Summer is here

Hi Folks ~ Heat, humidity, afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season for the next 6 months. Hopefully, we’ll have no hurricanes.  With all of the rain we’ve been having everything is growing like crazy. Mowing is a weekly occurrence if everything cooperates. Last week I flooded the lawn mower so that it wouldn’t start, only I didn’t know that that was the reason why it wouldn’t start. I cranked and cranked on the rope and nothing, gave up, came inside, frustrated and cried a bit. Sheesh! I was all set to mow because it was early morning and nice out and rain was expected later in the day. Well, after being inside for a bit, I had the thought, and feel it was God, to go back outside and try it again. So, I did, and after the second crank it started just like normal. What a relief!  I thanked God and happily went around mowing the place. This lawn mower is probably at least 20 years old and I hope it lasts me a few more years.

This morning I noticed the grass needs mowing again, but I already had it in my mind to weed-wack so that’s what I did. Plus weeded, trimmed and raked, for about three hours. Maybe I’ll mow tomorrow morning. When I’m working outside, I have a ‘sweat rag’, and water.  You can’t drink too much water, especially in the summer. You must keep hydrated. If I get out there by 8, by 11 I’ve done enough and had enough of the heat.  Thankfully I do have some shaded areas to work in too, and that helps.

I don’t know if any of you are having this problem or not, but for my reading list of blogs I follow, I’m only getting one blog at a time coming up, instead of the normal list like usual.  I went to Blogger to see if anyone else is having the problem and they are and the ‘powers that be’ told the poster thanks for the tip and they are working on the problem.

This morning I got a load of laundry started in my little washhouse and when I came out the door a reflection in the big bird bath caught my eye.  I had to run in for the camera.

‘Hugs-n-kisses’ ~ I just love this hibiscus. No two blooms are a like.

I can’t quit taking photos of the Vanda orchid ‘Miss Joachim’ either.

This cluster is just above my head and you can see some in the background that are at least 10’ into the air. These grow like crazy and I am so thankful for that. I have them all over in the different gardens.  Just break off a piece with roots and stick it wherever I feel like it.

This is ‘Granada’, the rose reflected in the photos at the top of this post. These blooms are a couple of days old so are fading from the original look, but I think they are just as beautiful.

‘Maman Cochet’ climbing rose. The blooms is pretty large and the scent wonderful. You can see part of my hand holding the bud up as it was drooping.

I loved the sunlight hitting this bloom.

This is one of my unknown mini roses.  It is really sweet.

Saturday morning I got the urge to go to yard/garage sales on the way to work so I left early. I ended up spending a whopping $9. Here’s what I got below.

I picked out these frames at one yard sale.  They had been 50 cents, then marked down to 25 cents, and since it was after 10 and she was ready to close up, I got them for around 12 cents each.  There are 17 frames which I plan to use for embroidery pieces to sell in my Etsy shop.

This one feels sort of like suede and is embossed with peacock feathers. I may keep this one for myself. Time will tell.

I’m going to use the beads from the bracelet in crafting, they are plastic not glass.  The earrings I love. I do not have pierced ears so wear and am on the lookout for the older earrings, either clip or screw on types.  My husband would have liked these.  I wore them last evening just for myself. Another name he had for me was ‘earring lady’, because I  match my earrings to whatever colorful top I am wearing. These are sweet and dangle.

This is a sweet small wicker rocker. It needs cleaning and maybe painting, and a little repair, but the price was definitely right.  It is comfortable to sit in, just the right size. Right now it is in the living room, not sure where it will end up.

I love ‘love birds’ and this is now in my collection.

Thank you all for your prayers and encouraging words for my talk at my widow’s group. They said I did fine. You can read what I talked about on our widow’s blog. Anna The Prophetess.

Being a widow is a daily, learning to live, differently. Last week I was feeling down for a few days, then the next morning I woke up feeling positive again. I thanked God for the change in my feelings. I know friends are praying and that really helps me all the time.

Today happens to be ‘International Widow’s Day’. If you think of it, take a minute to pray for widows all around the world. Some have it really, really rough. What some of them are going through makes my experiences seem small. We all have one thing in commen in this sisterhood, and that is missing our husbands.

I found out about a book through Grace Gems that I ordered yesterday. The author is Octavius Winslow (1808-1878). The day after my dear husband went to be with God I found a writing by Octavius Winslow online and it touched my heart deeply.  The writing is “The Godly Widow Confiding in the Widow's God”. The verse: "Let thy widows trust in me." —Jeremiah 49:11. This writing was just what I needed right then. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, God is my strength, seeing me through each and every single day. I am loving Him more and being drawn closer to Him with each new day.

My dear husband told me about Grace Gems a few years back and I get their daily devotionals in my email. He thought I would like them and I do and am being blessed by them, and feel my husband’s love for me too.

This new book is: THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF GOD
Devotional Studies on the 12 Things Scripture Call 'Precious'

I will close this post with a gem from Grace Gems, written by Octavius Winslow.

Lock your hand in His!

(Octavius Winslow, 1866)

"Our Father in Heaven." Matthew 6:10

"Father!" It is the language of the believing heart.

Oh, it is a marvelous fact, a stupendous truth--
that God should be our Father!
Higher than this, the soul cannot rise.
Love then reaches its deepest yearnings.
 
Only realize this fact, that God is your Father, and it explains . . .
  every chapter of your history,
  every event of your life,
  every sentiment, feeling,
  and desire of your soul.

All that is omnipotent in strength,
all that is profound in wisdom,
all that is tender in sympathy,
all that is rich in infinite plenitude--
is bound up in the endearing epithet, "Father!"

That Father is yours!

You were His child from eternity!

Stupendous thought!

His love to you,
His choice of you,
His purpose to adopt you,
His plan to redeem, sanctify,
and bring you to glory--
are eternal acts of His sovereign grace!

Believe that all that your Father does is for your best;
that your highest interests are all in His hands,
and in His hands are all secure.

Lock your hand in His,
willing to be led,
unquestioning,
confiding,
meekly,
just where your Father leads.

***

Have a nice week ~ FlowerLady