A Day of Blessing

Here's my day so far.

Went for a walk in our normal walking place this morning, except I took a detour through the woods on the "road less traveled".  This was a shady and peaceful route that suited my spirit just fine.

After the emotion gripping last few days: funeral of a friend, concerns for a friend's grandson in serious condition, (and I don't have any current updates on Jimmy's condition yet) the remembrance of 9-11 all day yesterday, I needed to find a place of peace and calm.

I often have to stop and dawdle a bit and take pictures of bugs on wildflowers and such...

Back at our house on Still Waters Pond was Mr. Great Blue Heron, taking a break from fishing while he sat on a branch up in the tree overlooking the pond and did some preening...

He is ever watchful for any activity that might indicate there is something out there for his breakfast...

He is interesting to watch.

So is this Giant walking stick, who stayed on the porch table all day long yesterday. He never budged an inch. I thought maybe he was dead, but when I got close I saw him twitch a little, so I left him alone. These things have been known to spit in your eye or do other unkind things. This morning he was gone, and just left a few little "presents" on the table for me to clean up after him. Frankly, I'd like to teach him a few manners! He wasn't a very good porch guest! 

Back inside the house...sometimes you just have to do something nice for yourself. Actually, we were planning to have some guests for supper the other night, and when I went to the store to pick up some groceries I spied these fresh flowers and decided we needed them for our table. (And I needed them to bring back some joy).

I especially loved this yellow mum:

And this hot pink carnation:

And we had a wonderful time with our friends...after a fun supper of Beef Burritos and Chicken Enchiladas, we played "Phase 10", a fun card game. It was a great way to relax and laugh again. 

(Sorry, I forgot to take any pictures. We were too busy eating and having fun).

Also, on the way home from the funeral the other day we stopped in our former town where we just moved from last year to meet with a lady that we know who makes wonderful goat's milk soaps. I had called her ahead of time and placed an order because I like to stock up on this when I can:

Lavender is my favorite "flavor", oh, I mean fragrance...

That purple bar has lasted such a long time...

Her new bars don't look exactly like that, but they are still the same ingredients.

It's just one of those little things I do for myself because I love the smell so much and it is also very nice soap.

I just took a little walkabout the yard a few minutes ago so I could show you what's going on out there.

Our "corn crop" is coming along very nicely! LOL.  Maybe we can create our own corn maze out there! Ha Ha. That bird seed is rather corny.  I was hoping for sunflowers!

Moving along to the "Secret Garden" area...

There's some sunflowers, and our "pumpkin patch". 

The wind was blowing so hard I had a difficult time getting a picture of this flag.

The Holly Berries are ripening more and more every day.

These trees are absolutely loaded! Should bring in lots of birds this winter!

Moving around to the front yard, the pots of mums are blooming...

I guess they must think it is fall too!

There's another "pumpkin patch"...

The sun was so bright and the wind was blowing so hard while I was outside trying to take those pictures I had to come back inside and cool off.

As soon as I sat down at the computer to add the pictures, I looked out the window in my "room with a view", and saw that it was now pouring down rain!  There is a tropical storm out there near the southern coast of Florida, and I guess that is affecting our weather today. We've been having these little pop up showers off and on all day long.  Just so long as it doesn't develop into anything stronger than that I will be quite pleased.

So that's the report on my day (or actually the last couple of days). 

How's things where you are?

Here's a few words of blessing and praise from 

Psalms 115: 12-18

12.  "The Lord has been mindful of us;

He will bless us;

He will bless the house of Israel;

He will bless the house of Aaron.

13.  He will bless those who fear the Lord,

Both small and great.

14.  May the Lord give you increase more and more,

You and your children.

15.  May you be blessed by the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

16.  The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's'

But the earth He has given to the children of men.

17.  The dead do not praise the Lord,

nor any who go down into silence.

18.  But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

Praise the Lord!"

I hope that you are relaxing on this Saturday afternoon and looking forward to a day of worship tomorrow, in whatever way you are able...online or in person...either way is a wonderful way to be refreshed in spirit for the week ahead.

Blessings everyone!