Graceful Landing: June 2016

Thursday, June 23, 2016

A Spring Evening

Strolling around the farm on a beautiful spring evening, camera in hand, I captured
some moments to keep.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Noble and Brave

Fathers. Dads.
A title that can be daunting and draining at times, yet is one of the greatest titles a man can carry.

Certain men have shaped my life and I'm forever grateful for them.

My sweetheart has grown into his role of father through the years and it has been an amazing development. He embraces his children and grandchildren with a firm but tender heart, and teaches them with his quiet example. He's grown into a fine man from the boy I once knew.

He has worked hard for our family, supporting me in all my endeavors, and blessed my life with our six wonderful children. I am a lucky woman. I was able to stay home with my babies, teach them and create a rich home life for our family.

I love this guy!

My own dad, Daniel.

It's hard to express just how I feel about him. There's an overflow of love mixed with a fierce pride in who I come from. I am Daniel's daughter. Those are powerful words.

My step-dad, Joel.
Kind, patient, long-suffering through my teen years and an excellent instructor in many life skills.
I was honored to be the recipient of his parenting. Still am.

My grandfather, James.
No one is luckier than I in the department of grandpa. This guy is the perfect combination of stern, loving and light-hearted. Devoted to my grandma and a gentleman through and through.
The only grandpa I've every known.

Last, but not least, my namesake, Jesse. My great-grandfather, who I never met, but whose name I'm forever grateful for.
I now have a grandson with that name as well.

I feel the need to live in such a way as to make him proud. To make all of them proud.
Good men have the power to affect their families in amazing ways.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

All the Pretty Little Ponies

Lullabies are powerful.

From Wikipedia: A lullaby or cradle-song... is a soothing song or piece of music, usually played or sung to children or adults. The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies they are used to pass down cultural knowledge or tradition.... Perhaps one of the most important uses of lullabies is as a sleep aid for infants. As a result, the music is often simple and repetitive.

Lullabies can be found in many countries, and have existed since ancient times.

Dez wasn't interested in my affection the other evening. She was unhappily separated from her pasture mate, Zip. I followed her around as she tried to avoid me. Finally, I sat quietly in the grass near her for a while. She stood, a few feet away and looked at me curiously.

Out of the blue, I decided to sing her a lullaby. 'All the Pretty Little Ponies' seemed fitting,- it was a song my mother sang to me and I sang to my own babies.
She stood very still, listening.

Then, relaxing, she got sleepy and actually began to drool.

I'd say that's a powerful song.

There are many versions- originally a scottish tune, and my mother sang 'Pretty Little Horses,' but here's the one I sang to my babies-

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little ponies.
Blacks and bays, dapples and grays,
All the pretty little ponies.

In the meadow, on the ground,
Little baby crying mama.
Birds and butterflies fly around,
Little baby crying mama.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little ponies.
Blacks and bays, dapples and grays,
All the pretty little ponies.