Judythe Morgan Archives - Page 65 of 143 - View from the Front Porch

12 04, 2019

Perspective

By judythemorgan|2024-04-26T14:40:36-05:00April 12th, 2019|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I cut this comic out of the Sunday paper recently. I have quite a collection of comics. Some are about dogs or chickens or music. This one is about perspective.

It has made me think differently.

My students at school are always getting excited about ordinary things – like butterflies or flowers. One brought several rocks to me this week and said, “aren’t they smooth?”

Until that moment they had just been rocks to me. But now I’ve decided to trade places and let my students teach me about perspective and finding the wonder in life.

Maybe it will make “adulting” easier.

11 04, 2019

Boredom Busters: Keep Fido Entertained

By judythemorgan|2019-04-10T15:02:47-05:00April 11th, 2019|Guest blogger|0 Comments

A Blog by Guest Blogger Brandon Butler

Photo By: Pixabay

Snow, sleet, rain, or shine, when your pooch follows the same monotonous routine day in and day out, boredom is bound to creep in. Unfortunately, along with that boredom might come some unwanted behaviors. Rather than fuss and plea with your pooch, why not fight the boredom and enjoy some quality time with man and woman’s best friend?

Is Your Pup Bored?

Last time you checked, your pooch wasn’t able to verbally express his boredom, unless of course you are Dr. Dolittle. However, there are several signs to look out for that point to a restless pooch.

You may notice your dog using his words in the form of barking at everything and everyone. Perhaps your pooch is suddenly misbehaving such as getting into the garbage, turning over food/water bowls, ripping into treat bags, or suddenly engaging in a behavior that he has been trained not to do. Pay attention to how your dog reacts when you get home, too. He is excited to see you, of course, but all the energy that has built up throughout the day is being unleashed upon you.

Explore Indoor Options

The weather isn’t always cooperative, which means you’ll have to find some ways to entertain your pooch indoors. Have an epic game of hide-and-seek by hiding treats, tennis balls, or other toys around the house to not only get your pup up and moving, but give him some mental stimulation, too. You can even take it a step further and hide yourself. Call out to Fido and suppress the giggles as he sets out on a mission to find you.

Perhaps you could set up an indoor agility course, or play a game of fetch using a soft toy. Since you are already stuck indoors, why not spend some time preparing for future outdoor fun by brushing up on your dog’s public etiquette, leash walking, and basic commands.

Get Out When You Can

Once the weather starts to cooperate, it’s time to head outside for some outdoor fun. There are plenty of dog parks in the area, offering Fido an opportunity for an off-leash romp as well as some canine socialization. Make it a day or overnight trip by heading out for a beach day, hike, or camping trip. If you’re going camping, make sure you’re prepared and that you bring along a pet first aid kit and collapsible water bowl. You can even have your pup help shoulder the load with dog backpack (read reviews before making a purchase).

You could bring some of the indoor activities mentioned above outside by playing hide-and-seek in a fenced-in area or play fetch in a wide-open space. The truth is, there are plenty of dog-friendly activities in your area. If you aren’t sure where to start, sites like BringFido will point you in the right direction.

If Fido is bored, it’s time to do something about it. Entertainment options abound no matter what the weather is like outside, giving both of you an opportunity for fun and bonding.

10 04, 2019

Mother Goose Daffodil Rhyme

By judythemorgan|2019-03-23T11:30:38-05:00April 10th, 2019|poetry, Wednesday Words, Weekly Quote|0 Comments

I do love the fun of Mother Goose rhymes. Every Spring when a field of daffodils sprang up behind our house in West Virginia, I envisioned daffodil ladies dancing about. Not so many daffodil fields in Texas, but I still think of this illustration whenever I see a daffodil.

8 04, 2019

Spring and Piddlin’

By judythemorgan|2019-04-06T14:49:51-05:00April 8th, 2019|A Writer's Life|2 Comments

Spring brings out my lackadaisicalness. I’m not lazy, but something about a warm spring day has me doing a lot of piddlin’ around and not staying on task.

I find myself staring into space or watching a cardinal bathe in our water fountain instead of attending to what needs to be done. Or, I’ll wander outside randomly pulling weeds and hours will pass.

Last night I pulled an invasive weed from one of the boxwoods at the back of the yard. Not a bad thing, in fact something that needed to be done, but that led to trimming the Brunfelsia, better known as yesterday, today and tomorrow plant.

SOURCE: B.navez – Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org

The shrub lives on the neighbor’s side of the fence, but hangs over into our yard. The blooms start out purple, fade to lavender, and finally turn white over days. Hence the name yesterday, today, and tomorrow. A plant can have all three at once, which makes it lovely to look at.

Unfortunately all parts of the plant (flowers, leaves, berries, and seeds) are considered toxic to animals.

If one of my four legged boys were to eat a seedpod or branch, they could die. That’s why I trim it to the neighbor’s side of the fence.

Again, my piddlin’ led to a very necessary thing, but not what I was supposed to be doing. I should have been inside fixin’ supper.

Who wants to eat when you can enjoy the outdoors? Too soon it will hot and humid and we’ll be huddling inside in the air conditioning. You have to piddle and take the spring days while you can.

I tried to explain this to my hubby and doggies. They weren’t particularly sympathetic.

5 04, 2019

Duck Containment

By judythemorgan|2019-04-04T18:28:52-05:00April 5th, 2019|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

In our quest to reduce the number of chickens we have, we sold the Welsummer flock (one rooster and four hens) to some friends who are starting over with chickens after building a more secure coop.

That left an empty space which I decided was perfect for the ducks. I moved the “pond” into the new locations and Rachel helped me corral the ducks.

Before I could even close the gate, they had escaped through a loose spot in the fence. They were getting along fine with the chickens so it was not a big problem. I simply wanted to separate them so they would only make a mess of their own waterer.

I secured the fence and decided to wait until dark to capture the ducks and put them in their new home. I learned that ducks do not roost at night like chickens do. I ran around in the dark chasing ducks until I remembered the turkey incident — I fractured my ankle when I stepped into a hole in the chicken yard while chasing a turkey.

I gave up and decided to try in the daylight.

After about a week, I was able to coax Lucy and Ricky into their new home. I filled the “pond” with fresh water and they immediately splashed in.Everybody is happy – especially me. I like everything to have its own home – including the animals.

3 04, 2019

Spring at Work

By judythemorgan|2019-03-23T10:55:49-05:00April 3rd, 2019|resistance to writing, Wednesday Quote, Wednesday Words|1 Comment

Around here, birds are chirping and squirrels are scampering. Trees are budding and the pines are raining green pollen. Spring is indeed at work with joyful enthusiasm in our neck of the woods.

So is the yearning to dig in the dirt. Spring Fever, once again, at war with the task of getting words on the page, and I think it’s winning.

1 04, 2019

Where did April Fools’ Day Come From?

By judythemorgan|2019-03-31T19:45:45-05:00April 1st, 2019|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

Today is officially April Fools’ Day, the day when pranks and pranksters abound.

Playing jokes and tricking people, celebrated in many different cultures, has been around for centuries, but no one knows its origins for sure.

My favorite theory is April Fool’s Day is of French origin and dates back to 1582 when the Council of Trent required the French to switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.

King Charles IX declared New Year’s Day to be April 1 which meant the traditional Boxing Day gift exchange on the first day of the New Year was moved to the new date in April.

Many honored the new date and presented their family and friends with gifts, mainly fish because April 1 falls within Lent, the 40-day period when meat consumption is forbidden.

Those who embraced the new calendar started to mock the reluctant ones, offering false presents and playing tricks on them. Those who are tricked or fooled are called April Fools or Poisson d’avril (April Fish).

Eventually the real fish tradition evolved into the exchange of fish-shaped cakes then paper fish associated with jokes and hoaxes.

School-aged children in France design paper fish to stick on the back of some unsuspecting person. Much like children in the US kick me signs.

April Fools’ Day is a popular, widespread day but not an official public holiday in any of the many countries where it’s recognized. No one seems to want to grant formal recognition to a day that allows attaching paper fish or playing pranks on unsuspecting folks.

Wherever April Fools’ Day originated, it’s a perfect day to enjoy some laughter with family, friends, and coworkers. A few smiles and laughs are important for a balanced life, don’t you think?

29 03, 2019

Another Travel Buddy

By judythemorgan|2019-03-28T20:43:24-05:00March 29th, 2019|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Bill went to San Antonio last week and brought me back a round, plush frog. My first thought, naturally, was a song “Frog in The Middle.”

I considered using it in my music class. However, I found a better use. Since Brian has two travel buddies in his car, perhaps I need two in mine.

So now I have a fat, friendly frog on one side

and a happy eggplant on the other.

That gives me a reason to smile in both directions!

With state testing at the school on the horizon, I need as much help smiling as I can get.

27 03, 2019

Nature’s Pace – Emerson

By judythemorgan|2019-03-23T10:45:13-05:00March 27th, 2019|Wednesday Quote, Wednesday Words of Wisdom, Weekly Quote|2 Comments

Our calendars may say spring, but for many the view says winter. If that’s your view, take heart in Emerson’s words and be patience. Spring will come.

25 03, 2019

The Swim Team

By judythemorgan|2019-03-24T05:24:42-05:00March 25th, 2019|A Writer's Life|1 Comment

I’m on a Swim Team. A very small swim team.

Three of us gather Monday through Friday at the local indoor pool. I don’t know all their names. We rarely speak. Yet we’re a dedicated team. You have to be leave to your house early enough to be in the water at 5:30 am.

Two of us arrive at about the same time usually between 5 – 5:15 a.m. We stand at the door silently. I’m not sure either of us is fully awake. The minute the door is unlocked, we grab our allotted two towels and head to the pool at the back of the building.

Power-swimmer heads directly to the pool. She’s in the water by the time I’ve stripped to my swimsuit under my sweats and stuffed my belongings in a locker.

She swims non-stop. Breaststroke, backstroke, and underwater. Flippers on, flipper off. Without a break. I’m in awe of her stamina.

Basically, I’m not a swimmer. Though several different state Red Cross swim instructors have certified me drown proof. Of course, that probably has more to do with my BMI enabling me to float forever than skills.

While Power-swimmer has her strenuous workout, I walk and doggy paddle in my lane then do chin-ups on the therapy pool equipment and a series of exercises with water weights.

Team member #3 arrives shortly after we’re in the water. I know her name-Char. She walks like I do and our paths cross. Talking’s allowed. Char also swims so once she starts the laps it’s all business. No chit-chat.

Other swimmers join us from day to day. Mostly lap swimmers. Not as intense as our Power member and none swim for as long as the team does.

One day a head popped up in the lane between Power Swimmer and me. I had not seen him come in or enter the water. Scared me that I was so unobservant then Char said the guy swims totally underwater. Since my cardinal pool rule is never to get my face wet, I won’t ever see him until he gets out of the water.

After an hour, Power-swimmer and I leave TM #3. We wave good bye as we head to the locker room.

The others aren’t on the team. They don’t follow the rules: Come every day. Swim an hour. And rules are rules, you know. They’re welcome to join. But that means I’d have to tell my other team members about the team and the rules.