Aww Mondays

Saturday morning I drove to the county fairgrounds exhibit building to see a model railroad show and sale. It was great fun. There were several running displays and tons of model trains and accessories for sale.

I don’t don’t own a model railroad layout, although I think it would be great fun. I grew up around trains. My dad worked for the Frisco railroad for 42 years. When I was a youngster I got to ride in the cab of a switch engine. I have the overnight trip from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Decatur, Illinois on a train. I have ridden the Wabash Cannonball and Bluebird. Before I started school I would hang out around the small station where dad worked. Later, we moved to Tulsa and I spent a lot of time in the Tulsa Union Depot. It was a beautiful structure. It was designed in the machine art deco style and had a very imposing appearance.

I remember getting a Lionel Train set for Christmas but I didn’t play with it much because I could go down to the train station and ride the real thing.

This is a model of a Frisco switch engine much like the ones I used to ride. Model railroading allows you to pick almost and company and anything from steam engines to modern diesels.

Building the layout is more than half the fun of model railroading. The detail, creativity, and designs are a sight to behold. Many of the layouts are based on small town America of the 30’s, 40’s & 50’s. Those were simpler times and a trip down memory lane can be good for the soul.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Music can also take us on a trip down memory lane and since this is a free choice week at 4M I may wander that road. One thing I am reminded of is that the older you get the less people care about what you think. People quit asking for your advice or opinion and start opening the door for you and showing you kindness that you used to reserve for your grand parents. Well, now you’re the age your grand parents were their opinions or advice, you would just nod your head and smile, then go on about your business. A song that speaks to this phase of life has been recorded by The Steel Drivers and Chris Stapleton. Where the Rainbows Never Die.

Aww Monday

Why do I like photography? Because it allows me to capture beautiful things that I can enjoy again and again. In 2016 our city planted these flowers around the City Hall building. I didn’t know what they were, but I thought they were stunning! I must have taken 50 images of these blooms and I never tire of going back into the archives and viewing them. I use an edited image for my cover photo in the spring. You will probably see it appear in the next couple of weeks.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme is heaven!!! How great is that. The exact theme is  Celestial as in the sky/outer space or belonging to or relating to heaven or relating to anything supremely good/beautiful. There is nothing more beautiful that heaven. Just take a look at the description recorded in the book of Revelation. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the lamp is the Lamb.” All of this worlds problems will not be there, “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Joy will reign supreme, “And God will wipe a way every tear from their eyes and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” I cannot think of anything more beautiful than spending eternity in the presence of my Creator. Have a blessed day y’all!!!

What was that I just heard?

Aww…some Monday

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While waiting for spring to arrive, I thought I would go through the files and edit an image or two. This rose is from 2016 at the Tulsa Rose Garden.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week there is no theme at 4M so we get to post anything we like and I like Southern Gospel. Family harmony is hard to beat, maybe impossible. Here is a brother and two sisters that I have loved for three decades, The Martins.

Another one of my favorite brother/sister groups is The Isaacs. In addition to their gospel roots, The Isaacs are members of the Grad Ole Opry. They have a Bluegrass background and harmony.

One of my all-time favorite gospel groups is The Booth Brothers and one of my favorite videos is “In Christ Alone”. For there is no other way to spend eternity in a place

My final group is comprised of two brothers, their brother-in-law and a close friend. The Ball Brothers are a great quartet and deliver the beautiful message of Christ’s love and the freedom we enjoy when we place our faith and trust in the Savior. Have a blessed week.

Are We Done Yet?

Last week-end we got a chance to see our youngest granddaughter compete in an indoor track meet a couple of hours from the house. She is a junior in college (where did the time go?!) and it is a six hour drive to her campus, so when we get the chance to drive less than two hours to see her compete, it is a special day. I just reminds me that high school track and soccer seasons are just around the corner.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

While is may be a touch premature, the theme this week at 4M is Valentine. We can pick love songs, groups with valentine type names, like Heart or Loverboy, or built acrostics that celebrate love in the air. I am going with a few love songs. In four months my wife and I will celebrate 49 years of married life. You can look for more about that to come in May. You will notice two things, she hasn’t changed a bit and I have turned into a fossil.

The songs I have selected say as more about our relationship than I could ever pen.

Perfect Profile

We got our first real snowfall of the winter last week. While we got 4 or 5 inches overnight, the ground was still warm enough that the street were not bad at all. I got up a little too late to drive the area and look for some rural photo opportunities so this tree in my neighbors yard will have to do. The school district did declare a snow day so I did drive around the neighborhood and find a few snowmen created by the families. This one is my favorite because it is soooo traditional.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week at 4M is a freedom of choice week. Since the recent loss of two rock icons, Jeff Beck and David Crosby, it only seems fitting to pay tribute to the men whose music was a part of my youth and young adulthood.

David Crosby is best know as a founding member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash. For live performances Neil Young would join the group and it would become Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Here are a couple of flashbacks from these two super-groups. Have a blessed week.

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