Life is Short, Walk your Dog

Thus read the kiosk outside a local veterinary clinic gently reminding passerby’s of this timely thought: Life is short, walk your dog.

Life. What is meant by that? The days, hours, weeks and years that make up one’s life. This word is important as we only get one opportunity at it. Is. In mathematical terms ‘is’ means equal to. Equal to what? In this phrase it is equal to short. Ask any person whose hair is turning grey if life is short.

Walk. Literally do that, go outside and walk. Do not talk about it, or think you are going to do it. Do it. Walk your dog. Why do you have a dog? To watch it sleep all day and get wildly fat and out of shape? I would think not.

Best thing about walking? You get twice the bang for your buck. You both get exercise, time to spend together, and quiet time with The Lord. My twinster says, “Fresh air, fresh thoughts.” Score!

Look at the glorious beauty to be had when out walking your dog. Write in a walk time on your daily week schedule. Before long you may just wonder how you ever managed before without this special time.

Morning is a lovely time to walk.
The peace of the day is powerful.
Isn’t this evergreen wonderful?
The quiet of the morning is calming.
Early morning shadows.
Looking and listening into a new day.
“You coming?” HoneyPie and Buster making sure I am still with them. Mans best friend.

Enjoy your walk, enjoy your dog(s), give thanks and praise to God for both.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Is it Over?

It seems so during the day but nighttime is a different matter. The deep freeze that held our Northern Shenandoah Valley in its icy grip seems to be gone except at night.

Daytime temperatures have been rising steadily above freezing pushing onto two weeks now. Today is to be in the 50^’s. Night times drop into freezing.

Still, there are piles of snow in parking lots, around houses and the most interesting part to me, the ponds are still covered in ice!

Wednesday’s rain turned into Thursday morning ice sheet, while back in the mid 50’s and 60’s today.

The deep freeze hit us the last week of January. Our pond has had ice on it from then up to today. It has looked like one giant white ice cube for a month. And the astonishing part is the past two weeks have been above freezing during the day.

I cannot recall the last time we had such extended cold weather. Usually it lasts only several days, surely not weeks.

It appears all over with now. Daffodils are making their appearance, our Red-Winged Blackbird is home singing his happy song, and the horses are shedding some of their full winter coats.

Hurray for Spring!

HoneyPie slid all over after her frisbee. Please don’t strain a muscle.
I walked on top of the snow for two weeks, not breaking through.
Ice fishing!
Our frozen white ice cube pond.
Only footprints were made on top of snow.
Know what this is? Ice!
Over two weeks later. Middle of February, pond still covered in ice, snow in the woods.
February 21st, pond still covered in ice. See what Buster found in the thin ice?
A bobber!

These last two photos are from today which reached into the 60’s, and still ice! Cannot recall last time I saw this ice for so long.

Our pond this morning.
Our neighbors pond.
Soon it will all be gone!

Yesterday found our pond free of ice, not so with our neighbors.

Still in an icy grip.

BTW, snow flurries are blowing all around right now.

Thursday Thoughts #181

Do young expecting Mommy’s receive crocheted baby blankets anymore at their baby showers?

I recently attended a baby shower for a first time Mother-to-be. It was a big, beautiful celebration with more baby things than I had ever seen, except one thing.

The one thing not given? A crocheted baby blanket. Not even one! I do believe this is a first for me. Our daughter received 6 handmade baby blankets two years ago at her shower.

This can’t be, I thought to myself.

So I made this one for that new, sweet baby.

The mommy was tickled to have a snuggly blanket for her baby boy.

Crocheted baby blankets are so simple a 6 year old could make one. Have you ever made any? Is it now a thing of the past?

Five Minute Friday Writing Prompt—Cold

Timer on…

Great word for this weeks writing prompt. Cold. Frigid temperatures have hovered all week over our Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Single digits sting our cheeks in the morning while feeding the livestock. Highs hardly reach into the mid 20’s.

Little wonder ‘cold’ is used to describe our hard hearts. A cold heart bites and stings just like cold temperatures. But unlike the weather, God in his grace and mercy can melt our cold hearts. We have only to ask Him, believe He will and follow His guidance.

For just as warm temperatures slowly drive out the cold, so too our cold hearts will warm with God’s love and mercy. We but need listen and heed His voice.

How badly do you want your cold heart changed and warmed by God?

“Come now let us reason together,” says The Lord. Isaiah 1:18

Timer off…