Thursday 6 and Thursday Thankfulness...

 Happy Thursday friends!  I just discovered that one of our blogging friends, Syl, from her blog, Sylify, is hosting this "Thursday 6" meme each week. I guess it's been around before, but she is reviving it, so it might be fun to join in if you can.  Here's this week's questions:

Linking to Thursday 6 HERE

Welcome!!

1. When was the last time you were standing on a balcony or balcony like construction? Where was it? What were you doing?
I guess you could say our back porch is a lot like a balcony, as it overlooks our back yard and Still Waters Pond.  I am out there frequently, either to feed our newest family members, the "neighborhood cats" Blackie Sue and Sunshine, 

or to look at the Sand Hill Cranes and their new baby Colts, "Spring" and "Trumpet", 

or also to watch the Canada Geese couple who are currently standing out there on the edge of the pond taking a nap, literally:

Or to shoo away the three Muscovy Ducks, who seem to have decided that our porch and yard are theirs to claim...even to the point of eating the cat's food while the cat lays there and lets them do it...

And then to make a flying leap into the pond from the porch when I come along and tell them to get a move on!

The view from the porch the other morning...one duck and two geese...

2. Share with us one of your favorite recipes.

There are so many, but I was thinking about this one today and bought some blueberries so I can make them soon: Blueberry Bran Muffins -click HERE for blog post with recipe


3. What was the last thing done to your house?

It's been a while since we did anything special to the house.  When we first moved here almost 6 years ago we did a LOT.  But since then it's been mostly just normal maintenance. Click HERE for when we added the back porch roof, which is the same porch I was talking about in question #1.

Oh, after thinking about it, I remember now! The last major thing we did was install new vinyl plank floors in our living room, master bedroom, and my "Room With a View".  HERE is a link to when that was being done.   And HERE is a link to when it was completed, with a surprise visit from another blogger!


4. Did your grandmother give wise lessons? Please share one with us.

I honestly do not remember having a lot of conversations with either of my grandmothers. My maternal grandmother lived too far away, and when we did visit, she was often not well and so there was no real time to sit down and visit with her. My paternal grandmother lived close by and I saw her often, for all holidays especially. Probably the best lessons she gave was that she was a good cook and she shared some recipes with me for some of our favorite foods.  This link leads to one of the pages in my sidebar, "It's Recipe Thyme Again, More Family Favorites", and some of her best recipes that I remember are added there.


5. Do you like going to the hairdresser? Why? or why not?

I don't mind it. As a matter of fact, I just went this morning and got my hair cut. This new hairdresser I have now (at Walmart!) does a great job. I've had some bad experiences with others in the past, and so one thing I do not like is having to find a new hairdresser when one fails or one retired that I liked.


6. Do you plan a vacation far ahead, or are you more of a "last minute" person?

To take a real vacation takes some planning for us.  We are not very spontaneous about traveling/vacations anymore. It takes money too, so we have to plan ahead for that. I am thankful that our kids like to plan some trips that we actually go together and share the expenses. That was what we did this past fall when we went to the mountains.Link HERE to last vacation  Plus, hubby doesn't like to drive long distances anymore, and we really don't like to fly either unless we absolutely have to. So unless the kids go with us, we probably won't be taking anymore vacations.


Well, you know the drill.
Answer the questions on your blog or in the comments.
If on your blog, place there a link to this post.
And place a link of your post in the comments here.

Thank you for participating.

Thank YOU, Syl, for these interesting and fun questions!  I hope others will catch on and join in from now on.

I have to add one more picture...remember yesterday HERE, when I shared a picture of our Kitty Sunshine and also a picture of a sign that said "You are My Sunshine"?  And I said I wished I could figure out how to merge the two pictures together? Well, our friend Sandra over at MadSnapper N Beau, is the queen of figuring out fun stuff with pictures, and she sent me a message with this picture that she created from my two pictures:

Isn't that amazing?  I love it!! Thank you so much, Sandra! I don't know how you did it, but I sure love it!   Oh, and thank you to all of you who commented and enjoyed the pictures yesterday, especially the ones of Sunshine and the "Guard Kitty", as seen above. It was a funny story for sure.

And in closing, this little message from yesterday's devotional calendar says it best:

God does love and care for us, "even to the least evenet and smallest need of life".  That is very comforting to know.  Nothing escapes His knowledge or concern for us, and He is always there, ready to meet our every need. Sometimes we just forget to ask!

Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; 

knock, and it will be opened to you. 

8 For everyone who asks receives, 

and he who seeks finds, 

and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Amen!

Last Saturday of 2023

 Hey! Did you know this was the last Saturday of 2023?  Yep, it sure is!  And the other night I took a picture of the last full moon of 2023:

Yesterday morning hubby wanted pancakes for breakfast. I haven't made pancakes at home in a long time. We usually get pancakes when we go out to breakfast at our church community breakfast once a month, so I really don't need to make them! But we missed the last breakfast a couple of weeks ago because hubby wasn't feeling well, and well, I guess he just had a hankering for them, so here they are:

I also added blueberries from my stash of frozen blueberries from our local blueberry farm from this past summer.  They were pretty doggone good, if I do say so myself!

I also had a cup of "Gingerbread Joy" Christmas tea one afternoon...'tis the season for something a little more interesting than my normal plain black Lipton tea.

Let's see, what else has been going on this week?  Well, today is our sweet daughter in love Rose's birthday! Since our plans for our extended family "Christmas/New Year's gathering" was moved from today to Monday, we still wanted to do something special with Rose.  We left it up to her to decide where she would like to go out to lunch.  At first the plan was we would go to a BBQ restaurant in a neighboring town.  But Rose and Benton both have had a very busy and tiring week at work and neither one was feeling really great this morning, so we opted to just have a simple lunch here at home and have a low-key birthday celebration.  She didn't really want a cake, so I baked an apple crisp, and after a lunch of homemade broccoli cheese soup and deli meat/cheese sandwiches with lettuce and tomato, we had some warm apple crisp with whipped cream for dessert.  Here's the pictures from her birthday "party".

I know it doesn't look like there's very much apple crisp in the bowl. Well, the apples really shrunk when they cooked down, (and the bowl was too big to begin with). But it was plenty for the four of us, and it really was good on this very chilly day.

Yes, Rose has one more year before the big 5-0!  We'll have to plan something much grander for next year.

Her really "exciting" gift was some new "Pioneer Woman" dishtowels and utensils in a nice metal container.  The best gift was in the card/envelope. This was just something to wrap up and open, but I know for myself that I am always needing some new fresh dishtowels in the kitchen. I often use them until they are practically rags.

I thought this one was especially cute: I love you like biscuits and gravy". Here in the south that's a real thing.

In between lunch and dessert some of us took a quick nap as we were pretty tired...and it was nap time, after all!

Someone wanted to sit in Grandma's lap...

I'm sitting here holding Sugar in my lap and looking at the new doggie beds on the floor that were Christmas gifts for the grandpuppies, and thinking so much for that idea! LOL.   (Yes, that's Benton watching football and trying to stay awake).

And looky here:  Rose was napping on the couch and Spice was snuggled up next to her...

She'd peek her head up to look at her sister Sugar with me just to make sure that she wasn't missing anything, and then lay back down where we couldn't see her.

Yeah, they are a little bit spoiled, but we do enjoy them.  And kind of  like grandchildren...we enjoy them and spoil them and then they get to go back home with their "parents".  LOL.

Okay, this morning we took our last walk in the woods for 2023 (most likely).   It was 40 degrees, but at least the wind wasn't blowing so much and the sun was shining, so it wasn't too bad at all. Rather refreshing actually. 

Time for a nature lesson:  I've been noticing lately on our walks these little mounds of dirt spaced out all along the road.  They are too small to be a gopher mound, so I had to look them up to see what could be making these unusual mounds of dirt.

If you look closely in this picture, you will see the little mounds of dirt spaced out:

So I used my "Google Lens" app on my cell phone to take a picture of them and then search for what they could be.  HERE is a link to the story behind these piles of dirt.  And another link: They are the Florida Deepdigger Scarab Beetles.  If you click on those links you will get more information and a picture of what they look like.  Very interesting little critters that do this digging only during the winter months here in North Florida.  I didn't see any beetles on this walk, but I have seen them in the warmer months.  

Here's another interesting picture...this is Goldenrod gone to seed. I thought it kind of looked like it was covered in frost because we did have a frost warning this morning, but no, it's just  the was goldenrod looks when it is finished being 'golden'.  

And also there are signs of new growth already on our pine trees in the woods:  These little seed pods are full of pollen too...and so before you know it we will have yellow pine pollen to deal with again...

When I was taking a walk around our own little woods along the shores of Still Waters Pond, I saw some pretty mushrooms:

This one was actually a very pretty shade of purple, but the sun was shining on it so you can't really see how pretty it was.

And then there were these lovely orange colored mushrooms:

And here is an interesting crop of fungi growing on this dead branch which had fallen from a tree.

Funny thing, that evening hubby was asking me if I had any mushrooms to put in a salad. I said no, but I knew where I could find some in the woods, but he declined. LOL.  No, I would never attempt to figure out what kind of mushrooms in the woods are safe to eat.   Maybe if we were starving I might study up on it, but for now I think I will pass on that delicacy that could be deadly!

Safely back inside the house there have been some sweet little moments...Lily Grace (a.k.a. The Adventures of Lily Grace) received some very nice gifts for Christmas from her "Auntie" in S.C., (who is actually kind of like her "fairy godmother" who loves to send her fun things).  This same dear friend also sent me some nice little Christmas gifts as well, and one was that book you see on the left, "The Blessing of Friendship", which is truly a very lovely book between friends. I love it so much.

And also this book, "The Best Loved Doll", which is a very nice story about a little girl who went to a party where the children were told to bring a doll, either a very old doll, or a doll who could do some special things, or a very beautifully dressed doll, and there would be prizes given for the best of each category.  This little girl had several very nice dolls who could easily have won the prize in any of those areas, but she chose to take her favorite sweet old doll that was obviously very well "loved", based on her condition of a rather worn dress and some little bandages on her cheeks, etc.  When the lady who was giving out the prizes saw this doll, she realized that there needed to be a prize for "the Best Loved Doll", and of course this little girl and her doll won that prize. Sorry to be a story spoiler, but well, I couldn't help it.  

As most of you are aware, I have several dolls and they are all special and unique in their own way...and they have been gifted to me by wonderful people throughout the years of my life.  I keep them not because of their rarity or antiquity or particular beauty, but because each one has a history of some kind or another because of where it came from or who it may represent.  I know if you've followed me a long time you most likely already know the story of this doll seen below, "Baby Elva".  Here she is all dressed up in her Christmas outfit...

If you don't know her history, HERE is a link to the history of this sweet doll. and how she was originally sent to me, and by whom. That story in itself is quite amazing.

But HERE is a link to the story of why she is named "Baby Elva", and why her story is so important.  I neglected to write anything this past week on December 27th,  which would have been the 128th birthday of my Grandmother, Elva Sowers Smith Hill Mursch.  I did some extensive genealogical research into my grandmother's history a few years ago, in 2020, during the pandemic, and in honor of what would have been her 125th birthday. Because my grandmother was adopted as an infant, it was quite an interesting and eye-opening search...so if you click on that link just above you can read about that if you wish.  It's quite a story, and I am thankful for Ancestry.com and DNA research for being able to discover the real story behind my Grandmother's birth and life.

Well, it/'s time to wrap this up for tonight.  Tomorrow will be New Year's Eve, the last day of 2023, and the last Sunday as well.  We will be going to church and then plan to come home and rest up before the big gathering of family here on Monday. Our son Scott plans to come home and spend the night with us and maybe bake some more cookies...we shall see if he really wants to do that or not. We still haven't eaten all the cookies he baked last time and I had to put some in the freezer so they will still be good for Monday. 

Some have asked me if I have chosen my "One Word" for 2024 yet.  I think I have narrowed it down, but I was surprised when I went back and checked my words over the past 12 or more years of doing this that I have already used a variation of both words I was thinking seriously about using this year.  Maybe I need to go back and do them over again, because obviously I must not have learned everything I needed to learn if I can't remember that I'd already used them! LOL.  So I am still praying about this and trying to "listen" to God's voice telling me which way to go.

Isaiah 30:21 says: 

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,”

The Bible tells us to Ask, Seek, and Knock...and "to him who knocks, it will be opened."

Matthew 7:7-8 says:

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

(based on Revelation 3:6-8)

And so, as we await the beginning of another new year, the "opening of doors that no man can shut"...I pray for God's direction in many things...not just the choosing of a new word for the year...as that may seem a bit trivial in light of all the things that are most important in life,  but I seek His direction in how He wants me to live my life in the new  year...what things are most important to Him that He wants me to do?  Are there new steps of faith that I may be asked to take? Will there be challenges to my mind, my body, my life that will require me to walk even closer with the Lord each day than I have been doing?  No one knows what the future may hold.  Every day is a new day, every week a new week...etc....and all I know right now is that I must be willing to accept God's will and follow Him wherever He may lead me. I do not fear the unknown, because I know Who is leading the way.  So every day will be a new adventure with God.  Nothing can be better than that.

Okay, my friends, it's definitely time to close this post on this last Saturday of 2023. If I don't get around to writing again tomorrow, I will see you next year!  Until then, be at peace and be blessed. Amen.

Friday Foto Friends ~ October Beauty

Happy Friday Foto Friends Day!  We've come through a whole first week of October, and there's been some beautiful things to see all around. Were you watching?

Since I am actually writing this on Thursday evening, I am limited to what I've seen up until now.

If something else pops up tomorrow morning I may have to amend this post, or just start a new one. We shall see what develops.  

Meanwhile, this was our sunrise Thursday morning:

It was a foggy start to the day, and the sun was trying hard to break through the fog. I think it was still a beautiful morning...don't you?

Then I noticed the most wonderful thing.  Another rose blooming in the Memorial Garden.

The thing that made this rose so special was that yesterday (Wed, Oct. 6th) was our grandson Noah's 22nd birthday.  This rose actually started to open yesterday, but I didn't get outside to get a good look at it.  This morning it really caught my eye, and I realized that it was blooming especially for Noah's birthday.  You see, Noah is Matthew's son.

I sent a text to Noah this morning with these pictures. I know he was probably working, so he hasn't responded yet, but I hope he appreciates the idea that a rose is blooming in his Daddy's Memorial Garden especially for his birthday week. I explained to him that this rosebush really only blooms for special occasions, and it has done so consistently even though it was transplanted from one house to another two years ago.

Of course I cut it and brought it inside so we can enjoy it all week. They last much longer that way, and I snip a little more off the stem each day to keep it fresh longer.

Happy Birthday, Noah!!   Oh, I neglected to tell you that we had a wonderful conversation with Noah on his birthday.  And he was so sweet to send me a video of the beautiful fall foliage along the roads as he traveled through Maine to the Fryeburg Fair.  He is spending the week there, working at the "blooming onion" booth...don't ask me how or why...but he seemed happy to have that to do. Work has been hard to find up there during the pandemic and he had to kind of set his plans aside for a while, but hopefully he will get back on the right road soon.  Meanwhile, he's having a good time and he's a great young man. I wish we were there at the Fair and could have one of his "blooming onions"! We used to always take him to the Fryeburg Fair for his birthday when we were able to go up there to visit each year. So that is a very special memory for us.

Moving right along...one afternoon I was sitting out in the Secret Memorial Garden, enjoying a nice autumn breeze and the late afternoon sunshine on Still Waters Pond.

I spied something way out there on the island that landed on top of those wild tall weeds...I forget the name of them...I know Annie from Cottage by the Sea knows...help?

Anyway, I zoomed in on it, and it was a dragonfly!! The sun is just glowing all around and through these so that they light up like torches!

I had a little visitor while I was sitting on the swing:

He said to tell you hello!

His lazy cousin was taking a rest in the loft of the bluebird house, which he has taken up for his own residence.  I told him he'd better move out before the bluebirds return in the spring, or he might find himself invited to be the main course at dinner! LOL.

I hesitate to tell you that I saw this huge bubble in one of the bird baths this morning. Yes, the bird bath needs cleaning, but it is under the holly tree and berries keep dropping in there and it's been raining and hot, and well, I can't scrub anything with this bad arm...so anyway, something was making a huge bubble that I thought was more interesting than whether or not my birdbath is clean or not:

If you look closely, you can see my reflection upside down taking this picture:

I think this bubble is very noteworthy, don't you?

One bright sunny morning we took a walk at our usual walking place, and these sweet little purple wildflowers were blooming everywhere:

And they were loaded with these bumblebees everywhere:

I had to be careful not to get stung while trying to take their picture!

I also spied this beautiful bright orange butterfly...he makes a lovely contrast to that dead looking wood:

And there are many of these bright yellow flowers blooming in clusters too. But you see why I don't pick them to bring them home in a bouquet? They always have some kind of bugs on them:

But they are so bright and cheery in the autumn morning sun...

Now, can you see the two Buckeye Butterflies on this leaf below?:

I think they were being quite "chummy"...

The certainly are well camouflaged...and again, very autumnal in appearance.

Here's a few more pretty purple wildflowers:

And here we are back home again...and look who found a new friend?

Yes, that is Lily Grace with a big old scarecrow! She said she wanted to name him "Joe"

So please welcome Joe the Scarecrow!

Well, it is bedtime and I need to get a move on.

Oh...thank you so much for your continued prayers for our niece Shannon. I found out tonight that she has already gone back to school, albeit, in a wheelchair, but she is able to get around to her classes and is trying to keep up with everything. Although her father said she is very very sore and tired when she gets home. Your prayers are still very much appreciated. I hope she isn't over-doing it. But then again, she is 17 and strong and healthy.  And our prayers are being answered.

So why should we be surprised?  God said Ask, Seek, and Knock...

Matthew 7:7-8

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers on behalf of Shannon.  We give You praise for the healing we see taking place in her body.  We continue to pray for her soul and spirit to be turned toward You, so that she will know it is YOU who is healing her and who has a plan and purpose for her life. Amen.

Have a blessed and wonderful weekend, friends!!