Earlier this week hubby and I decided to take a different morning walk than our usual through the woods walk. There is a very nice walking path down through the center of the historical section of our little town. It apparently follows what used to be the train tracks through town. It was a delightful, quiet beautiful walk, past some of the lovely older homes.
Like this one. I thought I had shared pictures of this with you before, but apparently I only showed them on Facebook in a group that I follow called "Old Florida".
So if you've seen these pictures before, pardon me. I get confused sometimes as to where and what I've been and done...comes with age, they tell me...
Like this lovely old home...it has some age on it...about 100 years to be exact. But I don't know anything more about it. It does not appear to be actively lived in, but I know according the the tax records that someone bought it about 10 years ago, and it is being maintained.
Can't you just imagine sitting up on that upper verandah, enjoying a nice summer breeze and sipping some southern sweet iced tea? (I prefer mine unsweet, with lemon, thank you!)
I really was tempted to walk up to that front door and knock on it, just to see if anyone was home. But my courage failed me. Maybe if one of you were here with me we could get up our courage together. Wouldn't that be fun? Maybe they'd invite us in for a cup of tea and some cookies or cake...
Yes, I would LOVE to explore this old house. I am going to keep an eye on it, and if I ever see anyone there, I just might get up my nerve to seek out an invitation...LOL.
Anyway, back to our walk...there is another lovely big house over across the way from that one above, but I was more interested in taking a picture of the wonderful sign in their yard, which stays up year round:
"Christ is Risen", and the other smaller sign to its right says, "And Coming Again".
I think that is a good reminder for us to ponder upon in these days of turbulence in our land.
I also enjoyed their lovely white picket fence and this nice park bench to sit upon when we got tired from walking:
I hope we will take this walk more often. There are more pictures I'd like to take along the way.
Meanwhile, this past week I had a little setback with my neck issues. Two weeks to the day from when I had the epidural in my neck for pain and inflammation, I had another major spasm that was very painful. That was very disconcerting for me, as I was hoping the epidural medicines would last a bit longer. There are no guarantees on this procedure, and so I must continue to persevere with my physical therapy and exercises and prayer. I did have PT that same day, and I came home with this lovely blue bandage. It is not an ordinary bandage...it is to help with nerve conduction or something like that in my arm. The therapist said I had something called double crush syndrome. After he manipulated and stretched and basically tortured me (not really, but it felt like it), he put this bandaid on it and said to leave it there all week and not try to take it off except with baby oil or something like that so it wouldn't pull off my skin when I remove it. Thankfully, whatever it is supposed to be doing seems to be helping, so I guess I'll do what I'm told.
Okay, this is a picture of a grocery delivery truck from our local grocery store. I just think it is cute and I wanted to take a picture of it. Signs of the times...grocery delivery trucks!
And this family stopped by for a visit last evening:
The Sand Hill Crane family came for hors d'oeuvres of some tasty bugs and grubs.
Now I will close with these photos. As I was sitting at my desk last evening I looked out the window and I couldn't help but see that heart in that tall pine tree over there across the pond. Do you see it?
I know the picture is grainy and not too good because it was dark and this was taken through the window, but can you see the shape of the heart in that tree? I had never noticed it before and last night it just stood out so clearly to me, I wondered why I had not seen it before.
But if you look at this picture below, taken the night before, it is there, plain as day...I just wasn't focused on it.
That heart was there all the time...much like God's love for you and me. It's there all the time, and we tend to overlook it when we are so focused on other things around us. We get to a point where we think God must not love us or we just don't think about Him at all. There's an old song I remember that kind of speaks to this:
He Was There All The Time
by Bill and Gloria Gaither,
Sung by Sue Dodge
Time after time I was searching for peace in some void
I was trying to blame all my ills on this world I was in
Surface relationships used me till I was done in
But all the while someone was begging to free me from sin
Chorus
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time
Never again will I search for a fake rainbows end
Now that I’ve found the answer my life is just starting to rhyme
Sharing each new day with Him is a breath of fresh life
Oh what I've missed He's been waiting right here all the time
Chorus
He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time
I hope you enjoyed that song...and that it spoke to you today...Remember, Jesus is always there for us, even when we aren't even looking for Him...He's still there...waiting patiently in line!
Have a blessed and wonderful weekend, my friends.
So sorry you're hurting again. I pray you're well soon.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. That old house is so cool but it would cost a fortune to up-keep. And the signs ... I wanna do that now. I have handmade crosses down by the road all over the trees, but I like the signs. Well done.
Sending Love & Prayers In Christ. xx
Thank you, Sparky. I am feeling some better today after my PT. I hope it will continue to help strengthen me even if the other method is not working. And yes, that big old house would take a lot of $$ to maintain and to cool in this heat. Maybe that's why it appears no one is there now. Maybe they will come back in the winter. I love the signs also. They keep them up year round. And I would love to see pictures of your crosses. That sounds like a lovely idea. I put ours out during Lent and Easter primarily, and then other signs during Advent/Christmas season. Any way to share some good news is what it's all about. Letting people know that Jesus loves them and that He is always there for them...that is a powerful message!! Have a blessed weekend.
DeleteHe is there. I keep my mind on that in these crazy times. I realize it is not good to have the bad on 24/7.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are lovely. I love the old house. My hometown of Brewton, AL has a lot of antebellum homes but I have to tell you they are showing their age these days even though they are attended to. They can't last forever, but I am like you if only a tour of that place. It must have been something back in the day.
Jeff has some shoulder issues that aggravate him pretty bad from time to time. Surgery has been talked about but he has had so many for his poor joints that he doesn't want to. He will get really bad and then it will let up and seem ok. I am praying for some of that letting up and relief to last a long time.
Oh, I can imagine Alabama has some lovely old homes too. I would love to see them. Yes, they take a lot of upkeep and a lot of money to do so. That is why so many are becoming abandoned, which is sad...but this world is not our final home. Our "mansions" in heaven will be eternal! I can imagine that your Jeff would not want more surgeries. I understand that perfectly. That is why I am going this route right now, hoping to keep from having surgery on my neck. But then again, I don't want to wait too long and then wish that I'd done it while I was young enough to survive. We shall see how things go. It's tough getting old. But God is good, and He is helping me day by day. Thank you for visiting. I hope things are going better with your family.
DeleteYes, He was there all the time and He is still there all the time, through every day and night, good and bad. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post. I hope you are all better very soon and I would love to explore those houses with you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. Isn't it a great comfort to know that Jesus is ALWAYS here with us, even when we aren't particularly paying attention? Thank the Lord He is always paying attention and takes such good care of us. And I thank you for the encouraging words. I had PT this morning, and I feel some better today. Very thankful. And yes, it would be so much fun to explore these old houses together. I wish I had the courage to knock on that door!
DeleteI'll continue to pray about the pain in your neck, Pamela. Maybe this new "bandaid" will do the trick.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these lovely photos, too. If I were there with you, I'd love to knock on the door of that old house just to see if anyone was there. I do hope someone is looking after it and/or enjoying living in it.
Blessings for a great weekend!
Thank you, Martha. I appreciate the prayers and the moral support too. It would be fun to explore that old house. I may just have to get up my courage and be "neighborly". I hope you are doing well after a difficult week. You are still in my thoughts and prayers.
DeleteOh noooo on the spasm! That's pretty interesting about the blue bandage -- I'm going to mention that to my BF. (She's struggled for years and years with nerve damage and unsucessful surgeries on her forearms.) Don't you love modern medicine?!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why I thought y'all were out in the country, but no! I enjoyed seeing your stroll and folks' pride in ownership with the sweet picket fences. Hey, I'll take that walk up to that lady's front door with you!
Technically we DO live in the country. Our little town is about as country as they come, but there is this older historic section that was settled back in the 1880's or therabouts, maybe earlier, and there used to be lovely old hotels overlooking the lakes and a train brought people here from the cities. Orange groves were thriving back then, until a major freeze hit in 1894 or close to it, and people's livelihoods were gone and many left the area. This little town never prospered after that. Much of the land around the little old town is still undeveloped, or, I should say, developers came in and tried to develop it but it didn't really take off and much of the "neighborhoods" still have dirt roads and there are a lot of very old trailers out in the woods that ought to be demolished. The historic section has some lovely old homes, but that is about it. Some old churches (ours included), but no stores or shops. What few stores we do have are out on the highway. Grocery store, CVS, Dollar General, a few Thrift stores and an Ace Hardware and some gas stations. But we travel about 15 miles to the nearest Walmart and other "civilization". However, if you came to visit...we could do some exploration of the genteel older folk in the Victorian houses and see if they would throw open the doors to us or tell us to "git off our property or I'll blow you to bits". LOL That might be a little overdramatic, but there are some places out here that I would expect just that.... and yes, I do appreciate modern medicine. Physical Therapy is becoming my friend too. Have a blessed weekend.
DeleteThe injections work sometimes, don't others. Itw why I didnt bother with them for my spine. I hope you can find ways to reduce inflammation. I use Turmeric with black pepper and it does work if I take it daily. Lovely walk you took... I hope you can get an invite to that house.
ReplyDeleteThank you Annie. I should take the turmeric...I've heard it is very good. Thank you for the reminder. And if I ever get the nerve to knock on that door and get invited in, I will be sure to let you all know! I may need some of you to come and give me moral support! LOL.
DeleteI love those elaborate old homes. This one looks like it could use a little love and care. Beautiful song and such amazing truth.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe it could use some TLC. Perhaps whoever bought it found out it just costs too much to maintain it properly. And I expect it would be very difficult to keep cool during our very hot summers. Perhaps they only stay there in the winter...I may have to check back later and see. Thank you for visiting. I am glad you liked the song.
DeleteOld houses are, indeed, fascinating. I look at the windows and wonder what rooms are behind them, for what purpose: bedrooms, sitting rooms, and such. My parents rented a very old house sort of like this one for just one year. I got to visit it once and was absolutely fascinated by it. It actually had a stair case leading up to the spacious attic above the second floor bedrooms. And it had the two stair cases on the main floor: one for family and one for the servants, so they would not be seen.
ReplyDeleteYes, I see the heart in the tree. And how special that the Sand Hill Cranes came by for a visit!
I continue to pray about your neck spasms. I'm so sorry pain has returned.
Thank you, Barbara, for your kind comments. I am feeling some better today after PT and just trying to relax. I have to tell myself to just breathe and not be so tense. I don't even realize I am doing it...old habits are hard to break! I would love to go inside that house and see exactly what all the rooms are like. We once rented a big old house in Maine that had two sets of stairs and lots and lots of interesting rooms. It was fascinating, and also VERY COLD in Winter! Our heating fuel bill was astronomical...hence, we were glad to move on and back to Florida before the next winter! Down here it would be just the opposite...trying to keep it cool in summer! I guess every kind of home has its pros and cons. Nothing is ever exactly perfect in this life, or else we wouldn't want to leave it!! Have a blessed and wonderful weekend my friend.
DeleteWishing you a blessed weekend, as well, Pam. I am sorry your pain is back and hope it is just a short, temporary set-back. Your walk through town looks nice and I love that old house! I hope whoever owns it, plans to do some work on it soon. Keep us posted!! Love & hugs! xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terri. I am feeling some better now and just trying to take it easy and stay away from stress, which seems to trigger it, even when I don't think I am feeling stressed! So it takes some prayer and teaching myself to breathe and relax more. Yes, that old house is a beauty. I would love to see it restored to its former glory. However, I know that would cost a pretty penny, so that is probably why it hasn't happened yet. I will keep an eye on it. Have a wonderful weekend.
DeleteThat home on your walk is lovely. Of course it does need some help! Sorry about your neck pain. Glad that bandage is working. Yes be careful taking it off your skin. I actually bring safe bandages to the doctor when I'm getting a shot. I know yours is a different scenario. I've gotten a steroid shot in one of my knuckles about twice a year. Last one didn't work. That is a cute delivery truck. Have a nice weekend. Prayer for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debby. We did enjoy that walk. I am hoping we can go that way more often when the weather cools down a bit. It's a little hotter walking on pavement than on the dirt road we normally walk on. Oh, a shot in your knuckle sounds painful. I am sorry the last one didn't work. I do hope your knuckles are getting better. I know that hurts.
DeleteI love those pictures from your walk. It is beautiful where you live! Says me, the country girl at heart living in the city. There are a few parks we go to with lots of trees, but it is too hot to go anywhere right now. I hope you neck feels better soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. I know that I could never live in the city again. I am truly a country girl through and through. It is really too hot here to do much outside as well. We are hoping that cooler temperatures will arrive early this fall, but I know that is pretty much wishful thinking. However, once they arrive it will be nice for the rest of the winter/spring, so I will not complain! Thank you regarding my neck. The therapy is helping...I just need to keep up with the exercises and avoid stress! Easier said than done, but I am trying! God is helping me too.
DeleteMy song is "He's as Close As the Mention of His Name."
ReplyDeleteThat is quite the attractive bandage and I am glad that it is working. So
sorry that you had another neck spasm just when you were forgetting all
about them. May it be the last.
Thank you for your kind thoughts. I would love for it to be the last, but I kind of doubt it will be...however, I am trying to learn how to not allow my body to get so stressed and tight...that is what causes them to happen. I don't even realize that I am until it is too late. So little by little I am learning to recognize the signs and try to relax and "breathe" before it's too late. However, this last one happened when I woke up from having a bad dream! Yikes...sometimes we don't realize that our mind is absorbing too much of the world's stresses and we have to know when to walk away...One day at a time...with God's help I will get through this! Thank you for your kind words. I hope you are having a wonderful day and weekend.
DeleteBeautiful 😍
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I hope you are having a beautiful day.
DeleteLovely pictures. It does us well to sometime change our habits.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does. We need to be more flexible and perhaps we will see and learn new things that God has in store for us!
DeleteWhat a lovely house! Tim's youngest sister and her husband lived in one that looked very much like that years ago in Delaware. They hosted all of the family (about 23 of us at the time) for a long weekend/family reunion/July 4th celebration. That upper porch was screened on their house and had been used for a sleeping porch in hot weather. Several of us chose to sleep out there that weekend! The cranes are so lovely...such elegant birds. I suppose we must have some, but all I see around here are the herons. I had one fly across the road in front of my car the other day! Very cool to see. Thank you for all the birthday wishes and for "singing" to me! Tomorrow we are off to the festival. Enjoy a blessed Sunday, Pam!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos. Such a beautiful house. I will be praying for you with your issues. Life is hard on us, we have to keep praying harder. I loved the story of your wedding rngs int he previous post. Such a wonderful story. HUGS
ReplyDelete