I have done nothing but enjoy being alive this Thursday, perched in the swing most of the day, watching the birds and the butterflies. Bootsie, the neighborhood watch dog, bounced over and had a staring match with Kat. Kat stood her ground and Bootsie got bored and left when she couldn’t intimidate Kat. The beautiful yellow sulphur butterfly was on the zinnias today, so pretty with her sunshine wings folding up and down on a hot pink zinnia. She didn’t seem to mind the camera at her dance recital. The birds were happily feeding and flitting around. I saw Downy, the little downy woodpecker, and Woody, the big red bellied woodpecker on the suet feeders. I love their black and white checkered sport coats and red berets.

I think summer is coming back for her last hurrah, got hot mid-afternoon, and when the sun hit one swing I went and sat in the other swing. The sunset was another beautiful rendering with Mother Nature’s purple and pink watercolors. The sun rolled down the horizon as a golden rayed ball, dragging the day’s light down with the hem of her golden gown. When I left to come in the house at dusk, the horizon was shaded a pale orange topped with a soft aqua cloud free sky, sprinkled with a few twinkling stars. So pretty!

I’m thankful for all my blessings and happy that the Lord gave me another beautiful day on this planet. I appreciate all the comments on yesterday’s blog. Nothing is more rewarding than to know your words are validated by someone reading them. Closing my words tonight with my favorite prayer, wishing these simple, yet beautiful, words for everyone. I love the last line, makes me think of how Chief traveled his life — “May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.”

The Apache Prayer — May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being, may you walk gently through the world and know it’s beauty all the days of your life.”

“God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil.” — E.M. Bounds