Happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow

Well, Finally I get around to writing in my blog!  I seem to have a hard time lately getting all the things I want to do accomplished. It has been a busy and very nice fall, weather wise here in Sunshine Village.  I have had trouble with the internet here this year and find myself getting overly frustrated with technology in general!  I have a new provider as of yesterday and have so far, had no troubles with getting on and staying on until I am ready to log off!
The pool has been a great place to spend an afternoon most days as the weather is so warm thus the pool is really nice.  We have enjoyed a lady's day out at a very big outdoor mall about 50 miles south of here.  It was a fun day window shopping and having a fine lunch at a lovely Italian restaurant.

One Tuesday we tied my quilt as a craft day project.  I have been wanting to get that done for over a year now.

We had a really wild thunderstorm last night, around 11 PM and after we had gone to bed.  It woke us up with a really bright lightening flash and a huge booming thunder clap right on the heels of the flash.  Must have been really close.  The wind driven rain was sheeting against the windows with a fury.  Thankful that it didn't last long!   Today it began to cool down and was in the 60's all day.  They warn of some frost in places near us possibly for tomorrow night.   Hope it doesn't do in our pretty hibiscus bush.  Think we will cover that one up with an old blanket.  

I am cooking one of the turkeys tomorrow for our community dinner at Sunshine Hall.  Again this year there are many working to be sure that the less fortunate are not going to go without a nice meal in the area. 

 I remember last year writing about the Samaritan House in Leesburg and how wonderful an idea this is. (See blog for last Nov.)  I am happy to report that my home church in VT, North Springfield Baptist, is making a place for a warming shelter for the homeless.  A place where those in need can come in for the night out of the cold and have a warm and comfortable place to sleep safely.  A big undertaking but volunteers to staff the shelter in two shifts are signing up to serve.  Renovations are in progress and hoping soon the permits will be in place.  My son in-law, Paul, is very involved in this project.  Blessings to all who are helping this become a reality.

I have a strange looking thing growing in my little garden/flower bed.  A couple years ago I planted some collards which I have acquired a taste for since spending time in the south.  I've just left them there growing away, telling my neighbor to pick and eat them while we are away.  They don't quit!  Keep on growing and have formed a stalk that resembles a crooked palm tree trunk!  Never seen anything like it.  I did pick and eat some of the collard leaves the other day.  Not really too bad but not so good as the tender new leaves as they come up close to the ground. 

Our friends from Ohio are here now and we had a nice time tonight playing cards with them.  It felt like Nov. in VT as we walked home from their house around 8 PM.  Such a change from yesterday!  

I hope you all have a wonderful day of Thanksgiving tomorrow.  May you enjoy the precious time with your loved ones and savor the aromas and the tastes of all the results of good food lovingly prepared.

"Ten thousand, thousand precious gifts

 My daily thanks employ.

 Nor is the least a cheerful heart

 That tastes those gifts with Joy."

                                                Addison

Unexpected 'Guests'

A couple of unexpected guests, a pair of whooping cranes came to visit the front of the house today.  Yesterday they chose to visit the backyard.  They are such TALL birds!  And super friendly too.  We can walk right up to them and talk to them like pets.  

Yesterday they decided to take a little nap in back of our place.

This friendly fellow offered to pose for a photo/portrait

We seem to be all settled and most of the cleaning done.  Porch windows the exception !  Always leave those until last and after resting up a bit.  The weather has been lovely with a nice rain on Sat. morning. It nicely stopped before we traveled to St. Cloud just after lunch to spend the afternoon and evening with Mikayla and family.  Mikayla turned 18 on Sat. and it was fun to celebrate with her and Nick, Joanne and Gary.  Then to go out to a feast at her favorite restaurant, the Golden Coral, for her birthday dinner.  

Kayla and Russell have cotton candy for dessert !

It was fun to go to the flea market with friends on Monday.  We went to the smaller one, a couple miles up the road this time.  They too have fresh veggies as well as all the 'flea' items.  It is cool and refreshing at 8 AM when we get there.  Only had a couple hours to browse this time as the guys were starting work at 10 AM.  Time enough to do some good looking around.  Found a few little items I was looking for... a stitch holder, and a 29" circular knitting needle size 6, and a row counter to wear around my neck so I don't forget what row I am to knit next!  All for $ 1.50 !   Wonderful FRESH from a garden Kerby cucumbers selling 8 for a dollar!  NICE for cucumber sandwiches!  We'll have these for supper tonight as we are pretty full from the Sunshine Burgers we had at the Hall at noon today.  They make the BEST Turkey burgers, YUM!!  

Tomorrow night there will be music at the Hall as the musicians will come for their Jam session.  Twice a month they come here to play and entertain us.  Some pretty good singers too. Things will be booming around here again now that most of the snowbirds have arrived and gotten set up and ready for the new season.  

Had a nice Skype session with Angel and with Debbie and Natalie this week.  So nice to be able to 'step into' their kitchen or living room and sit a spell and chat.  Seeing what they are doing and chatting awhile is almost like walking up to the door and going in for a cup of coffee.  Sometimes we catch each other with a bad hair day or before we get out of our pj's but it is always so good to feel close.

Got nice pictures from the grandkids of their kiddos in their Hallowe'en finery.  I do miss seeing them in person but the pictures are great.  

I continue to be thankful for so many blessings.  I have shared this before but I think it is worth repeating.  It is from "God of the Open Air   by Henry Vandyke.

 ....  "These are the things I prize 

And hold of dearest worth:

Light of the sapphire skies,

Peace of the silent hills,

Shelter of forests, comfort of the grass.

Music of birds, mummer of little rills,

Shadow of clouds that swiftly pass,

And, after showers,

The smell of flowers

And of the good brown earth.

And best of all, along the way, 

Friendship and mirth."

With these thoughts I leave you till next time.  Take time out to remember the good times of our lives as we remember with love the loved ones who we have lost ... for awhile, and to thank our God for letting us have them for as long as we did. 

 Have a blessed late fall.