A thought of the day

One thought of many

It’s not that I can’t think of anything to blog about, it’s that I think of too much. I guess that’s how it is when your responsibilities and activities decrease. The mind becomes more reflective and analytical. 

After reading Rob’s autobiography, I felt challenged to read the Bible through in a month. So I am speed reading God’s word to mankind as if it were a book! Today I am in Deuteronomy, and I just read this:

 10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Isn’t that the truth! Have we ever learned anything?

Find the butterflies.

The lantana behind the gallery were filled with butterflies today. Some seemed camouflaged in the bright colors.  Can you spot them?

Nature Lover

Here are some of my favorite pictures from my meanderings along the river today.

The underside of a big beautiful mushroom.

Because I like B/W. 

One of the wiggly movements and little daisy like flowers that grow in the water.

Rowers at sunset.

Moon rises over the electric towers, or whatever they are. 

thoughts

Surely at the top of the list of most boring jobs is working in an art gallery. But it is my job, and I persist. Responsibility has its downside. After several slow days, today ended up being good. And what made it so? Not just the small sale but the nice people who visited, and the evening.

It was close to 7 pm when I locked up for the day. As I walked to the car, I looked toward the river where a gorgeous pink-orange range of colors in the sky was repeating itself on the water, and I was beckoned to come closer. 

The river is extraordinary on its own, especially in the way the sun causes it to change colors. When I was there at midday yesterday a woman said to me, "Look how the water is sparkling like diamonds." At that time, the shimmering lights were playing off the midrange blue of the water. On other days, when the sun is behind a cloud and the sky is dark, the old Cape Fear can be a somber black. Sometimes it is gray or a deep blue-green. Tonight for a short while, the color of the water was the same color that the sun left in the sky on its descent over the distant islet of trees, and the small gathering treated it as a holy experience. A beautiful sight from nature seems as if we are let in on an eternal secret. 

This is with my iPhone, not at the height of its splendor, and not true to the beautiful true colors. 

Fort Fisher

What a beautiful day it has been! I wanted to see the beach so I took the easy drive down to the end of 421. I would go to the tide pool I thought, but I was unpleasantly surprised to find parking meters in the sand by the wooden walkway. What nerve! Ten dollars? No way. So I drove on, finding a spot at the big rocks near the picnic area in Ft Fisher. I walked to the left which was new to me, and it was filled with pretty sights. (Top pic.) Maybe it will be my new favorite place. 

Rain and more rain

The “flood of the century” came not too long after I moved here, but the last three days seemed to have been a repeat. Dark skies! Loud house-shaking thunder! Flash floods! Yesterday I was thinking I should postpone my necessary small trips and duties until a brighter, drier day. Really? What had become of me? Was I turning into a sissy? Where was my courage hiding? I had never before considered staying in because of weather. I loved a challenge! 

After the hubby died, I lost strength. I realized that because he was so strong, I drew strength from him. He was also a port in the storm, a safety net. I have not been fearful since he has been gone, just older and more cautious, less bold. Mulling this over, I saw the bad weather as an opportunity to get out there and take courage. It was a small thing but necessary. 

When my stepdaughters came to live with me, they were afraid of the dark. I used to tell them that the same God who takes care of them during the day, takes care of them during the night. Same with storms. He is still with me in the storms as well as in quiet times, and whether I have my human safety net or not.  

geese at sunset

Still lovin' the Canada geese.