Wednesday Treasures: Just Popping In

 It's Wednesday night...and the moon is bright!

This is the scene from our front porch tonight..."Silent Night, Holy Night..."

All is calm...all is bright...Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace..."

A little bit earlier there was a beautiful sunset over our own Still Waters (still dry) Pond.  Do you see the duck in the tree?

I'm thinking this may be one of the Muscovy Ducks that I really don't appreciate so much, but he does make for a beautiful picture in the tree at sunset, so I have agree that even a duck I don't like has a purpose in life...

God says in Psalm 46:10-11 NKJV

10 Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

And with my enforced "quarantine" this week, I am learning to appreciate the stillness and the presence of God.  We took a little ride to try to catch more of the sunset before it totally disappeared...and to get out of the house for a little bit.  Hubby is going stir crazy I think...but he also thought I needed a change of scenery for a little while too. So we rode over to another lake nearby to catch the rest of the sunset...(a lake that is NOT dry!!)

I hope we didn't disturb these fishermen too much.

It really was a beautiful night.

And just so you know, we do still have some beautiful scenes on our own Still Waters Pond in the daytime...even if there isn't any water...This Great Blue Heron flew up into a tree to check out things. Actually there were two of them. I was thinking maybe they were looking for a place to build their nest because they do nest in the trees, but the other one flew away and this one still hangs around during the day to "fish"...for what, I'm not sure...maybe frogs...

We also had two of these interesting Wood Storks fly in for a few minutes. I didn't get a picture of the other one. They have been here in the past years as well, but they saw that there was no water and they took off pretty quickly. 

Mister Red Shouldered Hawk manages to keep finding food here however.  I see him flying about all around and over the pond throughout the day.  There is life out there, just not like what we are used to.

He saw something down there on the dry pond bed and gobbled it up and flew away:

And actually, you can barely tell it, but it was raining a little bit yesterday afternoon! It totally surprised us! but it didn't last for long.  The forecast does show rain coming this weekend, so I am praying it will be something worth waiting for!

Today was a good day for soup. It turned a little cooler, and I've been wanting soup. This was a quick one, however. I opened up a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup and added a can of mixed vegetables and some onion flakes, garlic powder, and pepper, and Ritz Crackers, and it was really good for a  quick lunch.  I actually also made beef stew in the crock pot for supper with some fresh home made biscuits. I forgot to take any pictures of that, however. It was really good, and there's some leftover for tomorrow. Hooray!

We were watching What's My Line while we ate our lunch, and I was surprised to see Gloria Swanson as their special "mystery guest".  This was from early 1950's.  I was thrilled to see her, because I actually met her in person on my 10th birthday. (which would have been a few years after this particular program).  I wrote about that memorable event HERE, several years ago.

While I'm resting, I am doing little bits here and there of decorating things that I have available to work with. Tomorrow Benton is coming over to bring in the boxes of decorations from the shed along with our tree so I can get to the rest of it a little at a time.

Lily Grace and my "Margie Doll" (see link for more information on her) wanted to be dressed in some Christmas dresses, so here they are.  Margie Doll is my doll that I've had since my 7th birthday, a gift from my Aunt Margie, so that's why I named her Margie Doll.  Lily Grace you all should know by know...but if you don't, you can read all about her in her own blog, The Adventures of Lily Grace. That link will take you to a post written several years ago when Lily first learned about an Advent Calendar.  We haven't written any new adventures in a while, but maybe we need to think about that.  Lily still has adventures...but Mommie is just too tired and busy to write more than one blog at a time. LOL.

Here's the rest of Lily's friends.  We'll be getting things ready for Christmas more and more as the boxes are opened and things are rediscovered!

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts and prayers regarding my illness. I am getting better day by day, and I'm trying not to do too much, but you know how it is...there's just so much to do during this Advent season!  But God has me here in a time of waiting and resting...and I want to use this time wisely to prepare my heart for the Advent of our Lord...yes, the Advent of the Christ child that we celebrate at Christmas, but also the 2nd Advent of our Lord, Who will "come with a strong hand...and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold His reward is with Him, and His work before Him..."  (see these verses below.) Yes, Christ is coming again...and we need to "Be still and know that (He) is God..." and prepare our hearts for this very good news, for those who believe.  There is so much for which to prepare our hearts...I hope we are all ready...

Isaiah 40:8-11 NKJV

"8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.”

9 O Zion,

You who bring good tidings,

Get up into the high mountain;

O Jerusalem,

You who bring good tidings,

Lift up your voice with strength,

Lift it up, be not afraid;

Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

10 Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand,

And His arm shall rule for Him;

Behold, His reward is with Him,

And His work before Him.

11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd;

He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom,

And gently lead those who are with young."

Amen

I hope you enjoyed my "Wednesday Treasures" for tonight.  Have a blessed and peaceful rest of your week.

Wednesday Treasures All Around Us

It was a lovely morning, so we took a ride down to the Kenwood Recreational Park, a lovely park and boat ramp into the Rodman Resevoir and Lake Ocklawaha area. We try to go there several times throughout the year, to see it in different seasons and to just enjoy the beauty.  Today was no exception! Here are some pictures that I took...and I have coupled them with Psalm 1 for today's Scripture reading. I hope you will enjoy the beauty of both the pictures and the Word together...

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,

But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A fitting ending to this passage...

Don't be like the ungodly...instead be like the man (or woman!) 

whose "delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night."

Sometimes it is good to get back to the basics, isn't it? In this world we are easily led astray by all the flashy things being offered on the internet or TV or in stores and places all around us.  But soon enough we discover that those things do not bring lasting peace or happiness. They might fill a void for a little while, but there is only one way to fill the empty places in our hearts and lives...

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29

  

"28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls."

He also said in Matthew 6:19-21 the following:

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Today was a good day to be reminded of these words, and to spend some time alone with the Lord, enjoying His beautiful creation all around us.  Now that fall is on the way and the temperatures are hopefully going to begin to cool down a little bit at a time, it is a good time to get back outside and take advantage of all the beauty that He has provided for us to enjoy.  I'm so thankful we were able to take this little walk today. It was a soothing balm for my soul.

How about you? What wonders or beauties have you noticed in God's creation around you lately? I hope you will share them on your blog if you can, or tell us about them here. Let's focus on what is lovely and wholesome, and try to stay away from the negative influences around us. That's what I want to do...who will join me?

Thank you for your kind comments on my previous posts. It's always so good to hear from you and also to read your posts to see what's going on in your lives! You are all a part of my special "Wednesday Treasures" (and beyond). Have a lovely week.

Wednesday Treasures

 My heart is full of joy and gratitude tonight...I have a lot I'd like to share, but I might split it up for a few days.  We had a WONDERFUL day today visiting with our special "Your Friend From Florida", Terri, and her amazing heroic son, Joey!  Pictures will follow...I don't want to steal her thunder as she said she would have to wait until Friday to post her pictures. I don't know if I can wait that long! LOL. Okay, here's just one sneak photo:   Yes, the sun was very bright. It was a very beautiful, bright sunshiny day, and actually too warm and bright to stay outside in that sun for long!

But, I think I will wait for Terri to share her photos on Friday, and I will share a few more then too.We had a very lovely LONG visit over a very LONG lunch at Corky Bells...they were PACKED, and let's just say our lunch became "lupper"...(part lunch and supper) because we were there so long, but it was still great because we had plenty of time to visit with each other and with our family. Oh, yes, her son was with her, and I had my hubby and also my son and sweet daughter in love Rose! All of us! So it was truly great. Okay. I'll wait for the rest of the photos before I share more.

When we got back home I went around the pond to check on the progress of the Sand Hill Crane Family, and guess what?  I bet you guessed it! Yes! There is a baby crane! One "colt" has been hatched, and there is another egg waiting to hatch! They usually hatch a day or two apart, so that is normal. Of course I took pictures!!

Here's the first view I had of the new baby crane:

Mother Crane is tenderly prodding at and checking the other egg, probably checking for any signs that it is about to hatch.

Meanwhile, baby #1 toddles around on the nest, viewing his new world first the first time:

I am always amazed at how big these "Colts" are when they are born. (A "colt" is what a baby crane is called).  

Uh oh, here comes the nosey neighbors to see the new baby...that Muscovy Duck family has become quite at home here on Still Waters Pond.  Apparently they heard the good news and went to check it out.

It was probably this one who was spreading the news!   "Quack, Quack Quack! You gotta see the baby!!"

Here they come around the bend...Mother Crane doesn't seem to mind. She's too busy trying to prod that other baby to hatch...

The ducks glide by quietly, but I think it's nice that the other water birds on the pond always are very curious about the new baby Cranes.

It certainly is something to be excited about!

Looks like Baby is getting tired and ready for a nap, and mother is looking at me like she's saying "Why don't you come back tomorrow and give us some peace and quiet for now, okay?"    I said, "Sure, you can count on me to be back tomorrow, in hopes of finding another new baby!"

Speaking of those ducks...I never know where they are going to show up next...

This morning I walked out into the front yard and I noticed some of their webbed footprints on the sandy driveway, so I figured they'd been waddling around the yard already.  Something caused me to look up, and here's what I saw:

Yep, this time they were up on top of the shed, saying "Good Morning!"

Oh, did you see these pictures of these ducks yesterday? I put them on Facebook:

They were having quite a discussion about something on our back porch.  

I just found their expressions and actions so comical...

Can you imagine what they must've been talking about to each other?

You are welcome to come up with your own captions...

finally they just got tired of arguing about whatever it was...

And took off in a flying leap back into the pond...

They really are fun to watch, but I just don't want them to make a "mess" in my yard! You know what I mean???

Oh, We are still having fun with Sunshine and Blackie...and they are becoming quite at home here.

When Terri was here today, I had her look at Blackie, because Terri is very experienced with cats.  I wanted to know if she thought Blackie was a "he" or "she".  Although Blackie was a bit indignant at Terri trying to politely "examine" the derrier...Terri said she thinks Blackie is a SHE, not a HE!  

Uh Oh!  I was getting curious because her tummy looks kind of lumpy.  Scott said something about that when he was here on Sunday...so now I am wondering if we are going to have some more kinds of babies here on our little "farm".   Oh, I still don't know about Sunshine for sure either...and she/he wasn't here when Terri was here, so I couldn't get her opinion, but I've thought she was a she and Blackie was a he, but now I don't know for sure.  Oh, Blackie has pollen on her fur in the picture above after laying on the glass table where there was a LOT of pollen. LOL. Anyway, things could be getting more and more interesting around here...stay tuned...

One more thing that is a special "treasure" today...

Terri brought this beautiful Cardinal to me today...

This is what the tag says:

She brought this to me in memory of our Matthew.

Isn't it absolutely beautiful?  I am just in awe of this, and of her thoughtfulness in bringing such a beautiful gift.

I am speechless after receiving this. 

So this is a good place to pause for tonight. There will be more pictures and things coming in the next couple of days, I am sure.  And thank you all for so many wonderful comments on my recent posts. I am trying to visit each of you as I can too. You are each so wonderful and special to me. Thank you for being precious friends.

I would like to close with this special prayer of St. Francis of Assissi. It just really speaks to my heart during this season of Lent:

"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,

that where there is hatred, I may bring love;

that where there is wrong,

I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;

that where there is error, I may bring truth;

that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring hope;

that where there are shadows, I may bring light;

that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to

comfort than to be comforted;

to understand, than to be understood;

to love, than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds;

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life."

Amen.