WE'LL WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS

Forewarned is forearmed.

With summer travels,
it finds more and more bloggers
wanting to meet each other.

At
Rocky Creek Farm,
we have been fortunate enough
to have had several blogger visitors
and are expecting some more -
in fact this week!!

If' you are looking for a perfectly kept home,
don't look here.

In fact,
the front porch rarely looks
as well kept as this picture -
and the inside never is the tidy
farmhouse you'd expect.

But it's livable.

Back "in the day"
it was inhabited
by my Grandparents
and their 12 children
(more or less at once).
And
occasionally I still feel the presence
of one or more of them.
(no, I'm not too weird!)

And this is the smiling face,
you'll find waiting you greet you
as you pull into our yard -
and the arms that can't wait
to give you a hug.

(and if you see a cobweb
as you look over my shoulder,
just use one of my handy
hand-made brooms
to knock it down!)


Blessings to all who visit here,
Lynn

If I Had My Life To Live Over

If I Had My Life To Live Over

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a hot day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s” and More “I’m sorrys”

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back. - 'If I Had My Life To Live Over' was written by the late Erma Bombeck after she discovered she had a terminal illness.

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life" - grab it with gusto and when your time comes to go, you'll have one less regret.

Blessings to all who visit here,
Lynn

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR MIGRAINES?

I suffer from migraine headaches
and am wondering if many of you
have the same problem.
I've had them for years
and the only trigger I can isolate is
MSG.

So that means
no Doritos,
very few flavored salty snacks,
many meat products,
and some ethnic restaurants.
Many people associate MSG
with Chinese food,
but beware -
most Chinese restaurants
will advertise "no MSG"
but other places won't
and you will find it in many meat dishes
and sauces.

Other things I have found that trigger them are
strobe or flashing lights,
intricate patterns,
frozen drinks,
and
sometimes a gentle breeze
blowing across my forehead.

And when I get one,
the best relief
is to go to sleep
in a dark room -
so far I have found
no medicine,
prescription or OTC
that will give me relief.

I will be seeing a headache specialist soon
and pray he can help me because
when I get a migraine,
I loose at least 24 hours
of my life
and have missed out
on many fun events.

My regular doctor
will give me a shot of morphine
when I get one,
but that just zaps me too -
and it has to be when I have a driver
to drive me home.
The good thing is that
when I wake up,
the headache is usually gone.

If you have any suggestions,
please leave them for me.

Blessings to all who visit here,
Lynn

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOM

Here she is as
May Queen
at
Sylvatus High School.

She and Dad
eloped to York, SC
to get married.

Both Mom and I
were in her sister's wedding-
she as Matron of Honor and me
as the flower girl.

And here she is now -
Happy Mother's Day, Mom

Blessings to all who visit here,
Lynn

WITH ALL MY HEART.....

When my friend, Deborah,
over a Meadowland Scotties
sends me an email,
she always signs it
"with all my heart".

And this morning
as I was changing the bed
for
The Sweet Babes,
I picked them up
"two by two"
and held them close to my heart -
I was able to feel Deborah's sweet sentiment.

In reality I will hold them
in my heart
long after they leave me
to go to their forever homes.

Just like any new Mother
who thinks her baby is the
sweetest, smartest, cutest,
that's how I feel about
this clan of puppies.
Every clan seems to reinforce
life lessons for me.




They give me great examples
of when to work,
when to rest,
when to play.

They make me smile
and bring so much happiness
into my life.

They make me focus on the important things
like faith, family and friends.

They introduce me to the nicest people!!


And for all of you out there
who remember a kindlier, gentler time,
if you check out this photo really close,
you will see that it gives a new meaning
to the phrase,
"sacked out".

Blessings to all who visit here,
Lynn