Stop the Noise!! (please)

source 

"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.

God is a friend of silence.
See how nature—trees, flowers, grass— grows in silence;
see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...
we need silence to be able to touch souls."
 ~Mother Teresa 

~

It's a fact...we live in a very noisy world.

I don't really know when it all started...

...the simple noises of every day life didn't use to bother me.

Maybe I'm just getting old. [[shudder]]

Is it just me??
I mean, can I get a witness?
Sometimes, I want I need... to just block it all out...

...all of that artificial stuff.

I guess I am trying to figure out the why in all of this.
So why does the world have to be so such a noisy place, anyway?
I don't recall this being such an issue for me until just recently.

Now don't get me wrong, I thank God for the precious gift of hearing.

It's right up there with eyesight and the senses of taste and smell.

But do we, as a culture, really need to be so...noisy?
I just don't get it.

 ~
Even after the FCC supposedly began regulating the volume,
the advertisements on television continue to be ridiculously loud.
Much louder than the program you were watching...still.

I mean, do they really think that just because we heard their loud, annoying commercial,
that we will really make a B-line down to their store and buy that sofa??
Not me but I imagine there are folks that do....
...oh well.

Even though I am not a fan, talk shows are just that...talk shows.

When someone is talking, isn't someone supposed to be listening as well?
More times than not, they are all trying to talk over each other!

Maybe they should be called yell shows...or shout shows.
I do enjoy some of those TV old shows from the 50's and 60's though.
Why is it that Lucy's whiny voice and Ricky's rants, don't seem to get to me??
Hmmm...I'll have to think about that one a while...
~

Morning talk radio programs are another thing.

Many are loud, and often obnoxious and/or irreverent.

~

And there's just something about a loud sports announcer...
it's like nails on a chalkboard...worse yet, wipers on a dry windshield to my ears.
Can you tell that I am not much of a sports fan?
I do realize I may feel differently about this if I was. (smile)

~
  Sometimes, folks out in the marketplace can be heard coming,

 w-a-y before they even enter your field of vision.

They seem to have acquired this somewhat strange condition...you know the one.
The one where an odd looking appendage seems to be growing from the sides of their faces.
I think I have heard it called the "Bluetooth" Syndrome.

Have you ever been in a public restroom
and the person in the next stall starts a conversation with you?

You may even have spoken back to them as I have done before,

only to find out that she wasn't speaking to you at all.
In reality, she was talking to her BFF on her her headset!

It seems that the elusive moments of peace and quiet

can't even be found in the potty room!

Really?? The potty room??
Sometimes, it is my only sanctuary!

~

When my husband has reign over the television remote,

which is basically whenever he's not working,

I struggle with his need to have the volume up so high.

I am forever asking him to turn it down.

It just grates on my last nerve.

I find myself on the verge of screaming at times...:O
But then, I'd be adding to the noise level, wouldn't I? 

I am realizing that the older I get, the more I need my peace and quiet!

 ~

I want to hear that breeze as it whispers through the trees...

...to hear the waves crash against the shore...

...to hear that faint train whistle echoing in the distance... 

...and to hear nothing but the voice of God as I watch the setting sun.

My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.

~Psalm 62:1

A QUIET PLACE
~Glenda Fulton Davis

I daily seek a quiet place, that's far from trouble and strife.
Where I can piece together all the puzzles of my life.
It's there, away from TV and books, and far from the telephone,
That I can fellowship with God, just He and I alone.

And there God pours His balm of love, into the life I live.
And there I find a peace and joy that only He can give.
I will not fear the circumstances I face from day to day.,
For daily in my quiet place, I'm learning how to pray.

I hope your weekend is blessed...and that you might find a few quiet moments :)

Sharing here:

Spiritual Sundays
Amaze Me Monday
Sharing His Beauty

Tag...I'm it!

And now for something a little different...

So a couple of weeks ago, my sweet friend, Poppy from w-a-y across the sea, invited me to follow her on this blog tour. I have to admit I was a tad nervous but after I pondered it for a bit, I said yes. I mean, who could say no to that sweet girl, right?? Seriously, I am truly humbled and honored that she asked me to follow her. You can read all about her writing process on her beautiful blog, Poppy View. Anyone who follows her, knows that that girl can rock a Point & Shoot and has a wonderful way with words. Her blog is filled to the brim with fabulous photos of her lovely home and surroundings on the island of Crete, Greece. If you have never visited her blog, I highly recommend it!

Thank you, Poppy for choosing me to follow you...

you are a tough act to follow!

WARNING: The following post is a little long and wordy. 

If you choose to leave me now, I completely understand =[

Let me start out by saying that the girl in the cartoon above (actually, she looks more like a teenager) doesn't resemble me in the least. For one thing, my hair is not the color of a carrot, although I have had recurring dreams of becoming a redhead one day. I promised myself that I had to lose 50 pounds first so that's probably not going to happen! Secondly, I haven't worn my hair in a ponytail since I was in the fourth grade. But the one thing that I can relate to is the distance between her face and the computer screen! The only thing missing is the magnifying glass that I was also using in combination with the most powerful reading glasses that you could buy at Walmart!

It seems my eye doc (perhaps I should say former eye doc) had a little problem finding the cataracts that had been wreaking havoc with my vision for almost two years. They are gone now, praise God! No more looking at the world through waxed paper! (Have you ever tried that?) So, that's kind of how my journey into the Land of Blog began. Not because I couldn't see well, but because I could see... everything!  I know I heard the Hallelujah Chorus the moment I took that first step outside and was able see every leaf on every tree. I went and got out my little Sony point & shoot, removed the cobwebs and started snapping everything I saw! It seemed that I needed a creative outlet...a way to share God's the beauty and to celebrate my own re-discovered world. That was the beginning of My Favorite Things and I had  my one year bloggiversary last week! 

I am truly in awe of the many talented bloggers out there. But me...a writer? No, not really. Especially after reading some of the other's posts who have preceded me on this tour! Oh my gosh, I am w-a-y out of their league...or are they out of mine?? Regardless of how you look at it, I realize we are all different and have our own unique ways of putting our thoughts into words and our words onto "digital paper." So...let's get this show on the road, shall we? Now, according to the rules of this blog tour, I will need to answer these four questions... 

#1. 

What am I playing with working on?

As usual, I am working on a little bit of everything or nothing at all...and not getting much done. That's the way I roll, unfortunately. I am not one to post a lot of crafty, cooking or decorating projects, although I do enjoy all of these things. You can find a few if you scroll through my old posts but it really isn't what my blog is all about. Since we are on the subject, I will share a recent one with you. A couple of weeks ago I was looking for a red floral-ish print fabric for new window treatments for my great room. After a trip to the Goodwill Store, I found what I knew would work just perfectly. It was a new, crisp bed ruffle (Ralph Lauren to boot!) in the perfect print and color. I carefully photographed the project from beginning to end in preparation for a post, including a full tutorial. The beginning of it still sits in my drafts. It will probably never see the light of  Blogland.

#2. 

How does my work differ from others in it's genre?

Now this is kind of a confusing question I think. Anyone can look at my blog and tell right away that it is not about decorating or crafting, it's not a cooking blog, and although I usually like to put a spiritual spin to most of my posts, it is definitely not where you would come for your daily devotions. I really don't think my blog has a genre, but if it did, I think it would fall under the category of a photography, not that I compare myself in any way to some of the real photographer's blogs that I follow.

#3.

Why do I write what I do?

I write pretty much the way I talk—as far as my thoughts and feelings go—but if I really need to say what is on my heart, I sometimes struggle with the spoken word. Writing down my thoughts, my dreams or my deepest emotions is a form of prayer for me much of the time. Writing this blog has put me in touch with my own soul's desire to be more like Jesus, as I have gleaned so much truth from others. I write only what I think would be pleasing to Him because I want to encourage anyone who clicks on.

There have been a couple of different times since I started this last summer when I asked myself "What do you think you're doing...having a blog?" In the beginning it was taking up way too much time and I could hardly get to sleep at night—my brain would not shut down because I was worrying about my next post. After a time, it did calm down a bit but I still questioned, not just myself, but mostly the Lord if I should continue. I got my answer when I started receiving comments here and there from several fellow bloggers—about how either a photo or something I had written or shared had blessed them in some way—that it was just what they needed at that moment. I decided right then that I wanted no glory for myself for anything I put on this blog. My soul purpose is to encourage, provide hope and bless anyone who reads it.

#4.

 How does my writing process work?

Process?

There's supposed to be a PROCESS???

I have no idea how to answer this question, but I will try. I don't really have a certain process that I follow. Every post starts with inspiration that can come from anywhere—a song I might hear in my car on the radio, a storm cloud brewing in the sky, the birds I see from my window, a pink sky, a calm lake glistening in the sun, a beautiful rural scene with cows and fences...oh yes, the fences—and the list goes on and on. Sometimes a random thought will prompt me to take certain photos, other times it's the random photos that will inspire a thought or scripture. I most always have my camera with me, where ever I go, whether I am going to work, Walmart...wherever. There you have it...that's my process...the three W's! :) My dashboard is lined with many unwritten posts. Sometimes they materialize and get posted and sometimes not. Then there are those times when I really do have a plan and take photos on purpose to go along with my anticipated post! So, that's pretty much what I have to say about that. Well.... I guess I'm done here except for introducing you to the next VICTIM! Some of you know her already as that Crazy Chicken Lady! Let me introduce my, sweet friend...

Lisa Tucker

from

Lisa has been my buddy from the get-go and I just love her! She helped me through those "why am I even doing this?" moments that were so frequent when I first started out. As you can see, she's a country girl, also from the south who raises chickens...along with her husband and two grown sons. Lisa has a very special gift of translating her incomparable wit into humorous, often hysterical posts, many times about those crazy chickens of hers, Rod Stewart and the Kardashi-hens! Here are just a few examples:

Chickens, Crocks and Quiche

Fairy Godmother was here...



All About the Chicken Coop (again)


Lisa's post will be up next Monday, June 30.

I for one, will be looking forward to it! 

And for any of you who actually stayed with me,

THANK YOU!

Well, that's it for this chick...I'm flyin' the coop! 

But there's just one last thing I want you to see. Just one.

(scroll down please)

Should I go red or not?

Thanks to Picmonkey, 

I didn't even have to diet!!

Whatcha think???

Good Fences

My husband thinks I've lost my mind.
 

"Oooh, pull over here for a minute!", said I.

"Why???", said he.

"I need to get a picture of this fence!", I reply.

He just looks at me like...whaaat????

I don't even begin to explain why I'm taking pictures of fences.
He just wouldn't understand the reason to have a party for Good Fences...
...or bad fences for that matter.

He just wouldn't.

I can always find plenty of good fences in Fancy Gap.

I just want to run through this meadow...but it probably wouldn't be a good idea.
Why not?
 Let's see...ticks, cow patties...the fact that I'm almost 60...
...and more cow patties.

 

Early morning is my favorite time for finding good fences...

 

I love how the rising sun illuminates the posts and wires...



...and sometimes creates a silhouette.
Who knew that good fences could bring such joy??

Have a great fence-finding weekend!

 

 

Happy Bloggiversary to ME!

Yep, it's been one year ago today...

...one year ago since I hit that publish button for the first time!

(OK, so I lied...after I published this, I realize I was off by one day...
it's tomorrow...lol...who really cares??
 
************

If anyone would have ever told me that by blogging,
 it would be possible to make new friends from all over the world,
 I wouldn't have believed them.

It has been stressful challenging (to say the least) fun, stressful...there, I said it...
...interesting, enlightening...and I could think of so many other words.

But the two words that really sums it all up for me are...

encouraged and blessed.

I was originally going to post this to Vee's monthly note card party,
but realized this morning that it will not resume until September...and that is quite OK!
It's summer, after all and Vee deserves a break, don't you think?!

So, I am going to go ahead and post this using images from my very first post...
...Beautiful Weeds.

They have been artified (yes, I just made that up) and turned into postage stamps.
 I used BeFunky and/or Photoscape to edit them.

Queen Anne's Lace is one of my favorite weeds.
I even gave her her own post :)



The thistle is truly a thing of beauty.

And then there's the ever glorious fuzzy dandelion.

 

This is delicate fleabane, which grows along the highways and byways everywhere.

 

And since there is no party for note cards today,

I think I will just stash this book of stamps in my pocket!

 

Here's a big THANK YOU to everyone of you who reads and follows my blog!

I have learned am learning so much from all of you!

 

Blessings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donna's Photo Challenge: Stormy Skies

There's a storm a-brewin'.
The clouds take on awesome shapes and colors that can be a little frightening.

But it's my favorite time to gaze upward.

That's what Donna's Personal Photo Challenge is all about this month...
...stormy skies.
 



I love a good thunderstorm as long as I am watching...from inside.

Even from inside of my car :)

Now, just so you know, I don't usually just go out for a drive when it's storming...

...but we all get caught in one every now and then, right?

I always try to have my camera handy, just in case.

And there's nothing to compare to the way the air smells afterwards.

Someone even tried to bottle it when they came up with After the Rain scented air freshener.

It doesn't even come close.

And speaking of after the rain...

All photos were taken with my Sony point & shoot camera

and using a combination of Picasa and Picmonkey for editing them.

So my friends, no matter when or where the storms may arise...and they will arise,

just keep on looking upward! 





Seeking...

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. ~Luke 5:16

Blessings,

Sharing at:

Spiritual Sundays
Sharing His Beauty

Seeing Red

Hello friends!

I hope everyone has had a great week!

From what I've been seeing on some of your blogs, 

it looks like many of you have been having some delightful weather.

Same here and summer will officially be here in a couple of weeks!

I know just about all of you enjoy watching and photographing birds like I do.

We have such an abundance of cardinals this year!

But this little red beauty has been making himself known quite a lot in my yard lately.

At first I thought it was a scarlet tanager but after doing more checking,

I found out he is actually a summer tanager.

Isn't he just the most gorgeous little guy? 

The pics are not as sharp as I would have hoped, as you loose a bit of quality when you are:
 a) shooting through a not-so-clean window
b) trying to stop a moving object
c) stretching your point & shoot to the max! :) 

We had run low on birdseed in the other feeders throughout the yard

and this suet block is the only thing the squirrels couldn't reach...

...so I think every bird within tweeting distance were fighting over this one!

Here, this molting cardinal who has lost his headpiece, couldn't wait his turn.

He came and joined Mr. Tanager and they started the feeder spinning and spinning,

as if they were on a merry-go-round!

This feeder is hanging about two feet away from my kitchen window

and I have been keeping my tripod set up to snap some shots quickly and steadily.

That close, the slightest sound or movement scares them off. 

I have been playing around with a BeFunky, a free photo editing program.

I don't have the Waterlogue app but I like the look of this program's watercolor effect.

What do you think?

I really like the way the lighting translated on these two (above and below) 

when this effect was applied.

BeFunky is really fun and very user friendly...and is a free download.

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

sharing at
Amaze Me Mondays