Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
Welcome to the Ten Things of Thankful (TToT). Josie’s weekly evocation and celebration of all things gratitudinistic*. Come, join the growing crowd who realize, (not that they forgot it, but with the constant drone of the angry, but stinger-less bees that grow increasing in numbers in some corners of the virtual world, sometimes we misplace our healthy centers), that looking back, (and isn’t all reality and life really series of remembrances, sequences long and infinitesimally brief, postcards from our own lives), and celebrating (and sharing) the good (and the bad) is way better than trying to fight the voice inside that says, ‘But….(fear)… be careful…(fear)’
ya know?
This, like anyone other than a New Reader would not have guessed, is the Wakefield Doctrine. This is our TToT.
1-3) Ola’s Bridge complete
4) Phyllis, Una and Denise: Constructionae Extrodinare for the success of the current iteration of Ola’s Bridge.
5) Seeing as we mentioned her, one of the most iconic, (to the breed and to the individual dog), photos in our possession,
6) The un-named detective in the work-in-progress, ‘The Mystery of the Missing Starr’, has a name. Finally! His name is Ian Devereaux and, well, maybe this excerpt will give you an idea of the man, “I live alone in a house meant for a large family. I used to have a dog. I used to have a wife. My wife divorced me and my dog died. I really miss the dog.”
7) Speaking of discontinuous hopes and realizations: theres trouble in Toemahtoe City (photo at 11*) One dead, one dying, one holding out and last being stalked by Bambi and her band of vegan cannibals.
8) (Sunday Supplement)
9) the Book of Secret Rules (aka Secret Book of Rules) It is both the rabbit hole, the little cake with ‘Eat Me’ icing, a free-form Thesaurus, a (non)TV Guide, Cliff Notes, and ‘Life and Everything Else for Dummies’. Fun. Not sure when to use the SBoR/BoSR? Whenever you can cite an appropriate Rule.***
10) SR 1.3
* not a ‘real’ word
**11 am Sunday, that is
*** preferred citation guidelines for use of Secret Rule(s): Chapter, verse, (chorus, if there is one) and an op.cit. (if ya think you can pull it off). Extra standing attributed if you can manage [t]hose crazy parenthesis that you know someone at the Chicago Manuel of Style stuck in there, just to mess with us.
(song in head, of a more modern vintage)
Gratitudinistic is indeed a wonderful word, Clark, and if it isn’t a real word, it should be (though I did have to stop and think to make sure I was spelling it correctly)! :-) If there is anything all of us at TToT share in common it is that we are gratitudinistic in ever increasing proportion to the experiences in our lives. I also agree that focusing on our gratitude is a wonderful way to drown out the voices of fear (and really, what goes does fear do, other than to distract us from living in the moment).
Phyllis has done such an amazing job on Ola’s Bridge! It looks sturdy, and in it’s simplicity fits in nice with it’s surroundings. Apparently Una has given it her blessing. I liked that you noted in your description of the photo that it narrows in perspective. I remember learning to draw like that in school and it always seems so confusing and unnatural, this makes it all very simple to understand!
Ola was indeed a gorgeous girl, I have a soft spot for her breed, and look at that smile! A keepsake photo for sure. Just looking at the photos of our furkids who have crossed the bridge recaptures all the love and joyful, and even sorrowful moments share with them, unbreakable bonds.
Your description of Ian Devereaux made me smile; when I left one of my ex-husbands I replaced his framed portrait with a photo of my favorite furkid, who in truth I missed a great deal more than I missed him. :-) Ian is a good name, it is my son’s middle name and he has always gone by that. He was born in Germany where it was a more common name.
So Bambi and friends are wreaking havoc with the tomatoes in the Una Garden? Have you managed to harvest any for your own enjoyment, if so, then it’s all good. I have a multi-generational farming friend in Arkansas that believes you must always plant one-third extra for the creatures of the land. I only hope they are good at math and know when they’ve eaten their fair share! :-)
I will be back to check out the Sunday supplement to this week’s edition of the Wakefield Doctrine TToT. Are you famiiar with subsection SR 2.7 of the BOSR/SBOR which states that if one regularly shares a gratitudinal post each week they may use their “frequent flyer” status as one of their stated items of gratitude? The thought being that the regular practice of identifying and expressing gratitude for the good things in your life is in itself a substantial reason to be thankful!
Enjoy your weekend, Clark, and keep ’em coming, I appreciate you at this here TToT! :-)
lol
“…I don’t know what you mean by “glory”,’ Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. `Of course you don’t — till I tell you. I meant “there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!”‘
`But “glory” doesn’t mean “a nice knock-down argument”,’ Alice objected.
`When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’
`The question is,’ said Alice, `whether you can make words mean so many different things.’
`The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, `which is to be master — that’s all.'”
(google to the rescue!)
The Bridge did come out as hoped, simple, stable and capable of allowing one to cross over the waters.
She was the first and will always hold a place, (a sentiment surely not that un-common among parents of human kids and such).
The detective story might be fun. (I’m in conflict between fears. If I start another story, will that take away from my efforts to complete ‘Home and Heart’. One argument is, ‘yeah, words in one place are not words in another’. But countering that is that, in my experience, when the story in my head slows to a stop, writing something about the characters or locations (in the files that I have for bios and such) helps a lot. Exercise increases capacity (I hope).
lol the Book is such an excellent Book.
Congrats on the end-project of the bridge. GO PHYLLIS! Kudos to all of you for a job well done and dang…I would love to go back there and hike the other side. lol.
What a sweet homage to Ola. And all the wooden structures in that backyard! I really want to work on my backyard…first things first. Gettin’ some books out. lol
Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Yes, totally a 4 lifeform project!
We do have an interesting way of focusing our (combined) efforts on altering the external elements of the property. lol…
write them words, yo.
Bambi and those vegans better stick to forest vegetation! At least i hope you can encourage them to do so.
I found some fun images when I searched: ‘Bambi zombie’ Ended up going with the scene of the highway in Malibu
I am glad you mentioned Denise in the bridge development. It was nice to have her company as well as our virtual friends during summer break. YEAH Clark.
I was so happy to be a part of the building of the bridge with you and Clark, Phyllis. It truly was a highlight of my vacation :)
It (your visit) was essential to the Bridge Rebuilding project to be a success.
totally agree
The bridge looks great! Excellent pictures!
As I just said to Phyllis, I truly enjoyed being a part of the project. I miss those types of projects. Good job!!
The corn stalks have gotten huge! Sorry to hear about the tomatoes :(
Here’s to #10!!!!!!!!!!
Great list of thankfuls. The bridge came out very nice. Ola was a beautiful girl.
Thank you.
Yes, she was.
Family time spent working outdoors and on a project together. Nice.
Perspective, in photos and in life, both important and I don’t forget. I appreciate you pointing it out.
it was fun.
you are entirely welcome.