The birthday card arrived a couple of days late but the words are “just in time.” I ‘m blessed in so many ways!! Today I have the distinct impression I have two Bluebird couples in my yards. Nests in both Bluebird houses, and I see Bluebirds visiting both. Time will tell (and, of course, I’ll keep you informed, LOL).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This devotion really touched my heart. From Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer, March 5th: 

Walk This Way

And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

No matter what has happened to you in your lifetime–even if you have been abandoned by your spouse or abused by your parents or hurt by your children or others–if you will stay on the path on which God leads you and be willing to leave your past behind, you will find peace, joy and fulfillment. As you walk through this process, you can find comfort in God’s promise from today’s Scripture to guide you. (Bold emphasis mine.)

Jesus is the Way, and He has shown us the way in which we are to walk. The Lord has sent His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the way we are to go, the narrow way that leads to life, not the broad way that leads to destruction (see Matt. 7:14).

God says that as long as the earth remains, there will be “seedtime and harvest” (Gen. 8:22). We might paraphrase it this way: “As long as the earth remains, there will be seed, time, and harvest.” When we walk in God’s path, we must be patient like the farmer who plants and expectantly waits for the harvest. He looks forward to the harvest, but he knows that time will elapse between seed planting and reaping. He does not allow that God-ordained process to frustrate him. Don’t let it frustrate you, either.

Today’s Scripture promises that God will lead us in the way that we should go. Don’t be afraid, continue doing what is right and you will live a blessed, joyful life.

Love God Today: Listen for God’s voice, and keep walking on the path that leads to life and blessing.

There are so many projects I could be working on **BUT ** I was admiring the white blooms and sprinkling of green leaves. I decided it would be nice to document the seasons of that tree as I see it from my window, from my easy chair. (Plus several pictures from the opposite direction.) ~~ Forty-eight degrees, at 12:55, when I took that last picture. A cold gloomy day but better than extreme cold the last several days.

Thirty-two degrees outside; fifty-seven degrees inside (9:45 AM). I’m wrapped in a blanket with the little electric heater at my feet and legs. The furnace isn’t working!! Yesterday I stayed home; today I’ll “hang out” in the CARE Center (with heat).

~~~~~~~~~~~

Postscript, 10:15: “Got heat?” ~~ “Yes.” (Maintenance came to check… and [“it’s a guy thing”] the furnace started working.)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Postscript, 11:00 AM: I’m feeling guilty!! The bird feeders are empty and birds are on the ground and around the empty feeders looking for seeds. I **should** refill but hate to go out in the cold!!!!! Only thirty-three degrees outside; sixty-three inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Mid-afternoon and the icicles have not melted!!

It has been less than twenty-four hours since I set up that Bluebird house. I considered that location “for a decoration”–not for actual use. I can’t have two Bluebird houses within sight of one another. Too few locations on the opposite side of my trailer home (and the soil is rock solid so I couldn’t get the base into the ground). To my amazement–while preparing lunch–I see the male Bluebird checking it out. It’s almost like he can see me in the window and says “Just looking.”

~~~~~~~~~

Bitterly cold last night!! My recently planted Begonias were petrified when I checked them this morning, at 8:30. It was twenty-five degrees most of the morning (and probably most of the night?) and only forty degrees at 12:55 PM. ~~ I had intended to drive to Lufkin, or The Woodlands, for a day of “Just looking” but have no desire to be out in this cold weather. (Did you notice that I added another penny to Three Quarters And Counting [in About]? That’s the only additional note I want to make regarding this date.)

~~~~~~~~~

To my utter amazement, I went to Google for a search and was greeted with this image and the caption “Happy Birthday Lorraine.” With the Internet, our life is an open book!!

At our evening meal, Saturday, March 1st, 2014, another CARE resident said: “I saw your trailer in the local paper.” My immediate response: “No way; not my trailer” (because I do not have mine advertised for sale and I assumed she meant she saw it listed…). Shortly afterward she brought me the Polk County Enterprise, Thursday, February 27, 2014, and, sure enough, page 2E has a picture of my trailer in an article titled “Polk County’s tourist industry always booming” by Karen Phillips. Here’s the article:

Polk County has been called “the gateway between the Texas forest country and the Gulf Coast” by TourTexas.com.

The “jewel nestled in the East Texas forest” is rich with natural outdoor sports including hunting, fishing, bird watching and plenty of water for boating and swimming. It is also the home of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, which is rich in tradition and has been part of the community for over 100 years. Tourists travel to the Native American lands to visit the TombigBee Lake campground, the Veteran’s Pavilion, and many shops where local artist wares can be found. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe hosts many events during the year from Pow-Wows to sporting events.

Rainbow’s End, in Livingston, Texas,
became the Escapees RV Club headquarters
in April 1984.

Escapees RV Club brings a new meaning to camping, the club has something for everyone from over night to long-term living at the park. The park maintains a crystal clear swimming pool, and 11,000 square foot activity center, clubhouse and 130 full-hookup sites.The club is more than a RV park. They offer services and programs ranging from health care, adult day care, classes such as yoga, quilting and computers, line dancing, hand [sic] radio group and movie nights.

The park hosts many events throughout the year by opening their doors to local groups for events, such as forums for political leaders, non-profit groups, and civic organizations. Travelers to Polk County are able to find a wealth of activities while visiting The Escapees.

Big Thicket National Preserve and Lake Livingston State Park have nature trails, ranges of wildlife and clean fresh air. Each has amazing attributes. People traveling to Polk County can find an abundance of things to do while in the community.

Polk County Memorial Museum’s Curator Wanda Bobinger noted that the Livingston museum also is a draw for tourists. “We see many people visiting our area that are here working on genealogy projects,” she said. “They come to the museum to find information about the area and family members. We have people coming on a regular basis and are so pleased to be part of their search.”

The County courthouse has also seen its amount of tourists. The fifth courthouse in Polk County is in the classical revival style showing the brilliant columns and broad entrances with arched windows. Architectural and historical details make the Polk County Courthouse a must see during travels.

Several blocks away Locomotive No. 5, built in 1911, sits in Heritage Park. Local legend tells stories of this engine building Polk County with the many trips to and from Angelina County bringing logs, finished lumber and needed supplies to the citizens of the county seat. Historical travelers find many resources for their entertainment and to broaden historical knowledge here in Polk County.

Let’s not forget the shopping tourist. With unique shops, specialty stores, an outlet mall and the courthouse square shops there is something for everyone–wonderful antiques, quilts, crafts, quaint restaurants and so much more.

Pedigo Park is the home of Trade Days, which features over 350 vendor spaces full of antiques, crafts, collectibles and concessions. The Trade Days are held the Friday-Sunday before the third Monday of each month. This great environment welcomes families, day trippers and outdoor enthusiasts who come and enjoy a few hours at the park. Toni Fuller the events coordinator for Trade Days said, “We are pleased with the increase of not only vendors to the park, but the visitors also. We have many people on day trips that drive an hour or more just to come to the Trade Days events. They come for the event and spend the day in town visiting and having meals. The tourist dollars are increasing at the event yearly.”

The Polk County Chamber of Commerce Year-End Review states that development in tourism is growing by means of projects that will encourage tourism through events and activities. These projects would generate more sales tax along with hotel/motel tax revenue. The chamber works hand-in-hand with many businesses and organizations to bring the best out of Polk County. Each year, the chamber works toward finding new ways to enhance the tourist dollar and continues to showcase local business events.

Sydney Murphy, executive director of the chamber of commerce, noted many events in the community that have been put into the works that both promote our local business and tourism. She welcomes all citizens to come by the chamber and learn what resources are out there for the community.

Local shop owners, bed and breakfast inns, hotels, and hospitalities, host parks, lakes, churches and communities are ready to welcome visitors, tourists and guests to the community.

From Dr. Oz: The Food Industry’s Dirty Little Ingredients.

Did you know that some fast-food sandwiches can have as many as 50 different ingredients in them? Or that the grill marks on fast-food chicken don’t come from the grill?

Food may look the same as it did when we were kids, but we are quickly learning that due to advances in technology, there are a lot of new ingredients now found in our food supply.

Some of these ingredients are hugely beneficial, helping us get more vitamins and minerals to keep us healthy. But other ingredients that are added to our fast foods might shock and surprise you.

Food is a lot like fresh-cut flowers: It’s amazing how fast it can shrivel up or shrink.

Did you know that the simple phrase “natural flavors” could refer to beef extract that can be found in a milkshake? Or that something called propylene glycol, the ingredient found in anti-freeze, can also keep ice cream running smoothly and salads crisp in a fast food restaurant?

Not many of us do.

The fast-food industry can slip these ingredients into our food to extend its shelf life, make it look fresher and help manage their cooking times and store profitability, but few of us expect to get these things when we place our orders.

But here’s the real question: Should we worry about it?

So what’s an eater to do? Budgets are tight and so is our time. One out of every four of us eats fast food in this country every single day.

Get savvy, get online and do a little research. Some of these fast-food chains use a whole host of ingredients that come from a laboratory, while others have chosen to opt out and use ingredients that come from a farm.

Need help? Look for the terms like “natural flavor,” “extract” or “essence.” They are code names for a whole list of other things and can be used as synonyms to disguise hidden ingredients.

And remember, the bottom line is that while none of us can do everything, all of us can do something. And sometimes all you have to do is just do one thing. So maybe you want to pick one thing to focus on, to learn about or to opt out of. And before you know it, these changes will add up.

So go for it. If you are worried about the health of a loved one, ask questions, read up – special order if you want to. You have a right to know what’s in your food for your health and the health of your family.

To learn more about ingredients in the food supply, please visit the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hamburger” (as in sandwich): That was on the menu for last night’s supper in the CARE Center. “No, I did not eat in the dining room last night!!!!!” At noon: Baked potato with all the fixings. But one of the “fixings” was hamburger (like Sloppy Joe’s) smothering the top. “No, I did not have the meat topping!!” As you might imagine, they offered gobs of sour cream (I don’t eat “dairy”) and packets of chemical stuff advertised as margarine. ~~ See why I am preparing food “at home”?? Last night I had organic short grain brown rice with some wild rice added (cooked “from scratch”) and some beans (previously prepared, made “from scratch”)–hence a meal of balanced protein. Add a salad, voila!! 

Well enough of my diatribe; I was reading my email messages and wanted to share that one from Dr. Oz.