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18 02, 2015

A Love Affair

By judythemorgan|2015-02-18T06:00:38-06:00February 18th, 2015|one word Wednesday|0 Comments

Love is in the air. It is, after all, February.

I must confess I’ve caught the love bug and I’m having an affair.

A love affair with words.

Long before I met my husband and shared my heart with him, words held me in their spell.

The affair goes way back to when I learned the alphabet and started to string letters into words. Then I learned to read words and instantly knew …

Words are powerful. Potent.

Words enchant. Entice.

Words stir emotions.

I listened to nursery rhymes, chants, and children’s poetry read from My Book House, a series of twelve volumes compiled and edited by Olive Beaupré Miller.

Stories and poetry from My Book House opened worlds I’d never imagined. As I grew older and worked my way through the volumes, biographies of famous men and women down through history inspired me, folklore from around the world fascinated me, and poetry from Longfellow, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Song of Solomon inspired me.

Curled up reading through those volumes, my love for words grew stronger and blossomed into a love of books.I doubt I’ll ever abandon my affair with words, but don’t worry my husband doesn’t mind. He loves books as much as I do. Thank heavens the supply of books is unending.

13 02, 2015

Chicken Cookies

By judythemorgan|2015-02-13T06:00:24-06:00February 13th, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|4 Comments

By Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our school secretary/business administrator is a wonderful lady. I’ve always known that the school secretary is the one who runs the school, and that is never truer than in a small private school. When she was gone for a few days taking care of her husband it took 4 people to do her job.

She has two grandsons who were in my music classes when they were at the school. They frequently visit so I keep an eye out at the food pantry for things they might enjoy. Each week I stop by the school on my way home to deliver whatever prizes I have found.

Last Friday Mary had a prize for me. She had been working at a garage sale and found a basket of cookie cutters. Among them was this:She immediately thought of me.

I was thrilled. I have quite a collection of cookie cutters – thanks to my mother – but a chicken was not among them.

Over the weekend, along with canning 6 pints of tomato sauce, 6 pints of spiced apples, 4 half pints of apple butter, and freezing 10 cups of mashed sweet potatoes, I made chicken cookies.

I took them to school and left them in the teacher workroom with a note explaining that they were chicken cookies – sugar cookies shaped like chickens, not cookies made from chicken. At least one teacher was glad for the clarification.

11 02, 2015

Four Passionate Romantic Gestures

By judythemorgan|2015-02-11T06:00:39-06:00February 11th, 2015|Holidays|3 Comments

According to French writer François Rabelais, “Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective, and valuable than words.”

With Valentine’s Day this weekend, I expect romantic gestures will abound. Every year at this time sales of red roses and chocolates will soar. Couples share candlelight dinners. Expensive jewelry is exchanged. All very romantic things to do to express love for one’s sweetheart.

I’m wondering how whatever gestures of love are made this weekend can conpete with these:

Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal

Around 1632 Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal—with its elaborate minarets, 250-foot-high domed mausoleum and 42-acre grounds—as a tomb for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to the couple’s 14th child. When he died in 1666, he was buried beside her.

Edward VIII’s Abdication of the Throne

King Edward the VIII became the most romantic English royal of all when he fell in love with American Wallis Simpson. Forced to choose between love and crown, Edward abdicated the throne in December 1936. Simpson quickly divorced her husband to marry Edward the following year. They spent the rest of their lives in retirement in France.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Love Sonnets to Robert Browning

The love between poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning is one of literature’s greatest romances. In 1850 Elizabeth Barrett’s “Sonnets from the Portuguese,” a series of love poems composed when the pair first began their courtship was published. “Sonnets from the Portuguese” includes the immortal line, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”

Joe DiMaggio’s Flowers for Marilyn Monroe

Married to Marilyn Monroe for only 274 days in 1954, Joe DiMaggio remained infatuated with the legendary blonde bombshell for the rest of his life sending red roses to her grave in Los Angeles three times a week for the next twenty years.

Over the years, my very romantic husband has given me some incredible wonderful gifts of love.

He’s not built a Taj Mahal, but a lovely home in the forest I dearly love sharing with him. He hasn’t abdicated a throne, but if he were royalty, he tells me he would. He has written love poems, and given me Hallmark cards, that equal or surpass Mrs. Browning’s sonnets. And, though I won’t be around, I can see him leaving me flowers. He surprises me frequently with a lovely bouquet,

How about you have you received some awesome romantic gesture(s) of love you’d be willing to share?

6 02, 2015

Mutant Bee

By judythemorgan|2015-02-06T06:00:19-06:00February 6th, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

by Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

Last Wednesday was one of those days where there were more things on my to-do list than hours in the day. I knew this as I was swimming at 5:30am and was already stressing about it. Not a good sign.

A trip to Wal-Mart was on my list which, in and of itself, is a stress inducer. Since I was going anyway, I decided to take our recyclables. This included plastic, paper and tin cans. Our Wal-Mart has a drive through recycling center so I don’t even have to get out of the car.

As I pulled up, I saw a group of small children gathered around the plastic sorting bin. Standing behind the bin was a bee. Not just a regular bee but a human sized bee. I took a picture.

The kids were from a local school and were on a fieldtrip learning about recycling.

I had to smile in spite of my stressed out self. I figured the day was turning out to be ok after all.

Now if I can just get my hands on that bee suit… I’m sure I can think of a place to wear it.

4 02, 2015

Wintry words

By judythemorgan|2015-02-04T06:00:40-06:00February 4th, 2015|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Even before words became my trade, they fascinated me. I was one of those weird kids who actually looked forward to vocabulary lists and looking up all those meanings.

I loved spending the night with my BFF in high school because her father challenged us at breakfast with a new word for the day. One of Mr. C’s words was ratiocinate.

Now, I have to admit that I didn’t use ratiocinate much except when my children were younger. During my children’s heated arguments, I’d say, “Let’s keep the ratiocinating to a dull roar.” Hearing the big would quiet the raised voices until they caught on. Even now the word comes to mind more than you’d think.

Btw, ratiocinate means to reason or argue rationally. ORIGIN, according to Dictionary.com: 1635-45; < Latin ratiōcinātus past participle of ratiōcinārī to reckon, calculate, conclude, verbal derivative of ratiō reason

As I write my stories and blogs, I try to not to repeat the same words over and over. My thesaurus paperback is well worn and tea stained. I think I’m on my third or fourth copy. My fingers will automatically go to Shift F7 so Microsoft Word can instantly bring up their embedded thesaurus. Other times I go to Thesaurus.com to come up appropriate synonyms.

Lately I’ve been overusing wintery words like cold, frosty, frozen, icy, chilly, winter, hibernate to name a few. Who doesn’t with the wintery weather plummeting the country? Does your backyard look like this? Mine does.

I headed to my trusted sources and found some alternates for the overused words. How about these?

Hibernaculum instead of hibernate ORIGIN: 1690-1700; from Latin: winter residence

Gelid instead of icy ORIGIN: c.1600 from Latin gelidus icy cold, from gelu frost

Frore instead of frozen ORIGIN: 1200-50; Middle English froren past participle of Old English frēosan to freeze

Just think about it, Disney could have used Frore for the title of their popular movie, FROZEN.

Hiemal instead of winter ORIGIN: “pertaining to winter,” 1550s, from Latin hiems “winter”

Algid instead of cold ORIGIN: 1620-30 from Latin algidus, from algēre to be cold

I’m wondering how my newfound wintry words will work on social media or in my current work in progress. Do you think the new words will work?

If you shook your head, I think you’re correct.

There are so many, many wonderful words in dictionaries and thesauruses. Unfortunately, we use them less and less because of texting and tweeting.

My BFF’s father Mr. C would be so sad to see how we’re wasting words.

I know the trend makes me sad.

2 02, 2015

Leavin’ Cancer Fears

By judythemorgan|2015-02-02T06:00:45-06:00February 2nd, 2015|Make Me Think Monday|3 Comments

Recently I met a new friend. Her name is Heather Von St. James, and she’s a mesothelioma cancer survivor. At age 36, just 3 ½ months after giving birth to her first and only daughter, she was given 15 months to live.

Heather’s contact surprised me. Pleasantly surprised me. When readers take the time to comment or email, it means my writing has done its job—resonated with readers. I do love hearing from readers about my books and here on the blog.

But back to Heather’s email. She asked me to share her story. It’s a touching and inspiring story.

If you aren’t familiar with mesothelioma cancer, it’s also known as asbestos cancer.

Asbestos is a mineral with versatile properties that made it useful for everything from fireproof vests to home and commercial construction prior to 1980. Asbestos was even woven into fabric, and mixed with cement. Asbestos was everywhere.

Not anymore. As useful as it was, asbestos proved to be a known cause of lung cancer. Check here to learn more about asbestos and mesothelioma cancer.

Heather stands as testimony that a diagnosis of asbestos cancer does not have to be a death sentence. You can view her incredible story here

When Heather learned of her diagnosis, she made the tough decision to have her lung removed. Now every year she celebrates Lungleavin Day, the day her lung was removed. She writes her fears on a plate and tosses the plate into a bonfire. The action provides a means to conquer the fear her cancer diagnosis brought.

She says, “There is something about giving voice to your fears, writing them down, then smashing them in a fire, and seeing the shards of that plate, and those shards of fears in the flames that gives you courage to face up to them and not let them rule your life.”

Read all about her Lungleavin’ Day here at The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

Today marks Heather’s ninth Lungleaving Day. She has invited us to celebrate with her via an interactive Leavin’ Day website.

So whether you have mesothelioma or some other form of cancer, join me at Lungleaving Day 2015

We’ll write our fear on a cyber plate and toss it into the fire. As Heather says, “We break plates. And it works.”

30 01, 2015

Do Chickens Eat Bread?

By judythemorgan|2015-01-30T06:00:37-06:00January 30th, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

By Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

It all started with this simple question: Do your chickens eat bread?

A friend was helping at a food distribution event and had a lot of bread left over. She did not want to throw it in the dumpster so she asked if we could feed it to the chickens. We figured bread is made of grain and chickens eat grain so chickens must eat bread.

My husband went and picked up what turned out to be several boxes of very nice bread – sour dough, cranberry, whole wheat and many others. Most of it was in fine condition – much too good to feed to chickens so we pulled out the good loaves and started calling friends to see if they wanted any.

That was several years ago. Now every Friday I go and help my friend with this food distribution that has turned out to be more than just bread. In fact it is like Christmas when the truck opens the door. We’re never quite sure what we will find. There have been cases of bananas, avocadoes, beets, turnips, and bags of onions, carrots, grapefruit, and oranges.

We have started calling whatever is in abundance the “secret ingredient”. Some people make a game out of seeing how many ways they can fix whatever we get in abundance.

One week recently there was spaghetti squash. Most people did not know how to fix it so as I handed it out, I explained what to do with it. There was still a lot left over which I brought home and gave to any of our friends and neighbors who wanted it. I even had people I didn’t know who heard we had a truck load of squash and came to get some. It is an interesting way to meet people to say the least.

Last week’s “secret ingredient” was apples. They came in a large (the size of cardboard box that stores put watermelons in) wooden crate. We put them in bags which seems simple enough. Except it was raining and cold. We bagged apples until our hands were numb. What was leftover after the distribution I loaded as much as I could fit into the back of my truck along with the leftover bread, cabbage, grapefruit, and bananas. When I got home I covered the back of the truck with a tarp and went inside to thaw out.

When my son got home from school, he said, “Mom I need to make an apple cobbler.” He was totally unaware of what I had in the truck.

I smiled and said, “I just happen to have some apples.”

Matt made cobbler, Brian made apple butter, and I made apple pie, baked apples and dried apples. This was after giving apples to everyone we know.

Now we are ready for this weeks “secret ingredient.”

26 01, 2015

Sunshine Salad, Smiles, and Community Potlucks

By judythemorgan|2015-01-26T06:00:15-06:00January 26th, 2015|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

I recently shared potluck supper at our community center with the smidgeon of others who ventured out on a snowy eve.

Community potluck happens every second Tuesday of the month from September through May here in our little town. We’re primarily a tourist location. Our summer population swells to four thousand then shrinks to three hundred for the winter months.

We have way too many people to schedule a potluck during the summer in our tiny community center, but it’s a fun event in the winter. You can visit face-to-face with neighbors who otherwise stay huddled inside their homes close to a fire on these cold wintry days.

You never know what you’ll find on the serving table on potluck Tuesday. The selection varies except for Dwayne’s chicken and dumplings, which is the main reason I go every month. Dwayne makes the best ever homemade dumplings. He and his wife Edna were chuck wagon cooks and they do know how to cook.

Me, I bring different things. Nothing baked, though.

I’ve yet to master high altitude baking. High altitude adjustments don’t seem to work for my scratch recipes no matter what adjustment advice I use. My hubby doesn’t mind the flops, but I’m not about to take the failures out in public.

Last time I took what I call Sunshine Salad. After a dreary day of snow, I thought the bright colors of orange Jell-O with mandarin oranges and pineapple might cheer us up.

I was right. People smiled and I took home and empty bowl!

The hiccup came when everyone wanted the recipe and I had to confess what I served wasn’t really, truly Sunshine Salad.

You see, my Grandmother made her Sunshine Salad using the traditional congealed salad recipe you’ll find if you Google Sunshine Salad.

She used lemon Jell-O and lemon juice and topped each serving with a dollop of mayonnaise. Lemon is not sweet enough for my family’s discerning palate.

Not only that, she added shredded carrots and pecans.

Two of my adult kids and half my grandchildren won’t touch nuts with a ten foot pole much less eat nuts and carrots are a VEGETABLE.

I loved Oma’s Sunshine Salad. Still do.

But I love my kids and grandkids more.

That’s why I made up my Sunshine Salad recipe using sweet mandarin oranges and pineapple tidbits jelled in a ring mold.

Whenever the family gathers to share a meal, we serve the standard things with sides for those who eat those things, but I can’t have half the guests starving.

I fix their favorites — Kraft macaroni and cheese along with my special pineapple/mandarin orange Sunshine Salad.

They’ve come to expect it. And I see the same smiles on their faces that I saw on the adults at the community potluck last week.

Smiles that were sunshine to the eyes on a snowy day.

I guess Sunshine Salad will become my standby like Dwayne’s chicken and dumplings.

23 01, 2015

Happy Chickens

By judythemorgan|2015-01-23T06:00:46-06:00January 23rd, 2015|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

The weather was horrible here on Miller Farm last week. It was cold and rainy from Saturday until Friday.

For those of you dealing with snow and ice, I expect no sympathy. However, as I was standing in the cold rain, feeding chickens, I had lots of sympathy for myself.

The chicken yard was a complete disaster. I had to really concentrate to keep from slipping and falling in the mud. And the chickens weren’t laying many eggs.

Then the sun came out. It was a glorious sight.

As the ground was drying, I realized how bare it was. We had put seven bags of leaves out before the holidays, and they had all disintegrated. On Sunday as I walked the dogs, I saw several bags of leaves by the curb in front of various houses. I made a mental note to go back with the truck and pick them up to put out in the chicken yard.

Picking up things on the curb is a family pastime although usually it involves furniture left when people move out. Leaves are not particularly interesting unless you have chickens.

Last time Rachel and I picked up leaves we filled the truck and planned to return for the rest. The owner of the house had moved the bags away from the curb when we returned. Perhaps he changed his mind about getting rid of them.

Anyway, on my way home from swimming Monday morning I noticed bags of leaves in front of a friend’s house. I figured it was safe to pick these up – she wouldn’t likely change her mind. So I loaded them up and took them home.

After breakfast, I spread them out in the chicken yard. The birds were so excited.As I walked back up to the house, I heard the sound of leaves crunching as the chickens scratched through them. It was the sound of happy chickens.

Now maybe they will resume laying eggs.

19 01, 2015

Peace and MLK Day

By judythemorgan|2015-01-19T06:00:40-06:00January 19th, 2015|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Martin Luther King was the pivotal figure in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. His calm civil disobedience and charismatic leadership inspired men and women, young and old, here and around the world.

President Ronald Reagan signed legislation in 1983 designating the day as a federal holiday to honor the man and his accomplishments.

Dr. King inspired so many, so much that in 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize – the youngest man to receive the prestigious honor.

When we think about amount of violence prevalent today and the increasingly violent movies, television shows and video games, I totally agree with Dr. King’s daughter, Bernice.

“Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence is more relevant, I believe, than it was 10 years ago,” she said. “America has an enormous appetite for violence. I don’t know why we have such an affinity for that, but I do know it has to stop.”

Through his lectures and dialogues, he stirred, and still stirs, our conscience. Consider these MLK quotes as you honor him today:

On Leadership

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

On Love

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

On Getting Along

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

On Faith

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”

On Service

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

And as you think about that last quote, I remind you of the legislation passed in in 1994 establishing Martin Luther King Day of Service to encourage citizens to use the federal holiday as an opportunity to give back to their communities.

Even if you don’t have the federal day off, I encourage you to find a work that forwards King’s vision and participate. Let MLK Day be the start of a year in which you make a positive and peaceful impact in your community.