Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Tuesday 4 Dreaming!

Dream.. Dream.. Dream

 
Welcome to Toni's Tuesday 4 friends!  
It's up early due to a busy weekend.
Dream, when you're feeling blue
Dream, that's the thing to do
Just watch the smoke rings rise in the air
You'll find your share of memories there

So dream, when the day is through
Dream, and they might come true
Things never are as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream
                           ........by Johnny Mercer

1. As evenings are long, temperatures drop and we have more time to dream and ponder, are you pondering or dreaming of anything right now?I hate to wish my life away, but I do long for the   spring and sunny,  warmer weather..  I long for  bulbs  bursting  up  from the ground and buds popping out on the trees!

2.  Day dreaming , singing, humming even, can lift your mood and change the entire state of your health.   Do you daydream or sing during the day ? Now that you know it can improve health will you try it?Now that you know it can improve health will you try it?  I do love to listen to music that  inspires   dreaming..  I have several  cd's of Dan Gibson, whose music is quite dreamy!  Click the link below to see  many of  Dan's  compositions and  listings..  

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWLaUoe6IkBZ0kClCcbEs6z6ijZIDFU8r

3. Fess  up friends!   When you window gaze is it because you are nosy or because it's just so lovely outside?  We will still love you no matter what the answer.I  can  day dream  to distraction..  I guess many like my mom would say I've wasted a good amount of time  window gazing.  I think I was even scolded in elementary class  for the same! But I am  a  pretty creative person  and  I loved to write stories as a young lady,  so  I think it is probably reasonable that I spent  a good amount of time within myself  dreaming  of what could be! I still do, as a matter of fact!

4.Daydreams can become reality if they stir us to action.    Were there any times in your life when dreams came true?  As I consider this question the first thing that  came to mind was the fact that  God in His  majesty and good gifts   provided many opportunities for my life that I never even  considered  in my dreams..  I dreamed of adventures,   but never dreamed  I would actually live  a year in a foreign country  before I ever  began my life's work. It was a land of  castles and  marvelous  tales of  fantasy  from my youth,  and I got to  visit and  be a part of  them before I was 23..

That is just one way God worked in my life  offering me  the   reality of many such dreams I am sure I  visited as a youth!

We actually lived  right beside this  mountain range  called the Odenwald  which   was  the  area  where the  Brothers' Grimm lived and got so many ideas for their stories!  We could see this ruin from our  living room window!

  This is Frankenstein's Castle which Mary Shelley visited  and was so taken by the   horror story of the actual man who lived here  was compelled to write  her  own story  about the  site!  We arrived  at this castle  right at dusk and saw it    in it's most ghoulish setting..  We were the only ones  there at the time..   It was rather chilling as we had just read the true story of Dr. Frankenstein!




Monday, January 27, 2025

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Hosted by Sandra.

               *** The weather in my neck of the woods*** 


  
Monday - 50/33 sunny
Tuesday - 52/37 windy
Wednesday- 58/31 sunny 
Thursday -  51/36 mostly sunny
Friday -  54/40 showers
Saturday -  52/45. Showers
Sunday - 50/37 cloudy
 
 Oh, how I am loving these warmer days! 

 *** Things that make me happy ***

  This weather is compelling me to undo the wintry decor and pull out the spring.  Now that will make me extremely happy!


*** Book I'm reading *** 
I am reading and so enjoying, Pride and Prejudice..  yes, Jane’s fabulous book.  This is about the 6 th time I’ve read it.  My favorite book since my teen years! 
                                    
*** What's on my tv today *** 
YouTube
Homemaking vlogs
 All Creatures Great and Small  
 
Hallmark
When Calls the Heart
Various    movies  I enjoy over and over

  
*** On the breakfast plate *** 

Early  this morning I enjoyed my yogurt and coffee.  But then Lynn and I went to the dentist.  Great reports,  so then we dined at our favorite breakfast spot, The Toastery. We got the Breakfast Sandwich  which I like to deconstruct and dine on my 2 eggs over medium, crisp country bacon, cheese, on sour dough bread. And my side is a fresh fruit cup with coffee. 
 
*** On the lunch plate *** 

Our breakfast out sufficed as lunch as well! 
 
*** On the dinner plate *** 

Homemade Potato soup and a lovely romaine salad! 
 
 
*** On my to do list *** 
Today: 
Dental visit
Lunch out
A visit with a new orthopedic doctor.  This is to check on my back and sciatica!  Hoping for some relief!
Work on my Community Bible Study Homework

 
This week: 
Attend CBS small group
Dine out with our church group 
Swiffer the floors upstairs vaccuum the carpets
Put my washed and folded clothing away
Work on my  Jackie Lawson February birthday cards to send


*** No words needed***


***Devotional***



Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Tuesday 4

Weathering the Storm...

Tuesday 4, hosted by Annie!
Weathering the Storm

 Hello .. This is Toni's Tuesday  4 where we strive to get you thinking and blogging and connecting with others.
 The saying used to be on my blog as a description: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."
This was important to me when my spine went south on me.  I was born disabled  and became a dancer.  Now I am disabled again. Que sera, sera, whatever will be will be.   But we keep on going. and turn the lemons to lemonade...or we should I think.
Let's talk about it because we have all been there, done that.

1. What/who is your rock through the storms of life?My dear husband  is my rock.  Actually, I do not think I could get by without him  at this stage of life.. I am in my mid u0'[s and   my health is  hanging in there,  but my body is   weak and  pretty painful.  I cannot negotiate steps well. I certainly can not carry  items with me  so    there it is.    
What beliefs do you have to stand on? OH, I absolutely depend on  my lord and savior  Jesus Christ, and   God  for the air  I breathe and  every   moment that I live! Prayer is  very important in my life!

2.  Do you take precautions for bad storms? What precautions do you take? Well, we do not have tornadoes,    hurricanes, and floods  per se   
right here  where we live.  We may have   downpours that  supersede our  drains  and must  eat,ch    how things are  going  as  our back door is flush with the sidewalk outside! IfWe live on the side of a hill and sometime   the rainwater  flows downtime hill at such a degree  we    can take measures to  divert the water  flowing down our  driveway toward the house.  But that is  about  all we do  in the wake of storms.

3. The Sheep are caroling in the snow... do you sing during the tough times? I sometimes, do actually.  certain hymns bring me solace..   Because God is so faithful.. I  sing Great is Thy Faithfulness:
                                          “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
                               There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
                                   Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
                         As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
 
                             “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy             faithfulness!”
                         Morning by morning new mercies I see;
                      All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
                 “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
          2
                                 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
                    Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
                     Join with all nature in manifold witness
                To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3
                                Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
                Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
                       Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
                    Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

    What things, what activities pull you through?  I  certainly pray..  talking to God is a great  solace!  I  may just write  in my  journal and listen to  christian music!

4. Whatever we do, we should be there for others in the difficult times.
What advice can you give to those who are going through a difficult time now?  Phone calls,  notes, and visits are  one  thing.. Sometimes I take a meal and a visit.

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Hosted by Sandra.

               *** The weather in my neck of the woods*** 


  
Monday - 20/10 falling temps
Tuesday - 25/9   cloudy and breezy
Wednesday-26/11  sunny and cold
Thursday -  37/20  cloudy  
Friday - 40/20  flurries
Saturday - 43/33  cloudy
Sunday - 50/37 cloudy
 
 
 *** Things that make me happy ***

  Having  facetime with my granddaughters.  Can't this weekend  because they are  occupied!





*** Book I'm reading *** 
I am deep into   my cosy mystery... 
                                    

*** What's on my tv today *** 
YouTube
Homemaking vlogs,  Weather,  and   I watched  the first show of  season 5  of  All Creatures Great and Small  that I taped.
 
Hallmark
When Calls the Heart
Various    movies  I enjoy over and over

  
*** On the breakfast plate *** 
Lynn brought me my  fruited yogurt and  coffee!

 
 
*** On the lunch plate *** 
We dined out after church with our friends, the Walters!  We ate at our favorite Mexican  spot.  Gerri  and I enjoyed the   Quesadilla Delicioso and a slice of  chocolate  chess pie. 

 
*** On the dinner plate *** 
Haven't eaten yet!

 
 
*** On my to do list *** 
Today: 
Change bed linens
Get my 2k steps in
Cook a pot ot potato soup
Read  the Bible
 
This week: 
Workout and 2k steps every day
dust mop the floors  and rooms down stairs  
Grocery shopping

*** No words needed (favorite photo or picture) *** 


 But I must tell the story.  I got  a  letter from one of  our grand daughters  who sent her love to Farmer Brown..  and about that moment Lynn came down dressed  just like this to go out and  work on the ice on the driveway.  So I had to take a photo to send to  Viv!

***Devotional***



Saturday, January 18, 2025

Saturday 9. Careless Whisper

 Welcome to Saturday: 9. Hosted by Sam!



Saturday 9: Careless Whisper (1985)
    
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
 
1) In this week's song, George Michael sings that, when it comes to relationships, "there's no comfort in the truth." Have you ever learned something about a friend, lover or relative that you wish you didn't know? Yes,  in all three and it was a bit devastating… nothing I’d wish to share.

2) Though this was the top song of 1985, George wrote it years before, when he was still working as a dj at a restaurant outside London. He recalled the moment the sax solo popped into his head. It was while he was on the bus on his way to work. If you go to work, how do you get there (car, bus, train, etc.)? If you don't work outside the home, tell us about a trip you make regularly. I drove to teach school about 25 miles into the next county! I had about 5 different routes  I could take and utilized them all, especially on those days I could not face the interstate!
 
3) The video for this song was very expensive. It was filmed on location all around Miami, including the luxury Grove Towers Condominiums, but then much of it had to be reshot because George didn't like his hair. Are you having a good hair day today?  Much better than yesterday’s hair! I washed it this morning and used a nice product! But yesterday, even though I was also going to church I was the coordinator for an important meal and I worked hard before going to the church and worked in the kitchen for. 5 hours!  I had to wear hair pins  to tame my granny  frizzy hair! 

4) 1985 was a big year for George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. As Wham! they had three songs on the charts and became the first Western pop music act to tour China. Have you ever visited China? Would you like to go? No interest what so ever!
 
5) When he wasn't working, George was a creature of habit. For example, he never tired of Cocoa Puffs for breakfast and roast chicken for Sunday dinner. Is there a menu item you find yourself eating again and again? Even though I don’t want to go there, I do love Chinese food!

6) George enjoyed living quietly in Highgate, North London. It wasn't until after his death that his neighbors learned he was the "anonymous resident" who had been funding Highgate's Fair in the Square for years. Held in June each year, The Fair is known for its dog show, arts and crafts booths, music and food. Tell us about one of your community's annual events. We have Dicken’s of a Christmas each weekend of Dec. but we have never gone! 
 
7) According to Car and Driver, when "Careless Whisper" was popular, so was the Chevy Cavalier, a compact car. Nearly 40 years later, the vehicle landscape is very different. There are fewer compacts sold and last year, the most popular Chevy was the Silverado, a light duty truck. Do you drive a car, a truck, or an SUV? A SUV. 

8) Also in 1985, Bill Shoemaker's earnings reached $100 million, making him the world's most successful jockey. Do you follow horse racing?  I love to watch the Triple Crown! 

9) Random question -- In which race would you do better: the Iditarod, with sled dogs in Nome, or speeding in a race car at the Indy 500?  We used to attend the races in Bristol and Atlanta! ID love to have driven there back in the 70’s!
 

Monday, January 13, 2025

Winter Musings


Monday, January 13, 2025

                                                          Hosted by Annie!!!

Winter Musings


 Hello and welcome once again to Toni's Tuesday 4. 

It's cold in these United States.  Everyone seems to be chilly and some have blizzard conditions to contend with.

But I think winter is a time for us, as well as animals, to hibernate and take things slow and easy.  I think many find themselves a bit more sleepy than usual and maybe we are supposed to take the time to rest... Let's talk it over okay?

1. Do you find yourself a bit more lazy or tired as the nights get longer or does it not seem to do much to you? In general how are you doing this winter?  Oh,  I usually  go upstairs    get all  wrapped up in my  jammies, and crawl in bed right after dinner.;  The way Hubs can watch whatever he likes in the den  and I usually  listen to  moody music while I do a few crossword puzzles, sometimes I color a  page in my  Apple tablet,  and then I love to  visit on Facebook the reels  .. I am so enamored by the   cute  babies..    and   several of the other  items that pop up...  of course many I pass on by.   not  up my alley at all.   but those babies are so precious.  then like last evening I put it all away and turned on Hallmark to watch When Calls the Heart!!! AS I have written previously my knee is ripe for replacement so I ahve trouble getting  around , especially out in bad weather.. I look forward to this eek.  the  weather report promises warm and clear days.  I  can get out a bit this week!!

2. Do you appreciate the extra hours of dark that allow for more sleep, more leisure, less travel and hurry or not?  I do enjoy the longer evenings  when I can sleep  Last night I slept like a baby all night long,, but the night before laid away from 9:30  when Hubs  turned out the light til 4am.  Not fun!!!

3. I know I love a hot drink on a chilly evening and the quiet of the streets outside as people stay inside more on cold nights.  I feel more relaxed in the winter.  How about you?  Yes,  IN a way,  but our  85 year old home has a cacophony  of its own which still after  40 years   can disturb my senses!  I rather enjoy the jovial sounds of  friendly neighbors and youth.  so  I guess it just all depends on the  event and the times!

4. Do you ever gaze out of your window like Miss Kitty in the picture just watching the world go by? How do you find yourself relaxing on a chilly evening?I look out  through the shutters  every time during the evening to check on  my near by neighbors. I find it very calming to see lights on  in other homes.  We always have  our property alit because the police did a safety program on  that.  The neighbors right behind us  do ahve lights most of the time.. the opposite corner  across  the street  is dark most of the time.. Our  neighbors beside us  go dark overnight  by 7:30    their    yard is  black hole.     Thankfully, there are lights on the other  side of us.. . I very  thankful there is a street   right on the edge of our back property   and  there is a street light  right  in the middle of the back edge of our  home..  When it does out.  Im always on the phone calling to get the bulb changed!!!

Happy Homemaker Monday


 
Hosted by Sandra




*** The weather in my neck of the woods*** 
  Just like  so many across the nation,  we  have snow.. and have had it for over a week,  MY problem is  with my  knee ripe for  surgery,  I  haven't been outside  for  over 3 weeks.   Sciatica dos not  help the situation.    At least I did get dressed today and am  counting my steps  so I can build up  more strength,  and am so hopeful to get to go out  a bit tomorrow!    My problem is  thankfully the snow will melt a bit today  but the snow is very piled up on my side of the car  form  where  Hubs shoveled.  so I  will need a path dug out to get   to the car! So    We will see!
  
Monday -45, cloudy, breezy 
Tuesday -34,  partly cloudy, breezy
Wednesday - 31, sunny, cold
Thursday -  41, sunny,  breezy
Friday - 48, sunny,   
Saturday -47, showers 
Sunday - 42, wintry mix possible.  Praying against that.. 
I do have a doctors appt  the  the following  Monday..   I had to cancel appointments  last week  because of snow and ice!!!    Otherwise,  Thank You, Lord for a better  forecast and I do pray   for  all who  are infirm  if  they dnwe  do  enter out and about you will  give them favor and  keep them safe, in  Jesus name!!! Amen!
 
 *** Things that make me happy ***
I noticed the response our hostess put upon here  about enjoying the old programs we  loved as a child.  I will go way back here, but over the holidays I found  several of my favorite shows on Youtube. I shared them with my granddaughters.They loved My Little Margie and  Sky King! I love to FaceTime with my gals.  They live 700 miles away so  we  rarely see them in person!   But  I do praise God for the ability to see them online  once a week!          
 
*** Book I'm reading *** 
Our daughter  gifted us with the most  wonderful  book.. 
HUbs and I are both reading this through the psalms!  It is beautifully written.  We love it!! I am Las, I  cosy mystery  reader.  I truly love  Laura Childs books as they  are   written  around  a  Tea room of Charleston.  I couldn't as for a better setting!!! I  am reading the Christmas  book..  Twisted Tea Christmas!
These days I need  extra light to  read  the fine print..  SO hubs  got me a  portable reading light for Christmas ... I love it!!!

*** What's on my tv today *** 
YouTube
Homemaking vlogs,   Christian   podcasts  etc
British Homes  for sale    .. various  programs
 
Hallmark
When Calls the Heart

All Creatures Great and Small on PBS  Season 5
Cooking shows  and    
Home town

  
*** On the breakfast plate *** 
Today I enjoyed leftovers..   A slice of   vegetable quiche hubs made yesterday for lunch and  homemade pancake I made on Saturday  along with   coffee and fruited yogurt!

*** On the lunch plate *** 
a veggie tray.. including  celery with the most delicious 
pimiento cheese 
 
*** On the dinner plate *** 
a scrumptious taco bar

*** On my to do list *** 
Today:
Get dressed.. first time in a couple of weeks!
Meal plan and grocery list  send Hubs to the  market 
Concentrate on my 1k  steps and prep for making it a 1.5 K  before the week is out,  I am 75 and have been infirm for some time!
 
 The rest of the week:
Do some meal planning
Try to get out with friends  for dinner  one night  during this  warm spell  If I can get to the car!!!
Try to  get back on   my WW diet plan..  hard to stay on it over the holidays and while I have been  so ill. 
Undecorate the tree in the living.   It was so pretty..  best we ever had.  covered in ornaments!  ðŸ˜…😢Work on my Bible Study for CB
 
  
*** No words needed (favorite photo or picture) *** 

 

This does not  show up like it should  but the full moon was glorious when I looked out  yesterday in the late afternoon!!!
Click on the photo to enlarge it  and then you might see the  beautiful moon!  
*** Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses ***
This may contain: two birds sitting on top of a tree branch in the snow with words written below 
  


Saturday, January 11, 2025

Facing 2025!

We are well into the new year..Let us reflect on this verse for January!

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

2025 has  already  begun,  and as we  move forward, , this verse encourages patience and reliance on God. In January, when you’re planning and setting goals, remember that waiting on the Lord renews your strength. As challenges   come,  move   purposefully,  unwearied and persistent, empowered by His presence.

One of my goals for January and February, aside from accomplishing the health challenges and medical adventures in play for winter, Lynn and I need to really make a priority of downsizing in our storage …and I mean, our basement needs overhauling. Many trips to the Salvation Army are warranted. Closets and drawers will be my job, especially the closet in the guest room, which is my closet! It is really bad.  Not so much the clothing rack, as I have purged all my fat clothes, but the floor and shelves are packed. I have maybe 5 storage boxes stacked on the floor and the shelves have not been gleaned in decades. I am sure I will find items from our 39 year old daughter! I mean elementary school projects! But my purpose in this is to prep for the rapture.  Getting rid of old personal items , or if time goes on, we need to move.  Hard to come to grips with that, but we really need to live on one floor! 


Friday's Fave 5

Hosted by  Susanne!                                         Does time seem to be flying by? I am getting so I cannot keep up... sos I am doi...