Projects, life, etc.

Good morning Friends ~ I can't thank you enough for your kind words of encouragement on my latest post. We all go through up and down times. And it's through God's love and the kindness of others that we make it through our days. As a lot of you know, I'm a widow now, it's been 6 years and 8 months since God called my dear husband home to be with Him. While the grieving isn't as hard and raw as it was in the beginning, I still grieve at times, and trust in God to be my strength when I'm having a down time.

I am a procrastinator living on a budget. There are projects that hubby and I had been working on together that are still undone. I was his helper, and now I do what I can to take care of home and property myself. It is easier when the weather is nicer, but the heat and humidity of summer and being the age that I am now, I get drained of energy easier than I used to. I do what I can, when I can. When people come over here, they don't see the 'mess' I see, they see a bit of early Florida, they see all the neat tools, my kitch on the inside and the flowers, etc., they love it, they get excited and they give compliments, which make my heart sing.

I took the pics below on the 20th of the front patio and path. The patio and path need pressure washing, weeds need to be taken care of,  paths need clearing, etc.

In the overgrowth near the driveway gate, is the key lime tree, with 5 limes on it. I plan on using one to make a margarita to celebrate our 50th anniversary. ;-)

A couple of posts back, I shared about my weed whacker flipping it's lid and spool. I've looked in the hedgerow out front where I was working at the time, but did not find the spool or the spring. There are thorns in that hedgerow also so I didn't spend a whole lot of time out there digging around. One of my followers, a friend who became a widow after I did, suggested I look for parts online so I did. After reviewing both the generic parts and the B&D parts, I decided to go with the B&D. Their spools are made for my machine, they are wound and ready to go so I won't have to hassle with trying to restring a spool myself. I'm not one who has an immaculate property, only using the whacker when I feel it really needs it, so these three spools should last me a good while. Complaints about the generic spools not matching up feed holes in the machine is what decided me against them. My husband always restrung the spool for me, but after the last fiasco of trying it myself, I'm not going to try again. Two out of four worked, and two didn't, the last one being the worst. My new lid with spring and the 3 spools should be here next week. 

I enjoy working outside in nice weather, right now I have to be out as early as possible, and even then the humidity drags me down. I am so ready for cooler weather, but we still have September to get through yet. We've had some wicked thunderstorms, LOTS of rain so things are really growing like crazy.

Inside I've been working on straightening up, decluttering and cleaning. Working with/for my friend Bea has helped encourage me to keep working on this place. Since I've been on my own, I've lost, at times, the initiative to do anything. It hardly seems worth it, but that's not how hubby would want me to be living. He would want me to be my happy self, enjoying what God blesses me with each day, and know and trust that God is with me through everything, good and bad.

So, here are before and after pictures. This first photo is from March of this year. 

 This photo was taken this morning.

  

This is from June this year.

 This is from this morning. I'm standing on the other side of the bed, Miss Tork is contemplating jumping up on the bed for a snooze.

 

Here is the other side of this space.

 This is the bedroom side of this space. whole space is 8'10" wide by 24'long.

Still lots to do to finish off this cottage, and little by little things are getting accomplished. 

That's it for now. I need to get up and do some things. 

Home is where your heart is, big or small, finished or unfinished. It is a haven, one to be thankful for.

Enjoy your days ~ FlowerLady

Good, good Father

Hello Folks ~ Just had to share a song that came to mind today, after one of my barn kitties was sick yesterday, and I prayed for her, and asked Jesus to take care of her. A verse of scripture came to mind also: 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) ~ Casting down imaginations, (worrisome thoughts and worse case scenarios) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Another verse of scripture came to mind a few minutes ago, 1 Peter 5:7 ~ "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." When my dear husband was bedridden, near the end of his time here on this planet, he called out to me this verse,  as I came in the door from work one afternoon, and it comes to mind often. Words of love from God and the love of my life, my dear husband. Words of encouragement, as he knew I needed them, knowing what a worrier I've been my whole life.

 

Back to the story, this morning when I went out to feed the barn girls again, Miss Rinkie was FINE. I couldn't quit thanking my heavenly Father enough, a huge weight had been lifted. In the over all scheme of things it's not a big deal, but it was a big deal to FlowerLady and the Bible says: 

Matthew 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows". He cares for every bit of His creation, beside us humans.

In Philippians 4:6-7 it says: 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

With that, here is the song that came to mind: Good, good Father.

To close this post, here are two pictures of the same hibiscus flower, the first one in the a.m. and the second late afternoon. This hibiscus is called 'Hugs-n-kisses'.

 

Thank you God for your beautiful creation that brings joy to our hearts. Amen.

FlowerLady

Hot, humid August

Hello Folks ~ It's been almost a month since my last post. Our summer heat and humidity totally drains me of all energy. I went out this morning to mow and weed wack. I restrung my weed wacker, but evidently didn't do it right as a few minutes into doing it's job, the spool head and spool blew off. I found the orange top, but didn't find the spool yet, it's black and somewhere in the hedge. I looked some, but was bummed and frustrated, so decided to start mowing while I felt like it. I did the little front lawn, up along the driveway and started into the back area, but just couldn't do anymore. I was soaked and needed to stop. I had taken small water breaks and was out there for around 2 hours. It was 81 when I started with real feel being 94, when I stopped the temp was 88 but real feel was 106. YIKES! I will look out in the hedge again when I can for the black spool as I don't really want to spend the $ on a new tool. This has worked just fine for years and years. 

We have had lots of stormy weather down here, wind, black rain heavy clouds, thunder and lightening, scary stuff. The sky is darkening as I'm typing now.

Early on the morning of the first, I looked out the window here beside my chair and the clouds in the sky, drew me outside. The coloring of the sky, sort of golden.

I went outside and this is how it looked from standing in the driveway.

I went on up the driveway and when I got to the turning point, this is what I saw, and gasped in delight. I thanked God right then and there for nudging me with the view out my window to go outside with camera to see this gift He had for me.

 

Working with dear Bea is going along nicely. She's a character. We both are thankful for each other. 

This is just a short post to let you all know I'm still here. I have up and down days. Our 50th wedding anniversary is coming up on the 8th, so there are a lot of memories rumbling around in my head and heart. I have much to be thankful for.

I've been reading posts and you all are busy with summer activities and I pray for continued blessings for you. I pray for our country and world, times are rough all over. In spite of all the bad that is going on, there are good things to be thankful for. There is still much beauty and love in this world.

Ok, that's it. Love, hugs & prayers from FlowerLady

Hot & steamy, blooms, part-time work

Hello Friends ~ It's been just about a month since my last post.Time is zipping right along, each week is gone before I know it.

Remember the dead raccoon? Well, there was another one, which makes me think they must have been poisoned, because it was at the same time. The smell for the most part is GONE and that's wonderful.

I washed and hung out a load of laundry this morning, then cut back some overhanging limbs into the driveway, did a little other trimming that needed doing, bagged it up and put it and limbs out to be picked up tomorrow. Put tools away, came inside and checked the temp, 89, but with the humidity, real feel is 96. I am sitting here drinking water.

By the way, am using little a.c. again, as for some reason the water has clogged up in my Friedrich's again so that even though it was draining very good to the outside, it started dripping on the inside. This is very frustrating to me, to say the least. If my husband was here, he would have fixed the problem by thinking outside the box. The a.c. man does what he knows how to do and is good at it, so I don't have a complaint there, and he doesn't charge me. It will get fixed one of these days, for now, I'm not going to stress about it as the little a.c. is keeping it cool in here, maybe not as cool as I would like, but it is comfortable, and I am thankful.

Tuesday morning my Srs. Bible study had a bday brunch for one of our members who turned 92. I made a sausage gravy biscuit casserole. Found the recipe here.: Biscuits, sausage gravy casserole. It was easy and a big hit, no left-overs. I need to make it up for myself and freeze it in small portions.

We need rain again. I mowed last week won't have to do it this week.

In spite of little rain, things are still blooming. I do hand water and use my sprinklers on designated days. Grass does not get watered. I have to pay for water and grass isn't a necessity.  It looks pretty good in these photos. It's just starting to get dry looking.

Here are some blooms happening here. Below is Giant Milkweed.

Photos below are of Texas Sage. I love the silvery green foliage and of course the purple flowers.

 

This is a pic of 2-3 different kinds of vines hanging off the back shed. I just haven't had the heart to pull them off yet. I will when I have to go into the shed.

Plumbago and Miss Joachim, vanda orchid.

 Tropical Lilac

  

 

Cross rocks for GriefShare attendees. I have a few more to make.

 

This is the start of a little blanket for a sweet baby girl born about a week ago with heart problems and Down Syndrome. Her name is Sara, please keep her in your prayers. She's been hooked up to oxygen also. Found this pattern online, sweet and easy. Here is the you-tube link - part 1.  Beautiful shells blanket

Now, here is an answer to prayer for me, part time work, close to home. As some of you know, I lost the job I'd had for 17 years, 2 1/2 years after my husband left this planet. My boss decided to sell the building we were in and move across the state. That was the end of an era for me. I've been looking on Craig's List, etc. for part-time work. Have checked out craft stores, and other stores, and one of the requirements is to be able to lift 50 lbs. Well, I have to say that is not going to happen with me. Any other jobs I saw as potential, just weren't right. So, I've just been praying about some kind of part time work to supplement my small ss check and trying not to be overly anxious about any of it. God provides and works things out.

This past Sunday morning, I was talking to an elderly friend from my Bible study and she told me how she needs someone to work for her Mon-Wed-Fri mornings doing light cleaning work. She does not want to go to a nursing home. She's very independent at almost 94 years old. So, Sunday afternoon I visited her for 2 hours and yesterday morning I started working with her. We both feel this is an answer to prayer for both of us, we were friends first, and we both just feel happy about this arrangement. She lives 2.5 miles from me. ;-) She crochets, reads, plays games, watches movies, and is quite the character. She's been a widow for 35 years. 

She had people come from agencies to work for her and ended up having things pilfered, and that was discouraging for her. For as long as this lasts, I am thankful. We both are not getting any younger. She inspires this 70 year old with her spunk.  Keep us both in your prayers. We both hit it off with each other when we first met at the beginning of this year and have been telling each other, I love you, for months.

Ok, that's about it from Plum Cottage. I am feeling like getting horizontal for my afternoon nap.

Enjoy each day that you are blessed with. Hug those you love and tell them you love them. Those you can't hug, write them a note, send a text, or call them, but let them know they are special to you.

FlowerLady