Just Pure Lovely

Happy Veterans Day!

 

Thank you, everyone who has taken the time to serve our country.  I'm a sappy mess when I stop and think of the sacrifice you've made - away from family, away from home, away from comfort - for me and mine.  We honor you today.

God bless you,

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely 
 

"Now Is Not a Good Time, Ida."

We could do without all of her drama. 

It looks like I'll be spending my Monday glued to the tv forecasts, checking online radars, baking, pulling the kayaks and canoe to higher ground and watching the river levels. 

And then...Ida probably won't even bother coming after all that.

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

Mail Delivery by Boat

See the mailbox?  Magnolia River (Alabama) is the only spot in America where a United States Postal Service employee delivers mail by boat full-time. 

As we floated by this mailbox, I was thinking...if I lived there (lucky me, I'd be), I don't imagine I'd have the kids go out to get the mail anymore.  As often as they drop it on the grass here at home, I'm pretty sure we'd have a lot of mail litter in the water!

Wishing I was that mailman -lady -person,

(p.s. I captured this shot while on that field trip when we saw the wild dolphins)

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

My Little Corner is (sometimes) Debate-Free

My man and I were listening to the endless debate-and-argument-fest on the cable news channel tonight when I said something about it being endless and debating and argumentative.  My man said, "Yeah, it's not very...you know, just, pure, lovely. 'Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, think on these things.'" (quoting Philippians 4:8)

That made me sort of snicker, that he'd say it like that, but it's true - the news, when it's not really helping us out, isn't the best thing we could be doing with our time.  I know, it's good to keep up. But we can catch up with the news in about 5 minutes each day by reading a favorite source online.  And then, with the other 23 hours and 55 minutes of the day, we can listen to the children endlessly debate and argue instead of the news panelists.

When I turn off the news, I notice my little corner of the world.  Here is what my corner looked like last week when the children and I went on a boat tour with 20-something other kids and 2 biologists:

In this bay, we saw 7 wild dolphins.  7. Wild. Dolphins.  I cannot describe to you how beautiful that was, nor could I get a photo of them.  They wouldn't hold still.

Unlike the dolphins, these little things did hold still for a photo, and so did that water! 

Notice: no bickering.  Learn from the little kids, news people.

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

Oreo Oops!

In this case, you really can eat a mistake.

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

The Hummingbirds

My mom loves dolphins.  When she visits the beach and sees one, she's certain it was sent directly  from God for her personal benefit.   Many times, when life is not okay and she wonders if it will ever be okay again, she'll see a dolphin, be reminded of her Creator, and ...well, she's okay then. 

I'm getting that-a-way about hummingbirds.  I know, the hummers would be around anyway, even if I didn't believe in God, but lately it seems that I see the little critters right when I need a little God-is-Still-Here reminder.

This past week I've had a knot in my chest that just will not go away.  Something I really needed in my life - something my husband and I did together and that we both needed - something that our children needed to see us doing together - was taken from us without warning or discussion and I'm having a hard time being okay with that.

I've seen a lot of hummingbirds lately.   I mean, just two.  But I've seen the two frequently, fighting (or playing?) in mid-air, drinking at the feeder on the verandah...

...coming within five feet of me, needle-nosing the zinnias and hummingbird plant, and even sitting on a branch (who knew they ever stop?!)...

When I see one, I remember - "oh, yeah!" -  that God says to look at the birds of the field, think of how He cares for them, then remember that He will do even more so for me.  

I just wish they were a little easier to photograph!  Quick little things, they are.

Do you  have something that reminds you of God every time you see it?

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

I'm Not Complaining About the Weather, But...

I read a book several years ago that includes a line I've never forgotten:

Never complain about anything, not even the weather. 

I remember that line often, but that doesn't mean it has absorbed yet.  I do complain sometimes...  Especially when we're breaking heat records here and God hasn't taken a turn watering the garden in weeks (careful now, I might get a flood for that!).

I'm not complaining when I say this, but...it's blasted hot down here these days!

Okay, so maybe I am complaining a little bit.  Finding some forgotten photos of Spring today didn't help me feel any cooler. 

Canadians, enjoy our most pleasant weather.  We want it back very soon!

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Mardi Gras isn't 99% smut, you know.  I know the reputation of Mardi Gras has been smeared by some conscience-free souls who party a bit too hard in the Big Easy.  But, here, and all along the Gulf Coast, it's mostly a fun family time of community gathering for parade after parade, Moon Pies, and lots and lots of throws (throws: what is thrown from the floats - usually Moon Pies, candy, little toys or trinkets, stuffed animals, and mostly beads). 

Mardi Gras lasts about 3 weeks sometime in the Winter.  Last night was the final parade in our little town, and today is Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras Day when the schools and even the town library are closed for the day.   How's that for beating the mid-winter doldrums?

That's our kids, loaded up with beads.  Our little gal is pouting about something, but I can't remember what, because...honestly, it was totally unimportant and not pout-worthy.   Seriously, who can pout at Mardi Gras when your neck is covered in beads and your bag is full of throws?

Certainly not me...

But I can, apparently, look like a tired librarian.

SSubscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Awesome!  I have a legitimate excuse for posting more bird photos once more (despite the frequent bird postings lately, this is still not becoming a bird blog, got it?). 

The Great Backyard Bird Count is going on now.  You may count the birds you see today and tomorrow (2/16, 2/17) in your area, submit them online at the Great Backyard Bird Count site, then pat yourself on the back and feel all researchy because you just helped scientists with their data. 

No time?  Bah!  All you need to do is sit still for 15 minutes and count the birds that you see during that span of time.  Or...do it like I do and don't sit still, but instead and count the ones you see outside the kitchen window (the photos below), on the fishing pier (tonight we saw 2 Great Blue Herons),  or at the beach (this afternoon, where we saw the hundreds of seagulls we mostly did not feed  - why do they tell their hundreds of cousins to come, too?  Why not just be stingy and thus less annoying?)

Here are the visitors of the little tree outside our kitchen...

Red-bellied Woodpecker



Bluejay


Cardinal

Let me know if you join me in the Great Backyard Bird Count and definitely tell me if you've posted photos of the birds you see.  I want to visit your not-a-bird-blog, too!

 

SSubscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

The Bluebird

My internet connection has apparently decided to get old and slow, so for a few days it has been hard to check email, much less upload photos.  Hard, as in, painstaking, since waiting on computers to do their thing is not an area in which I'm particularly patient.  That's my excuse for leaving you without a post yesterday (so sorry!).

Now that I can finally post, I hesitate to share more bird photos, as this is still not a bird blog, but, you see, I simply cannot resist this fella...

I have waited two years to get a shot of a bluebird. Two years!  I missed catching them with the camera one year, and the second year none came to our little tree.  Yesterday morning, when our little guy came running down the hallway, shouting that my favorite bird is in the low tree outside the kitchen window (the one we encourage birds to visit by keeping the feeders full and the cats away), I was relieved to find my camera battery charged and even more relieved to find a curious yet tolerant model.

I wish I could rub him against my cheek and give him a little squeeze, don't you?  What a beauty!  He thought of moving into the birdhouse,

but I'd rather he didn't.  I'm not sure we can keep the cats away 24/7 and nothing would be sadder than seeing our little bluebird hurt. 

Do bluebirds come your way in the Spring?  If so, I think this is a hopeful Springy sign for you!   They don't stay with us - he'll be on his way to make someone else happy in a month or two.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subscribe to Just Pure Lovely here

Twitter me @JustPureLovely

(By the way, please feel free to correct me on "him," "bluebird," and on how he/it travels.  I'd love to know more details!)