Progressions

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, accountability, adventure, Build Faith, dreamer, expectations, fishing adventure, Food, friends, Gary Fultz, Gary Fultz Blog, goals, gone fishing, good marriage, initiator, intentional, most imortant relationship, Nature, nature pictures, outdoor scenery, perspective, purpose in life, quality of life, relationship control, story telling., Work HardTags:, , , , , , , ,

We innocently start with “I wonder what it would be like to…?” A match, somewhere in the corner of the brain is lit, and sooner than later the fuse. A path mysteriously appears toward…, and whala.

About that “whala”. It’s harder and bigger than we thought. I’m saying “we” because I am hoping I’m not the only one who consistently underestimates all that goes into … (and I’m only giving us 3 dots).

I’m doing my dots and getting behind on regular stuff

Autumn is my busiest time of the year. Filling two freezers with garden, woods, raspberry, apple and lake harvest. Processing. Taking Grandkids on outings. More processing. I’m giving away the remaining 12 bags of apples and the fish are biting (I just know it). I’m also working on building a rustic guest cabin in the woods (one of my dots). I wanted to see an old friend and do some hunting with him in Nebraska 675 miles away (another dot). More processing. A fellow blogger lives along the route, I wonder if (another dot).

So yes, I stopped and met up with Matt (from Jesusluvsall’s Blog) on the way (read about it on Matts blog here). We had a great time and wonderful

Ruby Tuesday Burgers with a blogger friend

conversation. There is so much more to the person than what one could imagine if all we have done is read their writings. In the comment section on Matts blog I mentioned another what if…? Something about a bloggers convention, and I know many of you would be in. I’ve put together conventions (that’s like 4 dots worth of work) and I haven’t even lit the match on that one. I know someone out there might though….I dare ya.

Yes, I am 200 blog notifications behind. My phone died and is now resurrected with a warning that it will go again. I guess 3G doesn’t cut it anymore. I’m going to post another blog with some fall pictures on my devotional blog that go along with some thoughts about how God seems to change (I know in my head He doesn’t).

In all the dot chasing I still hear my dad’s voice “Beware the barrenness of a busy life”. It’s true. Important relationships can suffer and that’s a match I don’t want to light, much less the fuse. Health can suffer and the list goes on. Everything is a progression and starts before we think it does. Someone said “How did that bridge collapse?” another answered “very slowly and then suddenly”.

Meanwhile, I have been meeting myself coming and going. I totally intend to slow down and catch up.

Gary

by the way, click pictures above to enlarge or go to slide show

Published by Gary Fultz

Outdoors Man, Hunter, Fisherman, Guide, Writer / Author, Photographer, Public Speaker, Musician, Song Writer, Story Teller, Follower Of Jesus. Love God and family and total strangers

66 thoughts on “Progressions”

    1. It’s the old adage “Biting off more than I can chew” thing Suzette. I just work longer days for a bit. I just passed the electrical inspection but It’s supposed to snow so sadly the boat gets put away. This years apples are really great and the salsa, ok it’s really hot so it’s great. The first bite numbs everything though.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Well, it’s just a forecast. It probably won’t stay as the ground is still warm (I think). Every year I seem to find things in the spring I didn’t put away…poor shovels and garden hoses.

      Like

      Reply

  2. I can relate to meeting myself coming and going, although not as much as you. You’ve got a lot of dots and a lot within each dot!

    The pictures are so fun though. The grands are adorable and the cabin is lovely. Also enjoyed the words of wisdom from your dad, as well as about the bridge collapsing. Both are so true – and very good (and timely, for me) reminders!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks, I was really hoping it wasn’t just me. You can probably also relate to starting a project and making it bigger and bigger and adding this or that into making it nicer. My cabin was supposed to be an off grid rustic cabin in the woods. At least it’s still in the woods.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. I look around my home office and see a bunch of projects I want to tackle. Same is true in the garage and my basement workshop. All of them take time and they are bigger than I first think when I start them or think about starting them. However, I did buy a new guitar and have started to become more disciplined in practicing. Now as for the other projects and goals…well, perhaps they can wait another day!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. As long as they are “inside jobs” Wayne. I know my music is sure suffering. Guitar and music, good for you. Intentional practice… is a subtle progression. I think it effects other areas of life in a good way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. All the photos are great, as always, but the two grandkids reaching around the big tree is my favorite. All the saplings crowding around it provide a great picture of true resiliency—
    for the big tree, I mean.

    What kind of tree is that, anyway?

    I, for one, notice when you don’t check in, Gary. I Imagine you out on a lake somewhere, your cell phone as useless as a brick.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for noticing David. Yes, the grandkids have taken much time on the lake with lots of fish fry’s. I have spent very little time on computer the last 5 weeks. I took the kids (my Kentucky boys) on an ATV ride to see the biggest tree in the forest. It’s a monster white pine. Several limbs are big enough to barely reach around. My dream is to someday build a small house on stilts (maybe 10 -12 feet up) and include the tree in a big deck that would include but not touch the tree. It’s actually overlooking the lake.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  7. It is hard to say what I liked most about this post, because I liked a lot of it. The cabin is awesome!!! The pictures are wonderful, and I so loved seeing all the photos of the grandchildren. (My favorite is the one with the boys and the tree!) The produce all looks amazing, 🙂 It is great that you met up with a fellow blogger, sharing stories and your faith.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks Linda. My wife and I talked just this morning about how blessed we are to be able to do all we have done and visit with all the kids and grandkids this fall. My quick hunting trip, meeting and visiting matt and an old friend (much older than I) who used to help bring teens into the wilderness. I need to get the camera out more….sigh

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Oh I wish the kids lived closer. half are in Kentucky and the others within 1 1/2 hours in Minnesota. They all love fishing and the woods which is great. The cabin is partially for them. I am also going to move my writing out there and possibly my keyboard once in awhile.
      It would be cool to video record a couple original songs from the cabin deck. Another dot.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. Great to know you’re still out there fogging a mirror and chasing dots Gary. I was beginning to wonder if maybe you had beat me Home 🙂

    Love your catch-up photo collage. Perhaps my favorite is the two young ‘tree huggers’ 😊 Also enjoyed looking at and am now following Matt’s blog. Sure wish I coulda’ been there to share in your burger munching fellowship, but will probably have to wait until we’re together forever Upstairs . . . just imagine what the burgers will be like up there! ☺️

    Be blessed brother, and heed your Dad’s wisdom . . . “Beware the barreness of life” . . . that why we have ‘dots’ 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I’m sure you relate Fred. Walking the woods and fishing the lake full of color on the banks will beat sitting and typing in the house. Nope didn’t beat you home, at least not yet. It’s blustery and snowing lightly so typing is nice right now. I’m expecting a call to help finish a roof…maybe my phone should go on the blink again. You would like Matt in person, something to look forward to when we are promoted.

      Like

      Reply

  10. Glad you are preparing and getting winter ready, totally necessary! Love your pictures and how rich and full your life is. I have every confidence even in the midst of the busyness, you are able to see the small things. So thankful for you and your wisdom, Gary!!! Lots of love and blessings to you and your family!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thankyou Mandy for your encouragement. It’s snowing right now (it won’t stay) so I’m even more motivated to be winter ready. You are right on noticing the small things as that’s what keeps me going. Hope schooling is manageable for you. Did Nathan ever make it to BWCA?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Not this year. The guy he was going to go with has been diagnosed with rapid mental decline and so that it was best to not go. I have thought about saying I would go with him. School is what it is. I am praying for direction if this is where God wants me. Glad the snow won’t last!!!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Maybe this next year. My son and his wife lead trips to BWCA for couples in their small group which isn’t very small. A way different dynamic and cushier camping with less travel and fewer portages. You would enjoy some wilderness camping and probably see and experience physical realities of spiritual truths in action (after school is done of course)

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I am willing to try almost anything, within reason Matt. My mixed up ancestry of German, Swede and a touch of native american doesn’t get in the way of a new food adventure. As far as a convention, the biggest challenge would be who is it really geared for. Plus, how to make it so good all writers want to be there and those who don’t write may want to start.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks Kathy. It was good to meet Matt. It does take some cooperation to meet up with a stranger only known from reading a blog. In our case we have several common things about our life. It’s worth the try. I do have in mind several bloggers I would love to meet someday. It might take a lot of intentionality.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I feel like I’ve been busy. Mostly doing fall type things plus a few projects (3 building projects including cabin). It felt good to come in from the shop (snowed all day) and just sit awhile and watch the blustery cold weather through a window. Matt is a special uniquely gifted guy. Glad I was able to meet him. Now to get the camera out again.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I’m just bumping up to 4G. Not sure how smart that is. I had no navigation for 675 miles. I just went north from Nebraska until a good road appeared east awhile and so on until I hit the interstate. Me being me, I figured I remembered a shortcut halfway…I kind of did. Eventually made it home.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. GPS often isn’t reliable anyway. A friend and I wanted to eat lunch and the silly machine directed us to our destination, except it wasn’t the restaurant. It was open fields. LOL!

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Gary, your schedule sounds exhausting. But I noticed that you were doing many things with people. Spending time with the grandkids, building a cabin for the grandkids, meeting Matt and hunting with your friend. The time of harvest and relationships cannot be beaten!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. AH, you put your finger on a tension in life I have constantly fought. I seem to “feel” like I have accomplished something when I do physical things but do not get that “feeling” when spending time with people. I know in my head that spending time with people is often more of an actual accomplishment and of greater value than fixing an old piece of machinery or even building a cabin (which will be an end to spending time with people…what I know in my head and what I feel in my heart is sometimes at odds.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks Stephanie. It was cool to meet Matt on my travels. I makes me realize how much more there is to a person than what you read. A bloggers convention would take a lot of work but could take most of us to another level and challenge our writing direction. I would include some group or personal adventures to write about. Foods, fishing, friending, story telling tips, a word press rep on hand, photo lessons and projects / contests, seminars on writing and publishing a book, and a host of other possibilities. Ya, 3G works for me but not for much of the world. I miss my flip phone.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thanks Ted. I did take an hour this morning to just walk and take pictures of the new snow on what is left of autumn. It is a beauty of snow on autumn leaves not yet fallen. autumns last gasp this next week I think. Reminds me of life and the short time we have.

      Like

      Reply

    1. I agree on the busyness Eva. And, yes the garden stuff is very tasty. The end of garden produce seems to have a “stiffer” flavor in a good way. The apples are very crispy even after it snowed yesterday. I’ll post some pictures on our fall snow when I get organized.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  20. I’m hearing several echoing your words so well put. It seems the world beckons us to keep getting busier and busier. I’m trying to learn to use the time God’s gives me wisely instead of allowing time to push me to the next thing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  21. That’s the thing Donna. bowing to busyness kicks everyone out of the drivers seat including Gods control. Our train gets on the shiny fast track and we go nowhere in circles, but we go fast. I imagine there is a lot of good writing on God’s time, time table, and so on.
    To pay attention to God’s intentions around us is submission behavior…a good thing to do.

    Like

    Reply

  23. Beautiful photos. Lots of vibrant life lived. I guess there’s a fine line between living and being overly busy. There’s only so many hours in a day and those hours seem to fly by. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. So true Jennifer. Less is often more. We often settle for the sizzle and don’t have time to enjoy the steak. My writing quest is to say more with less words, I know it sure works in humor.
      Perhaps the biggest loss in busyness is one’s relationships.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  25. You’ve done well to tackle your “what ifs.” I love that cabin! Sometimes my inclination is to think “nah, too much like hard work,” I’d rather read a book 😂 Although for years I did look at our back garden that was nothing more than a grass and weed filled field, thinking what if it was a beautiful flower and vegetable garden, and then during all those Covid lockdowns my husband & I worked like navvies in the garden and it’s now the garden of my dreams!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Good for you on the garden Jill. That’s so rewarding. There have been a couple times in my life (out of a job) when I would tackle a hard project just to gain some confidence that I could do it and also to prove to myself I was still a valuable person in the work field.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. You have been writing around the edges of it as well AJ, especially news media takin time when they deserve almost no time in our lives. I believe barrenness leads to bitterness, it’s a progression the wrong way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: