A Sunset For Kim...

The text message she sent was simple...Just seeing how we're doing.

The few words conveyed more than asking for an update--I could tell the person sending the text was hurting...

And, without even asking, I knew why.

She's been watching the news.

Me, in my little house snuggled in the Rocky Mountains, am about as far removed from events hundreds and thousands of miles away as possible, but feelings of pain, of empathy, of fear, of hate, of rage, of sorrow can cross those distances in the blink of an eye. 

We chatted electronically. I tried to lighten the mood, just like I've tried to do with others. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I told her I haven't been watching the news--I told her it's good to be informed, but it can be too much.

As happens often at my little house snuggled in the Rocky Mountains, the setting sun floods the western sky with beauty, unparalleled by anything man could ever create. Tonight, though my vantage point from inside our kitchen was not the best, I snapped a quick picture and sent the digital photograph to her, a state away.

For many, the world burns tonight--both figuratively and literally. As with any figurative or literal fire, it may die down, or may explode in intensity. No one knows which way it will go. But I do know that tonight's sunset was beautiful and calming and peaceful and real. It was created by the hand of God for those who would only look and feel His hand in all things.

Yes, she is hurting and the pain is real. The images she's witnessed that have followed only add to her pain. But, for every evil deed done, there are many many more good ones done to counteract. If it weren't so, humanity would cease to exist. I know it wasn't much, but I hope the simple picture of tonight's sunset helped. Because, if we would only look, we will see His hand in all things.

You Turn Around, Then...BOOM! The Mountains Have Exploded With Green

We live at the base of a mountain. It's not necessarily a very high mountain, by Rocky Mountain standards. And, for most of the year, it's not particularly pretty. In fact, a lot of the year it's kind of....blagh. 

Except for a few weeks in spring when it's green.

The other times when it's pretty is in the fall, of course. But, that's just selected areas of the mountain that turn incredible shades of color. Then, naturally, when the entire mountain is blanketed with new snow...to me, that when the mountain is the most spectacular.

Between the time when the mountain is all white and when it turns green, it's ugly, and unfortunately, it's a long time between white and green. Today was a beautiful day. I looked up at the hill and I saw green...vibrant, brilliant, faith-renewing green. And, it almost seems to happen overnight, even thought I know it takes longer.

If you're in the area, you'd better hurry to catch our little mountain in its arboreal splendor. Then, once the grasses start to pale due to lack of rain, the mountain begins to look the way it does most of the year. Yes, it's pretty outside.

Some Cool Photos...

This afternoon my son's little seedling business moved to a more high profile location. He's quickly learning how true the old business adage is:

Location, location, location.

We have friends who live on our town's main street, aptly named, Main Street. Within minutes of setting up shop, he began selling. We're hoping to thin our inventory even more tomorrow.

There were down times, of course, so I got out my iPhone and began taking pictures. I really like what I captured.

Across the street from our little Pop-Up Business stood a house with an amazing window display--had to get a shot. I ended up getting several.

Our Main Street is lined with huge sycamore trees. Pointing the camera up caught some interesting views.

And, of course, with any study of art, you eventually deal with the vanishing point. Looking south, what I saw reminded me of the times I walked, ran, rode bikes and skateboards down this same sidewalk, only decades earlier.

And finally, I spotted a beautifully colored tulip in front of a house designed and built in a different time. To me, the home looks like it should be own by a kindly grandparent couple where grandkids run free in the yard.

I wasn't sure if the pictures would turn out like I wanted. We were busy with the sale so I snapped the pictures then kind of forgot about them. When I downloaded them this evening, I think they turned out well.