What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

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!

Monday, August 11, 2025

Monday Monday

 Here it is Monday evening already.  So much has been going on I kind of got behind in reading and writing.  Thank you all for your kind words on my last few posts. You always know how to make me smile!  


Have any of you seen the two bright lights in the eastern skies early in the morning before dawn lately?  This was what we saw here yesterday morning...hubby woke me up to tell me about it around 5:15 a.m.  I was actually sleeping quite well, and to be honest I wasn't thrilled at first to be awakened so unexpectedly. 
I had to go out on the front porch in my nightie to take these photos.  Good thing it was dark.

Actually, he wanted me to see these lights because he thought they might be UFO's...so of course I had to look it up online to find out what they really could be...
https://www.youtube.com/live/D5LyCJAoDcg?si=UyDb8KrX0vdq_uIx is a good explanation.  It is Jupiter and Venus, and apparently tomorrow morning (August 12th) will be the final day to see them, and they will appear to be almost together (conjoined) as one.  If you have a telescope or a really good camera, set your alarm and get up and take some pictures for us, okay?  I tried to see them again this morning, but it was too cloudy to see much.

I was glad to be able to tell him they weren't UFO's.  I think he was disappointed. LOL.

Also we have had a lovely full moon this past week. I took this picture at the same time as the other pictures yesterday morning, but of course this was looking into the West, as the moon was setting over Still Waters Pond.  


So that was yesterday's big event, along with going to church, which is always a blessing.  If you want to hear the message and our choir's song, here it is. The music was recorded in February and shared again here since we are still off on our summer break from singing.  The song is "Be Thou My Vision", and the message is from John 15:1-17,"The Vine and The Branches".  It was a good message.



  So, what else is new?  Let me think...the good news is, we were able to get a copy of hubby's lab work from the tests he took last week at Quest, and from what we can tell everything looks very good.  His appointment with the neurologist isn't until next month, so I am glad we could see the results before then and know that there isn't anything terrible on it. We give thanks to the Lord for that good news. Still don't know exactly what is wrong, but hubby seems to be feeling a bit better day by day, so we will just be very thankful and trust God to take care of whatever it is.

Now, here's something you're going to probably go, What? You did What???  I'm sure most of you will remember my post not too long ago about getting a new chair/recliner. If not, here it is for your review.  We all oohed and aahed about the new chair, especially the wonderful feature of massage and heat. Yeah, I loved that part...it really was nice.  But what I never told you in subsequent posts was that the chair itself just wasn't all that comfortable.  I tried my best to make it work, but the upper part--the back of the chair, was built in such a way that it slanted back too far when in the upright position.  When I was sitting up straight I could not feel the chair on my back at all, and I had to put big pillows behind me to fill the gap. I tried my best to make it work, but except for when laying down in the reclining position, I could not get comfortable in that chair. I have back issues already, and that is why I needed the new chair in the first place. But, remember, I ordered it online, and I never actually sat in it before I got it! If I had sat in it beforehand, I would never have bought that chair!  

The good news was that I had 30 days to return the chair if it was unsatisfactory.  Of course, that meant that we had to take it to the nearest Home Depot and they would ship it back where it came from. So after a couple of weeks of trying to make it work, I finally decided that I could not live with that chair. It was causing me more problems than it was helping. I loved the massage and heat, but I couldn't stay in that position forever. So we made the decision to take it back to Home Depot and go look for another chair at a local furniture store. Thankfully our son has a truck and was willing and able to take it to the store for us.

I actually tried a couple of different furniture stores, and I literally sat in every single recliner they had...well, at least the ones in my pre-determined price range.  Sadly, neither store had any chairs with the wonderful massage feature at a price I could afford. The chair I had purchased online was a very good deal, and I soon discovered that I would not be able to replace it at that same price anywhere, so I had to pay a little more for a chair without the massage/heat feature, but one that was actually comfortable to sit in. That was the sacrifice I was willing to make in order to be comfortable.  I found the chair that was the best fit for me last week, and of course they had to actually order it instead of giving me the floor model.  Today was the day for it to arrive at the store.  We opted to pick it up ourselves rather than pay an additional $100.00 to have it delivered. Thankfully our son was willing to pick it up and brought it home and set it up for us today....and here it is:

(that's my OLD OLD green chair in the background. We haven't taken it to the thrift store yet, because we were waiting for this chair to arrive. Now it can go with my blessings!!)

This chair is very comfortable, and hugs my back in all the right places. No,  there's no massage/heat, but because the chair actually fits my body in all the right places, I don't need those features!  I am very pleased and thankful!!!  Oh, and the color of the chair is called "Recruit Fudge".  I can lay there and dream about the fudge that I'm not allowed to eat. LOL!

The moral of this story is don't ever order a piece of furniture that you need for comfort online, unless you can find a place to actually sit in the same chair somewhere first and make sure it is comfortable!  Thankfully Home Depot's online return policy was generous and we had no problems returning it and getting our money back. But what a hassle...especially for our son who has had to do all the manual labor in this situation. He sure is a good sport!!

Here's some words of wisdom for today from James 1:2-5

"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 
4 But let patience have its perfect work, 
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, 
who gives to all liberally and without reproach, 
and it will be given to him."

Amen!

Have a blessed rest of your week!





25 comments:

  1. I’m glad it all worked out for you and it’s good advice if you’re buying for comfort, don’t order online. Mattresses, too. I probably wouldn’t like the massager or heat. I have ruptured L-3L4 and those massagers in that area tends to cause inflammation over time. I hope you have many wonderful years ahead, in your recruit fudge chair. Kinda strange name.

    That moon shot over still waters pond is gorgeous. Wow, framed in beautifully. We didn’t see any if that. We’d have to walk out into the street in our jammies, because of the trees. I’ll check if it will be seen in our area.

    Always a pleasure, Pamela. 🌼

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    1. I think walking out in the street in your jammies to see the moon and/or the planets aligned so they can be seen with the naked eye is worth the embarrassment of being discovered in your jammies, unless of course your jammies are not appropriate for public view...in that case, grab a robe! LOL.
      Yes, I think "recruit fudge" is a strange name too. Not sure what the "recruit" part is all about, but that's what they call it. Now Fudge is a name I can totally understand, and thankfully, even if I was allowed to eat it, I've never really been a fan, so I'm safe. LOL. (except when it is HOT FUDGE on top of ice cream!) Thanks for visiting!!

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  2. That's a beautiful photo of the moon over the pond!
    I'm glad you got a chair that works for you. You need to be able to relax when you are sitting! I would say you are right to say not to order online for a chair that works, but I wouldn't have thought of it if you hadn't posted this.

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    1. Thank you, Mari. Yes, some lessons are only learned through trial and error. I'm glad that perhaps I can save some others from making the same mistake that I did! There still are some things that just shouldn't be ordered online! LOL!

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  3. Your new chair looks great and you look pretty good sitting in it!! I'm glad you were able to return the one that wasn't working for you. Your sons are both "keepers" I think!! Bless them. Have a lovely week ahead and I'm so happy for John's good news!!

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    1. Thank you, Terri. Yes, our sons are definitely "keepers". And having one with a truck is especially nice! LOL.

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  4. Thank you Pamela for solving the mystery of the bright lights we have seen for over a week (in Australia) my husband said just the other day I think it's a planet, as we assumed it was a very bright star. At the start it was only one planet and then we could see the other. What do you use to take photos of the moon? We have tried with our I Phones and they do not work out, very fuzzy. Thank you. Rita

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    1. Good Morning, Rita in Australia! Welcome to my place here in Florida, USA! I am always surprised to hear from readers from around the world! Do you have a blog where I can find you and get better acquainted? I would love to "meet" you! Regarding your question about my camera that I used to take pictures of the moon. I use an iPhone SE, which is an older model. It doesn't really take good closeups of the moon or stars, or night photos, but as long as I am not trying to get "details" on the moon, I can get decent distance photos like what you see here. It does take beautiful sunrise/sunset photos, but things get too fuzzy after dark. My sister has some kind of android phone, I'm not sure which, but she gets great close ups of the moon. I just can't afford to upgrade to those kinds of phones, so I am thankful for what I've got and make the most of it! Is it still winter where you are? It is still very hot here, and will be until probably late September. Thank you again for visiting! I'd love to hear from you again!

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    2. Thank you for replying regarding the phone you use. I don’t have a blog, although I do joke about starting one. It is still winter, I think it’s been a mild one and parts of our state a suffering from a dreadful drought, our poor farmers.

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  5. The early morning photos were beautiful. I would not like to get up at 5:15am either. lol
    I had a similar experience with my chair - we did go to Lazy Boy and I think I sat in every one of them - it is such a personal experience.

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    1. Thank you, Sandie. Yes, it is a personal experience finding just the right chair. I guess that's why when you find a chair that actually feels good, it's a happy day. I was happy to find one that was also in my budget!

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  6. Hi Pamela, I am glad you decided to get a chair that really fit. You can always use a heating pad when you need it. The color is nice too. Having a son with a truck is great! Enjoy your week!

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    1. Thank you, Susan. And yes, I have a small blanket that also heats up, and when I really need it for my back, that is what I use, and I can wrap up in it and it feels SO good. It doesn't massage, but the heat is really what I need. And yes, I think everyone should have a son with a truck, if you don't have one of your own. We are too old to be able to do much with a truck even if we did have one, so having the SON with a truck is the best deal of all! LOL.

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  7. Well, shucks. The cloud cover over central Alabama these last few days/nights keeps me from seeing those stars (er, planets). Your telling of John waking you from a sound sleep was pretty cute.
    I'm so glad you were able to return the first chair with no problems. I like the looks of the new ... or maybe the model demonstrating it. A few years ago when my son was experiencing back issues I found a reasonably-priced, long rectangular pad that both heats and vibrates (at CVS, I think). Maybe something like that would work for you?
    Have a blessed day!

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    1. Thank you for that information about the heating pad that vibrates! I am looking into it for those times when I really need that extra comfort on my back and shoulders. That's a great idea, and I've already seen some and they aren't terribly expensive! I may put that on my birthday list! LOL. I hope you have a blessed day also!

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  8. As I may have mentioned before, Pamela, we never have a good view of the sky, even in the winter, due to all the trees, and I hadn't even heard about this planetary alignment. Thanks for sharing the photos you got. I, too, have trouble finding chairs that are a comfortable fit for me. You really do have to try one out to see if it truly will work. Even then, there are times when I have to prop pillow(s) behind my back to give me support while I'm reading or watching TV. So happy your new recliner is working for you! Blessings!

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    1. I would welcome all the trees in front of our house if it keeps the house shady and cooler in summer! We could use some of those definitely! But it is nice to see the stars and moon, sunrises and sunsets too. Still, I do love trees... And yes, the new recliner hugs my back in all the right places. I may still need a small pillow behind my head when I am reading, but thankfully this chair fits my lumbar area so much better and that really helps. And I can walk when I stand up. My OLD OLD green chair somehow shifted my hips/spine into a position that when I got I up it would take me a few minutes to get straightened out and be able to walk without pain. It's amazing how important a good chair is when you have back issues (and are getting old too!). I am very thankful for this blessing. Hope you and Danny are doing well these days.! Fall is coming soon, and I know you will enjoy that where you live!!

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  9. Fabulous photos of the eastern sky "UFO's". I don't think I can get up early enough to see it again. God's creation is just so amazing.
    I'm so glad you could return the chair and find one that fits your body. I do have the same issues. I'm short and most chairs just don't accommodate my back.
    Enjoy your day.
    Sue

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  10. Hi Pam! You got some great pictures of the night sky - especially Jupiter and Venus! So glad that you were able to return the uncomfortable chair and get one that suits you better. I am finding that as I age, a comfortable chair is essential! So glad to hear that your husband is feeling better day by day. I hope your week is going well. See you again soon!

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  11. Hi Pamela, glorious captures the the night sky. 🌙 I am really glad 😊 you were able to get a suitable chair.

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  12. I need to come down there and try out that new chair! LOL. Sure looks great, glad you found one that fits you perfectly, even tho you had to return the other one and all that, it was worth it, right? Your planet and moon pictures are BEAUTIFUL! i had hoped to make pictures of the big Sturgeon Moon, but it's been overcast here and could not see it. Tonight and tomorrow night is the annual Perseids Meteor Showers, we're hoping to see some! we used to go outside back when were were young, and watch the Perseids every August, could SEE SO MANY!, it was amazing to watch them shooting across the sky! Try to get a glimpse if you can! Hugs! Debbi at debbisfrontporch, not anonymous, LOL.

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  13. So glad you got the right chair and all went well with returning the other one. It's so great that your son is so good about helping you when needed. Such a blessing. I like that color too♥ Also good to hear hubby's blood work looks good, sure hope the specialist can help him when he goes next month. You got some awesome pictures of the night sky and ufo's/planets!!! I missed out because I was snoozing at that time of the morning. Hope you're having a Wonderful Wednesday!!

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  14. Over the years I've had my share of experiences trying to find the perfect chair (recliner) for my short stature. The hunt has been not unlike trying to find the perfect purse!! In my opinion, both issues can be very trying. Anyway, I am glad for this newest chair and hope it stands the test of time. It looks great and you certainly look happy in it!

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  15. Enjoy your chair. Many blessings. I started a new blog.
    rkrsrue.blogspot.com

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  16. I have spent time today reading one post out of many on each of my blog friends, I saw the 5 of yours and thought the cat story would be my choice, and then a god-send happened. I saw the recliner and read that and it was meant for ME to read it. a niece and nephew put 800 dollars on a gift card on my Amazon acct for us to buy things that we need for bob, a wheel chair ramp was first and I thought maybe a lift chair. but I have been unsure of ordereing because I once sat in 30 cars when trying to buy one that the seat was the right height and I could see over steering wheels.. and I knew in my heart not to order a chair because all recliners are different. voila! the God send story and now I know I will have to find a way to shop for a chair. that's ok, we can use Amazon for all the things we are needing for bobs care... diapers are a huge expense as are wipes and other wipes and lotions and creams and all that he needs. thank you

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