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 (sic) 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 announcements begin.

If you remember, and most probably don’t it’s been so long ago, the theme for the contest this time was “Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy.”  All winners have been chosen based on their adherence to the theme.  The first few winners were close, but not quite there.  However, do NOT let that detract from the impact of their photos and their eye for photography.  These are all works of fine art and are to be respected as such, say the Judges.  (Amen, says the reader.)

The winner in the first category, “Reminds Me Most of Home (Texas) In The Summertime Award,” goes to amateur photographer and new to the blogging scene blogger, Heather Welch with her windmill scene, shot in Texas, appropriately.  It must be said by the FD Judges that living in Texas gave Heather some advantage, but not so much as to interfere with the other entrants, as numerous awards have yet to be named.

The next award goes to reader Marilyn Hughes of Poteau, Oklahoma.  It is the “Best Summertime Nostalgic Field Scene Award,” which reflects the rural life that most Americans used to enjoy and live.  Most now have to rely now on photographs such as these to recall the simpler, gentler times in this vast country of ours, now given over in the most part to urban sprawl, spoil and squander of the land in the worst of ways.  How sad I feel for those who have never lived on a farm and been close to the land.  Having grown up on a cotton farm in West Texas, I have great respect for those who still strive in this day and age to provide food crops and needed goods for us all to enjoy.  Here’s Marilyn’s winning photo:

The next award is the “Most Patriotic (4th of July) Summertime Photo” and it was entered by our fair Janice Evans-Lauder, a/k/a JEL-My Place, a long time blogger and magnificent photographer in her own right.  She lives in her grandmother’s little house in Missouri, which is heated in winter only with a wood burning stove and cooled in the summer by nature.  You can only imagine, then, how well this photograph might help fill her summertime livin’ easy plan.

The “Summertime Photo From Farthest Away Award” goes to reader Darlene Morris, who lives in Lubbock, Texas, who entered a photo of two of her grandchildren, Kellen & Sam, taken on a mission trip with their parents in Tegucigapa, Honduras, in central America earlier this summer.  It’s a neat photo and one I think you’ll enjoy – seeing how summer looks on a rainy day in the tropics.

The next award is the “Most Makes Us Think of Taking A Summer Afternoon Nap Award,” which goes to reader and somtimes commenter, Marilyn Hughes, taken across their fields out from Poteau, Oklahoma.  In fact, looking at this photo is making me sleepy right now, since the weather outside the judges’ window is nearly identical to the photo.  (Except for the kinds of trees, of course.  And the fields.  And, uh, the, uh . . . Oh, never mind.  Nothing much is the same except for the feeling of needing a nap.  Would you like to join the judges for an hour or two?!)  (Just kidding!  Read on!)

The next award is arbitrarily given during each Finding Direction Photo Contest so as to keep the FD judges in good standing with their spouse – the esteemed Tom Andrews.  Thus it is that the “Special Tom Andrews Best Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy Award,” goes to . . . duh . . . Tom Andrews.  This is one of his daughter, Kristine, and his two granddaughters, Veronica & Hayley, taken on his sailboat.  Don’t they look like they are having a whole lot of fun.  It is a great photo, you have to admit!

Moving on . . ..  The winner of the “Best Depiction of Violation of Child Labor Laws in the Summertime Award” goes to none other than grandchildren abuser, Greg England, of “Why Soitenly,” the blog that ranks right up with the “bestest blogs” around.  If you haven’t been partaking of his puns, humor and outright wonderfully presented posts, you must indulge.  In the meantime, check out this classic “Grindaddy with the 18 month old twins, Logan & Lilly and older brother Jackson” photo.  It’s priceless.

Not to be undone by Greg’s classic “Grindaddy” photo above, Patrick Mead (see also: Tentpegs) had to enter one of his grandson, Lucas, which wins the “Most Blatant Attempt to Addict A Young Minor Child to Doughnuts in The Summertime Award,” which was caught in that wonderland called Krispy Kreme, with the effects of the child’s very first sugary doughnut showing on this poor, unknowing child.  What hope is there for the future of thin American children.

One of the most cherished awards in the Finding Direction Photo Contests is the “Special Judges’ Award for the Most Creative Entry That Always Stretches the Limits of the Theme Chosen.”  This contest’s winner is Janice Garrison for the following photo of a big garden spider outside her window.  You decide whether this is stretching the theme of “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”  Maybe from the spider’s perspective it is, ya think?

There was a tie in the next category.  The “Best Use of Color in Composition For Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy Award” goes to our own Janice Evans-Lauder for this beautiful photo . . .

. . . and to Patrick Mead for “Passing It On,” below:

Janice Evans-Lauder also wins the “Most Beautiful Summertime Sunrise Award,” for which she had to arise much earlier than the Finding Direction judges ever would.  Thus, it is a special treat for them to acknowledge this award. 

The winner of the “By Far The Most Realistic View of Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy Award,” is our own beloved blogger, Greg England for the following photo entry.  It shows a 6:09 p.m. temperature of 106.7 hot summer degrees Farenheit. (Cain’t nobody say tweren’t hot this summer, ya know?!)

And, that photo was taken earlier in the summer before the 117 degree temps hit out in the desert of southern California, t00.

The winner of the “Most Dramatic Summertime Clouds Award” goes to reader, Pat Baker, who is the sister of reader, Marilyn Hughes.  You have to admit it gives one chills in thinking about the magnificence God displays in our heavens each day.

If you will note from the picture, she shot it right in the middle of this summer, too!

Finally . . . the moment you’ve all been waiting for.  The top award winners.  Although, all of the awards are tops in the minds of the Finding Direction judges!  Never forget that, because each of you is very special to the FD judges!!

Third place winner(s) – there was a tie – in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest, with the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy,” goes to (1) reader Darlene Morris, of Lubbock, Texas, for the following entry of two of her grandchildren, Kellen & Sam:

That photo is poetry in motion with little kids enjoying the cool pool in the heat of summer.  Congrats, Darlene Morris, on your winning entries in the FD contest!!

Winner (2) in Third Place is Patrick Mead for the following photo of his little grandson, Lucas, in a photo titled “Whoa!”  You can see why the photo is called that and also why it is a big winner in the FD contest, based on the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”

Congratulations to Patrick, one of the top and most prolific Christian bloggers in the blogosphere.  He & Greg are the judges’ bestest two buddies, but that connection in no way interfered with the unbiased judging in this contest.  The judges attest to that and it is true.  May we all be so unbiased in dealing with each and every person who crosses our path daily.

Second Place in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest goes to brand new reader and not “too old a” blogger, either, Joe Tudor (his blog is titled Parapet Safety, which you’ll have to check out!) for his fantastic photo entry which brings out the strongest yearnings of the FD judges in thinking of past summer vacations in such places (Orange Beach, Alabama, Pensacola, Florida) where it’s “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”  The ambiance and laid back feelings evoked in the photo are marvelous.  The smells of the scrubby brush next to the gulf among the sand dunes and the days spent out in the water and along the water’s edge collecting shells come rushing back to the judges’ inner hearts and minds.  Congratulations to Joe!  Terrific entry for the theme!!  The photo is appropriately titled “Sea Oats.”

Isn’t that just a marvelous photo, y’all?!

The FIRST PLACE winner in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest is Heather Welch, fairly new to blogging and to photography, but very talented in both, with her entry on the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy,” that is untitled.  The judges absolutely loved the delight evidenced in the children in the photo using their hands, mouths and all other means by which to down some ice cold watermelon in the middle of a hot, hot summer.  It evokes, without words, the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy!”  What do y’all think?  Don’t you love it?!  I mean, watermelon everywhere, but do they care?  Geez, no!  They’re washable, right?!

The FD judges are awarding a $25 gift certificate to the First Place winner this time, so will be in touch with Heather to convey that gift to her.  All of her work sent in was good, as were all of the rest of the entries, and she is entitled to be the First Place winner!

In conclusion . . . thanks to each and every one of you who participated in this contest and to all who stop by to read on a regular basis.  Without your support and constant encouragement, not only would this be a rather dull place to hang around, but also the less for not having all of you as friends.  In the past, Finding Direction has held summer and winter photo contests, so we’ll see this coming winter if perhaps we can revive that schedule.  It all depends on the Lord, on whom all our lives depend.

May God richly bless each and every one of you who stops by here!  Dee

]]> http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/31/winners-announced-and-featured-in-the-finding-direction-summer-2010-photo-contest/feed/ 8 http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/30/photo-contest-judging-nearly-finished-hang-tight-another-day-or-so/ http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/30/photo-contest-judging-nearly-finished-hang-tight-another-day-or-so/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:51:49 +0000 Dee Andrews http://deeandrews.net/?p=3865 Judging and the writing up of the blog on the winners has been going strong.  WAS going strong, until Tom got sick about six days ago.  It kept on, so I finally had to take him to the doctor today.  The diagnosis:  “Acute sinusitis/Pharyngitis/Bronchitis.”  I suppose it could have been worse.  He’s never had his tonsils out, so I’ve been thinking it was tonsillitis and had visions of popcicles galore for a long time to come after surgery.

He had to have a shot, get some antibiotics, nose spray and strong cough syrup, so hopefully will be better in a day or two.  At least he’s no longer running fever.  Taking care of him can be a “pain,” though!  (Just kidding.  I love him to pieces and when he hurts, I hurt.)

I’ve set myself a deadline of tomorrow, or if not by then, Wednesday, so y’all please understand – show some empathy, if you’ve ever been sick – and pray with us for his quick recovery now that he has medications.

Many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

P. S. I didn’t even mention that my left hand is mostly numb this afternoon from some shots I had to get in the palm of my hand for a couple of “trigger fingers” there.  And, that’s not even my shooting hand!  But, the gun is loaded and ready with a round chambered, so walk easy!

However . . . do not be dismayed.  The judges expect to have the winners’ post up and ready for your oohs and aahs by next week – not promising which day yet – but next week.  So, keep checking.

In the meantime, practice patience and remember why it is we all gather around each others blogs.  We do so to find and make connections; to learn how to live, laugh and love better; to see life in a new and better way; to come to greater understandings of each other.

In my Friday blog, I talked about my “big garden of friends” that I have gathered through blogging and the internet.  It’s been inspirational to me!  You all have lifted me up many times when I was really, really down!  And, you’ve shared the fun times and even joyous times with me.

Before this blog gets to maudlin, let me leave you with some fun thoughts on grandparents.  Some of you are grandparents, some of you aren’t, but you’ve had grandparents and hopefully one day will be one yourself.  Regardless, these are sweet and funny.  Till next time!  Dee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday.
He asked me how old I was, and I told him, “62.” He was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?”

********************************************************************
After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old
slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she
heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.
At last she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings.
As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?”

*******************************************************************
A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: “We used to skate outside on a pond.I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.
The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this in. At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!”

*********************************************************************

My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?”
I mentally polished my halo while I asked, No, how are we alike?”
You’re both old,” he replied.

*********************************************************************

A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story.
“What’s it about?” he asked.
I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”

*********************************************************************
I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something
and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued.
At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!”

********************************************************************

When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from
attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use, Grandpa.
The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.”

*********************************************************************

When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure, “Look in your underwear, Grandma,” he advised.
“Mine says I’m four to six.”

************************************************************

Children’s Logic: “Give me a sentence about a public servant,” said a teacher.
The small boy wrote: “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.”
The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know what pregnant means?” she asked.
Sure,” said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child.”

*********************************************************************

A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past.
Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties.
They use him to keep crowds back,” said one youngster.
“No, said another, “he’s just for good luck.”
A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs”, she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrant.”

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
_________________________________________________________________

What fun ahead.  But, lots of work go into judging, so it will be a few days before the winners are announced and a grand prize given.  (Really – this year there IS a real grand winner’s prize!)

For one thing, moi must have a second cataract surgery on Thursday, to enlighten my vision so I can see better – bright and clear, as I can now see out of my already operated on left eye.  It’s quite a difference, I’m tellin’ ya!  And, I was really apprehensive about having it done, too.

Because of the work involved in getting the winning photos ready for publication and all, and the distractions, like surgery Thursday, I’m not going to give you a definite day yet for when the winners shall be posted.  We’ll see . . . hopefully sooner than later, but I’ll let y’all know.  Keep checking.  It will be worth your wait to see some of the fantastic entries!

In fact, I think that even after all of the winners of the different categories are announced and published, I’ll share some of the other entries with you, too, along as I write my columns here in the future.  Let you see what talent there is amongst you readers and commenters.  I like featuring photos on each column and now have a huge selection to choose from in sharing them with you all.  When I do, I’ll share who the photographer is, so you will get full recognition.

That’s it for today.  It’s Monday; laundry day; getting caught up from laundry not finished from last Monday day; getting ready for the coming busy week day.

What’s your day and week shaping up to be?  Share with us!

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

(1) you peruse Facebook and old email forwards for good material for a blog post.

(2) you’re too lazy to make fresh coffee and drink the leftovers from the last pot made.

(3) when you’re too lazy to do even that!

(4) you put off phoning anyone because you don’t have the enthusiasm or energy to even hit the buttons on the phone to call.

I could go on here, but won’t.  See, I’m in a slump and it’s too much work.

How do you know when you’re in a slump?  Surely, I’m not the only one in this close to three digit heat.  Let’s hear it, y’all.

I know one thing you’d better not be in a slump about and that’s entering the current Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest.  Some really good ones have come in, but some of you are procrastinating and you only have through August 15 to get them turned in.

Send them to me a jpgs.  If you need my email address, write to me from the contact form at the top of the page here and I’ll give it to you.  I’d like to have some more good ones and I know y’all have some, so share them with us!

That’s it for now.  Get to work going through your photos for the contest and stay “Un” slumped!!

Cheer!  (See . . . I don’t even have enough energy for more than “one” cheer.)

Dee

P. S.  At least, it’s now August and football season is close at hand.  Tom has a new Dallas Cowboys T-shirt and cap, so he’s ready to go.  Those accessories will go well with his new boathouse!  ha!

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