I Brought the Sunshine!

     I need some sunshine.  I thought you might enjoy some, too.  So I'm sharing mine with you.


 Home, Sweet Home






Furry Family





Waiting for the birds





     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Dear Winter,

     It's so nice to see you again. Please leave. I was thrilled when you arrived an' I took special pleasure in the snow you brought so we could have a white Christmas. In fact, that was very considerate, on your part. In spite of the fact that my heart raced with joy when you arrived, I'm beginning to notice murmurings of discontent among the masses. I fear you may be reduced to tears, should your old, cold ears pick up the whisperings that might travel on the wind. No disrespect intended, of course, but it would not be a good idea to give in to such frozen showers, if my opinion counts for anything.

     In case you haven't been keeping good tabs on just how busy you've been, may I remind you that evidence of your extended visit is virtually everywhere. Although I'm sure the farmers are thankful for the moisture so their crops will benefit, I rather think they would not like it if you should continue to shed tears and turn an already messy situation into an impossibly dangerous one by adding your icy personality. Keep in mind that 'Safety First' should always be your motto.

     I've noticed that you seem to have forgotten to be safe in some of your ventures. Recently, when you arranged for my good hubby-buddy and I to spend time in a ditch, we did not feel that you were practicing 'Safety First.'

     Rumor has it that Spring is impatient for her vacation here. We have enjoyed getting to know you soooooo well, this year. Now, its time to move on an' let Spring have her time with us. Yes, I realize that it may be a little early for such change, but I'm tired of being so cold. I'm looking forward to lilacs an' tulips. Two-lips is my kinda' season; not Blue-lips.

     I have your bags all packed an', though you may be very comfortable where you are, please don't let the door hit you in the rear, as you leave.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

A Poetry-Perfect-Photo

     Have you ever done something an' felt really good about it?  Then later, you see somethin' that reminds you of that proud moment?  I did that.  A long, long time ago, I was traveling either to or from North Dakota with my good hubby-buddy in the middle of winter.  As we drove, we were struck with how beautiful the snow was over everything.  At one point, I recall seeing fields an' fields of hay in huge round bales, each one covered with a sprinkling of snow.  Without one instant of hesitation, I hadda' grab my notebook an' start scribbling 'cause a poem had leaped into my head an' demanded to be written whilst it was fresh in my thoughts.

     Yesterday, while visiting a new neighbor on the web whom I had previously never met, I was surprised to see a picture that perfectly matched what I wanted to portray in that poem.  Believe me, I was quick about emailing the owner of that blog an' askin' if I could use her photo.  Imagine my excitement when she wrote back (about two minutes ago) an' said I could.  Below is that beautiful photo, followed by the poem I enjoyed writing, such a long time ago.  If you'd like to see some more amazing photos, be sure to go to Once Upon A Rose Haven's blog.  You won't wanna' leave.  I a'ready know you're gonna' love the picture an' I hope you enjoy the poem as much as I enjoyed writing it.

AFTER THE HARVEST

Look out across the wheat fields,

And, Oh!  What a surprise!

The shredded wheat is blooming,

I see it with my own eyes!

Where's the sugar?

Pass the milk,

It's breakfast time, I'm sure,

When shredded wheat starts blooming,

That's all I'm wishing for.

So, farmer, build a table,

Build a chair,

And build a bowl,

'Cause shredded wheat is blooming,

And it makes my hunger grow!

Just Joany 2006

 

     Thank you so much, Once Upon A Rose Haven, for letting me use your beautiful picture.

     How about you?  Do you like to take pictures or write poetry?  What is your most memorable experience?

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Why the Cow Jumped Over the Moon

     You know, it happens every year about this time. I look around an' see the same things goin' on. Fields and fields of critters battling the elements, even whilst I enjoy the warmth inside my house or car. Some days, I see only one or two four-legged beasts, surrounded by nuthin' but fields of white; snow, snow an' more snow. Other times, I'm convinced there are thousands of animals, roaming miserably back an' forth. Around here, most of the population is either cattle or horses. In other areas where I've lived it might be sheep, goats or even those funny little creatures called llamas. The struggle is still the same, wherever life goes on. Rain, snow, hail or sleet; it can't be comfortable havin' to be out in it, twenty-four hours a day.

     'Course, I could be judging this situation all wrong. Maybe alla' those critters actually enjoy the various changes in Mother Nature's moods. I certainly enjoy every seasonal change - - - watching from inside my house. But maybe horses an' cows look forward to the seasons the way some people look forward to a different kind of dinner. I dunno'; I s'pose it’s possible. I always imagine how I would feel if I hadda' stand out in the rain an' snow. Lemme' tell you; if I were a baby cow, I have a life-size image of how contented I would be, in the same situation.

     Picture it:  I am a brand-new baby cow, born only moments ago, inside a nice toasty barn, with my mama cow to cuddle up to an' hay to keep me warm. Every meal is supplied at my behest; warm an' given with love. My daddy cow is standin' sentry at the door, so's nuthin' can hurt me. I am a happy, happy camper.

     Life is good in my new home. I am well cared for. Mama an' daddy even incorporated help from a farmer to make sure that I am happy. All is going well, until the farmer gets an idea. He thinks that I should move outta' the barn an' into the pasture. WHAT?!? Does the good man know what's out there? Does he realize that somethin' funny is falling from the sky? Somethin' wet an' cold? Does he care? Yes, I know you ladies do your share, but let's give the men a well-deserved pat on the back.

     Now, don't get me wrong. I happen to have it on good authority that farmers are amongst the most caring folks who chat with animals. In fact, I've seen my own good hubby-buddy go to great extremes to make those babies comfortable. True; he's not what you might call a traditional farmer, but I'm pretty sure he represents the general population of care-givers; whether that be in the human world or the animal kingdom. An' I'll tell you a little secret if you promise to keep it under your hat. There may have been a time or two when I've been compelled to throw a blanket on a cow an' a pillow nearby to rest her pretty head. 'Course, I realize that may not be ideal when you have more than a few to possibly thousands of head of livestock.

     Which brings us

 back to the subject of this discussion; why the proverbial cow jumped over the moon. As I said earlier, my own contentment ties in strongly with how comfortable I am. If I were a new baby cow, bein' cast to the elements as it were, I'm sure my sense of contentment would be greatly improved by the occasional pat on the head or a blanket to warm myself. An' I would definitely not be adverse to receiving a good, thick pillow for my head. Come to think of it, I've noticed that farmers an' ranchers do a lot to make sure their charges are comfortable. That's pro'lly why so many of those cows jumped over the moon; to get back home.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

A Homespun Memory

     Years ago, I wrote a poem that my mama liked very much.  'Course, bein' the recipient of pure love an' parent-pride, I never questioned whether she liked it for the poem or because I was her offspring.  To me, the fact that she liked this particular poem touched a special chord in my heart.  When mama passed away, I wanted to do somethin' to honor her.  Finally, when it was time to buy a headstone, I felt that the best way I could honor her was to give somethin' of myself that she loved.  The Poem.

     Years later, I tentatively entered my poem in a contest that was open to all countries, certain that I would finally learn that Mama's appreciation was founded in her love for her child.  To my great surprise, I won Honorable Mention.  I dunno' if anything has ever surprised or pleased me more than that award because I finally felt that I truly had given my mama somethin' worthwhile.  Naturally, she an' I shared a special moment that day.  Whilst I visited her grave, I cried tears of loneliness that she was gone an' tears of joy that I had given a part of myself that she loved.

     In case you have difficulty reading the words on the headstone, here is a copy of the poem:

Homespun

Homespun; fireplace; the smell of pitchy pine chips;

Burning; smouldering; dying.

The milk cow; milk; cream; butter;

Salted; churning, slowly churning.

Voices; Mama; Daddy; neighbors;

Children laughing, running, playing games.

Fields; plowed; planted; watered;

Yielding food for folks and critters,

To start again; Homespun.

                        By: Just Joany 1979



     Thank you for sharing this memory with me.  Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Thank Goodness For Global Warming!

     Well, it seems that more than a year has passed since I last wrote. Anyway, a whole new year has arrived, so I guess that proves it. I was beginning to enjoy the excellent weather we were havin'. Then all at once, winter pounced. Everywhere I look, the only color I see is white. Now, I have nuthin' against the color white, but there are some other shades that I enjoy, as well. Ah, well; I guess winter has to have her day, too.

     I've always loved this time of year. I've lived from Washington to Florida an' Maine to California an' everywhere in-between. I've seen every possible mood that weather can offer, within the United States, an' I still love winter best. 'Course, with the onset of what some of our fine leaders have deemed as Global Warming, I may not get to enjoy too many more of these beautiful white winters. According to the Powers That Be, we could be in the process of warming ourselves right into oblivion. That is, if we don't all freeze to death, first.

     Rumor has it that no one took the time to tell Ol' Mother Earth that she's warming up. I guess no one felt that she needed to be informed. I s'pose she'll figure it out in her own time, eh? In the meantime, I hear from friends in California that snow an' rain have sent lotsa' folks --- nowhere. Yup! That's what I said; nowhere. Between the rain an' snow, I hear tell that some people are virtually living on the freeways. At least, that's what I call it when people park their vehicles on the freeway for hours an' hours at a time. It just doesn't make any sense to get in your car an' sit still, otherwise; do you think? I sure don't.

     Folks aren't doin' much better on the east coast, either. With record snowfall filling highways an' blocking passages from point A to point B, all over the country, I really think it would be in the best interest of everyone concerned to contact Mother Nature. It's jus' possible that she might be able to work somethin' out with the Powers That Be so's we could all relax an' be a little more comfortable.

     I love winter, but even I think things are goin' a little haywire. If I din't know any better, I'd say that Mother Nature is trying to prove a point. Maybe she thinks that since man wasn't there to cause all the other fluctuations in weather for the past ever-how-many thousands of years, then man should keep his opinions to himself an' let her go about doing what she has been doing for all those thousands of years, without man's input. At least, that's what I'd be saying if I were Mother Nature. All I can say is thank goodness for Global Warming or we might all freeze to death!

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Canned Resolutions

           Have you ever noticed how much fun people have at the end of the year? Of course, there are parties an' visits an' alla' that, but I think the most fun is watching how involved someone gets in making a New Year's Resolution. It seems to cause a lotta' unnecessary stress an' anxiety, to my way of thinking. I once knew someone who stressed so much over her New Year's Resolutions that it interfered with the fun she shoulda' had for Christmas. Then, after spending so much time creating her list, my friend abandoned all efforts to keep those goals by January 3rd. It seems to be a pattern that is widespread. Naturally, after witnessing so many failed attempts, I long ago decided that making New Year's Resolutions was not for me. Why plan to fail, after all?

            Well, this year I thought I'd do something a little different. Instead of planning to fail by writing goals that are impossible to keep, I was thinking that I should be more creative an' plan my actions for sure success. This year, I am sure to achieve every goal I write down. 'Course, my good hubby-buddy may not wanna' cooperate if he figures out my plan of action. But as long as you don't tell, I can hope that he will never be the wiser.

            One 'uh the things that always seems to bother my good hubby-buddy involves his perception of how I handle money. He seems to think that I'm not so good at it. Silly b-u-o-y! But what does he know, right? So, in the coming year I resolve to be more adept in this particular area. In order to do so, I plan to carry the checkbook, instead of making Hubby-Buddy do all the spending. After all, if I have no money to handle, how can he expect me to be good at it? And if I handle it a little too much, well, I'll give him back his checkbook. Good plan, eh?

             One thing I always regretted is that my gardening skills haven't yielded much in the way of a harvest. This year, I resolve to make certain that my fruit and vegetable trees yield generously. Therefore, I will incorporate help from the grocer and build fruit and vegetable trees out of cans from the store. In this way, I'll know that my trees will produce to my liking. Previous efforts have proven that garden variety foods have their own system for growing. (I'm talking to you, corn trees). In fact, I think I will only have one tree. That way, whenever I pick a can from my tree it will be something I know I will enjoy. 

            I thought of adding more resolutions, but growing a fruit an' vegetable tree out of cans from the grocery store an' trying to talk my good hubby buddy into letting me carry the checkbook sounds like a lotta' work to me. So I decided to start slow an' see how I do with this year's resolutions before attacking bigger projects.

            Though I would never admit it to my good hubby-buddy, there are other areas of my life where I could pro'lly make improvements. However, I don't wanna' overload my brain by having to worry about perceived faults. I'll work on these challenges an' next year maybe I can come up with something else. First, I'll see how successful I am at getting to carry that checkbook. Who knows? Maybe next year, I'll try my hand at building a house. It could happen. I believe in miracles.

             With this in mind, I resolve to share this information with my good hubby-buddy, but only if my goals cause problems. Naturally, if I do have problems, he  will likely give me The Look, in which case I am sure that tears will betray my hurt feelings. Then, my good hubby-buddy can resolve to fix all problems an' I can go back to life as it should be. In the end, my good hubby-buddy will be so proud of me for keeping my resolutions that he won't even mind taking care of any unfortunate results. What a guy!

            An' in the coming year I hope that all your hopes an' dreams come true. That every good desire of your heart is fulfilled an' that you will be surrounded by friends, family an' love.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

            Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya