Spring Hangouts

These are a few photos from a recent road trip…
and they all have to do with hangin’…
so here goes…

The first is Spanish moss hanging on a tree
at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science,
Jackson, Mississippi.

I have several other hanging moss pictures,
taken through the car window at 65 miles per hour,
but this one is much clearer to show you on the blog(!)

 Spanish moss is actually a flowering plant related to the bromeliad family.
In the Deep South, where I grew up,
the moss grows mainly on southern live oaks and bald cypress trees.
We don’t have it in our area of Southeast Texas,
so when we see it while traveling,
it always makes me feel like I’m close to “home”!

In a picturesque arboretum in central Alabama,
we came across these turtles hanging out in a quiet little pond.
They and a whole bunch of their closest friends were lined up, sunning on this log.

Then came a funny surprise –
while strolling through the campus of a large southern university.
It seems the campus bookstore sells hammocks,
and students are permitted to tie them in the trees
and hang around between classes!

Although I had already heard about the hammocks,
I was still rather taken aback when we turned a corner
and I saw feet dangling in front of me!

The boy was talking on his phone,
and when he heard us passing by,
he quickly pulled his feet up into the hammock, as a turtle retreats into its shell!
This was the clearest picture I could get before his feet disappeared!

I’m thinking of something else that also fits this category.
We’re hanging it out this weekend in memory of the thousands of brave men and women
who gave their lives in the service of their country — our country –
so that we might live in freedom and enjoy the life we too often take for granted.

I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend.

Let’s be sure to keep in mind our military men and women of past, present, and future.
Let us pray for God’s protection of those who are currently serving in harm’s way –
and offer prayers of gratitude for the soldiers and their families who sacrifice every day
to make possible this free United States of America that we call our home!

♥  ♥  ♥

The Good Ole Days…

My inspiration for this post comes from the hammock in our back yard.
You probably see it from time to time in some of my other pictures.
Our hammock always beckons me to come and relax in its comfort for a few minutes.

Most of the time, I don’t have the time to stretch out and enjoy it –
but just looking at it reminds me that I need to slow down and take in the blessings of the day.
To me, it’s a little symbol of “the good life” and
a reminder for “taking it easy” when we have the chance…

…and, you know, most every time I spend a few minutes in this relaxing spot
I notice something special and beautiful in the out-of-doors
that really makes my day –
and I come away refreshed!

It has been said that
one day we’ll look back and realize that
THESE were the “good ole days”!

I hope you and I are making the most of them!!

If you don’t have a hammock,
I hope you have a porch or balcony or a comfy spot inside your home
where you can “sit a spell” and feast your eyes on something “refreshingly” beautiful!

Spring Collection

Spring doesn’t begin in the Northern Hemisphere until March 20th,
but it surely has been feelin’ like it lately — at least where we live!

Here are a few springy scenes I recently posted to Instagram.
Since they were taken with an iPhone,
they’re not the best resolution,
but I hope you’ll enjoy them anyway.

Spirea in the back yard

The hammock: a fine spot for a springtime nap

Lunchtime with a view

Rainy day gives way to sunshine

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven…
Ecclesiastes 3:1
♦
Ask the LORD for rain in the spring,
      for he makes the storm clouds.
   And he will send showers of rain
      so every field becomes a lush pasture.
Zechariah 10:1
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Weekly Photo Challenge: Windows (2)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any digital doodling.
For one of this week’s “Windows” challenge entries,
I decided to add a “glowing edges” filter to several photos.

The original photos were taken in daylight.

I think the application of the filter makes the design of the windows pop against the dark background.

Hope you enjoy!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Weekly Photo Challenge: Possibility

The theme for last week was “Possibility.”
In ordering my priorities for the week, I had to let blogging ‘slide’ for a little bit,
but I had already started working on this and want to publish it,
although it’s a little late!

In her challenge post, Sara Rosso made an interesting observation,
which I’d like to share with you.

“…travel gives each of us the opportunity to take advantage of possibility.
What’s more, looking at the world through a traveler’s eyes
gives us the ability to see our surroundings –
wherever we are –
in a new way,
where possibility is everywhere.”

As soon as I saw our topic for the week,
this snapshot came to mind.
It was taken at Disney World during one of our family vacations many years ago.

Just look at all the places we could visit,
if we followed these signs!
It’s amazing to consider the possibility at the end of each of these paths.
I have to be honest, though — and perhaps some of you can relate –
That black-and-white sign pointing left is more than just a mere possibility for me –
More like a probability!!
~LOL~

So, in keeping with Sara’s words,
I’d like to add that seeing the world through the eyes of a traveler like me
usually involves scoping out my new surroundings
for the possibility of a sign like the black-and-white one –
always a welcome sight!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!

...and may you see possibility at the end of every trail in life.
If you are carrying heavy burdens as you travel your trail,
please remember that…

“…with GOD all things are possible.”
(Matthew 19:26)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fall

♦  ♦  ♦

In his book AUTUMN ACROSS AMERICA, Edwin Way Teale made this observation:

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.
For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad.

I had never thought of it that way before — but it’s true.
Nature’s “seed time” is man’s harvest time!

♦  ♦  ♦

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit Little Things.
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
◊
Even though our area has record-breaking high temps predicted for the weekend,
I know there is a change on the way!
I hope there’ll be beautiful fallish weather in your forecast soon!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wordless Wednesday

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Thank y’all for stopping by to visit “Little Things.”
May your life be filled with little blessings, little chuckles,
and little deeds of kindness (both given and received)!
♥
~ ~ ~ ~ ~