LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, August 2, 2013

Fridays Are Golden



August.  Summer is flying past us.  We continue to have sunny days and afternoon thunderstorms.  When the weather predicts "pop-up" or "scattered" showers, they invariably pop up right over our house.  And this weather has been especially favorable to the ticks and mosquitoes.  They are everywhere!

In the warm weather, we don't take the Golden Girls for long walks like we do in cooler temperatures.  We do let them romp around in the woods.  That way they can judge just how much running they want to do.  My husband took the following photographs.
 
 
Lucy loves the laurel and rhodo tunnels

 
 
 
Ellie patiently waits on the stoop for the go ahead

 
 
 
Lucy always looks at you to see if you are following along.

 
 
 
She really does not like a sit/stay.


Our lives go along peacefully despite the onerous actions of our General Assembly and Governor.  Our governor signed the new abortion restrictions into law last week despite repeated pre-election promises that he would never sign any law making further restrictions on abortion rights.  And he maintains that he did not.  He signed the recent laws to "protect women's health."  Never mind that it effectively closes all abortion centers in the State except for one.

A group of women protesting his actions gathered outside the governor's mansion.  They were dressed in retro fashion styles of the early '60s.  As they silently protested, Governor McCrory came out with two armed guards and DELIVERED A PLATE OF CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES TO THEM!!!  He smiled as he handed the plate to a surprised woman and kept saying to the group "God bless you, God bless you."  He did not take any questions from the group.  Just handed over the cookies and walked back inside the gate.  As one newspaper columnist wrote,  "The governor doled out sexism, chocolate, and a side of condescension."

The women placed the cookies at the mansion gates with a sign that read:  "Governor McCrory, we'll take women's health over cookies."  In response to massive complaints sent to the governor about his actions, his office issued this statement, "Sometimes a plate of cookies is just a plate of cookies."  Yeah, right.



Our timely quote for the week comes from Kahlil Gibran.  I try to keep it in mind.

"I have learned silence from the talkative, tolerance from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind;  yet strangely, I am ungrateful to these teachers."


HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!!
 
 


15 comments:

Carolina Linthead said...

Beautiful quote, and oh, so timely...ugh. On the other hand, I would love to be a dog romping through the laurel and rhododendron tunnels! We loved going up to Craggy Pinnacle and hiking through the Catawba tunnels on our way to the top. So peaceful, even when we were huffing and puffing for air, lol. And yes, as usual, I had to look up "rhododendron"...I always want to add an extra vowel. Have a great weekend!

The Bug said...

Well you know my thoughts about the cookies (although, strangely, now I'm craving one - but not THOSE cookies!).

The girls often look blissed out when they're outside. I'm happy to report that finally, at nearly 50, I also often feel blissed out when I'm outside :)

Ms. A said...

Ticks scare me. My aunt died from a tick bite.

Arkansas Patti said...

Loved Lucy looking back. Mighty does that constantly.
Sorry you have to deal with a politician like that. They say what people want to get elected, then do as they please.
Carefully of those ticks. I had a friend get tularemia from a tick last year and is still feeling the effects.
Loved Kahlil Gibran's quote. So very true.

kks said...

wow, i think your governor might be as bad as ours....
the dogs look beautiful as always...
I was in the garden picking the cucumbers...of course Tahoe wanted one, but i said no...as i was walking away with my arms loaded with cucs she came running by me with a cuc that she found! she is crazy! she pranced all around with it, then ate it! she's a goof!
xoxo

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Your girls are really lovely! We have a couple that listen pretty well and do as they're told, others don't do it as quickly as I'd like them too, the rest don't at all--That's why they are on a leash when we walk! :-)

By the way, I saw the story about the cookies here on the news. To me, it was just another indication that an elected official wasn't taking an issue or people seriously...

LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE...GOD'S GRACE said...

I always love to read about your sweet golden girls! They truly amaze me!

Anonymous said...

Love seeing the Friday Golden Girls.

I couldn't believe how insane your governor was, thinking that a plateful of cookies was a good thing to offer. Such condescension.

I love that Gibran quote.

Rae said...

I can't help but wonder what is going through the girls' minds. They are so full of expression.

Willow said...

I just want to HUG those goldens.
Condescending men should never "control " womens health .

troutbirder said...

Yuk. What a jerk. Speaking of insufferable your comment about the weather and the bugs is spot on. I've been suffering for two weeks with massive patches of chigger bites. My spouse insists Troutbirder has been especially cranky of late.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Wow....it's not boring in NC when it comes to politics. ;(
Ozzie gives me that look too: hey, come with me please.

Regenia said...

Your dogs are beautiful. I had not read or heard about the group protest and the governor's response. But then I often try to not know what is going on because I find it distressing. How pathetic; armed guards to make sure he could be as condescending as he intended. Oh, wait. Seeing his guards brandishing guns would be popular with the NRA, wouldn't it? Two messages in one, I guess.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Ms. A and Patti - yes, we do a careful "tick check" each time we've been outdoors.

kks - who would have thought a cucumber? We used to have apple trees and had to watch the dogs carefully to keep them from eating the green apples.

Willow - I fear our General Assembly is filled with men committed to that.

Troutbirder - chiggers are terrible. Have you tried After-Bite or Sting-Eze? They work pretty well to reduce the itching.

Suz - Yep. Not only have we made the national news, we are mentioned in this week's Time as well.

Regenia - Hadn't thought of that but you are right.

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Your governor is really unbelievable. I hope the DOJ takes him on over voting issues...and the voters take him out and all his buddies.