Welcome to more creative writing From the Heart. And while I must admit I am new to creative writing, I really do enjoy it, and hope to write more as the memories come my way, in moments of quiet or reflection!
In life, there are so many happenings, people, and changes that affect us deeply. And as kind and loving people, it is only natural that it will spill over into all that we do, know, and love...and while writing down stories and ideas is not new, these stories are mine. And the more I return here to offer a story or two, I realize this is as much a diary of my life as it is stories to entertain.
I decided to dig some out of my memories, write them and others down, and post them here. To share yes, but more for my own self-encouragement to write even more...Because life continues to roll along on a wonderful route, and I no longer want to be comfortable as just the big girl in the back. Where I felt safest for the vast majority of my life. And with that said, I thank you for indulging me with your visit today...
please note: While this is a published page, I will from time to time return to the stories and memories already shared to update with a photo, correct a typo, or continue a dropped thought, thank you for your understanding.
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Acceptance...
We have a replacement electric photo frame in our Tiny House. But I have had one for a couple of decades now. This current frame is the third one, a replacement for a new one for Christmas a few years ago. All three have been gifts from my daughter. I love having an electric photo frame up and running, usually setting the window of operations from 5am when I wake to 8pm when we settle in for a bit of TV. And I enjoy all the activities and time spent together leading to new photos to upload.
Until recently these frames held photos of everyone else, but very few of me. For a reason. I hate having my photo taken and usually hate the way it turns out, once it is taken. Not vanity per say, I am probably the least vain person in my family. I don't dye my hair, paint my nails or wear make up. I no longer do any of the things I was required to do, during my working years. This is the promise I made to myself for retirement. No more fussy clothes, or 2 inch heels. Jeans are my new dress code, and comfortable shoes! Especially the comfortable shoes...
The second electric photo frame was originally going to be photos of the grandson from birth and ongoing through the years. It is linked with family in Washington state. And the sharing of photos can be tailored to fit each family unit. For instance, I share with my daughter and son-in-law. They share with me, and two families in Washington state. And the families in Washington state share with my daughter and son-in-law, but not me. You only see what has been shared with you.
And I have been there, from day one!
Ever so slowly the photo frame has changed and now include photos of family outings, and some of them include myself and my hubby. As grandparents we often go along and get to enjoy what young Mr. is doing with mom and dad. And I will be darned if I am not in some of those photos, big as life. Are they good photos, ahhhh no. They are quickly snapped and a total surprise, with me usually deep in thought looking mad or caught off guard with a far off look. And secretly I hated each and every one of them.
I am from the generation where you posed for photos. And you were dressed in your best and you were also expected to put your best foot forward for the photo because you were representing the family. And now fast forward 60 years and something in me changed. I read a line on a social media post that essentially said:
Get over yourself, it is not about you! It is about you being there. It is about you being a part of the memories made and cherished.
And slowly I have come to realize that the image was nothing more than a split second of time in a day of joy, and it sure as heck doesn't matter what I look like. It really only matters that I was there!
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Meet Graylin!
A couple of weeks ago I was walking down our country road to visit the bank of mailboxes out on the freeway. It is a walk I often take with my daughter and grandson. We were walking along, with my grandson kicking rocks or picking up sticks and I heard a faint yet desperate meow. And it seemed to follow us as we continued to take a few steps. So, I turned around. Running as fast as her little legs would carry her towards us, was a tiny and obviously starving kitten.
She was desperate for some one to take notice of her. You could tell by her lack of a belly swell, she hadn't eaten in a long time. No doubt her mama had been dropped off either right before giving birth or right after. But one thing was clear, she was alone and knew this was her last chance to survive. I turned around to see what was making the noise and my heart was gone, in a flash. There's no doubt that without being rescued she would have been a small snack for a coyote that evening.
My daughter walk back to her house, to get something for the kitten to eat. My grandson and I kept talking to her so she would not walk away. We left the plate of food for her to eat while we continued on to the mailboxes. I thought if she was still there on the return trip I should help her find a home. Not only was she still there, she was meowing as loud as she could with new energy from a full belly. She was so tiny it was probably her first full belly in a very long time. I wasn't certain she would come to me, and it turned out she would not. She was however comfortable getting close to my young grandson, and when she did, I picked her up quickly!
Once I picked her up and held her in my arms, she relaxed completely. I told my daughter there was no way I could leave her there. When I first took her home it was NOT for keeps, or so I though. I would see what I could do about her being adopted by someone who would love her. I had not acknowledged yet, that I was in fact, ready to love another pet. It had been a little over five years since I had to say goodbye to my old friend Agate. After 19 years together. Nineteen years of understanding each other, 19 years of his ways and my ways meshing quite nicely.
Meet Agate!
And for the first time since not having Agate to take care of and being allowed to put up with his stubborn independence I though that maybe, just maybe I might be ready to take on another pet. But it was also 25 years ago that I also got to enjoy kittenhood. And I will say right now, Agate was the first kitten I ever had as an adult, previous pets were always full grown, largely because kittens can and do take a lot of patience.
Enjoy might possibly not be the correct word, because in truth kittenhood can be kind of a rough go. And to be honest it has been with her....she was wild and crazy the first time we left her alone for a couple of hours. That is getting better each day. She is always underfoot no matter what I am doing. There is no doubt, I am her substitute mom. She still wants to suckle and does, often on the inside bend of my elbow. She came with ringworms AND fleas. Plus a huge appetite! Right now she is sitting under the desk as I tap out this story, right there by my feet. If I move, she will follow.
She is beginning to learn the phrase, no-no. And is slowly learning that the spray bottle is not a toy it is a discipline tool. She loves to play with her kitten toys and miracle of all miracles, she took to her litter box instantly! She cannot get enough protein. She gets a small plate with diced meat from our dinner, when we sit down to eat. And Graylin is nothing like Agate! Because of her clinginess I believe she will be a lap cat, and he was not. She will be completely, an inside cat, he loved to come and go as he wanted. He ate the same dry food every day for 19 years, she works hard to eat as much of our dinner meat as she can! And plays with her dry kibble more than she eats it! But after a few days of having her with us, I knew she had did have a new owner, and it was me!
Meet Graylin!
Luck must have also been on that walk, I have a new friend and she has a new home!
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I am going to issue an apologize right now!
We do not go all out for Halloween. We don't hate it or even feel the slightest Ba humbug about it. If in fact there was a Ba Humbug, for Halloween. The world and especially the blogging world loves Halloween! The pumpkin décor begins showing up right after school starts, then we move to on witches and finally skeletons. And while I love a good slice of pumpkin pie, I do not have a pumpkin pie recipe on the blog. I guess I figured by now everyone has their own favorite recipe, that they turn to year after year. Plus I am about the only pumpkin pie lover here on our little homestead...and I don't need a whole pie for myself.
I do have a delightful recipe for Honey Pumpkin Bread that also makes a truly gourmet French toast for breakfast, should you have any leftover bread. It is so good, I call it Bed and Breakfast good! And that is about it for pumpkin recipes. I would like to try more savory pumpkin recipes, but again, I am about the only pumpkin eater around here. I am growing pumpkins in the garden, but they are for the chickens. Pumpkins and the pumpkin seeds in particular are quite good for chickens. The pumpkin vines are the of the plants in that part of the garden. All the other beds have been weeded, mulched and covered for the season in hopes of less weeds next spring.
Halloween 2023.
We will be going on the trick or treat walk at our local park with the grandson, it is a family outing we all enjoy! It is always fun and I love to see the littles in their costumes. Our grandson has chosen his costume for the year, and his mom is busy sewing it right now as I tap this out. And yes you would be correct, she loves Halloween! And she always has. I have lost track of all the costumes she has made through the years! Their little end of the homestead will be decorated for Halloween, and we of course always enjoy seeing the decorations when we visit. But Halloween has also shown this interesting item. You know that candy collected for trick or treat? Well, it usually goes to friends or the blessing box, because the grandson does not eat candy! Just like we don't put up decorations...I guess we are related after all!
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I put roses on the table last Thursday. It also happened to be the 11th of September. But something had happened the day before, something that almost shattered my faith in society. Just as all the killings I lived through as a child of the 60's when in 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated. And a few years later in April 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated.
And then in June of 1968 the president's brother Robert Kennedy Sr. was also assassinated. We were a broken country, with society fiercely divided. Our country was going through not only a war in Vietnam, but also a political war on our own home front. I remembered all of this, the day Mr. Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Why? Because in 60 short years we went from broken to thriving and back to broken once again. And a strong and honest man who was trying to bring us back together, was assassinated.
When I looked at the dead roses a few days ago, I realized that I had put them in a drinking glass and not the antique blue mason jar I always use. But why? Too preoccupied with current events? Too lazy to get it out of the upper cupboard? Too sad? Not paying enough attention to what I was doing? No it was none of those reasons. I realized it had been a metaphor because I was emotionally parched and so very thirsty for the kindness of what we can all be, when we are kind and not against one another. It is time my friends to mend the brokenness in our country once again...
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I do love roses!
The yellow rose in the lower left corner is a rose I bought in Montana, in reembrace of my beloved Grandmother Carter. I have actually purchased and planted a yellow rose in the last six homes I have lived in. All to remember grandmother by. And as the house was flipped and hit the market, not only did I say goodbye to the home I had built, but the rose as well. Of course by now it was well established in the garden of that house, and became a gift to the new owners.
But when we hit Montana as a stopping place for our next adventure, I felt that I did not want to leave my yellow rose behind anymore. When we packed up to move to Wyoming, that rose in the lower corner, came with. And I even took it one step further with the help of my husband. When we started National Park Service Volunteering once again, that rose, hit the road with us and was part of every camp we lived in during our assignments. As well as on the road to get there and back again. The first item off the truck was the rose when we arrived and the last item loaded on the truck when we left, was, yes, the rose.
Grandmother's rose gave us blooms for Christmas in Arizona. Grandmother's rose was on and off the truck until we packed up to move to Texas. And it was the last thing loaded for that move. It bloomed right away once here! Which turned out to be one of the hottest summer in decades! Immediately Grandmother's rose became the yellow rose of Texas.
Currently all the roses need a good trimming, but Grandmother's rose needs it most of all. It is bushy, and the blooms are almost miniature in size. It has continued to grow and offer me beautiful flowers for the dining room table, year after year, move after move. Proving how strong and resilient something considered delicate can be, even when the reputation of being delicate is earned, LOL. And reminds me everyday that I too, need to show up, and never give up!
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News we never thought we would ever hear?
What do you do when you get a report of news you never thought you would hear? Do you crumble? Do you shrug it off? Do you need to think about it until you no longer have a gut lining? Or do you come back around and realize that just the day before, receiving the news, you had no idea of any issue, and were living life as you always had?
Speaking for myself, I do it all. Upon hearing the news, I am absolutely shook to my core, then I go through every scenario of doom, and then I slowly come back around to realize that I can (and will!) continue to do the best I have the ability to do to manage it all, and that it or rather I, will be OK.
Sometimes OK, is all there is. For those times when you cannot reverse what you were just told or learned about. So it is best to get the first few knee jerk reactions out of the way and simply get back to living. Because that was exactly what your were doing right up to the exact second the phone rang...
Thank you for visiting From the Heart Vol II beginning August 2025.
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