Some "Dear" friends of mine

We see deer at my favorite place, Norris State Park, everytime we go. It is my favorite place to go animal watching and is especially lovely this time of year. Randy and I spent the morning there. These guys weren't sure if they like us or not.

The backyard of my life

This is my favorite place to sit with a cup of something hot. Makes my worries seem few and my troubles small...sometimes.

I love Autumn

Fall is my very favorite time of year. So the results of this quiz were no surprise. I'll be posting some pictures of our beautiful Tennessee fall asap.

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

How to help

To send cards and letters to the Amish Families affected by the shootings: Bart Township Fire Company P.O. Box 7211 Furnace Road Bart, PA 17503 For information on how to help financially: http://www.coatesvillesavings.com/

Pray for these families.

In 2001, my sister, my daughters and I went on a 15 day camping trip through out New England. Toward the end of our trip we stayed in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We found the Amish there to be gentle spoken, and very kind toward a van load of lost, road weary women trying to buy eggs for their breakfast. There is a sense of peacefulness and order that permeates their farms, picturesque with their petunia edged gardens and bucolic surroundings. We drove by a one room school house, with it's teeter totter on the play ground and commented on how idyllic it looked. At Bird in the Hand farmer's market, the youngest children played at their mother's feet or were held in her arms while she waited on customers. The young boys and girls helped restock the pies, cakes, or other homemade items for sale. They captured my heart, those little girls in their aprons and little boys with their straw hats. When I heard the news about the shooting in Lancaster yesterday, it almost brought me to my knees. I can't stop crying when I think of it. Every school shooting is a heartbreaking, horrible tragedy, but the truth is, sadly, we have come to expect the news of them, and to expect copycat events to follow any major school shooting. This week has been rife with them. Somehow, I had hoped there was a place that was safe, a place where this couldn't happen. I am so sorry I was wrong.