You do not need to see the entire
path to take the first step. You can
take the first step with fear and doubt.You can take it with hope and trust. Too often we think we need to have
it all figured out and planned before we start.But the truth is, the best journey’s taken are not planned from start to
finish.They take unexpected twists and
turns to lead us where we need to go.They take longer than we think they will.They teach us things we could have never
prepared for.
So, if you
find yourself at the foot of a path, do not worry about everything ahead. Just take the first step, you will find your way.
- - Nikki Banas
Chief Inspector Poppytheauthor
Come follow poppytheauthor on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram
Today I will be reading a story I wrote Saturday – Country Time
After working in Monterey County, I
decided to move to the country. I had always
liked Paso Robles because of the friendly people, country roads and the hometown feeling. I eventually moved there. I found my home through an agent in
Atascadero.The moment we drove up to the gate my belly said, "this is my home." The agent said, the owners are
home.Would you like to meet them?I said, yes.Mr. Wilson was a nice man, he explained to me why he had the house
facing north versus south. How many nails were in the roof, why he cross
fenced the way he did, and the place was set up for pig farm with small pins. I fell in love with the bright sunny kitchen
with its natural sunlight, and the smell of jasmine coming in from the
windows.
The day I moved in my agent was out of town, so
I found my keys under the rock near the gate.There was so much to do.I unpacked
slowly and watched Leo and Zachary running around in the field chasing birds
and looking for ground squirrels.They would
jump into the water trough to cool down then it was nap-time in the sun. They were having fun.
I loved to watch the
sunset from my porch.At night, the sky
was so clear you could count the stars.I
worked in the garden planting and tending to the many rose bushes, grape
vines, and the fruit orchard. I went to the small auction in
Templeton and purchased a few chickens since I had small pins already set up.I bought a hampshire pig and had it
delivered.My neighbors were
great. I bartered with them during spring with eggs from my chickens and
grapes from the vines.I received tomatoes,
zucchini, and eggplant.We visited each
other and had coffee and cake and great conversations.
Every day, I would wake up and walk down the hill
and feed my chickens and let them out to stretch their legs. I would then open the main gate and take a walk to the end of the road with Leo and Zach. It was peaceful.
One weekend, my daughter came to visit, I was
working out
near the road trenching a line to drop the irrigation line down the
hill for my lavender plants.I started
to dig my holes and plant the lavender when I heard a honk,It was my daughter at the gate, as I turned
around Petunia had uprooted two of my lavender plants and was throwing them in
the air.I looked at my daughter as she
laughed.I ran up to the house and grabbed
a basket of grapes.I walked over to Petunia
and said, bad girl.Follow me, as I
dropped a few grapes at a time.She
followed me into the pin, where I left the gate open.I filled her mud bath with water, and she jumped
in while she ate the grapes.I ran to
the gate and my daughter was laughing.She said mom, a corporate woman turned country.My daughter only remembers me wearing suits and working in the
large firms. I smiled and said, that was years
ago.Zachary had to give her one of his
high fives before she entered the house. I dressed and took her into town where
we had lunch at McClintock’s and walked around the park.She also met my neighbors and said, Mom, you
look incredibly happy.I said, yes, I am,
and we hugged.
When she left that day, I sat and smiled because
she turned out to be just like me. Such a beautiful, intelligent young lady. When I look back over my life, I realize that I did a fantastic job in raising my daughter. I applaud myself, as a professional single mom and loving mother. I
made sure she had a good education and my mom (grandma) made sure she was
a child. Being in the corporate world as a woman was no joke in my days. My daughter was and is the world to me.
Let me end with this quote – The greatest gift I
gave to my daughter was my time, my love and mostly my attention.We can only love others as much as we love ourselves.
Poppy
Come follow poppytheauthor a country girl at heart on facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Your heart is meant to be full of love and your belly is supposed to ache
from laughter. Your eyes are meant to crinkle on the edges from smiling so much and your soul is meant to
feel joy with each new day you are gifted. You are meant to feel peace when you rise each morning and again, when you lie your head down to rest each night. My beautiful friend, this is what your natural state is.
This is what light feels like. Peace, Excitement,
Love, Joy, Laughter, Happiness and Gratitude. This is what you
are made of and this is what you are made for. - Nikki
Banas
Poppy
Come follow poppytheauthor on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram
Today I will be reading a story I wrote Saturday – A Beautiful
Memory
Growing up as a child my mother loved to visit people, being
outdoors with nature and traveling. Her favorite place to visit was Lake Tahoe. Her friend had a lodge on the South Shore and Cheryl lived in Zephyr Cove.
Mom decided to have a girl's weekend. I was 16 and learning how to drive. My mom called us to the kitchen and my dad wanted to teach us how to fix a flat tire, just in case we got one. My dad said, maybe I can time you girls to see how long it will take. We looked at him and said, we are not a pit crew. Then he gave us each a job. My job was to remove the spare tire from the trunk.Jessie was supposed to loosen up the lug nuts before Cindy jacked the car up.They both started to argue about something that had nothing to do with the flat tire.My dad had to step in and help Jessie.I rolled the tire over to the car and my dad put it on.(That my friend is how I learned to fix a flat.)
We packed the car and said our goodbyes. I was riding shotgun since I was the oldest girl. We made it to our destination,
Lake Tahoe.We immediately unloaded but
my sister locked the keys in the car.My
mom decided to take a nap and said, we better have those keys when she wakes
up.I had the back trunk open, so Jessie
crawled into the trunk and pushed the back seat open.Then grabbed the keys and opened the car
door. We put the keys inside the room.
We then grabbed our bathing suits and headed for the hot
tub.My mom woke up from her nap and we saw her walking with her friend.We
stayed in the hot tub until our fingers were wrinkled.The following days, we visited Cheryl in
Zephyr Cove and went hiking in Zephyr Cove Park and then tobogganing.We visited Virginia City and I got to drive on
Highway 395.In Virginia City they reenacted
a corral shootout.It was cool.We had fun and arrived home tired, but we had
lots of stories to tell our friends.
This weekend I went to Virginia City and remembered our girl’s
weekend.I smiled and said to myself, "What a Beautiful Memory."
Poppy
Come follow Poppytheauthor a country girl at heart on facebook, instagram and YouTube.
Treat your life as your masterpiece.
Know that you get to decide how you paint
every inch of your canvas –
the color, the texture, the size, and the lighting. It is all up to you. Do not be afraid to try new things or add new
designs because it is your masterpiece. Try
bold colors, paint over your mistakes, start over whenever you want.
This is your life and your masterpiece, so create one that you love.
-Nikki Banas
Poppy
Come follow
poppytheauthor a country girl at heart on facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Thank you for joining me on this extra beautiful Sunday!
Today I will share a story about "Living in the Moment."
As I sit here and sip on my coffee wearing my worn-out dress
that makes me happy,
I can see the clouds in the sky and hear the birds singing.
After the death of my husband, I was living in the past and worried about the
future that's when it all fell apart. I was forced
to stop and see things more clearly. It was a blessing in disguise. Nowadays, I do not take anything for granted because of the many losses I
have endured.Living in the moment can
truly teach us the art and value of enjoying the small things in life.
Throughout our life journey you will meet a lot of people. Some will give you advice and insights on how to live your life but when it all comes down to it,
you must always do what you feel is right.Always follow your heart, and most importantly never have any
regrets.We only have one life and I plan
to make mine a fulfilling one.
A healthy, positive, and grateful mindset is the first thing
you need.Sit quietly for 15 minutes in
the morning, watch the sunset, go for a hike, go for a picnic, find a hobby, or
bird watch.Find someone who likes the
same things you do.Recognize the value that
people have added in your life and imagine their faces. Enjoy the small things
in life because these are the moments that truly make our life rich. We are all on our own
journey in life, and I hope you make it a good one.
Try and live in the moment - means letting go of the past and
not waiting for the future.It means
living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.
I will end with this quote – Sometimes it is the journey that teaches you a lot
about your destination.
Poppy
Come follow poppytheauthor on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram
My beautiful friend, I hope you live wild
and free. I hope you do all the things
you dream of doing. I hope you travel everywhere you dream of going and
taste all the foods you desire. I hope you let yourself be wildly and
completely yourself, without worrying about what others will think, and free
yourself from others expectations and criticisms because they will never know all the magic and dreams
within your heart. I hope you trust yourself as the oceans do the moon
and let yourself shine as the night sky does for the stars. I hope you
always have faith in yourself as flowers do in the sun. I hope you live
wild and free, my beautiful and brave friend.
-Nikki Banas-
Poppy
Come follow poppytheauthor a country girl at heart on Instagram or YouTube
You do not need to see the entire
path to take the first step. You can
take the first step with
