Well, we just had a week of torrential rain, and I knew it. It would turn off hot and humid! and I am supposed to walk everyday. I suppose we will have to get out at day break!
As I Look Outside My Window
It is gorgeous. The flowers are growing and the shrubs are blooming. I love this time of year, except for extreme heat.. Too
much of that, too early!
Right Now
Well, we had so much going on last week outside with the rain breaking off large limbs of our oak trees, and power outages.. poor Lynn hasn't been able to work on painting, I fear he is getting out of the mood! When our water line broke last fall they tore up the front yard and just plowed it over and laid straw to keep it from eroding. Well, now we do have a lovely half yard of fresh grown grass and it was landscaped beautifully, but now we have to dig a trench to hook up the lamppost that was ripped out when they were digging out the water line. We found out last week it would cost a $1000.00 to reset a new lamppost. I am aghast at that. Is there no end to expensive things that need to be done around the house? I think Lynn is planning to dig that trench. It shouldn't be that big of a trench just a long one down by the walk. But it means he will be that much more behind in the painting. Poor Lynn, I speak so harshly I know, it is just that this project has been going on all of this year!
Thinking and Pondering
If you are interested our Scotland trip will encompass each of the 10 sites in the video except #1 the Island of Orkney, but we will be doing the Hebrides west of Oban including Staffa home of the puffins!
How I Am Feeling This Morning
I am happy to say that the pain I am feeling these days and most of last week is due to the exercises I am doing to strengthen myself...muscles, legs , glutes and back. So working through the pain is really good . MY therapist is working mainly on weights and resistance. and it is helping. I have just got too start walking more. Pleaseweather, cool down!
On The Breakfast Plate
I had coffee and yogurt.
On My Reading Pile
My through the Bible reading assignment is Exodus 16-34 this week. I am going to sort through my Lynn Kurland books and find a new book to read about time travel in Scotland...just to titillate my mind and senses!!! Also, they had a stack of books by our Sunday school class for anyone to take. I found a wonderful book by Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly, The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Paul David Tripp writes, I have read no book that more carefully and tenderly displays Christ's heart. I am saving it to read on the plane!
On My TV
I enjoy vlogs on YouTube, Fox News, Sky News from Australia, I really like The Kitchen, and Fixer to Fabulous. Nothing on then main channels interests me at all.
On The Menu
Monday: Left-over Chinese Chicken Stir Fry I made yesterday
Tuesday Chicken salad on crescent and a salad
Wednesday homemade soup and sandwich
Thursday ?
Friday ?
Around the House
I suppose I have already covered this one in the above sections. Of course, I hope that in some small way Lynn can paint something!
Midday Addition: Lynn did get a wee bit of painting accomplished . He touched ump the crown molding where he accidentally got wall paint on it! Yay! Hubs!
And inspired by Luludon I got upstairs in the guest closet and cleaned out the shelves. I found some old clothes from a previous size and some odds and ends to declutter!!
Decluttered:
red wool skirt
2 cosmetic bags
I bag of gently used plastic rollers
a bag of hair ties
a pocket calculator
a grandmother plaque
a bad of craft ribbon
slate board
a notice board
2 blouses
1 denim crops
1 denim jacket
And now the shelves in the closet are straight and orderly
From The Camera
This is the tablescape I wrote about on here on Thursday. What with Uvande and the school shooting, I was in quite a mood. That along with the upcoming Memorial Day, my thoughts were quite pensive and just praising God for His goodness and mercy. You can see my post here.
On My To Do List
Continue on the guest closet
Marketing
Walking the track hopefully a few times
allergy shot
Bible Study
therapy
Go get my glasses adjusted
On My Prayer List
Our family, friends and church members who are struggling
The mission of the churches to reach the unsaved
Pastors to preach according to the needs and troubles of our times to prepare the people
Our government leaders to serve the people and not their political views
Our schools to teach the essential subject matter and leave the woke and sex ed to the family
Actually pray to eliminate woke
The government will curb spending and work to push back a recession
The government to help the farm communities that the food chain will not be hampered
Pray for the Ukraine that Russia will cease and desisted no escalation
Pray for the safety of the US Pray for the freedoms we have under the Constitution that they will not be tampered with (Roe vs. Wade overturned in our state at least)
Pray for the sick and the lost
Pray for safety at the border and an extension of Title 42
Pray against lawlessness in our cities and that local governments will serve their communities rightly and justly
So this weekend is Memorial Day and thus begins the chain of other patriotic holidays where we celebrate the founding of our nation. our freedom, our liberty, our appreciation to God for His provision and his watch care over us through wars, pestilence, and hard times down through the centuries since the landing of the Settlers at Jamestown in 1607. We are a blessed nation and God still cares for and loves us, but we, as nation, have drifted far from HIm. It is my prayer every day that one by one ,each American will think about all that God has done for us and will stop, think repent or turn back to Him and that our nation will stand strong because times are harder and by all accounts worse times ahead.. but with God as our foundation we can arise victoriously! God bless America!
My table today reminds me to think of God first in all areas of my life!
The center of the table is the Bible turned to Matthew Chapter 6, where we find the Lord's Prayer. The red poppies symbolize the blood that has been shed not only by our Lord to save us from our sins, but from the thousands of soldiers who have been deeply injured or died to secure and protect our nation's freedoms and liberties.
The white plates just like the white stripes on the flag symbolize purity because the acts of bravery and sacrifice of those lives and well being required a heart of purity. I pray the idea of purity has not been eradicated in our nation. There is certainly less and less of it in government, in communities, on tv, in films, on the news, in our schools. Pray for purity to be re-established over our nation!
The blue symbolizes freedom and liberty. We thought our liberties were secure under the Constitution, but today our Constitution is being vandalized and stripped of it protection. It is up to us to stand up for the Constitution, because political parties will not!
Our Lord and Saviour stands for freedom. It is very important to Him.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
John 8:36
2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name,will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, thenI will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
We have seen so much evil in our world in the last couple of months I fear we are becoming used to it. It is not a common place thing, but it is trying to overtake the world.
But Lord has a plan to eradicate it!
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
1. It's National Wine Day (May 25)...do you like wine? I do enjoy a glass of wine every now and then.Red or white? Dry or sweet? I prefer a soft white wine,, not too sweet, but not dry.Do you have a favorite? I am a fairly simple wine drinker. I like Lake County soft white wine by Taylor! Have you ever been to California wine country?NO Or any other wine region? We lived right in the middle of great Reisling German wine country and did enjoy sampling the local wine there when we went for drives around the region! What's a dish you make that calls for wine? I like to add a red wine to my beef stews if I happen to have some. I will add white wine to chicken dishes and fruit dishes on occasion. I do not follow an actual recipe on that.
2 . What's something you've whined about lately? Well, like our hostess I have had horrid allergies this season. At first my eyes were terribly affected. They ran all the time like I was crying., Thankfully that has stopped after several weeks, but now my upper sinuses are affected and I have a dull headache most of the time. Allergy shots and pills do not seem to help very much!
3. Last time you were 'wined and dined'? Tell us about it. It would have been our 50ith wedding anniversary. Unlike so many we did not have a party. It was just the two of us, and Lynn took us to a lovely restaurant we dont usually go to , and had a delectable dinner. Unfortunately, he won't drink when there is no other designated driver, but I enjoyed a glass beforedinner! Btw, our trip to Scotland is partly our anniversary celebration by our daughter and son in law!
4. Three cheers for__our wonderful grand daughters. Our youngest is in kindergarten and her sister is in second grade. They attend a school in Massachusetts that is French Immersion. The teacher only speaks French all day long. Another teacher does come in for math and science. Birdie even looks French!
Birdie on the right, and Vi on the left. Vi, in kindergarten, is determined to catch up and surpass her sister. She is taller and very mature for her age. She absorbs everything that her sister says and does and so the teacher uses Vi to teach the others in her class how to pronunciate and improve their spoken language. I just am always amazed at how they change from week to week!
Rain all day today, bringing about 2 inches to our area. Temperature now is 69 degrees. We are dues to have on and off showers all week with mild temps til midweek when it becomes more seasonal around 80.
As I Look Outside My Window
Dark and dreary, with intermittent rain at this time..
Right Now
I have moved out of the den making way for hubs to prep for painting the shelves. He will take them down stairs to paint them.. Hopefully he will get around to the book case by tomorrow or Wednesday. I have to say I do like the wall color, called Baja by Behr, it is a sand color which is the background of our Karastan rug. The teal of the bookcase is the accent color in the rug. I think it will look very nifty when all done!
Thinking and Pondering
I cannot get our summer trip out of my mind. Over the weekend I created my packing list and it really helped as I imagined the various outfits I could make and could mark through the items that justdidn't seem to work withthe otherclothing. I will actually start to lay the items out on the bed in about a month to see how it is all going to work. But even now I can see what needs to be purchased in advance.
Oh, and I am waiting to hear back from Neil, the Shepherd who runs a Sheep Dog Demonstration venue on his farm. I just happened on his web page, but it was so new and unfinished. There was very little info, but a friend on a Trafalgar tour added photos about it on Facebook this weekend so I definitely would love to go there!!!
How I Am Feeling This Morning
After reading about my back situation as described on the c scan I had I now know how best to address the pain and it calls for bed rest in an include positions, so it makes sense for me now to just go to the bed in thee evenings to watch tv propped up in bed which I did last night to watch the conclusion to When Calls the Heart. They seemed to tie up every role and situation. It makes me wonder if that was the last season. I hope not, but there again the actors may be ready to begin a new project.
On The Breakfast Plate
I had coffee, 2 fried eggs, each on a half of a small crescent. Sounds like a ton, but it was so delish. But today will be a lighter day of eating. So I am not too concerned. Heehehe
On My Reading Pile
Haven't been able to attend BS for a couple of weeks and cant this week due to therapy. My through the Bible reading assignment is Genesis 38-42. I am going to sort through my Lynn Kurland books and find a new book to read about time travel in Scotland...just to titillate my mind and senses!!!
On My TV
I enjoy vlogs on YouTube, Fox News, Sky News from Australia, Hall M ark, esp, When calls the Heart, HGTV, and Food Channel. I really like The Kitchen, and Fixer to Fabulous..
Their transformations are truly Fabulous!!!!!
On The Menu
Monday: Lynn is making his fabulous kale, and we both have left over Chinese from yesterday
Tuesday Chicken salad on crescent and a salad
Wednesday dinner out
Thursday no plans
Friday possible dinner out again 😊
Around the House
Our all points bulletin issue is the book case this week. It all depends on how much impetus Lynn puts on getting started. It is so dark and drear today he probably or may just get the shelves off and to the basement and perhaps wash the bookcase itself down really well.
From The Camera
Last week I shared how pretty the knock out roses were doing, but this week I noticed that the climbing rose had a couple of gorgeous blooms om it and I really hated to cut them, but with the torrential wain we are getting now I am glad I asked Lynn to run out and get a cutting of one... The other was a little too far along!
On My To Do List
Work on the guest closet
Marketing
mri on my back to address treatment
allergy shot
therapy
dinner out with friends
On My Prayer List
Our family, friends and church members who are struggling
The mission of the churches to reach the unsaved
Pastors to preach according to the needs and troubles of our times to prepare the people
Our government leaders to serve the people and not their political views
Our schools to teach the essential subject matter and leave the woke and sex ed to the family
Actually pray to eliminate woke
The government will curb spending and work to push back a recession
The government to help the farm communities that the food chain will not be hampered
Pray for the Ukraine that Russia will cease and desisted no escalation
Pray for the safety of the US Pray for the freedoms we have under the Constitution that they will not be tampered with (Roe vs. Wade overturned in our state at least)
Pray for the sick and the lost
Pray for safety at the border and an extension of Title 42
Pray against lawlessness in our cities and that local governments will serve their communities rightly and justly
Time continues to fly by! Here we are again at week's end and time to be thankful for the many blessings we have!
Note to all who expressed interest in my recent c scan. The doctor called and told me the gall bladder was doing well enough not to have to apply another stent this time when I have my next ERCP in June. I would just go about 6 months and probably scan again to see how I am faring. He did mention a few things noted that I should bring up to my GP. I think just things to watch or perhaps I may need a referral to a specialist.,
~But I am blessed to have such an opportunity to know of these slight occurrences early on so if there is a deeper problem it may be addressed early! I mean at my age you can expect some of these things!
~I have been working on plans for our special vacation this summer.. Amanda left me to plan the itinerary and it has been good for me to do this,. as I watch YouTube videos about some things I realize I just would not be able to do that thing. For example, I have been enamored with Dunvegan Castle on the far tip of the Isle Skye for many years after reading my wonderful Lynn Kurland books about the McLeod clan of the 15th century. But truly after watching a drive through the island to the castle, the one track road by the sea with many twists and turns and the hectic traffic of what I am sure this summer will bring. I would be a complete wreck as would Lynn, so after seeing the castle on Youtube, I am perfectly satisfied. It wasn't that much like the books' account anyway! So there we saved about 50pounds!
~Besides the itinerary of the things I do hope to do is 11 pages long!! And I am gaining in strength to be able to do as much as I think I would like. Also, doing the itinerary and looking things up online has helped par down things that are just not doable..( too far to walk to, to even drive to,) because I am relating everything to how it would be in the hectic summer traffic, by all accounts this summer after covid it will be super crowded.
~We have been going ahead and booking everything ahead , actually missed one beloved thing, riding the Jacobite Train across the Glenfinnan Aqueduct, but we can opt now to ride the Scotrail across and experience the same views if that is something we all agree upon. When one door closes , another opens!
~Poor Lynn has been working so hard in the den...This is our last room to paint and the hardest. He took all day one day this week to scrape the wall paper border and the glue off the wall. It was a daunting problem It was so easy in the kitchen, but standing on that ladder all day, did him in, poor fella. He rested all day yesterday and is all set to paint the three walls which should go very swiftly.The fourth wall is the built in book cases and window seat. It will be painted a contrasting color! But glory to God, we are both in good spirit today about getting the walls painted and hopefully it would only take one coat!!!
1. What's something that makes you feel stressed? How do you cope?
Whenever I hear that a loved one has a serious health issue.. At first it can really throw me for a loop, but then my spirit settles down when I remember that I am a child of God. That he is full of mercy, compassion, strength, and love for me and mine. I give my concern to Him and He carries it and me through the circumstance! He is faithful and never has let me down!
2. What's a food you eat that evokes a memory? Explain.
Lately, the food that seems to keep knocking on the door of my memory is the delicious green bean, seasoned with country ham and laden with new potatoes that my dear momma used to make. Oh, I can smell it on the stove right now!! I remember that contrary to ow hubs like is green beans, she would cook those white half runners for hours with those bits of lean country ham before adding the new potatoes. It was such a special dish, and even more so now because that type of bean is pretty rare around here lately!
I do not use ham hocks, but I do purchase sugar cured ham and cut up a slice to add to the pot for seasoning.
3. This week's Hodgepodge lands on National Visit Your Relatives Day. Will you celebrate by visiting a relative? If so is travel involved? Geographically, who is your nearest relative (not counting those living in your own house)?
I do have an aunt who lives relatively nearby. I shut spoke to her at length on the phone. I cant do it today but I would love to drop in on a dear cousin about 2 hours drive away in the countryside from which our family hailed. Maybe I can go closer to Memorial Day.
4. What's your most frequently used emoji? Cannot copy it here for some reason!
Do you make more phone calls, send more emails, or mainly text to communicate with friends and family? I would say texts, using Messenger and sometimes text in FB.
5. Tell us the story behind a favorite piece of furniture.
You caught us right in the middle of getting the den ready to pain., the drop cloth and a rubber ball I use for exercise is hiding in the photo! HAHAHAA!
I adore this table. It has been in my life since I was born.. not at my house, but at grandma's.Grandpa was a carpenter and he made much of the furniture they started housekeeping with. By the time I as born this table had been painted and relegated to the farmhouse kitchen. Now this is a gate leg drop leaf table that when fully opened can sit 6 or even more . And believe me it was well used in that dairy farm home kitchen by many grandchildren and coffee klatches. When grandpa retired and they had built a home over on the main road this table was then regelated to the basement primarily for the young's to sit at! It was marked and chipped and in pretty horrible state! MY mom was the executor of the estate when that occurred and she had 5 sisters waiting to see which of the handmade antiques they might inherit. There was a gorgeous cherry desk, an exquisitely adorned hall tree, a beautiful library table, a cherry droplet dining table, and a cherry corner cupboard.and the oak table down in the basement
Mom put everything in equal piles and had each sister draw for their pile. Seemed the only fair way to go! She won the oak basement table and everyone else realized a heavy sigh that could be hard in the next county!
Mom immediately located a furniture finisher in the town that was home to 3 furniture factories, and they came and picked it up the next week. IN a month dad went to pick it up following the $300.00 refinish. The woodworker pleaded with dad to sell it to him instead . He would give dad $2000.00 for it. Dad stood firm saying this is going straight to our daughter's home! That was 35 years ago. No doubt it is worth much ore now, but the memories are worth so much more!
6. Insert your own random thought here. Yesterday I walked up the street that runs right behind our home. It is a gradual incline with a severe incline at the top. Now this was the first time I have walked in the neighborhood in quite a ling time long before even covid due to various health issues and infirmities. I made it to the start of the steep incline and sudden felt rather unsteady on my feet so I turned around and walked home but I am proud for that small start. I am determined to walk some everyday for the next month and hopefully get a better grip on my mobility and ability to make my upcoming trip! And I continue my physical therapy tomorrow!
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