Favorite Sport

Bloganuary writing prompt
What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

Heart beats marking time as one, foot prints fall in cadence, one leading, one following moving as one. They dance to the music only the two can hear. Perfect rhythm and time. Slow or fast, change of direction or motion no one hears or sees the messages, only the two speak the language. Regardless of the dance, the two are always in unison, moving together with joy and purpose.

I enjoy equestrian sports. Not just one discipline but any discipline that involves a horse.

amtolle

To Win Big

Bloganuary writing prompt
What would you do if you won the lottery?

Millions of people buy tickets for the lottery with hopes and dreams of the possibility of winning. Statistically, very few people win compared to the number of tickets purchased. Basically, 1 person in 300 million will win a lottery.

But what if? What would I do after winning a lottery? Simple, first get an attorney, a tax person, and a financial advisor other than myself. I would need the attorney to keep others from trying to get the money. A tax person to make sure the government does not get more money than due. A financial advisor so I could have the money invested to work at making more money by ligament means. Winning a large amount of money is not the answer to the problems, it only creates new problems.

First, I would not tell anyone I won. Not my children or family or coworkers. The state I live in does not require the name of the lottery winner to be made public. No one would know until I had received the money and secured it. Only after the money was secure would I tell my children I feel sure would not spread the news of my winning a lottery. My coworkers would never learn I had won a lottery. I would continue to work as I did previously. Not quitting my job after learning I had won. It takes time to verify and process the winning ticket. The house payment and other bills still need to be paid, so continuing to work is a necessity.

Once the money was mine, taxes paid, I would pay off the mortgage of my home. I would causally look for another place to purchase, with more land and perhaps a second home to use for guest or my husband’s aging parents. Causally look for a home, what does that mean? Well, it means I would not be telling the real estate agent I had just won the lottery. I would look myself at properties for sale until I found one I wanted to purchase. Then I would use a third person, probably the attorney, to contact a real estate agent to help obtain and close the deal.

Once I had purchased a new place to live, I would sell my current home. Quit my job stating that I was moving for family reasons. Then I would not work an outside job any longer. There would still be plenty of work for me to do as I would continue to raise sheep, gradually increasing my flock to 100 breeding ewes. I would spend time riding my horses, writing, doing my art and reading books. There would be a few trips to visit family and especially the grandchildren.

Spending the money – I would only spend half the interest earned from the lottery winnings after securing a new home. There is a budget for the new home. I would only spend a tenth of the winnings on a new home, in combination with the money I would get from selling my current home.

I would drive an economical vehicle but not too showy or pricey. Not my thing. Practical transportation with some comforts like heated seats. I would continue to dress the same, same jewelry as I am still who I am.

I would pay off my children’s college loans and fees. Ease the burden on their households. I would also, if within my budget pay off the mortgages of their homes. Freeing my children from a monthly expense of paying for a home, would allow them more money to spend on the children’s needs. I would not buy them all new vehicles or even a new house. They can get the rest of the money once I am gone, as I do have a few decades lived.

I do not have any places I really want to visit or events to view. I enjoy my simple country life.

amtolle

New Friends, Old Friends

Bloganuary writing prompt
What books do you want to read?

Books have been my friends since I was very young. I enjoy reading, only I do not have much time to read. There are some old friends I would like to visit with again, such as Black Beauty and Man O’ War. There are some new ones I would like to read as well.

Books are wonderful for taking me to faraway places, places that do not have my current day’s stress or problems. I can sit, read and drift to the land of the author, living through another’s words and imagination. Or perhaps I am interested in the history of an area, such as New Zealand, and the author shares the past with the present of the women and men as they settled a new land, such as the Fire Blossom series.

Currently, I would like to read the two books I have on meat cutting. Unfortunately I am tired after work to study and retain any knowledge. The days I am not working are busy with farm work and household duties.

Hopefully, when I get fully adjusted to the new routine of working forty hours a week, I will once again have time to visit with old friends and new friends, with a cozy blanket and cup of tea.

amtolle

Family Traditions

Bloganuary writing prompt
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.

Family traditions are important as they bring past to the future. Family traditions helps to maintain family contact, even when everyone lives far away. Most of our family traditions are centered around Christmas celebration.

The one food item at everyone’s Christmas celebration is what we call Church Windows. A sweet treat made with colored marshmallows, chocolate, coconut flakes and a touch of peppermint flavoring. This tradition started with my grandmother, then my mother, me and now my children. My children are starting to teach their children how to make this sweet treat seen at every home during Christmas. The main dinner may be ham, or turkey, or salmon, even prime rib with different side dishes. But Church Windows are always present for the festivities.

The recipe is simple, melt chocolate chips with a little butter to keep the chocolate from scorching, when melted mix with colored marshmallows. Then quickly put on wax paper with coconut or nuts and form a roll. Wrap roll with the wax paper and aluminum foil and place in refrigerator until hard.

Christmas Eve is the time to see the Christmas lights and decorations on area homes. We sing Christmas carols between homes with lights, as not everyone decorates. When we return home, we drink hot chocolate, eat popcorn, and watch Christmas movies until time for bed. Each family has their favorite Christmas movies, but the routine is the same for all families.

Fourth of July is always a bar b que with watermelon. The children play in the water. When darkness starts to fall, the fire pit is lite. We watch fireworks from the nearby town and if allowed, set off our own fireworks as well. Once our fireworks are depleted it is time for roasting marshmallows and smores.

Most of our traditions revolve around food. Certain foods for a specific holiday.

amtolle

Leisure Time

Bloganuary writing prompt
What do you enjoy doing most in your leisure time?

I am a sheep farmer, which in itself is a full-time job. Last year I started working an outside job at a grocery store. I was soon asked to work in the meat department. I enjoy the meat department, not sure why. Then I started training as a meat cutter, but the grocery store is small and only has need of one meat person per day. A little hard to get much meat cutting training completed. My hours were part-time which was great since I had the sheep and farm to take care of.

Starting this week, I started working at a larger store in the meat department as a full-time employee. My husband who is supposed to be semi-retired is not doing the chores on the farm. There are also improvements and repairs that need to be done on the farm. My days off from the store are filled with household chores and farm projects.

There is not much if any leisure time in my life. I do take time to take care of me. I enjoy a long hot bath after a day of work. I write blogs and my books I have started. There are times I do sewing or other craft type projects. I would like to have more time to read, as there is a list of books I am interested in. Any time I can work in time to ride a horse or go fishing, I do so.

My days are long and filled with work. The work I enjoy doing, it is not a burden. Most times I do not think about leisure time or what to do with leisure time. I enjoy my days and what I do even if most people call it work.

amtolle

Museums

Bloganuary writing prompt
Name an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.

I enjoy learning the history of the area where I live. Recently, I learned where there are three museums I have not visited yet. So, one day when I am not busy at work or working on our place, I plan on visiting these museums.

There are many historical homes in my area. I have driven to them and seen them from the outside. There are not tours or observing the inside of these homes. Information can be found on the homes via the internet or books in the libraries.

amtolle

Five Fun Things I do.

Bloganuary writing prompt
List five things you do for fun.

There are many things I enjoy doing, and my list is not in any order of favorite to least favorite. I enjoy them all.

  1. Writing. I have always wrote down thoughts or inspirations I read, heard or even thought of. I did not realize how much I enjoy writing until I started this blog.
  2. Horseback riding and spending time with horses has been a favorite fun thing to do ever since I was a small child. My favorite place to ride horses is in the mountains when the meadows are in bloom with the buzz of life surrounding me.
  3. Games. I love to play board games, card games and even a computer game or two. I am not good at poker, nor can I tell a lie without it being obvious. The two are probably connected somehow. Having family and friends around to play games and enjoy each other’s company is always a fun activity for me.
  4. Spending time with my animals. I enjoy watching and interacting with the horses, sheep, goats and dogs we have on our place. Training the animals and the daily care are enjoyable.
  5. This activity is my most favorite activity of all, spending time with my grandchildren and sharing the fun things I enjoy in life.

There are many other things I enjoy doing, reading, sewing, doing craft projects, home projects. If I spent more time on the subject, the list would be even longer.

amtolle

Understanding My Dog

Bloganuary writing prompt
If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?

I purchased Bonnie Jo, my Australian Shepherd, as a puppy. My husband worked all day, and we were home alone. I talked to her all day. We played games, learned tricks and obedience, and she became my emotional support. She instantly knew when I was having a bad day, was depressed or things were golden. Although she did not speak English words, she would let you know an answer by the tilt of her head and look from her eyes. She could definitely tell you off with a look from her eyes.

We did not have sheep when we first got her. But there were cows that would wander into the yard and eat or trample the bushes and flowers I had planted. Bonnie Jo was very good at pushing them out of the yard and away from our place. Upon completing her task of getting rid of the cows, she would return full of pride in her accomplishment.

She was four when we got our first sheep. I did not train her to herd sheep, being told she was too old to train. Every day she walks with us to do chores, fix fence, and other tasks. Where I am she is. I gave her the nick name “Bowling Ball”, as times when I was working with the sheep, she would decided they were too close or not where they were supposed to be and charge in, scattering the sheep in all directions.

Her main duty she decided was guardian of the deck. Our home had a large deck on the backside of the house, she would lay outside watching for anyone or anything to come near, the rise to chase off the stray sheep, cat or bird. Nothing came onto her deck without her permission.

Like people, years go by and she is much older, fifteen years now. She no longer can jump up on the couch to sit with me in the evenings to watch a show. Nor, can she jump up on the bed to sleep with me or get down alone. Last year, she became deaf unable to hear my words, so she learned some sign language. She has joints that are swollen with arthritis from years of running, playing and jumping around. I give her special food, supplements for joints and digestion. There is still a spark in her eyes when I go to do chores, she trots along from pen to pen as I care for the sheep. Every once in awhile she feels like chasing a sheep just because she can.

I want to know when it is time for me to make the big decision. I do not want her to suffer more than she can bare. I want to know when she is ready to cross over the rainbow bridge. If only she could speak the words. I will continue to watch the spark in her eyes, as this is the only way she can let me know.

amtolle

Bonnie Jo at a year old

What is in a Name?

Bloganuary writing prompt
Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

A rose by any other name, would still be as beautiful, smell as sweet. A name identifies what is being spoken about or to whom they are speaking to. I am a person with two names, one given by my birth mother, another by my adoptive mother.

Some parents choose names based on family genealogy or the meaning of the name itself. Others name their children from someone they respected or admired. Still some names are chosen as being unique and different from others, family or friends.

The first name I was known by was Bonnie. Scottish origin depicts someone pretty or beautiful. French origins depicts someone who is good. Why was I named Bonnie? I do not know. In the little bit of research of my birth parents’ family tree I have not come across anyone named Bonnie.

The second name I am known by is Annett. Originally from the Hebrew name Anna meaning God has favored me. In French changed to Annette meaning grace, merciful. My adoptive mother said she chose the name while watching the Micky Mouse Club and actress Annette Funicello. There is no one in my adoptive family tree with the name Annett or Annette. Why no one will ever know, my adoptive mother chose to write the name Annette without the customary “e” on the end, hence my name is Annett.

amtolle

Dream Job

Bloganuary writing prompt
What’s your dream job?

In my span of years I have worked many jobs. Most jobs I worked was not due to enjoyment or working towards a goal of climbing the ladder to a higher status. Most jobs I worked were to provide for my children. I wrote a resume once, listing all the jobs I worked up to the time I was 58 years old. The resume was five pages long on work experience. Although I have worked many different job types, there were several I really did enjoy working at, but were not what I would have called a dream job. My heart desired to do something different, although I was enjoying the work I was performing.

From childhood, through high school and as a young adult, my dream was to become a veterinarian. I married early after high school, and the man I married said college was not affordable. I soon became a mother, then divorced and was a single mother. Although I still dreamed of being a veterinarian, the expense of college, the time, and the responsibility of raising my child made the dream just a dream.

Several years went by and I married another man, and had three more children. Circumstances worked out for me to have my second job I dreamed about – being a horse trainer and raising horses. I became a certified horse trainer and riding instructor, one of the first during that time period. But I was never able to do this job full-time as I had to work and provide for my children. My spouse had other things he thought was more important to put his earnings than in the household budget. I finally made a decision to divorce, during the divorce the horses and property were dissolved, leaving me with two children to support.

I attended college with dreams of becoming a school teacher. I enjoyed teaching youth how to ride horses and good horsemanship skills. I loved teaching my children various things. But the needs of the children were the first priority. Their need of having me home to help with their lives, was more important than working a job, attending college and doing homework. My children needed my time when I was not working.

I did accomplish earning two associates degrees and being able to teach pre-school and kindergarten, as well as work with children in daycares. Each state has different requirements in order to teach pre-school, kindergarten or work daycares. When I moved to Texas, I did not want to go through the additional college classes to obtain license to work in these fields. College takes money, and I did not have the money to spend and refused to get more student loans.

Currently, I am being trained to become a meat cutter. Not my dream job, but a job I enjoy. I do not desire to look at numbers and computer screens all day, although I am very good at these types of jobs. I want a job with diversity and where I can move around, not sit in one chair year after year. I have not fully understand my enjoyment of being a meat cutter. I only know I enjoy the work.

I do know I am now too old to be training horses, or to attend college for nine years to become a veterinarian. I enjoy raising the sheep instead of horses. Although I make some income from the sheep farm, the sheep flock is not large enough at this time to provide enough income for the household needs. I am working on increasing our numbers in the flock and have hopes of reaching the goal of sheep providing the income instead of a job away from the farm.

I heard a motivational speaker once say to find what you enjoy working at doing, then find a way for people to pay you for it. I guess I am still working on this.

amtolle