A couple people have asked me how the fence was going and I am about 1/3 down the fence line. It has been a fun project but it has been so hot, (yes, it gets hot in Iowa) that I can only be out there for about an hour at the time. But this weekend is supposed to be marvelous so I hope to get a lot done…but there is also football, so we will see.
So here we are so far…
The scroll is still wet but it will have “Trust in the Lord” Proverbs 3:5.
Everyone needs to find something that they enjoy, especially when they retire and for me, I don’t sit well, so I paint and write. Currently working on book 2 of Smiles from Heaven, maybe by Christmas.
Remember as always the power and value of being kind. Every living creature needs kindness. Have a fabulous week.
I am also looking forward to doing more challenges. Summer has kept me busy so now that it is slowing down, I can find ways to play. thanks Cee for restarting CFFC for fun foto challenges.
Now that fall is around the corner, the oranges and yellows of fall are beginning to show their pretty little faces. I think this is one of several varieties of coreopsis.
While this is thought of as a single flower, if you look close, there are tiny flowers in the center. Nature is so cool. As you enjoy nature, carry that smile and share it with others. That smile may be just that thing someone needs.
I am by no stretch an artist and thank goodness art critiques are in the eye of the beholder. My daughter thinks my style is Clampet tacky but you would not get that reference unless you were of a certain age here in the US.
This spring and early summer we had several storms of high winds that played havoc on my plastic lattice fence, breaking it in a couple of places. Since the support beams were still in place, I bought the fence planks and a dear friend installed them for me. I choose an not straight line with the thought that then no one can accuse you of your fence not being straight. This caused more eye rolling from my daughter.
Not it is my time to play. Last week I got the base coat painted on one side.
Since I love my flowers, I decided to paint meadow and flower scenes on the fence. Now I can have flowers even when it snows. The cool thing about that is, if you don’t like it, just paint over it. This morning before it got too warm, I painted the meadow grass and one test flower panel…we will see if it stays.
I think I need to come back with the darker green for all of the lower boards. But it’s a work in progress. I am of the opinion that if you enjoy an activity, and that activity hurts no one, (you can choose to not look at my fence), then you should enjoy your activity. Life is too short to not enjoy what you do.
I close with a reminder of being kind. Kindness is a secret power that can heal many a broken heart.
Our trip was a fast 4 day adventure taking us from one end of the island to the other. While there, we saw many beautiful, amazing, and a few sad sights. Below are a few of the miscellaneous sights we saw that we enjoyed.
Carnegie Hall. What a beautiful way to dress up an ordinary brick building with painted-on windows.
The front of Carnegie was being worked on so scaffolding hid the front entrance.
Every city has homeless people but I admired the gentle spirit of this one as he shared what he had with the birds and they adored him for it.
“Who you gonna Call?” Ghost Busters! The firehouse used in the iconic movie Ghost Busters is an actual working fire station in New York City and they are good hearted enough to allow crazy fans…like me…to take photos of them and their station.
F A O Swartz…oh, what a store. I could spend hours there, after all, I am just a big kid. Loved the zebra but don’t think he would fit on the plane.
Who doesn’t love animated farm animals?
If you are going to go to NYC, you have to try New York cheesecake and New York Style Pizza. One slice of pizza is a meal!
And the reviews were not wrong. It was the best Pizza I have ever had.
The beauty in the mixture of old architecture and new showed the life of a city that is ever growing.
High End apartments on 5th Ave were something to see.Because of my background, the Chrysler Building was a favorite.Taking an old church and repurposing it for the community
Then you had the opulence of 5th Avenue. A bit too much for my taste.
Sax of 5thAlmost gaudy door topper and statue.
Then the night scenes around Times Square.
Or daytime…
New York City is so diverse, that everyone can find something they enjoy. I came away with an understanding that I did not expect to find and I mentioned it in one of my other post. As a whole, the residents of NYC are kind proving how easy kindness can be shared. Always remember the beauty of kindness.
February 6, 2024, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about something lost now found. Is it an object or person who is lost? How are they lost? What happens when what was lost is found? Go where the prompt leads!
I have seen some fun stories because of the prompts from Carrot Ranch and thought I would come play. I just happen to have a short story about lost and found so I just cut it down to fit. Hope you enjoy it.
Lost & Found
David turned to Laura. “I’ve read stories where people are visited by dead relatives.”
“Where are you going with this?” Laura asked.
“This was the walking stick that Mr. Cedric was using with Jenny. It looks like Dad’s. His stick is missing. He has been dead four years.”
“Seriously? His name was Jonathan.”
“Jonathan Cedric.”
“Jenny, do these pictures look like Mr. Cedric that you saw today?’
“Maybe. He is not that old. Maybe he is kin to us or something?
David looked at Laura. “Maybe, I am just thankful he found you and led you back to us.”
I close with my reminder of sharing kindness. You may never know if your kindness will be a light to help someone find their way home.
When I retired, I needed something to do, I don’t sit very well So I started blogging. Some of the writing challenges I participated in made me understand how much I like writing stories, so I started writing a book. I remember reading from a season writer/teacher that you should throw away the first three things you write because it takes you that long to hone your skills. Now looking back on it he was right to a degree. Keep the ideas but trash the work and start over.
After spending way too much money going through a publishing firm, I discovered indie writing. Thank you Susi Bocks. Now I can explore my writing without a huge price tag through Amazon Kindle Publishing. My goal is not to make mounds of money but to share my thoughts and encourage others. I buy my books and give them to my friends or anyone needing a little encouragement. In doing this I have found that short stories are the most fun, keeping you focus on just a few pages at a time, then on to the next idea. I have been so busy writing these little stories over the past year, that I have not been writing much here, so I thought I would share a few shorter ones with you.
Excerpts from Smiles from Heaven to be published Spring 2024.
Essence of Pearl
Alone on the bench, Joe twisted his cane missing his sweet Pearl. She has been gone nearly two years now. Across the park, he saw children playing. He smiled as he remembered how Pearl would laugh as she made up stories about each child, even when she didn’t know who they were. Sadness engulfed Joe as he remembered her joy in doing this. Then in the back of his mind, he heard Pearl fussing. Don’t you be sad, Joe.Our joy comes from the Lord that lives inside each of us. Feel the joy.
Joe could not feel that joy today. Some days he could, but not today, on their anniversary. Then he heard a gentle voice.
“Hello.”
Joe looked up at a bright-eyed little girl whose smile was as bright as her eyes.
“Hello,” said Joe smiling.
She pulled herself up and sat on the bench with Joe.
“It’s a pretty day,” she said.
“It is.”
“Today is special. Every first Saturday of the month is ice cream day. I get to sit here while my mom goes into that shop to buy ice cream. See, here comes Mom now.”
“Come on, Pearl,” called Mom. “I have your favorite.”
“I’m Pearl, by the way. It’s been nice chatting with you. Maybe I will see you next month. Gotta go, but remember to be happy.”
“I will,” said Joe. The joy he once knew was being rekindled again by a different Pearl. He knew in his heart that hissweet Pearl probably had something to do with this encounter today and he smiled.
In my new book, Smiles from Heaven, I hope to make it a series of encouraging short stories that we all need to read once in a while. They deal with family situations, individual situations, nature, and of course dogs. I will probably always write about my dogs as they have been an encouragement to me with their goofy ways and their devoted love and kindness.
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One of the easiest ways to be kind is with a warm smile. Try to always be kind regardless of the turmoil inside. It reflects your inner beauty.
Cee’s Flower of the Day gives us smiles in abundance as we share the fun that we see. Today I am sharing yet again, a sunflower…but not in my yard. If you remember I hoped to plant a sunflower circular garden at the church but due to the early heat and drought of the summer, the rabbits and squirrels were especially hungry so the majority of the seeds either did not grow or were eaten. But all is not lost…for there is George.
George is the only multi-bloomed sunflower. Matter of fact, there seems to be new blooms every day on this one single stalk. George told me today when I was taking his picture (yes, I talk to my flowers) that he was going to make up for me not getting to have my circle of flowers. So, he is taking it upon himself to make up for no flower circle by producing as many flowers as he possible can. Current count is over 50. Fifty buds on a single stalk is a lot! Each limb has at least one flower plus a bud but some have 3 and 4 extra buds.
The bees love these flowers…
Here is George’s closeup 😊…
As you enjoy the flowers around you, remember they are trying their best to make you smile. Also, remember that smiles are a great way to show kindness, so smile often and be kind as much as you can.
The wonderful benefit of spring and summer is flowers. While to some, the allergies kick in, to others, they make us smile.
Sunflowers and coreopsis are some of my favorite happy flowers.
From the sunflower’s first start of opening with thin tiny petals…
…to opening its face wide to soak in the sun, and sharing its beauty with all of us. Now we just wait for the seeds to start to form and feed the birds.
The coreopsis if another happy flower with many varieties of color – even in the same plant.
Some have more orange and some have more yellow coloring on their petals. But regardless of their color, they are quite striking with their showmanship.
Even the ones who have no orange at all. This one has a friend helping himself to its nectar.
These happy flowers really show off their flowers within the flower. The center areas are even called disc flowerets. So, enjoy your flowers and the smiles they are sharing with you and always be kind. Kindness has the power to make all things better.
My trip down south made a midpoint stop in Nashville to see my youngest and my grandchildren. It was such a fun trip and we made a visit to the zoo. Of course, the first stop for the zoo was Dinotrek. These are winding paths through lush gardens filled with life-size robotic and growling dinosaurs.
Each dinosaur had a board explaining the name of the dinosaur, a little information about it, and where they have been discovered. My grandson, age 9, was a walking encyclopedia on the information of the signs. I was impressed by his knowledge.
I think this is the right dinosaur for the sign, some were close to several signs so I was easily confused on some of the lesser know varieties. But regardless, it was a fascinating stroll through prehistoric times.
These two bottom ones I knew but to see the brachiosaurus’s actual size was interesting.
I thought this was a T-Rex but no, it’s another big guy. The fun one I forgot to get his name because I was running from him. He periodically shot water across the path at his enemy who was also shooting water at him. Water fight!!
The family behind me did not see what the dinos were doing and their toddler got sprayed – he was not happy.
Some of the smaller dinos seemed gentle and there were some boys who took the opportunity to pet…the robot.
I always find it fascinating by what is buried beneath us. When I was a teenager, I went out to Utah to the Dinosaur Park. There was a building built over a huge fully in-tack dinosaur fossil still mostly imbedded in the rock. I can see why kids get so enamored with them. Animal life was way different then with more dangerous creatures than today, however, a bear or crocodile will make a mess of you if you are in his territory.
In closing, I remind you that even people can be viscious and we must always try to not be. Show kindness everywhere you can and maybe kindness will begin to win out.
For the Love of 
