Well...once again it has been way too long between posts.  Lots of things have happened as with most people and many of them make you stop and think about what is really important in life.  It seems that things pass you by way too quickly and we don't have time to appreciate them at the time.  Anyway...I was looking through some old pictures and came across this one of my Grandad's old milk wagon. 
It sometimes makes me sad to see all of the wonderful old things that are gone and well on their way to being forgotten.  Don't get me wrong...I love the technology and conveniences we have today, but sometimes I just wonder if we haven't lost part of ourselves and the appreciation of the things that should truly be important!
Hugs to you all and enjoy your lives every day!
Z

We are loving this nice weather but feel so badly for those who have suffered during the storms.  As always, our prayers go out for those in need.  We know that God will bring us through any circumstance if we can only hang on and trust him!  Sometimes our faith is stretched to the limit, but it makes us grow.  We are thankful for wonderful friends and family and feel very blessed!
I hope everyone is looking forward to Spring and expecting good things in their life!
Hugs to everyone....!

A little time to relax...

It seems to me that we all stay just a little busier than we should.  We hit the gound running when our eyes pop open and don't really stop til they close to go to sleep.  This can't be a good thing, I mean even God rested on the 7th day. 

I was trying to figure all of this out and ran across this picture and I think this little guy has the right idea.

I hope everyone has a great week and try to find some time to relax a little like this guy.
Hugs and prayers to all...
Z

Winter Has Arrived...

Winter finally made an appearance and it never ceases to amaze me at how quickly the weather can change.  Like the many animals and birds who are outside all of the time we try and make the best of it.

We look for the beauty in things around us and find encouragement in knowing that Spring will make it's appearance as quickly as the winter snow. 

I love the changing seasons and feel blessed to be able to enjoy them and the different things of beauty they bring!

I hope everyone stays warm and safe.  Enjoy the beauty in all of the world around you regardless of the season, rain or snow, cloudy or sunny!

Hugs to you all!

Z

OK...a New Year and a fresh start.  After losing some people close to me last year I became very neglectful of my blog.  So, I am getting started back and hope to have some interesting posts about everyday life.  I am so thankful to have the opportunity of sharing thoughts and feelings about simple things that we so often take for granted. 

This weekend I am looking forward to relaxing and just enjoying all of the blessings around me!

Hugs and prayers to all of our wonderful friends.  I hope to be spending more time with all of you this year even if it is through a blog!

Have a great weekend and Happy New Year!

"Just To Keep It Simple"

I can't believe I have neglected my blog for so long.  Another victim of our too busy lives with cell phones chasing us everywhere we go.  Whatever happened to our real lives, spending time with friends and family, and just relaxing.
Maybe it's time to remember the old sayings;  'take a step back', 'slow down a little', or 'stop and smell the roses'.  We laugh sometimes when we hear people quoting the old sayings, but they are so true.  Our lifestyles seem to have crowded out things like sitting down and drinking a glass of iced tea in the shade or watching the birds in the trees...the simple things.  
Thinking about this made me think about the little cabin I built.  It started out as a tool shed, and well, the little lady of the house liked it so much she can hardly wait to decorate it, primitive and simple, of course.

We actually slowed down for a few minutes the other day and just sat on the porch and enjoyed the birds and the breeze.  After doing this, I believe more than ever that it's best "Just To Keep It Simple."

Hope you have a great week!

On to something...

My little wife and I have been looking at ways to reduce the stress that always seems to be jumping out in front of us. It seems like no matter what you do...something else is always there to deal with.  Well, while looking through some old photos, I found this one of my grandpa sitting in one of his old rocking chairs. 

I have a lot of memories of him sitting in these old rockers.  The more I thought about all the time he spent relaxing in those chairs, I believe he might have been on to something we have all forgotten.  I think I will have to find me one of those old rockers and start spending some quality time there.  I think it sounds like a pretty good idea to just sit back and rock and listen to the creak of the old floor boards. 
Way better than listening to the news...
Hope you all have a great week.....!

The little things...

Recently I had an opportunity to help my brother locate parts and fix a computer that contained a lot of information very important to him.  I didn't get to see this brother very often since he lived in South Carolina and I live in Indiana.  I work for a computer company so locating parts and getting repairs handled is not a big issue.  It is something I do all of the time, a "little thing"!
Working through this process was such fun and brought back such good memories of my brother from earlier years and growing up. 

He happened to be a Vietnam Vet and someone I looked at as a hero. 

A person who had been a wonderful father to his son and husband to his wife.  He taught me to drive in his white Dodge pickup.
                                    
He and his wife actually took me on vacation with them to Canada and New England when I was in my teens.  What a great memory!
Working through the computer repair was a chance for us to reconnect a little bit and I enjoyed it so much as we shared moments of faith and stories of growing up.  Little did I know at the time that less than a month later I would be sitting at his funeral.  It has made me realize very deeply that we should never take for granted the "little things".

Cherish each day that you live and live it like it were your last...

Love you Darrell...you will be missed til I see you again!

...the New Year should give everyone a fresh start...don't ya think...???

Decided it was time to be online and do more blogging!  It seems like there is always plenty of things to do that keep us way too busy.  This first weekend of 2011 was no different.  We took down all of the Christmas stuff and packed it away in the shop and the house, we started working on a new area in the shop with things that women will enjoy buying and men will enjoy looking at...well maybe they will buy some things too!  :0)   Then I did some work for the office and started going through some things that needed sorting out. 
Ya know, it's just tiring sometimes to keep up with all of the stuff there is to do. 

OK..so here is what I'm thinking...  I think this picture has a plan for the New Year. 

Get done what you need to, but take time out to relax and enjoy yourself.  Forget about 2010 and whatever it was that, well, didn't quite work.  Make time for things which are important to YOU.  Whatever makes you smile! 

After all, the New Year should give everyone a fresh start...don't ya think...???

Not much to say...Simplify!

You know I was thinking about something to write about today and have come to the conclusion...I just don't have much to say today.  I am looking forward to our shop open house and the holidays.  I am happy to be able to relax and enjoy good friends.  This also includes some family members...hahaha! 
Anyway, I hope that each of you will take some time during the holidays and just enjoy those you love!  Don't get caught up in all of the activity. 
After all...isn't that what the season should be about? 
Simplify...!

Another Day...

I am continually amazed at how much simpler things could be if we would only follow good Biblical advice and look at each day one day at a time. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." You can't change yesterday and you can't do anything about tomorrow because you don't know what tomorrow will bring. We try to solve the problems that haven't even arrived yet and figure everything out today. I have been through a few things in my life and I have found that no matter how big or small the problem, if we just deal with the issues in front of us today, somehow tomorrow seems to take care of itself and we amazingly survive to deal with things "Another Day!"

Don't Worry...! Be Happy...!
...and Have a Really Great Day!

...just say a little prayer for the rest!

As I was thinking about what to write, I began to think about how greatly blessed I have been with the simple pleasures of life.
Simple pleasures of faith, family, and friends. You know, when it gets down to basics we seem to have lost sight of those 3 simple pleasures and taken them for granted. Seems like many people have filled their lives with things you can buy and base happiness on what they have. I guess I have seen enough in my life to know that what we have bought can be quickly gone, but the love we share is always there.
So, with that thought, I guess we just need to take the time to appreciate those around us who really care and, well, ...just say a little prayer for the rest!
Have a great day!

Going Back In Time

Vicki and I had the chance to go back in time for a while this past weekend.
NO....I haven't lost my mind... hahaha! We visited the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, Tn.
If anyone has any interest in history or the early primitive lifestyle...this is a MUST SEE. If you are traveling down I-75 and go past Clinton, Tn. slow down your hurried pace and stop to see this wonderful place. You will be amazed at what they have put together on this primitive farm. The log cabins and barns are amazing. I could move in to any one of them. :0)
Anyway...we were blessed to be able to slow down and go back in time for a few hours to view close up how life was lived...and you know...it was probably of better quality with people focused on things which were really important instead of all the "things" which fill our lives today.
Check it out...

http://www.museumofappalachia.org/

Hope you find it as much a blessing as we did to enjoy it...!

Passing time...

Once again we are reminded that time passes by so quietly and quickly that we don't realize where it has gone. We have ended this week celebrating the 20th birthday of our Silver Persian cat. Our pets truly become part of the family and part of our daily routines. We are very blessed to have had such a wonderful pet for so many years and appreciate each day we get to share with her. I guess it's true.....Cats Rule...! LOL

Have a Wonderful Weekend...!

Encourage someone today...

Wow...I can't believe it's been so long since I have been on here. We have been able to get away for a short break and enjoyed meeting new friends at an antique show in Kentucky. For this I am very thankful...!!
As we meet and talk with people it seems as though there are too many wonderful people struggling with problems in their life with no one to encourage them. What a shame...!!!
They are battling normal stresses of life, or have an illness, or maybe issues within their families. It makes me realize how blest we really are.
Trust me, it isn't all paradise in our world either, but we have realized that you don't have to look very far to find others in need. I am more convinced than ever before that we need some "old time" people that know how to pray and am fully convinced that "real" faith seems to be lacking in today's society. We need people to stand up and be positive and encourage one another.
I am so thankful for parents that taught me that GOD IS REAL and that He will answer prayer. My prayer today is that God will make His presence known in the lives of all our wonderful friends and family. Whatever your issues are, I pray that God will move for you today. I wish that each person who reads this would decide that they are going to make it a priority to try and encourage someone else along the way. Who knows what blessings might begin to fall on all of us!
Love to all our wonderful friends and family and may God really bless each of you....!

I need a toy...

OK...I'm back here again and just had to take the time to show off the toy store we found recently while in Ohio. Anyone who knows me is aware that I usually have a toy and right now have none. What a shame...so...while riding down the road we passed this shop in a small town and my sweet wife said turn around and go back if you want to. Soooooo....we turned around and went back. What a great shop with cool classic cars. All the toys a guy could want...but I only need one...which one should I choose? Gosh...you all need to check out this shop and make suggestions...hahaha...

Well...guess it doesn't hurt to wish...

Check out this site and have a really great weekend...!!!!

http://www.phils-classics.com/index.html

Quick Note

Gosh..it seems like forever since I have been on here to post anything. I guess I am still waaaayyyy too busy... but I am trying hard to follow my own advice to slow down and enjoy life.
I am looking forward to developing my picturetrail site www.picturetrail.com/oldwooddesk .
The plan is to put a lot of fun stuff there for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully it will help you relax, recall some fond memories, and yes, perhaps, even be blessed.

I hope you all are having a really great week and will have a wonderful and blessed weekend!
Get out and enjoy the beauty of all that God has created!

I wanted to post a quick note to let you know that there will be... more to come...

Movie Night

OK..this is not intended to be a movie review...but I am saying that my sweet little wife and I had a great movie night last night watching this movie, "The Blind Side." It was really nice to sit back on the couch with a bowl of popcorn...lots of butter, of course...and just have something to watch that was positive and entertaining. Take the time out of your busy and stressed filled life to just relax and enjoy life with someone you care about. Push all of the negative stuff out of your mind and forget about all of the stuff you have to do. Trust me...it WILL be there waitin on you tomorrow. Anyway...find time to see some of the sights along your path and enjoy them with those you care about while you can. We never know about tomorrow so enjoy your life TODAY.

Have a really great week!

Beautiful Day...

Gosh...what a beautiful day today in southern Indiana...! A simple thing to be thankful for but I am very thankful nonetheless.
I enjoyed being outside working on the cabin for my sweet wife...!
I met some really nice people in the antique shop...!
I am spending the evening just relaxing and enjoying having a weekend to ourselves.
I think it helps to slow down and just look around us to see how blessed we are...
...then take the time to thank the One from whom all blessings flow...!
Have a great weekend....!

Take in the good...

OK...my guess is that there are others out there like me who are sick of listening to the news broadcast and all of the things that "someone" has decided to be news worthy.

My question is this, Who decided all of that negative garbage is news...?

I really am not interested in hearing about who killed whom, or what politician or sports person is cheating on their spouse this week. Aren't there people out there doing good things to help their neighbor and being a real friend to someone?

It isn't any wonder that so many people are depressed these days and can't seem to find happiness. I would suggest that at least part of the problem might be all of the garbage that we are bombarded with through the media, news broadcasts, and even our music. Now we even have to take it with us on our phones. Oh, I better not get started on phones....that is a topic for another day. Anyway...all of that to say this...

I believe you will have a better week if you block out the junk and just "take in the good."

Have a great week!