Things that make me happy...

l. Watching hummingbirds at our feeder. And finding out that this feeder is by far the easiest one to clean that I have ever had.

2. Watching a Mama Mockingbird and her two half grown children enjoying life right outside our kitchen window. And having the fun of seeing her feeding them suet. This is one of the children.

3. Spending time today shopping with hubby.

4. Living where we can hear trains, and see them fairly often.

5. "Warm Spiced Apple" scented candles.

Things to be Thankful for...

• Enjoying an inner chuckle when someone asked me this week if New Hampshire was up there near Maryland.
• Three days of work this week.
• Being tired. That means I had things to do, and was busy, and now it is OK to be tired and to have a lovely chance to rest.
• Getting new shoes for work. I figured that coming home from work with very sore feet, and having them ache for a good part of the night afterwards was just the way things were. Then, I got new shoes. Expensive new shoes. Comfortable new shoes. My goodness. What a difference. Thank you Lord for Merrill shoes.
• Coming home from work on Wednesday to discover that hubby and Penny had hung my new mirror over the fireplace. I will have to confess it took me awhile to notice it, but what a fun surprise.
• Agreeing to work for a few hours at another facility for the company I work for. I do not do well in new circumstances, but this place is between receptionists, and the manager was feeling overwhelmed. So, as a favor to my boss I agreed to do it. And, I ended up doing computer work in a nice quiet office by myself, and it was wonderful. Thank you Lord for helping me to step out and do something out of my comfort zone. (Again)
• Having hubby pick me up at work the last two nights and being willing to wait as we closed late both nights. And the nice conversations we had on the way home sharing our days experiences.
• Hubby fixing dinner for me on Wednesday....by taking me out to eat.
• Knowing that the Lord hears our cries and that He answers. I am so grateful for the answers He has brought this past week.
  

Of Pelican's and Gardenia's

We met this interesting resident during our recent visit to Tybee Island. Pelican's are sure interesting creatures.
Thankfuls for this week:

• A multitude of blossoms on my gardenia plant. What fun to live where I can have one in my yard.
• Working four days this week. Three days I only worked 9-2, and found I loved working those hours. Five hours a day somehow seems easier than 10. Hmmm.... But, the Lord gives energy for the 10 hour days as well.
  
• The joy of picking fresh roses to put around the house.
• Shopping with hubby two days this week.
• Really enjoying our purple kitchen. I catch myself giggling when I walk into that room now. Having color on walls is so much fun.
  
• My daughter's willingness to offer to paint rooms for us. Thanks again Penny.
• Appreciating the many ways the Lord shows His love and care.
  
• Rain.
• Chocolate Velvet flavored coffee.
• Warm sunshine.
  

Roses Again

Our roses are now blooming, and this gives you a little idea of what they look like now. It is such a delight to go pick fresh roses when I want to and to have vases of roses all around the house.

And, again, the picture does not do them justice...so, you must come to see them in person. Come on over, enjoy the roses with us.

From front to back, you are seeing Double Delight, Veteran's Honor, Gemini, Peace, Aromatherapy, and Blue Moon.

Of Purple Paint

Our kitchen is now two shades of purple. For my birthday my incredible, wonderful, talented daughter offered to paint some rooms in our home. This is the result of her efforts yesterday, along with the very capable assistance of Katie. What fun to actually have some color on our walls, and not plain generic white or off white. They did the kitchen and back hall, plus a little in the Master Bath. Thank you Penny and Katie!
And, for your info, the pictures do not do the colors justice. You really need to come and see it in person! So, come on and see it for yourself.

Savannah and Yard Sales

This past week hubby and I enjoyed a visit to Savannah. We stayed a couple of days,
and one of the spots we liked was this swing. We sat here for quite awhile, and relaxed as we looked out at the ocean. What a restful, peaceful spot.
So, number one on my Thankful List would be Savannah, and Tybee Island.

• What a blessing to have 3 days to relax, sit by the water, read, enjoy watching pelicans and sea gulls, and cormorants and enjoying the ocean.
• Enjoying yard sales yesterday, and finding a mirror for over our fireplace. That was an extra bonus from the Lord. It will be nice to have that bare spot finally filled.
• Having an abundance of fresh roses to pick, and more coming. What fun. At the moment I have a white one, a red one and a purple one in vases around the house.
• Enjoying Women's Bible Study Wednesday evening and being reminded that we serve a loving Father who is responsive to our heart cries. He does hear us when we call to Him.
• Enjoying another birthday and feeling loved, appreciated, and cared for. The Lord brought many extra blessings into the day for me and I am grateful.
  
• Getting an unexpected extra day of work on Wednesday and the neat way that the Lord arranged to take care of all the things I had planned to get done that day.
• Constant reminders that God Is Good, that He loves me, and that He cares for me.
  

Of roses and things

My thankfuls for this past week include this lovely rose. I missed seeing our first rose of the season bloom as I was up in the snowy, flooding north, but this was waiting for me when I got home. So lovely.
Other thankfuls for the last week or two:

• Learning that it is wise to listen when the Lord prompts you to weigh your suitcase before heading to the airport. That saves the embarrassment of having them tell you your suitcase is 5 pounds overweight after you get to the airport. (I ended up having to carry that extra 5 pounds around in my carry on stuff. Ugh)
• Enjoying warmer temps now that I am home.
• Grateful for the Lord's protection in the snow and flooding while I was north.
• Enjoying the CD player in my rental car last weekend. Kristi's first CD was a big blessing from the airport to Fairwood, and her second CD from Fairwood to the airport. The joy of music. (And "traveling with Kristi". Thanks Kristi for being such a good travel companion.)
  
• Having hubby go grocery shopping with me this week.
• Enjoying looking at all the pictures that I took last weekend. What a special group of ladies.
  
• Enjoying a lovely view from the plane of Washington DC. Was so neat to see the White House, the Washington monument, the museums, the capitol, and of course the train station.
• Knowing that my friend Dorothy is safely home with her Lord Jesus.
• Learning in more specific ways that I can indeed fully trust my Heavenly Father.
  

Home Again

I just spent a few days in lovely New England, visiting with my mother and attending a wonderful Women's Retreat. You will notice from the picture that I was able to have the pleasure of "enjoying" snow. Yes, this is what it looked like outside on Sunday afternoon.

Course by Monday morning it was all melted, and I just had to deal with rain...lots of rain....and more rain...which made for flooded roads. For awhile I wondered if I might be stuck for days at the nursing home where my mother lives. But, the Lord is faithful, and I did manage to find that the roads were passable, even if I did have to drive through water a couple of times and make a detour along the way. Made for something interesting to talk about anyway.

And, I am thankful that I can still trust the Lord...even when the weather is not perfect. He sent grace and peace and help so that I was able to accomplish all that I needed to while I was north. I was able to spend some good long hours with my mother, and to get refreshed and encouraged with all the good fellowship and meetings at the Retreat. So, the Lord's timing was perfect for the trip, even with the weather. I made it safely there, and safely home again. God is good.

Hummingbirds

Last year was our first summer here and for various reasons I did not put up a humming bird feeder. This year figured I would give it a try. So, for several weeks I have been faithfully putting fresh sugar water in my new feeder every few days and keeping it clean. I have enjoyed seeing it hang there outside the window...but so far no sightings.....until tonight.

We had just sat down to eat dinner and hubby announced "hummingbird". Sure enough! There he was, that wonderful tiny bundle of beauty gratefully drinking sweet water from his new found supply. Wow. My response was, "Thank You Father".

Then, as we continued to eat our dinner, we enjoyed some mocking birds, a pair of mourning doves (have you ever really looked at the incredible colors on those birds???), and of course a meadowlark. All right outside our window.

God is good...and I am so thankful that I can enjoy His incredible creation. And for the variety of birds he brings to our window.

Happy Easter

A glorious Easter to everyone. What a joy to celebrate His Resurrection...He is alive.

Once again Penny, Claire and I did eggs. For another picture, check out this.

We enjoyed a BBQ for dinner...yes, it is cold here in Georgia. I actually had to wear a sweater when I was out grilling. Sigh.

And, again, what joy comes from serving a risen Savior, Lord and Redeemer. Thank you Jesus.

He is Alive, and other blessings.

Thank you Father for the following blessings:

• I serve a risen Lord. He is alive. The tomb is empty. What joy to my soul.
• He hears and answers my heart cries to Him.
• He brings peace to my heart.
• A pair of mocking birds that are enjoying our feeder.
• Our lawn got mowed this week. Thanks Stephen....
• Hubby's meal last night of hamburg, corn and bean burritos. Come on over for dinner and he will fix them for you. They are yummy.
• An extra 5 hours of work this week.
• Things at work much quieter this week...I even got a lunch break part way through my 10 hour day on Thursday. Wow.
• Anticipating time with my mother next weekend.
• Having our needs met for another week. What a blessing that is.
• Having friends from the north pop in for visits last Sunday.
• Enjoying semi-retirement with hubby.
• Indulging in Krispy Kreme creme filled chocolate frosted donuts. Something I don't dare do too often. And, no, they are not fresh off the line, but it is amazing what 10 seconds in the microwave will do.
  

More Thankfuls....

Once again as I look back on my week, my heart is filled with "Thankfuls". My list includes:

• This tree that I saw at church last Sunday. I took several pics, and this one has been my wallpaper for the week. Such a joy to delight in His beautiful creation.
• Our Blue Moon rose bush has at least 29 buds on it. This is the second year for this bush, and I am waiting for them to burst open with color.. a lovely purple.
  
• Participating in Liane's photo week.
• Grilling chicken on Tuesday and having it come out so moist and tender. What fun.
• Enjoying hubby's dinner last night: chocolate chip, raisin, pecan, cinnamon pancakes. Yummy.
• Making it through an 11 and 1/2 hour work day on Thursday. It was my only day this week, but it sure was a long one. I had to go in early, and of course we had to stay late. Usually we leave at 10, and the last hour or two is nice and quiet. Not that night. I clocked out at 10:38. Sigh. But, the Lord is good, I am thankful for the job, and that He gives grace and energy to these "mature" bones.
• Making reservations to fly north in a couple of weeks to see my mother, and also fit in time at the Women's Retreat.
• Knowing that my Heavenly Father loves me, and hears my every heart cry.
  
• Finding out that the geranium I planted in my "Jan Garden" last spring did not die from the frost this winter as I had originally thought. I found some new leaves poking up out of the pine straw when I was watering on Wednesday. What a bright spot in my day.
  

Portrait of a Stranger

OK, here is my "stranger"...little Marq Alexzander Aldrich, born March 21. He was a week old in this picture when I met him for the first time. Bryan and Sarah are enjoying this newest member of their family.
I will admit it took a certain amount of creativity to come up with this challange for photo week..I had decided early on I was not even going to try, but then I met Marq!
And, many kudo's to Liane for instigating this whole thing...it has been so much fun to participate, and to see contributions from others. Thanks Liane.

Inside Looking Out

Max and I were both inside looking out yesterday, enjoying the view. I was delighted to see the Chipping Sparrow on the feeder as it was the first I had seen since we moved. The variety of birds here is not that many yet, so it is fun to add another one to the list.
Max probably had different reasons for enjoying the birds.
And, thanks to my son who explained to me how to tweak pictures on the computer and make it possible to publish them. Now I know.

Black and White

OK, here is my "black and white" offering. My digital camera does not take black and white, and I haven't yet figured out how to change one of my color pictures to black and white using programs on the computer...so, here is a black iron, a white bear, residing on my black kitchen table.
And, FYI...this is my 100 post!!!! Exciting.

Self Portrait

Self portrait that also shows another of my favorite corners.

I wasn't at all convinced that I would post today's topic. But, I decided to be brave.

One of my "corners"....

I am semi participating in Liane's photo challange (see here) This "corner" is a good reminder to do what the picture says.

Of Azalea's, BBQ's and Spring

Our azalea's have been extra lovely this year...course this is only the second year we have seen them....but who is counting. This one that is just outside our kitchen window is a joy to look at.
Other blessings of the week:

• Enjoying grilling again. I haven't done much for several years and it is a delight to get back into it again. (and for the splendid expertise of our daughter who assembled the new grill for us...as well as delivered it to us. Thanks Penny.)
• Besides my usual Thursday stint at work I picked up two more days...or to be more precise half days. And I find that half days of working only 4 and 1/2 hours is much easier than 10 hour days. Hmm....
• Going out to dinner at Cracker Barrel with hubby this week. An unexpected treat.
• Some good telephone chats with my mother...and looking forward to seeing her in April.
• Spending some time enjoying the company of Phoebe...our "granddog".
  
• Reveling in spring. The air smells so good, the birds are singing, it is not too hot or humid yet, the flowers are blooming, there are buds on one of our roses....the list could go on. God is indeed Good.
  

Rejoicing

It is spring...windows are open...birds are singing and there are wonderful scents in the air. This morning we were sitting here at this table in our breakfast nook, enjoying the sunshine, and so thankful for this lovely sunny warm spot.
And, as you can see, Max also enjoys this spot. He does spend quite a bit of time here. Can't blame him.
And, we are so thankful for this stage in our lives. Living semi-retired we actually have time to sit and relax over breakfast. The Lord is indeed Good.
Lest you Northerners get jealous, remember that before long you will be enjoying your warm weather as well, and we will be tightly sealed inside our air conditioned havens trying to escape the humidity.

Spring Blossoms

This just gives you a hint of the beauty of the Bradford pear trees in our area that are in full bloom right now.
Pictures do not do justice to the beautiful white blossoms, and what a delight it is to ride down this particular road that is lined on both sides with these incredible trees.
Take heart, those of you who live in snow country....spring really is coming!