Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday

everyone! Today promises to be gorgeous. Very low chance of rain! I love the rain, but Lynn really needs to mow our lawn!!!Also, we havent been able to plant our tomato plants!!!This week while visiting I happened upon the most gorgeous mountain laurel. I love the star pattern so prevalent in God's creation.... never more beautiful than in this specimen.

Enjoy more PINK Saturday by visiting Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!

Beautiful

Yesterday our senior choir, The New Spring Singers, of which I am a member was very pleased to celebrate our end of year social at my dear friend Gerri's beautiful home. Like a picture in a book, her home is extremely welcoming.

It is, as well, on the bluebird trail of which I am a detached member...meaning, I live probably at least 5 miles away! Actually, Gerri lives just a house up from Dottie, our Bluebird leader. HEEHEE. Their area is out in the county, actually up into the mountains south of here. The serenity and remoteness allow for all types of wildlife but especially a wide range of birds. My dear friends work hard to cultivate songbirds and other birds which have heretofore been declining in number. Their beautiful gardens attract everyone, especially we New Spring Singers who were so happy to share in their delights!

Many of us arrived by church bus for our fabulous luncheon. I was very fortunate to visit and dine out on the enclosed deck which was only one of the venues for the day!

This overlooked the dazzling gazebo and peaceful gardens below!

You can see just how conducive to birding this space really is!!!

Out front the gardens include this expansive terraced waterfall and pool. The running water mesmerizes the spirit and soul!

It was so fascinating to feed the carp!

Just a short walk down the street is Dottie's gorgeous home.

I took the liberty of snapping a few shots there as well.Again her landscape hosts many types of birds, as well.

Next time we talk about going out for coffee, I'm suggesting to stop in here!

I felt so relaxed and refreshed after such a wonderful time spent with happy friends in such beautiful settings!!

What breed of dog am I ?

Okay, so I took the test!
Your Result: Golden Retriever
The breed that best describes you is the Golden Retriever. You are fun, loving and kind to others. You are very outgoing and love to meet new people. You are a faithful friend and sympathetic and understanding of others and their needs. You can be full of energy, but know how to relax and take it easy as well. You thrive when you are around the people that you love. You are golden in both personality and heart. You are something special, so don't stop being who you are!

Skywatch Friday

It was so good to see blue sky yesterday~we have had gray skies for so long. Now I am not complaining. I love the rain and it is wonderful to hear the weatherman say that we have no longer a concern for drought in this area. We have had terrible drought for the past several summers, and the trees have taken such a hard hit! But the blue sky and bright sun were dazzling yesterday! I took this photo over my best friend's house. I wonder if she recognizes the treetops in this photo!

For more gorgeous skies visit here.

Friday's Favorite family Foto

For more FFFF visit Deborah at Pictures, Pots, and Pens!

This photo hold very special memories. Not only does it commemorate Josh's special day, but it was taken at the chapel at which he and Amanda were wed 4 years ago!

Just a Reminder

Don't forget to get your mammogram this year! I had mine yesterday! One in eight women will have breast cancer!

Word Filled Wednesday

Visit Amy Deanne of the 160 Acre Wood to celebrate more of God's precious Word!

Ruby Tuesday

Click here for more!

My mandevilla is blooming ruby red as it begins its ascent up the trellis to show off its radiant glory this summer. This gorgeous specimen promises to really be quite a showpiece this season!

Three or More

Visit The Gypsy's Corner to share in this theme!

As you know I am really trying to enhance the bluebird population in my neighborhood by joining the Falcon Ridge Bluebird Trail. We have our second nesting in the bluebird house. It is thrilling to see scenes like these around our yard!

Amanda was able to capture these great photos when she visited last week!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more

For Today...May 25, 2009 (Memorial Day)

Outside my window...

It is 8:30 am and extremely quiet. Very few folks are out and about this morning. The sky is gray and everything is still.

I am thinking...

how sweet it is to have Lynn home from his Walk to Emmaus.

I am thankful for...

our shared experiences during our separate Walks! Now we can talk about it and share in each of our special moments!

From the kitchen...

back to early morning coffee and poached eggs this morning!

I am wearing...

my aqua shirt and white shorts!

I am reading... Decree, by Patricia King

I am hoping...

that Amanda calls soon. I am anxious for her to tell her dad her good news about her job, which I havent mentioned a thing about it to Lynn yet, so she can tell him herself!!!

I am praying...

for our wonderful pastor this week as he has chosen to take early retirement from his pastoral ministry and return to his hometown wih his wife to serve there. He and his wife have recently lost their fathers and have aged, inform mothers that concern them.

Around the house...

Laundry day and Lynn will be doing quite a bit of mowing both here and at my parent's home.

One of my favorite things...

journalling! I love to keep journals on my spiritual life, praises, answered prayers, etc.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Monday: Enjoying this day of remembrance with my sweetie

Tuesday: Choir practice in preparation for our upcoming program

Wednesday: Bible Study, mammogram, (YICK) and church fellowship dinner, choir program in which I sing and have a speaking part!

Thursday: End of season choir party luncheon at a dear friends home, (Gerry's) should be quite fun!!!

Friday: Not sure if anything

Here is a picture I'd like to share with you...

last Friday my first nesting bluebirds fledged and that afternoon I cleaned out their nest. On saturday I saw the mother return and restake her claim to the birdhouse. Yesterday I took this photo to show she had already built a new nest for her second nesting!

Loop de Loop

Let me preface this by saying, I don't like roller coasters, never have...never will! But my life these past 4 days has been a veritable roller coaster ride with its up, downs, loops, and being thrown upside down! I have experiencd every single emotion one possibly can in these past few days.
~Joyful having Amanda with us
~Dread putting her on the plane
~Lonesomeness after she was gone and then taking Lynn to his spiritual retreat the very next day
~Responsible for taking care of everything here at home by myself
~Excitement that Lynn would be experiencing his own Walk to Emmaus and then we can fully share about it and in it as a couple
~Peace of having the house to myself all day long for these past days
~Sense of accomplishment for the things I have done around here on my own

(Obviously, this is a novel thing for me)

~Disconcertedness as evening would fall over our quiet, creaky old house

~Trusting in God to be my provider and my peace in the night

~Thrill of knowing the joys Lynn was experiencing at Emmaus and praying for him continually

~Expectation and Anticpation of going to retrieve him in this next hour

~Fearful anticipation for several days over what we had hoped was a rumor

~Deep sorrow today finding out in fact our beloved pastor is retiring from his pastoral ministry within the next 6 weeks.

~Exhilaration over Amanda's wonderful job offer

~Anger directed at things beyond my control

~Pleasant surprise in building relationship with very old acquaintances

~Discomfiture over the frailty I see in my parents. more every day

I realize my saviour is much more able to receive each of these as I will relinquish them to him and believe me, I am learning to give them to Him, but I would be remiss if I didnt admit that I truly cannot wait for Lynn to return home. Sharing life with your mate should never, ever be taken for granted!!!

Wow! what a surprise and honor! I just received this award from Lynn, from Lynn's Lovelies!THANK s so much.

So after receiving this award, I am to do 2 things~~~

* Accept this award and

** Pass it on to 15 blogs that I have recently discovered

Goodness, 15 is a lot. I may have to return to add on the remainder at another sitting.

I know you will enjoy these blogs I have recently visited!

Kathy of Katcollects

Marthe of Culinary Delights

Lisa of Hospitable Pursuits

Susie, of Hillcrest Acres

Jeannette, of Sincerely Yours, Jeannette

Becky at Holiday in the Sun

Regina of Regina in Pictures

Carol of My Painting Room

Someplace in Thyme

Mary of Mary's Meanderings

Bluebirds Return

How sweet it was this morning to look out at the birdhouse and see Mrs. Bluebird revisiting her previous abode, checking out its occupancy and planning out her new nest. She has been busily seeking out just the right grasses and setting about to align her cozy home!

It is wonderful to know that this second roosting will begin anew and offer me so much excitement as I await the miracle of God's creation!!!

Photo by Amanda!

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday everyone! What a beautiful morning it is, as well! It's a great morning for my delicate pink peonies.

These are definitely one of my very favorite flowers.

So divinely exquisite in form and fashion, so dainty and demure, yet positively luxurious in scent! I love them!!!

For more PINK Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!

Bluebirds Have Fledged

On about May 2, 2009 my bluebird became home to a brood of bluebird hatchlings. The mother had laid 6 eggs altogether, but 4 of them did not hatch, probably due to the cold snap we had on that first week following her laying. Probably only the last two she laid were viable.

This photo I found on the Texas Blue Bird Society site just to demonstrate what we are talking about.

On May 7 our Bluebird expert, Dottie, came by to investigate and deemed them about 5 days old based on their developments. Today 21 days following their hatching they are gone. I know the mother was still bringing them food yesterday afternoon. When I didnt see any activity there today I investigated and found the nest empty. I cleaned it all out, actually it was really very tidy considering. Bluebird parents actually carry most of the excrement away in a small white sac to keep the nest as clear as possible!Fascinating!!!

Now I am hoping for another nesting. I will be carefully watching for another couple to set up housekeeping!!!

This birdhouse at my mom's is home to another bluebird family. When the parents bring food the din is amazing...it sounds like many hungry mouths.I would love to be sitting there on the patio when they fledge!!!

Click here to listen to bluebird chatter!

Skywatch Friday

The sky can certainly threaten just as it did a week ago today as we traveled to Joshua's graduation.

Then as we traveled home it was appearing much more serenely.

For more gorgeous skies visit here!

Show and Tell Friday

Kelli hosts this each week.

Art plays a prominent part in our home. Whether it is a Renoir reproduction,

an original by a famous local artist and friend,

or one of my own

art is something that touches the soul much as the music I love to add to my blog.

Friday Family Favorite Foto

For more visit Deborah at Pictures, Pots, and Pens.

It is hard to believe that it is already Memorial Day weekend. Summer is just around the corner and school will soon be out. For several years beginning about 18 years ago we had already joined a local pool. We were determined that Amanda would be a great swimmer. Lynn was at least comfortable in the water and could swim well, but I have always hated the pool. I only learned enough swimming to barely pass the class in college.

We started having Amanda get used to the water at an early age. She loves swimming now and was on the swim team for years growing up.

Thankful Thursday

It is such a wondrous experience to see Christ alive and active in your mate. It is thrilling to see the spark of heaven flame into a burning torch. I am praying for that torch light to flare into a blazing fire during the next few days! Praise the Lord for the effectual power of the Holy Spirit alive and well living in us! Spiritual growth is the single most exciting component of a person's life. To be moving ahead in kingdom service as a couple is my deepest desire for our family! Praise God!!!