ASSUMPTIONS...our lives are full of them.  More so today than ever before in history.  I
say that because of the technology that we are involved with daily...blogging, Instagram,
Facebook, and others.  Even if we only spend a bit of time with these, we can't help but
admit, that they have changed our world.  Now, I am first to admit that there are numerous
advantages to all of this, and in many ways our lives have become easier because of it.  But,
there are also disadvantages, and with that I am sure we too, would agree.  Hence, the
title of this post today...Assumptions.  To explain my point, I want you to stop and ask
yourself this question, "what do you think when you look at any picture shared, or what
comes to mind when you read the written words?"  Do you immediately, whether
consciously or sub-consciously draw up your own conclusions about those pictures
and words?  This is perhaps somewhat elementary, but I find it true in my own
perusing of the technical world.  I look, I read, I assume:)

Perhaps you look at a picture like this one, and you conclude that these girls had an uncle
who lived on a plantation, and this was one of their weekly summer visits to his home:).
In fact, in your mind you can build your own story around it all, with many details in tact.

When in reality, this picture taken years ago, of our three daughters, at a "photo store"
on the boardwalk at the beach.  They had so much fun choosing their props, outfits
and décor. It is a picture I find myself looking at with fond memories.

You may look at this shared picture, and think to yourself, "her gardens must be gorgeous!"
You may even picture the gardens in your mind.  You think to yourself that she must
spend hours of time tending the gardens, and you might even share those assumptions, at
your next get together with friends.

When in reality... this picture was taken at a resort I visited earlier in the summer.  I only
dream of having plants and flowers that look like these do.

Or...you could have seen this picture on Facebook and thought to yourself, "it must be
so much fun for all those friends to spend time together!"  I bet they do lots of things
throughout the year. 

When in reality, we rode motorcycles with our husbands and spent the weekend together,
but for some of us, it was the first time we met, and we have not seen each other since that
weekend.  We hope to do something together again, but for now, that is the fact of this
memorable picture.

Last evening, I read this short story on this very topic;

"A traveler, between flights at an airport, went to a lounge and bought a small package
of cookies.  Then she sat down and began reading a newspaper.  Gradually she became
aware of a rustling noise.  From behind her paper, she was flabbergasted to see a neatly
dressed man helping himself to her cookies.  Not wanting to make a scene, she leaned
over and took a cookie herself.  A minute or two passed, and then came more rustling.
He was helping himself to another cookie!  By this time, they had come to the end of
the package, but she was so angry she didn't dare herself to say anything.  Then, as if
to add insult to injury, the man broke the remaining cookie in two, pushed half across
to her, ate the other half, and left.  Still fuming some time later when her flight was
announced, the woman opened her handbag to get her ticket.  To her shock and
embarrassment, there she found her pack of unopened cookies!  How wrong our
assumptions can be."      ~John Ross

This story made me aware once again, of how much of our lives are made up of
wrongly assuming.  My prayer today is, that am reminded of the faulty
thoughts that assumptions can bring in my life, and that I stop and remind
myself often...not to assume.  Not to jump to conclusions.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Our youngest daughter sent us these photos.  The one on the left, is my husband as a little guy.
The one on the right is her little guy, our grandson.  Amazing the similarities.

"Parents often speak of seeing a grandparent's personality reflected in a child's mannerisms
or facial expressions.  There is something to that;  How a child smiles affects their looks
and who they might resemble.  ~Chris Plummer ~ grandparents.com/

Speaking of grandchildren looking like their grandparents...how is this for a great
example!  My youngest sister and her granddaughter.

Have you seen this in your family?

Thanks for stopping by this evening!

Here is the recipe that I mentioned in my most recent post;  This cake is pictured on the post below;

Blueberry Zucchini Squares

2 cups of shredded zucchini
1/2 cup of buttermilk
1 T grated lemon peel
3 T lemon juice
l cup of butter, softened
2 1/2 cups of sugar
2 eggs
3 1/4 cups plus 2 T flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 cups fresh blueberries

Glaze;

2 cups 10x sugar
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 T grated lemon peel
2 t lemon juice
1/8 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease 13 x 19 inch pan

In small bowl combine zucchini, buttermilk, lemon peel, and lemon juice.  Toss to combine.

In large bowl cream sugar and butter, till fluffy, add eggs one at a time.
Sift 3 1/4 cups of flour, baking soda and salt.  Gradually add to creamed mixture, alternately
with zucchini mixture.  Mix well.
Toss blueberries with 2 T flour.  Fold gently into batter.
Transfer to greased pan, spread evenly, bake 30-35 minutes, till golden brown.
Cool completely in pan.
Mix glaze ingredients, spread over top of cake.  Let stand till set.

You will thank my sister-in-law for this recipe when you make it.  Everyone at our dinner
did.

It was the middle of August.  We packed a full day of summer fun in this past
weekend.  Young and older family members gathered together at the farm.  There
was fishing for this little guy and his grandpa.

When the catch happened, it was a kiss for the fish and then right back into the water.  Who
taught him to kiss the fish?

There was the mother and son ride through the fields and woods.  At her request, they stopped
and picked the Queen Ann's Lace, along the way.

She said that they evoked memories of the past for her.

The younger ones helped with the much younger ones:).

Some preferred to float the afternoon away. 

Others had the simple fun of picking up rocks and putting them in buckets...time and time
again.

Bright colored, plastic buckets from the dollar store provided fun and entertainment
to those little ones not wishing to swim.  Isn't it interesting how some of the simplest
toys give the most fun!

Adding to the summer goodness, was the fresh, sweet fruit that was served.

Along with tomatoes right from the garden.

Served on bright colored watermelon paper plates.  So colorful and overflowing with summer's
finest.

Dessert...homemade zucchini, blueberry bars.  Oh my goodness, they were so delicious!
Our hostess told us that she has been trying many recipes to use up her abundant zucchini
crop.  Maybe she will share the recipe with us, in case your garden is producing an abundance
of zucchini too.  Stay tuned.

My brother and sister-in-law, the gracious host and hostess.

When the sun started to set, we headed home, happy and exhausted. They mentioned that
school starts in a few days.  Today I am grateful for the good old summertime.

Thanks for stopping by!

Where is she?  Why has she not posted lately?  Could it be that her "little something", was too
little?  She was not sure if she should share her "Lincoln Logs" post, or her "punch balloon"
post.  She felt she had already over shared her "amazing sunset posts" and her "country scene"
posts, hence, she did not post:) 

"Lincoln Logs"...they have been in my life for as long as I can remember.  I clearly remember
years ago, watching my younger brothers sitting on the family room floor, building with their
Lincoln Log sets.  Now, fast forward, I find myself watching my own grandchildren, time and
time again, pulling the big, colorful box out of the cupboard, and building their own creations.

The bushes in the front of her building, were compliments of the boxwood outside our door.

And then, I watched her add the plastic fireplace and television...a 2015 edition of a log house.

It was the first time for this little guy to tackle a project, and he took it

seriously. 

Yesterday, I found our oldest granddaughter working on a log project in the living room, and
later in the day, I found her brother building his version of a car barn.  I would like to thank
the Lincoln Log Company for providing hours of entertainment for children, over the years.

Another favorite in our grandchildren's lives, are the punch balloons.  I buys bags of them, four
bright colored punch balloons in one pack, at the dollar store.  The elastic band is already
secured on them, leaving only the blowing up part to be completed:)  That is where I come in,
unless my husband is home, and then he uses the air compressor in the garage. 
These big, colorful, sturdy balloons provide hours of fun for our grandchildren, no matter their
age. 

There is competition among them, in the continuous way they bounce them.  Actually,
I like to join them in this.  Now, some of them are into decorating their balloons too,
with permanent markers.

Last Fall, I even attempted to do a picture using the balloons.  What a fun, colorful picture
it turned out to be!

Simple things happen in our home, and often times it involves balloons.

So there you have it...my summer happenings, along with some of the most gorgeous

sunsets ever, and some of the most beautiful summer skies, overflowing with

white, fluffy clouds.

 

Happy Friday!  I feel like it just was Friday.  How about you? 

Is this summer flying by for you too?

Do you like punch balloons:)?

 

 

"The only way to have a friend is to be sure you are one."   ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Treat your friends like family and your family like friends."    ~Unknown

"To get the full value of joy, you must have somebody to divide it with."    ~Mark Twain

"I think that God will never send,
 A gift so precious as a friend.
 A friend who always understands,
 And fills each need as it demands.
 Whose loyalty will stand the test,
 When skies are bright or overcast.
 Who sees the faults that merit blame,
 But keeps on loving just the same.
 Who does far more than creeds could do,
 To make us good, to make us true.
 Earth's gifts a sweet contentment lend,
 But only God can give a friend."
 ~Rosalie Carter

"Fame is the scentless sunflower with gaudy crowns of gold.  But friendship is the
breathing rose with sweet in every fold."   ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Just a few thoughts and pictures on the gift of friendship today.  So grateful for friends
to share this journey of life with.  Thankful for you today!

This weekend has been filled with breathtaking beauty!

It was on every road I traveled.  If I looked up, or if I looked around me, it was there.

And, at the end of the day, it was still there, in the amazing sunsets.

Then, when the day produced it's darkness over the earth, the "Blue Moon" appeared to wow
me again.  My heart is filled with gratitude for it all!

"When George Frederick Handel's health and finances were at a low point, he rose to the
greatest heights of his creative experience.  His creditors were threatening him with
imprisonment, and he was suffering with partial paralysis.  He then went into seclusion
and there fellowshipped with God, as never before.  During that time, God enabled him
to write the grandest of all oratories, "Messiah".                  ~Our Daily Bread

That heart changing oratory is what I heard in my heart, as I witnessed it all, this weekend.