American Red Cross

Thanks for the Honor: One Lovely Blog Award

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

A big thank you to Sandi for nominating my site for the “One Lovely Blog Award.” I have only recently met Sandi through the Blogging 101 course and have found her blog, Sappy as a Tree, wonderful inspiration and a welcome read. Thank you Sandi for nominating me. I humbly accept.

Now, for the seven fun facts about me, the woman in the Cow Pasture:

  1. I have a Master’s  Degree in Nursing Administration.
  2. My career spanned from delivering babies to end of life Hospice Care.
  3. During my career, I was the first Bone & Tissue Transplant Coordinator for Red Cross, covering seven  counties in the state of  SC.
  4. I have 8 grandchildren.
  5. I spent 10 days in Paris this past April with my youngest daughter, for her birthday.
  6. My first published article was, “How Do I Ask?”  published in 1989 in Nursing ’89 on transplantation.
  7. My favorite genre to read and write is crime. I love exploring the dark edge of humanity.

I happily pass on the nomination to the following 15 blogs (in no particular order). The rules to accept the award are as follows:

  • * Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
  • * Add the One Lovely Blog logo to your post.
  • * Share 7 facts/or things about yourself
  • * Nominate 15 bloggers you admire and inform the nominees by commenting on their blog.

Fiction Notes

  1. The Kill Zone
  2. One Wild Word
  3. One Word
  4. The Writer’s Forensic Blog
  5. Harsh Reality
  6. Julia’s Place
  7. Jane Friedman – Helping Authors & Publishers  Flourish in the Digital Age
  8. Writer’s Village
  9. The Write Life
  10. Flash Fiction Chronicles
  11. Lillian McFerrin Writes – home of  Five Sentence Fiction
  12. 750 Words
  13. Grammar Girl
  14. Pen & Muse – Janice Hardy

Pay it Forward

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

 

I’m surprised and  honored. My blog has been nominated  for the  Very Inspiring Blog Award and I’d like to pay it forward. 

I’m up every morning around six o’clock. The smell of hot coffee permeates the air as my oldest Bichon dances around my feet ready to start our morning routine.

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It takes his sister, Piper a little longer. She’s still snuggled underneath the covers where she’s managed to wiggle her way in, the same way she wiggled her way into our lives some four years ago. We still can’t resist those adoring dark eyes staring at us, especially, in the wee hours of the morning.

My husband sleeps while the three of us walk out to grab the morning paper. They get a doggie biscuit, I get coffee, and we settle in front of the fire to catch up on the latest news.

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But, headlines are the same they were the day, week and month before. Stories of the dreaded fiscal cliff, threat of nuclear weapons, or the ongoing clashes between the political parties long after the election, cover every page. I stop reading, and close the newspaper on the never-ending rhetoric.

It’s Christmas! Time for joy and inspiration.

Elizabeth Cutright has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me. It was through   becoming acquainted with The Daily Creative Writer, and the many other talented bloggers that Morning Pages from the Cow Pasture Chronicles, sprang to life.

My blog, Cow Pasture Chronicles focuses on the how-to’s of  writing while Sheila’s Morning Pages is my chance to share my words and stories. Perhaps, one such story, Christmas Magic, was the reason my blog came to be nominated for this special honor. It appears my seven-year-old granddaughter, Mallory, has touched many hearts and I’m happy to have shared it with you all.

I challenge you to Pay it forward. Write a good story and share it with others.

Now to the business end of the award nomination:

  • I’m southern born and raised and I love sweet tea with lemon and lots of ice.
  • I was climber as child; my exploits included the ironing board, the refrigerator, and the top of the frame of a house being built. I was three years old. My mother and the builder talked me down.
  • I’m a Registered Nurse by profession but have long been retired.
  • I spent half of my career delivering babies and the other half as a transplant coordinator for the American Red Cross bone and tissue program, and Administration; Polar opposites.
  • One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited has been the Grand Canyon. I rode all the way on a mule and saw the handiwork of God.
  • I collected clowns, dolls, and figurines for years. The clown and the character behind the face intrigued me. I eventually packed them away when my daughters reached an age they found them creepy.
  • And, although I love uplifting stories, my favorite genre is crime thrillers.

Blogs I nominate: 

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Morning Pages: Being Grateful

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Today I will spend cleaning and baking and reflecting on the things, I am most grateful. The dictionary defines being Grateful as a feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; being thankful. Voices of gratitude are heard the loudest this time of a year, wouldn’t it be nice to hear them all year long. There used to be a time when we did.

Recently, while antique shopping I came across a book, Etiquette Up To Date  by Cornelius (Mrs) Beeckman, 1938. I bought the book out of  sheer curiosity and was amazed at the author’s insight, the difference in decorum, manners, and how much we’re missing today by not teaching gratitude, graciousness, and thoughtfulness. Here are just a few of the pearls of wisdom from Mrs. Beeckman’s book:

 “Being gracious, being thoughtful, being kind, having a decent regard for the other fellow: this is etiquette- call it good manners, courtesy, common sense, decency, or what you will – ”

“People will like you better, and you will like yourself better if you graciously say “Please” and “Thank you” and “I beg your pardon” and ” How kind of you to say that” and “You were very good to do that for me” and other illuminated phrases that show you do not live in a world bounded on all sides by yourself.”

Sometimes I think we forget how the things we want or do  impact other people. It’s good to be reminded the world does not revolve around us.

 Thanksgiving night as you head off into the Black Friday abyss, and elbow your way through Christmas crowds, remember Mrs. Beeckman and her call for decency and graciousness. Be an example to those around you and to your kids. She said, “Parents are the standard bearers for the child,” and I have to agree.

The holiday season is a busy time of baking, stuffing our faces, enjoying family, friends and Christmas shopping. For some it will be thrilling and fun, while others may find it overwhelming, dysfunctional, and stressful. Whichever it turns out for you, be gracious in spirit, thankful, show appreciation and gratitude for God’s blessings. Here are some of the many things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving:

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Bountiful food

4. A Roof over our heads and a warm bed to fall into after stuffing ourselves and shopping

5. Money to shop

6. The freedom to do these things

7. Faith

8. Pets

9. Health that is improving

10. Laughter

11. The ability to read

12. The ability to write

13. My readers

Comment and add your list of things to which you are grateful.

And, as we sit down with our families this Thanksgiving and express our gratitude, don’t forget those who are less fortunate. Say a prayer for the hungry, the poor, those under persecution in Israel and the American citizens whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Donate to the American Red Cross to help with their recovery.
Donate Now

To each one of you may you and your family be blessed and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

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The Lovely Blog Award!

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

It is always nice to have someone recognize you. SeaWriteMedia has nominated me for The Lovely Blog Award.  It is one of the most creative blogs on writing I have seen in a long time and offers loads of great posts on writing. Please check it! A big thanks to you Elizabeth for the Lovely Blog Award Nomination. With award comes privilege of passing it on to others.

Here are the rules:

  1. Display the award logo somewhere on your blog.
  2. Link back to the blog of the person who nominated you.
  3. State seven things about yourself.
  4. Nominate other bloggers for the award and provide links to their blogs.

Seven things about me:

  1.  I am a retired Registered Nurse.
  2.  I have delivered babies and been a transplant coordinator with the American Red Cross.
  3. I have eight grandchildren.
  4.  I have never been out of the country, but it is on my bucket list.
  5.  I am afraid of heights.
  6.  I was a majorette and flag bearer in High school.
  7.  Swimming is my least favorite thing to do.

Blogs I follow that you may find interesting and helpful:
http://www.thewritepractice.com; Fiction Notes @ http://www.darcypattison.com; jemcogdell.blogspot.com;http://blog.janicehardy.com