Predicaments and Peace

 

a peaceful fountain in a
former Florida neighborhood

To quote the man who cuts our grass, "I don't know whether to jump into the pool or build a fire!" Our weather has been that kind of crazy here in North Central Florida. Today I'm wearing socks with my sneakers, long jeans, and a long-sleeved crew T-shirt over a cami. When I step outside, a sweatshirt hoodie will be required. We've got clouds and some wind -- not the best conditions for bike-riding.

reading the instructions

Speaking of our bikes, yesterday we had a different kind of adventure regarding them. We rolled our tires out onto the driveway to make room for assembling the new bike rack Gary had purchased. 

looks precarious

Putting it together proved to be more of a challenge than expected. The No Return Policy where we got it may have contributed to Gary's exercise of persistence to get the contraption put together (although my man seems to thrive with a good puzzle).

test ride

Today he put the finishing touches on the project and then we drove around for a few miles to assure ourselves that the rack was indeed secure to the back of our car. All went well with no problems at all. 

One feature I appreciate is that there are velcro straps to prevent the wheels from turning while the car is moving. Whenever we are on the road and pass a car with bicycles in tow, I find it unsettling to see the wheels turning in the wind.... makes me worry the bike might fall off.

"before"

Another recent purchase we've made is to replace the pendant lights in the kitchen. The last time Gary changed the light bulbs, he noticed inner workings were wearing out and commented we should replace the fixtures.

"after"

While Lowe's is to Gary as Hobby Lobby is to me, we could not find anything we really liked, so a [more spendy] stop at a local lighting store got our cash. Those were installed recently and we are pleased.

yum!

While we're in the kitchen (so to speak), I'll share my last serving of the Baklava that we bought in last week's blog post about our visit to Tarpon Springs. Actually, you don't get a taste of it but you can see the picture. It was sooo good but it's just as well it's all gone now. It's not a low-cal dessert.

As I was writing the paragraph about the light fixtures, I had a "senior moment" when I could not remember the word "pendant." I asked Gary. After providing the word, he went on to say (and this is a direct quote), "Let's just keep the questions easy. It's Saturday afternoon and I'm in a rest mode. No difficult, head-scratching, no hard questions this afternoon." 

Yes, that's what he said. 🙄 🤭

looks like a smooth white stone

We have had a stinky invasion in our back yard. For weeks I've observed an odd mushroom-type growth in the mulch. Generally I do nothing when the occasional mushroom pops up in the grass after an especially wet few days. But as time went on, more and more of these invaders appeared and they lasted for many days.

They demonstrated a peculiar life-cycle, looking like ping pong-sized white stones and then getting much larger. Eventually they turn orange-red and burst open to reveal the most disgusting gooey grayish liquid inside that attracts swarming insects, and the smell!!!!

you can see one of them starting open
up to the orange stage

They are rather fun to gather up for disposal when they're small like this, but I discovered there are many more of them underneath the ones easily seen. And as I said in the previous paragraph, as they mature, there is a HORRIBLE smell.

With the help of the Internet, I found an app that allowed me to submit a snapshot and tell me what this disgusting growth is. Phallus Ravenelii, also known as Ravenel's Stinkhorn. Not poisonous or particularly harmful, but nonetheless an obnoxious nuisance, there is no known chemical to destroy them. I am hopeful that when the very hot temperatures of summer get here, perhaps they will burn to a crisp and die off. In the meantime, I wear gloves to harvest them, easily filling up a plastic shopping bag which I tie off securely and then leave outdoors beside the garage to wait for trash day. There is no way we could tolerate the smell in the garbage cans stored in the garage (per our HOA requirements).

the gender reveal

On a MUCH MORE pleasant note, while talking about new growth, Gary's granddaughter and husband announced this week that their expected baby is another boy. They have two already that are affectionately referred to as "The Minnesota Twins." So now they can lay claim to the old TV show, "My Three Sons." (which is on TV  here, right after "Leave It to Beaver," but we always switch to the noon news)

Regarding my announcement earlier this month about the very premature birth (at 25 weeks) of my nephew's son, thank you so very much for your prayer support on his behalf. He is making progress every day. Please continue to pray for him and his family as he works toward the day when he can go home.

Since January 20th, in particular, the nightly news has been as engrossing as a soap opera. While I don't mean to make light of politics, there is no denying we do well to stay informed in this ever-changing chapter of our American history. There have been a lot of surprises (some very unwelcome even to those who voted for the current administration). 

Add to that the appalling number of aircraft disasters, losses due to fires and damaging winter storms. I am reminded of scripture in II Timothy 3:1,

This know also, that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

In another translation it is said this way:

You should know this, Timothy, 

that in the last days 

there will be very difficult times."

Wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes .... these are the "birth pangs" of what is to come as we anticipate the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

One of my frequent comforts is an old hymn with these words,

"Come every soul by sin oppressed,

There's mercy with the Lord.

And He will surely give you rest

By trusting in His Word.

Only trust Him, only trust Him.

Only trust Him now.

He will save you, He will save you.

He will save you now."

by John H. Stockton, 1874

Until next time, grace and peace.

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