Wisconsin Sunrise
Author: rvpatlivingyoung
People ask me why I would take off and live in an RV fulltime. Well, here it is: I am going to live a dream of mine, a dream of many others that have gone before me, a dream of our forefathers. I am going to explore this glorious country of ours, going to feel the awe and wonder that those who are already doing it experience on a daily basis. I want to feel the same earth beneath my feet & draw strength from that same soil as our ancesters did. I want to
become more accutely aware, amazed, and grateful for that which was created for our enjoyment, to become a part of nature, to see the oceans crashing against the mighty rocks and shorelines, the Redwood giants that will tower above and remind me that they, and so many other things have been here for centuries, and what a small part we humans play in this world of ours. In comparison, what a short time we have too spend on this earth. And I intend to make the most of what time I have left.
This dream of mine was a dream before, but I was afraid, afraid of leaving my "home", family & friends, and giving up the security of these things. But after suffering a major brain bleed last year, and an entire year of near death experiences, I think (no, I know) I finally have my priorities sorted out. To begin with, I will not be leaving my "home", it will merely travel with me. I won't be leaving my family and friends. Surely, I won't be seeing them as often, but hopefully through my words they will experience some of the pure joy that will be mine and see things that they may never see for themselves. And they will always hold the top position in my heart of hearts, my love for them only continuing to grow daily. I hope that they will come to understand my need to return to the core of all God's creation, to live and feel the wonder of it all. I no longer need to have a tiny piece of this earth to call my own, because it is all mine..everything within my view..the desert, the plains, the mountains, the oceans were created for me to discover and claim as mine. I would imagine this is the way the pioneers felt as they looked out over this land. Each day will be a new beginning, as if being re-born again and again. As I hold all my friends and family close to my heart, I will make new friends that share my new outlook on life, and I'll experience a oneness with them unknown to me in my present life. It is time I followed my dream!
Shed Not A Tear.
I found this so touching, I simply had to reblog it for others to enjoy.
Shed not a tear when I be gone,
Don’t wet your cheeks for me.
I’m in the ink you write with
That you can not seem to see.
I sit beside you daily,
as you go about your life.
Watching out for trouble
I try to ward off strife.
I whisper secret stories
In your ear for you to write.
I infiltrate your thoughts
When you put out the light.
So there is no need to feel lonely
Or to wander there in gloom
For I am in every corner
Of each and every room.
*finger to lips* Shhh!
Linda Hill Thank you for your prompt presshereto join in.
This I penned a while ago for a friend who said she didn’t think she could write now her mother had gone. She was her motivation and without her … In a stream of conciousness I wrote this and…
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Wordless Wednesday
Wisconsin Dells
© 2016-2040 Pat Priebe
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Amazing in Wisconsin!!
My long winter stay in Wisconsin has paid off. While out driving yesterday, I saw what amazed me to the max! Check out the picture below and you will understand…
Low and behold…what should appear, but a huge Bald Eagle!! Who knew?? Not me! This beautiful specimen was shortly joined by a friend or mate, but alas, I did not get another photo. What a majestic bird!
I simply had to go online and find out about eagles in Wisconsin. It seems they are quite common here, although not so much in this area. It must be because the ice has thawed off the lakes, and they are looking for good fishing spots. I went back this morning to see if I could spot a nest, or eagles looking for breakfast, but no luck on that front…darn!
I’m going to include an article I found in case anyone would like to plan a visit sometime in the future (those who would be willing to brave the winter weather).
The American Bald Eagle
Wisconsin Status: Once endangered in Wisconsin, in 1997 the American bald eagle was taken off the list. Congratulations Wisconsin!
Federal Status: Removed from endangered species list 2007
Wingspan: 7 feet (Wow, that’s long)
Weight: 8-14 pounds
Length: Female 34-43 inches, Male 30-35 inches
We all know the bald eagle as a national symbol with its distinctive “bald” white head, tail, and dark brown body. These are adult bald eagles. They get their distinctive “bald” head and white tail when they are 4 or 5-years-old. The younger birds are dark brown with just a touch of white on the underwings and tail, making it hard to tell them apart from large hawks or golden eagles. Have you ever seen one up close? You’ll see that their powerful beak, legs, and eyes are yellow.
Females usually lay two, 3 inch-long white eggs in late March or early April. Both adults incubate the eggs. Within a month or so, the first egg will hatch with a fluffy white chick. Adults then feed the chicks bits of fish and protect them from severe weather and predators, like great horned owls, raccoons, and ravens. Active nests have been found both in inland nesting areas and along the major rivers in Wisconsin: the Chippewa, Lower Wisconsin, Wolf, and Mississippi. Eagles usually build their nests in tall trees, often a live white pine, with large sticks as shell and softer material as the lining. On average, the nests are about 4 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep, compare that to your height and you’ll see how large they really are! Sometimes an eagle pair may just “refurbish” an old nest with new materials instead of building a new one. Just like fixing up an old house instead of building a new one.
If you’re looking to see a bald eagle in Wisconsin, you’re in luck. Today, they can be found in the northern two-thirds of Wisconsin.![[bald eagle photo]](https://i0.wp.com/dnr.wi.gov/eek/critter/bird/images/beagle2.jpg)
Each year since the passage of the Endangered Species Act and the ban of DDT bald eagle populations have been on the rise. DDT is a powerful insecticide which accidentally affected eagles and other birds by causing their eggs to have thin shells that broke. This kept the birds from hatching. In 1973 there were only 108 occupied eagle territories in Wisconsin. In 2010, there were 1,150 breeding pairs!
How do we know how many eagles and eagle nests there are? Well, the DNR and many partners, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service, have been working hard to collect data about the eagles for the last 25 years. These groups conduct breeding surveys to find out how many nests are active by flying over eagle territory to find nests, then they go back and count the young in each nest. This information is mapped using a computer program called “GIS,” Geographical Information System. From this system, we can link all of the data to identify where breeding habitat can be found and predict where more eagles may nest. On the ground, volunteers also climb the nest trees and band eaglets with a metal leg band, take blood samples to check for disease or contamination, and collect vital information on eagles that have been injured or died.
Eagles were abundant throughout Wisconsin until 1800 when immigrants settled the state. Habitat disturbance, destruction, and shooting ![[eagle nest]](https://i0.wp.com/dnr.wi.gov/eek/critter/bird/images/beagle1.jpg)
caused their numbers to drop until laws were enacted like the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1916, the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940, the 1972 listing of eagles as endangered in Wisconsin, and the ban of DDT. Today, wildlife biologists, scientists, and volunteers continue to work to teach people about protecting eagles and their nesting sites. About half of the eagle population nests on land that people privately own. DNR staff have developed educational materials to help people learn about eagle nest protection. We work with loggers and builders to protect nests on properties where people want to build homes and businesses, or harvest trees. We also help trappers, farmers, power companies, hunters, school children learn more about eagles. It is hard work teaching everyone about the needs of eagles and keeping track of their nest sites and numbers. You can help the bald eagle in Wisconsin by Adopting an Eagle Nest, reporting active eagle nest sites to the Bureau of Endangered Resources at the DNR and learning more about eagles.
Keep your eyes open along Wisconsin’s inland riverways and lakes to see bald eagles soaring on thermals high in the air on a warm day. They can also be seen fishing with their powerful talons for suckers, northern pike, muskellunge and bullheads in the same areas. In the winter you’ll find them fishing in open waters near dams along the Mississippi and Lower Wisconsin rivers in Wisconsin. Some of the best viewing places hold special bald eagle watching events in January, check them out!
Silent Love
Though love does not require a word
in many ways it’s voice is heard
in the silence hear it speak
the voice of love is never weak.
Love promotes faith and trust
for each human is a must
without love — an empty shell
to hear it speak, listen well.
Love conveyed without a word
sweeter sounds were never heard.
when there’s love, actions say
love grows stronger day by day.
no greater gift on the earth
no possession of it’s worth.
On love there can’t be put a price
can’t be won with roll of dice
do not love too freely give
too freely given, will not live.
With fleeting glance, or a touch
love can say so very much.
when there’s love between a pair,
silent thoughts they’re prone to share.
Love is as a flowing stream
forever endless does it seem
disappearing round a bend
love, like stream, knows no end
A stream will widen, and will grow
into a river winding slow.
love will widen and grow, too
cherish it when given you
Clutch love gently to your breast
of all gifts, it is the best.
© 2016-2040 Pat Priebe
The short stories, the musings, the photography (except where otherwise noted), the paintings and the poetry are my original work. These texts are protected under International Copyright © laws. All rights are reserved by the owner (author). Reblogs on WordPress are permitted as long as proper credit and links are provided to this site. None of my writings, paintings or postings should be downloaded, reproduced, copied, projected or used in any manner without written permission of the owner (author). Thank you for respecting the intellectual property rights. I appreciate your integrity and hope you will respect mine. Thank you!
© 2016-2040 Pat Priebe
Disclaimer Notice
A Native American Prayer-dedicated to each of those I hold dear
“O Divine Parent and Gift-giver, let me not take those I love for granted, failing to remember that you have only loaned them to me for a very short while.
Help me, this day, you who are absolute love, to love those you have loaned to me as if tomorrow you would call them home to you.
Let me not take them for granted or be blind to the marvel of their presence, to the sound of their voices, the joy of their companionship, or the beauty of their love
May their minor faults and failings, which often cause me discomfort, be seen as trivial transgressions compared to the marvel of this gift that you have loaned to me for only a short while.”
Billy G’s Christmas Tree
“Billy, did you brush your teeth?” T-h-a-t was Billy’s Mom.
“No, Mom, I forgot”
Well, what boy might not forget to brush his teeth when his Mom had just promised that the next day he could go with her to pick out the Christmas tree. After all, how many five years old boys get to pick the family Christmas tree all by themselves?
“Go brush them now, Billy, and I will be right in to pray with you.”
“Okay.”
A couple of minutes later, when Billy’s Mom walked down the hall to his room she found him already kneeling beside his bed.
“Hi, Mom. I’m ready to pray now. Mom, do you think we could ask Jesus to help us find just the right Christmas tree?”
“Yes, we could, Billy. Jesus is interested in everything we do, even picking out Christmas trees.”
“I’m really glad, Mom. You talked to Jesus last night, so tonight it’s my turn, right?”
“Right, go ahead, son.”
“Jesus, I sure want to thank you for the nice day we had today. Mom and I had a lot of fun playing in the snow and sliding down the hill and everything. Even if Mom can’t make a very good snowman, that’s okay cause she slides real good, and that kind of makes up for the snowman. I guess even Moms can’t do everything good. And Jesus, thank you for giving me such nice sisters, and take good care of them and my Daddy too, would you? And God, Mom says that you can do anything…so do you think that you might find time to help old Mrs. Finch down the road not to be so awful crabby? She wouldn’t be near so ugly if she would just smile once in a while. And since you are interested in everything we do, I could use some help finding just the right Christmas tree tomorrow. I’m really tired now, so good night, Jesus. Good night, Mom.”
“Good night, Billy.”
The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Billy came tearing into his parent’s bedroom. “Mom, Dad, get up..get up! Today’s the day we get the Christmas tree!!”
“Okay, Billy, said his Dad. We’re getting up right now. You go play in your room for a while.”
As Billy’s Mom was cleaning up the breakfast dishes, Billy came into the kitchen and asked if he could sit on the counter top and watch her. With Billy sitting on the counter top, while his Mom worked in the kitchen was the way they usually planned their days. With his two sisters in school, and his Dad at work, Billy and his Mom had lots of time to do things together. Sometimes, they did things like fighting Apaches, going on bear hunts, and tracking dangerous animals. In between the excitement, they always found time to visit someone that was sick or maybe just lonely.
“My, it sure is cold and snowy today, Billy. And just look at the way that wind is….”
“Hey, Mom, look at what’s blowing down the road!”
As Billy’s Mom looked out the window she saw what looked strangely enough like a Christmas tree blowing across their front yard.
“Help me down…quick Mom! Dad! Dad! Come here! Hurry!”
Billy ran down the hallway to look for his Dad, and almost ran into him as he came out of the bathroom.
“What is it, son? Take it easy.”
“It’s our tree, Dad. Wouldn’t you know God has answered my prayer already, and we don’t even have to go looking for a tree. It’s right out in our front yard. Hurry and get your coat on Dad, before it blows away. With that, Billy ran back to the window and looked out. “Dad, hurry, it’s blowing down the road toward Mrs. Finch’s house. If we don’t hurry she might get our tree.”
“But, Billy, we can’t just take it. It might belong to someone,”replied Dad.
“Well, let’s just get it, and then you can check. Hurry Dad…please.”
By this time Billy had on his coat and boots, and had gotten his Dad’s coat for him too. As the two of them hurried out the door and across the front yard in the blinding snow, Mother stood watching from the kitchen window and just shook her head. The “tree” was being blown along by the wind and was just at the edge of Mrs. Finch’s yard when Billy and his Dad grabbed for it. However, just as they reached for it, the wind blew it a little further and they both fell flat on their faces. Laying there with their faces covered with snow, they heard someone laughing hysterically. When they looked up, there was old Mrs. Finch standing on her front porch doubled up with laughter. Feeling rather deflated and totally embarrassed, Billy and his Dad quickly picked up themselves, and the tree, and headed for home.
Mother stood and watched as Billy and his Dad forced the tree in through the door and down the steps to the family room. Billy’s Mom thought, “My that tree looks awfully wide.”
As she dusted the living room furniture, she could hear her husband on the phone calling the neighbors to see if anyone was missing a tree. Next, she heard the pounding of the base being put on the tree, so she assumed that no one had claimed the tree and they were going to keep it. She decided to go down and see how the tree looked. As she started down the steps she heard Billy squeal,”Oh Dad, my Christmas tree is just beautiful!! When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she suddenly wished she hadn’t looked, for there it stood…three feet high, five feet wide, and topped by seven heads. It looked like some kind of monster!
“Billy, there is just no way we are going to keep that monster in this house; it simply has to go. What would people think if they saw that thing in our house?” lamented Billy’s Mom.
“No, Mom! You said I could pick the Christmas tree this year all by myself, and this is the one I choose. It’s not an ugly monster, it’s beautiful!”
Now, very firmly, his Mom said, “Billy, I said N-O! We’ll get another tree. Now you and your Dad get that seven headed monster out of here…”
As she headed up the stairs she heard Billy say, “Dad, did you hear what she said? Do something, please. We can’t throw out my tree!”
About a half hour later Billy came to her and said, “Mom, will you come downstairs for a minute?” His Mom realized that it had been very quiet down there.
“Alright Billy. Did you and your Father get that tree taken care of?”
“Yes, Mother”
When they reached the bottom of the stairs Billy’s Mom just sat down on the last step and put her head on her knees, for there it was…that ugly monster with lights, balls and tinsel on it’s branches. There was no angel to top the tree for it still had seven tops, and each of them had a light on it.
Billy came and put his little arms around his Mom’s neck and said, “Mom, Dad and I knew you would really like my tree if you could just see it once with all the lights and stuff on it. It is really pretty, isn’t it? God answered my prayer, just like you said he would, huh? He sent me a Christmas tree, the most pretty one I ever saw. And you know what else, Mom? He even answered my prayer about Mrs. Finch. She laughed today, for I think the first time ever. She’s kind of pretty with a smile all over her face!”
“Billy, I’m really happy about Mrs. Finch, but….
“Oh Mom, isn’t it just the prettiest tree you ever, ever saw? We just couldn’t throw it out Mom, cause just think…how would you feel if you always wanted to, and were meant to be, a Christmas tree? And then just when you finally got the chance to be all lit up and pretty, and in someone’s nice warm house, and you were making a little boy very happy, and then his Mom came along and said you had to go because you were ugly and had seven heads. Huh, Mom, how would you feel? God loves even the ugly; you said so, Mom! And He meant for my tree to be a Christmas tree, and now it is one. I can keep it, can’t I, Mom?”
Mom looked over at Dad and he just shrugged his shoulders. Then she said..”Okay, Billy, you are right. I wouldn’t want to be thrown out if I was meant to be a Christmas tree and I finally got to be one. Yes, you may keep your tree.”
Billy threw his arms around his Mom’s neck and hugged her real tight, “Thank you, Mom. I sure do love my tree. And I love you too, Mom.”
“And I love you, Billy”
With that, Billy ran over, flopped on the floor beside his tree, and just gazed up at his “very beautiful Christmas tree.”
All the family learned to love that ugly seven headed monster because of the faith and love of a little boy so determined to have his tree.
My Dearest Love
I promise that you alone will hold in your hands
my heart, mind, and soul for all eternity.
I promise to love and adore you,
to walk, not ahead or behind,
but always at your side.
I promise to uphold you in good times and bad,
to lean on you in my times of need,
yet be available to carry you
through whatever storms we might encounter.
I will be a foundation for you to build upon
I will be for you the roots that anchor our love
I will be your crutch when needed
I will always be your most loyal fan
I will love you forever with all my being
I will be your beacon at the end of the tunnel
I will be your lighthouse in the storm
I will be your steadfast helpmate
I will be your partner, your lover, your friend.
I promise to love you as much, or more,
on our last day together as I love you on this day,
for you alone carry the key to my heart.
You alone, make all I ever dreamed possible.. a reality.
All I ask in return is that you take my hand
and walk with me, allowing me to love you
with every breath I take, for you are
my life’s breath, my heartbeat…my all.
I Am Whole..
PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright ©Pat Priebe;Waller, Texas. 2005
My heart was scarred-my soul was lost
true love so often eluded me
and then my eyes were opened
you accepted all I have to offer
and I am whole….
In the solitude of the early morning dawn
when the dew is still upon the grass
I hear your name softly whispered on the wind
I see the sparkle in your eyes reflected by the rising sun
I feel the warmth of your body nestled in my arms
I hear your voice as you gently say “I love you”
and I am whole….
At the height of the day
still you occupy my every thought
and I wonder how one such as I
could be so very blessed
as to have my own special angel
to share my every waking moment
and I am whole….
As the sun slips beneath the horizon
I feel the gentle warmth of your lips on mine
as my fingers softly caress your face
and I thank a power much greater than I
for bringing you into my life
and making you mine
and I am whole….
Official Adult Resignation
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8-year-old again. I want to go to McDonald’s and think that it’s a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks.
I want to think M & Ms are better than money because you can eat them. I want to lie under a big oak tree & run a lemonade stand with friends on a hot summer’s day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn’t bother you, because you didn’t know what you didn’t know and you didn’t care. All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible.
I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again. I want to live simple again.
I don’t want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.
So…here’s my checkbook and my car keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood. And if you want to discuss this further, you’ll have to catch me first, cause, “Tag! You’re it!!
Author unknown
I first read this many years ago, and loved it then as much as I love it now. I only wish it were that simple! But I’ll keep on dreaming, as I usually do, and who knows…the dream could come true!!
LivingYoung 