Friday Foto Friends~And Just Like That, Christmas is Coming!

Happy Friday...the day after Thanksgiving. (I don't really like the term "Black Friday". It sounds so dark and melodramatic!)  I woke up this morning with the resolve to put away all things fall and Thanksgiving in the way of decorations, and do laundry and put away the Thanksgiving tablecloth, towels, napkins, and anything else that looked like autumn, and then start preparing for the Christmas season.
 

I pulled a box out from under the bed in the guest room, not remembering what was in it, and this is what was there, carefully packed away from last Christmas!  It was a gift to us last year from my sister in law, and I had forgotten that I had put it in that location! So I was happy to find it and put it out as our first Christmas decoration of the season! I'd say it's THE most important decoration...the Nativity of our Lord!

It's a beautiful snow globe that lights up and the figures are illuminated. It is so beautiful!

What a perfect way to prepare for the celebration of the Advent of our Lord! 

Actually, a little earlier in the morning hubby and I decided to take an early morning walk, as it was scheduled to rain later in the day and get much colder. We decided to do our woods walk today. I love the fragrance of the woods in morning, don't you? So fresh and piney scented...

This pine cone just speaks Christmas to me...

These reddish orange leaves are on a sumac bush...such a pretty contrast against the green trees...

I love taking pictures of my hubby walking on ahead of me in the woods. I bet if I went back through my photos over the past 10 years, I could probably find at least 10 pictures in different locations. But this one will do fine for now. 

Well, maybe one more:  Here's one from 2021, on the walking trail in our little old historic part of town...which is the other walk we like to take now and then.

And just one more, I promise, walking down the road to our old house in Salt Springs, in the Ocala National Forest. We walked that road every morning and most every evening while we lived there.  Here hubby is wearing our son Matthew's special jacket...the one thing my hubby asked to have from Matthew's personal things after he passed away in 2014.  So this is a very special picture.

But I digress...sorry about going down that little rabbit trail...one thing leads to another when your brain is kind of scattered like mine is! LOL.

Let me get back to where I was going with this post! Now where was I?  Oh yes! Christmas is coming!

After cleaning up the fall decor and putting everything back in the shed, I said I only wanted to put out a few things that I already have stored in the house.  We will get the rest of the many tubs of Christmas decorations out of the shed probably next week, as it is a big job and I don't really feel like overdoing it right now. We will put up our tree then as well.  So today I found a few little things just to add a little bit of Christmas and change the mood of the house from one season to the next:

Of course I still have the sweet little church set out that had a pumpkin patch for October, but now it is decked out and ready for Christmas!

"The Cabin" is getting its first snowfall of the season...and is getting ready for another 
"Christmas at the Cabin".  If you haven't read that story yet, you might want to read it HERE. Of course, it's a story that is well worth reading over and over again...

And here's the other "Cabin" scene, with the skaters out on the pond already

Mr. Snowman is enjoying all the snow too...

And I've had my first official cup of "Christmas Tea" to usher in the season...

And last, but not least, a piece of pumpkin pie, combining the old season with the new...

That's all for now as far as decorations go. It will be a work in progress probably for the next three weeks.  This Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent, which to me is the official start of the Christmas season...  Let's sing this wonderful old hymn together, which is perfect for the beginning of Advent...

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Verse 1

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us;

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of ev’ry nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Verse 2

Joy to those who long to see Thee

Day-spring from on high, appear.

Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse,

Of Thy birth, we long to hear!

O’er the hills the angels singing

News, glad tidings of a birth;

“Go to Him your praises bringing

Christ the Lord has come to earth!”

Verse 3

Come to earth to taste our sadness,

He whose glories knew no end.

By His life He brings us gladness,

Our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.

Leaving riches without number,

Born within a cattle stall;

This the everlasting wonder,

Christ was born the Lord of all.

Verse 4

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child, and yet a King,

Born to reign in us for ever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all-sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Words: Charles Wesley, 1744 (Verses 1 & 4)

Mark Hunt, 1978 (Verses 2 & 3)

Music: “Hyfrydol” by R.H. Prichard

5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:5-7

Have a blessed Advent season as we prepare for "The Desire of All Nations", Jesus Christ, to make His entrance.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if He chose this Christmas to make His long awaited 2nd coming? I'm ready, are you?

 

A Lovely Thanksgiving Day

 Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours!  Yes, this was my plate today...and it was all very good...just a bit too much, but still, well, it's Thanksgiving!

Hubby and me at the beginning of our meal...

Son Scott is ready to dig in to his plate!

Rose and Benton are also ready...they are all saying "hurry up with the pictures, Mom, so we can eat before it gets cold!" LOL.  

Yes, now my plate is clean. (I can't believe I ate the whole thing!)  I wanted you to see the necklace I am wearing.  Remember I told you that my friend Evelyn, who just passed away this week, used to love to create jewelry, using used /vintage jewelry pieces...well, she had made this for me several years ago, and I wanted to wear it today in her honor and memory. It's strange, but I was actually looking at it on Sunday morning and thinking about wearing it, but it didn't really go with what I was wearing that day very well, but I told myself then that I needed to wear it soon. Little did I know that at that very moment Evelyn was in the hospital, and she was already on life support temporarily until her son could get there. Because she had a living will, the decision was made to disconnect the life support, and she actually passed away early Monday morning. I find it very unusual that I was literally holding this in my hands on that day and thinking about her and what a wonderful, dear friend she was. We really just do not fully understand how close that veil is between life and death...it's literally only a breath away.

Anyway, I wanted to remember her today by wearing this. She will not be forgotten.

This picture is of our son Scott, but the lighting in the living room at that moment was very bright, so it's a bit too light, but it's a good picture of him. It was so good to see him come through that door today...and oh, yes, he mashed the potatoes for me. I had already peeled them, but he's the best potato masher!

And here's Benton, carving the turkey that he and Rose cooked absolutely perfectly...it was so tender and moist and there was a LOT of it! We each were able to take home some great left overs!

We cannot forget our sweet Grandpuppies...here's Sugar, and she has her "bacon flavored bone"...the first toy she looks for when they get here...

And here's Spice, and yes, she has her bacon flavored bone too! They are so funny about those bones!

Now, this is a favorite picture! Benton and Scott washed and dried the dishes for me! What sweethearts!  Rose and I had already cleaned up the leftovers and divided everything up so each one could take home a good "care package" of food.  But to have the guys wash the dishes was really a blessing.  No, I don't have an automatic dishwasher...so I am VERY grateful for any help I can get!

Sadly, our friends that we had invited that I told you about were not able to come. As I was concerned, she had a difficult night last night and just wasn't feeling up to being out today.  Of course we missed them and I feel so bad for her, but I totally understand. We had PLENTY of food, and I offered them to get some, but they didn't want to do that either.  So we ended up with a lot of leftovers, but our kids and we will enjoy them in the days ahead.  I'm about ready to go make a turkey sandwich right now!

After the kids left John and I decided we needed to go for a walk, so we took a ride to our walking place in town.  The skies were just beautiful...the perfect ending to a perfect day:

Come take a little ride with me and enjoy the view of the sun and clouds in the skies:

Wasn't that lovely?  I enjoyed it, and the walk was very beneficial as well.  After eating such a big meal we really needed it!

Here's some thoughts to finish out this beautiful Thanksgiving day:

Psalm 103:2-5 New International Version

"2 Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3 who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

This is my thought and prayer today for those who may be going through deep water physically and or otherwise. May we never "forget all His benefits", and may God "satisfy our desires with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagles."  Right now we could probably all  use some youth renewal and healing and forgiveness and redemption.  Our God is an Awesome God, and He does all of that for His children, because He loves us so much!!   So let us 'Praise the Lord, and forget not ALL His benefits!"

Have a beautiful and wonderful rest of your Thanksgiving weekend. May God's peace be your peace, both now and forever. Amen.

Thanksgiving Eve

Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone. 

I have been so busy today preparing for Thanksgiving that I have not had time to sit down at the computer once until now, and it is almost 8 pm! I did scan over the my blog reading list, and noticed that quite a few of you have posted a Wednesday Hodgepodge that talks about Thanksgiving. I don't usually do the "Hodgepodge Meme",  but I look forward to reading your posts as soon as I can.  Right now I want to try to write a short post, first of all to thank you all for your kind words of sympathy regarding the loss of my dear friend Evelyn. (You can read that post HERE, in case you missed it. )  I truly appreciate all of your comments...you are each a blessing to me.  I honestly was so taken by surprise by the sudden passing of my friend that it literally knocked the wind out of my sails a bit.  However, since this week being Thanksgiving week, I've had plenty to keep me busy and that has been good for me to just stay very active and not sit and feel sad.  I know Evelyn is in heaven, and she is celebrating the best Thanksgiving ever, with the One who has given us all so much for which to be thankful!  

So with that in mind, just what have I been doing the last couple of days?  Well, probably a lot like many of you, especially if you are hosting the Thanksgiving dinner at your house!  Our group will be small in comparison to many that we've had in the past...just our immediate family here and possibly two guests.  I say "possibly", because this is the couple that the wife is going through continued chemotherapy, and she really isn't sure how she will feel tomorrow morning.  I've told them to just let us know in the morning if they are able to come or not...either way is fine and we understand.  Of course I am hoping she will feel good enough to come, but if not that's okay too.  

I finished setting out the Thanksgiving decorations...the "lil' Pilgrim" Salt and Pepper shakers

The guest book is open and ready to be signed...I used to be very diligent about that and made sure our guests always signed the book when they came to our home.  However, over the past couple of years I've been quite negligent about it and so we've missed a few names. I've always enjoyed looking back through the years at those who have visited. It's really special to see their signatures and sometimes even a little personal note saying something sweet. I have saved the guest books from over the years, and I especially loved it when our little grandson signed his name for the first time.  Sweet memories.

The table is set and ready, except for the glasses. You'll notice that I have some different chairs.  I already had the three black chairs, and then our son Benton acquired these other chairs that are the same style but not painted black. There are actually four of them, but he still has one to make some minor repairs on it.  I am trying to decide if I want to paint these black as well so they will match the others. It would be a lot of work to try and strip the paint off of the black chairs. I don't really have any other black furniture, but I had gotten these at a yard sale a few years ago and I liked the chairs. I've always had odd ball chairs and never a full set of matching chairs. But now I'm kind of thinking I like the wood toned chairs better than the black...what do you think? Whatever I decide, it won't be done right away, I can assure you of that. LOL.

The pumpkin pies are baked and waiting to be devoured. Hubby wanted a piece tonight, but I had to tell him "no".  It wouldn't be "proper" to serve a pie on Thanksgiving that already had a piece taken out of it, now would it?  He was just kidding anyway. He already KNEW what the answer would be. LOL.

The sweet potatoes are cooked and tomorrow they will be made into a sweet potato casserole. YUM. Do you like the kind with the streusel/nut topping, or do you prefer marshmallows? I like either one, and sometimes do both. 

That's all for now. Oh, I did make a congealed salad...it's the one my hubby requested with the lime jello, crushed pineapple mixed with cottage cheese, evaporated milk and mayonnaise and chopped nuts, topped with maraschino cherries.  It tastes better than it sounds. My Aunt Marion used to always make this salad for holidays. The lime jello salad is usually for Christmas, but this is what hubby wants, so this is what he gets.   I will also be making a squash casserole in the morning, unless I get too busy and then it will just be plain old squash! LOL. (yellow summer squash).  I may be doing mashed potatoes too, but we'll see. If Scott gets here early enough to peel the potatoes for me, then we will have them. If not, well, gravy goes over the dressing, right? Isn't that enough???  Oh, and of course there will be cranberry sauce and Hawaiian Rolls.  There may be other things too...just depends on my energy level by the time I do all of that.

My sweet DIL  Rose is cooking the turkey and they will bring it over tomorrow. I am making the dressing. Do you call it dressing or stuffing? Probably depends on where you are from. I think it is dressing if cooked outside of the bird, and stuffing if it is cooked inside the bird.  What do you say?

Oh, and Rose is also bringing an apple pie and I think she said deviled eggs if she has time. She had to work all day today, so I'm not sure what she'll feel up to doing tomorrow morning besides the turkey.

The whole point is not the food, even though that is important for the Thanksgiving meal to have certain traditional foods...but the whole point is being Thankful. And to Whom are we thankful?  Some may say they are thankful for the good cooks that prepare the food. Others may be thankful for the family that is gathered around. But the question is, "to WHOM are we thankful?"  Yes, we always thank the cooks and we always are thankful to have our loved ones and friends together, but ultimately it is God Who has provided all of what we have.  None of us are smart enough to create the turkey that becomes the main course of our meal. None of us are creative enough to create the seeds that produce the crops that yield their bounty for our tables. We may be able to grow vegetables and raise turkeys, etc., but it was God who provided these blessings for us.  It is God Who has brought us safely through another year so that we can gather and be together to give thanks.

Maybe we should sing this hymn together that I am sure is familiar to most of us:

1 Come, ye thankful people, come,

raise the song of harvest home;

all is safely gathered in,

ere the winter storms begin.

God our Maker doth provide

for our wants to be supplied;

come to God's own temple, come,

raise the song of harvest home.

2 All the world is God's own field,

fruit as praise to God we yield;

wheat and tares together sown

are to joy or sorrow grown;

first the blade and then the ear,

then the full corn shall appear;

Lord of harvest, grant that we

wholesome grain and pure may be.

3 For the Lord our God shall come,

and shall take the harvest home;

from the field shall in that day

all offenses purge away,

giving angels charge at last

in the fire the tares to cast;

but the fruitful ears to store

in the garner evermore.

4 Even so, Lord, quickly come,

bring thy final harvest home;

gather thou thy people in,

free from sorrow, free from sin,

there, forever purified,

in thy presence to abide;

come, with all thine angels, come,

raise the glorious harvest home.

The main thing is, whatever you do tomorrow, wherever you may be, guest or hostess, or even all alone, let us take some time to express our thanks to God for ALL that He has done for us.  We are truly blessed...even with frailties and sorrows and disappointments, we are still truly blessed if we know we are a child of God. That is the biggest blessing of all.

Monday Monday, With an Unexpected Twist

Happy Monday of Thanksgiving Week! Let's pause for a moment from our "to-do lists" of cleaning house, baking pies, thawing turkeys, general preparations for the Thanksgiving feast and/or company coming or preparing to go somewhere else, and let's just enjoy some time enjoying God's gifts of beauty in His creation around us, okay?

This lovely golden butterfly was busily fluttering her wings as she flitted from flower to flower in the Butterfly Garden this afternoon.  Even though this picture is a bit blurred, it's because she was so busy enjoying the sips of nectar from the flowers that she barely could stay still long enough to rest her wings even for a moment. I thought to myself, I know just how you feel, Mrs. Gulf Fritillary!  Sometimes my wings are all a flutter too, as I rush from one thing to the next and don't take time to rest my "wings" for even a moment as well.

Oh there! That's better! She's taking her time and drinking in the sweet nectar that will sustain her in her flight around the garden and beyond...

This is exactly why I planted this little butterfly garden...so that we could enjoy seeing these most delicate of God's creatures drinking in the beauty of what He has provided...

The afternoon sunshine is warming her wings as she rests for a moment...

I'm so thankful that I took the time to venture outside with my camera at just this moment, aren't you?

Oh, and look! Mrs. Gulf Fritillary is not the only one enjoying the afternoon sunshine and sweet dessert from the flowers!  There's a Cloudless Sulphur butterfly taking a drink from the Cape Honeysuckle flower.

 Well, now I'm going to have to change what I was writing. I just got a phone call from the daughter in law of a dear friend of mine that I've known and loved for over 40 years, telling me that my friend passed away this morning. I've had to just stop what I was doing for a little while and let myself grieve over this news.  

Evelyn and Me in 2017.

I am posting these links below about my friend Evelyn Ward, so that I can have them all in one place for my own future reference.  If you click on each of these different links, you will begin to understand why I am feeling the way I do right now.  I am missing my dear friend, but I know she is in heaven, and she's there rejoicing at the feet of Jesus.  She's also seeing her dear husband Howard again, 

Evelyn and Howard at our son's wedding in 2017

along with other loved ones who have gone on before.  I know she hadn't been in good health for the past few years and she was ready to go "home", but Oh, I will miss her beautiful spirit here on earth. I cannot even begin to tell you, but if you read these posts, you will get an idea.

Click here for a previous post about my friend

And click HERE for another post

And this one is very special

And this video is especially special, because it shows my friend Evelyn playing the organ at our house, (our former home back in 2015)  and my mother in law Vivian is there singing along...and you can hear me singing in the background, and at the end of the video another mutual friend of ours joins in. Her name is Connie, and she passed away earlier this year.  Well, today those three ladies are all singing together in heaven's choir, I am certain. And if there are organs in heaven, Evelyn has already found one and is playing it. She loved music, and could play the organ, piano, guitar, and she could sing! 

Even though Evelyn was actually quite a few years older than me, she never looked it or acted it, and we became very good friends right from the moment we met...we were definitely what you'd call "Kindred Spirits".  God sent her to me when I needed such a friend so very much, and thankfully our friendship lasted all these years, even though we didn't see each other more than maybe once a year, but lately it's been a few years because of distance and health issues.  

Well, it's bedtime now, and I didn't really get to write about what I was planning for tonight, but God had other plans. 

This was last night's sunset on Still Waters Pond

I dedicate this song to my friend Evelyn Ward tonight:

Beyond the Sunset

Sung by Pat Boone

Beyond The Sunset

by Virgil Brock

Beyond the sunset,

O blissful morning,

When with our Saviour

Heav'n is begun.

Earth's toiling ended,

O glorious dawning;

Beyond the sunset

When day is done.

Beyond the sunset,

No clouds will gather,

No storms will threaten,

No fears annoy;

O day of gladness,

O day unending,

Beyond the sunset,

Eternal Joy.

Beyond the sunset,

A hand will guide me

To God, the Father,

Whom I adore;

His glorious presence,

His words of welcome,

Will be my portion

On that fair shore.

Beyond the sunset,

O glad reunion,

With our dear loved ones

Who've gone before;

In that fair homeland

We'll know no parting,

Beyond the sunset

For evermore!

My friend Evelyn loved Jesus and served Him in so many wonderful ways throughout her lifetime. I know she is hearing those "words of welcome" from Matthew 25:23

"His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; 

you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

I don't know what things she will be "ruler of" in heaven, but I'll bet there's music involved for sure!

Hug your friends and loved ones a little tighter this week at Thanksgiving if you are blessed to be with them.  Every day we have is a gift...use it wisely.

Now I wonder if maybe that fluttering winged butterfly was trying to tell me something this afternoon...

2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB

"14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place."

Good Night my friends.

Rest in Peace, my dear Evelyn.