Well~ Surprise ME!

"A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise. Because that is how life is - full of surprises." ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer


"A sudden bold and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open."
~ Francis Bacon


"A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve, which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless. " ~ Charles de Gaulle




Today I was pleasantly surprised to be given the Loyalty award By the great folks over at West Virginia Backroads..

Loyalty is something that is rare these days.. I have a few loyal friends.. I am loyal to more people than I feel are loyal to me.. I am not complaining; I just face the facts about how life really is.. People are too busy and too caught up in their own dramatic lives to really give more than a passing thought of the lives of other people.. They don't mean to discard our lives and problems.. it's just that they have so many of their own.. If you have a loyal friend you should count yourself very lucky...

“An ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.”~ Elbert Hubbard

“When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I'll like it or not. Disagreement, at this stage, stimulates me. But once a decision has been made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.”~ Colin Powell

“Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life” ~ Napoleon Hill

Looking for Loyalty quotes I found a great many of them.. It seems that almost everyone worth quoting has at least one loyalty quote.. From Anne Landers to Winston Churchill to Stephen King.. each has said something quotable about loyalty..

The dictionary describes Loyalty as follows~

1.	the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.

2.	faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc.

3.	an example or instance of faithfulness, adherence, or the like: .

Following these guidelines I do know a few people who I would consider loyal.. I know or know the families of a few soldiers fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan right now.. to me that is one of the ultimate forms or loyalty to this country.. Actually I think any military personnel has to have that same loyalty as they could be called on to die for the rest of us at any time.. I know people who are loyal to their jobs and to their clubs or organizations.. I do my best to be loyal to my family and friends.. and to my Poetry group.. I thank everyone who is loyal to reading this blog and sharing my wild ideas and laughter! With that said I now pass tthis award to the following people~

1~) The wonderful folks over at Split rock- I love their Llamas
http://splitrockranchllamas.blogspot.com/

2~) To the great folks over at the Curly Cats - I love the cat tales! http://daisythecurlycat.blogspot.com/

3~) To A Lil enchanted- I love your outlook on life and things that go bump in the night! http://alilenchanted.blogspot.com/

4~) To Pj's Prose- I think we must be twins.. I thank you for you loyalty! http://pjtangel.blogspot.com/

5~)I Love the recipes anf great food at Cinnamon and Spice! http://cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.blogspot.com/

I could think of another hundred blogs who each and all deserve this award.. I know I'm only allowed five but at least I know that each of these will choose five more and so on and so on.. eventually all of my choices will have been covered! Please visit these sights.. I am sure you will become loyal fans of them just as I have! Have a wonderful day!
Patsy

I always loved Sunday Mornings!

"Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door. " ~Saul Bellow


"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~From the television show The Wonder Years

"Patsy, I had to think over night about my words for you...try these and see what comes to mind. Good Luck and I can't wait to read it!"~ Sunshine ( blue, chickens, soft, walk, surprise, coffee, smile, garlic, truck, always)

Last week I talked about words and how some words bring a picture to your mind. I did receive several lists of words from People who read my blog that day. One lists was special to me as it reminded me of a time way back yonder when I was just a teenager. Today's first poem is a story of those long ago Sunday mornings. Thanks Sunshine for your gift of words. These words actually inspired more than one poem. The first one is from a special memory. The second one.. well I know one night that I hunted green horses so I'm figuring if tequila made me look for green horses, It could make some poor soul look for blue chickens. Have a great Sunday!
Patsy





Sunday Morning Tips



Sunrise found me at the chicken pen
stealing fresh eggs from the hens
Scratching in the early morning
sunshine for their own breakfast
of fresh earth worms.
Slipping quietly back into the kitchen.
I could still smell the Garlic bread
from last nights spaghetti supper.
Stumbling over his left out toy truck,
I leaned close to his blond head
resting on his pillow and whispered
to my brother that we should surprise
our parents.
With a soft chuckle and a smile
he hopped from his bed.
"You wake up curly," I said
nodding towards the baby girl
And I'll start the coffee.
I had everything ready by the time
they appeared, their blue eyes shining.
Happy that I asked them for their help.
"Walk slow now", I warned
as they carried the trays.
He hurried to knock
upon the closed bedroom door.
Tiny fist barely making any noise.
His plate of toast held above his head.
She right behind him, grinning
with a tray of butter and jelly.
I always came last
with plates of grits and eggs,
And bacon or sausage if we had any.
"OH my goodness!" Daddy said.
Opening the door in his robe.
"Look Mama!" he said
as if truly surprised.
"Good Job" I told my helpers
as they ate in the kitchen.
"Good job" I told them again
as they carried emptied dishes.
"Excellent Job" I told myself
smiling a sneaky smile
on those Sunday mornings that
I slipped all three of the dollar tips
into my front pocket!


Written By: Patricia Sawyer
10-26-2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blue Chickens


" Just try to Walk quietly.
You have to be real sneaky
to surprise blue Chickens.
Leave the old truck
Parked at the bar and always
carry a little garlic for bait.
Blue Chickens don't eat Just anything.
They aren't easy to catch"
you told me with a sleepy smile.
Almost as hard to catch
as pink elephants I thought
to myself as I covered you
with a soft blanket.
Your tequila snores
echoing through out the room.
Blue Chickens indeed
I muttered, reaching for my coffee..
Maybe I can figure out a way
to write your Blue Chickens into a poem!

written By:
Patricia Sawyer
10-26-2008


As I was looking this over I realized that My siblings were going to swear I stole their tip Money when they were small.....I did.... I confess.... I took the dollar bills and divided whatever change there was between the two of you.. I think Daddy knew it. That's why he always put three dollars and four quarters. No easy way to divide that. Except for three dollars for me and two quarters each for y'all.. Now you are both welcome for being allowed to help me and Y'all did good! I love Y'all!
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

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

Happy Easter as time Marches on!

Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection. ~Watchman Nee

Today was Easter. I have always loved Easter. When I was a child I loved the candy and the pretty new dresses and the New shoes. We knew the meaning of Easter. But we were Kids. We loved the other things that were part of the celebrations.We would hide Dozens and Dozens of eggs when we were children and then count the found ones over and over till we found them all. Daddy and Mama would take turns hiding them and then Us kids would run like wild thing to try and find them all. Daddy would give a dollar to who ever found the prize egg and we all wanted that dollar. I was one of the smaller ones of eight kids so I didn't Manage to get the dollar very Often. Both of our Grandma's would come home with us after Church on Easter. It was an all afternoon event. We would have so much fun together. But time marches on.

When We were grown and all of us had children of our own we would gather at Mama and Daddy's House and they would have Plastic eggs all filled with candy and always a Easter gift for every Grandchild. My Brothers would hide the eggs and our own children would run wild everywhere till all the eggs were found. My brother Frank was always the best hider. He would always pick out a very small child and walk around with them sometimes giving a nudge or a whisper when they were close to an egg. I once told Frank that he was cheating. He laughed and said He wasn't cheating he was assisting. Frank has one Grandchild now. Everyone knows when they see them that she is the apple of his eye. I hope they hid eggs together today. I hope they made memories. We each have to build our own History. Because Time moves on for all of us.

I was a single Mom of three for a few years. Those years were tough. I would hide eggs and they would find them. My two little monsters running around like crazy while the big monster laughed at them because he already had all the eggs spotted. Anthony would always give a third to each of the other two so that they all had the same amount. He was always a good sport. He didn't care about the eggs. I always gave him the dollar for the prize egg. He was older I figured he needed it. Then I remarried and Had a new Husband and two more children and Easter began to be another holiday that had to split between houses. And
I worried about what history that was bringing to my five children. We always tried to have something special with all of them on holidays and time marched on for us too.

All of my Children are grown now.. All five live somewhere else.I had one Grandson here this week-end with Me. Mason. Dave hid the eggs for Mason. Mason said Grand-daddy hid them too easy so he was going to hide them for us. We did our best not to just bend over and pick them up since they were in plain sight. Pretending we didn't see them. He was very excited that he was a better hider than Grand- daddy. Then came my turn to hide them. I walked around carefully looking for the kind of places we would find them when we were small. The kind of places My Daddy or my Brother Frank Might hide them. I laughed as they ran around looking in all the places they had already hidden them. They managed to stumble over all but four of them. I kept telling them. " I can see them from here." Finally Mason came and stood by me and looked around high and low and spotted one sitting carefully way up on a tree limb. He then spotted the two in the goldfish's waterfall. I laughed as they walked and re-walked all over this yard searching for the one egg. Finally after they had both gave up and were about to go inside I walked over to a tree stump sitting in the middle of a flower bed and next to the stump sitting in a yellow daffodil was the final bright yellow egg. I picked it up and tossed it to Mason. He said I was the very best egg hider this year. And I was happy because even though we don't always see it Mason and the other children are growing up And time still marches on.

Times Change. Families change. Lives Change. Holiday traditions change. My Easter's now are usually spent Just me and Dave here at home. This year for a change we had Mason here. We had fun with him like we haven't had in a while. Our own children Out grew Holidays Early. When children have to split Holidays in two houses that happens. It's no one's Fault It just happens. But We always made holidays special in our house. We dyed eggs even if it would be too late Easter to hide them when they all came home. We could hide them Monday. Fun is important to children. I do remember some times that I was in trouble as a child but Most of all I remember the fun times. So try as often as you can to have fun with a child. Who knows you might even enjoy yourself.. And better yet the child might with a grin and a hug declare you to be the best hider of the day! And Even time can't march faster than good memories. Time can't erase the loving history you build with a child!
Happy Easter!!
Patsy

New Shoes

"If the shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?"- Gloria Steinem

Yesterday I talked about Friday before Easter when I was a child.. Good Friday.. This morning I will talk about Saturday before Easter in our Childhood home. Especially our Easter shoes.
Saturday before Easter Sunday was always a busy day. There were heads to be washed and Half of those had to have bobby pin curls. The new clothes that Mama and Daddy had been paying on for a few weeks would have been already picked up from lay- away and They would be hanging on doorways awaiting Mama's final inspection. We would not have a wrinkle or smudge between us Come Easter Morning when we filled an entire pew at Our country Church.
We always ; with out fail ; got new shoes twice every year in our family. We got Loafers every year when school started. We got those in groups of two each Friday for several weeks before School started for the fall. We didn't get other shoes very often. Maybe a pair of flip flops for the beach or Camping. We did get sneakers once we were old enough to have Physical education in school. That was around the sixth grade for me. But Every year on the Saturday before Easter we would all get new shoes. Dress shoes that would be worn for Church and to school for special days like chorus concerts or maybe an induction into a club or something. You didn't wear dress shoes every day.. you would mess them up. Scuff them or scratch them. Patent Leather was easy to ruin. And if you scratched them you would have to rub them with Cold Biscuits. Naturally you didn't dare ruin your Dress shoes.
One Main street there was a shoe store. Not like today's shoe stores really Because back then there was a person there to fit your feet and try shoes on you till he was satisfied that they fit. Then you would be sent to walk up and down the aisle so that Him and Daddy could make sure they weren't rubbing and would never cause a blister. Then it was back to the stool so Mr. Haines could mash on the toe to show how much growing room you had. Growing room was important because you had to wear those shoes for a whole year. They had to fit for that whole year. you just had to have growing room at the toe. One Easter Saturday in Particular I remember that we had all went to town. We were all lined up trying to pick out shoes for Mr. Haines to fit for us. Mary always had a very Narrow foot and so she was hard to fit. I on the other hand Had a perfectly normal foot and was always easy to fit. I had picked out a shoe that even I knew would never fit.. I was hoping though. Hoping that Mr. Haines Could do magic and make it fit me. I didn't like the shoe any more than I did any of the others but This pair had a doll to come with them and I sure wanted her. She was a doll from some country far away and I loved all dolls.
When It was my turn I stepped up to the stool and sat down calmly straightening my skirt and smiling my best smile at Mr. Haines as I lifted my foot to the fitting step in front of me. Then I handed him the tiny shoe I had chosen. He smiled and shook his head no as he got up and went to the shelf behind him. He came back with a pair that naturally were a perfect fit. He was very good at his Job. I was about to raise a fuss but just then I caught Daddy's eye and knew a fuss wasn't a very good idea right then. I took my unwanted shoes and moved to stand over by the door waiting as the others were fitted. I watched people through the glass as they walked up and down the short Main street. I was almost over the whole doll issue till I saw Mary coming with her shoes. She had the shoes I wanted. She, who I was certain, was way too old for dolls, had my shoes and my doll. I was furious. I was mad with Mr Haines because he had tricked me . I was certain that he had. I was mad with Mary because I knew she had chosen my shoes for spite. I was just mad at the world. I was even mad with my feet for being too big to get me a doll. I pouted as daddy paid for all those shoes. I pouted all the way home in the car squeezed in between Frank and Mary in the back seat. I pouted all the way to my bedroom where I tossed the shoe box to the bed and flopped down beside it. Finally I heard Mama coming toward my room. She would be handing out the socks that she had bought at the dime store while daddy was getting us all fitted for New Easter shoes. She would have socks to match every one's clothes and she would look at everything together to make sure we were all ready for the Easter Morning Services. I lifted my Shoe box lid and There laying in the box along with My black, patent leather, Sunday shoes was a little doll from Spain. Mr. Haines had surprised me. Mr. Haines had realized that I knew the shoe wouldn't fit. But he had given me a doll anyway. Mama opened my door to a smiling happy girl and was proud that they had again got all of us pulled together one more time.. Just in time for Easter. And the next morning we would all eight be
Pictures of perfection sitting on our pew in our new Easter clothes and Our New Good shoes.
Patsy