What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, April 16, 2021

Friday Foto Friends-Faithful and Vigilant

Good Morning Friday Foto Friends! Thought I'd start out with the sunset from Thursday night, since that is when I am actually writing this. I just came back inside from watching this sunset, and if you look carefully you can see "Father Goose" is standing along the shore of Still Waters Pond, watching the sunset with me.  


Of course, he is really diligently standing guard watching over his lady love "Mother Goose", who is still faithfully sitting on the nest over on the island.  I truly hope there will be some baby geese sometime soon.  They've both been very diligent and vigilant about keeping intruders away from the pond and especially the nest.


Sometimes possible intruders fly in from up above:

If you recall, we had a group of Great Blue Herons land in these trees on the island a week or so ago, and I thought they were going to build nests there. But "Father Goose" was very strong in his territorial rights and drove them away.  This one heron came back a couple of mornings ago and landed in the tree above the nest, and "Father Goose" honked and honked and flew at the heron, and soon Mr. Heron just up and flew away.  I guess he got the message that he is not welcome here.


Back to the sunset...it truly was beautiful...


And Father Goose was faithful to watch with me to the end...


Okay, moving on to something different:

While taking our walk yesterday morning I stumbled across this huge "monster" in the woods...

And before I knew it, it had jumped right out and grabbed me and tangled me all up and was holding me captive...


It was quite a harrowing experience and I was extremely terrified, as you can see...


Thankfully this tall  grey super hero came and rescued me and pulled me out to safety:

Here I am...just a shadow of my former self after being so scared...LOL. But so happy to be walking with my rescuer.


That kind of reminds me of the story of the "Footprints in the Sand"
(Internet Photo)

So thankful for our Savior Who rescues and carries us when we need Him most...



We came home to find THIS monster on the outside (thank heavens!) wall of our house:

DO NOT TOUCH them! Click that link for more info.
It looks like it has scary little faces on the bottom half...do you see them?
Very weird caterpillar!


After these very scary experiences I was very glad to relax with a piece of blueberry pie 


(It was very good!).


The fresh blueberries were so good we went back to the blueberry farm and bought some more and I put some in the freezer for future muffins and pies.

Oh, and I did make some Blueberry Bran muffins.  Nothing like fresh hot muffins right from the oven...




"Grateful and Blessed"...
that says it all.

I am very thankful and blessed for so many things. God is so very gracious to us.
  • Our kids are doing great with their new business, which is a huge answer to prayer.
  • One very warm day last week our air conditioner suddenly started blowing hot air out of the vents and it was quickly raising the temperature up to over 80 degrees in the house.  We turned it off and tried to figure out what was wrong. Our son who lives here with us noticed that there was no water coming out of the drain pipe outside when it was running. So he took it off and checked it and it was clogged with a buildup of mildew and algae or whatever it was...yucky stuff. So he cleaned it out and then we turned it back on and it ran perfectly! What a miracle and answer to prayer! Repair costs for our central heat and air unit would be very costly and not something we can afford right now.  And yes, we do need our AC here in Florida right now.  
  • Thankful for answered prayer on behalf of so many different ones who are going through physical and other kinds of issues.
  • Thankful for our own health and well being. 
  • Thankful that God is always faithful and vigilant...rescuing us from all the "monsters" that try to scare us in this life...and that He is always in control and will never leave us nor forsake us no matter what. He is ALWAYS walking by our side...and sometimes He's even carrying us...
We've been reading in Psalm 34 in our morning devotions this week. Here are a few of the key verses that I count as God's promises and blessings:

Psalm 34:4-7

"4.  I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5. They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them."


I hope that you know that you can count on the Lord to hear you and deliver you when you cry out in fear or have any kinds of troubles.  These are precious promises for all of God's children.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend!


 

24 comments:

  1. Terrific photos! The dead tree and you had me giggling. You're such a hoot.
    I grew up in Central Florida and am very familiar with the hairy caterpillars and many others. Yes, do not touch. I like moths but it's a shame the moth that emerges from this caterpillar is not very pretty. Luna Moths are my fav. They're so pretty.
    I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! xx

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    1. Oh, I do love Luna Moths also. I don't know that I've ever seen their caterpillar. I wonder if it glows in the dark? Yes, these tussock caterpillars seem to be dropping out of trees everywhere right now. Very strange critters. Glad you enjoyed my little "horror story" of the monster grabbing me, etc. I do get bored sometimes and just have to liven things up a bit. LOL. Hey, we are getting some good rain finally! Praise The Lord! Have a great weekend.

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  2. Wonderful pictures or your little piece of the country. He does take care and provide. Thankful the AC just needed cleaning and not replacing. I just had to get the one in my truck repaired. Good grief it was pricey, but living in FL makes one very grateful for A/C.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the beauty here...and yes, so VERY thankful for the wonderful ways God provides and takes care of us. Life w/o AC in Florida is most miserable. I grew up in FL. w/o AC, so I know what I am talking about. Wouldn't want to go back to THOSE "good old days!" LOL Have a great weekend.

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  3. You certainly deserved some treats after running into that scary monster! The sunset shots are too pretty for words!

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    1. Thank you for understanding my need for treats! Yes...I had to reward myself for living through such a narrow escape! Thank you for visiting...no sunset tonight...it's very cloudy and rainy. But we need the rain.

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  4. Oh Pam, those images of you taken hostage by the monster tree are a panic. You're so funny, and I love your imagination. "A shadow of your former self" ... hahahah. Praise the Lord that Scott was able to trouble-shoot your A/C issues. I can get myself so worked up and stomach in knots over something like that. Those blueberry creations look wonderful!

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    1. I am SO happy you enjoyed my little trauma drama! It was fun. I do get bored sometimes and just have to do something to liven things up a bit. Thankfully I had left Lily Grace at home that morning. That monster might have kidnapped her for a ransom. Yes, we are thankful we dodged a bullet on that AC issue. That was a big answer to prayer. And yes, the blueberry creations were wonderful. Plus I've been eating the fresh blueberries until I am blue in the face. I think I've reached my saturation point, if you get my drift. LOL. Better quit while I am ahead. Have a blessed weekend.

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  5. thank you for the smiles, of the monster attacking glad you had a rescuer those sunset photos are amazing. Hugs to you my friend

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    1. OH, I do hope that brought a smile to your face. Sometimes we need a little comic relief. And I do hope you are experiencing the Great Savior walking with/carrying you along in the sand these days. I know you are going through some difficult days. I pray He is giving you the comfort that only He can give. God bless you dear friend.

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  6. I know I've probably said this before, Pamela, but you all have the most gorgeous sunsets! And I did get a kick out of your too-close-encounter with the monster tree. You have such a great sense of humor! Glad to know, too, that Scott was able to get your a/c back up and running - yes, they are so expensive to fix, that's for sure.
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. We do enjoy our sunsets on Still Waters Pond. Tonight it is too cloudy and rainy for a sunset, so I am enjoying the rain instead, which we need. And I am glad you enjoyed my little trauma drama with the monster....TREE? Did you say TREE? You mean, that was just a tree???? Oh MY! And to think I thought I was being attacked my a huge alien type monster...oh! Thank heavens it was just a TREE! Yes, we do need a little comic relief now and then. And it is a comfort to know that Jesus is with us all the time, no matter where or what or how scary. Have a blessed and wonderful weekend.

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  7. Such pretty sunsets over your pond! That monster tree really is scary! I'm glad your hubs was able to rescue you!! Keep us posted on the arrival of the little goslings! Thank goodness your very smart son figured out what was wrong with your AC!! Have a good weekend, dear friend! xo

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    1. Thank you, Terri. Yes, we have really enjoyed the sunsets here. Tonight we have clouds and rain, but happy for the rain. And I am keeping a watchful eye on "Mother Goose", hoping she will present us with some goslings soon. It sure seems like something big is happening there. And yes, very thankful the AC problem was figured out so quickly w/no expense involved. Kudos to Scott, and praise to God!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too.

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  8. I am so thankful for you, Pamela. Thank you for sharing your life, and the many smiles. I hope you have a beautiful weekend, smiles.

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    1. Oh, thank you, Linda! You have brought many smiles to my face too...and some prayers on my lips and in my heart for you as you figure out the next phase of your lives...God has a plan! I hope you have a beautiful weekend and/or day off whenever it is!!

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  9. What a beautiful post, and funny, too! I just love Father Goose, there in the waning light, watching and waiting...I am so glad you were rescued from the monster! And that caterpillar! I know they are all God's creatures but some I like to give a wide, wide berth.

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    1. Ha ha, Holly, yes...some of God's creatures we should give a wide, wide berth. We need to use the common sense God gave us to know when to just move out of the way to a safe place...and when we don't...He's surely there to rescue us, Praise God!! Have a blessed and beautiful day!

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  10. Oh so many beautiful pictures. The sunset ones are amazing.Onnce again that pie looks so good. Makes my mouth water.

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    1. Thank you, Ruth. The pie was good...just a bit runny. Next time I will use cornstarch instead of flour to see if that makes a difference. These blueberries were so juicy we had to eat the pie with a spoon in a bowl, with ice cream on top. Imagine that! LOL. It was very good. If I knew you were coming I'd bake another one!

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  11. Beautiful beautiful pictures, my friend! wow, that big 'ole tree DOES LOOK like some kind of a monster, LOL! Fun pictures tho! I enjoyed reading about y'all making the blueberry pie! You look to be a really good pie baker! I AM NOT, LOL. I like to cook but not make pies or desserts....but I sure do like to eat them, ha ha. I am sure hoping you get up one morning and see a dozen little baby geese hopping around by their Mommy!--that would be so fun. I love the pictures of y'all hiking on that old dirt road! I love to take walks places like that. Your muffins sure look good too and guess what?---your cake stand is pretty much identical to mine, LOL. Happy weekend my sweet friend!!

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    1. Oh, Debbi, I've been missing you and wondering if all was well in your neck of the woods! I am glad you enjoyed the post. We do have fun here. And I am also hoping for some baby geese...they sure have been committed to their nest and routine, so I am very hopeful this time. And as for walking on that old dirt road, that is where we walk every day. We prefer walking in the woods where there are no cars or houses or barking dogs. It's very peaceful there. Sometimes a little too peaceful and boring, so I have to invent crazy schemes to keep things lively! Thankfully I had left Lily home that morning because I was going to our church UMW meeting right after our walk. She would have been so terrified of the monster! But then again, maybe not. She's very sensible...not at all like her Mommie. LOL Have a blessed weekend. Give our love to Tracie and Amybelle.

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  12. I'm so glad you escaped the monster...oh and the scary caterpillar! It's a jungle out there, isn't it? But I'm glad we have places to go and enjoy nature! Enjoy your weekend!

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