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18 05, 2013

Saluting Our Armed Forces on Armed Forces Day

By judythemorgan|2013-05-18T05:23:02-05:00May 18th, 2013|Holidays|0 Comments

On this Armed Forces Day, I want to salute them and all our Armed Forces. Whether Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard, or Coast Guard, our active and reserve service personnel are an important part of the United States.

Did you know that in 1775 – the year before the Declaration of Independence was signed – our national Army, Navy, and Marines were officially formalized?

While this was the beginning of the military branches, wariness of a standing army caused the Founders initially to only employ military men during times of need, and rely on local militias when possible.

Soon it became obvious that a standing national military was necessary to protect the fledgling country and our modern military branches were established. As the armed forces matured and technology advanced, the Air Force became a separate branch in 1947, and with it, the National Guard.

Historically, each armed service branch celebrated its own holiday, but in 1949, all branches came under the administration of the Department of Defense.

The first joint Armed Forces Day was celebrated on May 20, 1950.

A New York Times article from May 17, 1952 stated: “It is our most earnest hope that those who are in positions of peril, that those who have made exceptional sacrifices, yes, and those who are afflicted with plain drudgery and boredom, may somehow know that we hold them in exceptional esteem.”

Every day we should remember that the military is not a faceless entity, but rather the son or daughter, neighbor or friend who chose to be ready to fight so others don’t have to. These men and women in uniform take their responsibility of citizenship one large step further.

©iStockphoto.com/videodet

I’m the daughter of an World War II Army Air Corp officer, the wife of a retired US Army Reservist, and mother-in-law to a Coast Guard veteran, I know the sacrifices involved.

Today I offer a big thank you to all our Armed Forces, regardless of branch, rank, or duties, for their service and sacrifice.

Won’t you join me?

17 05, 2013

Gathering Chicks

By judythemorgan|2013-05-17T05:06:42-05:00May 17th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|3 Comments

A guest blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Usually when you have a farm, you think of gathering eggs. In our case, we must also gather chicks.

First, we move the chicks out of the brooder into the small chicken yard. The chicks are understandably frightened of the big world and huddle together in a “chick pile.”

We have to gather them up and put them into the coop at night to keep them safe from predators like possums.

After a few nights, they get more adventurous and move from the corner of the yard to directly under the coop, which makes the nightly gathering process much more difficult.

Eventually they get the idea that inside the coop is the place to be at night, and we simply have to close the door.

But there is the one crazy chicken who wants to live next door. Several times, we have found her in the neighbor’s yard and must gather her back to her flock. She is smart enough to go behind the privacy fence where their dog cannot get to her.

The first morning I went to get her, the neighbor’s dog was out so I closed the gate to the privacy fence while I gathered the chicken to take back to her place in the chicken coop yard.

Too late, I realized the fence locked from the other side and I was locked in.

There was a time in my life when I would have panicked. After running Miller farm for several years it takes more than being locked in the neighbor’s yard to fluster me!

I simply climbed up the fence and unlocked the gate.

We also have a crazy quail. Being white, it is automatically different from all the others. A couple of weeks ago, Crazy Quail aka CQ got its wing stuck in the cage. I carefully got it unstuck and fully expected it to die.

It didn’t, but its wing was broken and it can’t fly. Now CQ attacks whoever puts food in the cage or getting eggs out and frequently jumps out onto the ground.

I have to gather CQ back into the cage all the time wondering why I don’t just let the crazy bird escape. I guess I feel sorry for it since it can’t really fly with the broken wing.

My parents have an Old English Sheep dog that likes to “herd” whatever is around including people.

Toby training to herd goats.

All this gathering of chicken and quail makes me wonder if we could train Toby to herd birds.

15 05, 2013

One Word Wednesday – SIT

By judythemorgan|2021-05-04T08:13:27-05:00May 15th, 2013|one word Wednesday|0 Comments

I have a Matese named Buster and this is so him. He loves to sit, especially on my lap.

Sitting is good if you’re a Buster, but for a writer doing this is better.

Because, if all you do is sit, then you never finish the book!

So my question for you today is–will you be sitting or writing?

13 05, 2013

How are you celebrating National Leprechaun Day?

By judythemorgan|2013-05-13T06:03:51-05:00May 13th, 2013|Make Me Think Monday|4 Comments

Today is National Leprechaun Day.

No one knows the origins of the National Leprechaun Day holiday, but I’d be guessing one of the tiny creatures came up with the idea for a day in his honor. Being a bit Irish meself, I think it’s delightful that leprechauns have a day separate from St. Patrick’s Day.

Irish folklore portrays Leprechauns as sly and sneaky elves who dress in waistcoats and hats. While they are small in stature, they are quick as a whip and masters of practical jokes.

They are also keen musicians who play tin whistles, the fiddle, and even the Irish Harp and love to dance. Truth is, they love dancing so much, they wear out their shoes and constantly have to make new ones.

You might see a leprechaun if you go to Ireland. Tis been known to happen. But catching one of the mischievous pranksters is another matter entirely!

The wee people hide because, if someone finds a leprechaun, then the leprechaun has to either give his pot of gold to the finder or grant him or her three wishes.

The devious little creatures will do anything to escape from man so they should never be trusted. Some say angry leprechauns are more common than friendly ones. Not true. They tend to dislike humans because humans always seem to chase them for wishes and pots of gold.

If you do happen to catch one, be aware the leprechaun will use all his magical powers to grant you three wishes in return for his freedom. He might even offer you a pot of gold, but he’s also likely to trick you. Check here for tips on How to Catch a Leprechaun.

Most people celebrate this day for fun and for luck. Activities include:

organizing Leprechaun hunts,
throwing Leprechaun parties,
playing practical jokes, and
eating and sharing gold foil wrapped chocolate coins

My suggestion to celebrate Leprechaun Day is watch this ten-minute video from the 1959 movie, Darby O’Gill and the Little People. I promise your toe will be tapping right along with their dancing. You’ll also catch a bit of Leprechaun craftiness.

In case you’re not into little green men, you can celebrate frogs because today is also Frog Jumping Day

You’re choice.

Me, I’m celebrating National Leprechaun Day.

12 05, 2013

Mother’s Day 2013

By judythemorgan|2013-05-12T06:10:58-05:00May 12th, 2013|Holidays|0 Comments

Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

Today I want to say an extra special thank you to so many mothers who teach their children the love of books.

Copies of this adorable print can be purchased here.

Enjoy your Mother’s Day and if you get the chance, read to someone.

10 05, 2013

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

By judythemorgan|2013-05-10T05:09:59-05:00May 10th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday, Uncategorized|5 Comments

by Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our next-door neighbor called yesterday afternoon and said, “There is something on the outside wall of your house that you will want to see.”

My first question was “Is it alive?”

“Very much alive” was the answer.

So I headed out side to see whatever it was….

Yup, it is a tarantula.

Rachel’s first comment was “It is not coming inside.”

Since it was close to the window of our bedroom, we discussed whether tarantulas could get through glass. We decided they could not.

Beekeeper Brian put on a glove and was planning to hold it, but it got a little testy – picture all those hairy legs sticking straight up.

We left it alone.

About 2:30 in the next morning, Tucker started whining. I took him to the back door, but he didn’t need to go outside. I checked the weather, but no thunderstorm in sight.

We went back to bed.

I must confess, I did lay awake for a while wondering about the spider. But I soon fell back asleep and so did Tucker.

This morning the itsy bitsy spider was gone.

I’m not sure what is more disconcerting – seeing the spider one day or not seeing it the next.

8 05, 2013

One Word Wednesday – AUTHOR

By judythemorgan|2013-05-08T05:57:56-05:00May 8th, 2013|one word Wednesday|4 Comments

AUTHOR – the word conjures many images.

So how do you recognize an author?

My friend and multipublished author Joan Reeves created this fabulous video about how to recognize an author.

Enjoy!

6 05, 2013

Where do you write?

By judythemorgan|2013-05-06T06:50:12-05:00May 6th, 2013|Make Me Think Monday|3 Comments

I’m always fascinated by where writers write and what their writing spaces look like. I enjoy looking at pictures of famous authors’ desk and writing spaces.

Some places where writers write are pretty awesome.

: Charlotte Bronte’s Writing Space

This blog has some wonderful examples of famous writer’s offices.

: Rudyard Kipling’s Writing Space

If you’re as fascinated by where writers write as I am, I recommend these sites.

Where Writers Writer http://wherewriterswrite.tumblr.com/
Poets and Writers http://www.pw.org/content/writing_spaces

After thirty-three years of working in my old office, our recent move meant I had to create a new writing space.

The old room offered plenty of space for me, my writing assistant plus two desks-one for my laptop and one for my desktop, a Xerox machine, and multiple bookcases.

A complete world for my writing space.

Not so in our new location. This house has 1,200 square feet compared to 3,600 square feet in our old home. Needless to say, my new writing space is MUCH smaller.

SMALL isn’t the problem.

I can work in small spaces. I’ve written in cars, hotel rooms, on a train, and even on a cruise. All I need is spot for my computer or AlphaSmart.

But there’s something special about having my own office space. Now I’m using the smaller extra bedroom. Too bad the desk I brought with me was designed for a much larger space and the room already has a twin-sized trundle bed.

The real problem was finding places for all the extra-writing stuff—printers, files, reference and resource books, etc. No room for the tables, file cabinets, and bookcases.

After weeks of placing things, my office writing space now looks like this. Plenty of room for my writing assistants and me.

With my office set up again, I’m set to get back to some serious writing.

YOUR TURN: Do you have a writing office? If not, what is your writing space like?

3 05, 2013

Visitor at School

By judythemorgan|2013-05-03T07:00:05-05:00May 3rd, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|7 Comments

by Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

Coco, our youngest dachshund, was sick this week with a bacterial infection in her stomach. The vet said not to feed her for 24 hours.

I figured the other three dachshunds would not be too thrilled about fasting with Coco so I took her to school with me.

I kept her kennel behind my desk and covered it up during my classes so the kids would not be distracted.

Coco, who was not pleased with this plan, made her feelings known by whining loudly. In each class, when the students asked about the noise, I had to admit that I had my dog at school.

One of the fifth grade girls was quite relieved. She said, “Whew, I thought you were going to say you had a chicken back there.”

Did she really think I’d bring a chicken to school?

But on the other hand, if Mary could take her little lamb to school, I guess I could bring a chicken…or a daschund with a tummy ache.

2 05, 2013

The National Day of Prayer

By judythemorgan|2013-05-02T05:03:35-05:00May 2nd, 2013|Uncategorized|2 Comments

In 1952, the United States Senate designated the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer.

A day set aside when Americans of all faiths gather in prayer in front of courthouses, houses of worship, mosques, synagogues, and temples. Communities schedule luncheons, picnics, and music performances revolving around praying for our nation.

Click here to find a celebration near you: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/events/

The theme for today’s 62^nd annual observance of National Day of Prayer is “Pray for America.” At noon today, Honorary Chairman Pastor Greg Laurie will offer this prayer:

“Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.

How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, “America, America, God shed His grace on thee.” Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence.

Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from our courtrooms, classrooms and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have “forgotten God.” But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.

Scripture tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said, “Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6)

That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to you. You have told us if we will humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2 Chronicles7:14)

Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much.

We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ.”

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. A day when people of all faiths can pause and pray for our nation and our leaders.

I believe we can do nothing more important and encourage everyone, no matter what his or her religious preference, to join me today.