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!

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Thursday Thankfulness

You know, when people go the extra mile to send you some cheer when you've been feeling bad, I call that God's amazing grace shining through His people. One of our dear blogging sisters, who shall remain unnamed but she knows who she is, blessed my heart with a lovely card in the mail today. Thank you, dear friend! It made my day. It also made me wish I could be more like her...sometimes I think about doing that extra special nice thing, and then I get side tracked and forget until it's too late. I pray that God will help me to be more thoughtful...and I thank God for those who already are. What a blessing!


And I thank the Lord that I am starting to feel much better, both with my shoulder/arm, (thanks to the steroid shots and also the Lord's kindness) and also the laryngitis and sinusitis/coughing is gradually returning to normal. I still can't sing, but I am praying that I will have some kind of voice by Sunday morning so I can sing God's praises! If not, I'll mouth the words and He'll know my heart anyway.
Also, I will be starting physical therapy on Monday for my shoulder, so I pray that will help my arm to get stronger and heal the tears inside. One step at a time.

So often I show you the beautiful sunsets that we enjoy here on Still Waters Pond, but I rarely share the cloudy skies.  This is how it looks out there right now...and I am thankful for the cloudy skies, because there is a hope and promise of some much needed rain inside those clouds:
It has been so very dry and dusty and the air is full of pollen and often smoky as well. That contributes to much of our sinus issues here at this time of the year, and so we are very thankful when God sends the showers to cleanse the air and give us fresh air to breathe again. The weather forecast says it's coming, so I am waiting and praying.

This afternoon when I went out to get the mail I stopped to smell the flowers along the way (yes, I know that will also trigger a big sneeze, but they were so pretty!)  Actually I just took their picture.
This is the Carolina Jessamine that grows wild in the trees and along the fence at this time of year.
It is a beautiful herald of spring.


Another herald of spring is the azalea bush, though not wild...this is one that I planted a couple of years ago, but it is blooming now as well.


Back inside the house I have managed to put out a few decorations for Valentine's Day. Nothing too elaborate, just a little bit of hearts and color...




Lily Grace and her friends are ready for a Valentine's Tea Party...


Lily Grace sends her love to you all.  


I just saw this picture on Facebook...my sister had shared it.  I guess it kind of fits me perfectly! Or at least I hope it always does !!!


I kind of like this very rustic rocking horse at Dixie Cottage, although it may be a little too rustic to let a little grandchild play on...I think it's meant more for "decor" than actual rocking rambunctious children.

Here's just a few pretty and interesting things that caught my eye this week at Dixie Cottage:

I think this refinished French Provincial style dresser is very lovely.

And I think this antique vanity/dresser would make some young lady very happy...(or maybe some more mature lady as well!)


Now this is something I wanted for a long time at our last house where I was doing a lot more with my back yard "decor"...This garden potting bench is really cool...


I just think that would be so much fun to have...


Now, here's a wonderful vintage chest of drawers with a lovely design...I think it would be perfect for my guest room...but I can't take home everything I see...I may just have to paint the one I have...

Now here is something very unique! Can you guess what they are made from?


I would have never guessed...now, they can be used either as a flower pot or a bird feeder...and they are made from...

Old vinyl records!!  Amazing! This vendor paints the record and then somehow melts it in the oven in a bowl...I don't know exactly, but that's how it turned out!  Very clever indeed!! (please look up specific instructions before trying this at home!)



Well, I am thankful for so many things...my family, my friends, my health...even with the little issues I have I know it could always be worse, so I am VERY thankful to God and do not take my health for granted.  

Oh...also I managed to get our taxes done this week! Hooray! and even bigger hooray, we are getting some $$ back!! Yay! Yay! Yay!  I am thankful for Turbo Tax, which makes doing our own taxes online very simple...and because ours are so uncomplicated with very little input, we can do it for free! That's even better!  I have used this method for several years and I even do our son's taxes on it, and I am very thankful for this method.  



I guess that's all for tonight.

Here's a verse to ponder:

Exodus 15:2

"The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him."

When my own voice cannot vocalize and sing God's praises, I can still praise Him with my words written here and with my whole heart.
Amen.














 

25 comments:

  1. Such a nice post. The flowers are beautiful and so are those hanging baskets (Records),,,what a really neat idea. So glad you are starting to feel better. Take care my friend.

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    1. Thank you, Cathy. Yes, I thought the records made into baskets were a fun and neat idea too. Some people are so clever! (not me! LOL) I hope you have a Happy Friday!

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  2. I always enjoy the photos from Dixie Cottage, Pam. There is always something I would like to have... good for my budget that I live so far away! I am so happy you are feeling better and that your PT gets going next week. Keep us posted on how that goes, please! Love and hugs!!

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    1. Thank you, Terri. I know what you mean about the "budget", but I still wish you weren't so far away...although you are one of my "closest" blogging sisters...and one who actually likes to visit people! I thank you for that. And yes, I will let you know about my PT. I hope it helps without hurting me too much, but we shall see how that goes! LOL. Happy Friday!

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  3. I would love to visit Dixie Cottage!! I always enjoy the pictures taken there and make a list of what I would like to have. Dreams are such fun. I think about my little girl self sometimes. Precious memories with Momma and Daddy and my brothers. It such a great place for my mind to visit. The flowers are looking good, the last hard freeze we had left my plants pretty sad. I know they'll bounce back once spring is here. Lily Grace has on a beautiful dress, perfect for her tea party. I always enjoy my visits with you. I hope you continue to feel better and PT will get you back where you need to be. Hope it doesn't hurt too much. A lovely gift to a lovely lady from a lovely blogger!! Sending you ((hugs)).

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    1. Thank you, Mary. Yes, dreams are fun! At this stage in life that seems to be what we have more of than reality sometimes! LOL...and yes, those precious memories of our childhood days. The closer we get to heaven, the more I long for it. Lily Grace sends her thanks to you for your sweet comment. Oh, and I always enjoy it when you visit...and when I can visit you!! I'm so glad you were able to come back to blogging again. You are a blessing to me and others as well. Happy Friday!

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  4. What gorgeous flowers you feature today! Just beautiful. I have a very soft spot for flowers out in nature or in bouquets. I had one I got on sale for Chinese New Year but had to toss it yesterday as it's past its prime. I'm sorry to hear you were sick but happy that you are beginning to feel better and I'm sure the physiotherapy will help a lot. That first dresser at Dixie Cottage is gorgeous too. Alas, something that big wouldn't 'fit' into my current space (if Dixie Cottage was a lot closer to where I live, lol). Have a Good Friday Pamela.

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    1. Thank you, Joyful! I love it when the spring flowers start to bloom, especially the ones I don't have to worry or fret over. They come from "God's Garden"...the wildflowers that He takes care of and they flourish and grow without man's help. I hope you have a Happy Friday and enjoy what surrounds you!!!

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  5. I always enjoy seeing the wares at Dixie Cottage even if it is via your blog. Our home is small. We don't have room for anything else in the way of furniture. Our refrigerator has all but gone out of commission. Guess what I get for Valentine's Day? :) Glad you are feeling better. Peace and blessings to you and yours.

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    1. Thank you, Cecelia...for being a special friend. Oh, I am so sorry to hear that your refrigerator has gone out of commission. I know how hard it is to replace them, and then pray that the new one will last a long time. Happy Valentine's Day indeed! :) God bless you dear friend.

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  6. Dixie Cottage is one of those places I want to visit someday. Such beautiful, clever things. I want it all! *lol*
    I pray you get well soon. Hope the PT does what it's supposed to do. This being sick is for the birds. We've had something respiratory for over a week and a half and I'm ready to move on.
    Love. xx

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    1. The respiratory issues are going all around here now, plus covid has raised its ugly head again among some people at our church. Thankfully I don't have that and I pray it doesn't start making the rounds again here. We need rain to wash the air clean and pure. Please take care and feel better really soon my friend.

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  7. Squealing! I can't decide which is my favorite -- tho' the gardening potting bench is tickling my heartstrings. Having a black thumb, I'd probably turn it into a coffee bar. I never had a sister, but those little vintage girls? I just copied to include in my little 'Joy' journal. It's wonderful to see Lily Grace once more! Lifting my prayers that PT isn't too awful. I remember when I was going through that for frozen shoulder, another patient called the trainers "Physical Terrorists."

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    1. Oh dear, "physical terrorists" doesn't sound too good. I've been through it here before with my other shoulder, and I know it can hurt, but the PT place I go to is very sweet and merciful, but still gets the job done. I like the coffee bar idea for the potting bench. But for me it would be tea. LOL. Lily Grace sends her love.

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  8. PT for me was a life-saver, Pamela, and I hope it's the same for you! Loved all your photos, but especially the cloudy skies and the eagerly-blooming flowers. Spring does come early in Florida!
    Blessings and feel better!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. And yes, I am hopeful that the PT will help me regain some strength in my arms again. I've been going through this for two years now, first with the right arm, now with the left. It's no fun. I'm tired of being "weak". yes, we are glad for spring, except for the effluence of pollen. Many people are suffering with allergies and other illnesses around here as a result. Comes with the season I guess. Take care my friend, and stay well.

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  9. Old vinyl records!!! I was guessing they were made of those metal pans you can use to create edible tortilla bowls for a taco salad. I'm impressed. How clever! I'm so glad you are feeling better and stopped to pray physical therapy helps your shoulder issues. And yes indeed, the Lord knows your worshiping heart even when the voice can't really sing. Lily's tea party looks great!

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. I appreciate your prayers. I never realized until you wrote about it earlier that you had had shoulder issues/replacement? Wow! But so happy that now you are able to bike ride and stay very active. What a blessing. Lily Grace sends her love...

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  10. SO many pretty photos - Love all the stuff there at Dixie Cottage.

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  11. I love the jasmine :) all your photos are beautiful. I am so sorry you have been sick. I got sick last Saturday and just now feeling like a person again. Mine was from Cedar Fever, but turned to bronchitis which is a normal thing since the weather can't decide if we need the ac or heat on. Have a blessed weekend Dixie Cottage I could get lost in there.

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    1. Good Morning Gina. I am sorry to hear that you've been sick as well. I don't know what "Cedar Fever" is. Must be something regional to your area? But the bronchitis I do know, and it's no fun. You are right about the weather hot or cold. We are finally getting some rain...rained all night long, for which we are very happy. It's supposed to be kind of chilly again for the next few days, but I don't mind that. I hope you feel better really soon. Take care my friend.

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  12. She glad to hear that you are feeling better. That was sweet of your friend to send you the note. The cloudy sky is beautiful. Always enjoy seeing items from the Dixie Cottage.

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  13. Amen. Love you. Regine

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  14. What a nice surprise to receive in the mail. Also, good news that your shoulder is feeling better and hope your cold will be getting better as well. We have both been dealing with lingering colds, and actually saw our nurse practitioner today to get her opinion. Grenville needed antibiotics, but as for myself just nasal spray and vitamin C.

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