Our Own Caboose

OUR OWN CABOOSE

   There's something special about that little red caboose at the end of a train.  We stayed at the Caboose Inn in Fancy Gap, Virginia, on our recent trip to the mountains.  It might  not be five-star lodging, but it was unique and fun. 

 

   Our little red caboose is the center of three cabooses on the top of a mountain.  There was a nice sunset and then a very dark night.  Unfortunately, it was very cloudy and we only saw a sprinkling of stars.  When we got there, it was quite warm.  When we left the next morning, it was quite cold.

 



 

    I could almost hear the Little Red Caboose saying, "I think I can! I think I can!"  Which reminds me of the Bible verse, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13.  That is one of my favorite verses and one to live by each and every day.  I'm so thankful for that promise.  

     The little red caboose made it in the end, and so can we with the help of our Lord and Savior!

Apples

APPLES

   We covered the lovely orange pumpkin, now we're moving on to the luscious Apple.  Fall and Apples just go together.  Of course, where there are apples, there are also worms - like the one lurking in the apple above.  Hmmm....that worm looks awfully familiar...

There is something so refreshing about biting into a crisp, sweet apple.  What is your favorite apple?  My favorites are Gala and Fuji.  Larry's favorite is Pink Lady.  Of course, you can't go wrong with Red and Yellow Delicious.  Here's a simple recipe for yummy, healthy, chunky applesauce:  peel and slice a couple dozen sweet apples; put several generous pats of butter in a pot and then add the apples.  Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon (to taste).  Cook gently, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes - or until you have the chunky/mushy consistency you prefer.  If you have any pears, you might add a couple of those to the mix for a richer flavor.  Enjoy!

We enjoyed a visit to Carter's Mountain in Charlottesville, Virginia, for fresh apples and delicious fresh apple cider and donuts.  This popular farm is truly on top of a mountain with beautiful views.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" Proverbs 25:11

  

Pumpkins

PUMPKINS

We just returned from a nice, little jaunt into the mountains.  We popped in and out of the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove along the Alleghany Mountains a bit - from around Fancy Gap to Staunton.  In spite of very little color in the trees, it was still lovely up "in them thar hills."

With the Fall season and our recent trip in mind, here is a bit about Pumpkins.  I think pumpkins are one of the prettiest decorations of the season.  So here are a few pictures, a couple facts - and a few quiz questions.

The name Pumpkin means "a large melon" which comes from the Greek word "Pepon."  Here are a few quiz questions for you:

--Are pumpkins a vegetable?
--Are pumpkins always orange?
--How many calories are in a 13 lb. pumpkin?
      (Answers at the end)

The picture above shows pumpkins still in the field in Fancy Gap, Virginia.  Below are pumpkins for sale on the top of Carter's Mountain in Charlottesville.

 

The pictures answer one of your questions.  Here are the three answers;

 

--Are pumpkins a vegetable?   No, they're a fruit
--Are pumpkins always orange?  No, they also come in red, yellow, green and white
--How many calories are in a 13 lb. pumpkin?  a mere 120 calories!

So there you have it -- a Pumpkin Post from start to finish (:  Go Orange!  Hope your Fall is going great -- God bless!

 



The Wedding Ring

 

THE WEDDING RING







    This wedding ring belonged to my brother Clark.  His sweet wife Sally gave it to him on their wedding day with the inscription, "You are my sunshine."  I never knew about the inscription before, but when I discovered it a few weeks ago, my heart was warmed, remembering the loving and caring relationship they shared with one another.  They each provided "sunshine" into the life of the other.

     What a wonderful legacy to leave behind -- a legacy of a loving and caring heart, not only to one another, but to all they came in contact with.  Yesterday marked the six-month anniversary of our loss of Clark and Sally.  Although it is a painful loss and we miss them so much, the memory of who they were during their sojourn on this earth is comforting and uplifting.

     Such thoughts make us wonder what sort of legacy are we leaving behind? 

     I'm reminded of the song by Steven Green, "Find Us Faithful."  The verse that talks about our children sifting through all we've left behind, "May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.  Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful."

     That is such a powerful song with such a rich message.  Clark's wedding ring, like the song, has a rich message for me.  To bring sunshine into the lives of others, that's a good and happy thing.  Clark and Sally brought sunshine into my life and rays of sunlight spread around them, touching everyone with whom they came into contact.  They were faithful.

     Today, they are basking in the perfect Sonlight of the Light of the World Himself.  Revelation 21:23 tells us that in heaven, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light."  I'm heartened to know, that as the song says, Clark and Sally are now among the "cloud of witnesses" in heaven, "Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary, their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace."

     As we carry on in this world, our challenge is to bring sunshine, not shadows, into the lives of those around us.  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:16.