Horsing Around

Horses, that was my passion. Years of it! I was so fortunate to be able to experience this wonderful, Art. Now for those who only have had livery horse experience, sorry but that is not it. Those poor horses are so beaten down, and subjugated to a horrible existence. Only rode one, and would never do it again.

Building a bond with a horse is a way total experience than with a dog. It's intense, and these animals when taken care of properly, and their emotional needs are met, as well as physical, they are an awesome experience. Breathtaking, proud, smart, and their agility, heart, and stamina are truly astounding. But before I start my usual weird, and hysterical story, let me tell you about the great ones.

I had the privilege of riding a horse called "Mr. Chips", a cutting horse off the range in Colorado. What an experience that was. This animals was so smart, so agile, and absolutely was controlled only by leg pressure, the bit, and reins are not used. These horses are referred to as "Soft Mouths". A bit is not used, a bridle called a "Hack-amore" or "Bosal" is used. Also had my first experience using spurs, and truly understand just what the heck they are for. Totally not cruel, and when used properly with the slightest of touches, that horse would get down, and get to business. The smartest animal I ever encountered.

I also had the pleasure of riding a retired race horse from Argentina. His name was "Surfside II", well if you want to feel pure muscle bubbling, adrenaline pumping, and a real "gulp" experience, just ride one of those. He was the Stallion where I worked, and kept my own horses. When I took him out on the trails, you had better be on your game, or you will be eating dust in two seconds.

I had an Appaloosa named "Doc", our daughter had a pony named "Lil Doc", and I leased a Cowboy Polo horse named "Bandit"...lol lol :) I was a western gamer, I did barrel runs, pole bending, and other games. Pleasure riding was a daily thing, it was my job. I took people out on rides and tours. How they were not killed is beyond me..lol lol..."If they only knew, they would of been rightly terrorized"! We even did Moonlight trail rides when there was a full moon. I saw many a gringo "Eat Dust"! lol lol :)

The real Cowboys were interesting, devilish, laid back,tough guys. I always admired their fearless, common sensed, way of thinking. Their horses were their partners in life, and each relied on their horses to pull them through. It's a bond that is unexplainable.

We used to play a game called "Cowboy Polo" for fun, and relaxation with our steeds. You had to choose a horse with the same mindset, tough, competitive, reliable, and fearless. My own horse hated the game, and wanted no part of the bashing, shoving, stepping on, etc...Bandit loved the game, and would sometimes kick the ball into the goal himself. He would prance around, and laugh at the other horses, and give a little victory kick like he was saying, "Eat that Losers"....lol lol :)

Once a horse barreled into Bandits backside full force and knocked him out cold. He fell to the ground right on top of me. Poor guy, they pulled me out from under him, and thank God he came to and was fine. He went down like a dish rag instantly. It was so fast.

We used to play in the Indoor Arena, and we played the game in Winter, down time at the ranch. When the game started and the sweat started the whole building became warm as toast, and steamy.

They cowboys played really down and dirty. They would come up along side you and hit you, pinch you, and would take my riding crop and hit me with it. Men are brutal when it comes to sports. One time we had a visiting player, I only knew him by the name Jerry. Anyway, out of the corner of my eye I saw him reach for my crop, "I screamed at him like a dirty mouthed sailor" and called him several names. I thought he was a typical cowboy that was playing down and dirty. Anyway, the whole building became silent. You could hear a pin drop. I heard "Hey don't be calling our pastor names like that. We all go to his church. OOPS! I had no idea, he smiled sweetly at me and said, "I am sorry dear, I saw your crop slipping and merely wanted to put it back for you"! I was so embarrassed I wanted to cry...lol lol :) Everybody was laughing!

We had a lot of spectators that loved the game. Once two Black Urbanites came, dressed up really great from Chicago. They asked me where the washrooms were, I said "They are out back behind the barn". They came back and said to me, "Oh you are a smart ass, quit fooling us, there are only two refrigerators back there". I said, "Those are porta-potties, not refrigerators"! lol lol They couldn't believe it.

Another time this little old lady brought her two little Shitzus with her. She was standing at the end of the arena, when our horses came charging down the arena her little cute dogs became so frightened they wrapped the leashes around her legs and dragged her down. lol lol Her dogs were screaming in terror. The cowboys picked her up, brushed her off, and took her upstairs to the viewing area. Poor thing, "She learned that night what eating dirt was"! lol lol :) I have a ton of horse stories, all funny. It was so fun to be a part of this, George, Carrie, and I loved it. Our Mother's would never come back to the games, they said it terrified them so much they couldn't stand it. lol :)

Skippy the Wonder Dog

Ah life with a Rat Terrier. Every second of everyday is fun filled, full of laughs, and talk about a rowdy bunch. These little monsters of excitement automatically start to try to climb trees to get the squirrels. lol They can scale fences with ease, climb ladders, walk on branches, and are really quite amazing and agile. They love people, cats, other dogs, but No Rodents please, ever, ever. Yikes!

These tykes are game for anything, anytime. They were a favorite of Teddy Roosevelt, so that pretty much sums them up! The Rough Riders for sure!

Departure from the Secular

Here is a photo of Br. Adam and I, when I worked in the gift shop this Sunday. It was my return to Religious Retail. I really had a great time, and they had quite a few people in there buying when it opened. They had a large group of pilgrims there for prayer, lunch, and more prayer.

I have tons of religious art in my house. Some even from the Vatican itself. I have all original secular paintings in my house, but in all honesty my religious art is my favorite. Studying it brings me great peace. I have a huge rosary collection, and yes I say it daily (an all of you are included in my prayers). I love the solace prayer and meditation brings me. I am proud to be a Benedictine because I love their simple rule, "Your work is your prayer"! I made the chalice for the Monks here, and have made other chalices. I can't explain what it means to me personally, when one of my pieces of pottery is raised at the altar. It truly humbles me. I am very, very humble actually, no matter what George says..:) I am extremely contemplative, so being able to interact with everyone on BABB helps me, or shall I say grounds me to the secular world in which I have to live, and thrive.

To put it frankly, you would never see me dancing naked on a pole, unless I was being barbecued by cannibals. For me it's all about respecting people, and being respected. I think that is what I love about being a part of the monastic environment. Even though I am a woman I am not treated any different than they treat each other. I wish I could share some of the greatest moments in my life with all of you, but I can't put it into words. When dealing with spiritual epiphanies there are no words.

So I have learned this lesson in life, "Treat everyone as you want to be treated", and if anyone treats you like shit, well treat them like shit in return. lol lol lol...:) When St. Paul asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor" Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves you, and treats you with respect" So that is the rule I live by. Boy I have seen some nuns blast people, and really rip into them like chef Gordon Ramsey....Women Warriors they are, they don't take any shit from anyone...:)

So back to the secular world again, laughs, fun, and all the weirdness, and craziness life can offer!

What is with the Cults?

You know I have been thinking about what Kasey said on our BABB Blog when she mentioned cults. What the heck is with those people, you know the one's that sell their home, give the freak in charge all their money, and cut their appendages off and put them in mason jars, and then kill themselves, or be killed for some nut. George and I used to laugh, we watched this one old broad who dressed up like a complete ass, like someone off of the old "Buck Rogers" with Ming the merciless, anyway, she wore this sequined gown, with a wand, and a crown and claimed she was from Venus, where she was queen. She called herself, "Space Ship Ruthie". Anyway these dorks gave her tons of money so when the Vesuvian ship came she would take them all back to Venus.
Oh come on people, are they one of the rare few that are born without brains? Are you so bored and pathetic that you have to engage with professional con artists? God what is it that they see, that I don't? Or how about that Applegate, WT..... LOL LOL How could anyone even begin to fall for all this garbage? I mean this is the 21st century. People spending their "dough" chasing Bigfoot, Werewolves, Vampires, etc.. Who the hell even cares if these things exist? I certainly don't.
I said to George, "We are in the wrong business", like PT Barnum said, "God there is a sucker born every minute". We live in a society where everyone seems to be on some sort of journey, they don't know what the heck it is, but they are all on board. I am going to start my own cult and make millions duping people, who apparently take great delight in being duped. Hey I want to make people happy too. Oh my gosh, what is this world coming too anyway. I think our brains are shrinking. lol lol lol..:) I truly am "Stupified" everyday of my life! How about you?
Here is a picture of me waiting for the descent of the Vesuvian ships, PLEASE SEND CASH NOW IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH ME...I am queen now of this planet. No checks, or credit cards please...LOL LOL OMG and these people have parents and family, what must they think? "Where did we fail, or go wrong"!

Entry for Tim Burton BABB Blog

This piece is called "Oogie Boogie Blood and Guts Bowl". When thinking of Tim Burton and his wonderful animations mainly the "Night Before Christmas", which George and I adored what comes to mind is always the macabre . His creations always hold me spellbound even though they are at times gory and somewhat repulsive to the Max.

The character I created was to represent his wonderful animated characters. This one met his match and wound up squished into a soup for a Monsters dinner.

It is made out of stoneware, fired to cone 6, the character is hand sculpted.

The soup consists of tomato soup, salsa, pasta, and provolone cheese cut into bones. MMM so delicious and rated four stars by ghouls, trolls, monsters everywhere.

The Greatest Life

I have probably had one of the greatest lives and actually quite weird compared to most people. I have done many things in my life and never, but a few times, traveled farther than 50 miles to do it.
I love to learn. It's who I am and what I do. No novels for me! Volumes of learning materials. I continually have to grow and learn. I have always felt that I am "Autistic"! I am always the one that stands alone, off somewhere, doing, learning. Not too social, not interested in matters of vanity. As a matter of fact I still wear some of my old tops from highschool...lol lol lol..:) I have never been clothes shopping in my life. Never had girlfriends per se. I have many dear friends, loyal to a fault for many years, but do very little with them. They come to visit me, and I love having them, and treat them like royalty.
In my area we have just "Dive Bars", never been in a one! lol lol :) Most of my husbands friends from highschool are dead, seriously, because they were always in these bars. One died from getting socked in the head with a two by four, three were hit by the train walking home drunk, some died from drug overdoses, one was found wrapped up in a carpet, laying by the side of the road, and the list goes one. Most of them died from drunk driving also. So bars are ixnay for me, and my husband. So I have little to none in the social department.
Always adored jobs associated with working with animals, or in the background working. I am not competative, nor feel the need to prove myself to anyone.
When I worked at the Monestary I had finally found my "niche"! When I walked over that threshold into what I call "The Perfect" place for me.
Beautifully inspiring, well educated, Art appreciators, and they were so kind and loving to everyone of my loved ones. It was a blissful environment. It turned my desire to be part of the "Secular World" up side down.
I had many truly awestruck experiences there. One's where the "Divine" connect with the "Mortal" world. Not with firecrackers, fan fare, or parades; just subtle, quiet, like a whisper in the breeze. I had finally been excepted in an environment that showed me who I really am, not what the world tells me I am. Being Autistic is not easy in a world that absolutely trys to crush those who are not like everyone else. I was always put down my whole life for just being me. I finally realized that God created each and everyone one of us, with a divine purpose, or mission. Some to do really great things, and some to do things more subtle, little things. I finally realized that it is really important how we impact someone else's life, and at times we can really hurt people, or maybe even destroy them by truly assenine behaviors. Not meant, but none the less, responsible for. I woke up to reality! That being Autistic is not bad, I am just different. The Monks loved me for me. I didn't have to fight to be excepted, they just did.
I am a very hard worker, and give it my all. When my wonderful boss Br. Mark, was transfered to another job, he gave me a card, I was shocked! When I read it it said, "Thank you for all your good works, and for the great peace you brought me. Thank you for being you, and for giving your job 300%"! OMG, I was shocked. Never in the Secular world would you get that. He had great love for George, my Mother, George's Mother.....it was a beautiful world. When my mother was dying of Cancer, they were there for her....a million percent! She had a send off to her next life, like no other. A whole community came together to celebrate her life, in a truly astounding way! They were there for her even to her gravesite. I will never forget it! Over and over they all commented on her name "Grace', and said, "She was truly an example of her name, a woman filled with grace, love, warmth, and joy"!
I will never forget her last words to me, "I have been visited by the Angel of Death, she hugged me, told me how much she loved me, and then said, "I am going home now and I am not afraid now" She died with a beautiful smile on her lovely face and left us.
When we were at the funeral parlor, George went downstairs to get some coffee, he came upstairs by me and said, "OMG Maureen, your Mother just talked to me, she is here"! I have had many spiritual experiences in my life, miracles happend all the time, we just don't see them. The Monks taught us to see, what is real. Not the Secular way, what you are told!
Love to all, and I do mean it!

Balaster Pitcher

This is a Balaster Pitcher. It's an ancient design taken from the Greeks. The reason it is called that is because the focus is that the pitcher is in complete balance. It is very comfortable to pour. When the handle is attached you gently let it drop into position using gravity. The style of the pitcher is designed to accommodate this procedure. I use a modern style glaze on it. I chose an amber with a rather minimalist glaze design not to detract from the shape of the pitcher. Our logo tag is attached to the base of the handle.

This pitcher took first place at the Kenosha County Fair out of about 50 other pieces of pottery on display.

It is 8 1/2" tall, wheel thrown stoneware, with a pulled handle. If interested in purchasing it the price is $50.00 plus shipping. You can email me at: mjohnson100@wi.rr.com