Getting Back on the Horse

There are many enjoyable bloggers, and I am happy to “reblog” any post that I especially appreciate.

Has life been giving you a bumpy ride? Read on, Read on.

Colorado Cowboy's avatarShootin' the Breeze

I confess that I have been bucked off many horses, many times.  I have been bucked off other things as well.

There is a saying that gives me some comfort.  “Ain’t a horse that can’t be rode; ain’t a cowboy can’t be throwed.”

Unless it is a bronc at a rodeo, who bucks for a living, and you are not allowed to get back on, there are two important reasons to get back on after being bucked off.

One reason is very simple.   If you don’t get back on, the horse won and will think that it can get you off whenever it wants.  So, for training purposes, and for the horse’s own good, you want it to learn that it can’t get away with it.  You want it to learn that you are boss; that you are in control.

The second reason to get back on is for your…

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A Book can be a good place to visit

I have been known to read more than one book at a time, some books I read are not for entertainment, but instead for thoughtful absorption of the thoughts they share.

Not so with the book I just raced through and read overnight. The author, Alexander McCall Smith, I have spoken before praising his The No. 1 Ladies  Detective Agency series, which I still love and could reread and endorse it. Smith has a plethora of books and I stopped reading them because they didn’t live up to the No. 1 series. But this book of his, My Italian Bulldozerwas so fun and easy to read, I barely put it down.  It has different flow from the detective series and was light hearted in its own way, I loved it.

30236772THE STORY:    In the book, Paul is a food writer who after being heartbroken in Scotland, he turns to Italy for a working holiday in Tuscany to find inspiration for his latest book and his broken heart.

The only transportation he can find is, yes you know, A bulldozer.  You will see how the bulldozer opens doors and slows Paul down to enjoy his trip.

The bulldozer and Paul embark on a 3 week escape into the Tuscany way of life, you are welcome to do what I did, escape to Tuscany with Paul. 

Loved it, and I hope you do also.

 

Needing a laugh, but ending up with a song running through my mind all day – I watched this youtube video – Click here, for a video inspired by Flamingos !

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Unexpected Benefits of Toastmasters

Why is Toastmasters worthwhile? beneficial, fun? The answers are varied. Suffice to say, the organization continues to grow more than 91 years after it’s birth, helping people be the best they are able and having fun doing exactly that. How many people? Right now over 345,000 members; over 15,900 clubs in 142 countries and millions over the decades! If you have never visited a club, maybe you should, guests are free to visit.

Bob Yewchuk's avatarThe Bob Angle

Back in the spring of 2006 I joined a local Toastmasters club, and in retrospect, this was probably one of the better decisions I’ve made in my life. I should have joined much sooner.

My dad first told me about Toastmasters when I was in my mid-20s. He said that he was a member when he was about my age, and found it tremendously helpful. I thought to myself: “Wow – when my dad was my age, I didn’t think that humans had even developed language – never mind organizing themselves into social groups and creating public speaking clubs!”. He went on to say that one of his first dates with my mom was a visit to his Toastmasters club during which he delivered a speech, and that she must have been impressed because they eventually got married. Therefore, I owe my very existence to Toastmasters!

He couldn’t recommend it…

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HOW TO GET A HUMMER TO LAND ON YOUR FINGER

I have not been successful with attracting hummingbirds but this photographer friend certainly has. In his video our will be amazed of his success. I am going to try again, I’m inspired.

Tofino Photography's avatarTofino Photography

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I’ve noticed that the Hummers go into a feeding frenzy near sunset.I suspect they do it at sunrise too but I’m too lazy to find that out?

I wondered If I could get one them to land on my finger? Hummers have to be one of the most skittish creatures out there! The slightest movement can make them take off in a blur!

So I tried to think of a way I could get one these beautiful creatures to land on my finger?Holding ones arm out is difficult after a few minutes.So you need a brace for your arm.I used a monopod but you can use a tripod or a pole.

I’ve noticed over the last few nights that they go into a feeding frenzy around 7:45pm.So I set up some lights for filming earlier & waited.

Once I saw them starting to “flock”I turned on the camera & placed…

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Tea for 75, Invitation to join us

Hello to my fellow bloggers, and blog readers. It is a gusty cool day in the Okanagan today and on days like this I like a cup of tea in a china mug.  The hot water goes in the cup, and my hands wrap around the mug to soak it up while inhaling the warm scent.

chai teaNot just any tea neither, the absolute best tea to warm your insides while cuddling that mug is chai tea. I love the warmth of chai tea and it works well with my sweet tooth as well.

I liken chai tea to a slice of pumpkin pie in a cup with or without the whipped cream 🙂

My title “TEA FOR 75″ ?  I am hoping today that 75 readers will read and share a mugga with me and post the name your favorite tea.  Please include the city you are replying from just for interest also

Click here for a recipe or you can be like me and buy Chai Tea mix pre-made and just add milk and warm it up.

75 folks will be a big tea party for me, everyone welcome! My sincere thank  you for dropping in.

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I just called to hear your voice

Tania and Linda were inseparable in high school. They met at the top of the hill near Tania’s hlifesaver candyouse at precisely 8 every day so they could walk together.

At school they had different class schedules but they sat together at lunch and walked home together after school and lingered before saying goodbye.

Often at night when they tried to phone each other at night, the line was busy because they were both dialing each other at the exact same time.

Graduation came, then college,  then careers, husbands and life became busy. They called on birthdays, and life got in the way of the heart sharing they did when they were young. They were best friends linked for life though and they each knew the love never diminished,  the friendship was never broken, it was like a chess game interrupted but they were going to finish it.

Tania felt tired that cloudy day,  not physically exhausted, it was like her emotional battery was drained and she felt colourless. Effortlessly in her mind she could see Linda’s face, the laugh in Linda’s voice and she knew what she had to do, no matter the time. Tania reached for the phone, and settled back for a long call.

line of hearts

David was enjoying the beginning of a spring, only last week there was frost on his car and he wondered about Mother Nature’s unpredictability.

Today he stood in his driveway and spring was on his doorstep. The grass looked like it was coming back to life, and he swore he heard a robin but he couldn’t see it. It was a good day to tackle one of his “chores.”

aston martin james bond carOil and filter ready, car up on the ramp he lay on his back and wiggled under pushing his oil tray ahead of him. He looked up at the oil pan, wrench all set and his mind played a movie of this exact chore.

He twisted his head looked around, hoping and almost expecting to see his Dad’s feet,  and waiting to hear his Dad’s voice. He realized that changing the oil with his Dad had never been a “chore” and for some reason there was lots of easy laughter associated with the dirty job.

Saturday car washing, oil changes, and raking leaves with his Dad growing up weren’t chores at all, never had been. They had been gifts.

He wiggled out, and left the car and oil intact, he knew what he wanted to do right now, kicked off his shoes, leaned back on the recliner and reached for the phone. He was looking forward to a long call.

tropical island

The best day of my life?  That’s a hard question because I’ve had a few for sure. It wasn’t winning the lottery that’s for certain, nice but only nice.  I can’t answer that.

I think there is no best day of my life, in my mind I have a collage of moments with the people in my life that I can’t imagine life without.

Reading books to my kids when they were so small, especially at bed time. I loved that. I remember my daughter wearing one of my shirts at age two like a dress and laughing and chasing me,  that’s better than the finest wine.

I remember waking ughosts and good timingp freezing in a tent with my son,  and wouldn’t trade that for the best day I ever had at work.

The best day of my life,  maybe it’s today just counting my blessings.

New car, caviar, four star daydream, No football team for me.  I’m rich already.

Walking away and feeling the wind on his face, he smiled, he was thinking of a song, and he started to hum and sing.

** Thanks for reading my post today,  I appreciate all comments and suggestions. 

Posted in family, music related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments