine at ~ http://www.watchmenowatchme.com/



5:) Bless at~ http://blessconfessionsofanarmywife.blogspot.com/



6:) Amy at ~ http://www.youareaflyonmywall.blogspot.com/



7:) Catherine Hughes at~ http://aweekinthelifeofaredhead.com/


I chose folks who I enjoy reading their blogs daily. I get something different from each of them. But I get a smile from all Of them! I Hope they will each Play along with this game.. Have a great day today! Share a laugh with someone special..
Patsy

Award For me? Cool!

I was very excited to be given this award by My new friend Polly From Random Ramblings Blog ( http://entrecard.com/t/oc/8776 ). I am quiet Happy to find that Polly enjoys my blog as I do hers. I visit her blog Daily to see what new photo she has posted or what new tidbit of wonder she might be talking about. She and I share a common love of Plants and animals!

This award was created and to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a "special honor". Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to 5 others."What a wonderful way to show some love and appreciation to your fellow bloggers!!!

The rules for passing this honor on are..
1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to. (This is the hard part--there are just so many good ones around it is very difficult to choose just five.)

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award. http://arteypico.blogspot.com/.

Here are my five recipients:

1) Liza at Moms check NYO (http://mlizcochico.blogspot.com/) I love this sight. A work at home Mom Liza has interesting tidbits daily. She also shares my love of Coffee

2) Theresa At A Bumpy Path (http://bumpypath.blogspot.com/) I really enjoy this sight. A blog about the journey's we travel in life and how we rarely have a smooth path. But we can use those bumps to catapult us into the air and Fly!

3) Tina at The Zoo Crew (http://ruralurbandweller.blogspot.com/ ) A wonderful sight. Tina shares her thoughts on Grand-parenting, Writing, Living simply; Gardening and cooking fresh foods from her garden.

4) Nodin's Nest (http://nodinsnest.blogspot.com/ ) I love this blog as well.. I haven't laughed so hard since I myself cut my own son's hair. Check this one out for every day smiles and the treasure of being a Mom!

5) Brady at Hunting the Muse (http://www.huntingthemuse.com/ ) I greatly enjoy every post of his that I have read. He seems to have a great way with words. I wish him a great future as a free-lance writer. I KNOW he will make it!

Blessings Rambling Through My Mind Today.!

" Our Greatest Glory in not in never failing but in rising up every time we fail." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson~



" Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself the most comforting words of all " This too shall Pass." ~ Ann Landers~





Troubles of one kind of the other come to every single one of us at some point in our lives. For some of us it seems to be a constant companion but it visits us one and all. It likes to surprise us. We worry over our children fearing they will find trouble. But Trouble will always find them. For some of us we also have the extra trouble of worrying over our parents. Maybe they are old or just forgetful. Maybe either the children or the elder is Ill? Illness in the lives of either can devastate us.



Illness in our lives can bring financial difficulties. Sickness can strike quickly and wipe out any savings quick as a wink. For those without savings even minor illness can spell disaster. I have heard many people say that they can't afford to be sick. I have tried and I really can't think of any one, That I know, who can afford to be sick. But Sickness passes. Most people do recover. The debt is repaid even if it is done slowly.



Most of us feel afraid sometimes. We fear many things. We fear what we don't understand. We fear the future because we don't know what it will bring to us. Will it bring Blessings? Will it bring Troubles? We are scared to imagine what it might deliver to us. We can also fear the things we have already lived through. If you have survived a violent storm you may become afraid of even the mildest thunderstorm. I actually like storms myself, but I understand why some people don't. I'm sure if I ever survived a really violent storm I would feel differently about them too. Some people fear flying, some fear heights. Some fear bugs or spiders or snakes. I knew a lady who was in a car accident and who feared driving or even riding in a car for a very long time afterwards. People can fear absolutely anything. I personally am not afraid of many things. I hate crowds of strangers and mice. I am afraid of both. I don't know why. I Just know that I loath both of them. It is troublesome to fear crowds. That means I hate malls and Christmas shopping. I do those things but they are hard for me.



When we are young we often fear failure. AS we get older and look back we sometimes don't like the way things have turned out. Many things we planned while young , simply didn't come to be. Other things are different than we had hoped for. My Daddy used to say. " God works all things together for Good." What we thought was a failure maybe was part of a bigger and better plan. Daddy also said " Nothing beats a try, But a Failure, and nothing beats a failure, but a try, try again." I have tried and I have failed But I accept that. I have learned from my mistakes. I think That's what my Daddy meant. I have beat a failure By a try try again. I don't fear failure. I do fear not trying.



When my children were small we were often separated for periods of time. A hospital stay with one meant being away from the other two. I hated it then. I am not fond of separation even now. I hated the fact that Anthony lived on the other side of the Country till I went there for a visit. He misses us who still live here in this tiny town where he began life. He however loves it there. "THERE" has become his home. I realized that long before I visited there. I knew his heart was there long before I accepted it. When I visited him in his new home I accepted that he would Most likely always live there. Cooper joined him there this year. Cooper is still dealing with the separation issues in his own way. New Mexico may not capture Coopers heart like it has his brother's But I am almost sure that if it isn't there, It will most likely be some other place besides here. They aren't like me. They enjoy the crowds of the city. I don't. It is only miles that separate us. We talk to each other almost daily. Memories keep us close. Love binds out hearts together even though we are far apart.



I love my children. I loved them when they cried and I loved them when they Talked back to me. I loved them when they did what I hoped they would and I loved them still when they did what I prayed they wouldn't. I let them know when they did wrong. I even let them know loudly some times. But they always knew, even when they were in the wrong that I loved them. They didn't get into trouble often. I count that as a blessing! None have ever been in jail. I count that as a Blessing. I am also blessed that they are all grown now.



I am at a point in my life where I can look back and see some things that I thought of as horrors at the time in a different light. So many trials and troubles have become over time another blessing. Socrates said "Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us!"

Sometimes troubles weigh heavy upon our hearts. Sometimes they cast a shadow that hides our many blessings. It is up to each of us to remember that our blessings are there. I was going to try to day to count my blessings but I ran into a Small problem. I can't count that high. Don't fear failure unless it's the failure to try. Remember you can only be separated from those you love by miles. Love is a binding bond. When you have troubles, meet them head on.
For troubles are quiet often the escort of another blessing. To the world I am sure that I do not appear to be a wealthy woman. My life is rich with blessings and joy. Have the courage to count your blessings. Troubles visit us all. Sometimes they seem to move in to stay. It is natural to feel scared. The most frequently repeated command in the Bible is ~ Be NOT Afraid~ and remember that no matter what the problem is, "This Too Will Pass!" Have a great day!
Patsy

The Worse Date of my life!

"A man on a date wonders if he'll get lucky. The woman already knows."
~ Monica Piper~



"I've been on so many blind dates, I should get a free dog." ~ Wendy Leibman~



The shrilling ring of the phone began as soon as the bedroom door closed behind me. I glanced back at the door thinking that if that phone woke up my babies someone was going to die tonight. Emily was back in her bubble like tent after another bout with Asthma and Cooper had not wanted to sleep without her. He had demanded I sing Cum Ba Ya for at least five hundred verses. He loved that song. He loved the someones working and someones crying verses but he loved the someone is singing verse most of all. He would sing with his small voice for hours when he didn't want to go to sleep. " Some one is singing Lord Cum Ba Ya!" Over and over we had sung till finally he had give up and went to sleep. Now it was after ten o'clock and I was plum wore out. Anthony was gone for the summer to work in watermelons at my sisters so I was handling the little ones all alone. We had been today for a cancer treatment for Emily. Cooper was cranky. We Both were cranky. I snatched the phone off the hook ending the ring and as quietly as I could I said Hello.


"Hey Girl, What ya doing?" It was Tracy, a girl I knew from a store close to where I lived before I moved here. Before the divorce. Before the world started making me mad. She was just a person I knew Not someone I would have expected to call me. "I got your number from your Brother-in-law" she said, "he was just in here a while ago. I tried to call you but you didn't answer." I began to explain that It had been a rough day and I had been getting the kids down.

"Oh I don't care about all that." she said, "I have a guy for you to meet. You need to go right now to Harry's and he is...."
"Hold On" I said. " who is this Guy?" She had the whole thing planned out for me.. He was someone I didn't know But he was right now waiting for me to show up at a local bar. I would know him she said by who he was with. He was with her own Husband right now.. I had to go there right now..He wanted to meet me right now..


There were so many things I felt like I needed to know before I loaded up to go meet a stranger in a bar. Not to mention that now was really not a good time.I was tired. I had just got the babies to sleep and what was I supposed to do with them while I traipsed around to a bar this late at night? She had all that worked out too. I was to load them up and take them to my sisters house. she had already asked Trudy and Trudy had told her she would watch them. I asked how old he was and she swore he was our age. There were really a lot of things that didn't suit me about this date but they talked me into it. They brushed aside all my complaints.Trudy was waiting on the sleeping kids and Tracy was going to come to the Bar just as soon as she could get there.. Hurry they said he is waiting and he's nice and on and on. Giving the bedroom door one more glance and saying a silent prayer that I would not regret this I hurried to the shower. It was by Now eleven pm and I still had to drive the babies to my sisters house, But I wasn't going to meet a man in the clothes I had worn all day.. I still had some pride after all.


I walked into the bar at eleven thirty seven.And looked around for John. He was Tracy's husband and Was supposed to be with the man of my dreams. Well at least Tracy's dreams for me. I spotted John near the back of the bar in a booth and headed that way. I had never been in that bar before and was surprised to see a lot of people I knew. A lot of People I saw had went to High school with me. I was stopped a few times before I reached the table. I had dressed in a pair of jeans and a tank top with a white long sleeved shirt open over that. I wasn't vain but I knew I looked pretty good for a woman thirty two years old. I looked pretty good for a Mom of three. I hadn't started dating yet. This would have been my first date. I didn't like the way it had happened but I was still hopeful. I walked up to the table where the two men sat with a little hope in my heart. My instinct had warned me.. But I was here now. I was ready for this date.


John was sitting across from a very nice looking young man. He didn't look my age. He looked much younger than me. John was my age. But John was also much older than Tracy. Maybe she had meant he was her age. They both had their legs stretched out across the bench on the side they were sitting on I stood at the end of the booth and waited for them to offer me a seat. I said Hi and reached to shake his hand saying " You Must be Mike?" He nodded then waved for the waitress to come over. " Yea " he said " I'm Mike" He and John both ordered beer. I wanted a coke but no one offered me a drink. They still hadn't offered me a seat. I was beginning to get a head ache from the loud music and all the smoke. I was also getting angry that not only was he way younger than me But he was rude as well. I wondered what Tracy had been thinking. Where was she any way? I knew the store was already closed. I was about to just walk out when a guy who went to school with me, came over and asked me to dance. His wife was already on the floor and the song was rather slow. I figured I might as well get something for my trouble so I walked away and left the two of them still laughing and talking together. They didn't even appear to miss me when I looked back from the dance floor. I knew this was a bad idea. I told my dance partner. He laughed and asked me where my ex was. He was shocked that I was divorced. I was shocked when he pulled me closer to his body after learning I was single after an eighteen year marriage.


Finally the dance was over and I had just walked away from the second man in one night. I felt as if this must be some crazy nightmare. I even for a second thought maybe I was asleep on the bed beside Cooper having sung myself to sleep right along with him and Em.I pinched myself to make sure. I really was in a bar in the middle of the night and My kids really were with Trudy. I felt stupid. I went to the bar and asked if they had coffee. The female bartender laughed at me and said I could get a cup at the store next door. I thanked her and was about to leave when John waved me over again and shouted my name. I went over again and this time I asked if I could sit down. Mike moved his legs and allowed me to sit by him. He was extremely tall and had the greenest eyes I believe I had even seen. He truly was very nice looking. But I was mad now. I had no intention of being nice at this point. He was way to young. He hadn't bought me a coke. I was way to tired for this whole thing.


"Look, I have to go." I said as I reached for a napkin. I asked John to borrow the pen I could see in his shirt pocket and wrote my number on the napkin. " "Mike, I'm not sure we should date, But call me tomorrow if you still want to go out and we will set something up between us." I said handing John his pen and Mike the folded napkin. I was going home. My head was pounding and my heart was not. I had made a mistake. " Hey Patsy" he said as I started to walk away, " how old is your baby?" I stopped and looked at him wondering if he had really said Baby. Not children or even Kids. He said Baby as if I only had one lone child. I was going to kill Tracy if I even saw her again. I explained that I had three children. He nodded when I said Emily was two years old. He even nodded when I said Cooper was four years old. I have to give the young man credit that he didn't faint when I said that Anthony was fourteen years old. But what he said scared me to death. He said. " Wow, he's only six years younger than me. I bet me and him will be friends." I tried to smile but couldn't I was suddenly feeling sick. I ran from the bar and all the way to my car. I got in and locked the door then sat there and cried. I wasn't supposed to be at a bar meeting a man who was twelve years younger than me. I wasn't supposed to be out in the middle of the night with my kids at my sisters house. I wasn't supposed to be a single mom at all. Then I heard the knocking on my window.


I didn't know the man outside the glass. He was standing there holding a steaming cup of coffee and smiling at me as if we were old friends. I rolled the window down and he handed me the coffee.. "Here" he said, "I see you are new at this dating thing." I nodded as I tried to wipe the tears away. He assured me it got better and that I would find a lot had changed since I had been out there in the world. He reminded me to be careful. Then he laughed and said I shouldn't accept drinks, even coffee from strangers. I felt better as I drove to My sister's house and got my kids.


Emily never knew she had been on a midnight ride that turned into the worse date of my life. Cooper woke up as I carried him back to his bed and demanded that I sing again. I was glad to sing him a few verses as he fought to stay awake for only a few minutes before he gave a great sigh and curled into a sleeping ball. I closed their door for the second time and headed off to bed myself. I was glad I had gone even though it hadn't been a good idea. I had learned something tonight. I had learned that people mean well but that I might better hunt my own dates from now on. I also learned that I would be treated different since I was a divorced woman. I also decided that I was worthy of the best life had to offer and that I wouldn't settle for less than the best.


I never saw the coffee bearing stranger again. I asked about him in the bar but no one could remember having ever seen him. I did see Mike one more time when he came by my house one night UN-invited and drunk, hoping for, as he called it, a little older woman fun. I explained to him that he was way too young for me and that he needed a girl his age. I forgave him for being not what I was looking for. He was just a kid compared to me. I hope life is treating him good now. Tracy and John divorced a few years after that. I think life is treating her good. He's still being himself. Still hanging in the same bar. I never did date anyone from the bar. I only dated two men after the divorce. The second one was my prince charming. He and I have been married what seems like a life time. I didn't settle. I got the best.


Never trust someone Else's word when it comes to a date with a stranger. If something feels wrong it most likely is. And remember that Our age only works if you and she are really the same age! Laugh at me.. I know you are. I am too. I wouldn't change my life but God knows I wouldn't live it over.. especially that date! The worse date of my life! Have a great day!
Patsy

Magic

No performer should attempt to bite off red-hot iron unless he has a good set of teeth. ~Harry Houdini
The real secret of magic lies in the performance. ~David Copperfield

Today being the birthday of Harry Houdini made me think of Magic and Magicians. I don't really know much about magic myself. The most magical thing I ever did was to cause a boiled egg to fall into a milk Bottle for my sixth grade science project. One of my older Brothers, Jimmy I think, showed me how to do it. I of course thought it was great. Unfortunately the Judges didn't agree. I had planned on hanging the Blue ribbon on my wall but am sad to say I didn't even get an Honorable mention. I do have one sister who can make half of her pinkie finger magically disappear and even though I know how she does it, I must admit that it looks very freaky to me.. I try to turn away every time she does it. I also have a brother who is always pulling quarters from all the little children's ears.. There have been times since I was grown that I wanted to call him and see if he could pull some from my ears as well. I used to think think that he must have huge pockets. Then one day I saw him getting change secretly handed from another brother as the group of kids kept getting larger.

Many years ago I lived near a Magician in a small town. He was very old and wrinkled. His few white hairs covering none of the thick blue veins running across his pale scalp. He had the loudest Birds I had ever heard all penned together in his back yard. I was terribly afraid of him and of his birds. I had to pass his house while walking my son to school and He would always call after us.. "Come here! Come and talk to me! My House is too quiet!"
We would walk along quietly until we were almost to his house.. We would speed up as soon as we were near and be almost running when we got there.. Many times we trotted By his porch trying to outrun his calls. The more he called the louder the birds called. The louder they called the faster Anthony and I ran.

He had never done anything to scare us really. And even though his looks were frightening He was no more scary than the Crypt keeper on TV and we Loved the ugly little Crypt Keeper.. But Granny who lived between us and him had told us many times that he had sold his soul to the devil for the ability to do magic. She said he could never die. She told us that he was hundreds of years old And Granny, who wasn't really my Granny at all, had us convinced that it was so. She loved to tell us all about how he had traveled the world with witches and spells and those awful birds as his only companions. I was an adult and I did know that she was just telling tales. But still I feared that old man and his birds. He had peacocks and roosters. There were pigeons and doves. He had Flamingos And several Black Birds. Big ugly Black birds that some mornings would be sitting on the porch rail as we came up the sidewalk nearly in a run.

Finally there came a morning that I had walked Anthony to school and was headed home. Just as I got right in front of his house he stepped right out in front of me stopping me dead in my tracks. I could feel my heart beating like crazy, the blood pounding in my ears as he shouted at me.. "Can I borrow a cup of sugar?" I was so sure he had planned to kill me and feed me to his birds. I asked him twice "What did you say?" He smiled a crooked smile and said.. "Sugar.. do you have sugar?" He spoke loudly but slowly as if I was dim witted. I managed to pull myself together enough to answer. "yes, Sir I have sugar at home." Praying he wasn't going to follow me there. I hurriedly offered to run and fetch him a cup. I ran home and got two cups of sugar just to be sure he was satisfied.. I didn't want to offend a soulless man. He thanked me very loudly and I began to realize that he thought I was deaf or at least very hard of hearing.. He told me that he was baking cookies and begged that Anthony and I stop back by after school and share some with him.

We talked about it that afternoon as we walked along together towards his house and our home.. We decided that he most likely wasn't going to eat us. And Home baked cookies were a good reason to stop for just a few minutes and see if he was really as scary as we thought. After all we reasoned he was hundreds of years old so we should be able to outrun him. When we got to his house he had a table set up on the front porch. He had cups of coffee for himself and me. He had a glass of Milk for Anthony but offered to change that if Anthony wanted something else. I hoped secretly that Anthony would ask for juice. I so wanted to see if he would cast a spell on the milk But Anthony just nodded that Milk was OK with his mouth stuffed with still warm Cookies. That afternoon he showed us a few of his birds and told us their names. He never told us his name.. He said everyone called him the Bird Man or they called him Wizard. So that day over cookies we began a friendship with Mr. Wizard.

Mr. Wizard died many years ago. He took sick not too many months after we all ate cookies on his porch; surrounded by the birds who were until us his only companions. He left his house to the town to be used in some way to help troubled children. I moved away before they ever did anything with his house. They sold most of his birds. The peacocks went to a zoo. The flamingos that screamed so loudly went to an exotic animal farm. The doves and the big black crows they simply turned loose to go back to the wild. Last week I rode by his house.. I almost didn't recognize it with the bird pens all gone and the wheelchair ramp. I looked twice at the porch thinking to myself how he would be pleased to see them there. All the girls. One with hair the color of peacocks blue feathers and another with Pink flamingo curls. Sitting on the porch rail was another with raven hair standing on end. Stuffing Her mouth with what appeared to be cookies. A tall glass of milk resting near her hand.. I heard them laugh together as we waited for the traffic light to change. Just as we drove pass I turned and watched as a dove came from the roof and sat down on the end of the porch where some one had hung a feeder. And I thought of My magical friend who I was told could never die. And I realized that the magic we create everyday will live on long after we are gone. Because the magic of life lies within the love we share. Share a little kindness and love every chance you get.
Created a little magic in some ones life when you can.
Have a magical wonderful day!
Patsy