The Perfect Farm Mailbox... and More...

Took a little country walk on a road we never walked on before...

 although just a short hop away.  Come along...

It is farmland here and this mailbox is so fitting I think...

But right next door is this wonderful property...

Discovered these old markers or county boundary lines.  

When whizzing by in a car - these kinds of things go unnoticed...

The sky is always fun to observe - it is truly God's handiwork.

And we returned via our rail trail.

I truly love our region in southcentral PA.

 Come visit!  ~Joyce

Our Spring Yard - Saturday Sightings...

I headed out to yard sales today - a very rainy day.  

Upon return - I decided to capture sightings in my own yard... 

After a major necessary trimming which I was sure would kill our dogwood - 

I am happy to see at least some flowering this year...

I believe this mini iris is one of my favorites in my gardens.

Sadly it lasts such a very short time...

So I figure it's worth 2 pictures...

Another favorite that is here naturally is our old redbud tree.  

It's hanging in there - but we should think about replacing it...

And my reward for heading out in the rain and combing yard sales under tarps?  

This luscious chemise with no damage for $2.  Love!!

Now on to my Saturday at-home to-do list.

Have an awesome Earth day!  ~Joyce

Old Farms & Country Saturday Sightings...

It's Saturday and cloudy - but not nearly as cold as the past 

two weeks (see here & here).  I went to just a few yard sales today.

I love this area where I live and realize I am extremely blessed

 to be able to get out and enjoy it.

As fun for me as the yard sales themselves are the sightings 

along the way.  Stopping at a sale allows an up-close look and

 photo opp for things I'd otherwise be zooming past in my car.  

Isn't this stone wall amazing?  

The forsythia bush is just coming to life... 

And I walked by a weathered barn with the neatest doors and windows 

way up high!  Not sure what good those doors did way up there - 

but a fun discovery...

In our area there have been quite a few run-down properties 

that have been sold and remodeled to gorgeous proportions.  

Today I happened upon one in it's 'before' state.  

Oh the potential...

Is this barn amazing or what?

 May I encourage you to slow down and enjoy your surroundings too?  

A blessed Easter weekend to you!  ~Joyce

Saturday Sightings - Foggy Day...

Here in my little world - it's been a drizzly, moody and foggy day.

And this evening I'm happy to curl up inside 

with hot tea and a magazine. (Sorry - no photo.)

What's it like where you live? ~Joyce

Winter Creatures - Great and Small...

My Love and I have been enjoying getting out in this winter weather. 

Mostly it's with camera (his camera to be exact) in hand.

Last weekend we enjoyed a free community day at our local zoo.

  There was lots of snow on the ground but the pronghorn didn't seem to mind...

The otters were the most active critters and just a ball to watch.

  They're just a constant whirl of motion... (altho pretty 'still' in this shot)...

 Yep - a huge mountain lion.  Love those paws...

 One of the wolves found a sunny patch - which made for a nice photo opp...

 Our favorite of the day was this little screech owl.  

He just kept on sleeping - no matter how many people whizzed by...

And just yesterday - we took a stroll through another local community.  

We didn't remember seeing that many critters there in previous

 strolls - but we were pleasantly surprised.

Sparrows are common - but they can also be super cute!  

This one's all puffed up and just look at his yellow brow...

I didn't realize nuthatches were so blue... 

almost as much appeal as blue birds - maybe more!

We also had some sweet chickadee sightings.  

(I do think these are my favorite little birds...)

 We had fun watching a squirrel lug a big leaf into his nest.  

Didn't get that shot - but here's a squirrel anyway - 

perfectly at home way up high in the sky...

And since Valentine's day is this week - sharing this heart faced

 barn owl from the zoo with you too...

So thankful for the opportunity to enjoy God's creatures.   

And am thankful too for the shared enjoyment with My Love.

(all photo credits for this post go to him!) 

Am loving this 'common ground' fun we're finding in our marriage...

Life IS good!  ~Joyce

Fall Leaves Day Trip...

 Yesterday My Love and I took a little day trip to see the fall leaves.  

Of course - there were photo ops around every turn and we didn't near stop 

to capture them all... but here's a sampling.  

An overlook yielded this picturesque valley with an old unpainted barn...

photo compliments of My Love

And we were surprised by this field of sunflowers...

We took a stroll through a 'free admission' amusement park to see their fall decor.  

It was kinda sad.... they were loading up all the pretty planters on

 this dump truck to - well - dump... 

The carousel was all closed up for the season...

Our final destination was a state park with more lovely views...

The sky was SO blue...

Photo compliments of My Love

This little friend almost stole a ride along home. 
Ok, maybe not - but it made a cute picture.

Photo compliments of My Love

 

Gotta love Fall!  What a creative God we serve.
And I'm looking forward to more pretty fall foliage yet this season.  

Are the leaves changing were you live?  ~Joyce

A Quiet Place...

Did you know that Jesus sought out times of quietness and rest?

  And that he invites his disciples to do the same?  

 Check out Mark 6:30-32...

Fall Swan - spotted yesterday in my morning outing.

If you're needing some rest today - know that you're in good company.

So thankful for Sundays!  ~Joyce

The View From Above...

There are areas of my life that are troubled...

 things I wish I knew for sure will turn out just fine. 

But I am reminded that God does not see things 
the way that I see them.  

What is distant and indistinguishable to me... 

 ...has perfect clarity to Him.

He knows where each road leads 

and is already at the end of that road fulfilling His purposes...

  

He sees the whole picture and has promised to bring to completion
 everything that He has begun.

 So while tomorrow, this week or the remainder of this year 

may hold uncertainty...

'Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, 

for He who promised is Faithful'!!!  Hebrews 10:23

God grant you His peace today ~Joyce 

Thankful for today's sermon at church which precipitated these thoughts.  
Our church will have a week of change - but the sermon was for us individually as well! 

Photos:  Hawk Mountain, PA and PA Grand Canyon

A Day In NYC...

This weekend we celebrated another year of marriage 

with a day trip via train to New York City.  

We had a few short hours and did all of our sightseeing on foot.   

 Our favorite was walking the High Line - an abandoned 

elevated railway that has been converted to a garden path/park.  

This was our first sighting as we approached...

...and a scene from on the High Line itself.

 

We enjoyed lunch at a sidewalk diner.  

Sadly this is the only picture of the 2 of us...

We saw some wonderful old buildings. This one was massive 

and had ornate detailing over every inch of it.

I was struck by the graphic coloring and aging of this building...

It was fun to look 'up' to see what we could see. 

 Loved the roof top and balcony gardens...

We hiked to Central Park where we heard 'there's always something going on'.  

We came upon a skate dance group enjoying the afternoon. 

But my personal favorite - was coming upon this 'pop up' 

gluten free bakery shop.  You can be sure I treated myself!

Good-bye fair city.  We hope to visit again yet this year.  

Tip - Amtrak has a buy 1 get 1 40% off deal going on thru Dec. for PA trips.

But next time - I think we'll be using the subway to get around.  

I am sore in places I've never been sore before in my life!

And may I also say - I'm so thankful to the Lord for these 29 years. 

I would have never imagined all the twists and turns.

But 'together' is still an awesome way to do life.  And I love my man!  ~Joyce