Larada Horner-Miller's Blog, page 38
October 16, 2019
Huntsman Senior Games—Our Third Year!
Lin and I just returned from our third Huntsman Senior Games, and we had a fabulous time winning three gold medals in square dancing—yes, square dancing! We had a set square with three couples from Albuquerque, New Mexico and one couple from St. George, Utah. As a square, we won gold medals for the Mainstream category and the Plus.
[image error]My Three Gold Medals
Then, Lin and I won a gold medal for the Random square competition. We were lucky in the random square to have Aaron and Kathy Beans, a caller and her husband from Utah and two Japanese couples! What a square we had!
While there, we participated in all the fantastic events connected with this event! Check out my post from last year—October 15, 2018–for the specific fun activities.
This year was different because the Japanese contingency was there, and we reconnected because we met some of them three years ago! We also made new Japanese friends, too!
As we traveled home, I wondered about all the rewards of participating in this activity, so my answer is within a poem:
[image error]
Is Winning Everything?
Our square just competed in
The Huntsman World Senior Games,
A friendly contest
Amongst dancers,
Many personal friends.
We won two gold medals
As a set square.
Then, Lin and I won
Another gold medal
In the Random squares competition.
Ben and Monica from Albuquerque
Won silver.
This event revered
By many!
The luck of the draw!
As we celebrated our victories,
I pondered,
“Is winning everything?”
Yes, I am competitive
To the bone!
Dad’s often repeated mantras
Have guided my life
“Winners never quit
and
quitters never win!”
“Stay in there
and
drink a lot of ice water.”
We, as a set square, are competitive!
We participate to win!
Positive talk fills
Our conversations!
But as I thought about it,
A quote a speaker said
At the Awards Brunch
Caught my attention,
“Be satisfied with
your performance.”
I can honestly say
We were! No matter what!
So, before we did our traditional
Screaming and hollering
When the first names were called,
We were winners!
We won because
We participated
We reconnected with Japanese dancers
From two years ago
We made new friends
Locally and from Japan
We laughed
We danced
We encouraged others
We hugged
and
Danced more.
We arrived at the event
With our winning ways!
It wasn’t housed in a medal.
Yes, we came to win medals!
And we did
But we left with
So much more!
Full hearts
Happy souls
Rich
Memories of a time
Where language barriers
Didn’t exist!
We were one (WON)
In the dance!
What are the rewards of competition? Have you ever felt this way?
Check out my web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Fall Giveaway: Here’s a chance to win a $200, $100, (2) $50 Amazon eGift Cards from The No. 1 Site for #Reader #Giveaways~~The Kindle Book Review. Just click on the link and enter the Rafflecopter on the giveaway page. It’s easy & fun. If you love #reading, enter now; #giveawayends October 31st. Click here and enter every day ~>
$400 Fantastic Fall Giveaway
Two memoirs, a historical fiction, a
nonfiction and three cookbooks! It’s your choice! Just be sure to select at
least one. Also, I have bundles where you save money when you buy more than
one! Also, FREE SHIPPING now in the USA. Visit my
Etsy Shop for all my books, Larada’s
Reading Loft
Whitey & Gladys Puerling were playful friends
of Flippo’s who created a Fan Club. I thought it would be fun to recreate this
group. Would you like to join the Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read
interesting posts about Flippo’s life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
I HAVE 200 PRE-ORDERS FOR
THE MARSHALL FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY! You, too, can
pre-order this amazing story? You can select which paper format or e-book
format you would like. Go here to order the version you want. Monthly SWAG
Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post Huntsman Senior Games—Our Third Year! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
October 13, 2019
I’m Home Sick!
No post tonight because I’m home sick. Hopefully tomorrow.
The post I’m Home Sick! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
October 6, 2019
Who Sits Beside You?
As I look at the current statistics on my weekly blog, I’m amazed at its geographic reaches and have pondered the reasoning. People from around the world drop by weekly to taste my words. Today I veer off of my travelogue of our 12 Day British Isles cruise to a poem about this phenomenon and envision us sitting around an international table.
[image error]A joyful time together!
We sit at a joyful table
Across from each other
My words dancing between us.
We laugh, you point
I nod and we brush shoulders.
Hungry eyes from all over the world
Sit with me and view me through my words!
View my blog
View my thoughts
People I don’t know;
People who don’t know me!
But they come
To my sumptuous table
Filled with enticing flavor in each word.
They look at the title
And
Make the choice to partake.
Wonder
Curiosity
Spirit speaking to spirit
Deep food nourishes your soul.
I have to admit—
Your visit to my table surprises me!
I serve up words
And you eagerly slurp them up!
My blog surprises me!
Personal topics
Ideas
Events
My life happenings
One day at a time
A 66-year-old country girl
Who loves words and stories
Weekly the topic comes.
I let it percolate for days,
Then I write.
What surprises me is
You accept my invitation
And come.
You are interested!
Why, I wonder—
Some from
Iraq & Indonesia
Egypt & Denmark
India & China
Yes, mostly from the United States
With its melting pot of ethnicity.
But a spattering
From around the world
A LARGE SPATTERING!
Again, I ask
Who sits beside you
as you read my words?
A Christian
A Muslim
A Jew
A Buddhist
Who gently nudges your elbow?
A Caucasian?
A Hispanic?
An East Indian?
An African?
At this universal table, a cacophony of smells explodes.
Green chili from New Mexico
Curry
Sage
I invite all to participate!
All are welcome
To sup on my words
To feed on my thoughts
To bask in our communal experience
Because
It’s common
Every day
Universal!
Welcome!
[image error]The round table where I heard so many stories!
I have so many memories sitting at our round table in Branson listening to my Dad tell his fascinating stories. Join me here in your mind any time you read one of my blogs–I will be waiting for you!
Check out my web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Two memoirs, a historical fiction, a nonfiction and three
cookbooks! It’s your choice! Just be sure to select at least one. Also, I have
bundles where you save money when you buy more than one! Also, FREE SHIPPING now
in the USA. Visit my
Etsy Shop for all my books, Larada’s Reading Loft
Whitey & Gladys Puerling were playful friends of Flippo’s
who created a Fan Club. I thought it would be fun to recreate this group. Would
you like to join the Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read interesting
posts about Flippo’s life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
I HAVE 200 PRE-ORDERS FOR THE MARSHALL
FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY! You, too, can pre-order this amazing story? You can
select which paper format or e-book format you would like. Go here to order the
version you want. Monthly SWAG Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post Who Sits Beside You? appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
September 29, 2019
Day 6 – Greenock & Stirling Castle–Unicorns Everywhere!
My musings about our 12-day British Isle cruise is a joyful time. As I look back at the pictures and the journal I kept, I get to relive this wonderful trip all over again. I hope you enjoy this sixth day of our adventure!
[image error]Breakfast with My Honey! [image error]A Smile to Start the Day!
On July 26, we slept in a little and had breakfast in Windows, one of the specialty restaurants, and had Salmon Benedict, sitting by the windows enjoying the ocean side view.
[image error]The View on Deck 12
After breakfast, we went to Deck 7 and took pictures, then up to Deck 12 and took more pictures—clouds hanging over the hills! The ship moved inward to the dock with land on both sides and a wonderful morning of picture taking. We docked at about noon.
My stomach flared up in before we left and didn’t feel good all day—I just continued!
[image error][image error][image error]
We were welcomed by a bagpiper and this big Scottish friend. Also we laughed at the welcome sign at the terminal at the door of the terminal—what fun!
[image error]Lin Shopping to Add to His Kilt Outfit!
The terminal had great shops and we left the ship early enough to have time to shop before our excursion. Lin added to his kilt outfit: a beautiful black vest, white shirt and long white socks. I joined the shopping spree and bought a beautiful jewelry set made of heatherwood: a necklace, bracelet and earrings. Lin ran our purchases back to the ship and we left.
We boarded our bus to drive to Stirling Castle, our excursion for the day. Ian, our guide, shared his Scottish knowledge for one and half hour—lots of information! We drove through Glasgow, a city’s name I knew from an Abba song, “Super Trouper!”
“Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusivecrag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, giving it a strong defensive position. Its strategic location, guarding what was, until the 1890s, the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth, has made it an important fortification in the region from the earliest times.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling_Castle
[image error][image error][image error]
The castle was well-worth the wait! We toured several spectacular areas inside the castle with numerous fireplaces & decorative unicorn shields and/or tapestries over the fireplaces.
[image error][image error]
We craned our necks to see amazing ceilings with wooden carvings.
[image error][image error][image error]
[image error]
We went through the Great Kitchens with life-sized figurines working at their tasks, and a beautiful green view of the surrounding area. The cloud-covered day added to the mystique.
[image error][image error][image error][image error]The View
We wandered around the walkaway at the top of the castle, seeing the cemetery near by and the grand vista of the area!
[image error]The Flowers in the Garden![image error]More Flowers![image error]A Top View of the Garden
[image error]Lin and I in Queen Anne’s Garden
My favorite part was Queen Anne’s garden. We wore our 2020
New Mexico Square and Round Dance Association Festival t-shirts and took
pictures in the garden. The array of flowers was beautiful!
We crammed as much as possible into the allotted time at the castle: Chapel Royal, the Great Kitchens and walking around a walkway around the top of the castle.
So when I got to the gift shop, it was closed. I opened the door and begged the clerk to let me in for just a few minutes. She reluctantly agreed, so I ran through the shop and ended up buying a small unicorn—in memory of all the unicorns displayed throughout the castle!
[image error]Bridge at Glasgow, Scotland
The ride home through Glasgow was delightful, and I took a great picture crossing a bridge there. When we returned to the terminal, we checked email. Once we boarded the ship, we ate dinner quickly, so we could see the musical production in the Stardust Theater, “Rockin Nights,” a lively tradition to Soul music!
We chalked up another delightful day in Scotland, wandering
around a lovely castle, loving the mysterious unicorn interest at Stirling
castle and admiring beautiful wooden carved ceilings!
Have you ever had a castle experience? Do you get a sense of history when you step into a castle? Then add unicorns to it! What an experience!
Check out my web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Two memoirs, a historical fiction, a nonfiction and three cookbooks! It’s
your choice! Just be sure to select at least one. Also, I have bundles where
you save money when you buy more than one! Also, FREE
SHIPPING now in the USA. Visit my Etsy Shop for
all my books, Larada’s Reading Loft
Whitey & Gladys Puerling were playful friends of Flippo’s who created a
Fan Club. I thought it would be fun to recreate this group. Would you like to
join the Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read interesting posts about
Flippo’s life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
I HAVE 200 PRE-ORDERS FOR THE MARSHALL FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY!
You, too, can pre-order this amazing story? You can select which paper format
or e-book format you would like. Go here to order the version you want. Monthly
SWAG Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post Day 6 – Greenock & Stirling Castle–Unicorns Everywhere! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
September 27, 2019
Apple, I Want My Company Back!
I want my Apple company back—the Steve Jobs Apple Company where the products were exceptional and innovative and the customer service outstanding. I’ve been an avid Apple supporter since 1986—36 years! I love Apple products and the visionary that Steve Jobs was, but something has gone wrong!
I am frustrated! I just spent 45 minutes on the phone trying to get a box to send back my old iPhone 7 for a rebate on my new iPhone 11 I bought last week.
In mid-September, like a crazy person, I pre-ordered my iPhone 11 online. I got caught up in the iPhone hysteria , thinking I could return my old phone when I picked up my new one. Yes, an iPhone 7–I loved and it was working perfectly, but I worried about the technology future with the trade wars going on with China, so I decided now was the time!
Last week I witnessed the iPhone 11 hysteria head-on! I picked up the new one on Release Day after standing in line for nearly one hour. The tech that worked with me said I had checked a box online saying I would return my phone online and Apple would send me a box to return it in. That didn’t sound right to me then, but I didn’t challenge her—I ASSUMED she knew what she was talking about.
Fast forward a week—I realized this morning I hadn’t received the box, so I called the only number I had on my phone – Apple Care, but I was sure they could help me connect with the appropriate department.
After being put on hold for several minutes, the Apple Care tech asked me to look at the iPhone 11 box to see if there was a label on it so I could use it to send back my old phone—really?? So, I got the box out—NOTHING. Then he connected me with the supposed right department.
After making sure I was truly who I said I was, the tech checked and told me that my online application said I would turn in my old phone when I picked up my new one! Whew! I thought I was losing it. Wait a minute! The instore tech said the opposite. What’s going on there?
In a cheerful voice, then the Apple tech asked if I liked my new iPhone 11.
“No, it randomly discconects from the network, so I have to keep reconnecting. I have several old apps that won’t open with the new operating system, and you sound like you’re in water right now.”
Her response, “Well, maybe it’s defective and you need to
replace it.”
My response, “What a horrible statement about a brand new Apple products!”
So, then she said I had to go the Apple store in Albuquerque to return it—that she couldn’t send me a box. I begged, cajoled and demanded she send me a box. I’m not feeling well today, and I didn’t want to have to drive 18 miles to town to do this, plus navigate a parking spot and the hassle to get to the store. She kept repeating I had to go to the store to return it—THEY COULD NOT SEND A BOX!
After being put on hold for several minutes several times more, she returned reading to me from a document saying that since I didn’t turn it in at the time of the purchase when I was supposed to (I WANTED TO, BELIEVE ME! I DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS!!), I couldn’t return it to the store, and Apple would send me a box!
REALLY!!! After 45 minutes!!! The tech really tried to help but her incompetence frightened me! I asked for a phone number to make a formal complaint, and she delayed and fumbled not finding it. I easily found the number on the Internet. So, I politely thanked her, hung up and called to complain.
The Apple representative at Customer Service listened quietly to my rant and rave and profusely apologized. I was so angry and was going to go down the “Angry Customer” path, then decided on a different route.
“I want my company back, the company of Steve Jobs. You are not going to run me off with your incompetence! If I was a new customer and they experienced what I just did for 45 minutes, you would have probably lost her. I will be bugging the hell out of you from now on! I WANT MY COMPANY BACK!!”
The Apple rep accepted my statement, we hung up and here I am.
[image error]I am!
I’m stubborn and will never leave Apple, but I am so disgusted with what just happened! I have an appointment with an Apple Tech to straighten out my iPhone woes—I’m sure they’ll fix it.
Is there another Steve Jobs-like person out there? PLEASE, WE NEED YOU!
The post Apple, I Want My Company Back! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
September 22, 2019
Day 5 – Kirkwall & Orkney Islands – A Serendipitous Day!
A DISTURBING MORNING
Day 5 turned out to be a serendipitous day, but it’s beginning was harsh! Up at 4:45 AM because of our early excursion, I had trouble sleeping. We received a text from AT&T the night before warning us of a device usage on the cruise that had already exceeded $100. The text also had a phone number to call at no charge, so I did in a panic.
I talked to Josh from AT&T, and he tried to sell us a cruise package. He assured us there would be no charge after I explained that it was a mistake. Somehow my husband, Lin’s iPad had Airplane mode turned off. Also, LIn had trouble getting on the network on the cruise ship. Apparently, he thought he was on the cruise ship network, and he was using AT&T’s data. After thinking about it, I’m pretty sure the network tech was the culprit because he took Lin’s iPad away from him and was fiddling with it trying to get it to go online. It was after that the charges started!
We’ve all heard horror stories of travelers who had
gigantic phone charges. When we traveled to Ireland and England in 2017, Lin
found AT&T’s International Day Pass plan, and we activated it on my phone
then. It’s a great plan: $10 for a 24-hour period of unlimited calling and
texting. I used it sparingly and it was great—exactly what they said.
So, for this trip, we set it up on my phone again before we left. We hadn’t used it yet on this cruise, so this whole problem with the charges seemed crazy to me. My stomach flared up in the midst of this, but I was able let it go—I didn’t want this to ruin our trip!
We got ready and took our tour stuff to breakfast, planning to leave from there, and was at the Stardust theater at 6:45 AM. The ship docked at 7:00 AM and would be leaving early in the afternoon at 1:00 PM. The Norwegian travel agent entertained us with fun-filled activities while we waited. Our cruise ship was docked away from land, so we caught the first tender available.
SOUTH ISLAND
PANORAMIC EXCURSION
[image error]Cattle Grazed with the Ocean in the Background
Seated in the back of the bus, we traveled through
checker board farm land so rich and green! As I looked at all the green
pastures and abundance of water, my ranching background kicked in and I
marveled at it. Our southeastern Colorado family ranch has a horrible water
shortage right now with all our reservoirs empty!
[image error]Churchill Barrier
As our travels continued, we passed over the Churchill Barrier. Our guide told us that the Barrier was built because of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in 1939.
“Four barriers were built during the Second World War to protect the great natural harbour of Scapa Flow, the home of the Royal Navy during the conflict, from enemy attacks. Construction of the causeways was ordered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill after the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in October 1939 by a German U-boat.”
https://www.orkney.com/news/churchill-barriers
Water surrounded us as we traveled through this chain of islands—water, water, everywhere! Cattle and sheep fed in green fields.
[image error]Catholic Chapel on Lamb Holm Island
Our first stop on our tour was a picturesque Catholic
chapel.
“The Italian Chapel is a highly ornate Catholic chapel on Lamb Holm in the Orkney Islands. It was built during World War II by Italian prisoners of war captured in North Africa, who were housed on the previously uninhabited island while they constructed the Churchill Barriers to the east of Scapa Flow. Only the concrete foundations of the other buildings of the prisoner-of-war camp survive. It was not completed until after the end of the war, and was restored in the 1960s and again in the 1990s. It is now a popular tourist attraction,”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Chapel
[image error]The Altar[image error]The Ceiling
As always, we didn’t have enough time to linger, but the inside of this chapel took my breath away. Admiring the ingenuity of these prisoners to use what they had available, they used a Quonset hut for the building, light holders made out of corn beef tins, and the baptismal font created from the inside of a car exhaust.
From there we traveled to St. Margaret’s Hope.
“St Margaret’s Hope is a town in the Orkney Islands, off the north coast of Scotland. It is known locally as “The Hope” or “The Hup”. With a population of about 550, it is Orkney’s third largest settlement. . .”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Margaret%27s_Hope
I had a delightful time shopping there at a Craft Workshop, buying a wool/cashmere blend yarn. I love to knit and plan on making something beautiful out of this. Lin found the local ice cream shop.
It was back to Kirkwall on the bus, and the line for the tenders to get back to our cruise ship was long, so I immediately got in line. We were leaving at 1:00 PM, and I didn’t want to be one of the casualties of not managing our time appropriately and getting left behind. Lin always pushes it to the limit, so he shopped and found a beautiful new Scottish beret. Our trip back to the cruise ship on the tender was pleasant and we were back on time!
ONBOARD THE SHIP
We ate a quick lunch and napped the afternoon away, sleeping four hours! Later, we ate dinner up on Deck 12 at Raffles because I needed a small meal–the restaurants served such big meals. Then we gambled in the casino our obligatory $20 limit, but I left the slots with $15! After that, we went to the 9:30 PM Danielle Williams show, a woman singer, and it was great.
What a delightful day we had in a remote area of Scotland where peaceful rural life was the norm. The serendipities of the day surprised me: the chapel so loved by the Italian prisoners of war and a lovely small village so welcoming and warm.
Have you ever had a serendipitous day! on a trip? What was it? I’d love to hear about your experience!
Check out my web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Two memoirs, a historical fiction, a nonfiction
and three cookbooks! It’s your choice! Just be sure to select at least one.
Also, I have bundles where you save money when you buy more than one! Also, FREE SHIPPING now
in the USA. Visit my
Etsy Shop for all my books, Larada’s Reading Loft
Whitey & Gladys Puerling were playful
friends of Flippo’s who created a Fan Club. I thought it would be fun to
recreate this group. Would you like to join the Marshall Flippo Fan Club
Facebook page? Read interesting posts about Flippo’s life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
I
HAVE 199 PRE-ORDERS FOR THE MARSHALL FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY! Be
the 200th to pre-order! You can select which paper format or e-book format you
would like. Go here to order the version you want. Monthly SWAG
Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post Day 5 – Kirkwall & Orkney Islands – A Serendipitous Day! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
September 15, 2019
The Roller Coaster Ride of Last Week!
SORRY: Another side trip away from our British Isles Cruise. I will resume it next week with Day 5: Kirkwall in Orkney Islands, Scotland!
We just returned from a square and round dance vacation week at Fun Valley RV park at South Fork, CO, and the week was an emotional roller coaster ride for me!
[image error]Lin with 4 scoops of ice cream and a brownie!
The weekend started off with dinner Saturday night with a group of 25 dancers at the Firehouse restaurant in South Fork. We connected and reconnected with friends anticipating a great week. Lin had his traditional oversized ice cream treat!
Sunday morning started off with our annual potluck brunch—another gathering of friends, giving us time to visit. I talked with a friend I’ve known for years but really didn’t know her history—it was a precious sharing time.
Sunday evening dinner started the official week’s activities. After dinner, Lin and I sought out a Colorado couple we had invited to this week. I signed up with the enthusiastic wife of this couple to do the horseback trail ride on Monday morning at 11:00. Ever since I had heard the horses would be there this year, I had been so excited. In previous years, the horses were already gone when we arrived because we’re the last week of the season at this RV park.
We dressed casually for Sunday night’s dance, laughed and twirled. I squealed often as I saw friends from Utah, Colorado and Texas who I hadn’t seen in a year. A great evening of square dancing to Gary Shoemake and Jerry Gilbreath and round dancing to the cues of Steve Harris with his lovely wife, Lori, supporting him on the sidelines.
Monday morning, I ate breakfast and donned my boots for the ride. Lin drove me to the stables, and my friend was there with her husband. They had 5 horses saddled and ready after they finished the 10:00 ride, and this ride was going to be a blast because I knew all the riders.
I had wondered if I could even get up on the horse—I haven’t ridden in 20 years! I was so proud of myself that I did, with a little struggle for sure!
[image error]Me on a horse after 20 years![image error]Starting out!
A look at the river!The ride was glorious—clear blue Colorado sky, the Rio Grande beside us and aspen trees still dressed in green leaves. I kept taking pictures with my iPhone as we rode–which confused my horse because I kept drawing his head over to the right! It was perfect—until that moment happened. First behind me, one horse kicked another which caused the kicked horse to buck and its rider hit the ground. Then the loose horse galloped past all of us which stirred our horses up. One rider galloped off to try to catch the loose horse, then my friend’s horse jumped into a gallop like a bullet, and she was gone.
I realized I had about 5 – 10 seconds before my horse jumped in with the other horses running back to the barn. His ears went straight up, and his eyes focused on the three racing horses; quickly, I turned him in the opposite direction. He jumped up and down, revving up to take off, but I kept him turned the other way and kept his head tight, then I circled him and circled him, and he calmed down.
When my friend’s horse took off, I thought, “Wow, she’s a good rider,” but she lost her stirrup when she was startled, and she fell off and was severely hurt. I applaud the care and concern the EMT’s showed her—they gently worked with her to move her into the ambulance. The wrangler and I stayed with her, then I rode to Del Norte in the ambulance with her.
When I got out of the ambulance, her husband was already there, so we went to the emergency room waiting room, and I filled him in on all the facts of the accident. We spent a lot of the afternoon there with her being x-rayed and tested. When we were finally brought back to her room, her sense of humor prevailed. She held up her mangled, bruised left hand and said, “Oh, Larada! I broke a nail!” Lin joined us at the emergency room to support our dear friends during this stressful time.
I was able to offer objective suggestions to my friend’s husband because, thinking back now, he was in shock! At first, he was going to drive back to Denver and they were going to airlift her; I strongly suggested his wife needed him with her in the plane, and we would take care of their car and possessions in their room.
So, they were flown to a Denver area airport and transported to a hospital. Lin drove their car back to Fun Valley, and I drove our car. I called my brother for assurance after such a horrible day, and his supported helped me. Lin and I packed up their room and got their car to another Denver dancer to drive home on Saturday.
Finally, when we were alone, I
cried—so heart broke for my friend’s severe injuries! We didn’t square dance
that night, but I did one round dance with tears in my eyes, and Gary Shoemake
helped me out!
Needless to say, this incident affected me the rest of the week. Tuesday is blur to me—we did some of the activities, but our attention was on our phones and any messages from my friend’s husband. Her diagnosis dribbled in—cracked ribs and some dislocated which punctured a lung, a concussion and fractured vertebrae.
Tuesday afternoon, we did participate in a practice session for the skits our group would put on at the Wednesday night After Party. The highlight of Tuesday night was the skit the calling/cuing staff did at the After Party. The five of them danced to “Pretty Woman” in a unique manner. Check out my video below! This video has been blocked because of Copyright infringements, so I had to mute the song. Sorry viewers!
“Pretty Woman” Skit
Wednesday was a free day and many of the dancers traveled to Creede, CO to square dance in the unique fire house cut out of the side of a mountain, but we stayed at the RV. Lin had volunteered to make 2 batches of homemade ice cream, and my stomach problems flared up, so I spent the afternoon in bed—I couldn’t shake the tragedy or the stomach pain! The ice cream social was a new addition and it was a smashing success—four dancers made different recipes and all were delicious!
Wednesday night I came out of the funk some. It was theme night, “Pajama party,” so we participated. I enjoyed the skits put on by other dancers at the After Party, then we did our skit. I should have known that Lin would do something to shock me, and he did! He changed the punch line and totally caught me off guard—the audience loved the affect it had on me!
Daily, we got updates about our injured friend and it was up and down!
By Thursday, I felt better and enjoyed the dancing. The week’s schedule provided lots of round dance teaches and square dance workshops all day, then we had a dance each evening.
[image error]Our cute jockey and her pony![image error]Lin mounted and ready to win the race!
One of my favorite parts of this week is the horse racing Thursday afternoon where people buy a horse, choose a jockey for their wooden horse and the race is on. This year we had a hilarious addition—a Utah dancer dressed up in a pony costume and did the first race! With lots of laughter and fun, friendly competition prevailed.
Every year at the Thursday night dance callers and cuers in attendance are invited to call a square dance tip or cue a round dance. Lori Harris talked to me last year about cuing, but we ran out of time to practice. This year I practiced a favorite, “Could I Have This Dance?” a couple times with Steve’s professional advice and encouragement. Steve and Lori danced it while I cued and continued to give me helpful hints about this new endeavor. I was really nervous and wanted to get it over quickly, so I did the first round of the night—what an experience! It went well, and what a thrill to be able to stay ahead of the dancers, stay on beat, and see dancers smiling! It was fantastic! I plan to continue this new activity when I finish the Marshall Flippo biography.
Thursday’s theme was “Country and Western night,” so dancers donned jeans, hats and boots. This festive night ended with Jerry Gilbreath singing many good ole country tunes we all love and us two-stepping the night away.
[image error]The Caddies for the Women Golfers!
Lin distracting the other golfers![image error]The golfers & the caddies!Friday was the famous “Miniature Golf Tournament.” Lin was asked again to be a caddy, and he did a exceptional job because of his exuberance and sense of humor. All the caddies successfully fulfilled their task: distracting the other golfers with their zany costumes and make-shift drums (pot lids and spoons). The caddies for the women golfers outdid themselves, as you can see!
[image error]Part of the 2020 NMSRDA State Festival Committee
The dance week ended Friday night with a festive evening of dancing and trophies given out to the winners of the different competitions. Our group from Albuquerque dressed in our 2020 state festival outfits—colorful and delightful!
Yes, the start of the week broke my heart, but I was able to regroup and first participated and then enjoyed the rest of the week. I rose to the occasion to help in the emergency room and kept calm and collected. Getting myself out of a funk isn’t easy, but I knew that my injured friend and her husband would want me to! Life certainly contains both tragedy and joy–it’s important how we handle both!
How do you handle tragedies? What’s your success secret? Do you have a horse story?
Check out my web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Curl up with one of my books–either paperback or ebook format!
20% discount on all 4 of my book bundles until September 22,
2019. Also, FREE
SHIPPING now in the USA. Visit my Etsy Shop for all my
books, Larada’s Reading Loft
Whitey & Gladys Puerling were playful friends of Flippo’s
who created a Fan Club. I thought it would be fun to recreate this group. Would
you like to join the Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read interesting
posts about Flippo’s life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
I HAVE 199 PRE-ORDERS FOR THE MARSHALL FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY! Be the 200th to pre-order! You can select which paper format or e-book format you would like. Go here to order the version you want. Monthly SWAG Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post The Roller Coaster Ride of Last Week! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
The Roller Coaster Ride of This Week!
SORRY: Another side trip away from our British Isles Cruise. I will resume it next week with Day 5: Kirkwall in Orkney Islands, Scotland!
We just returned from a square and round dance vacation week at Fun Valley RV park at South Fork, CO, and the week was an emotional roller coaster ride for me!
[image error]Lin with 4 scoops of ice cream and a brownie!
The weekend started off with dinner Saturday night with a group of 25 dancers at the Firehouse restaurant in South Fork. We connected and reconnected with friends anticipating a great week. Lin had his traditional oversized ice cream treat!
Sunday morning started off with our annual potluck brunch—another gathering of friends, giving us time to visit. I talked with a friend I’ve known for years but really didn’t know her history—it was a precious sharing time.
Sunday evening dinner started the official week’s activities. After dinner, Lin and I sought out a Colorado couple we had invited to this week. I signed up with the enthusiastic wife of this couple to do the horseback trail ride on Monday morning at 11:00. Ever since I had heard the horses would be there this year, I had been so excited. In previous years, the horses were already gone when we arrived because we’re the last week of the season at this RV park.
We dressed casually for Sunday night’s dance, laughed and twirled. I squealed often as I saw friends from Utah, Colorado and Texas who I hadn’t seen in a year. A great evening of square dancing to Gary Shoemake and Jerry Gilbreath and round dancing to the cues of Steve Harris with his lovely wife, Lori, supporting him on the sidelines.
Monday morning, I ate breakfast and donned my boots for the ride. Lin drove me to the stables, and my friend was there with her husband. They had 5 horses saddled and ready after they finished the 10:00 ride, and this ride was going to be a blast because I knew all the riders.
I had wondered if I could even get up on the horse—I haven’t ridden in 20 years! I was so proud of myself that I did, with a little struggle for sure!
[image error]Me on a horse after 20 years![image error]Starting out![image error]A look at the river!
The ride was glorious—clear blue Colorado sky, the Rio Grande beside us and aspen trees still dressed in green leaves. I kept taking pictures with my iPhone as we rode–which confused my horse because I kept drawing his head over to the right! It was perfect—until that moment happened. First behind me, one horse kicked another which caused the kicked horse to buck and its rider hit the ground. Then the loose horse galloped past all of us which stirred our horses up. One rider galloped off to try to catch the loose horse, then my friend’s horse jumped into a gallop like a bullet, and she was gone.
I realized I had about 5 – 10 seconds before my horse jumped in with the other horses running back to the barn. His ears went straight up, and his eyes focused on the three racing horses; quickly, I turned him in the opposite direction. He jumped up and down, revving up to take off, but I kept him turned the other way and kept his head tight, then I circled him and circled him, and he calmed down.
When my friend’s horse took off, I thought, “Wow, she’s a good rider,” but she lost her stirrup when she was startled, and she fell off and was severely hurt. I applaud the care and concern the EMT’s showed her—they gently worked with her to move her into the ambulance. The wrangler and I stayed with her, then I rode to Del Norte in the ambulance with her.
When I got out of the ambulance, her husband was already there, so we went to the emergency room waiting room, and I filled him in on all the facts of the accident. We spent a lot of the afternoon there with her being x-rayed and tested. When we were finally brought back to her room, her sense of humor prevailed. She held up her mangled, bruised left hand and said, “Oh, Larada! I broke a nail!” Lin joined us at the emergency room to support our dear friends during this stressful time.
I was able to offer objective suggestions to my friend’s husband because, thinking back now, he was in shock! At first, he was going to drive back to Denver and they were going to airlift her; I strongly suggested his wife needed him with her in the plane, and we would take care of their car and possessions in their room.
So, they were flown to a Denver area airport and transported to a hospital. Lin drove their car back to Fun Valley, and I drove our car. I called my brother for assurance after such a horrible day, and his supported helped me. Lin and I packed up their room and got their car to another Denver dancer to drive home on Saturday.
Finally, when we were alone, I
cried—so heart broke for my friend’s severe injuries! We didn’t square dance
that night, but I did one round dance with tears in my eyes, and Gary Shoemake
helped me out!
Needless to say, this incident affected me the rest of the week. Tuesday is blur to me—we did some of the activities, but our attention was on our phones and any messages from my friend’s husband. Her diagnosis dribbled in—cracked ribs and some dislocated which punctured a lung, a concussion and fractured vertebrae.
Tuesday afternoon, we did participate in a practice session for the skits our group would put on at the Wednesday night After Party. The highlight of Tuesday night was the skit the calling/cuing staff did at the After Party. The five of them danced to “Pretty Woman” in a unique manner. Check out my video below!
“Pretty Woman” Skit
Wednesday was a free day and many of the dancers traveled to Creede, CO to square dance in the unique fire house cut out of the side of a mountain, but we stayed at the RV. Lin had volunteered to make 2 batches of homemade ice cream, and my stomach problems flared up, so I spent the afternoon in bed—I couldn’t shake the tragedy or the stomach pain! The ice cream social was a new addition and it was a smashing success—four dancers made different recipes and all were delicious!
Wednesday night I came out of the funk some. It was theme night, “Pajama party,” so we participated. I enjoyed the skits put on by other dancers at the After Party, then we did our skit. I should have known that Lin would do something to shock me, and he did! He changed the punch line and totally caught me off guard—the audience loved the affect it had on me!
Daily, we got updates about our injured friend and it was up and down!
By Thursday, I felt better and enjoyed the dancing. The week’s schedule provided lots of round dance teaches and square dance workshops all day, then we had a dance each evening.
[image error]Our cute jockey and her pony![image error]Lin mounted and ready to win the race!
One of my favorite parts of this week is the horse racing Thursday afternoon where people buy a horse, choose a jockey for their wooden horse and the race is on. This year we had a hilarious addition—a Utah dancer dressed up in a pony costume and did the first race! With lots of laughter and fun, friendly competition prevailed.
Every year at the Thursday night dance callers and cuers in attendance are invited to call a square dance tip or cue a round dance. Lori Harris talked to me last year about cuing, but we ran out of time to practice. This year I practiced a favorite, “Could I Have This Dance?” a couple times with Steve’s professional advice and encouragement. Steve and Lori danced it while I cued and continued to give me helpful hints about this new endeavor. I was really nervous and wanted to get it over quickly, so I did the first round of the night—what an experience! It went well, and what a thrill to be able to stay ahead of the dancers, stay on beat, and see dancers smiling! It was fantastic! I plan to continue this new activity when I finish the Marshall Flippo biography.
Thursday’s theme was “Country and Western night,” so dancers donned jeans, hats and boots. This festive night ended with Jerry Gilbreath singing many good ole country tunes we all love and us two-stepping the night away.
[image error]The Caddies for the Women Golfers![image error]Lin distracting the other golfers![image error]The golfers & the caddies!
Friday was the famous “Miniature Golf Tournament.” Lin was asked again to be a caddy, and he did a exceptional job because of his exuberance and sense of humor. All the caddies successfully fulfilled their task: distracting the other golfers with their zany costumes and make-shift drums (pot lids and spoons). The caddies for the women golfers outdid themselves, as you can see!
[image error]Part of the 2020 NMSRDA State Festival Committee
The dance week ended Friday night with a festive evening of dancing and trophies given out to the winners of the different competitions. Our group from Albuquerque dressed in our 2020 state festival outfits—colorful and delightful!
Yes, the start of the week broke my heart, but I was able to regroup and first participated and then enjoyed the rest of the week. I rose to the occasion to help in the emergency room and kept calm and collected. Getting myself out of a funk isn’t easy, but I knew that my injured friend and her husband would want me to! Life certainly contains both tragedy and joy–it’s important how we handle both!
How do you handle tragedies? What’s your success secret? Do you have a horse story?
Check out my web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Curl up with one of my books–either paperback or ebook format!
20% discount on all 4 of my book bundles until September 22,
2019. Also, FREE
SHIPPING now in the USA. Visit my Etsy Shop for all my
books, Larada’s Reading Loft
Whitey & Gladys Puerling were playful friends of Flippo’s
who created a Fan Club. I thought it would be fun to recreate this group. Would
you like to join the Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read interesting
posts about Flippo’s life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
I HAVE 199 PRE-ORDERS FOR THE MARSHALL FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY! Be the 200th to pre-order! You can select which paper format or e-book format you would like. Go here to order the version you want. Monthly SWAG Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post The Roller Coaster Ride of This Week! appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
September 8, 2019
Day 4 – Inverness, Cawdor Castle & Loch Lomond: A Day of Intrigue and Mystery
Lin and I woke up to rain on July 24, 2019, day four on our British Isle cruise and visit to Scotland. We docked at Invergordon. Lin had created a weather spreadsheet before we left and the prediction for most of our trip was RAIN, so we here we were! But after our showers and breakfast, it cleared and proved to be a beautiful, cloudy day.
[image error]Farms Along the River Ness
We caught our tour bus and met our tour guide, John, a very knowledgeable man who shared his wisdom of Scotland and the Scottish Highlands. He described Cromarty Firth, the Black Isle, as we traveled through the countryside. The patchwork green fields fascinated me with checker board farm land and beautiful rock houses, rolling hills and green for miles. Sheep grazed in the fields and there was recently mowed hay. I love the green of Scotland. We headed to our first stop, Cawdor Castle.
Cawdor Castle is unique as a castle in Great Britain because the government doesn’t own it.
“Originally a property of the Calder family, it passed to the Campbells in the 16th century. It remains in Campbell ownership, and is now home to the Dowager Countess Cawdor, stepmother of Colin Campbell, 7th Earl Cawdor. “
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cawdor_Castle
John, our tour guide, called her “Angelica.” In fact, John and some people on our tour saw her. She funds Cawdor Castle herself and from revenue the castle brings in.
[image error]Hawthorn Tree Still Growing in the castle
Intrigue
and mystery permeated Cawdor castle with its rich story of how it was built:
The legendary tale says that the Thane of Cawdor, who had a small castle about a mile away, decided to build a new, stronger tower. Visited by an oracle in his dream who instructed him to load a chest of gold onto the back of a donkey. The spot where the animal rested would be a safe haven to build a Castle for his family. Finally resting at the foot of a Hawthorn Tree, the Thane built his tower. The tree exists to this day, standing at the heart of Cawdor Castle.
https://www.cawdorcastle.com/welcome-to-cawdor-castle/a-living-home/
The major claim to fame for Cawdor Castle is the reference in Shakespeare’s play, MacBeth –
“The name of Cawdor still connects the castle to Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. However, the story portrayed by Shakespeare takes extensive liberties with history. In the play, Shakespeare has three witches foretell that Macbeth, then Thane of Glamis, would become Thane of Cawdor and King thereafter. Duncan almost immediately makes Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, after which Macbeth and his Lady plot the murder of Duncan in order to fulfil the prophecy. Duncan is killed in his sleep, at Macbeth’s castle in Inverness, an act that leads to Macbeth’s ultimate downfall.
The historical King Macbeth ruled Scotland from 1040 to 1057, after his forces killed King Duncan I in battle near Elgin. Macbeth was never Thane of Cawdor, this being an invention of the 15th-century writer Hector Boece. Moreover, Cawdor Castle did not exist during the lifetimes of Macbeth or Duncan, and it is never explicitly mentioned in the play. The 5th Earl Cawdor is quoted as saying, “I wish the Bard had never written his damned play!”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cawdor_Castle#Gardens
[image error]Motto over the Entry Way
Any time I stand outside a castle, I feel overwhelmed with the rock work, size and history of it—Cawdor castle was no exception. The motto, Be Mindful, hung over the entryway to the castle and set the tone for the place.
[image error]Living room in the castle
Because this castle is actually a home, the inside felt comfortable and lived in. Bright green and blue Highland Tartan rugs ran throughout it. Huge tapestries hung on all the walls that didn’t have paintings on them.
Lin and I enjoyed the famous gardens at Cawdor castle but ran out of time, not getting to spend any leisure time there–one of the downfalls of being on a tour.
[image error]One of the gardens at Cawdor Castle[image error]View of the castle from the other garden
In
our drive to Loc Lomond, we drove by the battleground of the Battle of Culloden
where red and blue flags still wave to identify the two forces that met that
day. John gave us a rousing description of this famous battle.
The Battle of Culloden (/kəˈlɒdən/;[3] Scottish Gaelic: Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart were decisively defeated by Hanoverian forces commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Culloden
[image error]Larada at Loch Lomond[image error]Lin at Loch Lomond
I had been looking forward to seeing Loch Lomond all day–of course to the Loch Ness monster! The weather held out with beautiful sunshine overhead and rain clouds hovering at the far end of the lake. It’s a big lake! Of course, I strained my eyes for any trace of Nessie—I was sure I saw her or at least a part of her!
Back on the bus, we traveled through the city of Inverness at the end of our tour and went by the Tomnahurich Cemetery. Inverness means “Mouth of the River Ness.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness
[image error]Scottish Highland Bull
As the daughter of a Hereford cattle rancher, all day I had been looking for the shaggy red-haired Scottish Highland cattle in the fields, and as our day neared the end, we saw a bull in a pasture—not up close and personal, but I did get to see one!
From there we returned to Invergordon, and I loved John’s parting words to us, “Hasty back!” Lin and I shopped around town. We found an ice cream shop with free Wifi, so we checked our email and had ice cream. It was fascinating to watch the locals gather in this little shop and listen to them share their news–a true neighborhood gathering spot! We bought souvenirs and returned to the ship.
[image error]Bagpipes and Drums Sent Us Off
A bagpipe and drum group sent us off! What a great day we had in Scotland!
When we got onboard, we decided to go directly to the Garden Room for dinner, not thinking about the baseball cap I was wearing. This is one of the nicer complimentary restaurants onboard, so they forced me to remove my hat. It certainly was a bad hair day after wearing a hat all day, but I decided it didn’t matter. I patted down my hair and was seated. After dinner, we saw the “World Beat” show in the Stardust theater with lots of singing and dancing. It was an exceptional show.
We showered and got to bed early because we
had an early departure the next day for our excursion to Kirkwall.
Have you ever visited a castle? Strained to see the Loc Ness monster? Traveled to Scotland? Share your comments with me. I’d love to hear about your trip!
Check
out my web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Curl up with one of my books–either paperback or ebook format! 20% discount on all 4 of my book bundles until September 22, 2019. Also, FREE SHIPPING now in the USA. Visit my Etsy Shop for all my books, Larada’s Reading Loft
Whitey
& Gladys Puerling were playful friends of Flippo’s who created a Fan Club.
I thought it would be fun to recreate this group. Would you like to join the
Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read interesting posts about Flippo’s
life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
Be
the 200th to pre-order the Marshall Flippo biography! You can select which
paper format or e-book format you would like. Go here to order the version you
want. Monthly SWAG Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post Day 4 – Inverness, Cawdor Castle & Loch Lomond: A Day of Intrigue and Mystery appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
September 1, 2019
What Should I Write About This Week?
Sorry, readers, I’m changing horses mid-stream! I’m in the midst of writing a travelogue of our British Isles cruise, but these last couples weeks have been full. I don’t know what the word “bored” means! So. . . here we go! The trip will have to wait a week.
[image error]Flippo and Me at CALLERLAB in Albuquerque, 2018
First and foremost—Monday, September 2 is Marshall Flippo’s birthday. He would have 92-years-old this year! Two years ago, Lin and I were with him in Paris, Texas at the annual Chaparral square and round dance weekend, and he was calling for the last time. Flip had called at this event for years! He was on his “Farewell to the Road” tour which would end up in Abilene, Texas to finish up his successful career where he started at the Wagon Wheel Square Dance Center. What a memorable time that was for sure!
I’m writing Flippo’s biography, and I had hoped to have him here to see the finished product, and he so wanted to do that! What a joy this project has been! If you knew Flip, you know he was a storyteller supreme, so I’ve had to drastically cut out some of his stories from the 37 interviews I did.
They are not lost though! I plan to put them on my website
for people who buy his book to read, so stay tuned!
Happy birthday, Flippo! We miss your raspy voice, loving heart
and quick wit!
On that same vein, yesterday I attended the funeral of John Clark, a dear 98-year-old neighbor, who lived across the street from me in Branson, Colorado. I witnessed my rich heritage in being a part of a loving ranching community that remembers and honors its own.
Yes, 98-years-old is quite elderly, and John had seen the
world change unbelievably, but he was ready “to go”—to be with his Lord and
loving wife, Betty who passed a couple years ago!
The gathering at his memorial touched my heart. Being a Navy veteran of World War II, two sailors in dress whites unfurled the flag ceremoniously, then refolded it and handed it to John’s youngest daughter with admiration and respect for John’s service to his country. Attendees listened as one of the sailor’s played taps on a bugle which brought tears to my eyes and many sitting around me.
[image error]
John’s four daughters and their children celebrated his life with many friends from the surrounding ranching communities. I saw mostly cowboy hats held in hands or stashed under chairs and boots, cleaned up and proper to show respect for John.
During an open time to share memories of John, I heard platitudes
about his rich, full life. One friend shared one specific story about John
almost getting killed during the war if he had been standing where he normally
was!
Others told humorous tales. Many honored the work he did for many ranchers in the area—John ran a bulldozer, fixing roads through dangerous canyons and moving miles of dirt from reservoirs. My Dad said watching him work was like poetry in motion!
Grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces shared memories of a man who stood center in this fun-loving family. They talked of regular game nights when they were together in Branson; John didn’t participate but sat in his chair close by and enjoyed the activity, laughter and love that surrounded him.
It was a privilege to be present to see a man weep as he shared about his relationship with John–honest emotion that validated his loss.
After the service, I visited with friends I hadn’t seen for
years—a great time to reconnect and remember.
What a heritage I have where I can hear a 91-year-old woman who went to school with my Mom tell an 89-year-old woman, “Say hello to my younger friend!” Laughter exploded at this statement, but it made me think about the reality here! A celebration of age and longevity!
I drove home, marveling at the spirit of unity and love present at John’s service. After Dad died, John and Betty helped Mom. When Mom died, they did the same for me. At night when I locked the front door and saw the light in their bedroom, I always felt safe and secure and knew help was close.
One last musing—my brother, my husband and I attended the 6th Annual Cimarron Cowboy Music and Poetry Gathering in Cimarron, New Mexico August 22 – 25. We have only missed the first year!
We love this event hosted at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, a
beautiful venue. Again, the poets and musicians entertained us Friday night,
all day Saturday and Saturday night. We laughed; we cried. We enjoyed those we
had seen before and celebrated new comers who brought a refreshing new flavor
to the event.
There’s no way I can list all of my favorite singers/poets—I tried, and I was typing everyone’s names! One new entertainer I enjoyed was Barry Ward, who spoke to my heart with his song, “That Old Barn.”
It’s a relaxing weekend in a slow-paced community. On Friday before the Gathering started, we drove to Eagle Nest to the Flea Market and had a blast shopping and listening to music! They had a one-man entertainer there singing old time songs, so we sat and enjoyed the beautiful Moreno valley scenery and the live music.
Look at a couple photos taken at past Gatherings:
[image error]Larada joined in too![image error]Lin participating in the fun![image error]My brother & I dancing on the right edge.
Here’s the website for the Cimarron gathering in case you’d be interested next year: https://www.cimarroncowboygathering.com/
So, you can see—I have a rich, full life where I witness and celebrate life where I can which can be in the midst of death and loss. My country blood rages through my veins, directing me to slow down and enjoy this moment, these people, and this place.
[image error]Join me on the front porch!
So, join me on the front porch with a glass of ice tea for a chat! I would love to talk!
Check out my
web site at https://www.laradasbooks.com
Curl up with
one of my books–either paperback or ebook format! 20% discount on all 4 of my
book bundles until September 22, 2019. Visit my Etsy Shop for all my
books, Larada’s Reading Loft
Whitey &
Gladys Puerling were playful friends of Flippo’s who created a Fan Club. I
thought it would be fun to recreate this group. Would you like to join the
Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read interesting posts about Flippo’s
life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/
Be the 200th
to pre-order the Marshall Flippo biography! You can select which paper format
or e-book format you would like. Go here to order the version you want. Monthly
SWAG Giveaways! https://goo.gl/forms/4D4hwbHdme1fvJc42
The post What Should I Write About This Week? appeared first on Larada Horner-Miller, Author.
