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Welcome to today's issue of the Inspired Buffalo
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Old Seven Dollar

When we moved to our Itty Bitty Dirt Farm in the late 70's after my
husband Roy retired from the US Navy, he fell heir to a barn full of
unidentifiable, valuable junk from the former owners.

Way back in the left corner of the barn was a rickety, broken lawn
mower trying valiantly to stand on three wheels. Looking at the old
mower and the expanse of hay that would become our lawn, and knowing
we had a combined brood of kids to feed, he scrounged through the
junk piles to find parts to repair the dilapidated machine. However,
no amount of digging through the random cultch could uncover the
missing wheel. A new spark plug was required for the machine to run
with gusto.

After a quick trip to the local farm supply store, Roy returned with
the replacement parts, a spray can of red paint, and a receipt for
seven dollars. Thus Old Seven Dollar was born and would practically
become a member of the family.

Over the next ten years or so, Roy and Old Seven Dollar beat back the
hay fields until they became proud owners of an "estate." To complete
the job, man and machine spent a leisurely Saturday afternoon in the
sun.

After a bit of discussion, we decided that it really was time to
upgrade to a riding mower. Yes, you guessed it, Roy found a machine
that had been repaired by an elderly gentleman in his tinker shop.
Old Seven Dollar still had a mission: to mow the lawn patches
directly in front of the house that I hadn't converted into a weeping
tree collection and perennial garden. The riding mower couldn't
maneuver in and out of the narrow garden paths.

With this new toy, Roy began testing the limits of the hay field!
Each passing year expanded the perimeters of our estate. A couple
years later, he announced, "I stopped at Sears. They've got a mower
with a bigger mowing deck. I could get the mowing job done quicker
and have more time for play." Proudly, he purchased his first new
riding mower. I purchased a T-shirt for him to wear while riding it
that proclaimed, "I Fought the Lawn, and the Lawn Won!"

Old Seven Dollar still had its mission of manicuring the area in the
front yard that wasn't a garden yet.

Eventually, Roy spent a full Saturday mowing our lawn that was taking
on the appearance of a country club golf course. Occasionally, I'd
take pity on him. "How about a duel? I can mow more than you in an
hour!" I chided. With both of us mowing, we could conquer the lawn in
under five hours.

When he began eyeballing the industrial strength mowers at Agway, I
suggested we sell our extra mowers or we'd have to hire all the
neighbors to help us mow! Roy got the subtle hint.

Yesterday, he lamented, "Old Seven Dollar is acting sick and won't
stay running. What do you think, should I buy new power mower without
all the bells and whistles to mow that patch or two of grass in the
front garden?"

"What happened to `Make do, use it up, wear it out?' `We're going to
be in the poorhouse if you buy another mower!'" I teased borrowing
expressions handed down by his frugal Wisconsin father and mother.

Old Seven Dollar, thank you for your many years of dependable
service. Even Roy believes you have finally earned your well deserved
retirement. There is a special niche in the left hand corner of the
barn just for you... May you rust in peace!


~ Kay Seefeldt ~

A tribute to my husband for Father's day.

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Today's Story

A Walk In The Forest

It started out as just an ordinary Sunday walk with our nine foster
children. It was a beautiful, crisp December day, just after the
first snowfall of the season. Our intention was to find the perfect
Christmas tree, mark it, and come back in two weeks to get it, just
in time for Christmas.

The children ranged in age from four to fourteen. As we walked, the
younger children would point out different plants, or spot a bird,
and ask their names. It became a game amongst us all, to see if we
could name them correctly. The older children, having recently
learned in school, about forest Flora and fauna, were more
knowledgeable than my husband and I were about the subject. But soon
the game became stale and the children began flopping in the fresh
snow to make snow angels. And that's when we heard it. It sounded
like a gunshot. We all froze in our tracks as a blood-curdling scream
echoed across the snow covered forest.

That there could be danger never entered my mind. I motioned the
children to stay put, and despite my husband's protests, I scrambled
through the bush to investigate.

The remainder of the story I will tell in a story poem.
She went for a walk in the forest. The weather was crisp, but not
cold. She had with her all of her children. While they walked, a
story she told. She taught them of Flora and fauna, explaining the
plants growing there. She said, "See these gifts God has given? All
nature He's put in our care."

The snow was as soft as a carpet. The children made angels, and sang.
The air was filled up with their voices; with laughter the whole
forest rang. Then all of a sudden she heard it--a sound like the
crack of a gun. She motioned the children to silence. They ceased all
their laughter and fun.

`Twas then that they heard something shrieking, the sound sending
chills down their spines. Determined to learn what was crying, the
mother crawled near, through the vines. She stopped at the scene of
the ruckus. She gasped, taking in a quick breath, for there in a
trapper's cruel leg-trap, was a mink facing ultimate death.

He was snapping, and snarling, and struggling, his eyes flashing
terror and hate. The mother knelt down by the ermine, speaking
softly, his fears to abate. She wiggled and worked at the leg-trap,
till at last she pried open its jaws. With a leap he jumped free of
his prison, unharmed, but for one of his paws.

The mink, in his white coat for winter, slithered swiftly away from
the site. Then he stopped. He looked back at the mother, his beady-
eyes black as the night.

The children have now grown, and left her. That mother's had much
time to think. She's convinced that he turned `round to thank her for
helping God's creature, the mink.
A true story incident from the 60's.


- Helen Dowd -


Do you have a story to share? Submit it to
InspiredBuffalo@...
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Sunny Today
He walks along the narrow path that leads down to the lake,
To find his old secluded place where he can meditate.
When he is feeling lonely or when he is feeling down,
He knows that it is quiet there and no one is around.

So many times he's made this trip when he gets in this mood,
It is the only place he knows to find some solitude.
It matters not what time of day or what time of the year,
Never has he ever seen another person here.

Maybe it's too hidden or the path may be too slim,
He sometimes thinks the only one who knows of it is him.
People are around the lake: He sees them from this place,
But maybe no one knows about his special little space.

There was a time when someone else would share these special times,
Sitting on the bank with him while shaded by the pines.
This had been their special place, a special hide away,
Where they would bring a picnic lunch and just enjoy the day.

They would sit for hours and enjoy the summer breeze,
And they would come in autumn to enjoy the changing leaves.
Just some quiet time alone to talk and laugh for hours,
This is how they took the time, to stop and smell the flowers.

Now he sits here all alone and thinks about the past,
Realizing life goes on and things in life don't last.
All is temporary as we live from day to day,
What we held so dear in life may soon just fade away.

He thinks about the headlines that are spread across the news,
He thinks of all the things we have and all that we could lose.
He thinks of all the tension in the lives of those today,
But then he thinks, it's nothing new it's always been that way.

Every generation always had a cross to bear,
Even in this county's past a threat was always there.
But some how this seems different in a world of vast turmoil,
Maybe it's because the threat is here on our own soil.

Maybe war can be averted maybe peace will come,
Maybe there's an answer satisfying everyone.
If only people took the time to find a quiet place,
And look into each others eyes and just speak face to face.

Why can't people learn to live in peaceful harmony?
But he thinks about the past and that will never be.
Always there's a conflict that will lead into a fight,
And always in a conflict both sides think that they are right.

The only problem with a battle once it does begin,
Everybody loses even though one side may win.
Even though there is a victory one of them may claim,
Both sides suffer in the end and both sides suffer pain.

He throws a pebble in the lake and ripples circle out,
He is confused by many things but knows without a doubt,
Life is never constant it brings happiness and sorrow,
Maybe that is why it says "take no thought of tomorrow"

He thinks of all his yesterdays with those he chose to love,
Some have left and gone away while some have gone above.
Some have left sweet memories that will linger on for years,
While others left the memories that will always bring on tears.

He turns to leave his special place: His meditating done,
Down his special little path before the setting sun.
The sun shines brightly through the trees while shadows rearrange,
He realizes like the shadows, life will always change.

Nothing we can ever do can change things in the past,
And the plans we have tomorrow surely will not last.
Life is always changing and it's always been that way,
But he looks up and feels the warmth;
The sun shines bright TODAY.
~ James A. Kisner ~
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The Heart Of Love
Why is it so hard today,
For me to seek Thy Kingdom first?
My dreams all blow away,
Like leaves upon a heavy wind.
And then I realize that I,
Must thirst Your Presence first.

When I try to find my own way,
The road is rough and long.
The fact that I travel downhill,
Should convince me of my wrong.
And yet Your Hand keeps reaching out,
To draw me back again so strong.

You live inside my heart,
Oh God, it must be painful there,
To be ignored by one You love,
A one who's life You want to share.
And still Your Love keeps holding me,
And showing me how much You care.

Oh God, guard it well, my heart,
You know how easily it is hurt,
When I am foolish in my thoughts,
And when they are far from You.
Lord of my life, reach out Your Hand,
And draw me back again to You.
~ Sherry Gardner ~
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