Temperature Surprise

What a shocker to step outside to retrieve the paper early this morning and find the temperature in the upper 30’s.  Fortunately it was into the mid 60’s later in the day.  As daylight was breaking, steam could be seen rising from the lake making a huge cloud.  The temperatures are to get back into the more normal 70’s in a couple of days.  Fortunately we did not have frost here but some areas were concerned about their crops.

We have been well supplied with citrus fruit from our orchard here in the village.  Recently I was surprised when I pealed what appeared to be an orange turning out to be a lemon.  We have quite a variety of citrus, so it is fun checking out the different tastes and textures.  Some are unable to be pealed without the juice running down your arm…but they are delicious!

With the cooler weather the turtles and alligators are not as often seen around the lake and the birds are slower moving as they survey the shoreline.    The Osprey have been circling around this week apparently looking for a good nesting site.  I saw one of them check out a former nest but they seem to still be exploring.  Today one of them that was perched upon the tall flagpole on a peninsula in the lake, took a dive into the water and come out with a nice fish for his lunch.  I have to be careful or watching all of the wildlife activity can keep me from the more urgent tasks at hand.

This morning I read; “Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.”  (Psalm 90:14)  That was likely written by Moses while spending 40 years in the wilderness doing his best to serve the huge Israelite group as they wondered about.  That was no small task for him and a good reminder for me as I meet the challenges each day!

I trust that His unfailing love will satisfy you each morning and throughout the day!

.

Chuck

Happy New Year

What a delightful way to wrap up 2013, with ten family members spending Christmas week with me.  I was humbled that they wanted to spend their valuable vacation with this old guy!

Christmas morning I was surprised to find my golf cart decorated front and rear causing it to be included in the family photo.  Two year old Ella was especially thrilled to take frequent rides with “Boppi”.

We delayed our actual Christmas celebration until Friday because daughter Sue was unable to leave her Emergency Room duties until the 26^th.  Being that she was flying into Tampa that afternoon, we drove to Sarasota to visit Lisa’s friends and spent the day at the beach and on their boat. 

Our traditional gingerbread village construction produced a beautiful candy covered house and a large fortified castle.  I am certain that we all had well over our allotment of candy!  After Christmas we visited a farm with many unusual chickens roaming free, a friendly hog and a large field of hydroponically grown strawberries.  We enjoyed picking a basket of the luscious berries from their suspended containers without bending over.  The real treat was eating them!

As we begin a new year with many challenges, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words regarding the problems of life; “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever”.  (2 Corinthians 4:18)  I’ll take that for my New Year’s resolution.

Love,

Chuck