Love Story

True love stories never have endings.

Richard Bach

The photo isn't mine.  The bride is. And now the groom is, too.  I think every photograph the photographer took captured two of the happiest people I know.  This one pretty much summed up their day.

Foolishly Enthusiastic

You will do foolish things,

but do them with enthusiasm.

Colette

Yep, he is one of mine.  He made up part of the sophomore boys "Iron Man" volleyball team.  These guys don't do anything half way.

Learning With Pleasure

What we learn with pleasure,

we never forget.

Alfred Mercier

Autumn for Man and Nature

For man, autumn is a time

of harvest, of gathering together.

For nature, it is a time

of sowing, of scattering abroad.

Edwin Way Teale

Fishing for Relaxation

Many men go fishing all of their lives

without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

Henry David Thoreau

Riding...riding

Ride A Wild Horse

Ride a wild horse

with purple wings

Striped yellow and black

except his head

which must be red.

Ride a wild horse

against the sky -

hold tight to his wings

before you die

whatever else

you leave undone

once

ride a wild horse

into the sun

Hannah Kahn

Sunrise Renewal

With each sunrise,

we start anew.

The Hills Are Alive

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely

I know I will hear what I've heard before

My heart will be blessed with the sound of music

And I'll sing once more

The Sound of Music

Morning Tiptoes In

Through the blackest night,

morning gently tiptoes,

feeling its way to dawn.

Robert Brault

If you read my Easy Street blog, you know that I took this picture on my way into Trailer High on Monday morning.  This was the sunrise that greeted me.  I haven't touched the picture; it is straight out of the camera.  I love the elevators in shadow.  They scream, "Small Town America."

Sowing Seeds

If you think in terms of a year,

plant a seed;

if in terms of ten years,

plant trees;

if in terms of a hundred years,

teach the people.

Confucius

If I Only Had A Brain

I could while away the hours

Conferrin' with the flowers

Consultin' with the rain

And my head I'd be scratchin'

While my thoughts were busy hatchin'

If I only had a brain.

The Wizard of Oz

Back roads

The everyday kindness of back roads

more than makes up for the acts of greed

in the headlines.

Charles Kuralt

If you read Easy Street, you know that I love the CBS Sunday Morning News.  My mom got me started on the show back when Charles Kuralt was the host.  I loved his folksy delivery.  I was quite disappointed when his double life came out after his death.

Charles Osgood was a good replacement choice.  I heard him speak at the National English Teacher's conference quite a few years ago.  I love his sense of humor and his rhymes.  I love his delivery on CBS Sunday Morning.  And I especially love that he sings and plays the piano once in awhile.  And on the New Years show this last year--he played and sang "Auld Lang Syne."  Yes, I love Charles Osgood, too!

Lots of Glory

The greater the obstacle,

the more glory in overcoming it.

Moliere

The tornado wiped out a lot of old, old trees in Tiny Town.  This family left the remaining stumps to remind us of those gorgeous old trees, and they've turned them into planters for some seasonal color.  Talk about making lemonade out of lemons...!

Struggling, while life goes on

As we struggle to make sense of things,

life looks on in repose.

Little Pumpkin Heads

Men are like pumpkins. All the good ones

are either taken or they've had everything

scraped out of their heads with a spoon.

Sorry guys.  That quote was just too good to omit!  I'll have to bash women another day...or not!

Stroke of Luck

Remember, not getting what you want

is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck!

How's Your Karma?

Follow the three R's of good karma:

1. Respect for self.

2. Respect for others.

3. Responsibility for all of your actions.

Native Grasses

Gardening imparts an organic perspective

on the passage of time.

William Cowper

I love the native grasses this time of year. 

Wearing My Shades

"The future's so bright

I gotta wear shades."

Timbuk 3 Lyrics

Sorry I have been absent for so long.  Life has been crazy lately.  My oldest daughter got married.  This picture is from the outdoor ceremony.  We had a great time.  There were a lot of happy moments, but now it is time for me to get my camera dusted off and begin again.

Miracle of Sunrise

We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise

if we have waited in the darkness.

A Father's Full Arms

A truly rich man is one whose children

run into his arms when his hands are empty.

I didn't know this Dad and his kids, but they sat in front of me at the U game on Saturday.  I couldn't resist the image of this little group--something so sweet about how the kids stayed close to Dad.

Go Out For A Walk

If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking.

Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.

Raymond Inmon

The Miracle of a Blue Sky

“People usually consider walking on water
 or in thin air a miracle.

But I think the real miracle
 is not to walk either on water

or in thin air, but to walk on earth.

Every day we are engaged in a miracle

 which we don't even recognize:

a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves,

the black, curious eyes of a child --

our own two eyes.

All is a miracle.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

Butt Prints In the Sand

Butt Prints In The Sand

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
"But Lord they are too big for feet."

"My child," He said in somber tones,
"For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait."

"You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt."

"Because in life, there comes a time,
when one must fight, and one must climb.
When one must rise and take a stand,
or leave their butt prints in the sand."
Author Unknown

There is a part of me that believes God surely must feel like this once in awhile!  He can only do so much, especially if we aren't willing to do anything. Sometimes He just needs to force us into action.

Greatest Poetry? The Poetry of Childhood

The greatest poem ever known

Is one all poets have outgrown:

The poetry, innate, untold,

Of being only four years old.

~Christopher Morley, To a Child

Self Portrait Roller Coaster

“" Life can be like a roller coaster...

And just when you think you've had enough,

and you're ready to get off the ride
 and take the calm, easy merry-go round...

You change your mind, throw your hands in the air

and ride the roller coaster all over again.

That's exhilaration...that's living a bit on the edge...

that's being ALIVE."

Stacey Charter

This self-portrait was taken at the end of a busy day with the photo booth application on my new school mac computer.  There are all kinds of backgrounds available.  I liked the roller coaster.  It fit for that day. It seems appropriate for most days.  After all, I am a school teacher!  (Oh, and I could waste a lot of time trying to figure out how to use all the nifty applications available!)

Bachelorette Bowling

The bowling alley is the poor man's country club.

Sanford Hansell

Round #2 of Bachelorette Party photos.  This one is from the bowling alley.  They had a live DJ who was so loud that my teeth were buzzing, to say nothing of the fact that I think I am glad that I couldn't undertstand the lyrics!!!  Definitely a bowling alley for the young and hip crowd.

Just Living

I never lose sight of the fact

that just living is fun.

This is somewhat of a "ruined" picture.  Who knew taking a picture inside of a  moving limo could be so tough?  I'd never been in a limo before.  I'm pretty sure I am the only one of this crowd who hadn't been--and I was the oldest by 25 years.  Hmmmm....is that fair?  This was K's bachelorette party.  Who knew the Mom would be invited?!  Gotta love my daughters!

Watching the Clouds Roll In

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Full Moons

I'll be looking at the moon,

but I'll be seeing you.

Four Year Olds

The prime purpose of being four

is to enjoy being four-

of secondary importance is to prepare for being five.

Jim Trelease

Sisters

Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world

simply by being there for each other.

Carol Saline

I haven't yet decided whether it is better for them to be fighting with each other or getting along with each other and picking on me...!

Discipline

Because of their size,

parents may be hard to discipline properly.

P.J O'Rourke

This isn't really time out, though it looks like it.  These two are engrossed in a personal DVD player.  Big brother and little sister were giggling together over a movie when most of the time they were fighting.  He'd push or hit her, and she'd scream.  But for thirty minutes, they sat quietly side by side.  Miracles do happen!

Swimming

Sometimes God calms the storm.

At other times, He calms the sailor.

And sometimes He makes us swim.

Author Unknown

Opposites Attract

Opposites attract,

but the like minded last.

I'm not sure where the quote came from.  This photo is not mine, but a professional photographer's.  He was doing K and CT's engagement shoot.  This quote and photo pretty much sum up their relationship.

A bad day of fishing is better

than a good day of work.

Susan asked if I'm OK.  I've been gone too long.  Life has been hectic lately, but it is about to get back to routine.  It has been fun hectic, but hectic none the less.  I'm ready for life to return to normal.  In the meantime, this picture is of the son-in-law to be.  He is an avid fisherman and hunter.  This photo is from my night on the lake in his boat--the first boat ride since the stroke four years ago.  It was a beautiful evening!

When Love Is Kind

When love is kind,

cheerful and free

love's sure to find

welcome with me.

But when love brings

heartache and pang

tears and such things

love may go hang!

Thomas Moore

I always liked this song from back in the voice lesson days.  I could identify at age 16.  I can still identify!  And somehow, these lyrics have never left me. 

Every Evening

Every evening I turn my worries over to God.

He's going to be up all night anyway.

Mary C. Crowley

Wheels of History

Blood alone moves the wheels of history.

Martin Luther

Music Museum

If the King loves music,

it is well with the land.

Mencius

This is the end of the vacation photos.  Toward the end of our vacation we went to Vermillion, South Dakota to the National Music Museum.  I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was quite interesting.  It was kind of like a tour of musical instruments through the ages.  There were ancient drums, harps, and pianos.  I liked the really old instruments and the modern instruments.  The rest were a bit over my head. 

Bottled Poetry

Wine is bottled poetry.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Storm or a Squall?

It takes a real storm in the average person's life

to make him realize how much worrying he has done

over the squalls.

Bruce Barton

This is another vacation picture, though this one was taken in Sioux City, Iowa.  The 4th of July was stormy everywhere in the midwest, but I loved the dark cloud reflected in the river. 

As for the quote, a stroke and a tornado have taught me the difference between what is an emergency and what is an inconvenience.  This quote is so true.  Suddenly, a lot of trivial things weren't so important!

Worn Rocks

Water continually dropping

will wear hard rocks hollow.

Plutarch

When we were in Sioux Falls, we had plenty of opportunity to see what water could do to rocks.  Most of the rocks at the falls are worn smooth and make great places to play for the kids, and great resting spots for the adults.

Adapting to the Winds

The pessimist complains about the wind;

the optimist expects it to change;

the realist adjusts the sails.

William Arthur Ward

We saw several wind farms in South Dakota.  One was huge.  There were windmills as far as we could see.  I know some people dislike windmills, but there is just something about them that I love.  Between the ground and the sky, they remind me of a work of art.

Accidentally Leaving Doors Open

Happiness often sneaks through a door

you didn't know you left open.

John Barrymore

Cathedrals

Mankind was never so happily inspired

as when it made a cathedral.

Robert Louis Stevenson

4th July 2010

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.

I like to see a man live so that his place

will be proud of him.

Abraham Lincoln

Quote from Laura

Baseball Days

Baseball was made for kids,

and adults only screw it up.

Bob Lemon

There is almost nothing better than a T-ball game.  One of my favorite little guys is having a serious discussion on the bench before he goes out to bat.  (Everybody bats, but notice the glove is still on.  You have to be prepared!!)  And he will slide into home. every. single. time.  Almost four is a perfect age for baseball!

Nothing Changes??...

Know what's weird?

Day by day nothing seems to change,

but pretty soon....everything's different.

Calvin and Hobbs

I guess I have been quoting comic strips lately.  I've always thought there was a lot of wisdom in our cartoons.  (And I loved "Calvin and Hobbs"!!)

Flood Waters Recede

The flood waters will recede,

the famine will end,

the sun will shine tomorrow,

and I will always be here to take care of you.

Charlie Brown to Snoopy

We've had a lot of rain around these parts.  The rivers, creeks, and lakes are full to overflowing.  This is what is left when the waters recede. 

Wising Up

By three methods we learn wisdom:

First, by reflection, which is noblest;

second, by imitation, which is easiest;

and third, by experience, which is bitterest.

Confucious

Farming? Easy???

Farming looks mighty easy

when your plow is a pencil

and you're a thousand miles from the field.

Dwight David Eisenhower

A Philosophy For the Hypercritical

See everything;

overlook a great deal;

correct little.

Pope Paul XXIII