Wednesday Words of Wisdom
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.
25
12, 2015
Wishing you a joyous Christmas Day!
View from the Front Porch will be on hiatus until January 8th. Before we go we invite you to take a break and enjoy this amazing version of Silent Night performed in ASL by Susan Layton.
From Chicken Wrangler Sara and myself, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate the day, and Happy New Year to all. See you in 2016!
21
12, 2015
One piano scale, timeless good news
In just 2 minutes and 46 seconds, this video from Igniter Media and narrated by Willie Minor sums up the reason for the season using a simple basic scale.
I never heard this from my piano teachers, but what a great lesson to share.
18
12, 2015
Caroling Chickens
A holiday blog from Chicken Wrangler Sara and her chickens
7
12, 2015
My Holiday Paradox… I hate this part!
Christmas is always such a paradox for me.
I love it, but hate so much that goes with the season like the decorating, the baking, the Christmas cards, the parties, the gift shopping… you get the idea. And, most of all, I hate the rushing to get everything done. I want to wiggle my nose like Samantha from the Bewitched TV series of the sixties and seventies and have all the preparations done.
At the same time, I miss all the falderol after years of not decking the halls. Why did we stop decorating, baking, and partying? Several reasons…
Last year I broke my right wrist at Thanksgiving and had surgery, so not much Christmas happened last year.
Before that, we were only at our cabin for December so it seemed pointless to decorate or bake at either the Colorado place or our Texas home, which meant three years of not much Christmas spirit around either homestead.
When we made the decision to move permanently to Colorado and put the Texas house up for sale, the Realtor said no Christmas decorations. We took her advice and celebrated the holiday sans decorations and homemade holiday treats instead we went to relatives’ homes during the season.
Our move and remodel/addition consumed two more years of no decorating, baking, etc. We always had a tree, though. Our son-in-law hiked up into the forest behind our house and cut one.
This year, we vowed to change what was becoming a trend of a minimalist holiday celebration. It is time to get back into the holiday spirit.
I donned my “I hate this part.” tee shirt, gathered all the red and green plastic containers filled with years of holiday decorations, played Christmas music from satellite radio, and begin the arduous task of making the house festive.
Then the part of Christmas that I love came rushing back…
Every ornament and all the decorations whispered a story. Memories brought smiles as we hung ornaments and added touches of Christmas to all the rooms in the house. We went slowly, taking time to relish each and every precious memory.
Seeing the house transform into a winter wonderland inspired my husband to make his famous Chex Mix. Familiar scents from that holiday favorite spurred plans for other traditions like his pralines and fudge.
I’m also planning to bake Christmas cookies for the first time in years. I’ve even started practicing Christmas carols.
We had helpers, who reminded us of Christmases past when our adult children were toddlers fascinated by the sights, the sounds, and the smells of the season.
It’s fun seeing all the familiar Christmas things again. We’re truly pumped about our celebration this year and refuse to allow even the tiniest thought about what has to be done to undo after New Year’s Day.
What about you? Do you have an “I hate this part.” of the season? If not, what’s your most favorite part of your holiday season?
4
12, 2015
Two Weeks…
A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
That is exactly how long it took Max to worm his way into the Miller household permanently. I should have known there was trouble the day Max was returned to Beekeeper Brian and spent the day at work with him. Brian sent this picture:
Max would not stop whining so Brian held him in his shirt. From that point on they have been inseparable.
Max sleeps as close as possible – even if that means sleeping on Brian’s shoes:
He has given the term “facetime” a new meaning:
The other dogs have accepted him and Penny, his sister, is particularly glad to have someone her size to play with.
So now Miller Farm has 30 or so chickens and 6 long haired miniature dachshunds. I would say we are full up at the Inn but I’m not sure it would make any difference. :)
23
11, 2015
Thanksgiving Thanks
If you live in the United States, you’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving Day soon.
We Americans began celebrating the day during the Civil War when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
Since 1924, many of us spend the day watching New York City’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or football. The National Football League has been broadcasting games since its inception in 1920. And, of course, there are always the collegiate teams to cheer for. Around our house, timing of our Thanksgiving Day meal is based on when the University of Texas Longhorns play.
Things today are different from that first Pilgrim Thanksgiving feast in the early autumn of 1621. What hasn’t change is the basis for Thanksgiving. We still pause on this day to give thanks for our blessings.
While I believe an attitude of gratitude should be an everyday occurrence, this Thanksgiving I am reminded of my many blessings:
A loving husband (who’s the hero model for my novels)
Family and friends (far and near)
My pets (who brighten every day)
Most especially you, my readers
If you are traveling this Thanksgiving Day, I wish you Godspeed. Our weather forecast for here in the mountains of Colorado is for snow on Thanksgiving Day, which will make a perfect day for those who ski or like to watch football games.
Me, I’m not that crazy about football or skiing. I’ll be cozied next to the fireplace reading.
If you have a Kindle, you can be reading too. Pick up a copy of my latest release. It’s my special Thanksgiving Thank you for you.
When Love Returns for KINDLE: http://amzn.to/1My5CeW 