Thursday, December 15, 2016

J C'S ACCOUNT








CHAPTER THREE
     A big football game was going on tonight and on the way home from school, Davey cut across the square to watch the homecoming parade.  As he walked through the crowd he saw a group of students riding in the parade on an old convertible.  For some reason he could never figure out, he decided to place his foot under the rear wheel.  Idiocy sometimes takes control of a human, not just the young ones.  As the wheel rolled over his foot, the pain was surprising.  He never expected that.  What was worse, was that one of the girls riding on the car saw what he did and laughed at him.  The embarrassment of being thought stupid was much worse than the pain.  Davey limped away into the crowd and headed home.  No running this time and for a while to come.  The girl was not the only one to see Davey lose his brains.  Dave was also watching.
     Something about Davey was interesting to Dave.  He decided to keep an eye on him for some time.  For the next few days Dave waited at the square to observe him.  Nothing unusual that he could see, but every day Davey would go into the dilapidated shop between Miss Mary's hot dog stand and the feed store.  Watching from the window, Dave could see he was up to no good.  After a couple of days, Dave followed him into the store.   When Davey finished his transaction at the counter and walked out, Dave took over.  "You know that kid is stealing you blind, don't you?"
     "Yes sir, boss."
     Dave was shaken to his feet.  The man did not look familiar, but the voice was unmistakable.  "Doesn't that bother you?"
     "No Dave, you know that was you, don't you?"
     "I knew there was something about that kid."  "But why doesn't his stealing bother you?"
     "Before a certain age all are innocent and their transgressions are added to J C' S account and he has paid in full."
     "Who is this J C?"
     "Jesus Christ" was the matter of fact answer.  "You know that you can charge onto this account also Dave."
      "You know my name for some reason, so you also know that I am far from innocent and way too old to claim youthful offender status."
     "You can receive this gift, regardless of what you have done, simply by asking for Jesus to come into your life."  "Do you want it Dave?"
     For years God had been chipping away at Dave's heart of stone with a sledge hammer and a chisel.  It had been a difficult task.  Stone and scar tissue covered it up as if it were steel.  After decades, a small crack appeared .  Just large enough for Jesus to run his finger into and reach the tender part.  As soon as He touched it, Dave's heart exploded, sending millions of fragments of sin in every direction away from God.  Dave shouted as he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
     "Yes, yes, yes" said Dave as he fell to his knees.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

J C'S ACCOUNT

CHAPTER TWO CONCLUSION
    
     Dave was awakened from a fitful sleep by a grey squirrel dropping acorns on top of the truck.  The sun had been up just a little while and the dew was still heavy on the ground.  He was in a crap mood, wondering about the old man.  Maybe it was just a dream.  Feeling better at that, he climbed back into the cab of the truck and pulled back onto the road.  He did not have a travel plan, but something was pulling him back to his hometown.  As he rounded the curve he saw a dog standing in the road.  Normally Dave would gun the motor and run him over.  However this time he jerked the wheel so as to avoid hitting the animal.  He hit the edge of the road, the front tire hit a large hole and he bumped his head pretty hard on the steering wheel.  "What the hell is wrong with me?' he muttered out loud.  "I don't care about running over a dog, all they have to do is eat, crap and stay out of the way."  He pulled over and checked his tires.  Everything was good except for his headache, and  it was hurting pretty good.  The dog trotted away not knowing it should be grateful for the change coming over Dave.
     As the steep hills gave way to gentle slopes, he pulled over into the parking lot of a small truck stop.  He need was hungry and needed to relieve himself.  His headache was worse, but he knew he would feel better after he ate.  As he sat in the stall he could hear people coming and going.  Everyone was in a good mood and exchanged greetings as they passed.  Dave sat up straight as he heard an old man respond to a question of if he felt all right that morning.  "Yes sir, boss." was his reply.  Dave rushed to finish, but when he walked out the rest room was empty.
     When he entered the cafĂ©, he kept looking around for the old man, but it was futile.  Even with all this anxiety the eggs and grits were pretty good.  He had a good bit of cash left from his last con and was not in a hurry to leave.  He decided he would stick around for a while and search for this old man.

Monday, December 12, 2016

J C'S ACCOUNT


CHAPTER TWO

     Dave looked down at the woman he had just picked up at Larry's bar.  He could see the fear in her eyes as he tightened his grip around her neck.  Her face swelled, turned blue and her struggle stopped.  As she passed out a strange feeling of compassion and remorse took over him.  Stunned, he released her.  He had not had a conscience for as long as he could remember.  He had done some terrible things over the years and nothing had ever bothered him.  Murder was one of the things he had never done.  He had just reached his limit of evil.  Realizing that the woman was still breathing , he dressed in a hurried but deliberate pace.  No one in this town knew him and if he left now he would be in the clear.
     Walking out the door, he could hear the woman groaning and coughing to regain her breath.  With a sigh of relief, he walked to the white truck and drove off.  Dave was a loner and never had any friends.  He made his living by swindling, gambling and often times stealing.  He never stayed in any spot too long, to avoid getting caught.  Nothing had ever bothered, but this feeling of remorse was worrying him.  It was a new concept and he was having a hard time trying to figure out what was happening to him.  As he drove out of town, the street lights on the two lane road soon ended and he was in the dark except for the dim headlights of his truck.
     After a couple of miles he saw his lights reflecting off a vehicle in the distance.  As he approached he could see the elderly man standing beside his truck waving him down.  Dave knew the old truck was in trouble by the way the man acted.  Normally he would slow down and assess the ion to see if he could benefit from the situation.  If not, he would just drive on by.  Something about this situation was different. The old man smiled at Dave as if he knew that Dave would stop.
     "Need help" Dave asked rhetorically.
     "Yes sir, boss." was his reply.
     Dave was impressed by the majesty in the old man's answer. 
     "Looks as if it is done for the night."   
     "Yeah, but if you could take me down the road to next town I would appreciate it."  "I'll be glad to pay you." he added.
     "Get in, the ride is free."
     As they drove off, Dave felt at ease with the old man.
     "Why do you drive a truck?"  asked the old man.
     Before he answered, Dave thought about this question.
     "Why do you ask?" asked Dave.
     The old man gazed at Dave intently and replied, "You are a strong, virile and simple man, I would think you would want to impress the ladies."
     It was a shock for Dave to hear this and he answered with the truth.  "Well, I live a life of crime and hate and don't want to draw the attention of the police."
     "Is that all?"
     Again Dave was taken aback by the question.  This caused him to tell even more of the truth.  "The truck allows easier access to grab people.  I can ease up to them without arousing suspicion.  Potential victims let their guard down when they see a middle-aged man drive up in a truck."  Dave confessed.  He felt at ease confessing to this old man.
     "Do you ever regret the things you have done?"
     Dave was confused.  "Never until tonight.  I don't know what has come over me."
     "Dave you have wasted your life and destroyed others in the process."  "Perhaps it is time to change."
     At this Dave slammed on the brakes and turned to the old man shouting  "How did you know my name!"    
     He was shocked to see the old man had disappeared.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

J C'S ACCOUNT

 
    CHAPTER ONE
      The past forty years had passed at blinding pace for Dave.  That fast-paced life had affected him in ways that could be felt when he moved.  As he walked slowly around the town, he looked beyond the physical world and into the world he had left four decades ago.  Then his body was moving effortlessly along the sidewalk.  As he ran by the barber shop almost hitting Mr. Smith, he didn't slow down.  "Watch where you're going, you little brat!" yelled Mr. Smith as he shook his fist at Davey.  Davey paid no attention, just laughing as he ran.  He cut across the street to the square, not looking in either direction.  The squealing tires and cussing drivers only excited him more.  Paying no attention to the finger sticks shot at him, he kept running.
     When Davey reached the statue of the solder atop the rocks he stopped and admired it for a while.  He always stopped and stared at the memorial every time he passed by.  While he gazed intently at the statue, he wondered why no one had ever stolen the rifle in his hands.  Just respect was all he could surmise.  Everyone at that time had respect for the sacrifice that some had given for all.  Even Davey.  Leaving there Davey headed to school, going by way of the Thrift Store and Holly's Drug Store.  This was a lively little town with a thriving economy.  Even at this time of day, the  streets were full and several cars were backed up at the light.  No need to go to the cross walk, he just cut across in front of stopped cars.  Don't pay any attention to the drivers showing him their middle finger.  He had seen that sight before.  He had pissed off a lot of them over the years by not looking when he crossed the road.  Just stupid idiots anyway.  If he couldn't whup their butts, he could always outrun them.  He had proved that to Mike several times. 
     Mike was a muscular kid a couple years older than Davey.  Davey was a tall, lanky, skinny kid who could not care less about track and field.  Mike on the other hand wanted to be the fastest kid in school.  The only problem was that Davey could, and did several times, run circles around him.  Mike challenged him several times and lost each time.  Finally Davey said "This is the last time, do your best."  Mike lost again.
     After an uneventful day at school, Davey ran back to town. Town was between school and Davey's house.  Ninety percent of the time he ran wherever he went.  As he rounded the corner by Taylor's barber shop his foot slipped.  He landed flat on his back looking up at the clear blue sky.  Before he could get up, Mr. Taylor ran out and grabbed him up.  "Are you ok" 
     "yeah"  Davey sheepishly replied.
     The ground did not open and swallow him up, so he had to stand there and be laughed at by the patrons.  When they finished, he limped off.  Not because his body hurt, but because of the deep down embarrassment.  After that he still ran, but when he got within a hundred feet of the barber shop, he dropped into a slow deliberate walk.

Monday, November 7, 2016

My opinon on the election


Sheila Miller Sims asked me what I thought about this election. I told her, for us, everythig has been hard. Both of us work our butts off, do without and don't take vacations. Seems as if, like a lot of others, if we want anything it's a struggle to obtain it. That's no one's fault, just the way it is. But now our security is threatened if Clinton is elected. The democrats can lie, cheat steal and threaten but if their candidate is not elected, they will still be fine. If, however, Clinton is elected, then the other half of us are in dire straits. Our way of life is in jepordy. We pray for life to be easier and for "some" people to have compassion on us. We pray for the corruption to implode on itself. The divide in this country is evident with an impassable gulf between the two halves. Good vs. evil. The current potus has done his job wery well. How is that "change you can believe in" working out?
I noticed that on fb one of my friends Connor Vernon was threatened with an ass whuppin for saying Byonce was a small time tramp. Some guy half his age and professing to be a christian took offense at that. Sorry, but if your wife sticks her butt in the air and you can see the indention in her drawers, she may be a tramp. Then there are peole who party all night and sleep all day on mine and your dime and to me that is truly deplorable. I pray that God will remove the scales from their eyes and the corruption will be evident and repulsive to them as well. I have read the end of the Book and I know who will rule this world for eternity and corruption will have no part in it. Now as to Sheila's question, God is in control and will appoint whom he will. I may not like it, but I will abide by it. We are admonished to pray for our leaders. Right now, I am praying that Hillary will not be it. God bless us, please

Monday, October 31, 2016

Romans 14:11

and every knee shall bow.  24x36 inches oil on canvas

Thursday, October 27, 2016

New Fence

This is why Sheila and my favorite snack food is extra-strength Anacin.  Back in 1987 a mistake was made on the deeds and in 1993, we installed a fence on what we thought was the property line.  However one point in the middle was left off.  Now to rectify that, we have to move our fence in about four feet almost halfway down the line.  Would have been nice to know that twenty three years ago when we were much younger.  It took us over a week to clear out all the undergrowth.  Now to remove poles and reset them.  I did try to remove a few using a post puller.  The ground is so hard and roots are embedded in them, so I wound up using the backhoe.  I almost blew the front tires by using the front bucket.  I had to turn backhoe around and back up to post, put outriggers down and then pull'em out.  Lot of work for two people who just last Sun. Oct. 23rd, celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary.


Thursday, October 13, 2016

deer feather



trying to speed these paintings up.  right now I am at 1 and one half hours.  however I stop and walk around and then wonder why it takes so long.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Duck

first time in four years that I have painted on a feather


Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Faith

As I lie in the dark
pain circles me like a shark.
From my knees to my hips,
a low groan escapes my lips.
From my groin to my chest
it is impossible to feel my best.
It is hard not to rebel
as my hands and feet swell.
And my poor back,
it is stretched on the rack.
The pain is so bad,
it will made you so mad.
Evil thoughts in my head abound,
in there nothing good is found.
Even in all this, I plea,
Lord please save me,
from the curse of envy and strife.
Return me to a blessed life.
He heard my prayer and with a shout
entered in and ordered all that junk out.
Now my soul is still
as I strive to live his will.
Alas, I know time will tell,
there are other tests I will fail.
But with His being in me
I will always be part of His family tree.
On my own it is impossible,
but with Him  it is possible.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Helicopter

This is a sixteen by twenty inch canvas painted with oils

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Cheap Sunglasses

     I felt fine when I walked into Jeffers Vet Supply.  We stood around for awhile waiting for our order.  Everything was still good as we checked out.  I put my sunglasses on as we were walking out.  The exit was on the right, but for the life of me I could not go out the right door.  I exited the building on the left.  As we walked toward the car I kept lisping to the left.  I did not feel well.  I opened the door for Sheila and just did not feel well.  I took off my sunglasses and realized that the left nose guard was missing.  I decided that I would just wear them, since the sun was glaring.
     As we drove out the parking lot, I had to struggle to keep the car from pulling into the left lane.  That was strange, for that had never happened before.  At the road, instead of turning to the right as I should have, I turned to the left.  Sheila went off on me like a Mexican Muslim.  I pulled off to the left side of the road, and said "I don't feel well!, you drive."  "Thank you." she replied.  We continued on to the mall and the car drove as it always had.  No trouble with the steering.  As we walked in, I held her elbow, not for chivalry's sake, but to keep me walking in a straight line.  Inside, I informed her that I would just sit this one out.  "Do you need to go to the doctor?'  she asked.  Nah, I'll be ok.  My right side was numb, but the left side was excited.
     When we go home Sheila fixed me a nice meal.  That made me feel better, but I could not use my right hand to eat.  I had to struggle with my left hand to put food in my mouth.  The right side of my mouth would not open, but the left side was wide open, working fine.  After supper we usually watch Fox news and by the time Hannity came on I was red faced and pissed off, so I turned it to MSNBC and a strange calm came over me.  As they talked about Hillary, I just fell in love with her.  Ain't that some shilly sit?  What the hell is wrong with me?
     I felt better the next morning and on the way to work, I stopped and bought a new pair of sunglasses.  As soon as I put them on I returned to my old self again.  then it hit me.  With all these left wing democrats loving Hillary, their heads are not on straight.  What they need is for us right wingers to buy them all a new pair of cheap sunglasses, shave the right nose guard down just a little and mail them to all the left leaning liberals.  That will get their heads screwed on straight.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Neighbor

My next door neighbor and his family moved this morning.  Sheila and I were on one side and another old couple were on the other side.  I guess he thought this old age crap is contagious, so they decided to get out.  Ain't that some shilly sit?

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

trump flag

My son in law, Justin Williams wanted me to design a trump flag for his back glass. When he showed up at the shop I showed him the hillary sticker and told him this is what his truck would look like. He laughed and then this is what we woulnd uup with. The trump bumper stickers are for sale, but not the blue ones.


Monday, August 1, 2016

Millennium

No one knows the time, hour or day, except my father who is in heaven.  However we can discern the signs of the times.  I certainly do not know the time, but looking around I feel that time is short.  If it is another thousand years, we are one day closer today, than yesterday.  The important thing is to have Christ as your lord and savior so that when the time comes you will be ready.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Now & Then

This is me, too many years combined with ice cream and potato chips for supper.

Friday, July 15, 2016

EAGLE STAFF



Carved eagle head using redwood mounted to poplar staff.  This is the first time I have painted a carving and I do not like the look.  Won't do it again.  I prefer the stained approach, letting the shadows do the work.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

The Red Jacket

     I guess when you start getting older, you begin to remember the days of your youth.  That is the case in my situation, anyway.  I don't know if it is because you long for those "good ol days" or if your short term memory is beginning to fail and your brain compensates for that.  A lot of my childhood was spent with my grandparents on their farm.  They were salt of the earth, hard working, good people.  Grandpa was an outgoing personality, well liked in the community.  Grannie on the other hand was a quiet recluse.  As a youth, she was the opposite, but by early adulthood she had lost all of her hearing and was completely deaf.  There was nothing that could be done for her at that time and trying to carry on a conversation was extremely frustrating for her.  Her love for animals got her through that rough part of her life.  Seeing her interact with the dogs and animals on the farm was inspiring. 
     My parents had a hard time financially and about the time they could almost get ahead some disaster would rear it's ugly head.  Mostly, it would be some medical emergency that would require them to go to the infirmary in Mobile.  Other times it would be something as simple as a broken down car needing a battery or a radiator or some other essential item.  As a result I spent a lot of time at grandpa's.  Most of his land was in Dale County and they made a trip to Ozark every year to pay the property taxes. They went more often than that, but this is the trip I remember.
     It was cold at that time of the year and I had a jacket that was to small and ragged.  I guess that it looked pretty bad.  While at the courthouse, they decided to take me to Mixon's store which was on the square.  I had never been in a store that large.  The closest in size, I had been in, was McKay's Store on Hwy 134 between Midland City and Headland.  Mixon's was a sight to behold.  While Grannie looked at shoes, grandpa carried me over to the children's section.  The coats had been picked through earlier in the year and the only one that would fit me was a bright red jacket.  Fit is a loose word, since grandpa wanted it to last me a few years and I was still growing.  I tried to talk him out of buying that one, for the red stood out like a sore thumb.  He called Grannie over and she loved it.  I just gave up, you can't fight city hall, after all.
     On Monday, I had to ride the bus to school and everyone was staring and snickering at my red jacket.  When we were unloaded and I walked up the huge steps at the elementary school, I was walking upon a world stage.  Everyone in Headland saw me and I couldn't get inside fast enough.  Funny how your mind plays tricks on you.  No one noticed my red jacket, but me.  I am embarrassed now that I was embarrassed then.  If I could go back and do it over again, I would walk up those steps with my head held high, my back straight and my chest pushed out with pride, knowing that someone loved me enough to spend their hard earned money to keep me warm.
    

Monday, June 6, 2016

Choctawhatchee Crossing.

When I learned to swim at Preston's Mill on the Choctawhatchee river, I never even thought about who had gone on before.  Now as I look back, I can see that quite a few had gone before. Sure there will be many more to make that crossing.  24x36 inch oil on canvas.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Sheila's Wisdom

     A few days ago, Sheila and I were installing new signs at Republic Conduit in rural Georgia.  One had to be relocated.  I had dreaded moving it for over a week, for the dirt around it was rock hard.  Due to all the rain we had received, the dirt was relatively soft and dug easily.  Whoever had put the poles in the ground previously had over engineered the amount of concrete needed.  We dug a hole three feet deep and four feet around, but the concrete was not budging.  I grabbed a claw hammer and started beating it.  After a few minutes, Sheila jumped down into the hole, took the hammer and began banging away.  In a little while she looked up at me and said, "Stilettos, a hundred dollars, a good sledge hammer, priceless."  That was all I needed to relieve my frustration.  The next day we showed up with a sledge hammer and a couple of whacks were all we needed.  Sheila, grabbed the sledge from me and exacted her revenge, while I stayed out of her way.
     That weekend, she was talking with her sister in Washington.  Sheila's favorite topics are the end times and politics.  Her sister said that people in Washington were wondering what to do if Donald Trump won.  Sheila's response was also priceless.  "Ask them if they were in an embassy in Benghazi, being attacked and needing help, would they rather call Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump for help?"  That just about says it all, for me.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Turkey

16x20 inch oil on canvas that I just finished.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Chapter Two (What a Day)

     If you are sensitive or politically correct you might want to stop reading now.  Oh, good grief, just grow up and read.
     As I walked outside, I could only gasp at the clarity of the deep blue sky, all the clouds and rain had been pushed away by the now gentle breeze coming out of the west.  the bright green leaves of spring would soon turn to an ugly burnt green of the summer sun.  Even though I had left my windows down in the storm, I was not upset. I needed to walk to limber myself up after my trip to the torture master.  It was just a short distance to the shop anyway and besides, what could possibly change this perfect moment.
     I arrived at the shop with that thought echoing in the empty recesses of my mind.  I could hear shouting coming from the inside.  As I stepped through the door, I could see William and Bobby shouting at each other.  They were close enough that shouting was not necessary, but I guess they were both hard of hearing.  I could understand William doing this if he were drinking, But Bobby was more in control of himself, usually. Not today.  Looks as if both had lost their temper and were going to be pissed off until they found it.  Bobby shoved William backwards.  I guess William was standing on his temper and he wanted it badly.  William was one of the fastest people I knew, but his speed at retaliation was blinding.  He body checked Bobby hard and as he went down, Bobby's ribs caught on the 2x4 frame of the easel.  Blood shot out of the wound and soaked his shirt.  He never made a sound, not even a grunt.  William jumped on top and they tumbled over with Bobby on top, holding William down by laying with his back on top of William.  I never knew he was that tough. He held William down that way as if he were powerless, all the while, air was escaping out of his lung as it billowed up against the sharp point of the broken rib.  He began to moan as the pain made it's way into his awareness.  That did little to dampen his anger.  William was strong as a bull and worked his way out from under Bobby.  As they climbed up into a standing fight, the fists flew and blood and skin were scattered around the shop.  I had never seen anyone hurt so bad, continue to fight.  Must have involved a woman.
     I was not about to get involved in their mess and not wanting to ruin my mood, I left.  Walking outside, I headed toward the creek.  I tried to think happy thoughts as I walked along the wooded path.  As bad as the fight was, my mind kept going back to the doctor's office.  Man, no one should be treated like that.  Looking back now, it seems as if everyone enjoyed the visit, except for me.  I guess that I piss everyone off just by being alive.  I plan on being here a while longer, so they'll need to adjust their attitude, I guess.  Lost in my thoughts, I did not notice that I had gotten to close to the rain-soaked bank of the creek.  As I put my foot down, I slid on the mud and fell into the deep water.  There was no good place to get out so I just floated down stream for a little while until I saw a good spot to get out, but it was in a part of town that I was afraid of.  It was so cold, that I climbed out anyway.  I found myself in the middle of a black lives matter rally.
     I thought at first that I was at the filming of a new Tarzan movie, but then I realized that Cheeta was president and I was in real danger.  I figured the safest thing to do was to keep my mouth shut.  If I did I would be ok, for my milk white skin was covered in dark mud.  When I was born, my umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck and according to mom I was a black baby.  So I was not lying too much.  I maneuvered  away from the crowd and over to the parking lot to see if I could find a ride.  No such luck.  Everything was locked up tight and no one was in sight.
     As I walked, my temperature rose and I started sweating. In just a little while the mud was streaming off my body and now I am a mulatto!  Off in the distance I can see the Mexican quarters......

Friday, April 8, 2016

What a Day

     I did not have a good feeling about this place as I fished my Medicare and Medicare supplement cards out of my wallet.  As much as I hated to, I had to ask the surly receptionist which cards I had just given her.  My age has overtaken my eyes.  With glasses I can see here or there, but never here when I need to or there when I want to.  With her grunt, I assumed that I had given her the right ones.  She handed them back with a clip board just barely able to hold the paperwork I needed to fill out.  The parking lot was full, but when I went to find a seat, I found that I was the only one in the receptionist area.  Even then, there was not a good seat.  The carpet was covered with dirt, the seats were torn and tattered, cobwebs were everywhere.  And some of the seats were covered with rat droppings.  Since I am afraid of spiders and don't like rat dookey, I just decided to sit on the floor.  Good thing I am not afraid of earthworms and slugs.
     As I returned the paperwork, I asked Stoneface how long for me to be called back. 
     "Ten minutes!" she slurred.
      "Good", I thought, that will give me enough time to check on the car.  As I stepped out, I saw that the parking lot was underwater and mud had washed down from the hill overlooking the office.
     "That's just great!", I muttered under my breath.  I jumped across the puddles of mud and water and made my way to the car.  I let up the windows, knowing that I would have a mess to clean up later.  I had just enough time to get back to the office, but something kept worrying me about this appointment.  Why was I here?  Did I hurt myself, was I sick or was I just trying out my Medicare cards.  I think I have a tooth trying to abscess, but I ain't sure.  When I get back to the office, no one is there, not even the disgruntled old receptionist, so I go sit on the dirt floor and wait.
     I was almost asleep, when a few dozen black kids came into the room and gathered into a formation.  right on cue, just as they get into position, music comes out from nowhere and they begin to dance.  Slowly at first, gaining in momentum and intensity.  Not too bad for kids.  They break off into smaller groups and begin to wander off.  The office is soon deserted again and I eased over to the side of the room.  There was a collection of old Coca Cola barrels resting on a pallet.  The logo was embossed onto the side of the rusted metal barrels.  As I am admiring them, an old guy walks over and joins me in admiring them. 
     "Reckon how much they're worth?"
     "Five hundred dollars each, I guess" he answered.
     "Mr. Sims" called Stoneface, "Come on back!"
     As I stepped through the door, it looked as if I were entering into a petting zoo.  Now I knew where all the people from the cars were.  There was sawdust on the floor, goats, sheep, chickens and hogs were wandering around unattended.  You really needed to pay attention where you stepped.  The smell was kinda strong also.  The lady escorting me stepped over to the fruit bar, grabbed a pair of scissors and cut a section of melon.  I could not help but hope that she didn't cut some low hanging nuts off my tree.  Walking down the wide hall, I had to sidestep an old man on a torture machine that worked his shoulders, arms and legs.  He was tied to it so he couldn't get off until his time was up.  Some stupid grin was on his face, didn't know if he was happy or was going to need a cleanup at the end.
     "Here you are", said Stoneface, "Lay down on the floor and put your neck here."
     "How am I supposed to do that?"  The neck rest was a foot and a half above the floor.
     "Just try."
      As I lay down and was trying to get my head on the "rest", I felt a sharp pain on my tailbone.  "What the hell?"  I jumped in pain and they slid a two by four under my back and angled me up so that my neck fit perfectly.  "What kind of a flim-flam operation is this?"  You can keep your Medicare if I have to go through shit like this to use it.  I still don't know what is wrong, even after staying on that torture rack for over an hour.  I did leave there with a crick in my neck, a sore back and barely able to walk.  As I struggled through the reception area, Stoneface said, "See you next week."
     "No hell you won't!" I muttered to myself.
  .............to be continued. 

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Bear








Ten inch by twenty one inch carved bear, standing on arrowhead on one forth of cedar log.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Indian Nut Cracker

A while back a herd of deer moved into the woods on the back of my property in Ashford.  They ate the undergrowth enough that I could walk in areas that I had previously left alone.  I am sure they are related to goats, but are more ambitious in the clean out aspect.  As I was walking through the other day I came upon these two rocks.  I thought it was unusual to see them together, since there were no more anywhere around.  Usually I walk by rocks like this, but the appearance of these two was so weird that I stopped for a second look.
     The one had smooth edges with an indention about 3/4 of an inch deep.  It was a grinding stone, but looked as if it had some damage on the inside of the indention.  The rough one had some crazy marks on it.  A curved line about 3 inches long with a hole at each end.  I showed them to my friend,  Craig Seay, who is an Indian artifact guru.  He said the damage to the indention was caused by someone using the stone to crack nuts.  I don't know if you can see in the photo, but there are two indentions inside the large indention that are used to hold nuts and keep them in place while they are being smacked by another rock.  The other rock was used to sharpen arrow points and the holes were used to sharpen the tips of the arrows, by spinning them in the holes.  I guess that I found an old Indian's tool shed.




Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Cardinal

On this 11x17 inch oil on canvas, I used a palate knife and spackling paste to mold the bird, leaves and branch.  I think I will use this more often.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

MY JOURNEY ON THE TRAIN

    

This morning, it happened just like it has for the last few months. It is 3:33 in the morning and I have been awake for a few minutes now.  My heart is not racing, but it is pumping pretty fast.  It never fails for me to wake at that moment every night, if I take a sleep aid or not.  If I go to bed early or late, no matter.
     Off in the distance I can hear the old number 284 train coming up the tracks.  I can hear the horn first as it enters Ashford, a couple of miles away. Long, low and lonesome the air horn shatters the silence of the still night. It shakes the moisture of the fog on the leaves so that it drops to the ground like a soft rain.  Slowly, it comes upon the next three crossings and the horn gets louder and louder, almost like the trumpet of God.  Then I can hear the rumbling of the train, metal upon metal, bearings squealing and clanging and the breaking of the wind.  Almost like a band of angry banshees, the noise of the train is deafening.  As it passes into the distance, the sound of the banshees diminish and there is just a low rumbling left fading of into the distance.  Then all I can hear is the horn at each crossing and then even that is gone.  I lay there awake for a few moments enjoying the silence and knowing that in an hour it will start up again.
     tonight I realize for the first time that old 284 is running parallel to  my life.  As I was born, so was my passage on the train, I don't remember either one, but I have always been alive and always on that train.  I can look back at the beginning and not see it,  however I can look to the end and see it.  I will die, if not raptured by my savior first, but that old train will continue on, even to the throne of God, however long that takes.  I am not the only passenger of course.  The track has only one direction, from here to there.  In the beginning, I was just an innocent child, traveling with some very fine parents, who taught me of Jesus and His saving grace.  As an adolescent, I rebelled against what was right, but I couldn't get off the train.  Thank God for that.  None of us are able to get too far off the rails, for o one is left behind, you either get to the promised land or you go to hell.  The choice is yours, but you can't get off the train until your ticket is punched, and no one knows when that will be.
     That train will carry you through all the slices of life.  Some will be good, some will be downright awful.  I have been in some good ones in the past, but now I am in one of the worst.  I can't wait for this one to pass and to enter into a good one again.  Just like this old train we are always moving forward.  the past  is receding further away and the future is always in sight and I am excited for what comes next.  I have been told by God Himself that I will spend eternity with my grandkids and as I said, I can hardly wait.  Coming up I can see some dark times coming.  The light of this world will be taken away when the church will be taken out along with the Holy Spirit.  The resulting darkness will be so thick and oppressive that one will have a hard time breathing.  The resulting chaos will be so bad that God said he will have to shorten the days or else no one will be left alive.  I can't tell you the day, but I can tell you the time.  When you see Israel sign a peace treaty that allows her to rebuild the temple there are seven years left.  The peace treaty is just a ruse to take advantage of Israel.  In forty two months after the temple is finished, the Anti-Christ sets himself up in the temple as god, believing that he is god.  He will have the help of the false prophet.  If you do not take his mark and worship him, the false prophet will have you killed.  If you do take the mark, you will be damned forever.  From that time until the return of Christ is another forty two months.
     When Christ returns with His holy saints He will be clothed in white, with His name written on his thighs.  King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He will defeat the false prophet and the Anti-Christ with a sharp two-edged sword proceeding out of His mouth.  The false prophet along with the anti-Christ will be thrown into  the lake of fire.  Satan will bound with chains and thrown into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.  MY God, My God, My God, arms outstretched to heaven, what a glorious God.

Friday, February 19, 2016

TO SHARE OR NOT TO SHARE

     Surprisingly the rehearsal went pretty well, but it had dragged on and on.  By the time it was over I had an urgent need to go to the john. Need is not really the right word, pain would be better suited.  Some of the other players were in the same predicament as well, for there were long lines at the toilets.  Well what would be wrong with pulling the curtain around me and just relieving myself on stage.  That was a good idea until I actually started pulling the curtain.  It had stood the test of time for dozens of years, but that was the moment it decided to come off the rollers.  Too many people around so I had to do something else.  By this time the pain was intense and burning.
     I remembered that the courthouse was just around the corner and they had public toilets.  Running as fast as I could under the circumstances, I made my way up the street.  There was an unusual amount of people milling around downtown and moving was difficult.  The more I tried to go forward, the more intense the pain became.  Just as I reached the courthouse and relief was in sight, there were two school busses parking at the front entrance.  Male students were piling out and running for the toilets.  If I did not hurry, I would never make it.
     As I went up the steps, I could feel some one grabbing onto my shirt and holding me back.  When I looked around, one of the bus drivers was locked onto my arm.  Hurting as bad as I was, I tried to shake him off.  As we went into the toilet, he was still holding on.  All the stalls  were occupied except the one on the end.  If I could just get to that one he would turn me loose.  That didn't happen.  He was still holding on, tighter now than ever.  At my wits end now, I told him "I was here first, but I will share." 
"Hell no" he replied as he shoved me away.  My temper then took over and I grabbed him by throat.  I squeezed him with all my might and realized I could not unzip with my left hand.  His face turned blue and his eyes bulged out.  Just as he passed out, I turned loose and unzipped.  By then I was hurting so bad, I couldn't go.  That woke me up and as I hurried to the bathroom, I was glad the bed was not wet.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Deer at Sunset

This little deer almost disappears at the setting of the sun.  16x20 inch oil on stretched canvas.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Leaving school

These students see something out of the frame of vision of the viewer.  16x20 inch oil on canvas.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Three turkeys

I just sold this 18x24 inch oil on canvas painting.  It was one of my earlier ones after I started painting again.  If you are interested in purchasing any of my artwork, please go to  fineartamerica.com and look for charlessims.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Heading to the Beach

As a child growing up in Headland, Alabama, I was only an hour and a half away from panama City Beach, Florida.  A couple of times a year we would head off to the beach for a night of excitement.  At that time in my life, we would sleep on quilts and blankets on the shore.  We thought nothing of doing that, as we were not by ourselves.  There were several families out there under the stars.  The next morning we would go across the road to the picnic tables and public toilets.  Coming out of the rural south, that was a highlight of my young life.
     When we got older we got to go to the beach with my older brother, Wayne and his friend Abe Bass.  That was a cast of characters. Abe was notorious for drinking beer and carousing with the ladies.  So was Wayne.  At that young age I discovered that I liked the beer pretty well also.  Soon it was my time to go with my own friends and we were excited to be "heading to the beach."  Much as this gull appears to be heading to the beach.  I hope he has as much fun there as we did.


Thursday, January 7, 2016

Lizard & Deer

this is a carved piece of cedar stump 9 inches tall and 18 inches wide, that I carved, of a deer jumping over fence in distance with lizard looking on.
 

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

LITTLE HAWK

This 16x20 inch oil on canvas is one that I painted, based on a black & white photo published in the book "Indian Spirit"  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.