Tough Two Weeks, and Special Blessings~

~Crocus Geometer Moth, male~

It's been a tough two weeks, and yet also filled with many blessings.

I don't know about you, but the natural disasters are truly getting to me, as I can only sit back and watch the misery unfold for millions of people.  

Hundreds of thousands of people have just lost everything they had, many of them lost loved ones, many lost their precious children, parents, friends...and all that I can do is allow the many tears to flow.  

I sit and watch and lift thoughts of love for those I do not know, will never know and yet their stories are all a distant part of who we are as human kind.

My daughter and her husband evacuated the Pompano Beach area of Florida on the Tuesday before the major evacuation had begun getting them home and safe with our family members.  They only brought with them what they could put in their Kia. Thankfully they have returned this past Tuesday and they are all OK and doing fine...they are thankful and we are as well.

While they were home we managed to sneak in two surprise birthday parties, one for each of them who have September birthdays and also a family cookout and picnic.

During this time my youngest daughter who had fled Hurricane Irma accompanied me to some appointments that I had. 

The tests are in...not too bad, for going on 70.

The reason for being light headed and short of breath most of the Summer is evidently brought on by stage one (there are four stages) of Diastolic Dysfunction, or rather heart failure.  Mine is all good though, not to worry, other than I need to get stronger.  As many know I have dealt with severe knee pain for a couple of years.  A year ago this past May I had Arthroscopic surgery and instead of repairing the damaged Medical Meniscus, the DR removed two thirds of it,and as a result I have been walking bone on bone ever since.  To strengthen my heart I need to walk more and that won't happen unless I have a partial knee replacement.  Thus said, I am scheduled to have that surgery on October 20 and I am very much looking forward to getting my life back.  This will bring about more mandatory weeks of more physical therapy, but I will be ready.

Take good care of yourselves, be a blessing to others and lift up those who have lost so much~

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after                                                                you have read the narratives~

I am joining in the fun with Eileen at:

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/

Saturday's Critter

Anni at:

http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com/ 

I'd Rather Be Birdin'

 Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'

    

Maggie's  MOSAIC MONDAY

                                              https://normandylife.blogspot.com/

& 

Stewart for:

http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

Surprise birthday party for my son-in-law Matthew~

Cookout and family gathering was great fun~

And yet another surprise birthday party for our daughter Ashleigh~

A Luna Moth nearing the end of the journey~

Most of our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have now flown South.  We are having a few stragglers that come through every day~

Juvie preening.  I always hope for a good and safe migration for these little beauties.  With the harsh battering of storms, I don't know how they will manage...here is hoping~

Autumnal colours are beginning to show~

We have a new Box Turtle named Crystonia who is two years of age~  

A Stinging Caterpillar~

American Goldfinch~

Baby House Wren~

Great Egret with breakfast fish~

Red-Shouldered Hawk in the rain~

Eastern Red-tailed Hawk~

An interesting image taken down at our creek~

Eastern Red-tailed Hawk~

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Another interesting image down at our creek~

Eastern Red-tailed Hawk~

Oh yes and one last interesting image taken down at our creek...I love water reflections~

This Eastern Red-Tailed Hawk and it's past generations of same have enjoyed using this spot to hunt~

Great Blue Lobelia~

Swallows catching insects midair at Fox Hollow Farm~

A Killdeer flies with the Swallows to collect insects as mowers below cut the grass~

A female Spreadwing Damselfly, Common Whitetail Dragonfly, and a Blue Fronted Dancer, I believe, with wildflowers attached beneath~

Mourning Dove~

Pumpkin patch at Anchorage Trail, a sure sign that Autumn is on it's way, in fact today is the first official day of Autumn~

White-Tailed Deer~

A Doe steps a few feet towards me with her twin fawns on the Anchorage Trail last week~  

Jewelweed~

If ever you find yourself in a patch of Poison Ivy this plant is one that you can rub the leaves, and flowers along where you think the Poison Ivy Oils have touched your skin and you may very well not get the rash, or at least a milder case.

The yellow flowers are Partridge Peas~

This doe has raised triplets on the Anchorage Trail~

To the best of my guessing...Crested Iris, Morning Glory and Chicory

and a yelling Blue Jay that is molting~

Oldham County countryside~

I love the colours on this little colt~

At first I only saw this doe and then after walking a few steps I could see her single fawn~

My DR's have said to walk, walk, walk and I do my best.  The morning that I took many of these photos at the Anchorage Trail and on our own Tingsgrove, there was a nice gentle rain falling~