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?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Thursday Thankfulness and Friday Foto Friends
It's Thursday of Holy Week...many will be observing this day as "Maundy Thursday", "Maundy Thursday, also referred to as Holy Thursday, or Thursday of the Lord's Supper, among other names,[note 1] is a Christian feast during Holy Week that marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, and commemorates the Washing of the Feet (Maundy) and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels.[1]" (Wikipedia). Our church does not have a special Maundy Thursday service, but we will be having a Good Friday service tomorrow night.
I am so excited that my Amaryllis flowers have finally blossomed! I was afraid they weren't going to make it this year, and now they are open and beautiful for Easter! To me, this is significant, that they are blooming in time for Good Friday...the crimson red of this flower reminds us of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for our sins. The white Easter lilies on Easter Sunday will remind us of His resurrection from the dead and that He, the perfect and spotless Lamb of God has overcome sin and death on our behalf. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What A Savior!
by Philip B. Bliss
“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Back to the present...This morning we took a ride to the Blueberry Farm! The blueberries are finally ready to be picked...and thankfully they pick some for us for a little higher price...
You could also purchase your own blueberry bushes, already loaded with berries! I did that a few years ago, but most of them have never really produced anything since...
Except for this this one..it looks like it will have some berries for us this year in a little while...
So until then I will purchase the already picked variety and enjoy them! They are so plump and juicy I may have eaten a few before we even got home. Hubby said "They haven't been washed yet!" I said, "If they kill me I'll die happy!" LOL. I didn't eat that many...and if that little bit could kill me then they shouldn't be allowed to sell them! LOL. Besides, I know the people who pick their own berries eat them while picking and I haven't heard of anyone getting sick or dying from it yet. I'll trust these berries more than the ones I buy in the grocery store, which can't even compare in flavor and quality.
The plan is to bake a blueberry pie for Easter Sunday...hopefully I'll still have enough left by then. LOL.
I know you are probably wondering about the kitty-cat situation here...
Well, here's Blackie Sue, still just relaxing in her favorite blue chair on the back porch...no kittens yet...and the full moon is over...so she's on her own schedule, and the kittens will appear when they are good and ready!
And this picture is hilarious to me...this is how Sunshine was posed this morning as we were leaving to go get blueberries...He'd just had his breakfast, and because it had been a chilly night (or maybe he's just all tuckered out from whatever he was doing last night!??) I think he wanted to soak up some "sunshine" for himself! I've never seen him able to get up on the porch railing before...and his face was resting on the little light fixture there. He seems to be a bit more frisky lately...oh...and there's been a pretty little black and white female cat coming over to visit from down the street...I hope she's been appropriately "fixed"...and so I am thinking something is going to need to be done about Sunshine. Here I thought he was just a tired old cat...but I think he still has some tricks up his paws. I am anxious to see what color Blackie Sue's kittens are...that will tell us the true state of their "friendship".
Good caption "It's been a hard day's night..."
Oh My Goodness! I just heard via Facebook that our family's former store, "Dixie Cottage", is moving out of Interlachen to Keystone Heights (a town about 20 miles northwest of here)! The person who bought the business from Benton and Rose a couple of years ago lives in that area, and apparently she has found a place there that is more reasonable rent and it will be closer to home for her, so we wish her well. There will be a big sale here at the store before she leaves at the end of the month.
This is how the store looked on our Grand Opening Day
Our kids enjoyed owning the business while they did, but they were also happy when God provided a buyer so they could sell it! Owning your own business takes a LOT of work, time, and money. They are much happier now working from home (Benton), building things and selling them online and in local farmer's markets. Rose has continued to work at Home Depot all these years, so for her trying to run a business and work outside of that was pretty exhausting.
Although we are sorry to see the store leaving our town, we wish the owner much success and blessings in starting over in a new location. And so closes another door...but a new window of opportunity for her and for that community.
Here's some thoughts to carry us through tomorrow on Good Friday...
This weekend will be pretty busy for us, with Good Friday service tomorrow night, and a wedding at our church Saturday afternoon. (There will also be a community breakfast at the church Saturday morning and an Easter Egg Hunt for the children, but we most likely won't be participating in those). Then Sunday morning we have Sunday School and Church, and our choir will be presenting the Easter Cantata "It Is Finished". The kids will be coming over after church for dinner. Rose will be baking a ham and I will hopefully get some potato salad and deviled eggs made on Saturday sometime to have ready for Sunday, as well as bake that blueberry pie. So, if you don't see much of me over the next few days, you will know why! Praying you and yours will have a blessed and joyful Easter weekend.
Your amaryllis flowers are so pretty, Pam. I appreciate you explaining the significance of the colors at Easter time. My neighbor gave me a white amaryllis and it's just now blooming too. I'll have to post a picture this Easter weekend - it still has a couple of buds yet to open. I hope you have a beautiful, joyful Easter!
How very beautiful this red is!! Happy they are blooming for you at Easter. And I always love the Easter lilies. Everything looks beautiful around your place. Those blueberries!! I have really been eating a lot of these lately. We have a blueberry farm nearby and although I've never gone out picked my own, I have purchased them..Wishing you a lovely Easter Weekend..
Maundy Thursday is special. Sometimes our church has Maundy Thursday Services with communion. This year we are having Good Friday services. The amaryllis is so pretty. I enjoyed reading about the store; that was before I knew you here. Fresh blueberries sound so good! We have our kids coming Sat night and then friends from church coming for dinner on Sunday, so it'll be busy here as well. Have a blessed Sunday!
Beautiful flowers and lovely words accompanying them. Blackie Sue needs to get busy birthing those babies! The blueberries look so good! I need to get out to Fancy Farms next week to buy some here! I wish you and your sweet family a blessed Easter, Pam! I'm having 6 or 8 (including me) for dinner on Sunday. There will be ham here, too! Sending love and a hug!!
Your big bright amaryllis is so pretty! We have MANY blackberries here. And froze so many gallon bags last summer, they are not ready yet and we don't have blueberries. Saturday will find you and I BOTH in our kitchens, peeling taters! 🥔 🥔 Making tater salad and deviled eggs! 🥚 🥚 🥚 We bought a coconut cake so I won't have to make any desserts. Hugs ! debbi at debbisfrontporch ❤ 💙 💜 💖
Oops that went early. We had a lovely quiet Good Friday service this morning then came home for hot cross buns for lunch. Enjoy your family time on Sunday, our Sunday will be a quiet one I think, with church in the morning and relaxing in the afternoon.
That amaryllis is positively stunning! I know if makes your heart leap, seeing it just in time for Easter Sunday. Blueberries are(is?) one of the few fruits I enjoy and your image is practically making my lips smack. The way you caught Sunshine napping in the sun puddle is soooo good; makes me smile.
Both your amaryllis and Easter Lily have perfect timing, Pamela! And that shot of Sunshine made me laugh, too. You might just have to keep a close eye on him - LOL! And as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing better than fresh blueberries. My dad had several bushes of them at their home, and we so enjoyed picking and eating them. The experience really spoiled me in the sense that store bought blueberries hold little attraction for me. Have a blessed Easter!
My father in law used to send me an amaryllis planted bulb at Christmas. Your flowers are beautiful. How wonderful to go and get blueberries at a farm. Your cross is lovely. Glad the kids are doing well since they sold the shop. Have a blessed Easter.
My father used to give all the girls in the family an amaryllis plant bulb for Christmas too. After he died, I started doing it. These that are blooming are from several Christmases ago! I didn't buy one this past Christmas, and I missed it. So I will try to get another one this coming Christmas. I always plant them after they bloom for Christmas. I will also plant our Easter lilies after they are done blooming.
The amaryllis bloomed beautifully, Pam, and right in time for the Easter celebration. The lily is a beautiful flower and always makes me think of this time of year. Best wishes to you and your family for a joyous celebration.
Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.
Your amaryllis flowers are so pretty, Pam. I appreciate you explaining the significance of the colors at Easter time. My neighbor gave me a white amaryllis and it's just now blooming too. I'll have to post a picture this Easter weekend - it still has a couple of buds yet to open. I hope you have a beautiful, joyful Easter!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and beautiful photos. I am thankful 🙏 ❤️ to have found your blog today. 😊 Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada 🇨🇦
ReplyDeleteHow very beautiful this red is!! Happy they are blooming for you at Easter. And I always love the Easter lilies. Everything looks beautiful around your place. Those blueberries!!
ReplyDeleteI have really been eating a lot of these lately. We have a blueberry farm nearby and although I've never gone out picked my own, I have purchased them..Wishing you a lovely Easter Weekend..
Maundy Thursday is special. Sometimes our church has Maundy Thursday Services with communion. This year we are having Good Friday services.
ReplyDeleteThe amaryllis is so pretty.
I enjoyed reading about the store; that was before I knew you here.
Fresh blueberries sound so good!
We have our kids coming Sat night and then friends from church coming for dinner on Sunday, so it'll be busy here as well.
Have a blessed Sunday!
Beautiful flowers and lovely words accompanying them. Blackie Sue needs to get busy birthing those babies! The blueberries look so good! I need to get out to Fancy Farms next week to buy some here! I wish you and your sweet family a blessed Easter, Pam! I'm having 6 or 8 (including me) for dinner on Sunday. There will be ham here, too! Sending love and a hug!!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed Easter. Always fun reading and catching up with your corner of Florida.
ReplyDeleteYour big bright amaryllis is so pretty! We have MANY blackberries here. And froze so many gallon bags last summer, they are not ready yet and we don't have blueberries. Saturday will find you and I BOTH in our kitchens, peeling taters! 🥔 🥔 Making tater salad and deviled eggs! 🥚 🥚 🥚 We bought a coconut cake so I won't have to make any desserts. Hugs ! debbi at debbisfrontporch ❤ 💙 💜 💖
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter Pam. We had a lovely quiet Good Friday this morning
ReplyDeleteOops that went early. We had a lovely quiet Good Friday service this morning then came home for hot cross buns for lunch. Enjoy your family time on Sunday, our Sunday will be a quiet one I think, with church in the morning and relaxing in the afternoon.
DeleteThat amaryllis is positively stunning! I know if makes your heart leap, seeing it just in time for Easter Sunday. Blueberries are(is?) one of the few fruits I enjoy and your image is practically making my lips smack. The way you caught Sunshine napping in the sun puddle is soooo good; makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteFun to pick the blueberries! The flower is gorgeous! I hope you have a good weekend with celebrations on Sunday to remember our risen Savior.
ReplyDeleteBoth your amaryllis and Easter Lily have perfect timing, Pamela! And that shot of Sunshine made me laugh, too. You might just have to keep a close eye on him - LOL! And as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing better than fresh blueberries. My dad had several bushes of them at their home, and we so enjoyed picking and eating them. The experience really spoiled me in the sense that store bought blueberries hold little attraction for me. Have a blessed Easter!
ReplyDeleteMy father in law used to send me an amaryllis planted bulb at Christmas. Your flowers are beautiful. How wonderful to go and get blueberries at a farm. Your cross is lovely. Glad the kids are doing well since they sold the shop. Have a blessed Easter.
ReplyDeleteMy father used to give all the girls in the family an amaryllis plant bulb for Christmas too. After he died, I started doing it. These that are blooming are from several Christmases ago! I didn't buy one this past Christmas, and I missed it. So I will try to get another one this coming Christmas. I always plant them after they bloom for Christmas. I will also plant our Easter lilies after they are done blooming.
DeleteI have a brown cross like that. I need to add the crown of thorns. Have a blessed Resurrection weekend, Pamela!
ReplyDeleteThe amaryllis bloomed beautifully, Pam, and right in time for the Easter celebration. The lily is a beautiful flower and always makes me think of this time of year. Best wishes to you and your family for a joyous celebration.
ReplyDelete