In my last post HERE, I shared that we now had this tree stump left in our yard and I wasn't sure what to do with it:
Right away our blogging friend "Sparky", A.K.A. "My Thoughts Exactly", and who is also another Pamela and Facebook Friend, sent me this photo on Facebook for an idea:
I liked that so much that I started looking at some other ideas on Pinterest, and here's just a few I found:
That would be a fun project, if I can just get someone to help me with it. I may have to wait until it cools down a bit. It's too hot out there right now, even for the "gnomes". LOL.
Speaking of work in the yard, we had these fellas come and clean up the shore line of Still Waters Pond. It had gotten so overgrown with weeds that we were concerned about the possibility of snakes, etc. Right now the pond water has receded quite a bit because of the hot/dry weather, but as the summer afternoon rains continue, it will start filling up again and there will be water all the way to those pine trees. So this was a good time to get it cleaned up while we could.
The finished product:
And it appears we have a new tenant in one of the birdhouses:
Actually, he's been there before, (or one of his ancestors), and he was just waiting for the birds to all leave so he could take it back over again until they return. He's so funny. He loves to sit there in the window looking out just like the birds did.
Yes, there is still plenty of hunting ground all around the pond for the birds. We just needed to clean up our part of the shore.
We took a quick ride over to see if there is any progress being made at the new Dixie Cottage store building. The landlady is painting the outside of the building and has chosen a pale yellow for the walls, and I am not sure about the doors yet, but they won't be that pretty blue anymore. Our kids were not consulted about what color scheme it should be. It's the building owner's choice, so whatever it ends up will have to do. I'm sure it will end up looking nice, but it will be different!
Tomorrow is their last day at their St. Augustine store, and then they will be packing it all up and moving it here next week, with a target date of August 2nd for the grand opening. They have a LOT to do, so prayers are welcome for their safety in moving and for their energy to hold up! They are younger than we are, but still not that young! It's a big job! And we really can't help that much. I will be having my scheduled colonoscopy on Monday, so I will be out of commission for at least Sunday and Monday.
Oh, across the street from their new store there was this benefit rummage sale and BBQ going on today, to benefit a local fireman who has cancer. So we went over and bought some BBQ ribs to have for supper. The kids are going to stop in on their way home from St. Augustine and have dinner with us. So that is one way we can help the kids...and help support a worthy cause in the community at the same time. I love the spirit of a small town...and I think having the store right there in the heart of town is going to be a real benefit and joy.
Here's some encouragement from God's Word for us today:
2 Corinthians 9:8
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."
Have a blessed and beautiful day and weekend friends!
Store will be close…is the pond on your property? Love the blog…
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brenda. Yes, the store is within 3 miles from our house now instead of 50 miles. That in itself is a huge savings! (for the kids). Our property borders the pond. We don't own the pond, but our property is "on the pond", so to speak. The pond belongs to the community development I guess. This area is filled with lakes and ponds. We were blessed to find this place as I really wanted something on the water. It's not a swimming pond and is too shallow for boating, but it is wonderful for the wildlife, which is exactly what I wanted. Thank you, Brenda!
DeleteI love the yellow and the blue doors together.. I can’t wait to see what you do with the stump. Praying for your kids
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. I like the blue doors too, but that's not what the landlady has chosen. it's going to be something much different...so I am reserving judgment until I see it all together. It will be fresh and new and that's the most important thing. As for the stump, I hope I can talk one of my sons into helping me figure out something cute. Anything's better than just a dumb old stump! LOL. Thank you for the prayers for the kids. They appreciate them too!!
Delete💙 the verse and the little houses.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandi. I hope I can figure out how to create one of those cute gnome/fairy houses. It would certainly be more fun than just an old stump. LOL.
DeleteI think making a little cottage out of the stump will really add a lot to your garden. A bit of whimsey is a great thing. Glad you got your shoreline cleared up cuz it looks so neat now. Will you put anything there at all?
ReplyDeleteThank you. I love a bit of whimsey, that's for sure. Regarding the shoreline, we have just had a major thunderstorm this evening and that area is a big grassy puddle. It will eventually fill in with water back up to the trees. It was just so dry because of the summer heat and lack of rain. But we are really just hitting our rainy season, so it will fill back up. The pond is actually rather shallow all the way across and has a very mucky bottom from all of the lily pads as they die, so it isn't good for any kind of water activity except to just enjoy the wildlife. When it fills back up I may take the kayak out again eventually, if my frozen shoulder will let me. I definitely need the exercise.
DeleteWhat adorable pixie cottages! Won't Lily Grace be beside herself?
ReplyDeleteLove the yellow walls on the new Dixie Cottage. I'll bet it's already generating some curiosity among the residents. You're so right about the spirit of a small town! Hope the ribs are/were delicious!
I was thinking about Lily Grace and the gnome/fairy house...yes, she will love it. She needs a new adventure. I've really been neglecting her activities. Oh, I am glad you like the yellow walls. I am not a big fan of yellow and was disappointed that the landlady chose that color, but I'm hoping when it all comes together it will look nice. I think she has some special plans for lighting, etc., that might look even better. So we shall see. And yes, there IS a lot of curiosity here in town. This little town doesn't have much in the way of shopping, so we are very hopeful that it will be a big hit. The ribs were so/so, but it was the thought that counted, right? The kids appreciated having a hot meal to come to that they didn't have to fix. They are really working overtime right now trying to get this job done. I'm glad they're young. LOL. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Maybe someday you'll come visit Dixie Cottage yourself!
DeleteThose artistic suggestions for the stump are so charming, Pamela! Something to think about while waiting for cooler weather to make such a project inviting. And it's a wise choice to have Still Waters Pond "trimmed" so that unwanted growth won't attrace unwanted varmints.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many joys when one lives in a small town, and that BBQ fundraiser for a neighbor in needs is such a great example. I've decided that once I'm back up and running, if that's ever the case, that I need to do some volunteer work here in the Kennesaw area.
Have a wonderful and blessed weekend!
Thank you, Martha! Yes, I am enjoying thinking about the possibilities for the stump. Now just to get someone else who has the skills to make it happen get just as excited as I am about doing it! Everyone is quite consumed with their own projects right now, and until we get Dixie Cottage up and running again that is the top priority. Yes, I am looking forward to becoming more involved in the community as well. Helping out in the store will help us to meet more people and become more involved. And I hope you will be able to do exactly as you have said above when you get to feeling better. Praying for you to get stronger with each new day. God bless you my dear friend.
DeleteI can’t wait to see what you will turn that tree stump into.It looks good around the pond, at least you have a better view of the activity there.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ruth. I have lots of ideas buzzing around in my head about the stump, but they will have to wait until it cools down a bit and until I can convince someone who has the skills to do the job to do the job! LOL. Right now our top priority is getting Dixie Cottage back up and running, and then we can think more about fun things. And regarding the shore line, last night we had a very good rain and thunderstorm, and already the ground is getting saturated with water and it won't be long until the water comes back up to the trees if we keep getting good rains. But at least we got the weeds out of the way for now. Once the waters come back up it is harder to do that. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
DeleteThose are such cute ideas for the stump. That was a lot of work outside by the pond. Enjoyed the photos. Hope their new shop works out great.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debby. They are cute ideas, and I hope when it cools down a bit and things slow down for my creative helpers that maybe we can come up with something fun. Right now the transfer of Dixie Cottage is taking preference over any other activity. And already the afternoon rains are beginning to fill in the pond where we cleaned it up, but that's okay. The grasses/weeds will grow back but for now we can see what's out there! LOL. Have a blessed day!
DeleteYou always see so much on your pond! I know you enjoy watching it and seeing who flies in next! Enjoy your weekend. Stay cool!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane. It seems like the pond activities have slowed down a bit for now, but every season brings a new adventure. It's our own little window on the world when we can't get out and hike and pursue other adventures. And thank you for the kind thoughts to stay cool...but you know as well as I do that right now the only way to stay cool is too stay indoors in the AC. The humidity makes it seem even hotter than it really is so makes it uncomfortable for being outdoors very long. I love that you are still managing some hikes. Fall is not too far away, is it???? Wishful thinking!! Have a blessed day.
DeleteI love the idea of turning the stump into a little fairy cottage. I can't wait to see it one day when it is finished. Wishing your kids well with the move. I know it's a big job. Also wishing you well with Monday's procedure.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Penny. I will let you know when and if the "fairy cottage" ever develops. Probably will be a while as it is too hot to work out there right now, and all my creative helpers are too busy with other projects. Thank you for the well wishes. I am beginning my liquid diet this morning in preparation for tomorrow's big event. I will be happy to get this over with!! Have a blessed day my friend.
DeleteOne great reason to have BBQ!!:) And aren't people just so creative? Those tree stumps are impressive. I hope you are able to have some fun with yours as well! Here's to a good week ahead....maybe an extra blessing or two!!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer. Yes, it was a good reason for a BBQ, and it was pretty good too. And yes, I love creative people. I have ideas in my head but can't seem to figure out how to do them in reality. I am hoping my more creative family members will help me when things slow down a bit and also cool down. I hope you have a blessed and wonderful week too. Happy Sunday!
DeleteOh I am pretty sure you have talented peeps who can help you with that darling project once they get set up in their new store. 😁 The blue does look nice with the yellow, if the landowner keeps it.
ReplyDeleteYes, it must be far nicer to see the pond's edge. One never knows there in Florida what critters be lurking. I tease Diane at Lavender Dreamer all the time. 😏
Thank you, Vee. Yes, there are talented "peeps" here, but they are totally overwhelmed right now with this big move. Maybe they will have some time for a fun creation once the dust settles a bit and it cools down. And yes, I do love the blue door, but I'm pretty sure her mind is made up to do something totally different. I will let you all know when it happens. The pond's edge looks nice, but already the afternoon rains are helping to fill it back in and soon the water will be creeping back up to the trees. At least we can see what's going on out there better. The grasses will grow back up with the water, but it was good to get this done while the waters were receded. Oh, Diane is one of my favorite people too. She's sharing the real beauty of Florida that I love!
DeleteLooking forward to your tree stump project. I've got one that I've been planning to do something with for a few years, maybe you'll inspire me to get busy on it. Love the lilies pads on the pond. Do you have frogs? I enjoy the music of frogs croaking at night.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Connie! I do hope I can create something fun and interesting with the stump...time will tell. It's just too hot to do anything with it right now. Regarding the lily pads and frogs...we seem to have more lily pads than pond...they are very prolific! And frogs? Oh yes, we can hear them in the trees and all around. I am sure they are out there on the lily pads too. I know the Herons and Egrets seem to "enjoy them". And yes, I enjoy their sounds too. They do help take care of the mosquito population as well. So I guess everything serves a purpose here in God's creation on Still Waters Pond! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Please do come again soon!
DeleteGary says snakes will get into those bird houses, too. Have you seen any?
ReplyDeleteThose tree stumps decorated like houses are ADORABLE!!! I have a door for a house like that. It belonged to my mother. When we emptied her house, I got the door. When I remember where I have packed it, I may put it at the base of a large palm tree in Gary's back yard.
Delightful post -- and best wishes to Benton and Rose as they set up shop in their new location!!
Snakes??? AaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiieeeeeeEEE! Sorry, Pamela, it seems I am always screaming at wildlife on your blog.
DeleteI have been taking a little break, but you were on my mind and I thought I would stop by and say hi.
"...benefit a local fireman who has cancer."
Praying 💜