Three Things I Love

   I am starting something new. Nothing like a resolution. Heaven forbid. More like an idea, an opportunity. An outlet for expression. Each Sunday I plan to give you a glimpse into three things that are near and dear to my heart. It might be a food, a movie, a book, a poem, a place, a person, or an event. I haven't decided. I don't want to box myself in just yet. But I am going to give this a shot. Just thinking about this makes me happy. I do love lots of things. 

1. The Eastern Bluebird!  Over the years I have been fortunate enough to have observed firsthand several generations of bluebirds that have taken up residence in my yard. I delight in watching them come and go. I have seen them cock their heads just so in pursuit of some delectable prospects for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They make my heart oh so glad when I see the flashes of brilliant blue in the early morning light as they swoop and soar. I close my eyes and think of the wings of heaven and wonder why it is that angels have always been depicted with white wings, why not that perfect pure cerulean blue? I am not trying to give God any ideas but it sure sounds good to me!

    

2. Colorful Sunsets...when I was a little girl my grandmother had me convinced for the longest time that she had the insider's truth about the infinite beauty and endless variety of sunsets. She whispered that each evening God sent forth a different angel to paint the sky in an attempt to create the most beautiful sunset. If just one human being on earth stopped long enough to look up as the sun was making its timely descent and uttered the words, "Thank you, God," then the angel who had painted the sunset would be awarded the distinction of having painted a masterpiece (the Master's piece...get it?!). In turn I told the selfsame story to my own children and many a day one of us would turn to the other when we witnessed a glorious sunset and smile as we whispered aloud the sweet words, "Thank you God." So I am thanking God today for all of the beautiful sunsets I have seen, those I have yet to see, and those I somehow missed. Each was indeed a masterpiece.

3. DeFuniak Springs, Florida....my hometown. I have lived in a metropolitan area in Tennessee for the past thirty-eight years, but I am still a small-town Florida girl at heart. You know that old saying, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl." I don't ever think about my twangy drawl, but even my supposedly Southern friends tell me that I can lay it on thick. I have DeFuniak to thank for that. I really don't want to get started on my life-long love affair with DeFuniak but let's just say this: I love Circle Drive, the walking, living, and breathing history the town exudes, the Chautauqua, the beautiful Victorian homes, the truly friendly people, and the fact that Ed's Tastee Freeze is still serving the same burger and fries that they did when I was in high school. Without fail, I also trek out 331 to eat Mom and Dad's Spaghetti a la Bruzzi, and I have been known to lug a bottle of their homemade house dressing all the way back to Tennessee; I never eat dinner there that I do not greet or see someone I know from my past. But the best thing by far about DFS is that my mom and my sisters and their families all live there. Oh, and the fact that it doesn't take more than eight minutes to drive from one end of the city limits to the other. You just gotta love life in a small town!

                     

Each year DeFuniak puts on a Christmas light display that encompasses the entire lakeyard. 

This shot was taken from one side of the lake in the center of town

 looking across to the back of the historic Chautauqua building (it's the one with the rotunda). 

Incidentally, the church where I married my husband is also in the background.