Painting.....
I really do not like to paint...pictures I'm no good at cause I do not have depth perception ....houses, inside or outside, I do not like to paint. I once enjoyed adding a line of paint on my motorcycle because it gave it a "smoked" appearance. It was painted with a special BMW paint. There was no other bike around with this appearance.
I'm finishing our bedroom today in our home. Gail, my wife, is choosing the colors. I'm the "yes" man as to colors. Why that is the safest course for me. Letting her chose the colors since she is the one that designs the drapes, bedspreads, and matching pillows.
Seriously this is one of the lessons men learn, or should learn, as we butt our heads against the reality of relationships. I know...I know why is this not known before a relationship is started? Relationships, especially second marriages, are a work in progress. Painting often is needed. No I'm not talking about wall paint for a room. I'm rather thinking about colors in attitude and directions. Discovering the colors in one relationship does not mean you'll recognize the colors needed in another relationship. It is hard to paint over an old relationship's colors with new colors.
I've not done a very good job in observing the new colors of this relationship. Old colors bleed through the efforts to apply a new paint. I'm actually having that issue with my actual efforts in painting the walls of our bedroom. The colors the former owners of this house used are so bold. The efforts to paint a brighter more lively color is requiring more effort and paint. Covering up the bold former paint is causing me to give this room more time. If this is true in covering a bold former paint it is true in covering a former relationship. Time, effort, care to detail, and a desire to enjoy the outcome.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
REAL....
Who am I? Even from the time we are born there is, in most of us, a desire to be wanted, loved, accepted.
When Gail and I were thinking about finding a Lab.....we found a list which told us what to look for in a puppy. In looking over a litter one rule stuck out. Look for the puppy that can move away from the litter being able to take care of itself. Observe those who, in essence, know who they are and like who they are as a dog. You can see the REAL traits of the animal.
I'm chuckling as I read what I've written. I did not have Self Confidence Traits till I was in my 30's. Oh, I reached a time where I'd stand for myself, but know ME...The REAL ME?
My birthday is in July. I entered the first grade in September. I'd been the only child for 4 !/2 years. Preschool was not a custom in 1948. ...My eyesight was not clear. Who knew? I really do not remember any children's books. Reading...before school started? We played outside I guess...I've tried to figure out my activities from my birth to entering first grade. I'm blank, and those who could remember that era have passed. I had to get glasses. Hey 4 eyes..... What's wrong with you? He looks stupid. Life among kids of that time was rough. There were no participation trophies. I've read that if a child can not read by grade 3 they are basically lost. I was lost. I should have repeated grade one, or better yet I should have been held back a year. At church my parents would have been asked is Jimmy not in school? He's old enough? Is something wrong with him? So.....off to school I went.
In the third grade...here sat a boy who saw no good in himself, could not read, was battling to be liked among the other boys, passed because he learned how to copy work from one who knew the answers..... The fourth grade. Mrs. Hancock. On the school grounds there was a annex building that was separated from the main school building. How I got into her class I have no idea. It removed me from the main group of boys. She had the ability to draw one out, I will not say I over came my learning disability in her class. Yes, it was a disability by the fourth grade. My mental walk was crippled by a mind set that I was not fit to learn. It was in Mrs. Hancock's class my dream of going far away was awakened. In writing this I'm asking myself was it the product of my feeling I was unfit? Or, that I wanted to escape all these that saw me as unfit? I can not remember the assignment. I remember I went to the Library to look for information on the Outback. Wow...that's a long way from my little town in Alabama. I'd not find any there that thought I was unfit. I know, I know...at this stage no matter where I'd gone I would have taken the feeling of unfit with me.
Writing is a healer and revealer!!!! All these years I've felt I had a interest in other parts of the world when I wrote about Australia in the fourth grade. I was trying to escape. Later in my life I developed a interest in Australia which I thought was connected to the fourth grade. I'm sitting here dazed at what I've discovered. I'm not saddened by this revelation.
There are other points to this time in my life to consider. I need to digest this emotionally before I go on writing. Have you had such a revelation when writing?
Who am I? Even from the time we are born there is, in most of us, a desire to be wanted, loved, accepted.
When Gail and I were thinking about finding a Lab.....we found a list which told us what to look for in a puppy. In looking over a litter one rule stuck out. Look for the puppy that can move away from the litter being able to take care of itself. Observe those who, in essence, know who they are and like who they are as a dog. You can see the REAL traits of the animal.
I'm chuckling as I read what I've written. I did not have Self Confidence Traits till I was in my 30's. Oh, I reached a time where I'd stand for myself, but know ME...The REAL ME?
My birthday is in July. I entered the first grade in September. I'd been the only child for 4 !/2 years. Preschool was not a custom in 1948. ...My eyesight was not clear. Who knew? I really do not remember any children's books. Reading...before school started? We played outside I guess...I've tried to figure out my activities from my birth to entering first grade. I'm blank, and those who could remember that era have passed. I had to get glasses. Hey 4 eyes..... What's wrong with you? He looks stupid. Life among kids of that time was rough. There were no participation trophies. I've read that if a child can not read by grade 3 they are basically lost. I was lost. I should have repeated grade one, or better yet I should have been held back a year. At church my parents would have been asked is Jimmy not in school? He's old enough? Is something wrong with him? So.....off to school I went.
In the third grade...here sat a boy who saw no good in himself, could not read, was battling to be liked among the other boys, passed because he learned how to copy work from one who knew the answers..... The fourth grade. Mrs. Hancock. On the school grounds there was a annex building that was separated from the main school building. How I got into her class I have no idea. It removed me from the main group of boys. She had the ability to draw one out, I will not say I over came my learning disability in her class. Yes, it was a disability by the fourth grade. My mental walk was crippled by a mind set that I was not fit to learn. It was in Mrs. Hancock's class my dream of going far away was awakened. In writing this I'm asking myself was it the product of my feeling I was unfit? Or, that I wanted to escape all these that saw me as unfit? I can not remember the assignment. I remember I went to the Library to look for information on the Outback. Wow...that's a long way from my little town in Alabama. I'd not find any there that thought I was unfit. I know, I know...at this stage no matter where I'd gone I would have taken the feeling of unfit with me.
Writing is a healer and revealer!!!! All these years I've felt I had a interest in other parts of the world when I wrote about Australia in the fourth grade. I was trying to escape. Later in my life I developed a interest in Australia which I thought was connected to the fourth grade. I'm sitting here dazed at what I've discovered. I'm not saddened by this revelation.
There are other points to this time in my life to consider. I need to digest this emotionally before I go on writing. Have you had such a revelation when writing?
Monday, January 16, 2017
Gail and I have been to this region before when we rafted down the Nantahala River. Robbinsville, N.C. is the nearest town. The campsite we chose was the most private in the camp. It was a pleasant Monday night listening to the crickets as I drifted off to sleep. Coffee over an open fire. Bacon was cooking....In walks this dog. We had lost a 12 year pal in 2012. Sunshine was a Yellow Lab who was our partner and family. She could have lived for another year maybe, but the pain would have restricted her life. We could not let her live in pain seeing her life restricted. In May of 2012 she was put down.
I've just now realized it was May in North Carolina. Back to the dog. I scooted him on out of camp. I was not going to feed him because we had decided to not have any more dogs. Before Sunshine we'd lost a small dog named Sunny, and had a Black Lab hit by a car. No More Dogs....Why we could pack up and go without having to think about.......well...you know. Sunshine was a great partner. Miss Independent. She was loving but not a cuddling dog.
The Mountains of North Carolina were beautiful. That Tuesday and Wednesday we road enjoying all the scenery. Wednesday afternoon....dog back in camp. Thursday was to be our day to roam some of the Cherokee areas. Cheoah Pt. North Carolina. This time he slid up to us turning on his back with his legs in the air. How do you kick him out of camp? We had a rope I could use as a lead. Walking over to the Host camp we noticed he liked to sniff for scents more so than our Labs. The Camp Host told us he had been left in camp for about four weeks. She indicated a Camp caretaker was talking about taking him home. On Thursday we found a rescue center for animals. Even though we knew he had care something just did not feel right. As we fixed breakfast Gail asked about checking on the dog. At the center we found he had been taken to a home till he could be checked by their Veterinarian . It was a drive out into the mountains to where he was being housed. The lady caring for the dog let us know the Vet would not see him for 8 days. This was just not right. Here he'd been wandering in the mountains for four weeks. On Saturday we loaded up for our trip back to North Georgia. In the midst of our sleeping bags He buried himself into the sleeping bags as one looking for a cave.
On Saturday this new friend was introduced to our grand son's 3 year old boxer. Oh, boy...what a introduction. Bentley had been the queen for 3 years. What to name this new addition. Cheoah ....well that was the name of the Camp Ground. Had to get your tongue around that when you call out to Cheoah..... Nah....just not a fit. Some one said Camp.....well hey that is where he was found. So now we have a Camp...our own Camper Dog. This Dog as best we can tell is a mix between a German Pointer and Bird Dog. He is definitely a Hunter. A cuddlier when around you, but definitely a hunter. Squirrels...oh, my...
How often have we had unplanned events, people, or animals come into our lives that changed our perspective? Camp has touched us deeply. There is so much difference between him and our Lab. He is a rescue dog....the question is did we rescue him or did he rescue us? I'm thinking he rescued us.
Friday, January 13, 2017
The bare limbs of Winter. I'm looking out of my windows at the bare trunks and limbs of the trees that surround my home in North Georgia. Squirrels are constantly running from tree to tree. Thankfully my Pointer/Bird Dog mix is laying asleep on his chair. Otherwise he'd be rushing to the deck to take on the squirrels. Then I'd not be able to think due to the barking.
Five years has passed since I last wrote. Life got in the way. A move from Birmingham, opening a business, closing a business. The trees are bare. Some leaves are bunched up in branches. Squirrel nests. Life....will there be any beauty again in a life that seems bare. Each year as I've viewed these trees, which allows my house to be seen from several roads in Winter, I'm reminded that in Summer my house is hidden. The beauty of Spring covers my house and any of its imperfections. This reminds me of these words "having forgiven us all our transgression." The blood of Christ took a bare life making it Spring again.
In my life I've had numerous people enter. At the time I did not reflect on their coming, some leaving, and some remaining. Who are these people? Where have they come from? Why have they come? Usually I've just enjoyed their coming without trying to ponder the "why" of their presence. It seems when I've found myself in a "bare" time the oddest person comes into my life. No they are not odd in appearance. Just "odd" as to how they appeared in my life. The leaves of Spring come in their presence. It can be in the dead of Winter when they appear as "leaves of Spring."
Do you find "leaves of Spring" come in to your bare Winter times? Oh, by the way, the boxer just woke up the Pointer mix....Squirrels....I'll tell you the story of finding this Pointer mix in another blog. I think he is "leaves of Spring" in my life as well.
Five years has passed since I last wrote. Life got in the way. A move from Birmingham, opening a business, closing a business. The trees are bare. Some leaves are bunched up in branches. Squirrel nests. Life....will there be any beauty again in a life that seems bare. Each year as I've viewed these trees, which allows my house to be seen from several roads in Winter, I'm reminded that in Summer my house is hidden. The beauty of Spring covers my house and any of its imperfections. This reminds me of these words "having forgiven us all our transgression." The blood of Christ took a bare life making it Spring again.
In my life I've had numerous people enter. At the time I did not reflect on their coming, some leaving, and some remaining. Who are these people? Where have they come from? Why have they come? Usually I've just enjoyed their coming without trying to ponder the "why" of their presence. It seems when I've found myself in a "bare" time the oddest person comes into my life. No they are not odd in appearance. Just "odd" as to how they appeared in my life. The leaves of Spring come in their presence. It can be in the dead of Winter when they appear as "leaves of Spring."
Do you find "leaves of Spring" come in to your bare Winter times? Oh, by the way, the boxer just woke up the Pointer mix....Squirrels....I'll tell you the story of finding this Pointer mix in another blog. I think he is "leaves of Spring" in my life as well.
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