"We Are Still Standing!"

August has been an eventful month... first the fair and then the fire!  The fire began on August 12, exploded on the 14th and fire crews have been battling this monster ever since.  At this writing, there have been 101,465 acres burned.  Weather wind conditions take the flames where they may and it is ongoing.  Below is a photo that I took of Canyon Mountain a few years ago towards the end of the winter season.  The mountain is blanketed in cool snow and bathed with sunlit clouds.  Recent photos show a different Canyon Mountain blanketed in smoke as timber trees and underbrush give way to flames licking up it's defining ridges.

The photos below shows smoke plumbs and clouds, which are the dramatic effect of a fire that is having its way in forested areas, dry and neglected through regulation and environmentalist stronghold - a perfect storm when introduced to the dry weather pattern in the Pacific Northwest.

Many lost their homes who lived in the Canyon Creek area lying at the base of the mountain on a road that winds down into Canyon City and John Day.  At this moment in time, 41 homes were burned - a tremendous loss in a small populated area... 39 to the Canyon Creek fire and 2 near Prairie City.  The fire has extended itself into the Strawberry Mountain area and with wind complications has advanced close to the community of Prairie City with a population of around 900 people.   Evacuation notices are in effect because of the fire danger. The firefighters are battling to save the town at this writing.

The John Day Valley has town communities of Dayville, Mt. Vernon, John Day with Canyon City and Prairie City.  They are situated from west to east on Highway 26, spanning a distance of about 44 miles.   When one community is affected by such a catastrophic fire, it affects them all.  The communities have come together in a team spirit where there is no dividing lines - there is but one goal and one purpose and that is to come to the aid of the hurting, to those who have suffered loss and to support the firefighters on the front lines.  Responsive caring has reached beyond the highway 26 boundary of the John Day Valley into the north, south, east and west of Oregon.  Truckloads of supplies from businesses and individuals across Oregon have come to help in donating what they can to assist in the loss of this devastating fire.  The American Red Cross has been here since the beginning.  Residents are amazed by the outpouring of assistance by others.  Much gratitude is extended towards the firefighters who courageously, in heart and mind, dangerously labor to stay back the fire to save lives and property.  We hear so much about the bad in the world - it is heartfelt to see the goodness in people who far outweigh the bad in such demonstrations of compassion, generosity, and courage in the extension of good will.

With permission of a friend of mine, Jina Carniglia, I present her photo along with her quote, which exemplifies the spirit of the people of Grant County.... 

"Two weeks ago today our lives and our county were forever changed.  The hole in our hearts may never go away, but it is being patched by the love and support of a community that is resilient, strong and amazingly tough!  We may be sooty, dirty, and tired, but we are still standing!!!"
 
The following photo speaks a thousand words....  in essence, no matter what the circumstances in our life brings in charred loss, life can spring anew in God's message of hope.  My thanks to Vickie Bly who brought this photo to my attention.

This is a continuing story and my hope is that by the time my next post rolls around on Monday, September 14,  I'll have some good news to report about the containment of the Canyon Creek Complex fire.

These are just a few of various news links about the currently active 2 week fire:
http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/08/after_touch-and-go_windswept_m.html#incart_river_mobileshort

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/2015/08/29/sandy-sends-show-support-john-day-firefighters/71401616/
http://www.bluemountaineagle.com/free/20150830/school-buses-trucks-bring-donations-from-sandy-ore#.VeNURv7M-rg.facebook

http://www.opb.org/news/article/canyon-creek-complex-wildfire-evacuations-prairie-city/

http://photos.oregonlive.com/4450/gallery/canyon_creek_complex_fire/index.html#/14

Here is a video put together by Audra Clark entitled "Canyon Creek Complex 2015"

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRnNySfORss

A Fair is an Affair

A celebration happened last week and that was the 106th Grant County Fair & Rodeo.  It is now the longest-running annual county fair in the State of Oregon held annually in August.  The fair comes complete with lots of entertainment for all ages - carnival rides, music, contests and events, livestock exhibits, vendors, a rodeo and of course, socializing with other fair attendees.  In a small community, that is pretty easy to do as you usually meet someone you know.   Children are always a delight to watch as they express themselves in fun.  I was able to take few photos of several children who were excited over their face paintings, artistically drawn in facial expression.

There are plenty of behind the scene activities at the County Fair, one being 4-H.  A short lesson on what 4-H stands for..... Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.  The colors are green and white - green stands for growing, living things and white for purity and cleanliness.

The 4-H Pledge is: my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world. The 4-H motto: "To Make the Best Better"... The 4-H Slogan: "Learn by Doing".  

4-H is for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18, which is designed to develop and mentor youth through a variety of clubs, camps and programs.  One such program focuses on livestock animals, which includes sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, horses.... even to chickens and rabbits.  Youth involved in the 4-H program spend a great deal of their summer in taming, training, grooming and looking after their animal in preparation for competition for showmanship and quality of their animal.

The animals are usually sold at auction at the end of the fair, the climatic ending of a summer of hard work and responsibility for the final outcome of the worth of their animal.  Below are a few photos of some of the animals exhibited at the fair.  I captured a few in a comedic pose -  baby rabbits curled up in a feed pan - a pig eating that last bit of grain - goats have big ears! - a sheep who wanted out - cute  miniature horses with eye hiding forelocks.  These are just some of the 4-H animals and a few on exhibit for viewing pleasure.
 

There are some stories behind fair events - the scene of sadness and tears for some youngsters when it is time to let go of their animal for auction.  Mixed emotions are evident since they reap the reward for all their hard work in a monetary way as their animal goes to the highest bidder.  For some, heartstrings are attached but nonetheless, they prepare themselves to go through this same process for another year.

Which brings me to another story behind the rodeo scene.  The below photos show a horse and rider who carried the flag as part of the traditional 'grand entry' before rodeo action begins.  As horse and rider move throughout the arena, it gives a sense of pride and patriotism to have the flag displayed in this manner.  It was especially moving when you know that the rider is paralyzed from the waist down. If you look close enough in the picture, you will see a brace that stabilized him to the horse.  His determination and grit is apparent in riding horseback in the privilege of carrying the American flag.  Way to go Alec!

The theme for this year's Grant County Fair & Rodeo days was "Blue Jeans & County Dreams".  An affair indeed!... a love of community and tradition for folks of all ages to enjoy and onward to the 107th in 2016.   


Let's visit again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, August 31....  Until then, God bless us all in the freedoms we enjoy and not take them for granted,  even a county fair.

Stargazer and Blue Moon

This past week, some friends gave me a beautiful flower out of their garden.  I was introduced to the Stargazer Lily.  It is beautiful to look at and the aroma fills the air with its fragrance.  To put the lily on display, I felt it needed a special vase and what better than a wine glass for a unique photo.  It also motivated me to find out more about this flower.

It is a combination of the Oriental and Asiatic lilies and the result is the best of both worlds in this exotic hybrid.  Leslie Woodruff, an American lily grower and breeder, introduced this creation - the stargazer lily in 1978.  He named it "stargazer" because of the way the blooms of this lily point toward the sky.  The stargazer lily can also be called heaven scent for its fragrance. 

It is a symbol of perfection, high hopes, optimism and limitless possibilities.  It also represents prosperity and abundance, conveying a message of honor.  It can symbolize the fulfillment of a dream.  It is an exquisite flower with positive meanings in the mystical ideas of symbolism.  But there is one thing that is in its disfavor - the stargazer lily is toxic to cats!  Beware and don't let your feline friends try a taste of this lily......

As we lift our eyes from the stargazer lily and look heavenward, a rare event occurred in July - two full moons in the same month.  On July 31, we were treated to a blue moon.  Of course I was out with my camera trying to get a good shot of a so called blue moon.  Disappointed, I saw that it was the ordinary standard moon color.  Of course I rushed to google to find out why the moon wasn't blue.  Google sources stated that when a moon does take on a bluish hue, it is because of smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere.  Since there are no raging wildfires happening in our area right now... thank God!... I won't be able to test out that theory of a blue hued moon.  I took the below photos at different times - late night and early morning shots, looking for any change in color.  As you can tell there is not much difference except the early morning has a lighter tone to it. Also the pock marks of the moon are a little different in position as the moon orbited the earth from the Eastern to the Western horizons when I took these shots.  And yes, the expression of "once in a blue moon" means a rare event.
 

July 31, 2015 around 10:30 p.m.

August 1, 2015 around 3:30 a.m.

I close this post with a few photos a little closer to earth!  These were taken on Highway 26 between John Day and Prairie City.   A horticulture business cleverly put together an old truck loaded with flowers and a fake figure waving to ongoing traffic.  It does catch your attention in advertising their nursery.  A wagon behind the truck was overflowing with color produced by gorgeous blossoms.  It's quite a sight and makes you want to stop and take a closer look for a photo or consider purchasing a few of their variety of plants, flowers or trees.

 

Here is a quote by Jim Lovell (former astronaut) to ponder on:  "The lunar flights give you a correct perception of our existence.  You look back at Earth from the moon, and you can put your thumb up to the window and hide the Earth behind your thumb.  Everything you've ever known is behind your thumb, and that blue-and-white ball is orbiting a rather normal star, tucked away on the outer edge of a galaxy."

Whether it be a stargazer lily, a blue moon, galaxies, earth or summer blossoms, God is all in all!

Let's meet again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, August 17.   Until then enjoy these August days and experience special moments along the way....

 

 

With its exotic good looks and heavenly fragrance, Stargazer makes a real showing in the garden… or in a vase. Huge, 6–7" flowers appear in abundance and turn their gorgeous faces to the sky. Their brilliant pink petals are liberally freckled with dark pink and feature snowy-white edging.

With their breathtaking beauty and sweet perfume, - See more at: http://www.brecks.com/product/Stargazer-Lily/Lily_Flower_Bulbs_#sthash.m8gjdHPb.dpuf

With its exotic good looks and heavenly fragrance, Stargazer makes a real showing in the garden… or in a vase. Huge, 6–7" flowers appear in abundance and turn their gorgeous faces to the sky. Their brilliant pink petals are liberally freckled with dark pink and feature snowy-white edging.

With their breathtaking beauty and sweet perfume, - See more at: http://www.brecks.com/product/Stargazer-Lily/Lily_Flower_Bulbs_#sthash.m8gjdHPb.dpuf

With its exotic good looks and heavenly fragrance, Stargazer makes a real showing in the garden… or in a vase. Huge, 6–7" flowers appear in abundance and turn their gorgeous faces to the sky. Their brilliant pink petals are liberally freckled with dark pink and feature snowy-white edging.

With their breathtaking beauty and sweet perfume - See more at: http://www.brecks.com/product/Stargazer-Lily/Lily_Flower_Bulbs_#sthash.JNS6QVCR.dpulflflflflflf

Humor

We all need humor in this world! And as diversified as humanity is, humor can be found according to our personal whims as to what "tickles our funny bone".  Humor is defined as that which is intended to induce laughter or amusement.  Laughter can bubble up from the profound to the profain, depending on the context and inclination.  Just listening to a child's laughter is good for the soul - there is nothing like hearing this innocent sound that can in turn, make you join in the good fun of simply laughing.  There is a proverb 17:22... "a merry heart doeth good as a medicine....".  

I was pleasantly surprised to learn this week that my favorite comic strip "Bloom Country and Outland" is coming back after a 25 year hiatus.  Through comic depictions, a perception of life is given out of the mind of its creator, Berkeley Breathed.  It is a satire that leaves no stone unturned as far as the 'stuff of life' is concerned. Anything is fair game in current affairs and some may call it 
'politically incorrect',  which can be a breath of fresh air during this time of increasingly extreme 'correctness'.  Situations take form as interpreted through his cartoon characters, one such being as "Opus",  a penguin who is a little weird but loveable. 

He's b-a-a-a-c-k!!

Flossing mind tartar!

 
The world hasn't changed much in 25 years - yes, technology has sky rocketed but the human condition has not in war and violence as depicted in the above comic strip.  As it was then and is now, after watching the news, how often do we need our 'dandelion break' and go to that secret place to find inner peace.

"A heart at peace gives life to the body...", Proverbs 14:30.  That sanctuary or place within where we draw from the presence of God, saturates us in His peace.  Our anxieties are quieted down and well-being is the result as we still ourselves in His Spirit. When Jesus walked this earth in human flesh, he also experienced human emotion, to name a few - sorrow, fear, hunger, thirst, compassion, and yes, even laughter.  I love the pictures of a laughing Jesus as artists have drawn or painted their imagery as to how Jesus could look in the emotion of gladness or humor.

There are times not to take each other or oneself too seriously.  We all need a good laugh now and then - our world seems to become a lighter place when humor can be used to dispel all sorts of negativity that would pull us down.  The below description of laughter is a beautiful explanation of what laughter is and does.....

Click on the link below to find out more about Bloom County.  You may or may not enjoy but give Opus a try - you might find yourself smiling....
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/13/422545636/bloom-county-2015-berkeley-breathed-revives-comic-strip

Until we meet again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday August 3, may you experience gladness of heart in your days....

Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy

I found this quote recently... "Nothing worth having comes easy", a rather true statement for anyone who has a personal vision, purpose or goal in their life.  It takes dedication, commitment and hard work to turn a dream into a reality.  It also takes patience and perseverance to overcome disappointments that seemingly block the intended outcome.  But inward passion is the thrust that leaps over hurdles, never losing sight of the desired goal.  Goals come in a variety of shapes and sizes but each one speaks personally to the inner heart of a man, woman and child.  Once a person finds their inclination, it becomes their inspiration towards a particular calling or a career.  Some may not realize their dream and struggle just to survive.  It all lies within the setting of freedom - the environment necessary to make dreams come true in choice and opportunity. 

For those who are in the profession of rancher and farmer, such hard work is apparent in preparation for the coming winter months.  As you drive through the John Day Valley, the green pastures of spring and irrigated fields of summer are in varied stages in the production of hay.  Grass and alfalfa fields are cut down in tidy rows awaiting the drying process before being bundled into bales of hay for livestock feeding. This is a simplified version of just one facet necessary in raising livestock.  It is a cycle of activity for those involved in this lifestyle.  And it takes a certain kind of individual to like this kind of life - to have that passion despite the ills that can come with it.   

Several weeks ago, the horses were moving across the fields, oblivious to the human effort in keeping them well fed throughout the year including the ensuing winter.  But they did make a nice photo shoot!

Yes! nothing worth having comes easy.  "For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son...." (John 3:16).

Join me in two weeks on Monday, July 20th for more musings at The Turn-Up Patch.

Of Honor and Respect

Since I wrote my last post, I was going to our local post office and saw this small single flower as it made a forced entry in dirt that was in the cracks of the walkway in front of the building.  I thought it was a unique fit to my message on "The Mind in Weeds & Flowers and Charlie Wilks".   I challenge you to look for such sightings, they are more frequent as you become aware in observation of flowers and weeds in unusual places.  And if you haven't checked out the video yet on Charlie Wilks, please do so - he is a young man with a great inner soul.

And now we continue on to today's post tackling a huge subject about honor in a condensed version.  During the months of May and June, there have been a variety of holidays, which we celebrate in the United States.  They are:
     Mother's Day ~  A celebration honoring mothers and motherhood
     Memorial Day ~  A remembrance in honor of those who died while serving in the country's armed forces.
      Flag Day ~  A celebration to show respect and honor of the United States flag.
      Father's Day ~  A celebration honoring fathers and fatherhood.
 I have written previous posts on all of the above, links listed below, if you'd like to read about them.

In each of the holidays we have had during the past two months, a singular word stands out that defines each one and that is HONOR.  What exactly is honor?  The basic meaning is to hold high, to respect and to esteem.  In breaking those words down further -  respect and esteem means to appreciate, to regard and to value.  This is just a very short description of a very powerful word in the full extent of meaning.   We have witnessed the opposite of honor and respect; you can find it blaring in the media headlines.  I don't care to elaborate on these negatives but rather on the strength of the goodness of character that honor represents in its treatment to people, to country and to environment.

Since I am a visual person, many times a photograph will speak a thousand words.  I am sure that you have seen photos that have stirred emotion that words cannot capture.  Recently, the town of Mount Vernon placed new banners and flags on both sides of the main street that happens to be Highway 26.  The banners were both colorful and welcoming and were introduced to this small community on Flag Day.   American flags were proudly displayed alongside the banners throughout the streets.

It is known in the equine world, that you need to earn the respect of a horse to "enjoy the ride".  The below photo shows several horses who have come to respect my favorite cowboy as they came up to him to listen to what he has to say and just hang out.  These horses have come to trust the man before them - the same man who bonded with them as colts, gentles them with a firm and loving hand, feeds them during the winter and talks to them in typical 'horse sense' style.

You can witness visual honor around you every day in how we treat one another from the young to the old and with nature and animals around us.  Our world would significantly change for the better if it centered on honor and respect - and it begins with God Almighty as the Creator and we, as the created in honoring Him.  Perhaps humility is a precursor to honor and respect.

Since yesterday we celebrated Father's Day, I discovered this saying that was written anonymously.  I share it with you as its truth stands for yesterday, today and tomorrow.....
                                                               A father is respected because
                                                               He gives his children leadership...
                                                               Appreciated because
                                                               He gives his children care...
                                                               Valued because
                                                               He gives his children time...
                                                               Loved because
                                                               He gives his children the one thing
                                                               They treasure most - himself.  
 
For greater elaboration, you can read my post on "A Sorority Called Motherhood"
http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-sorority-called-motherhood.html 
On Memorial Day.... "The Rite of Remembrance"
http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-rite-of-remembrance.html
For a greater description of the American flag - "Identity of the American Flag"  This was actually a July 4th post, but is applicable in the meaning of the flag.
http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/identity-of-american-flag.html 
My post on "A Fraternity Called Fatherhood"
http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-fraternity-called-fatherhood.html 
 

Tune In to The Turn-Up Patch next time, on Monday, July 6.... see you then!

The Mind in Weeds & Flowers and Charlie Wilks

I recently discovered Charlie Wilks.  A young man determined to live a full life despite his blindness.  His wisdom is far beyond his age and his story is an ongoing inspiration that makes us reflect on what a champion in life is made of.  He said this...."You determine who you are - not any event or person in your life."  

This quote made me think about our minds and how we build fantasies according to how we view truth.  A whole scenario is created before we "catch" what is going on in the story of our mind's reality.  The No Spin Zone as titled in the Bill O'Reilly show has an interesting concept in separating fact from perceived truth. Using this analogy, the mind can 'spin' in twisting and distorting perceived notions. From the thoughts we think, we can end up in an emotion of anger, sorrow, frustration or even self-reproach, depending on the scene just created in thoughts.  The mind is really busy or am I the only one???    As we become aware of what the mind is doing, we can stop the spin that is going on and make it a no spin zone, where thoughts are reined in rather than running wild.  

I found these two photos that illustrate how weeds or flowers can grow in concrete - amazing when there can be just a slight entry within a crack or even enough force to push through concrete.  How like our minds - we can grow weeds or flowers and our minds will provide plenty of cracks for growth.

Charlie Wilks has used his positive attitude in thought to overcome his personal adversity in blindness.  Not only does he achieve but he spreads encouragement  to those around him. Blindness does not hinder him from the experience of living; he does not use it as a crutch to sit on the sidelines of life.  He has some great quotes that makes us all, who have sight, sit back in admiration of this young man's character.  He has grown flowers in his mind.

Do yourself a favor and watch the below video put out by ESPN that was produced in 2009 about Charlie and playing football.  It is a wonderful short documentary that is splashed with Charlie's "insight" about living.  We can learn much from Charlie - he sees far beyond the physical aspect of vision.  Since that time, he has gone on to college and is a musician.  You can visit him on Facebook and hear his music on YouTube.  Way to go Charlie!   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTrEkNlx16E

A scripture comes to mind out of Philippians 4:8...

What things are true,

what things are honest,

what things are just,

what things are pure,

what things are lovely,

what things are of good report;

if there by any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

God bless and we'll see you again at the Turn-Up Patch on Monday, June 22....