BIKER BILL, (& JEFF & ALAN)

On Labor Day weekend, Bill, Jeff & Alan took off on their bikes to ride the famous (or should I say 'infamous'!) 'Tail of the Dragon', near Robbinsville, NC. The first pic below shows only a very small portion of the many bikes that were there that weekend.

Here's Alan & Jeff in front of the Deal's Gap sign...

The picture below is of Alan & Bill in front of the 'Tree of Shame'.
Started some time in the 80's by a group of Harley riders, it is a makeshift shrine to those bitten by the Dragon, & is composed of parts left behind by riders who weren't as fortunate as those who have slain the dragon.
Many put their name, date, and a little saying on a part before they add it to the tree to immortalize their dance with the Dragon.

Bill & Alan & the 'Silver Fox'.

I'm happy to say that they had a safe trip.

It is not a place for novice (or foolish) riders!

*****

For more information, check out:

Deal'sGap.com, or

TailoftheDragon.com

9-11

WISHING YOU A DAY LIKE THIS...

Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

This is the life!!!!

(This is kind of the way I feel about these

cooler temperatures we've been having

here in the mountains!)

GOOD INTENTIONS

I meant to do my work today --
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand--
So what could I do but laugh and go?

Poem: Transgression by Richard Le Gallienne

1866-1947

Art: Beneath the Apple Tree, Daniel Ridgway Knight

1839-1924

GREEN EGGS and sHAM

I do not like this Uncle Sam,

I do not like his health care scam.

I do not like these dirty crooks,

or how they lie and cook the books.

I do not like when Congress steals,

I do not like their secret deals.

I do not like this speaker Nan ,

I do not like this 'YES, WE CAN'.

I do not like this spending spree---

I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.

I do not like your smug replies,

when I complain about your lies.

I do not like this kind of hope.

I do not like it.

Nope,

nope,

NOPE!

Go green - recycle Congress in 2010!

*I have no idea who wrote this little poem, so cannot give credit.

Pretty clever, though!

*****

"It is not that liberals do not know anything,

it is that they know so many things that are not so."

~ Ronald Reagan

*****

SEA SHELLS

We're back at home now, after spending last week in Florida. (Most of the week at Cocoa Beach). I've been busy sorting sea shells, so thought I'd share the results with you.
Left picture below shows a group of Jingle shells (also sometimes called 'Mermaid's Toenails'). Picture on right is a large group of beautiful, irridescent Pen shells.

Isn't this a gorgeous array of Florida beach shells? Most of these were collected by my cousin, Toni, on S. Fla. beaches. The two groups of small shells & the little crab shell shown at the top of the photo below are from Cocoa Beach, collected by Justin, Jeff & Bill.

Last year, we found quite a few perfectly intact cockle shells, but this year, not the first one. I've had fun sorting these, & am in the process of planning a shell mosaic (or two, or three).

There are tons of seagulls & small brownish-black birds at the beach, but I was a little surprised to look out & see a crow perched on our balcony railing! (Do you suppose our pet crow followed us here from NC??) These photos came out pretty good, considering they were taken from inside our room, through sliding glass doors.
Even with the scruffy tail feathers, he's a beautiful silhouette against the blue ocean & sky!
He returned again & again when I put some pieces of bread on the railing.

Wings up for balance on the skinny railing, or ready for a fast getaway!

We always love spending time here. (Thanks, Lisa & Jeff!) It was breezy all week, and the weather was perfect!

COCOA BEACH

We're having a great time this week at Cocoa Beach.

Favorite cousins, Toni & Johnny were here Mon. & Tues.,

& today, grandkids Alan & Amanda are coming over.

Picture below is the view from our terrace.

I'll be back to blogging again in a few days.

HUMILITY

I am reminded of the man who said to his friends,

"I have been trying to be humble, and at last I've succeeded!"

The friend said, "Well, I know you must be proud of that!"

The man replied, "I SURE AM!"

Humility is not attained by human effort.

We have to be humbled by the Spirit of God.

--J. Vernon McGee

(Please mute Playlist first)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
--1 Peter 5: 5 & 6

TOO COMPLICATED!

Does anyone remember the simplicity of the sixties?

Do you sometimes think our lives are just becoming

too complicated?

It's exasperating!!

Wishing you an uncomplicated week!


S: )

VERTIGO!

Blogging has been minimal lately, as the old VERTIGO bug has bitten me again!
If you've never experienced an episode of vertigo, I hope you NEVER do!
It's been two years since my last one. The following three pictures kinda give you an idea of how much fun it is! First, you're just standing still; your life is moving at a normal pace.

Then, all of a sudden, the room starts to spin, and you have to hold on to something to brace yourself.

Sitting down sometimes helps a little, but lying down doesn't!!. In fact, it gets worse if you close your eyes.

Please don't look at this graphic for more than a glance, but can you imagine staring at it for hours? That's kind of how my brain feels.


The good news, is that vertigo usually goes away as mysteriously as it began. Today seems a little better than yesterday, so I'm hoping it's clearing up!

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

Ads you'll never see today.......

If you were putting together an ad for Wrigley's Spearmint gum, what are the chances you'd say, "I've got a great idea!

Let's feature a meatloaf shaped like a football'!"....?

Not exactly Levi's finest hour!

Well, if there's one thing that really whets my appetite, it's the thought of pancake batter spreading over a puddle of

bacon grease!

Gag!

Does this say beer?
Oh dear, oh dear!

At least this one was honest!

No matter what your size or color preference,
here's a telephone receiver for you!

No comment.

Oops!

With apologies to Alphonse Mucha!!

'Ah' inspiring?
(NOT!)

Oh, look! BeeGees in a box!

Mothers, hide the kids!

This one's not for prime time!

SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS

At 11:50 pm, Thursday, July 29th, Clayton Glenn French slipped peacefully into the waiting arms of Jesus, after a thirteen month battle with cancer of the brain stem.

I have been so privileged to pray for him for the past year. The unwaivering faith of his family (especially his mom) have been a beautiful testimony to all!

Please keep this family in your prayers as they face the days ahead without

Clayton.

*****

I will leave the link for 'Clayton's Journal' on the sidebar for awhile, and encourage you to read his mom's touching account of his brief life and homegoing!

*****
Safe in the arms of Jesus
safe on his gentle breast;
There by his love o'ershaded
sweetly my soul shall rest.

Hark 'tis the voice of angels
born in a song to me
Over the fields of glory
over the jasper sea.

Safe in the arms of Jesus...

Jesus my heart's dear refuge
Jesus has died for me.
Firm on the Rock of Ages
ever my trust shall be.

Here let me wait with patience
wait till the night is over;
Wait till I see the morning
break on the golden shore.

Safe in the arms of Jesus...

CLEVER IDEA!

I couldn't decide whether to title this post 'PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION!, PRESENTATION',
or 'MUSIC HATH CHARMS....'.

Maybe you have a better title.............

Anyway, someone had such a clever idea, so be sure to mute Playlist and enjoy this little 2-min. video sent to me by my daughter, Lisa.

BUSY, BUSY...

It’s easy to get so busy doing things for God that we don’t have time to cultivate intimacy with Him ourselves. In the Song of Solomon, the Shulamite woman says,

“They made me keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have not kept!”

Would you stop and evaluate your schedule? If you’re not spending time with Him in prayer and the Word, maybe it’s time to make some changes.
--from Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

*****

If you feel a finger pointing at you with this post, believe me, three fingers are pointing back to me! The following verses from Psalm 119 offer some very good advice for the priorities of our daily lives:

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your Word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider Your ways.
I delight in Your decrees;
I will not neglect Your Word.
--Psalm 119:10-16.

SURVEY SAID!

No, this is not a SURVEY!

I'm just having game show withdrawals after spending a few days at my mother's. (just kidding!)


My mother is 92, and we have a great time visiting. While I'm there, I try not to disrupt her usual routine too much, so we watch alot of shows on the Game Show channel. Family Feud is one of her favorites.

Most days, her TV (game shows) and radio are her main entertainment. That is, unless her great-grandchildren, Caylie & Chase come over to see her. They always brighten her day!

Here are the two little munchkins enjoying an afternoon 'swim' in their pool.
Aren't they cute?
I took a few other pictures, but they were a little blurred, as too much splashing was going on!

Well, now we're back home, and the laundry is all caught up, so we're ready for the weekend! Hope you are, too!

SUMMER DAYS

This has been a very busy summer, so far. We've had a month of grandkids...with each one taking their turn separately.
First, Alan (& Amber);
then Amanda (& Matt), &,
for the past two weeks, Justin.

It has been alot of fun!

While Justin was here, he & my husband, Bill, took a lapidary class & learned how to cut gems. Here are a couple of pictures of Justin at work..............




Well, make that one picture of Justin at work, and one showing that Justin's learned so much, he doesn't even have to watch what he's doing! (LOL)

And here is the finished product...

a beautiful blue quartz stone.....

Now, it's time to take Justin back home, because he has a camp to attend next week.

While in Florida, I plan to stay a few days visiting my mother & sister (& family).
There's no computer at my mother's, so I won't be able to post or stop by your blog until we return.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!

WALK WITH ME

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Proverbs 4:18

*****

Walk with me Oh Lord, I pray.

Give me strength

throughout the day.

Take my problems

big and small.

Lift me when I tend to fall.

Walk with me Oh Lord, I pray.

Prompt me what to

do and say.

Let me feel you

always there.

Lift me when I feel despair.

ELEVEN REASONS...

Everyone's talking about November! "Just wait until November!", we hear over & over.
Well, this should help you have clarity about your vote!!
S: )
(Please mute Playlist first).


Are you convinced?

HAPPY FOURTH of JULY WEEKEND!

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower



Have a Safe and Happy

Fourth of July weekend!!

*****