What an absolutely spectacular fireworks display last night! They were just outside the solarium window down in the meadow right across from us.  For a full 20 minutes they went off one after the other – Aerial shells in a stunning array of colors, patterns, sounds and sizes;  skyrockets that you could trace into the night sky before they exploded in a dazzling array of colors; barrage rockets; comments; dragon eggs and so much more.  The colors were just out of this world.  The display was put on for the park by its owners , Heath and Erica, and like everything they do in reference to this park and those who stay here they went all the way.  I made sure when I saw them this morning to thank them in a big way.

So the heat is here but we are on 30 amp.  Would we be able to run the AC?  One way to find out throw the switch and watch the amp meter.  How about 25 amps!  But wait, should have read the owners manual first.  Graybeard has two AC compressors but no manual way – at least so it appears – to run just one compressor by itself.  That’s when I got out the owners manual and discovered the following.  Let’s say the inside temperature is 86 degrees, if you only set the thermostat for 3 degrees lower it will only start and run the one compressor.  Go any lower on the setting, say set it for 6 degrees lower and you trigger both compressors.  In fact, when it gets down to the temperature you original set it at, only one AC compressor is used to keep that temperature.  Now how about that!  I learn something new almost every day.

Tonight let’s finish up our tour of Rock of Ages.  Remember the picture from yesterday of

the main production plant?  Again, it’s the size of two football fields and within its walls is where the many tombstones and monuments from simple to elaborate are sculptured.  Behind this building (in the picture above it is the building to the far left) is another building that is strictly used for the construction of mausoleums.

You are able to take your own self guided tour of this facility by walking across an elevated observation walkway.  This is a picture of the inside of the building on the left hand side.  Look how far back it stretches.  But where is everyone?  Seems they get the Friday before the 4th of July off as well as the entire 4th of July week.  Wow, some union.

So how does a block of granite become a simple or elaborate tombstone or monument?  Remember the blocks of granite alongside the road waiting to be purchased?

Once a block is chosen it is moved to the manufacturing plant  There the blocks are cut into slabs of varying thickness by circular saws with industrial diamond tips. These modern saws, which can measure up to fourteen feet in diameter, are usually computer operated and high speed; which greatly increases the productivity of the manufacturing facility.  Below are blocks cut and ready to move on in the process.

Then the slabs of granite are polished by automated machines that often use either large metal discs or abrasive bricks made of silicon carbide. Polishing the granite produces a gloss finish with almost a mirror-like appearance.

 

Here is a picture of blocks that have been cut and polished with instructions on top of each waiting to be finished.  Perhaps they will have a simple inscription added or maybe some elaborate sculpting done to them.

 

Now its time to put lettering and/or a design on the cut and polished block of granite.  Virtually any design and lettering can be sandblasted into the granite. Most often, a design that was created on a computer CAD system is used to produce a flat sheet of rubber known as a stencil. The computer-generated stencil is fabricated by using a

special plotter driving a knife to create the required design. The flat sheet of rubber is placed onto the monument with a glue or filler.

The memorial is then placed into a cabinet called a green room (rooms to the right with the open doors and rollers leading into them) where the lettering and design are cut into the stone.   Sandblasting is used for this process.  Fine particles of abrasive are shot out under pressure by a fine nozzle.  The fine particles bounce off the rubber but they chip

 

the exposed granite to form letters and other designs.

But more elaborate ornamentation may have also been ordered.  Sandblasting is also used to begin the process of artistic, finely detailed designs.  However, many details must ultimately be created by the hands of a highly gifted artist.  A plaster cast is made to scale to assist the artist.  The skilled carver or sculpture will then create the desired design in granite by using sharp chisels powered by compressed air as well as hand tools. Carvers have the ability to add beautiful dimension to any design while sculptors can create full figures out of granite. The work of a sculptor usually reflects the highest levels of artistry and design.

After all work is completed, the monument is thoroughly washed and carefully inspected.  If it passes its final inspection it is then ready to ship.  Though, at one time, most if not all of the finished pieces were shipped by rail today everything leaves by tractor trailer.

There are, of course, often left over pieces.  But nothing goes to waste.  The left over pieces are piled up behind the factory and are available for future products.

 

That brings to a close our tour of Rock of Ages.  Thanks for sharing the trip with us.  If ever you are in this area, it is well worth the time to plan a visit of your own.

Night is now here.  Darkness has descended upon us.  The night sky is alight with millions of stars.  Just beautiful.  We trust you had a wonderful day and an opportunity to do something you’ve always wanted to.  In closing, as we approach the 4th of July a reminder that we are:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

 

Away with the winter covers!  Away with the winter sweatshirts!  Away with the winter bathrobe!  The heat and humidity have finally caught up with us!  We haven’t seen temperatures like this since the middle of March when we were in Florida.  Going to take some time for us to adjust to this.  We’ll adjust.  Or just go find someplace that is cooler.  Where I have no idea.  As my Mom always says, It is what it is.

Today we’re just staying put since tonight we have a pot luck supper in the park followed by fireworks.  Yipee!  Barbara is busy making her dish.  While I on the other hand am just puttering around doing odds and ends.  I don’t want to push it and have problems with my back again.  Slow and steady is the way to go to I’ve been told.

It’s early evening and we just finished our RV picnic and what a spread of food for everyone.  There was hot dogs cooked in beer, chili, baked ziti, sausage with peppers and onions, macaroni and cheese, watermelon, fruit salad, chips and so much more.

This is the group from the park that gathered for the picnic.

This is Barbara with our next door neighbors, Bob and Connie.

I can honestly say I’m good now food wise probably till lunch time tomorrow!

Now back to our travels.  Yesterday we shared with you our visit to Hope Cemetery which is located in Barre, Vermont, the Granite Capital of the World.  Hope Cemetery serves not only as a place to remember those who work outside the craft and are buried there, but also as a tribute to the stone cutters and artisans interred amongst the sculptures they created while they lived.

Barre, unfortunately, is known for having an uncommonly high death rate which is directly related to the industry that made it famous. Silicosis, a respiratory disease that is caused by inhaling granite dust, led to an abnormal number of deaths in the area. When the Spanish Flu swept through the area, many knew that death could be just around the corner and got to work designing their own tombstones. This tradition has carried on ever since and about 75 percent of all of the tombstones found in Hope Cemetery were carved by the occupants of the graves they sit above.

Furthermore, all of the 10,000 tombstones and still counting are mandated to be made out of Barre Granite.  In addition, a majority of them are made by the artisans and sculptors who have worked and work today at Rock of Ages.  That is where we are going now.  Now I know what some of you are probably thinking, do you two have a thing for rocks?  First, the Granite museum in Maine and now Rock of Ages?  Not really, it’s just that unusual and historical places hold a special fascination for us.

So we were off to Rock of Ages.  Not hard to find with a sign like this.

A quick turn in and you know you know you are in the right place when you spot the

logo on the building.  This building is the main production facility and is the size of two football fields.

Within its walls is where the many tombstones and monuments from simple to elaborate are sculptured.  Behind this building (in the picture above it is the building to the far left) is another building that is strictly used for the construction of mausoleums.

Rock of Ages is the grand name of one of Vermont’s oldest quarrying operations which is also known as the E.L Smith Quarry  which started quarrying granite in 1880 and it’s

been excavating the same site in Barre ever since. Let’s begin with an actual tour of the quarry.  This we signed up for at the visitors center.  To accommodate the growing tourism generated by the quarries, Rock of Ages built a 2,800-square-foot Visitors Center in 1962. By 1967, more than 100,000 visitors were coming to Barre each year to view the quarries and Craftsman Center (factory) at Rock of Ages.  On May 1, 2004, Rock

of Ages opened a new 5,000-square-foot building, which houses a new Visitors Center and Memorial Design Studio. Up the walkway we went to sign up for the tour.

Our tour guide for the journey was another of God’s beautiful people named Pam seen here at a stop on our tour of the quarry.

Once we were all on board she drove us up the road to the quarry.

Once at the quarry, we were escorted to an observation outpost.  Pam explained that this quarry is called a deep hole dimension quarry, it’s a large cavernous hole and nearly 600 feet deep. At 50 or 60 square acres in surface area, it’s the largest quarry of its kind still operating.

The stone here is known as Barre granite. The characteristics of this stone make it good for engraving, which is why it’s often used in statuary and memorials. The Barre granite face is a beautiful solid grey stone. Natural seams in the rock run horizontally and where groundwater seeps out it stains the granite a dark color, making streaks that trail down

towards the bottom where they meet with the upwell of opaque turquoise water (currently the water is some 400 feet deep which when necessary can be pumped out).

Geologists from MIT measured the deposit of granite in this location and discovered that it’s four miles long, about two miles wide, and ten miles thick. At current recovery rates, Pam stated that there’s another 4,500 years of stone in the ground.  How’s that for job security!

It is estimated that as many as 3,500 men worked in the quarries in Barre during the 1900’s, and the same number toiled in the nearby factories. But, over the years, the industry has consolidated. This is a picture of Graniteville today, now just a sleepy little town with only a small number permanent inhabitants.  

As of right now Rock of Ages is the only quarrying operation in Barre. Currently there are approximately 27 men working the quarry.  They work until winter when the rock face is covered with either frozen water or snow at which time all work is halted since the conditions are deemed unsafe and the men are laid off until the spring thaw.

To extract the granite out of the ground, it is quarried into blocks or what is called tables. (in the picture below, follow the ladder down, it is partial hidden by the tree branch and that is the current section now being worked).  Due to the structure and composition of granite, it is never quarried by blasting as this would fracture the granite into unusable pieces. Rather, it is carefully removed by drilling. When granite is drilled, vertical holes are bored into the structure

approximately one inch apart and up to depths of twenty feet. The granite that remains between the holes is later removed by secondary drilling.

A block or table of granite can weigh as much as ten tons.  This is a picture of one piece of a table, a total of 25 of these pieces would make up one complete table of granite.  Anyone need a paperweight!

To lift the tables from their location in the quarry a derrick is used like the one below.  There are several different derricks in the quarry interconnected and supported

by over 15 miles of steel cable whose ends ultimately terminate in a block of granite somewhere in the quarry.  Since it is physically impossible to see what a derrick is doing during operation all lifts are coordinated by a lift master stationed in the lift shack.  Due to the noise in the quarry communication is by hand and whistles.

The workers themselves are transported into and out of the quarry using a steel cage also raised and lowered by the derrick.

In addition, you will note a series of wooden ladders against the quarry walls.  These ladders are there as a means of emergency exit.  They are made of wood because of the danger of a possible lightning strike.

Once the granite blocks are lifted out they are inspected, weighted, and measured for size and then given a number that is entered in inventory.  The blocks are left alongside the quarry road waiting for a prospective buyer.  A prospective buyer will then choose

a block from inventory according to their needs, and that block is then assigned to them.  Or a customer wanting a memorial will have one chosen for them by the sculpture who is going to sculpt the piece and knows what is needed. It is not unusual to see numbered blocks on both sides of  the quarry road throughout the summer but Pam explained to us  they would all be gone by spring of next year.  Then the process would begin again.

Tour finished, we headed back to the Visitor’s Center where we discovered something interesting.  Any Star Trek fans out there?  Read on.

We also discovered a time piece that is sure to stand the test of time.

How about some plates and such that you don’t have to worry about breaking when traveling.

How about a granite bowling alley?  It never quite caught on.  Why?  Balls kept shattering when they hit the surface of the alley!

One last thing to share today, my namesake in granite.  That’s right my ancestor, Robert Burns, standing tall in Barre, Vermont.  

How did he get here?  The date was July 21, 1896, and the Burns Club of Barre, Vermont, met to celebrate the centennial of Robert Burns’ death. At that meeting, the idea of erecting a monument to Burns was discussed and endorsed. The entire town became involved in the project and three years later the monument was ready to be dedicated.  On the day of dedication, eighteen thousand people witnessed the events of the day. There was a procession, fully a mile in length, which included the Royal Scots Band from Montreal. The orator of the day was the Honorable Wendell Phillips Stafford of St. Johnsbury.   Well, how about that!

Time now for fireworks so I’m signing off.  Tomorrow we’ll come back to Rock of Ages and we’ll tour the main plant.  We’ll discover how a monument is made from start to finish.  It’s really quite an elaborate process we found out.  We don’t know where you are but if the temperature is anything like here, let’s all think cool thoughts and maybe we can bring the heat index down a degree or two!  Finally, as always, a closing thought for each of us to ponder:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

 

 

 

 

 

So today began like all mornings this week, up and out to the doctor.  After which we were going to do some sightseeing.  I guess, though, the early morning hour sort of got to us, we forgot to take our lunch!  Oh well, we knew we would find something along the way.

First stop then was the holistic chiropractor that I have been seeing every day this week.  She truly has been able to work miracles on this old beat up body of mine.  Were it not for her, we would not have even a slim chance of getting in any sightseeing.  Just one more answer to prayer.

Appointment over it was now time to do some sightseeing.  We made two stops today, one of which I’ll share with you tonight and the other in tomorrow’s blog.  Tonight we’re going to Hope Cemetery.  Now I know what you are probably thinking going where?  Why?  Stick with me.

Hope Cemetery in Barre, Vermont is like no cemetery we have every visited.  Located on a small hillside just outside of Barre, Vermont, the Granite Capital of the World, the Hope Cemetery stands as a magnificent tribute to the stone cutters and artisans peacefully interred among their very own creations.

Hope Cemetery was established in 1895. Originally, it contained 53 acres. Since then, it has expanded to a total of 65 acres. Edward P. Adams, a nationally known landscape architect, created the original plan for the cemetery. There are over 10,000 monuments made of Barre Gray granite. 

As we entered the front gate we passed by two granite

 

sentries, forever watchful over their abode. From the moment we arrived it was obvious to us that this is no typical resting place for loved ones gone by.  It is truly a gallery of splendid artwork, in the most unusual of settings. Within the cemetery are really awesome works of art.  Each a credit and monument to the artistry of the people who created them, as much a memorial to the people who buried within or under them.

So, let’s begin our tour.   We begin with the Biplane.   Both Leo and his wife, Caroline, were civil air patrol pilots; the headstone, which took three months to create, was carved by Leo’s brother-in-law, noted Barre granite artist Giuliano Cecchinelli.  The bi-plane has broken through the clouds. The American flag rests in a stand available only for veterans of the US military.

Next is Joey Laquerre Jr.’s No. 61 racecar.   (the 1:4 scale-model monument even has a carved axle underneath.)  The young man was an enthusiast of fast cars.. He died at 28 years of age.

Here is the elegant and creative monument for the Bernasconi family: Two rectangular pillars are connected by eight chain links in an arch, each link carved with a name of a child. We learned that it was no easy task to carve those links from a single piece of granite — a perilous process, since a mistake or crack would ruin the whole chain. We also learned of the chain’s lovely symbolism: two close families and their children are linked together forever by marriage.

Continuing, here is one of the cemetery’s most engaging figures done by the gifted Italian sculptor Louis Brusa.  It is that of a youthful, sitting angel whose head, adorned with curly, flowing hair, rests on an open palm; her elbow perches on casually crossed legs. Is she pondering life and death? Is there a hint of a smile? Was she a wife, a mistress, a friend? Her face is beguiling, and her eyes seem to return the gaze of a captivated visitor.

Then there’s the tragic story of gifted Italian sculptor Louis Brusa and the controversy his monument incited. Brusa fought to force the granite sheds to install dust exhaust systems, even as he was dying of silicosis. The Vermont Legislature passed a law mandating the safety measure in 1937 — too late to help Brusa, who expired the same year. The monument, which he partially carved himself to honor victims of silicosis, caused its own tension in Barre. It depicts a dying Brusa in the arms of an unnamed

standing woman, whose shapely backside was apparently too much for some prim and proper Vermonters! A prominent doctor had his own (future) gravesite moved so he wouldn’t have to stare at the blatantly pornographic statue for eternity.  Observing the figure’s slender granite form with 21st-century eyes, however, you can only marvel at how times have changed.

We move on now to the grave of Elia Corti.  This gentleman died after a political meeting got out of hand and he was fatally shot in the stomach.  The marker for Elia Corti was crafted from a single block of granite by the brother of the deceased. The outstanding hand carved life-size figure sits quietly contemplative for an eternity to come. The detail of the clothing almost bring this figure to life.

Next is the Soccer monument .  The Davis grave contains the body of a young man believed to be a soccer enthusiast. The monument includes the names of his parents.

One of several remarkably eerie but emotionally touching tombs we found was shaped like a bed.  William and Gwendolyn Halvosa are shown sitting up in pajamas, holding hands, their tombs stretched out before them. No doubt, preparing for what will be a very long night of sleep. 

We also have the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ after his crucifixion, death, and removal from the cross, but before he was placed in the tomb.  This is a replica of Michangelo’s Pieta. 

This next was rather unusual to say the least.  It is the graves of T. Paul Martel and Janet M. Martel.  Not only unusual in its style, but by the fact that there are inscriptions on each side of the cube.

We have Giuseppe Donati’s stone, a raised relief depiction of a soldier smoking a cigarette, while the face of his wife or person close to him floats in a wisp of smoke.

There we have the graves of Daniel Morrell Vrooman and Jane Elinor Vrooman in which they caution one and all about the risks of ignoring the spiritual nature of humanity.  These markers are engraved on all sides with messages from the Vroomans and passages from the Bible.

Then there are several others for which I could find no information but which I found absolutely fascinating.   Take this one depicting a large bass fiddle.

Man on a motorcycle while his wife/mother watches him go

This one of Jesus praying

Finally the grave of a child.

I believe you will agree with me by now that this is no ordinary cemetery.  What an unusual place to find such beautiful and fascinating works of art.  We are so glad that Dr. Pam, the chiropractor, had told us about this cemetery.  Tomorrow, we’ll bring you the place where most of these works of art were sculptured which is the Rock of Ages.  Using stone from their own quarries, their in-house artisans are the ones behind these awe-inspiring handcrafted monuments.

Till then, day is gone and night is once more upon us.  We had an absolutely fascinating day of discovery.  As always, made better by the fact that we did it together, traveling along, singing our song, side by side.  We thank you for taking the time to come along with us.  We also hope that your day was a truly great one as well.  Now, in closing, a thought for each of us to ponder:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

When we went to bed last night the forecast was for rain throughout the night and the next day.  They were right on!  I don’t believe we have had such heavy rain since we left Florida.  I mean it poured hard throughout the night.  As I laid in bed, I got to thinking of the November 1927 flood that wiped out the town of Marshfield.  I was also glad to know that we were on high ground.  The rain finally let up just a little after noon on Thursday and now it is starting to get hot and humid.  Oh well, it is what it is.

So today began, as the last several days have, with yet another visit to the holistic chiropractor.  Day by day I can begin to feel myself coming around.  Not completely there yet but giving thanks for the small steps that have been made.  I’m sure by the time we leave here I’ll be fit as a fiddle.

Today we also decided enough is enough and were going to do some sightseeing.  Not much, but enough to get us back in the swing of things.  Thus, after my morning appointment, we were off to discover the ins and outs of maple syrup.

But before we share, with you, our visit today, some interesting general facts we learned about maple syrup and Vermont Maple Syrup:

• It Takes Roughly 40 Gallons of Sap to Make 1 Gallon of Maple Syrup. And get this, the sap actually runs up from the roots of the tree.  It will take the annual sap output of four mature Sugar Maple trees to produce one gallon of maple syrup.
• Maple Syrup is the only food made from the sap of a tree.
• 100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup has the same calcium content as whole milk. Take that Elsie the Cow.
• 100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup has only 40 calories per tablespoon, unlike corn syrup which has 60 calories per tablespoon.
• Maple Syrup is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, and iron, and is good for you!
• Vitamins B2, B5, B6, niacin, biotin, and folic acid are all present in 100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup.
• Vermont has its own four grades of maple syrup which breaks down into the following categories: “Golden Color with Delicate Taste,” “Amber Color with Rich Taste,” “Dark with Robust Taste,” and “Very Dark with Strong Taste.”
• Vermont is the #1 producer of Maple Syrup in the US and produces 5.5% of the world’s maple syrup (remember who is #3? Right, Maine!) However, today about 80 percent of the World’s Supply Comes From Canada.
• Brands like Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth use such ingredients as high fructose corn syrup, cellulose gum, caramel coloring to create an inexpensive substance which only somewhat resembles the genuine article. Thus, their bottles are usually labeled “original,” “breakfast,” or “pancake” syrup

Now for our visit.  We went to a local maker of Vermont Maple Syrup, the Bragg Farm.

Coming up into the parking lot this is what we saw , the sugarhouse and gift shop.  The gift shop is to left and the actual sugarhouse where they make their syrup is to the right.

This is a picture of the gift shop that has just about everything and anything related to Vermont Maple Syrup.

 

And some items I just don’t know how they got in there.  Do Dragons like maple syrup?

Back to Vermont Maple Syrup.  Maple syrup is produced from the sap collected from the Sugar Maple tree. Maple sap is clear, watery and contains only 2-4% sugar. The season

begins in late February with all hands on deck.  The season actually begins with the tapping of the sugar maple trees.  A hole is drilled into the tree.  A spout is then driven into the hole.

Examples of them are pictured below.

At the Bragg Farm, buckets are still hung to collect the  sap. The sap begins to flow when  temperatures begin to rise above freezing during the day but fall below freezing at night.  Maple sap is a clear fluid and resembles water. The collection amount may vary.  Some days  only a small amount is collected and other days the buckets will overflow if not emptied.  The typical sugaring season lasts from February into April although there is no “set” time to begin. The length of the winter, temperature and snowfall amounts are variables that affect the timing of the start of the sap running and how long it will last. The best condition for the sap to begin its run is freezing nights followed by warmer, sunny days. As soon as a few of these days pass, the harvesting process is set to begin. The annual run lasts until the nights are no longer freezing and the trees begin to bud., usually early to mid- April.

The sap is collected into gathering tanks and brought to the sugarhouse to be boiled in the evaporator.  This is a picture of the actual evaporator used at the Bragg Farm.

A number of methods are used to heat and boil the sap but at the Bragg Farm wood is still used.  It takes a cord of wood in the arch for every 15 to 18 gallons of sap.

This is what the evaporator looks like when it is in operation.

Finally, we come to the finished product.  Drawing off the pure maple syrup.  The Bragg Family has been producing Pure Vermont Maple Syrup in this fashion at the Bragg Farm Sugarhouse for 8 generations!

Putting it all together here is a summary of the process used to make maple syrup.

How much, indeed, would you ask price wise for a gallon of pure Vermont Maple Syrup?  Highly labor intensive.  Very short season.  Success of each years production extremely dependent upon the winter weather.   I can’t help but wonder what is the effect of climate change going to have upon this industry.

Of course, no tour is complete without an opportunity to do some taste testing.  So we had an opportunity to taste the four grades made.  I like the lightest myself.   Of course, we came home with some wonderful products as well.  Like a delicious chocolate chip Cooke made with Vermont Maple syrup that I’m enjoying this very minute!

That was our day today.  Slowly easing back into the swing of things.  Hopefully, more attractions to visit tomorrow.  We take it day by day according to how my back behaves.  But never doubt we are far from down and out.  Like I’ve been saying this is just a minor bump in the road of retirement.  Onward we go singing our song, traveling along, side by side.

So day is done and night is descending upon us.  I’m sitting in the solarium marveling at how the clouds are slowly engulfing the mountains surrounding us.  One minute they are there and then they are gone – well, not actually gone but no longer visible.  What a wonderful world God has created for us.  If only we all could take the time to just look out and enjoy its every unfolding wonders.  I hope you take the time to do so.  I shake my head at how much I missed in the past because I was just too busy trying to make a living but never stopped to take the time to make a life.  Don’t let it happen to you.  In closing, a thought along those lines for each of us:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before