Action...Around the House

My Photography Challenge this week is "action". So, I tried to capture some of the action around the house. Bailey surely performs well in this category!! Cliff working on the trailer sink passes by with some of the pipe work in hand, and then it was time to harvest some of the Thompson Grapes!!

Sunday Picnic

Sometimes it's just nice to get away even if it's not too far from home. Cliff and I went on a picnic Sunday to Lake McSwain. We found a little bit of shade under a eucalyptus tree...enjoyed our meal...watched the people around us...enjoyed the cool breeze coming off the water...and enjoyed each other's company!

Brief Cool Off

Whew! It's been an absolutely gorgeous last couple of days with cool breezes and a reprieve from the heat. We are enjoying it!! Guess we better as the 100s will be back Monday and for many days after. Thank you, God, for the break!

Be Ready

Today while in the grocery store, a young man (high schooler) by the name of Bret came up to me, extended his arms and gave me a hello side hug. I was kind of surprised...after all we weren't in church and he didn't have to do that. We had a brief conversation. My heart strings were tugging for this young man as I know he has struggles. Perhaps more than most at his age. Brief words were probably exactly what he needed along with that hug. As parents we often throw are arms up to the heavens to relent to God when we just have no more answers in parenting. We aren't giving up, but giving in and really, isn't that the only way Jesus can shine through a person? I've been there as a parent and have had lots of practice!! (I'm a very slow learner.) I see Bret's parents struggle with discernment issues and feel their fight to get it right. Today, Bret just needed a hug. It profoundly spoke to me that we need to be ready...ready to be used of God in perhaps the smallest ways. Hugs are underestimated and can be a healing source for a hurting soul. Be ready to be used.

Our Weekend!

We started our weekend remembering when...when Cliff and I met 34 years ago this month at Divine Gardens in Turlock. Cliff use to be a rodeo cowboy riding bulls and was wearing this very hat the night we met. It still has the same rope band, sweat stains and cow poo on it. I'm pretty blessed to have this cowboy in my life!

We help celebrate a friend's birthday (Dave, in center)!

I got to spend some time with a friend and we shot some photography in a cemetery in a little country town not too far from home. We are both in a photography challenge group and our assignment/challenge was still life photography. I got a couple of shots.

Then to top off our weekend, we heard our little terrier dog yappin' and barkin' tonight, and she really doesn't do that unless something is outside. I asked Cliff if it could be an opossum as they seem to love our redwood tree and grapes!! Sure enough this little fellow was playing possum on the ground. Cliff asked, "should I put him out of his misery?" I looked at him in horror, "You're going to kill it?" I asked with sad ol puppy dog eyes. I left as I was not going to be a witness!

Okay, so don't tell anyone, but Cliff is an old softy! He came back into the house and said, "I put him in the small metal trash can and will take him out to the country before work tomorrow." Hopefully he will not die of stress until that time. Look at the teeth on this guy!! Click the photo to enlarge if you like. Well, that's enough excitement for a while.