Friday Foto Friends and Miscellaneous Stuff

 Hello Friday Foto Friends! Here it is, Friday mid-morning, almost 2:00,  and I am still scrounging to find some photos and/or things to talk about!  After my last post HERE about family vacations, it seemed to stir up a lot of memories for many of you!  I do wish you'd write about your family vacation experiences and share them with us. I don't have a "linky" thing for everyone to link into, but still, if you just write about it on your blog we will see it!  I found this quote by Madeleine L'engle, and I wholeheartedly agree:

We need to share our stories, if not for our children and grandchildren, then just for our own enjoyment and remembrance...and also to stir up good memories for others! So please do share your memories of summer vacations or other events from your childhood. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

After I mentioned the stuffing and gravy luncheon plate at Lazarus Department store in Columbus, Ohio, I got to thinking about it and wondered if I could find more information about it.  Here's a couple of links to more information that I found, as well as a recipe for the "Lazarus steamed celery dressing".  It appears they used chicken gravy on top, not turkey, although I don't know if it would matter which. Apparently this dish was a big favorite for many...and the best part was I remember it being only 25 cents a plate, but that was back in the early 1960's.  Sadly, after over 150 years of business, Lazarus department store went out of business in 2004. If you are interested in learning more, read on...

"Lazarus Memories"

A blog post about Lazarus in Columbus, OH

https://www.cookbooks4u.com/recipe/3671519/lazarus-steamed-celery-dressing.html

LAZARUS STEAMED CELERY DRESSING Recipe

This recipe for LAZARUS STEAMED CELERY DRESSING 

Ingredients:
1 pound fresh bread
2 small onions, chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
Chicken or brown gravy, if desired

Directions:
Coarsely tear bread, add onions, celery, sage & salt. Melt butter, add to dressing. Beat egg & milk, add to dressing. Pile mixture lightly in a pan. Steam in pressure cooker 10 minutes or without pressure 30 minutes. Note: Not suitable for stuffing a bird.  Number Of Servings:6

It's just a simple stuffing recipe, but it attracted people from all over Ohio (and even Florida) to come and dine! Amazing!  Who da' thunk it?

Okay,  moving right along.  

Some of you have wondered about our Bluebirds. Well, I can tell you that I believe they are now in the process of feeding the new brood of babies, judging by the way the Mama and Papa are bringing food to the birdhouse.  These pictures are, however, of the juvenile baby bluebird from the last brood who keeps hanging around Mama and Papa.  I saw him one day on top of the birdhouse, and before I could get my camera ready for a picture he was literally laying down on the top of the house with his wings spread out and over it.  I wish I could've gotten that picture because it was so unusual.  But these two pictures are what I got instead.  It seems like he was listening to the noise coming from inside the house, and then it looks like (below) that he is talking to his parents and asking them why he can't come inside too.

It's very unusual if you ask me.

And some have asked how "Colt", the baby Sand Hill Crane is doing. Well, in these pictures he is on the right, following his mother.  As you can see, he is almost as tall as she is.  We were beginning to wonder if they had left us again because we didn't see them at all yesterday or this morning. But just as I was getting ready to try and wrap this up today they appeared, so of course I knew they wanted their picture taken so they could say hello to you. You can't see the daddy Crane in these pictures, but he was just a few feet in front of them, leading the way.  I call them "The Three Kings" riding on their camels. They just kind of saunter past in a line which reminds me of the Wise Men riding on their camels. Funny how thoughts come to your head sometimes...maybe it's just me. I am funny that way.

The Butterfly garden is coming along.  Of course I have to water it frequently as we haven't been getting much rain lately, and this is out in the bright sun all day.  Our sandy soil doesn't hold much moisture for long.  Sadly we have to pay for our water here, and it isn't cheap, so I have to be frugal. 

I know, I could probably just get buckets of water from the pond, but it's getting rather low too and I'd have to step out onto the muddy shoreline to get water, and well, if you were here you'd understand. When I say muddy, it's more like mucky, and my big feet sink down into it up to my ankles in no time, so no thank you! It's pretty to look at, but no walking in this pond, trust me!

These pictures don't do it justice. It really is prettier than that.

Now, this is another story!  The special rose bush in the Secret Memorial Garden has a new blossom!

Actually there's another bud right beside it, but it's still pretty small.

I decided to go ahead and pick the rose and bring it inside where we can enjoy it. I hope the bud will open up in a few days too.

This rose always makes me smile.

Oh, my sweet daughter in love Rose sent me this picture this morning. This is a Barred Owl, and he was sitting up in the tree beside their house.  They've been hearing the owls quite a bit lately and apparently they must have a nest nearby because they are quite active around their house. Isn't he beautiful? I LOVE Barred Owls.

They just sent me another picture a few minutes ago:

It's quite a honor to get to see these beautiful creatures in the daytime.

Oh,  when I went outside to put up the flag this morning the skies were so interesting.

It looks like this "Stealth Bomber" was flying right at me:

Or maybe a UFO?

Here's what one really looks like. I'm glad it wasn't really that...

(Photo courtesy of the Internet)

Anyway, the wind patterns in the clouds certainly were interesting and unique this morning:

I love to look at the skies, don't you?  

This was how it looked out over Still Waters Pond at the same time.  We don't get "sunrises" over the pond per se', just reflections from the sun on the clouds to give them some color. 

A very peaceful morning.

Here's our neighborhood cat, casting a tall shadow in the yard one morning this week:

She thinks she owns our house. Or maybe it's me she thinks she owns...strange kitty. or kitties...I told you in my last post she has a twin, so I don't really know which one this is...LOL. 

Well, it seems I've come to the end of my pictures (finally you say!) for today!  

Not sure I can come up with anything clever or intelligent to say to sum it all up.

Here is an encouraging Scripture passage from the book of Isaiah the Prophet:

"18  My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,

In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,

19  Though hail comes down on the forest,

And the city is brought low in humiliation.

20  Blessed are you who sow beside all waters..."

Isaiah 32:18-20a

How about that?  "Blessed are you who sow beside all waters"... 

How about "beside STILL WATERS POND?"

Thank You, Lord, for your blessing on our home and our family.

We are very thankful indeed.

Friday Foto Friends..."Little Is Much When God Is In It!"

I wonder how many of my other "Friday Foto Friends" get to Thursday night and wonder, "Now what am I going to post for Friday Foto Friends tomorrow?"  Sometimes I get over zealous and show all my pictures during the week, and then don't have anything special for Friday.  This week it has rained quite a bit and so I really haven't gotten out as much to go places and see things!  So I think I will just scan back through my last several pictures on the camera and see what is there worth sharing.  Maybe the Lord will help me put it all together....He usually does!  Isn't that the way life is?  When we think we don't have anything worth sharing or we feel like our best just isn't good enough...doesn't God always show us that He loves us just the way we are...and that "little is much when God is in it?"

Matthew 14:17 

"And they (the Disciples)  said to Him (Jesus), 'We have here only five loaves and two fish.'"

And what did Jesus do with those five loaves and two fish?

"And He took the five loaves and the two fish, 

and looking up to heaven,

He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; 

and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

So they all ate and were filled, 

and they took up twelve baskets full 

of the fragments that remained.

Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, 

besides women and children."

Matthew 14:19-21

Wow!!!

So, Lord, I thank You for the blessings you have showered upon us this week...both in rain and in substance. And I give You praise for your goodness and kindness...and ask that you will take

these little offerings of thanksgiving and multiply them to bring smiles and joy and blessing to all who join in this event today! May my offering be pleasing unto You, Lord. 

In Jesus' Name I pray.

Amen.

Okay, here are my photos from this past week. If you have already seen them on Facebook, just pretend you haven't already seen them and enjoy anyway and be blessed! 

Last Saturday morning we woke up to discover this very large Barred Owl on our back fence! If you've been a friend of mine for very long, you will understand why this owl is significant to me. 

Click HERE for a story about how Barred Owls played a huge part in "comforting me" during my time of grief following the death of my parents.   

And HERE is another similar story about that season of life with the owls...

Since moving from that home to the forest about 5 1/2 years ago, we never saw another Barred Owl after those earlier encounters that meant so much.  We could often hear them calling in the woods, but never until this past weekend have we ever seen one here. So this was a big blessing and joy to discover him sitting on our fence. Sorry the picture is kind of blurry, but it was early and still not much light outside. I keep hoping he will come back, but so far we have not seen him again.

Later that same day we went to visit my mother in law at the nursing home, and were joined there by some other family members from out of town. This picture below shows my MIL on the bottom right, and her cousin by marriage on the left. The four people standing are her niece, her two sons in the middle, and her nephew. This was a very special time as it is not often that the "cousins" can get together anymore...and now that my MIL is 94 years old, we don't know even if we will be able to get together like this again.  A few days later we found out that my MIL has an infection in her colon, and even though it is being treated by strong antibiotics and she seems to be responding well to treatment, at her age we just never know what the next day will bring.  So we count our blessings and make every moment count!

Another blessing arrived in the mail this week:

My blogging friend Cecelia Lester ("Following My King") has written a book:

Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy ~ 

Thoughts of God and His Word

It is a wonderful devotional/Bible Study guide...and I am enjoying reading through it. I will do a book review soon! 
(And you can order this book HERE from Amazon.com)

My little "Baby Elva" turned seven years old this week!

You may have already read more about this beautiful baby-doll HERE earlier this week, but I added the following postscript after most had already read it:

"My friend who created "Baby Elva" started making these dolls as a way to work through her grief over the death of her daughter, who was 8 months pregnant when she was killed by her husband. So my friend lost not only her daughter but her grandchild at the same time. She started making these babies and giving them to people as a way of bringing comfort to those who were grieving. She gave this gift to me when she first heard that our son Matthew was diagnosed with cancer. She knew that I would need something to hold and rock and love during that time, and she was right. I've never actually told that part of the story before, and I guess I should, because "Baby Elva" became a real comfort to me when we didn't know what was going to happen with Matthew. Plus, she became a sweet little "baby" to enjoy and she brightens our day. A lot of people, especially the men, don't quite understand it...but that's okay. "Baby Elva" has accomplished her mission with us...she makes us smile...and sometimes cry. But tears are cleansing... Interestingly, our "Baby Elva" arrived at our home on July 31. I didn't know it at the time, but that is also my friend's daughter's birthday. So now, when Elva's "birthday" comes around, I remember to pray for my friend who is still grieving over the loss of her beautiful daughter and grandchild. So now you know the "back story" behind Baby Elva."

Today, since it was a rainy afternoon, I got busy and did some baking. I had two overripe bananas sitting on the counter...not quite enough to make my recipe for Banana Nut Bread, so I made some banana muffins instead...and then I also had some blueberries in the fridge that needed to get used before they got overripe, so I baked "Aunt Audrey's Blueberry Cake"
Click HERE for another time I did almost the exact same thing: http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2012/06/things-to-do-on-rainy-day.html

My younger son was home and said he wished there was an "app" on his phone to capture the aroma of fresh baked goodies so he could smell it again later...it smelled so good in the house! LOL!

And last but not least, I now know where we got the idea of using"cones" for Ice-Cream Cones. 

I noticed this cute little squirrel up in the tree enjoying his "ice-cream PINE CONE"...just like it was a real sweet treat! He didn't even try to scamper away as I stood there watching him and taking his picture many times.  He was so engrossed in eating that pine cone you would think he was hurrying to eat it before it melted...like we do with our ice-cream cones!

(To my friend Martha Jane Orlando who writes the "Adventures in the Glade Series"... Here's a good prototype for "Racer"...who loves to eat a LOT!  Ha ha)...and yes...I still have two more book reviews to write about her last two books...coming soon! 

Do you know this song?  If so, sing along with me (and David Phelps from The Gaither Vocal Band):

"Little Is Much When God Is In It" 

by Kittie L. Suffield

In the harvest field now ripened

There’s a work for all to do;

Hark! the voice of God is calling

To the harvest calling you.

Refrain:

Little is much when God is in it!

Labor not for wealth or fame.

There’s a crown—and you can win it,

If you go in Jesus’ name.

In the mad rush of the broad way,

In the hurry and the strife,

Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,

Give to them the Word of Life.

Refrain

Does the place you’re called to labor

Seem too small and little known?

It is great if God is in it,

And He’ll not forget His own.

Refrain

Are you laid aside from service,

Body worn from toil and care?

You can still be in the battle,

In the sacred place of prayer.

Refrain

When the conflict here is ended

And our race on earth is run,

He will say, if we are faithful,

Welcome home, My child—well done!

Refrain

Little is much when God is in it!

Labor not for wealth or fame.

There’s a crown—and you can win it,

If you go in Jesus’ name.

Thank You, Lord...for putting this "Little bit" together...In Jesus' Name!  May it be a blessing to many.  Amen.  

Now, my friends, please skip over to Bev's place at "Breathing in Grace" and see what our Friday Foto Friends are sharing...and be blessed!!!

Unusual Discoveries...

Have you ever come across something that you saved and you have no idea when or why you ever saved it in the first place...and how is it that you have just now discovered it?

That just happened to me.  I was looking for something else, and I found this cancelled 25 cent postage stamp with a picture of a Barred Owl on it.  I checked the dates for the years that this particular stamp might have been in circulation, and it had to have been somewhere between 1988-1991. I have no idea why I saved this stamp. I do not collect stamps. And back during those particular years I had absolutely no knowledge of or interest in Barred Owls. Nada...None...Never...Not one bit.

However, if you jump forward about 19 or 20 years, as evidenced by the following links, you will see that I became quite interested in Barred Owls... (You can go back and read these posts later at your leisure...)

1. Waiting on the Lord

2. The Last Farewell

3. He Watches Me-We

I found this quite unusual and strange that I saved this stamp so many years ago...but who knows why it caught my interest? I am sure I don't know...and I am not suggesting anything supernatural here. Just thought it was odd.

In my life I have discovered that God often works in mysterious ways. This really has nothing to do with the owl stamp...at least I don't think it does.  Maybe the owl stamp got me thinking about the mysterious ways God works.

 See, I discovered the owl stamp while I was rummaging through our antique secretary desk looking for an unused guest book that could be used to...well...record guests...what else? And why was I doing that, you may ask? Well, I have always made it a practice to have a guest book in my home.  This practice began when we started our life in the ministry, and we wanted to keep track of the many wonderful people who blessed our home with their presence over the years.

These guest books became a type of journal, with memories of joyous times of fellowship with family and friends, and sometimes even signatures of total strangers who became ambassadors of God's love and ministry to us.
There are also many signatures of loved ones and friends who are no longer with us here on this earth, but whom we look forward to reuniting with someday in the great banquet hall of heaven, where our names are written in the Book of all books...the Book of Life (Revelation 20:11-15)

 So, how is all this connected to my search today?  I already have a guest book in use, and it isn't full yet. I really shouldn't need to start a new one.

But God may have a reason. He may want to record a new group of names...the beginning of a new type of ministry...here, in our home. This was suggested to us today by one who hopes to participate in that new ministry with us.

That suggestion reminded me of a Bible verse I was reading just this morning and reflecting on what it might mean...

"And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

But now you also must complete the doing of it..."

II Corinthians 8:10-11

and also the following verse:

"Let brotherly love continue.

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels..."

Hebrews 13:1-2

These verses and thoughts go along with a previous post that I reposted a few days ago: "Blessed to Be A Blessing".  It seems as though God is confirming those thoughts today...and by faith we are acting upon this apparent direction.

Tonight I am not certain exactly where this is going to lead, but I am trusting God to guide us one step at a time. If this is indeed ordained by Him, He will show the way...and will provide everything that we need. He may have already provided interesting clues along the way that we did not fully comprehend at the time...kind of like that Barred Owl Stamp that had no significance whatsoever when I first saved it...

Yes, God does work in mysterious ways...

"Jesus answered and said unto him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.'"  John 13:7

Stay tuned for further developments...and pray for us if you are so inclined. Thank you.

"He Watches ME..." ...(WE)

Can you see the owl in this picture?  If you can, then you are a pretty wise "owl observer"

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while you will know that I have had this "relationship" with the Barred Owls in my backyard and also remarkably in my father's backyard. My Owl Story ,"The Last Farewell"  (check on these links for the stories...)

Well, now we are getting ready to move away from this home and my backyard visitors...and I am kind of sad about that.  I have watched these owls raise their babies, listened to them call to each other in the night and in the day, ("Who- who -who cooks for youuuuuu????"), witnessed their love-wooing, (sometimes quite passionate and somewhat hysterical in tone)  and have had many a long conversation with them, or at least a "stare-down" with them. (I stare at them, and they stare at me...I've always wondered what they were thinking while watching me watching them).  It has been a remarkable friendship from the very beginning.  No doubt about it, they have been the highlight of our sojourn in this community...actually the only "friends" we have had here in the five years we have lived in this particular house! That may sound strange, but that should tell you that it has not been a super friendly neighborhood, at least not in the human sense.

So, we are moving on...and already we are making new (human) friends in our new neighborhood and we haven't even moved in yet!  But I truly am going to miss my owl friends. They have comforted me when I was grieving, they have entertained us and our guests with their antics...we have marveled at their amazing acts of parenting in raising their young ones...it has been a uniquely wonderful experience.  (Check out "The Things I see Outside My Open Window" page on this blog)

The other evening I was washing up the supper dishes and looking out my kitchen window up at the treetops, and there right before me was one of our owl friends, perched on a very small branch perfectly balanced, and I promise you I am not exaggerating, he was literally watching my every move.  I quickly turned out the light in the kitchen so I could see him better, and he never took his eyes off of me.  He sat there for a very long time, and I took advantage of the opportunity to capture a picture, although sadly it was getting too dark and I didn't have the telephoto lens on to bring him up closer, but that's ok...I have the memory of the moment engrained in my mind.  It was as if he was coming to pay his last respects to me since I am going away...it was a special moment.

Ok, you can call me crazy if you want, and you won't be far off...but I appreciated the salute from my old friend.  Actually, I just heard him calling his mate again a few minutes ago...(this is the time of year that they are most likely watching their nestling...the mating time has already taken place...and they take turns guarding the nest, which is nearby).  I will miss hearing their calls and cackles in the night...even though they sometimes sounded a bit eery and loud right outside my bedroom window in the wee hours.  I will miss watching them train their offspring to fly and hunt...BUT, we ARE moving farther into the forest....so I am hoping they have spread the word to their cousins in the treetops to watch out for us and come pay us a visit in our new "Camp in the Woods" house.   I'll be listening and watching...and I'll be sure to let you know when they do!!

So, for now, I say so long to my fine feathered friends...and also say, "Thanks for the memories"...

The Owls have taught me a lesson by their example here...it corresponds with what Jesus was teaching His disciples in Matthew 6:25-28a,  and I want to share it with you now:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry ....?"

I know that God watches over the owls and the birds of the air and beasts of the field (and woods),  and as the late singer Ethel Waters used to remind us at every Billy Graham crusade back in the "olden days", "His Eye is on The Sparrow, and I know He watches me!"  Ethel Waters singing "His Eye is On the Sparrow", Ethel Waters-at Billy Graham Crusade 1965

So I don't need to worry about my owl friends, nor do I need to worry about my own future...God is watching me....or as Ethel says at the very end of her song ..."I know He's watching 'WE'".... You and me!
Now that's something to remember!!!!

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

(ACTUALLY, THIS WAS WRITTEN BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR... I HAVEN'T SEEN MY OWLS MUCH LATELY...BUT WE DID HEAR THEM THE OTHER NIGHT, SO WE KNOW THEY ARE STILL OUT THERE.  THINGS USUALLY START GETTING INTERESTING WITH THEM AGAIN IN THE WINTER...THAT'S THEIR MATING SEASON APPARENTLY! I'll keep you posted!..And as an update, they never did produce an offspring this past spring.  They kept going into the nest, but no baby owl ever appeared to our sight. Not sure what happened to it.  Last year they had twins, and two years before that they just had one baby.  So who knows? Maybe this hear will be the year for tripletts?  We'll have to wait and see!)
March, 2010...I had a most interesting encounter this morning with my owl friends.  I call them my friends because they have been making my back yard treetops their home for as long as we have lived here, and God only knows how long they were here before us.  Actually, this is their home...we invaded their privacy when our house was built in their woods, exposing their secret nesting tree to the human eyes of the world.  But thankfully, they have been very tolerant of our inquisitive prying into their world, and have actually appeared to enjoy showing off for us.  Case in point:

While it was still shadowy and misty in the early morning dawn, I stepped out onto my back patio and scanned the treetops for a possible sighting of "my" owls.  You see, it is just about time for their offspring to spring into view, so I have been watching for them every chance I can.  Much to my pleasure and surprise, I discovered the two parent owls huddling close together high on a branch to the west of my vantage point.  So I ventured out into the yard a bit closer and started talking to them...(hold your comments to yourself, please).  I said, "Good Morning Mr. and Mrs. Owl! I am so very glad to see you this morning." At this point they both turned their very large brown eyes right in my direction and looked me over very closely. Then I distinctly noticed that they turned away and looked at each other as if to say, "There she is again...that crazy lady who's always talking to us like she thinks we should understand what she's saying! How on earth did we get stuck with such a loony human neighbor?" Then they looked at me again and craned their fat feathery necks around in order to get a better look at me.  At this point I was getting a little nervous, as I know they were probably sizing me up to see if they could pick me up and carry me to their nest for breakfast.  So I thought I'd better talk a little faster and louder so they could hear me better...

This time I asked them, "So, where are your babies?  Do you have any new baby owls yet? Are they getting big enough to come out and play?"  Now, I kid you not...at this very moment the Mama Owl immediately flew off her perch, spreading her wide strong wings straight out, and flew very rapidly and directly to the nest tree, which is on the opposite side of the yard. She landed perfectly on the hollow tree and perched there at the opening of the nest and looked squarely at me again as if to say, "Here they are...the babies are right here safe within the nest!"  I immediately trotted over to that end of the yard so I could see her better, and bounced up and down clapping my hands with glee and saying, "Oh thank you Mrs. Owl! I am so excited! I can't wait to see your new babies! Thank you for letting me in on the secret! I promise not to tell a soul." (oh, well, I guess I lied.)  She gave me one last penetrating look, and all the while I noticed that she was regurgitating something in her beak, and then expertly dove head first down into that opening to feed her babies.  Of course, I fairly danced back to the house, waved good-bye to the Papa Owl who was still waiting on the other tree, and then I rushed off to hit the road for work.

So, what has all this got to do with us, or with our "waiting on the Lord"?  I don't know, except that I can see that for which I was earnestly waiting, the appearance of the baby owls, is about to happen...and the Mama Owl encouraged me this morning by her actions, as if to say, "Your waiting has not been in vain!"

In my real life, I had to wait quite a long time for an answer to prayer in the form of a job...and today the other ladies in the office and I were talking about how God's timing was perfect for each of us in the way that He answered our individual prayers. We each had our own stories about the frustrations of waiting, but yet marveled how God used that time of waiting to strengthen us and renew our minds and spirits so that we would be ready for the fruition of His divine plans.  I have been noticing that I am doing a lot of running back and forth in my new office due to the crazy maze of a floor plan we have to maneuver in order to get our daily work accomplished.  Even though I come home somewhat physically tired, at the same time I am exhilarated and renewed...because I know this is the Lord's plan for my life at this time.  I am so thankful that I "waited on the Lord"...and that He is giving me wings like the eagles (OWLS) to make it through each day.

"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." Isaiah 40:29