Friday Foto Friends-Bluebirds and other Delights!

Happy Friday! Does it seem possible that we are almost at the end of January already? This month has certainly flown by...but it's not over yet. This weekend promises to bring us more really cold winter weather, down in the very low 20's each morning...so I bet that's why this Bluebird has had his eye on this birdhouse the past few days...

Caught him in mid-flight here...but he was very busily flitting around this house and back and forth up into the tree...there were other bluebirds about as well, so perhaps the competition is stiff to claim the birdhouse before the frigid temperatures come rolling in...

He looks it over this way and that...

Checking all the corners and floor and roof and every part...

But I never saw him actually go inside. He did look in the "window" a few times, but he's still not sure.

I'll keep watching and let you know what develops.  I wonder if this is the same Bluebird who was here last year? I wish there was some way to tell, but I don't think I'm quite up to putting a band on his little leg.  No matter...we will enjoy watching them whoever they are! I'm not particular! As long as they pay the rent and keep the place tidy...that's all that matters! LOL.

And as long as they can stay away from this fella.  Mr. Red Shouldered Hawk had found something tasty to eat way over on the other side of the pond. Sorry this isn't clearer, but he was a LONG way away, and of course as soon as I spotted him, he flew away.  But these predators are always on the lookout for things like unattended bird nests and rodents and lizards and whatever they can snatch up in their sharp talons and have for dinner. Even though I enjoy watching them, I don't want them to find any baby birds!!

So let's move back inside, shall we? 

If you've been following the development of my Amaryllis plant since Christmas, you will remember that it already had one batch of blossoms early on.  Then it sent up this very tall 20" high stalk, and soon two new buds appeared...this is how it looked the day before yesterday: 

And THIS is how it looks this morning:

Both blossoms are fully open!

It has been so much fun to watch this flower grow and bloom. I highly recommend that you purchase an Amaryllis bulb kit for yourself each year. They usually are available before Christmas at places like Lowes, Home Depot or Walmar, in the garden center.  They aren't very expensive...and they are so much fun to watch develop right inside your home during the winter. Then, if you wish you can plant the bulb outside and it will bloom again possibly this summer or at least again next spring. Of course in some climates it is best to leave the bulbs in a pot so you can bring it back inside in the winter. 

Such a bright and beautiful delight on these cloudy, dreary winter days!

Now, someone here in blogland mentioned Gingerbread recently, Nana Diana Takes a Break, to be exact...and that set my mouth a watering for some warm gingerbread with whipped cream on top.

So I made some last night. Forgot to take a picture with the whipped cream, so you'll have to use your imagination...but it was every bit as delightful as I remembered the way my Mama used to make it. (click that link for the recipe). 

I've been having a hankering for some fresh grapefruit. I remember the days when we could go out and pick our own grapefruit (and navel oranges) off the trees in my father's yard, and oh! how I've missed that wonderful juicy treat! Well, yesterday afternoon I got a phone call from one of our church friends, asking me if I'd been out on my front porch lately. I thought that was a strange question, since she knows we are staying indoors most of the time due to this "bug" we've been fighting and also because it has just been downright cold and windy and not all that pleasant outside lately. Well, anyway, she said I should look on the porch, and so I did, and there to my wondering eyes was a bag full of beautiful fresh grapefruit!! How did she know I'd been wanting some?  God must have whispered in her (husband's) ear...I say her husband because he's actually the one who picked the fruit off their tree and brought it to us. She said she was just the "messenger".  They have also been fighting this "bug" this past week,  as are about half the people in our church...so we've all been staying away from each other and trying to get well before we get together again.  But isn't that amazing how God provided this grapefruit for us to enjoy...and also to help heal us from this bug!?  God is so good.

So what else have we been doing while staying indoors?  Well, another one of our blogging friends recently mentioned (Your Friend from Florida, Terri!) that she liked to watch a show on TV called Escape to the Chateau, which is series of documentaries about this young English couple who buy a very old French Chateau, and are renovating it while supporting themselves by having it serve as a wedding venue...while also raising their two very sweet little children...anyway, I thought I'd check it out, and got hooked on it...and even hubby enjoys watching it with me! So that is a win-win! That should last us for a little while, and when we run out of that show, something else will come up.  I think the Murdoch Mysteries new season is starting up again later in February... 

So I guess that's all for today, folks!  I hope you've enjoyed seeing the things that have brought us some delight this past week in particular!  We are very thankful to be feeling better, but still have some residual sinus/cough issues so we are staying mostly at home except to make quick store runs. We are truly thankful for God's grace and healing power.

Okay, time to get moving. Have a blessed and wonderful Friday and weekend!