Summer Photo Fun: Photographer Elece Hollis

August 15, 2012 by 11 Comments

You’re in luck. I have one more special guest to introduce you to before Summer Photo Fun concludes this week. I’m especially excited because the star of today’s post, Elece Hollis, is not only becoming a great photographer, but she’s one of my writing buddies as well.

Elece and I met around six years ago when I joined Fellowship of Christian Writers in Tulsa, OK. She’s been a source of inspiration and encouragement to me ever since. Elece is a diligent writer who is published regularly, and I’m always excited to hear how her work is being used.

Elece and I spur each other on in our writing careers, and we also share a love of poetry and poetic language. What a blessing to have writer friends like Elece who truly “get” me and can understand and share in the joys and struggles of the writing life.

To introduce herself to you, Elece says, “I live south of Tulsa in Oklahoma where my husband and I work our pecan grove. We have raised a large family of seven children and have eighteen grandchildren. I love to take photos of people.

The shots below are all people in costumes. Most were taken at the Rendezvous, a yearly encampment of folks into American history. At Rendezvous, the participants reenact the historical yearly meetings of mountain men, trappers, pioneers, and traders to buy, sell, and trade things they have collected, produced , grown, or hunted.

Here are links to my four blogs: Images of Home, a photo-a-day blog where I also post a homemade poem along with the picture. My blog about the prairies is called Prairie Places. Another of my blogs is made up of photos, poems, and letters to friends, family, and God: Letters From Home. Another of my blogs with lots of photos is about my home and family, and gardening and flowers, etc. It is called Thoughts Join Letters.”

Hope you enjoy Elece’s unique photos and her captions for them! 

I loved this woman’s hat of white rabbit fur and her earrings made of brass thimbles.

This little boy in his three-cornered felt hat was charming. He said his name was Connor.

Loved the lively step of this old man with a cane dressed in a gray wool coat.

This old trapper/hunter had a rattlesnake rattle woven into his beard.

Woman with blue skirt carrying her ax.

A trader in orange shirt and brown hat and vest looks a bit distrustful.

The Mountain Man stirring up some fun.

Friends: Basket weaving Indian woman named Wabi and my daughter Brenna.

Thank you, Elece, for sharing your photos with us! It’s good to remember our roots, isn’t it?

“Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past.” Deuteronomy 32:7a

*Which of Elece’s photos do you find most interesting?

*The new issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. Sign-up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: America, Friend, photo fun, writing

So Much to See, So Little Time!

April 15, 2012 by 9 Comments

Anyone else longing to travel? The older I get the more I realize how far behind I am in seeing the world. And now? There’s just so much to see and so little time!

Summer’s already teasing me. We haven’t been in the habit of taking a real trip every year—after all, life has a way of eating up vacation funds. But now that college and wedding expenses are behind us, vacations are more of a possibility.

Since the best time for my husband to travel is in July, we have a tendency to pick Colorado mountain destinations where we can escape the Kansas heat. But there are so many other places I long to see as well. Maybe after retirement? Sadly, Don tells me he wants to teach until he’s seventy! Good grief, doesn’t he realize I’ve got traveling to do? :)

Here in the good ole USA, I’d love to someday visit Washington, D.C.; New York City and Boston, along with other East coast historic areas; Alaska and Hawaii; Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons; West coast cities and scenic destinations; historic areas in the deep South; Florida, Tennessee—I could go on and on. As you can tell, I want to see more of our country!

And if that’s not enough, I’d even like to get up the courage (and the money!) to brave international travel at some point. Like everyone else, I’d love to visit Rome, Paris, and London (and other points of interest in those cities’ respective countries), but other places intrigue me as well.

Since my family immigrated from Ireland and Scotland generations ago, those destinations hold a special appeal. (I’ve enjoyed getting a taste of Irish life over on Irish American Mom. I learn something new from Mairead [rhymes with parade] every time I visit.) Switzerland and Germany sound appealing, too, and visiting the Holy Land would be so meaningful—though travel there sounds a little more scary to me. I can be a chicken :) Given that fact, I’m not sure I’d be up to an African safari, but that also sounds amazing.

Like I said, so much to see, so little time. I realize I won’t see all of these places in my lifetime, but surely I can make it to some of them. And to be totally honest, traveling to and navigating around unfamiliar places does indeed make me a little nervous. You know, all those chances to get lost and/or make other mistakes :)

I don’t want to let my fears hold me back, though. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in over a half century of living, it’s that the Lord walks with me each step of the way. And even better than that, He goes before me and guides me if I’ll only look to Him.

So even though there’s so much to see and so little time, my heavenly Guide will help me make the best of it. How about you? Anyone else ready to travel?

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

*Is summer already teasing you? Where would you like to travel?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out the first week in May. Sign up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Per Ola Wiberg ~ Powi

Filed Under: America, international, new thing, summer, travel

Making Our Lives Count

September 11, 2011 by 7 Comments

3152672560_c3dbb19282_zThis past week as the tenth anniversary of 9/11 drew near, we’ve heard, seen, and read many reminders of that horrific time. I came across one that I think bears repeating here. I hope you will agree.

Woman’s Day Editor-In-Chief Elizabeth Mayhew introduced their September issue with a quote from an essay former First Lady Laura Bush wrote for their magazine on the first anniversary of the attacks. I love what Mrs. Bush had to say:

“You don’t have to walk into a burning building or wear a badge to rescue someone. You don’t have to go to medical school to help a person feel better, or walk on the moon to change this earth. You simply have to care about what happens in our country. To me, we can all honor the lives lost on September 11 by making our lives count even more.”

What great perspective Mrs. Bush offered back in 2002—and it’s still true today. Instead of feeling hopeless and helpless in the face of overwhelming times, we can make a difference. We can make our lives count. Sometimes we just need to think about it a bit and then become more intentional in our efforts.

So, what can we do to make things better for our nation? We can vote regularly in elections and volunteer through our churches and civic organizations when crises come or to help with ongoing projects. We can support our military and their families and volunteer at our communities’ schools. We can also recycle and try to incorporate other earth friendly practices in our lives. The possibilities abound.

On another note, we as Christians should be making our lives count for the Lord as well. We can grow closer to Him each day, becoming a beacon of hope and good news for those around us. We can live our faith in front of our families and friends in good times and bad, setting an example for our children. We can pray for and encourage others. We can get involved in mission projects and actively support missionaries. We can be ready to share the good news of a Savior as the Lord gives opportunity. Yes, we can make a difference eternally.

Let’s heed the wisdom Mrs. Bush offered on that first anniversary of 9/11. Let’s make our lives count even more.

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

*I’d love to hear more ideas about making our lives count. What else can we do to make a difference in our nation or for Christ?

*Flickr photo by włodi, Creative Commons License

Filed Under: advice, America, challenge, giving, help

Colorado Vacation Beauty

August 10, 2011 by 8 Comments

Mom & DadIt’s time to bring Summer Photo Fun to an end so let’s do it giving God glory, huh? While on our family vacation to Estes Park, Colorado/Rocky Mountain National Park in July, God blessed us with the magnificent beauty of His creation, and I’d love to share some of it with you. The pictures don’t do it justice, but you can click on each photo to see a larger version where the beauty can be better seen.

Since our daughters and their husbands vacationed with us, many of these photos belong to them. Please remember that photos as well as the written word on my blog are copyrighted.

Now on to the beauty :) Hope you enjoy seeing some of God’s best work! :)

Behind our condo, this trail ran alongside the Big Thompson River. Such a beautiful and relaxing spot!

Lily Lake

Lily Lake outside of Estes Park, CO.

One of many chipmunks we enjoyed watching while in CO.

We spotted several deer in the wild as well.

Lily pads

Nymph Lake in RMNP.

KristinKristin surrounded by an aspen grove. She has loved aspens since she was a young girl. (Taken on the trail to Alberta Falls.)

An area lush with fern, also on the trail to Alberta Falls.

Spectacular Alberta Falls. We were told by a local that it’s wilder this year than he’s seen it for 30 years. A good year to see the Falls!

One of the many amazing views from Trail Ridge Road. Can you spot the little mountain lake?

Lots of elk

And wonder of all wonders, we happened upon an entire herd of elk grazing in meadow alongside Trail Ridge Road. I’ve heard of things like this but have never seen it before. We felt beyond blessed. Take a closer look with me:

Elk 2
 
Elk 3
 
Elk 4

“Well, hello there! Thanks for coming out to see us!” :)

What an amazing world we have. What an amazing God!

“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:1a

*The current issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter/ezine, came out last week. It’s not too late to receive it. If you’re not already getting it, sign-up is free and to the right!

 

Filed Under: America, beauty, creation/creative/creator, travel

Proclaiming Thanksgiving

November 21, 2010 by 7 Comments

I’m so thankful that America’s founding fathers were people who worshiped and served our heavenly Father. The following announcement was made 387 years ago by William Bradford, the Governor of Plymouth Colony (1623):

“TO ALL YE PILGRIMS: Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now, I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.”

Let us, too, be busy proclaiming Thanksgiving this week. Let’s thank God for His provision, His protection, and His many blessings. They are abundant indeed!

A blessed Thanksgiving to all!

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9

*Flickr photo by John-Morgan, Creative Commons License

*I’ll be skipping my mid-week post since we’ll all be busy preparing for Thanksgiving. What yummy dish are you most looking forward to? I can’t wait to wolf down a few of Grandma’s Rolls again! :)

Filed Under: America, holidays, thanks
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