More Seasonal Beauty

 

I note the changes each morning on my commute to work.  An abundance of yesterday’s gorgeous orange leaves have exhausted their efforts to hang on.  There are large piles of crisp leaves on the ground.  They crunch under my feet.  I fear that I am letting precious time pass by without making myself fully available to enjoy it. 

Here is my beautiful pony with the awesome backdrop of the season.  Love it!  I cannot wait to enjoy it while riding!

Seasonal Beauty

Yesterday’s hike revealed much of the seasonal beauty that surrounds us.  I did NOT wear my Bear-bell this time.  Even though there seems to be a steady slow flow of hikers and bikers out there, the wildlife is definitely THERE.  It was a joy to sneak through the woods fairly quiet so as to not disturb much.  While I was walking in the woods, I saw:

• A 6-point buck lounging just about 25 feet off the trail.  I had stopped to look at the leaves, when all of the sudden I heard a snort.  WHOA!!!! He was RIGHT THERE!  He didn’t even get up until I had lingered and took a bunch of pictures.  Oh what I would have given to have a GOOD camera on that hike.  He was not a large buck, but boy was he pretty.  His fur looked as though it is thickening in preparation for the winter months to come. 

 

• Chipmunks everywhere!  The leaves on the ground are getting crunchy, so you could really hear them scampering around.  They are obviously stockpiling nuts for the winter.  There were piles of acorn nuts here and there and many remnants of nut shells.  I also took note of an especially beautiful grey squirrel.  It’s tail was SO FULL.  I wish I had a super zoom camera to capture its beauty.  You just cannot get so close to them.  They are such nervous creatures.

 

• Vibrant colors galore.  My favorite picture below.  Leaves turning orange and yellow and red, mostly still on the trees, but there was definitely a covering of them on the ground in the woods.  Tis the season here.  I also took note of little red berries on a bush.  They were such a bright contrast to the yellow leaves surrounding it. 

 

 

I wonder what I will notice today.  There is just so much to see!

The Season’s Beauty

 

Today I walked about an hour at North Park.  The trail travels right through one of the old shelters. 

This lone leaf is so so so yellow. 

 

I just love the change of season and drinking in all the beautiful changes!

Don’t Miss It

Fall is here in full bloom.  The vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow surround us now.  It’s happening SO fast!  It will be gone before we know it.  Don’t let it pass by without a few lingering glances.  All part of the Lord’s awesome creation, everything has its time and season.  Make a date with the Creator.  Get out and drink in the details of the environment.  What do you see?  Notice it’s beauty and thank God for it.   

Random Morning Thoughts

• Good morning Lord.  Thank you for a new day, a new chance to bring you glory, a fresh start.  Ahhh… it’s refreshing.
• Mmmm… boy this coffee tastes good.  It’s probably the cream that makes it taste so good.  I tried changing to soy cream or non-fat cream.  It just doesn’t cut it.  I love real cream!
• Looks like the next few days we are expecting superb weather.  Yay!  I hope I can get out to enjoy some of it. 
• I enjoyed giggling with Keith last night.  He got home late, but it seems that we both had stories of silly things from yesterday’s work.  Thank goodness for some lighter moments.
• Our kitties are ultra-lovey in the morning.  I know it’s just because they are hungry, but I like it.  My Lovey-Kitler is perched beside me.  She loves me most of the time and usually more than the others.  She is SO soft and cuddly. 
• It’s still dark out.  It seems much earlier than it is. 
• BRRRRRRR… I love fall, but not the cold mornings.  I don’t like to get out from under the warm covers.  (wonder what got me out early today)

• I have a TON of coupons clipped, but haven’t used them this week.  What am I waiting for?

• I’m sad that my friends precious doggy has cancer.  She’s always such a happy dog.  In that regard, not looking forward to the weeks to come. 

• I am an active witness to the change of the season happening right before our eyes.  I long the fact that I’m missing much of it because I’m working behind closed doors most of the day.  It’s in progress though.  The vibrant colors are here, more and more every day.  It’s awesome.

• I wonder how much laundry I need to do.

• I miss my friend Ed and his cows.  It’s hard to believe he’s been gone for 11 years now. 

• I’m having dinner with an old friend this evening, my former boss.  I look forward to catching up with her and to having tacos for dinner!

• Keith is sound asleep.  God bless his precious heart. 

• My friend and her husband recently decided to pursue adoption.  What a wonderful thing! 

From the looks of this, I have entirely too much on my mind for a simple morning.  Hmmm…

The Least We Could Do

Check out AdoptaPlatoon.  I stumbled upon this by way of another blog last week.  I didn’t know this existed.  I had a notion, but had no idea that you can sign-up individually to support a soldier one on one, not just an entire platoon.  This is fantastic!  We signed up right away.  It took about 3 days to finalize the details. 

 

Keith and I are now proud supporters of a soldier named Daniel.  I cannot share much about his identity or location.  The notice came with a few details about him (age, marital status, where he’s deployed to and from).  We understand that he has limited access to the daily amenities that you and I likely take for granted.  His PX (supply store) closed a month ago, so I’m not sure where he gets his basic needs from at this point.  He needs a pillow.  That’s at the top of my list of things to send right away.  I don’t know if he doesn’t have one or if the one he has is spent.  I do know that having a pillow is important.  He also wants snacks, dvds, and toiletries. 

 

Our commitment includes sending letters and cards of encouragement and a care-package once per month.  I ordered a package of 12 flat-rate boxes from the post office.  It’s about $10 to mail the box and it can hold up to 70 pounds of goodies.  I wonder how anyone fits 70 pounds into a box 12x12x5.5?  I plan to use my stockpile items from coupon savings to fill the boxes.  This will be a minimal investment for us from the pocket, but is a huge investment of the heart. 

 

Our introductory letter is on it’s way along with a questionnaire for Daniel to complete and return to us letting us know his likes and more specific wish-list.  We should receive our boxes in a day or so, but we already have a pile of goodies ready to pack.  It’s great that Keith has some deployment experience.  He helps me understand what to get.  I really want to give this box a Halloween theme because that is likely when he will receive it. 

 

We are really excited about this!  It’s the least we could do for someone who is so selflessly serving our country.  Please pray for our soldiers… and for Daniel by name.  Thanks!