52Frames: 100 Steps from Your Door

52Frames: 100 Steps from Your Door

Wild Grapes

Runner-up to Wild Grapes Submission

These wild grapes are located near the back of my property. I am a gardener at heart and I love to make canned goods. I was thrilled the first summer upon discovering these grapes growing along the fence. Be wary of attempting to eat these as they (the skins) will burn your mouth. However, they make some of the most delicious jelly.

Note: This is My first submission. The Runner-up is my second choice and was NOT submitted. This challenge is Week 24 of the year.  So, I started late.  But, that is okay.  I wanted to continue with a weekly challenge prompt and this is what I’ve chosen.  I just hope I can keep up with everyone!

To see all the submissions, including mine, go here.  Warning! There are 769 pictures in this album.  A person can only submit one picture for the week. This means 769 people participated this week.  By the way, there are some awesome pictures in that album!

 

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Scenes of Garner 2018: Cats

Bird!

Bird!

Aww Phooey

I’m Mad at You

All pictures shot at Garner State Park in Uvalde, Texas on June 1, 2018

I didn’t take a lot of pictures of our cats camping at Garner.  Both cats really had a good time hiking around the campsite the morning of June 1st.  Abby (the one pictured) did not want to go back inside the camper.  She was mad at me in the last picture because I prevented her from getting too close to a bird on the ground.

We have confirmed plans to go camping again in November.  However, I am hoping to go camping again late this summer or early this Fall.  We shall see what is what in the near future.

Restore {FMF Word Prompt}

Much to cast down, much to build, much to restore.
~ TS Eliot ~

My husband is in the process of tearing apart his classic 1966 Mustang and it is currently in the garage in pieces.  He is slowly restoring the car to the best of his ability.  It will be his take on what the car looked like back in the day along with being slightly better than before.  It will reflect its former glory along with his handiwork.

What Dan is doing is similar to the Potter and the clay¹. The Potter is free to do as He wills which includes the undoing of things in order to guide and make me into the way I should go.  I am His restoration if I let Him. In other words, if I do not get in His way.

I’ve recently read about being His poem² . A poem cannot write itself.  It must flow from the author.  We are His poem and He is the Author. In order to become His poem, we have to let the Author flow and work through us as opposed to going our own way.  And, as a result, we will (eventually) become His masterpiece.

Since I love to write and dabble with words, this concept has stuck with me.  Poems, essays, and more often require constant editing to get it to a point where the author is thrilled with his work. I  can only imagine God is doing the same with me.

1. Jeremiah 18
2. The Book of Mysteries, Johnathan Cahn, Day 74
   Note: I am reading this as a daily devotional.  It has caused me to think and research simply because I did not trust its teachings.  It’s been a good read so far.

This “five-minute” writing went in a totally different direction that I planned.  But, it is what it is.

 

Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
    but he will heal us;
he has injured us
    but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will restore us,
    that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.

Hosea 6: 1-3 NIV

Scenes of Garner 2018: Birds

Cardinal (Male)

Cardinal (Female)

Golden-cheeked Warbler

 
Lark Sparrow

Tanager?

Tufted Titmouse

Golden-fronted Woodpeckers

House Finch

 
Chipping Sparrow

Great Crested or Vermilion Flycatcher (which one?)

Wild Turkey

All shot at Garner State Park in Uvalde, Texas

About 52Frames

This is just a section of our crazy yard out back. Taken on 6.12.2018

The blog I followed for the weekly photography challenge has stopped issuing challenges.  So, I went a hunting for a new blog or site to continue participating in a weekly photography challenge, to continue building up my skills, and provide an outlet for me besides writing.  It is hard for me to choose between photography and writing these days as I love doing both.

I found 52Frames: The Weekly Photography Project to Frame your World in my search which seems to fit my needs. The site requires pictures to be taken during the week of the challenge which is what I’ve been trying to do all along. So, I joined up.

I plan to blog my actual submission after 52Frames posts all submitted pictures on their facebook page which is generally on Tuesdays.  So, my post will always show up after Tuesday — most likely Wednesday or Thursday.  I also plan to post runner-ups whenever I’ve had a hard time picking between two or three photos to submit. Why not?

This week’s deadline is Sunday at midnight EST. So, I’ll share the submitted photo afterward.

I Believed I Can Fly

6.9.2017 {I’d like to believe I’ve come a long way since I took this picture.}

This week’s prompt is: Fly.

When I first encountered this word, I immediately thought of an essay I wrote just over a year ago in response to a writing challenge.  The challenge had two parts: an essay and three rhyming couplets which are based on the essay.  By the way, I never did submit these works as I felt they were not good enough.

This is a true event that happened during my early elementary years.  I was seven or eight years old at this time.

I know we are supposed to write at this moment in time for five minutes; but, I felt in my heart that I should share this.  So, I decided to take a few moments to clean up the essay instead.  It still needs some work. A writer is never satisfied.  At least, I am never satisfied. However, I do hope you all don’t mind I did this instead of writing on the spur of the moment.

I Believed I Can Fly¹

While observing a pair of graceful barn swallows weaving between porch beams without making a single mistake, it brought forth the memory of when I believed I can fly.

I felt lonely watching my classmates play hopscotch, jump rope, and four square.  No one ever invited me to play and no one wanted me to join in their games.  I felt alone.

I wanted to leave and never return. With a head full of imagination, I came up with a game plan.  I figured if I could run as fast as I could, faster than I have ever run, I’d be able to take off and fly.  And, if I could zigzag through the columns and make it to the end, it would add power to my flight. I would be able to escape to Neverland².

I finalized my plans and practiced some test runs.  I gathered up courage, took off running, and ran as fast as I could zigzagging through the columns.  I felt exhilarated. Faster and faster I ran.  My heart soared. I began to fly. I knew I could reach that faraway place where I would be welcomed.

I stumbled.  An out of control fall began. Time slowed down.   I tried to regain my equilibrium, careened around the next-to-the-last column, and kept on running. I desperately wanted my escape. I believed in my heart if I could make it beyond the last column, I would still be able to take flight.

Time slowed down (even more). The last column grew bigger and bigger in my view. No matter how hard I tried, I could not correct my path. I face-planted into the column, bounced back in recoil, and stood there in utter shock. I slowly lifted my hand and felt my mouth. I discovered I chipped my right front tooth. I gazed up at the bright blue sky and my heart cried knowing I would never make it to my beloved Neverland.

written on 5.25.2017 and edited 6.8.2018

Three Rhyming Couplets

Lonely and alone I am.
I thought and sought to scram.

I took off running in a bid to escape.
As fast as I could, my plan is shipshape.

Neverland, I longed and yearned,
In the end, I crashed and burned.

written on 6.1.2017 and unedited.

1. The essay did not need a title.  However, I adore titles. So,…
2.  Peter Pan was one of my favorite stories back in the day.

Secret

What comes to mind when you think of the word, SECRET?

“Everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life and a secret life.”
Gabriel García Márquez

The very first thoughts were of childhood when I silently observed my classmates telling each other truths and promising lies.  It almost never failed secrets told gets exposed.

Impromptu Haiku:

Confidence token,
Whisper lies and truth spoken,
Promises broken.
                       ~Lee Ann Lenfest

I then thought of deeper secrets that are clung close to the heart and never expressed. They can be silent destroyers of the mind, heart, and soul.

Society has a way of keeping us less than truthful building up facades and lies.  People seem to be unable or unwilling to deal with folks dealing with addictions, depression, disabilities, mental illnesses and more.  The reality is that all does not sparkle with happiness, perfection, and goodness once reborn.  The apostle Paul himself suffered a thorn in the flesh.

Could you share your deepest secrets?  Only my Saviour knows a few of mine.  It wasn’t until recently that I became brave to share some on this blog.  My soul needed to express itself.  I was going nuts with the cycle of self-destruction (picking, eating, or shopping). I’d stop one only to move onto another. I couldn’t find a way to break free.

Also, this blog is a secret as I haven’t publicly announced it to my family.  I’m not hiding it from them. On the flip side, I’m not telling them either. It is the strangest thing how the family has a stronger hold upon me than anyone else in the world.  Their words and opinions cut deeper than friends and strangers.  I don’t need the anxiety, worrying or wondering what they think of me. I also do not need to worry about what I write from my heart.  As a result, only Dan (my husband) and a couple personal friends of mine were informed of this blog.

Catching up on the Five Minute Friday Word Prompts, secret.
I’m late due to a recent camping trip; but, I’m still determined to do the word prompts I missed.