Medieval Flags, Castles, Knights, and more!

I have always been fascinated by the Medieval times. The Folklore, the history, castles, battles, Knights, Chivalry. All of it just intrigues me! They say everyone is 10 seconds away from anywhere in the world, and when I think of medieval times, I think of Ireland's Castles, where I have ancestors. It makes you wonder what your Great- Great- Great- Great- Great Grandparents saw in their times. Who knows! Maybe they were Knights themselves! =) What's your thoughts on those times? Know anyone in your family line that dates back to that time, and was a Knight/Squire/Minstrel/Lord of a castle? Or a Fair lady, a maiden, or some other occupation? 

So much history to be unearthed and discovered. It literally gives me the chills just thinking of all the things the old castles have seen and been through! 

Off to research and "dream" of days gone by, and Days to come! =D

~Annabeth

Spring, Seniors, Rain, and Flowers...Hurrah!

Tis the Season Spring, Seniors, Rain, and Flowers...Hurrah!

Caps off to the Graduates! 

To all the Graduates I know and love I say to you these Irish Blessings:

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face, 

and rains fall soft upon your fields. 

And until we meet again, 

May God hold you in the palm of His hand. " 

& 

"May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer."

Wishing good Luck to Graduates all around the globe & wishing them good fortune, and happiness in all of their life's decisions. =)

~Annabeth

Vagabonding!

Vagabonding. A burning desire you feel deep inside yourself for something more, something different. A need to see different places, touch their culture, inhale their way of life and walk a path not often traveled. 

When I first thought about vagabonding and traveling all over the world on foot, I though "No, I can't do that, there's too many dangers! I would end up dead!" Since then, I've looked around me, and seen that there are always dangers wherever you go, some more serious or imposing than others, but always there, nonetheless. When I walk down the street, I take the risk of being hit by a car. When I eat food at a restaurant, I risk eating contaminated food. Merely sleeping in my bed at night, I could entangle myself in a blanket and suffocate! But When I take certain precautions, I live to see another day ;) So Why shouldn't vagabonding be the same? 

Have you ever found yourself feeling a longing? Or feel like you are toting around an empty purpose in a meaningless life? Have you ever desired to follow a road or path are far as it goes, or dance along the rails of an abandoned train track? If you have, you know EXACTLY how I feel. 

I want to touch the culture of others, and see how they live day to day. I want to laugh in the rain in Ireland, and feel the warmth of the sun on my back in Egypt. Touch the Eiffel Tower, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Try Italian cheese & wine. So many things I want to do, try, touch, smell, learn. =)

For now, while I wait to begin my travels, I will be content with planning, and saving, but someday. Someday I'm going to travel! ;) :)

~Annabeth

Medieval Flags ;)

I just randomly decided to look up medieval flags, and I found some really neat ones... I especially love the green flag with the Celtic like symbol, and the color of the blue one =) 

~Annabeth

A Great Idea! - Cowboy Joe

A GREAT IDEA!

How many time do you have what you thought was a great idea?  What happened?  Chances are right after you got the idea, you told a friend about it.  And chances are when you told your friend you didn’t really do a great job of explaining it.  And the friend, in a nice way said it was “half baked.”

According to Joyce Kifler, “Every success must have a time of incubation.”  Often when we get an idea, we’re so excited about it that we start sharing it with everyone.  Because the idea is still young and soft and vulnerable, it dies from the constant assault from “well meaning” friends.  An idea should be protected the way we do anything that’s young.

Ms. Kifler suggests, “We can talk the life out of an idea before it has had time to firm up.  The more we talk, the less important it becomes until if finally dwindles to a thought that is not at all what it seemed to be.”

An idea that has had time to become strong will grow and produce what we envisioned it to be.

That way you can “go the distance.”

Cowboy Slang ;)

       I'm in the middle of doing a report on recipes, and such from the 1800's-1960's and I found these terms to be rather fascinatingly colorful, and helpful, as I wasn't sure I wanted to try a Pie topped with Calf slobbers... ;)

       Below are some words used in reference to chuck, or for the non-cowboy, food, while they were on the trail. 

Calf Slobbers – Meringue on a pie. 

Fried Chicken – Bacon rolled in flour and fried.

Chuck Wagon Chicken – Fried bacon.

Charlie Taylor – A substitute for butter. A combination of molasses and bacon grease. 

“Man at the Pot!” – Term yelled at a person pouring himself a cup of coffee. A cowboy’s way of saying, “Pour me a cup too.” 

Spotted Pup – Cooking raisins in rice.

Stacked to a fill – Compliment to the chief following a great meal. 

Dry Camp – A camp that has no water available. 

Prairie or Mountain Oysters – Calf’s testicles.

Wreck pan: The pan in which cowboys placed their dirty dishes following a meal.

Squirrel can:The large can in which cowboys scraped the food scraps

before placing them in the wreck pan.

Cook’s last job of the evening:Point the tongue of the chuckwagon toward the north

so the herd could “follow the tongue” the next day.

Gut robber, greasy belly, biscuit shooter:Cowboys names for both the ranch house and trail drive cook.

Coffee recipe: A hand full of coffee for every cup of water.

Possum belly:A rawhide apron attached to the underside of the chuckwagon 

in which wood and buffalo chips are stored for the dinner fire.

Why cooks threw dirty dishwater under chuckwagon: This helped protect the cook’s domain by discouraging cowboys 

from taking a nap in the shade under the chuckwagon.

The Disney Princess's as never before seen!

I found this while (what else!) pinning on Pinterest... I never thought of what a "Real live" Disney Princess might look like...  Personally, I love how they captured both the Princesses and their outfits... although Snow White and Pocahontas could be done a little better... =)

Your Opinions?

~Annabeth