Pasture Magic: Bonding with Horses and Donkeys



Photo by Marianne M. Smith



Christmas always makes me think about horses (and donkeys, too, of course).  I’m not sure how I originally made this connection.  Maybe it had to do with my earliest desire for a Christmas pony.

By the way, that pony never materialized until I bought it for myself when I turned 40!  (Well, ok, I actually bought two ponies, probably because I thought that fulfillment of that wish was so overdue.)

A few years later, my husband surprised me at Christmas with a Belgian mare, and Nadia is still a strong contender for “best gift ever.”



Nadia with Dwayne



But sometimes my non-farming friends want to know what drives me to continue the farm these days.  To be honest, it has never been a profitable venture, and it requires huge investments of time, money, and hard work.  It also brings with it a disturbing lack of freedom.

However, I can justify it all by citing how rewarding the equine/donkey bond is for me.  Even in this time of economic uncertainty—especially in this time—the bond I feel with my equine and donkey friends makes me feel more sane and balanced.

They are a constant in a world of turmoil and change.  I can count on connecting with them when I can’t count on anything else. 

Recently I was watching an episode of Two Broke Girls.  In case you aren’t familiar with it, the sitcom is based on a poor but delightfully down-to-earth waitress who befriends a fallen rich girl.  The rich girl moves in to the poor girl’s apartment in Brooklyn with her horse, Chestnut, who lives right outside their back door.  With winter coming, the girls decide to find Chestnut a more suitable home.  When Max (the poor waitress) is saying goodbye to Chestnut, she experiences a bonding moment.  I surprised myself by bursting into tears and had trouble getting ahold of myself.  That made me start thinking about why horses and donkeys matter so much in my own life.

Max's bonding moment with Chestnut in Two Brok Girls

The past year has been extremely tough for many of us.  We have collectively experienced a lot of loss.  Dump a nasty economy on top of that, toss in some diminishing dreams, and there is little left to hold on to.

When my heart feels heavy, I know what to do to balance my spirit.  I head out into the pastures, and put my hands on our donkeys and horses.  They live in the moment, and bring me back to it.  Standing firmly planted on land with my hands on the freest of creatures, I regain my center.

If I could send you a Christmas gift, it would be a package full of the feeling I just described.

Knowing that I always have this connection available allows me to take bigger risks and pursue dreams that would otherwise be deep-sixed.  And to me, that kind of support and connection is what drives my passion for farming and ranching.

I’m especially thankful this holiday season to be celebrating with friends and family at the ranch.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I’d love to hear about your own connection with horses and/or donkeys.  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://www.writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Call Me Gumby: Thoughts on Flexibility

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I must confess that I have often been described as a “control freak.”  Lately I have been running a grand experiment, attempting to become a more flexible version of myself.  The results have been amusing.

Interesting things happen when I relinquish control.  And some of them are pretty dang cool!  It’s kind of like the song lyric: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

Sometimes I believe that because I’m highly organized, I know how to plan things.  But recently some of my most rewarding insights and experiences have arrived decidedly in the form of PLAN B, or even C.

I’m the kind who likes to plan my spontaneity, ya know? J  But these days I’m getting more credit for “rolling with it” and being flexible.  Few things actually run according to plan anyway, so why not relax?

I used to think that staying “on task” was the goal.  Now I’m thinking that flexibility is a better goal, primarily because it is easier and yields better results.  Go figure.

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Maybe there is value in the idea of getting out of your own way.  After all, there isn’t much certainty in life, and people (and their values, motivations, and dreams) frequently change over time.

With the holidays upon us, I’m hoping that I can let go of my expectations and just roll with whatever happens next.  For me, Christmas is rarely a series of Norman Rockwell portraits anyway.  Perfection is certainly out of reach, so I’m trying to just embrace the good moments, and to cope with the not so good.  With a less rigid outlook, I'm finding that a lot easier.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about being flexible versus sticking with your plans.  Feel free to leave a comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Grinchmas: Top 10 Ways to De-emphasize Gifts and Reclaim your Christmas Spirit

We talk about the true meaning of Christmas—the baby Jesus in the manger, and peace and goodwill towards all.  So why is it so hard not to stress out over the required gift-giving?

In this economy, almost all of us are stretching, Christmas or not.  Should we really take on credit card debt (if we even have credit left) for gifts that will, most likely, not be remembered even a few months later?

I wish I could buy all of you lavish and interesting gifts, I really do.  But I can’t.  So what I’m giving you this year is ten ideas about how to redefine Christmas Spirit and de-emphasize gifts:

1.   Change your own attitude.  Christmas is really about the Baby in the manger, and peace and goodwill towards all, right?  We need to GET this.

2.   If you are used to exchanging lavish gifts with those closest to you, consider sending out positively worded Grinch Alerts (or call) saying you’d like to tone things down this year.  Offer handmade gifts, baked goods, or volunteer to babysit for a single mother who never gets out of the house.

3.   Put your emphasis on RELATIONSHIPS and sharing the holiday with those you love.  Go look at Christmas lights, watch favorite Christmas movies, or go caroling.  Light a fire and drink hot cocoa or cider with friends.  Attend or participate in a Christmas Parade.  Help an elderly neighbor string some lights or put up a tree.  Volunteer somewhere.

4.   If postage is a problem, send ecards.  Or how about a phone call or two to faraway friends and relatives?

5.   Trim your list for those gifts you simply must give.

6.   Buy in bulk so you can spend quality time with your friends and family this year.  It really is ok to give the majority on your list the same cool inexpensive gift—just be sure it’s well thought out.  You can give personalized gifts on birthdays, when they matter more.

7.   If you have small children, you may be thinking about how out of touch I am.  My suggestion is to buy or make lots of small gifts and wrap them separately.  For most kids, it’s all about the element of surprise.  And if you are really pinching pennies, just be sure to spend lots of quality time with your kids this Christmas.  That’s something they understand and will remember.  I promise you they won’t remember what they didn’t get for long.

8.   Here’s a radical one:  Change the date on your gift-giving.  For a multitude of reasons, my sister and I are getting together for Christmas closer to New Year’s.  If you move the gift-giving piece away from the 25^th, it’s easier to de-emphasize it.

9.   Use what you have on hand for gifts.  Do you have pine trees that could yield you Christmas wreaths or garland to give as gifts?  Can you make homemade Christmas ornaments?

10. This last one is important:  If you receive an unexpected gift, just be gracious.  Don’t  flinch and make everyone uncomfortable.  Big smile, big thank you!  That is really all that needs to be said.  If you launch into a big speech about how they shouldn’t have, how you didn’t, and how awful you feel, you’ll just ruin it for the other person.

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Ok, it's time to get out there and have some Christmas fun!  And get over the gift thing, already.  You might be surprised by how much it changes your experience of the holidays.  Merry Christmas, Ya’ll!

I’d love to hear about ways you’ve come up with to reclaim your own Christmas Spirit.  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://www.writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

SITTING IN A KALEIDOSCOPE



Photo from inside the kaleidoscope by Marianne M. Smith



Yesterday I had a shocking and awesome experience:  I sat in a kaleidoscope!  No, that is NOT a typo.  I sat IN, not ON a kaleidoscope.  It was a curious and fascinating happening.

I’m sharing this with you because it has completely changed my thinking.  Sometimes a new experience equals a new perspective, and in this case?  Well, boy howdy!

I need to thank Matt Thomas, BFA student exhibiting and getting ready to graduate from TTU/Appalachian Center for Craft.  I’m doing some marketing work there and one of the joys of being on site is encountering art in a personal way while walking through the buildings.  Matt created this “sit in” kaleidoscope, along with some of the other delights you see in my photo below.




Matt Thomas Exhibition, kaleidoscope at left.  Photo by Marianne M. Smith

 

Merriam-Webster defines kaleidoscope as “a succession of changing phases or actions.”  In its simplest form, a kaleidoscope is a circle of mirrors with a changing perspective.

My experience was that sitting in Matt’s kaleidoscope made me think about old things in a new way.  I’m in a phase of my life where I’m looking for creative solutions to old problems, and it was like I was zapped from the heavens.



Photo by Marianne M. Smith



I hope that you have experienced art this way, or that you will very soon.  (If you’re anywhere near Smithville, TN, Matt’s exhibit will be up until December 12^th at Appalachian Center for Craft.)

One thing I loved about Matt’s exhibit was the concept of art giving back.   The gumball machine delivered time capsules, and the floating dog delivered humor and the element of surprise. The exhibit was formally themed as Encapsulation.  It seems art can enclose as well as open.  Of course, my take on all this is certainly open to your interpretation.




Photo by Marianne M. Smith



But I’d like to challenge you.  Go out this week and experience some art first-hand.  You might just have a life-altering experience like I did.  At the least, you’ll gain a new perspective, and perhaps, a fresher way of thinking.  And that, my friends, can bring about some interesting shifts.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about how you experience art.  Please feel free to leave a comment.  And until they drag me out of the building, you can find me sitting in the kaleidoscope!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Decompression: The Other White Meat



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I think the day after Thanksgiving is for blowing off steam.  We’ve all been unnaturally gracious and thankful, and we need to let out a collective deep breath.
 

The Black Friday thing is way too over the top for me.  It’s hugely ironic:  Yesterday we were gracious and thankful, so today we can be mercenary and maniacal.  We can make retail workers get up before dawn (we may choose to, but I bet they would not…), we can pepper spray the other shoppers, and get exactly what we need for Christ’s birth.  But I digress…

So back to decompression.  What are your favorite ways to decompress?  I like to exercise to let off steam.  Today it was an easy paddle in the kayak, but jumping on the treadmill or doing a Pilates workout also deflate my excess energy.

Photo By Marianne M. Smith on Black Friday (Center Hill Lake, TN)

I asked my husband his favorite way to decompress, but I can’t repeat what he said in an internet post J.

Decompression is a very useful tool in my arsenal, and, I hope, in yours.  Some might say that watching TV is decompressing, but I think it’s a little more intentional than that.  To me, decompressing is not passive.  It’s about setting out to drain off some excess energy.

And no matter what works for you, I think shedding some of this over the top energy is necessary during (and after) the holidays.  We usually have demands and family obligations thrust upon us.  If you can escape these, I’m envious.  But most of us do more compromising during the holidays than we do any other time of the year.

Give yourself a break during this long holiday weekend, if you can.  Take a deep breath and think about some ways you can intentionally decompress.  After all, you need your energy in top form to get ready for Christmas! J

How do you decompress?  Share your thoughts and inspire someone else!  Feel free to leave a comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Personal Brand or Personality?



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I’ve recently had the distinct pleasure of meeting (online)  two larger-than-life individuals who are experts at personal branding:  Mari Smith and Michael Port.  Both of them have a lot to say about the importance of being your truest self while being relevant and forging relationships.

I was looking over some notes I’ve made from their advice, when a Tweet from @johnhaydon popped up on my screen:

You don't need a brand, you need a personality. :-)

Now that made me giggle, but there is significant truth in that nugget.  Michael Port emphasizes that if you base your brand on your personality, you can take it with you when you change jobs or enterprises.  Mari Smith’s personality is so big and so unique that it truly is her brand.  And when Michael talks, people immediately know that he’s real and genuine and interested in connecting in meaningful ways.

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When I was a practicing Realtor, my personal brand was The Real Estate Cowgirl and later The NO BULL Team.  Now that I’m a freelance writer, I’m Writer At The Ranch.  Obviously the cowgirl theme is a big piece of my personality, and hence my brand.

You may be thinking that you don’t have a personal brand, or need one.  Personal brands are for entrepreneurs, right?  But I think you do have one, even if it’s simply your Facebook persona.

Your brand is what people think of when they think of you.  Are you bubbly, sarcastic, witty, or negative?  People attach recurring traits to you quickly.

What would you like your brand to be?  It’s something worth thinking about.

I would love to hear your comments.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Connecting with Craft

Recently, I discovered a gem in the middle of nowhere:  Joe L. Evins Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, TN.  Appalachian Center for Craft is a satellite campus of Tennessee Tech, and offers undergraduate degree programs, certificate programs, and workshops for the general public.  They also host exhibitions in their stunning gallery, and several special events every year.  And they have one of the finest craft gift shops I have ever seen, as well as a remarkable café with its own full-time chef.

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And although I’m doing some paid marketing work for them, this is an unpaid endorsementJ.

In case you think I left the “s” off the word craft, I have learned that craft (no “s”) is now politically correct.  Think high-end craft: artistry, skill, genius.  The best way I can explain the uniqueness of this place is to have you take a look at the workshop schedule.  Go ahead and click the link and scroll down.

If that’s not enough inspiration for you, the location itself will ignite your creativity.  It’s set on over 500 wooded acres on Center Hill Lake.  I’ve posted quite a few pics of Center Hill Lake on my Facebook wall, so you may already be familiar with its beauty.  But here’s a recent photo, just in case:



Photo by Marianne M. Smith



I think I was taken with the magic of the Center, which is palpable.  And the fact that it’s buried in the middle of a forest on the ridge of a magnificent lake puts it over the top.

Personally, I’ve always been smitten with the notion of functional art, which, to me, is craft.  Defining art versus craft is tricky, and probably the subject for a separate blog post.  But I love using hand thrown pottery for daily meals, keeping my magazines in a hand forged metal basket, and wearing a one-of-a-kind wrap woven from fleece that came from our own farm.

Some may argue with me, but I believe that the things we choose to surround ourselves with should be beautiful.  If you admire something every time you use it, that is really something.



A piece of pottery in my own collection that still delights me after 25 years



And taking it one step further, if you can learn to create your own beautiful functional objects, well then… 

If you’re ever heading towards Knoxville on I-40, you should consider taking a few hours to explore the Appalachian Center for Craft.  You’ll be both impressed and inspired.  And if you need a creative summer getaway, be sure to think about their longer workshops.  You can stay on site for the entire workshop and eat that incredible food I mentioned.  And you'll be cementing your own connection to craft!

How do you view craft in your own life?  I’d love to hear about it.  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Collards and Cornbread

Photo by Marianne M. Smith

“What’s for dinner?” my friend asked on the phone.  “Collards and cornbread,” I replied.  “Wow!  Are you Southern, or what?!” he shot back.

That got me to thinkin’.  What exactly defines a Southerner anyway?  Is being Southern a state of mind, a state of grace, or a state of the Union?

Is it simply knowing that grits are never singular?

That tailgating is an art form?

That “ya’ll,” “thank you,” “please,” and “Bless her little heart!” hold the keys to the kingdom?

That banjo music and casseroles are sacred?

Is it about wraparound porches, screen rooms, Rugers and Rottweilers?

I mean, what really defines us?

I remember being in a quandary when I was young because my grandmother did not think I was “appropriate” for presentation at the Nineteenth Century Club in Memphis.  (Can you even imagine that?)

To me, that was quite the mysterious institution.  I do recall getting to go by with my grandmother when they were cleaning and setting up for meetings.  There were always wonderful smells:  lemon furniture polish, linen napkins with heavy starch, and the scrumptious aroma of cheese grits. 

My nose loved that place, but the rest of me was baffled by The Rules of Conduct and The Air of Expectation. ( I fully expected a magician to appear in the Grand Dining Room and pull a rabbit out of a hat.)  And of course I wasn’t appropriate.  I was young, naïve, and asked way too many questions.



Nineteenth Century Club, Memphis, TN



Even though I can now make my own cheese grits, I worry about the fate of the Nineteenth Century Club.  It has been put on the market because the service club doesn’t have the money to make needed repairs ordered by the court.  Any of my readers able to come to their rescue?

My good friends flatter me by saying that I can be charming and gracious when the occasion warrants it.  (That's why they're good friends!)  Wouldn’t Grandmother be proud?  I truly believe that Southernness is passed down, generation to generation.

I can’t separate myself from the South, even when I travel elsewhere.  Nor can I think of a good reason that I’d want to.  To me, Southernness is truly a state of grace.

What defines Southernness for you?  I’d love to hear your take on it.  Please feel free to leave a comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com/
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Snapping Turtles and The World Series

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When Game 6 of The World Series approached the eleventh inning, inspiration arrived:  How many times in life do we give up just because we perceive that the odds are stacked against us?

In case you didn’t see the game, The St. Louis Cardinals needed the win to stay in The World Series.  If they lost, they were out and The Texas Rangers would be The World Series Champions.

But it was more than needing a simple win.  The Cardinals had so many moments when they were one strike away from losing that I lost count.  As Paul White reported in USA Today: “...The Rangers were one strike from winning a World Series — in two consecutive innings. They led by three runs in the eighth inning and two in the ninth. They had a two-run lead again in the 10th inning.”

A Cardinal fan since childhood, I found myself not breathing for most of the end of the game, and stayed up way past my bedtime as the innings racked up.

Can you imagine being Lance Berkman or David Freese, the whole weight of the game on their shoulders—the entire World Series at stake?  And did they step up to bat thinking there was no way they could pull it off?  I don’t think so.

Professional sports teams are usually coached to play with gusto until the game is over, no matter what.  It ain’t over until it’s over, ya know?  And last night it went on, and on, and on…

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My husband calls this trait “Snapping Turtle Tenacity.”  It’s the ability to stay after whatever “it” is with unmatched ferocity, even when things look completely hopeless.  I wonder how many times we give up or give in just before we were about to achieve something totally over the top.

Looking back, I can see several times in my life when I was a hit or two away from achieving something remarkable.  But life intervened, and I hadn’t considered the snapping turtle yet.

You often hear coaches and sports analysts say that it always comes down to who WANTS the win the most.  Talent helps, but drive and determination bring in the win.  Pollyanna platitudes?  Not if you were watching that eleven inning World Series game!

And what if you give it everything and miss the ball?  Then at least you know you’ve given it your best and finished the play.  But if you step up to the plate discouraged and disengaged, then you’ve already lost.

Are there things in your own life that you’re giving up on just a few seconds too early?  And is it costing you everything?

And remember, no matter how many times things fall apart—think Wile E. Coyote, the poster child of Snapping Turtle Tenacity—there is always another plot to hatch.

Cardinals and Rangers:  Thank you for the motivation!  And you can bet I’ll be tuning in tonight to watch the most tenacious team win The World Series!  Batter up!

I’d love to hear your comments.  And let me know who your favorite team is for Game 7!

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Remembering Mom

Yesterday was my Mom’s birthday.  She’s been gone 17 years now, but she’s always with me.  You don’t get over someone like my mother.

I’m not sure how she managed raising three children mostly by herself, particularly since she had chronic asthma and a host of other health ailments.  But she was much larger than her asthma; she would try anything and do anything for her children.  In that respect, she was like all good mothers.

But my Mom was unique.  I remember when she showed up unexpectedly at Father/Daughter Brownie Day, knowing my Dad wouldn’t be there and I’d be devastated.

 I remember when she let me buy my first horse with babysitting money, though she had to pay the boarding bills every month on a super tight budget.

I remember her crying once when she was really sick, and saying she should have encouraged me to be a dancer.  (It’s ok, Mom, I really didn’t have the talent.)

I remember her waving wildly when I left home for California, off on my first big job adventure after college.  Years later I asked her how she managed not to cry, as I cried all the way to Texas before I ran out of tears.  She laughed and said she started bawling as soon as I turned the corner, and cried all weekend long.

I remember her paying my truck note while I was in grad school, even though looking back it was a much bigger struggle for her than I thought it was.

I remember her driving to Boulder to visit me and bringing all my worldly goods with her, so I’d be more comfortable while I was in school.

We had a special bond that was always laced with humor.  I’m telling a little story here, but please withhold your judgment until the end J.  I came to visit once and found my Mom’s house filled with flowers of every kind and description.  Vases of fresh cut flowers were everywhere.  Knowing she didn’t have a beau and that she didn’t have the money to buy them, I inquired about their origin.  Mom said that on her nightly walk with the dogs she had decided to cut them out of a neighbor’s garden.  I was horrified, and told her so.  She assured me that she had cut them very carefully, picking and choosing, and being so conscientious that the neighbor would never notice.  About the judgment caveat—it was around this time that we discovered she had significant brain damage from her breathing difficulties which left her wildly impulsive.

Previously, my Mom had been overly loving, but was always tightly wound—probably from the stress of being a single parent.  The type of brain damage she suffered made her much more direct, much more daring, and quite fun.  For example, once we saw a fire hydrant that had been knocked loose two miles from her house.  She asked for my help and we drug it home with a chain behind the station wagon and installed it in the back yard for the dogs. (And yes I know that was not terribly legal, but she was so delighted when she discovered the upended hydrant that I couldn’t deny her.)

My Mom appears often in my dreams and still offers advice.  Basically, she says I should have anything I want, do anything I want, and be anything I want.  (Told you she was dangerous!)  And she lets me know that she will always love me unconditionally.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.  Happy Birthday, Mom!  (And ya’ll watch out for your gardens, in case I decide to cut some flowers for the party!)

Please feel free to comment.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com



Fed Up with Sitting Down



Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com/Oterrick



Sitting all day makes me crazy—plain and simple.  (I can hear my husband chiming in:  CraziER.)  Don’t get me wrong, I love to write.  But so far it seems that writing requires too much sitting, even if I move away from the computer and break out pen and paper.  And writing a lot means sitting a lot, which, ironically, leaves me exhausted and cranky.

So you can imagine my delight (c’mon, you can) when I ran across (pardon the pun) this whole barrage of articles about working while walking on a treadmill.

I’m still trying to figure out if 1.2 miles per hour is a doable speed while drinking coffee and eating toast.  And what happens when the cats decide to jump on with me?  And what if I spill all this food and drink on the belt—will it tolerate a few sacrificial meals?  (Or maybe I’ll eat less anyway since I won’t be so frustrated from having to sit?)

TrekDesk as featured on Amazon.com

But I’m still really liking this idea.  It’s healthier AND more productive—hard to beat that combo.  I need to save up a bit and figure out how to alter my existing work space to fit the treadmill.  And the multi-tasking part may be a challenge for my clutzy side.  But I know I can do this.  I wonder how many motors I’ll burn up?

Even if you’re not a writer, most traditional jobs require long periods of sitting still.  Most of the science says that there are better ways to be productive.  And it’s not that hard to set up a treadmill desk.  If you have a quiet treadmill and some creativity, you may even manage a homemade inexpensive version.

Anyone else going to think about giving this a whirl? Any of you jet-setters doing it already?  I’d love to hear about whether it works for you.  Till then, I’ll just have to sit tight.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

It's a Jungle in Here

Plants, plants everywhere

Leaves in my crazy hair

Grasshoppers running ‘round

No blank square footage to be found.

That about sums it up, but I still don’t understand why it makes my husband so nutso.  I mean, I’d love to have a greenhouse, but I don’t yet.  If you read last week’s piece on Transitioning, you know how the end of the growing season affects me.

So what if every year about this time I decide that I can’t let my plants die, and I bring them in for over-wintering?  What is all this vertical space for if not for hanging plants?

Elvis had a Jungle Room, and it’s everyone’s favorite.  Why can’t I?  I know when we brought all these ferns home that I said I’d let them go at the end of the season, but I just can’t be held to that promise when they’re all green and bushy and have names.

Once we get the ferns hung, we’ll be able to soak in the corner tub again.  And think about how plants improve air quality.  We need plenty of that due to all the animals in the house. (And that’s the stuff for another blog piece…)

I can multi-task by talking to my plants while I’m on the treadmill.  So what if I have to move them to turn the treadmill AND the music on?

And ducking under the banana plants to get into your office is good stretching, I tell him.

I will admit that some of the containers are rather heavy, and that bringing them in is no picnic.  But they give me an instant start to my garden next year, and it makes my husband so happy when we move them back outside!

Once he became a Master Gardener I thought this aversion to plants in the house would go away, but he remains stalwart.  It was easier when we had a larger domain.  I’ll grant you that.

But once all the green comes inside I feel so much better.  And it’s all about me, right? And of course I’m saving the planet, one plant at a time.

Do you have trouble like this with your spouse or significant other?  I’d love to commiserate, just as soon as I catch some of these grasshoppers and release them into the wild...

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com

Transitioning Bites

Even my scarecrow has decayed!

I know that most people welcome fall.  After all, who doesn’t like Harvest Festivals, crisp air, pumpkins, and Halloween?  It’s a welcome change after the long hot summer, especially in the Deep South.

But there is a moment, a few weeks actually, where all I see is transition.  And it’s one I don’t welcome, not one tiny bit.

My beloved garden goes into a death march.  It quits producing.  Plants keel over, seemingly overnight.  And here in the South, it’s still warm during the day.  So I’m outside, staring death in the face.

Dead Daisies

Today, with my husband’s help, we weeded and tucked in our Peony bed for the winter.  The plants are long burnt and even decaying.  They remind me of the darkest part of winter; the part without gardening and sunlight and hope.  We buried them in cardboard and straw and prayed for their resurrection.

Joyless gardening:  Tucking plants in for the winter

I have always been a child of summer—of light, heat, and intensity.  I have no patience for transitions.

You can remind me of toasty fires and hay rides—of mums and pansies and hard cider.  But my heart is still sick about this whole transition business.  I am already missing the daylight, and the promise that warm summer days always bring to the farm.  Daylight Savings Time?  Don’t even get me started.

In a few weeks, I will adjust and reluctantly embrace fall.  But I need a little time to mourn what is lost until next year.  I’m sure I sound morose and some of you may be questioning my state of mind.  That’s ok.

Sunshine and color?  Bye-bye!

There is a season for everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah.  It’s this transitioning thing that really bites.  Hard cider, anyone?

Anyone else out there feel this way about early fall?  I’d love to hear your comments.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com