Photo (and Event) Dump

It has been a crazy "March."

They say it is in like a lion and out like a lamb.

It seems as if we are going to come in and go out like a lion.

The weather tomorrow is supposed to get "ugly."

At the beginning of the month, we had a wild storm.

We weathered it all right, but determined that our garage door was not strong enough for "Blowing Green," after it dented in during a wind gust.

It turns out our door was only rated for 20 mph winds.

A new door is on order with a wait time of 4-6 weeks.  

It will provide more insulation, protection up to 90 mph,  and the addition of windows since we use the room as extra living space much of the time (and hubby's work-from-home office.)

We were supposed to have "Donut Day" back in mid-February,

but sickness has been like a wrestling match around here.

We have gone around the ring with sinus issues and coughs for over a month.

We finally had our donut date last Saturday.

The new little shop did not disappoint.

They serve up hot mini gluten-free donuts with a choice of toppings.

We went for blueberries and cream (at least this time).

It will not be our last visit to Gus's.

After our donut date,

we built the blueberry bush planter.

Yes, we did not wait another year.

It is now in place and provides more privacy

and the promise of more greenery.

The apple trees and blueberry bushes are now planted

and we will wait for the growth and fruit in a year or two.

You can see the footers of two new houses in the background.

And just today, my serviceberry tree and lilac bush arrived.

The serviceberry is in the back right corner

and the lilac is in the back left corner.

In the front is a dead or "mostly dead" boxwood.

We took it out of the front and it was only in a bucket all winter.

It was a pretty harsh winter for a bush in a bucket.

I am hoping it has life,

but it may not make it.

Now we wait for the perennials that will fill the rest of the garden.

And there you have it - the update!

Now I have to get back to taxes.

I think this is a record of lateness - 

but the last forms finally came in last weekend.

Frustrating, but profitable

 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times:

Unless she had turned from me, 

surely now also I had slain thee, and saved he alive.

Numbers 22:33

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; 

but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, 

as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Genesis 50:20

Oh, how frustrating the roadblocks of life are!

I don't want detours;

I don't want delays;

In essence, I want my way.

But just as God used an angel to spare Balaam

And God took Joseph on a detour to save the entire nation of Israel,

So he uses the detours in my life for my good or the good of others.

I haven't figured out the reasons for all the detours,

But the longer I live,

The more I understand some of the detours.

And I am reminded to be patient in them

And to let God do the work he want to in my life.

Just In Time

 We thought we might have a little longer ...

but the day has come ...

Today the ditch witch was in the backyard.

It was there to mark off a new build.

The lighting is poor, but the orange fencing is there to keep the construction mess from our yard.

Since our backyard is the back of a pie shape, 

there is room for two builds in the back.

Here comes the first of the two.

Do you see the funny-colored "pile" to the left of the fence?

That is the sod that we removed for the new perennial garden.

It is not in the "new build" lot.

I guess our new "privacy" planters are just in time.

The new house will be ready in July or August.

We hope to make a longer, but less deep planter (or two less deep planters) for in-between...

for my future blueberry plants!

I won't be without something to look at this Spring

while I watch the construction from up close.

We are glad that it is going to be a one-story home and not a two story!

Pretty, Private, and Practical

 As has been mentioned ...

I LOVE PLANTS!

But I have a small problem ...

because my lot is so small

and much of the "usable" space is an easement or setback,

it is hard to plant very much.

Earlier this year,

I discovered a "COLUMNAR" apple tree.

It does not grow wider than 2 feet.

Perfect for my small lot.

But again, I am not sure that I could even find a space for this little guy!

BUT ... he could be in a container!

So hubby built me some very large planters for the patio.

They will be home to the apple trees (pretty),

they will provide a sort of privacy fence from our backyard neighbors (privacy),

and they will produce fruit (practical) by the second year.

While probably not growing the "orchard" this year,

we hope next year to expand to patio blueberries and/or blackberries as well.

And hubby will again build some more planters - probably slightly shorter and not as deep.

Hubby made the planters on casters that lock so that we can move the planters depending on where we are sitting or which neighbors are outside at the same time we are.

We can also move the trees closer to the house when the Bowling Green crazy storms are threatening.

On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for hubby's efforts for me.

He has had a busy week of travel, but made sure to finish these before the trees shipped!

Inhale, Exhale

 The sickness that I thought I was avoiding caught me.

I spent last week just doing the basics.

The days were spent with tissues and coughdrops;

the nights were spent with Nyquil and more tissues.

We finally seem to be turning the corner.

And on this beautiful spring day,

It was good to be able to breathe!

While I cleaned, the windows were open with the fresh air blowing in after a brutal storm on Friday.

Then the air was scented with grass as I mowed the lawn for the first time this season.

And the garage smells of cedar planks - 

for hubby made me some LARGE outdoor planters on Saturday that are waiting to be stained.

And ... it was "good" to be back to running today after 2 weeks off - 

running goes much better when one can breathe.

Stolen Gratefulness

 I was making a batch of french toast this morning

and while I did, I chattered as I normally do.

I mentioned to hubby that eggs were at about $2.25 and then I had a coupon on top of that.

I said that I was thankful that egg prices were down from $5.

Hubby mentioned that he had heard a lot of folks recently give thanks

and then say, "Why am I giving thanks?  (egg, gas, house) prices used to be ..."

Isn't that odd?

Has our pride,

our desire for our own way,

our desire not to give praise to an administration

stolen our gratefulness?

No, egg prices are no longer under a dollar.

No gas prices are not under 2 dollars.

But God has given us a season where these prices have dropped a little.

I am grateful for a little (or maybe longer) reprieve.

This week was nothing like hubby and I imagined it would be.

Hubby was under-the-weather all week and I was fighting it the whole week,

but even in that, I can be thankful.

I am thankful that hubby could work from home all week.

I am thankful for less laundry since there weren't work clothes and workout clothes.

I am thankful for the warm temps and bright sun that we saw much of the week.

I am thankful for a comfortable home to relax in.

I am thankful for some odd jobs that got done this week.

Don't let circumstances steal your gratefulness.

And don't be so prideful that you won't give God thanks for things both large and small.

A Good Word

 I have been much encouraged (and rebuked) recently by good words at the proper time.

About 2 weeks ago,

I ministered in music with a piano offertory in church.

It had been over 10 months since I had played in church

and over 3 years since I had played in a larger church.

I had many nerves but also the power of prayer by my hubby and a good friend.

The morning came to play and God blessed and answered prayer abundantly.

When we arrived at Sunday School (even a little late) the sanctuary was empty

and I could run through the piece (a real piano feels different than a keyboard).

Then two men encouraged me with their words after my practice.

It wasn't words to pat me on the back,

but words of encouragement.

Then before the service ... more words ...

again, not of praise, but of empathy, acknowledging those nerves as normal.

Then this past Sunday, I was encouraged by a lady who asked about a prayer request that I had given over a month ago.

Her words were a reminder that she was still praying.

All of these words were words that encouraged me

and rebuked me for not always having the same encouraging words for others.

Who doesn't like to be encouraged?

Who doesn't need to hear a good word?

Why shouldn't that encouragement come from me or you?

God Can Do Anything!

 And yet another goodness of God post.

Last Thursday was "Donut Day."

21 years ago, hubby and I had our first date.

For a month or so, I have been looking for a bakery or donut shop that would be able to help us on this special day.

It looked like it was going to have to be frozen donuts from the supermarket.

While our celebration had to be moved to this week because hubby was working out of town,

Do you know what God did?

Two weekends ago - yes, just 9 days ago,

He opened a new donut shop in town ...

One that offers gluten free donuts!

So early this week,

we will "our anniversary with a donut or two (they are mini donuts)

at a place prepared for the occasion.

Oh the People You've Met!

 Our steps have certainly led us to have friendships all over the country and the world.

Recently, God has used some of those connections in special ways.

Our church is currently ministering to a community of Hispanic children through the bus ministry.

While the children speak English,

the parents do not.

One of the boys asked God to save him last Sunday,

and immediately asked for materials to share with his parents.

Unfortunately, the church did not have any Spanish materials on hand.

But ...

God had introduced us to 3 different people in NC.

We had helped write a tract for one friend and had a fellow college student from Spain translate it for us.

We met a couple who ministered to Hispanics in South Carolina after years of service in Panama.

And we were friends with a family called to minister in Columbia.

So Sunday night,

I texted 2 contacts asking for materials.

Both contacts got material in the mail to me on Monday!

On Monday morning, I ordered the tracts that we had had a hand in creating.

How thankful we are for the places we have lived and the people we have met!

An Error in Our Favor

 Will you indulge me in a "Thankful Friday" post?

We are rejoicing this week in an audit of our mortgage.

When we signed the mortgage paperwork,

we thought that our escrow amount seemed exhorbitant,

but all the people "in the know" told us that that is the way it is done.

Our escrow would be audited in January.

As January rolled into February,

our audit was moved to next January 2024 as the escrow mounted.

I made a sweet request for an audit this year ...

and our observations were acknowledged.

Our surplus is schedule to be returned (and then be put on our mortgage)

and our regular mortgage payment was reduced by more than $300!

Praise the Lord!