Thursday, March 29, 2012

A Whole Lot of Nothin’

This has been quite a week.  Frankly a difficult one that leaves me with little I really want to go into detail about.  I went out and walked as usual but there was really nothing picture worthy and the gloom persisted for much of the day.  It went from forties to nearly the seventies seemingly all at once.  I don’t feel much room to brag about the seventies when it takes all day to get there and then is quickly gone as the day passes its zenith.  I’m still waiting for enough money to get the car timing belt and water pump changed out…I will be much relieved to have that out of my hair.  My daughter will need to use that car to take her test for her driver’s license…oh boy.  I will need to make adjustments on the insurance at that point.  She graduates next year…I think I’m still in shock over that one. 

I thought I’d better head out for some pictures but first I had to show this pathetic shot of our salamander.  Don’t let that smile fool you…he’s waiting for his morning cricket…he’s every inch a predator.  Sometimes I think he’s a “salagator” more than a salamander!  The morning sunshine broke through today and left intricate patterns of shadow as it passed through our little bench in the backyard.  I see some buds are exploding out there at this point yet some do nothing at all just yet.  Still no blossoms for us for the most part so these signs of spring really comfort me and give me hope…it causes such a new green haze when looking out over the neighborhood…I just love that.  One thing that is nice right now is the songs of the Redwing Blackbirds that love to sing back and forth to one another.  The Western Meadowlarks haven’t arrived yet but still this is a nice thing to hear

.  The trees in our backyard are quite slow to finally spring to life each year however I still love the textures of the bark.  The contrast of the black and white really is nice and unique.  These are close enough to the deck where we have to keep them trimmed.  Right now I feel a little like that tree.  Life can have its moments where it feels one thing after another is being cut off and pruned left and right.  The good news is that without this pruning I know I wouldn’t grow the way I’m supposed to.  There’s nothing worse than an untamed tree that is left to go wild until it does damage to everything around it now is there?  Bless you my friends.

20 comments:

  1. I love the photos Joe. They are so unique. Our spring seems to have gone into hiding.

    It seems impossible that your daughter is that old. Where does the time go.

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    1. Glad you stopped by my friend. Spring does seem sort of fleeting at times doesn't it? I don't know how she went and grew up on me...it's hard on me as I know it is on all parents when their kids get that age.

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    1. I don't mind one at a time John, it's leaping down whole flights of them that seems kinda hard to take.

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  3. I know the feeling. Hope the next week will be a better one for you.

    God Bless - Nita.

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  4. ur Kids getting old Joe lol
    oh boy ...haha that means ur getting older to ..
    Gosh im punishing u. Shame MJ
    well i like the pic of the tree..I saw in forest where we walked lately a tree with such a extreme strange tree trunk.Next time im gonna make a shot of it.
    tc Joe and things will run like a train belief me
    have a nice weekend
    MJ

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    1. Believe me I don't need a reminder about age however the thing is I don't care about that as much as I care that my kids have all that I can give them before I leave this world. I hope you do take some pictures of that tree! I really love trees and their unusual shapes. Have a good one as well my friend.

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  5. You talk about the pruning and wow that reaches right into my heart. We need it to grow but need to be pruned to bring the new growth . March is a month I do not like Joe. Im telling you and not eveyone .It takes spring a long time to come and March is a month that lingers with the weather being up and down until after Easter. Your daughter is growing. I had growing pains when my kids started to be that age. Seems like it was hell at time, the best of times with so much Joy and so many Tears. . and now that they are gone I miss them. Loved your blog. It touched me deeply.

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    1. I'm so glad it helped Lisa, I think for sure you're a kindred spirit and I am very grateful for that. I fully understand you on the way the weather is this month. It's been very up and down for us. Today shining brightly and is nearly seventy degrees but come Sunday it drops to the fifties and we have a very sad funeral that my Mom must officiate for a baby that died...yes, it's a hard season. I'm thankful for you you my friend.

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  6. I pray the gloom leaves soon. I know when a person gets down it's can be hard to snap out, but the Lord sees us through.

    Oh dear, driving already. I remember the trepidation as each child started. Thing is I still worry about them.

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    1. It's a very tough season for us right now and I admit I'm really grieved and broken over it right now. The nicer weather right now seems to help and I actually heard my first Meadowlark today! I hear you on the driving thing...that's being a parent I think for sure.

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    2. Joe I am really sorry to hear that it has been a tough season for you, and I hope and pray that things will get better for you all real soon.
      Nice pictures Joe, The second one from the bottom is my favorite. I really like the trees with and without their leaves. Either way they have so much character, and interesting textures as well.

      Hope you have a Blessed week leading up to Good Friday and the celebration of our Resurrected Lord Jesus that gives us all Hope and makes life worth living through the good times and the trial times.
      Take care Joe
      Your friend
      Dianne :)

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    3. This particular situation we're dealing with is just not easy and in the middle of it we had a funeral for a baby today and it's just a hard thing. I'm with you on trees and how full of personality they are. Bless you and thank you so much for being who you are Dianne.

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  7. Hi Joe.. seems we all have a cross to carry these days.. more so than before.. and so heavy it is.. but this is the season to rely on Jesus as he took the cross for us.. and he will help us with ours.
    you already know this.. but sometimes its nice to know that we are not alone in this.. my prayers are with you and your family.. please keep me and mine in your as well.. we are having a hard time with things here as well.. my son is need of healing.. big time.
    anyway.. on a brighter side of things.. our weather is wonderful. the birds are out and about.. the wild flowers are starting to poke their little heads out.. and soon the air will be filled with spring fragrance.. who could ask for more..
    soft hugs dear friend..

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    1. There' no doubt I'm not alone however I think that when people go through things it's always got an element about it that makes a person feel isolated. I've got the travel bug really badly right now and am so wishing I could just go on a trip abroad again...nothing here in the US...I need out but don't see that happening just yet...perhaps soon, I'm sure hoping so.

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  8. praying for you and your family Joe..

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    1. I always appreciate that Hope, same goes out for you.

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  9. Dang, don't know how to turn off the music so I can here the redwing Blackbirds. I hope that the meadowlarks come along soon as would love (once I learn how to turn off the music for a few seconds) to hear what a western Meadowlark sounds like.

    Love your description of the salamander. :-)))

    I had to have the timing belt in the saturn when I still had it, replaced. $$$$$$$$.

    Oh man, your Danielle is old enough to drive..world, here she comes. Soon it will be Michael.

    Love the textures on those trees too. I think I would make like a grafitti "artist" and start drawing on some of them. We had...I think they were called water birch trees i FL and I used to take sheets of the bark and paint on them.

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    1. Click the pause button on the music player on the right there, just like an i-touch. I hope that helps. I went out today and was listening to the Western Meadowlarks today...they really are delightful. It's quite gloomy today though so I only will post a few pics from the last couple days..ugh. You're right about the cost of this service. Fortunately it will be the last major service for a while by God's grace.

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