Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 145
November 25, 2014
Six More Things to Give Thanks For
It is the last week of November and I last posted the number 18 and 19 things which I am thankful for. That leaves me 11 things and since I have only been writing about this topic on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I better get going.
Number 20 – I am thankful that my parents took us on vacation every summer and that I got to see so much of our country.
Number 21 – I am thankful that back in 2005, God put it in my heart and in my head that I should travel to other countries. I am thankful that I had the chance to volunteer in Kenya twice and in Peru once.
Number 22 – I am thankful that the hubby gives in to my wanderlust, and that he even at times is willing to join me on my travels. I always have such a good time when he comes along.
Number 23 – I am thankful that God gave me such an active imagination. Sometimes, it gets me in trouble such as when I can’t stay focused or when I find humor in something very serious, but overall, the crazy things which pop into my head are the things which keep me going.
Number 24 – I’m thankful for my health. Hah! Have you seen me in the last three days? My back went out on Saturday morning and I have not been able to straighten up and at random times my back goes into spasms which drop me to my knees if I am not hanging onto something (so I try to always hang onto something coz I do not want to end up on the floor. “I’ve fallen down and I can’t get up.” I do not have Lifeline.). But at the beginning of the month, I wrote up a rough draft of things I am thankful for so I wouldn’t forget anything. I am still thankful that overall I am very healthy. When my back isn’t out, I can still walk, run, exercise, do crazy stuff my fifty-something year-old body maybe shouldn’t do. I don’t have high blood pressure, my cholesterol and blood sugar are excellent (hard to believe when you see what I eat). So I really can’t complain, but this did cause me to think of one more thing that I am thankful for.
Number 25 – I am thankful for technology. Some of the technology out there is scary (please don’t ever let them put a micro-chip in you), and some of it is dumb (exactly why do kids text their friends who are in the same room with them). But a lot of technology is really improving our lives, even saving lives. Example: Over the last few days I have been so thankful for my Kindle. When I am lying flat on my back in bed on the heating pad, it is so much easier to hold a Kindle and keep my place when I drop it when I am trying to shift my position than to hold a book, which is heavier, really hard to hold open with one hand, harder to turn the pages with one hand and if I drop it, I don’t know what page I am on. I also gotta love my laptop today coz it is not painful at all to sit in my office chair with my fingers on the keyboard.
(As a side note, I am thankful that I had all of these pictures already in the computer and that they all belong to me so I never have to worry about copyright infringement. Number 23 is very helpful. And by the way, that is a picture of cookie dough.)
Number 20 – I am thankful that my parents took us on vacation every summer and that I got to see so much of our country.
Number 21 – I am thankful that back in 2005, God put it in my heart and in my head that I should travel to other countries. I am thankful that I had the chance to volunteer in Kenya twice and in Peru once.
Number 22 – I am thankful that the hubby gives in to my wanderlust, and that he even at times is willing to join me on my travels. I always have such a good time when he comes along.
Number 23 – I am thankful that God gave me such an active imagination. Sometimes, it gets me in trouble such as when I can’t stay focused or when I find humor in something very serious, but overall, the crazy things which pop into my head are the things which keep me going.
Number 24 – I’m thankful for my health. Hah! Have you seen me in the last three days? My back went out on Saturday morning and I have not been able to straighten up and at random times my back goes into spasms which drop me to my knees if I am not hanging onto something (so I try to always hang onto something coz I do not want to end up on the floor. “I’ve fallen down and I can’t get up.” I do not have Lifeline.). But at the beginning of the month, I wrote up a rough draft of things I am thankful for so I wouldn’t forget anything. I am still thankful that overall I am very healthy. When my back isn’t out, I can still walk, run, exercise, do crazy stuff my fifty-something year-old body maybe shouldn’t do. I don’t have high blood pressure, my cholesterol and blood sugar are excellent (hard to believe when you see what I eat). So I really can’t complain, but this did cause me to think of one more thing that I am thankful for.
Number 25 – I am thankful for technology. Some of the technology out there is scary (please don’t ever let them put a micro-chip in you), and some of it is dumb (exactly why do kids text their friends who are in the same room with them). But a lot of technology is really improving our lives, even saving lives. Example: Over the last few days I have been so thankful for my Kindle. When I am lying flat on my back in bed on the heating pad, it is so much easier to hold a Kindle and keep my place when I drop it when I am trying to shift my position than to hold a book, which is heavier, really hard to hold open with one hand, harder to turn the pages with one hand and if I drop it, I don’t know what page I am on. I also gotta love my laptop today coz it is not painful at all to sit in my office chair with my fingers on the keyboard. 
(As a side note, I am thankful that I had all of these pictures already in the computer and that they all belong to me so I never have to worry about copyright infringement. Number 23 is very helpful. And by the way, that is a picture of cookie dough.)
November 23, 2014
Psalm 28
1 I pray to you, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me.For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die.2 Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.3 Do not drag me away with the wicked— with those who do evil—those who speak friendly words to their neighbors while planning evil in their hearts.4 Give them the punishment they so richly deserve! Measure it out in proportion to their wickedness.Pay them back for all their evil deeds! Give them a taste of what they have done to others.5 They care nothing for what the Lord has done or for what his hands have made.So he will tear them down, and they will never be rebuilt!
6 Praise the Lord!
For he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.8 The Lord gives his people strength. He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.9 Save your people! Bless Israel, your special possession.
Lead them like a shepherd,
and carry them in your arms forever.
(New Living Translation)
Sometimes there is just nothing more to say. Have a great week and a happy Thanksgiving. And praise God for all the blessings we have received.
Sometimes there is just nothing more to say. Have a great week and a happy Thanksgiving. And praise God for all the blessings we have received.
November 20, 2014
Thankful for puppies and kitties
I would be remiss if I didn’t share how thankful I am for the namesake of this blog.
Dino the Wonder Dog came into our lives in April 2007. We had lost Pepper and Shadow just three months before and at the time said to ourselves, as many dog owners do, we won’t get another dog. Isn’t it nice to not be tied down and have to worry about someone being home to let the dog out? Isn’t it nice to not have another mouth to feed, another critter to run up vet bills, another responsibility?
But that April things weren’t going so hot for the family. We spent the weekend in the hubby’s hometown and when he went for a walk one morning, he stopped at the humane society just a few blocks away. They had a few mixed breed dogs up for adoption and had just been told they would be getting St Bernard mix puppies soon. Maybe we wanted a puppy instead? (Or a pony, do you mean?)
One dog caught the hubby’s eye. They thought he was part Australian shepherd and was about six months old. He’d been abandoned with several other dogs, perhaps his brothers and sisters, and all of them had found homes. But no one had taken an interest in this dog for some reason, and one of the boys who volunteered there had nicknamed him Demon, because he was so wild.
The hubby walked back to the house and told me about the dog, said that we could return to the shelter later that afternoon if I wanted to see what they had. It was close to our daughter’s birthday, and she had been having a rough year. Maybe we should get her a dog.
My living room, the morning after Dino's first night with us.
He spent that first night in his kennel and did this in the hour
after we let him out and went back to bed. We drove to the shelter that afternoon, and even though we looked at the other dogs, I knew this one was the one. Yes, he was a little wild, but that was just the pent-up energy from spending too many hours in a cage in a cement building. I wanted to take him home right then.
We had to fill out an application and they wanted to check our references. They would call us once all the paperwork was in order and we could pick him up then. It was a long weekend. I was off of work that week and willing to drive over to get him as soon as I got the call on Monday.
Since we already had cats with the names Fred, Pebbles, and Bam-Bam, it seemed we could stick with the Flintstone’s theme and name the new dog Dino.
I’ve been thankful for him ever since (ok, except maybe that first morning).
Let me just sneak the cats in here too, coz even though the brains in cats’ heads function on a totally different level from a dog’s, I still have to respect who they are. Coz if I don’t, they will retaliate.
Here are the cats who have shared my adult life with me:
Keisha – October 1986 to February 2005
Pebbles – July 31, 1993 to January 28, 2008; Bam-Bam – July 31, 1993 to July 24, 2010
Fred – September 2004 to present
Barney – June 30, 2008 to March 20, 2009; Betty – June 30, 2008 to present
Alice – July 31, 2010 to present; Cheshire – July 31, 2010 to present
I’m thankful for the joy each of these cats have brought into my life.
And I should mention Muffins too. May 1991 to June 1995
Dino the Wonder Dog came into our lives in April 2007. We had lost Pepper and Shadow just three months before and at the time said to ourselves, as many dog owners do, we won’t get another dog. Isn’t it nice to not be tied down and have to worry about someone being home to let the dog out? Isn’t it nice to not have another mouth to feed, another critter to run up vet bills, another responsibility?
But that April things weren’t going so hot for the family. We spent the weekend in the hubby’s hometown and when he went for a walk one morning, he stopped at the humane society just a few blocks away. They had a few mixed breed dogs up for adoption and had just been told they would be getting St Bernard mix puppies soon. Maybe we wanted a puppy instead? (Or a pony, do you mean?)
One dog caught the hubby’s eye. They thought he was part Australian shepherd and was about six months old. He’d been abandoned with several other dogs, perhaps his brothers and sisters, and all of them had found homes. But no one had taken an interest in this dog for some reason, and one of the boys who volunteered there had nicknamed him Demon, because he was so wild.
The hubby walked back to the house and told me about the dog, said that we could return to the shelter later that afternoon if I wanted to see what they had. It was close to our daughter’s birthday, and she had been having a rough year. Maybe we should get her a dog.
My living room, the morning after Dino's first night with us.He spent that first night in his kennel and did this in the hour
after we let him out and went back to bed. We drove to the shelter that afternoon, and even though we looked at the other dogs, I knew this one was the one. Yes, he was a little wild, but that was just the pent-up energy from spending too many hours in a cage in a cement building. I wanted to take him home right then.
We had to fill out an application and they wanted to check our references. They would call us once all the paperwork was in order and we could pick him up then. It was a long weekend. I was off of work that week and willing to drive over to get him as soon as I got the call on Monday.
Since we already had cats with the names Fred, Pebbles, and Bam-Bam, it seemed we could stick with the Flintstone’s theme and name the new dog Dino.
I’ve been thankful for him ever since (ok, except maybe that first morning).
Let me just sneak the cats in here too, coz even though the brains in cats’ heads function on a totally different level from a dog’s, I still have to respect who they are. Coz if I don’t, they will retaliate.
Here are the cats who have shared my adult life with me:
Keisha – October 1986 to February 2005
Pebbles – July 31, 1993 to January 28, 2008; Bam-Bam – July 31, 1993 to July 24, 2010
Fred – September 2004 to present
Barney – June 30, 2008 to March 20, 2009; Betty – June 30, 2008 to present
Alice – July 31, 2010 to present; Cheshire – July 31, 2010 to present
I’m thankful for the joy each of these cats have brought into my life.
And I should mention Muffins too. May 1991 to June 1995
November 18, 2014
Thankful for Family
Hard to believe that we are this far into November. I have been writing about what I am thankful for this month, and I better get serious about my list as I was only up to number 12 last time!
#13 Ok, since it is lucky thirteen, she will understand. I am thankful every day of my life that God sent my sister Pat to be my best friend for 39 years. But actually since she was here first, I guess I should be thankful that God sent me into my particular family when Pat was two and a half years old and totally ready to be a devoted big sister. Not a day passes that I don’t miss her, but I know we will be together again someday and I am just as thankful that I will have that opportunity to again be her baby sister.
#14 My other big sister, Judy. Because she is quite a bit older than me, I don’t remember her living with us. But I do remember her wedding, when I was six years old. I thought it was pretty cool. I’m thankful though that now that we are older, we have more things in common, and we can be friends in addition to being sisters.
#15 My brother Tom. I can’t tell you why I am thankful for him. Judy knows why, and my hubby too. Family secrets, don’t you just hate them? I can tell you that I am thankful that he has a family picnic every summer. It brings out the whole family, kids, grandkids and cousins. It is always a good time.
#16 My dad. What can I say about Dad? Too much to list here. I can’t believe he’s been gone 21 years!
#17 My mom. Ok if I can’t think of anything quick and witty about Dad, I sure can’t come up with something about Mom. I’m thankful that I had two parents who managed to turn out four pretty decent kids. I can’t in all honesty say they were always there for us, but they were always there when we really needed them. I guess that’s what’s important.
Ok, whew, I got through the immediate family. What’s next?
(Disclosure: Because there may be someone in my family with an aversion to having their picture taken, you only get to see pictures of those who are no longer with us.)
#13 Ok, since it is lucky thirteen, she will understand. I am thankful every day of my life that God sent my sister Pat to be my best friend for 39 years. But actually since she was here first, I guess I should be thankful that God sent me into my particular family when Pat was two and a half years old and totally ready to be a devoted big sister. Not a day passes that I don’t miss her, but I know we will be together again someday and I am just as thankful that I will have that opportunity to again be her baby sister.
#14 My other big sister, Judy. Because she is quite a bit older than me, I don’t remember her living with us. But I do remember her wedding, when I was six years old. I thought it was pretty cool. I’m thankful though that now that we are older, we have more things in common, and we can be friends in addition to being sisters.
#15 My brother Tom. I can’t tell you why I am thankful for him. Judy knows why, and my hubby too. Family secrets, don’t you just hate them? I can tell you that I am thankful that he has a family picnic every summer. It brings out the whole family, kids, grandkids and cousins. It is always a good time.
#16 My dad. What can I say about Dad? Too much to list here. I can’t believe he’s been gone 21 years!
#17 My mom. Ok if I can’t think of anything quick and witty about Dad, I sure can’t come up with something about Mom. I’m thankful that I had two parents who managed to turn out four pretty decent kids. I can’t in all honesty say they were always there for us, but they were always there when we really needed them. I guess that’s what’s important.
Ok, whew, I got through the immediate family. What’s next?
(Disclosure: Because there may be someone in my family with an aversion to having their picture taken, you only get to see pictures of those who are no longer with us.)
November 16, 2014
Psalm 26
1 Lord, you be the judge and prove that I have lived a pure life. I have depended on you, Lord, to keep me from falling.2 Look closely at me, Lord, and test me. Judge my deepest thoughts and emotions.3 I always remember your faithful love. I depend on your faithfulness.4 I don’t run around with troublemakers. I have nothing to do with hypocrites.5 I hate being around evil people. I refuse to join those gangs of crooks.6 Lord, I wash my hands to make myself pure, so that I can come to your altar.7 I sing a song to give you thanks, and I tell about all the wonderful things you have done.8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory is.9 Lord, don’t treat me like one of those sinners. Don’t kill me with those murderers.10 They are guilty of cheating people. They take bribes to do wrong.11 But I am innocent, so be kind to me and save me.12 I am safe from all danger as I stand here praising you, Lord, in the assembly of your people. (Easy-to-Read Version)
For the month of November I am sharing Psalms which contain the wordthanks or thanksgiving. Psalm 26 is called a psalm of vindication, as David pleads his case before God. Yet David was as big a sinner as anyone, as you may recall from the whole Bethsheba story (2 Samuel 11).
But I don’t think we should read this Psalm thinking of these as David’s words. They should be our words. If we have committed any of these sins (or any other sins, of which we each have a long list), all we have to do is ask for God’s forgiveness and those sins are washed away. Then all that is left is for us to thank and praise God for His goodness.
After you read 2 Samuel 11, you'll know why I thought of this picture, even though there is no one on this roof top.
For the month of November I am sharing Psalms which contain the wordthanks or thanksgiving. Psalm 26 is called a psalm of vindication, as David pleads his case before God. Yet David was as big a sinner as anyone, as you may recall from the whole Bethsheba story (2 Samuel 11).
But I don’t think we should read this Psalm thinking of these as David’s words. They should be our words. If we have committed any of these sins (or any other sins, of which we each have a long list), all we have to do is ask for God’s forgiveness and those sins are washed away. Then all that is left is for us to thank and praise God for His goodness.
After you read 2 Samuel 11, you'll know why I thought of this picture, even though there is no one on this roof top. November 13, 2014
Running the gamut of thanks
The weather forecast for this past Monday morning through Tuesday night called for up to 20 inches of snow. By four p.m. Monday, when there was maybe four to six inches of new snow on the ground, and nothing seemed to be coming out of the sky, I thought that once again those weathermen were just pulling our leg.
February 29, 2012, 8:00 am, on the main drag of townThen I woke up Tuesday morning and thought, “oh, nuts.” I haven’t been able to take many pictures of this new snow, but here is the blizzard of Leap Day 2012. This week’s snow wasn’t that bad but this is the kind of snowfall potential we can look forward to in the Northwoods.
For the month of November I am writing about the 30 things I am thankful for. Right now, I am thankful for snowblowers, snowplows, graders, tractors and anything else which moves the snow out of my way making it easier for me and all the people around me to get where they are going in a safe manner.
Found a picture of hubby snowblowing that day.
But that is only the ninth item on my list. I seem to be running behind as it is the 13th of November already.
I am also thankful that I have a warm house to live in on these snowy days. I shouldn’t even mention this for fear of jinxing myself, but when we first moved into this house, it had an old oil burning furnace. Our first major investment was getting a new furnace, but that one never seemed to run right. For a couple of years, it felt as if I was calling the furnace repair guy a couple times each winter. I don’t remember what happened, but the furnace finally started working reliably and the house has stayed warm. Or it would stay warm if I wasn’t too cheap to turn the thermostat up past 66 degrees (that’s warm enough outside in the summer and besides, I am also thankful for sweatshirts and blankies. But I will stick with just the warm house as item number 10).
My house all snug in winter. And thankful for snow-rakes too.
I’m going to throw out to you two more things and call it a day. Number 11 would be the best well water anywhere. One of the reasons that hubby never wants to move is because he is afraid he will never find water this good. He’s probably right, but I would still like to at least try the water at other houses that have newer kitchens or – never mind, my kitchen is the only thing I would change about my house.
I digress. Last of all I am thankful today for where all that delicious water goes after we are done with it. We had to replace our septic in 2008. The yard looked like a mine-field a week before our daughter’s graduation party, but hey, once the new septic was in all was well. And I don’t have to worry about the waste backing up into my bathtub. (Have you been THERE? Yuck!)
The view outside my office window, with the septic cover visible on Sunday.
Oops, septic cover no longer visible Tuesday morning.
February 29, 2012, 8:00 am, on the main drag of townThen I woke up Tuesday morning and thought, “oh, nuts.” I haven’t been able to take many pictures of this new snow, but here is the blizzard of Leap Day 2012. This week’s snow wasn’t that bad but this is the kind of snowfall potential we can look forward to in the Northwoods. For the month of November I am writing about the 30 things I am thankful for. Right now, I am thankful for snowblowers, snowplows, graders, tractors and anything else which moves the snow out of my way making it easier for me and all the people around me to get where they are going in a safe manner.
Found a picture of hubby snowblowing that day.But that is only the ninth item on my list. I seem to be running behind as it is the 13th of November already.
I am also thankful that I have a warm house to live in on these snowy days. I shouldn’t even mention this for fear of jinxing myself, but when we first moved into this house, it had an old oil burning furnace. Our first major investment was getting a new furnace, but that one never seemed to run right. For a couple of years, it felt as if I was calling the furnace repair guy a couple times each winter. I don’t remember what happened, but the furnace finally started working reliably and the house has stayed warm. Or it would stay warm if I wasn’t too cheap to turn the thermostat up past 66 degrees (that’s warm enough outside in the summer and besides, I am also thankful for sweatshirts and blankies. But I will stick with just the warm house as item number 10).
My house all snug in winter. And thankful for snow-rakes too.I’m going to throw out to you two more things and call it a day. Number 11 would be the best well water anywhere. One of the reasons that hubby never wants to move is because he is afraid he will never find water this good. He’s probably right, but I would still like to at least try the water at other houses that have newer kitchens or – never mind, my kitchen is the only thing I would change about my house.
I digress. Last of all I am thankful today for where all that delicious water goes after we are done with it. We had to replace our septic in 2008. The yard looked like a mine-field a week before our daughter’s graduation party, but hey, once the new septic was in all was well. And I don’t have to worry about the waste backing up into my bathtub. (Have you been THERE? Yuck!)
The view outside my office window, with the septic cover visible on Sunday.
Oops, septic cover no longer visible Tuesday morning. November 11, 2014
Thankful for Freedom
Today is Veteran’s Day. As I write my 30 days of thanks this month, it is a no-brainer what I am thankful for today.
Since the Revolutionary War, tens of thousands of men and women have fought for our freedom, have fought so that we can retain our God-given rights, have fought so that we can sleep easy at night, can earn a decent living doing work that we enjoy, can spend leisure time with family and friends, can practice the religion we choose. I think of all the things we have in the United States the one thing we take most for granted is our freedoms.
Then I look at all the things going on in this world, the things happening right here at home, and I feel there are those who are deliberately trying to take our freedoms away from us. They are devious and cunning, they aren’t bold and in our faces. Instead they are insidious, silent, predatory. I don’t think they plan on waging the kind of war we are prepared for. Our Service men and women prepare for physical battle, with physical weapons, weapons that kill and maim bodies, not weapons that kill and maim souls.
And so, I’m thankful for what I have right now. I won’t take it for granted. I’ll try to be strong, try to defend my personal freedoms and the freedoms of those I love. I’ll support our troops in the battles that they wage, but the rest I will just have to turn over to God.
In the meantime, semper fi.
Last I must also share Ben's story one more time. Click here. I also want to tell you about a book two of our friends wrote, "Dear Laura" by Dave Baltes and Gordon Lovsletten. It is going on sale today here in Tomahawk, or you can send for a copy. Read the article in today's Tomahawk Leader. (which wasn't on line when I posted this, but keep checking.)
Since the Revolutionary War, tens of thousands of men and women have fought for our freedom, have fought so that we can retain our God-given rights, have fought so that we can sleep easy at night, can earn a decent living doing work that we enjoy, can spend leisure time with family and friends, can practice the religion we choose. I think of all the things we have in the United States the one thing we take most for granted is our freedoms.
Then I look at all the things going on in this world, the things happening right here at home, and I feel there are those who are deliberately trying to take our freedoms away from us. They are devious and cunning, they aren’t bold and in our faces. Instead they are insidious, silent, predatory. I don’t think they plan on waging the kind of war we are prepared for. Our Service men and women prepare for physical battle, with physical weapons, weapons that kill and maim bodies, not weapons that kill and maim souls.
And so, I’m thankful for what I have right now. I won’t take it for granted. I’ll try to be strong, try to defend my personal freedoms and the freedoms of those I love. I’ll support our troops in the battles that they wage, but the rest I will just have to turn over to God.
In the meantime, semper fi.
Last I must also share Ben's story one more time. Click here. I also want to tell you about a book two of our friends wrote, "Dear Laura" by Dave Baltes and Gordon Lovsletten. It is going on sale today here in Tomahawk, or you can send for a copy. Read the article in today's Tomahawk Leader. (which wasn't on line when I posted this, but keep checking.)
November 9, 2014
Psalm 9
1 I will give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about all the miracles you have done.2 I will find joy and be glad about you. I will make music to praise your name, O Most High.3 When my enemies retreat, they will stumble and die in your presence.4 You have defended my just cause: You sat down on your throne as a fair judge.5 You condemned nations. You destroyed wicked people. You wiped out their names forever and ever.6 The enemy is finished—in ruins forever. You have uprooted their cities. Even the memory of them has faded.7 Yet, the Lord is enthroned forever. He has set up his throne for judgment.8 He alone judges the world with righteousness. He judges its people fairly.9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.10 Those who know your name trust you, O Lord, because you have never deserted those who seek your help.
Psalm 9:1-10 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Looking at the world around us today, listening to the news, one wonders if God is still thumping our enemies like He used to. Maybe that is because we aren’t living out verse 10. I will continue to be thankful that God is in my personal life and will continue to pray that He keeps me and my loved ones safe from the wicked.
Lest we forget the Holocaust
Psalm 9:1-10 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Looking at the world around us today, listening to the news, one wonders if God is still thumping our enemies like He used to. Maybe that is because we aren’t living out verse 10. I will continue to be thankful that God is in my personal life and will continue to pray that He keeps me and my loved ones safe from the wicked.
Lest we forget the Holocaust
November 7, 2014
Thankful for Trees
For the month of November I am blogging about all of the things I am thankful for. I hope that no one minds that today I am also blogging for A Personal Photo Challenge. Yes, I am multitasking.
The Photo Challenge for November was “Trees”. How can I not be thankful for the beautiful trees in my yard.
(I played with the colors on this one.)I took all of these pictures one October morning with my Nikon Coolpix S8100. I must admit that I am thankful for this great little camera. Easy to use, small, and I have beat it up pretty bad over the years, even forgot it in my pocket when I went in wadding up to my waist in Lake Superior. I am pretty sure the instructions said not to submerse it. Then there was the day I blogged about here, yet it keeps working for me.
The Photo Challenge for November was “Trees”. How can I not be thankful for the beautiful trees in my yard.
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(I played with the colors on this one.)I took all of these pictures one October morning with my Nikon Coolpix S8100. I must admit that I am thankful for this great little camera. Easy to use, small, and I have beat it up pretty bad over the years, even forgot it in my pocket when I went in wadding up to my waist in Lake Superior. I am pretty sure the instructions said not to submerse it. Then there was the day I blogged about here, yet it keeps working for me.
November 5, 2014
A Childhood and a Small Town
I thought that for the month of November I would blog about everything that I am thankful for. 30 things in 30 days, but not in 30 blog posts. I will be lumping a few things together so I only have to write here two or three times a week. As the month goes on, I am not going to be able to recap all those things, so you are going to have to take my word for it that today I am thankful for thing number 4 and thing number 5. (Sounds like Dr. Suess.)
Looking back on my childhood I would have to say that I had no complaints (at the time I think I complained a lot, but looking back it was pretty idyllic). I had the perfect childhood – parents who were there when I needed them but not there all the time, a sister who was my best friend and partner in crime (click here for one such memory), a house in the country with acres of woods as a blank canvass for our adventures. I can’t imagine having been raised any differently. I’m thankful that I had such a good childhood.
In a similar vein, I am also thankful that I was born, raised and still live in a small Midwestern town. Sure, they say that when you live in a small town, if you don’t know what you’re doing, someone else will. Maybe that means we are all nosy, but it also means that most of us care. We left our doors unlocked, we talked to strangers on the party line (do any of you young kids know what that was? our version of social media), we trick-or-treated after dark!
And that is why I am thankful that I still live in a small town.
Especially a small town that is ready for snow.
The other day at work we started talking about the Beatles (a long story), and I came home and looked up some of their songs on YouTube. What can I say? This is dedicated to those we have lost. Those we are thankful to have had the pleasure of knowing.
Looking back on my childhood I would have to say that I had no complaints (at the time I think I complained a lot, but looking back it was pretty idyllic). I had the perfect childhood – parents who were there when I needed them but not there all the time, a sister who was my best friend and partner in crime (click here for one such memory), a house in the country with acres of woods as a blank canvass for our adventures. I can’t imagine having been raised any differently. I’m thankful that I had such a good childhood.
In a similar vein, I am also thankful that I was born, raised and still live in a small Midwestern town. Sure, they say that when you live in a small town, if you don’t know what you’re doing, someone else will. Maybe that means we are all nosy, but it also means that most of us care. We left our doors unlocked, we talked to strangers on the party line (do any of you young kids know what that was? our version of social media), we trick-or-treated after dark!
And that is why I am thankful that I still live in a small town.
Especially a small town that is ready for snow.
The other day at work we started talking about the Beatles (a long story), and I came home and looked up some of their songs on YouTube. What can I say? This is dedicated to those we have lost. Those we are thankful to have had the pleasure of knowing.
