Good Afternoon Friends! Here it is Friday already, and I haven't posted any Friday Fotos for my friends yet! Sorry! I was hoping to have more to share than what I do have, but it just didn't come together, so it is what it is. I'll keep watching out my room with a view while I write, and if I see anything photo-worthy, I will let you know. Meanwhile, here's what I've got:
Welcome to my "Open Window"...a place of hope, encouragement, and adventure as we journey down the road from "Closed Doors" to the new opportunities God places in our pathway. I hope you will take the time to go back and follow the trail of mixed blessings and fears, failures and triumphs from the past and side-trips in the present. Perhaps it will conjure up some of your own special memories, and be an invitation for you to share with others. I look forward to spending this time with you!
What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!
Showing posts with label Weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weather. Show all posts
Friday, February 4, 2022
Friday Foto Friends...I'm a bit late!
A few days ago, while on our morning walk, I was enjoying the remaining wild plum blossoms on the trees scattered about through the wooded lots...
Hard to believe something so beautiful would be growing on something that looks like this:
I call this the Isaiah 61:3 tree...
"To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Rather fitting, don't you agree?
Yes, it is still February,
And I expect for most of you reading this it may still look a lot more like this:
And really and truly, even here in Florida it doesn't quite look like this yet:
But I do love that picture, don't you? Looks like a garden of hope and serenity and peace...
(I love this Thomas Kinkade calendar, and was surprised when I opened it up that it had these wonderful Bible verses on each page!)
But today it is 81 degrees here in Florida, (and I just heard our AC kick on) and here's what's actually growing in my "secret memorial garden" right now...these little azalea bushes that I planted last year had these buds on them the other day when we were expecting that big freeze. So my son covered them up for me with old sheets so they wouldn't get frozen...
And here is how they look today:
Here's a close up...aren't they sweet little ruffled edged azaleas? I love them so much and am so happy we were able to save them from getting frozen:
Although azaleas are pretty hearty and usually do weather the bad the weather fairly well...but I'm glad we took care of them.
However, we are expecting a cold front to move in tonight, with a lot of rain and the temperatures will drop down in the low 40's over night and our high tomorrow will be around 63, so "old man winter" isn't quite done for us yet either. I know that's no consolation for those of you digging out from under a couple of feet of snow today...I'm sorry. But I hope you enjoy the pictures anyway.
Now, the other day I saw this over around the bend in Still Waters Pond, and that's about how it looked to me without my zoom lens. I actually thought it might be that alligator that someone said he saw in our pond (but that I've never seen or heard and doubt seriously the veracity of his discovery)...I mean it does kind of look like an alligator sunning himself on an old broken down dock...
So I zoomed in and focused my camera a bit better, and this is what it was:
Just a shadow and old dark wood. No alligator! Whew! I am quite relieved!! But isn't it funny how our eyes can play tricks on us and make us believe things that may not be totally correct?
Now, if you focus your eyes really closely on this picture, you just might see two Canada Geese flying over Still Waters Pond early this morning, and you would be correct:
They were moving so fast that they are just a blur of wings and bodies, but they were sure making a racket, yelling out their goose call as they flew over the house and away for the day to wherever they go and then come back here again at night. I waved at them as they flew over the top of our house. I think they actually did wave back...but then again, my eyes could have deceived me a little bit. LOL.
Okay, let's shift gears a bit. Some of you may be wondering how my appointment at the Orthopedic Doctor's office was yesterday. Well, it was interesting and good. He did confirm that I do have "Adhesive Capsulitis" of the right shoulder, A.K.A. "Frozen Shoulder". My options were to just keep going to PT and see if it gets better, or to have a shot of cortisone in the shoulder right then and there to see if that will help, but still continue the PT. I opted to go ahead and have the shot, which was very interesting. In fact, it was so interesting I thought you might want to see for yourself:
This was the ultrasound picture of my shoulder and muscle area where he injected the shot, while watching the needle go in on the ultrasound. I was able to watch it too, and it really didn't hurt much at all. As a matter of fact, if you read the Dr.'s notes above that I included, you will see that he said "The patient tolerated the procedure well." I wish I could say the pain in my shoulder went away right away and that everything is just great, but it will still take some time to do its work. I am trying to be a good patient.
So, since I was such a good girl, hubby rewarded me with a trip to the local Cracker Barrel for lunch since we were already pretty close to it (and also because we had a gift card for it that was a Christmas gift).
Thursday's special was turkey and dressing and sweet potato casserole, with cranberry sauce! That's what I had, and it sure was good. Hubby had the hamburger steak with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. He said it was good too.
But what I was more interested in was his plate! Look at that beautiful blue and white flowered plate! I've never seen that one before at Cracker Barrel, and I don't know how he rated to have such a pretty plate when mine was such a plain old white restaurant ware boring plate! I looked around at other tables and didn't see anyone else with this beautiful plate!
Maybe the effect of the steroids were already affecting me, but I just had to have another picture of that plate! LOL. This was after he finished eating, sorry it's kind of messy, but that was the best I could do without a dishcloth! LOL.
I actually considered asking the waitress if I could just take it home with me, but that would have been a little too crazy, even for me. I did look at the bottom of it to see where it came from...it's a Corona Hotelware plate, made in Colombia. I looked online and couldn't find this exact same thing, but what I did find was too expensive to even consider, so that's that. I don't need another plate anyway...but I just really liked this plate! LOL.
Okay, I think I've finally come to the end of my pictures for today.
I hope you enjoyed this little walk through the garden and around the pond and even into the Doctor's office with me, but most of all this lovely dirty blue and white plate! LOL. I need to come up with something better for a more suitable ending to this post...
Oh, I almost forgot!
I know you've seen pictures of my kitchen cabinets many times before (and you see why I like blue and white dishes, btw). Well anyway, yesterday afternoon one of these lovely cabinet doors almost killed me...well, not quite, but it was a very close call!
I opened up this door to put some dishes away, and the glass panel fell out almost on top of my head and landed on the counter below and did not even break!
(this picture shows it being held in place by a clamp after being glued back to the door)
It was a very close call! If that glass had hit me in the face and broke, it could have been quite a terrible thing. As it was, it landed on my sweet little birdie that was sitting there so innocently with her lovely spring bonnet, and it broke off her tail completely! Thankfully it was a clean break, and I was able to super glue it back on and she is just fine now and so thankful to be back in one piece.
And I am very very thankful that the glass did not break over my head or on my face or hands...it could have been quite disastrous. I praise God for His protection over me, and it reminds me that
"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me". The little "sparrow" did get hurt, but not mortally. He was fixable. And this "little sparrow", me, did not get hurt, not even a scratch, and I praise God for sparing me what could have been terrible. And after some super silicone glue to reattach the glass to the door, and one of my hubby's super clamps, the door is as good as new today. Praise God for small miracles!!!
Okay, that's all folks. I hope you have a blessed and wonderful weekend. Stay warm and safe.
Friday, September 4, 2020
Friday Foto Friends: Room With A View
Yes, it's September...we've been discussing that for several days now.
Since it's Friday Foto Friends day, I might as well share a few more things from September!
Like this September teacup!
(and that lovely tea towel that was a gift from one of our blogging friends who visited here in person last year...she knows who she is!)
Sadly, I don't remember for sure who gave me this tea cup. It was probably a birthday gift one year...and I enjoy using it all month long!
(if you happen to be reading this post and you know that you gave me this cup, please refresh my memory! I'm getting forgetful in my old age).
Time to change the calendars...and this one is my TeaTimes Calendar.
Yes, that is a quail tea set. Very unusual!
And this is my other calendar by the artist John Sloane. I love his artwork. Wouldn't you love to be sitting there under that weeping willow tree with that lovely view and having a picnic with someone you love? Love that red car too! There is so much to love in this picture...the collie dog...the red barn...
You can see that it hangs on the wall next to my desk and window to the back porch...
My "Room with a View"
(another gift from that dear friend who visited last year!)
Since we put the roof over the deck I can now open the blinds on this window and enjoy the view all day long. I used to have to close them most of the day because the sun was too bright and hot.
Hopefully I will be able to see more views like these from my open window in my
"room with a view"
This Great Blue Heron who was fishing for his supper out in Still Waters Pond
Now I can sit here at my desk as I write to you and give you an update on the weather moment by moment. Earlier it was bright and sunny and hot. 93 degrees at 6:30 pm! (And we still went and took a walk...the heat index was 106! Not my idea of a pleasant walk) (This was written Thursday evening)
Now it is pouring down rain and the wind is very fierce. There have also been bright flashes of lightning and extremely loud thunder:
And ten minutes later the sky is all golden:
(And the temperature has dropped down to 81 degrees!)
This is how the skies looked last night:
And this is how they looked early this morning when we first woke up! There was a full moon shining on the pond! It was extremely muggy and warm this morning...the air was heavy and thick with humidity, but that September moon made me smile.
All these views from my open window in my "room with a view" remind me of these verses and the song that came from them:
Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV
22. "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23. They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness."
Won't you sing along with me?
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
"Great is Thy faithfulness, " O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness, " Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness, " Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness, " Lord, unto me!
Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful September day!
Monday, August 10, 2020
Tuesday Four: Weather or Not
Weather or Not
Welcome Friends! We offer four questions each week for you to answer. It gives you something to blog about, a chance to learn about others and make new blogging friends. We keep it going in memory and honor of our dear friend Toni Taddeo, it's original author.
Weather or Not...
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit”
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Any puddle jumping in your life? Yes, if there are puddles to jump without me making a fool of myself by falling in, then I like to jump...

How do you handle stormy weather and does a day need to be sunny for you to enjoy it? Why not give us hints on enjoying any kind of weather.
1. What kind of weather pleases you the most?
I love it when it begins to get a little cooler, definitely more fall like weather. No humidity, but sunny and breezy. Here in Florida we have to wait until late September , early October to begin to feel a definite change in the weather for the good.
2. Do rainy days bother you or do you find them a time to relax and take it easy? I love a rainy day, and often just enjoy spending time either baking or reading or writing...relaxing and watching and listening to the rain on the roof.
Watching the birds wading in the pond, with the raindrops falling all around, making little ripples and circles in the water, can be very entertaining.
This is a "Little Blue Heron" enjoying a rainy day in the pond.
Any puddle jumping in your life? Yes, if there are puddles to jump without me making a fool of myself by falling in, then I like to jump...
3. Do you have meals you enjoy in certain kinds of weather or certain seasons? Please share with us?
When the weather gets cooler I like to make home made soups and stews, (hubby calls them one-pot meals.
I also like to bake cookies or bread and make the house smell inviting and cozy.
4.As the prophet Jeremiah tells us, It is a good idea to bloom where you are planted.
Do you think Jeremiah meant like this?
How do you handle stormy weather and does a day need to be sunny for you to enjoy it? Why not give us hints on enjoying any kind of weather.
Whether there are stormy skies or beautiful sunsets...
Or wonderful full moons in addition to our lovely sunny days, there is always something to enjoy no matter what the weather. Obviously, for me, my camera is something that has been a blessing to me to be able to capture the beauty of the world around me no matter what the weather. We just have to open our eyes and look at what God has provided for us.
Thanks for joining in. I know Toni would be thrilled to see you all here.
Thanks for joining in. I know Toni would be thrilled to see you all here.
Now please go visit our other friends over at Tuesday Four, And Thank you to Annie at Cottage By The Sea for being our hostess!
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