Don't be so hasty to purchase the latest or greatest thing-a-mabob out there. Fads come and go quickly, leaving us with closets full of junk, and landfills full of toxic stuff. If it wasn't available last year and you didn't need it then you probably still don't need it.
Mimi liked her fruit ripe, but Lydia felt that green bananas
were an investment in the future.
A good resolution this year is to find time to stop and think everyday. Think and ponder upon every aspect of your life and the life of your family and community. Do not plug in your electronics while you are thinking - go solo, unplugged, free from technology. You will discover an exciting world inside your mind.
Sitting atop the barn Mimi would too often get lost in
thought because it was uncharted territory for her.
Shakespeare said that mockery was 'the truth disguised as humor'. Verbal abuse in any form is a deadly weapon and has no place in ANY relationship. Make your language kind and simple.
Mitch's only superpower was sarcasm and he wielded
it like a champ. Mitch was not allowed to roost in the coop.
Or play in any reindeer games...
We are at our cruelest when we use the hurt or misfortune of others to amuse ourselves and our friends. Too often laughter is purchased with pain.
Somewhere in the meadow, near the pond, the old farmer
was frantically searching for his teeth.
In spite of all the Ho Ho Ho's and Fa La La's not everybody finds the holiday season festive or bright. It is a holiday that is hard on those with tender hearts. Reach out and give them the gift of love and warmth.
There was nothing so depressing or ego bruising as
Riley's yearly stint as Santa.
We are never without hope. Even the bleakness of winter has special moments of warmth and comfort. Look for them, they are close.
As the winter wind blew the snow into their world the girls
were grateful for the weapons-grade hot chocolate waiting
for them back at the barn.
Before buying anything (goods, services or someone elses dream) make sure you get a clear picture of what to expect.
When Fluffy promised the girls 'dinner in the City'
they had envisioned something entirely different.
We live in a world of bounty. Our lives are full and there is much to be grateful for. Even during times of stress and difficulties we have reasons to give thanks.
Pilgrim was color blind, the great advantage being that
his Rubik's Cube was always complete.
Don't assume anything. Don't assume you are covered for disaster, that help will be readily available during or after a disaster, or that you will quickly recuperate after a disaster. Don't assume there won't be a disaster. Get ready NOW.
Lydia's plumbing was a wreck because she did not, after all,
have a garbage disposal.
Success is 90% drive and ambition and 10% talent. There are a lot of successful people out there that have a lot less talent than you, but their dazzle comes from their perseverance and their non-stop efforts to do anything to succeed. They jump ALL the hurdles.
More than anything in the world Jason wanted to be a
rock star, but learning to play an instrument had
proved trying. Even the triangle thingie was too complicated.
He was destined, poor soul, to flipping burgers.
When we contemplate the vastness of the universe it is not realistic to consider ourselves finite and small, of no value or import. We can see across the universe and know the temperature of the sun. We have made the heavens our own - we are a little less than the angels.
Reilly took a moment to ponder the universe and to consider
that it was infinite. This was disturbing because he was
always misplacing things.
Be sensitive about the difficult questions. Know when to ask, when to keep quiet. When your cruise ship guests are washed up on the shore of a deserted island that is NOT the time to ask them to fill out a comment card.
Stepping carefully over Reilly's broken arm Mimi asked
him if he wouldn't mind giving her and Lydia a lift back
to the barn.
"Statistics" can be misleading. When you hear about 80% of the population being for or against something try to remember when you were polled about it. Yeah, that's what I thought. Media numbers come from some mysterious place that you and I have never visited.
Mimi's exercise numbers were excellent because she took
her pedometer to the hardware store and attached it to
the machine that shakes paint cans.
There are moments in life when it is ok to NOT be practical. Allow yourself to experience a small indulgence once in awhile. It won't kill you.
Joyce's frugality and practicality made her house one of
the less popular stops during Trick or Treat.
We always equate 'talent' with some form of artistic ability - visual, performance, literary. Actually talent is your ability to do anything extraordinarily well. Some of us have a talent to make others laugh, or to be kind, or to diffuse anger. There are a million talents. You probably have several.
Timmy realized he was NOT going to win this contest so
he went home to finish rebuilding his dad's tractor
engine.
With insight you can reap benefits from chaos and disorder. The trick is to not let the chaos and disorder sweep you along with it.
Moments before going postal on the kids Edward remembered
that a pile of leaves is a pile of bugs. Now he wouldn't
have to feed the little nippers.
Over thinking is just as much a time waster as not thinking at all. Some situations don't need to be analyzed and revisited until you're mentally exhausted. Keep it simple.
Collette was not coming up with any clues on how
to decorate for the Barnyard Harvest Festival.
Relationships are so difficult during the best of times, it just makes sense to go into one with both eyes open. Don't look for perfection, but adaptability, commitment to standards and a tolerance for small dogs and chickens.
Frank's heartache began when he fell in love with
a bale of cotton.
The Economy is not a problem the government can fix, its a problem that only individuals can fix through the tried and true methods of saving, rather than spending, producing, rather than consuming.
Early retirement wasn't working out for Bruce and Carolyn
so it looked like it was back to the petting zoo for them.
The difference between management and leadership is vision. A great leader sees the future, can take his company/family/organization far beyond their present situation. Management organizes vision and makes it happen.
Edward's idea of a team effort was everybody doing
what he said.
We come across the most amazing discoveries when we least expect it. Be ever mindful of the moment and the possibilities and opportunities that await you.
Reilly had no idea you could catapult a chicken that far into
the atmosphere with just a see saw. This required further
experimentation!
Don't let the loss of a job or property keep you from doing what you do best. You have skills and gifts - use them to reinvent yourself!!
After the 'Big Fix' Fluffy still went out with the guys - but
now just as a consultant.
Hey, Barnyard Fans, today we have a guest cartoonist from Marianna, Florida. Larry Brock is a cartoonist, illustrator and painter, father of six, former Bishop and graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design.
Don't confuse technology with progress. When we tether ourselves to technology we stand in jeopardy of losing sensitivity to ourselves and our environment. Your biological sensors are far superior. Put down that gizmo and go for a walk.
Oh Happy Day! Mimi now had the latest app to remind her
of her daily appointments - scratch for worms, lay an egg,
peck at corn, go to sleep. This was certainly a relief!!
Sometimes facts and figures and polls and statistics don't always tell a true story. Or perhaps they don't tell ALL of the story. Nothing is quite as dynamic as words.
The Board didn't have any actual figures, but Lydia's lovely
little poem gave an accurate description of their status.
Passion is a good thing. Obsession is not. Passion opens our eyes to the possibilities of our concerns. Obsession blinds us from everything except our concern. Passion builds, obsession destroys. 
Mike believed there were only 10 kinds of people in
the world. Those that understood binary, and those
that did not.
Don't lament that you weren't born taller, thinner, more beautiful, stronger, faster, better or whatever you think you're missing. Learn to work with the super powers you have and you'll find that you're really not missing anything.
As he looked at the lunch he could not extract, Dave wondered
for the umpteenth time, why some ill-conceived plan of
the Celestial Committee left him without opposable thumbs.
There is a place for each of us, a friendly welcoming home that has been waiting for us. Perhaps we create it ourselves or find it already prepared. Don't stop looking, you're very close.
Veni, Vedi, Velcroe! She came, she saw, she stuck around.
It wasn't what she had anticipated, but she knew it
was going to be home.
Be kind in your judgment of others. How you perceive them may not be how they really are. Their universe is unknown to you and their hearts may be guarded.
Pablo's portrait painting business was not going well.
...when he said that "Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” When confronted by difficulties elevate your method of problem solving a notch higher.
Reilly's frustration with Lloyd grew from the fact that it
was a real mistake to think you could solve any problem
with just potatoes.
The tasks you do everyday - the repetition, the mind-numbing actions that you do without thinking - are the very things that make your world work. We are each a critical gear in the machinery of life and others depend on our being there. Don't let them down.
Everyday after work Mimi picked up a dozen eggs.
Invest in yourself. You have potential that you're unaware of, abilities that will surprise you. Your little self is your most valuable asset.
Hank thought that short of Christmas lights and a silk
kimono he would NEVER be a show horse. But his friends
believed and he loved the attention.
When your goal is a moving target, it is less likely to be met. Anchor your hopes to something solid and immovable.
Ever since Marietta was designated as the bus stop
passengers were never sure if they were going to
get on the bus.
During times of stress or high emotion we become our own worst enemy. Don't take counsel from your frustrations, but rather gather information (listen) before you make judgments and decisions.
Mimi had the Right to remain silent, but she didn't have
the Ability to remain silent!
Some of us are producers and some are consumers. We are fat with consumers and thin on producers. At some point this lopsided state is going to fail us all. Brush up on your survival skills....
In her private place in the woods Marietta didn't give a thought
to 'butter-fat content', but pondered, instead, the fall of
the Roman Empire.
We all have the innate ability to recognize evil. Listen to those small promptings that alert you to trouble ahead.
Perhaps it was intuition, perhaps just her imagination,
but Collette always felt nervous around food-grade,
plastic coated paper buckets.
There are times when it is necessary to look at things in a different way. A new perspective can open up new worlds. Ah, the wonder of a new pair of eyes!!
Reilly couldn't understand why everyone was going
nuts. The stupid movie was dull as dish water.
Progression is sometimes slower and more complicated than we had anticipated. Begin with a clear plan, work out all the missteps on paper and then execute with diligence.
To pay for cable Randy took on a second job. Ironically it
used up all his TV hours.
Don't laugh at other people's dreams. As improbable as those dreams may seem there is every chance they could become reality. The Edisons and Fords and Bells all spent their hours listening to derision and scorn but stayed steady and realized magnificent things. So can anyone.
Reilly's Irish cousin, Paddy O'Furniture, came to the barnyard
to realize his dreams of a school for interpretive dance. The
sheep laughed, but the hens signed up.
Sometimes you're called upon to hold up everything. Maybe because you're the oldest, or the smartest, or the dad or mom, or just because. Whatever the reason, don't forget it is a position of trust and love, no matter how onerous.
Hank's favorite place in the world was the old
barn - until Reilly taught everyone how to
play frisbee.
In your efforts to reach perfection remember that there are parts of you (body or behavior) that are spectacular. Never let anyone tell you that you'll never be perfect. Build on what you have!
The girls were amazed to learn that web feet
never get pruney, no matter how long they
stay in water.
There is a reason for dress codes. It is a protection for us. But mostly it is to keep us from looking ridiculous.
When Heathcliff and Catherine got their new plastic
Wal-Mart duck pond they welcomed everybody - as long as
no one showed up in a Speedo.
Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance. Before you realize it your 'call' will come and you will have blown it. And not everybody will be sad to see you go....
Unrepentant for his crimes, Harold vowed revenge -
not realizing how difficult that would be from the
inside of a crock pot.
We live in a world filled with noise and voices that would lead us in directions we may not want to go. Learn to filter information and noise. The still small voice is always the sweetest.
Lydia had her doubts about the miracles promised
by a braying ass.
How often do beautiful things lead us into ugly situations? We become enamored of something and pursue it until we find ourselves caught up in a treacherous place. Regrettably we often don't recognize that until it's too late.
Attracted by the lush pasture Young Johnny unwisely
wandered in between the back end of a mule and the
front end of a goat.
Be comfortable in your environment. If you can't change WHERE you live, change HOW you live. If adjustments and compromises are necessary to be happy with your surroundings then do it. Don't be miserable, everybody is tired of hearing you gripe about it.
Collette despised the barnyard because she
was always stepping in something nasty.
Collette hated nature.
You're entitled to be different - you're not entitled BECAUSE you are different. Remember that even though you stand out in a crowd you still don't stand ABOVE the crowd so humble yourself before the crowd does that for you.
Because he was resplendent Bruce had imagined that
he could control the feed. He had underestimated
the 'plain and simple' citizens.
We are a presumptuous society. We know less than 5% of the world's history and what we don't know we often make outrageous assumptions about. We're not all that different than 'them' and 'they' were not all that primitive.
Upon excavating what he deemed a 'religious artifact' Reilly
declared the barnyard had been built atop an ancient
temple site.
Needing to always have the last word, needing to always be right, needing to win every argument is the death knell for any relationship. You're not that smart, nor that wise that you have all the answers. So...would you rather be right, or happy?
When Lucinda finally found Mr. Right it didn't
take long to discover his first name was Always.
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