Anyone Know a Barn Barber?

Okay, I admit - that was pretty lame - but that was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw these silos!  (I used to be a hairdresser, among other things, okay?)

Linking to Tricia's Barn Charm.

We Interrupt This Program...

To bring you this special announcement:  She did it!  Our Hometown Girl, Gabby Douglas, from Virginia Beach, has won the team gold and all-around gold in the Olympics.  She is the first American gymnast to win both those medals, and also the first female African American to win the top individual prize.

This mural is 8' x30' and sits on the east-facing wall of AJ Gator's.  I went early in the morning to avoid having a parking lot full of cars.  As it was, there were others there to do the same thing - acknowledge the accomplishment of one of our own.

Todd Lindbergh, of T.A.L.Ent, completed the mural in 3 days of super hot mornings and afternoon rains.  Todd and his brother, Eric, have painted quite a few murals in Virginia Beach, honoring firefighters, fallen police officers (I have posted these on previous Monday Murals), and mascot murals for schools.  There is also a mural that was painted after the Navy jet crashed into the Mayfair Mews apartment complex earlier this year.  That one will be featured in another post.

Thanks to the brothers, and the owners of AJ Gators, for providing this beautiful mural!

Linking to Monday Murals.

Crying In The Chapel

"You saw me crying in the chapel, the tears I shed were tears of joy;

Stained Glass Window, Freemason Street Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA

I know the meaning of contentment, Now I am happy with the Lord.

Freemason Street Baptist Church

Just a plain and simple chapel, where humble people go to pray;

Stone Oratory, Connemara, Ireland (used for silent prayers by monks during the 5th and 6th centuries)

I pray the Lord that I'll grow stronger, as I live from day to day.

Old Church along the motorway, somewhere in Ireland

I've searched and I've searched, but I couldn't find

Lake at Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

No way on earth to gain peace of mind.

Another church along the byway, Ireland

Now I'm happy in the chapel, where people are of one accord.

Church of the Centurian, Fort Monroe, VA

We gather in the chapel, just to sing and praise the Lord."

Pipe Organ, Freemason Street Baptist Church

I pray that your tears will be tears of joy, happy with your Lord!

Listen to Elvis sing this beautiful old song here: Crying in the Chapel.

Linking to Spiritual Sundays.

A Horse of a Different Color

(I have had lots of questions about my header shot - it was taken in Connemara, Ireland, near the 12 Bens.   I am such a sucker for shots of the road...)

This stretches the thinking just a bit, don't you think?  But they were simply too pretty to pass up!

These are all located on the grounds of a beach vacation rental company on the southern end of Virginia Beach.  I love the colors and the style of the horses - these guys don't eat much, and notice, they don't have to be fenced in!   There is a banner near the first one that says "Live Strong".  I think there is some significance to that, but I admit, I have no idea what it is.  I just like the horses!

Linking to Camera Critters.

Posh Fences

While the photos are not particularly inspiring (definitely drive-bys - you can see from the reflection of the windows), I was so impressed by this property.  It is for sale, by Sothebys, for a cool $2 million.  We passed it going in to visit a winery, and I had to snap these on the way out (don't know if that accounts somewhat for the inferior quality of the shots?).  Imagine living here...

Pretty posh, don't you think?

For more cool fences, visit Friday's Fences.

Back in the Saddle Again

(I am posting this early in the hopes that I can actually sleep late tomorrow!  I have not been sleeping much during this ordeal with Dan, and since he is home and doing well, I am SLEEPING IN in the morning!)

"I'm back in the saddle again, Out where a friend is a friend;

  Where the longhorn cattle feed on the lonely jimson weed,

I'm back in the saddle again.

Riding the range once more, Totin' my old forty-four weapons of war

Where you sleep out ev'ry night, where the only law is right,

I'm back in the saddle again.

Whoo-pi-ti-yi-yo, rocking to and fro,

Back in the saddle again;

Whoo-pi-ti-yi-yay, I go my way,

Back in the saddle again."

Hear Gene Autry sing the song here: Back in the Saddle Again.

Thanks to Anni for sponsoring this fun meme.  To see more Theme Songs, visit Thursday Theme Song.

Gulls

***NOTE:  Dan came through the surgery fine - pacemaker installed and seems to be working properly.  He was kept overnight, but should be home today.  Thanks to all for the prayers, well-wishes and kind thoughts!  Bloggers are the most caring and wonderful group of people - we feel blessed!***

I think this is a herring gull, but I am not sure.  I am going crazy trying to identify these shore birds!  If someone knows what they really are, I would greatly appreciate the identification!

Again, I think this is some kind of gull, but what!?  I just know I enjoyed watching them play on the beach!

Oops, you caught me slurping!

Also, if anyone has a good place to look up these birds, please pass it along.

 


Thanks to Anni at The Bird D'Pot and Stewart at Wild Bird Wednesday for hosting!