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Church of Christ

Just a couple of blocks from the seemingly functioning Methodist Church in the previous post, this building housing the Church of Christ appears to be abandoned.  The blinds in the windows were broken and discolored, the lawn wasn't mowed and it didn't look like there had been any foot traffic recently.  

How sad.

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Stone Quarry

Although the town of Lueders, TX has so few inhabitants, it seems to be know for farming/ranching and stone quarries.  I passed this one on the way to find the town.  There were 3 or 4 along the road so apparently there's some form of commerce in the area.

My heart is grateful for

the beautiful weather today

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Mesquite Trees

After a morning at the Y for an exercise class and a visit with some friends, then a 

short  time at home, 

I met another friend at our favorite coffee shop and indulged in my favorite blended drink and some 

good conversation.

I decided to try a nature image today.  But this is, after all, west Texas~~not much is blooming right now.  As you can see, the sky was a beautiful blue and the temps were in the low 80s, but no leaves on the trees. I LOVE the shapes of these tree trunks...

I'm grateful today for:

supplements to help us stay healthy

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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.

         

Today Is...

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"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....

Once Upon a Time...

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Once upon a time there was a great little roadside farm stand not too far from my house--actually, it was right on one of the routes I could take to get to town.  It had been there for years and years.  They sold the most amazing produce.  I stopped there at least every other day throughout the summer and well into the Fall.

They grew their own corn and I have never tasted better corn on the cob than theirs.

Well, once upon a time there was a storm, unlike any that had hit our area before.  It rained and rained and the floods came and the waters rose and continued to rise until--devastation and destruction.  Some homes were lost, others were seriously damaged, one person lost his life and Pine's Farm stand was destroyed.

You might be thinking, "well, it's only a farm stand and compared to the homes and the one life that was lost, it's a small thing in the big scheme".  You're right.  But....it was an icon.  One that used to draw people from miles around, and it was, after all, the livelihood of the family that owned it.

So even after all theses years, I still miss it. Others do too.  Every spring you'll hear someone say, "gee, I wish Pine's was still around".  This spring was no different.