Just The Thing You Do...

Nothing dramatic like winning a race -- or the lottery -- but maybe even more important!

Start by taking a look at the everyday occurrences that make life on this particular planet unique.

And so I began to wonder about the effect that the constant bombardment of electronic frequencies from radios, TVs, iPods, etc., have on a body. And the effects of running around to jobs and meetings, etc.

And I got to thinking about whether it would feel any differently if we were able to go back in time. Imagine living in the Old West back in the 1800s. How would it feel? What would the sounds be? How would it smell? (OK -stay away from certain areas because of the lack of modern sanitation!)

Although I don’t want to give them up, could there be an essence of life that we are losing by using so many new devices?

Or can we revive this life force in the present time by simply touching a plant or animal and connecting with it in some way. Can we train ourselves to feel the "energy" coming from an animal as he stands beside us? Or capture that feeling of peace you get while listening to horses munching their grain in the evening -- a contentment that seems to rise along with the heat from their furry bodies on a cool night.

Mark Allen, Zumbrota, MN is a Life Coach, counselor and horse trainer who asked me some probing questions about relationships with horses that led me to wonder about these concepts.
It seems like the peace and contentment rising from interacting with horses can somehow create an energy flow or effervescence that can even affect other parts of the world -- like smoke rising from a campfire and dispersing into the starlit sky.

And I wonder that whenever you have felt a personal moment of contentment or happiness... could it be that this essence has gone into the environment or atmosphere or whatever and the peace created has affected others that you never even knew.

Just because it was "the thing you do".

Orphaned Kitten tries Skiing!

The orphaned kitten secretly followed me as I cross country skied along the snowy trails outside our home. But then he meowed and yowled until I finally stopped and let him catch up.
He wanted to be picked up. And then he scrambled up onto my shoulders and grabbed on!
He wanted to ski! (Thank goodness for thick snomobile suits!)

The little fellow snuggled down with his face on my right shoulder, part of his body behind my neck and his tail coming around to balance on my left shoulder.
This is OK except he keeps curling his tail in front of my face - almost making a mustache. ( I was tempted to bite it... probably not a good idea! Yechhh!) And I end up breathing in fur.

But, off we go.

Across the snowy ground we glide. Smooth and graceful.

While flying down a small hill, I looked out of the side of my eye to see his furry little face. He was staring intently ahead... the wind blowing back his whiskers.

This is "somewhat" comfortable while moving across flat land trails... but I make him walk when I'm climbing a hill!

It’s encouraging to know that in some places in this world, you can still find a peaceful trail to wander and a kitten who wants to go skiing!

Do you see what I see?

Always the heart of a lion…
(even in a small body)…

Fearlessly stalking its prey…
(sneakily anyway)

A giant snake…
(of melting snow)

Slithering down the branch.
(OK, it’s the front railing.)

The hunter stealthily made his way
through the jungle
(of skis and snow shovels left by the front door)

Ever onward to the kill!
(Or maybe just a cold wet nose?)

It wasn’t until I put my pictures in my computer that I saw what our barn cat had done. I love my digital camera, but there is a delay from the moment I press the button and when the picture is taken. And that’s why this picture was such a surprise.

I had been fascinated with the sliding “snake” of snow hanging on our front railing and not paying attention to Sparkle, the cat.

Later, after viewing the picture on my computer I was surprised how this little feline had lined up so nicely with the sliding snow "snake". I realized it would have been better if I had put some raisins or black stones on the “snow snake’s” head to make it easier to identify.

The thought of re-creating this scene with my independent barn cat was not a good probability (read that as impossible) and also the snow was melting.

So I admit that I added a couple of “eyes” with my photo program. But that’s all.

At the least this could surely be a sign of Spring up here in the Northland. On the other hand… it’s Minnesota! I’ll keep the snow shovels near by!

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Share your view with Rosie at spiritsonghorses@yahoo.com

“Ugly” holiday sweaters

vs. “Tacky” T-shirts!

Flashy holiday clothing… you know… those sweaters and vests that are festooned with decorations of reindeer, snowmen, bells and sequins?
This was the year that I actually had grown to feel fond of such fashions and even thought I might buy one. Of course in all the activities of the season I didn’t get around to doing that.
And that probably saved me from making a terrible fashion mistake according to some folks!

On the other hand, I love the soft fuzzy loose knit top I wore to all the Christmas celebrations I attended. I have no clue as to what it is called or if it’s “Retro” or “Vintage”. I bought it at a garage sale for $1. It was fun to wear but it might not have gotten the approval of the “fashion police” either.

Still, I was shocked to see an article in the big city newspaper describing the ever popular Christmas sweaters as “ugly”! They even have parties where everyone is supposed to wear this type of holiday knitwear to laugh at!
But I had just decided that they were kind of neat! At least they were interesting. They tell a story – upbeat and friendly. And if I was at a party where I didn’t know anybody I could at least spend the time reading the sweaters!

Now let’s compare these to some T-shirts and the slogans they publicize. Admittedly some of them are pretty awful.
But I like mine because usually they are free. (This tells you a lot about my fashion sense!)
For instance, because of my horses I have bought a lot of “wormer” over the years. So I not only have a free T-shirt advertising the brand, but a rain poncho and a cap. (I guess I have a coordinated outfit, right?)
One of the first T-shirts I got came when I won it for losing the most balls during a Cannon Falls Beacon golf tournament back in 1983. I’ve still got it.
Then there’s the T-shirt I got for completing the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy. It says: “Warrant Squad – ‘We Play Hide ‘N Seek’”.
Freeberg Insurance gave out one that simply says in large letters, “Cannon Falls” and their name in little letters underneath. That’s a good one when traveling and starting conversations.
The one I wear when working out was given me when I wrote up an outdoor exercise challenge. It says: “Operation Sweat ! Boot Camp ’06”. I’m hoping someone seeing it might think I’m tough!
So my clothes may not have fancy labels, but they do the job.
And maybe next year I’ll get around to checking out those “ugly” Christmasy decorated sweaters. Then why don’t we just have our own party! Sounds like fun!

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Share your view with Rosie at spiritsonghorses@yahoo.com

Not the land of Oz - or Kansas - it's Minnesota as usual!

Not the land of Oz - or Kansas - Dorothy...

it's back to a normal Minnesota on the first day of 2007!

After above normal temperatures for the last few months of 2006 which included rain and gray skies, the first day of 2007 came with a few inches of snow and blue skies and sunshine...

Join on a trek through the woods like it was just a few months ago.

It's quiet and still...

in one small part of the world.

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Share your view with Rosie at spiritsonghorses@yahoo.com

Stolen Christmas Present found many years later

Stolen Christmas present
found in antique store
many years and miles later


The story of a childhood present stolen - the lady who had played with it -
and the friends who "take care of one of ours!"

“Something drew me to the back of the store… I never do that… always just look at the front display cases.” It was a few weeks before Christmas 2005 when 64 year old Mona King looked up at the top shelf in the antique store and saw the metal doll house she had received for Christmas when she was just six years old!
It had been stolen along with all of her possessions when her family was relocating some 20 years ago and the moving truck never showed up at their new home.

Although by some instinct Mona was positive this was her dollhouse, she asked the clerk at Thora Mae’s Antique Shop in the Cannon Mall to check the bottom for her. If it really was her very own doll house it would have been signed on the bottom by her great uncle who put it together on that long ago Christmas morning back in Montana.
She remembered how long it took him to do it. The family had gathered for their special holiday breakfast of waffles and goodies and everyone else was eating. But her uncle was determined to get it completed. Mona recalled him saying, “I won’t eat until I get Mona’s house together.”
He finally was done and wrote on the bottom… “Uncel Russel Shidler to Mona Rae”.
Mona asked the clerk to look underneath the house and see if anything was written there. She would turn her back so she couldn’t see it herself.
Mona recalled the store clerk tipping the doll house up to peer underneath. Did she see any writing? The answer was, “No.”
As the clerk tipped the house to look at the other end she explained, yes, there was some writing. Mona asked, “Does it say, Uncle Russel Shidler to Mona Rae?”
Hearing an affirmative from the clerk, Mona recalls bursting into tears. You see the doll house was more than just a child’s toy to Mona. It also brought back so many memories. The house also had some toy furniture that Mona recognized as her own. But the curtains her Mama and Grandma had made were gone.

Mona lives by herself in Freeborn Manor on a limited income. But she told the clerk to keep the doll house for her until she received her check the next month and she would be back to buy it.
“I was so happy,” Mona exclaimed. Walking back home she recalled, “I stopped in Brewsters (Bar & Grill) afterward and was told, ‘You’re lit up like a light bulb!’”
And so she told her friends about her long lost doll house – found again.

Now the story gets even more heartwarming. The folks at Brewster's realized how important this doll house was to Mona. Mike (Swede) Johnson decided to buy it for her according to his wife, Shirley. She explained that he told her to go to the mall and pay for it and have it set aside until Mona came out to pick it up. When he mentioned this at Brewster's, she recalled, other folks like Paulette and Ken Friesen wanted to be part of it too. And more people chipped in.

But Mona didn’t go back to the antique store.

The "gang at Brewster's" couldn’t wait any longer to see their surprise happen so Paulette went to pick it up. She put it in a large gift bag and proceeded to leave it alone on a table near the bar waiting for Mona to stop by.
She did. Mona recalled that nobody mentioned the bag sitting there. She thought it belonged to some other customers. But when those folks left and didn’t take the bag, she recalled Ken saying, “What’s on the table? People must have left it.” And then Mona said he told her, “Go see what’s in it.”
And when she did, Mona burst into tears.

No one would reveal the cost of the doll house.
That’s not the important part, the Brewster's gang explained.

It’s about taking care of “One of ours”.

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Share your view with Rosie at spiritsonghorses@yahoo.com