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!

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Wednesday Treasures and Thankfulness.

Happy February!!  Wow! Can you believe we are already here? I know, January seemed like it would never end, but now February is here and I can't believe it! 

I love the John Sloane Country Seasons calendar pictures. This one says, "From Sun to Sun"...we know a farmer's work is never done.

Speaking of the sun, here was our sunrise this morning...a foggy start to the day, but it has been a bright hot sunny day for the rest of the day, reaching up above 80 degrees on February 1st.

This Yellow Bellied Slider turtle was out on the marshy sand bar sunning himself in the bright afternoon sunshine:

And the Great Blue Heron was on the other side of the pond fishing, but happened to notice the turtle...


And so he flew over to pay him a visit...I'm not too sure the turtle appreciated the call because he slithered away...

And the Heron flew up into the tree where he could watch him from afar...

I think the Heron is saying something in this picture...his mouth is open...maybe he's calling in reinforcements, I don't know...

This gives you a better idea of how far away he really was from me...do you still see him out there?

That's why I am thankful for a zoom lens on my real camera!

Also I can see this little bird  out there on Still Waters Pond catching bugs on the lily pads...


And I can see Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird building their nest in the birdhouse...

Mr. Bluebird stands guard while Mrs. Bluebird builds the nest...


They are so beautiful and fun to watch, even if they do chase away the other birds from nearby while they are at the birdfeeder...

Isn't he beautiful?

Oh, can you see the Goldfinch sitting on the shepherd's hook? I think she's hoping for a tea party...

Speaking of which...here is the picture from the Tea Pots calendar for February...

"A teapot conveys a sense of cosiness and homeliness..." (see below)

Yes, I believe it does. That's probably why I collect them...
Oh, I still haven't put out any decorations for Valentine's Day yet...just haven't had time, so that will be another post for another day...

Here is the Thomas Kinkade pictures/verses for February. So tranquil and lovely...

Praise God for this verse below:

And this is a new calendar given to me from my sweet DIL.  I've put it in my bathroom where I can see it each day and keep up with appointments, etc.  What a lovely garden...  And btw, please keep my DIL and her family in your prayers. Her stepmother passed away this morning, leaving behind her husband, Rose's father, who is not very well either. They live in Minnesota, so it's a long way from here, and Rose is very concerned for her father. She does have several other siblings, but still she feels a responsibility and great concern for his well being. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers on their behalf.


Speaking of my bathroom...hubby took this picture of me this morning...early before makeup, hair, and dress-up for the day's activities. But I asked him to take it so I can tell you about my Dr. appointment that I had yesterday morning...

If you recall my post from last week,, I told you about having two MRI's. One on my shoulder, and one on my Thoracic spine.  So I got the reports yesterday... The spine is fine, except for some general "mild degenerative changes", but nothing "remarkable"  The shoulder is another story. I have some "mild tendinopathy of the supraspinatus", "questionable longitudinal split tear of the long head of the biceps tendon within the bicipital groove", "partial-thickness tear of the anterior superior labrum", and "moderate osteoarthritis of the AC joint with associated capsular hypertrophy and small AC joint effusion.  Associated mild subacromial and subdeltoid edema/bursa formation."  Those of you who have any medical background may interpret. Long story short, there are some small tears in the bicep and other tendon in the shoulder, etc.  The Doctor gave me two shots of cortisone in the shoulder and taped it up with this special tape to help hold it in place better, and also has prescribed physical therapy. He doesn't feel I will need any surgery, unless it doesn't heal properly in a reasonable amount of time. I am very thankful for that and am already beginning to feel some relief from the shots. PT will start probably in a week.
Re: the CPAP machine saga...I have discontinued use right now because I came down with a seasonal allergy, scratchy throat and sinus drainage issues, making it difficult to wear the breathing machine thingy, so I will try to start over next week, or as soon as I feel up to it. Quite frankly, I would not call it a "sleep machine". I barely slept a wink while trying to use it. I think it will take some getting used to. Time will tell...

Moving along to other events around the neighborhood:

 Way back in September I mentioned that a new Dollar General was being built in our neighborhood.  Well, today was the official opening of that new store:
And so of course we had to go check it out. It's quite handy...actually within walking distance from our house. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Time will tell. I told hubby we ought to get a golf cart so we can just scoot over there anytime...but I don't see that happening anytime soon. LOL.

(That's hubby walking in and I am up in the TV screen in the doorway!)

It's very clean and neat (for now), and a bit larger I'd say than the other two stores that are each within 2.5 miles in either direction.  There has been a lot of talk in our town about why do we need another Dollar General so close to the others...and the only answer I can come up with is they, the CEO's of Dollar General, must know something that we don't know. Growth is coming to our little town whether we like it or not, so we might as well get used to it.  Oh, and regarding my request for a traffic signal, well, that hasn't happened, and I doubt it will, unless they see an uptick in serious accidents at this intersection...which, sadly, I am sure they will. I just pray it never involves anyone I know or love. 

Speaking of accidents...

You probably can't really see it in these pictures, but that red reflector/tail light has a crack in it, and there are paint chips flaking off of the bumper of our car. The crack in the reflector is is where we had to glue that little piece back on after I accidentally backed into someone at our Ladies' Bible Study the other day. As we were leaving, my friend in the car next to me backed out, and I thought she was gone, so I started to back out as well. Suddenly I felt something hit hard behind my car, and realized that my friend's car was still there! I stopped my car and jumped out, and then saw that not only had I backed into her front bumper, but she had backed into the door of a car that was parked perpendicularly behind her. Thankfully none of the damage was severe and no one was hurt, just some scratches on our vehicles, and a dent to my pride!   It was clearly my fault...I did not actually turn around and look to be sure her car was gone when I started to back up. She was in my blind spot, and my neck doesn't turn well anyway, and so I never saw her there. Thankfully we are all okay and the damage wasn't enough to call insurance or police. Whew! That was a close one!

Thank You, Lord, for your mercy and protection for all of us!


These verses were read in our morning devotions today, and I found verses 11, 12 and 13 especially applicable to my situation (with my "hands that hang down...and that what is lame may not be dislocated bye rather be healed"), but the whole passage is valuable...

Hebrews 12:11-15

11 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; 
nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;"


Some great words of wisdom there for us to consider tonight.
Yes, it is now night. Time to put this to rest.
All in all, I just want to thank the Lord for His protection, love, mercy and grace...and His healing power. 
And let us "pursue peace with all people, and holiness..."

Good night dear friends, and God bless you all.











39 comments:

  1. Backing out in parking lots is my least favorite thing to do!! Glad the damages were minimal and that no one was hurt! Praise God, always!! There is so much activity on your pond!! Who needs TV when you can watch nests being built, love matches being made, and grouchy neighbors scooting away when they see someone coming!! LOL So much fun!! I look forward to your SWP photos!! xo

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    1. Thank you, Terri. Yes, I hate to back up out of anywhere and will try to park in places where that won't be a problem, but it isn't always possible. I'd much rather stay home and watch the birds on the pond than be out there on any road or parking lot! LOL. God's creation is so much more fun to watch. I hope you have a joyful and peaceful Saturday! I saw the picture of the strawberries on FB, and I am looking for good fresh ones around here. Nothing better than good fresh strawberries from Florida!! Especially in February! Have a blessed day my friend from Florida.

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  2. Thank goodness all was ok with the bump. I do hope your shoulder heals. None of those places are fun and they certainly don’t make sleep go well. The nature photos and calendar pictures are beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, Sandy. It is always wonderful to hear from you, especially now that I know you are not actually blogging anymore. I am happy you still visit us. I hope things are going well with you and your family. I pray for you with all that you have going on. One day at a time. Please stay in touch with us, okay??

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  3. So sorry you're having such medical problems. I went through a lot of that and found that the PT didn't help at all. I quit after about one visit. Plus, it was $10 for every visit (even with insurance). What with gas and all that adds up really fast. I found the exercises on-line and did them at home. Win-Win. Get well soon!
    Parking lot altercations are very common. Steve taught me a cool trick to avoid that. Always back into the parking spaces or pull up so I don't have to backup to leave. He had to do that when he was working for BellSouth. That ended any chances of me runnin' over someone, hurting a child or getting a bump on the truck.
    Y'all do "need" a golf cart. I have one and it's great. Make sure it's a gas powered one. They're much more reliable than the battery type and don't cost as much to operate (batteries are EXPENSIVE!). I hope having the Dollar General close is a plus and not a minus.
    Love to all there.

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    1. Once I know which exercises to do for this particular problem, I will probably not go back to PT, but then again, I find I am not as self-disciplined as I should be about keeping up with the exercises when I am not being held accountable...so we shall see. Regarding backing up, etc., I try to avoid situations like what happened the other day, but I truly was being careless and did not take extra time to double check. My brain was not in gear when my car was...and I have learned a valuable lesson. Re: Dollar General so close...I just hope people don't start leaving the grocery carts all along the road here and find those yellow plastic bags blowing in the wind everywhere...people can be very "trashy" sometimes, so I pray that doesn't happen here. I like the idea of a golf cart, but I don't really see one in my future, at least not yet. But it would be nice. Have a blessed and wonderful weekend.

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  4. So glad you will not need surgery god is so good. Your photos are so peaceful nature has a way of calming us. We were driving home Friday and decided to drive down Bellamy road we came upon a field covered with what appeared to be at least one hundred sand hill cranes. We had never seen that many in one place. My Gertrude and heathcliff visit us more when the bird feeder is full! We are noticing a lot of robins here too when we lived in Dade city we only would see a few one day as they flew north. For some reason they are staying here longer, maybe they know still to cold in the north. You will find dollar general will save a run to town, the one near us has very good produce always fresh. Will keep rose and her family in prayer.

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    1. Oh, what a wonderful sight that field of cranes must have been! I love to see them like that...they must be the migrating ones from up north. These who are here stay around all year long and do not appear to migrate. Oh, I did read where they are on the endangered list and we are not supposed to feed them. So I no longer scatter any seeds for them. They still get some from the overflow of the birdfeeder, but I am trying to abide by the law regarding that, even though I enjoy seeing them come up here to dine. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers...I appreciate you!!

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  5. I agree with Terri ... who needs TV when y'all have such fascinating shows taking place on Still Waters Pond! Oh, I hope the cortisone and PT soon give you relief. Wouldn't it be nice if these medical diagnoses came with a translator -- Real words for Real people. Wishing y'all a most blessed Groundhog Day!

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    1. Thank you, Myra. Yes, I watch more birds than I do TV. Never a dull moment when the birds are out there. And yes, it would be nice to have a translator for medical jargon. I think I know enough to understand that I need to let my shoulder heal and it will take time. Hopefully we are on the right track for that now. Happy Groundhog day to you too! Early spring is on its way???

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  6. Sorry about your accident. Prayers. Love your calendars. I use a planner but no calendars. Of course, Kinkade my favorite...I have his prints all over the condo, gifts from my kids and friends. Loved seeing some of the places he painted in Carmel, CA...often...hope you feel better and do not need surgery...prayers...

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    1. Thank you, Brenda. I appreciate the kind thoughts and prayers. I do love Thomas Kinkade paintings. He was certainly gifted.

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    2. Thank you for replying to our comments and making this dialogue.

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  7. So glad no one was hurt and there were no serious damages. As always, I love all the pictures of Still Waters Pond and also of all the birds (especially, the blue birds.). Reading this reminded me to turn over the page on my calendar...thanks. I hope your therapy will really work for you. Also, hang in there on the cpap. I can't say I love mine, but I do think I rest better with it.

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    1. Thank you, Cathy. I am very thankful for God's protection and His provision for us. We are blessed. Re: the Cpap, I hope I can manage it. Time will tell. I am not being very positive about it and I guess I need an attitude adjustment. LOL. Have a blessed and wonderful weekend...

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  8. Oh dear...talk about a comedy of errors. I know you were all grateful for God's protection.

    Your new Dollar Tree store looks just like my new Dollar Tree store. I really like the store because it's only a mile or so away and carries items that I can no longer find at other places.

    Too bad you've been delayed in using your new machine. Glad that you are already getting relief in your shoulder. That's a blessing.

    The photos are beautiful. My favorites are Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird.

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    1. Thank you, Vee. I am trying to be more attentive for sure....God got my attention! I am not sorry to be delayed in using my new "machine". I am hoping it will just go away...but I know I have to face that music sooner or later. But right now I am dealing with this shoulder and a seasonal allergy because pollen is falling here now, while you still have snow! Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird send their love.

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  9. On our dashboard, there is a screen that activates a camera that shows the driver what is behind the car. I don't always remember to look at that screen, I believe I will from now on. Sorry to hear of Rose's loss. I will pray for the family. Peace and blessings to you.

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    1. Yes, Cecelia, we have one of those back up camera screens in our car too, but sadly I forgot to look at it. I guess I wasn't being very careful, and I learned my lesson. Thankfully no one was hurt. I am very thankful, and I heard God's voice in this situation reminding me to pay better attention!!! (my word, Listen!) Have a blessed rest of your week. I hope you are warm and cozy.

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  10. With all that you've experienced lately, these Bible verses are of a clear and sure comfort. I hope things get better soon, in all areas!

    PS when the time comes to remove that black tape on your shoulder/arm, do it VERY CAREFULLY, following the instructions you (hopefully) were given. Done correctly, it's not a problem. Done quickly and without care, you can lose a layer of skin -- this, from someone who knows from personal experience.

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    1. Thank you for the reminder about the tape removal. My Dr. didn't say anything, but I now remember when I had it before from the PT they told me how to remove it. I appreciate your reminder as I had forgotten that!

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  11. Hello Pamela. Prayers that your shoulder heals up. I have been having some should problems as well, but my knee is my real weak point. Getting older is sometimes no fun. I love all of the wildlife and birds you have near your home. Your nature photography is awesome! It will be convenient for you to have that Dollar General Store so close. Have a good day. See you again soon!

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    1. Thank you Deb. You are right, "getting older is sometimes no fun". My sweet daddy used to say to me, "Oh Pammy, don't get old!", and I would reply, "But Daddy, what's my alternative?" and he'd say, "Oh, I see what you mean." He was so sweet. He lived to be almost 93 and had Parkinson's Disease, but bore it patiently and never complained. I need to take a lesson from him. Thank you for enjoying the nature/wildlife photos. They keep me smiling for sure. Have a blessed rest of your week.

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  12. I hope you find some relief for your shoulder. I understand some of the terms having had rotator cuff surgery last year. I've seen those bands before too. I hope the physical threapy works good for you. I love PT. Sure it can hurt but its a good hurt. And you have to do it and follow what they say. The 2 PT's I have gone to after knee surgery and my shoulder were the best and I healed quickly.

    Ouch on the minor parking lot accident - better it be friends than someone who you don't know and only want to bilk you out of cash.

    I need to get a good camera - I love photography and only use my iPhone. There are so many things I am unable to capture because of that limitation.

    Take care and God Bless.

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    1. Oh, I am sorry to hear that you went through rotator cuff surgery. I hear it is not pleasant at all. I am thankful I am not to that point yet, and I pray I never get there. If left untreated, this issue I have could lead to that, so that is why I am trying to get the help I can now. And yes, I do appreciate having a camera that has a good zoom lens. It is an old Kodak camera, but it still works well and I am thankful for it. The only thing is it is slow and I can't keep snapping pictures one after the other very quickly like with a cell phone, so I miss some things. But it is an "open window" into the world around us, and I am very thankful for it. I hope you have a pleasant and beautiful weekend.

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  13. I had a fender bender last year, but it didn't end as amicably as yours did, Pamela. Glad everything is okay in that department. I said a prayer for Rose and her family; it's so hard living far away when a parent is ill and in need of comfort. I do hope she will be able to visit with her dad soon.
    Hang in there with all the medical stuff. It does seem a given for us as we age, but it so helps to remember that God knows all that we're going through and cares for us. Praying He will see you through all these trials and changes in your life, dear friend.
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Accidents are never much fun, even when they are minor. But we are thankful it wasn't any worse and no one was injured. That's the most important part. Thank you for the prayers for Rose and her family. That is what is needed most right now. And yes, I am so thankful that God is with me in these medical trials. I am thankful they are minor compared to what they could be and I count my blessings every day. Thank you for being a dear friend! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that you are staying warm and cozy where you are. It got chilly here again...so I guess old man winter isn't finished yet...

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  14. So good to hear your shoulder pain is treatable without surgery! That is great news. I'm sorry about the accident, evertho it was minor things like that are a blow to our emotions. Just thankful it was little damage and no one was hurt. As always, your photos of the pond and the wildlife that live there are amazing. Sending prayers of healing your way,

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    1. Thank you, Mary. Yes, I am thankful for that as well. I am just praying for it to heal and I really need to start rebuilding my muscle strength in both my arms as they are both very weak. And yes, I am thankful the little accident was just that, a little accident, but still it was a shock and I am starting to get more "gun shy" of backing up for sure. Thank you for the prayers. I do truly appreciate them and YOU>

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  15. God bless you too, Pamela.

    I am praying for Rose. The Lord bless her and keep her. My condolences to your family.

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    1. Thank you so much, Sandi. That means so much to us.

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  16. Oh, I've done that with backing up......
    Prayers for Rose and her dad and siblings.
    What beautiful weather you are having! Here in PA, it's super windy and frigidly cold.

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    1. Thank you for your prayers, Carol. I hope you are warming up by today...it was cold, rainy, and windy here yesterday too, but definitely not as bad as what you are having there. Take care and stay warm!

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  17. Forgot to add that Dollar General is the best. It has saved me a bundle. I go on Saturday and use the 5.00 coupon from the Saturday before or if I have been in during the week. It is within walking distance, but I buy quite a bit plus go to a Publix also…the first store I went to when ,o in there was DG…the manager knows me well. I bought so much for the condo…lamps…rugs…etc.

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    1. Yes, we are thankful to have the DG close by. We have always been good customers to the DG wherever we have lived. I know it is going to be very handy for us since it is right in the entrance to our neighborhood. I just pray it is kept up nicely and that people will be respectful of other people's property in the area.

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  18. I love all the bird pictures!
    I am down in your neck of the woods until tomorrow. I wonder how close I am to you (in St. Augustine).

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    1. You are VERY close to us! We live in Interlachen, which is about an hour's drive west of St. Augustine, on the other side of Palatka. If you are going to venture in this direction, our family's store, Dixie Cottage, is open today from 10-4. If I knew you were coming I would be there for sure, but my son will definitely be there. https://www.facebook.com/dixiecottage/ 505A Atlantic Avenue, Interlachen, FL. I hope you have some pleasant weather today...yesterday wasn't so great! Enjoy your time in Florida!!

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  19. I love seeing the birds you see in the pond and of course your precious Bluebirds. Hope you continue to improve and feel better. Enjoy your weekend and this nice weather today! Hugs, Diane

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  20. Sorry to read the sad news about Rose's step-mother and it certainly can be difficult being so far from family. Thanks for the update on your medical checkups and hope your shoulder is not causing too much discomfort, although painful I am sure. Glad there were no physical injuries from the car bumping; things can be easily repaired, but people not so much. It was lovely to see the bluebirds at work on their new family and could sure use some warming temps here in NH where it's a balmy 8 degrees as I post this comment.

    Thanks, Pam, for the birthday well wishes which were much appreciated!

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