Friday Foto Friends & Happy Things!

 Hi Y'all!  (Using my southern drawl here). LOL.  I really don't have much of a true southern drawl, at least I don't think I do. Even though I grew up here in Florida, we moved around so much in our adult years that I think I lost a bit of the drawl. But I remember one time when I was about 10 or 11 we went up north to Ohio to visit my grandparents and other relatives, and we got there early enough in the summer that my cousin, who was the same age as me, was actually having her last day of school.  (We got out earlier here in Florida).  And so I went to school with her that day since it was the last day and they were basically just having a party day.  I remember that her friends were so amazed at the way I said things, that to me, were just normal.  They kept asking me to say "I", yes, just a simple "I", like "I am so happy to be here", and then they'd laugh and laugh at the way I said it.  I think I then said, "Y'all are just so crazy!" And then they'd really laugh!  

This is a picture of my cousin Cheryl and me, but this may have been a year or two later than the time I was thinking about. This was taken in the summer before we both turned 12, me in September, and Cheryl in November.  She's a lot more petite than I am...everyone was a lot more petite than I was. LOL. She's holding her little puppy.  

We were all dressed up because I believe this was the time our mothers took us downtown Columbus, Ohio, to the Lazarus Department Store to shop and to have lunch in their dining room while ladies came around and modeled outfits for us while we ate. And what did we eat? Would you believe we had their lunch special of "Turkey Dressing and Gravy"? (without the turkey). 

 I just realized I wrote all about this a few years ago HERE, with more detail.  That's what happens when you get to be my age...you start repeating all your old stories. LOL.  And that old post has early pictures of a young Blackie on our back porch, before Blackie was our cat, and I still thought "he" was a "she".  I guess he won out and is now the ruler of that porch and our house too.

Which brings me to this picture of our back porch  (except Blackie isn't on there at the moment), and my "happiness challenge events for today".  The fellow finally finished the pressure washing of our house, after several issues with his equipment malfunctioning and having to delay the process several days...Anyway, I LOVE how nice and clean the porch looks now, like brand new again!  

The whole house all the way around is clean again and looks so nice! Oh, if you look hard enough, you will see Blackie in the grass in front of the steps.  He came out from under the front porch to greet me when I came outside.  I guess he was staying under there to keep cool. As I've said before, he is still an indoor/outdoor cat, and he spends a good part of the day outside, but we bring him in to feed him in the morning and he stays inside for a few hours in the morning and during the hottest part of the day in the afternoon and evening. But he loves to be outside where he can watch the birds and enjoy exploring whatever is going on in the yard. It works for him and for us too, and he normally stays close to the house, unless something frightens him and he has a hidey hole somewhere that he runs to. I'm sure eventually he will become a full time indoor cat, but for now this works for all concerned.  

So this morning we drove the hour + away for hubby's follow up to his cataract surgery from last week. Thankfully everything was really good and the doctor was very pleased!  He doesn't want to see him again for 6 months!  Praise the Lord!  And since it was lunch time by the time we got back closer to home, we decided to stop in Palatka at Chili's for lunch. After all, we are still celebrating our 57th anniversary, which isn't until Sunday, and you already heard what a disappointing lunch we had the other day. so we decided we needed to celebrate his good news at the eye doctor as well as our anniversary today! Hey! You only live once...and 57 years is a long time to be together, and we are so happy that God has allowed us these many years together, so we are going to keep celebrating! Besides, Chili's has great lunch specials for $10.99, which includes your beverage, an appetizer and entree'.  It really is a great deal!

Here's hubby with his hamburger and fries... (and look at those pretty eyes!)  He already ate his soup appetizer...

And here I am, with my side salad, soup and hamburger. (no fries for me!)  They actually gave me a huge salad instead of the normal side salad...not sure why, but I ended up having to bring home half of my hamburger and half of hubby's fries.  We certainly couldn't complain about the amount of food today! It was literally more than we could eat! And for a much better price too! And it was really GOOD!   So all's well that ends well!

I guess that brings me to the end of this post for today. I hope this Friday finds you all doing well and that you have a blessed and beautiful weekend.

I love this benediction from Ephesians 3:16-21, and so I want to share it with you, and I hope it will bless you as it does me...

"16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 

18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 

21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."