Blue Skies and Melting Snow!

It's been a very unusual winter here! In January we had frigid temperatures, some of the coldest we've ever seen.  Then an incredible 60+ degree warm up within a day or so, with extreme melting of all the snow we've accumulated.  We are now comfortably into February, and the days are staying warm, and the snow continues to melt. We've even seen a few blue skies! 

Mostly in the mornings when I walk, the skies are gray and overcast, and sometimes later in the day the sun will break through and we will see the skies for a short time before dusk. 

But mostly - for the last several weeks, we've had a lot of snow fog, where the air is dense and thick with fog, and you can't see much at all. The days when we can see the sky, are welcome, indeed! 

This is my newest video - I created it to be a lovely background music to enjoy while working on other things.  It is a 1-hour long instrumental video with beautiful piano music by a local man in our community.  It is easy to listen to, with familiar hymns and songs that are played beautifully. 

I got together with my "stamping ladies" and we made these cards.  I made the one on the right.... it is always a blessing to gather with other ladies and create together :) 

 

My neighbor's new puppy - her name is Bejeweled! I will be helping care for her when my neighbor has to work until she gets a little older. 

She and Riley became friends instantly! 

My heart is smitten! 
Those eyes! 

Remember all the wood chips I had given to me last week? I've been giving them to the chickens to scratch and enjoy. Makes them happy!

My garden! I employed a high schooler to help me wheelbarrow 50+ loads of wood chips over to my garden walkways. We laid the chips down about 2 feet deep.  Hopefully, this will curb any weeds that have already started to grow! This was a big endeavor, and I'm so glad to have it done! 

I love the afternoon shadows brightening the garden - bringing my heart much-needed anticipation for the spring days ahead. 

Enjoyed a Girl's Day out with my daughters - precious to me! We enjoyed coffee and lunch together, and some shopping at local thrift stores. We are all thrifty shoppers :) I'll show you one of my purchases a little later in this post...  

I made Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas - a keto meal, so good!

I rubbed the chicken breasts with Fajita seasoning mixed with olive oil, then sliced 2 sweet bell peppers, one jalapeno, and sprinkled them over the chicken.  Baked at 400 for 30 minutes. Sliced up the chicken and served over a bed of greens for a wonderful chicken fajita salad (Or in a tortilla with cheese, salsa and sour cream)! 

A drink I am enjoying daily. It's so simple, and a wonderful way to detox your body. I cut up about a nickel-sized piece of ginger, peel it, and mince it into my mug. Half a lemon juice squeezed into my mug. Add a couple of drops of stevia sweetener and fill the mug with hot water - drink to your health! 

I found this book at the thrift store on our "Girl's Day Out". It is a collection of Christian poems, and oh my, some of the most beautiful poetry pieces from hundreds of years ago are found in this volume. It will be a treasured book in my library. 
 "A Treasury of Christian Poetry" compiled by Mary Batchelor 1995

Here are a couple of pieces that I've read - and reread 
I think you'll enjoy them :) 


A Psalm for Sunday Night
O sing the glories of our Lord
His grace and truth resound
And his stupendous acts record
Whose mercies have no bound!

He made the all-informing light
And hosts of angels fair;
'Tis he with shadows clothes the night
He clouds or clears the air. 

Those restless skies with stars enchased
He on firm hinges set;
The wave-embraced earth he placed
His hanging cabinet.

We in his summer-sunshine stand,
And in his favour grow;
We gather what his bounteous hand
Is pleased to bestow. 

When he contracts his brow, we mourn,
And all our strength is vain;
To former dust in death we turn,
Till he inspire again. 
Thomas Pestel 1584 - 1659

I loved this next poem as well.... such beautiful flowery elegant words describing the Lord's beautiful earth around us! 

Praise

The glorious armies of the sky
To thee, Almighty King,
Triumphant anthems consecrate,
And hallelujahs sing. 

But still their most exalted flights
Fall vastly short of thee:
How distant then must human praise
From thy perfections be!

Yet how, my God, shall I refrain
When to my ravished sense
Each creature everywhere around
Displays the excellence!

The active lights that shine above,
In their eternal dance,
Reveal their skilful Maker's praise
With silent elegance. 

The blushes of the morn confess
That thou are still more fair,
When in the east its beams revive,
To gild the fields of air.

The fragrant, the refreshing breeze
Of ev'ry flowery bloom
In balmy whispers own, from thee
Their pleasing odors come.

The singing birds, the warbling winds,
And waters murmuring fall
To praise the first Almighty Cause
With different voices call. 

Thy numerous works exalt thee thus,
And shall I silent be?
No rather let me cease to breathe,
Than cease from praising thee!
Elizabeth Rowe 1674-1737 

My heart echos the praise being spoken of in these poems I shared with you.  We can choose to focus on the things around us that oppress and depress us - but I choose to think upon the Lord, and the good things that He has provided for us! 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, 

whatsoever things are honest, 

whatsoever things are just, 

whatsoever things are pure, 

whatsoever things are lovely, 

whatsoever things are of good report; 

if there be any virtue, 

and if there be any praise, 

think on these things.

Philippians 4:8