The Front Porch Swing

[wyoDreamer]

I was the middle of 5 girls, and my dad's favorite. He worked so hard not to show it, but I always wanted to go with him for fishing, cutting firewood, hunting, etc. anything outdoors! I think the older two were kinda relieved to not have to go with. I never really hung out with other girls, lots of girl cousins and neighbors and not a lot of boys around - the few there were in the neighborhood were quite a bit older. And I never did girly things, my favorite Christmas was the one I got a train set. One of my favorite toys was a little set of cars - not really cars, it was 2 pickups, a horse trailer, two horses and 2 cows, and about 4 sections of tiny plastic fence. I think as a result of this, most of my good friends were male since they could relate to my hunting tales. I still do not understand females very well; curling my hair, painting my nails, makeup or fussing about clothes just ain't high on my list. So not too surprising that I ended up in a male dominated field, but I have learned to sit back and get to know my co-workers individually and let them find out that I kinda fit in and if that doesn't work, I am pushy enough to make my way into the group. Maybe never totally "one of the guys" but accepted enough to be comfortably included in most things. Even gone to Hooters with the gang a time or two

 

[Searsmom]

That ought to work. The same woman has cut my hair since I was a teenager. I haven't changed hairstyles in yearssss either. It's kind of like going into a bar, "The regular?" "Yep." I keep saying I am going to do something wild and different someday, color and all!

I keep cutting my own. Must be hormonal, I get frustrated with it and keep cutting it shorter. Now I have to let it grow. There's not even enough to straighten now. Just a curly haystack.

Good luck with your stylist!! Sometimes you can get a really good one. Then they realize they can make more money elsewhere and move.

 

[Beekissed]

That ought to work. The same woman has cut my hair since I was a teenager. I haven't changed hairstyles in yearssss either. It's kind of like going into a bar, "The regular?" "Yep." I keep saying I am going to do something wild and different someday, color and all!

I did a different color once and it was an epic fail...and it costs more than I have ever paid for such a thing in my life. Now I'll never let go of my grey...too hard won, it is. I like versatility and my style has it, so I don't mess with that much...it suits my style. Pun intended!

 

[RachaelS]

Quote:

Hey I tired!

 

[enola]

The only reason I dye my hair ????? Because my boyfriend looks younger than me because he still has his dark hair!!

I guess I don't nag him enough

 

[ocap]

I live in a small portion of the Sonoran Desert at 3200 feet. 90 miles from the Pacific Ocean and 90 miles from the sea of Cortez. 2 miles from the Mexican Border and 1.5 miles from the nearest paved road.

I can stand in my back yard and look due South deep into Baja California.... due North If I could see out of my well of Rocks I could see Volcanic hills Steep piles of Granite rocks to the edge of Borrego. And on to the Salt N Sea. Which is only just above sea level. The wind blows from the desert bringing in with it the smell of Ozone and absolute cleanness. The wind that blows from the sea smells of Iodine..... All are swept clean by the mountains and miles and burned purified land.

At night I have no lights outside to hide the Milky way and the universe beyond. Some of those stars you see are really galaxies of their own thousands of light years away. The valleys here were considered sacred places by the Kumeyay. they wandered their way through but never built here.

When I took walks with my goats I would find a place in the rocks and just sit and listen to their leaf rustle hooves as they cavorted and explored.... and listen to the prevailing silence.... The kind of silence that allows you to think to meditate to simply "be".

That last one is hard for many people to take.... Being here now and having no running dialogue.... Just being a conduit for your senses.

My own kind of spiritual expression.
deb

There is a similar quiet in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota and southern Canada. Get up early and break camp start paddling before the wind makes a ripple, I did not want my paddle to make a noise. Go there when the moon is full select a campsite that gives an view of the lake to your east and watch the forest explode with the fire of the moon rise. Lay on the huge granite boulders and watch for meteors. Loons calling as they fly over my tent. Any time Hollywood wants to make the audience feel wilderness the put in a loon calling.

 

[perchie.girl]

Ahhh Deb, that sounds like heaven! I love it IF you can get somewhere with no man made NOISE. You can just sit and look around and be amazed by God's handiwork.

You mean like how the rocks have similar cracks. How the Ravens will dance on the wind playing skill games with their brothers and sisters. The humming birds defending their territory with the fierceness of an attacking sewing needle.... And how the bird of Paradise Mesquite shoots its seeds as far as fifteen feet when the bean pods open.

Or a Male California quail stands watch while his flock forages and all their mutterings.... They used to line up on the fence and wait for me to come out to feed the chickens.... Scolding me if I was late or lingered. Or how each chicken has a different voice and you can tell your favorites instantly.

Right now the Bullfrogs will be out of their holes in the dirt madly looking for a mate.... I have no idea where they lay their eggs but there are always coin purse sized bullfrogs out when it rains. The Black tailed Jack Rabbits, Cottontails, and Bush Bunnies will be looking for nibbly stuff too.
Jack Rabbits can be as big as 6 lbs.

Bush Rabbit is smaller than a cottontail,

cottontail

Or how there are woody herbs on my land that can treat respiratory illness, body aches and pains, help you loose weight, Keep you awake if you need it..... Help with coughs, belly aches.... Or are simply stunning in their shape form or function....

Or how seeds of the Storks Bill after the first dry out will screw themselves into the ground

these are excellent forage for horses, cows, rabbits, goats sheep.... So are the plants.

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Oh my what a stunning image..... and feeling.... I have never heard a loon in person but I have heard their call on TV.... Such a haunting sound....

deb

 

[RachaelS]

Or how seeds of the Storks Bill after the first dry out will screw themselves into the ground

these are excellent forage for horses, cows, rabbits, goats sheep.... So are the plants.

deb

I used to play with these when I was a kid, so neat to watch them try and bury themselves in your hand or cloths.

 

[RachaelS]

Okay when I woke up this morning it was 78 outside, now it is 31 with a wind chill of 27. CRAZY weather!