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1 02, 2016

Love You Forever, a Book Review

By judythemorgan|2016-01-25T16:23:31-06:00February 1st, 2016|Book Review|0 Comments

Book reviews are subjective because our feelings about a book are very personal. Two people can read the exact same book. One will love it. The other totally dislike it.

Will a book review influence either to change their opinion? Probably not. Some readers ignore reviews altogether. Still book reviews are important and worth taking the time to write, if not for yourself, for the author.

That’s why I’m sharing my review of Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch. I love this picture book. It’s well written and beautifully illustrated. It’s not a new book. The original publication date is 1986, but it has a timeless theme – love. My favorite topic for February blogs.

The story begins with a mother holding her newborn and softly singing:

I’ll love you forever,

I’ll like you for always,

As long as I’m living
my baby you’ll be.

The little boy grows and he does all the things little boys do. (Check out the cover if you can’t remember what little boys can do.)

He drives her crazy, she wants to sell him to the zoo, but at night, she rocks him and sings the song – even when he is way too big and too old to be rocked.

Then life happens. He moves out. The mother gets older and older. The words of the song change:

I’ll love you forever,

I’ll like you for always,

As long as I’m living my Mommy you’ll be.

That’s not the end of the story. I won’t give away what happens next except to say that Love You Forever crosses all generations.

The story and its message of enduring love have an extra-special place in my heart because my son gave the book to me years ago when he was in one of those drive me crazy stages of our relationship.

I’ll always cherish my copy. And him.

If you’re looking for a perfect gift this Valentine’s Day, consider Love You Forever.

29 01, 2016

Colors

By judythemorgan|2016-01-27T21:26:39-06:00January 29th, 2016|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Winter can be a dreary time – particularly in Texas. We don’t get the pretty white scenes, at least where we live.

Everything just turns brown.

The closest thing we have to snowy white is Rachel’s new frizzle. He makes a stark contrast to all the brown.

It makes me smile.

In my quest to find beauty amidst all the brown, I made a pleasant discovery.

The partridge-colored silky bantams have blue ears.

So now when others are enjoying beautiful snow with contrasting cardinals or other wonderful scenery, I can enjoy our blue-eared chickens.

As I always say, there is beauty all around. You just have to look for it.

27 01, 2016

Winter’s Rest – John Geddes

By judythemorgan|2016-01-11T15:39:30-06:00January 27th, 2016|Wednesday Words of Wisdom|2 Comments

Winter will end before we know it. Spring is lurking on the horizon. Days are lengthening.

I hope you’ve found rest this winter.

25 01, 2016

3 Ways to Exercise at Your Desk

By judythemorgan|2018-01-17T08:41:12-06:00January 25th, 2016|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

As a writer, I spend hours at my desk. These days too many jobs require much of the work day to be spent sitting in an office at a computer.

That’s a problem because, to be fit and healthy, we have to get moving, to exercise.

The web offers lots of advice on exercise. Problem with most of those website suggestions is they involve going somewhere to exercise. We’re stuck at a desk all day!

The ideas are also excellent if you live in a warm climate. Not so easy if you live in the mountains of the Rio Grande Forest.These days my Fitbit step goals remain unmet.

Once the temperature rises above freezing and the snow melts, I do participate in many outdoors activities. The forest outside my office window calls to me frequently. Sometimes, too frequently.

Even in the winter months, my two four-legged children demand to go outside. Unfortunately, the sub-zero temperatures are just not inviting enough for us to linger outside. Our ventures out doors are short. Very short. Other times road conditions make getting to a gym or indoor pool or even walking impossible and our trips outdoors are even shorter.

So how do I get exercise these cold winter days? I follow the advice of Josh Vogt, fantasy and freelance writer, in his Write Strong series on fitness strategies for writers. Most of which are readily adaptable to any desk job. You don’t have to be a writer.

I use these three ways to keep in shape:

1. Keep weights on my desk. During breaks or while I’m reading on the computer, I pick up the weights and do some basic arm lifts.
2. Stash resistance bands in a desk drawer. Quick and easy way to do simple resistance training.
3. Stand and stretch. I find it helps refocus and gives an energy bump.

If none of these suggestions works for you, check out Vogt’s other strategies here.

Or develop your own fitness plan using this online fitness plan generator that lets you input your skill level, available gear and time and the part of the body you want to focus on.

Whatever it takes — get moving! You’ll find you’ll be healthier and more productive.

22 01, 2016

Feeling Old

By judythemorgan|2016-01-21T19:17:05-06:00January 22nd, 2016|Miller Farm Friday|3 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

My parents bought me the coolest sweater when I was in high school. It has music symbols on it and in all my travels as a music teacher I have never seen another one like it.

I wear it as my main coat every winter since in Texas it is never really cold. I don’t think much about it unless someone mentions it.

For instance, the checker at Walmart last week said, “I like your sweater.”

I told her thank you and mentioned that I’ve had it a long time.

She then said, “I really like vintage clothing.” I wasn’t sure whether to be offended. Then she went on to say, “I love going into my grandmother’s closet. It is like a thrift store.”

I had no response.

This morning one of my first grade students walked up to me and said, “Why is your hair white right there?” and pointed to my streak of gray hair.

I told her I had earned those white hairs by growing older. It must have sounded appealing because she then turned around and said, “I have white hair back here.”

I love children. They keep me young – or make me feel old as the case may be.

20 01, 2016

Wednesday Words from Martin Luther King, Jr

By judythemorgan|2016-01-11T15:05:25-06:00January 20th, 2016|Wednesday Words of Wisdom|1 Comment

18 01, 2016

Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service

By judythemorgan|2016-01-10T17:13:52-06:00January 18th, 2016|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation designating a federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Junior for his accomplishments. Today is that day.

Honoring Dr. King’s birthday evolved into a national day of service to encourage citizens to use the federal holiday as an opportunity to give back to their communities with legislation in 1994 that established a Martin Luther King Day of Service to coincide with the Federal holiday.

King’s vision was to build what he called “the beloved community.” He believed life’s most persistent and urgent question was

‘What are you doing for others?’

Check here to find projects in your specific area where you can honor him and help your community.

Even if you don’t have the federal day off, make a positive and peaceful impact in your community. What better way to honor King’s legacy than by helping others every day.

15 01, 2016

Chew Toys

By judythemorgan|2016-01-14T10:14:57-06:00January 15th, 2016|Miller Farm Friday|4 Comments

Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

It has been 8 years since we have had a puppy on Miller Farm and now we have two.

One major issue I had forgotten was the chewing. They chew on everything. Rachel has provided them with multiple acceptable chew toys, but Max and Penny seem to prefer non-chew toys. These include but are not limited to:

Newspapers

towels

shoes – especially when on feet

I devised a new dance – the “puppy shuffle” which involves moving my feet in such a way as to avoid stepping on a puppy or having them grab my shoe.

I finally surrendered and gave them my socks. I figured it was better for them to chew on my socks when they were not on my feet.

It kept them occupied for quite a while. If only it would work until they outgrow the chewing – in about 6 months.

13 01, 2016

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

By judythemorgan|2018-02-20T04:29:10-06:00January 13th, 2016|Wednesday Words of Wisdom, Weekly Quote|2 Comments

11 01, 2016

Challenges, not resolutions

By judythemorgan|2016-01-11T08:29:02-06:00January 11th, 2016|Make Me Think Monday|2 Comments

January blogs, tweets, and Facebook posts are overloaded with advice and suggestions for resolutions and ways to achieve your goals for New Year. I’m going to join the crowd, but with a twist.

I’m not calling these resolutions because a whopping 80% of us fail within the first thirty days when we make resolutions.

There are three hundred and fifty-five days left in 2016 so I’m challenging you to pick one or more of the four suggestions below. Suggestions that I think you will find easily achievable, unlike resolutions.

~Learn one new thing

I read that Steve Jobs studied calligraphy for the beauty and artistry of the technique. Jobs admitted calligraphy wasn’t the most pragmatic thing he’d ever done Yet his calligraphy experience deeply influenced his design work at Apple.

So what new thing peaks your curiosity? Give it a try. Whatever your thing is doesn’t have to be practical or even useful. Point is learning something totally new might lead you down paths you never dreamed.

~Volunteer

Preferably on a project outside your comfort zone.

Maybe assist at the local food bank, mentor at your neighborhood elementary school, be a timer for Special Olympics, serve at a soup kitchen, or read to a senior citizen. You’ll meet new people, learn about areas outside your expertise, and, I’m quite sure, discover insights about yourself.

~Read 3 books

No stipulations about length or titles, fiction or non-fiction. Browse your favorite independent bookstore, hop on Amazon, or get a free library card. I think you’ll discover the choices are endless.

Personally, I recommend a classic, a fiction genre you don’t always read, and a non-fiction, but whatever your selections, choose ones that will make you think or inspire you. You might just rekindle a long-lost love of reading or discover a newfound one.

~Schedule One Unplugged Weekend

Technology rules our lives. I get it. Cell phones are an outgrowth of our hands. We’re constantly logged on, tuned in, 24/7. All that being on line can lead to burnout.

Step away from your devices for one entire weekend. I think you’ll find, technology free time will stave off exhaustion, and most likely lead to a creative and more energized you.

These are only suggestions. If you accept my challenge, I believe you can change you and your world.

Let me know how you do.