September 26, 2025 - THREE DAYS, THREE STALLS

I’ve had her for three days… and I’ve stalled her three times! 😅

Tonight I was pulling into a parking spot at my nephew’s football game and—yep—stalled her right in front of someone on a bike. The guy laughed, I laughed, and my sister laughed. It’s becoming my thing, apparently. Every time I try to move her just a little bit, she reminds me who’s in charge. I know I’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

Still, she’s an absolute dream. I’ve become ridiculously protective of her—no food, no drinks, and definitely no fast-food bags touching my seats. Speaking of seats… they’re leather. Normally I hate leather, but she has a venting system, so no more of that awful suction-cup sound when you stand up and peel yourself off the seat. You know the one — that “schlup” noise that makes you question your life choices? Yeah, none of that anymore.

She’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. It’s like she was made just for me. 💜

A year ago today: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-26-2024.

That was the day I changed my hair color. I still had a few long, straggly pieces left from when it had all fallen out, but the red looked great — bold and full of life. I do miss the feeling of my long hair sometimes, but today, my hair is healthy, curly, and right at my shoulders. It’s growing fast, and I love seeing where it’s headed.

The picture from a year ago might look a little tudy — but honestly, I kind of love that. I’ve got a little ’tude, and it shows. Maybe that’s part of what makes me, me. 💜

September 25, 2025 - Changing Seasons

My program might be taking off quicker than I ever expected — and I can’t stop smiling about it. Everything seems to be shifting at once. The seasons are changing, school is buzzing with projects and deadlines, and the air feels full of possibility.

And then there’s her. My beautiful FBG. It still doesn’t feel real that she’s mine. Sometimes I catch myself glancing outside just to make sure she’s really there. In fact, last night — well, technically early this morning — I heard a noise around 2:30 a.m. and actually got out of bed to check on her. There she was, calm and gleaming in the dark, the moonlight catching her curves just right.

She’s still so unreal to me — a dream parked just outside my window.

When I start to feel overwhelmed by everything — the deadlines, the expectations, the what ifs — I think of my family motto: “I make sure.” It’s simple, but powerful. It reminds me that no matter what life throws my way, I find a way to make things happen. The song “Whatever It Takes” always plays in the back of my mind when I need that push. There’s so much in those lyrics that I connect with — the grit, the fire, the quiet determination to turn challenge into purpose.

Maybe that’s what this season is all about: transformation, courage, and the beauty of chasing dreams — no matter how unreal they still feel.

Would you like me to keep this tone (inspirational, grounded, reflective) for your next few posts too? It ties beautifully into your “season of change” arc.

A year ago today: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-25-2024.

I still remember exactly what it meant — what I was feeling, what I was hoping for. Lately, I’ve been thinking about doing it again. Maybe I will. I miss that version of me — the spark, the curiosity, the mix of creativity and courage that fueled those moments.

It feels like it’s still in me, just waiting for a little space to breathe again. A little bit of fire… and a lot of nice.

September 24, 2025 - From Horsepower to Snowflakes

She arrived this morning at 9:30 — just in time for me to head to my doctor’s appointment at 11. I couldn’t resist giving her a quick bath first, a proper welcome home. I had just enough time to park her and walk into the office, heart still racing from the drive.

Yes, I did stall her once — it’s been a while since I’ve driven a stick, and her clutch is tight — but oh, she is worth every second. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more. Classic lines, a gorgeous interior, and that sound… that perfect, throaty growl that turns heads. I’ve never owned anything so beautiful. Sure, all my other cars have served a purpose, but this one feels different — she’s art on wheels. Ever since I first learned about the Hellcats, I’ve been dreaming of one. And I knew exactly what color she had to be: Plum Crazy Purple, the shade that pays tribute to the original 1970s Challengers.

She’s perfect — every curve, every detail, every bit of her. And now, finally, she’s mine. 💜

After that thrill, my doctor’s appointment was… well, not quite as exciting. The conversation was hard — one of those deeply uncomfortable topics no one wants to discuss — but I faced it head-on. Thankfully, my doctor was kind and receptive, not judgmental or dismissive. I could feel the blush threatening to rise the entire time, but I managed to stay composed, honest, and clear. I’m actually proud of that.

I left feeling equal parts relieved and exhausted. I’m so tired of being “the new one,” the odd case, the repeat customer. Still, I have to keep my focus on the goal: to stop the pain and make room for healing — to make space for my dream to come true. My hands and heart are open.

A year ago: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-24-2024

The image from last year reminds me that winter is coming. I absolutely love the winter but when winter comes, my baby will need to hibernate. She has way to much power to be running around on ice. Just one more reason to love Spring and Summer. I feel like there is more of a balance between all of the seasons. Summer, Spring, and some of Fall will be spent with flowers, growth, and my FBG. Winter will be spent making pumpkin bread, quilting, and dancing in the snow. This is a must!!!!

A pic to bring me closer to my 14 frozen snowflakes.

September 23, 2025 -Then and Now

A year ago, https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-23-2024 I was remembering the ultrasound that revealed a few blood clots in my legs — one of those moments that quietly shifts how you see your own body and health. Yesterday, I found myself back in a similar room, but this time for a very different kind of ultrasound — one that’s helping narrow the focus on what we need to do to make my dream come true.

The results were good — thankfully uneventful in the best possible way. No scary surprises, just information and direction. Tomorrow, I’ll meet with one of the best physicians around to see if they can help take the next step. Fingers crossed.

And in the middle of all this? Some extra joy — we just got word that my present will be here tomorrow! I’ve been watching the shipping updates like a kid on Christmas Eve, screenshotting every stop along the way. It still doesn’t feel real, but the anticipation is half the fun.

September 22, 2025 - The Annual Mum Mystery

A year ago: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-22-2024. Every fall, I do the same thing: I buy mums. Big, beautiful, full of promise — the colors I love most. Deep burgundy, golden yellow, and that perfect burnt orange that feels like autumn itself. They look so happy on the porch for a while, bursting with life, like they know they’ve arrived at the season’s grand finale.

And then… slowly… inevitably… I kill them. Every. Single. Year.

I start out with the best intentions — water, sunshine, care — but this year, life got especially busy. Between work, school, and everything in between, watering the mums wasn’t exactly top priority. Some days it would rain, and I’d think, “Perfect, I’ll water them tomorrow.” Then tomorrow would come and go, and the mental note would disappear just as quickly as the rain did.

Still, I can’t resist buying them again every year. Maybe it’s hope. Maybe it’s habit. Or maybe it’s the simple joy of that fleeting burst of color before the frost arrives — even if I know how the story ends.

Either way, next fall you’ll find me doing it all over again — cart full of mums, optimism fully restored.

September 21, 2025 - Too Excited to Sit Still

This weekend was supposed to be all about the Scottish Festival. The plan was set, the weather was perfect… but I never made it. And honestly? I didn’t care one bit. My mind was somewhere else entirely — wrapped up in the excitement of my present.

It still doesn’t feel real. Every time I think about it, I get that fluttery, can’t-sit-still kind of feeling. You know the one — where you start planning before you even have it in your hands. That’s me right now. I’ve already mapped out what I’ll do first, what I’ll change, and where we’ll go together, even though she’s not here yet.

Sometimes the anticipation is its own kind of magic. The festival will be there next year — but moments like this, where joy feels almost unreal, those are the ones you tuck away and remember.

A year ago today: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-21-2024

Orange Julia is still with us and we found out that she had been shot at one time. My baby is lucky to be alive. She has had a few more seizors and after she stops convulsing she runs to me. I hold her and love on her until she is ready to walk away. This is the only time she is overly affectionate. I WILL TAKE IT! I hate that she has these and unless they start being closer together, the vet doesn’t want to treat them with meds. She is way to young to be going through all that she has!

September 20, 2025 - Discovering my Roots

We had planned to go to the Scottish Festival this weekend, but after all the recent travel, schoolwork, and regular work, we decided to rest instead. Ironically, skipping the festival gave me time to reflect on something surprising I recently learned — my Irish heritage isn’t exactly what I thought it was.

For years, my family proudly celebrated our Irish roots. St. Patrick’s Day was practically a family holiday — green everywhere, Irish pride in full swing. But as it turns out, the story has a twist. After doing some research, I discovered that much of what we thought was Irish… is actually Scottish. At 46 years old, finding out I’m more Scottish than Irish was quite the shock! My cousin knew but hadn’t shared with the rest of us. One DNA test later and my world was rocked!

Now, I know I’m a mix — Scottish, Swedish, Irish, and a few other threads woven in — but this revelation sparked a curiosity I can’t seem to put down. I’ve been tracing my lineage, learning about the people who came before me. Like every family tree, mine has its saints and its scoundrels — some I’m proud of, and some I’m a little afraid to claim!

I even found our family crest and motto, which honestly explain a lot about the traits that still run through our family. I won’t give everything away (a little mystery is good for the soul), but let’s just say that when people tell me, “Just get it done,” — it might actually be in my blood.

A year ago I applied to the program I am in now. https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-20-2024. My life is so different and still the same. So much has happened and God has sent to many blessings.

September 19, 2025 - So Easy and Now the Waiting Begins

Today, Chris purchased my present. They were waiting for him with warm smiles and a genuine welcome. Before I knew it, it was done—just like that, my present became ours. It all happened so quickly that for a moment I thought something must have gone wrong, but no—it was simply a matter of signing the papers.

Now she just needs to be shipped home… to her new home. And of course, she needs a name. In so many ways, she fits me perfectly—every detail, every mirrored curve. I think I’ve found it: FBG.

Any guesses what that stands for? 😉

A year ago https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-19-2024. I ordered my medical records. At the time I had no idea where that would lead me. I just knew that I wanted to know more about my stay. There are still 12 days that I do not remember. It haunted me at the time, and there are still questions I have but as time moves forward I am making peace with the fact that I may never really have answers to all of my questions. I would love to sit down with my doctors for a discussion. Don’t get me wrong, I am not upset at anything. I am so thankful to be alive. I would like to know more about what lead them to move so quickly and make those life saving decisions. I am so humbled by the fact that I am still here when I have read so many stories about people in my exact situation, not making it. May God bless each and every one of them, with long life, health, and love.

September 18, 2025 - Becoming My Own Healing Space

This week has been amazing. Today was quiet as I stayed home to focus on homework, though I’ve found it challenging to keep my mind centered. I love learning about the history of my profession—where it began, where it stands now, and the direction it’s heading. Most of all, I’m fascinated by how healing environments shape a patient’s perception of their experience. Something as simple as wall color can determine whether a person feels welcomed or uneasy. Lighting, furniture, and artwork all play important roles, too. A calming landscape or gentle waterscape can bring peace, while overly abstract imagery may unintentionally create tension.

I’ve also been thinking about how appearance and demeanor contribute to the healing atmosphere. The way a doctor, nurse, or arts in health practitioner dresses and carries themselves becomes part of the environment the patient experiences. Lately, I’ve been wearing business casual instead of more formal attire, and I’ve noticed how differently people respond—less warmly, more reserved, almost as if my presence carries less authority. It’s fascinating how something as simple as clothing can shift perception. The way we present ourselves—our posture, tone, and even wardrobe—becomes part of the atmosphere that patients and staff experience.

My thoughts are scattered today—blame it on the excitement of what’s on the way. I still can’t quite believe she’s almost here. I had my eye on another one for a while, but she wasn’t quite the right fit. Now I see why that one slipped away—this one was meant to be mine.

Would love to have their waistline!

A year ago today https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-18-2024 I was remembering the first surgery I actually remembered which was the wound vac removal from the clean out. The hair in the picture are extensions and I felt beautiful. At the beginning of this year, I cut off all of the remaining hair from what was left up to the new growth line. I really do not like short hair on me. I love my long hair but it actually looked cute. It was refreshing to let go of the old. Someone once said that loosing my hair would allow me to start over. He was right. Since I cut it all off, my hair is more healthy and curly. I enjoy it so much more. Now my hair is just about as long as my hair was in the year-ago picture.

September 17, 2025 - Forgive and Move Forward

Over the last few weeks, I have been struggling to keep up with my blog. My focus this year has been different. This year I am full of all kinds of stimulus including my new career, my second masters, getting my house set up, my husbands health, and all of my animals. I have a lot on my plate but I am kicking Ass and Taking Names! OHHHH how I feel old saying that. Age is a state of mind and you are only as old as you feel. Today, I feel 21 with 26 years and two days old…. Okay so I feel my age. A lot has happened in the last few weeks that has added to this. Today, however, I had a wonderful conversation with one of my professors who was gracious and understood what was going on. She granted me an extension on one of my assignments which after talking with her, will bring me some excitement. In just a week, I will find out if another physician will help me with my dream.

On another note, My dear husband bought me a cheer me up dream/birthday gift that is huge!!! I have been wanting one of these since I first saw one on I-76 on my way to Greeley. She was beautiful and eye catching. NEVER did I believe I would have one. From top to bottom, she is everything I could have imagined!!! I guess this is one way to cheer me up!!! Can anyone guess what it is?? Its a Vroom, Vroom, that goes Zoom, Zoom, with a Boom, Boom!!! More to come on that later.

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/3-things-u-s-news-likes-about-2023-dodge-challenger/

A year ago today: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-17-2024https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-17-2024. I was looking at a series called the Resident. I did end up watching the whole things and fell in love with the characters which in a way helped me see where I needed to go with my career. Last year I felt led to do something for the hospital, something big, but I couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to do. I looked at all kinds of stuff like, making a donation, making a huge art piece, or something spectacular. Nothing sounded right. Until, I ordered my medical records and started reading them. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I finally ordered my head and when it was delivered I knew what I was supposed to do.

September 16, 2025 - The day After

A couple of weeks ago, I received some really hard news. A dream of mine, a life long dream, is in serious jeopardy. My body has been fighting this process for years and right when I think we have it figured out, something else seems to pop up. A physician that I have a wonderful professional relationships made some suggestions that crushed me. The suggestions would “fix” what is wrong but would end this dream. Even typing it out hurts and the tears keep falling. There have been other circumstances that have interfered with this dream so its not just a single string that needs to be tugged. For a couple of weeks I have been dealing with the pain and reality that this dream may be over the horizon and a new dream will have to take its place. Hopefully we will find a solution that will make this dream possible. Sometimes the answer is no and that is what is best. Accepting that reality is a whole other story. I need to keep in mind that I am here for a reason and that this life is blessed even if this dream doesn’t come true. Lord, help me change the things I can change, and accept the things I cannot change, and to know the difference.

A year ago https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-16-2024. I was looking at my sleeping habits in the hospital. I still have a huge amount of issues sleeping. I wake up easily, everything has to be just right and my giraffe has to be close. We have found things to help with sleeping but it insomnia runs in both sides of my family so until there is a cure, I will just have to insist on my comfy pillow, blanket, warmy, and Bender! Bender is from Furturoma!

September 15, 2025 - Another Year, Another Gift

Some days arrive quietly, without fanfare, as though they’re waiting for us to notice them. Today feels like one of those days. Nothing extraordinary, and yet… everything about it matters.

I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to get caught in the rush of “what’s next.” The next deadline, the next goal, the next mountain to climb. But life keeps whispering a different invitation: pause here. Notice the sky, the breath, the way the light falls across the floor. These moments are not small—they are the foundation of everything else.

Hope often shows up in this way, not as a lightning bolt but as a steady flicker. It’s the assurance that even in the middle of uncertainty, there is beauty worth seeing and life worth living. We are not defined by what we lack, but by the love we choose to give, the courage we dare to hold, and the quiet ways we keep showing up.

So today, I want to remember this: ordinary days are never wasted. They are practice for joy. They are proof that we are still here, still breathing, still capable of growing into something more. And that is worth celebrating.

Today marks two years since I have been out of the ICU.Today I spent the day in the most precious way possible, it was my honor to be with my patients.

A year ago… https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-15-2024. We Bronco’d!!!

September 14, 2025 - Unapologetic Bloom

Today I find myself thinking about dandelions. Some see them as weeds, stubborn and unwanted, but I see them as teachers. They push through cracks in sidewalks, spring up in the hardest soils, and open their faces to the sun without apology. They remind us that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

There’s hope in the way a dandelion scatters its seeds. What looks like loss is really a new beginning—a letting go that makes space for more life, more color, more possibility. We may not know where those seeds will land, but we trust that some will take root and grow.

Maybe that’s the lesson for today: that even in times of struggle or uncertainty, we carry within us the power to spread light and resilience. Just like the dandelion, our impact often goes further than we realize. A kind word, a small act of love, a moment of courage—it drifts outward, unseen but alive.

I want to remember that hope is not fragile. It is tenacious. It takes root in the most unlikely places. And sometimes, the things we dismiss as ordinary—like a humble dandelion—are the ones carrying the deepest wisdom.

Such a beautiful day! https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-14-2024

September 13, 2025 - The River of Us

Today my heart is full thinking about my sweet family. Life is never still—it shifts, it bends, it surprises us. Children grow taller, seasons turn, and the rhythm of our days changes in ways we sometimes don’t even notice until we pause to look back.

What amazes me is how love threads through it all. Even as things change—jobs, homes, challenges, celebrations—love remains, stretching and reshaping itself to fit whatever life asks of us. Families grow not just in number, but in depth. We carry each other through storms, we laugh until our sides ache, and we find hope in one another when the world feels heavy.

There’s such joy in realizing that life doesn’t stand still—it flows forward like a river. And while that means we can’t hold on to every single moment, it also means there is always something new waiting ahead: another inside joke, another meal around the table, another memory in the making.

Change isn’t just inevitable—it’s a gift. It shows us that we are alive, still growing, still moving together through time. And in the middle of it all, I see my family, steady and shining, reminding me that this life—this ever-changing, imperfect, beautiful life—is worth every single breath.

We celebrated my dear nephew for his 18th with a surprise part!!! I had to keep it under wraps and seeing his face was such a delight.

A year ago post: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-13-2024

September 12, 2025 - Elegance with a Bite

Final day to finish my class and I did it! One very sad ribbon, a crazy American spider, and a fantastic interview. The class was focused on Art and the Military and it was very enlightening.

A year ago https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-12-2024

The Dragonfly is a powerful force, ancient and underestimated. She is more than a fleeting shimmer across a pond—she is a guardian of balance, a hunter cloaked in beauty, and a symbol older than memory itself. With wings that glisten like stained glass and a body that gleams like polished emerald or sapphire, she cuts through the air with a speed and precision few creatures can rival.

To those who only glance, she may seem delicate, but the truth is far more profound. She is a predator, a master of the skies, feasting on pests that trouble the earth. Mosquitoes, gnats, and flies are no match for her sharp vision and lightning reflexes. Her flight is not just elegant—it is unrivaled. She can fly backward, hover in place like a hummingbird, and dart with such agility that even the fastest insects cannot escape her.

Yet the Dragonfly’s power is not just physical. Across cultures and centuries, she has been draped in myth and meaning. In Japanese lore, she is revered as a symbol of strength, courage, and victory in battle. In Native traditions, she is a messenger between worlds, a spirit that carries transformation and renewal. To many, she is a sign of change, adaptability, and the soul’s journey into new realms of being.

Her story begins in water, where for years she lives as a nymph, unseen and overlooked, devouring everything smaller than herself with the same relentless hunger she carries into the skies. Then, one day, she rises from the depths, sheds her old form, and emerges into the air, transformed. What was once a creature of shadows becomes a radiant being of light. This is her myth: rebirth, metamorphosis, and the revelation of true power.

She is elegant, yes, but elegance is her disguise. Beneath the shimmer lies strength, beneath the grace lies ferocity. She is the huntress cloaked in jewels, the warrior of water and air, the spirit of change. She is both beauty and beast, and her purpose is eternal. The Dragonfly reminds us that transformation is never weakness—it is power, it is magic, it is destiny.

September 11, 2025 - My heart hurts

There has been a lot of pain in the media today. My heart is heavy with sadness as there are people who spend more time focusing on politics instead of looking at how our laws have been violated. We live in a country where we have free speech and the right to choose what party we support. These are crucial for our system but when we put that over the value of a life, we have failed. We are loosing what makes us the United States.

A year ago I had found one of the funniest videos around https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-11-2024. Light hearted and fun. As a society and nation, we are in a much different climate.

September 10, 2025 - Anniversary of becoming an Aunt!

Wednesday, September 10. A couple of days ago, I had received some very heartbreaking news but other than small bouts of crying, I am doing okay. The news was along the line of having a lifelong dream, working towards it for over 20 years and finally getting a “no, this will not happen for you” kind of news. I am looking at other options, but this was the kind of thing that chops you off at your knees. Today, my head is starting to clear up and I have been able to focus on getting a few things done. It hasn’t been easy realizing my dream is just not going to happen. It would take a miracle which do happen. I just need to take it one day at a time.

https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-10-2024 I am celebrating today with much love as it is the 18th anniversary of when I became an aunt. My dear nephew who is now 18 made me an aunt. I have always looked at him as a birthday present. I just love that our birthdays are so close. It is truly an honor to know you and to get to see you grow. I love you my sweet boy!

Now that I am caught up, I can keep going. Giving myself grace for hard times is something I am doing more of and not expecting perfection out of myself. This week will continue to be just a busy, but I know I can do it, and I will do it. One step at a time.

September 9, 2025 - How Not to Poison Your Coworker

Tuesday was all about preparation. I spent the entire day getting ready for an important meeting, and when the moment finally came, I managed to hold it together. No clamming up in front of the CEO this time—thank goodness! Still, my nerves betrayed me. My palms were sweaty, clamped tightly together like I was holding on for dear life. But at least I didn’t look like a baboon trying to use a banana as a phone. Small victories.

The day wasn’t without its lighter moments, though. At one point, I had to explain to a coworker that what they thought was basil was, in fact, a flower. And no—it was definitely not edible. The conversation may have been one of the goofiest I’ve had in a while, but it spared my friend from an accidental taste test and saved the plant from unnecessary nibbling.

All in all, a successful day: a meeting survived, a friend spared, and one plant left happily rooted.

Looking back at last years post all I see is crows feet!!! https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-9-2024. Yes I am being very hard on myself but since then, I have been using a cream around my eyes. It has helped soften those lines. I am very thankful for those lines, as it means I have laughed through out my life. All I can hope for is more of them!

September 8, 2025 - Dreams on Wheels

September 8, 2025 was another one of those unforgettable days (HIPAA keeps me from spilling details, but trust me—it was good). By the time I was driving home, windows down and music blasting, I felt unstoppable.

Lately, my husband and I have been tossing around the idea of me finally getting my dream car. What I didn’t expect was the little revelation that came Monday: this car—the car—has almost double the horsepower of my Power Wagon. Double. For someone whose truck is already built to kick @$$, that realization nearly knocked me sideways. The thought of all that power under the hood? Let’s just say it gave me goosebumps.

I don’t need a Redeye. I don’t even want that much madness. But here’s the thing—I spend a huge portion of my life behind the wheel. So why not make it the ride of my dreams? Why not let every mile feel like freedom?

It will be purple. It will be mine. And it will have a name: Ziva… or Kitty… or maybe Pretty Kitty.

Stay tuned. This story isn’t finished yet.

A year ago we had just picked up some silkie chicks. https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-8-2024. We were also incubating a few eggs. Moving forward and having things to look forward to helped me make peace with all that happened. This year, everything is hitting me differently. I don’t know if its because it’s two years since or if the shock is wearing off. I know where I was two years ago and because of this blog, I remember last year. Still a Bronco fan, still love chickens, still love my little farm, still afraid of spiders. New - a new masters, a new position, a new lots of things. Growth is important, pushing forward, making things better. I see a lot of challenges a head but thats okay. God already knows whats going to happen. I am just along for the ride!

September 7, 2025 -The Rooster Who Thought He Was Ten Feet Tall

Sunday was a whirlwind—a mix of homework, football, and farm life. My day was packed with meticulous painting assignments (the kind that eat up every ounce of focus) and Broncos game fever buzzing in the background. The game itself was decent, but the final two minutes had us on the edge of our seats. There may have been some yelling when we fumbled the ball, but the Titans graciously handed it back, and all was forgiven.

Amid the chaos of paintbrushes and football, my heart was tugged in another direction. We said goodbye to one of our first little roosters, Sparkles. Sparkles was a bantam full of sass—barely a foot tall but strutting around with the attitude of a giant. Just last week he’d given us a scare, hiding in tall grass until one of my Great Danes found him. There was a scream, a scramble, and then—miraculously—Sparkles popped up and walked away, only minus a spur. I knew stress could take its toll on chickens, so Sparkles spent the week inside, recovering in the company of our grouchy momma hen and her baby (who still pecks me every time I bring food).

Today felt like his big comeback. I let him out with the others, including our new roo, and after more than an hour of careful observation, it looked like peace was possible. Sparkles was squawking and crowing like he’d been given a brand-new lease on life.

But as evening fell, tragedy struck. When my husband went to gather everyone for the night, he found Sparkles in the duck water tank. Somehow, he had climbed up, fallen in, and drowned. I can’t explain why he chose that when easier water was all around him.

I’m crushed. But I take comfort in knowing his last day was filled with sunshine, freedom, and joy. He lived it fully, strutting and crowing like the little spark he was.

Love you, little stink pot. You will be missed. 💔

From last year: https://mwilliamsart.com/64days/2024/10/1/september-7-2024. Since all of this happened, I work to make every day something special. Not everyday is epic but it is memorable. Each day is a gift!