I hope Sundance goes to a place where there is a vista that lets him see for miles, unimpeded by man made structures. Isn’t that what a treehouse is supposed to provide for children or others as the words beckon in the song “Up, Up, and Away” by The Fifth Dimension? There is research indicating how refreshing and expanding it is for the human brain. I never realized how important it was until we moved to the desert. Our brains need to experience that wide open vista from time to time.

We live in the high desert country of southeast Arizona. It has barren stretches of land and beautiful mountains, and works its own magic spell on those who live here. Some can’t wait to get away to live a busier bustling life. Others who used to live here choose to come back after retirement. So bloom where you are planted. Also take time to stir and aerate your roots to keep yourself alive and growing. I hope this is what Sundance may be doing.

May God Bless our veterans, and each of us in this beautiful wholesome Tree House.

The subtlety is awakened.

I met my wife when on a blind date when I was 20 years old.

I was in the Marines at the time, serving in an out-of-the-way very non-Marine Corps duty station.

We’ve been married 50+ years. That’s more to do with my wife than it is to me. She’s a good Christian woman and she was a great mother to our three son’s.

We’ve had our ups (mostly her) and downs (mostly me) but through perserverance and the wonderful grace of our Lord we continue to move forward in life.

We are both spending more time in God’s Word these days.

We are both becoming more aware what a vital part “peace” needs to play in our lives. The turmoil in the world can be so overwhelming that it can take you down to dark places. Thankfully, we can have peace with both God and man through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I’m finding that I have to work at having peace in my life. While I work at it daily it remains a work in progress.

The Treehouse is a reliable place to get a different take on national and world events. I have much to be greatful for in this life, thank the Lord.

Thanks for clueing us in.

Kind of amazing at how fast we jump to fearing worst case outcomes.

Here is a thought. How about managing all your needs for breaks.

I know, it is a labor of love, even a way of life, not some drudgery where you are paid and get paid vacations to help you keep drudging forward.

But still, what you all do is a major commitment requiring massive hours, attention 24/7, and ever more research.

Such involvement, even in a free will labor of love, will require breaks for mental, physical and spiritual sanity.

We greatly appreciate what you do. And hope all stays well for all of you.

Thanks

He came into camp (ranch) as a young, scarred up, fully intact male gray tabby. Aloof, suspicious, not wild and very sure of himself. He walked right into the cage and came back from town without his testicles. He lived peacefully with the rest of the barn cats and was everywhere inspecting everything. Our young 5 yr old nephew was here when we were working on corrals. Of course this unnamed cat was in the middle of things. Our nephew named him Big Construction and it stuck. Now 13 years later he has become a part time house cat, still in the middle of every activity. A lovable dude.

You are a jewel, Menagerie, and we wish you a blessed holiday season.

Thanks always to Sundance for his gifted insights and boldness –

Living our best lives, no fear, all confidence in our Lord and His glory. He will provide (2 Pet 1:3-4). We shall not be moved.

Thanks Menagerie, reminders and history are always helpful..

Had my Treehouse built in 2014 when I turned 68. Still go up there from time to time. I love to decorate it for Christmas.
Happy Veterans Day to my Treeper friends. 🇺🇲

I’m really glad Sundance is taking some much deserved time off. I’m going to cook breakfast for my youngest granddaughter and think about the story I’ll post later. Thanks Menagerie, we love you all.

Perfect visual !

I have been through many patches of hell on earth through my 7 decades, but there have been perfect glimpses of heaven and many blessings that I don’t deserve as well.

Thinking about how grateful I feel to be a small link in this chain of knowledge and fellowship here is bring tears to my eyes.

Onward and upward !

G’morning Menagerie. I stepped away from my branch around the time my wife passed. I missed the happenings of Conner. We could and I can empathize with you regarding open heart surgery of a baby. Our son Jack had it at six days old (TAPRV) There is a story to go with it but it’s starting to get dusty here.
My bride was a true teacher. She preferred pre-K and Kindergarten. She always worked best with those with special needs. She was always given those with “discipline” problems and turned them around with Love and guidance.
I always got a burr under my saddle when someone chimed in with the fallacy “those that can’t, teach” I wish upon the treehousers to look back at their school years and remember that one teacher who engaged us, made us laugh, made us think and genuinely cared about your education. Those few ARE teachers, the rest are…slackers. (nicest word I could find)
I gotta step off my soapbox due to dust.

I too have found peace and wonderful conversations here at the Treehouse. Been here since 2015. This days were gold.
Thank you all for what you do here.
Sundance, you are a gem, and I can’t think where I would be if I hadn’t climbed up the Tree.

I too was worried about our treehouse.
This has been my morning routine for almost a decade maybe more.
This absolutely wonderful place has helped my family tremendously
because I can get the truth here or at least assistance in discovery of
such truths. We moved from the Seattle area to Montana because of these truths.
We did not get vaccinated because of these truths.
God bless you all here and thank you.

Thank God, Sundance is fine and taking a much needed break. I’ll start breathing again.

I have a recipe which I’m pretty sure I’ve posted here before. But it does have a story with it.

The recipe is for my mother’s grasshopper pie. Mom allowed my older brother Pete and me to have grasshopper pie even though it contained only 3 ozs. of liquor. She figured it wouldn’t do us any harm to have a small pie of the pie. One day we were having dinner at the Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia, NY. When my brother, who was maybe 17 at the time, ordered a piece of grasshopper pie for dessert, we thought the poor waitress would faint. You can’t have that, she said. It’s got LIQUOR in it! We still laugh about that.

Menagerie, thank you so much for your re-assurance which, I want you to know, helps us world-wide – as does this treehouse.

Married a widower with a toddler daughter (now nearly 50!), and two more children later we realised we had so much to thank God for, despite everything, that a change of direction led to nearly 30 years church ministry.

Been retired for a decade now, and sometimes wonder where church leaders (especially here) are leading, but we’re heartened that our first little church (that we’ve returned to) is still peopled by friends old and new, doing their best to hang in and follow and love our Lord.

In it all, I am thoroughly convinced of the love of God towards His people and His world, and the balm of His word.
He could have dictated Isaiah 61 especially for Sundance and you crew:

Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
4  They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
5  Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6  And you will be called priests of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.
7  Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

Much love and gratitude to you all from across the pond.

Found this site in 2015 and come here 8 to 10 times a day. Has the best group of commenters on the internet. Thank you, Sundance and crew, for the effort y’all put into providing us with the truth daily.
As a Catholic who was raised in the faith, I appreciate the encouragement from all the posters to stay the course in our walk of faith as we live through the most trying times in our lives. I truly believe the Illumination of Conscience is at our doorstep and the prayers of Christians everywhere will be answered. I believe it will happen in my lifetime and I am 78. God Bless everyone, stay the course and help your family and friends to achieve salvation. Jesus is coming back very soon. Be prepared.

 LOVE THAT TREEHOUSE!

I was raised in a large Irish Catholic family (parents had 8 children!), and my father surprised us one weekend when he backed the old pickup onto the spotty grass behind our country Victorian house.before laying on the horn. The blaring noise was our call to arms to which inside siblings ran around back to see my older teen brothers already unloading the pile of wood pieces in the flatbed. Apparently, my father scored free 2×6 planks from a local seminary which didn’t want their small pond raft named “Molly Brown.”  

After several days of hard work and barking work orders at us kids, our entire family and neighbors across the street were called together for the christening of the new Molly Brown Treefort with its faded, light blue signature board. It was magnificent in that big black walnut tree and helped raise us throughout our childhood years.

Thank you, Menagerie, for giving us the comms and leadership. I was a lurking at CTH for nine years before posting. Do not know if I was the only Treeper here that did this, but… I scrolled down the legacy thread you posted to read the comments to no avail!!

I’m old I got stories. Funny short one if you ever want more I can fill up a book.
My girlfriend wife to be at the time Is a serious trooper, why in the world she stayed with me is unmistakably GOD. I was like a wild animal when I met her. We would go to the gym and I would annihilate her and she loved it, or me still can’t tell which one.
We did “leg day” anyone who is serious about bodybuilding knows “leg day” it’s the pinnacle of pain for the day and week, or your not doing it right. My leg days were sculpted from Tom Platz, look him up if you want visuals, crazy legs. Most people who worked out with me bow out if at all possible. I got diarrhea every leg day in anticipation. Seriously.
So my wife and I had this great leg workout and a couple days later we we went trail riding on my KTM 350 over some really nasty stuff, both covered in mud, she clung to me like an “Alabama tick” so I was in heaven. Two favorite things in the world combined in one dirty, smelly, gritty, gorgeous package. My wife and dirt bikes!
We got cut off in an area and I was trying to get back to the truck, there was this really steep hill I thought was the way out so I put her off the bike to climb up and see. I told her “do not follow I will be back if it’s a way out”. So I popped up this hill and nothing, dead end. I turned around and she was half way up this hill, it was probably 40 degrees, she was wearing a jean jacket on top, jeans on bottom, and a big oversized helmet. I said “go down, no way out” she began the decent.
Well, momentum can be a friend or foe, today it was the latter. Added with the excruciating pain of sore legs, catastrophe was near, I never saw it coming. She took the first step down very gingerly, second a little quicker………..sore legs hurt worse descending , climbing actually gives relief. With each step she gained speed until it was faster than her legs could maintain and she went down like a lawn dart. Head first on her shoulder and…..wrist. I burped the throttle and landed at the bottom of the hill jumped off and grabbed her. I thought she was sobbing but no, she was laughing. I cracked a joke and we got her up, looked her over and sure enough her wrist was cracked. Already swelling.
There was a highway close so we jumped on the bike and got us to the truck. 40 degrees kept her cold enough that it didn’t get to big but once she warmed up it got much worse. Dr, cast, bath, I felt horrible.

Our lives are full of those stories, I purpose in my heart to feel, smell, taste, touch, all I can take in on those moments, they fade so quick. When I squeeze my wife that’s what I see, those moments, just like my sons. A hug and a sniff of their neck and the projector rolls in my mind.

Great picture! Kids are everything that’s important in life. Those beautiful kids make me smile, a lot! Great treehouse too!

Thank you Menagerie for the update on Sundance. I was a lil worried about him. May he get some well deserved rest too. I love CTH- my go to site for real news- faithful reader since 2015.

First, let me commend you on your strength of character to be able not to order new furniture or hang pictures.

I have always been a hugger. I used to say I would hug the devil himself because I knew it would make him mad. I became more reserved over the years as women’s lib, sexual harassment and homosexualism became more prevalent.

I noticed a few weeks ago that people around me were initiating more hugs and the ones that didn’t hug I could sense were wanting to be closer. I just thought I was getting older and more huggable. Then I got to noticing other people were hugging each other more than I was used to seeing.

I will leave it up to you to decide what that means.

Here is a big hug to all of my Treehouse friends.

In honor of November 11: I was born the wrong year. I became eligible for the draft in 1973 as the war in Vietnam was winding down. They were not looking for a lot of recruits.

I decided to go to vocational school. The local one was built to serve the needs of Vietnam veterans on the GI bill as were many more in small town all across America. I think I was the only non-veteran there. Even the instructors were veterans. We did a lot more than learn welding, electricity and machine shop. The veteran instructors spent a lot of time mentoring to needs that were not vocationally based. It was an effective PTSD program before it had the name.

The place where I worked was full of veterans. My employer felt that military experience was exactly what people needed to be good employees. Several were disabled and placed in jobs where they could fully function.

A close friend at work was a WWII veteran. I had a paper to write for a college class and asked him if I could write about his war experience. He never talked a lot about it. His answer was a bit surprising. He would tell me his story, I could write it but not identify him in any way. I could turn in the paper and never show it to anyone except the professor. I was to tell the professor his request for privacy. I was not to talk to anyone about it ever. I wrote the paper, got an A, and have done as he said. He needed to talk about it and felt he could trust me to keep his secrets. He died soon after. His secrets are safe.

I had uncles in WWII. One served in Europe and was at Normandy and The Battle of the Bulge. Another was at Iwo Jima.

My father-in-law volunteered before 18 and was on a troop ship to Europe when the war ended. The was trained as a 1000 yard marksman, and served out his enlistment in the German occupation. He never talked about it except to say he drove a Jeep for an officer. Another relative with considerable rank as a Command Sergent Major tried to look up his service record and found everything sealed. Knowing the name of the commander, he tried that as well and also found completely sealed records. The CSM got a call soon after. Someone at the Pentagon was on the phone with a simple message, “Stop looking.” The service record remains sealed.

Wow. I remember the Links post. If Sundance has not reposted it before, it means I am quite surprised to realize I have been visiting the Treehouse since 2011. I also remember praying for Connor. I may have posted something simple like: Prayers Winging. You see, my son, my red-headed kiddo required heart surgery at 5 months old. We struggled to fatten him up to 13 pounds. That miracle point happened two days before Thanksgiving in 1999. He was the focus of many, many prayer circles that encompassed the entire United States and parts of western Europe. I was part of a large prayer circle where we tried to cover the US and at the time I was the anchor for the Eastern border. We were and still are Prayer Warriors. We prayed for Connor just as they prayed for my Kiddo. Moving forward 24 years since surgery: He was not given a good prognosis even following surgery. He was missing the ventricular septum and part of the atrial septum. He was supposed to require another surgery within 5 years. He was supposed to have left us before he was a teenager. Prayers and Prayer Warriors don’t place limits on God’s Miracles. He did not require additional surgery. He was discharged from cardiac care at 16. He is a greeter at the Senior door of our church ( elevator access ) where he knows every name. He helps teach K3-K4 Sunday School. He goes on every Mission Trip he possibly can. He carries Joy and Light with him as he goes through life. I gave my son over to God the day of his surgery. I was humbled by the love and outpouring of Prayer from all over the world. Yes, I received uncountable messages from other Prayer Warriors telling me God’s Got This. It was a spiritual turning point in my life. I was not alone. It gave me the courage to quit work and be with my children. It drew our small family tighter together. We all grew spiritually. Did I tell you he is also a Down’s Kiddo? It hasn’t slowed him down. He works 4 days a week at the local grocery store, every Wednesday he delivers meals to our local shut-ins, he teaches sunday school and he is two belts away from attaining a Black Belt in Taekwondo. God’s Got This.

Outstanding genetic picture, rearing them well(in modern times) will be a task, just don’t let public schools(all levels) destroy them.

Thank you for the memories, Menagerie. And thank you for reminding me of why I joined Sundance’s website back in those WordPress days. It has been a very fruitful journey of personal growth. I pray for you, Sundance and your expanding family that your zeal for Our Country never dims. May God continue to smile on your efforts.

Been here awhile learning and praising that I found the fortress tucked away in the back wooded lot. It’s true you don’t know what you have until it’s removed. everyone needs a respite from the grind and if you don’t take your personal spot beyond that no one else is allowed point you lose your edge.. I expect Sundance is retooling and honing in his own way to be ready for the struggle ahead.. We are prepared take your time Sir….

Good for Sundance. I enjoyed both Menagerie‘s post and the many heartfelt comments. All are a nice respite from the many issues confronting us. I have a stable marrage for 45 years and no negative issues other than being totally pissed off by the left.

While not Jewish, I am a big supporter of Israel and two days ago I encounted a Rabbi who is fully behind Israel and tackling the protests in america supporting Hamas. His name is Rabbi Michael Barclay the Spiritual Leader of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake, California. I learned about him by listening to Sebastian Gorka’s pod cast. He has a fundamental view on why Hamas must be destroyed. I have already gotten two responces since emailing him asking to be added to the email list.

If you are following Israel’s fight for survival, you might find his writings interesting. Go to Temple Ner Simcha’s website to sign up.

Today is 11 November 2023.The Whores of the Globalist Banksters aka “Republicans” have been in control of the House going on eleven months. Palistinian rioters pulled down the U.S. flag and put up the Palistinian flag representing thire Demonic shit religion. The Repubs ran home to thire districts to posture on Veterans Day. They dont have the guts to label these people Domestic Terrorists. No, that’s reserved for Veterans. You have just seen a preview of what’s coming next summer.

Thank you Menagerie for your update and treehouse picture! I love that tree, looks like a Beech? It is so cool to see pictures of people when they were kids, because that is who is housed inside the older body version! : )
That said I can’t put my finger on when I wondered into this neck of the woods, but I just hung around until I thought my mind was ok and started to learn things that I really had to look up and try to figure out what was going on and what the heck you all were talking about. My brain swirled..I was a wild kid raised by wild people and never “got” this world. I was married at 16 after I got pregnant and had my 2nd daughter at 19. That is when I heard my mother in law, who was tough as nails but gentle as a dove, singing softly in church in another tongue! Looking back it sounded like Hebrew? Any way not long after Jesus saved this wretch and continues to help me in this very strange and beautiful life! My daughters are estranged from me and it breaks my heart but I trust The Lord to set all things straight. I’ll be married to my second husband 20 years this Christmas Eve and that is truly a miracle by Gods grace! So thankful for the Treehouse and all you kids! Big Love! By the way where is Betsy Jones? I just haven’t seen her post lately???

Thank you Menagerie for reassuring us that Sundance is just taking off for a bit. Ad Rem tried several times to reassure us but I believe we all still worried about him. Because so many things and people over the last several years have been taken from us, we were concerned that he might be one of them.

Love to all of you.

Thank you, Menagerie. I was wondering about Sundance. I hope everyone is well. I find it difficult to say how important I think you all are.

Be well, and best wishes to Conner. My child had surgery at Vanderbilt, too, though nothing as scary as his. And, FWIW, I have known some brilliant people on the autism spectrum. Everyone from a writer for The Onion to crazy-talented computer and math geeks. 🙂

PS—is there any way to give anonymously? Pre-paid Visa cards (a hack others seem to have used elsewhere) don’t seem to work.

Mine is a succulent story. I rescued some very neglected succulents of all types from a relative. Many were already dead having not been watered and left in shade without sunlight for years (yes years). However several of them produced flowers and growth in spite of being on what appeared to be their last legs. Aenonium that should have long died due to their shallow roots and need for more moisture than most were sill fresh. An Eve’s Needle that was corked on the bottom yet in spite of the totally impacted and hardened soil had new growith sprouting through in all it’s glory. So I took them home, repotted them, watered them and some of them i beheaded (yes we do that with succulents they grow back just fine!) and started them in new soil.

This was an lesson for me of my own life sometimes and God’s eternal faithfulness. Those succulents haven’t lived many thousands of years for nothing! They have survived in the most unhospitable situations and still show their glory in spite of it. I want to be like that more than I am. In stead of withering, take what I have and shine forth. Too often I fail at this. I now look out at my back yard and see those plants as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and what I can be and thankful for His Blessings and for giving me the courage and power to persevere.

Sent your treehouse photo to Number Two Son, who has seven kids. Message: “Great treehouse! Course you’ll need a great tree!”

Glad to hear Sundance is taking some time off. Hard to imagine how he could keep up the pace. How big is the team?

What kind of tree is that?

One day, for no good reason, Forrest Gump decided to go for a run. He ran and ran and just kept on running. He went from Alabama, to Georgia, and states beyond. He ended up way out west.

News of his run attracted attention, and eventually he had a following. One news reporter asked him about why he was running and about his philosophy. Forrest replied, “When I am hungry, I eat, when I am tired, I sleep . . .”

Hundreds of followers ran behind him. Forrest ran for months and had grown long hair and a beard.

One day he stopped, and turned around and started walking back in a direction opposite to where he was running. His followers asked, “Where are you going?”
Forrest replied: “I’m tired. I think I am gonna go home.”

The followers were stunned. Were they losing their leader? They asked: “What are we supposed to do now?”

Good day everybody. We are sharing stories with people in our area through a Secret Santa program for those in great need. You might like to follow along the journey and here’s the current story for today:

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2023/11/her-husband-needs-a-kidney-transplant-and-a-secret-santa-just-helped-make-it-one-step-closer-to-a-reality/

If you are like me, you are wondering why you are going it alone. I haven’t said or done anything offensive that I know of. This year my brothers and a good friend of 35 years have terminated their communication with me. I don’t sense hostility as much as I do indifference. Did all the jabs turn them into something other than human beings?
So who invites me to Thanksgiving this year but my remarried ex-husband! The best decision I ever made was to forgive him after our 23-year marriage ended, and I never told our children anything negative about him. So we will all celebrate together instead of making the kids pick one or the other parent.
God bless.

I’ve posted before but, since a story was asked for, I thought I’d do a short one. Retired in 2011 and pretty much became a loner. Home body as they say. Never cared much about politics. Voted for my dad and mom’s side of the ticket. In 2015, a family member introduced me to the treehouse. I fell in love with President Trump. Worked really hard online to get him elected and happily he was. When the treehouse moved, I expected to be left behind. Not a doctor, lawyer, merchant or a thief. Here is like a home inside a home. I’ve always sought knowledge and here I have been given plenty. Thanks .

Thank You for the update.

I am grateful to God for my life, for my parents (father deceased at 90, probably from shot -triggered stroke, mother still alive and cheerful at 88, for my sister, alive and cheerful, for my good wife whom I met through grace when we were both praying separately to find each other, and for all of my relatives through marriage, three more siblings, a stepchild, 5 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

I am grateful for God’s gifts of my life, my faculties, His word and supervision, and the mysterious and wondrous balance of mercy and justice with which he rules.

I am grateful for America and the men and women who built and maintained it and strived for it before me. They as I are imperfect but worthy of love and respectable and are admirable in many respects.

God will judge us all and may he have mercy upon us for our sins. His judgements are all correct and proper, and as He rules, all will end according to His Will, and I am grateful for my peace in that knowledge.

I am delighted to hear that Sundance is taking some time off. When I read the “links” story I think of my family and how our lives are entwined. All of our lives are a series of new beginnings. It is our challenge to recognize the event and be grateful that we are blessed with the time to enjoy or endure the creation of a new life link. I love you all Treepers. Keep on SHINNING!

Hope donations are helping to resolve business concerns and also hope SD is making time for much needed R&R. We appreciate him more than he could know. Appreciate you as well, Menagerie, and all CTH staff. God bless all.

I first came here in December 2017.

I felt like I was crazy or the world was and I really couldn’t figure out which because everyone else was acting like everything was fine/normal.

Drudge defected to the dark side, pretty much no one else noticed or commented.

I was aghast at what was afoot with the “Russian collusion” and what they’d done to Mike Flynn.

This place has been home ever since.

(I may still be crazy, but at least now I’ve got friends)

A story:

There once was a young logger, strong powerful, skilled. He was known for his his ability to fell more trees than any other before him and his skill at dropping them where he wanted them to fall was beyond compare.

One day he realized he wasn’t able to work as fast and as skilled as before. An older logger smiled and reminded him “every now and again you have to pause to rest your soul and sharpen your axe.”

Thank you for the update, Menagerie. As long as Ive been reading and posting here, I dont think I ever recall Sundance taking any time off. If he were to take off a month, it would be very justified. In the meantime treepers can keep sharing input and discussions to keep things interesting.

The open topic thread is my favorite morning reading here, and I thank my fellow treepers for providing news that I have a hard time finding anywhere else.

A small piece of my story is the different natural environments I have lived in.

I grew up in Northeastern Ohio….small town life with four seasons. Some one here posts pictures from Northeast Ohio….yep, that’s what it looks like. Many adventures and stories from there.

I lived on an island in the North Atlantic ocean. Oceans are very noisy. The crashing waves, the bell buoys clanging, the roaring wind over the waves. Sailing on that ocean definitely contributed to carving my character. when you are 10 or 15 miles off the coast and a ferocious lightning and thunder storm arises, you have no choice but to stay the course. No one out there to save you that’s for sure, and no, you don’t call the Coast Guard unless the ship is sinking. Stay the course….hang tough…a great experience.

I lived in the desert in the Southwest. The almost direct opposite of the ocean. Very very quiet, still, and unchanging. Well, let me put it this way; if any little thing changes you will notice it. I used to sit at my kitchen table and look out on the desert. One day I looked out and in the distance (you can see forever in the desert) I saw what looked like a stick of some sort sticking up out of the desert. I could not believe I noticed it! But, guess what, the stick was the neck of Blue Heron (lived by the Rio Grande). When the heron moved and took off, it was such a surprise.

I currently live in the mountains in the Southeast. I moved here in early November. I went for a hike in the woods one day and I heard this sound…it was the sound of leaves falling off the trees. I couldn’t believe it because it had been so long since I lived somewhere with falling leaves I had forgotten what it sounded like!

I also briefly lived in northern California and Missouri. Those are another story!

Being in nature is my way to be with Spirit. It soothes my soul, and stills by being. Whether ocean, desert, or mountains all is well in nature. Don’t notice too much climate change there that’s for sure…always still, always unchanging…my solace.

Blessings to Sundance and the crew!

Years ago when I was starting out as a delivery driver, one of the clients in my territory was the studio where the TV show Walker Texas Ranger was filmed. Yes, Chuck Norris and all that. I used to facetiously brag that that show wouldn’t be on the air without me – because I delivered their film. Occasionally they would shut down the street to film a scene in his truck and from that I learned that those in-car shots were made by putting the vehicle on a low trailer and pulling that around, making it look like it was the stars driving it.
Of course I never actually met Chuck Norris; my business took place at the back door. But one Friday the day before Halloween and everyone was knocking off early, I only had a single document package to deliver to the studio so I decided to go up front and take it to the receptionist. As I entered the lobby, down the hallway about 30 feet to my right I saw Chuck Norris and a couple of the other stars having an informal hallway meeting with a couple of what I assume were producers or some such.
I concluded my business with the receptionist and as I was walking out, I called out down the hallway, “Hey! That’s a great Halloween costume; you look just like Chuck Norris!”
That got a grin from the big guy, and my day was complete.

Thanks for telling us some of the CTH history and how you all met.  It was a hoot to learn you met online.  All this time I imagined you were Sundance’s mother.  Truth of the matter since I don’t know your ages he could be your father.  – – He would be a blessing as a father with his wisdom.  (I imagined you as the mother because you seem to have a loving nature and take care of things.)

You said you deeply value and appreciate the site and people.  Hear, hear!  I look forward to reading Sundance’s view and those of the commenters more than any other site.  What a blessing of knowledge and point of view.  It is also good to know there are a few sane people left in the world.

For myself,  I come from a big, loving family.  My husband  and I have been married for decades.  Although he is a few years older he has the better physical health.  We were blessed with grandchildren late in life.  They are a continuous joy in our old age.   

Thank you for your continuous effort to keep the world informed.  God bless you all.

I have noticed Sundance’s absence. Glad to hear he is well and just temporarily away. This site is a treasure.

What a timely post.

Several months ago, I lost my only sister to breast cancer. She was the one who years ago introduced me to CTH and I’ve been coming here ever since. When we were growing up, there was a family who lived behind our home. All of us kids were about the same ages and in the early 60’s, we were fortunate to grow up in “in tact” families and a relatively safe neighborhood. We weren’t at all wealthy – Dad worked two jobs, Mom stayed home to raise us. Those neighborhood friends who moved away in the early 70’s, stayed in touch with her and three of them came to my sister’s funeral. I hadn’t seen them in 50 years. That photograph could have been us. We really did have a tree fort, and played until the street lights went on at night or our Mom called out the back door for us to come home for supper. To see these people come to honor my sister filled my heart with such gratitude. She was loved by so many friends, and treasured by her family. I miss her every single day.

We live in such troubled times and I feel so beaten down some times. It’s easy to feel tired.

But coming here, and experiencing the fellowship…..knowing I’m not alone in my world view and values has been so helpful.

I encourage everyone who comes to The Last Refuge – if you have not been making an ongoing contribution, consider doing so. I feel like I get so much more than I ever imagined. The fellowship here to me, is priceless. Thanks Menagerie for all you do.