A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-28-05...Poetry and Potpourri at the Finest

9-28-05 | JustAmy

[JustAmy]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear ~

Welcome To...


...at The Finest!

'Amy's Place' is more than just about poetry.
Come in, relax, and share with fellow FReepers
your thoughts about any of the things on the *Menu*.

Enjoy! :)








Graphic by Billie

Reflections

God sets a mirror down for us,
To bounce back sunny days,
He does it when the rain has passed,
To help us see the rays.

The reflection that we see in it,
Is not of hair and skin.
What we see is an image of,
The gloried state we’re in.

Light pink, and brighter orange,
And yellow brighter still.
I sit and look at glory’s frame,
Upon my favorite hill.

The others call it rainbow,
But I know what it is,
A magic mirror in the sky,
That lets us know we’re His.

The body that we occupy down here,
Is nothing like its start,
For one, the most attractive thing,
Has always been the heart.

God looks into our heart and then,
Just for His own amusement.
He gives a glimpse of what He sees,
And laughs at our confusement.

“That doesn’t look at all like me!”
I hear your protests start,
But when you look at other folks,
How can you see their heart?

If you admit there’s beauty,
Reflecting from some source,
Just think how glorious it will be,
When He’s revealed full force.

And you and I are with Him,
And joining in the glow.
Next time you see a rainbow,
I thought you ought to know.

NicknamedBob April 5, 2004
© 2004






Graphic by MamaBear

The Corner

That cupboard in the corner was where brother put his gun,
Right up top to keep it safe while he was having fun.
He made a good policeman. I always knew he could.
His stony face when he played war could scare me pretty good!

Yes, we played cops and robbers, and games like kick the can.
I know those games were helpful as I learned to be a man.
When brother came to visit, his gun went way up top,
He couldn’t win an argument just ‘cause he was a cop!

We liked to play our card games, with Dad and all the boys.
And all of us knew guns were something different from toys.
My brother used his in his work, just like the badge he had.
Although he never really used it, and for that, he was glad.

The rest of us all knew what guns were really for,
The government even gave me one when I went off to war,
Although I never used it, just like my brother cop,
The very fact that I was there, just caused that war to stop.

I have a picture of the guys, with cards all strewn about,
You’d get the notion all the rules had somehow been tossed out!
With cards in hatbands, cards in sleeves, and chips piled way up high,
But all of that was just to show for that nosy camera eye!

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . . . June 8, 2005





Graphic by MamaBear

THE OLD HOUSE REMEMBERS

The old ranch house is alone with its past,
The windows are closed and the doors are fast;
The windmills are hushed, a desolate pall
Of silence and heartbreak broods over all.
Only the wind in the cottonwood trees
Tells off its rosary of memories.
Once around the wells were cattle that milled
And cooled themselves in the water which spilled
From the brimming tanks and trickled away
To a wet weather stream which trees betray;
There the willows dip their long lacy plumes
Over low marsh grass where the smartweed blooms.

Now the cottonwoods murmur, the willows weep,
And all else is silent, the place asleep,
But above the stillness when soft winds blow
Are the phantom voices of long ago ...
A lone cowboy as he rides down the trail
And yodels to drown out the coyote's wail.
While the walls reecho with rhythmic beat
To the merry tunes and to dancing feet.
So the old house lives again in its past,
Lives in the joys that the years have amassed.
And the full rich life that it’s loved ones knew
Is wafted back when it comes into view.

By Laressa Cox McBurney (my great-aunt)
Published in Prairie Panorama in 1938



Many thanks for stopping by. : )

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-26-05 Military Monday 09-27-05 Hall of Fame #13

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

I LOVED "Bad Penny's Castle"!

[JustAmy]

Good Afternoon, Friend.

Thank you for inviting me to bring Poetry and Potpourri to the Finest.
I've had fun today.
Thank you for the beautiful toast and the lovely table.

Thank you for the compliment on the pledge graphic but
I cannot take credit for it.
ValerieUSA gave me permission to use her photo and
MamaBear made the graphic.

Valerie and Lori ..... Thank you both for the lovely Pledge Graphic.

[JustAmy]

I wasn't sure what to use with the Military Prayer Graphic so I checked out some military graphics that my ((( Bro ))) had given me and that one seemed to fit perfectly.

Like I told LadyX ... I learned how to borrow at Amy's Place. It really wasn't stealing because I needed what I took. :)

[Billie]

What a cute graphic! And I hope that today's return will only be the first of many more to come, Amy. (I'm glad to see you - thought I remembered you saying you had a commitment for part of today and would have to be gone for a few hours this afternoon.)

[Billie]

I wasn't sure what to use with the Military Prayer Graphic so I checked out some military graphics that my ((( Bro ))) had given me and that one seemed to fit perfectly.

Your Bro has a knack for giving the perfect graphic. :)

[JustAmy]

Good afternoon, ((( Hooligan Bro ))).

Thank you for all the support and
the wonderful graphics that I use daily.
I couldn't post without them.

Glad you enjoyed the poem by my Grandmother's sister. She was a talented lady.

[LadyX]

I am your best friend,
Now, always, and especially
When you are eating.

[LadyX]

I sound the alarm!
Mailman fiend - come to kill us all -
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

[Temple Owl]

I know what that's like. Ink pulls that "I'm a poor abandoned starving orphan" routine every night. And she wins every night.

[JustAmy]

You remember correctly.

I made a small change to my schedule.

Marissa has a dance lesson in an hour so we will leave in 30 minutes.

Instead of taking Marissa and Michael to the fair before dancing, I've decided to take them at 5:30. My Sis told me the rides would not be open until 3:00; that wouldn't have given them much time before we had to leave.

I should be back about 7:30 my time. I'm not sure who will still be around.

[Billie]

The animals you've been posting are way too cute, especially with the accompanying dialog!

[JustAmy]

Isn't the Bad Penny poem and graphic adorable?

I'm so happy that MamaBear searched the old thread until she found it.

[dutchess]

Hi sistahs and friends. Quick in and out. Working on John's (OH MY!!!) biting essay.... One of those "tell me how you REALLY feel" (IT's GREAT!) "plus" taking care of the "boys" at home :o)

Amy...this is such a fun lovely thread...wish I could play here a little with tidbits, poems etc. MAYBE...if this is an occasional regular????? Thanks for doing this today!!!! ((((hugs all around!!!)))

[JustAmy]

Marissa has a dance lesson and then we are going to make a fast visit to the local 4 day fair.

She is looking forward to the rides so we will stay for an hour or so.

Hopefully you will stop by later.

[JustAmy]

Glad that you are enjoying the thread, Dutchess.

I'm leaving for a few hours; hope to see you when I return. If not, I'll see you tomorrow.

[Darksheare]

I'm here.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Nice thread, Amy.

Happy Strawberry Cream Pie, everybody.

click

[DollyCali]

Just got home from my support group at church. Heavy discussion as one can imagine at times with a grief support group. I have facilitated several dozen of these types of groups & each is unique & special for participants.

Please bear with me as I share something..

I need(for me that is) to put this someplace & wanted to wait until closer to the end of evening on this thread where there are animal lovers & genuine people lovers...(for at least we east coast folks it is close to end of evening).

I have had a pretty heavy heart the past 24 hours.. I went to get the "rescue dog" last evening. A bit apprehensive but really felt led to be there. took my pooches along, as we were all going to do a hike on way home. this new dog had NEVER had a walk in the woods. NEVER. He was going to have a new life with me for sure.

The owner was not there. They had moved out a few weeks prior & just came to let dog out in yard, feed it & put back in basement. They lived about 45 minutes away. The day for euthanizing was Thursday. Apparently the wife never wanted/liked the dog & was abusive to it. He is a pedigree boxer that turned 10 in July.

The next door neighbor & her sister were there & they were so glad I was going to save the dog.

Well, it did not go well.

The dog, as I mentioned, has been physically abused & was very defensive. It seemed happy to be with me jumped in glee, wagged his tail, licked my hands & face but suddenly without any provocation lunged at me & sliced into my ear (ala Mike Tyson)..

that wasn't the killer though..

over the course of the next few hours there it became evident that this dog could perhaps be re socialized but NOT in my situation. No fenced yard.. no separation from my dogs/cats/invalid mom..none of which I was willing to sacrifice.

The pooch on leash did jump into my van & was wagging it's tail & got along with my dogs. My dogs were the aggressors ... probably mostly jealous.

I was in a van w/o kennel or way to keep him separate. My brainstorm of a few lawn chairs did not work. I was going to keep my dogs in front of van & new dog in back (there are no seats as this is a Kennel-van & is used for bikes, kayaks, dogs & hauling.

I had to leave him & would try hard to find someplace to get him next day after 5 - a foster situation etc.

When I left we were all crying.. the neighbor, her sister and me. I felt like such a failure but also felt it would be a big time mistake to change the van ride home & the situation I described.

I wrote up w/my pix an email & sent it to everyone locally. Those also sent it to their lists. My one neighbor was willing to keep him in his fenced yard until a "situation" could be found.

I took Oliver & Toby out on a LONG walk today, wishing Wahoo could be with us.. My dogs normally have two big walks a day (that is running loose etc for an hour or so).. on days when there is only ONE walk, it is much longer 2-3 hours.

When I got home I had the email messages that Wahoo had been euthanized a day earlier...

Part of me feels a relief, it is for the best.. part of me feels a lot of anger (yes, i am a grief counselor & know all about the stages/grief) towards the abusive owners, & also guilt..If I had chanced bringing him with me last night, he would still be alive

Here is his pix that I took. I understand that in 10 years of ownership there was never one pix taken.

RIP dear Wahoo - see you at the rainbow bridge & I when I join you I promise to run and play & hug you..

I promise

[Darksheare]

Drats.
Vengeance upon his previous owners.
Peace upon you and yours.

[Dog]

You tried Dolly ....you really tried.

Chin up..