A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-28-06....Ice Castles

Billie

[Billie]

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, GodBlessUSA ~

Today is the last day of February, and spring is just around the corner, but before you get out your shorts and sandals, let's take one last look at the beauty that's only associated with winter - ice and snow sculptures.

A friend sent me these photographs last week, and they are absolutely breathtaking! Hope you enjoy them before they melt. :)

Your chariot is waiting...

Last one! Imagine all the hours that go into all of these creations, with no way to preserve them except through photographs and memory. Hat's off to these artists!

Brrrrrrr! Now who wants hot chocolate?

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-27-06 Military Monday

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

[Majie Purple]

Oh my... that Cinderella carriage with the snow effect added is breathtakingly charming!

Makes for a clean sweep as my favorite of the ice sculpures here.

[Mama_Bear]

Oh, that is a beautiful sandcastle!

[Majie Purple]

Wow! That's nICE!

[luvie]

Amazing what they can do with a little dirt, huh?

[luvie]

Sounds like a good subject...please ping me when ya get it knocked together! I enjoy reading your poems. Have you published a book?

[MEG33]

It is..It is beautiful!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Sorry I missed your birthday, Bob, hope it was happy!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

ASK BECK/SMITH

DEAR MARILYN & STACY: Whatever happened to Robby Benson? I don't ever see or hear of anything he has done lately.

Annie
Charleston, WV

DEAR ANNIE: Robby, one of the nicest guys in the industry, has been plagued by ill health as an adult and in 2004 underwent his third heart valve surgery. Benson tried to use his own story to help others with the off-Broadway musical 'Open Heart,' in which he co-starred with his wife, Karla, and in which he played a man who undergoes a trauma that changes him forever. Representatives of Arciera talent agency say that son is still a client, but note they are unable to discuss his activities or his health at this time. Robby, who achieved big-time success with acting performances that included those in'Tribute' with Jack Lemmon and 'Harry and Son' with Paul Newman, retired from the limelight and for a while taught film acting at Appalachian State University, returning to movies to provide the voice of the Beast in Disney's 1999 animated 'Beauty and the Beast' and its sequels. He's also done narration for various computer and video games.

http://channels.netscape.com/celebrity/becksmithans.jsp?feature=ce_ask_01092006

[Mama_Bear]

(It's like painting the bullseye around the arrow after it has hit the target.)

Well, I don't know if that is a good analogy. Makes it sound way too easy.

Amy and I have given you some very challenging graphics to adorn with your poems for "Amy's Place". You never failed to come up with an appropriate and fitting poem - even for the weirdest, strangest graphic. You make it seem easy, but that is just part of your talent, I guess.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

We once had a dog that was part fox. Smart dog. Miss that dog.

[NicknamedBob]

I’m Occupied

You may call it talent,
I know the truth inside,
There is a spirit that moves in,
And occupies my hide.

I’m just an empty glove most days,
Not handy at this task,
And then I’m filled with something,
For which I didn’t ask.

The words flow out unbidden,
The meanings almost clear,
And when I read them at the end,
I too may shed a tear.

For Someone has been helping,
It isn’t only me.
The time goes by as in a fugue,
I’m occupied, you see.

NicknamedBob . . . February 28, 2006

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

You're awesome Bob.

[Mama_Bear]

:-) Well, thank you again for sharing your God-given talent with us.

[luvie]

Bob...that's wonderful. I shed a tear at the end, too, thinking of your hand and mind being guided by Someone bigger than you are. Your talent is great and your spirit is humble..a good combination.

[meandog]

A drunk man in an Oldsmobile
They said had run the light
That caused the six-car pileup
On 109 that night.

When broken bodies lay about
"And blood was everywhere,"
"The sirens screamed out eulogies,"
For death was in the air.

"A mother, trapped inside her car,"
Was heard above the noise;
Her plaintive plea near split the air:
"Oh, God, please spare my boys!"

She fought to loose her pinned hands;
"She struggled to get free,"
But mangled metal held her fast
In grim captivity.

Her frightened eyes then focused
"On where the back seat once had been,"
But all she saw was broken glass and
Two children's seats crushed in.

Her twins were nowhere to be seen;
"She did not hear them cry,"
"And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,"
"Oh, God, don't let them die!"

Then firemen came and cut her loose,"
"But when they searched the back,"
"They found therein no little boys,"
But the seat belts were intact.

They thought the woman had gone mad
"And was traveling alone,"
"But when they turned to question her,"
They discovered she was gone.

Policemen saw her running wild
And screaming above the noise
"In beseeching supplication,"
Please help me find my boys!

They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
"Their jeans are blue to match.
" "One cop spoke up, ""They're in my car,"
And they don't have a scratch.

They said their daddy put them there
"And gave them each a cone,"
Then told them both to wait for Mom
To come and take them home.

"I've searched the area high and low,"
But I can't find their dad.
"He must have fled the scene,"
"I guess, and that is very bad."

"The mother hugged the twins and said,"
"While wiping at a tear,"
"He could not flee the scene, you see,"
"For he's been dead a year."

"The cop just looked confused and asked,"
"Now, how can that be true?"
"The boys said, ""Mommy, Daddy came"
"And left a kiss for you."

He told us not to worry
"And that you would be all right,"
And then he put us in this car with
"The pretty, flashing light."

"We wanted him to stay with us,"
"Because we miss him so,"
"But Mommy, he just hugged us tight"
And said he had to go.

"He said someday we'd understand,"
"And told us not to fuss,"
"And he said to tell you, Mommy,"
"He's watching over us."

The mother knew without a doubt
"That what they spoke was true,"
"For she recalled their dad's last words,"
"I will watch over you."

The firemen's notes could not explain
"The twisted, mangled car,"
And how the three of them escaped
Without a single scar.

"But on the cop's report was scribed,"
"In print so very fine,"
An angel walked the beat
tonight on Highway

[MEG33]

Azaleas I think I stay in a springtime mood! LOL..Good to see you here!

[dutchess]

Absolutely beautiful sistah! Love how its snowing all over the table!!! (((billie)))

[dutchess]

Some years ago at a trade show in the Astrodome, I saw an exquisite, huge ice sculpture of the Statue of Liberty crash into the chafing dishes on surrounding tables, because the feet were too small - they melted too quickly.

OH MY!!!!!

[dutchess]

Those azaliza are absolutely beautiful!!!! (as are all your other posts) ((((meg)))))

[dutchess]

Oh my meandog. My 'puter screen is suddenly blurry!