It's February!!! The Month for Love!

  

Can you believe it's February already? Although January seemed like a whole year took place in one month, there was so much going on in our world and country...some good, and sadly, some not so good. Praying still for families of the victims of the Washington D.C. plane crash and now another plane crash last night in Philadelphia. So very very sad for these families. Add to that the wildfires in CA., the horrific tragedy in New Orleans on New Year's Eve, and the plight of so many still in NC...it's been a rough beginning to 2025. But I am thankful that through all of the heartache and sorrows, there has been much good happening in our country and world too...the release of the hostages in Gaza, and the very positive things that are happening in our government since January 20th. We have hope and encouragement that things are going to get better and better, but still there is much to pray for and about. I know there are some who will disagree with me on some of these issues, but I don't want to debate or discuss that here. Let's just all agree to continue to pray for our nation, our President and his staff, and our families and people in general. We are exhorted to pray for our leaders whether or not we always agree with them!

1 Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV

Pray for All Men

1"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 

6 who gave Himself a ransom for all..."

Here's hoping and praying that February will be a calmer and gentler month!  It's the month for "love", with Valentine's Day in the middle of it! 

 

Lily Grace reminded me this morning that it's about time she changed her outfit from her warm winter coat and hat and boots (since it warmed up to 80 degrees already yesterday afternoon!) and get dressed in her Valentine's dress and start preparing for a Valentine's Tea Party with her friends.

So here they are, all dressed and ready to celebrate Valentine's Day and give little hearts to one another...

Do you still send Valentines to family and friends?  I do sometimes, but if so, I'd better get a move on before all the good ones are gone! Or I may have to just make some!  Did you ever do that? Make your own Valentine cards?  Those are some of the best ones of all!!

Since it is February 1st, it is also time for the calendar roll call for the month! I already showed you the Thomas Kinkade calendar above, which is always beautiful!!

Here's the John Sloane Country Seasons picture for February, entitled "Morning Commute".  I like that idea...for farmers this would be their morning and evening commute...out to the barn to feed the animals, or milk the cows, or whatever needs to be done, regardless of the weather. Those of who who have farm animals know that the work goes on no matter what!  

That looks like our neighborhood cat "Blackie", who is sitting on our back porch right now enjoying a nap in the wicker chair. Seems to be his favorite place to spend the days lately. Not sure where he goes for the night...probably "prowling around". LOL.

Speaking of farm animals...we took a little ride this morning and these fellas were heading toward the road. Thankfully they stopped.  I'm not sure if they are someone's pet pot bellied pigs or what...but if so, they'd better get them back inside the fence before they become someone's bacon for breakfast!

I think the one is saying to other, "Oh, you're such a ham!" LOL.

Yeah, that one sure does have a "pot belly" !!  He's a real "porker". LOL.

Now this is a switch...the Teapot Calendar had an interesting teapot for this month:

Are any of you Star Trek fans?  This is actually from the Next Generation of Star Trek, which I never watched.  I only remember Captain Kirk and Spock and his crew, but this one is all about Captain Picard and his love of tea!  And apparently this teapot and cups is what they envisioned we would be using in the future! 

Here's an interesting thought...

I'll take the tea, please, anyway you want to serve it! LOL.

Ah, this is a lovely little basket of pink violets...what a delightful Valentine's gift!

May our hearts all be united with love!

And last but not least, the calendar in my bathroom has what is called "Quiet Moments" on each month.  I don't know how many of you will be planting flowers in February where you live, but here in Florida that would not be uncommon. It's time to start cleaning out our gardens and preparing for some fresh new colors for spring!

Speaking of spring...Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird were back to look at house #1 again. I guess they are still trying to decide which one will be most suitable for building their nest this time:

Mr. Bluebird is giving the house a complete checkover, roof:

Front Door:

Meanwhile, Mrs. Bluebird sits in the tree above patiently waiting for his assessment:

This time he goes inside and checks out every detail:

He comes back out and says, "Hey, Marge! I think you'll like this one! It's nice and clean!"

So he went back inside to give it another inspection:

"Yep, I think this is the one!! I like the view from here the best!"

I guess Marge is telling him that it's up to him. She's still up in the tree and doesn't want to come down for a look.

He's looking at me as if to say, "So, what would YOU do?"

Time will tell which one they finally decide on. Stay tuned for further episodes of the saga of Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird at Still Waters Pond!

And speaking of Still Waters Pond, this was our visitor early this morning:

Mr. (or could be Mrs.?) Great White Egret!

He was stepping right along in search of something good for breakfast.

I think he's spied something in those weeds...maybe a juicy frog...

He fished around for a while and then flew away.  Maybe the fish (or frogs) just weren't biting today!

So that's about it for this first day of February. I've just put a pork loin roast (no, it's NOT one of those pot bellied pigs, but could be a distant cousin! )  in the oven and soon I'll need to go peel some potatoes to cook so we can have mashed potatoes and gravy with it. (Hubby's request).  BTW:

Our trip back to the eye doctor yesterday morning for hubby's follow up appointment was rather "eye-straining" for me:

The fog was "thick as pea soup"!    (Don't worry,  I wasn't taking pictures while driving. I was either stopped, or hubby took the pictures for me)

This is just a brief video hubby took wile we were moving.  

I can tell you I was "white knuckling" the steering wheel all the way there of that 1 hour drive!  But the good news is, hubby's eye is doing very well and the doctor was pleased with his progress after 24 hours. We go back again next Friday for a one week check up. Hopefully it won't be foggy again! But hubby can drive then! LOL.

Here's some words of wisdom for today from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. (NKJV)

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, 

is not puffed up; 

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.

Just one more:  I John 4:7-8

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Let us love one another! Amen! So long until next time!!