Search Results for: blog black clouds

Coping with Black Clouds

As I wrote about in yesterday’s blog, this year has been one string of black cloud days after the other. I’ve shed plenty of tears and had days where I’ve been gripped by such fierce depression it’s been hard to get out of bed and act half-normal. But you know what’s pulled me through? (Besides my angels and my animals. Both have been there when I needed them most.) These two things: 1. The “we” factor, and 2. The sunshine factor. The “We” Factor Most of this year’s troubles have been mine. At any point, Wayne could have shrugged and … Continue reading →

Black Clouds

Have you ever seen a cartoon or a comic strip featuring some poor soul who has a black cloud overhead following him (or her) wherever he (or she) goes? They can’t get a break. Everywhere they turn, everything they do, doom awaits. I’ve had days where I’ve felt like that. Days where no matter what I try, I can’t shake the black cloud. I know Wayne has too. Usually we don’t experience it at the same time, though, so whoever’s got the sun on their side tries to stand as close as possible to the other. That way we can … Continue reading →

Easy Ways to Prepare for a Halloween Party

If the Halloween party is at your home this year, you may be experiencing a mixture of excitement and anxiety. But you can certainly make your home look “bootiful” with a few well-placed “tricks.” Lighting can go a long way to creating a nice atmosphere for a Halloween party. If you don’t already have them, you might want to consider installing dimmers on your main lights (plus you can use them to save energy all year long).If you don’t want to go with dimmers, you can turn your lights off or switch out the bulbs to ones with a lower … Continue reading →

Moo-ving Shots

True or false: Cows sit down when it’s about to rain? My 6-year-old bought that myth hook, line and sinker, despite a “real” farmer trying to explain otherwise. The problem is my child has photographic proof that cows really do take a load off when dark clouds roll in. Years ago I snapped a shot of a cow sitting pretty with a black sky as the background. What you don’t see in the photo is that there were about 14 other cows standing straight up as the rain began to fall. Whether you are taking pictures of cows, horses or … Continue reading →

Let There Be Light

Finding the perfect light for your photos is not always easy. This is especially true if you are shooting outdoors and are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Still, there are ways to capture frame worthy pictures with just the right light if you know how to work with the elements. The sun is the source of all natural light, so learning to work with sunlight is something photographers need to master. Rather, than fighting the sun’s rays let them work for you. For example, if you are taking shots of your son playing in the sandbox at high noon … Continue reading →

You Know Your Spouse Loves You When…

Elizabeth Barrett Browning once started off a sonnet with what has perhaps become a bit of a cliched saying: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Have you ever tried to count the ways you love your spouse? Once upon a blog I wrote about something Wayne did for me that showed me he loved me, and then Jade asked: But what do you do to show him? So I answered that with another blog. While that was sort of counting the ways he loves me and I love him, lately my heart’s been waxing romantic about … Continue reading →

Learning about Coping Gracefully from My Pets

Over in Marriage I wrote about how this year has been one blow after the other and I feel like I’m living under a black cloud. A string of them to be exact. No sooner does one pass than another one moves in and pours on me some more. I don’t even get a chance to fully dry off. I’ve been trying to cope as well as I can, but I have to be honest. My defenses are wearing down. Yesterday I got another blow. My dad’s girlfriend called to say she was at St. Anthony’s with my dad. He … Continue reading →

Spotlight on Two Families.com Wives: Dale Harcombe and Jade Walker

I’ve had some news regarding both ladies that I’ve wanted to share, but I wasn’t sure how to frame it in a blog until this morning. I hope once you read the following, you’ll join me in extending well wishes to them both. Dale If you follow Dale’s work over in the Christian Blog, you might have seen Valorie’s post “Our Prayers are with Dale.” It pretty much sums up what Valorie had written to me in a private email when she explained why I’d be flying solo the next month or so here in Marriage. Dale had broken her … Continue reading →

What Does Your Local Humane Society or Shelter Need?

Do you know what kind of things your local humane society or shelter could use? I know shelters can always use food, money, and volunteers but on a recent trip to the Nashville Humane Society I was impressed to find flyers listing the things they needed. The Nashville Humane Society’s “Things We Need” List Small, medium and large Milk Bones Towels 13 gallon and 55 gallon trash bags Paper towels All sizes of collars 6 foot dog leashes Small, medium and large binder clips Rubber or plastic dog and cat toys Non-scoopable cat litter Purina or Meow Mix Kitten Chow … Continue reading →

What’s the Spookiest Thing That’s Happened to You on Halloween?

Happy Halloween! I don’t know if it’s the kid in me or what, but Halloween remains one of my favorite holidays. I love decorating and dressing up even though I don’t have any kids and some may think I’m too old for such nonsense. But I don’t care. I still think it’s a hoot. However, this Halloween, even though the decorations are up, I find myself facing something very scary indeed. A trip to the doctor. Dreading the Doctor After having to schlep my mom to and from doctors’ offices this past year, I’ve semi-sort of conquered one fear in … Continue reading →