In My Own Backyard

I’m sad to see that Summer is dusting off her luggage and starting to pack it up and head out of town. I love you Summer! You will be missed by me.

Now that the University of Central Missouri is in full swing I want to share with you what flew over the other day. We live almost on campus. I knew the first home game for the football season was going to be special. In cahoots with Whitman Air Force Base they were planning on a fly over of the B2 Bomber as our National Anthem finished.

I went outside with camera in hand hoping the Stealth would go over my house so I could get a pic of it. We see and hear them all the time and our street is a common course for them.

So, all of a sudden the traffic mysteriously got quiet and I could hear the young man sing the last line of our National Anthem. I turned my camera on as he sang out and I stood up to get ready. All of a sudden the B2 came over low and loud and I nearly dropped the camera. Even my dog started barking at him and chasing him down the yard. It’s the best I could do……

here it is after it passed over…. all stealth – like

The weather this summer has been mild for the most part. To me, anyway. My husband does not like summer, so he is happy it is ending. (he doesn’t like winter either)

Other happenings in the backyard ——-

my beloved hammock

sky

a dove came to visit

swallows

Teddy Roosevelt

George Bailey

Teddy and George

Enjoy!

Cate B

Dreamers Keep Dreaming

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For

knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while

imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will

be to know and understand.”

― Albert Einstein

Great words, Mr. Einstein. Without imagination I do believe life would be rather boring and stagnant. Those of us who have great imaginations must, however, learn to put them to good use. Day dreaming is fun, but not very productive. I think we need to take our dreams and imanganings and look closely at them. Sift through them, perhaps. See if they are worth pursuing. What will it cost me to pursue my dreams? Are they realistic? How can I tweak my dreams and imaginations to become realities? So many more questions……. One thing I do know is that sometimes our dreams change as time goes by. Hopefully they change for the better and not die out completely. Maturing, and life’s roads can change our dreams. Usually to the better. As we get to know ourselves we can see our dreams becoming more clear. Having relationships with others that are strong and deep can help those dreams been seen from other perspectives and therefore, become a reality.

One of my favorite dreamers (fictional) is George Bailey – James Stewart’s character in It’s a Wonderful Life. George had big dreams for his life. Whenever he came close to leaving home and town to pursue those dreams something would happen and he had to stay. As time went by George got more and more discouraged about those dreams. He found himself in such a funk that he wanted to die. Almost did, but along came Clarence, the angel that saved him and showed him how things would have been, had he never been born. It is quite a story. How many times have we wanted to just give up and forget this dreaming thing. When life throws us punches and obstacles that try to thwart our dreams and ideas, we just want to quit. What’s the point? That is the time to get a new perspective. One that shows how we affect others and just how our ideas and dreams can come into play if just perhaps, done differently.

George Bailey dreamed of building bridges, being an architect. He may not have gone off to the wilds to create said bridges, or school to learn the trade, but in the small town of Bedford Falls he did build bridges. Bridges in peoples lives of hope and dreams. He helped people pursue business and own property that would not have happened if he wasn’t there.

George Bailey: I’m shakin’ the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I’m gonna see the world. Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the Colosseum. Then, I’m comin’ back here to go to college and see what they know. And then I’m gonna build things. I’m gonna build airfields, I’m gonna build skyscrapers a hundred stories high, I’m gonna build bridges a mile long…

If you haven’t seen this film, I highly recommend it. Not just for entertainment, but more for hope and encouragement to you and those you influence.

Don’t stop dreaming and imagining. You can go so much further in life if you keep them open. Keep those dreams alive and begin pursuing how and when and where they can become a reality ——- or have they already and you just need to change your perspective to see them alive. Like George Bailey.

Enjoy!

cate b

I Love My Dogs

I have a beautiful Airedale Terrier named Hayley Mills after a childhood favorite actor. I also have an adorable mutt named George Bailey after Jimmy Stewart’s character in the classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

I’m not the only person to name their dog with the full name of a favorite star or character. Lorlei Gilmore did it:

And in this weeks episode of The Middle Patricia Heaton names her new found dog Colin Firth (sigh). You can watch that full episode here:

http://www.hulu.com/search?q=The+Middle

These two totally opposite doggies are so much fun and great friends. Couldn’t have picked better furry companions and so gentle with kids of all ages.

Happy Friday! Enjoy!

cate b

Day 5 of NaBloPoMo……. ugh

Here we are on day five of the blogging challenge blogher.com and I’m doubting myself. I am blogging at night for the following day which totally puts me out of sinc. I’m doing this because I am out of town helping with my grand daughters who are 2.5 years and 2 weeks. My back hurts. I will be here until Thursday morning – and very glad I am here.

Today’s prompt is: Tell us about your writing space. Where do you write your blog posts?

I chuckle over this one. I had set up a lovely work space in a spare room where I have a twin size bed that is rarely used. I also have an old tall chest – or maybe it’s a chiffarobe. I just love saying that word, chiffarobe, ever since I first read To Kill a Mockingbird. Chiffarobe. It must be said with a southern accent and only two syllables. My piece of furniture opens up a desk area with ample writing space and several little drawers and cubbies. It’s a nice piece but needs a little fixing. I had set it up with a lovely lamp and all my creative tools including Eve, my faithful Macbook. I loved this room. Then we moved to a two bedroom house.

This house is plenty big enough for my husband and I but that made my work space the guest room and it seems our grand-daughter was over often. We would rather have her than anything else in there, but….

I then set up a corner in our bedroom which, as I think most creative people will understand, became a catch-all. So my work space is now the kitchen table. I actually love working at the kitchen table because I have a lovely view of the backyard and my dogs playing. It is peaceful. And the coffee pot is right behind me.

Blogging everyday is very challenging for me. I have a lot of ideas running around in my head, which is good, considering just last week I was a blank slate. But blogging and staying in my son’s apartment for three nights away from my bed and hubby and dogs is very tiring. Although, the best thing about it is my little Lucy and her new sister Penny June. I love them more than words could express.

So on that note…… I bid you a good night until tomorrow.

Enjoy!

cate b

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“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For

knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while

imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will

be to know and understand.”

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