A Love of the Land

“For the man sound of body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously.” -George Gissing Learn more at www.creekbank.net   Amazon/Curt Iles/Where I Come From  

  Psalm 50:20: The cattle on a thousand hills 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. God owns it all: every head of cattle; every dollar bill.   We are simply stewards. He owns it …

Who owns the land in Louisiana?   After sending the information to the FHA, ​the attorney received the following reply:   ‘Upon review of your letter adjoining your client’s loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must …

  LLL   The Discipline of being a LLL: a “Life-Long Learner.” Proverbs 19 for August 19 “To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Life-Long Learner Anyone can be one. No age required. No experience necessary. Available regardless of race, gender, educational background, or family heritage. Go for it!     …

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” There is nothing weak about a gentle answer. Rather, it is a sign of inner strength. A person who can lower the temperature is to be admired.   www.creekbank.net

Proverbs 12 for August 12 “The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Never trust a man who doesn’t like dogs.” You can tell a lot about a person as to how he treats his dogs, cats, and parakeets.  

Proverbs 11 for August 11: Humility “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ How to prevent pride? Realize with gratitude that everything you have comes from God. How to develop humility:  “Lord, you’ve given me so much. I ask for one more thing: a sense of gratitude.” www.creekbank.net   sign up for …

“You ain’t missed a thing.” Senator Ted Kennedy, the “Liberal Lion” and long-serving U.S. Senator, was never one of my favorite politicians. But this story bears repeating. Senator Kennedy was campaigning and stopped at a western Massachusetts coal mine. One of the workers, a stubby older miners covered in coal dust, walked up, “Senator Kennedy, is it true you ain’t …

  Squirrel Hunting in August It’s a wonderful cool(er) morning in Alexandria. A cold front” brought in a nice cooler breeze with lower humidity. 76 degrees may not sound like much, but it’s a welcome respite from the brutal heat of August in Louisiana I’m sitting on our patio with my third cup of coffee. A nearby fox squirrel is …

CHAPTER No tears NO TEARS THE GIFT OF TEARS HARVARD MENTAL HEALTH   “You know I cried when I read your story.” I smiled, “So did I.” No tears in the writer. No tears in the writer. I want to tell stories that move people. Laughter Tears Shaking of the head I don’t believe Walking away from that story moved …

            ”The Old House at Night”  1963  tempera on cardboard by my uncle, Bill Iles. The Old House in Dry Creek. First constructed by my great-great grandparents circa 1892, this family home is my favorite spot in the world, the source of many of my stories, and my best writing muse. Below is the opening …