Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Photo Graciously Donated by Kirk M. Rogers

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Este Blog Investe E Acredita Na Proximidade! Yeah, It's Another Award.

NanaTrish (also known as Blue Foot this week .. ha ha) of Nana's Living The Dream has honored my humble bloggy home with another award! Nana lives in Blog Land that I am priviledged to call Friend.

This is the special "Proximidade" award. This award is a fine one because it focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world (kind of a Six Degrees of Separation sort of thing).

I wonder who the guilty party was that started all this award giving?

Anyway ...

"Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors.This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Nearly everyone I know has this award. I could only come up with 5 recipients (sorry) but I am proud to pass this award to:

1) Steviewren at A Little Birdie Told Me So

2) Rosezilla at All About Whatever

3) Linda at Chicken Soup

4) Marie at Cpaphil Vintage Postcards

5) Steve at Wiregrass Musings

Y'all enjoy! And thank you for being my Bloggy Friends (especially my husband, Wiregrass Steve).

Off subject, it has been EXTREMELY cold here in Southeastern Georgia! Last night it was 29 degrees! Every morning we awoke to frosty grounds. I know I got some giggles from some blog friends because they live further north. :o) Well, that's cold for us! I wish now I had been keeping track of how many days of frost we've had.

Motorcycling has been put on the back burner .... one would REQUIRE a burner in one's pocket to ride comfortably ... because of the cold. Try imagining 65 mph wind in one's face for over an hour at a time. Extreme weather can wear one down physically and that can be so hazardous on 2 wheels. I try to always dress appropriately but it's still tiresome, so, we keep them parked until balmier days.

Is it Spring yet?

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This Is The Day The Lord Has Made

Yesterday, we drove our Jeep to Emanuel county here in Georgia. The roadways are so alive with color this year! The Turkey Oaks are absolutely stunning with their bright orangy red leaves. The Cherry Trees are brilliant yellows. Slash Pine trees stand out like sore thumbs now with their perpetual green leaves. There's just so much color everywhere.

This was a combination Genealogy and Motorcycle trip. I had a couple of tombstones to look up at the Old Canoochee Primitive Baptist Church cemetery for genealogy research. Then, we scooted on over to Statesboro to look at .... yeah .... you guessed it, dirt bikes. [blush] I still want one doggone it. I have looked at every possible 200 or so size dirt bike except the one I really want: 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250. But, I think this 'want' will be put on the side line. Got too many things that need to be done to the ol' homestead. Aw, well. There's always next year. I feel very, very blessed (more than I deserve) and oh so thankful. I don't know what it is about being out in the woods. I always feel so much closer to God than in any building (but if you're reading this Pastor Scott, todays sermon was very good indeed).

Here's some of the views we were treated to yesterday.

This is the day the Lord hath made;
He calls the hours His own;
Let Heav’n rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praise surround the throne.

Today He rose and left the dead,
And Satan’s empire fell;
Today the saints His triumphs spread,
And all His wonders tell.

Hosanna to th’anointed King,
To David’s holy Son;
Help us, O Lord; descend and bring
Salvation from Thy throne.

Blest be the Lord, who comes to men
With messages of grace;
Who comes in God His Father’s Name,
To save our sinful race.

Hosanna in the highest strains
The Church on earth can raise;
The highest heav’ns, in which He reigns,
Shall give Him nobler praise.

Words: Isaac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid, 1719.
Music: Ar­ling­ton, Thom­as A. Arne, 1762; ar­ranged by Ralph Har­ris­on, 1784

God bless y'all!

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Casual Friday

I was never lucky enough to find a job where I could be THAT casual! [lol] I always had to dress 'just so' being in accounting.

Have a good'en!




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Sparky and The Church

Everybody that knows me personally, knows that I am not a “church goer” anymore. I had many years hence given up on the earthly church. I have my own strong personal beliefs and am seeking God’s face in my own way and pace. Also, I don’t like crowds. I’m not the least bit shy, I just feel real guarded around people I'm not sure of. I imagine all kinds of horrible scenarios or mind numbing confrontations.

But, since the elections, I have felt a deep need to be with others that are like-minded in loving God.

This being 2008, I picked out a local church by "Googleing" it. I knew the church was there I just never paid attention to their teachings or the people inside. So, I read about their core beliefs, read about the pastor and perused his writings. “Ok, that one looks ‘safe’”, I said. Wouldn’t want to accidentally attend a snake handler church or something equally bizarre.



I do imagine some strange scenarios, don't I? I’m so distrusting (or maybe just disturbing .. lol). I've seen and experienced too many bad things. (Thanks Dad.)

So, courage in place, I picked out a Sunday to attend. Wore my nice togs, picked out a stylish outfit, styled my hair, dabbed on my nicest perfume. Well, just my luck, it was pouring rain that morning. Not a gentle “Gee, this is nice” rain. But a gully washer, frog strangler, can’t see 5 feet in front of you rain. “Oh great. So much for having a good hair day.” Already this was not going well and I kept wishing I’d stayed home.

There’s the church building in front of me. It looked imposing. Oh God, now there’s people coming up to greet me. I mentally check them for weapons. Here comes the constriction in my chest, the ringing in my ears as I tense.

But, hey, they’re nice but not overly nice (that can be disconcerting). They don't try to hug me or anything really disarming. There are no heads flying out of windows, no human sacrifices on the altar. It’s the typical church with the fake gold cross and plain jane ‘altar’ with adjoining pulpit. Pews were cushioned. That’s nice on the tooshy. Hope I don't doze off.

So far, so good. I breath a little easier. The constriction in my chest has eased and the ringing in my ears has subsided.

The church service started. The people were friendly, the songs fun and the sermon inspirational and short (take note here preachers, keep it short and you keep my attention). Before you knew it I was actually enjoying this place! I relaxed and smiled.

After the service, Sweetie and I got to stand around and talked to the minister. He asked how and why we chose this church, so, I related the event leading up to that point. He got really tickled and a bit puzzled when I related how I “Goggled” him and the church (I reassured him it wasn‘t anything bad). He was impressed by how much I already knew about his writings.

Then I thought I'd be brave and added, “Also, I was making sure y’all weren’t snake handlers.” I thought I’d get just the classic giggle and wave goodbye.

Without skipping a beat, the minister retorted, “Oh, we use those in the evening service!”

We all laughed so hard our sides hurt!

Well, this guy has just passed the first part of the Sparky Sez You’re OK Test.

As we were leaving, the minister also told us this joke I thought I'd share:

A guy goes to a new church. The service started when they locked the doors and got out a box of snakes.

Frightened, the man shouts, “Where’s the back door?”

“We don’t have one,” the preacher shouts back.

To which the man said, “Where would you like one ….!!!?”

I can‘t wait to see how next week goes! Stay tuned ... :o)

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Advertisements From The 1930's

Make sure to check out the Lysol and the "dieting" advertisements!

Enjoy!

Aw, yes, we all long for the days of carrying our own church key, I'm sure!

(For those of you too young to remember,

a 'church key' was a common vernacular for can opener.)

I'll bet it's really hard keeping those camels rolled after their lit too.

They probably put up quite a fuss! har har

I'd rather get hit by a bus, thaaannnk yooou ...

However, his medical insurance company is canceling his policy.

Uhhhhh .... no comment ...

Ewwww ... I think I'll go with the lap band treatment first ...

Santa!? For shame!

(cough, cough) How sexy. (hack, sneeze)

And, on that happy note, I'll say good night ....

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My Letter To Santa

Dear Santa,

I was told that if I was good, I could have want I wanted for Christmas.

That's a verbal contract .... right?

Ok then. I waaaaant ....

... a 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa 250. It's cheap. Honest!!

It's not expensive and I promise to always wear my protective gear. It's just a little single-cylinder street legal dirt bike.

Are you listening Santa?

So, can I have one ... huh? Pleeeeeezze?

I'm a reasonable person.


Well, SEMI reasonable anyway. [lol]

I have been a really good girl. [That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.] Therefore I feel like you owe me ... big time!

So, are we golden?

Goooood. Feel free to leave it in the carport next to my Suzuki.

Thank you!

Your Fan,
Sparky ♥ ∞

(Now Santa, my husband, who is totally unreasonable [but very cute], wants a Ducati Desmosedici. Don't know what that is? Don't worry, you don't want to know ... it's $72,500 and forever more out of your elves price ranges!! See I'm VERY reasonable!) [lol]

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