COUNTRY HEART

County Heart

I didn't start out in the country, not born on a farm...I was born in Chicago.  But, my mom was from a farm and my dad's parents were farmers in Italy.

I guess it all started with my love of animals.  We rescued everything that was injured in the neighborhood.  My favorite outings were to Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoo and to a huge pet store called  Animal Kingdom on Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.  In those days,  pet stores had fewer (if any) regulations.  They had a baby elephant there and a tiger and all kinds of amazing snakes, birds, fish, dogs, cats and anything you can imagine.  They rented out the bigger animals, some were regulars on tv shows.  My parents surprised my brother and I with a pet monkey that they had purchased from Animal Kingdom.  We named her GiGi and she was a Capuchin monkey.  My favorite books were always about animals.  I think my first words were animals sounds...my mom would always read a Golden Book to me about farm animals and what sounds they make.  She was really good at making their quacks, moos and cock a doodle dos.  I would always jump up and down with my hands under my arm pits making monkey sounds.

I wore red cowboy boots with everything much to the dismay of my grandmother...we lived in a two flat, grandma, grandpa and aunt upstairs.  Mom, dad and me downstairs.   My mom was a professional dancer and wore what would be considered 'kind of out there' for the time.  So, it was fine with her that I wore whatever clothing combinations my little heart desired.  Most pictures of me until I was five were underwear, undershirt, cowboy hat and boots and my Roy Rogers/Dale Evans watch.

My parents, like many, eventually moved to the suburbs.  As I married and had kids, we moved further and further out into the suburbs because a growing family was able to buy more house for less, the further out you were from the city.   After a few moves we were in the country with a bit of a longer commute to our jobs in the suburbs.

First it was buying dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, chameleons and other smaller animals 'for the kids'.  But as we acquired more animals and became more interested in growing our own food and sitting out at night and gazing at the stars, we made the decision to become  'as self supporting of our life in the country as possible'.

We found that we needed less with the busy life that we were leading in the country, so we were spending less.  Cleaning barns, mowing much larger land, gardens and animals that needed daily care.  We were always reading books and later, on line looking for information and ideas from experienced individuals about raising chickens and other animals for fun and profit.

 I am a lifelong crafter (sewing, quilting and anything else I decide to learn and create) and soap maker. I was on Pinterest constantly gathering ideas that I could add my own spin. So, I started to make things to sell at various stores and online.

My husband is a full-time contractor, and he still needed to work larger jobs, to support us, but was finding time to make furniture and smaller items that he could sell.  

It took a lot of years and a lot of hard work to really become as self sufficient as possible, earn money doing what we loved and live on a farm.....but, we did it.  And, it took a lot of heart to do it.  Hearts that were large enough to take in (rescues), care for and love all of our animals, indoor and out.  Hearts that felt like they were going to break when any animals would die or decisions had to be made to do what was best for them.  A heart that looked for ways to improve our land, water and air quality in whatever small ways we could.  Always thinking with our heart about how to leave less of a footprint on this wonderful earth for generations to come.

I think that is what a country heart really is....

A PREVIEW OF....WE ARE DEFINITELY OUTDOOR CATS

This is the first story I ever thought about writing.   Although unfinished as of this date, I really do plan on finishing it because I really love this story.  These two felines (Sadie & Al) were actually our pets, they are sadly deceased, but lived long and loved lives.  Al is a long haired, slow moving,  black cat and Sadie is a stealth, stub tailed calico.  They were the funniest cats we've ever had the pleasure of having in our care.  I would often look at them and think about what I thought they were thinking about.  SO....this story....a story about the daily adventures of Sadie and her pal Al through their kitty cat eyes.  Sadie is the leader and storyteller, Al is the follower and is mainly the subject of Sadie's stories.

We are Definitely Outdoor Cats......

  Hope you enjoy the Preview and someday the book (man, I've got to live to be 150 years old to get all 7 of these books done)....

Sadie Lynn and Albert J. have lived and played together since they were young.  Their preference is to live in the great outdoors - and have enjoyed that lifestyle for the last 10 years.  When coming home at night fits into their schedule - they do let their people know (by clinging to and thus banging the screen door repeatedly) that they would prefer indoor sleeping accommodations that evening.  The next 8 hrs - while Mort and Laura were trying to sleep - would become a marathon attempt at setting a new world record for experiencing as many indoor delights that any cat could ever possibly pack into that time frame - with a few naps in between.  

After being in the house all night, an impatient swirling duet would take their place in front of the door to the outdoors.  Accompanying this dance would also be a duet of meowing in octaves of eardrum piercing levels that would continue until either Mort or Laura would open the door to the as yet unknown adventures of the day.

CHAPTER ONE:  Let Meeeeout!

Once outside, it's very hard to focus on just one thing at a time.  Al and I have different things that we would like to do first.  Al usually just wanders around aimlessly and then eventually checks out whatever I am doing and wanders over by me.  My mama was from the Midwest, but my memaw, papaw and my daddy were from the south and so I do just naturally have some southern expressions that pop out once in awhile.  The one that comes to mind each morning when Al is just wandering around is that "the engine is running but no one is driving".  He purrs all of the time.  I purr when my head or my tummy is being rubbed, but Al's purr is stuck on...on.  

Our first stop...the Koi pond.  Climbing up onto the rocks, we slowly crouch down and peer into the water.  The surface comes alive with fish lips opening and closing everywhere.  Those stupid fish, you would think that they would eventually catch on...we're not going to feed you, we never feed you  We just swiftly and skillfully tap our paws on the surface of the water and then take care of our daily morning grooming.  Tap, Tap. Tap. fish lips everywhere - so funny!  Always cracks us up!  The little watery kissing sounds are interrupted by Al's growling stomach.  A reminder that he is always hungry....so off we go in search of breakfast.  

Lots of Sadie and Al Adventures follow in the beautiful City of Mineral Point, Wisconsin.  Stay tuned............

WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS ANYWAY?

I awakened this morning to a beautiful pink sky and a soft tapping sound on the window behind my head.  I like to have a window near my head as I sleep, to open and close as I choose.  Also, to look outside as soon as I open my eyes just to have a few moments to be grateful before the busy day begins.  This soft tapping I soon realize is a little bird pecking either at its reflection or possibly bugs.  But it is winter and there really are not a lot of bugs out there.  Anyway, my usual quiet moment became a tapping contest back and forth.  I'd tap, it would tap and so forth...until I gave up and got up.  

I always shower first thing in the morning, and I also take a bath at night.  I enjoy a morning shower just to extend a bit of alone time to think about my day.  And, I like to end my day in a nice warm bath, usually reading or writing.  As I was enjoying my morning hot shower, I could hear tapping and little knocking sounds.  We have a sky light in the bathroom.  And the little noises sounded like they were coming from up there.  So, I look up and there are seven (7) doves (14 little feet that looked like spiders, pecking at something and then sliding down the sky light.  As I said,  it is winter and so there is some snow/ice on the sky light.  The doves would climb up to the highest point, peck at something and eventually slide on the slippery surface, down to the lowest part.  When my husband enters the bathroom, I point up and he says that possibly they are getting the grit from the shingles.  Or adds, maybe they are just having fun :).  

At least once a day there will be a woodpecker knocking on some side of our log cabin.  Now, I think that they really are doing that just for fun.  There are many trees right around the cabin (there are several thousand acres of state land around our 40 acres) that he or she could choose from...but, they choose our home to do what they do.....

A little history of this (new to us) log cabin.  It has been a 'camp' for many years.  Families would just come up here occasionally to hunt or whatever.  We are renovating (slowly because it's winter) into a year around home. 

We've noticed that the wildlife on this forty acres really does not pay much attention to us.   The birds that come to the seed basket don't even move when we add more seed or walk past them as they are helping themselves to a sunflower seed.  The deer just walk around and drink out of the pond and eat the corn that we put out for our sheep like they are part of the herd.   The squirrels do not even run when we walk out onto our deck and they are in the seed basket.  

It is as if, this place is their's and we are just a mild inconvenience. 

This log cabin has an attic and we have closed it off for the winter.  It is full of stuff (junk) (not ours) and we don't really want to address it at this time.   We filled an industrial dumpster with the junk that was here from the first floor and plan on attacking the attic in the spring.  That is unless it attacks us first.  We hear running around up there every day.  Sometime with boots on, sometimes rolling bowling balls, sometimes yelling at one another.  My husband thinks it's kind of funny....I guess I do too, but occasionally it sounds like they are going to drop right down on our dinner table as we eat.  We're thinking squirrels.  There are definitely openings in the ends of the roof and it's an easy entry for anyone that can climb up there.  Perfect sleeping quarters during this cold season.  

We've been here about two months now and we are so used to all of the noises that if we don't hear any running or tapping, we wonder if everyone is okay.  Our dogs don't even look up anymore.  Once everyone quiets down at night, we wish them a good nights sleep, assuming that they are tucked in, curled up and enjoying all the heat that escapes from the 1st floor.  

We are not hunters, I am a vegetarian and so, harming any animals just isn't our thing.  This was their home and place to be, way before we bought this place.   So, we have learned to cohabitant.  As long as I don't have to sleep or bathe with a squirrel, I'm fine with that.  There are apparently bears and other large wildlife around here also....(our land butts up against thousands of acres of wet land/state land) and so, our current group of little creatures that live with us, are really our more desirable neighbors and housemates.  

PREVIEW OF...... I BELIEVE....

I've been working on this book for the last few months.  Rather than a short description of what the book entails, I compiled a few excerpts from the book for this blog...hope you enjoy.

An Enlightening Possibility of the Hereafter… that Might just Help a Grieving Heart feel a bit Lighter….

So….

I BELIEVE…

Well, long story short, I died.  After a rather lengthy, painful and totally unfair illness, I quietly slipped away at my family home.  I felt blessed to have my husband, children and a good friend with me as my journey on this earth ended.   My sweet husband of 20 years held my hand and gently touched my forehead and told me that everything was okay, that they would be alright. He kept telling me that he loved me, and, would always love me.  Our three daughters held on to each other, crying.  Our youngest daughter had our dog, Scruffy in her arms and was squeezing him, just trying to hold onto something.  They were all so frantic.  I actually wanted to leave quickly to put an end to this last painful stage and allow the healing to begin for my family as soon as possible.  

The day of the graveside service was not exactly as I would have liked, it was overcast and spitting a steady, cold drizzle, so miserable for everyone.  From my position, I could see quite a few black umbrellas, and a spot of color right in the middle, which was my umbrella.  I pictured one of my daughter’s bringing it and holding the handle very tightly just like we would do when we’d run in the rain from the car to the store or school.    I could see that it was my oldest daughter holding onto the handle.  I really did not want to die during the darker, depressing winter season.  I knew it would make it harder and more depressing for everyone.  But as I have learned during the last year of my life, there are so many things that are not within your control.  So, here I am, watching my own funeral.  When our minister stopped talking and gave the final blessing, everyone moved rather quickly to their cars to escape the cold drizzle and also the dark, depressing cemetery.  My wishes were for all to go to a restaurant that I picked out for a luncheon.  I wanted everyone I loved to be surrounded by others to talk about all of the good times that we shared and hopefully smile and maybe even laugh. 

As the cars rolled into the restaurant parking lot for the luncheon, I felt myself being gently pulled back.  The view was dimming, it was as if my eyes were closing, the dark day was getting darker. 

Suddenly, my eyes were wide open, I could see everything clearly and I could also hear voices and sounds. I was standing in a long line holding a clipboard.  I noticed that above a doorway at the front of this long line, there was a sign that read “The Waiting Room.”    The line moved rather slowly and I understood why when I finally reached a chair in The Waiting Room.  I was handed a 10 page packet which I clipped onto the board.  There was a pencil attached for our use.  On the top of the packet it said, “To be completed in it’s entirety”.  As I slide into a chair, a few of the seated individuals looked up and appeared to be about my age.  They would smile and then go back to filling out the papers on their clipboards.  I wonder if one of the initial steps is to be divided into age groups.   There are signs everywhere….Be Patient, We will be with You as soon as Possible,  You are Very Important to Us.  Shaking my head, I’m thinking, this is not at all how I pictured my “Transition.”  Standing in a long line for quite awhile and then being directed to a chair, given a clipboard with a pencil attached and a long form "To be filled out in it’s entirety.”  I always thought that I’d magically earn beautiful fluffy angel wings and just float around in a beautiful white, ‘heavenly’ place somewhere up in the endless cloud world.  Apparently not, well not at this stage anyway. 

A PREVIEW OF.....HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW - I've been working on this book for several years now.  Sometimes I wonder if I ever want to type 'The End' and for it to be finished, I kind of love it just being mine.   

This book is in essence. about two women, whose lives were intimately intertwined on so many different levels.  And, as life would have it, they do not actually meet until the final chapter of the book.  My vision for this book was to  involve the reader completely in each one of their lives individually.  And, at the close of the book, leave the reader with all of the emotion of being in a relationship that most only dream about experiencing in their lives.  That the reader would take that emotion and make it a 'real' part of how they live their daily lives.  Always drawing from the friendship and love that bound together these two ladies.  

My first main character, Ann, had just moved into her new home in California.  Her children were older and had recently moved into their own homes.  Ann's husband is a soon to be retired military man, currently serving his last tour in Iraq. As a military wife, Ann was very accustomed to moving frequently.  At first, this move felt harder than any of the others, because her children were no longer there on a daily basis.  She was living alone for the first time.   But through a series of events, this home became one of comfort and joy.  She began to plan on making this their forever home.  

 As with most of their moves, Ann never really became too close to their neighbors.  Usually just a wave and an occasional 'hello'. They were usually renting because they never knew when the next move would happen.  

 One sunny California morning, Ann was carrying some moving boxes out to the curb and she noticed an older lady next door tending to her lovely garden.   The older lady happened to look over at her just as she was noticing her and so they exchanged a wave and a smile. 

  Then, on one particular night, an ambulance arrives at the older ladies house, and unbeknownst to both of the ladies, their lives would thereafter be changed forever. 

 Stay tuned...this is a good one...I'm pretty far along on this story because it  feels so warm and happy just to sit down with a hot cup of tea and write. I literally disappear into this book when I am working on it.   I love it so much...the characters are my best friends (yes, that happens to writers and to readers also).   My  desire is to share this story and to add some hope and happiness into everyone's lives.......


These are the other stories in the works that will be featured in my next few blogs
....thanks for viewing....

BELIEVE
HAPPY TRAILS HOTDOGS
WE ARE DEFINITELY OUTDOOR CATS
EARL'S YACHT CLUB

A PREVIEW OF..... THE HOUSE ON WINDY RIDGE

YES, I am working on seven (7) books all at the same time.  I am 'at my best' when I am multitasking....never really have been able to really stick to just one project at a time.  I do eventually complete each one, never really missing a deadline.  So, the term 'multi tasking' really normalized my personality of jumping from one task or project to another...all of the time.   I never really lose sight of the project I just jumped from, it still is in my head...just moved to the back of the bus for the moment while I insert the next task or project in the drivers seat.

ANYWAY, enough about my 'MULTI TASKING'



The third story that I am currently working on is called...... 

THE HOUSE ON WINDY RIDGE  

It is based on a four square farm house that my husband and I purchased and renovated.  We enjoyed every moment of watching this house come back to life. A little history...  The forty acres was part of a 120 acre parcel that an acquaintance of ours was dividing and selling.  We inquired as to which parcel the old farm house was on and found out that it was just a bit outside of the forty we were interested in buying.  We convinced the seller that if they would adjust the lot lines, we would restore the house and it would be a benefit to him to sell the other parcels.   So, the seller was able to adjust the property lines to include the home on the land that we then purchased.  This house had a 'help me' kind of feel to it as we would stand back and think about what it originally looked like and talked about the many ideas we had about this renovation.    Others would call it 'creepy' but it wasn't to us.  It was just an old home that had not had anyone loving or taking care of it in many years.  It was gray with years of sun and rain, windows broken or missing, screen door hanging by a hinge and more holes than roof. But, the sill plates and foundation were in great shape and the exterior was in good shape, just so very weathered.  My husband is a contractor and I am an 'idea generator' and we have purchased several other properties, renovated, sold or kept.  This was one of those homes that spoke to us.  During the renovation and after we moved in, we were contacted by individuals that had a history with this home.  Our first call was from the great grand daughter of the original owner of the land.  He had purchased the land directly  from the US government.  She was researching the history from the time her great grandfather had purchased the land until present, and so we benefited from all of her research.  We later had an 'open house' for all of our friends that always enjoyed our renovations.  The children of the family that had lived in this house for many years had heard about the open house (small town) and decided to come.  We were so appreciative to have met them and listened to their stories.  We again, gained a lot of insight into this home, which, we learned was quite a sad and rather frightening past.  THUS, this story....THE HOUSE ON WINDY RIDGE.....

A PREVIEW OF.....THE VIEW FROM MY SWING

I have been a storyteller from the very moment I uttered my first word and engaged in my first ever eye roll.  My words and my facial expressions have told many stories over the years.  A few years ago I decided to put pen to paper (only an expression...I work on a laptop) and pushed myself and my first book to self publish as soon as possible.  I have learned a lot since then. Mostly that one cannot push the story or oneself.  You cannot possibly always have the emotion necessary or have the most effective words available for your story by just sitting down saying, 'today I'm going to write'.   One needs to be in the mood and that usually comes after having had a parade of thoughts for a day or so about one of your stories that are 'under construction'.  And then, the words and emotions just flow.  I'm going to blog a Preview of each of these 'books in the works'.  Stay turned, there are seven (7). 

SO...I am currently working on seven (yes, 7) books at this time.  My mind has always worked in  overdrive...occasionally, I am thinking about what I'm actually doing, but most of the time, I am watching in my minds eye, scenarios for my books.  Sometimes, an event, sometimes a character.  Sometimes in the middle of the night, sometimes in the middle of a conversation with my husband.  Thoughts, ideas and words just pop in there like a light bulb above my head, but it's actually in my head.   Characters develop more slowly.  I always have a general idea of who my main characters are going to be, but they take on more sides as I 'idea gather' from watching people on my outings to the farmers market, library or restaurants. I notice peoples expressions (some people don't seem to have any, but I must always remember that I am so animated, that anyone might appear that way to me), their carriage, their mannerisms, the tone of their voice.   I  listen to their choice of words (sometimes I actually do listen but, usually only for book character ideas). Sometimes my imagination creates an entire life for this poor person that I have within my radar.  I wonder if my face looks really 'judgey' while I'm studying people, but it's really that I'm scanning them for ideas for one of my books.  I've gotten pretty good at smiling and looking away quickly when they apparently feel 'the scan'.  

HERE is  what is currently rolling around in the old pumpkin...I add to each one of my stories as the mood moves...and I have a lot of moods believe me.....

THE VIEW FROM MY SWING - This was my first and only (so far) published book. Thought I should write it and publish it, like it was a race.  I wanted to write "The End" hit publish and become a published writer.  Apparently, it can work that way, there are a lot of books out there, but, that does not mean that they are really any good, just because they are published.  I don't want to be that kind of a writer, a quantity vs quality writer.   I did receive quite a few good reviews on my first published book,  which made me feel like I had arrived, but I also got some constructive criticism which at first I had a hard time accepting.  Thought I had written a Best Seller.  A few years later as I reread this book, I realize that I needed to expand and more fully develop the descriptions of my scenes and events as they unfold.  My characters also need to be much more thoroughly developed so that the readers could 'see' them.  I knew what they looked like, it was about my family, but, I forgot about the reader in the retelling of my early life.   I am rewriting this book because I love it, and I think it is worth a rework and a republish.

The View from My Swing is about growing up in Chicago during the 50's.  It's about me, as a 5 year old, talking about my everyday life living with my parents and my grandparents.  My parents were born in the United States, but my grandparents, as teenagers,  traveled through Ellis Island from Naples, Italy, to come to this 'Land of Opportunity'.

 We all lived in a two flat in a neighborhood in Oak Park, IL.  Our neighborhood was the only home I had ever known.  I was born there and lived there until I was 6 years old.  It was all just very normal to me then, but looking back, it was an amazing place to start ones life.  That humble beginning would impact the way I would feel about all the people that share this earth with me, for the rest of my life.  As I  relive, through the writing of this book, the best childhood anyone could have ever had, my heart is full, and I feel so grateful.  Our life was a really warm and wonderful melting pot with families that were originally from everywhere in this world.   The air was full of exotic foods cooking, lively music and languages spoken that I could only pretend to understand.  When spoken to by a neighbor, I would always just nod and smile, and, it always seemed to work.  We were all so similar in so many different ways. United in that we were all families just trying to make the best lives for our loved ones.

This main stage for this story is centered on a giant backyard swing that my dad and Papa erected for me (tall metal poles, chains and a grate for a seat). That swing was my very best friend.  I would swing from sunrise to sunset, everyday, rain or snow.  I could swing really high (much to my mothers dismay) and could see all of the goings on in the neighborhood (sometimes to the dismay of our neighbors).

The View from My Swing is a colorful journey back in time to when neighborhoods were  interactive and so very important to everyones life that lived within them.  Neighbors weren't strangers, they were extended family. Everyones lives were so much more enriched for being a part of it.....stay turned, hope to have the rewrite, republish out again sometime soon......