Hope

Good Morning Everybody!!

For weeks months now I have been just inches/seconds away from pressing the “Delete” button on this Blog…..

Pressing a button that would forever erase 100’s, no 1000’s of hours of my life, hard work and memories over the last year and a half of my life.

(Yes – That is what you think it is….. I took the above photo last month right over my house – from my front porch – with my phone!! Scary, but it stopped right there with no damage! I wasn’t in the mood for it that day, so I’m sure I looked like a Crazy Woman standing outside yelling at it to “GO AWAY!!”  and “telling it off”, but I didn’t really care at the time, LOL.)

Why had I been thinking of  “Deleting” this Blog?

Because of those whom we shall call “The Critics”, as my all-to-wise son has aptly  “named”  them. Those who stalk this Blog looking for items to criticize me about, or thoughts I’ve posted to fuel the dissention/strife that they wish to live/participate in. Those who are more interested in bringing you grief, than bringing you a smile. Those who are already forming scathing e-mail responses in their minds to the few words that I’ve just written.

We all have them to deal with in our own lives – in different capacities. The difference is in how we let them affect us/our lives.

If I were to hit the “Delete” button – then they win. They “silence” my existence/thoughts and move on to the next person that they wish to monitor/control. And there will always be someone for them to focus on – they will “find them”….. It is all they know.

This Blog is a way to share my creativity with the world.  It is a way for me to share with you the beauty that I come into contact with everyday.  A way to share my thoughts with more than just my “four walls”.  A way to stay connected with those who are too far away from me  for me to just hop in the car and drive over for a visit.  A way to “send” a photo of my world/seasons/flowers/goings-on’s to my friends in other states/countries who are still dealing with ice/snow/dreariness/natural disasters/chaos, and give them a smile when they need it most.  A way to send them some “lifting up”/encouragement/hope that whatever situation they may be dealing with that day – they are not really “alone”.  To give them hope that they can/will get thru it – one day at a time….. Like eating an elephant!     😉    

A way to remind others that “this too shall pass”;  and that while “picking up all of the broken pieces” is one of the hardest things that we will ever have to do – if we want to have any hope for tomorrow to be better, then it MUST be done in order to “live” again.  To smile again.  To be a Blessing to someone else who desperately needs some “Hope” themselves.  To give some encouragement/courage to those who are going thru whatever it is that you have already went thru (not stayed-in, went THRU). 

To help build someone else up, and to give them a “smile” when they feel like they have nothing left to smile about.  To let them know that there is someone else out there, who has to deal with the same kinds of “craziness” that has visited their house that week.  To remind them to find Joy (if only for a moment in time) in the sunrise/sunset/pretty flower/crazy animal antic that is occurring right in front of them – if they will only stop long enough to see it.

So, I am not closing this Blog.  It helps too many others, if only for a moment in time.  Those it offends – that is their CHOICE….. and they can choose NOT to read it.  I am listening to my son and choosing to no-longer listen  to “The Critics” – but  to listen instead to my heart, my God, and do what makes me happy while it ministers/teaches/helps/build-up others, and brings a smile to someone elses’ tear-stained face. If only for a moment in their world.

To write what gives someone else hope that they too can make it thru the chaos/pain/fear that is going on around them that day; because someone else has already gone thru it – or is going thru it with them from afar.

That they are not completely alone – the world is “crazy” everywhere, and there is someone else out there dealing with something too.  It gives others a “break” from their own reality, while they focus on someone elses’ life/circumstances/chaos/victory.  And sometimes,  just sometimes, this Blog even teaches you how to bake some awesome “yummy thing” to surprise your family with; or even inspires/teaches you how to make some “pretty thing” to make you (or someone else) smile.     🙂    

No, I’m not closing my Blog.

I think I will just write more to really piss the critics off.    😉   

I’m here to stay – for as long as God will allow. So….

God Bless, and

Have a Great Day!!!     😉    

A Day Off

Work 7 days a week.

For 12 weeks straight.

A day off = priceless!!     😉    

Spring Dreaming

Okay, I (like most everyone else) have had enough of Winter/Cold/Sub-Zero/Ick!! I want some Sun/Flowers/open windows and favorable temperatures!

So, in honor of my Spring Fever, I’m going to post some of my photos taken during my favorite times of year to give us all a bit of a boost.    😉   

Ahhhh……. That’s better!     😉   

Have a great day!

    🙂

Now It’s Official – Spring Is Here….

For The Love of Bees…

The End.

Shady

Spring, and Varments

I came home the other day to find all of my wild birds in a tizzy in the front yard. Since I had just refilled all of the feeders the evening before, I knew it wasn’t them cussing me out (like normal) for allowing their feeders to be empty.

And, sure enough, that wasn’t the reason.

This was…..

Yup, a varment was in their ground feeder – and they were NOT happy!

Now, I know that squirrels in birdfeeders are not anything out of the ordinary. However, at my house – they are. You see, I have no mature trees anywhere close to the house on the property, and Border Patrol and the Underlings find squirrel meat quite tasty. So, squirrels don’t exist here in my yard – at least not long enough to find a bird feeder!

They’re fired! Border Patrol and the Underlings that is……

They must’ve been sleeping on the job. Again!

Yup – they’re fired! No biscuits for them!!

THEY can explain to the birds why let the intruder thru the lines.

I’m not so sure the birds will really want to hear it…

They won’t care.

“Excuses, excuses” they’ll say….

Oh well……

Anyhow, at least things have thawed out around here (including most of the lake), so now the ducks can stay on the water. Where they belong.

As oppossed to walking down the roadways and wondering why YOU are in THEIR way.

Wacky Ducks……

They’re better off in the lake….

Some of the coves are still a bit frozen from our 2 weeks of teens and 20’s degree temperatures, but they are getting better.

With about 1700 miles of shoreline to thaw out, it tends to take a little while (I live on the largest man-made lake in this part of the country – hence all of the “Tourist” references).

So, things are thawing, my yellow crocuses popped up yesterday, and the Robins are back. Hope for warmer weather springs eternal. Warmer weather to us around here is anything over 60 degrees, it’s been in the 30’s here for far too long (well, not including our 2 week cold snap)! 

 Just in case you were wondering, our winter here is really January and February only! That is more than enough winter for us, Thank you very much!

We’re spoiled that way .  😉 

Heck, by mid-march I normally have a tan…..I think I’m gonna be running late this year.  😦

But, all is looking up, and now (if you’ll excuse me) I’ve gotta go patrol the bird feeders. What with Border Patrol being fired and all.  🙂  Dadgummed varments!!

Have a great day!

Shady