“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

The other day when I was out at the farm doing laundry, I sat on the front porch with my coffee and wrote my post. There was a little traffic, but nothing like earlier in the summer so I wasn’t paying any attention. I was gazing around when suddenly, I hear someone whistling. Sound direction can be deceiving with all the woods and hills and hollers so I couldn’t quite tell where it was coming from. I carefully scanned the neighbor’s place across the road to see if they were home but there was nothing. The whistling sounded all the world like it was coming from behind our farmhouse. I sat very still and suddenly I could hear voices. Two distinct voices having a conversation, but I couldn’t tell what they were saying. It only lasted ten seconds or so and was gone. It was quite eerie, but I shook it off and went on with my writing.

As I was driving home…suddenly, I heard the voices again. I could catch a word or two, but could not get the gist of what was being said. I checked my phone because it kind of sounded like when you set your phone down but don’t put it on speaker. You can hear the conversation, but not clearly. It wasn’t the phone. I glanced at the radio to see if perhaps it had come on. Nope. It wasn’t the radio. This went on for several minutes. 

I was stuck behind one of the pipeliner’s trucks and he was going SO slow. There was a whole line of cars behind me. I was hoping he would pull over and let us all pass, but no such luck. This was a big, boxy truck with a lift gate and tools and outdoor lights…obviously someone who does a specific job at the well sites. As we approached the sharpest turn on the road, he slowed way down and I came up close behind him. There it was again! Only now, it was louder and clearer. One of the voices said, “Where are you?” The other answered back, “I’m driving out 53.”

I couldn’t believe it. I started laughing out loud. The truck in front of me had a large speaker on top and the driver obviously had it turned on and was talking over the radio to someone! Anyone within a country mile could hear it. He must have gone up the road earlier and that’s what I heard when I was sitting on the porch. I must say, I was quite relieved. I knew this wasn’t a spiritual conversation, so it was good to have an answer.

Mr. FixIt and I went for a nice walk out the road after supper last night. As I was waiting for him to finish painting a sign for the camper we are selling, I got a good shot of Brer Rabbit here. I don’t know if he was over in our garden or not. Something has been nibbling on our tomatoes. They are about at the end of their growing season, but I hate to lose any. I cooked a big batch of stewed tomatoes on Friday night. Have you ever had creamed tomatoes? Also called tomato gravy. Oh, my gosh….SO good. You just stew your tomatoes till they’re nice and soft. Cook them down a little, then thicken them with a white sauce and serve it over biscuits or toast or even mashed potatoes. Yummmmmmm!

This really cool tree is out the road from the Ponderosa. I love how it’s growing out of rock that looks as though it’s been stacked in a dry wall. I imagine what kind of animal might sleep in the recesses beneath the roots. Raccoons, perhaps. Fox? Could be. I doubt it’s something like bears, although it is not unheard of to have a sighting in this neck of the woods, but highly unlikely. It was a beautiful day…cooler with intermittent rain showers. I can feel fall coming. It’s whispering down the hollers…”Soon, soon.” ?

***In recognition of our little friend Khloe, who is fighting leukemia, I’m using an orange heart while she is in the hospital getting chemo. (orange is the color for the leukemia awareness campaign) Fight those icky cells, Brave Girl!***