My Trusted "Red Pony"...

Cody is and will always be the most trusted horse I've ever owned! I've put a ton of kids on him ... mine and others ... and have always been able to predict his every move. I will be turning him over to Miss Abby in a year or so as I want each of my children to be on horses they trust, enjoy and bond with! Grace started riding at 3 so I will most likely start Abby at that age if she seems ready.... if not she'll still be right there in the saddle with me until then...

"To Cody... the best horse I know!"

NCSU-Go Wolkpack!!

Jamie and David are both students at North Carolina State University.  I was so thankful to have them home over Thanksgiving.  I miss them terribly during the school year.  I am very proud of them both.

Kendall

This was my favorite picture of Kendall Thanksgiving Day.  My little girls is not a baby anymore but she will always be my baby.

Sunset on Mtn. Island Lake

I just love this color purple on the water....I have very rarely seen it without heavy cloud cover.  I was mesmerized by this view this evening.  

Praying Mantises

It is strange how I keep seeing these little guys around  where we live. I don't know much about them yet but am going to start asking around!  I played with this little one for nearly 30 minutes he/she was so interesting to watch and hold.

BRRRR.......

Grace and I were warming the car up the other morning before school and she said she thought this would make a cool picture... .she was right.....
Wonder what caused the line of frost? hmmm....

I miss this look....

This is the last time Jacob roped with us ... I miss this look on his face. I miss my son and the mother-son relationship we had!

Control Panel

You know you can tell a great deal by watching a panel like this but you cannot tell everything.  You can tell this in not a new car by the mileage displayed.  You can tell  the engine has been running for a while because the temperature gage says it warm and not cold. You can tell  the wheels were not moving yet the engine is running by the speedometer and rpm meter.  You can see I did not have my seat belt fastened and that the gear shift is in the parked position.  You can even see how much gas my tank says it has....but you cannot tell the state of the driver or car's condition or the see anything concerning their past or future states except the distance it has already travelled.  One can only view the current state of affairs by the interpretation of the available displays.  How like our lives this display really is.  How many people, friends, and strangers do we meet and judge by such outward tools and means of measurement on a daily basis?  As I sat in this car in the cold dark night waiting for my daughter to come out of the movies I had to stop and think about life and how I determine the state of it.  It is not an easy question to answer to consider when one feels in flux.  Can I really trust my gauges and are they measuring anything substantial really?  

ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO...HA

Abby is soooo tired of being in the house... Dr's orders to stay in but I have to walk her around a little outside or you can't stand her. She wears these boots with EVERYTHING....can't get them off of her!

THANKFUL TO GOD TODAY!

On Monday night my little one of 20 months old was eating parched p-nuts with her sister and got tickled... she aspirated this piece of a p-nut into her lung. Dr. Reddy at Palmetto Richland Hospital was able to go in and remove it. I wanted to say most of all how very grateful I am to God that my daughter is ok but also for being my Father... a Father I can cry out to when all is chaotic around me... and being the only "trust" I know with the three most cherished things in my life... my children. Good or bad outcomes... He's still my Father... good or bad outcomes they are still my children.... what I trust is that He's there listening... comforting...I don't know how to trust other than the trust I have in Him. Hmm.... it's hard to put that into words....

Camellias

Beautiful  species of Camellias grow all over UNC Charlotte's campus. Today as I was walking by I was captured by these white bushes in the ravine near the entrance to the arboretum.   They were so white I did not recognize them at first.  I have seen lots of pink varieties but these were just beautiful.  They say Camellia Tea oil is quite nutritious and tasty though I have never tried it.  It comes from the seeds of the flower when they are crushed and is often flavored and served with bread.....

SUNSET AT THE BARN

I happened to be at our vet's office at sundown and had my camera with me thankfully....it was so cold outside but this sunset was way to inviting ...

Sea Gull on Lake Norman

It is funny to me how there are always sea gulls hanging around Lake Norman.  I don't know why they choose to be here instead of at the beach but this one has got to be cold by now!!!  There was a heavy frost last night and this one was out and about early in the morning  cloudless sky.

ROW CROPPIN'

I was extremely busy today and didn't get to take my "picture adventure" as I normally do so.... thought I would share a picture from our Jackson Hole Trip last October. This field was in Idaho. We stayed in Wyoming and drove through parts of Idaho and then spent the rest of the time in Yellowstone. Most gorgeous place I've ever seen.... David & I both were just awe struck the entire trip and still yearn for that crisp Teton air...

Gazebo

This Gazebo located in Jetton Village in Cornelius, NC is located across from my physician's new office.  As I was driving through there today I realized I needed a moment in a quiet setting to just reflect.  It was a nice refuge in the center of what is ordinarily a buzzing, busy public space.

SHE'S HER DADDY'S GIRL....

I took this shot today at the SRA Finals in Asheville, NC.

We left here spur of the moment with just enough time to get there before they started and made it with plenty of time. We were sitting waiting on the Rodeo to start when I caught this picture of Grace and her Daddy.

L'Chaim Connection

This is the necklace I treasure most.  It is my simple symbol of the fulfillment of the commandment to be bound to the Word of Life.  It is crafted in the shape of the letter that symbolizes life in Hebrew.  Inside it contains a scroll with the S'hema written on a parchment.  On the top of the letter it has two stones that are the stones that represent the time under the stars which I was born...it also relates to my particular Torah portion that day.

HOPELAND GARDENS IN AIKEN, SC

This is the most serene place I think I've ever been... absolutely breathtaking...the Live Oaks are magnificent! Kim... you'll love the water gardens there... I thought of you when I saw them.

I think Mom really enjoyed being with her granddaughters today.

Gracie Boo

My cat was named Gracie Boo because she even as a kitten was very sleek and graceful and yet she could creep up on you and scare you  in her quiet elegance.  She is an accomplished hunter and was a great mommy in her day.  She is nearly 13 years old now and loves to walk the top of the fence to avoid the dog's harassment.  She will follow us all around the yard and will even go for walks around the neighborhood with us.  I hate that she is getting old.

Church Doors

I love deep doors like this one... especially with big wooden doors with those black hinges and door handles... it is like it's a secret little hiding place... and I know this picture is in black and white but why are all Lutheran church doors red? hmmm... If anyone knows the answer to that question... write me! Kim... do you know?

MOO!

Most every day I have to take Abby out for a ride to see the cows.... she loves 'em! I love ... living in the country!

Bubbles

I love water falls and water gardens and love to just sit and listen to rushing water move.  These bubbles  have appeared in my pond as the weather has gotten colder.  I could sit and listen to them forming all afternoon.  They soothe my racing thoughts and remind me that forces are always at work in the background of our lives even if we are too busy to notice or acknowledge them.

TWO VIEWS

I must admit I had to use a picture from another day... been with the farrier all day with my horses.

So.... this picture was taken looking outside of the car through the side mirror... I looked in the mirror going down the road and saw that gorgeous sunset and just had to stop (yea in the middle of the road) and take this shot ... didn't have time to get out and get it straight on so that's how it ended up in my mirror... pretty neat though I thought....

Tallit Fringes

This the fringe off of a small child's tallit.  I bought this garment in Israel in 2002.  I bought one as a symbol of how young G_d brings us into the understanding of the Word.  I am excited that this year I am entering into learning Hebrew and learning to be intimate with the Word like never before.  May I be found worthy of such a pursuit as I seek the origins of my beliefs.

Wedding Rings- Goodbye

These are the wedding rings that we shared for the last 24 years. It was painfully difficult to remove mine this past summer.  On that late June night that it was evident the marriage was over  I removed it permanently.  It was even harder today to find he had left his behind not even wanting the memory.  I have had this box for only a couple of years but decided to store them together here in respect of the little good that was...

Will you .... ?

I love to see a newly engaged girl's diamond... they are so eager to show it to everyone... with that sheepish little grin and giggle. This diamond and band belonged to a great aunt of mine who when she died her husband of many years died shortly after. I can just sit here an imagine her a young girl sitting in front of her "soon-to-be fiance" who would've been kneeling with trembling nerves....popping the question. And... like all good gentlemen of his day had already asked permission from her father. I hope to pass this and their story on to my girls!

Squirrels!

This guy seemed to be watching my every move as I walked through the woods today.  I got a couple of shots of him but this one was the most interesting to me.  He was keeping one eye on me and another on another squirrel close by.

BIG MAC

Out of all Vana's bucking horses... Big Mac's my favorite... he has so much personality!

And... you should see him buck!

Fountain Lights

We were out to dinner and decided to go for

 a walk around the courtyard and found this

 beautiful fountain lit in the center of the greenway.  

WOW!

Really this is a picture from TODAY.... not way back when! We went to Clinton to grocery shop and stopped to get gas... obviously at that price huh? Well...we went on down the street and it was actually cheaper at $1.92... I never thought I'd see gas below $2.00 again... hmmm.....

Latta Plantation Stables

I thought this was such a unique idea for all the younger kids at the fall festival that were too afraid to ride the real horses out at Latta Plantation today.  My daughter and I discovered the festival too late to really enjoy most of the booths scattered throughout the grounds but there was a long line of kids to ride this attraction up until the close of the day.

The Coleman House...remember the "window peak"

What do you see?

Some have seen - a financial sinkhole.

Some have seen - battered & worn.

Some have seen - a historical monument.

I see - a place to truly "grow" my family in traditional values like dinner at a big table in the middle of the kitchen. A fire in the fireplace in the small den that we would all share. I see cherishable memories to be made and ... ones to embrace that

were created before us.

What do you see?

Bright Fall Sunset

The sunset was so bright this evening that it made the trees almost seem to glow!  I love bridges than span water and with the reflection of the fall leaves this view seemed like such a treat.  The bright sunshine made me want to squint but it was  still hard to take my eyes off the spectacular scene.

A Mama and her boys...

This picture is one from a photoshoot I did this morning with my cousing Margot and her boys! I just love the expressions!

Water Paradise

Its been a really long day and the camera project did not make the priorities list today unfortunately.  I am posting another favorite from yesterday -a water bog shot from the Susie Harwood Botanical garden on the Campus of UNC Charlotte.  I went back by there today just to sit but did not have my camera. It is a very relaxing and comforting place for me.  I had a long prayer time for Shai's family.  I know they will mourn a long time his loss.

CATAHOULA "BLUE"

I was up at Mom and Dad's today visiting with them while out on my "picture adventure" and thought ... that Blue's the most gorgeous dog... ah ha...let me take a picture of him and share with everyone! Oh... but he's not as gorgeous as my Doolittle! You know...the one I shared a picture of the other day! Now for the real kicker.... Blue and Doolittle are from the same litter! Go back and compare their coloring...isn't that cool?!?!?!

Hidden Garden

This was so much fun today.  I went to campus to study for an exam tomorrow.  On my way from the parking deck to the library, I decided to go into the woods in hopes of finding a good fall shot of the colorful trees  for my one unique shot of the day and discovered an entire Botanical Garden hidden on campus.  I have gone to school here for over two years and did not know it was there.  It is breathtaking in many ways and most things are going dormant!  I cannot wait to go back next summer when everything is in full bloom.

HUNG OUT TO DRY....

I was on my way to the post office this morning after dropping Grace off at school... thinking the whole way about the new president...Israel's well-being....my picture for the day.... my list of things to do.... when I passed by this "clothesline" and thought God please don't let the US..."Hang Israel out to dry!"

Huntersville's "Old Store"

This is our local produce, garden center and fresh food farmer's market.  It is an awesome place to buy locally grown garden vegetables, homemade soy candles, homemade cheeses and pies as well as boiled peanuts, pumpkins and holiday garland in their season.  It always looks and smells inviting and is a great place to catch up with neighbors and play a game of checkers with the kids.

OH THE STORIES THIS OLD HOUSE COULD TELL....

This window is on a house close to my own that I am so fond of... I go by it and just look and wonder what life would be like living there.... it's an old two-story farm house with a huge front porch and a screened porch on one side. It sits at the end of a dirt road where another crosses right in front of it...looks like an ol' plantation home.... lots of out buildings and tons of pasture land... oh' and humongous oak trees around it! Can you see all of that in your mind just from reading this and seeing the picture of the window? hmmm... might send ya a picture of the whole house tomorrow!

Illusion or Reality?

Sometimes I feel like I am out in the universe on a cosmic platform.   I see one thing with my physical senses... I see the rain reflecting off the flash in mid air as I stand  on fishing dock on Lake Noman just after sunset.  But from the vantage point the camera recorded it looks more like a space shot from that cosmic deck floating  freely in the star filled universe.... I often wonder if my experiences are mere illusions that only I perceive the way I do or are they the reality God created for me to experience?  Does everyone else perceive reality differently through the perspective they are given?

BACK IN THE OLD DAYS....

This barn has been in Saluda County for quite some time. I have always wanted to photograph this barn and finally stopped to do so!

PAPA SONNY'S TRUCK

This picture is of Grace and Mary Kathryn perched up on their late Papa Sonny's ol' chevrolet pickup... they are cousins but act so much like sisters! Papa Sonny I'm sure would've loved to have seen his granddaughters having this much fun!

Soaring in the Carolina Blue

Cold morning air in the Carolina blue sky.  Nature and man made contrast in the bright morning sunshine.

Saturday Night Havdalah

Havdalah--the separation of Sabbath and the beginning of the new week...  with  a picture of my young daughters in the background...ballet sisters and friends.

A SISTA' SATURDAY!

Oh what fun sisters have... It does my heart good everytime I see the bond between them! Grace is so good with her sister and Abby thinks she hung the moon!