Happy Birthday, Cindy /  by Dave Hileman

This is a photo of Cindy and her mom from spring of 1957.

I have been very blessed to share a lot of birthday’s with Cindy and every one is to be celebrated.

You’re “Still the One” Maybe a birthday hint?

Probing /  by Dave Hileman

This is a Tundra Swan but not as they are often pictured, gracefully gliding along a picturesque pond. This one is neck deep in the muddy waters of a pond on the Chincoteaque National Wildlife Refuge. The photo is taken in the last bit of light so the bird has a bit of an golden glow. It is not the goose of similar fame.

Solitary /  by Dave Hileman

Everything feels lonely on the beach on a cold, rainy winter day. The ferris wheel is without the buckets (or baskets or ?) and the pier is as empty as the beach.

Abandoned /  by Dave Hileman

This was a thriving oystering business at one time. You can walk around the area and by the piles of shells know that it was busy here. I do not know how long it has been since it was an active business but there are substantial docks, a pier and lots of infrastructure still standing (barely). It is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore near the village of Stockton by George Island Landing on a sandy path called Packers Bay Road. Hurry if you wish to see it.

The Close of 2021 /  by Dave Hileman

A lot of people are anxious to rid themselves of one year in anticipation of the next. I have never understood that impulse. Life has patterns and rhythm but the start of 2022 will not change anything that we could not work to change last week or last month or February 8th. And no matter the trials and tragedies that may have occurred in 2021 - and they may have been overwhelming, there were joys and blessings, likely in abundance. The year to come is no different. The promise of the new year is not that it will be better but that we can chose to walk more closely with God and trust more fully in his wisdom. So that when the difficult occurs and it will, we are ready and when the joys occur we are actually blessed and don’t miss them. If you wish that the year that starts officially tomorrow will be better begin by preparing yourself to follow the Father more closely. He will make each day whether painful or joyful better than it would be on your own.

Last Stand /  by Dave Hileman

This old tree is about to lose the battle with time and elements. I don’t know how long it has been so close to collapsing but I doubt it will survive the next Nor’easter that blows through the island. I will make a point to go up the beach and photograph this same tree next trip to Chincoteague. If I can find it.

Reminds me of how I feel on occasion.

BONUS post /  by Dave Hileman

So this is a cartoon from S.Pastis who writes Pearls Before Swine. Originally it had on the last panel, “Cheese” which is a horrible ending for the strip. I thought ICE CREAM is the perfect conclusion. So, Dennis Mook took the panel to, I guess Photoshop, and put in the better line. And it is posted here for all to enjoy. Thanks, D.

Still /  by Dave Hileman

The wind and rain stopped, the sun came out and everything was calm, the colors intense and beautiful. Lake Mary in north central Pennsylvania.

Holiday Carvings /  by Dave Hileman

And while I did carve a roast beef that we had - super excellent meal, I actually mean the wood kind of carvings. I have been working on several over the holiday. I still have four on my work area that are in the painting process but these are finished and mostly given away. I did a few more but forgot to record them. I really enjoyed the ornaments.

This was the first test one of 12 I made.

These five went to family. The painting was to intended to have meaning for those who got them! Maybe!

This little snowman was intended to be something else that went wrong. I salvaged the wood by making this.

Two more “Christmas Sweaters.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Twelve (2 photos) /  by Dave Hileman

Along a boardwalk on the Atlantic Ocean on a cold, sleety day, everything in shades of grey. The rain would briefly change to snow and then back while the wind penetrated your coat making you feel colder than the temperature. There were only a couple of people about and they looked even more miserable than I felt. Hope of a bright sunny day seemed far away much like the world into which Jesus was thrust. While life then had moments of joy and human beings have always adapted in difficult circumstances - it was not a hopeful time. Life was rather short, often harsh & brutal, certainly more unpredictable and uncertain than today even with our own disruptions. Survival was difficult. But on an otherwise ordinary day the extraordinary occurs and God becomes one of us, yet distinct, unmarred by sin. And the world will always be different. There is hope. And while our circumstances are vastly different than 2000 years ago the essential needs we have are precisely the same and met in the same person of Jesus. Merry Christmas, indeed.

One bright light in a long, grey vista.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Eleven /  by Dave Hileman

This is an ornament given to us by our friends, the Mooks. Actually it was made by Kathy Mook, Dennis was just entrusted with delivering it. Successfully we can see. We are delighted to add it to our tree this year and for many more. I appreciate both the message and the medium. What an appropriate day to contemplate that extraordinary time, the eve of the Birth of Jesus. Indeed a very Holy Night.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Ten /  by Dave Hileman

One of the activities we like to do, Cindy more than me, is to go and look at Christmas lights people have put around their homes. Some are extravagant, some modest, a few just have a wreath and some nothing. There are also those who go all out for the season. You can find maps or take limo tours of those houses. We have done the “Tacky Light Tour” in Richmond a few times and here in Raleigh the local TV station sets out a list of places to view. The other day we chose two near us. The first was a tasteful assembly with a nice flashing light display set to music that you could listen to over an FM station in your car. The other wasn’t any of those things.

The “Light” Trio, we were lucky to see them as they are usually on the circuit. (Remember this is free!)

Here we have the very definition of visual cacophony. This is about 1/3 of this yard.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Nine /  by Dave Hileman

We were at the top of the climb coming from Phoenix to Flagstaff on the old highway and there is an overlook and rest stop there that is usually filled with tables of crafts from the American Indian community. One that got our attention included several different hand painted ornaments. Each one was painted with in a traditional color and pattern. Glad to add a neat reminder of our trip to the area last spring.