I was born in a small, central Montana town, smack-dab in the middle of winter. For a while my family lived in a single-wide trailer parked out in my grandpa’s pasture.
Hey, I just realized that my humble beginnings sound like lyrics to a country song.
I sorta like that.
This blog is where I’ll share some of the simply important things of my life:
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* FAITH:
My salvation comes from the very grace of Jesus Christ. I am a well-loved daughter of the King of kings. I tromped through a whole lot of manure for 31 years prior to meeting God; thankfully He pulled me out of the muck and mire and set my feet on the right path.
Now, I chase after Him like a wild thing. I run, I stumble, and I sometimes fall, but I always get back up. If you want to know His love, but don’t yet, tell me please, cause I gladly will make the introductions.
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* WRITING:
Many years ago, an old-timer at my grandpa’s funeral took me aside and said, “Your granddaddy showed me everything you ever wrote for him. Miss, one day you are gonna come back here and tell something of his story.” I cannot recall the rancher man’s name, but I can tell you that his words struck something deep. Yes, I have notebooks and reams of loose paper and computer guts that are all filled with words I have authored. I’ve officially published nothing and the only bound books are the handmade ones I have made that sit on my mamma’s shelves.
So, have I let down that rancher and even my own kin? I think not. Words don’t have to be bought to mean something. Words don’t have to be bound between glossy covers to reflect who I am. Words don’t have to be published to speak of Montana roots and Indian blood. For me, the stories just have to be written, so let’s just start here, shall we?
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* LIVING:
I married my high school best friend and sweetheart. We have one son, three dogs, four horses, and one three-legged barn cat. I drive a beat-up Dodge with mud flaps bigger than those little hybrid cars. I use bailing twine and duct tape to fix most anything. I detest shopping. I love to hang clothes on the line (and I go out several times a day and bury my nose in flapping towels). I have lawn chairs in my living room for furniture. I don’t beat around the bush. I rarely wear socks and when I do, they never match. In college I was often referred to as a “closet granola” girl.
I don’t keep up with the Jones’s, heck, I cannot even keep up with my own self. I have a goofy sense of humor and I routinely crack-up myself. I don’t own a TV, but I still own an 8-track player and turntable. The punching bag apparatus in the barn is mine; I enjoy kicking the heavy bag and I get a kick out of whirring the speed bag with my fists. I love: aprons, cooking, two-stepping, green smoothies, driving fast on country roads, baking bread, cut-off jeans for shorts, working in the garden, canning, big dogs, dirt, cowboy hats, rodeos, homemade lemonade with honey, screen doors, starry nights, feeding my friends, puppy breath, wildflowers, my husband & my son. And above all, I love God.
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* PHOTOGRAPHY:
I only use the automatic settings on my camera because I am a simple girl. I am a self-professed techno-nitwit and I don’t care what the “Digital Photography for Dummies” book says. I dare not venture beyond the little green box on my camera dial as I may suffer from a technological-thought-process-implosion. And friends, that is not something you want to see.
Through this self-taught art of digital photography I try to capture bits of God’s great glory in the ordinary things of my simple life.
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* FOOD:
To say I am a health nut would be an understatement. I actually have a couple of Bachelor of Science degrees in health education so I generally know what I’m talking ’bout in the food aisle and health department. I am a high-raw, vegan and I know firsthand what it is to improve one’s health by eating this way.
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Basically, I am just a simple country girl who writes from her heart
and flies by the seat of her pants.
By the way, it’s good to meet ya, I’m SimplyDarlene.
FYI, for the past several years I have been known out here in cyberland
as A Simple Country Girl;
my first blog was called Aspire to Lead a Quiet Life.
I have moved to a different neck of the woods and changed my name a bit,
but I’m still the same simple country girl…
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There’s even a country song
written ’bout me!
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Love it! I hope you share some of your healthy ways and recipes, always love your photography (nice to know I’m not the only one that uses the auto button), and love knowing another simply country girl like myself. Can’t wait to see more.
Great to meet you, Stephanie. Us simple country gals have to stick together! Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings.
Hi Darlene! It’s good to see you again here in “cyberland.” I followed your old blog, but then had my laptop stolen (last Jan.) while in Uganda and lost all of my “favorites.” I “discovered” the “High Calling Blogs” site and was looking at the contributors and randomly clicked on your name, not knowing who you were. But, your site, name and your writing style looked familiar. So I kept looking, until I finally confirmed who I thought you were.
So it is good to find you and I am excited to follow your blog once again.
By the way, I am a friend of Angie and Ira’s, live in Clatskanie, and visited CBC once in awhile. I am on furlough after 16 months in Uganda and plan to return in August.
I hope you are doing well!
Blessings,
Ruthie : )
Oh my land! Of course I know who you are, Ruthie!
It’s wonderful to see you here in the comment box. Oh my, we have a lot to catch up on. What a gift to find you here!
Blessings.
Hi, Darlene:
Just found your online work “by accident” when I googled how to live a quiet life. Really enjoy it, and the Church Ladies blog, too.
I, too, would appreciate some recipes if you could see your way clear to post a few for this high-cooked omnivore.
Many thanks.
Ellen
Indeed, when my camera and computer start playing nice together again… and when I remember to take photos before I eat the food, I will get my food side up and running
I am glad you accidentally found me–no doubt by God directing the click.
Blessings.
Love, love, love…your blog AND your photography.
And you know, miss Patricia, your photography is something to write home about. You know what you’re doing where I just guess. A lot.
I’m so glad to see you here… I see you around THC and at Jeanne’s.
Blessings.
Darlene. Wow. I’m not sure what to say. I found you over on All The Church Ladies. It was quite by accident. We have the same name so I had to check you out. My blog address is simplydar.wordpress.com. I love Jesus and I’m a photographer. As my hips will attest, I also love food and though, I desire to eat much better I find that I am slow in that journey. I have felt better every time I’ve eaten vegan, though.
Anyway, I’m interested to see what God is doing here. He’s a clever One.
Too crazy! I used to go by “A Simple Country Girl” and am still deciding what to do out here in blogland…
It’s always grand to find a sister in Christ
Blessings.
Hey Darlene…Thanks for being YOU! I can relate on so many levels….
I stumbled on your Blog through One Word At a Time “Home”
God is good, faithful and HIS word always works!
Sending love and blessings thru the miles,
Nancy K
Hi Darlene: I was sitting here twiddling my thumbs for the one millionth time and looked at your blog and bio. You may remember me from the Photoplay. I think we commented on each other’s photos. after reading about you,
i was wondering: “Can I live where you live?” Can I join your club of people with thousands of pages of writing,
just sitting in drawers and shelves and boxes? We all must unite and do something. Also, I miss my manual 35 mm camera sooooo bad. I still have it in a box with my camera collection and 10,000 negatives. Now I have like 10 GB
of digital photos, sitting in my old laptop behind my desk. ADD or whatever it is that I have, is such a pain in the butt.
There’s nothing wrong with Auto photography. Most pros use it for the moments they capture. They don’t have time to set the camera. I just like auto flash. You really should try using your macro and get deeeeep into nature, for the things you don’t see with the naked eye. OK I’m done.. You can read my writings at http://www.markssong.wordpress.com
I hope you enjoy it. God loves your life.. Mark
My third comment of the day — watch out, I can be chatty.
I wanted to tell you that I grew up with the best daddy, and I am sorry that you didn’t have that experience. He was a man of grace and dignity, and he loved full. I was one of four children, the youngest, and I think I was my daddy’s favorite — probably because I was most like him — a reader, extroverted, and not a cook. LOL —
For those of my friends who grew up without fathers, I pray for — because my earthly father taught me about what it meant to trust and have faith in my heavenly Father — my daddy never let me down. He was my champion. He showed me what being in love with the Father is all about. He died in 1995, 62 days after my mother. I still miss his voice, his encouragement, his laughter, and his belief in me — he was the best. I am grateful for that blessing in my life.
Hugs to you, my new friend.
Love the new look, and enjoyed new stories. You make me smile
miss you always, feels like i’m talking to you when i read here