Two Bugs and a Bird

We've had a few 'bug' sightings this week.

Isn't this green buggy thing beautiful against the pink rose?

Love the little stripes on his legs.

And this huge locust was on the garage screen. Doesn't he look 'prehistoric'? (we have screens on our garage that you pull across so that you can leave the garage door open and 'air' out your garage when you park a hot car inside)

This big bird landed in the tall dead pine tree behind our house and we grabbed the camera to see what it was!

A Mockingbird! Maybe looking for those bugs to eat!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

I'm Grateful for all of YOU!!!

I feel ALL better! I passed the kidney stones and feel amazing now! Thanks so much for the prayers. What a difference it makes to have good friends that pray! 

I'm working on a Fall book but it hasn't quite 'come together'. I'm struggling to figure out the design and layout. But hubby put a new ink cartridge in the printer yesterday so I printed out some pretty Autumn paper!

A special 'Thank You' to Michelle from The Nest at Finch Rest for the gift she sent me this week. I won her 'Christmas in July' giveaway and she sent me a beautiful antique Christmas cup, Christmas tea, a little spoon and a sweet card. (I'll probably work that card into a book! heehee)

I'm always thankful for the Farmer's Mkt on Thursday so I'm off and running this morning. It will feel GREAT to GET OUT!

What can I pick up for you? Apples? Or bakery bagels? How about some corn on the cob?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

I'm so smart....

...and humble too! hahaha! The more I create, the more creative I become!

I'm still making altered books and I'm going in all kinds of directions now.

I made this cute little Beatrix Potter book for my girlfriend, Margaret. 

I hope she doesn't mind if I show it to all of you. She loves it! I included the whole book so she read the story and enjoyed it, too. Now she can write in her book and glue little mementos inside. It was fun to make and a very cute size. (the book rings were not in the book for the photos)

I made another book into a journal this week and experimented with sewing antique lace on the edges of some of my pretty paper (using the sewing machine). It worked like a dream.

This book had a plain cover and I glued the image on the front and then put some antique lace and an old clip-on earring on the book ring. I didn't embellish the pages in this one but stay tuned....I'm making MORE books and they are all different! 

And speaking of being humble. I am having a 'humbling experience' and would appreciate your prayers. I have kidney stones...oh my...they are painful! I had SUCH a good week and feel like writing in ALL CAPS...I don't have TIME for THIS! You know what I mean!

I better go cut some paper and glue something...

it's ADDICTIVE!!!

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE.

A Quiet Week

It's been quiet here this week...quiet is good! Our area is still cleaning up after Hurricane Irma and there are downed trees and piles of debris everywhere. But there are also lots of workers and trucks carting off the uprooted trees. I read a sad article in the paper today about my dear Sholom Park. They lost over 20 huge trees and since many were uprooted, it damaged the sidewalks and paths. Fencing was damaged too. So it's been closed but the article said, " New creative designs and beautiful landscaping will replace what was destroyed. We will rebuild and be back to normal soon." 

The photo in my header is Sholom Park. 

These are pics from my little neighborhood pond this week.

A moorhen family was in the middle of the pond.

Come on kids, try to keep up!

And a Great Blue Heron flew into a Cypress tree while I watched. 

He posed for me on the bank of the pond.

He just about disappeared into the reeds.

But he was watching me!

A sweet little Grebe swam by too. (I love the way the water looked in this photo)

It's been a terrible week of devastation around the world. I'm keeping everyone in my prayers.

Happy Fall Y'all!!! 🌻🌻🌻

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Magnolias in Bloom

The Magnolia trees are in full bloom at the end of the summer here in Florida.

I took these photos a couple of nights before the hurricane hit but this tree survived. Magnolias are hardy and strong trees. I think some of the blooms even hung on.

 Doesn't this look like a little fish trying to jump out of the pond? I think it's just the dry top of a reed. 

A couple of nights after the hurricane, we were awed by this magnificent sky at sundown.

I guess we'll be saying 'before' and 'after' the storm for awhile but things are getting back to normal in my little part of the world! We are blessed and....

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE.

The Calm AFTER the Storm

Hurricane Irma came through North Central Florida overnight Sunday...into the wee hours of Monday morning. We didn't get much sleep but by the next day the rain ended and high winds continued. Tuesday morning we had blue skies and less wind and that gave us a chance to get outside and see what was what. Just small limbs, leaves and debris around our house but my friend on the next street had a big tree come down in her backyard. And now that we've had a chance to drive around, there are lots of trees down....many of them uprooted. 

 I walked to the pond on Tuesday night so I'll share those photos.

 From this angle you can get an idea of what I mean by limbs, leaves and debris. 

 It's everywhere like that. I'm going to be sad to see what damage there has been at my beloved Shalom Park. We drove by there Thursday but the gates were locked.

 I was happy to see the Little Blue Heron at the pond but most of the tall reeds have blown down.

A couple of nights before the storm, I saw about 15 ducks at the pond. Shovelers, Hybrid Mallards and Grebes. But they are not there now. 

We continue to pray for those that are still suffering from Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. It's been a tough year and I appreciate all of my blog buddies that have prayed for us. Friends and family...caring and praying...makes all the difference in the world. 💕

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

We Survived Hurricane Irma!

We spent a miserable night with the howling winds as Hurricane Irma came right up through the center of the state...where we live! I don't know how we managed to have such little damage but we are very fortunate. We have some loose shingles and our lawn and the golf course behind us is littered with leaves, Spanish moss and small branches. We still have Tropical force winds today so we can't get outside yet. There's no way to know yet what damage is in our neighborhood and community. 

The winds were FIERCE overnight and the wind pounded the windows. We had moved our furniture away from the windows but we had very little dampness on the windowsills.

WHEW...we are busy today putting our house back in order. At least I cooked extra in case we lost power, so we will be eating good this week. So far our power has blinked on and off but stayed on for the most part.

Thank you ALL so much for your prayers. And thanks for all of the sweet comments and thoughtful emails. We continue to pray for those that have suffered damage and for those still in the path.

I always love to go to Princess Sassy Pants to see her beautiful art and quotes. Thanks to her for this perfect post!

I'll be back soon. Don't have too much fun while I'm gone! teehee!

Your blog buddy, Diane

A Winner and a Storm on the way!

We are preparing for a major Hurricane here in Florida now and I would appreciate everyone's prayers. We're busy getting our house ready and buying extra supplies. Hopefully we won't have to leave but we'll be ready to do that if the need arises.

I'll post the conditions when I can.

The winner of my little giveaway is our sweet Sheri from Red Rose Alley. Isn't this a perfect little book for her? I won't be able to send it out to you until next week, Sheri, but send me your address so that I can get the package ready.

We've spent today shopping for extra groceries, taking a donation to Hospice Thrift Store and filling the gas tank. I'm working in the lanai putting things away. The lanai is not as secure as the rest of our house so we'll have to move the furniture into the main part of the house. (and I do have a few knick knacks out there to deal with! lol) Hubby is outside working on the grill and outdoor furniture and plants.

 (all photos of roses in my flower beds)

Keep us in your prayers dear friends! 💖

Rainbow Clouds

I know there's a proper name for these clouds but I'm not sure what it is. 

And I knew you would want to walk with me to the neighborhood pond on this special night!

Have you ever seen such unusual clouds?

I had to make myself go home! 

It was getting darker but the clouds kept their color.

So I walked home and stood in the driveway and watched the color diminish.

Time to go to bed now and have sweet cotton candy dreams!

I'll announce the winner of my giveaway Wednesday! There's still time to enter on the post HERE!

Happy Labor Day!  🌈

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE.

The lost Sandpiper

I'm sharing a few photos from my walks to the pond this week. We had a very unusual visitor! 

 A Sandpiper!

 He was on the golf course! 

We don't live on the beach. We live in North Central Florida so this was the first time I've ever seen a Sandpiper here. We've seen them at Canaveral National Seashore but not this far inland.

The Little Blue Heron flew in while I was there. He fluffed his feathers when he landed.

A pretty duck was in the water....

and a family of Moorhens.

But a Sandpiper? I never!!!!

I'm having a Giveaway! If you would like to enter, click HERE to go to the Giveaway post! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.