Another Humid day in Paradise!

Saturday morning and it is about 8 AM so I decided to get off of my butt and get the yard work done, before it got too hot. In the past I have shown pictures of our yard when we were under construction with the new room. We were paying a man to keep our yard from chinch bugs and fungus. As you remember he was not successful at all, so far Pat and I have been lucky with our treatments. Pat and I always have taken a lot of pride in our yard. We will continue doing it as long as we can, it does give you a lot of self satisfaction when you look at it when your done.

The plant you see is a Camellia plant that Darenda bought in Alabama for Pats Birthday. We have had it a couple of years now. We struggle with getting it to grow and blossom out like it should. If anybody out there has any hints on what we can do please let me know. If you can not comment on my Blog please email me at fastgene70@yahoo.com.

The Day Lillie's you see are very old, we think they are over 20 years old. Pat and my daughter Sandy dug them up in South Carolina. They were growing wild at my hunting camp and one spring the girls thought to bring some home and plant them. They are very beautiful and we enjoy them very much.

Well the bottom two pictures are the beginning and the end. Pat took these pictures and told me to put them on the Blog. I guess she wants proof that I do something some of the time. Pat is a stickler for picking up twigs and anything else that might be found in the yard. She really enjoys working in the yard and is really responsible for it being kept neat.

Well you have a Blessed day and be Blessing to someone else today.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Nature at its best!

This morning as I was drinking my coffee I saw this lovely bird outside in our yard. I watched him for a while and then I decided to try and take a picture of him. I was inside the back room and did not think I could take it through the window. But I guess it did not turn out too bad for an amateur. It is times like this that I wish I could sell my camera and buy one a few notches up the ladder. I really enjoy picture taking a lot, I feel as though I am capturing the moment and filing history for some else to enjoy. Any way it gave me a reason to look up some info on the red Bird so I thought I would share it with you, just in case you are interested. And yes his lady friend was around and they flew off together.

The Cardinals or Cardinalidae are a family of passerine birds found in North and South America. The South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria are placed in another family, the Thraupidae (previously placed in Emberizidae).
These are robust, seed-eating birds, with strong bills. The family ranges in size from the 12-cm, 11.5-gram Orange-breasted Bunting to the 25-cm, 85-gram Black-headed Saltator[verification needed]. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinctive appearances; the family is named for the red plumage (colored cardinal like the color of a Catholic cardinal's vestments) of males of the type species, the Northern Cardinal.
The "buntings" in this family are sometimes generically known as "tropical buntings" (though not all live in the tropics) or "North American buntings" (though there are other buntings in North America) to distinguish them from the true buntings. Likewise the grosbeaks in this family are sometimes called "cardinal-grosbeaks" to distinguish them from other grosbeaks. The name "cardinal-grosbeak" can also apply to this family as a whole.
Most species are rated by the IUCN as least concern, though some are near threatened.[1]

Hope you are Blessed today and that your are a Blessing to someone also.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Memorial Day Week End

In honor of the soldiers who have given their lives for our country

Today is Memorial Day and my sister in-law Annie’s visit is winding down. She will leave today from Tampa at about 5 PM. We all hope that she has a safe trip home and we will miss her.
While she was here, Pat kept her busy with fun things like fishing, shopping and going out to eat. We have laughed a lot and enjoyed her stay.

Friday night we took her to the Manatee – Palm Bay Bayside HS football game. This was a rematch of the playoff game that was played last fall. Manatee has won both of the meetings, this game Manatee won 48 – 41. Manatee’s offense really looks promising with a great QB and running back.

Saturday we kind of hung around and watched Gator baseball and Gator softball. Darenda and the boys came by for a visit and had lunch with us. That night I made meatball subs for Annie and myself (yum). The games had rain delays and so it was a waiting game to finish them, but we did!

Sunday we went to the Marvin’s church to see Tyler’s confirmation program. It was really a great Blessing to witness Tyler and his friends making that commitment. I pray and hope that it is a total life lasting commitment for all of them. The pictures were hard from the back of the church. Doug and Darenda were at the altar with Tyler. When Tyler is having hands laid on him he is out of sight. As you can see Tyler also does the collection for the service. We are so proud of him; it just makes me smile with pride. Prior to the service you can see little brother Luke playing the bells. He really seems to enjoy it and does well with it.

After church we went for lunch, we ate at Crispers which was nice. It was a light lunch as we were invited over to the Marvin’s home for supper. Pat and Annie went over early to swim in the pool and I went later after watching some Ala – LSU baseball. As you can see the boys have a real blast in the pool. I can’t show all the pictures I took (41) as I don’t have the space. But I think you get the idea what was really going on. The night was finished off with some of Doug’s great grilling. He cooked shrimp, chicken, pork tender loin, corn on the cob and Brussels sprouts all on the grille. It was a great meal and was enjoyed by all of us. The climax was a giant cookie for desert. Tyler received congratulation cards with some $$ in them. Annie also brought some belated birthday cards for the boys which also had some $$. It was a great day and we all really enjoyed it very much.

I am so Blessed, God saw fit to give me a great wife and two wonderful daughters. Both my daughters are married to some real great guys who I love also. And of course my two grandsons, it just does not get any better than that.

Well I hope that you have been Blessed today and will be a Blessing to someone.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)