Daily writing prompt
What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?
Finding strength….
Photo by Thomas Ciszewski on Unsplash
Tag: dailyprompt
Dear Annie
Dear Annie,
Go to college as soon as possible; don’t wait! It will open doors and provide exciting opportunities. You will not regret going as soon as possible.
Save for a rainy day. Take a percentage of your paycheck, stash it away, and forget about it. One day, you will thank me.
Spend extra time with those you hold close to your heart. The time spent with them is precious. When they share family stories, ask questions, write them down, or better yet record them. Let them know just how special they are to you, and how much you love them. Trust me on this one.
Stay true to yourself, but be more adventurous. And don’t be so hard on yourself! You are one of a kind and a pretty awesome young lady with a huge heart. You can’t please everyone, so don’t even try!
Your life will not always be an easy one, but it will be a good one.
Laugh often! Don’t forget your veggies, and avoid men with blue eyes, blonde hair, and sweet lies. Seriously!
More than anything, enjoy your time. It flies by all too quickly. And never forget, you got this kid; I have faith in you!
My Girls
My favorite people are the ones who enjoy the simple things in life. I love spending time with my girls who enjoy a glass of iced tea on a back patio while viewing distant mountains and catching up on the latest news of family and grandkids. I love my girls who encourage me and remind me that a bad day does not equal a bad life. I enjoy my friends who never give up on me even on the days when I need to hurry home because I can’t take one more step. I don’t know what I would do without my girls who let me know tomorrow is a new day, filled with endless possibilities. I am blessed to have a strong tribe of dear friends who cheer me on in this life. My girls, and my family, make this life an enjoyable journey.
Photo by Briana Tozour on Unsplash
Boots
Daily writing prompt
Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.
One favorite pair of shoes, for a woman, can never have just one favorite pair, has been my old grey hiking boots. They have taken me on quite a few adventures while traveling around the countryside. I have been to the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and Bent’s Old Fort in Southeastern Colorado. I have walked along dusty horse trails around my home with my pups.
I walked along the land of my grandpa’s old ranch, knowing all the while my steps covered the ground that he once walked. I stepped alongside the old train tracks and wondered how many times my mama had taken the old coal buckets and picked up the black chunks that had fallen off the train cars at the bend in the track.
I slipped on my shoes before sliding into old Ruby and heading for the mountains and trekking along trails that seemed to reach into the sky. I have strolled along quiet main streets, peering into shops or buying a cup of Joe to take on the road. I have walked along quiet streets of old ghost towns and marveled at old hotels and churches.
I have worn them while visiting grandbabies and viewing the newest members of the farm. I held little hands and walked to pens to witness the arrival of baby goats or laugh as I watched Princess Laya scurry towards an open kitchen door, hoping to steal food from the dog’s bowl. I wore them the day I saw Ember for the first time. The soft grey mare warmed my heart as I watched the wild Mustang scout her new home.
My old boots have carried me to many places as I enjoyed all that Colorado has to offer. And as the weather begins to warm, I can’t wait to pull them out, lace them up once again, and discover new places to explore.
Mitzi Moo
One of the best gifts I ever received was my pup, Mitzi. My dear friend, Cathy let me pick out my special girl from a litter of pups; she was one of four. I wanted two, so Mitzi would not be alone, but at that time all the pups were spoken for. At the last minute, one pup, my Max, became available. The man who wanted him could not take him at the last minute, and I am so thankful. My little Muttley Crew has changed my life, and I adore this pair.
Daily writing prompt
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?
Quilting/Cross Stitch
When I was a stay-at-home mom, I used to love making quilts and working on cross-stitch projects. Now, that I am teaching, I have not had the desire to to start a project. With my busy schedule, I doubt I would ever finish what I started. This may change when I retire.
Baking/Cooking
When I was a stay-at-home mom, I loved to bake and cook for my family. Now, that it’s just me and the pups, I rarely cook. And I do not miss it – at all…lol.
Dating
Just one big nope! I love being single. I love the peace and quiet, well other than my yippy pups. I love the freedom and the luxury of coming and going as I please. I have found my happy place.
Nightlife
I still enjoy “my version” of nightlife: dinner with friends, an occasional drink out, or a movie. However, my tastes have changed. I no longer want to go out dancing or visit area bars and listen to local bands which is rather sad. But, times have changed and some establishments are too rowdy for my taste.
Photo by Nathan Bang on Unsplash
Chocolate, Please!
When my sweet tooth begins to go into overdrive, I have found a healthier version of my old mainstream candies. Currently, my favorite go to candy is the Atkins Endulge Chocolate Peanut Candies. It satisfies my cravings, and since it is low in sugar, carbs, and calories, I have zero guilt when I indulge now and then. Pure sweetness!
Time Away
In this crazy non-stop world, I need a break from my life. Honestly, I would like to have just one week of nothing to do…no papers to grade or lessons to plan…no committee meetings, conferences, or staff meetings…no housecleaning or yardwork… just some time outdoors…somewhere on a beach…or a mountain trail among the pines… a place where I can hear the wind and the surf… or watch a distant elk herd as they bugle to one another. When this teacher retires, she needs to find a cabin in the woods. Yep, I believe this woman would enjoy being a hermit for a time.
Little Miracles
Daily writing prompt
How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?
As a woman in my sixties, the way I view the passage of time has evolved. Each significant event or rite of passage provided memorable moments and offered wondrous memories. However, I look forward to a simpler lifestyle as I have slowed down.
Even my thoughts on travel shifted. I wanted to visit various countries and famous faraway cities when I was younger. Now, my take on holidays has presented itself with a different point of view. My idea of the perfect getaway shifted to quiet mountain cabins, redwood forests, trips to wine country, lazy country backwoods, and quiet sandy beaches. In truth, I have always enjoyed the outdoors, and any time I can spend in nature has always been a day well planned. The quiet and the beauty have constantly refreshed my soul. I love the sound of the wind in the trees and birds chirping, calling to one another. I love to watch the careful steps of deer with their graceful movements and spellbinding eyes ever on the watch while taking in their surroundings. Walks along dirt roads or sandy beaches have always been my favorite activities, and now, I have found those are the ways I long to spend my days.
For future holidays, I have longed for the sound of surf and the cry of seagulls as the sun sinks into the ocean. I want to laugh with my girls while enjoying a Chardonnay or an Aromella. I want to trek with my dogs along dusty dirt roads, explore old ghost towns, and witness all my state offers. One more time, I want to stand in a grove of redwoods with my head tilted to the skies while taking in the enormity and grandeur of ancient trees. At this stage of my life, I want to enjoy the simple beauty that nature so graciously has offered.
Time has altered my views, and even now, I look forward to my next mountain retreat. My days will be planned with an early morning coffee and writing on the back patio. I will take an afternoon hike around the lake with my pups in tow. In the evening, I will sit on the porch during the magic hour right before the sun sinks behind the Wet Mountains. In the evening, I will sit beside the fire, listening to an audiobook with my Muttley Crew curled beside me. Before I fall asleep, I will watch the dark skies and glimmering stars peer through the Pondorosas as pinecones fall and dance, their presence echoing on the rooftop. And in my sleep, I will dream of new adventures in my mountain hamlet.
Windows and other Frustrations!
Darn, those windows! I start out with the best intentions….but sadly…well, now I should just wait until Spring, right?
I hate to admit it, but I am a procrastinator. I need to finish a class for my teacher’s license. It’s easy but boring.
I need to organize my house and remove the things I don’t use anymore.
Most of all, I need to focus on my writing, and I’m trying, but the last bout of health issues and brain fog has created an unwelcome wall. Writing does not come easy these days, and this truth hurts. But I’m trying. I pick up the pieces, find writing challenges, and continue to type. All the while, I pray, the flow returns…soon.
Tales of a Family 