In My Next Life

I think I have a talent for raising money for good deeds. I know I do. Over the years, I've raised a tidy sum for Susan G Komen For the Cure. I also raised quite a bit of money for Huricane Katrina relief. Now, consider that just last Friday, I plied my sister with really good wine and then sold her a cow. A pregnant cow. I bet she didn't see that one coming! By now, she's had time to sober up and reconsider. She has reconsidered and still wants to buy that cow!

Of course, I did it all with the purpose of supporting my friend, Sister Jeanne and her mission, Cantera Nicaragua. Mareseatoats doesn't know it yet, but for her generosity, she's about to be added to a mighty prayer list that will probably bring her many blessings. I know when I'm on my friend Jeanne's mind because I instantly feel peace through the miles. I believe my friend has a direct line to the big guy upstairs. Lord knows I've been blessed since the very day I met her!

So Mares, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I'm quite certain that your deed is about to brighten the lives of an impoverished Nicaraguan family and with hope and hard work, they'll be able to make a living with your gift. Talk about your community supported agriculture, this is the cat's meow!  It's also a beautiful way to give as it's a gift that keeps on giving.

I'm buying the chickens (5 chickens and a rooster) this year with the hope that next year at this time, I'll have saved enough for a heifer. And in my next life? I want to be a professional charitable fundraiser.

Photo Holstein Cow Looks Down on Camera courtesy of Animal Photos

Seasoning

Every time I go to my sister's home in Virginia, I'm amazed by the views. In every season, this place looks so different. In spring and summer, you can't see the mountain range in the distance but come fall, once the leaves have fallen to the ground, this place takes on a different feel. In the top picture, the view was amazing. Too bad my camera couldn't capture what my eyes could clearly see. There in the distance is the Blue Ridge Mountains. When I hiked high enough up the mountain, I could see down into the Shenandoah Valley.

Saturday night, Mareseatoats and I showed our age and decided not to go out. We'd been out shopping (yarn) during the day and had stopped for a bite of lunch. On our way back home, we made the executive decision to be lazy and stopped at a market to stock up on local cheese, wine, crackers, bread and fruit. That would be our dinner. We turned in early after we watched the movie Juno.

Well rested, we got up early Sunday for a hike up Taylor's Mountain before we had to leave for the airport. The views were stunning. We got slightly led astray when we lost the forest path (should have followed the dog) and had a bit of a time finding her house. We got chased by two persistent and very pissed off Australian Shepherds before they hit their electronic fence and we found the road. We couldn't find the path because of all of the leaves. Still, Cayda Bella knew the way since she spends all her days terrorizing chasing the deer here and really, don't you think we'd have been smart enough to follow? Nah. I will say though when she knew those shepherds were after us, she raced to our rescue in an effort to save us from ourselves.

Tonight, my back, behind, thighs and calves are barking at me and me feet are tired. That mountain was pretty steep and I stopped just short of making it to the top. My back wasn't cooperating. Still the views from where we did make it, were stunning. My trip was short but oddly rejuvenating.

Sadly, my feet, shown here in hand knit socks and my Keens, are safely on the ground in Detroit. I miss Virginia already.

All photos by Rudee K, the one with the cows, courtesy of Mareseatoats.