Trees

early in the morning a moment of quiet before I head to work.

I like to sit on my deck and look at my trees....
I'm not even sure what kind of trees they are
I know one is an oak, it's huge!

I Love the trees...my trees!

I Love looking at them in the summer so full, lush, varying shades of green.
Even in the winter when they are bare, there they stand.... stoic and strong.
In the spring they are covered with tiny buds....the hope of warm weather to come.

In the fall they become Paul's trees as they shed their leaves.
All ten million of them!!

Actually I don't mind so much
Raking can be very theraputic...and tiring...as well as muscle building or for those of us that are in the over 40 set, muscle paralyzing!!

I digress...

As I was sitting on the deck last week pondering the frailty of life
it ocurred to me that my trees withstand all kinds of hardships... rain,insects,birds,(woodpeckers) drought,wind, extreme cold.

Sometimes the wind snaps branches, the drought can certainly stress them... I could even cut one down, seeming to kill it but in time shoots would appear.

As I was thinking about the strength of my beautiful trees I thought of God.

Creator of all things

If you look for him.... he is everywhere... Just as my trees can withstand so much.

I can too.

He cares for the lilies of the field, he cares for my trees

and he cares for me.

Friendship

Oh, The comfort...the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts
Nor measure words...but pouring them
All right out...just as they are...
Chaff and grain together
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them
Keep what is worth keeping
and with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away


Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

Wisdom

It is not wise to put on tight pants so soon after applying lotion to your legs.



were you thinking it was going to be profound given the title?


a bit of wisdom none the less

Who's the Alpha?

My dog Jack and I are engaged in a battle. Who's the Alpha? I like to think I am but then again so does he. When we go for our morning walks who gets out the door first? Who dictates where we will go? When we will stop? I suspect if there are any PETA members living in my neighborhood they are keeping a close eye on me because to a casual observer I may very well look like I am abusing the poor thing dragging him about.

I used to think that the poor little fella just couldn't keep up because he would come to a screeching halt throw his little head back and refuse to budge. Good thing that he is a small terrier and not a Great Dane. After experiencing several of these little tantrums I realized it wasn't that he was too tired or too hot. He just didn't want to walk where I was walking.

According to Ceasar Milan aka "The Dog Whisperer" I need to be the Alpha and lead Jack. He goes where I go, when I go, and for as long as I go. So, our walks are a work in progress. Some days are better than others I think I am winning the war if not every battle.

Ultimately it is for his good, I don't think he could handle the power of being the Alpha it would most certainly go to his little wiry haired head. I can only imagine; poor Hobbs (our cat) would probably never eat again as he would surely eat all of her food as he tries to do this daily. (Given her girth this would probably be a good thing in the short term but alas that's another pet blog.)

I'm sure he would disable the electronic fence. Pandemonium! He'd run the neighborhood oh I can see him now, running with the huskies down the street. Harassing the fenced dogs, chasing cats, cars, and kids!

Oh no siree! I really need to be the Alpha.....for Jacks sake.