THE HORIZON

When you look to the horizon,
What do you see?
Are you on a large, flat plain
Or in a cozy valley?

Do you wonder what’s beyond it,
Wanting to know?
Or are you more contented
To discover as you go?

When you consider the future,
What do you plan?
A spontaneous journey?
Do you control all you can?

Do you depend on promises
Of things to come?
Or are you the more doubtful sort
Who tend to stick close to home?

We can’t really see very far;
We have today.
As we choose and accomplish,
We build tomorrow’s way.

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MY JOURNEY

My journey started years ago,
When I was very small;
So tiny, in fact, I couldn’t be seen;
When no one knew me at all.

My travels went on through childhood,
Continued in my youth;
Taking me deeper in wisdom and grace
As I sought life, love and truth.

My path has led me to places
That seem dark and unclear;
With mysteries that could not be uncovered;
Yet intrigued and drew me near.

I ventured on to brighter days
That healed and strengthened me;
Then filled with courage, I continued in
My quest for reality.

And so it goes as I move on,
Traveling this life-long road,
I live as I was created to be
And find treasures yet to hold.

A LITTLE FEISTY

This afternoon, I’m pondering the matter of living proactively.  That means doing more than waiting for life to happen.
I think about plans and dreams I have; how to turn them into goals and get to work on them.
There is so much more to experience and enjoy:  Opportunities to create and lay hold of; people to know better…
The deal is, we have to go for the gold, since it is rarely handed to us while we sit on our tailbones.

Direction often begins with dreams or ideas, even when they’re just inklings or whispers.  You know, that little niggle within that gives you a notion that you would like to have or do something.  If you fan that flame, it turns into a fire.

What are your dreams?  Don’t worry about their practicality at first; that step comes later, when you try to see about setting goals.  True, you may have to alter or pare things down a bit, but that’s okay:  You’re a powerful person; you get to be in charge.

Steve Jobs said, “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
On the other side of the matter, there is this:
“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.”
Theodore Roosevelt

I add:  Learn the truth about who you are; lay down lies and misconceptions that cripple or stop you; go for the highest goal; enjoy the journey!

DECLARATION OF STRENGTH AND HOPE

There will be no rocking chair for me!
I have music to learn and songs to write;
Books to read and places to see.

There will be no footstool for my feet!
There are hikes through unexplored mountains;
Walks around town and friends to meet.

Retirement is not in my plans!
There are still things to be accomplished;
Concepts and ideas to expand.

I refuse to yield to “getting old”!
With all of its preconceived notions;
Expectations of life gone cold.

I live life to its fullest each day!
In gratitude for every blessing;
With endless hope to light the way.

HUCKLEBERRY CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Cake
2                    eggs
Fresh and delicious; purchased at the farmer’s market.  The man who sold them asked me if I know the difference between brown eggs and white ones.  His point was that there really isn’t.  I told him brown ones are rooster eggs, to which he replied, “If roosters laid eggs, they’d be around a lot longer.”

2      cups          flour
The recipe just uses white flour; I substitute 1/2 cup with whole wheat flour – It gives the cake a little more body and keeps my health-oriented conscience from bugging me too much.

2      cups          sugar
I cut that a little, again more for conscience sake than anything.  If you’re going to eat cake, make one you enjoy!

1/2  cup           oil
Vegetable oil works fine, although I think others might work as well.

1/2  teaspoon      salt
Not much to say about this one, right?

1/2  teaspoon      vanilla
I just discovered vanilla paste:  Yummmmmmm!

2      teaspoons     baking soda
They’re just trying to get a rise out of us.

1/2  cup           walnuts — chopped
Or hazelnuts, cashews, pecans.  I believe in tweeking recipes to suit my own taste.

20      ounces        huckleberries
Picked by my cousin and given to me; fun to share with friends and neighbors as we gather for another time of visiting.
Okay, the original recipe called for 20 ounces of unsweetened pineapple, juice and all.  I think you could use the same amount of canned apricots, although you would have to puree  or crush them…other fruits would also work.
Icing
8      ounces        cream cheese — softened
1/2  cup           butter — softened
1 3/4  cups          powdered sugar
Okay, I don’t make mine that sweet.  More like 3/4 cups powdered sugar.  Cake needs to be good, but let’s not rot our teeth!

1      teaspoon      vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon juice.
I just sort of pour a little in, so I’m guessing.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cake:
Mix all cake ingredients until well blended. Pour into prepared 13×9
inch pan. Bake for 50 minutes.
(I baked mine for 45 minutes and that was plenty.  You know how ovens are:  Never quite the same.)

Icing:
Combine icing ingredients until smooth. Frost cake while still warm.
(Not too hot or icing will melt)

Then have some people you enjoy in.  This time, it was all my neighbors.  To quote Safeway’s old marketing slogan, “since we’re neighbors, let’s be friends.”
Enjoy!

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

NOTES : Optional: can add 1 cup coconut

RESPECTING THE PROCESS

Shades of reality;
Moments of truth;
Not knowing who I’ll be;
Yet I’m still walking through
This journey called life
With its promise so bright;
making discoveries;
Gaining more sight.

I don’t mind the travel
On such a road;
There’s more to be revealed;
More stories to be told
Of joys and sorrow,
Of learning how to love;
Of hope for tomorrow,
Grace from above.

There are times for resting
Quiet and still;
Then seasons of testing
When I find strength until
My confidence grows
I like who I become;
And my heart clearly knows
I am at home.

MY GARDEN

I live in a lovely garden
With plants of all shapes and kinds.
Some with sweet fragrances, others  like spice;
A few more subtle, some not so nice,
many that spread, one that climbs.

There are roses in my garden
With large blossoms, yes and thorns,
Whose colors vary from pale to deep red;
Some have gone wild, most are hybrid;
One is  the color of corn.

Some plants in my garden are weeds,
Growing there against my will,
Robbing the soil and taking up space;
Spreading seeds, taking the place;
Pulling them gives me a thrill.

My garden has bushes and trees
With flowers and fruit so sweet.
Strawberries and apples, peaches and pears;
Delightful to eat, fun to share;
Refreshing in summer’s heat.

I don’t mind tending my garden;
In fact, I like it quite well.
Hard work and anticipation bring life;
My heart becomes still, free from strife;
It’s loveliness casts a spell.