[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

If you would like to be added to the Finest ping list, we would love to have you! Click -----> PLEASE ADD ME.
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[Dan Lacey]

[GailA]

Good morning every one. Hope all are well after Rita hit land.

[NicknamedBob]

Leaves

They’re piled up in the corners.
They’re matted in the yard.
I don’t remember having trees,
Has ever been this hard.

A hint of woodsmoke in the air,
The acrid, musty smell.
Just gather leaves up in a pile,
And spread the ashes well.

Now that they have protectors,
They dump on us with glee.
I’ve never had a poem do,
What trees have done to me.

They pepper me with acorns,
Or crash a mighty limb.
But worst of all to deal with,
Is the assault of ... THEM!

A million scuttling soldiers,
In khaki, to blend in,
They gather in the darkness,
And move out with the wind.

They hide the pretty flowers,
And cover up the grasses,
I’d like to light a fire or two,
And fix their little ... ashes.

Instead, we haul them all away,
Recycled, as they say.
I think they make their breakouts and,
Come back another day.

There seem to be so many more,
Than there once used to be.
Instead of burying, let’s cremate them,
And set their spirits free.

The trees now lord it over us,
That used to live in fear.
I guess I’ve learned the truth of this,
“Rake more than once a year.”

NicknamedBob . . . . . April 3, 2004
© 2004

[Temple Owl]

Good morning Mama.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning FR Finest.

Praying for all that are in the path of hurricane Rita.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning FR Finest.

Celebrating the first day of Autumn.

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons.

[Diver Dave]

Beautiful introduction to the Fall season, MB.

Autumn was ushered in yesterday afternoon up here with a BANG. Rain, thunder and lightning - very unusual for this area. Blue skies again today, though.

A lady was struck by lightning about a mile away from our house. Neighbors saw it happen, rushed to her aid and began CPR. Paramedics arrived within three minutes and rushed her to the hospital. Latest report I've heard, she's in critical condition.

On a lighter side, we went outside to watch the spectacular light show that God provided. Logan heard the conversation that thunder always follows those lightning bolts, so, one of his comments...

"There's a flashing bolt... does it talk?"

Also, while we were outside, after one of the extremely loud thunder BANGS, our neighbor's dog jumped the fence and came running up to me with her tail between her legs, crouching and shaking like a leaf. Poor thing was so frightened. Her family was gone, so we brought her into the backyard. She went into the garden shed to hide.

Police and firefighters were swamped. Lightning strikes caused a lot of signal lights to automatically switch to flashing red signals. Major traffic jams during rush hour.

[Mama_Bear]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Aquamarine; DollyCali, and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

Please keep these FReepers
and their loved ones in your prayers.

Maigrey...............................cousin ladtx......................................2 sons scubachick.......................husband gator girl..........................husband severa................husband, brother LBGA.........................................son Hostel...................................cousin SpookBrat..........................nephew Himyar......................................son boxerblues............................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza...............................husband kemathen7.......................husband Diver Dave..............nephew, niece deadhead.............................cousin JimRobinson................2 nephews Armymarinemom...............3 sons Darheel.................................niece dixie sass............................nephew Diver Dave..............niece, nephew BeAllYouCanBe.......................son AgThorn...............................2 sons kneezles.....................................son The Mayor..............................niece ValerieUSA...........................2 sons StarCMC............................brother TexKat........................son, stepson Spruce.............................daughter ODC-GIRL....................active duty Dubya.................................nephew Donaeus.............................nephew SunflowerGal.................grandson katykelly...................................son Repubmommy...................brother Lakeside...............................2 sons philman_36....................2 nephews Veloxherc.....................active duty mrstank............................husband WVNan........................friend's son american_ranger......................son AF_Blue........................active duty lula.................................son-in-law auboy....................................cousin jamaly.....................brother-in-law Leofl...........................................son wingnutx......................active duty chena.........................................son LakeLady............................nephew LUV W........................................son cjk.................................active duty misty4jc............................husband mhking................................cousin The Mayor.................friend’s son Bykrbayb...................................son Colorado Slim...................nephew sneakers...................................son ariamne...........................2 cousins nelibeli...............................nephew Alouette.....................................son CGblue..........................active duty bigghurtt........................active duty Palladin.............................grandson Skimask.....................................son Gonzo...........................friend's son Its_me_K.E.T.............................son Socratic................................nephew veeceeque........................active duty Jemian.........................................son Azbushgal...................................son kimmykay...................................son

OhioWfan.....................................son mystery-ak....................son, husband Gogrammy............................grandson Inspectorette..................................son Blessed American..................nephew Slip18......................................nephew anniegetyourgun...................nephew Pippin.......................niece’s husband Doug from Upland............son-in-law weldgophardline...........brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater.................cousin WaterDragon...............SIL,grandson BeforeISleep..................................son Consort...................2 daughters, SIL Warrior Nurse............. ...active duty SK1 Thurman.................active duty David Osborne.................active duty fc2tomschermuly.............active duty bkwells.............................active duty LongCut...........................active duty Trish.................................active duty LadyX..................................grandson fawn796..................................nephew Homeschoolmama................nephew Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend Atomic Conspiracy .......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy ....niece, nephew MozartLover...................son, nephew visualops...................................cousin thumperusn.......................active duty cookcounty.....................................son RoseinRoseBear....cousin’s husband Conspiracy Guy................2 nephews MrsMike31...........................husband Notwithstanding..............active duty Q6-God/twin brother.......active duty eaglesiniowa.................................son spotbust1...............................husband Don Simmons..................active duty bjcintennessee..................son, niece campfollower............................fiance Ladysmith......nephew, friend’s son Painter...................................nephew ProudAFDad................................son MontanaCowgirlCop...........brother Katydidnt.....................................son Old Sarge........................active duty tina07............son-in-law and friend Hope and Glory............................son Tapatio................................2 nephews ak_daddoo................................nephew SilentServiceCPOWife.....husband Walkenfree...2 G’sons, G’daughter Walkenfree......................3 nephews Zechariah_8_13.........brotherinlaw Zechariah_8_13....................cousin DirtyHarryY2K...................daughter DirtyHarryY2K...................soninlaw El Gato....................................nephew frankiep...........................active duty MississippyMuddy.................sister MississippyMuddy.........2 nephews kimmie7................................brother Kramster..............................stepson jkphoto..................................nephew JRios1968.......................active duty freema............................son, nephew Lone Red Ranger.....brother-in-law rahbert..........................................son No Longer Free State.....active duty

[mrstank]

Thought I would come out of hiding and say hi! :)

I miss spending time here...maybe someday soon I can figure out a way to keep up with the thread and still get my work done! ;)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

050705-N-0000X-010 Arabian Sea (July 5, 2005) – An aircraft director signals for an F/A-18 Hornet to taxi forward during night flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the 5th Fleet area of operations. Vinson will end her deployment with a homeport shift to Norfolk, Va., and commence a three-year refuel and complex overhaul. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

050919-N-2541H-001 Atlantic Ocean (Sept. 19 2005) - An Aviation Boatswain Mate signals to an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Pukin’ Dogs” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Four Three (VFA-143), that they are clear for launch during night flight operations aboard the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). Kennedy is conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class William Heimbuch (RELEASED)

050729-N-0716S-031 Pacific Ocean (July 29, 2005) - A Landing Signal Enlisted (LSE) Sailor prepares a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter for lift-off on the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1). Tarawa is the flagship for Expeditionary Strike Group One (ESG-1), currently on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class James Spiker (RELEASED)