The Chapman Ranch: Week 48

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Week 48

Before the storm

I'm days late on my blog update. Days late! I'm just limping along finishing my goal of a weekly blog post. It was a stupid 2014 goal, but I'm a bull dog and once I grab hold, I finish. Once I make up my mind to do something, little else matters. I find a way to do it, even if I do it poorly. "Mind Over Matter", as an old friend used to say, "Make up your mind and it don't matter".

Right now, we are in the middle of a huge storm, not as huge as the weather guys predicted, but still pretty big. I love sitting in my nice, warm, house looking out of the humungous windows at the rain and wind, while perusing old photos and thoughts.

I've got lots of photos; many unclear or photos of nothing important. My phone said it was too full to take anymore, and my laptop a mess of unorganized shots too. I want to make my grandsons a photo book of their Thanksgiving visit. I need to do some bookkeeping. I'm days behind on the blog. Did you catch those words, 'want', 'need"? That means I might not do it. If I had written 'will', then it would be a different story. Words matter. Intent matters. How we think directly affects how we act. You should see my journals. I write stuff out and then cross off such words as 'want' and 'need' and write in' will' or 'can', but only when I really make up my mind. Sometimes I leave my words noncommittal, but I try to be conscious about such things. To not choose is to choose after all.

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We were gone from the ranch most of last week. We headed south to visit our son who couldn't make it up for Thanksgiving. His family is doing well. They say raising three under 16 months is the hardest thing they have ever done, but they are surviving one feeding to the next. The twins are close to 12 pounds now and as identical as ever. It is amazing how identical they look, and if it wasn't for the small birthmark on Liam's neck even their parents would get them mixed up. Zane, the 18 month old, is a little upset that his world has been turned upside down and gets frustrated that he doesn't have the words to tell them, but he is obviously smitten with his two wee brothers. He hasn't really figured out that they are responsible for the changes.

I caught a nasty bug while we were there and I still haven't recovered. My voice sounds like a cross between Kermit the Frog and a long term smoker. Mark says it is grating and I pretend it's sexy. Going up the two stairs in our house tires my legs. It is hard to believe that 10 days ago I could jog (slowly) the 6 miles from our house to the bull barn. Oh well. I WILL get better and be back exercising soon. Until then I will do stuff from the easy chair, next to our woodstove, looking out onto our beautiful world.