Part 2 If Oak Trees Could Talk

27 May

Inspiring One Dreamer at a Time!

Welcome Back to part 2 of If Oak Trees Could Talk.

If Oak Trees Could Talk

  I am excited to be doing the Video blogs.  I am learning a lot, from time to time.. If you prefer to read along, simply scroll down to find the section of If Oak Trees Could Talk that I will be sharing in this blog!
I hope that you are enjoying the story so far, please check back often as I will be posting at least once or twice a week!   I will also be doing other blogs please check out DIY Mama!

If you missed Part 1 of If Oak Trees Could Talk, please look at the archives and click link!

VIDEO BLOG: https://youtu.be/LzmSXl-MB3I


Lets Continue:

                                                                

Chapter One

Henry William Tyler

There were many things that Henry routinely looked at and tried to remember over the course of his life.  He tried to preserve the events and happenings that meant the most to him and quickly weeded out those times that would tend only to gender him pain or regret. Henry’s fondest and most important memories were always centered on three huge things in his life.  The first being His one and only true love, Helen Elaine Meyers Tyler.  The second of course, was his lovely daughter Amelia and her family, and lastly something that may have seemed mighty strange to most people was Henry’s best friend.  Henry was of a mind that one could find friends in just about anything.   Although Henry found many friends and was loved and respected by many, his best friend was not a person but instead it was an old Oak tree.  Yep, again it might seem strange but the old Oak tree had been every bit as much of a friend to Henry as any person could’ve been to him.  The Oak tree loomed tall and strong over the entire side yard of what used to be Henry’s folk’s place. She stood like a huge giant and always had her limbs extended in what Henry felt was a welcoming embrace.  She participated in just about everything of any significance in Henry’s life.  Henry would tell you, that she probably knew more about him than any person that he had ever met, with the exception of maybe his wife Helen.  No one could keep a secret like the old Oak could.   She kept all of Henry’s secrets from the time he was a young boy until he was well, of a mature age.             Sometimes Henry found that he would have times when he couldn’t quiet remember things like he used to.  He knew that the stories were all there, but somehow he just couldn’t seem to put them all together to make them make sense to anybody.  Sometimes the stories never made sense to him either.  He would become frustrated that he couldn’t figure everything out. He struggled to know the difference between what was real and what were figments of his imagination. He couldn’t quite make all the pieces come together properly. It was as though he had all of the puzzle pieces, which were persons, events and important times in his life, but they all wouldn’t fit where Henry thought they should have fit.  When he would try to share his thoughts with someone, well frankly, he just couldn’t make them make sense.  However, the old Oak tree knew all there was to know about Henry and when he would go back to visit her in his mind, it seemed as though she helped him fit the pieces together where they made a clearer picture.  Then Henry would remember what he wanted to remember.

“Well here I am old friend back under your outstretched branches and I was wondering do you remember the day of that fire at the city square? I heard someone mention the Fourth of July was coming and it just set my mind to thinking about that big fire at the city square.  You say that I’m the one who started that fire?  Now let me see, what happened again on that Fourth of July?  Oh, now I seem to recall that Mr. Davis from over in Scioto County came to Mason Creek to Old man Harper’s hardware store.  I remember that he had a whole delivery truck full of fireworks that were illegal in our county, but I being a young lad, I was somewhat curious to see how they worked.  Well anyway, I climbed on the back of Mr. Davis’ truck and helped myself to a goodly supply of those fireworks.  Old friend, do you remember what happened next?  Yep, it definitely turned in to a Fourth of July celebration that Mason Creek wouldn’t forget for years to come.  How was I to know that those fireworks were real explosives?  I could’ve killed my fool self.  I remember after the fire was started that I ran to you like a scared rabbit.  I climbed up in your branches and hid until the sparks stopped flying and the smoke cleared.  I thought my Dad would thrash me a good one if he found out that it was me what started that fire, but nothing, not the first lick.  I was sure he and my Momma knew it was me.  What do you think?  Yep they knew… hee hee, and so did old man Harper.

“Hello Mr. Tyler, it’s time for your medicine.”  Nurse Wanda interrupted.  “What was so humorous?”  She probed.

“Oh it’s a secret between me and an old friend!”  Henry answered with a chuckle.

“It must have been some secret.”  Nurse Wanda replied.

Then suddenly silence filled the room as if Henry physically left, but he was not gone, he just seemed to fade away to some place no one could go except for him.

“Mr. Tyler?  Mr. Tyler?  Nurse Wanda continued to call, but to no avail.

Henry offered no more conversation as he stared forward with just the slightest grin upon his face.

“Well, I’ll be back later Mr. Tyler to check on you okay?  Maybe, you can tell me your dirty little secret then.”  Nurse Wanda teased as she left Henry alone in his nursing home room.

Please Tune in next time for Part 3 and the continuing story of If Oak Trees Could Talk!  I would love to hear from you if you have any comments!   covenantessentails@gmail.com    

Christine Gilliam Hornback’s Books

http://astore.amazon.com/authorartistm-20

If Oak Trees Could Talk Videos

20 May

If Oak Trees Could Talk Videos.

If Oak Trees Could Talk Videos

20 May
Inspiring one Dreamer at a time!

If Oak Trees Could Talk

05/18/2015

0 Comments

  • Okay I know that this blog is probably turning a little different, okay maybe a little weird,  but at the suggestion of my dearest friend and husband, I am going to share my latest Inspirational Romance Novel with you!  Every week I will post a new portion of my book until I’ve finished it.  I hope that you will enjoy it.  If you miss a week, that portion or chapter will be archived.    As both  my husband and I were born in the Sixties we remembered when radio would play stories that if you wanted to hear the rest of the story,  they would say, “TUNE IN NEXT TIME!” Well my hope is that you will stayed tuned in until the end and that we can live out this story together!
    Also for those who may not have time to read it, I will also be posting the portion in Youtube videos!  So maybe you can take the time to listen!  Again they will be archived as well so that you can go in and listen to a portion if you happened to miss  a week for whatever reason…..say like LIFE Happens!
    What do I get it out of this you may ask?  Well, if you like the story, maybe you can recommend it to your friends and maybe you will look forward to others that I’ve written or will write in the future!  If you sign up to follow this blog, you will also get free insights and notices of my latest books.  I will also run contest for my followers to win my books or other things that I feel would be a great way to say I appreciate you!  I would love to hear from you as we go on this journey together!  Blessings and Happy Reading or Listening!
  • Book Cover for If Oak Trees Could Talk
  • https://www.youtube.com/embed/3F_aCHJ83Fs“>
    I know that this is all new, so if my videos are amateur I ask that you bare with me I learn how to do them.  Right now I just wanted to strike while the iron was hot, and I hope that you will enjoy going on this journey with me!
  • My Latest Inspirational Romance “If Oak Trees Could Talk” written by Christine Gilliam Hornback all images and copy are copyrighted 2014
  •    Okay, here we go with the first Video that will cover the following! I hope that you have a cup of coffee or tea and are ready to visit with Henry William Tyler in the small southern town of Mason Creek, Georgia!    Chapter 1   Henry William Tyler    
  • https://www.youtube.com/embed/eIVgRCmDumc“>
  •            His name was Henry William Tyler.  He was a true Southern gentleman in every sense of the word.  Born and raised in Mason Creek, Georgia he was well known and thought of rather highly by everyone who knew him in his small rural community.  He had a beautiful wife, daughter, son-and-law and two wonderful grandsons.  He had a life that was full of treasures that you could not put a price on. Henry’s Father was a Salesman who could sell a bathing suit to an Eskimo.  Folks say that the gift of being a salesman was definitely passed on to Henry.  Henry was kind and pleasant, had an impish smile that curved into deep dimples and bright eyes that danced whenever he would go into to one of his long drawn out stories.  He claimed his stories were all passed down from generation to generation. Most of the people who heard his stories thought that what Henry said must have been true based on how long it took him to tell them.   However, most of the folks in Mason Creek didn’t seem to mind how long Henry’s stories took to tell as everyday they would gather at Henry’s Hardware store to hear him tell the same stories over and over again.  They knew that every story, regardless if they heard a similar version of it before was going to be different the next time they heard it.   Henry knew how to embellish his tales.  He dressed them up much like bright rhinestones on a country western singer’s blazer. He caused them to dazzle and sparkle a little more with every telling of them.  Whether the story was really that long or if it was the southern drawl or perhaps the way Henry turned phrases was questionable, however again it didn’t much matter as it was free entertainment in a small town with not much else to do but shoot the breeze.    Every day, friends, family and even a few occasional strangers would gather around the counter at Henry’s hardware store when he would begin one of his elaborate tales.  They listened in anticipation of being thoroughly entertained, but not before they buried their arms down into a huge barrel full of ice cold soda pop and bought a greasy brown paper sack of Henry’s famous hot boiled peanuts.  They sipped their colas and ate their peanuts while listening to Henry and watching every lively expression!  When they left the Hardware store they usually walked away from the experience having bought several hardware items that they really didn’t have need of.  However, they also left his store with huge smiles on their faces and their heads shaking in disbelief as the stories got a little wilder with the telling of them!  Henry was of a senior age.  How senior I couldn’t really tell, but when Henry looked into the mirror, the person looking back at him sure told it all. It seemed strange to Henry though, because the man he saw in the mirror looked more like his Dad than it did himself.  What Henry saw was a tall thin man with white hair and white whiskers.  If he had not known better, Henry would’ve sworn that it was his father.  When Henry smiled, he could see slight wrinkles not quite as deep as the ones he remembered his Father having, but wrinkles none the less around the corners of his eyes.  He also saw his father’s forehead and nose, which were strong characteristic traits throughout the Tyler’s family tree. As Henry continued to gaze at his image in the mirror, he whispered softly to himself, “Yep with this forehead and this nose, I can be assured that I am indeed a Tyler. But when did I get to be so darn old?”  Henry questioned, “Where did the time fly off to?”

Christine Gilliam Hornback Author, Artist, Inspirational Speaker

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Sunrise or Sunset?

6 May

Sunrise or Sunset?.

Sunrise or Sunset?

6 May

cropped-secret-getaway-027.jpgIMG_0661IMG_0653160px-Tybee-island-sunrise-ga1Secret Getaway 025Secret Getaway 020Evening Skyline in Georgia

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Mama’s Coconut Favs!

5 May

Mama’s Coconut Favs!.

Mama’s Coconut Favs!

5 May

Sometimes I feel like a nut or maybe I should say Coconut or “Coconut Oil” to be exact!   Oh my goodness, what to say about Coconut Oil?  I am going to sound like Bubba Gump from the movie Forest Gump because just like Bubba came up with many ways to use shrimp, I can say that much about the many uses of Coconut!  I honestly am not an expert that can prove  Coconut or Coconut oil to be a super food, but this Mama says, “Coconut Oil is Super!”  Although there are hundreds of uses for Coconut Oil, I wanted to share my top 10 uses.  I’ve also included another one of Mama’s Concoction Recipes using Coconut Oil! I hope that you will enjoy it!

My top 10 Uses for Coconut Oil!

1.  Coconut Oil is great for healthy cooking! Fry or bake, as replacement for all vegetable oil and   margarines. 

  1. Lotions such as my favorite Mama’s DIY Lavender Moisturizing Lotion
  2. I love to use it as a moisturizer in Mama’s DIY Soaps Body wash!
  3. Excellent Mama’s DIY Shaving Cream!
  4. Soothing Mama’s DIY Mandarin Orange Body Scrub to soothe and exfoliate the skin.
  5. Coconut Oil is my #1 carrier oil for use with my Essential Oils!
  6. Mama’s DIY Toothpaste
  7. Mama’s DIY Deodorant
  8. Coconut Oil is excellent by itself for Chap Lips but is even better mixed with Lemon or Peppermint Essential Oil
  9.   Wonderful chemical free sunscreen! Coconut has a SPF of around 4-6 by itself by mixed with either Carrot Oil or Raspberry Oil it raises the SPF to around 25-40!

 

Mama’s Mandarin Orange Scrub

Ingredients:

1 cup                             Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

1 cup                              Sugar

2 to 3 tsps                      Orange Juice

5 drops                          Wild Orange Essential Oil (Doterra Essential Oil)

1                                      Glass Container ( I use pt Canning Jar w/lid)

Directions:

In a glass bowl combine Virgin Coconut Oil with sugar and mix well with a spatula.

Cut Mandarin Orange in half and squeeze juice ( usually yields about 2 to 3 teaspoons) directly into the bowl

Pour in  the 5 drops of  Doterra Wild Orange Essential Oil and continue to mix.

When all ingredients are mixed well pour into glass container or jar and enjoy!

I love to double the recipe and give keep one and give the other as a gift!

Simply tie a Ribbon around the jar and Voila!  ( I love the little Embellished Jute Ribbon)

As you can see Coconut Oil is so very versatile.  I love the fact that I get the wonderful benefit of replacing it to replace a lot of the unhealthy chemicals that are in the products that my family uses every day!  If you have enjoyed my blog post and Mama’s DIY Recipes I would love to hear from you!  Until next time, I hope that you to will feel like a “Nut, or at least a Coconut!”

Mama’s DIY Concoctions

29 Apr

Mama’s DIY Concoctions.

Mama’s DIY Concoctions

29 Apr

Mama’s DIY Concoctions!

Don’t you just love it when you can be creative and it blesses your family or others?  I hope so,  as today’s blog is about giving!  I am a giver!  By stating that I am a giver people may automatically say “well give me this much money or give me this or that!”  The fact of the matter is I’ve not always had money to give, but I’ve had my time and thank God he has given me a few talents that I can use to give to others!  I am an Author and an Artist, so it gives me great pleasure to bless my friends and family with a painting or a book that I’ve written, but I also love to cook!

When a friend is sick I can do homemade chicken soup for them and a big ol’ pone of cornbread from my Grandma’s iron skillet!  When I do something like cook soup and cornbread for a friend, It gives me great pleasure to do it!  I am probably blessed as much as they are!  I thank God that he’s given me my Southern Mama who was a wonderful Southern cook and taught me how to cook as well. The difficult thing is that she never used a recipe and so I rarely do either!   In my home we have an ongoing joke “Mama’s concocting again!” Which by the way is a  title to one of my forthcoming books! I love to get into the kitchen and “create” my own dishes.  I’ve had a few epic fails, but for more times than not, I’ve created meals things that  my family usually brags on.   I’ve also been incorporating  and using healthier ingredients with no complaints!  But this is the real deal, I’ve also been putting them in recipe form  with  “estimated amount” so that I can actually pass them down someday to my grandchildren or great-grandchildren!

Anyway, back to giving.    Do you know that some of my sweetest gifts came not when my family or friends purchased me a gift?  The best gifts that I received were when they did something personally or made something  for me.  For Christmas my boys always make me gifts!  I love and treasure them because they seriously put their time and effort into making Mama something special!Who wouldn’t love a homemade birdfeeder, or a beautiful stepping stone that says Mom on it?  I love them!

In the spirit of giving I wanted to share one of my simplest “Concoctions!” or “Recipes!” with you today.  This is an easy recipe and is great for your home or you can fancy it up and give it as a gift!  Either way I hope that you will enjoy making it!

DIY AIR Freshener or Carpet Freshener

picture belongs to http//www.covenantessentials.com

Ingredients:

I cup                     Pure Baking Soda

10 drops               Lavender Oil or your favorite scented oils ( I use Doterra 100% CPTG)

1                           Small canning Jelly Jar with lid or fancier jar if you have one

Directions:

Pour Pure Baking Soda into canning jar!

Pour in Lavender oil or your favorite essential oil

Place lid on the jar and shake to mix the two ingredients!

Now this is when it can get a little tricky because the lid for your jar has to have holes placed in it! I usually find me an old board, nail, and a hammer!  I place the lid on the board, and I hammer the Nail into the lid in a few places to create holes.  This allows you to be able to smell the wonderful scent  Of the freshener, but also if you were going to sprinkle it on your carpets, then you have an instant shaker!

Variations:

Finally if you wanted to give this as a gift, say for Christmas, you could use Doterra Oils, such as   Peppermint Oil  I love the scents of fall, so I usually also do one with  Clove and Ginger Oil.  Use your imagination and “Concoct” your own Recipe!  To give these as gifts, just tie a pretty ribbon or burlap twine with a little homemade tag! This spiffs it up fancy!

I would love to hear from you!  If you enjoyed this blog with my DIY Concoctions, please let me know and I will post more of my Homemade DIY recipes.  In the meantime if you would like to have this recipe to print, please contact me and leave your email and I will send You a free pdf by attachement!

 

 

 

 

 

CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® — An Innovative Standard

 

dōTERRA CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils represent the safest and most beneficial oils available in the world today. For an oil to be CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade the oil must be:

  • Pure and natural, with aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants
  • Free from fillers or artificial ingredients; no dilution of active qualities
  • Free of contaminants, pesticides, or chemical residues
  • Rigorously tested for standards of chemical composition
  • Cross tested using mass spectrometry and gas chromatography to ensure exact purity and composition potency
  • Sourced by a global network of leading essential oil chemists and growers to ensure correct species, growth in ideal environments, and that raw plant materials were carefully harvested at the right time

http://www.doterra.com/#/en/ourCompany/resources/factSheet

Stressed? Blame it on Adam and Eve!

24 Apr

Stressed? Blame it on Adam and Eve!.