2/366

Crazy Times

The JoAnn Fabric store where I live is still allowing patrons inside the store, but only 10 at a time.  This was the line outside the store when I was there this afternoon.  The majority of the people were there to purchase fabric to make face masks, as was I.  

The store also provides a service where you can order online and pick up curb-side a few hours later.

Shout out to JoAnn's for providing thousands upon thousands of face-mask kits at no charge.  How awesome is that?

Just sew a mask (or 10) and donate them to a facility that needs them.

By God's grace this hideous virus will end soon and we'll be able to get back to close-encounters-of-the-social-kind, much needed and much desired.

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In The Midst of the Virus

The United States, along with other areas in the world, is currently in the throes of the Coronavirus19.  It's a drag and it's scary.  The isolation might do just as much damage as the virus, although that statement might be a stretch.

Since I haven't posted in such a long time, I just gathered together a few photos I've taken over the past several months.  I still try to get out every day and always have my camera with me, but my local West Texas area is pretty void of photo ops.

Several months ago I signed up to take horseback riding lessons.  After each lesson I stick around and try to get some good shots.    It's still winter here in West Texas, so it's not very green or lush.

I was hoping I could get to some ranch rodeos this spring, but I guess those plans are on hold this year.

When I first relocated here I managed to connect with a local photographer who was looking for an assistant.  This was from a senior photo shoot~~the mom and brother were checking out some of his shots.  It was a beautiful day, but again, not very green.  This shoot was completed before "social distancing" became the norm.  How I long for those days again.

One of the local collages has several of these very cool sculptures outside the library.  

There's an historical village not too far outside of town.  I went there one day to see what I could get photos of.  Unfortunately it had just rained and they wouldn't allow anyone inside the buildings in an effort to preserve the structures, so I was only able to walk around outside.  This building was obviously the barber shop. 

Hopeful we won't be required by the gov't to stay inside our homes and I'll still be able to get out to public outdoor places even if I am alone.  In that case I can still be making photos even if I am alone.

God have mercy on our country and the rest of the world.

4/365

It's Almost the End of the Decade

Not only is it almost the end of the decade, but it's only the 4th post this year.  

A lot has happened this year, but there's been a lot of down-time too, so there's no excuse for not posting more than 4 times.

In a nutshell:

**I spent the winter in Hawaii

**I stopped in Texas on my way home from Hawaii for

my grandson's 1st birthday in April

**In mid-June I packed up and moved to Texas

**In mid-July I traveled to Fairbanks, Ak to visit one son and meet his

girlfriend who is from Australia and was also visiting him

**On the way home from Alaska I stopped in San Diego, CA for a 

couple of weeks to visit with another son

**As soon as I got to TX in June I began establishing myself in the things that

make up daily life, i.e:

Bookgroup

Church

Photo Group

Library

Walks

Dinner with friends

Knitting

Sewing

Finding doctors & dentist

Spending time at the pool

and so on...

West Texas is not the most scenic and photogenic of areas so I've been working at finding photo ops, which is no easy feat around here, thank you very much.  So the following are just a sampling of some of the images I've managed to make in the past 6 months.

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My Random Days

I've been such a slacker about posting to this blog.  It's a situation that's been getting worse and worse over the years.  Why?  I don't know.  But I haven't been inactive.  

My hiking group, taken last fall before I left for Hawaii.

I'm posting a photo-a-day on Flickr and a photo-a-week in another forum through facebook.  I guess it's easier in those places because I don't have to think of what to say.

Taken at the Mall in Albany, NY.  Capitol building in background.

My life situation is changing.  I'm currently living in a small tow-behind trailer on my daughter's property and will soon be relocating to Texas to be with my other daughter who is having her second baby at the end of July.  I've never even wanted to visit Texas, let alone live there but 

I've learned along the way never say "never" to God.  He just laughs

and you usually wind up doing the thing you most don't want to do or are afraid to do.

So here I go on a new adventure.  I've secured an apartment (oh the joy of living alone!!), I found a church, I know where the Starbucks is and the library and the other coffee shop, and a photo group and I've googled a few hiking trails (if you can call it hiking in flat Texas).  

Sunday afternoon in downtown Abilene

Now I just have to work on finding or establishing a book group, a sewing group and finding all new medical/dental providers and I'll be good to go.  I'll be about 20 minutes from my daughter.

So in the meantime I spend my days running errands, making plans, finishing up my doctor/dentist appointments, attending the grandkid's spring concerts and grandson's AAU basketball games, telling my friends I'm leaving and trying to spend some time with them, and of course, taking photos. 

I'm also knitting a baby blanket~~I started it mainly to have something to do in the evenings but then I remembered a friend's son is having their first baby in July, so that works out great.   

Beautiful color blue for new baby boy. (pic is not true to color)

Granddaughter's spring concert.  Band & chorus.

 So now we're just waiting for spring to arrive for real here in upstate NY.  There's hope...I guess.  It was 43 this morning and it's Memorial Day weekend.  Sheesh.

         

2/365

Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,

O You who save these who trust in You

From those who rise up against them

       Psalm 17:6-7

Manoa Falls is on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  The hike is 1.6 miles RT uphill but not terrible and it ends at a waterfall/pool.   Some steps along the way.  The trail was pretty wet near the top but otherwise pretty well groomed.  We did the trail on a Sat morning so it was very crowded.

We started out at a Tea House, then made our way 

 to the trail which was a short drive from the Tea House.

Off to the left of the trail to the waterfall is another trail leading to an arboretum which

I hope to get to some time this winter.  

There usually aren't very many flowers blooming in the arboretums in 

Hawaii during the winter, but they're pretty interesting

anyway.

Britt & Betty.  

Britt recovering from rotator cuff surgery and 

Betty being her usual self.

 Nine Corner Lake Hike

1/365

Three of us headed out this morning for a winter hike.  It was VERY cold...by the time we got to the trailhead it was minus 5.  (It warmed up to about 13 by the time we got back to the car)  But it was lovely.  For a change the sun was out and there was no wind at all.  It was about 2 miles round-trip but the route in was a lot of uphill so it was a challenge.

This friendly stuffed animal greeted us at the sign-in.  It made me smile.

 

On the way out we stopped to take our group pic.   

                                             

   

We stopped at our favorite local cafe for lunch and some fun conversation.  On my way home I stopped to get gas and saw that there was an offer of a free scoop of ice-cream in any coffee drink purchased.  I over-indulged and got my preferred drink of iced-coffee  with a scoop of Brew-Ha-Ha ice cream. Totally decadent.

Almost Year's End

5/365

"Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written".  Jn 21:25

I was just looking back on the posts from this year, a paltry 4 before this one.  I can hardly believe that's all I posted.  Where has the year gone?  And how bad of me that I didn't post more!  And just 4 posts in spite of my determination to post at least once a week.  Ooops.

So much has happened this year both good and sad.  I stayed in NY last winter for the first time in 10 years.  It was nasty cold with a lot of snow, but my hiking buddies and I managed to get out to snowshoe or use spikes almost once a week, which made the winter a little more tolerable. 

This Fall we continued finding trails and the one below is one of the last hikes we did before the weather turned snowy.

Last April my youngest daughter and her husband were blessed with their firstborn child.  James made his arrival three weeks early but completely healthy and happy.  The parents are over the moon.

8 months in this picture

In May my oldest grandson graduated from college.

         This past summer one of our hiking buddies passed away after a 2-year long struggle with bone cancer.  I was out of state at the time.  We think about her every time we hike.  She is missed.

In early October I attended my 50th College Reunion in Jamestown, ND.  I hadn't been back or seen anyone from my class in all those years.    Everyone reconnected so easily and we had such a great time.  It was a bittersweet weekend.

           In late November my second oldest grandson began his BB season so I spend a lot of time attending his games.  After this year's season there are only two more seasons to go.  That is, until the little guy starts sports.

 

 That's a quick review of the past year.  In between the big events were all the mundane activities that make up a life.  Sometimes those mundane things seem bothersome or annoying or pointless.  When I feel that way I try to remember how much I'm blessed 

*with good health

*with family

*with adequate finances

*with friends

*with a nice home

*and on it goes

Basically I try to keep things in perspective.  

WHAT A WINTER!!

4/365

This is the first time in 10 years that I've spent the winter in upstate NY.  What a mistake!  It has been cold and very snowy.  Seems like we've had one storm a week.

One saving grace is that my hiking friends and I have been doing some snow-shoeing.  This is my first experience with it.  I didn't think I'd like it, but it's more fun than I expected it to be.

Sometimes we don't need snowshoes, we can use our spikes instead.  I prefer the spikes if the trail is tamped down by snowmobiles, otherwise it's pretty necessary to use snowshoes.

We've been trying to go out once a week.  One week we had to cancel because the weather was so bad.  One week we went to the local golf-course instead of driving north to a trail. Most of the time we've managed to dodge the bad-weather-bullet: a storm the day before and more snow the day after.

Another storm is forecast for next week (third week in March).  We're all weary of it, but another storm guarantees a few more weeks of snowshoeing.  Another storm guarantees more water in the wells and farm fields. Another storm guarantees a real appreciation of Spring when it finally arrives. So I guess there's an up side to it all.  Sigh.

Some hikers we met along the trail

Hunting Lodge

Today Is...

3/365

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, 

"plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you

hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

I LOVE this verse.  It's such a comfort to know that God is in control.  I have choices but He ultimately knows what's in store for my life, so when I'm floundering and wondering what to do, I can be comforted that it's already decided and that it will be for my good and God's glory.

Whew, that's a load of my mind.

I just finished month #1 of taking and posting a photo a day.  I feel like I've accomplished something. Several years ago a couple of friends and I decided to do a 365 photo-a-day challenge. 

 It sounded so overwhelming, and it was.  

Although I did it, I missed a few days (maybe 3) 

and even though there were no "photo police" to chastise me, I felt guilty.

At the start of this year I thought I'd try it for the month of Jan. 

Just one month. 

Now it's the first day of Feb and I think I'll try it for another month. 

One of the last assignments for January was "nature".  I'm not a big fan of outdoor winter photography, so I photographed my little house plant which I enjoy so much 

and which puts a smile on my face every time I look at it.

NATURE

The assignment for Feb 1 is "Today is...".  

Well today is a dreary, cloudy, snowy & cold day but spring is on the way.

I'm staying home A.G.A.I.N because I don't want to deal with the roads

and nastiness, but I think I'll choose to be productive and appreciate

the blessings I have and not dwell on the restrictions imposed by

the weather.

TODAY IS....

A Couple of Days

2/365

I Cor 16:13~~"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave,be strong.  
Let all that you do be done with love."

Sometimes we do things because 1) we have to,  2) for the job we have, 3) because no one else will do it, 4) because someone has told us to, 5) because we think it's the right thing to do, 6) because it has to be done before the next part can be started and the list goes on.  There are so many reasons.

But no matter the reason, we can do it with love.  That's sometimes difficult to remember when we're doing something that we find objectionable, but if we consider the blessings we have it's a little easier to squeeze love into the equation.  The blessing of health, food in the fridge, clothes in the closet, shoes on our feet, roof over our heads, friends, etc.  When we remember how blessed we are, it's easier to do "what we do" with love.  It often takes practice.  

I need to practice more.

The past two days of my Photo-a-Day challenge have been fun.  I can't believe it's day 23 and I haven't missed a day yet.  I'm not usually so diligent.

Your Shoes:  I don't have very attractive shoes, especially for the winter.  Just a pair of year-old sneakers and an old pair of semi-dress shoes that I wear to church once in a while.  After giving it some thought I decided to wear my boots.  Ho, hum.  The caption is "is it spring yet?"

Jan 22, "Your Shoes"

Something Old:  Once upon a time my husband's father and uncle ran two dairies that delivered milk to homes in the area.  My husband isn't sentimental, but I thought it would be cool to have some of their original milk bottles for the kids.  So I've been collecting them whenever I find them.  There don't see to be too many of them around, but I keep looking. 

Jan 23, "Something Old"

The First Post & Some Resolutions

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Prov 19:20-21  Listen to council and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.  There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless, the Lord's counsel~~that will stand.

It's January 18, 2018 and this is the first post of the year.  Last year I only posted 6 times, huh?  I originally began this blog as an online diary.  Over time I've posted a lot some years and a little some years.  I was very enthusiastic about it at the beginning, but my enthusiasm waned as time went by.  

I still follow other bloggers.  Not as much as I used to.  I think I have to revamp "blogs I follow"~~delete some and add some new ones.  That takes time.  Time to search for new bloggers to whom I can relate and who have things to say that are meaningful to me in some way.  I generally like the blogs that have photos attached since I'm a photographer myself and get inspired by other's images.

I have to admit, though, that when I read other's posts I'm often ashamed at how shallow my posts are.  I've been so moved by others.  Not only the subject matter but by their writing.  I love words and good writing~~"why don't I post like that?" I often wonder.  Partly, maybe, because I think no one cares about what I say, partly, maybe, because I'm not in the habit of writing that way either privately or publicly.  Not sure.

So, although I'm not in the habit of making New Year's Resolutions (and I'm not doing it now), I'm going to try to follow through on a few new habits:

1) post more often in 2018 than I did in 2017 (at least once a week hopefully)

2) make my posts a little more meaningful and emotional than they've been in past years

3) include one Scripture verse in each post

There!!  short and sweet.  Only time will tell if I'm successful.

At the end of December I decided I wanted to challenge myself to posting one photo a day for the month of January.  A friend is doing it with me and we post to instagram. I got the topic list from pinterest.  The topics seem benign enough that I can/will follow through.  I'm a little over half-way through the month and have managed to keep up.  As a matter of fact, I'm keeping up so well I thought I might give it a go during February too.

A few of the topics so far have been:  you, breakfast, letterbox, daily routine, in your bag...  I'm glad so many of the topics can be photographed inside my home since right now we're dealing with one of the worst winters we've had in a long time.  But this too shall pass.

LETTERBOX

MAKES YOU SMILE

DAILY ROUTINE