Wednesday, August 27, 2014

YES, I'VE BEEN HACKED!

NOTICE TO ALL OF MY
BLOG FOLLOWERS:
 
 I have been HACKED!
 
Please do NOT open an email from me
unless it looks like a blog post!
 
This is my first time (hopefully last time)
and I hope no BUGS have been released!
 
I have changed my password
so I am hoping there will be no other spam!!
 
I am so sorry, guys!!
 
 
Debby

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

The "Sunny Side" of Life

Welcome to the Sunny Side!


The Sunny Side General Store, that is!



We discovered this little diamond-in-the-rough back when our cabin was being built...
...as we were traveling back and forth to the Fancy Gap, VA area.



They don't make 'em like this anymore, folks.
From the front, it looks like a tiny little junky store...not much to look at, huh?


You know what they say...looks can sometimes be deceiving.
You see, it's built on a slope and there are actually three levels.
~
You can find just about anything here.
 

From hardware to underwear...literally!


I am not kidding...take a look for yourself.

 

Entering the front door, you will find hardware, old time penny candy,
lovely expensive glassware, silk flowers, miscellaneous knick-knacks and other items.



Need a some tools...or a little red wagon...or maybe a wind chime??
~
Notice that light bulbs and other household items are on the shelf above the candy bars :)


There are several stairways leading down to various other levels or "departments".



It would take you most of the day to go through just the housewares department alone!
See that rooster mug?
Jim bought one for me for my birthday a few years back :)
~
There were some really cute dresses and tops down in Ladies' too.



Good quality stuff!
~
Carhartt jackets and work clothes, jeans, boots and plenty of hats of all kinds.
(lots of farmers and hunters around these parts!)


Hang a left at men's underwear and take the steps down to...


...furniture and rugs, of course!

 
When we visited here about a month ago, I actually lost my hubby, Jim.
I am serious when I tell you it really took me quite a while to find him...lol!
~
So, if you ever make it to Fancy Gap, you really must try to stop at Sunny Side!


I leave you with this little reminder...


Blessings, friends!



Thursday, August 21, 2014

Beach Fences

Hello, from Carolina Beach...I finally made it!
Do you remember back in January when I was only going to Carolina (Beach) in my mind?
Well, I am posting this as I'm listening to the lovely sound of the waves crashing against the shore!
I'm soooo excited to be here!



We arrived yesterday afternoon and drove a few miles down the coast to Fort Fisher
while we waited to get into our room.


I just love the rocks along the shoreline and this great fence.


I came back this morning to get a shot of the sunrise.


The sky was a brilliant pink, it was 81 degrees and about 90% humidity at 5 AM...
...muggy is not quite a strong enough word to describe it.
It was all I could do to get any decent photos due to the lens fogging up.



One of my favorite things about Fort Fisher are these wonderful trees...


...I love the way the wind and waves have shaped them through the years.


Back at the beach walkway from our condo.


An afternoon thunderstorm came through and cooled things off considerably...


...we were SO thankful for this!


And this evening, this friendly guy let me walk right up to him as we walked the pier.


It's back to the real world after tomorrow :(
Oh well....
~
I'm linking up with Tex at the Run*A*Round Ranch for Good Fences.
Have a great Friday!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Among the Trees


Alone with myself, the trees bend to caress me.
The shade hugs my heart.
~Candy Polgar
~
I took a little time for a personal retreat on Friday at this newly discovered nature preserve
not too far from my home...beautifully quiet and peaceful.
I really liked the quote I found (above) but the only thing I would change is the part that says
alone with myself...I wasn't alone...not alone at all.
~
I'll let the photos speak for themselves.



 "And the LORD God made all kinds of tree grow out of the ground—
trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." 
Genesis 2:9


"TREE"
~Justin Rizzo


Unmovable, unshakable; 
let my roots go down deep
Unmovable, unshakable 
In You
~
I want to be like a tree
Planted by the streams
Of living water
This will be my song God
This will be my prayer

Until the end, until the end.



A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4


"He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. 
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. 
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:8



 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 
Psalm 42:1



"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
Psalm 62:1-2 



May you have a restful Lord's Day and a wonderful week ahead!
Blessings,

I'm sharing with...

Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Inspire Me Monday
Cindy at Amaze Me Monday
Joan at Beauty in His Grip

Thursday, August 14, 2014

More Fences from the "Gap"

...Fancy Gap, that is.
~
You know, it's funny...
...last week I was away from internet access for a few days (because we were in Fancy Gap)
and it seemed like something was missing from my week since I wasn't able to link up
with Theresa for the Good Fences party!!
~
So, I'm going back through my old pics today looking for a few fences.
I think might just need to go out this weekend and do a fence photo shoot...
...as I seem to be running low!
 

These wild sweet peas grow wild all along the gravel road to the cabin.
They were just about to burst open, as you can see.
 

This is Buffalo Mountain, looking toward the Blue Ridge Parkway from the main road.  
You have to look closely, but there really is a fence in this pic.
See it??
 
 
I love the way the rising sun came filtering through the trees on this misty morning.
 
 
And nothing completes a picture of a fence better than a few cows grazing.
~
So until next week (I hope), happy fence finding, y'all!


 





Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Still Standing

Happy Tuesday morning (actually it's almost noon here)
...I hope yours is going great so far!
~
Today I am sharing photos of this wonderful old chimney.
I thought Roan's Rubbish Tuesday would be just the perfect place.
 
 
I wish I knew a little more about it's history or even how old it is.
 It sits probably no more than 25 feet off the road...at least where the road is now.
I'm pretty sure when it still had a home attached, the road was farther away...
...I hope so, anyway :)
 

I'd say it is probably less than a quarter mile from my home...
...just a hop, skip and a jump from the entrance to the subdivision where I live.
Most of the photos were snapped right out of my car window.
 
 
This photo was taken at another time, just as the evening sun was beginning to set.
I love the way the sunlight made it seem to glow. 
~
So every day I pass it by...just wondering...
...a homeless chimney, still standing, braving the elements for years and years.
I wonder about the families who must have been kept warm by it's fires...
...or if there were ever children who roasted marshmallows in it's glowing embers...
...or how many Christmas stockings might have been hung with care.
I may never know the answers but it is fun to ponder such things.
~
Have blessed day!
 
 
 

Friday, August 8, 2014

Donna's Personal Photo Challenge: Animals

Hello friends!
It's time once again for Donna's Personal Photo Challenge.
~
This month, our mission is to photograph animals.
Many of us pet lovers who also blog already do this on a regular basis, don't we?
 ~
I have introduced you to my babies a couple of other times and since they live with me,
I have more opportunities to take pics of them than any other animals...
...except my human animal who is my hubby...lol!
Some of these were actually taken a few years back, pre blog days.

(All photos were taken with my Sony Cybershot P&S)
  

Here is my oldest boy, Hunter, that I snapped a couple of years ago at the cabin.
This is his "mascot pose"...he no doubt is checking out the surrounding landscape for deer...
...or anything else that moves.

(brightening and and softening edits by Picasa)

 

He always has his nose to the wind to get a whiff of ...well, something.
~
Oscar, on the other hand, can be a challenge since he is a ball of energy.
Every now and again, I get a lucky shot or two...in the rare moments when he is resting.


Like most of our furry babies, Oscar loves to bask in the sun.
(photo edited in BeFunky using Chromatic 1 effect)

I love this pic of him taken when he was just a few months old back in 2009.
He looks so sweet and innocent, don't you think?
(black & white photo  edited in BeFunky, using Focus Blur effect)
~
Cheating a bit here and including these..."painted" in BeFunky's watercolor effect.



I see an oil painting rather than a watercolor...but I do like the effect.
~
Thanks for allowing me to bore you share my babies with you again :)
So...until next month....have a great weekend, everyone!