Rainy Days and Blessings

 Oh, it's been so nice to have several rainy days in a row! Even if it is causing my joints to ache all over my body, and there's a damp chill in the air that makes me want to curl back  up in bed and pull the covers over me and take a nice long nap...(which I did take a nice nap today, just not that long of one), I'm not going to complain! We have been praying for this rain for so long...I am very very thankful.  However, all that being said, the pond still doesn't look that much wetter yet...we've had more drizzle than real rain, but it's getting there little by little.

Can you see that hawk sitting way over there on that tree on the other side of the pond? He has claimed this pond for his territory, and he can be seen out there at different times throughout the day, staking out his claim for whatever would make a good meal for him. There must be something growing there in those puddles on the pond...he keeps going down there and getting something!

Since today was a chilly, damp, rainy day, it was a good day for homemade soup...and so I put on a crock pot full of vegetables and beef (ground beef, however) and let it simmer all day. Not only did it smell good, but it tasted really good, especially with some fresh hot cornbread!

Oh, I forgot there were ice cubes in this bowl...that's hubby's bowl. It was too hot, so he put ice cubes in it to cool it down! LOL.

Blackie sat close by, hoping someone would drop him some "crumbs".  Someone may have done that..ahem...

After we left the table, he jumped up in the chair, and was getting ready to jump up on the table to see if there was anything else there, but I pulled the chair away from the table so he couldn't do that. Getting on the table is a definite NO NO!  Look at that face...LOL.

I also decided to bake a "Sock it to Me" cake.  Here is a link to when I made this before, with the recipe.  If you compare the cakes, you will see that this one doesn't look nearly as pretty as the other one did, because this one stuck to the pan and came out in pieces, so I had to piece it back together!

Also, I realized when I just looked back at that previous one, I used an entirely different recipe from online! The other one I made from scratch. This one I made using a cake mix, but it still added the sour cream and butter, 4 eggs, etc., so it was almost the same. I forgot to add flour to the PAM when I sprayed the bundt pan. Apparently that made a big difference! Oh well, "the proof is in the pudding" as they say. If it tastes good, that's what matters most.  I will let you know...I haven't sampled it yet.  

A little later: Okay, I just had a small piece, and it was pretty good! Not sure which one I like better, but this one is definitely good enough to eat, even it is a bit lopsided!

As I mentioned in my last post HERE, we were planning to go check out the new Backwoods Country Kitchen for lunch yesterday with the kids.  And even though it was a rainy day, we didn't let that dampen our spirits and off we went...Our waitress was kind enough to take our picture:

(Remind me to sit up straight next time. I still had on my rain jacket and that was not a very flattering pose! LOL But we were all smiling and excited to be there.)   

No, this wasn't our waiter, but I kept seeing him out of the corner of my eye, and I kept thinking someone was standing there...LOL.

I really didn't take a lot of pictures inside, but I was enjoying their rustic backwoods decor and just happy they were finally open!  I forgot to take any pictures of my meal. The food was okay...everyone else had a good meal...they chose either the hamburgers or the chopped steak with onions and gravy and mashed potatoes.  I wanted to try their seafood chowder, and sadly, I was rather disappointed. It was very thin for chowder, and if it hadn't been for the oyster crackers that they provided, there wouldn't have been much substance to the chowder.  The flavor was good, however. I just probably won't order that again. Thankfully I also had a side salad, and it was very good.   And, just being there with our kids was the best part of all.

I had also mentioned that we hoped to talk to our grandson yesterday for his birthday. Well...apparently he works evenings and doesn't get off until 10:00. We actually texted back and forth...he was going to call us on his supper break, but that wasn't until after 6:00 p.m., and I was going to choir practice then, so he said he would try to call us again tonight on his break. Well, the time was slipping past and I texted him as a reminder and he texted back that he had been very busy and had to use his break time to take care of some things, so he would try again tomorrow... At  least he's communicating this much...and now we know he's working, which we didn't even know that before...so that's progress! The last time we talked several months ago he was looking for a new job.  I have no clue what it is. Hopefully we will get some answers when he calls tomorrow...here's hoping and praying! I am thankful for any communication at all. God is good.

Well, I think I will bring this to a close. It's getting late and my body is still aching. I am looking forward to a hot shower. I would prefer a hot bath, but I don't do well getting in and out of our deep garden tub, so it's better to be safe than sorry...a shower it will be! LOL.

I will leave you with these words of praise and thanksgiving from Psalm 34.  Have a blessed and restful night my friends.

Psalm 34:1-4, 8-10

"1 I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears."

"8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."

Amen!

Good night!