A Wonderful Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to celebrate with loved ones.

We returned home last evening after having a great Thanksgiving visit at Casey's in South Carolina!!

What nice memories he made having his grandparents over to share the Thanksgiving meal. That's my mom standing next to Casey.

I took the full moon photo last night just after we crossed into Virginia. It looks more like the sun - it was so bright.

The next photo was taken from Virginia looking out at the famous North Carolina Pilot Mountain and the knob on top - referred to by most as Pilot's Knob. If you click on the photo, it will enlarge and you will get a better view of the knob.

This next photo is an evening shot of the North Carolina mountains.

This beautiful vining mandavilla was still blooming for Amanda.

I was quite happy how close this heron let me get to him to take this photo - I took one step too close, though, and he took flight in the next photo.

The pond across from Casey and Amanda's seems to be a resting spot for many Canadian Geese.

While taking pictures at the pond, I had to be very careful of the fire ant hills. The last photo shows one of the larger ones. Having sandles on....I would not have been happy had I stepped on one.

Vintage Thanksgiving

I won't be blogging for several days as I will be out of town for Thanksgiving.

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with God's abundant blessings!!

Honest Scrap Award

I was surprised, and honored, with this Honest Scrap Award, given to me by Anne, of El Milagro Studio. The award is for honest blogging. I am to mention and link the giver in this post: http://elmilagrostudio.blogspot.com

Thank you, Anne.

I am also supposed to list 10 things about myself. Not an easy task. What can I tell you that will help you to know me better? Since we are in the midst of Thanksgiving preparations, I won't spend a lot of time thinking too hard on this, so here goes:

_________________________________________________________

1. I hate slapstick and comedy that is stupid. I lean toward serious movies and the like. I enjoy coming away from a movie with something to ponder.

2. I am highly offended when Religion is used in jokes and such. I don't like to see God or His name used in any way that is not in His honor.

3. I'm a peacemaker. All of my life I have tried to keep everyone around me "happy" so there would be no unrest.

4. I spent about the first third of my life as somewhat of an introvert. I was quiet and uncomfortable in group settings. No more! Somewhere along the line, I realized that we are all human and no one is "better" than anyone else. Life is much more fun being more of an extrovert with just the right amount of aggressiveness. I know that I can be myself with no pretension.

5. For many years, I lacked the confidence needed to get out there and pursue my dreams. Of course there was family to be raised, time constraints, and life got in the way. Being older and wiser now, I feel I could tackle just about anything I set my mind to.

6. I've had Bells Palsy twice in my life. Once is rare, twice is really rare. First time was on the left side of my face ~ second time the right side. Paralysis of the face is something I would wish on no one. Medication and therapy brought my left side back to normal. On the right side, I've been left with a little numb sensation around my mouth and eye.

7. I'm a seashell collector. I have thousands of shells - in boxes, in glass vessels, in my flowerbeds, in my fountains..... I love the sea and the shells it provides. One of my life dreams was to live in a cottage by the sea. Having had the opportunity to live in Charleston, SC, last year.......I now prefer the mountains.

8. For a good part of my life, I felt that my art was not good enough. In recent years, I have claimed to be an artist, I am proud to be an artist, and I like the things I paint.

9. I passed up several cost free trips to Italy and Switzerland because of my fear of flying.

10. I am older... I am wiser.... I WISH I'D KNOW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW !!!

__________________________________________________________

Now, I am to pass this on to 10 bloggers I feel have honest blogs. I think all the blogs that I read on a daily basis are written by honest people. You can tell by the content and if I didn't think these people were honest, I wouldn't be reading the things they write. There will be duplication - it can't be helped - some people have outstanding blogs and have already received this award.

I must bounce it right back to Anne of http://elmilagrostudio.blogspot.com

Marlene of Marlene's Musings http://marlenes-musings.blogspot.com

Marilyn of Our Victorian Cottage http://ourvictoriancottage.blogspot.com

Tristan of Enchanted Revelry http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com

Anna of Anna Rosa Designs http://annarosadesigns.blogspot.com

Linda of Lindaoma's Old Baggs N Stuft Shirts http://lindaomasoldebaggsnstuftshirts.blogspot.com/

Danita of DanitaArt http://danitaart.blogspot.com

Amanda of Bright Eyes http://ag-brighteyes.blogspot.com

Diva of Diva's Musings http://divaodete.blogspot.com

Flor of Flor Larios Art http://florlariosart.blogspot.com/

Blessings

May I suggest you take the time today to thank God for all of your blessings? If you can't make it to church, take a few minutes at home ~ find a quiet spot maybe in the backyard, on the porch, in your bedroom.....
He has made all things possible and given us the food on our tables, the roof over our heads, our families, our friends, our possessions, our talents, everything that brings us even a little happiness each and every day.
Ponder on the beauty that surrounds us.... the sky, the trees, the lakes, the ocean, the mountains, the birds, pets, wildlife of all kinds. Think about our freedom and our ability to do and say whatever we want, to go wherever we want. Think about the look in the eyes of a small child, the smile on an infant's face, the feeling when someone you love hugs you and tells you that they love you back. Think about the hospitals, the care facilities, and all those in the medical field who devote their lives trying to mend our broken bodies and broken spirits.
Reflect on your life, the people who love you, the people you love, and all the joys we take for granted every single day.
As I get older, it is so much easier for me to see how important it is to have Him in my life and to acknowledge Him in any way I can. He has given me so much. The least I can do is take some time each Sunday to thank Him, to pay Him homage for His greatness, His kindness, and His mercy. I know He understands when I also ask Him to keep me healthy enough to care for those I love, to help our country through this difficult time, and to bless the sick and the poor.
Imagine how wonderful He would feel if we all took just a minute today to say a simple hello and thank Him. Try it.... it will make you feel good.
Have a beautiful, special Sunday!

I can't take credit for the photo of the church. It is a stock photograph, but I think it is a sweet church and I love that it is in the woods. I would love to go inside. Wouldn't you?

Silent Saturday

Powerful Words From A Great President

THE YEAR THAT IS DRAWING TOWARD ITS CLOSE

HAS BEEN FILLED WITH THE BLESSING OF FRUITFUL

FIELDS AND HEALTHFUL SKIES - THEY ARE THE GRACIOUS GIFTS OF THE MOST HIGH GOD!

~Abraham Lincoln

The REDS of Fall

Street Sign

While driving the other day, I went down a side street I had not used before very close to where I live. This street sign caught my eye as I was passing a crossroad. Wouldn't it be fun to live on this street?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUSIE !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISA !!

Sunday Thought

IF GOD SHOULD GO ON STRIKE

How good it is that God above has never gone on strike.

Because He was not treated fair in things He didn't like.

If only once He'd given up and said, "That's it, I'm through!

I've had enough of those on earth, so this is what I'll do.

I'll give my orders to the sun - cut off the heat supply!

And to the moon - give no more light, and run the oceans dry.

Then just to make things really tough and put the pressure on,

Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone!"

You know He would be justified, if fairness was the game.

For no one has been more abused or met with more disdain

Than God, and yet He carries on, supplying you and me

With all the favors of His grace, and everything for free.

Men say they want a better deal, and so on strike they go,

But what a deal we've given God to whom all things we owe.

We don't care who we hurt to gain the things we like;

But what a mess we'd all be in, if God should go on strike.

~anonymous

Photo - Gibrob Enterprises

Chrysanthemums

Another oldie from a 1983 issue of

IDEALS Thanksgiving magazine

***

Chrysanthemums

***

Photo By: Fred Sieb

Sad

When I was a little girl, we lived at my Grandfather's house for several years. He had the biggest, most beautiful weeping willow tree in his yard. I loved that tree ~ that just might have been when my deep love for trees started. I never forgot that tree and I always wanted one.

This summer, we planted a weeping willow tree in the back yard. It was thriving and I was very happy about that.

The deer never bothered it.

Until last night.

Last night they decided to snack on THE WILLOW TREE!

Looking at the picture, there was another large branch off to the left - gone. They stripped the main trunk of its bark, and they pretty much shredded the entire bottom of all its small branches.

I guess I am partly to blame. I haven't sprayed the plants for over a month now ~ I was spraying all the plants, flowers, and the willow tree all summer. I didn't want to lose that tree. ): Since the flowers are pretty much done, I stopped spraying thinking the deer wouldn't munch on the half-dead, twiggy stuff - completely forgot about the willow tree with its little, tempting leaves that were still hanging on. Also, I didn't think about the fact that if they are hungry enough, they will try to eat just about anything. I don't know if it will make it now ~ I will go out and tend to it, leave it in the ground for the winter, and see how it looks next spring.

Sad.

Turkey Painting

This wonderful painting by George Hinke should help put us in the

Thanksgiving mood.

I found it in a 1990 IDEALS Thanksgiving magazine. Enjoy!

Veterans Day

HAPPY VETERANS DAY! Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country, keeping us safe and free.


Take some time today to honor the soldiers who have fought for our country.


On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistace, or temporary cessation of hostilities was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

Question

I have a question. This is something I've been wondering about for some time. What exactly is response protocol when someone has left a comment on your blog?

If I see a comment on my blog, a lot of times I will respond to that comment by leaving a comment of my own directly under the visitor's comment on the post. I have noticed that several people do this. However, not being sure that people actually return to that particular post, I will sometimes go to their blog and leave the comment there just to be sure they see my response to them. Obviously, this is time consuming as I am leaving a similar response twice to the same person.

What are your thoughts? Am I being too concerned with this? Once in a while, someone will say something that I really want to thank them for or I just WANT to respond. I have gotten in the habit of returning to a person's blog to see if they have responded to my comment. Does everyone do this? I am curious as to how everyone deals with this. Comments are something we all look forward to. My main concern is if someone asks a question in a comment or something does need responded to, I sure don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and have them think that I've ignored them.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks.
Audrey

PAY IT FORWARD

FROM HERE

Good Monday morning!

I came across PAY IT FORWARD on Marlene's blog and thought it sounded like a fun thing to do, so I am joining in.

I will make a handmade gift for the first 3 interested people who comment on this post. I have 365 days to do it in. (No pressure.) What it will be and when it will arrive is a TOTAL SURPRISE! The catch is that you must participate as well:

1. Comment on this post.

2. Write a PAY IT FORWARD post on your blog.

3. Change the FROM HERE link next to the picture above to: a link to the blog where you signed up for this. Example: I signed up on Marlene's blog, so I am linking FROM HERE to Marlene's blog.

4. HAVE FUN!!

Will the first 3 interested people who comment and join in this venture please email me your address so I will know where to mail your handmade gift?

Email to: moonsfolly@comcast.net

I hope you will join in PAY IT FORWARD and keep the fun going!

Audrey

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,

Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIM !!

One Final Look