I could have picked some more tonight when we went for a walk in the same place,
Welcome to my "Open Window"...a place of hope, encouragement, and adventure as we journey down the road from "Closed Doors" to the new opportunities God places in our pathway. I hope you will take the time to go back and follow the trail of mixed blessings and fears, failures and triumphs from the past and side-trips in the present. Perhaps it will conjure up some of your own special memories, and be an invitation for you to share with others. I look forward to spending this time with you!
What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Friday, September 20, 2024
Thursday Thankfulness and Friday Foto Friends
I know, I know, it's Friday already, so what's with the "Thursday Thankfulness" title? Well, believe it or not I tried to get this started last night, but didn't get very far, so now here it is Friday evening at 7:15 and I'm just getting back to it! I started out without many pictures, but seem to have accumulated a few more as the day has progressed, so just bear with me while I take you along for the "ride", or walk, or conversation...
Hope your week has been wonderful...Ours has been busy, hence why I am so late in posting. Here's where I started out last night...
Perhaps YOU should be thankful that I am not your florist! LOL. I picked this bouquet of wildflowers one day this week when we went for a walk.
It is a mixture of Coral Vine, wild Lantana, Wild Poinsettia and some other little yellow daisy type of flower.
They were growing wild and free and I wanted to bring some home with me to enjoy for a few days, until the flowers started dropping and the water started getting smelly...you know how that is...LOL. Those little pink coral vine flowers basically dropped all over the place, but they were still beautiful and a pleasure to watch on my kitchen counter above the sink.
I could have picked some more tonight when we went for a walk in the same place,
but decided to just leave them for the bees and butterflies to enjoy...
I had to "wade" through some pretty tall, thick grasses/weeds to get this close, and didn't have my good camera with me, so these pictures aren't as great as I'd like them to be, but you get "the picture" anyway I hope.
As I rounded the house to the back yard to do some watering because it has been so dry again the past few days, I noticed the Sand Hill Crane Family out on "Crane Island", enjoying their evening supper.
They did stop to watch me from a distance, I'm sure they were hopeful that I'd throw out some birdseed for them.
But I mostly was enjoying the way the sun was setting behind the trees and lighting up the surroundings in a beautiful golden light.
I watered the plants...
And I love the way the sun was filtering through the trees to the "Secret Memorial Garden".
Psalm 27:14
"Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord!"
I will keep you posted on further developments.
Speaking of waiting on the Lord and being strong again...one thing we did this week was mow the lawn. Although we don't have a huge yard, what we have is very bumpy, hilly, and sandy, and not a lot of good grass, but what is there has to be kept mowed or it will become overwhelming. This section of the yard it what I've chosen to do with the push mower. A year ago I could not do this at all because of my shoulder, neck, and back issues. But little by little I have regained some strength, and now I am very thankful to be able to do this again. It is truly an answer to prayer. (Strength is my "One Word" for 2024)
Hubby does all of the front yard with the riding mower, which is fine with me. We can't use the riding mower on the back yard because it is so sloped and uneven. So he does all the other areas that are on flatter ground. This below is the driveway and front area of the house. We don't really have a lot of grass there because of the oak trees. There are more acorns and leaves than grass, but what is there has to be cut. We do not have a paved driveway or sidewalks...just a lot of sand, which gets tracked into the house, but that's another story for another time! LOL.
I am truly thankful to be able to do this again! It really is an answer to prayer.
What else did we do this week? Well, let's see, on Wednesday hubby had a doctor's appointment in Gainesville for some routine tests, which is about an hour's drive away. So we made it there actually a few minutes early, and thankfully they took him right in. We were back out of there within about a half hour, and back on the road home around 10:00 a.m. We got into our hometown around 10:50 (there wasn't as much traffic as in the early ride over), and decided to go to True Grits, a local restaurant, for an early lunch.
We used to go there all the time after church, but they started getting too busy and couldn't handle our larger groups of people from church, so we quit going there. However, on a week day, before noon, it wasn't very busy, and we enjoyed a good "senior discount" lunch of Country Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes with white gravy, and fried okra, and a biscuit. It was only $6.99 (plus beverage) What else would you expect at a place called "True Grits"? Well, yes, they do serve grits with breakfast, but we didn't want breakfast. And they call it "True Grits" actually after the John Wayne movie of the same name, and there are many pictures of John Wayne in the restaurant. It's a nice place...I just wish they weren't so crowded on Sundays! LOL.
And speaking of restaurants and going out to eat after church, we are planning to go out this Sunday to my favorite place here in our little town, "Hog Wild Country Cafe'". We plan to go with our kids, including Scott, to celebrate my birthday a few days early since Scott can't be here during the week.
Here's a picture of hubby and me there a couple of years ago, obviously when it was a bit cooler outside, hence the fire inside! I don't expect there to be a fire this weekend! Even though our mornings have been in the low 70's this week (even down to 69 one morning!), it still warms up to the high 80's in the afternoon, so I'm sure there won't be any fire in the wood stove yet! But there will be warmth in our hearts to be together with our family (and maybe some friends from church, we will see if any want to go there on Sunday) We always have a good time there.
Oh, back to the back yard this evening...The Sand Hill Crane family DID finally come across the pond to visit, hoping for some treats, and they did happen to find some bird seed on the ground...
This is "Abe" below, the very grown up "colt". He is finally getting his red topknot on his head, and it's getting harder and harder to tell him apart from his parents. He will probably still be hanging around with them for a couple more months, but I expect he will have to go out on his own most likely around Christmas, if not sooner. Then it will be interesting to see if Mom and Dad Crane decide to build another nest this winter out on "Crane Island". Time will tell, and we'll be watching for sure.
Well, with that I think I will close for the night. It is now 8:19 p.m. So that only took an hour to write! LOL.
Here's some good thoughts from my devotional reading tonight:
Psalm 121:7-8
New International Version
"7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."
And with those comforting thoughts, I will say good night and may God be with you always.
Amen.
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The cranes make me so happy!! I hope they nest again!! I enjoyed your photos, Pam! Happy birthday early, since I'll be away next week. Enjoy your birthday dinner with Scott and Ben and Rose - and John, too! Wishing you a year ahead full of so many blessings! Love and hugs, my friend!! xo
ReplyDeleteCute name for a restaurant - True Grits.
ReplyDeleteYour yards look good. I like your memorial garden photo. Looks like a nice place to ponder the wonders of God. It’s good to see the Crane Family and your possum is sweet. If you keep feeding it will get too chubby to leave! Have a restful evening
What possum??? I'm trying to figure that one out! Hmm, maybe there is a shadow post here that I can't see...oh, no, that would be a groundhog...lol. Anyway, not sure what you are talking about, but I don't have a possum that I know of, although there are some who come around during the night I am certain, but I don't feed them on purpose. LOL.
DeleteNice photos. My yard has little grass in front because of the sand. In back same thing but I have a ton of moss under the canopy of the woods. The baby crane looks big . An early Happy Birthday to you. Its lovely that you get to go out with family for a celebration. I hope your weekend is relaxing, care free and healthy.
ReplyDeleteI love your chats with us about the happenings around your home. The crane family knows who loves them and gives them yummy treats. Smart birds. Wouldn't it be lovely to have another baby to watch grow up. They are very good parents.
ReplyDeleteIt was 43F when we woke up this morning in the Black Hills. We actually turned the camper furnace on for a few minutes to take the chill off. It's so beautiful and quiet here in the campground with mostly "old" people like us here. Only one or two families and the entire place is just about 1/3 full. Today we drove Needles Highway again. I did get some photos and hope to write a post tomorrow if I can get the hotspot to work again. It took me quite awhile tonight to connect.
I'm glad your kids will be with your for your birthday dinner on Sunday. That will make it really special, and both of those restaurants look lovely.
Have a wonderful weekend Pam and remember to keep looking upwards. Our redemption is near!
Blessings and love,
Betsy
Lovely post and photos. I'm happy for you that the rose bush is beginning to grow once again. Many bushes and trees need a good pruning. I used to find it strange when I first moved to the interior of our province and the trees would have big cuts and branches lopped off every year! They grew so beautifully though. Have a wonderful birthday. I'm glad there is an answer to prayer that you have the strength to do the lawn mowing that is required.
ReplyDeleteYou can be my florist, grin. You always make me smile, thanks Pamela. Have a beautiful day my friend.
ReplyDeletewhat a difference in temps, and we are only 180 miles south of you. we have not had but one day wake up to less than 82, we had one at 77 but that was with a storm.
ReplyDeleteI love your wild flowers in the house and a good thought to leave them for the wild life. never thought about it like that. the good restaurants are always busy. Happy early birthday in case I forget. mine was the 5th my mothers is tomorrow, interesting tidbit.
mother was born on Sept 22, 1925 and her parents married on Sept 22, 1923 mother married on sept 22 1923, I got married on Sept 22 1963. My grandmother had a flapper dress and cap, mother was in a blue suit, I was in a hoop skirt..
Love your wildflowers both inside and out. So happy for you that you have a bud on the roses. We've actually got a few roses this year on our one and only rose. I believe it's about time for me to have to prune them back. Never done that before, but I know I need to. Love seeing the crane family and that they are all well. I'm glad you are getting stronger and are able to mow again. Take care my friend and have a lovely birthday celebration on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly looks like a charming place to eat, Pamela, and I'm so happy that you'll be with your family for your early birthday celebration this weekend. Thanks for sharing you always wonderful photos with us, and have a wonderful birthday!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous catch up blog post today.. You have lots of grass to cut too. We are so thankful our son got us an electric lawn mower. Still have to push it but its so much better than manual for us.
ReplyDeleteWe are enjoying the milder weather but weather gal says next week it will be back to the high 90'sF.
Going to a Celebration of Life for a friend today. Dan has gone through so much in his life and has a real testimony (for a future blog). His death was sudden and we are all trying to wrap our heads around "our loss and his gain".
Sue
The wild flowers are very interesting. Love the butterfly. Loved the sun through the trees. I also love geraniums. Cute picture of you and hubby by the fire. Those cranes are amazing. Hope your weekend is going well.
ReplyDeleteOh girl, you can pick me a bouquet any day! I much prefer wildflowers to any hothouse prima donna. I'm glad to hear you're feeling stronger, but please don't go over-doing it. I actually think of you every time I get to wielding my WalMart weed whacker.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I AM going to get to Hog Wild ... it's on my short list! Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy celebrating your birthday all the live-long week!