Thoughts of a fancy horse

Photo Friday ~ Greenery

2012-01-27T20:18:00.001-06:00

Feathery Green, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

http://www.photofriday.com/archives/challenge/001156.php

Photo Friday - Pristine

2012-01-20T21:10:00.002-06:00

Shy peeking, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

This photo was taken two years ago last March, but they will soon be blooming again. Spring is just around the corner down in south Alabama!

Carly Fleischmann - severely autistic girl communicates, with computer help

2012-01-19T13:15:00.005-06:00

I learned about this girl through a YouTube video (about ten minutes):
ABC interview

and I found her blog here:
Carly's Voice

but, of course her story is not without controversy:
Miracle or Hoax?

I believe her. I know, through internet websites, a young woman who is a high-functioning Asperger's Syndrome survivor (on the autism spectrum). She describes many of the same feelings and experiences. Her blog, Aspects of Asperger's, can be found on my list on the right side of this page.

Winter blossoms!

2012-01-19T09:08:00.001-06:00

Winter blossoms, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

The 24-hour protest blackout is over, and I'll post this picture I took yesterday in Mobile, AL. It's still winter here, by our standards. Lows in the upper 30s and highs some days in the 70s (Fahrenheit). It must be the warm, sunny days that brought out the blossoms on this tree!

Photos darkened

2012-01-18T16:35:00.003-06:00

The two most recent public photos on my Flickr page are dark today, in support of the protest against SOPA and PIPA, proposed acts in the U.S. Congress.
For more information, see here:
Flickr blog

Clouds with silver lining

2012-01-13T10:04:00.002-06:00

Clouds with silver lining, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

My contribution to this week's Photo Friday ~ Cloudy

New birthday pic!

2012-01-11T21:54:00.001-06:00

Four years old now!

Amusing bookstore video!

2012-01-10T18:56:00.001-06:00

All's quiet in the bookstore, until the books wake up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8&feature=share

(seen in Bookcrossing Chitchat forum)

January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T21:46:00.002-06:00

A new year
fresh hopes
exciting plans
sweet, and some bittersweet memories
well-intentioned resolutions

May all of you have a happy and healthy 2012, by the grace of God.

This verse was on the Verse of the Day on my left sidebar, top left:

Daily Bible Verses - Bible Gateway
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” -2 Corinthians 5:17

2011 in pictures

2011-12-29T23:11:00.003-06:00

I got this idea from my friends Phelan and Madame_Urushiol

January

Older granddaughter's third birthday

February

I took several photos of a local sculpture park. This is my favorite.

March

Spring's coming!

April

Easter Sunday service at our church

May

Road construction to widen the highway in front of our house was finally completed this year! It began two years ago.

June

My mother's church, the church where my husband and I were married, underwent extensive repair and refurbishing. The rededication service was held on June 12.

July

Older son's wedding!

August

A month of changes: my mother entered a nursing home, never to return to her home; we acquired a kitten to bring us joy and take our minds off our problems, and our night-blooming cereus bloomed for the first time in eight years

September

Husband's new tractor, replaced by insurance after a fire destroyed his old one

October

Our newest kitten

November

Younger granddaughter's first birthday!

December

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

May the message of the Christmas angels live in your heart

2011-12-23T23:56:00.001-06:00

"Peace on earth, good will to men"

Help, please?

2011-12-22T15:38:00.002-06:00

Does anyone know how to get my header photo centered? It's way over on the left. I am not a techie sort of person, so very simple directions would be most helpful.
Thank you in advance.

Christmas cold (sneezing, sniffling)

2011-12-22T13:39:00.001-06:00

I must have caught our granddaughter's cold, or else it's an allergy. Hard to tell at this point. I do not have fever, and I do not feel bad, just a little tired. I have been coughing, sneezing, and sniffling, but so far all is clear.
In any case, I'm staying away from my mother. Husband has been to see her a couple of times, to take her her mail that came here - Christmas and belated birthday cards - and to bring me her dirty laundry. (The home will do her laundry, but she has sensitive skin, and itches, so I wash it in "Free and Clear" type detergent.

We had a party for all the ESL (English as a Second Language) students and teachers here tonight, so even though I would have liked to lounge around all day, I dusted and washed and got things ready. I made snickerdoodle cookies and roasted pecans the other day, and today I got plates, bowls, etc. ready for everything. My student who works at a BBQ restaurant brought some pulled pork and sauce, and another student brought marinated chicken wings. I also served chips with salsa and cheese dip, peanuts, and satsumas, and Coke and coffee to drink. I also had hot water available, and tea bags and hot chocolate mix. It was too hot for hot drinks, though.
We gave satsumas away for people to take home. We exchanged gifts, but didn't open them, as not everyone had one or brought one. One of the other teachers brought sugar cookie dough and the makings to decorate them, so we baked and decorated after we ate. Most of us were too full to eat them, so they took those cookies home, too.

It was a nice evening, and we all had a good time. I think I'll go to bed early

Mother's birthday

2011-12-16T19:10:00.004-06:00

My son, d-i-l, and the two little granddaughters came to town to celebrate Nana's (my mother) 98th birthday at the nursing home. I reserved a table for all of us and bought a cake and had a message iced on it.

I got some cute little Christmas dresses for the girls. Such fun! They're red and white, so could be used for Valentine's Day, too.

They won't be here for Christmas; they will be going to her parents for the 25th, and our other son and his new wife will be going to her parents then, too. They were here for Thanksgiving. She hasn't been back to Texas since the wedding in July.

Unfortunately, both the girls got sick the day before Nana's birthday. The older one was coughing and had fever, and the baby was throwing up. Not fun for anyone. :-( :-(

We called our friends to pinch-hit, and they were able to join us for lunch with Mother. She had a very nice birthday, and was delighted with everything. She was sympathetic about the children, and fully understood why they couldn't come. I had wondered how much she would be able to understand. I never know how I'll find her from day to day.
The cake was pretty and delicious, and the meal was good, too. We had our choice of turkey or pork chops. Mother ate all her dinner, including the brownie that came with it, plus a big piece of cake! She ate every crumb! (Usually she has a very small appetite.)
The staff gathered around and sang Happy Birthday to Mother! That was so nice! She got pajamas, a cozy throw, and a Wedgwood cross (Christmas ornament), and also a bag was in her room and she couldn't tell me who it was from. All she said was "Freeman the hot dog people." (?) It contained a pair of slip-proof socks, a box of Puffs tissues, a chapstick, and a Grandma's cookie! Useful, practical, and delightful! No card.

We had a nice visit afterwards, just the two of us, but she was soon tired and wanted to lie down, so I left and told the nurse on my way out that she was ready for bed.

My son and his family arrived home safely, and today the girls were better. The fever and the nausea had gone, and the coughing had diminished. I hope they stay well!

(My hands were so full - cake, a bag of gifts, Mother's clean clothes that I had washed - that I forgot to take my camera!) Here is a picture from Thanksgiving dinner, with our older son and his bride:

and here is a picture of the portrait of the girls over the fireplace in their home:

Photo Friday ~ Depth Perception

2011-12-09T20:56:00.002-06:00

Photo Friday

Does anyone remember Nononono?

2011-12-04T23:20:00.006-06:00

That was last month, too. I am behind a little --- well, actually a lot!

Hubby and me at the marina - our son took this picture.

Older son and bride at the marina

Shadows on sailboat at Fairhope Pier marina

Sailboats all in a row

Reflections in water

Sunset at Bayfront Park

Three friends at Bayfront Park

Fall Festival Trunk or Treat ~ Under the Sea

Fall Festival Trunk or Treat ~ Craft table

Flags flying

The day after Thanksgiving (which we celebrated with Mother at the nursing home - a delicious dinner and a good visit with her and our older son and his bride, and my husband and me) we visited with our daughter-in-law's relatives. Her mother and grandparents had come to visit these relatives, and it was a good chance for all of us to get together. It's an interesting place - a family "compound" with the homes of several family members all together. For parties and large gatherings, they have a "party house", and a large playground with lots of equipment that children love, a deck for enjoying the view of the pond and to fish, an "outhouse" that has all modern facilities, and a real caboose used as a guesthouse! Fascinating place! Interesting people!

Sign seen in a family's "party room"

Dog at the family compound

Knight in shining armor at the family compound "party house"

One of the homes in the family "compound"

Cabin with a pond view

The pond

A real caboose used as a guesthouse!

Inside the caboose guesthouse

Some things at my mother's house, before we begin dispensing and selling them. I wanted to get pictures of how her house looked when she was living there.

A collection of photos of me, from baby through late middle age

Mother's parents

Mother when she was young

Mother and Daddy around the time of their wedding

My daddy, a few years before he died

Mother's bedroom

Her kitchen

Dining room

What is it with little old ladies and toilet paper? Enough to roll the block!

Mother and me, about 8 years ago (beauty shop day!)

Pictures from our trip to Birmingham, Ala.

Don't drink and drive!

Diplomat Deli entrance at night, through windshield

Baby's birthday pics

Birthday Cake!

Son reading to children and one of the mommies

Little Cupcake

Big sister

Owl Cupcakes
For the baby's first birthday, daughter-in-law made Rice Krispie treat cupcakes and decorated them, with older granddaughter's help.

Tree in sunlight

Kitten pics
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(Hubby actually took this; my camera was in the car's glove compartment, at the dealer for maintenance checkup)

December already!

2011-12-02T20:41:00.002-06:00

I never did finish my "Gratitude" posts. It's never too late to be grateful, though, so I will go ahead and add a few more now. Thanksgiving is not just a day, it is an attitude of the heart after all!

I am grateful for ...
a close, loving family
a secure home
a safe, caring place for my mother to live out her days in peace and comfort
sweet grandbabies growing up healthy and strong
a car that runs reliably and gets me where I need to go
Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for the forgiveness of my sins and to give me eternal life
friends on the internet
that the highway construction in front of my house is finally finished!

Gratitude #11 and #12

2011-11-14T20:29:00.001-06:00

I am extremely thankful for the "angel" in the form of a strong woman who went out of her way to help my mother get from her wheelchair into the car Saturday at the shopping center.
Mother had done very well getting into my car, getting into the wheelchair, getting into and out of the dryer chair at the beauty salon, but she was worn out by the time we got back to the car. She tried, and I tried to help her, but she just couldn't do it again. She was in despair, almost to the point of tears, when a couple we did not know came up to me and asked if they could help. The man steadied the wheelchair, and the woman actually picked my mother up and put her in the car! I was amazed, and so was Mother! I hugged the young woman and told us she was our angel!

Sunday evening was the annual churchwide Thanksgiving dinner. We gathered together as a church family, everyone bringing a covered dish (turkey and dressing and gravy were provided) and a donation to our area's food bank. The big Activity Building was full and the food was plentiful. We had wonderful, sweet fellowship and full tummies

Gratitude #9 and #10

2011-11-10T21:40:00.002-06:00

I am grateful for rain, even if I did have to be out in it the other day, driving. We needed it! We got almost 1/4 inch

I am grateful for modern technology, particularly cell phones and computers. With them, I am able to stay in touch with family and friends, wherever they are and wherever I am. I've met some wonderful new friends I've never seen on the internet, and reconnected with some old friends, too.

Nononono 2011, so far

2011-11-09T08:54:00.003-06:00

(The following is copied)

Non-National Not Writing a Novel Non-Month

They say a picture is worth 1000 words. So in response to those individuals who participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month - which encourages people to try writing a 50,000 word novel in November), you are invited to create 50 pictures between November 1st and Nov 30th.

You can do paintings, drawings, pencil sketches, collages, digital photography, print photography, graphic design, ink-blots, pastels, watercolors, pencil-crayons, Crayola crayons, or whatever tickles your fancy.

Just do 50 images in those 30 days (which averages to 2 images per day). The focus is on quantity, not quality.

Post your works of art to your website, or blog, or just show 'em to your friends at coffee. Be free. Express yourself!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~********************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More gratitude!

2011-11-08T22:34:00.002-06:00

#3 Our new kitten - he arrived full of life and joy and playfulness just at a time when we needed all three! He has really perked up our household!

#4 My husband; he's a good man, patient with me and the time I've had to spend with and about my mother, and taking up the slack of household chores that I haven't had time and energy to do.

#5 Our new young pastor, full of energy, but also takes the time to listen to people and to counsel and encourage us. He is enthusiastic about Jesus Christ and spreading the gospel message.
from the church website

#6 Living close to the water, Mobile Bay, particularly. When I was driving back and forth to Mobile daily, it was calming to drive over the bay. Water relaxes me and makes me feel less stressed, even while driving the interstate. (Not too relaxed, though, I still stay alert!)

#7 I am grateful for good friends to just hang around and relax and laugh with.

#8 I am grateful for my health, and for modern medicine that helps me stay well.

Gratitude 2011, #2

2011-11-04T09:04:00.001-05:00

Change of Seasons

This was taken in the parking lot outside my mother's nursing home. Today, I am especially grateful that Mother is happy in her new situation, and that she herself, without any prompting, made the decision that she cannot return to her home to live. It is a very difficult time for her, but I am glad it was her decision and not ours (although it was inevitable). I had been dreading "that" conversation!

Gratitude 2011

2011-11-02T16:17:00.002-05:00

A couple of years ago, I devoted November, the month of Thanksgiving, to recording things I am grateful for. I want to do that again. If I don't post every day, I want to at least summarize every few days!

Some fall color in the deep south

This tree, I think a gingko, was across the street from the Post Office, and looked so pretty in the sunlight that I wanted to capture it. It looked better in real life, though!

This is one of the things I am grateful for at this time of the year, cool days, bright sunshine, and fall color! We don't get as much of the latter as other parts of the country, and the world, do, but we treasure what we have!

Mother is better! And happier!

2011-10-28T21:48:00.003-05:00

Since I wrote my last update about my mother, a month ago, she has gotten better. Her episodes of confusion have been fewer, and the severity has been less. In fact, she has been clear in her mind for the last three weeks!

She has not been happy in her nursing home. There were times when she was very unhappy, and times when she seemed better satisfied, but about two weeks ago, she told me that she definitely wanted to move to a facility nearer to my home, a particular one that she has thought well of for many years. We went to see it and take the tour, and she asked me to start the process of applying.

She was accepted, and discharged from her "old" center, and we finally moved yesterday afternoon. She was happier from the moment she arrived. Workers met me at the door, helped Mother into a wheelchair and took her to her room, and had a cart for her belongings, which they also took to her room while I met with the admissions lady and signed all the papers and gave her a deposit check. When I arrived in Mother's room, all her clothes, pajamas, etc. had been carefully put away in the closet and drawers, and Mother was tucked into bed with her pjs on! I chatted with her a little while, then kissed her goodnight.

Today, she was still happy. The therapists had worked with her some, to assess her abilities, and developed a plan for her. I think this will work out very well!

I think Woody's a Maine Coon, or partly one!

2011-10-06T20:54:00.003-05:00

These pictures were taken a month ago, and his tail is even bigger and bushier now! I have been telling him I think he got another cat's tail, but I saw a picture of a Maine Coon, and something clicked, so I looked it up:
Wikipedia article

1. "...the tail ... is long, tapering, and heavily furred, almost resembling a raccoon's tail." *check*

2. "The Maine Coon is a longhaired, or medium-haired, cat. The coat is soft and silky." *check*

3. "The most common color seen in the breed is brown tabby." *check*

4. "Long tufts of fur growing between their toes ..." *check*

5. "Heavily furred ears with extra long tufts of fur ..." *check*

6. "The Maine Coon is generally not known for being a "lap cat" ..." *check*

7. "Maine Coons are also well known for yowling, chattering, chirping, "talking" (especially "talking back" to their owners), and making other loud vocalizations." *check*

Now, Woody does not have long hair everywhere, so that's why I think he's only part Maine Coon, and of course he hasn't reached his full growth yet. The article said Maine Coons can take from 3-5 years to reach full size, not 1 year like most cats!

In any case, I think he'll be a really pretty cat when he's grown.

He was missing for two full days, and finally came crying at the door about 10:30 the other night. We were worried, and put up signs everywhere, and told our closest neighbors. Perhaps he was shut up in someone's garage or storage building. Anyway, he's not going outside again for awhile!

Meanwhile, our "senior cat" Spite was injured. My husband sat on him! Accidentally, of course. A black cat sleeping on a black heating/vibrating pad in a semi-dark room is easy to miss. Husband realized what had happened, but he was too committed to sitting, and couldn't get up right away. He (Spite) was able to walk, but he was slow. His appetite all but disappeared; he ate some canned food, but no dry food, and just a little water. So, we took him to the vet and left him overnight. He was given fluids, vitamins, and antibiotics, and is feeling much better, but still needs lots of TLC and a daily antibiotic for 2 weeks, then a re-check at the vet's.

My mother's not getting any better

2011-09-26T11:32:00.002-05:00

Physically, she's coming along, walking with a walker and with help from the therapists. Mentally, though, she seems to be slipping away from reality. Sometimes she's cheerful, sometimes grumpy, sometimes angry, but delusional almost all the time. We can be having a nice, normal, sane conversation, then all of a sudden she'll say something completely off the wall. It's very perplexing and sad for me. I hate to see her like this. She was always a strong, mentally sharp lady.

This is how she looked just a few years ago, and really up until her accident in July:

Playing with her great granddaughter, two years ago:

I may be jumping the season a bit

2011-09-15T20:28:00.003-05:00

The photo I'm using for my header was taken in November, 2007. Now, in September, it is still warm here in south Alabama, USA, and the trees are still green. However, we have already had a few blessed days of cooler temperatures, and I am more than ready for this hot, humid summer to gently step away!

There was a refreshing breeze from the north this evening, and cooler weather is predicted for the next few early mornings. I'm looking forward to it!

Flowers for Nana

2011-09-05T00:21:00.001-05:00

Flowers for Nana, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

My mother is convalescing from a fall and broken bones at a health and rehab center. My son and his bride sent her this pretty arrangement of flowers! She loves them! (The flowers and the grands)

Photo Friday - Cars

2011-09-02T00:17:00.002-05:00

Gassing up, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

Gassing Up

http://photofriday.com/

New kitten!

2011-08-26T22:36:00.003-05:00

New kitten!, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

A kitten came to live at our house a couple of weeks ago! Two little girls from the neighborhood rang our doorbell, holding this. Neither of them could keep it, and they didn't know who it belonged to.

I called the vet down the road the next day, and no one had reported a missing kitten, and there were no signs about it.

It's a little boy, and we are calling him Woody. Here's a video of him playing with our older cat, Spite. (I hope it will work here.)

Woody's Antics

Answered Prayer

2011-08-24T21:44:00.003-05:00

My mother went through some rough days at the nursing/rehab home. Some of the workers have been less than gentle, "rough" in her opinion. Of course, she's very sore and sensitive from her injuries, and everything hurts. I really don't think that the workers want to hurt her, but some of them have been more gentle than others. Last week, Mother and I had a meeting with the social worker, the head nurse, the therapist, and someone else, another nurse. It was a planned "Care Plan" meeting, but she was able to tell the head nurse that some of the workers are more gentle than others, and the head nurse said she would conduct additional training; all of them need to be gentle!
At one point, Mother was so unhappy that she wanted to move to another facility, and I had begun looking into it. I got some first-hand accounts from friends and acquaintances who have had relatives there, and I began the process of faxing paperwork from one to the other.
Meanwhile I prayed that God would send Mother's guardian angel to protect her from rough treatment.

I had not heard from the "new" place about the status of Mother's admission, so I called and learned that the social worker at her current place had not faxed all the information yet. They have been talking with her, so I decided to leave it alone one more day. Today, I was planning to call and see what the holdup was.
When I went to see Mother, we had a long talk. Mother is much happier there now; she has "an understanding" with the workers, especially one who had been particularly "rough," and now she wants to stay!
I hope it lasts. I think it would be better on her to stay where she is settled. Moving would require some upheaval and changes in routine and surroundings and people, and might trigger confusion.
I think this is an answer to my prayer! I hope some of you will join me in praying for her comfort and peace of mind. Thank you.

"London is Burning"

2011-08-19T20:49:00.004-05:00

I have been contributing to Jews for Jesus for a number of years and get their newsletter, and also RealTime, their online newsletter, by email.

In this month's RealTime, there is an article by David Brickner, Jews for Jesus Executive Director. London Is Burning

Here are the last three paragraphs, but it is worth reading the entire article:

"You have heard the maxim of fighting fire with fire. London may be burning today, but if a passion for souls burns in the hearts of God's people, we can rise up with a response to the unrest we see around us—wherever it may crop up. It is only through the Prince of Peace that people's needs can be met today, including those facing the unrest and chaos visiting England at this time.

I am more convinced than ever that the gospel provides the solutions to the most perplexing problems of our day ... and the days to come. And until He comes again I am privileged to proclaim the message of His gospel, side by side with our Jews for Jesus family here in England and all around the world.

Let's pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Britain, that the current crisis will spark a revival of renewal in the proclamation of the gospel. May God's people burn brightly with a holy fire for this lost and dying world—and may many be saved and Jesus be worshiped as the Lord and Savior He truly is."

Quoted with permission from Ruth Rosen, editor of RealTime

Sorry I've been AWOL - we're having some problems

2011-08-04T19:46:00.006-05:00

Our son's wedding was lovely, and I will write about it tomorrow, I hope.

We had a delightful visit with some Bookcrossing friends I had never met before on Sunday, and drove down scenic country roads through the Hill Country to my cousin's home, where we were having a wonderful time, spent the night, and we had taken them to lunch Tuesday. We were just about to start dessert (homemade lemon chess pie) when my phone rang. It was my mother's rector (minister in the Episcopal church). I knew that couldn't be good; he has never called me to chat.

Mother fell in her living room, and managed to reach the phone and call her church. Her rector had come to the house and was there with her when he called. She was taken to the hospital, and has a fractured wrist and hip.

That was nine days ago, and she is still at the hospital, not doing well. I go to be with her every day, and spend most of the day, then go by her house and take the mail and newspaper inside, water the plants, and check the refrigerator, etc. I've brought her laundry home to wash, and am paying her bills. (She wisely put my name on her account several years ago.)

She is not eating. I try to feed her, and some days she eats a few bites, and some days she only takes a few sips of Ensure or a high-protein "shake," water, and tea. She is due to go to a rehabilitation facility tomorrow. I think the dr. is optimistic, but we'll see.

I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers, for her, for me, and for my husband. Thank you.
*****
Friday - /better news today!

Mother was moved to the rehab facility late this afternoon, and ate almost all her supper, by herself! She seems content, and I hope she will be happy while she is there.

I couldn't post last night, so saved the entry as a draft. I hope I can post tonight.
*****
Couldn't post last Friday, either. Will try again, but if unsuccessful, I will make a new blog, and hope it will work for me.

Mother continues progressing at the rehab center. I have a meeting with the social services director tomorrow, sort of like a parent-teacher meeting, I guess! I had to write her name on all her clothes, like she was going off to camp!

To have and to hold

2011-07-23T23:27:00.001-05:00

To have and to hold, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

More pictures on Flickr! Proper entry to come later!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fancyhorse/

Getting Ready for a Road Trip!

2011-07-15T16:01:00.001-05:00

Road trip, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

Our son is getting married soon, and we are making plans for a road trip to Texas, from Alabama for the ceremony, and to meet the bride's family. We've already met her, but not her family yet. Looking forward to it! She is a sweet girl, and I know her family will be nice, too.

While we're in that "neck of the woods" we're also planning to visit some of my family and some friends.

Why?

2011-06-25T19:42:00.003-05:00

Why do I get so many responses from "Anonymous" talking about unlocking cell phones and iphones? So many! Is it some kind of code? They come in my email, but don't show up in the blog. I just don't understand! Does anyone else get them?

High school reunion

2011-06-24T18:52:00.003-05:00

The "Southern Belle", originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

My husband's 48th high school mini-reunion took place on a 3-hour Sunset Cruise on a local river.
I went to the same high school, just one year behind Tommy, so I knew some of his classmates.
It was a lovely cruise - just one brief shower of rain, but plenty of seats inside. We cruised past Bellingrath Gardens, and some beautiful homes on the river. Saw some wildlife, including a nesting osprey, and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset over the water!

Before boarding the riverboat, and before I squirted tomato juice down my shirt, from a crabmeat-stuffed cherry tomato!

The dock at Bellingrath Gardens

Bellingrath Home

Tommy made a video of the cruise.

One of the beautiful homes

Another pretty place

Trees and reflections

Nesting Osprey!

Everyone brought finger food hors d'oevres to share, and some homemade gumbo, too (delicious!). We were almost too full to appreciate the restaurant meal afterwards, but still had room for dessert! (Blackberry cobbler, included with the meal of boiled shrimp, potatoes and Conecuh sausage)

At Aunt B's Restaurant and Country Store, Theodore, Alabama

Prayer: Sweet Communion with our Lord

2011-05-28T12:42:00.004-05:00

Knee mail

Aren't you glad that when we pray, we don't get this:

"Thank you for calling Heaven. You have reached Celestial Voice Mail. In order for us to serve you better, please choose one of the following:

For repentence of sins, press 1
For praise and adoration, press 2
For confession, press 3
For intercession, press 4
For supplication, press 5

Please be patient. A customer service representative will be with you shortly."

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

Colossians 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

I Thessalonians 5:17 "pray continually"

Thoughts on Predicting the Rapture and Second Coming

2011-05-21T21:12:00.004-05:00

As most of us probably know by now, a man with a radio ministry in California publicized the "fact" that Jesus would come for His elect at 6:00 pm today, and that there would be terrible world-wide earthquakes accompanying this event.

Well, he was one more "predictor" to be wrong. Another "false prophet." Do these people not read the Bible? The part that says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36, New International Version

God does not tell us when it will happen, because He wants us to be ready always. However, the hype before today, and the continued talk and public awareness after today gives Christians an opportunity. There may be people who are honestly seeking, and this has spurred them to ask questions. We can tell people who don't know about the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That yes, He is coming some day to take His Church to heaven - not any particular church or denomination, but the body of believers. This is what some call the Rapture. Then, He will come again, to earth - that will be the Second Coming, the Day of Judgment. We can give them the Plan of Salvation: Confess our sins, Repent, Ask Jesus to forgive us. It's that simple, but it can be very hard. It was hard for me, and I struggled with it for quite awhile before I yielded to Him. I am so glad I did, and so thankful for His salvation! (There is a link to my personal testimony in the left column of my blog, near the top, just under the daily Bible verse.)

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

2011-05-19T21:03:00.004-05:00

This is a condition I had never heard of until last week. My mother has been suffering from debilitating dizzy spells, in which her head or the room seemed to be spinning, whirling, when she got up in the morning, and she couldn't stop it. After a few minutes, it subsided, but left her with a headache for several hours.

I took her to her internist, who is her primary care physician. He prescibed Antivert. It didn't help.
I took her to a neurologist. He gave it a name, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, and increased her Antivert, and added Clonazepam (something like Valium). That didn't help, either, but since I had a name, I looked it up on the internet.

The information on the Mayo Clinic website described her condition to a "T," and also gave a remedy: Canalithic Repositioning, in which the patient lies flat down, and the medical professional manipulates his or her head in certain positions. This will make the patient dizzy, but will cure the condition in 80-85% of the cases!
The reason is that it is tiny crystals that cause the problem; they are part of the structure of the inner ear, but have become loosened and are floating around in the fluid, causing dizziness when an afflicted person changes position, for instance from lying down to sitting up.
The Canalithic Repositioning, or Epley Maneuver (named after the physician who invented it) repositions these crystals to a place where they cannot float around and make trouble!

If you have or know someone who has this kind of dizziness, advise them to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. In Mother's case, her ENT had her tested for BPPV, and when it was positive, he sent her to an audiologist (in the same office) for treatment the next day. That was yesterday, and this morning she woke up, got up -- and no dizziness!
She did have some important post-treatment instructions, mainly Do Not Move her Head Up or Down, Do Not Bend at the Waist, Sleep in a Recliner in a 30-45 degree angle the first night. It is worth it to be free of the awful dizzy spells!

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Epley Maneuver

A Mighty Hunter Is He!

2011-05-13T21:09:00.002-05:00

Fuzzy cat
Originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

Yesterday afternoon, I heard a yowling and crying outside the back door. Thinking Spite the cat wanted to come in, I went to the kitchen and opened the door. He wouldn't come in! Just pranced around in the carport, and yowled and cried some more.

Finally, I saw it -- a dead squirrel on the doormat! He had brought it home to Mommy, and he was so proud of himself!

I praised him, and told him what a good cat he is, and a mighty hunter, but I wish he would take it somewhere else!

(Hubby disposed of it later.)

2011-05-10T23:18:00.004-05:00

We can't seem to pass a Home Depot or a Lowe's without my husband wanting to go in "just for a few minutes to look around." I am not fond of Home Depot or Lowe's (or Sam's Club, either - all too big). Usually, if it's daylight, I sit in the car and read. I always try to have a book with me.

This time, the sun was setting, and the sky was orange and beautiful. Even in a parking lot, it was a beautiful sunset. (Imagine how it looked over the water!)

I went inside, planning to walk around the store a few minutes, as I needed some exercise. Soon after entering, I spied something I've been thinking about getting, to perk up our patio/carport area:

New colorful pillows! The next day, which was Mother's Day, I told my husband that that was my gift. He thanked me for getting them!

Fun Day! -- Block Party!

2011-05-05T17:43:00.003-05:00

Our church sponsored a Block Party at an apartment complex nearby. We had fun and games, Snow-cones, popcorn, face painting, balloon animals, and made bead bracelets that tell the story of salvation. A good time was had by all!

Flowering the Cross, Easter Sunday

2011-04-25T22:49:00.003-05:00

Flowering the Cross, Easter Sunday, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

Our Sunday School class, a ladies' class, had a Flowering of the Cross early on Easter Sunday morning. It was a very special and beautiful service. We each brought flowers, either fresh or artificial, and stuck them through a wire mesh surrounding the base of the cross. Then our teacher gave us a brief devotional, and we went inside for coffee and snacks.

The view from inside the church, out a hallway window

The area will become a prayer garden; the cross will stay, and benches will be added. It is already a lovely rose garden, that blooms bountifully all summer.

A blessed Resurrection Day to you!

2011-04-24T06:21:00.003-05:00

A blessed Resurrection Day to you!, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse (image from a free clip art website).

Luke 24:1-8 1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

Sunday's Coming!

2011-04-22T15:55:00.002-05:00

Amen!

Eternal Security

2011-04-20T23:10:00.001-05:00

Quiet time, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” (John 10:28-30)

Bad weather system traveling through the US

2011-04-15T22:02:00.003-05:00

I hope all my friends in blogland will be safe! We've been under watches, but there haven't been any close to us. Some homes were destroyed in a county north of us, and I heard that there were some fatalities in other states.
Be careful out there, y'all!

+++++

Oh! I just read the Verse of the Day for today, April 15, on my sidebar (left side)!

"This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:6-7

Somehow, I don't think that was chosed for today by accident!

I know some of you use WordPress

2011-04-13T22:25:00.004-05:00

In case you didn't see it, WordPress was hacked. You are strongly advised to change your password. There's a video in this link showing how to select a secure password, and stressing the importance of having a unique password for each site you use.

wordpress suffers hacker attack

Midnight Cry

2011-04-05T21:33:00.005-05:00

We had an amazing church service Sunday night ~ a multi-choir concert with Daniel Crews, the resident artist at First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia. I had never heard of him before. He is a wonderfully talented young man. It is worth going to hear him if you ever have a chance.
DanielCrews.com/about

We had choirs from three churches altogether - our and two from nearby cities. It was wonderful to see the choir loft filled to capacity, and to hear all the voices praising God together!

Mr. Crews finished the evening with the Gospel music favorite, "Midnight Cry"

Written by Greg Day and Chuck Day in 1966, it is a great hymn of glory and hope. I only have one concern: In Matthew 24:36, Jesus says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

"Midnight Cry" does have a nice ring to it, but it may not necessarily be at midnight!
Here are the lyrics:

I hear the sound
of a mighty rushing wind
and it's closer now
than it's ever been
I can almost hear the trumpet
as Gabriel sounds the chord
at the midnight cry
we'll be going home

When Jesus steps out
on a cloud to call His children

the dead in Christ shall rise
to meet Him in the air
and then those that remain
will be quickly changed
at the midnight cry (at the midnight cry)
when Jesus comes again

I look around me
I see prophecies fulfilling
and signs of the times
they're appearing everywhere
I can almost hear the Father
as He says
Son go get your children
at the midnight cry
the Bride of Christ will rise

When Jesus steps out
on a cloud to call His children
the dead in Christ shall rise
to meet Him in the air
and then those that remain
will be quickly changed
at the midnight cry (at the midnight cry)
when Jesus comes again

And then those that remain
will be quickly changed
at the midnight cry (at the midnight cry)
when Jesus comes again
at the midnight cry (at the midnight cry)
when Jesus comes again
when Jesus comes again
SouthernGospelMusicLyrics.com

Emails to my Sunday School class

2011-03-28T21:16:00.007-05:00

Several weeks ago, I began to consider my role as chairman of the Prayer Committee in my Sunday school class. Every week, we begin class with announcements and prayer requests. We all try to make note of them, so we can pray for them during the week.

It occurred to me (I think the Lord put that thought in my head) that it might be helpful to email the information, for those who may have come in late and for absentees. Many class members have thanked me, not only absentees and late-comers, but also those were there and couldn't hear everything, or couldn't write fast enough to get it all.

Recently, I have begun adding free, royalty-free clip art to illustrate the announcements and add a little humor. It's easy to find just by googling. Here is the latest email (names have been changed, for privacy)

Sonflower Class Announcements and Prayer requests

Announcements:

Discipleship University tonight, 5:00pm, Three electives: Experiencing God, Unveiling Islam, Men's Fraternity

Flowers of the Son film - Nell has ordered it from Jews for Jesus. It is a 30-minute film about Jewish evangelism in Israel. Kathy has graciously offered her home for viewing. Date and time to be announced.

Flowering of the Cross on Easter Sunday morning. Bring fresh or artificial flowers and meet at 8:00am. Light refreshments will be served after, thanks to Mary.

Many thanks to all who helped redecorate our classroom! There were many compliments this morning!

Christmas party in early December, Gwen has a friend who has a catering business. She can serve us at her facility for $13.00 per person.

Daniel Crews will sing for our morning worship next Sunday, April 3rd, and present a concert for the evening service, 6:00pm, which will include a mass multi-church choir. A special offering will be taken.

Youth Ministry Yard Sale April 9 7:00am-12:00noon. Bring gently used household items (no clothing) to the Youth Ministry Bldg on April 7 and 8 from 1:00-6:00pm. Call Dan for pickup of heavy and bulky items.

New Wednesday night schedule: Family supper at 5:15pm. Prayer meeting, Bible studies, and Children's Choir at 6:00pm. Begins this Wednesday, March 30.

Line dancing class this Thursday, March 31 at 10:00am, in the Activity Bldg.

SBC relief for Japan: Make check to the church and indicate "Japan" on the memo line, place in offering plate or bring to church office.

Praises and Prayer Requests:

(As you know, I like to illustrate things!)

Updates

2011-03-20T21:54:00.006-05:00

I have been spending a lot of time on Facebook the last week or so. One of my old friends started a group for my elementary school class, and people have been posting class pictures, and everyone's been trying to identify them, and remembering funny things that happened back then. It's been a blast! I just wish we could find more of our old classmates and get them to join the fun.

My husband had a shed built in the backyard, to store his lawnmower and tractor and some gardening supplies. It's huge! I'll post pictures after we get it painted. Right now it's blue, because of the color of the treated lumber.
If you're really curious, you can click on the link to Flickr on the left side and see them.
His old shed, which was here when we bought the house eight years ago, burned down in a fire last November. He had been mowing the yard for the last time before winter, and the lawnmower backfired when he drove it into the old shed. It ignited a bag of pinestraw. It was an enormous fire! No one was hurt, and nothing else burned except the shed and the equipment and supplies in it, including the lawnmower. My husband got out of the way, turned a hose on the fire, and called the fire department.
I was in Mobile; my mother was in the hospital with pneumonia at the time.

ETA: I see I had blogged about the fire here, Long Long Week

Seven Things about me

2011-03-11T22:35:00.002-06:00

I've been asked by Phelan at A Homesteading Neophyte to do this meme:

First I am to tell you 7 things about me that you might not know. After this long, what don't you know?

1. I was adopted as an infant, and at age 50 I searched for my birthfamily. I talked to my aunt over the phone, but they didn't want any more contact than that. Fine with me, I got a lot of questions answered.

2. I love to read and am a member of Bookcrossing.com I believe there's a link on my sidebar, so you already know that. Oops!

3. I like to collect folk art from different countries. I have a Russian matrushka doll set, a Swedish Dala horse, and a miniature decorated carreta (oxcart) from Costa Rica.

4. We moved away from our sons after they grew up, in the same state, but a different city than either of them.

5. Once upon a time I wanted to learn how to play the violin. One problem: I can't carry a tune in a bucket and am completely tone deaf! I still like to listen to music, though.

6. My degree was in Sociology, but I worked as a child care-giver most of my working life.

7. I was a Girl Scout and loved going to camp every summer, even in my teens, and was a counselor one summer.

Now the second part is I am to assign this meme to 15 other bloggers. Fifteen! I'm not very good about choosing, but I will invite anyone who's reading this to do it, too. Go ahead, it will be fun!

Someone's Praying for Me

2011-03-06T22:34:00.008-06:00

Suburban and trailer totalled, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

The title of this entry is one of my favorite hymns.
Ricky Skaggs on YouTube
I just learned it a few years ago, and it has meant so much. In fact, it was true for us in 2007 when we had this accident. It was before I started this blog, and I have never written here about it. I felt like I should do that now, for a couple of reasons.
Our new pastor was involved in a serious accident before coming to our church, and everyone miraculously survived. A friend of ours, a brother in our church, miraculously escaped permanent paralysis when his epidural failed last Wednesday. He and his wife were in church this morning!

We left for a vacation on a bright, clear, sunny beautiful mid-October day just after lunch, pulling our trailer, headed for north Alabama to enjoy the colorful fall foliage and relaxed time with family members. Two hours later, we were wobbling and swaying all over the interstate, and didn't know why. Finally, we made a big lurch from the right lane to the median, then back again, off the shoulder on the right side. I closed my eyes and began praying, so I wasn't exactly sure what happened. I saw a flash of light, then darkness (with my eyes still closed), and when we came to a stop, I had a lot of pain in my neck and the side of my head.
I got out of the Suburban anyway, and my husband followed. He couldn't get out on the driver's side. He told me that the trailer had turned over on its side, and pulled the Suburban completely over upside down, then right again. This was verified by witnesses who stopped to see if they could help. They are the ones who called for emergency aid. The man advised me to stay in the truck and not walk around, since my head and neck were hurting.
Here is where the prayer comes in. Some members of our church, friends of ours "just happened" to be driving on the other side of the interstate in the opposite direction when they saw the wrecked vehicles. They thought they looked like our truck and trailer but weren't sure. They decided to call a mutual friend, who told them we were on our way to Montgomery and Birmingham. They relayed the information to other church members, and a prayer chain was started, and Wednesday night prayer meeting was that night! My husband's friend called him while we were waiting for the state trooper and the ambulance!

Here is the miracle part. I was taken to a small, country town hospital with kind and well-intentioned staff, but insufficient equipment. Their X-ray machine was inadequate, and they couldn't even give me a neck brace. (My husband bought me a soft cervical collar at the local Walgreen's.) They released me and told me to be careful and see a doctor in my hometown as soon as possible. After a bumpy ride in the state trooper's car to a motel, and lying down on a bed there, the next morning our friends came to take us home, a two-hour drive with me holding my head to keep it from swaying and bouncing, as that made it hurt. I slept, or tried to sleep, in my bed at home until three days later when I had a CT scan. It hurt a lot to lie down and get up. When I had the CT scan, they let my lie down by myself, but they would not let me get up on my own. They pulled me to a sitting position with the sheet that was under me. The technician couldn't tell me what she found, but she did tell me to sleep in a recliner with my head supported.
Six days after the accident, I learned that I had a double fracture in my C-1 vertebra - the top one, closest to my skull. A SOMI neck brace was ordered for me, and I began wearing it eight days after the accident, and wore it night and day for three months. Eight days with a broken neck and no support! I know it was God Who preserved me from further injury and possible death or paralysis. I am deeply grateful; words cannot express.

That was almost three and half years ago, and I am well and healthy! Praise God!

(All photos were taken by my husband.)

Window Study

2011-02-24T00:14:00.002-06:00

Window Study, originally uploaded by Giles C. Watson.

This is a lovely poem, read by the author and illustrated by a montage of window images from many different churches in England. I hope you will take the time to view and listen. It is a very few minutes, and well worth every second!

Mr. Watson posted this in a Flickr group that I administrate:
The Rear Window - Focus on Windows He kindly gave me permission to post his poem and video here.

Window Study
From this angle, my own reflection
Leaks in runnels like molten sugar
As I scry the windows, reading
Refracted angels. They sing
Prognostications, each one wearing
A green patina of algal bloom
And mirrored woodbine. A knight
Reclines in the day-dark of a yew,
The altar flowers arranged
Amongst chimney-pots, preserved
In toffee, chains of candelabras
Suspended in emerald confection.
Pulpits swirl beneath the stirring,
Blurred by blackthorn. Fonts
Stand under streams, leaves
Dappling the nave,
And down the aisle there dances
A line of graves.

Poem by Giles Watson, 2011.

Blog post about Christian Love, by Ruth MacC

2011-02-13T21:06:00.006-06:00

She kindly gave me permission to repost her blog post onto my blog. Her message really convicted me to my heart; I am guilty of neglecting to express love to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Real Christian love
Real Christian love? What should that look like?

The Bible is very clear about how important love is in a Church. God puts it first, above teaching, evangelism, giving, faith, etc. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Everything else hangs on these two things, 'love God and love everybody else the same way that you love yourself.'

There is only one place we can find out about it, see what it is like and experience it and that's in the Bible.

The first experience I had with real love was through pain. There's a Christian song called 'O Love that wilt not let me go,' and the third verse goes like this...

O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee,
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
and feel the promise is not vain,
that morn shall tearless be.

God drew me to Him using pain, the painful circumstances of my life. I wouldn't dream of going to Him when times were good so He allowed my life to crumble until I could fall no further and eventually I looked up to Him and said 'if You are there, show me,' and He did.

I am just off the phone where somebody close to me is going through a hard time, again, and she asked me to pray for her. When I was praying I asked God if He would save her, even if it has to be the way He saved me, even though it was so painful at the time. I tell you the truth when I say that I wouldn't change one tiny bit of the pain that God used to draw me to Him.

So that was my first taste of true love. God loves me so much that He allowed me to go through a lot of pain so I would wake up and turn to Him for help and salvation from hell but.... before all that, Jesus, the Son of God went through terrible pain before and on the cross in my place. Why? Because He first loved me. He loves me enough to take the punishment for my sins so I won't have to be punished for them, so I can belong to Him and so I can spend eternity with Him in a love relationship.

But that's just the beginning of it. At the start of your new relationship with God your heart is bursting full of love towards Him, your sisters and brothers in the Lord, your family, your neighbours and enemies. But how does this manifest itself especially in the Church? What does it look like?
It's more than a smile and a hello at the Church service on a Sunday morning.

This is something I have been praying about and looking into a lot these past four years and at the end of the day I have found that my opinion is worthless and the Bible's is everything. So, here is what I believe God says about love for the brethren and what it looks like.

Firstly, you don't know what true love is unless you have been converted and are being loved by God. To love God and be loved by God has no equivalent in this world. I have loved people in my life, grand parent, parent, husband, child, and lovely as all these relationships can be, there is no comparison between these loves and the love of God.

If you are a true Christian Jesus who is God says that if you love Him you will love the Brethren. That seems straight forwards enough but lets take a closer look.
I think the first question to ask here is in what way does God love us. If we know how He does that, then we can know how He expects us to love others. One way He loves us is in a sacrificial way. He poured Himself our for us. He gave up everything (Heaven) to come down to this Earth and live and suffer and die... for us! The will of Jesus' Father was for Jesus to take the punishment that is due to me and suffer in my place. He sacrificed Himself for us because He loves us.
So how will this look like when trying to love our sisters and brothers in the Church?

2 Peter 1:5-8
In verse 7 it says 'to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.'
Kindness is a good place to start. First of all in our thoughts towards one another. You won't be attending Church very long before somebody irritates or annoys you. Mostly, if you are really honest with yourself it will stem from your own sinfulness, impatience, tiredness etc., but even if someone is being a bit of a pain, you have to check your thoughts and keep them holy. The Bible says that we ought to put others above ourselves, to think more highly of others.
Here is the starting point. Check your thoughts and immediately think kind thoughts towards them. (whatever is good, whatever is lovely) Perhaps something is going on in their lives that you don't know about that is really worrying them, stretching them and hurting them and they are at the end of their endurance. I mean, if a hurting Christian can't show his true (and sometimes ugly) self among other Christians and be loved, forgiven and helped there, where can he?
God says that love covers a multitude of sins. Yes, I can understand this in relation to loving my husband and son. It's fairly easy to forgive Niall something. Why? Because I love him very much. You should hear my son and what he says when I ask his forgiveness. He is so willing to forgive me; He showers me with forgiveness! Why? Because he loves me so much! Husbands and wives can forgive each other the most heinous sins because of their great love for each other, BUT, if a sister or bother in the Lord steps out of line, just one time, it can be another story altogether!

Friend, it all starts in our minds. That's where the battle ought to be fought. Show a little pity and compassion towards your sisters and brothers. Show a little patience and long suffering. If there is something about them that bug's you DON'T stay away from them. That's wrong and it's sinful. Pray for them regularly. Pray for yourself and your attitude and ask God to change it!
That's what love is all about; that's what we are commanded to do.
True love is sacrificial and when we sacrifice our pride or our 'rights' it hurts. Sometimes true Christ like love hurts, but it's worth it.
1 Peter 4:1 says, 'Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.'
1 Corinthians 13:7 says
'love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.'

Lets 'bear' and 'endure' a little more for our church. Lets 'love' it and show it and not just read about it in the Bible. Remember in Mark 9:41 Jesus says, 'For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.'

What about Church members who live alone, who are newly married, who are sick, who are old, who are recently bereaved, who are young? What about our over worked pastors, their enduring wives, what about our teenagers who are tempted and bombarded by sin? What about the folk who are just about to leave or did you not notice the warning signs and then wonder where they are? What about the newly converted or the babes that were converted 20 years ago? What about exhausted mothers of young children, people who just lost their jobs, students taking their exams?

Here are some scriptures that pertain to real Christian love. Read them and think of your relationships with others. Is it ANYTHING like this???? If not, confess your sin to God, repent and change.

1 Peter 4:7-10.
'But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.' Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.'

2 John 4:20,21
If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

1 John 4:7&8
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

What is fervent love? It is consuming and it burns you up! Do you love your Church with a love like this? Do you give a hoot what is going on in their lives right now? Do you have regular contact with as many as you can to keep up with them and find out what's going on in their lives? How can you pray for them and their needs if you hardly ever talk with them?
EVERY Christian alive has problems and needs encouragement, help and prayer and if you do these things it is a way of showing love to them. It is loving them :0)

It's vital that a Christian love other Christians. Vital because it is a mark of true conversion. If you say you are a Christian and don't love the brethren the way the Bible commands, then you are in sin or you are not converted; either way you have to confess this sin to God and receive His forgiveness; either way, it is a serious thing and needs to be dealt with immediately.

If you are loving your church with a fervent love, thank the Lord and remember 1 Peter 5:10, But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, stenghten, and settle you.
Also remember Hebrews 6:10, For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown towards His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

If, like me you sometimes struggle with loving your Church, pray to God for forgiveness, strength and endurance and remember Hebrews 6:12, 'do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise.'
Also, following on from 2 Peter 1:7, (brotherly kindness and love) verse 9 tells us, 'For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.'

If you live your life without a thought for the Church other than to attend the service on a Sunday morning please check yourself to see if you are in the faith. The world wide Church has many false converts/Christians, make sure you are not one of them.
There is no way around it; love for the Lord and the brethren is a sure mark of conversion and a lacking in this love should worry any professing Christian.
Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:17, 'Even so, every good tree bears food fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.'

So, what can we do in a practical way to love the brethren?

Well, first of all and most importantly, pray for them. When you take the time to regularly pray for your brothers and sisters God will show you something about them that they need help in. Pick up a fridge magnet or book marker while shopping or buy a book from the second hand shop that you think they may like, give it to them the next time you see them telling them that they were on your mind and that you have been praying for them.

If it's somebody you don't see a lot, say somebody sick, visit them. If you feel a bit shy, ask another christian to come along. It may be a bit strange for the first time but it will improve.

Buy a small bunch of flowers and give them to an elderly member. They will love it! Tell them you have been praying for them.

Can you help by giving a gift of money to somebody? If so, find somebody you know is in need, pop money into an envelope and put it in the offerings box without your name on it(!).

If you are able and trustworthy ask younger parents if they would like you to take their kids for an afternoon.

Put a restaurant voucher in an envelope and pop it in the offerings box for somebody.

Give your Pastor/Sunday school teacher/youth worker a card thanking them and telling them how much you appreciate them. Don't forget other people in the Church that serve, like your treasurer, the people who sort out the music and here is one for you. Give a nice card or small gift to the cleaner/caretaker.

If somebody has mentioned during the service/prayer meeting that they are ill, taking exams, going on holidays, have an impending death etc., follow it up. Text or phone them during the week and see how things are.

If somebody misses a service or two and you haven't seen them in a while, phone them and tell them you are thinking of them and praying for them.

Can you bake, then bake something for somebody. Can you mow grass/build a wall/paint a room? Well, get to it! Help the singles, sick and widows in your church and offer your services.

Has somebody slowly but surely stopped attending the Church services and don't seem to be worshiping anywhere else? It doesn't matter how long they are gone whether six months or three years, drop them a line and tell them they are missed and you are praying for them.

Talk to people when you do see them. Seek out the quiet ones. Everybody loves their kids, talk to them about their children! If someone has lost a partner please talk to them about their loss, even years later. Theres nothing worse than thinking everybody forgot about your dead husband/child/wife.

Surprise someone in the Church by remembering an anniversary or birthday. Buy a card and if the Church is small enough get everybody to sign it and if not, get your Sunday school to sign it.
Oh, and by the way... go to Sunday school! it's a great way to encourage love and support to your brethren and teacher (not to mention it's good for you too!).

Ask God if He wants you to serve in the Church. Sunday school teacher, door attendant, Church secretary etc.

Be on the look out for jobs that need doing in the Church building and do them if you can. Even ask for help.

Well, there's a few ideas to get started with. If you have any other ideas of your own be sure to mention them.

Let me leave you with this scripture...

1 Corinthians 14:12, 'Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the Church that you seek to excel.'

Real Christian Love

Our Wedding Day

2011-02-11T23:12:00.003-06:00

Our hands, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

We were married 42 years last summer. Amazing how quickly time passes! Sometimes I can't remember ever being that young, and slender (!), and other times it feels like it was just yesterday.

Our church is having a Couples' Dinner tomorrow night, to celebrate Valentine's Day coming up. We were asked to bring a wedding photo to share with everyone. They will all be put up on a large screen, and I think there will be a game to see how many we can guess! Sounds like fun.

Anyway, that inspired me to scan several photos from our album. I think it's okay to post them; I can't find the photographer online or in the phone book. It was 42 years ago.

Here are a few:

The wedding party

The marriage license

Ready to leave for our honeymoon

More Art and Architecture

2011-02-08T21:46:00.007-06:00

I'm going to add these photos to my Art and Architecture blog entry, but I want to post them here, too.
(editing to add link to Art and Architecture: Special Landmarks)

A few years ago they remodeled, and completely changed the appearance of the Daphne City Hall, near where we live. They added a small reflecting pool with fountain, and a statue of the Greek mythological figure for whom the city is named.

There is a small park in Daphne, a sculpture garden. Unfortunately, there are no signs to explain about the park or any of the sculptures, so one is left to guess.

This is the most colorful and eye-catching piece. It looks like children dancing!

A broken heart? Trying to put the pieces back together?

A keyhole! Daphne United Methodist Church fellowship hall seen through it here

A twisted column next to a tree, with the church in the background

Something yellow with cut-outs ~ Rainbows? Fans?

A metal pole, slightly twisted

Looks just like the sign for "I love you" in American Sign Language!

Two views of something I could not figure out at all. Maybe you can.

Sitting in the sun, reading

A shield and spear?

Maybe that's the point. Letting us look at it and think, and wonder. Letting us make our own interpretations, exercising our minds.

Weather

2011-02-04T21:51:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking about all my friends, real-life and online, and family members who are affected by the ice and snow and extremely low temperatures. I hope everyone is staying warm and dry, and safe!

Here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, it's been cold, by our standards (the lowest temps were in the mid 20s Fahrenheit), rainy, windy, and foggy, with a few clear, sunny days between cold fronts. One day sleet and freezing rain were predicted, but it didn't get quite that cold this far south. We can't complain, but many of us do anyway!

My header photo was taken in January, and that's how it looks all winter here. The sun was just coming up, and there was a mist rising from the pond.

I've been away from my computer

2011-01-27T21:03:00.002-06:00

My mother has been in the hospital this week. She's been having breathing problems, and it was found to be due to lack of blood. So, her dr. ordered two transfusions, a day apart. After the first one, she seemed ok but tired. That night, after midnight, she called us and couldn't breathe hardly at all! She was taken by ambulance to the ER, put on oxygen and given more Lasix.
Later, the dr decided that the transfusion gave her heart too much blood to deal with all at once! After a day, she was given another transfusion, and kept overnight to monitor her. She was better today, and went home this afternoon.
We are all very tired, and Mother has a beauty shop appointment tomorrow morning that she will not miss! She's looking forward to it (and needs it after a week in the hospital!)

2010 in review

2011-01-14T23:03:00.003-06:00

2010 in review, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

1. Sun dog in Alabama!, 2. Bright pink on a cold winter day, 3. Azalea Trail Run with Azalea Trail Maids watching, 4. Azaleas!, 5. Decorated oxcart, 6. Prayer vigil for the coast, in danger from the oil spill, 7. Wild Blackberries, 8. Sunglasses, hat and teddy, 9. River reflections (photo editing), 10. Pitcher Plants, 11. RIP sweet little kitty, 12. Chrismon ornament - Nativity

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

One of the groups I'm in on Flickr, ABCs&123s
suggested this idea in a discussion thread. I liked it so much, I decided to post it here, too!

If you like it, too, how about sharing your "year in review", too?

Been to visit grandchildren! (Edited to add photos)

2011-01-05T16:44:00.007-06:00

I have some photos, but don't have time to post them now. I will later.

Older granddaughter celebrated her third birthday with a Minnie Mouse cake, balloons, friends and family, and presents! Also on the menu were
her favorite foods: Chick Fil-A nuggets, cheese flavored tortilla chips with cheese dip and salsa (she ate hers without condiments), little cocktail weiners, stuffed potato skins, Coke and diet Coke.
The five-year-old and the three-year old enjoyed eating, then running all over the house.
The eight-month old baby boy took it all in with wide eyes and a good disposition. The month-old baby (my younger granddaughter) cried, and was alternately soothed by four loving grandparents. A happy day all the way around!

New granddaughter is a month old, and has already changed a lot since I was there in early December.

Edited to add: Here are the promised photos:

Blowing out her birthday candles

Her Minnie Mouse cake

Listening to her singing card

How does it work, Daddy?

Papa and newest grandbaby

(The bear makes swooshing sounds that are supposed to be sounds the baby heard before birth. To me, it sounds like hearing the ocean in a seashell!)

Mawmaw (me!) with baby

Do I know anyone who loves to write?

2010-12-22T21:50:00.002-06:00

Someone sent me a message via Flickr asking for one of my photos for his website. In a subsequent email, after I checked out his website and gave permission, he asked me if I know anyone who loves to write. His website is a picture directory of state and national parks, with a section called "World Parks."
He is not able to pay writers at this time, maybe when his site begins making more money.

Here is the website:
Rec Planet

I guess everyone's extra busy this time of year!

2010-12-16T23:16:00.003-06:00

After I got back from my trip to see grandchildren, I began preparing for my mother's 97th birthday surprise. My cousin and her son flew in from out of state. Mother really was surprised!!!

This Sunday we're going to have a Christmas party for the Englsh as a Second Language and Adult Reading and Writing students and teachers at our house. We do it every year, and everyone has a lot of fun.

These are photos from a previous year:

Grandbaby pictures!

2010-12-11T20:52:00.000-06:00

Goodbye, Crystal

2010-12-02T19:14:00.001-06:00

Goodbye, Crystal, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

Goodbye, Crystal
She had a cancerous tumor on the right side of her head. We first noticed it last spring and thought it was an infected bird peck. But it never would heal. In September, the vet diagnosed cancer. She could operate, but it would only grow back, so we decided to take her home and enjoy her as long as we could.
This last week she has done nothing but sleep and drink a little milk when I brought it to her. We knew it was time, and took her to the vet for the last time this morning.

We will miss her so much.

Son popped the question and she said Yes!

2010-12-01T22:39:00.004-06:00

This is our older son, the one who's single and 38 years old today. We have met her, and like her very much. I told son to give her a special hug and kiss from me, and then said I don't guess I have to say it twice! He laughed and said he would be sure to tell her which one is from me!

Life is full of ups and downs. My mother had two serious problems within 3 months of each other: a bad fall and pneumonia, and has recovered from both at age of 96 (her 97th birthday is in two weeks); a fire that destroyed most of our lawn and gardening equipment and the shed they were in; a new granddaughter one week old today; son's engagement; and a sick cat who is sleeping her last hours away beside me.

I am happy and excited and ecstatic about the good news, and deeply sad over the bad news. They don't cancel out each other, but it's hard swinging back and forth.
***
(edit) I just read this on the blog of one of my cyber friends, Wisteria and Roses:
Though great losses have rocked our world through the recent years, a house built upon The Rock withstands the storms; and the family within the standing home rises up to celebrate in the midst of the torrents.
So true, thank you for the timely reminder, Debbie!

Pics of new grandbaby!

2010-11-25T20:36:00.002-06:00

Son emailed me some pics today:

Baby Heidi, with nurse holding her

I can't tell who's holding her, probably her other grandmother.

*******************

We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner with our older son and my mother, and very thankful to still have her with us! Everything came out nicely, and everyone was stuffed afterwards. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, then the dog show, then Miracle on 34th Street. I haven't watched that much TV in a long time.

Grandmother and grandson enjoying dinner

My plate - I also served ham for those who don't like turkey.

Older son is going to a friend's house to watch the Iron Bowl game tomorrow (University of Alabama vs Auburn University - a longtime state rivalry that will be particularly interesting this year, as both teams are doing well (except for a controversy re Auburn's star player). Son will return home on Saturday, then Monday fly to see his girlfriend and spend his birthday with her.

Happy Thanksgiving to all who will be celebrating this week!

2010-11-23T19:18:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving table arrangement, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

May you and your famiilies be happy and healthy, and thankful!
May all travelers arrive at their destinations, and home again, safely!

2010-11-22T12:25:00.000-06:00

Our younger son called with news that his wife will go in the hospital tomorrow to be induced, and our new granddaughter will arrive a few hours later! So excited! Her name will be Heidi.

I called our older son to tell him, and he will stop by Wednesday on his way to our house for Thanksgiving dinner. He is taking the first of a series of tests for certification as a full-fledged architect early this afternoon. He has been working for an architect, but jobs are scarce now and he has been "on furlough" for several months.

Our church has been without a pastor for almost two years, since Brother Grant retired. We have had an interim pastor and a series of supply preachers during this time.
The Pastor Search committee has been diligently going, and hearing, and talking with prospects. After three or four "hopefuls" didn't come to fruition, and much prayer on the part of all of us for God's will to be done and for patience, they have a prospective pastor that the committee unanimously approved! He is coming December 5 to preach in view of a call. The congregation will vote after the worship service that Sunday.

More Mississippi photos, and an update on the laptop offer

2010-11-21T21:09:00.001-06:00

From the RV resort, we drove a short way to Biloxi, Mississippi to try to visit my husband's aunt. She is past 90 years old and loves company, and we don't see her as often as we should. We took a few pictures in Biloxi while we were there.

The famous Biloxi Lighthouse, which is featured on the current Mississippi automobile license plates

St. Michael's Catholic Church

Aunt D's house, now one of the oldest homes in Biloxi, since Hurricane Katrina. She lived with her daughter in a nearby town for two years while the historical association and the city and FEMA wrangled, trying to sort out if the family could have her house repaired, and how, and when. Finally, she was able to move back in a few years ago, in time to celebrate her 90th birthday! We did get to see her the other day. I said "try" because we couldn't reach her by phone; her number had been changed after Katrina. So we just knocked on her door.

Sunset on Mississippi Sound (area of relatively quiet sea between the barrier islands and the mainland)

We decided not to send in the certificate for the promised laptop computer. Red flags went up; they asked for a $25.00 "activation fee" along with the certificate - in the form of a bank check, not a personal check, or a money order, but not a Post Office money order (I don't know of any other kind). Then, we would have to pay an unspecified "shipping and handlling" charge. I remember the old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." And, there is this warning from the Better Business Bureau website: "Prize promotions, also known as premium promotions, are often confused with sweepstakes. The promotions begin by congratulating a consumer for being the winner of a valuable prize or cash award. It follows by requiring the consumer to pay money in order to receive the prize. This is done in a number of different ways. One way to make the intended victim pay is by charging them a large amount of money for the shipping and handling of the prize."

We'll pass, thank you anyway. It wasn't wasted time, I got a few good photos from it, and we had a nice visit with Aunt D!

Day trip to Mississippi

2010-11-20T20:55:00.004-06:00

We went to Mississippi yeaterday - about an hour's drive from our home. We had received a card in the mail to look at a private, members-only RV resort. They offered a free laptop just for coming to look and listen to the sales pitch, so we went. It was a nice drive.

The resort was attractive. It had a small private lake

with ducks and geese

and a row of cute little cottages

and a campground for the RVs, of course, but it wasn't very picturesque.

We decided we didn't want to be locked into a membership which might be difficult to get out of if we lost interest in it, so we declined. I hope the laptop will be useful. I'm looking forward to being free to use it anywhere I want, not just here in the office.

In the city, and in our town

2010-11-18T21:01:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, going Mother's house, I passed, among other buildings, two churches

This is Government Street Presbyterian Church

and the Government Street United Methodist Church

Guess what street I was on!

and coming home, I passed two homes

Today we stayed home except for going out at midday to run some errands

First, we stopped at the vet to pick up some more medication for Crystal

Then we stopped to eat lunch

(this is not us)

Hubby's dinner

My dinner

Then, on to the Post Office and the bank

(This is the Post Office; no pic of the bank.

Driving home

2010-11-15T14:36:00.001-06:00

Driving home, I decided to take the causeway instead of the Bayway (Interstate 10), so I could stop and take pictures if I saw anything interesting, and I did!

This one is a tree I saw while I was still in town, a "Popcorn" tree, also called "Chinese tallow" because they made a wax from the berries, I think. They are actually invasive, non-native, pest trees, but very beautiful in the fall! I titled it "Attractive Nuisance" on Flickr.

Still in the city, an old, probably antebellum (pre American Civil War) home. Until recently, it was used as an antique store, but it is now for sale.

Something was going on at Battleship Park, where the USS Alabama, a World War II battleship, is docked as a museum ship. I guess it has something to do with Veterans Day, but I couldn't find anything on the website: http://www.ussalabama.com/index.php

The battleship itself, with a bunch of people running, playing a game I think:

A very common bush that grows along the roadside, and blooms this time of year

Tall grass growing by the bayshore

A windblown tree, standing by itself by the side of the road

Grass, close up, blowing in the south wind

Chrismon ornaments

2010-11-13T17:10:00.001-06:00

Some members of our church are involved in a project: making Chrismon ornaments for a Christmas tree that will be displayed in the church foyer. There are eighteen different ones, but I am only showing here the six that I helped with. Other people, people handy with saws and woodworking, cut the shapes out of plywood, and someone else painted them. I helped trim them with ribbon and braid.

This is from the description and explanation that will be handed out with the church bulletins: "Christians have always used symbols to represent the underlying truths of our faith. In 1957, Mrs. Frances Kipps Spencer, a member of Ascension Lutheran Chrch in Danville, Virginia had the idea of using Chrismons as Christmas ornaments. The word "Chrismon" combines the words "Christ" and "monogram." Literally, "Christ's monogram."
Chrismons are always designed in colors of white and gold: white for the purity and perfection of Christ, and gold for His majesty and glory. They cannot be found for sale in stores; they cannot be created for profit or produced commercially. They must be handmade.
Many are needlepointed or cross-stitched. These are made of plywood, painted, and trimmed with ribbon and braid."

Celtic Cross
The cross reminds us of Christ's sacrificial death for the atonement of sins - for forgiveness and salvation to all who turn to Him. The circle represents eternity.

Triangle and Trefoil
Symbols of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Ghost - Three in One.
Also, the circles symbolize eternity.

Chi Rho - the first two letters of the Greek word for "Christ"

Christ's Star
"The Light of the World"
"The bright morning Star"

The crown of thorns represents the suffering of Christ.

Chi Rho with a crown - The crown represents Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

2010-11-11T22:09:00.002-06:00

With Mother in the hospital, I got behind on my nono's, and I'm trying to catch up. I could have taken pictures in the hospital, but I didn't ever take my camera in, and hospitals are rather boring, (except for the life-and-death drama that occurs inside them obviously!). I could have taken pictures of the fire, but it was too dark, and I had left my camera in the car and walked across the neighbor's yard to get to my house, because of all the fire trucks. The blaze would have shown up well, it was large and impressive, but it was all gone before I even thought to try to use the cellphone in my pocket.

Following is a picture of the delta just before going through the tunnel to town, one in the tunnel on my way home, two on Government Street as I drove through town, and a few of the glorious sunset after I arrived home, and two flocks of geese flying to their roosting spots for the night,

Long, long week!

2010-11-11T21:31:00.003-06:00

This has been a VERY long week, and I am VERY tired! Last Saturday my mother was having trouble breathing, and I offered to take her to the Emergency Room, but she didn't want to go. We went to the beauty shop and to eat lunch, and she seemed okay. I talked to her Sunday, and she seemed all right. She did not go to church, but I think she's only been once since her accident in August.

Monday morning she called me before I called her, and said she was up all night and couldn't breathe, and thought she ought to go to the ER, and also wanted me to call her dr. He (the doctor) said to tell her to double her Lasix dose and come to ER.

She was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure! She should have gone Saturday!

After massive doses of antibiotics (intravenously), Lasix, and potassium, she was pronounced free of pneumonia yesterday, and her dr. said she could go home, but she didn't feel strong enough to go home, and he let her stay another day.

Today, she was ready to go! She called me early this morning and asked where I was, said she was ready to go and waiting for her dr. to release her. I knew the process would take a long time, and there was no need to hurry, but I went early anyway, to please her. Her doctor came in just after lunchtime. The nurse had her sign the release papers by 2:00, and she was finally leaving the hospital at 3:00!

Meanwhile, at home, hubby decided to do some end-of-season yardwork on Tuesday. Near the end of the day, he drove his riding lawnmower into the shed where he keeps it, accidentally hitting a bale of pinestraw. A spark must have caught it on fire, and soon it was burning! Hubby backed the lawnmower out, called 911, and put the garden hose on it. That did no good at all, but fire trucks and men were there in a very few minutes. As I was driving home, I saw smoke and wondered where it was coming from. Then I saw the fire trucks and police cars at our intersection, and began to worry! As I drove past our house, I could see the big fire in the back, visible between our house and the neighbors. It looked like the whole backyard was on fire! I was worried about my husband! I had to go through a subdivision and come up the back way, and parked my car in front of our back door neighbor's house. I was so relieved to see my husband standing in the yard!!!

He lost his little tractor and backhoe that he used in our yard, and to help anyone who needed it. He also lost a wheelbarrow and a cart that hitches to the lawnmower, several other lawnmower accessories: a spreader, an aerator, a dethatcher, a tank sprayer. As well as our old Yazoo push lawnmower, the plywood covers to protect our windows from hurricanes, and an extension cord and other wires and cables, and probably the riding lawnmower. He thinks it may be repairable, but I doubt it. It's very heavily damaged. The shed, of course, is completely gone. It was made of wood with a metal roof, and was just rebuilt and strengthened about three or four years ago. He also had some insecticide and weedkiller stored out there.
The good thing is - it's all "stuff", and he's all right!

Crystal, our cat, is going down, I fear. The tumor is growing larger, and has taken over her right eye. I don't think she can see out of it. She sleeps more and more now, and we're beginning to think she's deaf, or going deaf. She still doesn't seem to be in pain, though, and we're just taking it day by day. She's still a sweet little cat, eats, drinks, purrs, uses her litterbox. We'll keep her as long as we can, without making her suffer.

Two pictures: Grandbaby's Dress, and Eating Out

2010-11-07T20:04:00.001-06:00

Little granddaughter No. 2 is due next week! I have asked son and d-i-l what they would like to have for her that they didn't have for No. 1, and they had no suggestions! Looks like baby-to-be will get hand-me-down equipment, hand-me-down clothes, and hand-me-down toys. It will be awhile before she will mind it, but I got her a little baby dress just for her, anyway. I saw it at the store (misplaced in the women's clothes), and said, "That looks like Heidi!" (The name they have chosen for her) It was already marked down, and I had a 20% off coupon. I would have gotten it anyway!

This is one of our favorite places to go for a quick meal. We get the "Choose Any Two" and share it; hubby gets 1/2 a Reuben sandwich, and I get a small cup of chili. We're both satisfied and happy, but not stuffed.

Fall back: Time change for most U.S.A. states!

2010-11-06T20:16:00.001-05:00

Fall back: Time change for most U.S.A. states!, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

Most states in the USA will revert to Standard Time at 2:00 tomorrow morning. Most people set their clocks back before going to bed Saturday night.

As you can see, we'll be busy tonight!

(The one that's an hour ahead is the one that sets itself automically -- it goofed!)

Daily traffic jam

2010-11-05T21:12:00.002-05:00

Daily traffic jam, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

By big city standards, this hardly qualifies as rush hour!
Every morning about 7:40 it builds up - the traffic on the road alongside our house waiting to turn onto the highway in front of our house. It peaks just past our driveway, then slowly dissipates, then peaks again, but by 7:45 it's clear. Most commuters are headed to the interstate for Mobile. Pity the poor soul who wants to turn left; there is no traffic light here!

We're happy to be retired!

Ready to go

2010-11-03T21:38:00.003-05:00

Ready to go, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

Headed out to take my mother to therapy. Got my purse, with credit cards, driver's license, cash, lipstick, comb, keys, cell phone, and a book to read. Got my camera in case something catches my eye and I want a picture of it, and my coffee mug with my second cup of coffee in it.
Check, check, and check --> ready to go!

Civic duty

2010-11-02T20:37:00.002-05:00

Civic duty, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

November 2, 2010, Election Day in the United States of America. Voting is a right and a responsibility, for which I am very grateful! It is a duty I do not take lightly; I read up on the candidates and the issues during the week before, and try to make a responsible decision.

There was a light drizzle when we went to the polls, but that did not seem to deter the voters. It was busy, but not crowded at about 8:30 am, shortly after the going-to-work rush.

Non-National Not Writing a Novel Non-Month*

2010-11-01T22:57:00.004-05:00

My calendar picture for the month of November:

The Houses of Parliament, Fog Effect, 1903, by Claude Monet

There is a funny coincidence related to this photograph. I am a member of a Flickr group called "Alabama the Beautiful," and they have a contest every month. Yesterday, I suggested the one that was selected for November ~ Fog/mist. This morning, I turned the page of my calendar, and it was this! A foggy, misty view of London!

*NoNoNoNo (Non-National Not Writing a Novel Non-Month) was started as an alternative to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) every November. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then fifty pictures are worth 50,000 words, the stated goal of NaNoWriMo participants. http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano

Copied with permission, about fairness and God's grace

2010-10-29T17:01:00.004-05:00

My friend Robin sweetly gave me permission to copy and paste this from her blog entry yesterday, on Prayer for All of Us. I thought it was very meaningful, and a message I need to hear!

This is the prayer and the Scripture readings for October 28, 2010:

"Lord Almighty, God of grace and compassion, thank You for not being fair with us! Fairness would land us in a deep pit in this life and in hell in the afterlife. Thank You for choosing grace over fairness and for lavishing Your gifts on undeserving sinners. When we could do nothing about our spiritual condition and were doomed to an eternity separated from You, You sent Your own flesh and blood to bridge the gap between us. Now, when we take that beautiful, amazing Gift for granted You still insist on being patient and compassionate towards us. Thank You for seeing us in robes of salvation and righteousness when our own spiritual wardrobe is like filthy rags. Thank You for adorning us with jewels when we're quick to settle for all that glitters but is worthless or temporary. Thank You for pouring out the blessings of Your direction and wisdom so we can grow into the people You've created us to be. Bless Your Name in all the earth for Your amazing grace!

In the name of Jesus, the other name for Grace

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13

"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." Ephesians 1:7-8

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:5-6

Haiku inspired by my photos

2010-10-24T16:36:00.002-05:00

I am so delighted that a friend from Bookcrossing had a look at my blog, and was inspired to write haiku for some of my photos!

Always a journey
The bridge lets me dance through pines -
Thoughts skip through shadow*

Blue sky, blue water?
The delta hides teaming life
Under the pontoon

Creeks join bayous and river
So much to see - can we blink?*

*Photos are mine; haiku by JulesPaige/davh, JulesPaige57@gmail.com

Family mini-reunion

2010-10-22T21:07:00.004-05:00

My cousin and her son want to come to help my mother celebrate her 97th birthday in a few weeks. I'm so excited!
(If you know my mother, please do not tell her!! It's going to be a surprise!)
They are from another part of the U.S., and I've been thinking of places to take them, to show off our part of the Gulf Coast:

Dauphin Island's Fort Gaines

Dauphin Island's Sea Lab Estuarium

Bellingrath Gardens

Blakely State Historical Park

World War II battleship, USS Alabama
USS Alabama, World War II battleship

Other suggestions here:
Go Coastal

Some of these are places that hubby and I have never been yet, and we might like to go by ourselves sometime, too.

Day trips!

2010-10-16T21:34:00.002-05:00

Boardwalk through piney woods, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

My husband and I took two days off this week to enjoy the area around us.

On Wednesday, we took a pontoon boat trip amongst some of the creeks and bayous of the Mobile River Delta

Bird-watching

Us with the captain

Yesterday (Friday) we visited the Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog

The boardwalk takes us past a meadow

And the Pitcher Plants

Lots of them!

This is the flower that smells bad to us, and good to the flies, and tempts them to their doom:

On through the piney woods

All the way to Fish River!

There was even some fall color along the way:

Both trips were a refreshing change of pace, with outdoor activity and sightseeing, and lots of picture-taking! We hope to take time to do things like this more often.

A very serious blog entry about bullying

2010-10-07T20:45:00.002-05:00

One of my friends linked this on Facebook. It is well worth reading, and sharing, but it is not easy to read.

Memoirs of a Bullied Kid, from Single Dad Laughing

Some thoughts on Crystal

2010-10-02T17:55:00.003-05:00

Her days are numbered, but she doesn't know it. That is true for all of us, actually! God knows the end from the beginning, and all the hairs of our heads are numbered, but it is a blessing that we don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Crystal goes about her life as she always has, eating and sleeping, purring and being petted, going outside for her daily walk in the sunshine, and playing with her "brother," our other cat, Spite. I see her and think about our Savior's words, "Which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? ... Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."

(These photos were taken before the tumor showed up. The next entry has a more current picture.)

Sad news about Crystal (our cat)

2010-09-27T17:26:00.003-05:00

We went to the vet this morning. The spot has grown noticeably, and she has lost 1/2 a pound. The vet said it is most likely a fibrosarcoma, in which case surgery would only make it grow back faster. She could remove part of it (but not all since it's very close to her eye), but that would only buy her a few more weeks.

I decided not to allow surgery. She's not uncomfortable now, and seems to enjoy life, and we will keep her happy as long as we can. When she shows signs of being in pain, or miserable, we will make the hard decision then.

Here is a picture of her with the hated Elizabethan collar. She is no longer wearing that. The spot has grown since then, and the picture was taken eleven days ago.

She is a very sweet little cat, and very affectionate but on her own terms. She does not like to be held, but loves to be petted while walking around in circles. It is hard, knowing the end is near, but we will love her as long as we can. She is at least 12 years old (we found her as a stray, and weren't sure how old she was then).

Very tired

2010-09-23T20:05:00.004-05:00

Since Mother's fall six weeks ago today, she's been having some more problems, likely a result of post-concussion syndrome. At times, she's been very unlike herself, but will later "snap out of it." It has happened frequently enough to be worrying, and all since she returned to her home, after staying with us for about 3 weeks. She's seeing doctors and having some tests made. We're praying a lot!

One of my friends from church started a blog called "Prayer for All of Us" (it's on my sidebar on the right). Today's entry was especially meaningful for me.
Designed to travel light
God wants to bear all our burdens. "Casting all our cares upon Him, because He careth for you" I Peter 5:7

Where was I nine years ago?

2010-09-11T20:29:00.002-05:00

I was just about to turn the Today Show off to start getting ready for work. Suddenly, a breaking news bulletin announced that an airplane had hit one of the World Trade Centers twin towers. Of course, I thought, as did most people at that point, I imagine, that it was a horrible accident. They were reporting that, trying to find more information, when suddenly, I saw another airplane dangerously close to the remaining tower. I saw it out the Today Show window, and suddenly there was smoke coming from that tower! We all knew then that it was no accident.

I called my mother immediately, and my husband (he had heard, and was listening at work), and I took my portable radio to work with me. My co-worker had not been listening to radio or TV, and had not heard. We listened while we quietly cared for the children, but at the same time, tried to act as normally as possible for their sakes. (I worked in our church's Mother's Day Out then.)

The horrors unfolded moment by moment, it seemed. Another airplane hit the Pentagon! Then another crashed in a field in Pennsylvania! What next??? We were all in shock.

Later my son in graduate school in Belgium, emailed me to ask what was going on. He was seeing the pictures on TV, but couldn't understand what they were saying! He had had his orals for his master's dissertation that day. (The course was taught in English.) Our other son was at National Institute of Standards and Technology headquarters in the Washington, DC metro area! Both of them had trouble getting home during the following days. The one overseas had to wait several days for a flight, and the one in Washington had an almost empty flight a few days later.

I remember the next day, every mailbox on a certain major residential street near where we lived flew a small American flag. One of the neighbors had bought them for everyone. Nearly every house had a flag flying, and many cars sported flag decals.

Armchair traveling in Scotland - another friend's blog

2010-09-08T13:49:00.003-05:00

Swan-Scot is an online friend of mine from Bookcrossing. She likes to hike the mountains in her homeland, and everywhere she goes, and leave books at the summits for others to find (Bookcrossing). If you want to read of her adventures, and see some lovely photos of the Scottish highlands, click here: Rambling On

Changes

2010-09-04T22:34:00.003-05:00

The seasons are changing. Even down here in lower Alabama, USA, we had a bit of a cold front. It was very pleasant! The temperature was 79 deg. Fahrenheit this morning when I was out and about (about 9:20 am), and by noon it was only up to 89, and there was still a nice breeze, and it was not stifling hot! A preview of cooler days to come, but I know we will see hot weather again before autumn comes.

My mother had a very bad fall about three weeks ago, and was in the hospital about a week, and now is home with me and my husband while she recovers. She is longing to return to her home and resume her normal activities. She fell hard on her driveway, which is paved with cement, and broke the bones around her right eye socket, and a bone in her right hand. It really set her back, but she has come a long way since she left the hospital. She is walking (with a cane now) more and more every day, and working with a physical therapist and an occupational therapist as part of Home Health Care. She is 96 years old, almost 97!

Like armchair traveling?

2010-08-03T22:12:00.005-05:00

I have another new link on my list of blogs on the right side of the screen. It is the blog of a friend from Bookcrossing.com. He traveled with a group to view the solar eclipse at Easter Island. Fascinating trip, and awesome photos! (follow the link he provides)
Primordial Ooze

Cobb Lane Bed and Breakfast

2010-07-19T21:28:00.001-05:00

Cobb Lane Bed and Breakfast, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

If you're ever in Birmingham, Alabama, I can recommend a lovely place to stay! The Cobb Lane Bed and Breakfast is a circa 1898 home lovingly restored as a bed and breakfast at Five Points South, Birmingham, Alabama.

We had a lovely visit here, and enjoyed gracious hospitality, delicious breakfasts, and a comfortable room, plus marvelous antiques everywhere we looked.

The front porch

The parlor

The dining room, with the table being made ready for breakfast

Guestroom

When the Coast Is Clear, by Jimmy Buffett

2010-07-13T20:35:00.002-05:00

He came to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach last Sunday to give a free concert to boost the tourist economy, which has gone to nothing this summer. Crowds came, filled up hotels and condos, ate at restaurants -- tens of thousands, according to this article
Jimmy Buffett beach concert

We didn't go (we don't like crowds), but a friend posted it on Facebook

Here's some encouraging news from the efforts to cap it:
Gulf oil spill

Asperger's blog

2010-07-11T14:21:00.002-05:00

I've added a new link to "My Friends' Blogs," in the right-hand column. It's called "Aspects of Aspergers" and was written by an online friend of mine whom I know from Bookcrossing and LiveJournal.

She is an adult on the autistic spectrum, and has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. She is a very articulate and knowledgable young woman who is very self-aware and introspective. She started this blog just this week, with the goal of helping others on the autistic spectrum and those who love and care for them. She describes her condition "from the inside" - how it feels - and shares current research that she has found useful.

If you are close to, or care for someone on the autistic spectrum, you also may find it helpful and interesting.
Aspects of Aspergers

Cruise Blog VIII: Tampa, Florida, and then Sweet Home Alabama!

2010-07-01T21:57:00.010-05:00

Passing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

We were ready to go home! It's been a wonderful cruise, but fifteen days is plenty long. There's no place like home, after all.

We stopped in Tampa, but passengers going on to Mobile did not leave the ship. Almost half the passengers departed in Tampa, because they could get direct flights home from there, and not from Mobile. Most of the ones who stayed onboard were from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. That night, at the show, the band played "Sweet Home Alabama" for us, and all the audience were singing and clapping!

They brought in fresh supplies that morning. We could see all the container cargoes stacked up ready to be brought on board. Milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, paper goods, and much more.

There are more pictures of things we could see from the ship, on Flickr, but I won't put them here. Click on any photo, or the link on the right side of this blog if you want to see more. The photo at the top is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa. We passed under it leaving Tampa Bay for the Gulf of Mexico.
Okay, one more!

*****

We woke up early in the morning, so excited to be able to see parts of Mobile Bay that we haven't seen before, and landmarks such as Sand Island Lighthouse and Middle Bay Lighthouse! (Not quite as early as the day of the Panama Canal crossing, though, so no pretty sunrise pics.)

The first things we saw were oil and natural gas rigs as we approached Mobile Bay

They only served to remind us of the ghastly problems heading our way with the oil from the explosion off the coast of Louisiana. We didn't need to be reminded; it was often the topic of discussion with friends and strangers on board the ship.

We passed the Farewell Buoy, the last channel marker buoy leaving Mobile Bay (and, of course, the first one entering, but it's never called the "Hello Buoy"). It has a bell, and rings constantly with the motion of the wind and waves. I loved hearing it; I wish I had remembered to play a video so I could record the sound.

Next on our itinerary was the Sand Island Lighthouse. It used to be part of Dauphin Island many years ago, but that part of the island drifted away from the rest.

Sand Island Lighthouse /

We saw some booms that were meant to protect the shore from the oil, but they don't look very effective! They were not connected to anything, just one section of boom floating along by itself. We have since learned that the booms were ineffective; oil has come ashore in several places.

Our first view of Dauphin Island Bridge. Another sad story here: In early January of 2008, a man threw his four small children, one still a baby, off the bridge into Mobile Bay. Their little bodies washed up several weeks later. Some of you may remember. I think it made the national news.

The Middle Bay Lighthouse!

I have heard of this lighthouse, and have seen many photos and paintings of it, but never saw it "in person" until now! It is not in use now, but many years ago, the lighthouse keeper and his family lived here, and kept a cow on the deck, to provide milk for their baby!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Bay_Light

Gaillard Island, a manmade island from the sludge that was dug up to make and maintain the ship channel. Pelicans have made it their home and rookery. I fear for them; I don't know if they have survived the oil, and we're in nesting season.

Entering Mobile River
The industrial part of the city is mostly along the Mobile River - container cargo handling, shipbuilding, and ship repair

Our first view of downtown Mobile and the Carnival Fantasy

Carnival's Elation is taking the Fantasy's place in Mobile, and the Fantasy is moving to Charleston, South Carolina.

As we approached the Fantasy, the two ships greeted each other by blowing their horns -- loudly! Three blasts, then two, then three, and so on, then the loudspeakers on our ship broke out with the recorded "Sweet Home Alabama" from the night before! It was hard to hold the camera steady, and sing and clap at the same time! (I got a little misty-eyed, too!)

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/new_carnival_ship_--_elation_-.html"Mobile Press Register article

As we sailed past downtown to the turning basin almost at the Cochrane-Africatown Bridge, we passed many familiar landmarks. It was interesting to see them from the water side, and not land.

Government Plaza on the left, Regions and Wells Fargo-Wachovia in the middle, and the RSA Tower and Renaissance Hotel on the right edge

Government Plaza

Interstate 10 onramps, the round building is the Holiday Inn, and the twin gold domes are the Roman Catholic Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

http://www.mobilecathedral.org/
(It's cool how this site loads, gradually!)

Rear of the Museum of Mobile, housed in the old city hall building

http://www.museumofmobile.com/

Riverview Plaza Renaissance Hotel, GM Building, and RSA Tower
Arthur Outlaw Convention Center in foreground

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mobrv-renaissance-mobile-riverview-plaza-hotel/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Building_(Mobile)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_Battle_House_Tower
http://www.mobileconventions.com/
(Yes, we have an Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile! Makes sense, when you consider all the scandals going on.)

The Van Antwerp Building, Mobile's first skyscraper, built in 1907

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Antwerp_Building

The FBI Building

Alabama State Docks

http://www.asdd.com/

The old GM&O Railroad terminal, also built in 1907

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf,_Mobile_and_Ohio_Railroad

Cochrane-Africatown Bridge
The turning basin is just south of this bridge. By the time we turned around and returned to the cruise terminal, the Fantasy had left for Charleston.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochrane_%E2%80%93_Africatown_USA_Bridge
Africatown has a unique history. It was an African village, founded by slaves who were brought here illegally in 1860, fifty years after the slave trade was prohibited in the U. S.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africatown

We were met at the cruise terminal by the daughter of our friends, who drove us home to our cats!

(I tried to make hyperlinks for all the websites I gave you, but only one of them worked. I did the HTML wrong, I'm sorry. You can copy and paste into your browser.)

Cruise Blog VII: Grand Cayman Island

2010-07-01T15:31:00.004-05:00

Kiosk at cruiseship terminal plaza, originally uploaded by Fancy Horse.

On Grand Cayman Island, we took a ride in a semi-submarine from which we saw underwater scenes around a coral reef and two shipwrecks, and then we walked around the main shopping area a bit.

The semi-submarine is a sight-seeing boat with a deep hull and big plate glass windows so the passengers can see the world underwater. Our captain gave us a running commentary on what we were seeing, and the pilot got out, with scuba gear on, and fed the fish in order to attract large numbers of them to the viewing area!

Brain coral

There were two shipwrecks in the vicinity. This was the Balboa, from 1932.

Feeding frenzy!

We walked around a bit in the downtown shopping area. In the next picture, if you enlarge it by clicking on it, you can see a group of snorkelers on the far left side.

We saw some pretty flowers

An unusual town clock

And Big Black Dick!

Along with a large, colorful iguana

And a stingray fountain in the center of town

Time to return to our ship (the Elation, the one further away)
Because of the delicate coral reefs, the large cruise ships do not dock at the island's harbor; they anchor out at sea, and "tender boats" ferry the passengers to and from shore.