tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13532827172173572662024-03-14T09:28:24.985-05:00Poetry from the CountryHelen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-81886040577398335382015-06-10T08:21:00.001-05:002015-06-10T08:21:43.518-05:00My First 70<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">I'll never forget that ride...</span><br />
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My last year in 13 & Under</div>
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Showing two horses</div>
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And I had the hunger </div>
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Never quite good enough</div>
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I've always fallen short</div>
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Of that coveted 70 score</div>
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No "Average" runs yet to report</div>
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First year with my new horse</div>
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And last year with my old</div>
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Mom and Dad convinced me</div>
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He had to be sold</div>
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He's always been my favorite</div>
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We'd raised him from a colt</div>
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Gorgeous blue roan and white </div>
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Didn't wanna sell him, I tried to revolt</div>
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He was my first reining horse</div>
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I was just 10 years old</div>
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Dad let me hot walk him</div>
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After he'd been rode</div>
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Then I started showing</div>
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The year I turned 11</div>
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My first score in the pen</div>
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Was a decent 67</div>
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I remember the rush</div>
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Hearing old Kevin cheer for me</div>
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And dad coaching from the rail</div>
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What a sight it was to see</div>
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But now he's grown sour</div>
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Running off in the pen</div>
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Anticipating the next maneuver </div>
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So I got a new horse then</div>
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But I just loved ol Blue</div>
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I forgave him for his sins</div>
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Though he drove me crazy</div>
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I couldn't give up on him</div>
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We've been through so much together</div>
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Now this is our last ride</div>
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The Central Affiliate Finals</div>
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Youth Team Tournament time</div>
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I walked Blue into center </div>
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And began reining pattern 4</div>
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Three right circles fast and slow</div>
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Stop in center once more</div>
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I settled for a second</div>
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And Blue took a big sigh</div>
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And I knew right then </div>
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This was gonna be our best ride</div>
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Four spins to the right</div>
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Then begin our circles left</div>
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Stop in center and spin again</div>
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He sighed again and took a rest</div>
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We picked up our right lead</div>
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And guided a perfect figure 8</div>
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He didn't take off through the middle</div>
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And in the changes he wasn't late</div>
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Then I straightened up to stop</div>
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And he didn't run away!</div>
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We built smooth into our slide</div>
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And the crowd was blown away</div>
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I rolled him back around</div>
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And went for another stop</div>
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It was better than the first one</div>
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We rolled back without a hop</div>
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One more stop to go</div>
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I had to nail this slide</div>
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I said "This one's for Eddie"</div>
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And ol Blue did just glide!</div>
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I backed him nice and smooth</div>
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And smiled so big at the end</div>
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Could this be the ride?</div>
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Did I break a 70 in this pen?</div>
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I leaned down and hugged him</div>
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My first reiner, my favorite one</div>
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And I heard the announcer say...</div>
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My score of seventy ONE</div>
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I was just elated...! </div>
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And my new horse did well too</div>
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But I won the class on my old horse</div>
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This day, my heart belonged to Blue</div>
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Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-2183923058002689252013-12-30T20:48:00.001-06:002013-12-31T20:34:56.648-06:00The Windmill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCjgAaTRd150jkExKzD5PaLgZBM4_W6lerLR3rCOs21k0layvfiZf3gvnay52pY_Ak_zqDddVZPN4KBd8YMPx1XoifEOpQXKR0jEYvyhGOuksyq4bnadGEtjdL6Z4LcbT_Iua3yn6nS9J/s1600/erniemargheim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCjgAaTRd150jkExKzD5PaLgZBM4_W6lerLR3rCOs21k0layvfiZf3gvnay52pY_Ak_zqDddVZPN4KBd8YMPx1XoifEOpQXKR0jEYvyhGOuksyq4bnadGEtjdL6Z4LcbT_Iua3yn6nS9J/s640/erniemargheim.jpg" width="436" /></a></div>
<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: www.erniemargheim.blogspot.com </span></pre>
<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; white-space: normal;"></pre>
<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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The breeze whispers a melody<br />Passing through the tall grass<br />Accompanied by an eerie creak<br />The only voice I have left. <br /><br />So here I stand, lonely but loyal<br />The empty sea of prairie <br />swaying in the breeze<br />As my rusty blades creak along.
<br />
<br />I am still here. <br />Still performing my duty <br />Bringing lifeblood to the surface: <br />Cool clear water. <br /><br />The cracked wooden trough overflows <br />As it has these long years <br />It is rotting out as time goes by <br />But it is the only friend I have left. <br /><br />The cattle have long since gone <br />Sold years ago, and not by choice <br />It was so dry that year <br />And the family just couldn't get by <br /><br />I was still new and sturdy <br />And the wind brought me to life <br />Swishing through me <br />My strong blades spinning fast <br /><br />And hard as I worked there was no water to bring forth <br />The essential lifeblood needed for a family to survive <br />It was no ones fault <br />Just bad luck I guess. <br /> <br />They had to leave everything behind <br />All the hours of hard work and love <br />They put into this land, their home <br />Including me. <br /><br />I remember the strong young man who built me <br />And his lovely wife who helped and encouraged him <br />They were so happy and proud, and with dreams in their eyes <br />When they gazed upon me, their finished work. <br /><br />The man spent long hours crafting me, <br />Every plank and nail perfectly in place <br />He built me to last. <br />And I have lasted. <br /><br />Then I remember the little boy <br />Who would sit at the trough and play <br />He would talk to me sometimes. <br />Those days were my most favorite. <br /><br />I've outlasted that hopeful little family <br />Through the first few years that were good, <br />Then the last hard years of drought <br />And all the worry and the tears. <br /><br />I remember the day they sold their cattle, <br />And all of their dreams with them. <br />Then had to move back east <br />And left me all alone... <br /><br />Now decades have past <br />And I am still here. <br />Lord of the vast sea of prairie <br />Where I stand alone <br /><br />Still turning <br />Bringing up the water <br />Overflowing the trough <br />But It makes no difference now. <br /><br />Trying to make up for the dry years <br />When I could not bring the water, <br />But nothing can bring them back. <br />That hopeful little family that I so loved. <br /><br />So here I stand, all broken down <br />Alone, steadfast, relentless
I turn. <br />And turn. And keep turning. <br />Forever loyal, forever remembering.Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-39744495711910946682013-03-21T22:38:00.000-05:002013-03-21T22:39:46.389-05:00My American Dream<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It’s the American
Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Or so we’ve been
told<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Or more like
programmed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“What do you want
to be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">when
you grow up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We’re expected to
know <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Before we even hit
high school<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Go to college.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Land a career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Get married.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Raise a family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Save for retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It’s like a
lifelong to-do list<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">…That ends in
death?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We’re always taught
to plan ahead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">To look to the next
step<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Where will you be
in 5 years? 10 years?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A hard question
you’re always expected to know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“You’d better know
your major coming in,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">So
you can graduate on time”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Don’t you have an
internship for the summer?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“What are you doing
after graduation?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“What do you mean
you don’t have a job lined up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Aren’t you going
to grad school? Your doctorate?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Why does life have
to be a race?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It seems like we’re
always running…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Racing through
college,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Climbing the
ladder, working 9-5,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">…For what? Money?
Fame? Fortune?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">None of that
matters in the end<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">You can’t take it
with you when you go<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Why do we have to
race through life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We get so caught up
in running<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">That we forget to <i>live</i>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Life is not a race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It is a journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We don’t need to
run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2kz32yK0ZC_oPNRzbjPnAyvkZ0uOuLFexLgLlpelwrxrQuMOTsrmM74s_JoN4LAwKXNH31p3rzEyhyw6rtAXQvXmhKIa3WnyV01MXH2PegiAWVfJQQOCgL-MFo85MQ0gn0TM8QD0Ft-Y/s1600/102_7087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2kz32yK0ZC_oPNRzbjPnAyvkZ0uOuLFexLgLlpelwrxrQuMOTsrmM74s_JoN4LAwKXNH31p3rzEyhyw6rtAXQvXmhKIa3WnyV01MXH2PegiAWVfJQQOCgL-MFo85MQ0gn0TM8QD0Ft-Y/s640/102_7087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Helen Lacey</span></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I’ve been in
college 5 years now</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And still don’t
know what I want <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">to be “when I grow
up”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As far as a career
goes, that is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I’m going back to
my dream job this summer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Seasonal work, not
a “real, big-kid job”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Back to the land
and people that I love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And I have no idea
where I’ll be come fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And I’m totally
okay with that<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I won’t be trapped
by society’s rules<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">That some rich
folks made up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">All for the sake of
money<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Because money can’t
buy my happiness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I have my plans in
place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But there are no
deadlines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">What is meant to
be, will be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">No sense in
worrying myself about it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Because I trust God
will take care of me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I will live each
day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And follow my
dreams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Take care of this
land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And my friends and
family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">For this is my
American Dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I will not be run
by society’s race<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbMKsdt-cHUGheUjiCEQ0zfOlvxxspSgy_7ai_oAd3pCzHyp2yUALhnPNsD0GuQ-pRkjl5FXgbSyEenflp1ToY2AKGXJtXh2B4uN4Ir3TU8IeD3j08egu2q7GdR1FuTqga8lr5eX5LSuX/s1600/102_6888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbMKsdt-cHUGheUjiCEQ0zfOlvxxspSgy_7ai_oAd3pCzHyp2yUALhnPNsD0GuQ-pRkjl5FXgbSyEenflp1ToY2AKGXJtXh2B4uN4Ir3TU8IeD3j08egu2q7GdR1FuTqga8lr5eX5LSuX/s640/102_6888.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Helen Lacey</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-71577943815963400102012-06-13T12:13:00.000-05:002012-06-13T12:33:34.264-05:00Dance Partner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Photo credit:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">jmperformancehorses.webs.com</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I’ve rode good
horses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> For most all my life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Showing ponies in
all-around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> And reiners nation-wide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I’ve showed ‘em
near<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> And I’ve showed ‘em far<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">On fine reining
horses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Yeah, I’ve been a star<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">But as far as good
cowhorses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> None can ever compare<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">To the first cutter
I rode<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> An ugly old crowbait mare<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">She was fat, she
was old<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Sway-backed and long-haired<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Her mane was sparse
and patchy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Her tail didn’t better fair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Liver brown with no
markings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> And a surly look in her eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Like a crabby old
widow woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Scared me outta my hide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The guy brought her
on out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Handed
me the reins with a smile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Then said “get on
and go lope her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> She ain’t been rode in quite a while<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I swung into the
saddle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> The stirrups way too short<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Then loped her a
few circles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> I felt all out-of-sorts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">She had the
choppiest stride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Her ears were perpetually pinned<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I bounced all over
the place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Too fast for my liking then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Couldn’t keep my
seat in a stop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Stirrups throwing my balance off<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Wondered what I got
myself into<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> When in a rollback I was almost lost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Then the guy had me
stop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> And turn her towards the cattle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Together we cut out
a cow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Me trying to sit deep in the saddle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">“Put your rein hand
down on her neck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> And hold on for dear life”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The mare went right
to work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> And boy was she a sight!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Every sense in her
old body<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Was locked onto that cow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Slinking down fast
and low<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Like a tomcat on the prowl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">She leapt back and
to the side<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> In a move of pure athleticism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Stopping that wild
cow short<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> I took back all my criticism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Always one step
ahead of the cow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> She danced a jig back and forth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">She sure knew what
she was doing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> I just held on for all I was worth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">It was over at the
lift of my hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> She stopped and backed away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">And I knew for sure
by then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> She’d been a champion in her day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">I slid down and
handed off the reins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> Feeling thrilled but a little bit sad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Because even to
this day she was<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;"> The best dance partner I’d ever had</span>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-74562224840529144092012-02-29T23:49:00.001-06:002012-02-29T23:49:25.788-06:00Winter Beauty<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Rain. Sleet. Slush. Ice. Snow. Winter storm…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A “wintery mix” as the weather man says,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Trying as always to put a positive spin on the bad news.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The people all moan and complain at the cold,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As if they’ve never before experienced a snowstorm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By nightfall the precipitation has begun,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The heavy, wet slush accumulating inch by inch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And the people, they worry, lying cozy in bed,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">About how they’re going to travel the next day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The morning is hazy, still spitting tiny snowflakes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Cars, covered in the cold and wet mess, burn cold fuel</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As their drivers impatiently scrape away at the windows. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And as they drive to work, braking carefully,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Or walk to class, skating across frozen sidewalks,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Their faces are angry, their brows furrowed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Winter is nothing but an inconvenience in their busy lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Lives so busy, they never take the time, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">To stop, to look, to really see, to wonder…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBagavGkDfxZLZ5o9hkCZXeZi1oB6jYpgbA9YwYUxu-7Ljql-BWPPbUpnxV4vGgXdXydlqwE5yP9ucbKG-ViKChefJv5d6h2RdmVliOLxuq7pJbywT1belNmJ1J6T_StUDOwLtm1h3uFo/s1600/2012-02-29+17.07.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBagavGkDfxZLZ5o9hkCZXeZi1oB6jYpgbA9YwYUxu-7Ljql-BWPPbUpnxV4vGgXdXydlqwE5yP9ucbKG-ViKChefJv5d6h2RdmVliOLxuq7pJbywT1belNmJ1J6T_StUDOwLtm1h3uFo/s640/2012-02-29+17.07.39.jpg" uda="true" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Wonder about the world we live in, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The land that breathes life into each of us,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">And all of the wonders of God’s great creation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYINXNCvvXaRGf0dSXFYRFjLD3ke7OEnlz6WBw3c-3Uc_ZIPKlWlDri7AbivzJznUpVamhjcfYZuD2kvitjJgRVxSi_T3hmTozbpdojyjT3de5qhULtmP1EUZ_fyc9-zGz3wlFxJrf_w7e/s1600/2012-02-29+17.01.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYINXNCvvXaRGf0dSXFYRFjLD3ke7OEnlz6WBw3c-3Uc_ZIPKlWlDri7AbivzJznUpVamhjcfYZuD2kvitjJgRVxSi_T3hmTozbpdojyjT3de5qhULtmP1EUZ_fyc9-zGz3wlFxJrf_w7e/s640/2012-02-29+17.01.40.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">If they would stop for a moment and look up,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">They would see the trees…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoqjjqQX8v4VzboBmqQY5oDF9g6ihM8_b4RDeOi_1XBa6lzdWMJOuwYTXPmQz-OgleDXirBgFH02aPTCe1uYj2vmY287yi-NVC-0MgjsbmOGK8iHxCz9iGyi200NWoQdNT9TPr3AAULe2/s1600/2012-02-29+11.26.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoqjjqQX8v4VzboBmqQY5oDF9g6ihM8_b4RDeOi_1XBa6lzdWMJOuwYTXPmQz-OgleDXirBgFH02aPTCe1uYj2vmY287yi-NVC-0MgjsbmOGK8iHxCz9iGyi200NWoQdNT9TPr3AAULe2/s640/2012-02-29+11.26.59.jpg" uda="true" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Enveloped perfectly in a layer of ice,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Turned to giant crystals that glisten in the sun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The wind softly tousles the glass-like branches,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Twigs clatter together like miniature wind chimes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lUqPOeDLS3m4umhlJBPm-jTAOw2g8SQ_iiuSxicDYKepAkuFI3lG-Q8oyuMfneGzE831lIfbypZ6ZFsD5Vfee7Mhf60EqiZh8XDPvX_W7OlFqgCmWmcvJNHqekm-pobHJOmxra9Tf8S-/s1600/2012-02-29+11.24.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lUqPOeDLS3m4umhlJBPm-jTAOw2g8SQ_iiuSxicDYKepAkuFI3lG-Q8oyuMfneGzE831lIfbypZ6ZFsD5Vfee7Mhf60EqiZh8XDPvX_W7OlFqgCmWmcvJNHqekm-pobHJOmxra9Tf8S-/s640/2012-02-29+11.24.07.jpg" uda="true" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">How could such an elaborate beauty form</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">From the misery of last night’s intimidating storm?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Icicles frozen intricately around each twig, bud, and residual leaf,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Almost as if a skilled, patient hand had formed that masterpiece.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZGeXmxLRpgrn22hUCdnFAjld3UthrasGUufNI0wM-phVi5QChiCHA8trCGPTQ7uDYqhB4y1pCpkmCJTIVtB24Olr2VwUMimzoDjo54y0ZOR2cEczOgS53MH5YO7P5ZKfWKY9kShk3-OQ/s1600/2012-02-29+11.20.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZGeXmxLRpgrn22hUCdnFAjld3UthrasGUufNI0wM-phVi5QChiCHA8trCGPTQ7uDYqhB4y1pCpkmCJTIVtB24Olr2VwUMimzoDjo54y0ZOR2cEczOgS53MH5YO7P5ZKfWKY9kShk3-OQ/s640/2012-02-29+11.20.31.jpg" uda="true" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Or maybe that is exactly what happened…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And He has revealed himself to us in the beauty of His creation,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Giving us a reason to smile and be thankful to be alive</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Even in the midst of the season’s frigid cold.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-7XZtOCF2i7J4SzIu9myFAVCFqR2WjEGaaPTsWi95uak05U3pK2Gm9PXU7gwPyMTQ2vG1Uh4h43f2Cygdk4FHsgtbpdo4gHmPocH9zv01NLu9ICMMs6NIl6X-LCoBPJ9zJKRPgCza0Oz/s1600/2012-02-29+11.21.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-7XZtOCF2i7J4SzIu9myFAVCFqR2WjEGaaPTsWi95uak05U3pK2Gm9PXU7gwPyMTQ2vG1Uh4h43f2Cygdk4FHsgtbpdo4gHmPocH9zv01NLu9ICMMs6NIl6X-LCoBPJ9zJKRPgCza0Oz/s640/2012-02-29+11.21.51.jpg" uda="true" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Earth has her seasons, and she must grow and change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Nature must make its cycle, and all living things must adapt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Winter is a part of the circle, and though the people may complain,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Earth needs her moisture, whether it be snow or rain.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGysGafz8dvnwIhZR2CHClFz75zTs8T8jg5kGR0cJQKoTMR-ykN_QEttr_NWcf7GbfJhQZhLzD102amohb_qnGc5HltY7gTIbZOfUNuB-5Xm1c1qy43yRAstH1UPtjxJlcKF-rDAsCorT/s1600/2012-02-29+17.04.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLGysGafz8dvnwIhZR2CHClFz75zTs8T8jg5kGR0cJQKoTMR-ykN_QEttr_NWcf7GbfJhQZhLzD102amohb_qnGc5HltY7gTIbZOfUNuB-5Xm1c1qy43yRAstH1UPtjxJlcKF-rDAsCorT/s640/2012-02-29+17.04.28.jpg" uda="true" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Credit for all photos: Helen Lacey</span></div>
</span>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-40216491198788299292012-01-21T17:42:00.003-06:002012-01-21T17:42:30.945-06:00Freedom<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Waltenberry, Inc.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp7sMXuhEUVQkgHEFQa7ukggue3V6SKx4HedBeN7QgCId1rWzdK83FQ8uf4XDKCYKWEvQpZ3bQYwg41fG5TjZIF3_cXjm9S3LJQlqzGV7OLEdpL9fB-_bM7AuUPuxWANcZjWvdcXd0VIZ/s1600/%257EHelen+%2526+Boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp7sMXuhEUVQkgHEFQa7ukggue3V6SKx4HedBeN7QgCId1rWzdK83FQ8uf4XDKCYKWEvQpZ3bQYwg41fG5TjZIF3_cXjm9S3LJQlqzGV7OLEdpL9fB-_bM7AuUPuxWANcZjWvdcXd0VIZ/s320/%257EHelen+%2526+Boots.jpg" width="252" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The moment I climb on</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am set free.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The gorgeous sorrel horse beneath me</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Sun shining off his sleek coat</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Showing off the toned muscles beneath.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The wind blows his long, coarse mane</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And it intertwines with my fingers</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Holding the worn, leather reins.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">When we move, we move not as two separate beings</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But as one in spirit.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We lope through the fields on a warm summer day</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I feel all the power beneath me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our minds are synchronized</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Every slight move that I make</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He responds.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He understands me</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He provides the gateway to my paradise</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He sets me free.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My freedom is found on the back of a horse.</span>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-32866381788263304312012-01-21T17:32:00.001-06:002012-01-21T17:34:31.382-06:00Prom Date?<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Was cleaning my room and found this poem I'd written in high school, and I thought, "Oh great, a reminder of my cheesy high school drama"... but after I read it I thought the poem itself was pretty good, so I thought I'd post it. Even though I don't remember who half the guys are that I wrote about!</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Helen Lacey</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gWgejSKKh5bqvyS1nH1prdnf9aqlS1pZkdcJa_l_qXE4LFvbjKUx5BU-WFchHTbPb1tmg0AkAm-wWnA44Lbw231YplRle5NdeXgWgWld5l0OAwaRtJX9-kDjUuSRi3t-a56ake77_OM9/s1600/SDC11113a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gWgejSKKh5bqvyS1nH1prdnf9aqlS1pZkdcJa_l_qXE4LFvbjKUx5BU-WFchHTbPb1tmg0AkAm-wWnA44Lbw231YplRle5NdeXgWgWld5l0OAwaRtJX9-kDjUuSRi3t-a56ake77_OM9/s320/SDC11113a.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I can't find sleep,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's way past midnight.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One burning question,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">With no answer in sight.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Who should I ask?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Who would want to go?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The day draws nearer,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I wish I would know.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I mustn't give up asking,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Though twice I have tried,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And twice I have failed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But I have not yet cried.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The ones that I like,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The ones I thought that knew,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Already have dates.<br />Wish I did too.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">All year long,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Waiting for one special night.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But I've still no date?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Won't give up without a fight.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Why can't this be easy?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Finding love is so rough,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So hard, so unfair,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But I have to be tough.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><em>You</em> were the one,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Who was perfect for me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So much alike and in common,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A wonderful life I could see.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The "cowboy" of my dreams,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But you would not be.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I was sure we'd work,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But you do not agree.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then there was <em>you</em>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So practical and smart.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I was attracted to you,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Like a bulls-eye and a dart.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I knew you'd be good to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But someone else came along,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And lured you away from me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Now I sing a sad country love song.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A while ago <em>he</em> liked me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So now I ask him to be my date.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But he now has a girlfriend,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Once again I am too late.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And <em>you</em> still confuse me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I've been interested for some time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And I bet you don't know,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">That you're often on my mind. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You've been unlucky in love,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Just like me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But give it a chance,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">See how great we could be?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As a potential boyfriend,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You've got me shaken.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But as for Prom night,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You're already taken.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You're a great guy,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Fun-loving and sincere.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">What I wouldn't give,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Just to have you near.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'd love to have you in the future,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But Prom is right now.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So find a date I must,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And try to move on somehow. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Who would go with me?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Would <em>you</em>, my good friend?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I know we'd have a fun Prom,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">From start until the end.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But would you even consider going?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I know you don't dig stuff like that.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Would you have any interest in me?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We're buddies, that's a fact.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">You're just like family to me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A close and trustworthy guy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Maybe you don't want to think any different of me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But could you at least try?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Would you go to Prom if asked?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The subject was brought up today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But you thought of the expense,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Said, "nope," and walked away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And I'm okay with that,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I know you're just my friend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And I like it that way,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I will not pretend.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But now I'm left again,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">With no one to turn to.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Everyone's trying to help me,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But I'm feeling so blue.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">They say I should ask <em>you</em>,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">That we would be a perfect date.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But I just don't think I <em><u>like</u></em> you,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'm sorry, I have to shut the gate.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">They say that I am stubborn,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">That I should give him a chance,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But I don't think I can,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He's not my perfect romance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Is he date or boyfriend material?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I have thought about it before.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Then I realize I can't,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Because I want so much more.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">What <u><em>do</em></u> I want?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I can visualize my perfect cowboy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One who would make me happy,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And fill my life with joy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Someone very good-looking,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Hard-working, caring, and smart.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Who shares my love of horses,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And has a loving heart.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I've time to look for him,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Maybe someday at a show, or even college,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But Prom is coming up fast,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am haunted by that knowledge.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">There's one more possibility,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">For a good Prom, I think.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If this doesn't work out,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My morale will really sink.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><em>He </em>graduated last year,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I don't know if he can come.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I will ask him if he can,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Though some may think I'm dumb.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Many didn't like him,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thought he was stupid and low.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I really don't agree with them,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">He's a nice guy, I think it so.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Can he come home for Prom?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Would he even go with me?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I need to find out soon,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">But I'll just have to wait and see.</span></div>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-75970463294677009922012-01-14T21:01:00.000-06:002012-01-15T02:17:20.070-06:00Show Pen<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Photo credit: Waltenberry, Inc.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7KsYyFN2k7_I6TDcZano3fh2Q6d3T-BOTkhlfW1xoaKnMb7ANFBB3TJsplsKaKwWOUVBN-ugrALgpAG_ey0ft9-uyAkYwmuWkeBp8PAyjKuZ-mMDdEw_02VNI_9eO-oRCeXbJd8wItNO/s1600/showing+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7KsYyFN2k7_I6TDcZano3fh2Q6d3T-BOTkhlfW1xoaKnMb7ANFBB3TJsplsKaKwWOUVBN-ugrALgpAG_ey0ft9-uyAkYwmuWkeBp8PAyjKuZ-mMDdEw_02VNI_9eO-oRCeXbJd8wItNO/s320/showing+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I’ve shown everywhere</span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Under the sun</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Now Oklahoma City</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">This is the big one</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">National Reining Horse Association</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Futurity horse show</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Through the Gateway of Champions</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Here we go</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Calming my nerves</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Now as I enter</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Ready and confident</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We walk to the center</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Collect up and lope</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Taking my time</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Three circles, fast and slow</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then stop on a dime</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Four spins to the left</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Lope off the other way</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Two fast, one slow</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Stop in the middle and stay</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Four spins to the right</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Lope around toward the gate</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Change leads twice</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Complete a figure eight</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Come ‘round the end</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Straighten up, run him down</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Run faster, say “whoa”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He melts into the ground</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I let him stand up</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then roll him right back</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Lope down ‘round the end</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Pitch him some slack</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Run hard and say “whoa”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He slides a mile</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Wait a split second</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Roll back with a smile</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">‘Round the end again</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Just one more</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Stop hard and back up</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hear the crowd roar</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I turn and walk out</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Smile, give him a pat</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">They announce my score:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It’s my best one yet</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></span></div>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-59160283207412992232012-01-14T20:57:00.000-06:002012-01-14T20:57:17.861-06:00Trail Ride<div style="color: #b45f06; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photo credit: Helen Lacey</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Sick of the
world</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I drive to
the farm</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Pull on my
boots</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And head to
the barn</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Grab a halter</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And walk out
to the gate</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Where my good
horse</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Patiently
waits</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Throw on my
saddle</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Cinch it up
tight</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Ride out of
the barn</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Into the
woods, out of sight</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Surrounded by
nature</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I began to
unwind</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A big sigh of
relief</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Left my cares
and worries behind</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Riding down
the trail</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Over logs,
under trees</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The smell of
grass growing</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Afloat on the
breeze</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The world is
sad</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bitter, and
course</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But today
nothing matters</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #9a4d00; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Except me and
my horse</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-53616418518288806262012-01-14T20:55:00.000-06:002012-01-14T20:55:09.518-06:00Playing in the Creek<div style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Helen Lacey</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl74g5UM8YFfqntTDVp0HsYMiTseVDVdR9vA8h5PmppbeyWWjJdLulypUEY1ihmRiPYl0ZdlpdkJJOJE1I8cRl_ooGKqXbQo6Q6WWExlcr6vRCe8CCGWItWyWkNcoLlaMkK2ZB9wa8lp7/s1600/culvert+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl74g5UM8YFfqntTDVp0HsYMiTseVDVdR9vA8h5PmppbeyWWjJdLulypUEY1ihmRiPYl0ZdlpdkJJOJE1I8cRl_ooGKqXbQo6Q6WWExlcr6vRCe8CCGWItWyWkNcoLlaMkK2ZB9wa8lp7/s320/culvert+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I remember when I was little</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Though it went by too quick</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Some of my favorite adventures</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Were down playing in the creek</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">My sister and I were explorers</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We heard nature’s call</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We’d walk along the creek</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Searching for mini-waterfalls</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Sometimes we’d find a frog</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Or some rocks growing moss</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We were intrigued by water striders</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On the surface, skimming across</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Our cousins sometimes went with us</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Played like survivors, brave and bold</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But we never swam in the creek</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Because spring-fed water is too cold</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The big culvert under the road</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Was one of our favorite spots</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We’d walk through it, back and forth</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And watch the water fall over the rocks</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Sometimes Mom would yell at us</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Because we came back all wet</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #45818e; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But it was usually worth it</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Still
some of my best memories yet</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #45818e;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-25240234612290374652012-01-14T20:52:00.000-06:002012-01-14T20:52:43.017-06:00Sunset<div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photo credit: Helen Lacey</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWB7OrqW0jNP2vkuu-prYiIou_TeqjvhGKb1CpjBMOBhgo1-ZEM-ggwzzZ-qd_M8QbzDzxcRlYy4YIzfwF7XXfUzeicKbWwR36gt65MUgizk-nRW4vOnJMk2c6hs7-LpEW_gWQV-f3X_o/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWB7OrqW0jNP2vkuu-prYiIou_TeqjvhGKb1CpjBMOBhgo1-ZEM-ggwzzZ-qd_M8QbzDzxcRlYy4YIzfwF7XXfUzeicKbWwR36gt65MUgizk-nRW4vOnJMk2c6hs7-LpEW_gWQV-f3X_o/s320/sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I was coming
home from school</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Same old
boring routine,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Had to go start
the chores</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Just another
day it seemed.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I was
stressing over homework</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And everything
else I had to do,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I didn’t want to
go outside</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Where the
cold winter wind blew.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I pulled on
my heavy jac</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ket</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">My coveralls,
boots, an</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">d</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">
gloves,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Walked out
the</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> door</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And saw a
sign fr</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">om above.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The overcast
sky had changed</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">From dark,
sullen blue cover,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">To a blaze of
yellow, red, and purple</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A beautiful
discover.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The sun fell
below the clouds</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Shooting out its
splendid rays</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Straight up, like
a giant cross</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And I was
amazed.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> just stood there staring</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Taking i</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">n</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> the
wondrous sight,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And my bu</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">sy</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> day
had changed</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">From
wo</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">e</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> to delight.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-2673190555504479972012-01-14T20:50:00.000-06:002012-01-21T17:46:16.461-06:00Broken Old Stand<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>This is one of my favorites that I've written, there's a lot of feelings in this one, though it's just an old broken tree stand. </div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Helen Lacey</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMTErNcpwuCBosEVwh3Tofa2-1usFTPswgG5teVXyt9R73NaCEg_IlfypEdnrWP0UMps8iRc_pxf__b5LK74ieaoljLODZkvjn3P_zVLscDyt7o0rL2kSeChl0Lif0j7uj1ZLmh5A_IE3/s1600/old+stand+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMTErNcpwuCBosEVwh3Tofa2-1usFTPswgG5teVXyt9R73NaCEg_IlfypEdnrWP0UMps8iRc_pxf__b5LK74ieaoljLODZkvjn3P_zVLscDyt7o0rL2kSeChl0Lif0j7uj1ZLmh5A_IE3/s320/old+stand+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We ride by the same place</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On every trail ride we lead</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And the people always ask</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">About that old tree</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Why is there a ladder</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Against that split tree?</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">There’s nothing up there</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">‘Far as we can see”</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And they can’t comprehend</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Little do they know</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">All of the stories</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">That old tree holds</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">This was the stand</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Where I shot my first buck</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And for years after</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It’s brought me lots of luck</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A modest eight-pointer</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A big doe down the hill</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A smaller one next year</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And another buck still</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It was also the stand</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Where my mom sat one year</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Five shotgun shells later</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">She claimed her trophy deer</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But the tree has grown old</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And one stormy day</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Split it in half</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And the stand fell away</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And my heart grew sad</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Because in all of our land</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">There was no better spot</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Than that broken old stand</span></span></div>
<br />Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-84560645498974389642012-01-14T20:47:00.000-06:002012-01-14T20:47:48.953-06:00The Hunt<div style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <span>http://www.twinlakeswildliferanch.com</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Early morning, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>before
sun is up</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Throw on layers, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>get
in truck.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Drive out to field,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span><span> </span>put it in park</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Walk down to my stand, </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>while it’s still dark.</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #783f04;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Climb up the ladder, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>get
settled in</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Gun loaded, safety on, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>let
the day begin.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Listening intently, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>looking
around, </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Taking in the music,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>all of nature’s sounds.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Squirrel snaps a twig,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> with a deafening CRACK</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I watch him a while,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> and then I look back.</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Scan the woods for movement,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>amidst
the sea of brown</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then I see the whitetail, </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>my heart starts to pound.</span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Calming my nerves,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>I
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Put it to my mouth,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>One
grunt, that’s all.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He stops, and I watch,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>I
hope and I pray</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He turns and starts off,</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>he's coming my way.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I aim, squeeze the trigger,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>smell
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He leaps, I’ve hit him,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>he
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #783f04;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He doesn’t go far,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> </span>he
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I sit back and sigh,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span> e</span>nveloped in the thrill.</span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span></span></span><div style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--></div>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-36542487374246894942012-01-14T20:40:00.000-06:002012-01-14T20:40:27.039-06:00A Perfect Swing<div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">http://www.newvistawallpaper.com</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl97xk15u_pglfUPBpATY9WHkaQw0vZf9NC9rXVMSwgnsYiJGwBdWfAt3g7HVHwGoqoSZeTDzLmAuYD7fynm-iHhWRoo1h8ZR-D0eD_YvEuJxYHjF0-El42xX85axdw78BvHzjo5g4Lu-/s1600/golf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtl97xk15u_pglfUPBpATY9WHkaQw0vZf9NC9rXVMSwgnsYiJGwBdWfAt3g7HVHwGoqoSZeTDzLmAuYD7fynm-iHhWRoo1h8ZR-D0eD_YvEuJxYHjF0-El42xX85axdw78BvHzjo5g4Lu-/s320/golf.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love the sound</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Of a perfect swing</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Driver hitting the ball</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And tee with a TING</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Practice swing</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Line up with ball</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Take a deep breath</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Give it my all</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Start my backswing</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Arms raise up and twist</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hit top of the pendulum</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let flex my wrists</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now swinging forward</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bringing club down</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Straightening arms</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not making a sound</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ball on the grass</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Connects with club face</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I swing on through</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Keeping my pace</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Complete the pendulum</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Body twists, eyes keen</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Watching my sailing ball</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Land right on the green</span> </span></span></span></b></div>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-70221444636919908422012-01-14T20:34:00.000-06:002012-01-14T20:34:13.224-06:00Kayaking<div style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: </span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>www.oklahomaroadtrips.com</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupJ5hIuZ8kSucK07ao7eHMx4yj7hByYOXchuZtqhPPcmglsRWo8ceZRd7YI_6qI5H2uCbpOzVqpsdM-l0tTGJmA7UvT0ZxYxSAw7HOS9ve-tM6S7MVttiiV-uutEEFGRY5z5qmlgBbLgq/s1600/kayaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupJ5hIuZ8kSucK07ao7eHMx4yj7hByYOXchuZtqhPPcmglsRWo8ceZRd7YI_6qI5H2uCbpOzVqpsdM-l0tTGJmA7UvT0ZxYxSAw7HOS9ve-tM6S7MVttiiV-uutEEFGRY5z5qmlgBbLgq/s320/kayaking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #073763;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Cruising on a speed boat</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #351c75; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Just completely lacks</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The freedom I feel</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Out on a kayak</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Minnesota</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> summer</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Day couldn’t get
hotter</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The best way to
spend it</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Is out on the water</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Getting in the
kayak</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Isn’t an easy
task</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But it’s well
worth it</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Once you make it
in at last</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Easing over the
water</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Steering with
the paddle</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I’m reminded of riding</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">My horse and my
saddle</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Smoothly
floating along</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I feel that I’m
free</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">To go anywhere
on water</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Wherever I
please</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I explored around</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Made my way into
a lagoon</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And actually
came</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Within fifteen
feet of a loon</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Moved on to the
shallow</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Peered over and
down</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Saw dozens of
small fish</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Swimming all
around</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">So you can keep your
paddle boats</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Jet skis stay at
bay</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">‘Cause I’ll take
my kayak</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #073763; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Over them any old
day</span></span></div>
</div>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-21214003564787672592012-01-14T20:27:00.000-06:002012-01-14T20:27:13.102-06:00The One That (Almost) Got Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Photo credit: <u style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">http://www.thundermistfishingtips.com</u> </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thundermistfishingtips.com/"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></a></b></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzYohyphenhyphenRcCSixIhdo6zEvuxoQzp4_KC_in0CNYzQB_xPE0Usilc8-BELoVeGOnN1NlDXXUj2pHd7HobjTM2rgB2f9OMhWBFxNbFHjnkhqr6iRJ0P_XrFvSiWqE2t16uhQGca1dPbXgy_xg/s320/largemouth-bass.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Every
fisherman has one</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Always,
without fail,</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A
story of the one that got away</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It’s
usually a tall tale</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Well
folks this one here</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Is
completely true, I daresay</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It
happened long ago</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">One
bright and sunny day</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We
were just kids</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">My
sister and me</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We
had ourselves a contest</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">To
catch the most fish, you see</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">She
cast out her line first</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mine
second to go</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I
waited patiently</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then
started reeling in slow</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I
was distracted</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Watching
a bug</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But
I was jerked awake</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By
a great big tug</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
line got real tight</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">My
fishing pole dipped</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I
started reeling in</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Lifting
up the tip</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">This one was huge!</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He fought it so hard</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Dad came to help me</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I didn’t let down my guard</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">So close now</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Almost to the boat</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then something went SNAP</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And my line was left afloat</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I of course was disappointed</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Decided to take a break</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">While Dad fixed my pole</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">I stared at the lake</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then my sister’s pole bent hard</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">She yelled “I got a fish!”</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mom helped her reel in</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">She must have gotten her wish</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It was a largemouth bass</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And, mouth open, I looked</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And there stuck in its lip</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Was my brand new fish
hook</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353282717217357266.post-86169575140451666982012-01-14T20:13:00.000-06:002012-01-21T17:48:16.754-06:00On Vacation<div style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Photo credit: <u>www.explorebrainerdlakes.com</u></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwl2JEMpNheOpLMFXjzYC4agb4wXdKoQi33l8eA0ZV7ePTIgL6lXtoIYcZbG1Kxcmt3JKVG6xxWp3gTgZUKkGAKhHyaBaKQq-PlxR9YU0XA3paft64paw0WQi-jDFp97y9F62GdBOw4Hq/s1600/Brainerd+Lakes+Area+Resort+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwl2JEMpNheOpLMFXjzYC4agb4wXdKoQi33l8eA0ZV7ePTIgL6lXtoIYcZbG1Kxcmt3JKVG6xxWp3gTgZUKkGAKhHyaBaKQq-PlxR9YU0XA3paft64paw0WQi-jDFp97y9F62GdBOw4Hq/s320/Brainerd+Lakes+Area+Resort+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" /></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Stuck in the back seat</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">With my sister Holly again,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Five plus hours to Brainerd</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It was worth it in the end.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Pu</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">lle</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">d into t</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">he</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> reso</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">rt</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">W</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ai</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ted for </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Da</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">d to </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ch</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">eck </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">in,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Moved into our cabin</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">And let the fun begin.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Rented a boat</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Went out on the lake</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Spent the whole day fishing</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Man, it was great.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We kept Dad busy</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Setting up, baiting hooks,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">While Mom sat and relaxed</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Reading one of her books.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Ho</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">lly g</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ot her w</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">or</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">m fir</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">st</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">D</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ad start</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ed </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">mine a</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">t la</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">st,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then she said “watch out!”</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We ducked while she cast.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Dad had us both ready</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He thought he was done,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He started for his pole</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">When I said “I caught one!”</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">At night we cooked supper</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hotdogs, over the fire,</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Then played Monopoly</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Until we grew tired.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Sp</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ent t</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">he</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> next </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">da</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">y in t</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ow</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">n</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Visi</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">te</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">d Paul Bunyan Land,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; margin-right: -4.8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Went shopping for souvenirs</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Raced turtles in the sand.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">We spent our week relaxing</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Touring, swimming, fishing,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">When we packed to leave</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">For more time, we all were wishing</span></span></div>
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</tbody></table>Helen Laceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889211650504572814noreply@blogger.com0