Ya' ever notice how fear is like this living, breathing thing that somehow manages to invade a person's thoughts an' purposes?  I've been fighting that dreadful little demon for such a long time.  'Course, I didn't recognize that I was doin' battle.  It just sorta' eased in an' made itself comfortable, all the while, keeping me from doin' those things that I enjoy an' wanted to do.

     Take, for instance, Blogging.  I really loved blogging when I used to write on my blog, a long time ago.  Then, I started tryin' to run a bit faster than my legs wanted to carry me an', pretty soon, I realized that I had lost control, somewhere along the way.  Did I pick myself up, dust myself off an' jump back into the race?  Well... yes an' no, actually.

     I mean, here I am, trying to set the pace an' go again, but it took me awhile to face the fears of whatever it was I was afraid of.  Hopefully, ya'll can find it in your hearts to forgive me for bein' away for so long?  I hope so, anyway.  I've really missed our chats an' such.  I look forward to gettin' comfortable, again, an' settling back in.

     Ya'll have a good day, y'hear?  Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya


    

          


Hi there!
     If you haven't seen me for awhile, it's on accounta' I haven't been very 'see-able'.  I apologize for my lack of visibility.  Learning computer stuff is haaaaarrrd!  I don't think I'm much further along in my knowledge of 'techie-related' gadgets than I was the last time you saw me, but if you'll bear with me, I'll continue to try learning all I can.  It seems that technology is here to stay an', like it or not, if I don't figure summa' this stuff out, well...

     *Sigh*    

     If you happen to see me out there, somewhere, floundering around in 'Internet Space', could you jus' take 'hold of my hand an' lead me to whatever it is I'm struggling to find?  I'm really trying to hang on in this internet void an' I could sure use some help an' guidance.

     Thanks for your help.  I'm looking forward to connecting with ya'll again an' re-igniting old friendships an' maybe, making even more friends.  I have a kinda' "Love/Hate" relationship with my computer; if it's doin' what I love ~ ~ ~ yeah, you guessed it ~ ~ ~ I love it.  On the other hand, when my 'puter throws me curves an' doesn't wanna' jump through the hoops I like... *Sigh*... I Almost hate it.  Can't quite bring myself to hate it, though.  Not really. 

     You know how it is... If I were to actually Hate my 'puter, well... you know... her feelings would be hurt an' I don't like to hurt anyone's feelings, even my computer's feelings, don'tcha' know?

     Until the next time, keep a hug on. 

 ~ Yaya

Hugs for Everyone!

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Clker

Back Home to Stay

     A few years ago, when I first started blogging, I was totally entranced with the whole idea of blogging.  I love the fact that we can meet people from around the country an' around the world an' actually develop friendships with those new people.  Having traveled much in my life, I can completely embrace that whole concept.

     Then on January 26, 2012, I made a major change which simply did not work for me.  I chose to write on a different website an', for me, the results were nuthin' short of devastating.  I realize that others have made that same change, with great success, but I feel more comfortable here... at my home on Blogspot.

     Now that I am back, I feel as if I am tryin' to clean up after some great destruction; a hurricane or a tornado or some other disaster.  No, nuthin' has changed internally; my home on the web is still intact.  However, I have been away for a long time an' everything feels so strange.

     There's the last post I wrote in 2012, where I thought I was sayin' goodbye forever to this blog.  It looks so lonely as I gently run my hand over its surface.  I turn a few pages an' see pictures of my physical home; inside an' out.  It's like living in a park, where I am.  Then, there's the interview I did with Donna Nordmark Aviles, where we talked about her books an' the Orphan Trains that her daddy traveled on.

     Oh!  I almost forgot the post where I showed you the bats that were living in my basement an' attic an' other parts of my house.  I'm sure glad my good hubby-buddy was able to take control of THAT situation.  B'lieve me, I did NOT like knowing that we had "Bats in the Belfry".

     Tee-Hee.  I jus' saw the post where I shared "Why the Cow Jumped Over the Moon".  There it is; that feeling of bein' home, again.  I jus' knew if I looked around long enough, I would start to feel that warmth that can only come when you go back home.  I don't think I'll be leaving here again.  In fact, I plan on hanging around for a long, l-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-n-g time.  I sure hope you will stop in for a visit, from time to time.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Photo courtesy of Clkr

Back to School to Learn to Blog

     So... it turns out that learning how to blog is actually somethin' that can be learned at a college an' I've decided to learn how to do this thing the right way.  So it's back to school for me.  Be sure to lemme' know what you think, okay?  If you think I'm actually learning anything ~ ~ ~ or that I'm goin' downhill in my efforts, well... I'd sure appreciate your input.  At the moment, I feel as if I'm somewhere out in space, without any kinda' support or recognition of any kind.  'Course, I have been away for quite a while an' I haven't figured out how to let anyone know I'm back... but it doesn't take away from the feeling that I'm all alone.  I sure wish someone would stop by an' say hullo or somethin'.  Also, any words of advice would be very much appreciated, don'tcha' know.

     We've been very fortunate this winter with all that's been goin' on.  Although it has been incredibly cold, we've had a relatively small amount of snow an' this year, my good hubby-buddy did manage to insulate the house so well that we've actually hadda' turn the heat Off, a couple 'uh times.  SO much better than that first year we were here, when snow found liberal routes Into the house an' we nearly froze our toes off.  I also recall one winter when things did get a little much an' I was ready for it (winter) to go on home.  D'you remember that year?  Truly, it was a year of 'Too Much Winter', if you ask me.

     How is the weather treating you, this year?  Lemme' know in the comments, won'tcha'?  Thanks.
     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya
Photo courtesy of Clkr.com By OCAL

Ridin' the Blogger Bull

 

Yaya's Home Log Entry:     Friday ~ January 17, 2014 ~ 7:36 AM

     Well... THAT didn't work.  Somehow, I never quite felt at home when I tried to fit-in to my new home on the web.  For starters, I missed all my old friends an' how you used to come an' visit an' have hot cocoa an' homemade virtual cookies with me.  Then, there was the whole thing of how I couldn't seem to find anything.  You know; things like the towels, the washcloths, the linens or, even... the Linen Closet!!!

     So, I am back an' I hope you all have not forgotten me.  I have a new focus... or, nine... an' I'm ready to take this ol' world by the horns an' see if I can't tame it.  Won't you come along an' see which one of us survives?  Me... or the bull?  I live in 'Cowboy Country' an' after watching so many of those bull riders enter the pen an' walk away with most of their body parts, still intact... well, I think I jus' might be able to DO this thing!

     That said, ya'll grab yer hat an' boots an' let's tame this virtual rodeo; aka, bloggin' world.  Whaddya' say?  Wanna' join me?  I sure hope so.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.
 ~ Yaya

It's Time to Say Goodby, It's Time to Say Hello

     This post comes after much deliberation, for it's time to say Goodbye and it's time to say Hello.  So much of my heart has gone into this blog, as I've been introduced to the world outside my home and my own little dot on the map.  When I started blogging, I never thought I would travel so far an' grow attached to so many of you.

     Recent changes make it necessary for me to move to a new home on the World Wide Web because trying to figure out summa' the strange new quirks about Blogger has kept me from being able to stay up-to-date with tasks that I used to find simple.  I have learned much here, but in the process of learning, I've also come to realize that sometimes change is necessary for improvement.

     I'll be packing up soon an' carrying alla' my blogging paraphernalia to my big, new spacious home across the way.  Please come with me an' join in the fun as I stretch my legs an' allow for even more growth.  I have loved blogging.  It has been... an' always will be a way for me to share summa' the high's an' low's 'bout life an' I'd love to finally get back to sharing it with you.  After all, everything is more fun with friends an' I feel that you are my friends.

     In a couple 'uh weeks, I'll be closing the door on Blogger an' gettin' comfortable in my new 'Digs' over at Yaya's Home at WordPress.  I do hope you will be there to help me feel as at home an' loved as you have made me feel here.  Thank you all for the many ways you've contributed to my life an' my joy.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya















Photo Credit:  http://mrg.bz/XjpsoK Goodbye Birds By Elemenoperica at morguefile.com

Photo Credit:  http://mrg.bz/PG5KqZGoodbye World By AnitaPatterson at morguefile.com

I'm almost not ready for Christmas

     Ho!  Ho!  Ho!  Christmas is coming an' I am soooo ready for the fun.  Oh... what?  No, no; I'm not Santa Claus.  Sorry; I didn't mean to confuse you.  I'm just in a jolly holiday spirit an' thought I'd borrow Santa's famous line.  Is my voice getting that deep?  hahahaha.  I guess you couldn't see me when I called out, "Ho!  Ho!  Ho!"  I can un'erstan' how you might've gotten me mixed up with Ol' Saint Nick, but no... it's jus' me... Yaya.

     Are you ready for Christmas?  Am I ready?  Nah!  Well, I guess I am an' I'm not.  I'm as anxious as a kid an' pro'lly twice as annoying in my anticipation.  But there are still so many things to take care of.  We don't even have our tree up, yet.  No decorations.  Hardly any 'uh the shopping is done.  I haven't been blogging as much as I'd like to.  An' on top 'uh alla' that, I dunno' where to start in my efforts to get ready.

     Oh!  My!  Goodness!  Lookie there.  Your house looks so fine, all decorated up for the holidays.  Don'tcha' wanna' come on over here an' give me some pointers?  On the plus side, I do think we will be warm this winter.  Last year, we hadda' deal with an Attitude from the forces of nature, so you might say we were climate-ally challenged.  However, I married the right dude 'cause my good hubby-buddy has been a reg'lar 'Mr. Fix-it' an' I think Ol' Man Winter is gonna' have a hard time pushing snow into our house, this year.  In fact, I think even the cold is gonna' have a hard time finding a path into our house, this year.

     Now, about that request for you to come on over an' help me decorate... how soon do ya' think I can expect you to be here?  Shall I make us some hot cocoa an' store-bought homemade cookies?  I'm really good at making those.  At least, I know how to put 'em on my own plate or in my cookie jar.  I tell the grandies they're homemade oreos.  I'm not sure they still b'lieve me, but they've learned to keep it to themselves so as not to hurt my feelings.


     Now, as they say in that one commercial... I'll leave the light on for you.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

~ Yaya