Winter Storm

So many this past week experienced the winter storm, Fern.   She arrived here around 3:am Sunday morning and kept us busy shoveling snow.  We received over a foot of the white stuff.  Unfortunately for others they had ice which put thousands out of electricity.  With freezing temperatures and no heat  this storm was extremely dangerous.   Praying power is being restored and things are getting better for all those folks in the south.

Here at Harmony Hills snuggling in after working outdoors clearing the driveway and sidewalk...made us so grateful for a warm home and a hot cup of coffee.

These two put themselves on patrol...

 

that is squirrel patrol.   

The visitation of our winter guests  was quite entertaining and made the day more fun with their cute antics.  

  

Also was happy to see they left enough sustenance for our bird friends to enjoy.

Winter storms can be harsh but they help remind me of so many blessings that often go unnoticed.

May everyone be safe.

God Bless!

Debbie  

"Without warning a furious storm came...the disciples went and woke him (Jesus, who was sleeping), saying, "Lord, save us!"...He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?"  The he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."   Matt:8:24-26 (NIV) 

Sweetness

 The sweetness of September settles softly in my soul. 

Seeing the leaves begin to change -

watching a swallowtail enjoy a bit of sustenance -

gathering a handful of ripening fruit -

spotting a bird in flight...

all these and so much more makes the month of September sweet.

May it also settle softly in your soul.

Hugs

Debbie

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Prov. 16:24 (NIV)

"Anxious for Nothing"

This week's library visit found me selecting a book by John MacArthur "Anxious for Nothing".  The last copyright was 2012... first edition 1993.  In spite of the years when it was first written, the message is timeless and still relevant in 2020.

We all know anxiety and stress have been in existence from the beginning of time.  Just look at Jesus' words ..."Do not worry about your life" - "why do you worry about clothes" - "do not worry about tomorrow".  Those very missives were penned over two thousand years ago.

Even though much of culture has changed - man's need to feel loved and secure has not.  We all desire a good outcome for our lives.

When that outcome is challenged by hard times it is easy to turn inward and allow anxiety to dominate our thoughts.

I love what Corrie Ten Boom wrote "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."

(This lady is one of my heroes.  She survived being incarcerated in a Nazi prison camp.  Her remarkable story can be found in "The Hiding Place".)

 If any of you are struggling with anxiety perhaps "Anxious for Nothing" and "The Hiding Place"would be helpful.  Both authors have good words that share wisdom and hope for troubled times. 

I will leave you with one of my favorite verses written by the apostle Paul.

 "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:6&7  (NIV)

Hugs

Debbie

Looking

Forsythia

I went looking for spring yesterday.

This is what I found.

Forsythia starting to flower...

Daffodils and blue squill blooming

Virginia blue bells showing color...

someone singing a sweet tune

and lastly two friends basking in warm sunshine.

May each of you find some spring today.

God Bless

Debbie

Grace

Unmerited favor - God's amazing grace.

It is found in the dawn of a new morning...

 

the beauty of a flower...

the flight of a bird

the moon's light...

 and always in the Son!   Have a grace filled week.

God Bless!

A new technique

  I tried a new technique this weekend.   I had read about an artist spraying her drawing with workable fixative.  She used it to preserve her lines under masking.  

 

 

 To experiment I did a small drawing of a cardinal.   When it was completed I used Krylon's fixative.  Then left it to sit for about 15 minutes before applying Miskit. 

 

  After the mask was no longer tacky watercolors were poured into the background.   When they were completely dry I removed the resist .  The drawing had remained totally intact.

 

 

    

 Will certainly use this technique again in the future.  

If any of you have a tip that works well I would love to hear it.

Hope you all have a wonderful week-end .

Thanks for stopping by.