Simple Dreams....

We all have dreams.. big dreams, long range dreams, seemingly unobtainable dreams. I have those dreams, too. But today I want to focus on a small dream - it was a longstanding dream, and yet a small little dream. The dream of owning a Maltese puppy.

I had been raised with yorkies - and I love them! They are feisty, small in stature - but large in personality. They will take on the world. We have always had a yorkie in the house, until my daughter got married this summer and took "her" baby to her new home. And with that, I lost two kiddos!

I found our next dog (actually she found me) when someone dumped my part Golden Retriever, part Irish Wolfhound - and part many other breeds - on the side of the road with her puppy. Someone was kind enough to take the two orphan dogs to the vet. The puppy was adopted immediately, but not mamma dog. Our vet knows I am a soft touch, so the office called to let me know that this dog was going to be put to sleep if no one wanted her. Needless to say, she has been part of our household ever since.

My husband was raised with Boston Terriers - and has passed on this tradition to our sons - so we have had a Boston in our home for over 10 years. Even with all of these canines, I never gave up my desire for a Maltese puppy - soft and silky, with jet black eyes, these gentle, quiet lap dogs worm their way into your heart. They are the babies that just want to be held. And with my kiddos one by one exiting my home, I was ready for my new "baby". I did not want to go to a breeder to get the perfect puppy. I have always liked the underdog. So, I searched the rescue dog sites and found a Maltese puppy that a breeder turned over because it needed surgery. After a sixteen hour drive (there and back) through the backwoods of Missouri - we had "Pepper" the new baby of our household.

Dreams - even small dreams - do come true!

Smile - You have Choices!!

Happiness is not about how much cash you have - it is about whether or not you have the ability to realize your dreams - in other words, having choices = happiness.

Researchers from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand analyzed questionnaires from 420,000 people in 63 countries and found that individuals who were able to make their own choices - to open a bookstore for example - claimed the highest levels of well-being.

"So while wealth can provide you with more choices, it's really having the ability to realize your dreams that leads to greater happiness," says study coauthor Ronald Fischer, Ph.D.(Source: AARP magazine).
 
I will remind myself of that this week as I choose to edit my book instead inside of going outside and enjoying this gorgeous weather and the autumn-laced trees.... I am happy.... this is my choice...:)

How are you progressing on your goals? Do you feel you have choices - or do you feel stuck?

Let's talk!
 

Saying "Yes" and remembering then to say "No"....

The road to achieving your goals can be full of potholes. One of the biggest potholes I find, unfortunately, we dig ourselves.... we say "yes" to a new project, a new obligation, a new commitment - and dig a hole. What we forget - and I am so guilty of this - is that each time we say "yes" to something new that requires our time, we don't say "no" to something that equally (or preferably) consumes more of our time. "Yes" digs the hole in our time - "no" helps fill the hole.

Yesterday, I said "yes" to another position on a community board. I am now searching my obligations to determine what I can let go of - if I don't, I know I will have even less time for my dreams, my prayer life, my family, my de-stress time - the parts of my life that matter most - that I need - in which I find fulfillment. Say "yes" too often - and you push your dreams even further into the future. Say "no" to things that don't matter - and you will enrich your life, find time for your dreams, and bless those you care about with that special, priceless gift: time!

When we get "stuck".....

I read this poem on the blog: Seasonal Soundings and liked it so much, I thought I would share it here. It is a good reminder of what we need to do when we are "stuck" or when we can't find our momentum. The message: Do the next thing - take that next step. I am reading this today as I tackle the edits on another chapter and as I set forth my goals for this coming week. Enjoy!

From an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration-Do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, Do the next thing.

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
Leave all resultings, Do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee, Do the next thing.

-Author unknown

Keeping Dreams Alive....

I think that one of the most challenging parts of making dreams a reality is keeping dreams alive. This is especially true during times when I am overwhelmed with work -or when I am in a down period and just find it plain hard to move my dreams forward.

During these times, I find my lists invaluable. If I can't make progress on my dreams, I can at least make progress organizing my space and my time to work on them. I can take my big dreams and break them down into bite-sized pieces and schedule them in. I can sit down over tea or a glass of wine with my husband and strategize on how to get back on track.

I admit - it isn't easy to keep trudging ahead -especially with dreams that years of planning. But, having achieved several of them - I can you that tell that they are worth the plodding.

As fall begins to settle over the prairie, and the fire grass is starting to blaze its brilliant orange and red hues, I am starting to shift gears and am thinking more of my indoor goals and dreams. As I am closing up my gardens for the year, picking the pumpkins and the last of this season's squash, I am dusting off writing projects and recipes, pulling out the knitting needles and planting indoor herbs.

The dreams that went dormant in summer are stirring with new life!

What are your dreams for the winter months?

Another "Dream" Realized...

I rarely leave work early - so rarely, it is hard to remember the last time I did it. But, I realize now that when opportunity knocks, if you don't answer that door, it just may not knock again.

 So, when my neighbor and good friend Betty called and asked if I would finally like to learn how to make jelly, I absolutely jumped at the chance.

I told all my co-workers, "I am leaving at 2:30 p.m. - I am going to make jelly!!!" Okay, I got a few strange looks, but when they heard the "I'm fulfilling a dream" tone in my statement, they were all there, helping me get out the door.

There is nothing like having a professional for a teacher - and Betty is just that. From artisan bread to canned beef, from an heirloom garden, to pottery - Betty can do it all. I follow her around like a groupie - amazed at what she can do.

Who knew that if you blanch peaches for 1 minute, the skin rolls off? That sugar should not touch the sides when you are adding it to the fruit? That a rolling boil is needed before you start to time the final phase? 

It is so nice to have a teacher right at hand - not doing your work, but talking you through it - and I learned that the fruit "foam" is one of the most amazing parts of the jelly!

Thanks, Betty - another dream fulfilled!

The First Fruits of Summer!!

During the past two weeks, the road side stands have started to fill with homegrown produce - or produce brought in from neighboring states. From tomatoes to peaches, from zucchini to gorgeous melons, this is the time of year to indulge! 

Turn off those ovens and enjoy the riches of summer!


Make BLTs with juicy, ripe tomatoes.
Each fresh peaches on vanilla ice cream.
Pressure cook fresh corn and serve it with butter, salt, and pepper.


Simple eating. Simple Pleasures.
Ah! The Joy of Summer!