AT HOME – IN THE PAGES

                  















[Photo Source:  GOOGLE online images]

(3 NOV 2011 --How many times I've spent in the company of good companions and involved in some great storytelling -- all at my fingertips.  Now, I'm aware that there are electronic sources of stories in DVDs, video, movies, audio, and kindle type media.  Nevertheless, for myself, I prefer the printed words on the paper pages of a book or magazine or newsprint.  There I can so easily lose myself in that 'other world' -- whether in the waiting room at the dentist or standing in line at the DMV.  WHAT 'books' have you read lately that transported you for a time to another place – another space?  dht-2011)

I'm a happy adventurer

and Love to disappear into the nether land

of a well written story in a book –

a book with paper pages that I can turn

and enter with Welcome  -- 

as an honored visitor to a World Outside my own –

that springs to Life in the printed page –

with characters, plots, intrigue, pathos,

joy, laughter, heartache, heartwarming, and heartfelt cheer.

I'm home – in the Pages of a Book!

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr-2011]

Circle of Life

[Photo Source: My camera, my photo of my neighbors and Nature's wonders.]

(23 Oct 2011 -- A walk on the dirt pathways of the wildlife nature preserve where I live, always shakes the troubles from my thoughts and adds perspective to my perception. dht-2011)

A cool morning mist hangs in the air until a lazy sunrise wakens the New Day.

Shorter days signal Nature's preparations for a Winter's slumber.

Another endless cycle of birth and death completes the season.

The occasional echoes of passing migrating California Canada Geese fill the air.

As I look up, my Life seems to fall into perspective within the larger Circle of Life.

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

[VIDEO: My camera, my video of the neighboring geese, in the wildlife preserve where I live, as they spy my digital eye and take flight. dht-11OCT2010]

[VIDEO: My camera, my video of the neighboring geese, in the wildlife preserve where I live, dht-2011]

LOVE -- Whispers

[Photo Source: Google online images -- Quilting using SINGER peddle sewing machine]

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(Sometimes the threads of LOVE are a silent gesture, a bold token, a thoughtful gift, a sacrifice, a prayer, or whatever ... Woven together, these LOVE threads become a strong bond that can withstand the rigors of life and the tests of time. The bonds become the fabric of our life with all the texture, flourish, whimsy, faith, and strength that make our life rich and full.

Family Lore has many colors and patterns made from these fabrics and LOVE threads that WHISPER IN THE EAR of generations, reminders of our bonds to the past, the hopes of the present, and the promise of the future.

I wrote this today 25 JUN 2011 and dedicate it to my daughter Rebecca Lynne Shoudy Richey on this her 47th Birthday today. Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011)

      [Photo Source: Google online images -- Quilting by hand]

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THE QUILTIN’ TIMES ARE A-CHANGING

For our Great-Great Grandmothers, in quilting times past—

A frugal quilter had to scrimp, make every scrap last—

Today wasting fabric is not such a crime—

Today what’s scarce is a quilter’s TIME.

Patterns used to travel with pioneers going west—

Now we swap and share instantly on the Internet—

Once templates were traced, fabric carefully scissored—

Now we slice multiple layers, we’re all Olfa wizards.

At one time a two fabric quilt was a sign of status—

Now Watercolor quilts have hundreds of prints comin’ at us—

Quilters used to gather at small local quilting bees—

Now we congregate at conferences, national teachers to see.

Like our Great-Great Grandmothers our lives are busy, we’re stressed—

But with the beauty of our quilts, we feel we are blessed—

As with Great-Great Grandmother, our quilting serves many goals—

To give warmth, grace our homes, and feed our souls.

[by CindyThury Smith 1999]



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Web LINK--

For a inspirational poem you may want to visit this web page

[ http://www.promiseofgod.com/quilt/ ].

Rainy Days and Rainbows

[PHOTO SOURCE: National Geographic online images, GRAND CANYON RAINBOW]

{A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to a VERY SPECIAL FRIEND for the VERY SPECIAL GIFT OF A BOOK OF POETRY BY EMILY ELIZABETH DICKINSON.  dht-2011}

(INSPIRATION from the rain that fell this morning over my roof, and set the leaves to sparkle in the sunshine -- that has come out and the sky that is chuck full of glorious RAINBOWS!  ~dht-MAY 2011)

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A Drop fell on the Apple Tree --

Another -- on the Roof --

A Half a Dozen kissed the Eaves --

And made the Gables laugh –

A few went out to help the Brook

That went to help the Sea --

Myself Conjectured were they Pearls --

What Necklaces could be—

The Dust replaced, in Hoisted Roads --

The Birds jocoser sung --

The Sunshine threw his Hat away –

The Bushes --  spangles flung –

The Breezes brought dejected Lutes --

And bathed them in the Glee -

The Orient showed a single Flag,

And signed the Fete away --

[~ A Poem #794  By: Emily Elizabeth Dickinson]

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WHAT this poem by my Maternal Cousin Emily Elizabeth Dickenson says to me -- OR why didn't you just say so (Emily's poem #794):

It seems this is about a summer rain shower and how it refreshes and changes the land as the water cycles (a chain of nature as a chain of pearls in a necklace) through nature as rain, streams, rivers, seas, oceans, then evaporation and storms and rain again.  How the land is blessed, kissed by the rain, decorated by glittering raindrops, and dust is settled.  How the rain makes soft and cheery sounds on the roof and birds sing their song.  How the sunshine 'gave it up' and the clouds and rain prevailed in rain shower festivities (fete), until the sun came out again from the East and displayed a rainbow (flag).  How the rain and wind washes the leaves (pear shaped leaves like a lute.)  [~ dht-2011]

CHOCOLATE - How it affects my LIFE and FUNNY BONE

                 PHOTO SOURCE: National Geographic online images]

(12 APR 2011 -- Life is not ALWAYS what you perceive with your eyes, feel with your hands, or hear with your ears; BUT the heart ALWAYS sees TRUE!!   LIFE is full of the unexpected and surprises -- hopefully delightful ones!  THE SURPRISE HERE IS NOT WHAT YOU MAY BE EXPECTING !!  The photo above is actually a photo of 'mud' -- that's right 'mud'.  Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011)

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Below are some of my favorite quotes relative to Chocolate (my FAV flavoring) -- ENJOY!!

LIFE IS NOT LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES, IT'S MORE LIKE A JAR OF JALAPENO'S.

WHAT YOU DO TODAY, MIGHT BURN YOUR BUTT TOMORROW!

OKAY, it might not be Patriotic, but you have to admit it is pretty good!  [borrowed from Jean E.- 5JUL2010]OU DO TODAY, MIGHT BURN YOUR BUTT TOMORROW! Okay ~ it might not be Patriotic, but you have to admit it is pretty good.

"IT IS BAD TO SUPPRESS LAUGHTER.  IT GOES BACK DOWN AND SPREADS TO YOUR HIPS! 
I thought that was just chocolate that did that."  [borrowed from Jean E. 2011]

"All you need is love.  But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." 

[- Charles M. Schulz]

"Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power.  It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits."  [- Baron Justus von Liebig]

"Life is like a box of chocolates ... You never know what you're gonna get."  [- Forrest Gump, as portrayed by Tom Hanks]

If life is like a box of chocolates, then it's time for me to buy another box, I seemed to have already devoured all the good ones! 

[– unknown]

Life is like a box of chocolates, the best ones are half eaten!! [– unknown]

"There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles."  [– unknown]

Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy.  Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression.  Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally.  So, eat lots of chocolate!  [-Elaine Sherman]

This guy found a bottle on the ocean, and he opened it and out popped a genie, and he gave him three wishes.  The guy wished for a million dollars, and poof!  There was a million dollars.  Then he wished for a convertible, and poof!  There was a convertible.  And then, he wished he could be irresistible to all women... poof!  He turned into a box of chocolates.  [– unknown]

I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process....  It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?  [– unknown]

Chocolate flows in deep dark, sweet waves, and a river to ignite my mind and alert my senses.  [– unknown]

Chocolate doesn't make the world go around ... but it certainly makes the ride worthwhile!  [– unknown]

Man cannot live on chocolate alone; but woman sure can. 
[– unknown]

Seven days without chocolate makes ONE WEAK.  [– unknown]

In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips.  [– unknown]

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On the BOOKSHELF – the pages of your life

[PHOTO SOURCE: Google online images]

ON the BOOKSHELF of the TREE of LIFE lay a book bound in sturdy, high quality leather.  I carefully opened it to the title page.  The author was "Waiten Fortue Marrowe" and had been printed in the year of my birth.  A coincidence, I decided, for there certainly was no guidebook in existence to tell me how to live my life.  No step-by-step instruction manual on how to be happy.  No directions to follow along the dark and confusing passages of my life.  No words of wisdom from bygone generations that would hold me high on their shoulders, protected from life's murky waters where hopes and dreams shatter.  No pillars to lean on.  No gentle hands to catch and lift me when I stumble.  No printed lyrics when I forget the song of my soul.  No shade for a wounded heart or sunshine for a gray mood.  OH, but such a book of life could release the chains that bind me, so I could freely search for someplace better, where there are dear ones whose hearts still shine, where together we would find peace and LOVE and end this long abstinence.  CAN'T keep living like this, day after day.  Have to make a change.  Play a new song.  Dance to a new tune.  WELL, after all, maybe there is an ANGEL on my shoulder with a book in her hand – while FATHER time inevitably turns the pages of destiny toward me for all the things that are to come.  Yesterday brought the beginning of my life, tomorrow brings the last chapter, but somewhere in the middle, a page or two from the Book On The Shelf would be so welcome in bridging the gap.
[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]


COMMENT: "So true ... 'Waiten Fortue Marrowe'.  I'll do it tomorrow; make that apology, exercise more, be kinder, not lose my temper.  We live in "today's" pages and best treat others as if it's the last time we'll see them.  Nothing else matters except other beings, in the final analysis."   (Cheryl V. - 2011)

Steps to the Rest of My Life

                          [PHOTO SOURCE -National Geographic online images]

(The writing below is not mine, but the SENTIMENTS are mine.  I offer a SPECIAL THANK YOU for the words and the comfort they proffer a broken Heart and walking wounded --  in our ever changing Journey.  Our Journey Begins -- as always with another stepping stone and learning experience in this path of LIfe, with that First Giant Step of Faith for a better Tomorrow!  Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011)

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Steps to the Rest of My Life

Today I will pause on the way to tomorrow,
and I’ll reflect on yesterday.

I’ll examine the reasons for my pain and my sorrow-
determine which debts I must pay!

I’ll retrace the steps that led me to this-
this cold place of darkness and fear!

And I’ll slay the dragons - if they still exist -
and the demons that invited me here!

I’ll leave them in ashes and never look back-
get rid of the pain and the strife!

I’ll tentatively take my first steps to the future-
those steps to the rest of my life!
[~ June Kellum, Feb 2004]

Website  [ http://juniesplace.blogspot.com/2009/02/poem-steps-to-rest-of-my-life.html ]