BEST BOOK REVIEW!

Is a book worthy of a great review? How does one remember?

Usually my faves are filled with jottings on almost every page.

This book has no jottings---just lots of post-its!

Why? 

Because the pictures are as exquisite as the words are 

"spot-on".....and it was a gift from a dear friend who knows both my     heart and my needs. 

As it says in the book, "The gospel binds our hearts together to a lifeline of grace!" (p.123)

A book worthy of a GREAT review both visually and with incredible

word choices anchored in Scripture.

COMMON BOX TURTLE!

Common Box Turtle---

Is there any such thing as a"common" animal created by God?

This beauty showed up in our front yard this am. Hubby took a pic for us and by the  time we looked again, he was gone and we have yet to find him. Her? 

We had the idea that turtles were slow movers.

God's word tells us God created reptiles, described as "creeping things" on the 6th day of creation. The Eastern common box turtle, a creature that moves along the ground likes to eat earthworms, mealworms and sweet fruit (to be given occasionally as a treat) of strawberries, blueberries and melons.

Box turtles burrow under logs and leaves----sounds like our yard!

Terrestrial box turtles odd facts to us; have spatial memory to guide their navigation, have nerve endings in their shells and can hear without external ear flaps.

Seeing the beauty of the small turtle's shell was a great way to start our Saturday as we hum along, "For the beauty of the earth.....over and around us lies. Lord our God to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise! (from my limited memory)

BLUEBIRDS AFLIGHT!

Bluebirds never leave NC but we see them only occasionally until they begin their nesting search. These cavity nesters breed from March through August. Bird loving hubby tries to aid them in that pursuit though it's been difficult since his shoulder surgery. 

Carefree birds don't grow their own food, primarily eating insects.(insectivores) Hubby makes sure there is also plenty of mealworms in our area as another fave food.He does not want to leave "his" fave birds in decline due to food or habitat loss!

Birds in the Bible symbolize God's providential care. 

When help is needed environmentally, many want to help this beautiful part of creation God has created to fly above the earth!(Genesis 1:20)

Hubby is chief among them to keep birds aflight!

CAPTURING CREATIVITY!

From silent walks using only sense of smell and feel when I leave notes and cameras at home to walks with only an APPALACHIAN SCENIC TRAIL TREES & WILDFLOWERS guide in my pocket, I was blessed.

Other times, the Seek app on my iPhone captures and records those moments, to enjoy later. 

God's creation is not to be missed when moving to a new area/state.

WISDOM WALKS! WOW!

As one ages, walking is good medicine, whether one feels like it or not!

Walking can be a path to life with Him. Leaving one's mental checklist behind and focusing on His Presence! 

Last week as Hubby and I walked in much stillness we saw the path anew. Blue skies emphasized the first of the mountain laurel blooms hanging over the creek!

The path itself  was filled with bunches of butterflies.

Blue-spotted purples, a hubby ID.  Tiger Swallowtails. One Monarch that would never land. Even they, seeking moisture and sweet nectar, seemed to dance as if they too could "taste and see" that God's provision is good!

Pastor Pace begins His sermons repeating Isaiah 40:8.....

"The grass withers,

........the flower fades"....

and the congregation in the pews (or on-line) finishes with....

"but the word of our God stands forever."

More than an opinion from a pundit but God's holy word to start my day with this morning as I look out my breakfast bar window at those examples of creation.

God has my attention; I hope He has yours.

'He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit says to the church. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone the one no one knows except the one who received it.' (Revelation 2:17)

Do I hear an AMEN!?

GOD'S HANDIWORK!

SOLAR ECLIPSE APRIL 8, 2024.

All across America,.....

 ......from young to old, from beginning to end.......

....enjoyed God's handiwork!

SUPER BLUE MOON!

AUGUST 30, 2023---how many ways can we say it!

Creation speaks loudly of a creator.

God said, Let there be lights in the sky. (Genesis 1:14)

The heavens declare the glory of God! (Psalm 19:1)

BLUE SUPER MOON ARISING!

Sometimes we can let creation speak for itself tho my picture doesn't do it justice.

This combo is not suppose to happen again until 2037.

Hmmmm......wonder if I'll be looking up as hubby & I did last night from the patio at 1152 or if i'll be looking down from heaven. 

I'm sure that Super Blue Moon view would truly be spectacular!

PETAL PEEPERS to LEAF SEEKERS!

Early last week TEMPS were sweltering in all caps. Folks made travel plans to go to the north east to be leaf peepers....as colors were at their peak. Now it's CHILLY in all caps. Yet, there are still a few garden gatherings to recall the lingering flowers of summer and to see all the new mums, pumpkins and fall foliage. 

Enjoy now because we know how quickly fall comes and goes. Soon first snows will be just around the corner followed quickly by spring. May we all be joyfully expectant for each season.

The beauty of each season is created by God. Those that realize this seem to enjoy each season all the more. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

JOYFUL!

Some aspects (nouns)  of life become even more fulfilling with the addition of the suffix ful. 

My "cottage" garden, though imperfect, gives me joy.

When a yellow swallowtail joins the remaining blooms and covers the weeds, I am joyful!

Full of joy! 

In my garden. "In His Presence is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11, emphasis mine)

AN APPLE A DAY---GIVE ME 2 OR 3!!

I never know what will attract me to food I've never tried before.  Usually it's affordable price. Yesterday, that was the "lead in" at Aldi for my purchase. The second draw..... the USA product was from New York, a state dear to my heart as it's home to my "grandgirls." Seasonal hankerings also clicked in! 

APPLES! God created fruit. (Genesis 1:29)

Apples @ $1.49 a lb with variety of sizes---I know "our" Jack likes small ones..  Loved the 100% recyclable bag concept. SweeTango was a catchy name for an apple new to me. The description almost sealed the deal.

A SWEET CRISP APPLE

with a lively touch of

CITRUS, HONEY and SPICE

The real deal sealer was my first bite!

YUM!!!!! CRISP in all caps!

I went back again---2 more times!

I have never advertised anything on this blog. This is not an ad and no profit will be gained be me. You're the one who will profit....if you hurry to buy your bag of SweeTango apples!

I bet you can't eat just one...................

BIRD TALK

***If viewing this on a mobile device, you will not be able to see the video unless you go to the bottom of the entry and click--View Web version! I think it will be worth the effort.)

A worder, if that's a word, and a birder come together and the fun begins---at least at our house.

Sharing a recent Jeopardy answer (in the form of a question, of course) with hubby started the conversation. A group of crows. What is a murder? He disagreed....probably because a flock of birds is a flock of birds and he can usually identify them specifically by both sight and sound/"call"! 

I on the other hand, enjoy discovering an" unkindness of ravens" and a "murmuration of starlings"....all of which join crows as general blackbirds to me.....and then forgetting soon after until the question appears on a game show.

For our almost 2 year old granddaughter, a bird is a birdie.....

But, she knows the name of turkey and sees a rafter of them....followed by the "mommy."

One thing we, a worker and a birder, agree on completely......God created every bird that flies, each after its own kind. And it was good. (Genesis 1:21) Amen!

GOD'S BEAUTIFUL WORLD

The earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)

This past summer, Hubby and I experienced such fulness as we trekked from Long Island to Maine, in and out of coastal towns through park paths and hidden walkways.

We experienced nature as God's beautiful creation---through which, He was able to teach us, speak to us and provide for us.

1. For the beauty of the earth,
   For the beauty of the skies,
   For the love which from our birth
   Over and around us lies,
2. (Chorus)
   Lord of all, to thee we raise
   This our hymn of grateful praise.
3. 2. For the beauty of each hour
   Of the day and of the night,
   Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r,
   Sun and moon, and stars of light
4. Chorus)
   Lord of all, to thee we raise
   This our hymn of grateful praise.

A-men and A-men! 

Today I saw it again---in the ordinary aftermath of a fall rain. Right on my doorstep. Raindrops from Him on a single pumpkin created for such a season as this.

God's creation is beautiful no matter the location.

CHOOSE: PRAISE

Signs of God's creation have a way of making my heart leap in praise. Such was the case this past weekend in Brentwood when God's sunset had me in awe!

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. (Psalm 65:8)

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised. (Psalm 113:3)

CHOOSE: TO SEE

Choose to see in nature.....scientific proof following God's truth about creation.

Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so.
The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11-12)

And it was so. 
And it is still so.
And it is still good.

God created the earth not to be empty but He formed it to be inhabited. (Isaiah 45:18) And what beauty He added to it for the inhabitants to enjoy!

And it is beautiful for me to behold as I choose to see His handiwork bear out His truth in nature.

And behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)

A.B.C.......(I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q)......X.Y.Z. at the beach!

I---International Meals---USA, Italy,  Mexico and Canada

J---javelin throw event and jellyfish (hooray we had none except a piece of one found while crabbing

K--kite flying and kelp (hooray, this year no kelp either)

L---lakes and lagoons

M---Majestica Beach on 30A, our favorite

N---Natural beauty from God's hand (Psalm 24:1 & Psalm 95:5)

O---lympics at the beach---broad jump, hurdles and relay

P---Pelicans, piers and palm trees

Q---Quiet moments

Autumn TEA-reats

And he changeth the times and the seasons: (Daniel 2:21, KJV)

....and aren't I glad for seasonal changes. Cold and heat. Seedtime and harvest.

Ah-h-h.....harvest means autumn and all its colors. One of the crowning glories of God's creation.

These fall days I am thankful for:

• Cool temps. Long sleeves coming out of storage.
• Tea with hints of cinnamon.
• Brilliant color for "leaf peepers."
• Fresh greens. Crisp apples. YUM! 
• Pumpkins on doorsteps.
• Fall sports. Football on TV. Soccer games for grands.
• Warm cuppas.

This morning I was grateful for holding my daughter's warm cuppa, needing a sweatshirt for my grandson's soccer game and the distraction from losing once again,.....

.....as a dragonfly took up residence on my purse strap. Owen loved it. Score forgotten.*

*Pop-Pop, a competitive sort, probably didn't forget.

"Nigh-TEA-Night"

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, (Psalm 8:3, NIV)

Set in place. Ordained. The work of His hands.*

As the darkness began to descend, a heavenly creation was prepared for us. A shadowy night loomed over a fiery sunset as we turned off US 380 onto Texas State Hwy 5 near McKinney and ended at Stacy Rd. in Allen.
It was as if the sun had become liquid and provided an edge between night and day.

Night fall coming in to cover the full glory of sundown.

A cuppa Nigh-TEA-Night at its finest.

This was not the entry that started in my head in Memphis----but a visual entry that poured forth from the heavens. What a treat!

"Finali-TEA"

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. (Psalm 65:8, NASB)

There might be sadness when a cuppa finali-TEA is served at day's end knowing friends must depart. 

But God reminds us, even in a glorious sunset that even when leaving an area of such beauty, we can all smile because we’ve been there. Together.

"Creativi-TEA"

Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (Luke 12:27, NIV)

Today is May 1. 

Growing up in Kentucky, the first week of May had most folks looking forward to Derby parties because those thoroughbreds ran at Churchill Downs (and still do run) that first weekend. I, on the other hand, was looking "under" the leaves of my Mayapple plants to see if those little white flowers were there yet. 

Along with a few Jack-in-the Pulpit, Dutchman's breeches, red columbine, trillium and a Johnny Jump-up, I had scads of mayapple. All my wildflowers grew among the roots of the big tree in our back yard, that bordered the Madduxes' side, at 2211 South Virginia Street 

At age 10, I had a wildflower garden and I loved it. I guess that's why, to this day, I can remember those strange names ---nothing botanically correct, just what Mother and Mama Davenport called them. 

Those memories always seem to come flooding back this time of year......tho I have to travel to the Dixon Gardens to "look" for my little white flowers under those umbrella plants---and later the little green apples tucked in under those leaves. There's nothing like a garden to allow one to marvel at the handiwork of a creative God. 

Nowadays, I realize that the "mul-TEA-plying" of my "scads" of mayapples was His doing. A creative "doing" that allowed underground runners to produce plants for a very young gardener's joy----His creativi-TEA, not my horticulture prowess. 

"God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:12) and I did too!!!