Cocoa shows off her new sweatshirt that she got at Harpo ad Mimi’s, a special pet boutique. Thanks to Dog School 101, she learned to wear doggie clothes. Actually, this is a good thing, especially when she goes to nursing homes as a Delta Society dog. It demonstrates that she has tolerance and won’t freak out when the residents want to touch or hold her or pull her ears. (smile)

Sunday was a cool day but it was warm enough in the sun.

I thought it would be fun to have our photo taken in front of the Maple tree that Opal helped me plant several years ago. It was long before Cocoa became a part of my life.

Sometimes, you don’t have to travel far to see something inviting. I looked outside my window yesterday morning and noticed the fog had settled in on Pretty Hill. That is the name I have given my house. It is just a simple home—on top of a simple little hill. Hope your weekend goes well in every way.

I’m not going to say, “leaves of gold.” In fact, someone please stop me from even thinking that cliche! But I will say that one of my favorite times to do photography is in the fall when it is cloudy and even a little rainy and the colors “pop” against a muted sky and landscape.

After a devastating fire in 1913 threatened to close Toccoa Falls College, God gave the school’s founder Dr. Richard Forrest a promise that has become the college’s anthem of faith: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners . . . to comfort all who mourn . . . giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:1-3) Today, you may feel as though your life is nothing more than a battlefield of destruction. You have been tested by fire and wonder if you will be able to continue. The answer is yes! Jesus has come to set you free from doubt and worry. He promises to comfort all who mourn, to provide beauty for ashes, and a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fear or fainting. Trust Him and He will work mightily in your life!

I love color. Maybe it is because I spent the early part of my life living in gray areas that only brought sorrow and heartache. Yesterday after taking this photograph, I just thought, “Yes! Let everything praise the Lord!”

Cocoa Joy listens as I explain that her weekend adventures have been canceled.

“Rats and Cats!” was her only reply. She truly believed she would have an opportunity to go on her first Delta Society outing, but connections with her trainer did not materialize. Then she was sure she would be able to go to Sweet Water Creek for a long walk on Sunday afternoon. But as we left the house, I spotted several unplanted flats of pansies peeking out from under the garden bench in the front yard. I knew if I did not get those in the ground this weekend, I would lose them. So that is what we did—we worked in the yard and dug around in the dirt—lots!

Even thought there was no “real adventure” this weekend, there was plenty to do as you will see in the next photo. This one was taken for Reba, who always asks about Cocoa Joy at church on Sundays. (I love the dusting of white on Cocoa’s muzzle.)

I was so proud of Cocoa. I unhooked her longline and asked her to “sit and stay” and just like a good Dog School 101 dog, she obeyed perfectly. As a footnote, I don’t do this often because birds and squirrels are real distractions for Cocoa when she is “off lead.”