Trail of Tears

For those of you who share an interest in the Cherokee People, Cherokee heritage and history, this link is the account of John G. Burnett's Story of the Removal of the Cherokees.

I have at different times talked to some people who believe the story of the Trail of Tears is bogus. There are those who think all the Cherokee People chose to leave their homes in the Mountains of the Blue Mist, Smokey Mountains, to be herded like cattle to Indian Territory in the west. I wish I could send this link to all those folks. Of course there are always doubters, like those who think the Nazi's never did horrible things to the Jews, the white folks here in this country never beat their slaves, etc.
Those stories are in the history books. We DID hear and read about those happenings in school. I bet you never saw John G. Burnett's story in a high school history book! Why is that do you suppose? Your input is welcome...

So please, take the time to click on the link (title, Trail of Tears) above to read Mr. Burnett's story. He was a man of compassion.

It's FEBRUARY!!!

We finally had our first real snow fall of the season. What a strange winter it has been! For the longest time the temperatures stayed quite warm, then it rained, and rained. Then it rained some more, enough rain! We've had way too much wind, especially with the soggy ground which means many trees have been uprooted and many limbs are found in and along side the roadways. But the snow was pretty, didn't last long due to the temperature bouncing back up into the upper 40's and 50's within a day or two. Now we've had more rain and another slight cooldown. Of course all this fun means that most everyone has, or has had, some sort of sinus/head cold, bronchitis, etc. for months now. Everytime I begin to believe my head is about to clear up the weather makes a drastic change and wouldn't you know it, I'm right back where I was a week ago! I am so ready for SPRING!



I haven't been on a horse since mid December. Everytime I think I will have the time to ride the weather decides not to permit it happening. When we do have the occasional warm, dry day, everyone needs something from me. So I imagine that by the time I do get in the saddle again it will be like starting all over. You know, saddle sores, stiff, sore muscles, etc., but it is always worth it. I can almost smell that clean, fresh Spring air now...
And, until it really is warm and sunny and the buds and blooms start to pop, keep your head up and remember to "LIVE, LOVE and LAUGH"!

No Wonder He Didn't See His Shadow!

Hey folks, the groundhog didn't see his shadow!
NEWSFLASH: It was cloudy and drop-dead cold!!! I wouldn't stick my head out of my nice, warm burrow either if I
were a groundhog!
Oh well, like groundhogs can predict the weather anyway.

I can't believe it's already February. The last several weeks have kind of been a blur for me, and I'm sure several other family
members feel the same way. Some of our family has recently moved into assisted living, a really nice home but what a major
life change! There was the search for the "right place", then the weeks of preparing for the move - packing, etc. Then the
physical move, which I have learned can go on for weeks also. Articles are moved from the house to the home, then some
have to be taken back to the house or given away because there isn't enough room for everything at the home. Then there are
other items that were forgotten or overlooked and now need to be packed and moved, then probably "re-moved", again. Once
everyone is settled in it will be time to get the house cleared out, cleaned up and put up for sale. I'm thinking that maybe, if we're lucky, about this time next year our lives will return to some type of normalcy.

It has been so cold lately that I haven't had the inspiration to ride a horse in weeks, well actually I guess we could say months now. I haven't ridden since December and that's just not normal for me. I am so ready for Spring and warm weather, flowers and horseback riding!!! My "girls" (horses) are really looking shaggy and somewhat neglected. They get fed mid morning and turned out for the day. In the evening I clean their stalls, feed and water them and put them up for the night. By the time I'm finished getting them in their stalls my hands and toes are so cold they feel like they would shatter if I bumped them on anything! I just can't quite wrap my fingers around a curry comb long enough to do any sort of justice to their manes and tails right now.

Oh well, such is life. I guess warm sunny weather year round would get boreing, but I believe I could learn to live with it.
So, when I warm up enough that I don't have to worry about my face cracking apart, I'll have to remind myself to -
LIVE, LOVE and LAUGH!!!