Beauty In Anxiety ? Yeah Right.

Fog...

Mornings that I awake to fog, my anxiety builds... 

The thought of my children on the foggy road gives me

 that nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I call up to the kids...need to leave early fog ahead,

Silently hoping that the worst of the fog is just at the end of my driveway and they will soon encounter a clear path.

As with anything that causes anxiety...we seldom find beauty...

But, this morning was different...as I walked my daughter to the door, I let out a sigh.  The fog was lightly waifing across the field.

At that moment, there in the distance I see the fog and ever so slowly...there like the answer to a prayer,

the sun rising behind this majestic tree.

What beauty, I stood and just smiled that God allowed me to see beauty in the thing that gives me my morning anxiety...

My prayer for you today ...

May you find beauty, even with life's little anxieties.

Today I will be linking to

Inspirational Friday @ The Picket Fence

Please join me in visiting a few of the others linked there...

A VIEW FROM THE WINDOW

Happy Monday... As I sat talking to my dad on the phone..

(He was actually asking why I have not blogged in a week.) 

I glanced out the window and saw this oh so

tiny humming bird down in my lantana.

I thought he surely will not be there

when I return with the camera...

What an unexpected moment.

Anyone who owns a camera just loves these moments.

I managed to sit on the floor in front of the window ... 

change the lens and snap this hungry little guy,

 all while still talking to my dad.

Dad had no clue what I was doing...

So dad this blog post is for you!

Of course... when the conversation came to a point that I asked him to please let me call him back ... the little bird was finished and gone in a wink.

Try to take a moment each day and smile at the unexpected happy moments this week...

It maybe as simple as talking to your dad

or looking out the window. 

Monogrammed For The Marshes

This weekend my daughters boyfriend asked me if I could do him a favor...

I thought, awww...

he wants me to cook something special,

maybe he needs me to help him pick something out for my daughter?

Whatever could it be?

"Naw",  he said.

"I  just need ya to do some monogramming" 

I thought...

Maybe a cute tote bag for Britt?

or

 He is such a sweety,

 could it be something for his mom?

  

NOPE !!

Something for the OTHER FEMALE in his life!

Louisiana is known as the 'Sportsmans Paradise' and hunting and fishing are taken very seriously.

He wanted me to monogram his lab Bella's name on her duck hunting vest. 

Yes, I told you..

They take it very seriously here...

he wanted Bella to be "special" and have her name in hunters orange for everyone to see!

(They will be in a duck blind down in the marshes, not sure how many people will actually see it.)

It actually turned out really cute...

if you want to call a camo dog vest cute.

I am sure once they get to the duck blind,

 all the other guys will want their poochies to have  monogrammed vest.

{Photo... courtesy of Cabela's}

Heres to
Bella, Nick & all the other hunters,

May you have a

happy, safe & successful duck hunting season.

Directory to Your Local Farmers Market

This week is Farmers Market Week

Do you have a local Farmers Market? 

 Not sure if you even have one in your area?

Visit the Farmers Market Directory  to locate the one nearest to you.

  Feed your family fresh locally grown items where you actually meet the farmer and play a part in boosting your local economy. 

Did you know there are over 7,000 markets around the country.

Go out and visit your local market this week...
let me know what you find.

SHOO MR. WHOO

Thought I would share  a few pictures that I captured in my backyard this morning...I actually thought he would have flown away by the time I made it back out with the camera, not to mention Max was on the porch

barking his head off.

I must tell you owls freak me out!

 But,  you know me I had to get the camera.

 He was so beautiful and at peace. 

 Almost like he was patiently waiting for his photo op.

 Did I mention that owls really freak me out!

 I even talked to him,  still he did not fly away.

Yes, by this picture I am really freaking out!

Freaking out because, that is what they do to me, 

 I am not scared of them, they just give me the creeps!

AND,

 freaking out because he was not going anywhere...just watching me and can I tell you I was right next to him talking the whole time and clicking the camera...

Guess  he was cleaning his claws to swoop down on

 Max who would not stop barking. 

Ok...still freaking out!

I came on in the house to leave him to his peaceful morning,

 while I in turn, get ready to head over to the dentist,

 no peace in that!

 

Longing For My Lost Friend...SPRING

Spring... oh how I long for your days to finally be upon us.

I long for your heavy morning dew...no more frost.

The lizards are ready to come awake and take their place on the brick wall surrounding the patio.

Aww, but what I long for the most is the trickle of water in my fountain surrounded by lush green...no more fountain filled with green water and dead oak leaves.

Ok Spring...I am ready to say goodbye to Mr. Winter and welcome you home like a long lost friend.