Hi Shenanigan Enthusiasts!

We are still enjoying this exceptionally beautiful fall weather. The colors sprinkled across the mountains and valley are absolutely stunning. We will enjoy it while it lasts because snow is in the forecast this weekend. As always, the barnyard is full of funny farm shenanigans! Sweet Betty and June seem to smile ear to ear when they hear me coming. They waddle and oink their way over as fast as they can in hopes to be the first to nibble a treat! Rowdy pushes his way through the rest of the gang to shove his nose in the bucket, the goats jump on me, trying to get some treats of their own and the ‘pacas anxiously wait for an opening they will never get so I sprinkle grain in random places, high and low throughout the barnyard so everyone can get a little something. It’s like a scavenger hunt every morning! Once everyone is happily nibbling, I fill the water troughs and grab my handy pink pitchfork and get to work shoveling sh*t. My Church.

 

Though the days are sunny and warm, the early mornings are more and more brisk. Thanks to my handy dandy coveralls I stay warm and cozy while listening to my favorite tunes and talking to God. I express my gratitude for all the magic that surrounds me, the love in my heart, the freedom I have to pursue my dreams and my FAITH in knowing I am being guided. Often, a perfect tune plays in my pocket, like a little message to pay attention to, I am ALIVE and well.

 

I’m Alive - Kenny Chesney (click to listen)

So damn easy to say that life's so hard

Everybody's got their share of battle scars

As for me, I'd like to thank my lucky stars that I'm alive and well...

It'd be easy to add up all the pain

And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames

Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain

But not me...I'm alive

 

And today you know that's good enough for me

Breathin' in and out's a blessing can't you see

Today's the first day of the rest of my life and I'm alive

And well...I'm alive and well

 

The First Day of Rest of My Life

I love the line; TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE. Such a powerful perspective. There has no doubt, been lessons and blessings along all of our journeys, hopefully we are better rather than bitter for where our journey has led us. It’s probably safe to say if we are bitter, we still need to discover what the blessings are from the lessons on our path. The magic in the messy of it all is, today the first day of the rest of our lives, today we get to choose how we show up. Better or bitter? We can choose to pursue what lights us up. Today we can do the THING or make an excuse. It doesn’t have to be the whole THING, the best things usually take time, but we can take a step and then another and if we are lucky, tomorrow will be the next first day of the rest of lives and we will be alive and well because maybe possibly for the first time, we are TRULY LIVING.

TAKE THE STEP

 Take the step, risk it. The greatest risk of all is regret. Our ‘paca, Buddy finally got out of his own way this week and did exactly that! He mustered up the courage to join the rest of the gang on our evening walk outside the barnyard, where the grass really is greener right now. Those of you who follow our shenanigans, know that poor Buddy has always been too afraid to step outside the barn yard. He pitifully watched as all his pals skipped through the open gate and frolicked in the wide-open spaces. I always said the only one standing in his way was himself and the invisible boundary in his mind. Not anymore!!! No funny farm would be complete without a funky old golf cart to round everyone up. I was sitting in the golf ready to herd anyone who went too far down our driveway back towards the house when Buddy came skipping up to catch up with Rasta and Merle. I did a double take! Yay Buddy!!! It was a proud funny farm mom moment. He was Alive and well, truly livin’! Life lessons at the funny farm.

 

ONE STEP AT A TIME

 Just keep taking one step at a time. Well, let’s just say the second step didn’t come any easier than the first one for Buddy. When it was time to go back in, he freaked out about going back through the gate. While everyone else happily trotted back into the barnyard for a little grain treat, Buddy panicked! Lucy had him flustered so I put her in the house, but he was all worked up. He is my drama queen! He’s the only one who thinks he is dying when he gets sheared too. My usual thought is suck it up buttercup but he’s a sensitive fella, so I stayed patient, talking to him sweetly and offering treats, nope that didn’t work! I let him tootle around a bit more just in time for him to greet Jeff getting home from football practice. Jeff went to give him his usual friendly pet and in return he got spit on!!! Oh, my goodness, we were cracking up! Welcome home, love you. I realized I was going to have to take the bull by the horns or in this case the ‘paca in a bear hug. Fortunately, he’s our little guy, not sure I would have been able to guide Rasta or Merle as well. I talked to him sweetly reassuring him he was ok and scooped my arms around his chest, gently bracing his neck and half carried, half guided him back to the barnyard with his pals. Jeff cracking up as he watched Buddy spit in my face several times along the way. Spit happens. But not to us! The good news is each day since has been the first day of the rest of our lives. Buddy and I are better, not bitter. We are both learning and growing, Buddy has come out every day and loved every minute. He's still uneasy about going back in the gate but I am figuring out what works, and he is doing it on his own. Step by step. We are alive and well.

 

ONE MORE DAY IN THIS CRAZY LIFE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!

 

Today is not just the first day of the rest of his life, but the first day in the 45th year of Jeff’s life. On this day 28 years ago, I made the most terrible pot roast and mashed potato dinner for him to celebrate. I should have known then it was love because he ate it and told me it was good. He lied! All these years later I finally make a pot roast as yummy as Ma’s. Life is busy so I won’t make it tonight but Sunday we are expecting the first snow fall and it will be a perfect day for some comfort food! Instead of cards we give each other songs this one is perfect, for life, love, and pot roast.

 

GRAVY - Tim McGraw (click to enjoy)

If you ask me, I got it made

If I could hug my kids and kiss my wife (and Hubby)

One more day in this crazy life

Take a second to stop and smell the daisies

Everything else is gravy

 

We are saving the Gravy for Sunday, but we will have a favorite fall cocktail to Celebrate tonight!

Join us in sippin’ this yummy sip! Cheers to Gravy and the first day of the rest of our lives.

 

 

 

SHENANIGAN ENTHUSIASTS...

Until we connect again, may you laugh ‘til you snort, take the bull by the horns, give yourself and others some GRACE, live a good story, climb your mountain, dream, do hard things, live like someone left the gate open, make it a good one, strive to thrive, love like crazy, enjoy the little things, always look for the magic to celebrate, be grateful, embrace the messy, turn it into your magic, notice the miracles, dance in the kitchen, and choose better on every first day of the rest of your life. 

 

Love & Shenanigans 💕🐽

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Much Gratitude, 

Zanna

SHENENIGAN ENTHUSIAST

 

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 p.p.p.s. I am so excited for the launch my new V-S-T Podcast next month! My hope is to offer HOPE, insight and resources to our Tribe. Together we can laugh, cry, grow, be inspired, inspire, and find magic in the messy so that we can all THRIVE. 

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