When the “What if’s”, “Would have’s”, and “Should have’s” come knocking … turn the music up and don’t answer the door!
A toddler is an expert at the “20 questions” game, but to them its the unlimited questions game!
When laughter is a shining light bulb to the heart!
He found her lying by a tree. He had been out walking in the woods with Tucker, his collie. The farmer was so thankful that Tucker had come to live with them. It was a wish come true to have as wonderful of dog as Tucker was. The perfect companion.
The farmer had almost stumbled over the girl, for she was curled up in a ball.
He spoke to her, but she didn’t seem to hear him, her eyes remained closed. Shaking her shoulder a little, her eye lids fluttered open, and she mumbled something incoherent. She stood up to try and walk, but stumbled.
She told him that she had been running from a family of bears and must have fainted from fright. He was shocked to hear about her seeing bears and thought it may be good if she would come rest at their house for a little.
His wife said that their door was always open to anyone that needed some shelter. She was also great at whipping up delicious food to fill the stomachs of those who came.
The farmers wife heard Tucker barking his greeting at the door. She opened it for him and was surprised to see her husband with a young girl leaning on him, seeming to need help with walking.
Her husband greeted her with a tender kiss on the cheek, explaining how he had found the girl lying by the tree. The poor girl still seemed pretty out of it as she tried to explain to the farmer’s wife what had happened.
When she got to the part about seeing the family of bears, the farmer’s wife gasped! Bears! Around here! She opened her mouth to say something when she met her husband’s eyes and he nodded towards the young girl.
She had sat down on one of their chairs and her eyes were getting heavy. “This chair is just right,” she said.
The farmer’s wife came over to her and took her hand. “I am glad you like our chair, but why not come and lie on a bed in our guest room, I think you will sleep much better there.”
The girl smiled and got up, following the farmer’s wife back to the bedroom. There were big, golden sunflower,pillows on the bed. She sank down onto the bed and let out a big sigh. “Oh, not too soft and not too hard, this feels just right!” With a smile on her face she was asleep within minutes.
Coming out into the living room the farmer’s wife saw her husband sitting by their fire with Tucker at his feet, stretched out on the floor.
“That poor girl! She was asleep almost instantly, as soon as her head hit the pillow. She really must have had quite the fright, she appears to be so exhausted. I am glad you found her and brought her here to rest. I will fix up a special, yummy dessert for her when she wakes up.”
Her husband smiled, “You take such great care of the unexpected guests that come through our door. Ever since we made that wish of wanting to help others, we have met so many people, haven’t we.”
His wife smiled, “We certainly have. Now come to the table and eat some porridge before it gets cold.”
They started eating when the farmer’s wife had a thought come to her. ” Did the young girl mention her name to you?” she asked.
The farmer thought for a little, ” No, she didn’t. After she is well rested, I am sure she will be up to talking more.”
“Well she certainly does have beautiful hair, bright, golden locks!” the farmer’s wife said and they went back to eating their porridge. Porridge that was not too cold or too hot, but just right.
I learned that yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day. I remember studying about it in school and how awful I felt for the Jews, how it boggled my mind at how people could be so cruel to others. Sadly today, so many years later, it still boggles my mind at the cruelty of some humans. As my first quote says, “remember it didn’t start with gas chambers….” If that would have happened right away there would have been a huge outcry, no, it was much more subtle than that, and we need to not forget that!
The farmer walked into the house, ready for a good meal. He had worked long and hard in the fields. He was tired and very hungry.
“Your stack of pecan pancakes are ready for you dear, along with some scrambled eggs.”
The farmer smiled as he sat down at the oak table. He did love his pecan pancakes, and he saw that his wife remembered to put whip cream on top of them. Oh, he was a lucky guy!
His wife came out of the kitchen and frowned when she noticed what was standing up against the wall beside their front door. It was the farmer’s very worn, old shovel.
“Why didn’t you leave that outside?” she asked.
The farmer glanced up and swallowed his mouthful of pancakes before answering. He wore a sheepish grin. “Sorry dear, I was so anxious to taste some of your delicious cooking that I just plumb forgot I had it in my hand when I came in the door. I will take it back out to the barn after supper. ”
They enjoyed talking as they ate. Laughing, as they reminisced about their dating years. They didn’t have much. Their house wasn’t anything big and no showpiece to look at, but it kept them warm. The love between them burned as much as it did the first day they met.
After supper was over, the farmer started a fire in the fireplace to warm up the little house, sometimes it could get pretty chilly at night. His wife did some crocheting as he got wrapped up in a mystery that he was reading.
A hour later his wife called to him. “Honey! Honey!” He didn’t hear her as he was snoring away, with the book on his lap.
She smiled tenderly, he worked hard, its not a wonder he fell asleep. She grabbed a wool blanket and laid it over him. She stoked the fire in the fireplace and laid a few more logs on it to keep it burning through the night. Yawning herself, she decided to call it a night and walked back to their bedroom to go to sleep. At least his snoring wouldn’t keep her up tonight.
A few hours went by and then the clock struck midnight. The farmer was still sleeping soundly snoring away and his wife was enjoying a peaceful night’s sleep.
No one noticed the shovel, that was still standing upright in the corner, by the door. A strange greenish glow started to appear around it. The glow got brighter and brighter and then as quickly as it came, it went away.
The farmer rubbed his eyes as the sunlight streamed through the windows. His back ached some from being in the chair all night, but he was glad that he got a good night’s rest. He felt ready for the day ahead.
“Whoa! What….What was he looking at?” He rubbed his eyes again, thinking that perhaps he was still dreaming! He opened them slowly again, nope he wasn’t dreaming, it was still there!
He walked over to it and touched it, yup, it was real alright! But how??? He scratched his head as he tipped it back to stare up at his ceiling, which now had a big hole in it! A hole made from one gigantic beanstalk!
He heard his wife coming down the hall and saw her eyes get round as saucers. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He didn’t know if he had ever seen his wife speechless before! She just stood there and stared, with her mouth agape!
That’s how they were when suddenly a boy came down the beanstalk into their home!
“Good Morning! My name is Jack, how are you?”
The farmer and his wife could only stare at each other in great shock.
The boy laughed. “A little speechless I see, no problem, i will explain.”
They watched him walk over to the corner by the door and grab the old, dirty shovel that was still up against the wall. “I am here because of this! You have the magic golden shovel!”
At those words the farmer found his tongue and laughed. “Magic? That old thing! That thing is so worn, for it has dug so many holes for me in the field, and its definitely not golden!”
The boy picked up the shovel and the farmer and his wife watched in astonishment as a green glow circled the shovel and right in front of their eyes, it became the shiniest golden shovel you ever did see!
picture from Pinterest
Jack was smiling at their astonishment. “Sorry about the hole in your roof, as soon as I climb back up this stalk, all will return to normal. But first you both may make 3 wishes, for you have the golden shovel. A shovel can only become golden when it is used many times, just like this one has been. So speak your wishes and they will be granted to you in a flash!”
The farmer couldn’t believe it, he was about to be rewarded for all that back breaking work he did digging holes.
He thought for a moment and then with a sparkle in his eye he said, ” I would like my wishes to be ….”
What do you think he wished? What would you wish if you had a magic shovel?
Share your wisdom of why “Wisdom Teeth” are called “Wisdom Teeth”?
Time machine not needed! One can travel anywhere by getting lost in books and music!
If one stands under a coconut tree, and gets hit by a falling coconut, don’t blame the tree!
We have a game called “The Dumbest Laws”, and it tells about laws that were actually on the books years ago. Were they enforced may be another question, but they were declared a law. So for your enjoyment here is a list of some of the craziest laws! Have you heard of others? What is a crazy law that you would like to make?
1, You cannot enter the state of Wisconsin with a chicken on your head.
2. Here is one for all you chocolate lovers, sorry, but if you are in Idaho, a man cannot give his fiance a box of chocolates that weighs more than 50 pounds! You will have to settle for a 49 pound box!
3. For those of you who like to sleep, don’t fall asleep in a cheese factory in South Dakota, it is illegal!
4. Do you own a camel? I am sorry, but you cannot ride it on the highway in the state of Nevada.
5. If you are a woman and you are married and live in Texas, you must first obtain permission from your husband before you get false teeth.
6. But Men don’t laugh at Number 5, for if you live in Nevada, and you have a mustache it is illegal for you to kiss a woman!
7. In North Dakota be careful about singing out loud, for it is illegal to sing off key!
8. in Illinois it is illegal to eat in a place that is on fire. I don’t think I would really want to eat in a place that was on fire, may not be the best atmosphere!
9. In Switzerland you cannot flush the toilet after 10pm! Hmmm….
10. I like this one from Switzerland as well. It is illegal to ski down the slopes while reciting poetry! I can tell you that if I would ever attempt to try skiing, I would not be able to concentrate on reciting poetry, I would just be focused on not falling!
Happy Tuesday! Hope your week is off to a great start. We didn’t get much of a snowstorm this past weekend, like what was in the forecast. It was more ice than snow. I am ready for a good snowstorm, to watch the snow falling as I sit wrapped in a cozy blanket with a cup of tea, or hot cocoa. I am sure it will come sometime. At least it is sunny today, the dogs are lying right in the path of the sun as it streams through the living room windows. They love that! May the sunshine of happiness fill your day today!
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As I was thinking of today being MLK’s birthday, a post came to my mind that I wrote back in the summer of 2017, a simple story with an important message weaved into it. I thought it would be appropriate to share again today in honor of MLK and his dream. A dream of a day when we won’t be so offended by those who are different from us, not have our eyes blinded, and be able to see past their differences and into their hearts.
(picture from Pinterest)
Jenny took off on her bike once again to go deliver some flowers of Happiness. Her Mom watched her out the kitchen window, she was so proud of her daughter. Jenny had a special love for flowers. She always made sure to have some in her room. She would also use her own money rather often to buy a fresh flowers, and she would sit them on the dining room table where they all could enjoy them. Jenny said how the sight and pleasant scent of flowers made her heart happy and she wanted to spread the joy to her family.
Recently she had started buying flowers and delivering them to her neighbors. She started with the neighbors on her street but she started adding the streets from the development behind her. Jenny told her Mom how she loved to see the smiles that her flowers brought to those who received them.
She laughed as she told her Mom that even sour Mr.McGregor was starting to give a faint smile to Jenny every time she came. At least he wasn’t shouting at her anymore to get out of his yard when she came. In fact Jenny noticed that he was sitting on his front porch more regularly lately. One time Jenny said how nice it was to see him waiting for her. He just grunted, but again she saw the trace of a smile. His sour expression and grunts used to scare her, but not anymore.
Little Billy would come running when Jenny would ride into his driveway. He would always raise his arms up for Jenny to pick him up. He would smile big as he clutched a flower in his chubby little fingers to give to his Mom. He knew not to put them in his mouth anymore. Renee, his Mom, started coming out with cookies and lemonade when Jenny came. They would sit on the porch as Billy would beg for Jenny to play with him some.
Hazel was an older widow and she often told Jenny how a visit from her was the highlight of her week. Her husband had bought her flowers a lot when he was living. Jenny enjoyed talking with her, she enjoyed hearing stories from Hazel’s past. Hazel usually had little nuggets of wisdom to pass on to Jenny. Jenny tried to make Hazel’s visit be the last one, so that she could have the time to talk to her.
There was another house that Jenny longed to stop at, but her parents told her not to. Jenny really didn’t understand why. Her parents didn’t really give a reason besides the fact that they said those people in that house were “different”.. “Different”? Jenny wasn’t sure what to think about that. It spiked her curiosity though. What was so “different’ about them. Jenny had to know.
One day she had an idea as she stopped at the house of the “different” neighbors. She ran up to the front door, laid some flowers down, pushed the doorbell and biked away as fast as she could. It worked! She got away and no harm came to her. The next week she tried it again. Jenny decided that as long as she never had to face them it would be fine to continue it and so she did.
Jenny asked Hazel one day about a sign that she had put in her yard. It said, “No matter where you are from, we are glad that you are our neighbor.” Hazel explained that it meant she welcomed everyone as a neighbor. Jenny got real quiet and then looked up at Hazel and said, “But what about that house down the street, aren’t you afraid of them? My parents say they are different!”
Hazel sighed and got a sad look in her eyes. “They are just like you and me Jenny. They have hearts that can be happy and that can break. They may speak a different language and come from a different land, but they know the power of a smile! Sadly people are afraid of things they don’t understand. If they would only know the joy that they are missing out on by not opening their heart and mind.”
Jenny put her head down and said softly, ” I wish I could meet them someday but my parents keep telling me to stay away.” Hazel took Jenny’s hand and gave it a squeeze and they just sat there in silence for awhile as the gentle breeze blew.
Jenny’s Mom was inconsolable, the time was growing shorter and the Doctors faces were growing grave. Hope had been so strong at first, but it was getting hard to keep holding onto it. Jenny’s Dad held his face in his hands, he just didn’t understand. How could this have happened! One minute Jenny is delivering flowers of happiness and the next she is fighting a life and death battle due to having been hit by a speeding driver.
Jenny needed a blood transfusion but she had a rare blood type and they were having trouble finding donors. Time was running short and Jenny was unconscious not knowing how her parents hearts ached. Suddenly the Dr. burst into Jenny’s room. “We got a donor! ” Jenny’s parents embraced as their hearts soared! Tears were falling as they watched Jenny be wheeled out of the room.
Three days later Jenny was doing a lot better. The Dr. has said she should be ready to go home in a couple more days. Her Mom was sitting in her room talking to Jenny when the Dr. came in. “Dr. Kline, Jenny and I were talking, would it be possible to meet the one who donated their blood for her, we really would like to thank them.” Dr.Kline smiled and said he would see what he could do.
The next morning Jenny was finishing her breakfast as Dr. Kline walked in. ” Mr. and Mrs. Stouffer, I was able to locate the person who donated blood to Jenny. Jenny clapped her hands and her parents were all smiles. Dr. Kline stepped out the door for a minute and then stepped back in with a lady by his side, and he said, “Please meet Roshana!”
Jenny’s parents gasped! It was their new neighbor! The “different” neighbor. They couldn’t speak. Jenny though eagerly reached out her hand and squeezed Roshana’s hand, giving her a big smile, and said, ” Thank you so very much!!”
Roshana took her hand, and smiled back, with her eyes shining. She then pulled from behind her back a bouquet of flowers for Jenny. Her parents watched as emotion filled their hearts, and Jenny’s Mom wiped tears from her eyes.
When Jenny came home from the hospital there were two signs to greet her in the front yard. One welcoming her home and another sign welcoming their neighbors.
This post today was inspired by 2 special readers of mine. A dear little boy and his special “Gem”, his grandma. The little boy loves dragons and especially Dinosauris. His grandma brought it to my attention that a couple days ago it was “National Appreciate a Dragon Day.” Well even though I missed that day, I am not real good with Dragon facts, I thought I should still honor it. So Benjamin, and Ellen, thanks for the inspiration and I hope you guys and all of my readers enjoy this story. Its always fun to take a visit to the North Pole.
Finding the Perfect Gift
Everyone was in a celebratory mood, today was a special day. Today they were all celebrating Dinosauris birthday. No one was quite sure how old he was, and actually no one really knew the actual date of his birthday, but everyone deserved to celebrate a birthday! Everyone appreciated him so much for he was such a kind dragon. They all decided to make the day that he joined them at the North Pole as his “birthday” and today marked a year since he had come.
Chef Salvo was preparing a special meal. He cooked all day yesterday for dragons eat a lot! He was really glad that Jinx and Jangle were able to find some Dragon fruit plants.
Dragon Fruit plants from Pinterest
Chef Salvo was able to make an amazing Dragon fruit crepe cake out of it!
Dragon fruit crepe cake, (its a real thing :)) Pinterest
Candy Cane had been in charge of the decorations and they looked great. Everything was ready for the party, well almost everything. Jinx, Jangle, Snowball and Alabaster were in charge of finding the perfect birthday gift for Dinosauris. When Candy Cane asked how they were coming along with it, she couldn’t get a straight answer out of any of them. She was beginning to have her doubts.
Snowball kept dozing off when she tried to ask him. Alabaster, was so bundled up in blankets, and just kept saying how cold it was. He hadn’t been at the North Pole as long as the others, and came from the sunny South. He was having a slightly hard time adjusting and was busy guzzling down hot drinks. He would nod his head at Candy Cane when she would ask him, or make some crazy pun about the cold.
Jinx kept giving Candy Cane answers that would lead her to another question, and then he would walk away and she would realize that he didn’t answer her original question. Jangle was so busy listening to music, and he would answer Candy Cane’s questions about Dinosauris by breaking into song. Needless to say Candy Cane felt like ” smacking her head” after talking to all of them and she was just hoping that they would have a gift in time for the party tonight.
While preparations were being made for the big party, Dinosauris had a special, surprise visitor that came to see him, along with his grandmother. This little boy loved dragons, and especially loved Dinosauris. He had an amazing time flying with Dinosauris, keeping him distracted while all the elves got ready for the birthday celebration.
Snowball stretched as he opened his eyes. Jinx, Jangle and Alabaster were staring at him. “Wh-What, What do you guys want?” Snowball asked as he stifled a yawn.
“Did you get it?” asked Jinx.
Snowball looked a little confused, “Get what?”
Jangle shook his head. “The gift, Dinosauris birthday gift! We only have a few hours until his party and Candy Cane will have our heads if we don’t bring the gift.”
Now Snowball was wide awake. “OH NO! I forgot! It slipped my mind, Jinx you were supposed to remind me!”
Jinx looked down at his feet. “Well right now, lets not worry whose fault it is, but clearly we have a problem! We need to find a gift. I suggest we go out exploring to find something. Everyone get bundled up and we will leave in 15 minutes.”
Alabaster sighed, would he ever get used to this cold, he thought.
When 15 minutes had passed, they were all seated in a sleigh and ready to go, though they still had no idea of exactly where they were going.
Jangle drove as they zoomed over the snow, taking the curves a little fast, but they were pressed for time. One time Alabaster almost fell out of the sleigh, but Snowball grabbed hold of him and pulled him back in.
“Look straight ahead, see the cute chipmunks!” Jinx pointed out. Alabaster was wishing he had grabbed his camera, for he thought chipmunks were such cute creatures. Jangle started singing a song about them, as he drove.
At last Jangle brought the sleigh to a stop, and they all got out to go on a hunt for a special gift.
They walked and walked, feeling more despondent as they walked. What did a dragon need, what did a dragon like? How were they supposed to find the perfect gift?
Jinx wandered away from the group for a little and then they all heard him yell. They all went running to where they heard the yell from, but saw nothing.
“Umm….what are we all staring at? Where did Jinx go?” Snowball asked.
“Down here!” they heard a muffled yell and saw a hole ahead of them.
When they got to the hole, Jinx was climbing out, brushing snow off himself. He was smiling as he held something in his hand.
“I found it! I found a gift for Dinosauris.”
Everyone smiled as they cried out in unison, “What?”
Jinx dropped marbles onto the snow and emptied his pockets of even more marbles.
“I was walking and didn’t see the hole. I yelled out as I fell, and then realized that there were marbles all around me. Don’t know where they came from! I remembered how Dinosauris loves colorful things and he had fun with a marble game that he had before, but I think he lost it recently.”
Everyone agreed that the marbles sounded perfect, and no one was happier to go back, then Alabaster, whose toes were growing numb. They would make it back with just a little time to spare before the party. Time to show Candy Cane their gift, for she was probably beginning to get frantic by now.
The party was a grand success. Dinosauris was so surprised by the party and the gift, that happy tears rolled down his face. He loved his cake and had so much fun playing marbles with the little boy and the other elves. He kept winning, and that was okay, for after all it was his birthday.
To thank everyone for the party Dinosauris gave as many rides as everyone wanted. They soared high and spun around, there wasn’t a ride around that quite compared to a Dragon ride!
Nuggets of Gold 