Thursday Thankfulness

 Wow, this week sure has flown by! And every day has brought us a little bit of rain here and there, so we are thankful for that. Hopefully some more is on the way this afternoon around 5:00, according to the weather app on my phone. However, we've found that not to always be exactly accurate, but at least it gives us an idea of what to expect and be prepared!  

With all the rain our little zinnia garden is starting to really blossom!

Some kind of bug on this one:

These were almost spent, but I brought them inside to enjoy to the very end:

One of our blogging friends, Debbi at Debbi's Front Porch kept mentioning something about her "Old Maids" growing/blooming, but I didn't know what she was talking about, so I asked her, and she said she was talking about her zinnias.  I had never heard that term before for zinnias, so I looked it up online and here is what I found on someone's post on Facebook:

"Creative Gardening"

Tinatin Noghashvili ·

"Did you know zinnias used to be called Old Maids? They were long lasting flowers and similar to the bright colors old unmarried women used to wear.
They were very popular from the 1920’s to the 50’s and then their popularity somewhat dwindled.
That name isn’t in use much more and zinnias are now again growing in popularity. They are easy to grow, last a long time in the vase and come in so many wonderful colors! Their ability to attract pollinators is also a big plus. Everyone should try growing this beautiful flower!"

Internet Photo

I love that picture, don't you? And that explains about the "Old Maids" in my garden! Thank you, Debbi, for piqueing my curiosity about that!

Talking about curiosity...Whenever I step out of the back door these two curious cats come running to see what I am doing...

One would think they were joined at the hip! LOL.  Looks like Blackie is running in his sleep!

They are actually hoping I'll give them something more to eat, but I think they are well fed enough!

Actually, I did do something different on the porch. Our "kids" were coming over for supper, and they always bring the Grand Puppies,Sugar and Spice. Well, if the kitties are on the back porch where they can see them, the pups go crazy and want to go outside.  So we thought we'd try a little subterfuge and build a screen so the cats couldn't be seen by the dogs.  Before I was smart enough to tuck in the bottom part of the sheet under the chair legs that are on the other side of this "curtain", Blackie was actually under there playing hide and seek in the curtain. Can you see his lump in the middle?

Here's the finished product, and it actually worked pretty well until the cats figured out how to get around it and showed up on the other side of the curtain where the pups could see them.  I didn't get any pictures of all that excitement, but suffice it to say the best of plans don't always work when you're dealing with two curious cats and two very excitable doggies!

Here's where they ended up, but the pups were gone home by the time I took this picture. LOL.

This is what we had for supper...Rose was off  from work today, and so she wanted to roast a pork loin  and bring it here.  I cooked the mashed potatoes and corn on the cob and we made gravy when she got here with the meat. We also had a nice green salad. It was all very yummy!

There was more to their plan to come over today.  If you recall a couple of weeks ago they helped us install a "Ring" doorbell, which has worked very well and we are thankful for it.  The next part of our "security package" was to install some "Blink" Cameras outside in a few places.

And here is a test to see if I can actually share a video from the back porch camera...looks like it's there. Let me know if you can open it.  I'm just learning all the functions and how to operate it.  This was taken just a minute ago.  

You may wonder why all the security measures all of a sudden? Well, it's something we've been thinking about for a while, and to be honest, at our age, it's just something that we feel like we need to give us "eyes" all around the property.  The nice thing is we can access this from anywhere we are as long as I have my phone.  It gives us that extra level of security when there are things that "go bump in the night", or if we have to be away for any length of time.  And yes, we know that God is always watching over us and we are not afraid, but in this day and age it is wise to be vigilant. 

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So we are very thankful that our kids helped us set this up. It's nice to have young people around who are capable of tackling these kinds of jobs for us! We are blessed and very very thankful.

I know some have wondered how hubby is doing...he's feeling a bit better and we are very thankful to God for His help and kindness and grace.  We met with our primary care doctor to go over the results of his tests, and now he is being referred to a specialist for further evaluation. We don't know when that will be yet, as we are waiting for the specialist to contact us to set up an appointment. We are just thankful that it doesn't appear to be anything that needs immediate or urgent attention, but definitely needs to be addressed.  So we are taking things one day at a time and trusting God to work all things together for our good.  (Romans 8:28) He knows our needs and concerns, and He is taking care of things beyond our control. And we also know that God's timing is always perfect. So we will trust in His time schedule.  Again, we are thankful and blessed.  However, we are still taking things a bit easier and not participating in too many extra-curricular activities.  When we know better what the plan is for the future, we will be able to assess our future activities a little better.

Well, friends, it is getting past my bedtime. It's been a wonderful day and I am very thankful. 

I hope you are doing well also, and I hope to catch up with you as I am able. "Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't let the Bed Bugs bite!" LOL.  

Tuesday 4~The Best Part of Waking Up

 ~~The Best Part of Waking Up~~

Well hello again! I am so glad you stopped by and I do hope you are here to join in for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.
We ask 4 questions each week to get you blogging, thinking, discussing and visiting with other bloggers.

The commercial song said "the best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup".

1. What is in your cup in the morning? 

Tea!  No coffee for me, but I do make it for my hubby every day.

2. What brand of coffee or tea is the best in your opinion and why do you think so?

Well, I prefer Lipton's tea for my everyday cuppa. But I do drink other brands and varieties when I want to have a little "tea party".  

Twinings makes a lot of good teas. There are many different herbal teas and loose teas that I like to try,

 but I always go back to Lipton for my morning cup of hot tea and also to make iced tea.

Our Tea and Coffee Station

As far as coffee goes, hubby isn't picky, so I usually buy whichever one is on sale, Folgers or Maxwell House, and he is happy with that.

3. Where do you drink your cuppa in the morning? Do you have a nice view?

Yes, I usually sit here at my computer in the morning and drink my cup of tea while I check messages and comments on blogs, read blogs, etc., and I also can look out the window in "my room with a view" while I write. However, oftentimes it is still dark when I am drinking my cuppa tea, so I really don't see anything until later on. 

4.Besides the morning, do you take little tea or coffee breaks during the day? If you are out and about where is your favorite place to get some tea or coffee?

In the winter time I am more apt to take a hot tea break in the afternoon, and sometimes I do in the summer as well if I am feeling a little tired or just need to sit and relax and think about something else for a while.  I usually have iced tea with my lunch.  

Oftentimes I will sit here in my rocking chair in this little section of the kitchen and drink a cup of tea while cooking supper or baking cookies. That way I can keep an eye on things cooking while I relax. As you can see, I have plenty of company. LOL.  Lily Grace and her friends are always ready for a tea party. 

And sometimes I enjoy having a little tea party on the porch...this was a few years ago when Lily Grace and her dog Bailey and I did just that!

I may need to do this again before it gets too hot!! It would be nice to have someone join me...it's always more fun when you have someone to share this time with you. And if you'd prefer, I could make coffee for you!

As far as a place to go and get some tea or coffee, there really isn't such a place here, at least not that appeals to me. They have just opened a Dunkin' Donuts here in our little town, but it is mostly a coffee kind of place and also primarily a drive-through, although I did just notice that they have a few tables outside...but who wants to sit there when it's 90 degrees and drink something hot? Not me!

HERE is a link to a post I wrote about this a couple of years ago.  And also, if you click on Tea Time in the side bar of the blog, or Tea Party, you will find many other posts about tea time from the past.

Goodbye May! Hello June!

We are rapidly approaching the half way mark of the year, and it just doesn't seem possible, does it?  Today is the last day of May...I remember that on this day many many moons ago I walked down the aisle to graduate from high school...I'm sitting here trying to calculate how many years ago that was, and it's hard to believe that it was 57 years ago!

Where has the time flown?  Well, let's see, do you really want to know my whole life story?  LOL. Not today...that would take up way too much space and time and I am not sure anyone really wants to read all of that.  So let's just skip over the past 57 years and that will bring us to today.  57 years later and I'm sitting here in my "Room with a View" watching the sunset in the west over Still Waters Pond,

It's not anything too spectacular tonight, but  someone seems to be enjoying laying down in the grass beside the pond and watching the sunset...or watching for frogs or other little critters...

Yes, that's Sunshine basking in the Sunset.

Here he was a little earlier, when I was out in the yard checking on flowers that are blooming...he stayed on the porch and watched me...

While Blackie came down in the yard and followed me around.   

This was Blackie earlier enjoying some porch sitting time too...

Oh, and I keep forgetting to share pictures of the hummingbirds ...

Here's a few of the flowers that are blooming in the butterfly garden right now...

This hibiscus bush that we planted in memory of our son on his birthday this year has just bloomed and bloomed and bloomed! I've really enjoyed watching it open up with new blossoms every day. And the butterflies and hummingbirds love it too!  

I planted these zinnias  a short time ago, and they are finally really starting to bloom:

These zinnia plants are loaded with buds, so hopefully they will be blessing us with blossoms very soon:

This is a large-flowered tickseed plant, and it looks like a tiny little moth is enjoying getting some nectar from it!

Here's a marigold plant too...

As I've said before, I don't really have a green thumb, and there are lots of weeds that need pulling, but I'm enjoying these flowers  while they bloom.  57 years ago when I graduated high school on this date, I would never have imagined that I'd be sitting here tonight writing to friends all over the world  in blogland and showing you pictures of a butterfly garden and my two cats that I never dreamed I'd ever have!  After all, my sister Doris is the cat-person and the one with the green thumb in our family.  Maybe a little bit of those genes finally blossomed in me too. It just took a much longer time. LOL!

Moving right along...tomorrow is the first day of June, and we all know what that means! It's Calendar Roll Call day!  Since tomorrow is Sunday and I don't know that I will have time to write a post, I decided to give a sneak preview tonight of the June calendars.  Probably most of you won't see this until tomorrow anyway, so it will be right on time for you.  

This is a good place to start, with the Thomas Kinkade calendar and a beautiful church along the shore. And since June is the month we celebrate Father's Day, this verse from Jeremiah 17:7 is very appropriate:

And here is another verse that is one of my favorites...Deuteronomy 31:6

Can you read it okay?  It's kind of hard to read...

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

It's a verse that we need to always remember, no matter what or where our life has taken us.

This is the Teapot Calendar for June...looks like a lovely tea setting for an outdoor picnic...

What a delightful thought!   

Maybe this is the setting for our little garden tea party...look at those lilacs!! Oh wow!! For those of you who live where the lilacs are blooming, will you please go pick some and smell them for me? I'd love to see some pictures of your lilacs! We can't grow them here in Florida, and it's such a shame!! 

Hey, it looks like these people don't pull their weeds much either! LOL.  This might be a little too much grass around our ankles for a tea party, don't you think? Still, it looks pretty lovely to me...

Oh, I love what the Susan Branch calendar has for June...perfect for our outdoor tea party/picnic, don't you agree?

"Bring along a jar of water for just-picked wildflowers"....what a fun idea!

Jane Austen says to "Run mad as often as you 'chuse', but do not faint..."    Okay...I guess...LOL.

I saved the best for last...the John Sloane Country Seasons calendar for June:

Perfect!  She's carrying the picnic basket loaded with the tea things and the fresh home made bread and real butter and honey...and maybe a jar of water for the fresh picked wildflowers...and some other delightful goodies for our tea party picnic! What a beautiful setting...and so nice to have a sweet old doggy for our companion!

This certainly makes me want to go outside and have a tea party picnic sometime soon...if the weather will just not get too hot too fast...it actually was a tad bit cooler today...stayed in the 80's and didn't reach 90, and it wasn't quite a humid...would've been a perfect day for a picnic!  I don't have a doggy companion, but I know a couple of kitties who just might want to come along and join us.  What do you think? Let's go!

Well, friends, it's already almost bedtime, so I'd best close the calendar for May and get ready for June. Praying that June will be a month of hope fulfilled and promises kept and days of beauty and joy.