What an interesting prompt Linda gave us for today, a place where we publish our thoughts with each post to anyone who may read them. So here we go…
In November of 2019, my first book was published. A silly book to some, a funny book to others and a hopeful book to many who loved their dogs who are no longer here. A book of dogs in heaven and the fun they are having playing with friends and waiting on their owner to come to heaven. You know the pictures you have seen of all your dogs waiting for you once you get to heaven…
Yes, they are waiting.
Book 2, the sequel, 1st draft was finished on Saturday, now for the long edit process. Hope to be finished by end of month and book published by spring.
This is what happens when you retire and have nothing to do…you write, or at least I do. So find a fun thing to do and remember in all that you do… be KIND.
It is a possibility to join two blog ideas that have nothing in common but in reality if you turn your words right anything can be a possibility. For instance…
The possibility for modern day construction to be able to replicate the beauty created in older stone work of buildings made in the early 1900 is not really possible or feasible thus making it an impossibility.
Coming home from work today I caught the image of the windows of the 3rd and 4th floors of the county government building and was intrigued by their beauty. I was driving so I apologize for them not being straight, plus it is my phone camera.
This spring I plan to make a blog post on the beauty of the stonework in my area. Some of it is quite beautiful and some of it you look at and go ‘what were you thinking’ thus proving the possibility of most any design regardless of it making sense. Maybe by then I will have a real camera.
May you have a week of great possibilities that make you happy. And if you do or even if you don’t, remember the rest of us struggling with our impossibilities and be utmost kind.
The saying of good intentions paving the road to hell could not be truer in my house. It was my good intentions to get Mimi a companion to give her company on days that I worked. It was my good intentions that I brought in a puppy home so Mimi could have a playmate.
Daisy Mae
Now I have two guard dogs who think plastic bags flying in the wind
and the mailman are mortal enemies…
Two dogs who think the furniture is for their use and benefit…
And dogs who have toys, real and created, scattered from hither to yon and run thought the house at break neck speed.
I am in hopes that my intentions play out well as settle down and have less crazy and more relaxing and quiet times.
Hoping for good results of all you good intentions through out the new year. And try to be kind. Even if the outcome of a good intentions is not great, if kindness is used, goodness usually always happens.
It is January which means it’s winter in the northern hemisphere which means in some areas the “S” word has arrived. We try not to say that word much here in hopes it stays away. Yea, that didn’t work for Halloween this year with 4 inches and low 20 temperatures. But I have for a picture of today’s snow, the best kind of snow – Snowed all night but due to the warmth of December, the roads were still warm and therefore the roads are still clear. So the trees were beautifully covered. The sky cleared a short while before turning back to winter gray and I was able to grab this picture.
It is amazing to me how hard wood tree twist and turn their limbs for their leaves to get the best sunshine. Even nature knows what is best for it and it tries to get there. We humans sometimes over think things and go way in the wrong direction.
As we push into this new year guiding ourselves in the direction we think is best, let us take a cue from nature and find the best direction.
And as we search for that direction, think of the beauty of fresh fallen snow, its purity and beauty and remember to cover everything with kindness.
Linda Hill has created again the fun monthly task of Just Jot January to help us get on track for the new year and to have fun doing it.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 2nd, 2020, is “a picture you’ve taken in the last week.”
Well, seeing that yesterday was January 1, find enclosed the picture of the meal prepared yesterday in honor of Gladys, my mother. She would have been proud.
Butterfly pork chop smothered in pepper gravy, greens, black eye peas and garlic toast covered with stewed tomatoes – Yum
Hope your new year meal was a grand as mine and since it was a good start, lets remember this is only day 2 and we have plenty of time in the year to do what is right by being kind in all we do.
Its the start of a new day, a new month, a new year and a new decade. Lets start it off with a reminder in scripture – be transformed by renewing your minds. Romans 12:2
Come join in on Linda’s January fun of Just Jot January and try to post each day. She will prompt us, so come play.
And as always I remind you of how your actions always reflect who your are or want to be, So be kind. Start the new year with a new lease on life and spread kindness like butter.
Linda is winding up Just Jot January with us sharing a favorite post from the last year or month. I have not been blogging but a few months(Aug 2018) so I will just go with a favorite of mine plus one that seems to get a lot of likes for it. It started first as a picture from Irene of Heaven’s Sunshine and I loved that photo so much I wrote a poem about it. Since it is a small poem, I will just repost it all here.
TO THE TOP for THE BOTTOM
One of the most enjoyable things about blogging is the amazing photographers, professional and non-professional that share their photographs for all to enjoy. A lot of the photographs that are shared are due to various challenges as the one I will be sharing with you today, well technically it’s night (2:30 am)but I couldn’t sleep so I am writing.
Irene from Heaven’s Sunshine was following the challenge for stairs from Pic And A Word by Patrick Jennings. Her picture was so inspiring to me, I told her I was going to write about it, so I did. I hope you enjoy it and do stop by Irene’s blog for some wonderful pictures.
Bailly Cemetery – Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
THE CLIMB
I see and maintain it still is not fair,
I have nothing to lay at the top of the stair.
It’s not my fault, I did nothing wrong,
Well, maybe I did, it’s just been so long.
How long has it been since I climbed to the top,
I remember it’s relief, Why did I stop?
How can a symbol of such astounding grief,
Be given to us to bring so much relief?
With love so amazing, to the cross did He die,
To flood us with gratitude that still makes us cry.
The burdens we carry don’t always seem fair,
Always we can lay them at the top of the stair.
The first step looks brittle, can it carry my weight?
This burden is heavy and may seal my dire fate.
As I touch each step and climb ever higher,
Is this what I should do, is this really my desire?
As I clear the last step, the cross is before me,
I question my worth, did He also die for me?
As my knees get bent, I am smothered by His grace,
And I lay all my burdens at the accepting cross base.
– Anita Tillman Neal –
Always remember there is a burden carrier and it isn’t you. Scripture tells us repeatedly that He is there to carry our burdens for us, we just have to be willing to give them to Him.
And as always, I remind everyone the much loaded value of kindness. Carry it with you where ever you go and share it as much as possible.
Prayerfully waiting for the 60+ degree warm-up on Saturday of 40+ degree highs with one sentence but many pictures. Thanks to John for the picture I am copying as it helps give the visual of…GOOD GRIEF!
Borderline Ridiculousness
And this is my local area. Live within 15 minutes of the Quad City Intl Airport @ -52
Linda G Hill with the final guest prompt by Jim has challenged us with “dirty”. Right now I am more consumed with snow and cold than dirt but I have heard cold being called “stinking cold”. Stinking usually refers to something really smelly dirty. So I am going with the cold being dirty. At least it is leaving a mess at my front door.
Dried melted salt and salt crystals in the carpet
I just came in from getting the mail and these new pictures and the current temp is 3 degrees and steadily falling with the onslaught of this polar vortex. Temps to drop to an estimated -22 with a wind chill of -51. For all of you also in this dirty stinking cold, stay inside as much as possible. I am praying we don’t get further damage from this cold air mass. Sunday we will be basking in heat at 44 degrees. That’s 60 degrees warmer so it will feel great.
I am adding in a few pictures of the snow. While I know it is silly to post snow pictures but being from south Georgia, this is not a normal scene for me. So chuckle with me and stay warm.
Knee high
While the angle is not good, the snow is knee high and drifted higher in some areas.
Front yard
The mound in the center of the yard is the Christmas decorations and a small live Christmas tree. The decorations may have to wait until spring to get remove.
Archway over the sidewalk
I hope these evergreens are resilient enough to straighten back up with spring.
Even though we are stinking dirty cold, we can always be crystal clean kind. Sometimes when things are under stress, kindness is more important, more needed and much loved on the receiving end. So remember to be kind.
For the Love of 