A MESSAGE FROM OMAR!

 Here is your link!
http://www.amazon.com/McCory-Chronicles-Katie-Dagger-Truth-ebook/dp/B00EBTL2N0/ref=la_B00HIMABJ8_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412719502&sr=1-2

Thoughts From Cathy ~ Leaf's Life

Anna's Birthweek! Featuring Anna's Legacy Leukemia Awareness Jewelry

Another beautiful Anna's Legacy Leukemia Awareness piece!

Butterfly Cameo with Peach Pearls in Silver or Gold.
All Proceeds will be donated to St Jude's Hospital
For buying details go to www.mystiquestonemagic.blogspot.com

Anna's Birthday

This week in honor of my daughter, Anna Michelle Collar's, birthday I will be featuring

~ Anna's Legacy Leukemia Awareness Jewelry ~

Carnelian Pendant with Gold Dragonflies, Peridot & Carnelian chips in Gold

Carnelian  "The Stone Of  Inspiration " 
I am the artists' stone reflecting soulful expression through words and actions. I inspire intensity and lend fire to design.

Peridot "The Stone Of  Destiny" 
I stand as a guardian of hope, wisdom, generosity, abundance, and compassion. Let me take you in hand and guide you to understanding your destiny and spiritual purpose.  

For buying details go to www.mystiquestonemagic.blogspot.com 

All of the proceeds from this sale will be donated to St. Jude's Hospital.

Abigail's Garden

Abigail’s Secret

By C. L. Collar

 

Abigail sat underneath the magnificent oak tree; the centerpiece of her gorgeous garden. A small breeze tenderly brushed a stray strand of sliver hair across her face. The sweet scent of lavender intermingled with a delicate rose fragrance as it drifted to her nose. She sighed. Spring was her favorite time of year. She lifted the ornate pitcher from the table and poured the yellow liquid into her glass. The ice cubes tinkled, adding their musical notes to the melody of the wind chimes dangling above her head. Sipping the sweet-tart lemonade, Abigail smiled and leaned back in her chair.

She looked toward the heavens through the dense foliage of the regale tree. When she and her husband, Joshua had bought the property this tree had been the only occupant in the yard. She loved it and he hated it. She saw it as the beginning of a haven from all of their daily trials and stress. He saw it as a water guzzling, root infestation that would cause nothing but problems. She won the battle with a pouting mouth and pleading eyes. Joshua never stood a chance against her charms. She held his heart in her small hands and she knew it all too well. Fifty years had passed and she still did.  

Abigail’s gaze fell on the blazing orange and yellow blossoms surrounding their vegetable garden. These had been the first uneatable plants lovingly placed here by her hands, her first addition to the garden. Joshua chided her for wasting money on such nonsense, but she pointed out that the seeds were a gift from an elderly friend who said the beautiful marigolds would not only perk up the garden but would also keep bugs away from the plants, explaining that their bitter scent worked as a natural insecticide. Josh had no argument for that so he shook his head, smiled and then went back to work, hoeing the weeds from between the rows.

A garage sale, had furnished the small table and chairs where she now sat. A new coat of paint and pebbles found at the pond and glued to the surface were all that it needed to transform it to a new, natural splendor. The chair cushions were worn but comfortable. Taking another sip from the glass, her eyes focused on the deep purple lavender and bright roses that were scattered about the yard.

The wild rose bushes had been a gift, from the elderly gardener with each child born to the couple, red for a boy and yellow for a girl. Lavender joined the yard along with a multitude of herbs when her treasured friend taught her how to use them to make fabulous meals and sweet potpourri. The selling of the potpourri paid well and Joshua’s increased waistline testified to his approval of the herbs.

Delicate daffodils, colorful tulips and heady scented hyacinths were strategically placed to fade out as the summer flowers blossomed. Bouquets sold through the local store more than offset the cost of the bulbs and seeds while furnishing her with fresh, fragrant decoration throughout the house. Everything had a memory and a purpose.

A butterfly settled on the top of the lemonade pitcher, seeking a taste of the sweet-tangy beverage. Abigail dipped her finger into her glass then placed a drop on the rim. In one swift breath the drop was gone as the delicate insect drifted away, preferring the sweetness of the honeysuckle’s blossom. Abigail laughed. “You should have known that Mother Nature’s drink would be the tastiest, silly girl.”

Abigail closed her eyes and drew a deep breath as contentment slowly spread through her body. Yes, with the help of her very special friend her vision had come to life. The old tree’s limbs creaked and squeaked, as the light breeze grew a little stronger. She opened her eyes and looked once more into the vast canopy above her.

“You think that I saved you that day so long ago, dear friend,” she said to the massive oak. “But it was really you who saved me.”

The old oak spread its branches just enough to let a single ray of sunshine bask on Abigail’s face. “I’d say we saved each other,” he whispered through his leaves.

           

           

Tessy & The Little Sister

 Tess the Mess & The Little Sister

Hi! It’s me, Tess! I just wanted to pop in and let you know what has been goin on out at the farm.  Coco has moved back out to the farm.  Coco is my buddy. We were adopted from the same pound and are about the same age. I am a few months older which makes me her big sister. We are soo happy to have her back. She had to stay in town with Mom and Dad for a while because last summer she hurt her hip and it was bothering her. Dr Angie put her on a diet and said that she should rest it for a while. She looks really good now, but her hip still bothers her some.

            The only problem I have with her being back is that she likes to go on my runs with me. I really don’t mind her goin it’s just that she can’t keep up and so I have to slow down for her and I really don’t like to go slooooooow.

            Today was a really nice day to run, so while Coco was taking her mid morning nap I decided to slip away. First I gave her a small nudge with my nose to see if she was really asleep. No response. Good. I slowly belly crawled to the front of the barn. Just as I was about to bolt out, there she was right beside me. She is pretty quiet for a chubby dog.

            “Where are you going? Are you going for a walk? I want to go for a walk! Please take me with you!”

            Little sisters can be so aggravating at times! I did not want to take her with me, so I lied.

            “I was just going to get a drink of water from the pond. Why don’t you go finish your nap? I will be right back.”

            “Oh! I would love to go to the pond with you! I can soak my hip in the cool water! I’m really not tired anymore.”

            Darn, I thought. I will have to wait till later for my long run.

            “Okay, let’s go,” I said, “but be careful. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

            Sometimes it is soooo hard being the big sister.

            I am enclosing a picture of Coco so you will know what she looks like. She is really sweet, just really slow. I will slip away later to to take my run. Right now we are goin to go for a nice long soak and swim in the pond.

My Little Sister  Coco

Written By My Mom Cathy Collar
Because I Tess Do Not Have Thumbs or Fingers

Tess the Mess and the Treat Defeat

Tess The Mess & 

The Treat Defeat

Hi! It's ME Again! Tess!

This is the story about how I almost died because I was a very bad doggie.

You see, I had been

going through an I can't get enough to eat spell. I didn't know why, but for some reason I was hungry ALL OF THE TIME! Mom took me to vet Angie and Angie said that she did not understand why I am was not gaining weight and why I wanted to eat ALL OF THE TIME! I got vitamins and canned dog food, and dried dog food, but it still wasn't enough. I couldn't get full. Because I got the canned dog food mom fed me in the old farm house so Big Black Mamma, Shadow, woudn't steal my food. Shadow LOVES canned dog food!

     On this particular day mom filled my dish with my delicious concoction and then went to feed the rest of her furry family closing the door behind her. I ate all of my food and waited patiently by the door for her to come back. I waited and waited and waited, but no mom. I got to thinking maybe she forgot I was in there. I started to whine. I whined and whined and whined. I stopped to listen for her footsteps. No mom, but I did hear something. It was coming from the grate dad had put over a hole in the floor. My curiosity got the better of me (ADHD) so I HAD to check it out. I went over to the grate and sniffed. There was a faint smell of rat, but something else was there. Something that smelled WONDERFUL. It made my mouth water. I HAD to have it!  
     I sniffed, and sniffed and finally found the delicious treat underneath a cement block by the hole. It took some effort, but I got it out and oh it tasted sooo good. 
     I was laying there, enjoying my treat when mom came back to let me out. She took one look at me and went BERSERK! She grabbed my special treat and tossed it up on the counter top way out of my reach. Then she took me outside and stuck her fingers down my throat. I just looked at her like she was crazy. I wondered what had happened to her while I was inside the house? I looked around the farmyard and everything looked peaceful enough, so why was mom acting weird? 
     After about three pokes down my throat, she loaded me in the big car and took me to town. On the way, I heard her talking to vet Angie about me. When we got to the town house, mom put me on a tie out and went into the house. I still couldn't figure out what was going on. I lie down under the tree to ponder the situation. My stomach growled and gurgled. Maybe I had eaten just a little too much. I thought I’d just sleep it off. 
     I had just closed my eyes ready for a good long nap when mom popped back outside with something in her hand. She said something about me needing to puck the rat poison I had eaten and Angie said that hydrogen peroxide (whatever that was) would make me do that. RAT POISON? I had just enough time to digest that thought when she poked a syringe in my mouth and squirted the nastiest stuff I had every tasted (and believe me I have tasted some really nasty stuff) right down my throat.

     First it bubbled in my mouth then all the way down my throat. It hit my tummy and within seconds all of my wonderful dinner lie on the ground. Mom grabbed my lead and took me to the run pen. Then she did the craziest thing! She scooped up my puck, dumped it in a trash bag and threw it into the big metal tin thing in the alley. 
     I didn’t quite understand what had happened until I got back out to the farm and talked to Big Mamma Black Shadow. She explained to me that the yummy treat I had found in the house was put there by dad to kill the rats that were eating our dog food and if mom hadn’t made me upchuck, I WOULD BE DEAD! 
     I could not believe it. My tasty treasure would have killed me. It is a good thing I have a good mommy. I have learned my lesson and I will never ever, ever eat anything like that again. But I am gonna find that dang rat and make him pay for eating my dog food!

Written By My Mom

Cathy Collar

Because I don't Have Thumbs or Fingers