Wednesday Treasures...Little Things

 This morning my thought was that I would blog about something called "it's the little things...",  and it was prompted by this:

We had stopped by our community grocery store on our way home from our morning walk.  Just wanted to pick up a few things like some fresh produce and milk.  Not everyone likes our community grocery store...they say it's too expensive or that too often things just aren't that "fresh".  True, their prices can be more than what I might pay at a store in the city 15 miles away or at Walmart, but when I don't want to travel 15 miles to buy groceries it is worth it to me to shop local. And I know what to look for and what actually is sometimes a better price than what I can get in town...and then there's the fact that today, Wednesday, is also Senior Discount Day...and if you are "old enough", you get a 5% discount on all your groceries...which is a nice perk.  And then recently they started doing this...

Free bag of popcorn, one per customer!

It was just the right amount to make me smile all the way home as I munched on it and felt like I was a kid at the movies or somewhere else fun!  It's the "little things" that make me smile.

After our last post about rainy days, etc., I was saying how much we needed rain, and another nice little surprise was a thunderstorm this evening...

These were the clouds just prior to the heavens opening up and pouring down on us with wild abandon!

I stepped out on the back porch to enjoy the sights and sounds of the rain pounding on the metal roof...

Still Waters Pond was singing in the rain...I am quite sure I heard it saying "Thank You, Lord, for this wonderful storm!"

However, just about this time I saw lightning and then heard the thunder pretty close after, so I jumped back inside just in time!

The only thing I don't like about this storm was that it was much too short, but we will be thankful for what we got and pray that the drought is broken and perhaps now we will get back into our normal summer afternoon rainstorm pattern.

I was hoping to see those Black Bellied Whistling Ducks come back with the rain, but so far no sign of them. I still haven't heard them whistle. I do hope they will come back so I can listen for them. 

We did see this what I think must be a young Great Blue Heron...why? because it just seems so much smaller than what we usually have, but anyway, it flew in for a while looking for food yesterday.  The pond is getting so dry that it had to land further out to get where there was more water and fish. Hopefully today's rain will help bring the pond back up to a better level.

This Red Shouldered Hawk continues his watchful vigil for any available prey out there on Still Waters Pond or in the surrounding trees.  He still makes his presence known when any human steps out and invades his territory.  

Hello!!! I see you looking at me!

However, I do have some sad news to report.  Lately we have noticed that our Sand Hill Crane family seems to be missing one of the colts.  At first I thought and hoped that maybe it was just slow about keeping up with the family and would soon show up in the yard with them, but it's been a few days now and they are definitely just a family of three...

This is the one remaining Colt, either George or Abe, I don't know which.

Normally the family sticks together for about 10 months, and the colts don't usually start flying until they are 3 months old, which won't be until later this month.

One of the parents.

Mother and Colt...I'll say it is Abe. It makes me really sad. The only thing we can figure is that the colt may have been hit by a car, as they often are seen crossing the roads rather slowly, and sadly they blend in too much with the background and motorists often cannot see them until it is too late to stop.  Yes, it makes me sad, but I have to accept the fact that it is nature, and life can be pretty dangerous for our "wild kingdom" here amongst the human kingdom. They have passed the age of being so vulnerable to other "wild predators", at least here where we live.  So most likely it was a road accident.

Anyway, life goes on and the family continues their daily routine of foraging for food all around the neighborhood and then often settling in for the night out here on the little marsh island of the pond, where they feel safest.

Psalm 4:8 NKJV

8 "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Here is something special...the song we sang Sunday Morning, 

Isaiah 6:8 KJV

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? 

Then said I, Here am I; send me.

(just a note, the song was recorded last week at our rehearsal. The song is at the very beginning of the video. The sermon is actually from 2023. The Pastor had been unable to record a new message last week due to illness, so that is why he says it is 2023 when he starts his message. Didn't want to confuse anyone!)

Here I am, Lord, Is it I, Lord?

Lyrics

I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin

My hand will save.

I, who made the stars of night,

I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear my light to them?

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,

I have borne my people's pain.

I have wept for love of them.

They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone,

Give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my word to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,

I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them.

My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide

Till their hearts be satisfied.

I will give my life to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dan Schutte

Here I Am, Lord lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

I don't know about you, but I cannot sing a song like this, and particularly this song, without almost breaking down in tears.  Throughout our years of serving the Lord in the ministry, there would often be a time when God would speak to me through such a song of commitment, and it often seemed as though it was not long before He would be giving us a new assignment or asking us to take a bigger step of faith.  Now we are retired, and we thought we were settled down for the duration...but once you have made a commitment to take up the cross of Christ and follow Him, anything can happen at any time. We just always need to be ready for whatever "orders" He may give.  Sometimes I've found it is just a test to see if we are serious about our calling...and once God sees that we are still willing to follow Him, He often says "thank you, but just be faithful right where you are."  The title of my blog, Closed Doors, Open Windows, was born out of just that kind of life's mission.  Sometimes God closes doors, and sometimes He opens another window of opportunity.  The main thing is to be ready, no matter what our age or station in life.  Until He calls us home to heaven, we are still His servants to do as He commands.

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord,

if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

Just some food for thought tonight.  Perhaps God is calling you in the night as well...will you go, if He leads you?  

Good night my friends...keep your ears open and your heart ready for action.  

Tuesday 4~Rainy Days and Mondays on a Tuesday!

 

Rainy Days and Mondays

From Annie, our hostess:
"Welcome back. Toni Taddeo began this Tuesday 4 question and answer postings and I am continuing it in her honor..

It's been a bit rainy and stormy across the USA this spring and I have seen so many negative sentiments about Mondays. Karen Carpenter sang about rainy days and Mondays always getting her down. Can we discuss it?"

1. How do you feel about rainy days? Do they make you happy or sad? Do they always get you down?

Actually, I would love to have a rainy day, no matter which day of the week it is! We did get a brief surprise shower Sunday afternoon, but it didn't last long enough to do much good except that it cooled things down a little bit for a while.  I enjoy rainy days as long as they aren't bad storms.

A rainy day on Still Waters Pond

2. How about Monday. Do they get you down or do you think that just might be a habit of negative thinking?
I guess when I was still working I didn't always like to see Monday come around. Now that I am retired one day is pretty much the same as another, so Mondays really aren't such a big deal.

3. Did you play in puddles as a kid? Or were you not the kind that liked getting wet and muddy?
I wish I could find a picture of me as a very little child when we still lived on the farm in Pennsylvania. We had a farm pond that was suitable for swimming. I was still much too young to swim in the pond with my older siblings, so I usually sat along the edge and played in a mud puddle.  I am not sure how my mother got me cleaned up before going back in the house, but I'm sure she found a way. Also my sister and I used to make mud pies.  I've never been afraid of splashing in the puddles when it rains. It's all a part of growing up...and maybe for some of us...it's a way of never growing up...

4. Are there foods/meals that you find especially comforting on stormy days? Nosy people want to know!!

If it is also still kind of chilly, a bowl of soup or some kind of stew/chili is always comforting on a stormy day.  It's also a good time for a cup of tea and a cookie or something yummy.  Actually, it's also a good day to bake cookies.   I have listed several old posts down below that tell about my rainy day activities.

Actually, they say a rainy day is a good day for ducks...and these two Black Bellied Whistling Ducks came flying onto Still Waters Pond Sunday evening after it had rained for a short while! I've never seen them here before, and they came back again today! I hope they will decide to stick around for a while. I'd love to hear them "whistle"!

Here's a few links to previous older posts about things I like to do on a rainy day. It would appear that I actually do have quite a lot to say about rainy days...there's actually more posts than these if you click on a link for rainy days you will find lots of thoughts about this subject! But these should be enough to keep you occupied for a while! LOL!

Come and Share a Pot of Tea

It's a Good Day for Soup!

Rainy Days are Meant for Family Time

Rainy Saturday Family Fun

Rainy Days and Mysteries

Singing in the Rain

Okay friends...let's go over to this link up for today's Tuesday 4  and see what everyone else is writing about!  Hope you are having a sunshiny happy day wherever you are...or, if it is raining, I hope you have a good book to read and a cup of your favorite tea or coffee to drink! Have a lovely day my friends!

Jeremiah 14:22 NKJV

"22 Are there any among the idols of the nations that can cause rain?

Or can the heavens give showers?

Are You not He, O Lord our God?

Therefore we will wait for You,

Since You have made all these."

Saturday Wanderings

Happy Saturday!  I hope this day finds you enjoying some beautiful skies, fresh air, and God's lovely world around you!  Or, maybe you are enjoying staying indoors in your "cool" house, away from the heat and humidity and/or other weather issues.  Wherever you are, I hope you are doing well.  

It was such a lovely morning, we decided to take a little ride to the Kenwood boat ramp...not to go boating as we do not have a boat, but just to enjoy the natural beauty of a morning that started out a few degrees cooler than it has been the rest of the week, and humidity was lower as well...so it was a good time to get out while the getting's good!  This lovely dragonfly above was enjoying sunning himself on a picnic table. I appreciated him staying still long enough for me to take his picture!

It was a picture-perfect morning...blue skies and green trees reflecting in the cool green waters of the canal leading to the Kenwood Recreation Area and Rodman Reservoir

I enjoyed walking around and taking pictures of everything I saw...I hope you don't mind a lot of pictures...I missed the weekly Friday Foto Friends post for yesterday, so this will make up for that.

Beautiful Live oak tree shading the picnic area...

 I am not going to attempt to identify all the water plants and flowers...just enjoy them...

Ah, but those eggs are actually Florida Apple Snails, and I believe these are the native variety. There are many invasive species starting to takeover our fresh waters, but these look like the native snail eggs.

It's a great day for boating and fishing, and there were many trucks with boat trailers in the parking lot already, so I assume the lakes/rivers are full of fishermen out enjoying a beautiful day on the water. 

We were quite content to stay onshore and admire God's wonderful creation.  

Another Post about this location from last Fall

And also a post from the winter time

Back on the home front, last night I noticed this little Brown Anole (lizard) on our back porch. He looks kind of funny because he is shedding his skin.  Apparently they do that several times a year. It is interesting to get to see this actually happening:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 

18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Here is the latest photo of the Century Plant/Agave, that is blooming as it is actually dying:

It is still quite beautiful, even in its last days of life...

We stopped by to see the Hawthorn bush that I've been watching on our walk, and this strange thing was growing on the tree.  Here is the link to what it is...a kind of fungi.

https://wiki.bugwood.org/Gymnosporangium_clavipes_(cedar-quince_rust_on_hawthorn)

Here is what the actual hawthorn berries look like:

I just think that's interesting!

Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird are at it again, building another nest in the birdhouse!  They've been quite busy at their task, even though we've had 95 degree temps most every day this past week. Seems like it would be too hot to stay in the birdhouse and sit on a nest...but hubby said maybe the heat will help incubate the eggs for them so they can take more breaks! LOL. Probably not, but I hope the baby birds will develop and maybe we'll get to see them this time!

And Mr. Red Shouldered Hawk has still been fussy about the loss of so much of his habitat on the lot next door...

He was scolding me for being so close (although I was really quite far away...trust me!)

I hope the Hawk family will be okay once the dust settles.

Oh, btw! Today is the first day of June!! Hard to believe we are already to the half way point in this year! My, how time flies!  

As per my usual post for the first of the month, here are the calendar photos for June:

This is the John Sloane Country Seasons calendar, which I love so much. This picture is so beautiful...I can just visualize myself standing there with that sweet doggy, looking at "Out Town". I think I would love to live in a town that looks like this...no cars, just horse and buggies...sometimes it's nice to dream about living in such a world...but then reality hits...no air conditioning, no electricity, no indoor plumbing...so, if we could live in a town like this and have all the amenities mentioned above, that would be lovely...what do you think?

And then we could have a tea party...although this particular picture/tea display looks more modern than the above picture.

Here's the quote for the month from the Teapot Calendar.  Funny...

Now, here's the cute little Susan Branch calendar for June...cute ideas for summertime picnics...speaking of watermelon...I have one waiting to be cut, but I don't have room for it in the fridge, so we are waiting until we can make more room, or until there are more people here to help us eat it. "The Kids" said they'd come over tomorrow afternoon and help us eat it! LOL.

Here's the Thomas Kincade calendar for June...isn't that a lovely garden?  Oh, wouldn't I love to have a garden that looked like this!!  I'm afraid my brown thumb just can't quite accomplish this kind of beauty, try as I might! LOL.  

Amen to this verse:

It goes very well with the following picture from the calendar in my bathroom...isn't that beautiful?

So, how does your June look? Is it going to be busy? Are you going on any vacations this summer? Our June calendar already has several medical appointments listed...still working through all the follow ups and test results, etc.  Hopefully maybe by the end of the month we can think about doing something fun, like getting away from the heat for a while. Not sure where or how, but we can dream, can't we?

Well, friends, here it is the end of the day and time to say good night.  Tomorrow is Sunday, and we get up early to get to Sunday School on time. Hubby is the teacher, so we'd better not be late! LOL.

One last verse from my daily devotional book...the header page for June...Good place to end the day...

Amen.

Good Night!