Alien Ornament - 2017

“What the heck is that?” I asked when Mr. H. showed me an ornament he’d just pulled from the back of our Christmas tree.

Laughing, he said, “What do you think? Looks like another alien ornament to me!”

“But what is it?” said I.

Taking it from his hands, I examined it carefully but still couldn’t give it a name. With its large eyes, it looked somewhat like an owl, but there was also pine, two miniature pine cones and four red berries.

Grabbing my phone, I took a picture and sent it to my son. Alien ornament, I wrote. He wrote back, “I love it! Funny, but somehow endearing. It may be the best one yet!”

As we continued dismantling the tree, Mr. H. and I laughed and laughed at the newest member of our Alien Ornament family. It was really cute! Even though this year marks more than a decade of finding a strange ornament on our tree when we take it down, we are always surprised and totally delighted to find it! 

And now, after we admire it a while, this one will be wrapped lovingly in tissue paper and packed away with the others in the box I labeled “Alien Ornaments – 2007 – 2016” last year – but changed this year to “Special Ornaments.”

I cherish these frivolous little gifts from an unknown source and hope that one day, when Mr. H. and I are no longer able to hang them on our Christmas tree, the person or persons responsible for them will give them a special place on their tree.

And may they get as much pleasure from doing so as we have!  

Last year's ornament here

amazon.com/author/peggytoneyhorton 

January Hoarfrost

How can one awaken to the magnificence of January hoarfrost and witness rays of golden sunshine shimmering through icy trees and not be dazzled by the appeal of a wintry morn?

Wishing ~

My mother lived to be 85 years of age without giving up anything she enjoyed. As I think of her tonight, I can’t help but wonder how many years she might have lived had she made even the slightest attempt to take care of herself?

 I wish she had. 

www.amazon.com/author/peggytoneyhorton

October Day

Ah, Lovely October!

Ah, Lovely October! As you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like a leaf whirling in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a Heavenly choir.

 © 2016 ~Peggy Toney Horton

What has Happened to the Neighborhood?

It’s a beautiful 82˚day where I live. Although I had things to do, I couldn’t resist taking a short walk in my neighborhood. It’s amazing what one can learn on one of these walks. I encountered five people and two dogs along the way and I don’t mind telling you, the dogs were much friendlier than the people.

I’ve lived in this neighborhood for many years, but an onlooker might have supposed that I was a newcomer. People seem almost afraid to speak to people they don’t know these days. I remember a time when I couldn’t go for a walk without getting involved in conversation with everyone I met. In those days, everyone walked mostly for the camaraderie. What started out to be a short walk always took a couple of hours.

But today was different. As a man cutting his grass looked my way, I smiled and said, “Hello,” but all I got back was a quick nod. A short time later, I saw two ladies walking toward me on the opposite side of the street. Gearing up for a friendly exchange, I readied my smile, but the two ladies barely managed a nervous “Hi,” as they walked on. Another woman sat in a rocking chair on her porch – rocking away. I said, “Hello, how’re you today?” She ignored me.

Just as I was checking to see if my shirt was unbuttoned or if I had mustard on my face, a big brown dog and a small white one ran toward me wagging all over and jumping on me as if I were a well-known friend. Their owner appeared on her porch and yelled, “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“Sure is!” I yelled back, petting the dogs.

Heading toward home, I thought, “Well, one out of five ain’t bad, I guess. What has happened to the neighborhood? Where are all the friendly people? Are all neighborhoods like this – or only mine?”

Am I a scary looking person? If so, it didn’t just recently happen. I remember a time when I was much younger – and had more vinegar running through my veins; I was being ignored at a doctor’s office. I sat there for more than an hour past my appointment time. People kept arriving, getting called in to see the doctor and leaving while I sat twiddling my thumbs. I got angrier and angrier and finally couldn’t stand it any longer. I went to the window. The receptionist looked up and said, “May I help you?”

“Do I have two heads or something?” I inquired.

“What do you mean,” she asked.

“You’ve ignored me for more than an hour. If the doctor doesn’t have time for me, I’ll leave now and not waste any more of my day!”

After rustling around with some papers on her desk, the young girl, obviously embarrassed, said, “I’m so sorry! You’re next.”

Those were the good old days when people knew how to communicate!

www.amazon.com/author/peggytoneyhorton

November in my Soul