Friday Photos - The Calla Lily

 I don't remember where or when this picture was taken, but I do remember that I found the Calla Lily beautiful, and the lines running through the petals and leaves were very striking.

The Dog in the Map

 Several times a week, we take Ellie to a nearby schoolyard. I put her on a 30-foot leash and allow her to walk, run, sniff, and track to her heart's content.  I know this activity is very important for a scent-driven hound, and I enjoy spending the time watching her and musing through things in my own mind.  Usually, I only stop her or direct her path if I realize there is something dangerous to her or that she might be in someone else's way.  For all our other walks, I direct where she goes.

The other day, as we were getting out of the car, I realized that since I was tracking our distance on my phone, it would generate a map of where we went.  I thought this might be something interesting to see, so I decided to follow her every step.  This is the map:

When I saw it, I knew my daughters would get a kick out of all the turns and back and forths.  I clearly did not see the map as did my daughter, Emmie.  This is what she sent back:

Our daughter could see in that Google map something I did not see.  She could see Ellie sniffing around on the ground. I was thrilled at what her artist's eye saw in seconds. Not only that, her reply was almost instantaneous.  

I thought I had made something unique by following my dog's every footstep.  But my daughter made it something so much greater.  That is just like God, isn't it?  We think we have something figured out, but His knowledge and sight are infinite.  Just as I didn't have the artist's eye to see what Emmie saw instantly, I do not have the Lord's knowledge and understanding to correctly or fully understand the situations in which He leads me.  That means I have to trust HIS knowledge, understanding, and guidance in every aspect of my life. 

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him."  2 Samuel 22:31.

As Ellie trusts me to keep her out of danger while on that long leash, I must trust the Lord to do the same in my life. As I put my trust in His will and way, His eyes and not my own, His way will become clear, and I will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He has led me all the way.  

''For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, 
saith the Lord." Isaiah 55:8.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; 

trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." 

Psalm 37:5

 

All the Way My Savior Leads Me

Fanny Crosby

All the way my Savior leads me.
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy,
Who thru' life has been my Guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

Tuesday - All Things Ellie, Meet Max and Jack

Max

(Note:  I know this was published on Monday instead of Tuesday.  I had a lot of technical difficulties with this post, so please, just pretend it is Tuesday!)

 In our neighborhood, cats seem to be as plentiful as squirrels.  Well, almost.

Ellie has met quite a few of the cats that pass by our house each day, one of whom is Max.

Max is a fluffy, black cat with amber eyes.  I thought he was a stray cat because I often saw him in the yard of a lady who loved to feed and care for the strays.  

It was only a few months ago I learned that Max actually lived two houses down from this lady.  He walked over to her house every morning for an extra meal.

Ellie and I see Max on most days on our morning walk.  Max looks at Ellie, Ellie looks at Max, and that is the end of it.  They seem to have no animosity toward each other but also no desire to become closer, either.

This is so different from Jack.

Jack in the grass

One day, Ellie and I were walking around the circle in the neighborhood.  We passed a man sitting outside on his steps.  A grey and white cat was resting at his feet.  I said "Hello" to the man, and he asked me what my dog's name was.

"This is Ellie," I replied.

"Jack, go say hello to Ellie," the man said to the cat.

Jack got up, stretched leisurely, and began walking toward Ellie. He moved very slowly, and instead of being scared, Ellie seemed mesmerized by his walk.

Ellie didn't move, even though Jack was a cat.

Jack came within an inch of her, and still, she didn't move.

When Jack reached Ellie, he slowly and gently rubbed his face on Ellie's face.  He did it over and over again.  It reminded me of what momma dogs do to their puppies.

Then Jack laid down, rolled over, and showed Ellie his belly.

Jack looking through the window

At that moment, I knew that Jack, and Max also, had to have their place in the Ellie & Percivald series of children's books.

I learned from Jack's owners that Jack had been owned by his current owner's parents, who were veterinarians.  Jack was often at the clinic with them, where they also kept some elderly beagles during the day. So Jack was very familiar with beagles.

Ellie knows two other cats in the neighborhood, Callie and Oakley, but that will be another story. 

Friday Photos -- The Butterfly

 

The Monarch butterfly

I remember taking this photograph as if it were yesterday.  

It was taken on October 10, 2013.  We were at Lowe's, and Glen was looking for some plants for his garden.  I had just gotten a new camera (yes, people still used cameras then), and I was trying it out on the flowers.  In October, monarch butterflies migrate through this area and one was flitting around the flower department.  I followed this butterfly everywhere it went, trying to get the perfect picture.  When this one popped up on the screen, I knew I could do no better than this.

Tuesday - All Things Ellie: Meet Sally

 

Sally

Sally is our daughter's dog.  Marie rescued her about a year before we got Ellie.

Sally is a mix: she is part Chihuahua, part Shitzu, and part Austrailian Cattle Dog.  She is also part Houdini, but more on that later.

When we first got Ellie, Sally was much taller than Ellie.  Even then, though, as a puppy, Ellie asserted her dominance.  Now, at almost five years old, Ellie is much taller than Sally.

Ellie and Sally are now best friends.  We "dog-sit" Sally several days during the week while Marie works.  Ellie and Sally eat together, play together, and then take naps.

In the beginning, I would try to take them on walks together, but that was when Sally's "Houdini" genes became evident.

The first time I took them out together for a walk in the neighborhood, I was looking around for "Jack, the Cat" (Another story for another day.), Sally decided to practice her greatest skill, which was slipping out of her harness. I started chasing her, and so did Ellie. Ellie, having those hunting genes, was immediately ready for the challenge.  

Sally ran toward the house to our left, and just as I thought I was going to be able to get her, she slipped away into the yard next door.  I chased her, and once again, I thought she was within my grasp, and she darted away.  Finally, I gave up and let the expert take over.

"Ellie, get Sally!" I shouted.

Ellie seemed to instinctively know what to do.  She ran to Sally's backside and corralled her between a chainlink fence and the corner of a house.  She stayed between Sally and the street until I could get Sally's harness back on.  Sally, thankfully, didn't try to escape anymore on that walk, and we went straight - and swiftly- home.

A few days later, however, we were walking on the other side of the neighborhood. Sally had just "done her business," and I was bending over to pick it up. When I looked back at Sally, there was no Sally to look at. I had not felt any pulling on the leash at all, but the leash and harness were lying on the ground. Sally was nonchalantly trotting across a neighbor's front yard.

This time, I didn't waste time trying to catch her myself.

"Ellie, get Sally!"  This command was effective last time, and this time, Ellie immediately knew the game was on.

She followed Sally. Once Sally reached the wooden fence between the two houses, Ellie put her body against Sally's and held her there until I could buckle her up again. For that, Ellie got a big treat of chicken, and I decided never to try to walk them both at the same time again.

Sally is a very sweet dog. She loves to have her belly rubbed and chew on bone toys. And she loves Ellie. In the third book of our "Ellie & Percival" Series for children, Sally teaches Ellie about snow and has a great idea for praying for something that seems almost impossible.

Sally has great ears, especially for sounds emanating from the kitchen.  In fact, if I am doing something in the kitchen, Sally is usually the first one to run to see if it means the dogs will get some food.

When it comes to eating, Sally and Ellie are totally different.  Ellie wolfs down her food as if she has not eaten in years.  Sally, however, demurely takes one piece of kibble at a time and quietly nibbles on it like a perfect little lady.

Sally has been a great blessing to our daughter, to us, and especially to Elllie.

Besties

Friday Photos - Happy Valentine's Day

 

Happy Valentine's Day from Glen, Frannie, and Ellie!

(Ellie was less than a year old when this was taken.)

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

 Today, Ellie and I were walking around the neighborhood. Usually, on these walks, I let her stop and smell whatever she wants within the six-foot length of her leash. She was busy exploring something in the grass when my eye spotted the root.

This root had obviously come from the tree a couple feet away.  It had probably been tiny when it encountered the sidewalk. Instead of changing direction, it continued directly into the space between two slabs of concrete.  There, it grew and grew until it became embedded between a "rock and a hard place," as it were.

The root didn't die; it continued to grow where it found itself. It did what it was made to do, which was to find soil and nutrients to send back to the tree to keep it healthy and alive.  Not only did it NOT die, it grew!  It thrived!

This little root really touched my heart.  It was doing what God made it to do. Period.

I thought of how many times the Lord has placed me in hard places.  How many times have I responded with complaints, tears, or feeling unjustly treated?  

I realize I should be more like this little root, just doing what the Lord has made and called me to do, which is to "with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:6.)

There are times in our lives when the Lord needs to put us into some very hard places.  They may be places of pain, solitude, or frustration. We will not like it; our emotions may cry out, our bodies may hurt, and our minds may not be able to understand it.  But still, in all of that, the Lord has a purpose for us being there.  One is this:

"And call upon me in the day of trouble:  

I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."  Psalm 50:15.

"Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires," Isaiah 24:15.

As we glorify Him in our troubles, He strengthens us, and we are more able to call upon Him in the next trouble.  And we are more able to strengthen those around us who are also in the cracks of life. 

We will not in this lifetime escape the troubles this world brings. As the Scriptures tell us, "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward," (Job 5:7.)  But they also tell us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," (Psalm 46:1.)

So, as the "sparks fly upward" in our lives let us seek that one Refuge and Strength that never fails.  In doing so, we will be like that little root, pleased to be between a rock and a hard place because we know the Lord has sent us there for His purpose and His purpose is always the very best for our lives.

The Red Jacket - Revisited

This story was printed many, many years ago, but finding it today I realized how relevant it still is.  And I still don't have the perfect red jacket.

 Several years ago, I was walking through a department store and saw a beautiful red leather jacket. I tried it on and loved the fit—in fact, I loved everything about the jacket except the price tag. So, I left it on the rack. I have regretted it ever since.

I am extremely picky about jackets. I don't like lapels or collars, and being tall, I need sleeves that are long enough. Not any red will do..I don't want rust or cranberry. . .I want red.

The jacket at Dillard's met all my pre-conceived criteria, except for the price.  It was exactly what I wanted, the real deal.  Since then, I have tried on dozens of red-hued jackets, none of which come close enough to cause me to purchase them, even at a quarter the price.  They are not the "real deal"; they fall short of my standard of perfection for red jackets.  I have searched for the elusive red jacket of my dreams, but none have met up to my list of qualifications.

Many times, I have heard people say, "If I do more good things than I do bad things, then I will go to heaven."  This would imply that anything we do can have good merit in and of itself.  Yet the Scriptures tell us that apart from the saving work of the Lord Jesus, "... we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" (Isaiah 64:6.)  Our good works can never be accepted by a God who is perfectly holy because they don't meet up to the standard of perfection.

What is that standard of perfection?  The Lord Jesus Christ.  His sinless life is the standard of perfection.  If we desire to reach Heaven on our own merits and works, then we have to be as perfect in word, action, thought, and motive as He was, and He was without sin.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrew 4:5

All we can do is to humble ourselves before the Lord and be thankful that He is a God that "delighteth in mercy" and who is "good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee."  We confess that we cannot in and of ourselves obtain the path to Heaven, that we have all "sinned and come short of the glory of God."

We seek His grace, mercy, and salvation provided through His Son, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Then God wraps the righteousness of His dear Son around us and declares us His child as well.  Only His Son and His righteousness meet the standard, and we must accept it by faith as a freely given gift.

Awake, my heart; arise, my tongue,

Prepare a tuneful voice;

In God, the life of all my joys,

Aloud will I rejoice.

’Tis He adorned my naked soul,

And made salvation mine;

Upon a poor polluted worm

He makes His graces shine.

And lest the shadow of a spot

Should on my soul be found,

He took the robe the Savior wrought,

And cast it all around.

How far the heav’nly robe exceeds

What earthly princes wear!

These ornaments, how bright they shine!

How white the garments are!

The Spirit wrought my faith, and love,

And hope, and every grace;

But Jesus spent His life to work

The robe of righteousness.

Strangely, my soul, art thou arrayed

By the great Sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise

Let all thy powers agree.

Isaac Watts

All Things Ellie - Ellie meets Percival

One day, Ellie and I were walking in the yard.  Her hound-nose led her to some large azalea bushes on the south side of the house.  This was not her usual "I'm smelling to see if there is something to find" smell, it was clearly her, "There is something here, let's go find it."  Underneath the Ligustrum bushes, Ellie encountered a turtle.  A Gulf Box turtle, to be exact.

At this point in my life, I knew almost nothing about turtles except that some could snap at you and bite you.  All Ellie knew was this critter smelled good (by her standards, not mine!) and she wanted to get closer.

I was intrigued, not only by the turtle but by Ellie's reaction to it.  She wasn't frightened at least and she also wasn't aggressive to it.  She did smell it quite a bit, though.

After that, every morning, Ellie looked for the turtle. Sometimes, he was under an azalea bush, sometimes under a hydrangea bush. Thanks to her wonderful sense of smell, she could always find him. The result was always the same: They looked at each other curiously, but neither showed any aggressive signs or even signs of running away. 

When Ellie met Percival

At some point we decided to bring something with us for the turtle, whom I began to think of as "Percival". (There is no rhyme or reason for this name, but it did form the basis of his character when the children's books began to be written.)  My husband read that turtles like greens, so we had some spinach in the house and took him some.  This is where the title for the first book, "Greens for Percival", came from.

Percival on the Carport

Later, we began to bring him little bits of chicken breast, which he really liked!  Ellie does too! Then, as summer started, we brought him some canteloupe.  Percival LOVES canteloupe!  This began a long season of Percival being part of our daily routine.  For a while, we would find him under the bushes along our driveway.  Then, he would be under our car!  We had to make sure each time we went somewhere that Percival was not under the car.  On more than one occasion, I had to move him out of the way.  One morning, Glen went out to find Percival standing at the door to our carport!

We all got so friendly with Percival that he started coming to us in the morning as soon as he saw us. (Of course, we realize it was because of the food, but we think he likes us, too!)

Last year, Percival found the perfect place for himself. We have some kayaks, which we store against the back wall of our house. He started living there. How do we know this? Ellie hunted for him until she found him there. So, each morning, Ellie and I would go to the kayaks, I would say, "Good morning, Percival," and he would come trotting right out to see us.  

This past fall, when Percival left to brumate (the reptile version of hibernation), Ellie looked for him at the kayaks every morning.  After a few days, she sniffed and sniffed and then turned back toward me with her head tilted in that very cute way she has as if to say, "Mom, where is he?"

Last year, he came back around Easter, so we will begin looking for him about that time this year, too.

Hello! I am Percival! I am very pleased to meet you!
"Any friend of Ellie's is treasured by me!"

Friday Photos-Steele Creek Park

 

This picture was taken at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, TN, on October 26, 2022.  We were in Virginia for hiking.  Since our beagle, Ellie, came to be a part of our family, we haven't been backpacking the Appalachian Trail.  Instead, we have been trying to find other hikes that all three of us will enjoy while minimizing any danger to her.  We know her nose well enough to take her into too much wilderness.

We try to time our fall hikes with the color change, and this year, we chose it perfectly.  This was a wonderful hike on an easy path around the lake. The weather was perfectly cool, and we decided to return in the Spring.

 

"All Things Ellie" Tuesday -- Other Animals

 Of the fun things with Ellie is to watch how she responds to other animals.  We have many feral cats in our neighborhood, and she usually responds as you would expect.  However, the more she sees each one of them, the less she reacts to them.

One spring, we hiked part of the Virginia Creeper Trail from Abingdon, VA.  This particular part of the trail had a good bit of farmland.  At one point, we passed some grazing cows.  There was a bench across the trail, so we took that opportunity for a water break.

Ellie wanted to see the cows. As we sat on a bench, she didn't take her eyes off them. I truly believe if I had dropped the leash, she would have been at that fence in a second.

The next day, while continuing our hike on the "Creeper", we again encountered cows and Ellie didn't even turn her head to give them a look.   This was a very different reaction to what she had to the horses.

The Virginia Creeper is not only a very popular trail for hikers, but bikers and equestrians utilize this trail as well.  Ellie seemed totally shocked by the horses.  I couldn't tell if she wasn't frightened at all or was so frightened she couldn't even move.  Maybe she was thinking, "Those are the biggest dogs I have ever seen.  And the humans are riding them!"

I kept her as far away from the horses as I could because I didn't know how she would respond to them up close.  As it turned out, when they passed us on the trail, she did very well.

Ellie has some other animal friends, too.  One day, she was smelling around under the bushes by the house and became very excited.  I looked under the bushes and saw a turtle.  At that point in my life, I knew almost nothing about turtles.  I certainly didn't know that this particular turtle was going to be a beloved part of our lives.  I also didn't know I was to write four children's books about his relationship to Ellie! (The fourth is not yet finished.)  I didn't know that each morning would begin with Ellie looking for Percival (as we call him) and even feeding him.

Next Tuesday, I will introduce you to Percival and share more about his unique relationship with Ellie and with us.