abandoned

While we were enjoying some R & R at Alpine Lake, West Virginia a couple of weeks ago we came upon this abandoned house.  We passed it often as we worked our way to the trail head and each time we stopped to consider it.  There is something really sad about an abandoned house. While I studied this cabin I was bereft to see that the life had drained from its timbers..  It was no longer a home but a house, a structure of wood, stone and metal, that was quickly deteriorating; a vestige of what once was. Where it once housed hopes and dreams, love and family; faith and life; fun and laughter.... it was now a shell of these things.

We noticed the "keep out" sign and wondered about its fate; was it going to be restored or torn down?  Had someone else bought it with plans of bringing it back to life; perhaps a family  member who spent time in that cabin as a child and remembers the fun time they had on the lake? Or would they tear it down and start fresh, wiping out the history that is locked in its walls.

I'm sure I have better things to think about but old abandoned things like this capture my attention and my imagination.  Whether it's a house or a tractor abandoned and left to rust in the field...they have a story to tell and I like to ponder what those stories might be.

Not only do I think about their possible stories but I feel the sadness of their abandonment.  I have never been abandoned but I feel the deep sorrow of people and things that have.  The heartbreak of a wife who has been abandoned by her husband, the elderly person in a nursing home who spends their days hoping for a visit from family,  a dog on the side of the road abandoned because of an owner's irresponsibility, to name a few.  I can imagine their heartache, their question of why, their self accusations, when all the while it is not their fault.

Honestly, there is so much to say about abandonment...and all of it seems negative.  I have typed and deleted and typed and deleted because I don't want to keep adding depressing stuff.  I merely want to give you something to think about.  So, rather than continuing, I am going to add one more thing...a question (s); Is there anything you have abandoned in your life?  A friendship? a family relationship?  Your faith? Your hopes and dreams? Your self esteem? Your search for a better job? Your education? Your marriage?  Perhaps none of these things resonate but something else has been ringing in your ears since you started reading this post.  Whatever it is, it isn't to late to stop and reconnect.

 ^"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor (abandon) forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Till Next Time

~willa~
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A Get Away

This is a ski slope at Alpine Lake.  It is no longer an active slope but with a few inches of snow you could make it happen!

We all need a get away once in a while.  My sweetie and I have been induring some stressful times as most people in our times have/are.  To add to the stress, my sweetie has also been busy with the many projects we have going on around our house.  Project #1: we are finishing the den where we have the woodstove.  We would love to enjoy its warm glow during cold and cooler weather but the room is unfinished and not very enjoyable to be in.  So, a couple of months ago we began working on it and only have a few more things to complete to call it done. Project #2: the outdoor living space.  This project is being done in 3 phases because of cost and time issues.  The first phase is clearing the area of trees and creating the space for an outdoor fireplace and seating area.  This phase, well,  it's going pretty well.  We should be putting in the fireplace this weekend.  I really shouldn't say "we" since it's my sweetie and son who are doing most of the work.  My job is to pick out the materials and approve the designs. I like my job in this. 

2nd phase of the outdoor living area is to install a pizza oven and add more sqare footage to the space.  That will begin this fall.  Next spring we will be adding more space and a firepit.

Stopping for a rest on one of our hikes.

Anyway, about the get away.  My sweetie and I booked a 3 bedroom house in Alpine Lake, WV.  We've been looking at this area for awhile because we would love to buy a lot or a house in this area.  The lake is a non-motorized lake, and there are hiking trails in the area.  It's a woodland community that has a serenity that reaches down to my soul. We woke up each morning to the melodic chirping of the birds...well, honetly I think it was Sadie, our border collie, that woke us up with her whining...she needed to go out to do her business.  The temps are at least 10 degrees cooler than in our area; we lit a fire in the fireplace each evening and morning...another peaceful and relaxing activity that reached down to my soul! 

Sadie taking a break during one of our hikes

We tried not to think about the stress that has been hounding our lives, nor about the work that needs to be completed in the next few weeks.  We read, watched a couple of movies, hiked, enjoyed fireside chats, made breakfast lunch and dinner together (the nearest resturants and stores are 20 mins away); we simply rested, which isn't an easy thing to do when you have so much going on, but if you put your mind to it, it can be done.

Sadie is an excellent trail dog.  She runs ahead to scope out the area but doesn't get out of site from us.  Here she has stopped to wait on us as she often does when she gets to far ahead.

Of course, all to soon our little getaway came to an end.  We drove home and stepped back into our regular lives.  I must admit though, the getaway accomplished what we needed, R&R so we could "carry on".

Till next time

~willa~ Pin It Now!

We Have A Winner

So sorry I have taken longer to get to the drawing for this piece.  Believe me there are reasons!  Anyway, thank you to each and every one who entered "Home Is Where You Hang Your Heart" give away.

And the winner is Tam of Scentfully Country Gal Creations.  Tam I will get this in the mail to you as soon as I get your address.  I hope you enjoy it!

Till Next Time

~willa~ Pin It Now!

A New Year's Give Away

It's hard to believe we have bid adieu to 2012 and welcomed 2013. In celebration of this New Year I am having a give away.  I painted this bread board with an Aly's Room original design called "Home is Where You Hang Your Heart".  This sweet little snowfella can be displayed through out the winter months and up to spring.  The hanging hearts are perfect for displaying for Valentine's Day.  I enjoyed this piece so much I painted 2 of them; one for you and one for me.

The rules for this giveaway are simple:

1) must be a follower of my blog; new follwers are welcomed to participate.

2) post to your blog side bar with a link back to this page or post to your FB with a link back

3) leave a comment on this post and if you do not have a blog where you can be reached leave your  
email addie or email it to me.

I will be drawing the name of the lucky winner and notifying them on January 31st and the package will go out on Feb 1st.

Thanks for participating and "may the odds be ever in your favor".....

Wynter Blessings!

~willa~ Pin It Now!

A Kiss....

Of Autumn sunshine on a cold winter's day. In early October I took the camera out one cool morning and snapped photos of the autumn colors in my garden.  I don't know about you but I can't tell how well a photo has turned out by looking at the small view screen on the camera.  When I loaded the photos onto my computer I was so surprised that I had caught the sun kissing these hydrangeas.  I don't blame the sun because I'm fond of hydrangeas too. Anyway, this is an unedited photo of what the camera caught. Since the days have grown shorter I must admit I have missed the warm morning sunshine. That's quite a confession for a lover of winter.



                                                                                                        

It's been a rough week!   A hammering headache, aches, and dizziness, good indicators that I have a full blown sinus infection.  It began last weekend and by Monday, it was more than I could take.  The doctor's office was inundated with patients this week so I wasn't able to get an appointment until today.  She started me on antibiotics and hopefully this will be gone in the next few days!  I must admit I was afraid of going to the doctors office, not because I'm afraid to go to the doctor's but because with so much stuff going around and especially the flu (yikes I didn't take the flu shot!), I didn't want to expose myself to the possibilities!  I missed work today because of the dizziness and aches; I spent most the day resting. It wasn't easy to do because I'm not a person to lay around when there are things to do.

Till next time

~willa~ 

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A Word...if you please

I don't know if you have heard about the "One Word" for the year.  In essence it's sincerely and maybe prayerfully considering a word that you want to live by for the year 2013.  It seems easy enough to pull a word out of the hat but that's not been the case for me.  I think of one word that would fit great, a word that would make me work to strive to live up to but then another word jumps out of the hat and I think, yes, that would be a great word to live by this year too.  Here is one of the words I have been considering.  I'll share some more in a couple of future posts.

Seek: only four letters but a very big word!  How would my life (or your life) and the lives of others around me (us) be impacted if we were to strive to live this word?  Here are some examples I thought of if this were my Word for the year.

1) Seek to love my family and friends more deeply and devotedly.  That would not only change me but would change them as well.

2) Seek to help those in need.  If I really did this, it would definitely be life changing. 

3) Seek to be free from vises that distract me from goals I have set.  What could I really accomplish if I let go of things that hinder me?

4) Seek a deeper and more fulfilling walk with God.  This one needs no explanation.

5) Seek to be happy.  Look for the good things in life rather than the bad, especially with all the bad news that has filled the air waves of late. Don't let anyone or anything steal my happy!  I believe God gives us joy that is different from happiness. That joy comes from knowing Him, it's there whether I happy or not.

6) Seek to live a purposeful life; there is a reason we are here.

7) Seek to better myself in a meaningful way. Perhaps it's to be more patient, or to be kind. Or maybe to be more giving rather than selfish, especially when it matters most.

These are just a few examples, believe me, I could go on and on.  Every one of these examples would take effort, I think that is what this One Word for the New Year is all about.  It would shake us out of the lethargic way some of us live our lives and help us to be more aware of living life.

Do you have a Word to strive to live by this year?  If not perhaps you will be inspired to consider one.

Till next time

~willa~ Pin It Now!

Longing....

It's kind of sad to see this little 3 wheeler abandoned in the snow.  It had so much fun over the summer of 2012.  It raced through the yard like a real racing bike, with the squeals of its rider filling the warm summer air.  I think its rider is going to be too big for it the summer of 2013. He will be graduating to the tricycle.

I've been longing for snow since October, howbeit I didn't expect to see any of the white stuff till January.  A couple inches of snow fell on Christmas Eve, what a delight to have a "white Christmas" and nearly 6 inches fell the day after. December began with warm weather and I must admit I was concerned it was going to be a "balmy" winter but it looks like Ol Man Winter has finally shown up on the scene.

Oh, I received a camera for Christmas from my son and daughter in law.  I'm so happy with it!  I've been snapping photos left and right.  I plan to take an online photography class and I've been pinning as much photography information as I can on Pinterest.  It's amazing how much information you can find in cyberspace.

Till Next Time

~willa~ Pin It Now!