It is 56 degrees as I greet this Friday morning. But the sun is shining brightly and we're in store for another beautiful fall-like day. The only thing left to do is give thanks to God for once again providing a heap of blessings. As I read the news and talk to friends around the country though, many are not so lucky.  I have friends in Florida who are staring down the barrel of a category 5 hurricane. I have a friend in Montana who as of last night said they were still ok but that there are three major forest fires within ten miles of his house due to what is the largest forest fire in the nation up in Montana. Folks in Texas and Louisiana are still either not back in their homes or if they are, they may be trying to decide what is salvageable. So as the rest of us who are unaffected by these things start our day, let's collectively lift these folks up in prayer.

Ms. Kate and I had a good day yesterday and checked off several things on the "to-do" list. We went and got our pedicures done first thing. Mine hurt like heck because of an ingrown toenail; but I was expecting that. It is still sore this morning a little because of all of the digging around that the gal did. Next we went to lunch at an oriental buffet place a couple of doors down from the nail salon. We hadn't eaten there in maybe a decade and it didn't take long to remember why. The food is edible but certainly not what I would consider "good". So, we'll give them another ten years or so before we waste our money in there.  From there we went to the cemeteries and decorated family graves. Ms. Kate always does a great job of keeping fresh looking seasonal flowers on the graves. It is sad when I see a grave that has a raggedy faded out bunch of flowers on a grave. It is almost better for me if there were no flowers on the grave at all. I suspect that once Ms. Kate and I pass that there will be no flowers on our graves. Our girls all live so far away that they will have no reason to come to Evansville once we are gone. And that is alright I reckon. Besides cemeteries and toenails, Ms. Kate and I also did our laundry yesterday so we are good to go for the weekend.

Today we are taking neighbor Dan and his wife to lunch and then up to Karen's house so the can see her flowerbeds and house. She has done massive amounts of work on her flowerbeds and is a Master Gardener. So, she is always glad to have a chance to show it off. Things aren't blooming a lot right now of course but it shows well just the same.

That's it for today as we head into the weekend. I hope you have time or take the time to stop your busy life and not only relax, but take time to give God credit and thanks for the blessings you have received this week.  Have a great Friday!