The Best In All Of Us

Earlier this summer I had to have the crab apple tree in the front yard cut down.  It had really deteriorated over the past few years, what with apple scab and leaf blight.  And I know I will truly miss her (I say her because she had the most beautiful deep pink flowers in the early spring), there is no place to hang the bird-feeder so I can have a "birds-eye" view of all the varieties of feathered friends that would drop by.  Now I have to hang the bird feeder from the tree in the front yard...way too far to have that "bird's eye view".  I did plant a new tree in it's place, but it will be some years before the branches will be large enough to bear the weight of a full feeder.  Hmmm, think I will investigate one of those "in the ground hangers" so I don't miss my fine feathered friends.  The only problem with those is once the ground gets too wet they tip and fall, and the last thing I need is a bird feeder crashing through my front windows.  There must be an answer.

Oh do I digress....this post was supposed to be centered around the glorious crab apple tree in the side yard that is overloaded with those small red & green crabapples that are in abundance at this time of year and falling everywhere.   If I was really ambitious maybe I could figure out what to do with these sweet little apples except use them as a photo prop...

Earlier today our Wednesday morning Bible Study met for the first time this Fall.  Oh gracious it was good to be back, seeing all those smiling faces, anticipating our study together, catching up and making plans.  Wonderful.  This session we are studying a book by a local author (Wheaton, IL) entitled WITH.  Received excellent feedback from another Bible Study group, focusing on our relationship 'with' God.  Our leaders relayed that it would challenge us...and I think I definitely need a different challenge to focus on.  And speaking of that....my sweetie has settled into his new "normal", eating well, drinking well, not agitated or irritated, and that's all I can ask and pray for right now.  Thank you again for all your kindness, you don't know how much your words touched my heart.

Taking a little time out today to remember the events of 9-11, my goodness 12 years already.  Babies that were born that year are already 6th graders, living their lives knowing nothing about that awful day in our history except what they have been told.   But we remember, we know exactly what we were doing the moment we heard.  Pause, say a prayer, and remember.

"Remember the hours after September 11th when we came together as one...it was the worst day we have ever seen but it brought out the best in all of us."  ~  Senator John Kerry

Joining....


Until next time....

Some Random Friday Facts....

Another dreaded day under the belt....today I had to return to Lincolnshire to gather the rest of my sweetie's clothes, furniture and personal belongings.  My son-in-law Sam rented a small u-haul truck to carry the furniture back to his house in waiting for my grand-daughter, Brie to take it to school with her when she returns in August.  She has rented an apartment, and ofcourse furniture is needed, so the timing was perfect. When he moved into Lincolnshire 2 years ago, I purchased brand-new bedroom furniture, bed, mattress, night-stand, and large dresser with mirror, along with chairs & lamps.  He doesn't need any of that where he is now...it is all provided, so what better way to use it than to furnish Brie's new apartment.

After another tearful goodbye I headed out to the country to find the peace that it always brings me.  This I will definitely miss since moving him to town, I will no longer have these drives to look forward to...

The Queen Anne's Lace is blooming.....

As I drove, I turned down a road that I had driven on about a month or so ago, but that day it was foggy and rainy....today was sunny and hot.  Things always look different when the sun is shining so I drove over this familiar road and stopped to take a picture of the fence post and then the barn.

As I was taking pictures I could see a man walking across the field toward me, obviously on his way to speak to me.  My first instinct was to turn and get back in the car and drive away....but I thought, heh, I am not doing anything wrong, I am standing in the road, not on anybody's property....and what the heck, I am taking pictures of a fence post, for goodness sake.

Well, sure enough his first words were..."can I help you"...no, just taking pictures, is there anything wrong? "well, just wondering why you are taking pictures of my boss's house"....oh, I am not taking pictures of the house, I am taking pictures of the fence post.   "Fence posts huh?, well we get a little suspicious out here when someone drives up on these quiet roads and starts taking pictures"....I then explain to him about visiting my husband and then finding solace in driving thru the country after these visits and taking pictures. And then I mentioned that I had been on this same road about a month prior, in the rain and had taken a picture of the old barn in the rain & mist.  "Oh," he says, "I am taking that old barn apart and re-finishing a basement with the barnwood."  If you have the picture I would really appreciate a copy of it, and any that you might take today. Not only would I like the picture but the new and old owners would really appreciate it as well."   

Today....

Last month....(look at the difference in the height of the corn.  I measured it today and it was at least 7 feet tall)

Just proves that a smile and a friendly word can turn someone's suspicions around really quickly.  I now know his name, and have his email.  Pictures are on the way.

Also on the way home I stopped by one of my favorite garden centers.  They were loaded with beautiful flowers to freshen up the pots that have become a little tattered....I have a couple that definitely needed some fresh new flowers.  Between barns & a stop at the garden center, my mood definitely lightened.

Now who wouldn't feel better after a stop here.

Bookclub met tonight....our book this month was "The Light Between Oceans" by M. L. Stedman....definitely a thumbs up for me.

And a couple of pics from the photo shoot on Wednesday....great family, good shots, perfect day.

Joining Nancy, Madge, Maria and Kristi..

Happy

Things that make me happy....

Barns close enough to the road that I don't even have to get out of my car to get a good shot.  Hmm, sounds like there might be some laziness associated with this statement.

A field of poppies and larkspur....Mother Nature is awesome in her beauty.

A good ole run-down fence post wrapped in wire, supported by an old iron pipe and covered in green lichen.

Bailey's new haircut....she loves it and so do I!!

And Mac....you haven't seen him in awhile, he is a beauty and brings a lotta joy to my daughter and son-in-law.

Linking to "Little Things Thursday" and Rurality Blog Hop

"This is the gift - to have the wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.

PS...I am so far behind on commenting on your blog posts...forgive me, the garden has been calling my name all week.  I promise I will catch up soon.  Thanks.

Until next time.....