Vacation

I will be out of pocket this week.  We will be visiting family out of state.  See you next week with photos and stories.  Have a great week everyone.

Skywatch Friday Thoughts and More

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 As I promised Tuesday, here are a few more photos of a part of Bass Pro Shops installation in Branson, MO.  The clouds were perfect for a Skywatch Friday last week.  Bass Pro Shops has a store at Branson Landing.  It set on the banks of Lake Taneycomo.  They built a marina as well.  You can rent boats, or get an on-the-water demonstration of a boat that you might purchase.  The construction is very rustic and pays tribute to the fishing camps that used to occupy much of this area.  Bass Pro pays very close attention to detail and the results are usually stunning.  This little bait shop at the marina is no exception.  Step inside and it is like stepping back in time.

Here is a view from the lake side.

As I mentioned Tuesday, we ate dinner at the Fish House.  This building is about two years old, but looks like it has been on the lake for a century.

Here is a view from the lake side.  This is a large restaurant.  It probably seats in excess of 200.  Those little splashes of color on the far right of the platform are vintage metal lawn chairs.  Like I said, Bass Pro pays close attention to every little detail.

And now, it's time for the inspirational song of the week.  I have chosen another contemporary artist, The David Crowder Band.  While some believe that there are multiple ways to arrive at heaven's gates upon death, others fear that their salvation is always in jeopardy.  First of all, Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light.  No one comes to the Father, except through me."  That's pretty clear.  Secondly, Christ said, " My sheep here my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."  That sounds pretty secure.  If you are a child of Christ, He will NEVER let go! So rejoice in your security.  Enjoy and have a great week-end.

Wordless Wednesday

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Dancing Queen

Ruby Tuesday

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This past week-end we went to Branson, Missouri.  While there, we almost always spend some time at Branson Landing, which is located on the bank of Lake Taneycomo.  I don't really consider it a lake.  It is more like a stretch of the White river between Table Rock Lake, and Bull Shoals Lake.  At any rate, there is a Bass Pro Shop located at the Landing and this restaurant, which is owned by Bass Pro.  I thought the sign was appropriate for a Ruby Tuesday.  If you ever take a vacation to this part of the world, spend a little time at Branson Landing.  You won't be disappointed.  I'm saving the clouds for SkyWatch Friday.  See you then.

SkyWatch Friday Thoughts and More

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This is a boat house located on one of the lakes that I fish quite often. That's right, this is just the boat house. I could live here quite comfortably and promise not to be a bother to the residents of the real house, sitting just up the hill. Being on the water provides opportunities for some very nice SkyWatch photos. This one was taken in July.
We are traveling to Branson, Missouri today for a week-end getaway. There isn't much on our agenda other than sitting by the pool and relaxing. I don't know if I'll even bother taking a rod and reel.
This week's inspirational song comes from another contemporary Christian group. Our lives are filled with choices. Many of our choices are based on information that we gather from the voices of friends, family, books, news, television specials, and those who are recognized as experts on a given subject. Often times the information is not true. It is partially true...which makes it completely untrue. Some would tell us that truth is relevant. What is true for you is true. Truth for me may be something different. The idea is that there is no absolute truth. This is not true. The one unique thing about truth, it does not require that you believe it in order for it to be true. Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me." This is absolute truth. The choice to believe it is yours. God longs to have a relationship with each of us. The choice to accept His gift of eternal life is ours. We can accept the truth or reject it. I would encourage you to listen to "The Voice of Truth", by Casting Crowns. Have a great week-end.

Wordless Wednesday

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Catch of the day!

Skywatch Friday Thoughts and More

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I finished my first 500 posts with a Skywatch Friday, so, it only seemed appropriate to start my second 500 with a Skywatch Friday post.  It is still hot here, 100+ every day this week.  We got a good rain shower a week ago, but that's been the only rain we've had in five weeks.  It's been a l-o-n-g, hot summer.  Hurry up Autumn.
It's too hot to think, so I'll go right to the inspirational song this week.  It's another great hymn of the faith, with just a bit of a contemporary twist.  NewSong sings "How Great Thou Art."  Enjoy, and have a wonderful week-end.

Skywatch Friday Thoughts and More

500th Post!

In honor of the occasion of my 500th post, I am posting what is perhaps the best sky photo I have EVER taken.  This was taken in June of 2008 at Epcot.  My office gave me a trip for my 20th anniversary, so we took the grand kids to Disney World.  What fun!

500 posts!  Where has the time gone.  This madness all started on April 14, 2007 when I created a blog called Brain Freeze.  After a couple of years I ran out of storage space on that blog.  No one told me to compress my photos, so I had 3, 4 and 5 megapixel photos posted over there.  My only option was to create a new blog.  At first I was not really happy about having to start a new adventure.  What was I going to call this new space in cyberspace.  Well, I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Their minor league baseball team is called the Tulsa Drillers.  So, this new blog became Driller's Place.  Now, I think I like this place better than my first blog.

One thing that has changed is that this blog has become more photo oriented.  Early on, I probably shared my own thoughts more and my photos less.  That all changed when I bought a digital SLR and really began playing with Adobe PhotoShop Elements.  Fridays are now the posts that usually have more of my thoughts and adventures while Ruby Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday are strictly photo oriented.  The other thing that has changed is the fact that I now limit my posts mostly to three meme's, Ruby Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday and Skywatch Friday.  In my previous blog life I was much more random in my posting and, possibly a little more prolific.  I have noticed that no matter what I do, I attract very few new visitors.  Oh well, that's life.  I did look at the statistics and noticed that I have had visitors from Russia, Japan, the Philippines, Canada, and Sweden.  It really is a small world and you can reach out at touch all of it from the comfort of your own home.  That just amazes me.

My very first post indicated that I would spend some time posting about the grandcrew.  Lord knows, I've done that.  But, they are one of the things that makes life worth living. See.

It's hard to believe, but I was blogging for over two years before anyone in the family knew about it.  It was kind of a creative outlet for me and I really didn't think to tell anyone.  Now, my wife checks it from time to time and my daughter reads it occasionally.
It took me three and a half years to get to 500 posts.  I have no idea how long it will take to reach 1000, but at an average of 2.75 posts per week, you can do the math.  Like most bloggers, I have taken a couple of breaks and I've had some weeks with four or five posts.  I've come across some very interesting blogs and there are a couple of bloggers that I would really like to meet in person.  You know who you are.
One feature that I started this year is posting an inspirational song each Friday.  I use the blog to share my faith and let the world know that God does love them and truly wants to have a personal relationship with each of us.  Music is one of the best ways of expressing God's Love.  I like the hymns, Contemporary Christian Music, and Southern Gospel.  Since this post is running long and is a celebration of the 500th edition I just may share something from each of these genres.  First the hymns.  I love the hymns and I love them done traditionally as well as updated arrangements.  Here is an updated version of one of my all time favorite hymns, Victory in Jesus, by Bart Millard.  For those of you familiar with Christian music, Bart is the lead vocalist for Mercy Me. Enjoy.

Next up is one of my favorite contemporary Christian artists, Chris Tomlin.  Chris is probably the most prolific praise and worship songwriter today.  There are so many choices when it comes to picking a video it is difficult to choose just one.  My only hope is that you like this choice and will investigate his music further.  He has some incredible music available. Among my favorite Chris Tomlin songs are, Sing,Sing, Sing, I Will Rise, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), and  Indescribable.  Just go over to YouTube and lose yourself in his work.



Finally we visit Southern Gospel. Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know what's coming next. It either going to be the Gaither Vocal Band or Signature Sound Quartet. Today it will be the newest version of the Gaither Vocal Band singing an incredible version of Alpha and Omega.  It says it all.



I guess that just about does it for my 500th post.  I'll see you next week for Ruby Tuesday. Sooo, in the words of Porky Pig, "Th-th-that's All Folks."
Have a wonderful week-end.

Ruby Tuesday

Ruby & Chrome