The Last Princess of Hawai'i

 Princess Victoria Kawēkiu Ka‘iulani Kalaninuiahilapalapa Cleghorn was born October 16, 1875. Her birth was celebrated widely as the highest-ranking royal birth of the Kalākaua dynasty. But her death on March 6, 1899, was controversial. Some say she died of pneumonia brought on by inflammatory rheumatism. Was her death a result of horseback riding in the rain in Waimea on the big island of Hawai‘i, or did she die of a broken heart, as the San Francisco Morning Call reported? Since her death, she has continued to be memorialized in hula, mele (song), film, and other performances in Hawai‘i and around the globe. An elementary school in Nu‘uuanu, Honolulu, is named after her. She is memorialized with an annual keiki hula festival in October, usually around the time of her birthday. The event is hosted by the Sheraton Princess Ka‘iulani Hotel and involves a reenactment of the royal court of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The hotel sits on the site of her former home at ‘Ainahua. In 1999, a statue of her was built in Waikīkī, commissioned by Outrigger Enterprises to demonstrate its commitment to Hawai‘i’s past.

Ka‘iulani was named crown princess by her aunt, Queen Lydia Lili‘uokalani, on March 9, 1891. Educated in England, she traveled across Europe and the U.S. in her early twenties, spreading awareness about the U.S. overthrow in 1893. As an emergent head of state, Ka‘iulani carried her kuleana (responsibility) boldly, protesting the overthrow of the kingdom by writing letters to American newspapers, taking on Lorrin A. Thurston, one of the architects of the overthrow. She accused him of conspiring to keep her away from Hawai‘i so that he and other annexationists could steal the throne. The unexpected loss of the “hope of Hawai‘i”—as Ka‘iulani has been called—seemed to foreclose the future of the Hawaiian Kingdom, making way for the ascendancy of the American empire.

As Queen Victoria of the UK, Empress of India,struck up a pen pal friendship with the Ali'i of The Kingdom of Hawai'i, the crown princess was named in her honor. 

Hawai'ian Heirloom jewelry was personally, hand designed by Queen Victoria as gifts to the visiting Hawai'ian royalty when they traveled to England for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Hence, the olde English script that is inlaid with black onyx on each piece of of the prized, sought after pendants, bracelets, rings and such, in Hawai'i.

Three Queens

Kai'u'lani's birth brought a surge of hope to the people of Hawai'i. She was hapa. Half caucasian, half Hawai'ian. Her beauty, sweetness, playful nature & highly intelligent mind were admired by many. She was educated in England, spoke several languages including her native Hawai'ian. In her studies she was educated in science, mathematics, world cultures. She also played several musical instruments though she always preferred her koa wood uke'le'le.

Her first name was Victoria (I love the name, my brilliant daughter who is an engineer was given a name that fits her so well now). She was mostly known as Princess Kai'u'lani. The Royal Sacred One.

In her short life, she fought hard for her people. She had been groomed from her birth to rule as Queen of Hawai'i one day. The day, sadly, didn't arrive. Kai'u'lani loved her peacocks & peahens that roamed freely around the grounds of her home, sometimes even walking inside to visit her. It's been said that when Kai'u'lani died, there was a loud crying of her many beloved peacocks.

Kai'u'lani may have passed from this world to the next. Her life, her love, her legend, still lives on in the hearts of thousands of people.

Read it & Reap II

This is my disclaimer that I do not work for the Social Security Administration, nor do I represent it. I'm just a simple girl in a complex world who enjoys blogging.

Just an interesting tidbit. The very first Social Security cards issued in 1936 looked very different from the ones in 2021. The cards design has been slightly altered 34 times. The last slight alteration was in 2007. 

From part one, we know that the Social Security Administration has been in existence for around 80 years. By design, it was intended as a small bit of encouragement for US Citizens to forego being paid in cash aka under the table. 

This amount a citizen earned, documented, thereby made known to the government is somewhat of a control tactic combined with a reward. A persons initial Social Security payment amount is based upon lifetime earnings.

Many people who feel that filing for social security money is superfluous, therefore, they decline or simply don't file.

What does a social security number mean?

The first 3 numbers, until 2011, designated the state or territory where a person was born or where the newborn was registered. 

These are just a few states or territories I chose at random.

001 -003 New Hampshire

050 - 134 New York

362 - 396 Michigan

232 - 236 West Virginia

449 - 467 Texas

505 - 508 Nebraska

521 - 524 Colorado

520 Wyoming

268 - 302 Ohio

575 - 576, 750 - 751 Hawai'i

586 Guam, American Samoa, Phillipine Islands

I found an interesting factoid regarding my own SSN.

I was born, according to my birth certificate, in West Virginia. When I was around 6 months of age, my parents relocated, along with myself, my older brother & older sister, to Michigan. Although I was born in West Virginia, my SSN has a Michigan area indicator.

My parents had 3 small children when I was born.

Ages 4, 2 & infant? Yeah, they had their hands full!

The second 2 numbers of the SSN indicate the group the record will be found in. It's in numerical order, it makes it a bit easier to locate the records when needed.

The last 4 numbers are a serial number, unique to each individual. I suppose that giving a baby an inked bar code might upset some folks, so, serial number it is. 

This system worked for several decades. Until 2011, when the SSA made the change to randomization. There had been too many acts of discrimination, profiling, if you will, based on those first three numbers, indicting where the person was born or at least, where their SSN was assigned.

Another reason was that some hot shot genius could foresee a time when the system of assigning SSN's based on area, group, serial number, could hit a wall. Each number was supposed to be used only once, making it unique to each person.

Another snag was that, if a person immigrated to the USA, upon becoming a US Citizen, their SSN is assigned based on where they were living when they became a citizen.

Many people wishing to immigrate to the US, legally aka the right way, can apply for a SSN during the time they are submitting forms, before actually moving to the USA.

There are many variations on this, that is the most common.

With the scourge of romance scammers who steal the photos of military members, there are two important facts.

1. There are NO SSN's that begin with 000. NONE. Not even if the military person is Special Forces or a Squadron Commander. Never.

2. In June, 2011 all SSNs were removed from DOD & military ID cards, replaced with a DOD identification number.

When I became happily single after being married for too long, the romance scammers were just warming up. They had been around for awhile, yet, I was unaware of them.

In addition to having to deal with the insidious liars, ghosting, cheaters, users, mansluts, now? The wonderful dating world began to increase in population of the romance scammers. 

So lovely.

The scammers often work in teams so they can bombard the victim around the clock.

It was easy for me to see through the romance scammers for what they truly were. If I were s inclined when a romance scammer contacted me. I played with them. Taking advantage, giving them encouragement. Toying with their fake interest in me just for the helluvit. The nefarious were more difficult to discern.

Am so happy that I don't have to deal with any of that garbage, now.

Many romance scammers will present their victim with a doctored military ID or doctored passport or some form of the best proof of whom they claim to be. It's so obvious to me. 

Now?

****THE GOOD STUFF****

1. Your birth date is not the birth date that the SSA uses. You can file for social security payments as early as when you are 61 years of age plus 9 months. You will receive a reduced amount if you file at this age.

2. You can file for SSA benefits at 65 years plus 9 months. You can also continue to work while receiving SSA payments up to a cap of income. This varies from person to person.

3. If you are in good health, it's better to postpone filing for SS benefits until age 70. If you wait to file, again, at age 69 + 9 months, your SSA payment will start out at 32% more than if you filed at age 62 or age 66.

4. Until 1993 the SSA payments were increased by 3% yearly as a cost of living adjustment. After that, the increase became 8% per year.

5. The increase to SSA payment increases by 8% annually until the cap of 76% is reached. There's a good benefit for longevity!

6. SSN's starting at 587 are the randomized numbers assigned to those who were born in 2011 or later. Also those who became legal US citizens in 2011 or later.

There are many more finer points to Social Security payment, rules, laws addendums. It's continually changing. I presented the basics.

One last tidbit for my readers. 💓

A combo of IDing a scammer & the SSA.

Love, Peace & Happiness, Y'all!

Read It & Reap

During the first part of my life I hated to think about money. Loathed talking about it. Maybe it's because I was a jealous wife. There was one key factor of my jealousy of the man I married's first love. 

The ex huzz loved money.

He loved it  more than he loved anyone or anything. When he was deployed, he would phone me. The very first words he would say would be, 

"Hey, how is the checkbook?"

He seemed to think it was funny. His love for money above myself, above our 4 children was just one of the many factors that killed whatever love I had ever felt for him.

In many cultures, such as British, it's considered vulgar to speak of money in conversation unless it's with a financial professional. 

My beloved grandfather, Sherman L Kendall, had many personality traits, found in British culture. He may have passed these traits onto me. He passed so many benevolent traits onto me, the attitude toward money may have been one of those. I hate to talk about money, still.

Today, this blog entry is about money.

(writing is different from talking, lol)

I'm not even close to filing for Social Security, yet, it does behoove to be informed.

The Social Security act was signed as law in August 1935 by President Franklin D Roosevelt. It was tossed around by congress for the entire month of July 1935. This is a relatively short amount of time as compared to present day.

In 1976 the bare minimum amount paid was $170. monthly. As of 2020 it was $886.

If any statistics I present here are in error, feel free to, after doing your own reasearch, correct this information.

One of my strong suites is to be okay with being wrong, admitting it, then learning from it.

There are so many laws, rules, addendums, minor modifications to addendems, it's a lot to read. Great bed time reading if you wish to be kept awake for a week or if you wish to fall asleep from boredum within 5 minutes or less. Unless you love money so much that it's like crack cocaine to you.

If your income + assets are at or below the poverty line, you may enjoy the reading. 

In the USA the poor are more subject to Capitol Punishment than anyone. Why?

With less capitol you are more likely to get punishment or more severe at the least.

(I made a funny, though, it's not really funny)

In an effort to raise the standard of living, the social security act was signed as law. It was lightly reasoned that if people who tended toward criminal acts had more money, they might be less likely to turn to crime. This caused a slight backfire in that the crime rate did see a minimal decrease. This was merely a blip in that it caused more dependency on money from the government. 

A myriad of problems sprung up around social security payments. To have light there must be darkness, to have crops there must be rainfall. 

For the sake of brevity, I have divided this post into 2 entries.

The really good & $$$$ stuff is in part II.

Stay tuned!!!!

Sunday Muse

In the woo-woo world there are many people having the experience of life review. Thinking of as well as sometimes speaking of that which they only visited long ago.

Some people speculate that it's a fluke. Others have been feeling that it's the foretold shift beginning in Gaia, mother earth. Whatever it is, I'm experiencing the feeling of a shift in vibration, if you will. Perhaps it's simply that I'm more centered, grounded than I have ever been in life up to this point. 

Having more freedom in so many aspects of my life than I have ever experienced before. I must say, it feels really good!

Keep in mind that although life is quite nice right now, it still has it's ups as well as the other. 

I'll take it! 

Milk it! 

Let this pony run!

Today, working out, I was musing ~

Michael Jacksons music has the perfect rhythm for the elliptical.

Coldplay music has perfect rhythm for the elliptical AND Stairmaster!

SATC ~ Hey, can I cancel my rice pudding?

Well, there's a muscle that I used to feel, feeling it, now!

After this, I should do some house cleaning, I'll stitch, instead.

Uh oh, I'm getting hungry, have to work out then, eat.

Did I shave my legs? Nope. Oh, well.

Aww, there's a kitten walking around outside.

Today doesn't feel like Fathers Day, maybe it's because I'm an orphan.

I think I'm the only girl, here. Sausage fest.

Going to the post office tomorrow, I rock!

I'm using up my energy, have to keep going. 3 miles, I got this.

Can I make it to 4 miles, six miles? 

I haven't cussed in a long time, go, ME!

I wonder how my son is doing today, dang, I miss him.

It's that time of year. Every day weather forecast in Texas. HOT!

I feel so stoked that I repaired my smart TV, myself, I'm da bomb!

OMG, is that MY CAR? Better wash it, today!

I killed 23 house flies yesterday. 23 down, 1,000,000, to go.

Might have to stop at 4.5 miles, my lips are drying out. UGH.

I should hire someone to help me clean my house this week. Wish I had a friend who would help me even if it's just to keep me company while I do the cleaning. *sigh* I can wish.

Green. Love the color, green.

Whew! 5 miles, yep, I think it's a good work out. Time really flew.

My T Shirt is soaked, have to wash it, again.

Now, I'm really hungry. Salmon filet & steamed broccoli, YAY!

This was going through my head as I did some serious cardio at home then at the gym, then, some weight resistance bands at home. Weird, my thoughts were so random today.

Vigilance

Watching the skies on a warm Texas night

Each star becomes brighter as the sun fades

With a promise of yet another day

When earth awakens in birdsong serenades

New days bring new possibilities

To create in ourselves who we wish to be

Right the wrongs without ending

Look in the mirror we like who we see

Life throws curve balls in spades

Sometimes in singles sometimes in bunches

One truth remains for all of us

It's paramount to roll with the punches

 

Aloha! E komo mai!

Today, I found that I have over 100 viewers in Hawai'i! 

This thrills me, as it's one of my favorite places in the world. It's probably a favorite for so many people as a vacation spot as well as a deep desire to live there.

For me, it's more than that. So much more.

Hawai'i was a place I daydreamed about as a child, living in a small town in Michigan. Life was hard for me. When my situation was so bad after a beating from my father or not having enough to eat or being bullied & teased at school. Retreating, in my mind, to Hawai'i.

Click yo slippahs togeddah tree times. I was there!

Relatives plus family got a thrill from taunting me, playfully teasing me. Telling me to keep dreaming ~ so I did! In my heart I was determined to find a way. When the opportunity came to me I would be ready, so much determination to fulfill a dream.

The ticket to move to Hawai'i came to me via the United States Air Force ~ Hallelujah! 

I had done it!

It truly was a paradise for me, the home of my soul. Aside from the causes of PTSD/MST, I loved it, there. The local people were mostly very sweet. Nicer than people I had known, up to that point in my life, anyway.

It was so easy to leave behind my prior life. The dumpy little girl who was bullied and teased K - 12, referred to as "Vampire" in reference to my light green eyes that turned yellow in the sun. Leave behind a home filled with cigarette smoke 24/7. Leave behind the bitterly cold winters of Michigan. Leave behind, start anew.

It was also good fun to rub my relatives noses in the fact that even after all of their teasing, I had done it!

There was magic in the ocean water, I was sure of it. Hanauma Bay was postcard pretty. The beautiful, brightly colored fish that swam around the coral, nibbling on my skin. It was so surreal.

From a few chance meetings while sunning myself at Hickam Harbor, I met some of the local people who had access to Hickam AFB. After going to a couple of their family luaus, I met more of the people who called the islands home. 

A few of them talked to me about learning to surf. I was so naive! They wanted me to bring the beer & KFC! Ha ha!

I learned to surf on some of the roughest waves on the North Shore of O'a'hu! Banzai pipeline, baby! Sunset Beach, Mokapu!

I had my hot pink bikini top blown off once, okay, a few times! Even lost the bottoms, quite a few times! There was more to learning to surf than knowing when to lay, when to crouch, paddle or stand.

The way the local people spoke ~ Pidgin English ~ it was beautiful to me. It sounded like water flowing, sometimes crashing, all good!

An opportunity I took when I was invited to go to Ni'ihau, was the chance of a lifetime. I was unaware of what a rare gift this was. I might go back, someday.

The island foods, music, flowers, weather, kind people, I loved it!

I spent some exciting times as a single girl, in Hawai'i. When that time was up as I got military orders to relocate to Edwards AFB in the Mojave Desert, California. I went through some major depression, culture shock. From paradise to a desert. Oh, joy!

I married, then, as a married woman, I moved back to Hawai'i. My first 2 precious babies were born at Kapiolani Women's & Children's Medical Center. It was mostly a very happy time. Ya have to have some rain along with the sunshine for the flowers to grow!

When the time came to leave the islands again, due to military orders, it was just as hard to leave. A Honolulu City Lights feeling.

From time to time I still go back, as the song says. Each time Honolulu City Lights will bring me back again.

https://youtu.be/KNewAa64dnE

I love the whole malasada, in da islands. Later, I took my children to hula class to dance in a halau to keep them connected to the culture. My 2 eldest daughters have hula in their hearts. They danced so beautifully, even teaching others. I loved making some of their dance costumes. The kumu hula (teacher) taught the movements of another beautiful song to me that speaks volumes to me. 

One on one, just for me.

Na Leo ~ I miss you, My Hawai'i

https://youtu.be/TiWG

Na Leo - Hana ho!

This one makes me cry bittersweet as I remember the days each of my 4 sweet babies were born. Moments etched on my heart forever.

https://youtu.be/tRCoAATmDJ0

The love for the music is still with me. I listen to Ke'ali'i Reichel, Na Leo. Also some of the older music from Braddah Noland, Kalapana, The Beamers, etc.

Love this Brother Noland tune the best. It holds sweet memories for me.

https://youtu.be/Zx6mR05RMJ8

Brother Noland, the inspiration for the name of my only son, Nolan.

If you are living in Hawai'i or born & raised there, or born & raised there now living somewhere else, or have the same love in your heart for it, we are Ohana!

Thank you for taking time to read my blog. I am truly humbled by the many views, comments & private messages I receive.

To the ohana I have yet to meet.

Me Spoiling Me

Who spoils you?

Who is going to spoil you? 

Have you ever been spoiled by someone who doted on you, lavished attention along with delightful gifts upon you? 

If you have not had this, would you accept it or, if offered would you even deign to want it?

The answer to all of these is ~ YES!

The one who spoils me as is the only one who knows my tastes most intimately, the desires of my heart. The one who knows what I like, how I like it, when I would want it, for how long I would want it?

My secret lover. Shhh!

(just playing)

The truth is,

It's..............

It's best for me to take care of myself. So - I - do.

Recently, after getting a bonus from work in a very tidy sum, I jumped on the Omnilux Contour wagon. It's a nice ride. 

Skin care, healthy practices. Lotions, serums, meditation music to calm the mind, soothe the soul. Yes. I'm a firm believer that taking care of myself, mind, body, spirit in each infinitesimal facet is very important.

Most of what I do is low cost with a huge impact. In place of pricey facial cleansers? I use honey. 

Yep. 

Honey is an all natural, antibacterial cleanser with nutrient for the skin without robbing it of crucial natural oils in the skin. It's been used for thousands of years. It can also be used to wash the hair. I use a sulfate free shampoo on my baby fine hair, with a honey wash every 3rd or so shampoo.

In place of pricey exfoliators?

Table sugar.

The meat, particularly beef & pork, that is served in many Asian restaurants that is so buttery soft? It's softened with sugar. 

If you want a super duper facial combined with exfoliation?

In the shower or the bath, squeeze some honey into the palm of your hand, sprinkle some table sugar on it, lightly massage your face with the honey & table sugar mixture.

I keep a jar of honey in reach of my shower, next to that is a sealable container of table sugar. 

FYI for you little sugar monsters - sugar does the same thing to your inner organs. 

Sorry to deliver that news. Not sorry.

Table sugar, used in the shower is like getting a massage in a medi -spa.

It does its job, then *poof*, it's gone.

Honey & table sugar quickly dissolve, then, wash down the drain, all natural, no residue.

Back to the Omnilux Contour. Every skin care maven, every beauty blogger is chattering about it. There is a soft bendable LED mask for the face, one for the neck & décolleté. 

Heck!

There's even a separate one for the hands!

I have to give the caveat, it's pricey! I did save $50. per item with a coupon code. Thank you, Kim!

https://youtu.be/IPZs7mox8W0

As most ladies & some guys know, the backs of the hands are just as important to take care of as the face, neck, décolleté (chest area for guys as in male people, since all people are getting lumped together regardless of gender). As important as preserving the health of the body, health of the spirit.

By choice, I'm all I have, so, it's important to me to take care of me.

The Omnilux Contour is so popular right now that they are all on backorder. I received my work bonus, I ordered it on April 20, 2021. It was delivered on May 11. 

PEEPS!

I was so excited!

I was also exhausted from pulling an all nighter with work. Determined to stay awake, I sat up, following the progress of the UPS truck. Meeting the driver ASAP. Out on the street. 

The excitement gave me enough adrenaline to go to the gym for a quick workout. Then, I came home to crash in bed after brushing my teeth & nightly skin care, of course. 😍

The next day, I used it for the first time. I was hooked! The mask is really comfortable, super easy to use.

Connect to charger, let it charge, put it on with the Velcro straps.

(This seemed like a fitting drag & drop. Thank you, your highness!)

It goes through a 10 minute cycle, on auto turn off. Fudging a little is okay, riiiiight? I went for another cycle, or two. 😈

Today is May 19. Not only do I see a difference, someone I saw who I haven't seen in awhile noticed the difference, too. I worked for several years to get my skin so healthy that I didn't need to wear foundation or concealment cream. Now? My skin looks even better. The person asked me if I had started wearing makeup to the gym.

Ha ha. Nope.

Before I became a convert, I spent a lot of fun in the sun. Going to the beach, doing some shake & bake. 

Now? 

I'm a convert to sunscreen. 50 SPF baby!

There were 3 sun damaged spots on my face ~ gone! Like they were never there. A little melasma from prego hormones ~ gone, too. From my experience. It's not Mickey D's, I sure am loving it.

Of course, inner beauty is of utmost importance. Being kind, being happy, treating others with courtesy, with compassion. Still, looking in the mirror, seeing nicer skin? It's very suh-weet. 

Heartbroken

This may be hard to understand, it may seem trivial. That's okay, all people have the right to feel as they do. It's a kind, compassionate action to be thelemic toward fellow human beings.

When I received the news, the tears began to flow. Have you ever heard the song or phrase, "Cry Me a River"?

It felt like I had a river, flowing down my face. Sadness overwhelmed me in an instant. 

A deep desire I had was crushed just like that!

Dreams of all that we would do together, taking care of him, giving him a happy life. Discovering all the parts of his personality.

It all evaporated.

Just   Like   That

People who know me, know that I have always loved animals. All animals. Birds, dogs, cats..............Horses!

Animals love me, too! Possibly they sense my care & love for them!

In 2018 I went to Colorado for 2 months to house sit for someone I have known for a long time. When I lived in Colorado, I loved to go to the USAFA Equestrian Center. 

I'm a very experienced rider, I love to be with a very cheeky horse. Horses that are a bit sassy, energetic. Yes, please!

When I went to the USAFA, they had a relatively new gelding. I think he was proud cut because he had a lot of energy, he was very vocal. He was only 8 years of age, so, yeah, his name fit him, well.

✨ Spirit ✨

The USAFA Stable staff takes very good care of their horses. It shows. The horses are happy, healthy, they even get every Monday off, turned out into the pasture.

When I signed in, to ride, I asked the staff person if they had a horse that had some energy, that needed an experienced rider to handle their personality.

That's when I met Spirit.

He was just the sort of horse that does it for me. When I climbed onto his back, the position of his ears showed that he was listening, he was checking out who this hooman was. I leaned forward to whisper to him.

"Hey there, horse guy! Thank you for letting me onto your back"

He nickered then shook his head, which, in  horse language means "Can we get going, already?"

All I did was to relax the reins & made a light clucking noise. He was ready to go!

The rule at the stables, to ride, is to only go as fast as a quick walk. Just below a trotting gait, faster than a leisurely walk.

This is a great rule, as there are some people who care more about their own enjoyment even to the detriment of the horse. Part of why I love to go to the stables is that the horses ARE well cared for.

Spirit took me through the trails of the mountainous acreage of the USAFA, he was looking around, nickering in reply as I talked to him.

I felt something I hadn't felt in a very long time.

Falling hopelessly in love with this magnificent equine. 

I felt a connection to him, so much about him to love. He had a scent that was a mixture of light sweat, stream water, the liniment that is put on horses to repel flies. 

He smelled so good to me!

The dream I have for my life is to pay cash for a horse, a house & a dog (maybe 2 dogs).

When I choose to buy an animal, I have to connect with the animal. It's an aspect that is difficult to explain, when you feel it, you will definitely know it.

It's that feeling people have when they meet another person who they feel, right away, they know they will marry that person.

Connection.

I knew that Spirit was the horse I wanted to buy.

While I was in Colorado, I spent as much time as I could with him. Riding through the mountains, brushing him, (with permission from the stable hands) feeding him little treats, talking to him. Most horses love to be brushed. It makes them feel good, kinda like most people like to be hugged or to get a massage. Horses make friends with each other by lightly scratching each other. That itchy spot they can't reach on their backs or their necks. Horses carry a lot of weight in their necks. Brushing or scritching that spot feels really good to them.

Oh yeah.

I fell in love with him!

I planned to buy Spirit once I was in a position to be able to care for him. Something a person who is acting responsibly, does. There is an equestrian trail that spans the miles between Colorado & Florida. My plan was to move to Florida, to have a place for him whether it was a horse property or a boarding stable. I would buy a 1 way ticket to Colorado, then, ride him to our new home in Florida. The equestrian trail possibly starts in Washington state or maybe Montana. There are bunk houses with corrals & pasture for the horses along the way on the trail. There is also an on call veterinarian just in case.

 

To reach that goal I had been working 80 hours per week. Adhering strictly to a budget I set for myself, saving, scrimping, preparing to be in a position to care for him. 

Horses are expensive, time consuming, to take care of properly. Their teeth continue to grow, the teeth have to be trimmed from time to time. If the teeth go untrimmed, the horse will develop sores from biting themselves. If it's let go long enough, the horse will stop eating, eventually starving to death. Hooves have to be trimmed, cleaned out. Hay, grain plus other foods are expensive. Horses need these to be healthy. Many Veterinarians require the horse to be brought to them. Like people doctors, most of them no longer make "house calls". For this, I will need to buy a truck to pull the trailer I will need to transport my horse to the Vet if needed. 

I won't even go into sheath cleaning for a stallion or gelding!!!! Use your imagination on that one. 

Some people were a bit alarmed when I told of my plan to ride Spirit from Colorado to Florida. People do this all the time, it's why the trail with accommodations was created. There was concern about my safety being on the trail, alone, with Spirit.

HAH!

I can definitely take care of myself. Having just enough fear to be cautious, confident in my self defense skills. Military training goes deep into the brain. When I have been in serious jeopardy, in the past, I felt the skills kick in. If someone attacks me, I won't call 911, so there won't be anyone coming to save them from me. 

Too late to apologize.

When I received the news that he had been sold, went to someone who fell in love with him just as I had. 

I was happy for him, so deeply sad for me. I cried all night that night, cried all day the next day. The tears kept flowing. The loss I felt was so deep, letting myself FEEL the loss.

All I have, now, are memories of him, pictures, a lock of his mane.

I will be okay, eventually.

Go Slow

The words echo within my mind in the voice of each person who I have ever heard, saying them.

Go slow.

It's a lesson I had to learn, still, it's progress. 

As the world moves at such a frenzied pace around me, I learned to go slow. As I see people who are going, going, going. Forgetting how to just be.

They are more human doings than they are human beings. Constantly doing, doing, doing. Rush here, go there. 24/7.

People who rush around without enough rest are aging faster, noticing less, hurry, hurry, hurry. Their frenzied past with inadequate rest is more harmful to health than tobacco use, alcohol or any other substance abuse.

I learned to slow down at an age when many people are revving up. Perhaps I was initially attracted to needlework as I saw its beauty. As I began, teaching myself as there was no one to teach me. Really, needlework taught me more than I had initially imagined it would. It taught me to live life at a slower pace. Simply having a desire to create such beauty with an art form that was within my reach was the motivation.

It was clean (I hate to get my hands dirty), it was very portable. Initially, it was inexpensive, within 1 week of starting a first project, I was mesmerized at seeing the design appear before my eyes.

My crack was a needle, beautiful fabric, the DMC Floss plus the sparkling fibers that I discovered. 

Then?

The beads, the charms of little buzzy bees, charms that were painted in a porcelain medium. As I corresponded with a penpal who became my mentor in converting from Aida fabric to beautiful linens in a myriad of sizes, colors, textures. 

If I was only hooked in my pre-linen stitching? I was obsessed, now, with stitching. I am forever grateful to Lee O'Neil of Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania who taught me so much with her letters.

When I moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany to the village of Rodenbach, I walked through the village with my children. Many German homes had their large front windows decorated as such beautiful showcases. Many of them had Hardanger valances hanging above a beautiful window ledge arrangement. 

I didn't know what it was, yet!

Lee O'Neil did!

She put together a wonderful package for me, with such care & love.

She gathered small pieces as swatches of each type of linen. Different sizes, textures, colors. 

She wrote a long letter to me describing what each one could be used for, their names. There was Lugana, Floba, Heatherfield, Dublin, Cashel, Belfast, Edinburgh, Newcastle. All are made as a natural color as well as many different colors they are dyed & sometimes custom dyed with beautiful backgrounds.

My wonderful penpal, Lee, also gifted me such a beautiful heart shaped Christmas ornament that drove me nuts in a good way! Just as I taught myself to begin stitching, there was no one around to teach me to do this breathtaking beautiful form of needlework known as Hardanger.

Every time I take the beautiful ornament out, that Lee gifted me, I say a heartfelt thank you to her for her kind & beautiful gift along with the tutelage. The initial inspiration to learn Hardanger stitching to create my own beautiful works.

Lee also introduced me to the beautiful designs by Judith Kirby, Nan Caldera of Just Nan designs. So much more! Wherever she is in the world, I am deeply grateful to her.

The ornament that Lee sent to me was one in a series of 14. I have stitched 10, eventually, I hope to have stitched all 14. The ornaments are stitched on cream Belfast 32 (32 squares to the inch). So pretty!

Even better?

It was my pleasure to meet the designer. 

Emie Bishop of Cross n Patch designs. It has been my pleasure to go to one of the "Mecca" of needlework shops, Shepherds Bush, in Ogden Utah. Emie Bishop lived close by. 

She very gracefully entered the shop on one of the times I was there. She seemed to be a very quiet, humble, elegant woman who spoke barely above a whisper. 

When she walked in, I knew exactly who she was, immediately! 

She had some of her new designs in a wicker basket, bringing them in to be sold by the shop, Shepherds Bush.

It's a moment I remember fondly, happy that I didn't act like an idiot as my heart was beating so hard, so fast, at meeting her.

I have been so fortunate to have met some of these power houses behind the beautiful designs I love! As much as I admire the designs of Janice Love, I have most of her design books, have not stitched her designs, yet, I definitely could! After teaching myself the Hardanger method of stitching, it helped me to overcome being intimidated by the way it looks so complex. It's 4 different basic stitches repeated over & over. Sometimes other stitches are also used. So beautiful!

I have met: 

Alma Lynne Hayden of Alma Lynne Designs. She was just as fun, sweet, kind & was so generous with her time. I went to my first needlework retreat in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Alma Lynne's home as well as the place where cross stitch was reborn on St Pawleys Island spurred by Ginnie Thompson!

Pat Carson of Gloria & Pat Designs. An elegant lady who spends her time doing good works in the world with needlework.

Susan Greening Davis whose Quaker inspired needlework is the epitome of simple elegance.

Emie Bishop ~ Already mentioned.

Nora Corbett who is the designer of a few different lines of designs. Mirabilia, Little Stitches, Nora Corbett Designs. She was as kind, gracious & generous with her time. An elegant, artistic designer with a quiet voice & great sense of humor!

Paula & Dan Minkbinge of Crossed Wing designs. This wife & husband team create such beautiful designs of birds along with some insects interacting with birds. These 2, like so many other designers, were very down to earth, very kind, very personable. It was a thrill to meet them after having admired their beautiful designs.

Frances Johnson, whom I spoke with on the phone, didn't meet in person. Her Hawai'ian designs are well known by stitchers who love Hawai'i. The way in which Frances uses her art to capture the spirit of Hula, traditions, natural beauty of the islands is very heartfelt.

It's an honor, to me, to have met these designers. It elevates stitching their designs to a whole new level of enjoyment.

It has been said, in my presence, that it must take so much patience to do the stitching, I do. 

In reality?

Even if you have very little patience, stitching teaches patience. 

The greatest teacher of "Go Slow."