The Truth Behind Christmas



Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2: 11

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Exercise Regimen Space



In the Winter I do not get very many chances for any outdoor exercise. One reason I love snow. Being in my 70's, I still use a snow shovel, no matter the depth, and I shovel this driveway of about 60' every time, and I enjoy it.

God has given me the ability and good health to be able to do this and I thank Him every time I am out here doing His will. I really love and enjoy this type of exercise.

This time there was only about eight inches of heavy wet snow to shovel. Took my time and was done in just under an hour... 

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As The Snow Falls So Does The Snow



Cascading down from off the roof comes the snow that fell from the sky and landed on the roof. 

From the ground came the moisture that created the snow and back to the ground the snow must go...

Even from off the roof...

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A Snowfall Coming Down



Like a Waterfall coming down, we see here a waterfall type Snowfall scene coming down from the hillside behind this neighbors house in their backyard.

It was quite interesting to watch this tableau throughout the day... 

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The Day It Snows



I love looking out back when the new snow is coming down. It has a soft and meditative look and feel. It gives a sense of peace and of a serene landscape that is not always there... 

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Let It Snow



The Weather Man said that was going to snow. Well, it did. So, over the next few days we will get to see a few of the during and after photos that I took. They are interesting... 

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Visions Of A Christmas Past #3



Sometimes a memory is like a mirrored image, it never changes but gets old with time and may even begin to fade with age...

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Visions Of A Christmas Past #2



Back in the 40's and 50's, even they who had the least, could always come up with one or more lights or a candle to place in a window of their home during the Christmas season...

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Visions Of A Christmas Past #1



In thinking of Christmas past, a small tree of a Grandma. She puts it in a window for the neighborhood kids to see...

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Rural Christmas Decorations #3



A rugged old rural garage decorated with Christmas Wreaths by an elderly couple still celebrating the Christmas season...

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Rural Christmas Decorations #2



A small Rancher with basic minimalist decorations. An older couple hunkered down for the pandemic but still showing some Christmas spirit... 🎅🏼

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Rural Christmas Decorations #1



I always enjoy seeing how they who live in rural settings decorate for Christmas... 

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Our Christmas Tree Is Decorated





Finally found some silver ornaments and combined them with some lights. With the help of window candelabra lights, and their warm glow, our tree becomes lighted quite nicely.

Not our usual big tree, but this year any size tree is good. Because of the pandemic, and playing it safe, our family will only see our tree through this photo... 🎅🏼

Merry Christmas... !

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Waiting To Be Decorated



Our little three foot tree is up and ready to be decorated. We are going small this year as no one will be coming by during the holidays. 

We are decorating only for ourselves.., 

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At the Local Mall 5/5



Had some problems since my last post; lost a few photos and wound up with a new phone. However, this post will finish the present series.

I call this one, "Taking a smoke break on a rainy day at the Mall"...

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At The Local Mall 4/5



Looking through the Food Court at the closed J. C. Penny store; last of the anchor stores At The Local Mall...

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At The Local Mall 3/5



Let It Snow... 

While the Mall is not getting the business it once had, there are some vendors who still show up, even with the pandemic getting worse.

They have to keep trying... what else can they do?

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At The Local Mall 2/5



The friendly Mall Cop enjoys interacting with the shoppers and most people like him. He has always been friendly with me. 

One customer, with his mask down presumably taking a drink, did slip passed him...

 

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At The Local Mall 1/5



Waiting at the Bath & Body Works...

Went walking around the local Mall recently and it was interesting; not crowded, only allowing so many customers into a store at one time and empty anchor stores. 

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Last Views Of Autumn 5/5



Autumn's colors begin to fade and soon we will see the whites and grays and colors of Winter. It is only fitting that the last of my Autumn photos is taken just at the end of day.

As the darkness grows with only the illumination of an outdoor light shining on a Rose of Sharon bush and the hint of color from fake Autumn flowers, the click of a shutter captures the end of Autumn to await the arrival of Winter's delight... 

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Last Views Of Autumn 4/5



An old tree stump out in the back of our yard. I love how wild vines grow up around it every year. The colors are just as wonderful as the florals elsewhere...

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Last Views Of Autumn 3/5



Garden rocker still hanging in there but it's days are numbered. However, it does seem to fit into the Autumn scene...

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Last Views Of Autumn 2/5



View as seen from my driveway... 

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Last Views Of Autumn 1/5

One week only. These are my last five views of Autumn as seen from my house...

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She’s Gone





On Wednesday, October 7th, Molly's life ended. After 15 years she came down with cancer. The Vet gave her just a few months to live. We made sure they were the best ever.

As God loves His own we loved Molly in the same manor, as God does, we loved her to the end.

Molly was an indoor cat and she loved lying in the sunshine as it came in through the windows.

On the last day we kept her in the sun as much as she wanted and as the sun started going down so did Molly. We sat on the floor with her and talked to her as we petted her. 

The tears from my wife and I came easy, and as the sun set so did the life of Molly.

When her heart stopped and her breathing ended so, as it seemed, did ours. Molly's life was gone.

We sat with her about another ten minutes crying and petting her until she started feeling less warm.

We wrapped Molly in a favorite blanket and placed her in a container we had for her along with a favorite toy and, with the help of our Son who came over to join me in digging a burial space, we buried Molly out in a special area of our backyard.

Molly may be gone but the joy and love she gave back to us will never be forgotten. 

This is one of the last photos I took of her. Goodbye Molly we will always love you... ❤️

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Autumn Getting Closer



When you get closer the colors become apparent. Autumn is here and the colors are "Falling" into place...

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First View of Autumn Colors



Here and there the colors come through. Autumn is here and the colors are, too.

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Autumn Begins



What better way of bringing in the colors of Autumn than a Scarecrow, a pumpkin (sort've) and the warm color of late afternoon Sun...

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Signing Off Facebook

Yeah, this ruggedly rustic relic of a rebel is leaving Facebook...

Goodbye wacky Facebook

I'm off to join the real world.

I'm going to be - sane once again.

Because this Facebook journey, has tried to turn my whole world upside down...

Twelve years ago I began this journey in October 2008.  It is only fitting that I end it on the last day of September, twelve years later.

Not just deactivating but deleting my account completely. Facebook is no longer fun, it is time to go.

I feel good about this decision and am firmly convinced that  this is God's will for me in going forward.

I am still on Twitter at @GCRiffey and at Riff's Christian Journal - a monthly article/essay I write with a layman's view on Christian Themes focusing on Reformed Theology, which I started in 2009.

I still have Riff's Photography Journal, presently with 1413 posts and photos since 2008...

I will sign off for the last time this evening.

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Eerie Night View

An eerie night view of the house across the street. Glad this view did not happen on Halloween... 🙀

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A Summer Song

Trees swayin' in the summer breeze
Showin' off their silver leaves
As we walked by
Soft kisses on a summer's day
Laughing all our cares away
Just you and I
Sweet sleepy warmth of summer nights
Gazing at the distant lights
In the starry sky
They say that all good things must end some day
Autumn leaves must fall
But don't you know that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you
Wish you didn't have to go
No, no, no, no
And when the rain
Beats against my windowpane
I'll think of summer days again
And dream of you...

Chad & Jeremy
A Summer Song Lyrics


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Windows and Condensation

When warm most indoor air meets cold dry windows the results look like it is foggy outside.

However, the fog is on the inside of your own window. Most fascinating, I do believe...


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Fog Rising

Fog from the valley, through which runs the Potomac River, at times gathers so thickly that the mountains on the far side becomes obscured to the point that one would say, "There are no mountains there."

I love living in a mountainous region...


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Sit Back and Relax

The weekend is here and it is time to sit back and relax...

Aaahhhh!


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Under The Trestle

A view from under a railroad Trestle as it crosses the C&O Canal just a few miles East of Cumberland, MD...


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Heading East Out Of Town

East bound out of town on the tracks to a beginning of a new adventure...


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Heading West To The Narrows

Mountain Thunder heading West to Frostburg, but first it must pass through the Narrows...

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Coming From The Barn

Mountain Thunder coming from the Barn heading for the Station to load up.

That is how it used to be. For the past several years she has been undergoing a much needed overhaul. Hopefully she will be back some time soon.

Sure hope so...


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Cumberland Station

Built in 1913, in Cumberland, MD, for the Western MD Railroad, and it still stands today...


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Sail Away

With Summer coming to an end, and with C-19, violence and political unrest, my wife an I would love to climb aboard and just, "Sail Away."

Alas, this ol' Salt is just to old and with no money to spare all we can do is just dream about it...


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What Makes A Home

They say that, "Love makes the world go round." That May be but where love abounds from a house a home love makes...


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No Longer Needed

Ever notice that when something is no longer needed it is set aside, thinking it might be of some use later?

Ever feel that way about yourself? Just a thought to ponder... 🤔


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Dreamy Days On The Canal

At the western end of the C&O Canal, you have a more rustic view walking the Towpath than you have at the more up to date eastern end...


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Lock and Lock House 75

Taking a walk to the Lock House at Lock 75 on the C and O Canal...


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PawPaw Tunnel

Boring through three thousand feet of rock at the base of a mountain, created this tunnel on the C&O Canal.

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Lock’s Open Gates

One's view through the open gates of a lock on the C&O Canal East of Cumberland ...

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Walking The Towpath

Walking along the C&O Canal Towpath just East of Cumberland, MD...

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Embassy Theater

Since 1931 the Embassy has been a premiere place for theatrical events. Located on Baltimore Street in Cumberland...


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Silos At Concrete Plant

Still sitting next to the railroad tracks in Cumberland, are the Silos of a former concrete plant.


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Overhead Bridge

The overhead crosstown bridge of I68. The bridge, in Cumberland, crosses Wills Creek at its juncture of the Potomac River..,


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