"Have An Enterprising Day"

Howdy Folks,

It's great to be back home, although a visit with our daughter and grandchildren can never really be long enough. Don't you find that true too? … We had a spectacular time, gosh do 7 and 5 year olds have a lot of energy!! A cook out Saturday night, sausage, peppers and onions on the grill, neighbors … and more children. Did you know those things they call "Super Soakers" hold about 20 gallons of water, and in the hands of 5, 6, 7, & 8 year olds can be very accurate?! Oh gosh, not a dry eye, or shirt was to be found on the patio ... Our grandbabies and I did manage to dry off for a few games of battleship.

Hannah, Ben and Grandpop playing Battleship

After the splashy cook out we retired to the house for a Star Trek "Enterprise" night. I'm Trekky, or Trekker, don't care what you call me as long as you call me in time for the show! A good friend of Abbie's is a big fan too and he brought all of season 2 (Enterprise) for a Star Trek party. The guests broke into 2 groups, those who care about Captain Archer, Trip, T'Pol and the rest, and those who are uninformed. The Enterprise series was cancelled way too soon, I personally think Scot Bakula made a terrific Captain, and as a prequel it had some mighty fine story lines, fine acting … and this series is tied in first place for my favorite of all the series with the "Next Generation" series …

To me, at the core of the Star Trek franchise, or universe, is how important it is to help each other, explore new ideas and set good examples. I like that.

Gene Roddenberry and the cast of Star Trek the original series at the space shuttle Enterprise

I borrowed the entire set of all 4 seasons of Star Trek Enterprise, so I might be a bit distracted this week, as I "Warp" through space and time. I told Kessy all about the episode I watched when Captain Archer's beagle Porthos got sick, and I think she was quite concerned. I know Saturday was listening.

Have an Enterprising Day!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Campfires, Candyland & Marshmellows"

Howdy Folks,

The morning air was bathed in yellow. The trees all seemed to shimmer, even dance in the flaxen hue, as if a giant spotlight shown down upon them muted with a golden lens. Which of course it was as it tried to build up enough power to burn its way through the morning haze. A Cardinal sat proudly on a high branch surveying what he claimed his domain, then grudgingly surrendered that branch to a trespassing batch of Juncos.

Today promises to be a warm one, like yesterday here in VA. Kessy, Saturday and I had a delightful romp through the woods yesterday. What fun we had, lots of gaiting and a fair amount of cantering. It was easy to see Kessy just wanted to move out. I suppose she loved the pleasant weather, too, so I indulged her and let her rip. We covered a lot of territory and saw plenty of birds on our travels and even a few butterflies, the small yellow ones whose names I can never remember. At the big stream we even saw a dragon fly! Ravishin' Robbie says yesterday was truly an Indian Summer day, and by golly it looks like we'll have one today too.

Before we'd headed out yesterday Kessy gave our grandbabies a few rides around the yard. It's pretty easy to see she enjoys that as much as they ... Sadly we must take them home today, but boy howdy we had lots of fun. Played about a dozen games of Candyland. Robbie led us all in arts and craft projects. Ben and I had guy time together getting the campfire roaring while Robbie and Hannah went to town for a tea party. And then of course the campfire last night during which many a perfectly roasted marshmallow was devoured.

We'll be heading out today to take them home. It's an all day road trip … Isn't it simply lovely how busy, and loud, the house can become under the rule of two little ones … Perhaps we should keep them?

Well you all have a perfect day!!

Gitty Up

Dutch Henry

Love is a Wonderful Thing

 I've been asked to move some of my facebook posts over to my blog, because some folks think they're worth reading again … I first posted this in April, and I chose to repost here, because, well Love is a wonderful thing.

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I sat on the porch last night for something over an hour. Alone. Robbie and the grandbabies had gone to the theater for play rehearsal. I sat on the glider only a few moments when the Whippoorwills started calling. First one, then two, then a third added his mournful call to the otherwise still night air. Calling and calling, they seemed to knowingly take turns with great care not to interrupt each other's song. Their soulful cries echoed through the dark, seeming to surround me. Hold me. It made me think of love. Of Robbie and our sweet life we've shared together for more than 36 years now.

Love. I make no apologies for speaking here about the power of love. How it can change you. Save you. Build you. The whippoorwills continued to call, the air felt like velvet. Each call seemed to touch me more deeply, move me closer to memories of all the tender moments Robbie and I have shared. Reflecting alone on the dark porch, being held captive by the whippoorwills, I found myself lost in the warmth of the power of love.

Love, as they say, can conquer all. But when I think of love, I don't think of conquering. I think of sharing. Sharing joys, sharing thrills, sharing each other's dreams. I think of sharing challenges, ambitions and triumphs. And sharing tender moments together remembering the birth of our little girl, now grown and raising a family of her own; blessing us with these darling grandbabies. I think of sharing moments laughing at the silly times when we charged into adventures, not all of them working out just the way we had planned. And celebrating robustly those times plans came together perfectly.

Love. Yes I can say Robbie's sweet love made me who I am. Those of you who've read my novel may remember the line when Mary thought of Sam, "She loved him because he loved so easily." Robbie is easy to love, and gives love easily. I often tease her, telling her she must have really been something in a past life to get saddled with me in this one. I thank God for making her just for me.

As you take on the excitement, adventures and challenges of today I hope you'll take the embrace of love along with you. Let it swaddle you in its power and guide you in all you do.

Have a beautiful day! ~ Dutch