They lined the road to my grandparents farm. They were a vivid memory of my childhood. Now they line the rural roads here Just West of Nowhere. I could almost see my grandma on her front porch every time I drove past them. It’s her birthday. I think she would have been 110 years old.

Happy Birthday! ❤️

Sometimes this sign feels like a welcome home.

Sometimes this sign feels like a stop on my journey.

Sometimes this sign feels like it’s just mocking me.

And sometimes I don’t even notice this sign as I drive by.

Sometimes I wonder if I should always try to find a reason for this sign to make me smile or embrace the times it makes me sigh.

Sign of the times?

Sign of the place?

Just West of Nowhere.

Living somewhere between total contentment and what the hell are we doing here.

Just have to remind myself, most of us live here. We remember where we were. Don’t take enough time to appreciate where we are. Wonder where we are going.

Here I am, where the sunsets are beautiful and life feels right more than not. But on occasion……sigh.

Meet Ghost! Yea, I know that’s a silly name for a puppy. But this puppy has a story.

We weren’t looking for a puppy. We had lost our schnauzer Bing awhile back and have settled into being a one dog family. But my niece had a puppy she needed to find a home for…..

They brought her over to meet us and she literally vanished. We had a extensive search. Ten or so people searching this small neighborhood Just West of Nowhere. We searched for hours.

Eventually we conceded she was lost. Lost to a tragic end to another animal or picked up by someone driving out by the lake. She was gone, probably dead.

Two days later, our Tink was barking at something in the back yard. She was over near Mal’s shop. Hoping it wasn’t a skunk or a snake, I went to investigate. I heard a scratching and a faint whimper coming from inside the shop. I knocked on the window to get Mal’s attention. He came to the door and I told him there was something in his shop. I thought he had closed a dog or cat in there. He thought it might have been a rat he thought he had seen earlier.

He hit the garage door opener. He had inadvertently left the light on. Nothing. Not a sight of any animal, not a sound to be heard as we searched among the stuff that gets put in the spare garage Just West of Nowhere.

The next day, while I was working a local election, Mal and my nephew Shane found this puppy hiding behind a stack of wood in his shop.

She didn’t make it easy. She apparently didn’t want to be found. She was hungry and thirsty. She already has Mal wrapped around he paw. And she is back from the dead.

Ghost seems to fit…….and she seems happy we found her……Tink still hasn’t decided…….

Challenge Accepted 🔨🔧🔩Did we think this through?🤷‍♀️😜

To be continued…….

Some progress made before the wind, dead tool batteries and old bodies got in the way. Till tomorrow………..or the next day…….from Just West of Nowhere🙋🏼💕

Continue reading “Repurposing?”

You shouldn’t look up

into a sky filled with birds…

Always thankful for family, friends, health and kindness out here Just west of Nowhere.

Also thankful for the reminder that occasionally we should shake off some old stuff and let it fall to the ground.

Let the trivial stuff blow away in the wind and take the time to clean up the rest.

Clean slate. Ready for the next season, the next year, the next chapter….

Be still

If just for a moment

See only ripples where there were waves

See beautiful sky where there were storms

Reflect

Think

Absorb

Appreciate

Forgive

Pray

Refresh

Recharge

Deep breath

Ride the waves

Weather the storms

Be strong

Be fearless

Still