Two of The Most Beautiful Women

From 2011

I love photography and have spent hours during my life pouring over them, both my collection of photographs and those of others.  A deep root of this love comes from my cousin Sandra and also a love of History.  Sandra has taken some of the most spectacular outdoor photos I have ever seen.  And I’m not saying that because she is kin to me.  They are remarkable photos that draw you in and make you feel like you were on the hike with her.

My momma and Sandra’s momma were sisters.  Anthony’s. Sandra has taken hundreds and hundreds of photos of the Anthony family throughout the years.  A favorite activity is to look through the photo albums she brings to family reunions each year.  I truly have had every hairstyle ever thought of!

I enjoy looking at photos on display at various competitions, mostly at county fairs.  The Knoxville Fair has a photography competition each year.  I pour over the display looking and searching for what I believe is the winner.  We were not able to go to the fair this year as I wasn’t feeling well.  I missed being my own private judge.  Chris and I did manage to go for a few hours last year, even though I was taking chemo.  The displayed competition left me quite disappointed.  A first.  There were an awful lot of “real” photos “doctored” up by computers.  Or not really doctored but changed into the look of computer generated.  More than I wanted to see.  Just like a woman “doctored” by makeup artists, hairstylists and finally computers in a magazine page, these photos were ruined.  So many in so many of the different divisions.  From farm, to family, to outdoor, to animal they were spread.  Not in a separate division for fake photos.  No, they were combined in amongst the real.

Two of my favorite photos of all time are not doctored.  They are of two astonishing women; amazingly strong women, two of the most beautiful women in the world, ever.

I cannot remember the first time I saw each of the photographs. Perhaps it was when I was small in a History book?  Or in a library?  Or a classroom?  It certainly wasn’t during the computer era.  Thank goodness.  The photos would have been destroyed by Photoshop, their creator believing they were improving their work.

The first is called “Migrant Mother” or “Mother of Seven Children” by Dorothea Lange.  I think the woman was 32 years old.  Now don’t go thinking I am so smart for knowing the details.  I just looked those up a minute ago.  All the years I’ve spent loving that photo I never knew the name or details.  I just knew it was a woman, younger than her face shows, with three children during the Great Depression.

Why am I drawn to this picture?  Is it because within me has been the desire to be a social worker my entire life?  Perhaps this photo represents all of what working and helping others comprise?  Poverty, hunger, lost children, depression, hopelessness, fear….

Or perhaps the love of this photograph has grown within me over the years because it so reminds me of the Anthony and Maynard family photos?  The picture looks like it belongs within our family photo albums.  It’s a history I am proud to be part of.  A history link, that because of my age, many do not realize.  I was an oops baby; a late in lifer.  I cannot remember the times depicted within photos such as this.  But my parents knew.  Hearing stories about my parent’s childhood always intrigued me.  I loved hearing them.  Still do.  Being a history buff is part of it.  But the pride I spoke of is more.

The second photos is “Afghan Girl” by Steve McCurry.  Once again I had to research the details of the photograph, never knowing the exact roots.  

I always have wondered what the girl was thinking.  Her eyes.  They are haunting.  Such distrust and apprehension etched upon her face, in those eyes.  The girl was 12 years old.  But just like others with a hard history she appears older than she is.  She was a refugee.  The photo was taken in 1972-when I was one.

Why has this photo always drawn me?  Is it the desire I’ve had since I was small to travel abroad and help others.   Or is it just curiosity?  Perhaps I was around the same age as this girl when I saw the photo?  Such a different girl than I; a different life lived in a faraway land.  A land and culture completely opposite that of Soak or Corntassel or Hopewell in East TN.  I could only imagine what her life was like and still can only imagine.

Both photos of are women, girls.  Perhaps that is a reason they both draw me.  The two photos were taken in different times, different circumstances, but same subject.  The plight of women; the plight of those in need.  Both ratted and tatted.

The only thing I certainly know about these two photographs is that I am happy there was no computer editing process as in today’s age.  It's not about cleaning up life.  It's about capturing it.


October 19, 2011

Dinner with Friends and Family

The three F's - Food, Fun, and Fellowship.  Fun night out to dinner.  Wish I'd taken my camera. Friends took these two photos but more were there eating with us.  Misty and Timmy-who are expecting their first baby.  We all talked and voted on baby names for boys for a long time.  I like Ezra.  Larry, Phil, Spic, Chris, Amber were also there.

My niece Amber and friend Spic

Me and Chris

Perseverance

It's hard to go through difficulties and trials in life. But try hard. Try hard to remember God would not have chosen you to endure or withstand the situation if He didn't know you could overcome.  And He knows you can persevere, should you choose, in order to fulfill His will.  To witness for Him, about Him, in order that others may know Him.

Perseverance: 

Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement; steadfastness; 

Words to Live By

Collection of words to live by....

There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won't anymore, and who always will. So don't worry about the people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it into your future. Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. A sharp tongue can cut my own throat. If I want my dreams to come true, I mustn't oversleep. Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most important. The best vitamin for making friends….B1. The happiness of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts. The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge. One thing I can give and still keep….is my word. I lie the loudest when I lie to myself. If I lack the courage to start, I have already finished. One thing I can't recycle is wasted time. Ideas won't work unless "I" do. My mind is like a parachute….it functions only when open. The 10 Commandments are not multiple choice. The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what I might have been. Life it too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right, forget about the one's who don't. Believe EVERYTHING happens for a reason and is controlled by God. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes you life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would by worth it. Friends are like balloons, once you let them go, you might not get them back. Sometimes we get so busy with our own lives and problems that we may not even notice that we've let them fly away. Sometimes we are so caught up in who's right and who's wrong that we forget what's right and what's wrong. Sometimes we just don't want to realize what real friendship means until it is too late. Don't live in the past or the future but live today. In order to keep from mistakes and wrongs from happening again, remember the past but don't let it consume your future. 

Lessons Learned

Why's it so hard for people to learn if someone will talk to you about someone they'll be talking to someone about you next week.



Could God have a Favorite Animal?

Could God have a favorite animal? Hmmmm....probably not.  However, I do believe the horse had to have been His favorite to create.  What fun He must have had! What other animal can do so much?  Has been used for so much? Work, war, peace, play, travel, trade, profit, food.   Invoke so much emotion?  Love, companionship, pride, hope, faith, strength, beauty.  Or what animal is so varied in appearance of color?  Tigers are orange and black with stripes.  Lions are tan.  Alligators are green. Or are they gray? Or gray/green?  Horses are.....everything.

And the most important, who could forget the fact:  The fact that Jesus is coming back on a horse.  Yes, if God had a favorite animal, I think it is the horse.



The Horse

Job 39: 19-25
19 Has thou given the horse strength? has thou clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting.

Gifts for Friends/Family Taking Cancer Treatment

Know someone taking chemo?  Gifts are great fun for those in treatment.  I especially enjoyed gift baskets full of surprises to prowl through.  Think about the personal likes of the person receiving the gift for ideas to fill the basket.  Ask someone who knows the person's likes and dislikes if you are unsure on fillers.

One gift basked I remember contained:
Mini-bags of popcorn (I love popcorn), candy bars, hard candy, puzzle books, a movie, gum, and several other trinkets.  

Another had fun personal items such as:
A new, cute toothbrush, soft dental floss, NEET hair removal cream (not supposed to use razors while taking chemo!), fingernail polish and remover, cotton balls, plain lotions (no scented items as the sense of smell is tricky during chemo), a gift certificate for a manicure (for after treatment-doctors do not recommend during; neither massage gift certificates), and a number of other little gifts.

If you want to give a book as a gift it's often hard to choose.  What the person likes to read, what is appropriate for someone in chemo or radiation, etc....  As far as ideas for reading gifts, I suggest Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls.  It's the only book I purchased when I was taking treatments for breast cancer.  I'm not even sure why I got it.  I personally stayed away from the "breast cancer" section at book stores during the time.  But I saw the book, bought the book, enjoyed the book.  Perhaps someone you know will as well.

Legends

What makes someone or something a legend?  
Five years of being on top or twenty years of perseverance........

Answer to the Puzzle......

And................
                       the answer..................
                                                          is a ..................................

WHALE

Read the puzzle here
Can you solve this puzzle?

Can You Solve This Puzzle?

I found this in a box of my things from high school:

Can you solve this puzzle?  Write your guess in the comment box.

This puzzle was written by a lady in California in response to an offer from a gentleman in Philadelphia that he would pay anyone $1,000 who could write a puzzle he could not solve. He failed to do so and paid the $1,000. The answer is one word, and it appears only four time in the Bible.  Can you figure this one out???

God made Adam out of the dust
But thought it best to make me first
so I was made before man
to answer God's most holy plan.
A living being I became
Adam gave me my name
I from his presence then withdrew
and more of Adam never knew.
I did my maker's law obey
Nor ever went from it astray.
Thousands of miles I go in fear
But seldom on earth appear.
For purpose wise which God did see
He put a living soul in me.
A soul from me God did claim
And took from me that soul again
So when from me that soul had fled
I was the same as when first made
And without hands or feet or soul
I traveled on from pole to pole
I labored hard by day, by night
To fallen men I gave light.
Thousands of people, young and old
Will by my death, great light behold.
No right or wrong can I conceive
The scripture I cannot believe
Although my name there is found
they are to me an empty sound.
My fear of death doth trouble me
Real happiness I'll never see
To heaven I shall never go
or hell below.
Now when these lines you do read
Go search your Bible with all speed
For that my name is written there
I do honestly to you declare.

WHO AM I?


Click here to find out who am I
Answer

Ultimate Fighter vs The Bachelor

Seems like "The Ultimate Fighter" and "The Bachelor have a lot in common these days. The tears from "The Bachelor" seem to be bleeding into "The Ultimate Fighter" and the violence of "The Ultimate Fighter" bleeding into "The Bachelor".  Those women can be brutal to one another!  I sometimes forget what day, channel and show I'm watching.

Tellico Boxing Club

Can't wait to get my t-shirt!

"American Restoration"

"American Restoration".  Chris is addicted.  He gets quite proud of himself during the beginning price quotes.  He always guesses before the owners and is usually pretty much within $100-$500.  "BAM", he says.  "I'm good at this." I told him I would get him a spot on Jeopardy. 

.........later in the show..........................

Chris "That's crazy. Who wouldn't want a bumper car?"

Me, "I always wanted a carousel horse."

Tanner, I and Hockey

My nephew Tanner and I went to the Knoxville Ice Bears hockey game tonight.  He'll not be able to talk tomorrow he yelled for the team so much.  The Ice Bears Honey's gave Tanner an autographed Tee!  And then he bought a Seagal, the Captain, tee shirt too.  We had lots of fun.  LOVE hockey and I think Tanner does too.