There should be an easier way to get my pictures from Picasa to my blog. If you know how, let me know.

After I upload the pictures from my Canon camera, I look at each picture and edit it. As you have noticed, I like to add an explanation to some of the pictures.

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The pictures in Picasa.

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I scribble the image number on scratch paper. Later, I cross it off when it has been inserted. Imagine: Over 600 pictures for Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting.

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Each image is scrutinized.

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Retrieving the picture and editing it.

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Text is added to a picture.

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I edit each picture.

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Text was added.

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“Saving” the edited picture.

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No actual image when I want to add to the blog. That’s why I write down image number on scratch paper.

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Insert media.

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I enter each picture individually (in the “text” area rather than “visual”).

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Preview in “visual” area of edit post.

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Previewing the message before it is published to be certain it meets with my approval.

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As it appears in the published blog.

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Even I am confused!! (You’re not alone!) I could be doing laundry–or “downsizing”–(or a dozen other things) but I actually love to prepare blog messages. (I love the challenge.) Today I decided I’d try to share with you details regarding lengthy preparation of messages for Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting.

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With all these messages about the recent trip, I questioned what I was doing four years ago. So I took a little trip down “Memory Lane.”

One year ago, I was obsessive-compulsive about the Bluebird family in my back yard. Numerous messages were prepared.

Bluebirds were on my mind in 2012.

History repeats itself. On this date in 2011, I was saying “Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy.” ~~ Today–at 6:25 PM–the outside temperature is 95 degrees. I’ve been inside my air-conditioned trailer all day!!

Elsewhere the messages are published separately. For your convenience, they are all listed here. You should be able to click on first (below) and read it. Then use your back arrow to return to this message. Read second…, use back arrow. In some cases, you may have to “X” the message to return to this message. Continue through messages one by one. Click on each picture to enlarge it for better viewing. ~~ God bless you for visiting this series of messages!!

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – En route (Saturday, June 21, 2014)

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Sunday, June 22, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Pioneer Preachers Museum

Little George Havens – Circuit Ridin’ Preacher – Brief Introduction

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – miscellaneous

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – reading T-shirts

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Newspaper Articles – 1976 & 1977

Old-time cowboy camp fellowship returns — 2004

Havens Cowboy Camp Meeting the real deal — 2006

Brownwood Bulletin newspaper article — 2008

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Monday, June 23, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Thursday, June 26, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Friday, June 27, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Saturday, June 28, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Sunday, June 29, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Monday, June 30, 2014

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – Epilogue

Invitation to Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting 2015

I spent hours trying to upload the pictures–as an album that would cycle automatically through the pictures.  It’s a gift; a “Source” bigger than myself miraculously made it happen!! After you click this red link, the screen appears, click picture number one. Then click “slide show”; then click “play.”  If you have patience (and inclination), you will see the events of several days in about thirty minutes. 

Please check the American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches for additional information.

Just “touching base.”  I’ve been working on the blog messages about my recent travels. I’m obsessive–compulsive!! Yesterday an anticipated package arrived and I quickly began to assemble the various parts. It didn’t take long. Then I attached the antenna and PVC-pipe temporarily to the ladder. I was anxious to install the software and see if I could receive a free WiFi signal from the CARE Center. Oh, joy!! Yes, I am receiving a signal!! Time will tell whether I’ll be able to download and upload pictures–and work on my blog messages.  This morning (Sunday) was fine because no personnel working (on computers) in the CARE Center and few (if any) residents using WiFi inside the Center. Today I had the luxury of staying in my pajamas until noon. Between downloads, I could move around my big trailer (versus the tiny T@B teardrop trailer) and do minor tasks. Truthfully, much to be done and I’ll have to take a break from blogs to do laundry–and tidy the cluttered trailer(s). The plants need watering–here and inside the Center. I need to shop for groceries!! ~~ Look at the outside temperature; picture taken a few minutes ago.

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Postscript: Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 10:00 AM: I’ve just spent over four hours preparing the message for Thursday, June 26th. It takes so-o-o-o much time to check each picture before inserting it in the blog. I’m “driven”; I can’t stop; I’m anxious to get each message completed and published. I’m doing well (don’t you think?) because a wealth of information has already been published. I’ve been home less than one week!! I shopped yesterday for groceries, and hose clamps (at Lowe’s) to secure the PVC-pipe to the ladder. I haven’t done laundry. FYI: The items I purchased from Rokland are very good (IMHO). I’m getting a very good signal so I’ll be able to discontinue the Verizon “Hot Spot” and save over $50. per month. I’m not a computer geek so I haven’t an answer to my question “Why do I have a better signal in my trailer versus physically sitting in CARE Center?”  OK, OK, I suspect I have less WiFi antenna strength built into my laptop. The Yagi has much more. (Nobody told me; I figured that out by myself.) 9:00 PM and I finished, and published, Friday, June 27th. All day on the computer. My eyes are weary!!

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Postscript: Wednesday, July 9, 2014, 9:45 PM. Gratefully, I just completed the Camp Meeting blog messages.

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Postscript: Sunday, July 13, 2014, 10:45 AM. The completed project. Neat and sturdy!!

Extremely busy all day. Many hours working on the Cowboy Camp Meeting messages. ~~ More later; it is almost nine PM and I have to leave the CARE Center.

Received as an e-mail message. Thought I’d share….

Read the history of our country this 4th…please at least read this and ponder it. And thank all who are now serving or have served in our military.
Many high school graduates this day and time do not know why we celebrate the 4th of July.

Our 4th Of July:

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56
men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors,
and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or
hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their
fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.

Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and
large plantation owners; men of means, well-educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence
knowing full well that the penalty would be death if
they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and
trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by
the British Navy. He sold his home and
properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British
that he was forced to move his family almost
constantly. He served in the Congress without pay,
and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions
were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall,
Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and
Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson,Jr., noted that
the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson
home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General
George Washington to open fire. The home was
destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.
The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was
dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and
his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests
and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free! We thank these early patriots, as well as those patriots now fighting to KEEP our freedom!

I hope you will show your support by sending this to as many people as you can, please. It’s time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more MEANING to it than beer, fireworks, HOT DOGS, and picnics……

Did you miss me?? I didn’t have WiFi. ~~ It will take a week or more to bring the blog up-to-date. I took more than 700 pictures during the week; uploaded 634 from Canon camera. I’ll need to check each before they are published. ~~ I thought you might like to know I had a wonderful time, and arrived home safely. 

FYI: Working with pictures and editing a blog rapidly eats up time on my Verizon “hot spot.” Therefore, I’m forced to use unsatisfactory free WiFi in the CARE Center. It’s “free”; I’m not complaining!

Click each picture to enlarge it for better detail.

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By God’s grace, I hope to create an illustration. I don’t like to repeatedly use the perpendicular pronoun “I.” However, yours truly has experienced almost one year of sickness, stress, and hard work. I recognized it and others recognized it. When I shared with CARE residents that I was planning a brief trailer trip, they encouraged me. “Go get your battery recharged.” You’ve seen all the pictures taken during Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting. Frequently, I needed to remove the battery from the Canon camera, insert it into the charger, charge until the green light came on indicating it was ready to go again. For this illustration, I had to rely on a picture of the battery because, obviously, I couldn’t take a picture without the battery. Conclusion: It makes sense to me that a well-used battery (Lorraine) mustered dwindling energy to get to a power source (Camp Meeting). The battery was charged, the vessel is ready for additional service.

Praise God from Whom all blessing flow!!

Little George Havens’ Cowboy Camp Meeting – (Monday, June 30, 2014) – Departure

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5:00 AM; 77 degrees inside; tiny breeze outside. The night was hot: 9:09 PM, 89 degrees; 12:45 AM, 84 degrees; 2:25 AM, 81 degrees. I was “in bed” at 9 o’clock last night, with just a sheet, door and windows open, and two fans—and Citronella candle burning all night. Didn’t sleep well, so many thoughts. Up at 4:30, 78 degrees, and made coffee before heading to the shower. (It took three matches this morning… and one match remains.) Almost everything that bounces around has been moved to the bed for a safe ride home. I’m waiting for sunrise so I can unhook the electric cord and depart. Sad to say, I’m ready to put “primitive” away for a while (until the next camping trip??)!!

5:20 AM, 78 degrees and I’m ready to turn off the computer and pack it safely in the car. I’m waiting for “Mr. Sunrise.”

I got a late start because the gate was locked. I tapped lightly, twice, on Miss Lucy’s door; I didn’t want to disturb her. About seven, she responded—and told me Nell had the combination to the lock. So I walked back to Nell’s trailer and, gratefully, she was up—and unlocked the gate.

The pictures tell the story. That old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

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1:00 PM; 91 degrees outside; extremely windy. At 12:37 it was 96 degrees inside the KIA. I do not travel with the air-conditioner on while pulling the trailer. It might be OK but I don’t want to strain the KIA engine.

My GPS failed me this morning; I sensed it was not working correctly. The Garmin took me into Fort Worth—and I hate city traffic and freeways in big cities!! I finally spotted a Mall entrance and searched for a shady area. I worked with the Garmin settings and finally had a small measure of success. I got back on the route toward “home” and Garmin wasn’t moving—it was frozen. By unplugging from the cigarette lighter, then reinserting, it finally began to give me the map and instructions I’m accustomed to.

I learned from my trip west to Little George Havens’ Camp Meeting that gas stations may be few and far between. First (this morning), gas in Brownwood; second, gas at Love’s in Midlothian. Too many cars and trucks at Love’s so I selected the nearby Walmart. I’m really tired from the heat, and driving; I’ve been up since 4:30. The wind, shade, and green grass under my feet all feel so-o-o-o-o good!! ~~ 1:30 PM and 93 degrees in the shade. ~~

It felt like I was “wasting time”—just sitting—so retrieved the laptop computer from the KIA. Nothing more to add so will do “nothing” until I feel like getting back on the highway. 6:30 PM; 96 degrees outside and inside!!

I’ve been in the Walmart parking lot since 12:30 and do not want to get out on the highway and be buffeted by severe wind. I’m no expert but I speculate at least thirty-five miles per hour. The minute I stand up, the lawn chair blows over!! In a manner of speaking, I’ve gone from the frying pan into the fire!! Hot at the Camp Meeting, hot here, but now I’ve added a wind-burn (equal to a sunburn). It never occurred to me—while sitting in the shade of the tree—that I was getting burned. All afternoon I was so grateful there were no insects; I traded one discomfort for another. ~~ The horizon is a cloud of dust; Central and West Texas have suffered a drought. (Cowboys [at Camp Meeting] were thankful for over three inches of rain last Monday.)

Sitting on a little patch of grass, under a nice shade tree, I enjoyed a home-grown bell pepper and a remarkably good-tasting apple. So-o-o-o many meals served at camp, I’m going home with food in the refrigerator (food I brought with me). This morning—for breakfast—I pulled into a picnic-area and enjoyed two hard-boiled eggs and whole wheat sandwich “thin.”

I’m hoping the wind dies down tonight so I can complete the trip tomorrow. I won’t drive at night. I believe the sensible thing—for this old lady—is the security of a well-lite Walmart parking lot.

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Tuesday, July 1, 2014

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I’ve been reading an inspirational book titled Thirty-one Days of Praise by Ruth Myers. I recognized myself on page 32.

“I have worshiped the Lord for many years; I know how delightful praise is and how much it stimulates my faith. So why do I ever get so busy, even in my quiet times, that I bypass the delightful opportunity to extol and adore my wonderful Lord? Why do I, time and again, get so busy and absorbed with the pressures of daily life that I forget all about praise? And why do I at times feel reluctant to praise in the midst of everyday trials; when I hear news that makes me anxious about someone I love, or when I face a major disappointment, or when I’m angry or under a lot of pressure?”

Ruth continues: “Could it be that one of Satan’s major strategies is to divert us from praise? ….”

I (Lorraine) am conscience-stricken as I think of the way I’ve acted because I was criticized for hanging the Texas flag upside down. Major victory for Satan!! Could I have handled the situation better—ten months ago—when I was ghastly sick due to moth balls in adjacent yard?? (Could-a, should-a, would-a….)