Brownie loves the water!

Brownie really loves the water, especially when the "waves" are rolling in. She chases them and "bites" at them. It is really cute. I let her play in the river three times on our walks last week. I took some video of her playing that I will try to post on here at some point. I don't know when that will be as I'm trying to get ready for a garage sale, doing my part-time work, working on get my Father's Day cards made, and trying to get some more paintings done.

The great news is I sold 4 paintings last month! I also am a finalist in the writing contest I entered earlier this year and will find out exactly what that means this weekend (of course, I'm hoping for 1st, but actually to place is affirmation that, indeed, I am also a writer!). I took 3 little paintings to a local used bookstore that also has gifts/artsy type things to sell (on commission), but I'm believing they will sell quickly and it is also a way for me to get my work out there. All in all, I'm excited by all the possibilities that are in front of me and am believing for blessings (and more) in every area of my life.

More turtles!

It seems like when Brownie and I go for our walks, we either run into squirrels or turtles. The other day, it was turtles (and not the same turtles we saw last time, either!) This first turtle is a little one.

I put my tennis shoe by him so you could see how small he is! (I assure you, my tennis shoe did not actually touch him and he was left in the exact same condition we found him!)

This second turtle, I would not have seen if Brownie hadn't pointed him out. He was slightly hidden.

I have no idea why his shell is so lichen-covered looking. What do you have to get into to actually stain your shell so badly? Is it just because he is a different kind of turtle? Such a slow mover that moss actually grows on him? I don't know, but his sweet little face looks friendly even if his shell isn't too attractive.

Pretty Yellow Flowers

Of course, I couldn't let those pretty yellow flowers pass me by without focusing on them. You know how much I love flowers.

On our walk yesterday morning

It is almost getting too hot to wait until 8:30 am to go for our walk. Plus, it is getting light at 6:30 am (or even a little earlier now, but that is when it is shining in my window, waking me up). I'll have to seriously consider going for our walks at 6:30 or 7:00 now as when I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep, we went outside and it was beautiful. Not that we can go for our walk this morning as I have some errands to run and some work to get done.

We have a chance of rain later today, so if it is cloudy and cool, may consider going for our walk then. We both sure enjoy it, but yesterday, I was hollered at by a strange man. I ignored him and kept walking because I couldn't imagine what he wanted from me (Me? Money?). I wasn't going to find out and really didn't care if he thought I was rude for ignoring him. I was thinking to myself, "For all you know, I can't hear well, so go holler "Say, little mama" at someone else."

Squirrel in tree eating a nut

Here's another squirrel in a tree eating a nut. His friend was on another tree, peering around it at us, but I couldn't get a picture of him because he went up higher. But this fellow was so intent on his nut, that he didn't really care that Brownie and I were staring at him. He didn't move at all. But Brownie was ready to continue our walk, so this was the best picture I managed to get of him as the tugging on my other arm kept making my camera hand shake.

Fisher Price Record Player

And here is the final Fisher Price item I got for Mom off e-bay, the record player. They've put out many record players over the years, but this is the one we grew up with so it is the one Mom wanted.

I took home all Mom's Fisher Price items over Memorial weekend. She loved them! She is very excited to get her toy room painted and fixed up so little kids can start playing in there. I'll try to get pictures of the room when it is finished with all her vintage Fisher Price on the shelves!

Gray, rainy day

Yet another storm blew through town this morning. Strong winds, hail, and torrential rain came through with this one, but they say a second line is on its way. The weather reported wind gusts up to 80 mph downtown with lots of debris blowing onto the roads. There were many areas flooded and I heard them say they had a water rescue in one area.

We are fine. Only strong winds and rain passed over our house. But even if it had been more, our house and property are safe and protected, in Jesus name. No weapon formed against us will prosper.

I'm thankful for the rain, but dislike being stuck indoors. I want to feel the sun on my face, the breeze in my hair. Too long without the sun and I get a little stir crazy. Hopefully all this rain won't affect our walk tomorrow. We (Brownie and I) sure need it!

Spectacular Sunset

While it was still raining (but after the rainbow), the sun was setting. With the heavy clouds, the sun reflected off them and kind of highlighted them with brilliant color. My brother and I got in his pickup and drove around the trees surrounding the house to get a clear view. I sat in his pickup and took these out the window. What a truly spectacular sunset!!

Rainbow's promise

A storm came through the last night we were home (yes, I know it has taken me a week to finish up with our Memorial Day weekend trip). And in the midst of the storm, the rainbow. It perfectly framed the view standing on the porch, a complete rainbow. And within a few minutes, we saw the reflection of a second rainbow.

With everything that is going on in my life and with the things on my heart, I took that double rainbow as God's promise to me and to my family of double blessings. He sees us, he placed these things on our hearts, he will make a way, and now is the time of blessing in every area of our lives. Hooray for the blessings!!!!

Bindweed

I think almost all flowers are beautiful, even though I know some flowers are really part of weeds. In our yard, we used to have the pretty purple flowers. And this year because the lawn service we use hasn't done a good job, we had some pretty yellow flowers. When I showed this picture to Mom, she told me it was Bindweed. Then, she noticed the wheat (I hadn't known it was there when I was taking a picture of the pretty white flowers). She said farmers hate it when bindweed gets in with the wheat. I guess maybe it chokes it out and keeps it from producing what it could.

Isn't that just like something that is not in our best interest to be all dressed up in a pretty package? Sometimes you don't know it for what it is until it is choking your life of the truly good things. Recognize it for what it is. See beyond the pretty white flowers to what is beneath. If it is not in your best interest, let it go and let your life be full of things that will enable you to produce a bountiful, full harvest.