The annual CBC bonfire

Bonfire time! The night was just barely cool. No rain. No wind.

The wood was stacked... waiting. (Compare the size of the man to the "structure".)


After chowing down on hot dogs, toasted to the desired shade of black, we toured the countryside on a hay wagon. (Quite a feat for that tractor, pulling two wagons loaded with 40-some people who have just stuffed themselves with food!)

Finally, it was time for the drama.


I would like to describe the scene with "Slowly... slowly..." but I can't. Within minutes, it was a towering (no exaggeration!) inferno.



Those tiny little spots in the background of the picture are people moving their bales of hay away from the heat. It really was huge.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures? Luke 24:32

Time cards

After 31 days of "Silly2", there is a lingering sense of silly running 'round my head. To keep it alive, I decided to work on something completely new... for me, that is.

Many months ago, at a combination garage-warehouse sale, I found this full box of unused time cards... hundreds of them! So today, what silly thing could I, should I, do with them?


They are pretty boring as is, so I started splashing paint.


I experimented with a variety of glues, rivets, and innards (which being interpreted means - lots of stuff didn't work out, so to preserve the time already invested, I had to disassemble, and start again!). I learned plenty. I felt silly for some of the mistakes I made (duh!). But now that I have two completed time card projects, I like them!

One experiment was a wire hanger. I think I like it.



As for my Silly2 class? It was great. It's amazing how much you can learn when you just let go and be silly... especially in front of other people!

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5

Very good...

I love October. I love the smell in the air... the brilliant blue of the sky against the red-to-yellow shades in the leaves... the cool nights and sun-warmed days.

I know snow is coming. I know it's going to get reeeeeally cold. I can't help it. I love October.

My bedroom window looks down on a little courtyard, nestled against the house and surrounded by trees and hedges. It has always been my favorite part of our yard. And in October? I feel like I sleep in a tree house.




I can't even begin to capture the true colors of the view from this window... just imagine fabulous and you're halfway there.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good... Genesis 1:31

Three chairs

Sunday was a big day. Baptism for three family members! In order to be there for it, we needed to be on the road when the sun was rising.

We had the back roads through Ohio to ourselves - too early in the morning for both Saturday party people and the Sunday morning church-goers!

At the center of a very small, very quiet town, we saw this...


... which raises questions in my mind.

Was there a parade? Does this define "drive-by" in rural America?


Were these spectators too tired to take their chairs home with them? Was it just too much effort to close the door behind them when they decided to call it a night?

Or... maybe the event is today and folks set up early to get a good seat!

Hmmmm. Probably none of the above, but it did keep me awake for a while on that early morning drive.

It was a great day... whether questions were answered or not.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. Proverbs 8:34

The blobs are here!

Who knew blobs could be so much fun? Yep... my Silly Class is still going on.


The assignment had a checklist of things to do. Blind contours, contour drawings, one-line drawings... and then it said, "Draw five blobs, about the size of a large coin. Turn them into something."

The blob part was easy. Turning it into something started slow... but then... I don't know... maybe "silly" kicked into gear. I started seeing things, and adding color, and little squiggles. Before long, I had five new friends.


The last three need to have their faces washed before they come out to play, but they'll visit soon.

Parts of this class have been really hard for me... but blobs? They're OK!

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. Colossians 3:23

Run, baby, run!

Life this week...


Sunday at 11, most of it will be over.

I'll breathe then.

Labor not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life... John 6:27