Saturday, September 30, 2006
Poetry: Reflections
Reflections
By Ava Jackson
September 30, 2006
Reflecting on what used to be
What once was there
What was important to me
Changes come with time
The colors change
Moods change
What you needed yesterday
Might not be the same today
What do we really need?
Priorities change
Our paths turn corners
Life is full of surprises
People come and go
Friends come and go
There are always new people to meet
Hold on fast to who you are
Don't let anyone take that away
You do have a place in this world
Seek those things that make you happy
That fill your heart with gladness
That make you want to sing and dance.
Seek those people who build you up
Who comfort you
Who make you smile.
Life is made up of the little moments
The smallest things that were done
The smallest things that were said
This is what you will see
When you sit on the bridge of your life
And stare down into the reflections of time.
Something new ...
I had a new experience.
Today I listened to a CD that Guy sent me.
I know him from Ely Opry.
Anyway, it's a Celtic CD
and I listened to it today while
doing my stretching, Thai Chi and Belly Dancing.
I've never Belly Danced to Celtic music before.
It was intersting ... but worked ...
Strangley enough.
I enjoyed the CD.
Hmmm ...
Here it is a Saturday night
and I'm home by myself.
Wish I had somewhere to go and something to do.
I'm lonesome.
Guess I'll watch tv.
How much longer?
49 1/2 hours until Hannibal Session
and
122 hours until La Gondola
and
124 hours and 30 minutes until Ely Opry.
and
122 hours until La Gondola
and
124 hours and 30 minutes until Ely Opry.
Dad Poems: The Gun Fighter
The Gunfighter
Harold Williams
2006
Most people called him a gunfighter …
He didn’t like the term.
He didn’t think of himself as a dangerous man,
It was just a name that he’d earned.
He never looked for trouble,
His code was pure and true.
Don’t mess around with me,
And I won’t mess around with you.
He wore his gun slung low,
So it was comfortable to the feel.
He didn’t compromise his values,
And he never made a deal.
Those who tried to take him,
Found his gun hand way too fast.
The challenges became much fewer,
But the mold was already cast.
In earlier days he’d loved a woman,
But fate made him leave her far behind.
He had nothing he could offer her,
Most surely not a life of his kind.
He used his gun to earn his money,
But it always made him frown.
For over 20 years he’d rode the trail,
Drifting from town to town.
Now the lawmen, they were tough but fair,
They lived by their own creed.
But they always asked him to move along,
Cause they didn’t like his breed.
Then one day it dawned on him,
From this life I’ll never be free.
Hired killer, gun slinger, gun fighter,
That’s all I’ll ever be.
These thoughts may have made him careless,
Though the night was dark and black.
But from some movement in an alley,
Someone shot him in the back.
His life has long been over,
A century or more has past.
But I hold his gun and wonder,
How long would I have last.
Mowing
I just got all of the mowing finished.
It sure looks nice right after you mow it.
Smells good, too.
Well, except for me ...
Ha ha!!
I need a shower!
And some clean clothes!
:)
Horses:
Here's a very pretty Palimino Quarter Horse.
My Grandma Williams always had a picture in her guest room
of a cowgirl on a beautiful Palimino horse
that was all decked out in fancy riding gear
and I always thought it was such a pretty picture.
I would lay there on the bed and just look at it.
Moving ...
A note to my friends ...
I will be moving Saturday, October 7th and am looking for anyone who can help. I'll need help moving two couches, china hutch, display cabinet, piano, four book shelves, two dining room tables, a treadmill, two desks and some boxes.
I'd like to do it at
Thoughts?
Sorry ...
I've been neglecting my music posts regarding music sessions.
Sorry about that.
As soon as I get moved and my computer and internet service going,
I'll be doing a better job reporting
on the Hannibal Session,
La Gondola
and
Ely Opry.
I promise.
:)
As well as any of my other musical excursions.
School House
Here's an old school house for you.
I've seen the old school houses where both of my parents went to school.
It's hard to imagine it all when I've always gone to school with separate grades and classes of their own.
Music:
Had fun out at Sharpsburg last night playing music.
There was a good fire going outside to sit around
and the weather was so nice.
It was windy everywhere else,
but out at the church it was as calm as could be and very pleasant.
There were lots of stars out and I looked them over before going inside to play music.
Once we went inside and got settled in
we had a good night of music.
We played a ton of fiddle tunes last night,
which since I'm a fiddler,
worked out well for me!
I sure enjoy playing with them all.
My favorite fiddle tune is faded love.
Doug and John play lead fiddles and I play harmony with them.
It is so pretty.
Just beautiful.
Almost makes me cry sometimes.
Good tears of course ...
I played Ashokan Farewell for Danny and didn't rip it up too badly.
There's just this one spot every time where I go to the wrong note.
Oh, I fix it, but it's noticeable and it bugs me.
It'll get there.
Once I get moved, I'll be back in a practice routine again
and I'll get it 'er done!
It was a great night.
General:
I got two horse kisses,
one hug
and a sniff
over at the horse pasture this morning.
There were only three of the horses over there at the time,
so that's not too bad.
:)
Friday, September 29, 2006
How much longer?
75 hours until Hannibal session
and
147 hours until La Gondola and Ely Opry!!!
Barn:
I think this picture is just gorgeous!
If I could have a dream barn and out buildings of my own ...
This would fit the bill!!!
It's perfect!
Grasshopper
I hadn't really thought about it at all,
but when I saw this grasshopper over at the horse pasture
I realized it was the first one I had seen all summer.
That struck me as unusual.
I saw some others out at the Potterfield's when we fed the catfish, but not very many.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Or have I just been in the wrong places?
Need a back scratch?
This little donkey is pregnant ...
Just as cute as can be!
She lays down a lot ...
Today she needed a back scratch
and didn't have anyone to do it for her.
If she'd come to the fence,
I would have gladly given her a good ole' scratchin'!
But ...
she is shy and never comes to visit.
Out of bed ...
Slept until 10:00 this morning,
which played a little havoc with my schedule.
Slept in my clothes last night,
Got right out of bed ...
went to Home Depot for some supplies
then went to Village Inn for breakfast
and had ...
2 eggs sunny side up, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 links of sausage, 2 orders
of hashbrowns and a side of gravy ...
2 waters and 1 pepsi.
I got it all down except for just the very last of my hashbrowns.
It was very good.
Mmmm ...
I was very full.
Now I'm going to shower and change clothes.
Probably a good idea.
(smile)
Good News!
Through trial and error
I have figured out
that if I put my pillows at the foot of the sleeper sofa
it is comfortable!!!!!
I am so happy!
I tried sleeping sideways ...
but ...
this works much better.
Thought for the day:
I think I can ...
I think I can ...
I think I can ...
I think I can ...
I know I can ...
I know I can ...
I know I can ...
I know I can ...
I can ...
Just like the Little Engine Who Could.
So can I.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
It's almost time ...
Six more hours until La Gondola and Ely!!!!!
And ...
102 hours until Hannibal session!!!!
Linoleum
Doug laid my linoleum yesterday.
Thank you very much for doing that for me!!!!
I hadn't paid any attention to all of the staples in the floor that had held the carpet pad in place.
We pulled them all up ...
well ...
I say we ...
he did it ...
I just held them until I threw them away.
I had to do something!! (smile)
There were some larger ones that I hammered back in.
Now, that was fun!
If you ever need to destress ...
grab a hammer and hit some stuff!
I enjoyed that very much!
He did a great job and it looks really good.
Joann picked it out and it's really pretty.
Got my bed moved,
the recliner moved
and the little hutch moved.
Now that my bed is in there, the room sure looks smaller.
I'm not sure I'll be able to fit my couch in there without blocking the access to the closet.
I'll have to see what I can do.
I'm going to squeeze it in there somehow!!!!
I still need to cut a small piece of carpet for the closet and put some metal strips across the doorway to my room and the closet, but that's it.
Next pay day I'm going to buy some trim to put in there.
Then it will all be finished.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
How much longer?
44 hours until La Gondola and Ely
and
140 hours until Hannibal session
Horse Kisses
On my way home from taking my son home today,
I saw the horses out in the pasture and pulled over real fast
to go get me some horse kisses.
That's my favorite two year old up above.
I got a couple of kisses from this little lady.
And a picture of me kissing her.
I got a hug from this big paint stallion.
It had been a long time since he'd come over to see me.
And here's my baby ...
my favorite two year old ...
I actually caught him kissing me!
Click and enlarge this picture ...
See his teeth?
It looks like he's trying to bite me,
but he's really kissing me by wiggling his lips on my face.
It feels so good!
I love it!
I think it's funny that he's looking at the camera!!!!
Shame ...
Why shame on me????
Because I didn't pack a single thing today!!!!
Although,
I did move some things to storage that were already packed.
Like my brand new Christmas tree.
I don't know if I'll have space for it this year or not,
but I'll save it for a time when I do.
I took my son job hunting today and he was hired for a job.
I'm thrilled!
There you go ...
Sure wish that's what I was doing right now.
There's nothing like the good sway of a horse to relax you and float all of your cares away.
The creaking of the leather ...
The smell of the horse ...
The sound of the birds ...
The clean crisp air ...
The feel of the reins in your hand ...
The feel of your boots in the stirrups ...
Ahhhh ....
I just had a moment of peace.
Kyle ...
There's my friend Kyle running one of the bulldozers at Old Thresher's.
He was doing a very good job.
Looked like he'd been doing it for years!
It looked like a lot of fun.
He tried to get me on one,
but I was too chicken!!
My Grandfather used to run a dozer and I can remember sitting up there with him.
I thought that was so cool!!!
Found out that Bill runs a dozer.
He was driving the big one.
It was pretty impressive.
Here's a Funny ...
I saw this over on Pasadena's blog and thought it was funny.
Decided to post it here and share it with all of you!!!
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head sadly and said, I'm so sorry, your Duck has passed away."
The distressed owner wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead," he replied.
"How can you be so sure," she protested. "I mean, you haven't done any testing on him or anything! He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room, and returned a few moments later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog and took it out, and returned a few moments later with a cat. The cat jumped up on the table and also sniffed delicately at the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
Then the vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill, "$150! she cried, $150 just to tell me my duck is dead!!" The vet shrugged. "I'm sorry. If you'd taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150.00."
Monday, September 25, 2006
How much longer?
Only 3 hours until Hannibal session
and
75 hours until La Gondola and Ely.
I can't promise I'll be tear free at session tonight, but I'm going to be there anyway by golly!!
Me, Little Becky (mandolin), Benny (banjo) and Minnie Pearl (fiddle).
Wilson ( guitar) has to stay home, but he'll get to go on Thursday.
Moving Date:
Well, the auction company came today and we've set a date for the auction for Saturday, October 21st.
We'll be auctioning three to four vehicles, stuff and the house.
I'll either be moving on Saturday October 7th
or
Saturday October 14th.
I'm going to shoot for the 7th so I can get the house ready for the auction.
They'll start showing it next week sometime.
So ...
I need some big strong guys to help me move!
Hopefully I have enough friends to come so it will be quick and easy.
Maybe in one trip.
I'll be taking stuff to Joanns ... three miles away.
And then some things to Hannibal.
The main big things are two couches, a china hutch, two dining room tables, four bookshelves, a piano, a display cabinet, a couple of desks, a couple of sewing tables, and just some boxes. Oh, and a treadmill.
Just enough big stuff I can't do it alone.
I'm moving boxes a car load at a time every day.
Today is a crying day.
I think I've just about bawled my head off.
I guess I've been holding a lot of stuff in.
Well ... it's out now.
That's a good thing, I guess.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Bed ...
This is the bed that will be at my apartment.
I'm splitting up the sectional.
One half goes to the studio and the other half goes to where I'll be staying most of the time.
It works.
Boots:
This is my newest sketch.
Some of you may recognize it ...
These are the same sketch ...
just taken at different angles.
Union Covered Bridge Sketch
Here's my finished sketch of the Union Covered Bridge, in Paris, MO.
I had lost my sketch book,
but found it last night.
It was a Duh moment ...
you know ...
you put it somewhere safe where you'll know where it is ...
then you forget where it is ...
Yeah.
Is It Time Yet?
21 hours until Hannibal Music Session
and
93 hours until La Gondola and Ely!
More packing ...
Yes,
once again,
I know it comes as a huge surprise,
more packing!
Today I've been singing my new surprise song for Thursday night as I'm packing.
I'm trying to get it all the way memorized and be able to do it without messing it up.
That's a challenge while my hands are working with packing.
I figure if I can remember it and sing it while I'm working with my hands,
then hopefully I'll be able to remember it when people are looking at me.
That's a lot of pressure!
Anyway,
back to it!
Raffle
Hanging from that crane is a John Deere pedal tractor that was being raffled off.
All of the kids were looking it over!
General
This was my last Sunday as organist.
While I'm relieved ... I'm still sad about it.
It has been a good thing and a good experience for me.
I will miss it.
I just need to manage my stress load right now and that is something that I have some control over.
The rest of my life right now ... not so much.
Once I get a truck rented and everything moved ... I will feel much better and be able to relax a little bit more.
I'm really trying to stay focussed and as unstressed as possible.
Stress can cause my lupus to flair and I'm really trying to avoid that.
So, meditation and my stretching exercises ... dancing ... sketching ... writing ... thinking happy thoughts ...
that's what I'm using to try to destress as much as possible.
Oh, yes, and several lists.
At least even though it looks like nothing is finished,
I can look at my check off list and see what has already been done.
At least that gives me the feeling that I have accomplished something.
Anyway, hope you all had a great weekend.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
All Bruised Up ...
Well, when you see me,
be warned that I'm all bruised up.
It's from lifting and wrestling boxes and miscellaneous stuff.
I was laying in bed this morning in my shorts and t-shirt and my poor little legs were just pitiful.
Bruised up one side and down the other.
So are my little arms.
I have been lifting with my legs though,
so my back is just fine.
I'll heal!!!
How much longer?
46 hours until Hannibal session
and
117 1/2 hours until La Gondola and Ely.
Ya-hoo!
Got a lot done ...
Wow,
I got a lot done today.
Met Larry over at Joann's and he pulled the carpet up for us.
I help roll it and carry it to the truck.
He even took it to Hannibal for me to save me the trip.
I appreciated that.
Thank you so much for all of your help, Larry, on such short notice.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
The only surprise of the day was that there was nothing underneath.
We had expected to find some linoleum ...
But not!
So, I have to go shopping for something to put on the floor
and get that put in before I can move my furniture items over.
Joann came over and helped me pack for a few hours this afternoon.
I've got my teaching room stacked full of boxes!
We also took some stuff over to storage.
I still have a lot left to do, but did get a lot done today.
Then I took her to Wendy's and we had supper together and talked for a while.
She's going to be a good room mate.
We're a good match.
And we like eachother!!!
Larry is working on the apartment and getting it ready.
I'll begin moving some boxed stuff over there next week I hope.
I've been careful to label all of my boxes so I know where it goes and what is in it.
That should save me some headaches later.
Hopefully.
Blacksmith Shop
Here's a picture of the blacksmith shop in Shelbina.
The smell of a forge brings back such good memories for me.
Memories of my Grandpa working in his shop ...
His hammer and anvil sat on a log just like this one.
I thought this made an interesting picture.
I have my Grandmother's big cast iron skillet.
I think it's the reason that I can make good gravy!!!
Here I go ...
I'm getting ready to leave and go pull up carpet.
What does one wear to do such a thing?
I'm just wearing my jeans and a t-shirt.
Oh, and a hat of course.
My blue ball cap.
Mike's back went out,
so my friend Larry is coming up from Hannibal to help me.
I'm very glad!
It had to be done today and that would have left me doing it by myself.
I'd have gotten it done, but I'm pretty sure I would have hurt myself in the process.
Thank you, Larry!
Friday, September 22, 2006
How much longer?
Let's see ...
68 hours until Monday night Jam in Hannibal
and
141 hours until La Gondola and Ely on Thursday!
Now it's time to go practice my surprise song for Jesse and John.
And hey ...
when I talked to my mom today,
she knew the song!
Where's my money?
Someone sneaky took my picture when I wasn't looking!!
The zipper was stuck on my fanny pack and I couldn't get my money out.
How frustrating!
Don't worry,
I eventually got to it.
My hot dog was delicious!
Mmmm ...
I think I had three of them over the weekend.
A New Song ...
I learned a new song for my buds out at Ely.
Specifically for John and Jesse ...
Can't tell you what it is just yet ...
They might find out and I want it to be a surprise.
I feel so sneaky!!!
I found some dirt ...
Here I am at Old Threshers ...
I found me some dirt!
Good dirt, too!
What I wanted to do was lay down in it ...
I like the way it feels so cool to the touch ...
But ...
Didn't want people to think I'm any stranger than they already do!!!!
Ha ha!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Horse Kisses
I just got back from across the street.
I went and collected some more horse kisses.
Today they didn't like waiting in line and they fought over who got the attention.
At one point they were chasing eachother all over the field, but they came back ...
a little more tired and a little more patient.
I got some kisses ... lots of kisses.
Even from some who hadn't kissed me before.
That was unusual.
John Deere Tractor
There's my special little John Deere Tractor that now sits on top of my computer.
Hmmmm ...
How much longer?
Only three hours and 45 minutes
until music tonight!
I can't wait to get there!
Soothing ...
Too bad you can't hear this ...
Nicole is playing Canon in D on my piano right now
and it's just beautiful.
Storage
There's my storage unit.
I could only afford the small one,
so I'm going to cram as much stuff in there as I can!
It's all in the stacking strategy!
How much longer?
Ten hours ...
and
Nineteen minutes
until music session!!!!!!!
I'm ready!!!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
A visit with the horses ...
I was headed out to go to storage today,
when I drove by and saw the horses.
So, I turned around and came back,
parked on the side of the rode
and went for a visit.
I got ignored for the first ten minutes of trying to call them over.
Sometimes they come right away,
Sometimes they really make you work for it,
And sometimes they just plain ignore you.
You never know which it will be.
Luckily, I'm persistant!!
Ahhh ... there we go.
Here she comes.
This little lady is a sweetheart.
She doesn't like to share the attention though.
She usually visits for a long time before she moves on.
She was very interested in the camera.
She sniffed it, nibbled it and knocked it out of my hands once.
Now the rest of them are on the move.
Well, hello there.
How are you?
The one above is my favorite two year old who is usually so affectionate and kissy.
He's very sweet.
This one was very kissable today.
Now, it's hard to catch them kissing me.
They do it so fast ...
kiss kiss kiss
that I couldn't catch it with the camera.
So I just kissed them.
That dark fella in the middle is another one of my favorites.
He's quite the kisser.
He'll stand there forever and kiss me.
He's one of the ones that lets me hug him too.
There's kiss from my favorite two year old.
I only got three today and he moved on.
I felt neglected.
The grey is a sweetheart, but he doesn't always visit.
Oh, they're getting closer!
This one ignored me today.
Just teased me by getting this close ... and that was it.
However, this beautiful guy was very affectionate today.
I almost caught him kissing me!
Here I am kissing him!!
How about a hug?
And another kiss!!!
And a squeeze!!
Time to go!
I sure do love them!
I sure do love them!
