Quote of the Week

And if I could tell you one thing

It would be:

You are never as broken as you think

You are.

Sure, you have a couple of scars,

And a couple of bad memories,

But then again

All great heroes do.

ltn

Jagged Edges

We are all of us jagged edges,

Scars ripped through bone and memory that heals with a painful bump.

Smooth corners and unscathed hearts are not as strong as yours;

Your jagged edges are beautiful.

You are the stories you have yet to live,

The work-sore muscles, salty, sweaty kisses

And beers gulped appreciatively at midnight.

You will be found in the corner of your daughter’s mouth,

That secret smile awaiting some boy’s attention to call it out of hiding…

Just like her daddy discovered yours.

You are the hungry who gather around your dinner table,

The widows you hug,

The orphans you love as your own.

You are the hope you bring to others,

The wrong that’s been done to you by others and,

The kindness that you use to patch the holes of pain.

You are the work worn callouses on his palms,

The blue rope twirling around your head come branding time,

The bunch of daffodils next to the kitchen sink.

You are a beautiful,

Crazy,

Dancing

Loving

Laughing

Crying

Woman

Full of jagged edges.

xo xo Liz 

Photo Credit: tumblr 

I Am In Love With The Simple Things In Life

I am in love with the simple things in life:

A braid inside a braid,

Down the middle of a girl’s back.

The knowledge that a little dash of sugar,

To the bowl of proofing yeast,

Makes all the difference.

And the way baby horses click their teeth at their elders,

Right before they get into a world of trouble.

The feeling of freshly washed and ironed sheets against bare legs is addicting,

And the shaking feeling of fear being dropped away,

Like a dress held protectively against your chest.

Making a meal, not with your hands, but with your heart,

And then inviting those you love to come and feast.

Untold stories in vintage jewelry and clothing

Get a shot

At telling their stories once again on new bodies.

And how shaking hands and nerves are calmed

By a stout cup of “sister tea.”

A simple turquoise pendant can offer up more impact than any statement necklace

And the feeling,

When you release an overhand,

And you can tell it’s going to catch,

And catch well.

Fall in love with the simple things in life

And all of a sudden,

You have a lot more to be thankful for.

xo xo Liz 

Roping the Dummy

Come on little one, don’t frown at me like that!

Here, have a sip of this cold beer...

And take this old rope of mine.

Come on, stop your nipping and bitching at me, you’re up next,

Throw your loop at that old dummy!

Teasing, hugging, cajoling…

We rope and drink and rope

Until she’s the normal

Laughing,

Sweet  

Little magpie,

I Love,

So much.

Quote of the Week

“After a while you learn the subtle difference 

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul, 

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning 

And company doesn’t mean security, 

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts

And presents aren’t promises, 

And you begin to accept your defeats 

With your head up and your eyes open 

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today, 

Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans, 

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. 

After a while you learn 

That even sunshine burns if you get too much. 

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, 

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. 

And you learn that you really can endure… 

That you really are strong, 

And you really do have worth. 

And you learn and learn… 

With every goodbye you learn.” 

- Veronica A. Shoftstall