And Just Like That, It's November!

 

What? November already??? How did that happen? And wouldn't you know it would bring the time change along with it! I know, it's supposed to be great...we get an extra hour to sleep in, right? LOL. Not if you have a cat!

I couldn't sleep at all last night,  looking at the clock every hour trying to figure out what time it really was in cat time.  He's used to eating at 5:30 a.m.,  which means with the time change I would have to feed him at 4:30 a.m.  That wasn't so bad today because it was still 5:30 in my body clock time too, but I know it will be more difficult as the days go by if I don't  help him to adjust to the new time as well. So today it was really more like 4:45 before he was fed. Tomorrow I will try to wait until 5:00, and so on until he catches up with our new time.  Now this afternoon it's the same thing...he's wanting to know already where his food is, and I'm trying to hold him off as long as I can.  He keeps coming up and nudging me, trying to remind me. So far he hasn't hauled off  and bitten me...but he is very capable of that I've discovered, so I am trying to maintain my distance until it's really time to feed him. LOL.  Yes,  those cat behavioral classes do sound like a good idea.

I'm going to share pictures with you from last night's Halloween Trick or Treating time, along with the new calendar pictures for November...

Blackie stayed close by my side for part of the time, but decided there was too much excitement for him so he mostly stayed around on the back porch out of the way...

Lily Grace and Scarecrow became good friends, and they enjoyed watching the children come and go:

This is from the Billy Graham calendar

Lucy Goosey looking out on the "world", with Blackie nearby, watching for the children to come looking for candy...

"Ask God to help you see the world the way He sees it."
Billy Graham, The Journey

The most interesting folks who came by our house last night!  They weren't trick or treaters, however, but I considered them a "treat" for sure! I did ask their permission to take their picture and they were happy to pose for me.

"Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." Mark 16:15 NLT

Me, preparing the bags of candy with the Scripture verses. I added another verse to every bag this year, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish by have everlasting life."  

Our porch was really "scary" LOL.

Blackie found a place to hide and watch the excitement.

Actually, I didn't take any pictures of any of the children who came by last night. My camera (phone)  battery was dying, so I had to preserve it for possible important stuff.  However, we had a good evening with a good number of kids...seemed like more were a little older this year than in times past. But that's okay, because the older kids can actually read the verses that were in the candy bags...and I had prayed that God would bring the ones that He wanted to be here, and then I had prayed that God Word honor His word, and that it would not return to me "void":

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

I did what I believed God wanted me to do, and the results are left in His capable hands.  

Long about nightfall, the groups of people started thinning out, and so we packed up the stuff and headed back inside.  It kind of looked like this John Sloane Country Seasons calendar picture for November...the yard was deserted, the moon was coming out, and everyone was settled down for the night:

Here's the Susan Branch calendar offering for November...I had to look up the quotes...

I had to look up Ivy Compton Burnett to find out where she wrote that quote above, and AI provided the answer as such:

"AI Overview

This memorable line is spoken by the character Duncan Edgeworth in Ivy Compton-Burnett's 1935 novel, A House and its Head. [1]

In typical Compton-Burnett fashion, the quote uses a sharp, dry allusion to the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin to deliver a biting commentary on money, class expectations, and domestic power dynamics. [1, 2]"

I am not familiar with the author or the story, but I do remember Rumpelstiltskin.  

Again, I had to resort to AI to find out about the above quote from Queen Victoria: 

 "While popularly attributed to Queen Victoria's appreciation for smaller private retreats (such as her beloved Osborne House or Highland cottages like Frogmore or her private spots), it circulates mostly as an enduring piece of domestic folklore and cozy inspirational wisdom rather than a heavily documented state decree. [1, 2]"

Regardless, I like the thought and idea.  I wonder if this "small house" below would do?

Well, if I had to stay in that cabin in winter, I would hope for a wood stove and fireplace, and would probably enjoy some good hot soups or stews, homemade bread fresh out of the oven, and definitely some hot tea!

Here's the Teapot Calendar offering for November...very strange, I'd say...Not my "cup of tea" for sure!

If you can read this, it will tell you more about it.

And here's an interesting quote...perhaps it's true...but many would probably still prefer coffee! LOL.

Well, I seem to have come to the end of the calendars for November....and it is pouring down rain outside on this Sunday afternoon on the first day of November!

As you can see, the rain is little by little dissipating the green algae on Still Waters Pond, and hopefully all of that water sitting on top of the pond will stay there and continue to fill the pond little by little.

If the rain keeps coming down all night, it could make a wonderful difference.  We are supposed to get rain for several more days, so here's hoping and praying!!

This quote from Hebrews 13:15 is very fitting for today, and for this month of Thanksgiving:

"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."

Amen.

I am very thankful to be starting this month out right with some wonderful rain, and so much to be thankful for in this special month of Thanksgiving.  I hope to "count my blessings" every day... we sang that hymn in church this morning as a matter of fact:

Count Your Blessings

1 When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]

3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]

4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. [Refrain]

Baptist Hymnal, 1991

Amen!

Let's all count our blessings every day, Okay?  

Bye for now!!!