10 Things of Thankful

It’s been another blessed and thankful week, the Lord kept me well.šŸ’–

I made progress on the “bedroom mess project” (a.k.a. “storage room with a bed”): filled 3 18-gallon plastic totes with what was in 8 ugly boxes taking up space…a few more to go!

Enjoyed fun phone visits with 2 friends.

My caregiver–so kind and willing to help with anything I need; she does the shopping for me, and if my list includes a fresh pineapple she cuts it up, such a treat!šŸĀ  And, although she doesn’t like to cook, she brought me a yummy Russian pasta dish–comfort food!

She also gave me flowers for Valentines Day (I made her homemade fudge)šŸ’

Thankful for good movies to watch–most of them free.

Grateful that Valentine’s Day has a deeper meaning than it did when I was younger.

Thankful for my neighbor who makes the BEST gravy (& mashed potatoes and chicken)!!

And equally grateful her 2 cats still adore me…or at least make a polite pretense😺😻

Very thankful it’s only raining, no snow (though, silly cherry blossoms are budding early as usual, despite my annual warning about a cold snapšŸ™„).

~ Cale

 

 

Seagulls Crying

From Hagar ~

In half-sleep she heard

the seagulls crying, sound

of distress unsettling her…

so brief, then nothing–

she wondered if she’d

only imagined the cries

but they wouldn’t leave her…

over several days

she thought of them

had her birds tried to send

her a message, like winged

prophets…was it harbinger

of comingĀ loss perhaps…

she’d waited so long

for their return

would not have wanted

to missĀ even one word…

not in this strange

impassionedĀ winter

its contradictory silence…

its restless wonderings–

Iridescent Eyes

Iridescent, her eyes

splendiferous the sparks

they cast, illumining

whole environment…

her merest smile mesmerized

mysterious…a test of men’s

resistanceĀ to temptation

and ardent tempest…

Popular with strangers

she’dĀ meet by chance? yes…

if they were important

if they couldn’t see

within her… but I

had viewĀ of shadow side–

she was winter

without festive glitter

cold, unyielding as ice

one glance could freeze

the soul…never to forget–

~ Cale

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/02/01/rdp-sunday-spark/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/02/03/rdp-tuesday-iridescent/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/rdp-monday-splendiferous/

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/01/30/cast-2/

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/meet-3/

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/popular-2/

https://thedailyspur.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/test-4/

One-Liner Wednesday & JusJoJan ~ GRATEFUL

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com

https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/28/one-liner-wednesday-jusjojan26-the-28th-winter-wonderland/

I am ever-grateful the Lord will clear His schedule when I need help Pronto!

And I’m keeping all you winter-burdened folks in my fervent prayers…just call, and HE Answers!!Ā 

~ Cale

Psalm 86:7
In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me.

Cape Hope ~ Sunday Whirl

https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/wordle-741/

āœšŸŒžā›ŖšŸŒžāœ

We were wonderland-bound

a place called Cape Hope…

each of us desperately needed

hope,Ā clarity, peace, direction

a future that offered more

than we’d experienced last year…

when we arrived noondayĀ sun

was blindingly bright,Ā glittering

on every inch of packed snow, ice–

we passed three churches

before seeing the one we’d chosen

by way of same dreamĀ we’d

had in past month–

it was hardly more than a chapel

yet the Cross in the window

above the altar embraced

entire interior,Ā the mosaic

fairly vibratingĀ with colors…

we were on our knees

heads bowed,Ā mute tears

coursing downĀ our cheeks–

Everything will be alright…

these were words we heard

from the Voice within silence…

Sovereign God of grace, mercies

ever-faithful throughout the ages…

His hand was turning the wheel–

~ Cale

Words from Max Lucado

“In the book of Esther, it’s as if God,

in His kind providence, heard all the prayers

of all the souls who have ever been stuck

in an arctic January.

To every person who has longed to see

a green sprig on a barren branch, He says,

‘Follow Me.Ā  I want you to see what I can do’.”

Max Lucado, author/pastor

(from his calendar: You Were Made For This Moment, Courage for Today and Hope for Tomorrow)

Blood Moon (What Do You See?)

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2026/01/12/what-do-you-see-323-12-january-2026/

These inspiring images are brought to you by blog author Sadje, and the credited image artists.Ā  Click the link above for more information to participate in Sadje’s challenges.

The poetry is by my friend Hagar. ~ Cale

Image credit; Alison TorresĀ @Ā Unsplash

Image credit; Sean PierceĀ @Ā Unsplash

~~~~~

I would have walked through

a thousand winters to find you

to be with you, to love you…

Bare trees, breath-tightening

frosted air would have been

to me, nothing…

loving so fiercely

I’d have beenĀ fearless

no mere child

despised, tiptoeing

’round strangers

harsh shadow figures

in world far distantĀ 

much colder than yours…

I would love you today

with same blind

passion which knows

no dearth…regardless

of season or years…

But you are gone

for always.

~~~

Blood Moon, you pulse

with wild beat…heat

which can’t be soothed

nor I, who beg you

whisper in the wind

so dark it spins

my thoughts to places

I wouldĀ not go…

sing a lullaby

into the rain

and weep with me

Blood Moon…

Winter Shepherd

Good Tuesday to all who visit here!Ā  I want to thank you for encouraging my blog-shy friend, Hagar, to share her poetry.Ā  This is her most recent one, with a photo from her area–I hope you’ll like it. ~ Cale

Footprints in the snow

proof God walks ahead of me

my Winter Shepherd

Longer Winter

I have a friend who won’t blog, but has given permission for me to share her words. ~ Cale

Winter is longer this year

the days move like

ancient arthritic

tortoises

around clock’s

merciless face

I hear them sighing

or is it me…