CFFC: Fire

This week with Cee’s CFFC challenge, our topic is celebrating Fire. Photos of fire, fiery colors, flames, fire stations, fire trucks, etc. are all allowed in this challenge.

While fire can be devastating when out of control, it is also a source of enjoyment and relaxation that we all can enjoy. Below, Daisy shows the benefits of relaxation.

We call them pacifiers because all activity stops immediately to enjoy its warmth.

Fires can be also used as a tool. This was a house on the property of my church that we used for various activities. But the foundation was beginning to crumble and we felt it was getting unsafe. So we donated the house to the fire department to be used as a training tool. They used it for several months with various rescue trainings for new fire fighters and then when they were ready to graduate, they used it as training for house fires. With a lot of older homes in this neighborhood, it was a powerful training tool for the new guys in showing how easy home fires could get out of control. They were even surprised how fast this one went up and how hot it got – 100 year old wooden home.

And then there is the fun side of fire fighter training where new fire fighters learn how to handle the hoses but at the same time play with the kids at the park.

And then we close showing the peaceful evening of a winter sky where we have the most beautiful sunsets. The sky does indeed look like it is on fire.

As you go about you day, remember the beauty, the power and the warmth of kindness and share it often.

CFFC : Tomorrow

What a fun challenge Cee has given us to match pictures with a song. Here are some pictures that I think may work for this song…

When I am stuck with a day that is gray…

The sun will come out…

So you gotta hang on…

Remember even when your day may be gray, you can still be kind. It make may the day shine bright again.

CFFC Orange

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge gives us an opportunity to look at things differently if need be. Her challenge this week, Orange, could be fruit or color. I went with color and I first look to nature for that.

Then you have the garden where multiple shades of orange show their likeness.

Then we have a purpose. Orange is a standout color to grab attention what what better way to show people the much need value in fresh water to those in need.

I did not take this picture of the young boy who is reaping the benefits of clean water, but what a happy face. I do walk for this cause – multiple times and what a great way to show orange.

Remember in all that you do, the power of kindness. It has unquenchable power.

CFFC: Ground

Cee’s CFFC challenge is ground. Since it is garden time, I give you raised ground – for those of us who don’t bend as well as we use to.

Here we have the garden after the corn started coming up and before the squash took over.

This was taken last week…now it is even higher. I broke rule #1 – don’t plant too much in a small space! Ah well, its been fun.

If you plant a garden, remember to plant kindness. It will grow into a garden of love.

CFFC Challenge,Wilting & Dying

We are now getting into the sad time of year where the beauty of the spring flowers are about done. Its about time to start planting the fall flowers of yellows and golds.

image000004 (14) — Even though the under brush is dying, the determination to bloom still holds.

image000002 (12) — The bloom of the sunflower has bowed in death, yet the birds still feast on the few seeds left.

image000001 (18) — The pods of this beauty are curled in death but a new life is sprinkled to the ground for spring.

image000000 (45) — The leaves of the tomato where fruit was enjoyed lay wrinkled in death at the end of a season.

Come join in on Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. This week’s CFFC topic is Special Request: Wilting, dead or aging flowers and leaves. Be creative and mostly have a lot of fun.

But remember the beauty they gave us earlier in the year with their colors so vibrant and fragrances so dear. We bid them goodbye, dreaming of the next season come and encourage them to tell us “what about next year?”

I am reminding you as always to be kind and enjoy the simple things of life. I am sharing a picture group that shows pure joy…hope it makes you smile. Thank you Random Acts of Kindness for the Photos.

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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Trains

Cee’s prompt this week is Trains. I love trains and their history amazes me. I am posting comparison picture this time with “water trains”. These are special trains that can create wake in the water. “What!, you say…trains don’t go in water!” They do here in the midwest during flood season. It’s amazing. I know their weight holds them down but…really.

This spring, the flooding was not too bad…

But it still amazes me with the track being under water not being an issue. However, last year, I had to take pictures from the bridge because you could not get to the parking lot that sat by the track.

Trains making wake during some serious flooding. Shipment must go on I guess. The flood last year lasted nearly 5 months. Some businesses went belly up. The just didn’t have the heart to start over.

We think of trains as being a powerful force to be reckoned with because of their tons of cargo…but they are no match to mother nature.

Remember as powerful as nature is, it is also very delicate…like kindness. Kindness is a mighty tool that can create enormous change but also very fragile. I challenge you today to use the fragility of kindness as the mighty tool it can be, then stand back to watch the change it creates.

kind hummer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Single Flower

This week’s challenge for CFFC is a single flower and like Cee’s post on this topic, most of the flowers in my yard are clusters of smaller flowers on a single stem except for the dahlias and petunias.

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Just a reminder that all living things thrive on kindness, so try to always be kind.

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Fun Foto Challenge: Man Made

With this challenge from Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge the gate is wide open. The first thing that popped in my mind was the new I-74 bridge connecting Illinois to Iowa or the other way around. It has been fascinating watching this huge thing go up, then they will tear the old one down. I give you a before and after scenario with one side of the arch almost complete and the the closing of the arch. When you think of the power and amount of water that goes down the Mississippi at any given moment, this is amazing.

The other side of man made which hits closer to home…and my kitchen as “home made”, with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast includes a good southern helping of buttered grits covering scrambled eggs that are smothered in sausage gravy. Lunch is scrambled dogs (how you spread three chili dogs for 4 people) and Dinner is fried pork chop, turnip greens, black-eyes and tomato gravy on buttered toast.

The following are a few other photos I took that are worth mentioning with man made. The wooden statue on the end was of a tree that died so the owner carved a knight out of what was left. The home now is a home for those trying to get back on their feet.

In this fun of looking at Man Made items, remember one of the easiest, least expensive and most beautiful things man can make is…kindness.

kind unexpected

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Tasting

Coming from the southern states of the US, we have a different idea on taste I think that most states as it seems to be more of a “foody” area than other states I have lived in. Now that I am in the midwest, I am not seeing the taste variety. Cee has challenged us this week for the sense of taste and tasting is a high sensory in my book.

My lunch of leftover BBQ chicken legs, corn and peas from last was pretty tasty and now I are going to top it off with homemade pound cake covered in blueberries with whipped cream. Mmmmm.

Can you add too much whipped cream…maybe… if you use the entire container on one item.

Some people prefer the “fru-fru” food as I call it, where it is prettier to look at and not much quantity. Not me. I want rib sticking food with good flavor and plenty of it.

Or if you want it all running together, that’s okay too, especially for breakfast.

But regardless of your favorite dishes, while food is for sustenance, it must also be tasty and enjoyed. It brings about conversations at mama’s house. So while you are savoring thoughts of you favorite dishes, remember to think on kindness. Kindness is needed now to help strengthen out hope through this current crisis.

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Fun Foto Challenger of Hearing

Hearing is such a blessed gift. Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is to share pictures of favorite things you like to hear. There are so many sound that bring us joy, peace, comfort and even laughter. Nothing is probably more precious than a baby’s laughter but since I have no pictures of that I will go with my probably my second favorite. The singing of birds.

IMG_20190430_153652 — Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker & Cardinal

These are last year’s pictures as this year the yard is in a total mess of adding a new fence and of course it is raining creating a muddy mess.

As you listen to the things you enjoy, remember the happiness it brings to mind and share it where you can. In all things remember to be kind.

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