Oddly enough, I’m finding myself in the exact same place that I was in March of 2021 regarding a topic for this column. So, with a bit of a cheat, I’m copying the intro from that column and let’s see what random thoughts follow. It will be a surprise for all of us, isn’t that[…]
Who’s in Great Shape, Raise your hand. (Not so fast, Sally Ball….)
Chronologically, I am 61 years of age. In my head, however, I’m still convinced I’m in my 40’s. Early 40’s. Like 40. Or rather, I was, right up until the day about a month ago when I looked down and wondered who swapped out my legs for these old lady chicken legs I was looking[…]
What’s in a Name?
I used to be a wreck about naming livestock and pets that came to live at the farm. Especially the newborn alpacas, if we didn’t have a name in the first 20 minutes then I became an idiot about it. The idea of an unnamed animal was just unacceptable. Ridiculous, right? I kept a running[…]
The Choice of Happiness
You know how the universe has a way of putting things and ideas and people in your path to shine a light on an area you might want to put some awareness on? Recently for me it’s been about our ability to choose happiness. It seems wherever I look lately, there’s another reminder, front and[…]
Fire in the Hole!
We’ve had an alpaca farm for over 18 years and 4 locations now, and not since 2007 have we had water at our barn. Up on Black Mountain we had a creek-fed trough quite a ways away and across some rough terrain from the barn. (Who am I kidding, that entire property was rough terrain[…]
If You Can’t Be a Good Example, Be a Horrible Warning
So, I was having lunch with friends the other day, and the topic of “when we were kids” came up as it is wont to do with folks of a certain age. (It’s safe to say we’re all north of 60 and may occasionally shake our fists and yell, “get off my lawn!”) Somehow, we[…]
Never Underestimate the Power of the Girlfriends
June has evolved into a reflective month for me. My step-dad, “The Papa,” passed away the night of June 24, 2011 and my mom followed him June 28, 2019. As many of you know, my mom had Alzheimer’s, so those years in between were full of challenges, but also full of a lot of love[…]
17 Unrelated Paragraphs
Normally when my turn rolls around for this column I have an idea for a topic well ahead of time. I only have to write every third month, so really, how hard could it be, right? In fact, often I’ll wake up on any given morning and the entire essay pops right into my head[…]
The Real Story on Farmhouse Decor
December 1, 2020 The nature of my business takes me into people’s homes on a daily basis, not just up here in the foothills but also down the hill in the thick of the suburbs. In addition, I enjoy looking at sites and magazines for the current trends in “farmhouse décor.” So, on a regular[…]
Marco Polo an other games to play with a blind cat
August 3, 2020 So our household had a couple of birthdays early last month. Milla, who turned 16, is now old enough to drive. Except that she’s blind. And a cat. Murray Thunderpants, also a cat, turned 17. Considering he’s diabetic, toothless, and a bony shadow of his former magnificent self (although still magnificent), we[…]