It is Thursday morning and I am watching the clouds come and go as what is now tropical depression Harvey slowly moves into our area. We are supposed to start getting some of the rain from it later in the day with some 15-25 mph winds. Our area locally looks to not get more than an inch of rain, which we could use. Thank goodness that the coastal reagons are now able to start recovery and the rain has stopped. I was watching Good Morning America earlier today and they have a telethon going to collect money for those affected by all of this disaster. One of the things that they reported was that at least 60% of those whose houses are sitting in six or more feet of water did not have flood insurance. I heard last night that there may be as many as 100,000 cars sitting under water. There are some areas where the water is receding but other areas are still having water rise because it is draining from other areas. But, God's blessed sunshine is shining on them today and God's mercy and grace will carry these folks through. Of that, I have no doubt.

One of the sad by-products of disasters though is that it also brings out people who are criminals and have no sense of humanity or morals. There are people looting homes and stores, people robbing other people and people that will pose as contractors offering to repair storm damage and then demanding payment up front and then not finishing up the job. It is only a micro amount of the people that do this kind of stuff but it always happens and people that are already suffering are caused even more pain and suffering. And the people they often target are the most vulnerable such as the elderly. What a shame. I suspect God has a special place for despicable people like that. They might not believe in God but God knows who they are and who their soul belongs to.

I had to fill up my bird baths first thing this morning. Both were empty to the point of being dry. There has been a steady stream of finches at the one bird bath. Yesterday afternoon there was a steady stream of starlings at the other bird bath and they splashed and splashed. Sometimes there would be as many as five birds in there at one time. Water was going everywhere. It is no wonder that I had to refill them first thing this morning. I also need to fill a couple of feeders again today. And --- I should go get another 40 pounds of sunflower seed if we go anywhere today. My can is more than half empty. Unfortunately I also need to go to Wildbirds and Things soon because I am almost out of all of my special feeds. That is a $100.00 minimum trip --- scheesh!! I threw about a full loaf of stale bread out on the ground late yesterday evening for the birds and there isn't a crumb left this morning.

Time for me to get busy. Please join me in prayers for those we love and for those who are suffering not only from this hurricane for who are suffering anywhere in the world. We are all God's children and that makes us all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God our Father. Let's all be good to one another. Peace.

Wednesday already again. It's 70 degrees and a slight breeze is blowing on another sunny day. There have been a few showers in the area but none that affected us.

I've been sitting here reading articles on Facebook and listening to the news channels trying to keep up with what is happening in Texas and Louisiana with the Hurricane/Tropical storm Harvey. It looks like Houston is now getting a break from the rain after receiving fifty two inches of rain. Fifty-two inches!!!! There are a lot of countries and areas in the world that don't get that much rain in a year and they got it in five days. There are areas in this country that don't get that much rain in a year. I can't even begin to imagine the devastation and destruction --- fifty two inches of rain on top of the 125 mile an hour winds from the hurricane. I suspect that the damage will be up into the hundreds of billions of dollars.  This morning I read and saw a picture with a warning that said be very careful of where you are walking because there are snakes everywhere and it showed a picture of what looked like a dry hallway somewhere and there must have been a dozen or more snakes of different varieties curled up and slithering around in there. Another picture showed a couple of alligators in someone's back yard. And don't get me started on all of the sewage and toxic waste that is in that water they are walking through. And now, to a lesser degree, it is all headed to Lousiana and will eventually continue to work its way north and east. We are looking to get some rain from it on Friday but only a couple of inches.

Last night I was reading my Sunday school lesson for this coming Sunday and coincidently it focuses on Genesis 8 & 9 and the flood and covenant of God with the earth that God would never destroy all life again by water. I imagine that there were a lot of people that were beginning to wonder if God had reneged on His promise. But God never reneges on a covenant. And one of the last things I saw on the news this morning was picture of the blue sky with light clouds and the woman captioned the picture simple by saying "The sun is out in Houston!, I repeat --- the sun out out in Houston." Coastal Texas will rebuild and learn from this. Yes, it is going to take maybe as much as a decade to be done and we all know that they have yet to begin to know the challenges that lie ahead, but Texas will rebuild and God will walk with them as God has always walked with His children through natural disasters, whether it be floods, earthquakes, tornados, or fire. God is always there. God is the strength in every arm that drives a nail. God is the strength behind every person that volunteers to help or reaches in their pocket and makes a donation or for to the Red Cross and gives blood. God is the strength behind it all because I believe that regardless of what some people and many preachers will tell you --- man is not just a mass of walking sin. I believe that if we are in fact made in the image of God, then we must be made in the image off love and kindness and caring for one another. And --- we have watched that very thing unfold right before our eyes as people of all races and colors and beliefs have worked tirelessly in Texas to help their fellowman --- because they needed help. Jesu said, "What you have done for the least of my brothers, you have done for me."

I didn't start out to do a sermon today, but I suspect you won't mind. I hope the remainder of your week is fully blessed. Peace.

It was about 2200 hours last night that I remembered that I had not written my blog for the day. So, I'm sorry I missed you. But, in my defense, it ws a busy day. Saturday, Ms. Kate and I went to Lowes and I picked up 21 bags of mulch to put on flowerbeds. That equates to about one and a third cubic yards. Yesterday, I got that all spread on the tree flowerbeds in the back yard. We were projected to have rain yesterday and today and I hoped that I would beat the rain so the mulch wouldn't be wet when I tried to spread it. Well, my self-serving prayer was answered and and not only did it not rain yesterday, but it looks like it might not rain today which means I can get out to the front of the house and work on another flowerbed and prep it for mulch; --- assuming of course that I can get up and down on and offof the ground. I'm a bit sore and stiff today.

My heart and prayers continue to go out for the people of the Texas coast and what they are having to deal with from Hurricane turned tropical storm, Harvey. I just can't imagine what they must be going through and what they will be going through for months and maybe years to come. How far down the emotional pipeline would a person slide if they had to endure constant rain for a solid week? How emotionally draining would it be to have you house fill up with three feet of water from rain with no relief in sight. Neighborhoods are essential gone from wind volocity damage and all infrastructure suddenly under water. Roads in and out of a vast area are now lakes. Major interstates are washed out. All of that water has to go somewhere and that means it has to eventually get back to the Gulf of Mexico, but those rivers are going to be a long time getting back to normal, and when they do ---- people will have nothing to return to. ------------ The bright side, and it indeed a bright side is that America is stepping up. America is responding to that crisis and people from all of the country are volunteering and doing what they can to help. The racial tension and divide that is fracturing the morale of the nation has been set aside for at least the moment and people of every race and color are holding hands to help rescue people and donating to the Red Cross and volunteering to go help; bcause that is what the real American spirit is all about. I would never say that God caused this to happen but I would say that it has provided an opportunity for people to turn from themselves and turn to God. Frankly, I don't know how a person could go though this and not have their faith to rely on.

The unfortunate part of this thing is that once the rain has stopped and the water has receded, people will tend to forget and consider it over. Today is the "anniversary" of Hurricane Katrina which wiped out a major portion of New Orleans ten years ago. People in that city are still in recovery mode in some places but it is hard to get volunteers to go help. Joplin, MO was devastated by a tornado five years ago and people have forgotten that there are still lives being effected by that. Houston and the surrounding cities will be in a recovery mode for a decade or more. So, I offer prayers this morning for them and pray that God will walk with them and continue to give them strength. I pray for all of those who have lost family members through this and for all of those who have lost homes and livelihoods. May God have mercy on them and shower them with grace. I pray that the American people will not forget this tragedy and or "grow tired" of hearing about it. I pray God will make us united people once again.

Peace.

Welcome to a beautiful Saturday morning. Again this morning it is sixty four degrees and there isn't a cloud to be seen. Unfortunately the same certainly cannot be said for much of the country to the south of us. The Gulf of Mexico side of Texas in in the middle of Hurricane Harvey which came ashore last evening at 125 miles per hour. It is expected to last  for days yet and the area could get as much as thee and a half feet, (yes, feet) of rain. If all of that holds true, the damage is going to be horrendous. I give thanks to God that so far no lives have been reported lost due to this monstrous storm andI pray none will be. I've been watching MSNBC news and listening to the local reporters as they stand out in the wind and rain reporting on the storm. ---- I've never understood why they do that. What is the purpose of standing out in wind and rain that literally knocks you over to show me it is raining? I guess people who run the media world in this country think we are so stupid that we can't create a mental picture of what it might look like, so they literally risk the lives of their reporters to show me the wind is blowing 70 mph and it is raining.  I did appreciate what the mayor of one of the most affected areas told the residents. He said "You really should evacuate because once this thing hits --- we can't and won't come for you. However, if you decide to stay, please write your name and social security number on your arm so we can easily identify your body -- if we find it." Once this storm is over he'll probably catch all kinds of flack becaue he talked mean to them and they were offended. OK, off of that subject.

I didn't do any yard work yesterday because I was sore from doing a lot on Thursday. But I did get a another flowerbed cleaned up on Thursday. This morning I think I will go to Lowes and pick up some bags of mulch to put on the two beds I have done. Then if I have time I'll work on another one. There is always something to do out there and this weather is perfect for doing it.

I have lots of little chirppers out here this morning at the birdbath. I think the water is a bit low for them though. The sparrows and finches really don't get in the bird bath if it is deep at all and they are having to lean way over the edge to drink. They keep sliding off the edge towards the water and they have to flitter back up to the edge. I'll take a half gallon of water out there in a minute and fill it back up to a comfortable level for them. Yeh, I guess I do spoil them a bit much.

It's "Frog Folly" weekend around here which means that the roads and restaurants, and hotels are all full of folks who fix up old cars and show them are in town for the big annual show. My cousin Debbie and her husband Ronnie have two or three of them that they bring over to this other shows. We are supposed to meet with them for dinner this evening. I'm looking forward to that.

Gotta get cleaned up and head to Lowes. Have a wonderful weekend. Keep the folks in Texas and surrounding areas in your prayers.

I must begin by giving thanks once again to God who gives all things, for yet one more beautiful morning. It is sunny and sixty eight degrees and no wind with low humidity. My bird feeders are full and I have a few takers at the buffet this morning. Earlier I had maybe a dozen cardinals out there but they have had their fill and moved on. They will be back soon for another round at the buffet. All of the bark butter feeders are full and the wood peckers are enjoying them. Knock on wood; I haven't had that bevy of starlings around here in the last few days. I think they are moving out with the blackbirds to the fields. The corn is starting to dry on the stalks and they will be out there, although we are weeks from harvest yet. That's when they really hit the fields.

While I'm giving thanks, I also give thanks that the first of "my people" got home last night. Sister-in-law Karen got home from Vegas about 2130 last evening. I don't know about Dan and Minh yet although I hope they didn't try to drive from Albuquerque, NM to home in one day. That is too many miles and there is no reason for it. If it were Ms. Kate and I, we would have probably stopped in Oklahoma City last night and then driven on in home today.

I did get one flowerbed worked up pretty well yesterday. I need to get a load of mulch to put on it yet but I got the iris cut back and the deadfall all out of it from the lilies. I really looks nice this morning. With this weather, I'm going back out today and do more. I think I will work out front today. There is an awful lot to do out there. It is such a jungle that I'm not sure how to start on it. Part of the problem is that I think we have too many flowers in those flowerbeds. We have iris, lilies and peonies all in a close area  and they intertwine and it makes it hard to work in there. Add to that the voluntary vines and wild onions and grass that grows in and among all of that and it is a slow process of clearing it all out. I should have done more yesterday but we had some running around to do and we got back home from that after noon. Then it was time for lunch and after lunch I let the lazies guide my progress or lack of it and didn't get as much done as I would have like to do. But, none of it will get done if I don't get out there and start on it.

So, while I go out and work amongst God's blessings, I hope you are having a joyful day too! If it is as beautiful where you live as it is here today -- Ya' gotta get outside for awhile at least and breathe in   The wonders of the world God has created. Then look around you and try to appreciate each little bit of what God has created just for you.

Until next time ---- Shalomn.

 "Bless the Lord, oh my soul; let all that is within me bless His holy name" What else is there to do on an absolutely beautiful "pretend it is fall" day except give God praise. It is 68 degrees, sunny, not a cloud to be seen, and humidity is low. To top it all off, there is a song sparrow outside my window also lifting up its voice to sweeten the sounds of the universe. There is peace in my micro piece of the world.

We are up earlier than normal today. I reckon it is because we went to bed earlier than usual last night. We generally don't go to bed until around 0100 hrs. But, last night at 2300 hrs Ms. Kate said she was ready to turn in and so was I. She had worked all day on making Christmas cards and was mentally bushed. Unfortunately she also woke up this morning with a bit of a sinus infection. So, we'll see how that progresses today. Hopefully now that she is up her system will drain and she'll be fine. As for me, my jaw is a tad sore yet today from all of the manipulation and shots yesterday for my dental work but other than a minor twinge, I'm fine. I need to get cleaned up an dressed and go out and do stuff outside today. I think my flowerbeds are calling me. There is fall raking to do to pull the stuff away from the lilies and the iris need to be trimmed back. Once the dew dries off of the grass, I'll mow the front yard and neighbor Dan's too.

The 0900 crew has arrived at the buffet. Cardinal, Goldfinches, wrens, house finches, sparrows, downy woodpeckers and song sparrows and hummingbirds are all here and it makes for a really enjoyable time. I need to fill feeders again. It is nice to sit and watch them and not have a bunch of starlings and blackbirds come in ad bully them all away.

"My people" are all supposed to be coming home today. Karen will be flying in from Vegas after a week of fun and Dan & Minh are finally home after being gone eight months to California. Dan has traveled back and forth a couple of times during that period for a couple of weeks at a time but Minh has stayed out there taking care of her terminally ill mother. Her mom passed away seven weeks ago but the Vietnamese culture requires forty two days of mourning and honoring. That period ended on Sunday so they are on the road to home. I think it is going to be an adjustment for her to be back in non-Vietnamese surroundings again. She has been totally immersed in that culture and language since before Christmas last year. I think despite being here where their two children and their families are, she is going to be lonely for awhile until she readjusts. Our prayers will certainly be with her.

Well, I have a bit of devotional to read and a talk to have "upstairs", so I'm signing off for today. I hope your week is going well and now it is "half over" and you can start thinking weekend. If you are out and about in society today, be kind to all you meet and start someone else's day with a smile. Never forget God loves you and Jesus has offered you salvation. All you have to do is reach out and accept it. Peace.

Happy Tuesday! I assume you all made it through "The Great Eclipse" without incident yesterday. I did go out and try the "selfie over the shoulder" trick with my cell phone but wasn't impressed with what I could see. But, assuming I'm still alive in seven years, we can do it all over again and this time the "zone of totality" will be directly over our house. So mark your calendar for April 8th, 2014 and we'll all run outside and check on it again. I'm not trying to minimize one of God's special celestial events in the least; but I'm glad I wasn't one of those folks who drove hundreds of miles to see the sky get dark for a minute and twenty seconds.

I'm sitting here in the sunporch and my face is half numb. I spent two plus hours in the dentist chair this morning getting fitted for a new crown. It took extra time because Dr. Wolf had to repair the tooth behind the one that was broken off too. I go back to see him again on the 5th of September to have the permanent crown put in. Until then --- no gummie bear types of candy. Typical me, I was laying there in the dentist chair half dozing and in my mind I was hearing the gospel song; "I Shall Wear a Crown". But now, I'm trying to drink my coffee on one side of my mouth and not drool it or spill it all over my shirt. At least the dentist made and put in a temporary tooth so I don't have a gap there for the first time since the end of June. By the end of the day I'll be able to eat most anything I want.

It is cloudy today and we have already had one round of heavy downpour. The forecast calls for the possibility of severe storms this afternoon. I'm hoping the fact that we had this rain already will mitigate the severity of anything coming in later. Allegedly after this weather front passes through we are supposed to have excellent weather the rest of the week. So --- bring it on.

I have mostly sparrows and a couple of cardinals here at the buffet, and a couple of squirrels. When I came out here early this morning, the electric bird bath had been dumped over onto the ground. I suspecta raccoon most like did that. Last nigth I opened the door to take some stuff out to the compost pile and surprised a skunk. Of course it surprised me too but it took off and didn't spray, thank goodness.

That is about it for this Tuesday. I hope your day is going well and I hope my mouth and jaw get feeling back in them soon. LOL Peace.