To Dream.....

"I DO NOT WANT TO DIE... UNTIL I HAVE FAITHFULLY MADE THE MOST OF MY TALENT AND CULTIVATED THE SEED THAT WAS PLACED IN ME UNTIL THE LAST SMALL TWIG HAS GROWN." Kathe Kollwitz.

This is the thought I have for my life these days... and what a wonderful life it is! A good friend
once told me that every morning he wakes up he thinks... "its good to be me today" ! Well, that
is how I feel in this season of my life! It is a very good season indeed! I have accomplishments in the past that I can be proud of, and have a bountiful blessing of wonderful family and cherished friends, and I have the future before me to accomplish anything I care to dream of.

So today I wish the same for you my friend ~ but you have to first dream it before you can live
it! I hope this season of your life is your best season yet ~

"THE THINGS THAT ONE MOST WANTS TO DO ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE PROBABLY MOST WORTH DOING." Mitchell Burgess

HISTORICAL FICTION

Good Afternoon friend ! Hope all is well with you and yours ~

Its a wonderful cool fall day here.. with cloudy skies and drizzling rain.. the perfect day to curl up with a good book! My favorite kind of book is "HISTORICAL FICTION". Last night I started a new "historical fiction" book titled "THE GOOD JOURNEY" by Micaela Gilchrist. Historical fiction novels are just that.. part true history and part fiction. Authors might take a period in history ( in this case 1820's and 1830's) and then make up characters who live during a historical time of our history. Others take real people that they discover in history and do endless years of research to track down all the information they can about these people through countless letters and documented information. Plot turns are sometimes based in fact and sometimes fiction as well.

Micaela Gilchrist explains in her pre book analysis that "As a novelist, I could venture into places where historians could not go and I could take the reader with me. We could meet in the General's tent before battle, and I could whisper to the reader to take notice of the color of the General's cheek as he raged against his political enemy Lewis Cass. Quietly and discreetly, you and I could tiptoe in to the Genral's bedchamber and breathe in the smell of the soap lather on the cloth as his widow bathes his body for burial. My job as the novelist is to be your guide through the territory, rending open a vanished world so that for a few hours at least, you can inhabit the commanding general's house on the banks fo the Mississippi river in the early part of the nineteenth century."

Oh wow! that is exactly what I want from a book.. to be transformed back in history to a time in the history of our America when things were different, not easy, and now a part of our heritage. But also not be consumed by facts to the point of boredom. To be tranformed back in time............ahhh... I must go now and curl up with my new book!

BALANCE

"BALANCE": mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.

This is what the dictionary says about "balance". I find that interesting. My cousin and I often
disscuss that "Balance" is one of the most important AND one of the hardest things to have in our lives. Everyone is rushing these days... trying to balance being a parent, being a spouse,
daughter or son, going to work, spirtuality.. and somehow in there finding a little down time for ourselves. WHEW! No wonder we are all so busy and so tired. Trying to make a perfect balance
in our lives ( or "equilibrium" ) is key however. I hate to use the old cliche of " take one day at
a time"... but isint that really a fitting saying for our generation these days? The best we can do
is take one day at a time, trying to balance all our occupations and doing the very best we can. No one can ask more of us than that. Sounds easy huh? Well, we all know its not.

Thus brings me to our next dictionary search " JUGGLE": to keep several objects, in continuous motion in the air simultaneously by tossing and catching.

Well, there you have it... we just have to balance our juggling of all aspects of our lives taking one day a time. Easy as pie! Now if you figure our a good way to do all that without guilt.. please email me! ha!

Retired vs. Retarded

Well, after selling our graphics business last December, I am always being asked "so now what
exactly do you do ? " I am surprised and sometimes mortified that that was over 9 months ago
and I am not sure of the answer to that question!

Many folks have always told me that when they retired they could not believe how they got everything done that they did when they were working. Let me start by saying that I am not really "retired" although we often refer to it that way. We were blessed to sell our business for
a wonderful price but it was not, however, enough to "retire" on! But I did promise myself that if it sold I would take 1 - 2 years to follow my dreams and passions......

That all sounds wonderful doesn't it? Well, I am struggling with my day to day performance level! With the graphics business I would count how many boxes were shipped in a day... that was how I could easily track my performance level. Now, I get up early.... stay up late and have absolutely nothing to show for my day most days! UGGH! I am not taking naps or eating bon bons watching Opera either. But I just seem to be able to coast through a day with nothing to show for it! This does not fit well into my nature !!

So how do so called "retire-ees" make sense of their days? I guess maybe part of my problem is using the word "retired"... if I were truly retired at the age of 62 - 65, then its ok to spend your
days in quiet bliss and you would not consider tracking your performance! But since I am really supposed to be "following my passion" ... perhaps I am succeeding! I have done many many
antique shows since selling the business, and have come a long way with my antique website...
so I just need to adust my thinking and not set the gauge on how many boxes did I ship.....
hmmmmm.......

This blog is like thinking out loud... it gives you insight to put your thoughts down in brown and
white! Thanks for going on the ride with me.....and my "retarded" brain!
Hope all is well in your neck of the woods this fine fall day my friend!
see you soon!
Jill

First Day of Blogging !

Well, as they say.... either move forward or get out of the way. So I am
now blogging! I have a couple of friends who have a blog site and I
enjoy reading their blog so much that I thought maybe I should give
it a go! Since you know that I do not use the phone service.. and am
sort of good at emailing, but a day or two late ~ I thought this might
be a good way to keep in touch!



Today I am recuperating from the ever long Round Top antiques show.
It goes on for days and days ... and yes, days. Packing up is the
very worst part and yesterday it was so hot I couldn't even think
about antiques! Yes.. that is REALLY hot! I guess that is the price we
pay for living in the great state of Texas. However, it seems to be
rather hot everywhere.

On a good note, shows were good this last week and I met so many great
new folks! At the Hodges Farm Sale in Bellville, TX we had a Great time!
Its such a great environment with a country atmosphere. Thanks to
Dawn and Doug, Carol, and all the wonderful volunteers who make that
show such a wonderful time.



I allowed myself a little known luxury this morning as I read before I
got up! I wanted to finish my latest book... "These is my Words" by author
Linda Turner. Its the diary of Sarah Agnes Prine ~ 1881 - 1901 as her and
her family live and travel about the Arizona Territories. WONDERFUL
book. I am sad that it is finished. I always miss the characters of a good
book after I am done reading about their lives and find myself thinking
about them during the days that follow.



Well, I will close my very first blog on this Sunday afternoon. But stop
by often and see what is going on at Frontier Homestead. Perhaps I
have inspired you to create your own blog out there in cyberspace.
If so, be sure and send me a link.

Be well my friends,

Jill