Friday Foto Friends: Brighten The Corner Where You Are

This past week I have been kind of "out of it" when it comes to reading and writing. First of all, let me thank each of you who have taken the time to write comments on my previous blog posts over the past week.  I didn't get around to replying to all of you, and I am sorry! I did read your kind and thoughtful words...and I treasure each of you in my heart.  Some weeks things just seem to get too busy to squeeze everything in that we'd like to do.

So now it is time to post pictures...and I'm scratching my head and wondering what to post...

I have been watching this plant that is growing beside the road for the past few weeks, wondering what kind of flower it was (and also what that green leaf-eater bug is)

It is the only plant like it anywhere along our road that I can see...growing all by itself, just one stem coming up from the ground.

As its buds began to break open, I noticed this lovely little skipper butterfly/moth enjoying its nectar...

And I also noticed the fragrance was sweet and delicate...from such a pretty little flower...

Don't you agree?  Do you know what this is?

I looked it up online and decided that it must be a type of common milkweed  (Click this link for more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_syriaca )

So now I am watching it every day to make sure it doesn't get destroyed alongside the road ...and I am hoping to get some of its seeds when they develop so I can plant them in my garden at home and hopefully attract some Monarch Butterflies!!  (But I still don't know what that green leaf-eating bug is. If you can identify it for me I would appreciate it!)


This isn't a Monarch, but a lovely Giant Swallowtail https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-cresphontes, who flew along beside us from bush to bush while we walked....

We also saw this beautiful little Gulf Fritillary Butterfly enjoying some wildflowers...

In other news this week...first let me apologize to my Facebook friends, as you have probably already seen all of these pictures...

I graduated from a flip phone to an i-phone.

 The i-phone is a reconditioned one, an Apple 5S model, which apparently is already obsolete, but it's still way smarter than me!  It has taken me a couple of days to finally figure out how to make a phone call. Of course, the problem here is that we live way out in the boonies where there is no signal...and we have to drive over five miles just to get enough signal to make a phone call.  But the main reason for needing a cell phone is because we do have to drive so far to get anywhere, (over 20 miles through the forest to the nearest Walmart!) and it is primarily a safety and security measure in case of emergency.  I just feel so dumb trying to figure this thing out...especially when I see young kids who have mastered them in no time at all!  But you know what they say about us "old folks" need to keep learning new skills to challenge our brains so we don't get senile... (it may be too late for me...LOL)


Now, on a final note...These next two pictures you may not understand...But in the first picture you see the corner of my kitchen where our coffee pot, tea pot, toaster oven, etc. are.  Above are the cabinets for our dishes and tea/coffee mugs.  The under cabinet fluorescent light that was under the cabinet by the coffee pot died this week, leaving that corner very dark and dreary.

 It took a couple of tries, but we finally found an LED light fixture to fit under that cabinet, which is much brighter than the former light we had there.  In the process, we also ended up with another smaller fluorescent light that fit under the other cabinet where you see the mixer...so now the whole corner is lit up!

Ever since we lit this little corner up so brightly I've been singing this song when I turn on the lights in the morning:

Brighten The Corner Where You Are

Click HERE for the history of how this song was written and how it became so popular  - I found this little history lesson very interesting!

"Brighten The Corner Where You Are"

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,

Do not wait to shed your light afar,

To the many duties ever near you now be true,

Brighten the corner where you are.

Refrain

Brighten the corner where you are!

Brighten the corner where you are!

Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;

Brighten the corner where you are!

Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,

Let not narrow self your way debar;

Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,

Brighten the corner where you are.

Refrain

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,

Here reflect the bright and Morning Star;

Even from your humble hand the Bread of Life may feed,

Brighten the corner where you are.

Refrain

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So, my final words to you today are this...you may think that you don't have much to offer...your life may be quiet and not too exciting, and you may feel like no one would be interested in anything you may have to say or write...but this little song above speaks to me...and I hope to you as well...wherever you are, whatever you do, just be yourself...and "Brighten the Corner Where You Are"!  Let the light of Jesus shine through you in all you say and do...offer a smile when others are frowning...a word of hope when others seem to have none...be cheerful when all seems dark and dreary...

"Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!"

Now, please skip over to Deb's place at "Breathing in Grace" and see how all our other Friday Foto Friends are brightening the corner where they are today!!

Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends!!