Thurmont, for real!

Going to the Coctoctin Colorfest is certainly something to call home about! It is amazing how one little town transforms itself for one weekend. We heard that there were upwards of 100,000 people that attended this event!


The first picture is the exit into Thurmont. Our gang is the first two cars in the second picture. We have just entered town. You can see the tents of the vendors already. This is where Donna and I got out. We were very excited! ! We wanted to get a jump start. We told the rest of the gang we would hang out around this area while they parked and to meet us back here.



In the background here, you can see the Cotoctin Mountains. It is a beautiful sight.




These are the first two booths Donna and I hit when we got out - in our excitement. We breezed thru the first one. The second one was a different story. This vendor always has something different and this year was no exception. But with demand comes "wait". Wait in line. Wait for an hour. Wait. Wait. Wait. The gang covered a lot of ground while we waited. And waited. And waited. In line. We eventually got out of there and hooked up with our heckling gang and moved forward.





I couldn't resist taking a picture of this old stone wall. It was behind the building where the Amish were set up selling pictures and furniture and textiles. It shows how old the town really is. It was amazing.

Now, there were gazillions of vendors with all kinds of things. The wreath on the left was made of some kind of seed pod that falls off trees. They are very, very prickly and not the least bit friendly to touch. I have a story about those things. But that will have to wait until another day.

And of course there were trillions of yard sales. From one end of town to the other and on the back road heading out of Thurmont. It reminded me of the "400 Mile Yard Sale" I went on with Jenny and the girls.

And of course there was food. Food everywhere. My and Bob's favorite place to eat there is this pit beef stand. The contraption on the right is an old peanut roaster. Mmmm. What can I say? Should've bought some!

Amidst all the clamor of people there was a creek that ran under a bridge that ran down the main drag in town. Reminded me of Papaw Wymer's creek. A little.

They had a band in the park. Along with another gazillion vendors.




It was crazy the amount of people in this town!

We are heading out. We were parked with the hoards. Many, many, many.

Amanda - on the left - looks like she's drifting.

Bekah has completely exited stage left.

Donna - red shirt - is using one of her goodies as a walking stick - tee hee

Greg - front and center - is a man on a mission - to get us out of there!

Denise - purple shirt, Amanda's mom - is drifting to the left

Bob - orange guy - looking back at me - seemingly saying: "Are ya coming Barb?"

Dan - ah oh - something's caught his eye - sorry - keep walking!

Bekah took some hysterical pictures this day. It was a majority consensus to "people watch"!

She has blogged about it. I haven't read hers yet, but as soon as I am done here, I am headed there! Can't wait!

It was a wonderful day. Great family, good friends, good food, good weather. ""What more could you want?", I ask. "What more?"

Thurmont

I'm going north this weekend. Northwest, to be more speicific.
Bob and I try to do this trek annually.
I LOVE it! Bob is learning to love it!
We go with Donna - who by the way is the one who got me hooked - and Greg and whomever else wants to go.
It's right up there with the "400 Mile Yard Sale".
It's awsome.
It's a woman's dream come true.
It's yard sales, craft sales, artwork, textiles, and food all rolled into one little town.
It is Cotoctin Colorfest in Thurmont, MD.

I am going to try to take some pictures this time. Try. That's all I can promise.

"We are where we are for a reason."

I borrowed this title from another blog I am following. Although she is talking about a particular place, I think it could apply to a "place" in time.

I am in that "place" in time. A LOT. I often think about my life and where I am. Why I am here and what good is it bringing and to whom.

Sometimes I think I am "here" to be available, accessible. Available physically and accessible personally. I think being home all the time makes me a little more so.

Life's situations give no regard to time of day. Neither does sorrow or pain or joy. It comes when it comes. Give no mind to what is on the plate for that day or time frame.

I don't know the reason for my "place" until it has come and gone. I just know that when I look back, had I been working or distanced from the situation, where would that person have gone at that moment in time? With whom would they have cried, or laughed or vented? What blessing would I have missed?

Sometimes the need comes to me and sometimes I find myself going - unbeknownst to me - to the need. I am always amazed at that. And sometimes I ask "Why?". And sometimes I feel scared. And sometimes I feel clueless. And sometimes I take it personally.

And. And, sometimes I am that need.

So, I pray for wisdom, compassion, understanding. I pray for good friends. I pray for my Aaron and Hur team and I am thankful that they are "where they are for a reason".

We all have that "place". The trick is to understand and accept it. To not fear that which you can't control, but to accept all that which you can pray for. And we can pray for ALL things.

One of my favorite quotes is: "To comfort people is to accept the risk of getting the plague of another's sadness or pain on our hearts." And I think the compliment to that would be: sharing their joy.

And that's all I have to say about that. For now.

"Inspiration"

I hardly think of myself as one who inspires. Every day I entertain one emotion or another. I don't usually stop to think about my impact on others. (It's usually just me and myself here!). So, I need to be more mindful that my struggles - even the worse ones - are handled in such a way as to give credit where credit is due. And that a positive reaction is always inserted, somewhere! God ultimately leads me along the way - and the things I write are given much consideration as to how they reflect on me, the ones I write about, and Him, but they are things on my heart. It's hard for me not to be brutally honest sometimes. I have a difficult time hiding my emotions and those very emotions do get me into trouble on occasion! But sometimes, just sometimes, there is a pleasant surprise!



My niece, Bekah, emailed me last night to tell me that I inspired her to start a blog. (Bekah's Babbles) I can't tell you the span of emotion I felt when I read that note. My initial reaction was "yeah, a new bloggie!", but when the reality of her words set in, I was humbled, touched, if you will.

To inspire someone is quite an honor I think - to cause them to try or do something they may not otherwise try or do. And that thought alone is - scary. It conveys trust. Trust that they can muster up the ability to do something that may intimidate them, and succeed at it. And that is what is motivational and scary for the "inspirer".

Thank you Bekah for allowing me to be an inspiration to you!
I love you, Little Lady. You are going to make a wonderful bloggie!

Little Miss Piper Rylee

I haven't posted much about this little lady simply because a lot was going on in her world.
She has grown leaps and bounds these past four months!


She is liking her thumb here at three months. She also likes the outdoors! And she is growing! Just look at those little feet ;) , and those little cheeks, and those pudgy little hands!

At four months she is learning to pull the string on her toy to make it play music. She is a doll - so pleasant and sweet. She loves sitting upright - I think she has a little "Nosey Nellie" in her!

She hardly ever cries. Just when she's hungry, wet, or tired. She wakes up smiling and smiles all day long! What more could one want? She steals your heart in a blink! We love her - dearly!

What a blessing God has given us!