Month: January 2008

 
Books I am reading presently:
Am reading Max Lucado’s “He Did This Just For You”
Brother Lawrence’s “The Practice Of The Presence Of God”
Nicholas Evans’ “The Divide”
Bono’s 2006 Presidental Prayer Breakfast Speech “On The Move”
John Eldridge’s “Waking The Dead”
Katharine Parrish’s “Ready Or Not”
Todd Wyrick’s “The Relationship”

Books I have on my nightstand to read & books I want to read:
Kenneth Mottram’s “Caring For Those In Crisis”
“The Wounded Healer” by Henri Nouwen
“A Lifting Up for the Downcast” by William Bridge
Bob Woodruff’s book “In An Instant”

Previously finished Kim Edward’s book “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter”–such a delightful writer, along with Nicholas Evans. Also read over the holiday’s Cesar Millan’s “Cesar’s Way”, which has trained me to help Wyatt be a better behaved puppy. And to wrap up, FINALLY picked up C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” recently; so simply written; cuts to the bone.
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This morning, as I walked the Lake Pine trail, I noticed the swans had begun building their nest in anticipation of egg-laying and little “swannettes” arriving in the spring. It’s always such a waiting game for us human walkers, runners, bikers; watching, watching for the eggs to hatch, then hoping, & many of us praying, they survive to teenage-hood (when they fly off to new horizons), which, sadly, most don’t. We all root for the graceful, elegant couple who struggle diligently to raise a family.
I’ll have to post photos of the “sygnets” this year:)

Hallmark has begun selling (RED) items; lifesaving products.
It is an ideal way to bless the poor & needy with AIDS. AIDS is the leprosy of our time. 5,800 Africans die of AIDS every day, & 150,000 every month, the equivalent of a tsunami. They die for lack of drugs we can buy at any drugstore.
“AIDS is the largest world health crisis of our time, and Africa is the epicenter hardest hit.” (from the Hallmark (RED) brochure)

What (RED) Is:
(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund (which gives 25% of the world’s funding for AIDS programs) by teaming up with the world’s most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

What’s the meaning of the parentheses or brackets? Well, we call them “the embrace.” Each company that becomes (RED) places its logo in this embrace and is then elevated to the power of red. Thus the name — (PRODUCT)RED.

You, the consumer, can take your purchase to the power of (RED) simply by upgrading your choice. Thus the proposition: (YOU)RED. Be embraced, take your own fine self to the power of (RED). What better way to become a good-looking samaritan?!

Some of the businesses involved so far:
Gap
Motorola
American Express
Armani
Dell
Microsoft
Apple
Hallmark

For more info, go to www.JOINRED.COM
For a born shopper, I must say I am grateful for a way to help the helpless by buying (RED)!

 
Our local forecasters had predicted snow for Central NC. last Saturday.
I was dubious:(
But hopeful.
My daughter fussed at me; I had no faith.
I said I did, but the weather folks had talked it up so much, I had big doubts.
And sure enough, this is all we got in our area, frozen-wise.
A sprinkling of ice.
A smattering of white in the grass, on the cars, and bushes.
We did get a little rain, which I’m very thankful for, but for us snow lovers, it was a big let-down:(
But….winter isn’t over, so hope “springs eternal” for all the sledders & snowman builders & snowball fighters & snowcream lovers & snow watcher lovers !!!

 

This is the McFarland family during our 2007 Christmas gathering.
Happy New Year from all of us:)

This is Wyatt, my bud:) He’s a sweet, handsome, affectionate “teddy bear” of a Basset, who loves to cuddle as close as possible or have his tummy rubbed.
He likes to chew his bone while he lays it on my foot!
Say howdy to my Texan-born sweetie:)

Shepherd’s Vineyard Greenway has been a delight to our family for 20 years. All of our children have played there. Our dogs Flash, Charlie, and now Wyatt, have loved walking, sniffing, and running along the well worn path. (We even scattered our Charlie’s ashes through the grassy edges of the greenway one Father’s Day afternoon)
Tall hardwood and pine trees tower overhead.
A small creek runs along the walkway most of the year, unless the weather is unusually dry.

We greet numerous people and dogs daily–Wyatt and I are out every morning.
Joggers, bikers, walkers, runners, kids playing in/beside the creek, squirrels, and rabbits spend countless hours there. (I’m sure cats quietly, silently, explore as well.) “Barefoot Bob and Daisy” are two of our favorite walking neighbors, always greeting us with a happy smile and a wagging tail 🙂

This pathway is one of my very favorite things about living in the Vineyard.
One end leads to the pool and to the library. What more could you ask for on a warm summer day? Even checking out a book after an invigorating walk on a winter’s day, then returning home to read by a fire, is a treat.
Such a pretty hike, just across the street from 1327 Apache Lane:)
Whoa and amen!

BTW, this photo was taken Thanksgiving Day 2007. Such a gorgeous November fall day!

This afternoon the Mc bikers (Keith, Cameron & Skye), plus Wyatt and myself, scouted out a new section of the American Tobacco Trail.
What a neat place to hike, walk, ride bikes or horses. The entrance off Route 751 is called the Olive Chapel section. Plenty of families were enjoying the sunny, and breezy, January day, especially the kids with new bikes (Keith included here:)). Not many dogs today. We saw a few horses. Wyatt’s pretty intrigued with those fellas; he stood in awe as they passed by!
Check out this sweet trail if you haven’t. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s one of Wake’s/Apex’s jewels:)

This is the ‘big tree’ at the end of Moffit Road in New Castle, Pa. It is a grand,
majestic tree, spreading it’s broad, proud limbs in every direction. I eagerly anticipate walking to the ‘big tree’ when I’m visiting my in laws.

It is a landmark that has been my walking focus for many years. I first walked to it with my father in law, but as the years have passed, Dad became a bit slower, and now has finally retired from hiking. Now I go alone, but once in a great while someone will join me. Last week my daughter Skye came along.

I’ve seen the ‘big tree’ in the summer and winter, in the snow and the rain, surrounded by fog and under warm sun, richly covered with green foliage, and looking quite elegant displaying graceful bare branches.

I’m not sure what type of tree it is, but it’s lovely. Cornfields are nearby. Rolling hills surround it. Clouds overhead cover it like a canopy. Moffit Road leads towards or away from it, depending on your perspective. A few people live along the road, in sight of the great giant. It is a splendid tree, and it makes my walk an inspired one.

“I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree…
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray…” Joyce Kilmer

I’ll always hear Dad’s voice asking, “Are you walking to the ‘big tree’ today? Wish he could still come along…..I think he is in spirit:)