Reflections

I am incredibly blessed

to have these shining faces around my table.

Each one unique with their own special set of

years, talents, beauty, and troubles.

Each one touches me

in a particular place only they can reach.

Each one brings out a special aspect

only they are able to reveal.

And each one an immortal image bearer.

Giving Thanks...

for Life.

Late Afternoon Light

Still life in the dining room.

Preparing

“What is asked of us...

is that we break open our blocked caves

 and find each other.

 Nothing less will heal the anguished spirit

 or release the heart to act in love.”

thoughts of Father Tim,

Chapter 4, A Light in the Window

 Jan Karon

As the holidays approach, I find relationships on my mind.  I have been re-reading the Mitford series and having just finished the second book (A Light in the Window), I am struck anew with how we all struggle in our relationships--as evidenced by Father Tim and Cynthia.  We want deep, meaningful relationships that are celebrated by the holidays--a coming together of hearts and minds.  But...our world is broken, and we can't love like we were meant to love...without Christ. I pray that Christ will break the blocked caves, closed doors, and fortified walls of my heart.

Seeing

"We can all see God in

exceptional things,

 but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline

to see God in every detail.

 Never believe

 that the so-called random events of life

are anything less than God's appointed order.

Be ready to discover

 His designs anywhere and everywhere."

November 14,

My Utmost for His Highest,

Oswald Chambers

Seeing

Fall sunset
on the obelisk chimney of the
 Confederate Powder Works.

In Bloom

Confederate Rose (Hibiscus mutabilis).

A southern passalong,the Confederate Rose, has been blooming in the Augusta area since the beginning of October. The enormous blossoms look like a cross between a peony and a hibiscus and only last a few days.  Some forms bloom white and turn pink, while others bloom pink and remain pink.

The leaves are large, as are the tight rounded buds that pop up all over the shrub.  Petals are tissue thin, similar to crepe paper, and arranged in a ruffly ballgownish form. Propagate by taking cuttings now and placing them in a bucket of water until spring when you should see some roots, then plant for spectacular fall color and cuttings to share. 

November?!...

I'm not sure if I'm ready!

A Treat

Fall eye candy...

Have a fun and safe weekend!

In Bloom...

Mushrooms.

Life from death.

But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish of the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the LORD has done this?

In his hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind.

Does not the ear test words

as the tongue tastes food?

Job 12: 7-11

Expectations

“Blessed to be a blessing”.

I often contemplate this thought

and reflect on how I am not living up to it.

In contrast,

last week a dear long-time friend lived out this maxim---

 and completely blessed our family

by allowing us to use her "cabin" for 5 days.

 In a small way I would like to extend that blessing to you by sharing this special place.

This wonderful "cabin" was built in Pennsylavania

 in the late 1800's and moved to this site in Georgia in 2001.

Amazing wide timbers with chinking,

 huge stone fireplaces inside and out,

and cozy rooms...

We had dreamed of quiet, contemplative mornings,

 afternoon reading, and naps

 while the boys were working during the day at the pumpkin patch.

But God had a better plan for us---

the rains fell all week and the pumpkin patch stayed closed.

While we spent the days

 four-wheelin', making fires, visiting friends, playing cards, and having meals

---all together. 

Five days of special memories.

Thank you.

Coweta County Fair

"Where the quarterback dates the homecoming queen---

The truck's a Ford and the tractor's green,

And Amazing Grace is what we sing.

Well there's a county fair every fall

And your friends are there no matter when you call.

Yeah It may not sound like much but it's

Where I'm from"

— jason michael carroll

Time away

We're off for a week...

 to work at Uncle Bob's Pumpkin Patch.

Moonrise

Freedom.

For worship today,

we attended a beautiful

Kirkin' of the Tartan

at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see."

In Bloom

Yellow rose.

Finally.

It's always exciting and always welcome---

that first chilly morning. 

We left the windows open last night

and had to pull the quilts up and

... maybe...

slept in just a little longer

 savoring the warmth of the bed and the cool air.

 Soon, the day will give way to the warmth of the sun,

but for now it's an oatmeal morning.

Faces

A kind friend

let me borrow her sweet children

 for an impromptu photo shoot.

Immediately

they became busy doing garden chores...

discussing important matters...

 and introducing me to their

---almost here---

baby brother.

Fall in the South...

Football.

"I was a little different.
 I still say I'm a little different,
because success to me is not having the most money,
or having the biggest car or the biggest house."
Herschel Walker

A Blaze of Color

Pyracantha cascading down a hill alongside the Calhoun Expressway.

Oops!

I was stunned to realize
it had been more than a week since
my last post. Like everyone else,
school is in full swing for us
and has completely occupied our time.
I'm thankful
that most of that time is spent here
...at home.

Seeing

Sunday Morning at Valle Crucis

In Bloom

I was privileged to take part recently, as an exhibitor and photographer, in "Celebrate Beginnings" honoring the anniversaries of the Newnan Reading Circle (1909) and the Driftwood Garden Club (1959). The afternoon consisted of a small standard flower show, botanical photography exhibit, and Victorian Tea.
One of my photographs surrounded by the horticulture competition.

My favorite part of the exhibit was the
"Expressions in Color".
"Novices" interpreted a piece of artwork in their floral design:

Degas' "Dancers at the Barre"Claude Monet's "Water Lilies"
Francoise Gilot's "Two Women Reading Poetry"
Andy Warhol's "Soup Cans"

And the botanical photography...

A lovely afternoon.

Light...a study

Several weeks ago, we made what is now becoming our annual end-of-summer-event to Stone Mountain for the Laser Light Show. Before the nighttime show, my boys climbed the mountain while I toured the Antebellum Plantation--"a collection of original buildings from around the state of Georgia, built between 1783 and 1875. Each structure was moved from its original site and carefully restored to preserve its authenticity and historical value."

Incredibly beautiful and inspiring structures
that give only a shadowy image
of the lives lived out within their walls.
Most striking was the
...light...
that illuminated the inhabitants for me.
Immortal souls who had lived, worked, played
under the eaves of these homes and
...maybe...
paused to see and feel the same shifting late summer sun,
as day drifted into evening.

The dictionary defines light as:
something that makes things visible or affords illumination,
an illuminating agent or source,
the radiance or illumination from a particular source.

The amount and type of light on a object
creates contrasts which gives form.
Light gives warmth, clarifies, and reveals.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
"I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."
John 8:12