My soul has been refreshed as well and inspired.

That is what I wish and pray for you, my friends.  I hope yours have been as well, so that you can tap into your creativity and capture some of God’s goodness in this summer season for my Finding Direction 2010 Summer Photo Contest.

This time I have left the word “Desktop” out of the title, but originally, that was what this contest was all about, for those of you who have joined the party late.  For, I have been blogging now for five and one half years.

You see, it was winter time and I had no good “desktop” photo to look at here on my computer.  I tire of having the same one all the time and tend to change out my desktop photos as the seasons change.  Thus, the reason – and hopefully – inspiration for you to participate.  To make my computer desktop and joy to behold.

Even more this time, I shall award a grand prize to the top winner who most captures – or finds – the photo that gently murmurs, “it’s summertime and the livin’ IS easy.”

Have fun while doing this.  It isn’t meant to be hard to do or anything more than sharing camaraderie with fellow readers and commenters.

Many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

How’s everyone’s summer going so far.  I CANNOT believe it’s already after 4th of July!  Can you?

Anyway – here’s the latest on the brand new “Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest” that I just started last week, I think.  I can’t remember.  At this age, time goes by WAY too fast, ya know?!

Here’s some of the “rules” for you entrants, and I’m waiting patiently – or not – for the first of you to show up with some great summer photos.  To enter, just go to the “Contact Me” tab above and write to me from there.  I will send you my email address so that you may submit your photo(s).  The theme this time is “Summer Time & The Livin’ Is Easy.”

Here’s some “rules,” such as they are:

(1) Enter as many photos as you would like under the “theme” as stated above.  The photos, preferably, will be your own that you have taken, but do not HAVE to be, knowing that not everyone is a God-gifted photographer.  In fact, you may “Google” or whatever online to find some good summer time photos to submit.  People in the past have done so.

(2) I’m giving y’all the rest of July and until the 15th of August by which to submit your photos.  At that time, the revered Finding Direction Judges shall review all of the entries, shall go over each with a fine tooth comb and shall make their esteemed decisions, based upon quality of the photos, personality of the entrants (just kidding!), and appropriateness to the subject matter.

(3)  All photos should be submitted as jpegs or gifs, preferably jpegs.

(4) The Finding Direction Judges shall consider the entrants’ behaviors during the contest period, i.e., attempts at cheating, seriously and shall engage in appropriate “penalties,” as needed.  This is especially true of those who are currently ministers of the Gospel (Good News) and former ministers of the Gospel, now engaged in burying the dead, otherwise known as funeral directors.

(4) Humor in photos will have points added to their “values” as the Finding Direction Judges are greatly in need of humor in their lives at the moment.

(5) All decisions are final, based purely on objective values, and prizes shall be awarded, as needed.

(6)  The Grand Prize Winner shall have their winning photo displayed on the Finding Direction Judges’ desktop home computer, which is a “grand” prize, indeed!!

(7)  The Finding Direction Judges shall award an ACTUAL GRAND PRIZE award to the winner this time, for about the 3rd time, btw (Greg!), so y’all pay attention and get with it here, ya hear?!

That’s it for now, guys.  Take some photos or sift through what you already have taken and have stored away in your computer, because I KNOW that the lot of you have LOTS of photos to choose from – either your own, some you’ve received in Power Point presentations, or on the internet – that you can enter.  So, get WITH it!!

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

I’m in Texas once again – second time in three weeks – for another family visit.  This time, I wised up and flew out to Dallas instead of driving nearly 600 miles one way.

Things are going as well as can be expected, I suppose, although things are tough right now for some family members, including me, truth be known.  But, God provides and He rules above all, so we are winners always as His beloved children.

Right now, I’m with my mom and while we aren’t in Austin, the state capital does it’s grand share of celebrating July 4th with family gatherings, this year worship tomorrow on Sunday, and fireworks.

Hope each of you have a very wonderful and blessed July 4th weekend, ya hear?  I’ll be back in a couple of days to talk more about the latest and ongoing Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest.  Haven’t received any entries, yet, and I know y’all are busy with the holiday weekend, but be thinking about it, taking photos all weekend in your activities and climb on board for some fun!!

Love, Dee

I haven’t done one of these in over a year, but inspiration has struck me (thanks to Greg over at “why, soitenly,” although I still have him booked as the “Ex-Rev’s Ramblings”) and I’m now on a roll.

For those of you who may be new, the quickest way to get up to speed is to check out my Categories on my right side bar and go down to the entry, “Finding Direction Contests,” where you will find all of the “rules” (slack though they may be) and entries of each of the categories, which are determined by moi at some point along the line.

I held five Finding Direction Photo Contests, in the Winter of 2005-06, Summer 2006, Winter 2006-07, Summer 2007, and Winter 2007-08.  So, y’all have had lots of time to collect photographs to enter.

I don’t have the time right now as today is Monday – Laundry Day – but when I do have a bit of extra time, I’ll put the links here to the winners blog posts from the five contests, along with the “rules,” – don’t worry if you don’t know any of them, it doesn’t matter.  Doesn’t even have to be your own work!

Okay – here’s two from Summer 2006 and Winter 2006-07.  I went back through all the winners’ blog posts and found that the photos  were all missing, so I’m going to have to check with TheoBloggers to see if their expert/genious status can pull them up for you all to see.  But, do go back and read some of the entries under that category – Finding Direction Contests, because then you’ll see how much FUN we all have “competing” in these.

Love you all!  Sorry I’ve been so long in posting.  We were out of town most of last week gone to a Tri-State Press Association convention in Tunica, Mississippi, just south of Memphis.  It was for Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee, and we had a great time.   I’ll post a photo later.

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

Yesterday, Tom picked out one of his favorite caps to send to the winner of the contest, Greg England, who is going to love it, even though he doesn’t wear caps.  He may wear this one, however, from now on.

Instead of having Tom model it for you all, I’ve asked Greg to take a picture of it on somebody’s head (either his, Josh’s or Jackson’s) and email it to me so I can share it with you all.

So, look forward to a post on that soon.

My next post will be about some of Tom’s escapades, “Men Don’t Measure,” which you do NOT want to miss.  Then, I’m starting a new series, each with a photo, called “Story Tellers,” so you don’t want to miss them, either.  I’ll explain the series when I start it.

In the meantime, what do YOU think the series may be about?!  Closest guess gets a prize!!

Many blessings to you all this beautiful Lord’s Day in south Mississippi!  Dee

Anyway, I said I would model the booby prize cap in last week’s cap contest that Judy shall receive if she still wants it after seeing moi in it – in two different poses – below.  She left a comment this morning on my last post concerning her win, saying:

“I won! I won! I have been thinking I need a cap, you know for bad hair days or for after I’ve been cleaning and want to stop at a store and my hair looks wretched. But after your description and build-up, I’ll reserve my final determination.”

Yep . . . she might should reserve her final determination.  Although, this is the perfect cap for a bad hair day.  And cold weather.  And, it’s very fashionable, being brown corduroy with genuine fake leather trim.  And ear flaps that pull down from the interior for when it’s freezing.  And . . . well, see for yourself (ignoring my terribly drooping left eyelid this morning that our insurance company refuses to cover for me to have corrected so I can see, for goodness sakes!).  (When Medicare becomes our primary “insurance,” Heaven forbid – they will cover the eyelid surgery.  Great comfort there, I’m tellin’ ya!) :

What?!  Do I hear laughter out there?  Probably at the way I look early in the morning sans makeup and before my eyelid gets better, which it usually does, somewhat, during the day.  I’m sure you’re not laughing at Tom’s prized cap.  Once upon a time.  When he was a bloomin’‘ . . . younger person who hadn’t enough sense to stay out of the cold rather than wear the above concoction.

Your say, Judy.

As for you, Greg – being the top winner – you said Josh wears caps all the time and has quite a collection, himself, so I am going to send you your prize cap, anyway (even though you don’t wear them), so you can gaze upon it lovingly as Josh wears it, knowing it came from your dear friend(s), Dee (& Tom) down here in south Mississippi.

The prize cap has not yet been completely settled upon yet, but when it is, I shall have Tom model it for you all here before sending it to you, Greg.  (For some totally out-of-the- blue, unknown reason, Tom refused to put on and model the cap above, so I had to model it for you.

That’s it for this Friday morning, August 7, 2009 from here in the heartland of south Mississippi.  Y’all have a great weekend.  Keep up with me on Facebook until Monday or so (if need be, add me as a friend, I’m easy to find on FB and even have Finding Direction “published” there, too).

Many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

The deal was . . . Tom had an appointment at the same time to have his hair cut – both of us at 11:30 a.m. – and so I took full advantage of the situation by asking him in front of the entire staff & their customers at “Looking Good” (little plug there for Kenny!) if he’d like to take me to lunch.  What could he say, you know?

He was sweet and said, “Sure, Babe – anything you want!”

My kind of guy, I’m telling ya!

After a great salad at lunch, I had to go to Wally World next door to get groceries, etc, and that took a long time.  And I do mean LONG.  It’s not that I had that much to get – but school starts here tomorrow (good grief – what’s happened to summer?).  Need I say more?  Talk about total chaos.

On the other hand, my long lost sister materialized pretty quickly, so another family crisis adverted.  Although, I read her the riot act for not going by or even calling Mom since they returned home from our great adventure at the Great Wolf Lodge three weeks ago.  She lives no more than maybe a mile away from Mom, and while I know she has a busy life of her own with (grown) girls, etc – well – let’s just say I think the “problem” is resolved.  Or soon will be, even if I have to go out to Abilene (road trip, road trip) to see how things are going, myself.

Uhhh . . . oh . . . yeah, right.  Here goes:

We (moi) had multiple excellent entries in the question of how many caps Tom had stuffed in the 9 slot “shoe” box in our closet.  To reiterate – the closest entry to the correct number wins a really neat cap.  The furthest entry also gets a cap, but I would call it more of a “booby prize.”  Still – I will send the winner said cap if the “winner” still wants it after I post it’s picture next time here at Finding Direction – me modeling said creation.  So, stay tuned.  There’s more fun to come.

To set the stage for the top winner – closest to the correct number of caps in the box – here’s a photo of them all on our bed with Tom in attendance:

I don’t know how accurately you can count or guess at the number of caps there, but it is 40.  So, while Laura came very close with 45, Greg was closest (I’m ignoring the plea for a guitar instead of a cap and also his ruinous efforts to later be the farthest from the number, rather than sticking with his first answer, which was closest) with his first guess of 36.

Yea, Greg!!  (And kudos to Laura for coming really close!)

So, Greg – if you will send me the address to which you want your cap mailed, I will get it to you forthwith, i.e. when I have time amidst various and asundry family crises.

Drum roll . . . the winner of the “booby prize” is Judy, with an entry of 1,223.  Again – Judy – if (and this is a BIG if) after you see me model the booby prize cap in the next edition of Finding Direction (along with comments about the caps among Tom’s collection), you would like to actually get the cap in person, please email me with your mailing address and I will most happily send it to you (and have one less Goodwill offering to lug over).

That’s it for now, boys & girls (and whomever among you are dull and boring “adults.”  Stay tuned for the modeling of the booby prize cap upon moi and all sorts of new entertainment to brighten and enlighten you day.

Me?  I’m headin’ over to Facebook to see what’s up with my 116 friends (& family – this is lately the main way I’ve been keeping up with my kids!) today.

Cheers & many blessings to you all today!  Dee

But, not until after I talk with my mom, who is looking for my long lost sister, Laura (?!), and I go get a much needed care cut.  So, check back later!

I’ve been here at "Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles" now for over four years and still love doing it.  Some of my best friends in the world now are among you my fellow bloggers and readers whom I’ve grown to know well and love.

Voting is taking place all this week (until next Monday, March 23) online and I  solicit your votes on my behalf.  Go here to vote (or here is the direct link if you want to copy and paste):

[Note: The link is for voting in all of the categories, so vote for those you know in the other categories, as well, if you like.  (Or you may e-mail me for my recommendations, if you wish.)  Or, you can just enter your vote for my category and skip the others.]

This would certainly give me a big boost to my morale, which is wavering at the moment.  In the past five days we’ve gotten bad financial news that will adversely affect our income over the next three months, and I’ve seen two of my doctors and found out that:

(1) the bone density in my hips has deteriorated as much as 10% in the past two years, meaning I have the onset of osteoporosis and must start taking additional new medication for that,

(2) I need to see an ENT physician (make that doctor #18 on my list of doctors) and audiologist for hearing loss (I’m going this coming Friday),

(3) I need new lenses because my eyesight is down some in my left eye (I’ve got an appointment for that next week),

(4) I need to get my blood sugar levels down some,

(5) I need to get my bad cholesterol levels down some, and

(6) as of today, I probably have Raynaud’s disease/syndrome and/or other complications from that.

I had to have two more shots of cortisone in my hands (palms) today and several blood tests to check my kidney function, my liver function and to see if I have Lupus or not.  Raynaud’s is often associated with Lupus, thus the blood test for that.

Meanwhile, Tom somehow lost his expensive (and I do mean, expensive) digital hearing aid over the weekend, so I need to get him an appointment with the ENT, as well, and audiologist to see about getting him a new one. 

My geraniums look fantastic, though!  I’ll take some pictures this week to show you here.

Y’all vote, you hear?!  And pray that my blood tests will all come back normal and that I can get a handle on these other setbacks and new diseases I’m facing.

Ah, the blessed geraniums.  I really need this this rainy, dreary day.  Love y’all!  Dee

The Finding Direction
Judges have been busy pouring through the excellent entries and have
made their decision.  As usual, the ersatz publisher, editor, reporter,
photographer, accountant, financier and general flunkie of Finding
Direction will accept high praise for their finely honed judging
skills, but accept no flak from disappointed would be winners.  (There
are never any losers here at Finding Direction, as you know, except in
the minds of some of the disgruntled entrants, who must be placated at
all costs by fellow would be complainees.)

And, as usual, all
decisions are final, although an appeal process might be considered in
the event of an extraordinary oversight by the FD Judges, which is
highly unlikely but let fairness abound.

Finally, as usual, the
intro into the announcements of the winners is taking entirely too long
(the Judges like to read their own words way too much, obviously) so
let the announcement begin.

Winner of the first category, "Reminds Me Most of Home (Texas) Award" goes to minister Anthony Parker of The Journey Home blog, whose winning photo, "The Water Tower," was taken on a farm near Albany, Texas, just a few miles from Abilene.

 Winner of the "Best Spot Color Award" is Janice Evans-Lauder of My Place blog with her "Winter Cardinal."

Honorable Mention in the Best Spot Color category goes to my long time (45 years!) school friend and professional artist, Bill Barrick, for his "New Mexico Winter" scene:

The next category is "Winter Photo From Farthest Away Award" and this winner is Brian McKean, who says he is a "regular reader" of Patrick Mead’s blogs, Patrick Mead and Tentpegs.  Brian is on business in Chennai (formerly Madras), India, where he took this winter picture of "San Thome Catholic Church."  Brian says that the winter temperature there in India is about 80 degrees, while the summers go into the 100s.

Greg England of The Ex-Rev’s Ramblings wins the "World’s Largest Christmas Tree Award" for his brilliantly titled "Xmas Tree" photo.  Only Greg (or Patrick!) would be so bold . . .

Moving on . . . The "Most Nostalgic Winter Scene Award" goes to Janice Evans-Lauder for her "Horses & Farm Implement" photo, as follows:

Honorable Mention in this category goes to reader Marilyn Hughes, of Poteau, Oklahoma:

The next category is an unusual one, as you will see.  This category resulted in a tie.  The first winner is reader (and my step-daughter!) Kristine Nguyen with her photo titled "Julian’s Winter Violin Concert."  This is for the "Most Creative Winter Trees/Wood Disguised as Something Else Award."  Here’s her winning photo:

Our other winner in the "Most Creative Winter Trees/Wood Disguised as Something Else Award" goes to the illustrious Patrick Mead for his photo "Edinburgh Castle," which is in Edinburgh, Scotland.  While Kristine’s photo clearly showed the wooden violin, Patrick had to assure the skeptical Finding Direction Judges that there was, indeed, wood in the obviously winter photo.  It can be found, according to Patrick, who has been to the castle many times and is from Scotland, in the guard station and in the signs on the businesses along the street.  Here it is for y’all to judge for yourselves.  You do have to admit it is quite creative for the category!

The "Best Candid Winter Photo Award" goes to reader Kristine Nguyen with her "Kristine, Veronica & Julian" in front of a Christmas tree, while Honorable Mention in this category goes to Cecil Walker of West Cocoa Chat with his "Steven & Friends Camping."  Enjoy!  First, Kristine’s lovely photo (and aren’t my grandkids good looking!):

Here’s Cecil’s Honorable Mention:

Patrick Mead has yet another winner, this time in the "Best Winter Tree Composition" category.  It’s for his neat and interesting "Loch Lomond Winter" entry.  See here:

Winner of the "Most Unusual Winter Tree/Wood Photo" is reader Marilyn Hughes with her "Ice Crystals on Wood Piece" photo, as follows:

Lynn O’Neil, my sweet daughter-in-law, of My Charmed Ones and In His Footsteps wins the "Brightest Winter Sunset Award" for her lovely "Winter Sunset" photo.  Here it is, and it’s really pretty:

 Having a son who is a Marine Corps veteran (retired as Captain U.S.M.C. and veteran of the First Gulf War), I was moved to award the following photo "Most Patriotic Winter Scene Award."  This photo, "Marine Memorial in Winter," was submitted by proud dad Patrick Mead, whose son, Duncan, is in the Marine Corps.

"Best Black & White Winter Photo Award" goes to Peggy Corder of piggys piglets for her "Winter Sun" photo.  It’s really interest
ing and uplifting.

Now to the top three winners!

Third Place, and a beautiful black and white photo entitled "Craigievar Castle, Scotland," goes to the indubitable and always humorous Patrick Mead, winner of several awards this time, and all above board with very few, if any, attempted bribes involved.

Although Patrick is clamoring for a bucket load of loot to tote home to his snowed in cottage in Michigan, he is going to have to be satisfied with the glamor and elegance attached to winning said awards here at the internationally renowned Finding Direction where he shall be highly praised for his entries, while no money or elaborate gifts exchange hands.

Actually, the Finding Direction Judges have soft hearts and have decided to award Patrick, there in the hinterlands of snow and ice country, with a special gift that shall be sent by U. S. Mail (knowing how competent all of the mail carriers are in snow, sleet, ice, etc and, mostly, how competent the U. S. Postal Service is!) at the Judges’ earliest convenience for his wintertime pleasure, so be on the lookout for said gift, Patrick, because you are a winner in all of our eyes!

Moving on . . .

The Second Place award goes to an usually gifted photographer, Janice Evans-Lauder, for her "Cabin in Winter" photo.  It is a beautiful, evocative photo that has brings lots of nostalgic thoughts.  Check out JEL’s blog, my place, where she lovingly presents her photos on nearly a daily basis.  Janice lives in Missouri in what was once her grandmother’s house, where the only heat is a wood burning stove!  Winters sometimes turn icy and bitterly cold, so winter life can be hard, but thank goodness she has her camera and her computer to share with us all her lovely photographs.  Congratulations, Janice, on a beautiful photo here:

 Finally, the Finding Direction Judges are most happy to present the First Place award in the Third Annual Finding Direction Winter Desktop Photo Contest to Marilyn Hughes for her "Winter Sunset 1" photo, which looks terrific on the Judges’ computer desktop!  Check it out:

 Marilyn is a long time reader, first time entrant in the FD photo contests and she is to be congratulated for her award winning photo.  It is a unique and exquisite sunset shoot with a tree right in the middle of the photo with the setting sun behind.  Great shot!

As always, y’all, it’s been a most fun contest in which all of the photos submitted are winners.  I was really impressed with the quality of the art and creativity among everyone.  Also, as always, all of the photos entered have been serving as, and will be, my screen saver for the season and so I’ve already been enjoying all of them every day for the past three weeks. 

I spend a lot of time in here at my desk (when I’m not visiting doctors!) and so see the screen savers several hours each day, usually, and it’s been uplifting for me to view all of the talent displayed.

I’m going to leave this post up for several days to give all of you a chance to see all of the winning photos and to invite your friends over to see your work and the work of our comrades.  Please leave comments to let all of the winners know what you think of their work, and all of you winners comment, too, on each other’s work (and how proud you are of your own – Patrick!)

 Y’all are a great blessing to me and I just want you to know that.  You make my life better as a Christian!

Thanks for your participation and sense of humor in being in the contests and be looking forward to summer, when yet another summer FD desktop contest will take place.

Cheers & Blessings to each of you today!  Dee