Just Touching Base and Bearing Fruit

 I've been a little "out of touch" the past few days.  So I thought I should check in so you know I am still kicking. The Dr. put me on a new med along with an antibiotic, and it is kind of "kicking" my you know what.  I probably should have waited to start the new medicine after I was finished with the antibiotic, because getting used to a new med sometimes takes a few days, and when you add something else on top of it, well...even though they don't technically "interact" with each other, they both have strong properties. All that to say, I feel like I am in a bit of a fog and just haven't been up to par. So this will probably be short and sweet.  

Haven't even been taking many pictures, and you know how much I love to take pictures. So I will share what I have even if they have no real connection to anything else.

Some of you may have wondered about our Canada Goose Family. So have I. We drove over to the neighborhood where we saw them last time, and these are the only ones we could find, eating bread crumbs or seeds in someone's yard. Apparently he throws out food for them every day and they know where to go to get it.

We did not see the goslings, but that does not mean they weren't in the area. This house is across the street from the lake where they live, and although we drove around to see as much as we could see on the water, there are a lot of houses in the way and we could not find a good vantage point to see if they were there. I will try again soon, but for today, this will have to do. At least we know the goose gang is still hanging around. They haven't flown back to wherever they came from yet. They may actually stay here all year...I don't know, but I'll be watching from a distance to see.

The blueberry bushes we planted provided us with multiple mouthfuls of ripe, delicious, juicy blueberries.

I think they are done producing for now, but there is something so satisfying about going out to your own garden and plucking ripe berries right from the bush and popping them into your mouth for a delightful treat!

The man at the blueberry farm said we should cut the bushes down to about 18" off the ground and fertilize them, etc. I wasn't about to do that until we ate all the berries on them first. So now that will be my next chore when I feel up to it. It hurts to cut a thriving bush down like that, but just this week we have been reading in our devotions about pruning...

John 15:1-8

1.“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

3.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

4.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5.  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

So, when you look at "pruning" from God's perspective, you can see that it is a good thing to do...and to also allow to be done in our own lives so that we will bear much fruit.

Speaking of casting out and cutting down branches, this next series of pictures was taken over a period of several weeks in the area where we walk each day.  There has not been any real development in that neighborhood in years, and it is mostly all wooded and lovely. That is why we choose to walk there.  No traffic, no nosy neighbors, no barking dogs...just peaceful solitude away from the noise of the world.  Well, suddenly we are noticing more activity in our part of the world...Thanks to the "pandemic", people are moving to Florida from up north in droves.  Housing costs are starting to rise and even sky rocket in some areas. And as we drive around our quiet neighborhoods and wooded lots, we see lots being cleared and new homes being built or set up (manufactured homes are most affordable and popular in this part of the county).  And so, it was inevitable that someone would discover our quiet little walking place and begin the process of what they call "progress"....cutting down trees so they could put up a house to live in.  

Each week I have been taking pictures of the "progress", even though I don't really like it.

They started out by cutting down all the smaller trees that were in the way, and then they moved to some larger pines and oaks...

And little by little, over the course of several weeks, they have pretty well thinned it out...

Until this is how it looks today. All the trees surrounding the cleared lot belong to other people, so until someone else comes along and clears those lots as well, the people living here will have some woods around them.  But if everyone clears the lots they way they did, it will soon look just like any other cookie cutter neighborhood with no lovely trees left. 

Oh, they left the one tree that should have been cut down instead of so many others. That giant pine tree in the middle of the lot is not only dangerous, but is right in the way of where I would assume they would want to put their house. Maybe they will still cut it down before they start building, but when they do, their lot will be quite bare.   

And soon there will be people living on these quiet streets in the woods, and we may have to look for another place to walk. I guess we've been spoiled by the natural beauty and hate to see it go.

Although, after reading what I just said above, I felt a bit convicted. Instead of grousing about people cutting down trees and people moving into our quiet walking space, I should be praying for those people who will be putting their home on that lot!  Perhaps they will be wonderful people that we will enjoy meeting, and who knows? Maybe we'll become friends! Perhaps I should think about welcoming them instead of complaining about them cutting down trees and spoiling things! 

Hmmm, what was that I was quoting above about 

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." ?

Wow! Please forgive me, Lord! I think You still have some more "pruning" to do in my heart...

Okay, let's switch gears to something very happy and sweet:

Last night our "kids" brought over a project that my sweet daughter in love Rose has been working on for a little while, in between starting a new business and working around the clock. 

They already gave us these two breakfast bar stools some time ago, but the cushions were a little worn (they were second hand stools, but otherwise in great shape).

Rose does a great job of reupholstering dining room chairs, etc., for their business at 

Dixie Cottage, and she had this pretty fabric that would be just perfect for my kitchen/"tea room".

Her sister Sherrie also helped (before she left to go back up north) by making the pillow cases to cover a couple of throw pillows I already had for these stools.

Aren't they beautiful? I love them!!

And so does Lily Grace! I think she thinks these chairs are just for her...

Well, maybe it's time for a tea party! 

Not today, but soon perhaps.

Until then, thank you for visiting today. I am a bit behind in keeping up with everyone's posts, but I am trying to catch up. Maybe I need a cup of tea to stimulate my brain a bit more.

So I will say "Ta-Ta" for now.  

And let us all remember to be in the business of "bearing much fruit".

Amen.