Winter’s Rest – John Geddes
Winter will end before we know it. Spring is lurking on the horizon. Days are lengthening.
I hope you’ve found rest this winter.
27
01, 2016
25
01, 2016
3 Ways to Exercise at Your Desk
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
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
18
01, 2016
Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service
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
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
11
01, 2016
Challenges, not resolutions
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.
8
01, 2016
Tucker’s Disappearing Ball
A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
With the arrival of two dachshund puppies on Miller Farm came the arrival of 14,000 puppy toys. Well, maybe not that many but it seemed like that to Tucker, who was not allowed to chew up or play with any of them. In fact, Rachel put them all in her room behind a gate where Tucker could see them but not get to them. This was very distressing to Tucker. He was, after all, the first dachshund on Miller Farm and the father to the puppies.
Rachel bought Tucker his own toys including a spikey ball that squeaked. At least it squeaked until Coco chewed holes in it. Off to the pet store went Rachel once again. This time she bought a package of 3 spikey balls that squeaked. This gave us two BUBs (back-up balls).
Tucker’s favorite way to play with his ball is to have someone throw it so he can run and retrieve it so it can be thrown so he can run and retrieve it and so on and so on. This continues as long as the arm of the thrower holds out. This particular morning, I was the thrower.
I must confess, I was multi-tasking. I threw the ball as I was feeding the chickens so I wasn’t really paying close attention to where it went. It didn’t matter. Tucker would find it and bring it back to me.
One time I threw it behind me and I never heard it hit the ground. Tucker ran all around the yard and came back empty. I didn’t see it either so I looked in the neighbor’s yard. No ball. I looked between the fences (ours is chain link and the neighbor’s is wooden). Still no ball. I finally gave up and went inside. Rachel got out a BUB (back-up ball) and all was well.
Later that afternoon Beekeeper Brian called me into the kitchen where he was sitting at the table. “Sit down, look out the window and tell me what you see,” he said.
“I see the chickens, the chicken coop, the fence…”
“Look higher.”
There in the tree was Tucker’s ball. I could not have thrown it there if I tried. We got it down and now Tucker has two balls. At least until one of them disappears again.
5
01, 2016
How are your 2016 resolutions coming along?
We’re four days into the New Year. If you’re like me, I suspect you’ve broken one or more of the resolutions you made for this year.
It happens. Good intentions slide, pushed aside by reality and unrealistic expectations.
What happens next is discouragement. Our mindset becomes I can’t and we set aside our goals. We give up.
That’s so sad and not the correct response, in my opinion. Let me tell you why I think that way.
Recently my youngest daughter shared her Elsie Joy’s goal tracker sheet from 2015 on Instagram. Every day my daughter had marked her goal progress on the tracking sheet. On December 31st she did the math and found she’d hit her goal 93.15% of the time. For someone who works full time in a high tech position that requires lots of travel, scrapbooks, blogs, and corrals three active teenagers and a special needs dog. That’s a remarkable result!
So why was my daughter so successful? I believe there are two reasons:
First, she applied Elise Joy’s principle of “Big Things Happen One Day at a Time.”
Second, when she missed a day to bubble in one of her circles, she blew it off and let it go.
I’m big on accountability and goals. I’ve always set yearly goals and charted the methods I’d use to accomplish those goals. I blogged about my process here.
This year I’m adding a goal sheet like my daughter’s as a handy visual to chart my success. Seeing those circles bubbled will encourage.
Looking bare right now, but 2016 just started. Yes, you’ll also notice there are already days I’ve missed for one of my goals.
That’s okay. Tomorrow is a new day.
Btw, I get no kickback from Elsie Joy. I just happened to believe her chart is a great way to stay on target for our New Years’ resolutions. Check out her website for other goal setting tools.
Or, create your own chart design if you want. But most of all, I hope you forget about the broken resolutions and give those resolutions another try.