Unconditional Love

How fun...a pet meme!

Thank you, Lorraine from With a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart

for what will surely be a fun linky!

~

Let me introduce you to my furry "babies".

Actually, they aren't babies at all but they are my babies.

 This is Hunter, our almost twelve year old Jack Russell mix.

 This will make him almost eighty-four in dog years...if you believe that equation.

I have never known an almost eighty-four year old who was quite as spunky as he still is,

 although he has his days where he has either pulled a muscle or his tummy is upset

 and just lays around.  

Baby No. 2 is Oscar the Wonderful Weenie Dog.

He is five...going on 6 months and let me tell you, he is a hot mess!

 But I wouldn't have it any other way.

He became a delightful addition to our home when he was given to us...

...as a total surprise, by our older son.

Believe me, he was a surprise alright...we were not even anticipating getting another dog.

It was love at first sight...I mean, how could one not fall in love with this??

 

 There's no doubt about it—our pets certainly do become our children, don't they?

We can be assured that they very quickly learn to trust us as their sole provider—

they count on us to meet all of their needs.

And no matter how exasperating they can be,

or however many times we may scold them for bad behavior,

they are our constant companions, loving us without conditions.

They are quick to forgive, easy to make up and never fail to show their devotion for us.

Isn't that just like our Master?

Our Lord shows us that kind of devotion...that kind of love.

Oh, he is SO much more than that!

 How can I even begin to compare the devotion our pets have towards us

 to the love God has for us?
~

These precious pets of ours trust us without fail.

They love us...as much as they are able to, considering they are not human.

They don't know about God...but God created them.

 And the devotion that comes from within them.

Do we love God the way our pets love us?

I mean, do we I trust Him for all of our my needs?

Am I quick to forgive?
Do I love with or without conditions?

 I have to be honest and say that I have been guilty of this before.

These two little guys, are as different as night and day.

Hunter, in his old age has gotten to where he likes his space.

Oscar, on the other hand, loves to snuggle in and get as close as he can.
That's the way I want to be with God...snuggled in as close I can be to Him.

~

So what is that they say about teaching an old dog new tricks?

How about these dogs teaching us a few new ones, including loving without conditions.

 I know I could certainly learn a lot from my two.

Happy Fourth of July!

I wasn't planning on posting today but I found these lovelies and had to share them with you!

As I write, the day is winding down and fireworks will be soon be popping all around.

~

It has been a glorious day here in NC and we had no effects of Arthur this far inland.
The humidity has left us with a cool breeze and bright blue skies!

I hope that you all are having a blessed Independence Day today!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

Hail to the Red, White and Blue!

So, I was out scouring the countryside,

in search of red, white and blue to share here at Good Fences.

 

 

I found this red gate, complete with Old Glory.

How appropriate!

 And right down the road, I came upon this...

 

I really wanted to get a better photo but it was on a very busy road...

AND when I finally got up the nerve and pulled into the gated and chained driveway,

I thought I heard gun shots so I snapped this as quick as I could and SCRAMMED!!

It was probably just fireworks, but I wasn't taking any chances.

 

Then, just last evening, as I was out galavanting,

I came upon a perfect example of the RED, the WHITE and the BLUE !

 

Is he adorable or what?

I tried to get him to look at the camera so I started making donkey sounds.

Whatever was in that feeder was much more interesting than me.
My immitation did not impress him evidently...

...oh well...

 

So, I'll leave you with this reminder...as if you need one...

~

YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG

by George M. Cohan

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
 

 

Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

 

 

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave

 

.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

 

HAVE A FANTASTIC FOURTH OF JULY!! 

 

 

 

 

Stainback General Store

I am just automatically drawn to old, broken down buildings. They are wonderful reminders of a simpler time, when the world was a kinder place... ...at least, that's the way I look at it. ~ I have loved seeing this old store building for many years. I could have just taken my photos of it and slapped them on my post without elaborating... ...but I thought, why not tell the story about it? This is the old Stainback General Store, which is currently being restored... ...notice the new porch with new tin roof. This old store is an historical landmark in the town where I live in North Carolina. source This is the way it has looked for many years, before the restoration was started. Currently, the historical society has purchased it, is restoring it and will be making it into a museum. I don't know though...I kinda like it all broken down, don't you? ~  I have passed by this old place quite often over the past fifteen or so years... ...since the birth of my first grandson. His other grandma (Nana) lives right through the group of tree surrounding it. The other day when I took the boys to her house, I decided to stop and take some pics. The Stainback General Store is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was that smart, oldest grandson of mine who told me this... ...having done all of the research about it since he has spent much of his life, just a hop, skip and a jump away from it :)  It was built in 1891 from the remnants of the old Cross Roads Presbyterian Church (which stood directly across the road), after the new church was constructed. I just love the rusty old Coca Cola and Pepsi signs covering the windows. Across the street, was the local sawmill and the caskets that were made there and were stored right up here on the second floor. source The original church was equipped with a slave gallery, I assume something common in churches during that time period. The photo below is what the church looks like today. source The cemetery that makes up part of the churchyard, has over 250 stones, the earliest dating from 1796.  Because the slave graves are unmarked, there are many more people buried than there are markers.  source Now, comes really the cool part... ...author Alex Haley of “Roots” fame visited Cross Roads and researched his ancestors who lived in this very county in North Carolina.  In 1977, one year after the mini-series “Roots” debuted on television,  a documentary entitled “Roots—One Year Later” was filmed at Cross Roads.  ~  Wouldn't you love to know all of goings on behind those doors? This is an old photo I discovered online of a couple of locals playing checkers out front of the store. How cool is that?  source The old building has served multiple purposes over the years, from a photography studio, a shoe and clock repair shop, post office and of course, a general store. They closed the doors in 1973 due to the condition of the building. ~ Here, I added some effects to "olden" it up a bit. So now you know a few things about the old Stainback General Store, and some NC history...whether you wanted to or not. I hope you have enjoyed your history lesson :)

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???