Graceful Landing

Go Where the Peace is

2017-10-09T18:24:00.000-06:00

Life is full of beauty-

Harvesting gorgeous vegetables from my garden

Spending time with my amazing grandkids.

Girls night at the movies with my family tribe of women

Curling up with blankets on the couch to watch a weekend mystery with my teen daughter, while sipping our bottled rootbeers.

Delicious morning hugs from my still-sleepy husband

Peaceful, contemplative Sundays

Meaningful time with great friends

Farm animals happy to see me every morning

Gentle, quiet companionship from a sweet dog

I love peace. I love kindness and generosity and wholesomeness.

I do not like turmoil.

Recently, I got verbally spanked by someone over an accidental misunderstanding.

It was harsh and not expected. I cried later.

I love this person.

I've always respected her boundaries.

I've done my best to show kindness and be if not a great, then certainly a decent friend.

I'm very much an introvert, so I never feel that I'm a great friend or neighbor. (I require too much alone time.) However, I try to practice what I preach to my kids- to be smiling and cheerful in the company of others, to be sincerely gracious and say 'thank you' as often as I can, and to apologize immediately if I'm ever aware that I hurt someone- even unintentionally.

I'm also definitely a little too huggy, at times. Working on that.

I was really concerned that this person was so upset and tried my best to smooth things over, to make ammends and help her realize it was a misunderstanding.

My sincerest apologies seemed to only fall on deaf ears.

What do you do when you feel completely rebuked?

When your attempts at kindness go unappreciated and it seems no amount of authenticity or friendliness is enough?

It's often difficult for me to navigate this world in which we live.

I believe in being courteous, giving people the benefit of the doubt and treating others the way I'd want to be treated. (Which is, kindly.) I love people, am fascinated by their stories and wish everyone the best.

It is a rare thing for me to not like someone and if that happens, I try really hard to find something to like about them.

I believe there is enough for everyone in this world to find their level of contentment. (And that perhaps contentment, often, comes from unexpected sources or requires less than we think.)

I know that every single person is dealing with some degree of pain or doubt, sorrow or suffering. Fighting their own battles.

I truly wish them only health, happiness and peace.

I never wish to add more weight upon their shoulders. (Although, I'm sure I've been guilty of this.)

However, this misunderstanding I experienced later caused me to feel anger.

Anger over being treated so severely and having my friendliness swept aside as if it has meant nothing.

The fact is, the older I get, the more I want to call people out on their rudeness!

Their unfairness and crankiness.

Their forgetfulness of the generosity others have shown them,

Their pickiness or disregard for the work other's have put into something.

Their gossiping and trying to tear people down,

Always trying to 'one-up' others.

Weighing others down with their complaints.

Not allowing others to happily live their own lives.

Plain ol' drama. Because apparently, life is boring unless they're scrutinizing everyone else, sensationalizing relationships or magnifying someone's faults.

I begin to think that at my age, having experienced and observed much, I have the right to call it like it is- to put them in their place if needed.

To be rude right back; which goes against every courteous skill I've honed in my lifetime.

And BOY, do I want to at times. I really, really do.

But here's the thing: I'm sure at some point in my life, someone- somewhere, has probably thought they could accuse me of things on that same list. Either because of some action or omission...or simply because they assumed something about me that wasn't true.

Pointing fingers and calling people out is a slippery slope.

After contemplating my experience and feeling reasonable once more,

I began to think on my course of action.

Here is what I know to be true.

More LOVE never hurts.

More LOVE can heal.

More LOVE, when given freely, forgives.

Family, friends, neighbors, strangers....I am free when I show forth an increase in love to my fellow human beings.

Because being a human is hard for us all sometimes.

So I will continue to love her and treat her the way I'd want to be treated... and do so free of any expectations.

And there it is- my peace is back.

Little Punkins

2016-10-24T10:29:00.002-06:00

Little Punkins at harvest and Halloween time...

Our punkins and grandpunkins...

They make life pretty darn sweet...

Family is where it's at!

New Website- Skylark Blue

2016-09-21T20:31:00.000-06:00

http://www.skylarkblue.com

Check out my new site- Skylark Blue

I plan to continue writing here, but perhaps not as often.
We shall see. :)

Graceful Landing has seven years of my heart, so I'm not willing to give that up as of yet.

In the meantime, there's more here!

Garden Haul

2016-09-17T12:42:00.000-06:00

When the fruits of your garden labor arrive in abundance....it's a very good thing.

These become this:

Spaghetti sauce, salsa, canned tomatoes for winter salsa and soups;

these are the reasons tomatoes are my favorite!

The Beauty of Everyday Things

2016-08-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

Fresh sheets and pillowcases on the line- soaking up the sun,

Momma kitty and baby lazily playing under a tree,

And a good dog lying at my door...

Beautiful.

Heavenly Evening

2016-08-16T07:30:00.000-06:00

Inhale evenings like this....

store them up and breathe them out in remembrance on a February day.

Friends

2016-08-12T07:30:00.000-06:00

Dublin, Link and Archer.
Sheep, Pig and Kitten.
Fine friends. :)

Sweet Summertime!

2016-08-09T06:30:00.000-06:00

True West

2016-08-05T07:30:00.000-06:00

My great-great grandfather Morgan traveled west, following his Uncle William's footsteps.

William Logan

William crossed the plains with wagon and oxen in 1852 and was one of three men who began the town of Weiser, Idaho in the 1860's and soon after, moved to Malheur County, Oregon.

Morgan Logan

Morgan was a teetotaler, a marshal, rancher and family man. He lived the west. Wrangling an existence for his family in eastern and central Oregon, he and his wife braved harsh conditions and even the loss of two precious children.
I admire their courage and determination.

My great-grandfather, Clair "Cub" Logan, far left

Central Oregon is a hotspot of family history for me. I can visit my great-great grandmother's and grandfather's graves- from both sides of the family- at the base of Pilot Butte in Bend or drive up to the little town of Prineville to visit Morgan's. I can visit Lake Owyhee reservoir, under which was once some of my ancestors' ranch land. Generations were born, raised and buried there and in south-western Oregon.
We are westerners through and through.
The old west has been romanticized, I know, but there's still something special about those who blazed trails, endured hardships of every kind, developed a bounty of skills and stood firm in a rugged land in order to make something of it.

In honor of those mighty ancestors, I value practical skills- including gun knowledge and use. I am careful and thoughtful with a weapon. Lucky for me, I'm married to a skilled gunman who also uses great caution and care.
He's taught me well, has provided food for our family and protected our farm (and vulnerable animals) from brazen foxes and coyotes. Such animals have done things like wiping out an entire flock of our chickens in one night. Chickens that were in a fenced enclosure, preyed upon and their carcasses left strewn across acres of land.
I'm ever learning and don't want practical skills and freedoms to be lost. All creatures have their purpose and beauty, but protection on our own land of our weaker animals is crucial to our farm.

Learning sensible, servicable skills and putting them to work when needed.
That's a large part of the true west.

Family

2016-08-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

What can I say? I'm an incredibly blessed girl.
I come from good stock- those with solid outlooks on life, great senses of humor, intelligence and love. My family.

Rememberance

2016-07-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

A big part of life here is remembering those who went before and keeping their memory alive through the generations.

We haven't forgotten.

When the Grandkids Come to Play!

2016-07-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

Life goes into hyperdrive when our grandkids come to stay.

I'm reminded moment by moment of what my life was like not too many years ago. Busy in a completely different, very lively kind of way.

It's cleaning and feeding and caring and listening, hugging, holding, teaching and watching, watching, watching.
Being that I'm a grandma, I can let some rules slide. I can embrace it all, enjoy it fully and know that soon they'll go home and my own house will be...quiet and clean and rather boring again.

A glimpse of the fun: Eating favorite foods, swimming, then eating some more...

Meals up on the counter, slurping noodles...who needs table manners? ;)

Dancing while dunking cookies in milk,

Allowing them their hearts' desires;
like riding in the elevator 'time machine' at the library- if you could only have seen the reverent awe on his face when he saw those gleaming doors and buttons that begged to be pushed and heard the whispered, "Mamie, can we ride on the tiiime machine?" (Priceless!)

Mopping my kitchen floors as often as she wants (those floors never looked better!)

While these two munchkins enjoy their suckers and pretend-watch a 'big movie' (really, just my large painting on the wall.) They were very animated in the details of what was taking place in this movie.

Riding 4-H sheep,

Sleeping in the living room,

and simply enjoying the summer days...

It's truly Grand! :)

Bathtime Ritual

2016-07-24T09:30:00.000-06:00

When my granddaughter stays over, she knows there are constants- like baking cookies and feeding the chickens together.
She also knows I read to her in the bath. Sometimes I read several, but there is one book she grabs every time.

Snow-White and Rose-Red, the fairytale.

I read it to my own girls, and now I read it to her.
How lovely is that?

Twenty-Seven and Counting

2016-07-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

Building our life together for 27+ years.

From kids transforming into grown ups, then parents and now grandparents (and all the rest of life in between and surrounding that) ....we've really lived!

There may be plenty of things I'd wish I could do differently if allowed to go back in time, but I wouldn't change what we've learned together for anything. Life is beautiful.

My best friend- Pals forever.

Refining and Redefining

2016-07-19T06:30:00.000-06:00

For My Husband Too

2016-07-17T07:30:00.000-06:00

True Love

2016-07-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

For all seasons....

My Guy

2016-07-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

With the quiet intensity of a hero straight out of a western novel,
a smile to make me weak in the knees...

Gentleness with the young

and a shared love for historical places,

A deep reverence for those who've gone before and respect for what they've given us....

I'm blessed to call him mine.

For My Husband

2016-07-10T07:30:00.000-06:00

Devotion

2016-07-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Independence Day

2016-07-05T21:56:00.000-06:00

Independence Day for our family means patriotic parades

with some watching and others participating,

It's spending time with our family and community, sharing love for God and Country

A day filled with gratitude for our freedoms,

enjoying our loved ones,

reconnecting with family from afar,

food and fireworks!

It doesn't get much better than that. :)

Anniversary Month

2016-07-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

July is our month. The Man of the House's and mine.
When the fourth is over and fully celebrated in reverence and cheer, we turn our focus to us.

Our memories are so intertwined after being together for almost twenty-eight years, we are not fully one without the other. It's rather beautiful.

A Spring Evening

2016-06-23T07:30:00.000-06:00

Strolling around the farm on a beautiful spring evening, camera in hand, I captured
some moments to keep.

Noble and Brave

2016-06-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Fathers. Dads.
A title that can be daunting and draining at times, yet is one of the greatest titles a man can carry.

Certain men have shaped my life and I'm forever grateful for them.

My sweetheart has grown into his role of father through the years and it has been an amazing development. He embraces his children and grandchildren with a firm but tender heart, and teaches them with his quiet example. He's grown into a fine man from the boy I once knew.

He has worked hard for our family, supporting me in all my endeavors, and blessed my life with our six wonderful children. I am a lucky woman. I was able to stay home with my babies, teach them and create a rich home life for our family.

I love this guy!

My own dad, Daniel.

It's hard to express just how I feel about him. There's an overflow of love mixed with a fierce pride in who I come from. I am Daniel's daughter. Those are powerful words.

My step-dad, Joel.
Kind, patient, long-suffering through my teen years and an excellent instructor in many life skills.
I was honored to be the recipient of his parenting. Still am.

My grandfather, James.
No one is luckier than I in the department of grandpa. This guy is the perfect combination of stern, loving and light-hearted. Devoted to my grandma and a gentleman through and through.
The only grandpa I've every known.

Last, but not least, my namesake, Jesse. My great-grandfather, who I never met, but whose name I'm forever grateful for.
I now have a grandson with that name as well.

I feel the need to live in such a way as to make him proud. To make all of them proud.
Good men have the power to affect their families in amazing ways.

All the Pretty Little Ponies

2016-06-16T06:30:00.000-06:00

Lullabies are powerful.

From Wikipedia: A lullaby or cradle-song... is a soothing song or piece of music, usually played or sung to children or adults. The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies they are used to pass down cultural knowledge or tradition.... Perhaps one of the most important uses of lullabies is as a sleep aid for infants. As a result, the music is often simple and repetitive.

Lullabies can be found in many countries, and have existed since ancient times.

Dez wasn't interested in my affection the other evening. She was unhappily separated from her pasture mate, Zip. I followed her around as she tried to avoid me. Finally, I sat quietly in the grass near her for a while. She stood, a few feet away and looked at me curiously.

Out of the blue, I decided to sing her a lullaby. 'All the Pretty Little Ponies' seemed fitting,- it was a song my mother sang to me and I sang to my own babies.
She stood very still, listening.

Then, relaxing, she got sleepy and actually began to drool.

I'd say that's a powerful song.

There are many versions- originally a scottish tune, and my mother sang 'Pretty Little Horses,' but here's the one I sang to my babies-

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little ponies.
Blacks and bays, dapples and grays,
All the pretty little ponies.

In the meadow, on the ground,
Little baby crying mama.
Birds and butterflies fly around,
Little baby crying mama.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little ponies.
Blacks and bays, dapples and grays,
All the pretty little ponies.