Home - Page 105 of 170 - View from the Front Porch

4 08, 2017

Sharing Dresses Across Time and Space

By judythemorgan|2017-08-03T11:55:05-05:00August 4th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

When I was in high school, one of my favorite styles of dress was made by a company called Gunne Sax. They were old fashioned dresses with lace up bodices and high necks. I wore one to my junior prom and my grandmother made one for my senior prom.

I also had some short versions which I wore for piano recitals. My mom saved them all and gave them to me when they were cleaning out the closet in my old room. Since I have been married for nearly 30 years, the dresses are in remarkable condition.

This summer I saw the following Facebook post:

Hi everyone, My oldest daughter is really in love with Victorian girls’ dresses at this time. She is 10 years old. I have been searching online to buy a dress for her but could not find anything. Anyone know where to go or if you have one and want to sell it please let me know.

The daughter was one of my piano students. We have known the family for years. So at her next lesson I got out my old dresses. Both the older girls were thrilled. They asked about having them altered and I told them that was fine. Better to have the dresses worn and enjoyed than hanging in my closet.

She posted this picture. The dresses and the girls were very happy.

I saw the dresses at church and even at piano lessons. It made me smile.

The family splits their time between Texas and Thailand. The dad is a doctor and the mom is from Thailand originally. They moved back to Thailand last month. My dresses have now brought joy in two separate generations in two separate countries.

While at my parent’s house recently my mom and I found the picture of me in one of the dresses. I may have thought my mom was a little crazy for carefully storing and labeling all those old pictures, but I was sure glad when she could find this one.Hanging on to things for many, many years is is good thing. Being able to find them and pass them on is priceless.

28 07, 2017

Gifts from Afar

By judythemorgan|2017-07-27T17:59:39-05:00July 28th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Beekeeper Brian recently travelled to Southeast Asia with a team of people to help with a cultural exchange camp. The team taught art classes as well as the American sports of football, basketball, and baseball. They were treated to performances by a Minority Group from a nearby village. They also experienced the culture through food.

On the last day, they went shopping and Brian found the perfect gifts for me.The rooster sits on my piano next to my rooster clock. The chopsticks are at my place at the table. I try to use them but it is a very slow process. I’ve decided they make a good diet tool.

I would be worried that Beekeeper Brian was trying to tell me something but the chopsticks have chickens on them so I know that is why he got them. After all I am the Chicken Wrangler – just not so good with chopsticks.Catherine, our oldest daughter, recently told me I should watch the movie Moana. She said there is a chicken in there who reminds her of me.

I suppose there are worse things with which to be associated.

21 07, 2017

Miller Farm Summer Project

By judythemorgan|2017-07-19T12:30:23-05:00July 21st, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

This summer I decided to set some goals for myself. One goal is to learn to play the harmonica.

My father plays and one of my students taught themselves this year so I am inspired.

I’ve bought the harmonicas and a book. Now I have to learn so I can teach the rest of my students. I need a break from teaching the recorder.

My second goal is to repair our chicken quilt.

This quilt belonged to my mother-in-law and we have stored it for nearly 30 years now. I remembered it had some seams coming out and some of the quilting needed repair.

When I dug it out, I realized most of the seams were undone and much of the quilting has disintegrated.

Undeterred by this daunting task, I have begun the restoration work. The plan is to display it in our living room.

The colors do not match anything we have but it is chickens so it has a place on Miller Farm.

This year has been very difficult physically and emotionally. As I work on the quilt, I find it somewhat therapeutic. I can sense myself stitching back the undone seams of the past year. Slowly life is coming together again. Hopefully by the end of the summer both the Chicken Wrangler and the Chicken Quilt will be restored.

14 07, 2017

How to Train Your Chickens

By judythemorgan|2017-07-12T14:51:14-05:00July 14th, 2017|Uncategorized|3 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

With every new flock of chickens comes a certain amount of training. A friend of mine gave me a chicken training book one Christmas.

While the book is highly entertaining, this is not the kind of training the birds need. Our birds must learn to go into their coop at night. This seems simple enough. After all it is much safer in the coop. However they still resist. At first they hide under the coop. Enter the “multi-purpose net.” We scoop them up and put them where they belong.

Once they get big enough to join the big girls in the big coop, they tend to find places to roost outside the coop. The beehives provide perfect roosting places and we simply pluck them off and put them in the coop.

One of them likes to roost in the tree.

While this is a natural thing for wild chickens, ours are not meant to be wild. Rachel clipped its wings which helped somewhat. It still likes to get as high as possible on the beehives.

Every night I take the chickens from the hives and put them in the coop. I keep hoping they will get the message but they are pretty stubborn. I have raised three teenagers – so am I.

12 07, 2017

Patriotic Quotes – Marilyn vos Savant

By judythemorgan|2017-06-11T22:42:56-05:00July 12th, 2017|Wednesday Words of Wisdom|0 Comments

7 07, 2017

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale Without Going Crazy-Part 2

By judythemorgan|2017-06-21T13:21:26-05:00July 7th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Last week I talked about getting ready for your sale and preparing for the actual garage sale site.

The next step in having a garage sale is selecting, pricing, and marketing items.

The temptation may be to throw things away before the sale even begins. A good rule of thumb is: nothing gets thrown away before the sale except embarrassing items such as torn underwear, unidentifiable items or items received as gifts from relatives who may attend the sale.

If you are combining with other people, you may fight the urge to simply exchange stuff. Beware – you could end up with more things and less money than when you started. This would be counter-productive.

Nothing is more frustrating than going to a garage sale where nothing is marked. While clearly marking every item is tedious, it is the most efficient wat to run a garage sale. Multifamily sales need to have codes to ensure money goes to the right people. If there are many items in one category, a sign with prices is appropriate (books – paperback 50 cents, hard back $1.00.) The person collecting money should have a list of all items priced as a group to avoid confusion.

If people offer less than the marked price, refer to your purpose.

Displaying items is more challenging at the start of the sale but gets easier as things are sold. The easier it is to see the items, the faster they will sell. Some people may enjoy the challenge of digging through a box of clothes to find the bottoms to a pair of pajamas but most would rather be able to tell at a glance whether or not the items are acceptable. Displaying items on tables is most desirable.

The more comfortable the customers are, the longer they will stay and the longer they stay, the more they will buy.

“Tables” can be a board across sawhorses or stacked boxes. The idea is to make things easy to see. If there are electrical items, a cord and plug should be available for customers to test their purchases. Colorful or interesting items should be placed at the front of the sale to draw people’s attention. If you have baby things, those are usually bright and catch the eye. Some people drive by garage sales slowly and if something looks interesting, they are more likely to stop and get out.

Now that the ad has run, the signs are out all merchandise is clearly marked and attractively displayed the fun can begin. You should start the day with a good breakfast.

Donuts are the tradition around here. It is a special treat that sets the tone for an exciting day. You can make a game out of predicting which things will sell. It is fascinating to see what people purchase. In fact people watching can be somewhat of a distraction. The workers must remember their purpose.

Part of the job is to rearrange items so people see everything. This is a trick grocery stores use to get you to spend more time in the store looking for things. It can be frustrating for the grocery shopper but fun for the garage sale shoppers. Remember, the longer they are there, the more likely they are to buy things and the fewer things will be left to pack up.

Packing up is the final and maybe the least fun part. The hope is there will be very little to pack up. Some organizations will come and pick up the leftover things. It is worth researching this. At the end of a long, often hot day if you live in Texas, having someone else come in and haul things away is a blessing.

Then it is time for celebratory ice cream or pizza or whatever celebration means at your house. Hopefully you have made some money, gotten rid of stuff, and been entertained for a few hours.

5 07, 2017

Patriotic Words – Thomas Paine

By judythemorgan|2017-06-11T16:40:09-05:00July 5th, 2017|Wednesday Words of Wisdom|1 Comment

The American Crisis is collection of articles written by Thomas Paine during the American Revolutionary War. His essays provided ongoing support for an independent and self-governing America through the many severe crises of the Revolutionary War.

General Washington found Paine’s first essay The Crisis, written on December 23, 1776, so inspiring, he ordered that it be read to the troops at Valley Forge.

This quote is the opening line.

3 07, 2017

Happy 4th of July – 2017

By judythemorgan|2020-06-29T10:42:04-05:00July 3rd, 2017|Holidays|1 Comment

This is one of my favorite family photos by my very talented photographer daughter. The two boys are her sons, John (with the flag) and Michael (leading the way).

You may have seen the photo on a highway billboard or in an airport or in a store ad. It’s one of her best-selling photos. I believe the photo sells well because it represents the freedom born with our great country on the 4th of July.

Like the two young boys running freely down the park path, our constitution grants to each of us freedoms not experienced anywhere else in the world.

We get to choose our path, we can run or we can walk.

It’s our choice.

30 06, 2017

How to Have a Successful Garage Sale Without Going Crazy – Part 1

By judythemorgan|2017-06-21T08:50:17-05:00June 30th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Garage sales, tag sales, rummage sales, yard sales – whatever you choose to call them, these events are a staple of the American life especially during the summer.

People tend to love or hate garage sales based on whether they are having one or attending them. I personally enjoy both sides of the table.

During my years of “garaging” as my mom refers to it, I have made several observations which I will address in two parts.

Part one deals with the preparation for the sale and then how to prepare the actual garage sale site.

First you must determine your purpose for having a sale. People generally have two reasons – those who wish to get rid of things and those who plan to make money. If you fall into the latter category, you might just resign yourself to a long, grumpy weekend. Most garage sale shoppers are not big spenders.

If, however, your goal is to empty your garage, attic, basement and/or closets, there are several things to keep in mind. Many serious garage sellers prefer to beat the crowds and shop early. Some even drive by the night before a sale. If you want to sell things and make money, allow these people to purchase things whenever they arrive.

You must also be willing to negotiate. Haggling over prices is a way of life for some people – especially at garage sales. Of course you can send early birds away and stand firm on all prices but you may find yourself refilling your garage, attic or basement.

As with any project, good preparation is a must. Check all local papers for advertising deadlines. While running an ad cuts into profit, it increases traffic and you must keep in mind – more customers=less to pack up.

When considering what to say in an ad be honest. Just because your brother dropped off a box of ties does not mean you are having a “multi-family” garage sale. Do specify any large items or categories you know you will have. Many collectors use garage sales to increase their inventory.

Signs can be more important than an ad if made and placed properly to guide people. Signs need to be large enough to read from a car and are most effective if they are all the same bright color.

Once your color is established, a simple arrow in that color can be sufficient to lead people to the main event. Many neighborhoods have restrictions on using wooden stakes or placing ads on existing signs. This necessitates creativity.

Many options are available the simplest of which is to place the sign on the side of a large cardboard box which is held in place by a stone. Equally simple is to attach the sign to a bent coat hanger which is stuck in the ground. A sturdier version of this uses cereal boxes to which the signs are attached before placing the whole ensemble on a hanger. The box prevents the signs from folding over in the wind.

All of these options use recycled items which keeps costs lower. Signs should be placed the day before at every intersection around the house.

Once you have clearly guided people to your location, there are some things that will make the sale more appealing. Check back next week for these helpful hints.

29 06, 2017

Creativity Innate or Learned

By judythemorgan|2017-06-04T15:19:10-05:00June 29th, 2017|Guest blogger, writing|2 Comments

Help me welcome guest blogger Jack Milgram. Jack is a blogger at Top-notch study tips for A+ students. Today he shares his ideas about creativity.

Creativity Innate or Learned

Creativity is a popular characteristic that you can spot on almost every resume. But what is it exactly? And are we born with this trait, or do we develop it?

From a young age, we’re assured that creativity is a talent you either have or don’t. What does creativity mean? It’s easy—if children can draw or play music, they’re creative; if not, well, they’re good at something else.

Kind of rough, isn’t it?

Now, as adults, we can see that almost everything depends on the effort and time we spend to learn a skill. And the same is true about creativity!

Creative thinking is a combination of effort, genetics, and social environment. But the point is this—if you haven’t found success with the last two, you can always still start developing creativity.

Firstly, let’s talk about the creativity definition. Creativity is the ability to develop new ideas and solutions. But is it true that we are ever able to come up with fresh ideas?

Many specialists visualize creativity not as some chaotic, magical ritual but rather as a number of links between actual experiences.

What does that mean exactly?

It means that to develop something new, all you need to do is combine two or more existing ideas. This leads us to an important fact: the more experience you have, the more creative your ideas will be.

Just think about it—creative thinking isn’t applied to artistic activities only. It’s a significant skill for many professions. Every profession that is friendly to optimization demands that its employees be creative.

Imagine that you’re completing a PR task. This is definitely a creative profession—developing strategies, communicating with the media, organizing events, and so on. To develop a good advertisement, it isn’t enough to be a talented person.

So what do you think? Who has a better chance of success: an experienced specialist or just a creative person? For sure, it will be the specialist. And one of the reasons for this is simple—specialists know so many examples of beneficial strategies that they can combine ideas almost automatically.

So, if we can train creativity, how are we supposed to do it? There aren’t any muscles for creativeness.

Don’t worry—here are some easy tips you can use:

Don’t set limitations.

People can be creative only when there is enough freedom for it. Brainstorm without judging yourself or setting boundaries.

Start a notebook.

Every idea should be written down. This will help you remember them later and find ways for improvement.

Do what you love.

Research has shown that creativity increases with dopamine, the organic chemical responsible for the rewards center of the human brain. That means that the more motivation you have, the more ideas you can develop.

Fix your bad mood.

Creativity in business is a great thing. But you can only achieve it by being in a good mood. Don’t let yourself be pessimistic, and find enjoyment in the simple things.

Look around.

The outside world is full of interesting examples that you can use in your work. Meet friends, go for a walk, find some new hobbies, and so on. The most creative things you can find are already around you.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Visit Jack’s blog: custom-writing.org/blog

Connect with Jack

Twitter: @Jack__Milgram

Facebook: Jack.Milgram