Friday Favorite Fives

 

Hosted by Susanne!

We have been so busy with the inside of our home since we returned from Scotland, that we don ‘t take account that times are changing outside.  Yesterday we did notice that the humidity had broken and the air felt so fine when we stepped out to get the mail.  I had almost missed turning the page on my calendar. And for that I am pretty grateful.  If you could see my calendar for the past several months every day  was marked with appointments to therapy, of doctors appointments to check on my gall bladder situation, preps for ERCP’s,  It 

seemed we had somewhere to go every day of the week. Then weekends were full of catch up things like lawn care and work around the house. When I look at September there is nothing during the week but  Wednesday when  I go for my allergy shot then on to Bible Study which rejuvenates and inspires. It really struck me yesterday when the plantation shutter folks returned my call to set up a day to stop in to measure and the month was completely open!  It truly is a blessing to feel footloose and fancy for a change!

So  it is grand to just take the day spent it on decorating for fall like I did yesterday.. granted, it isn’t as wonderful as I’ve done in the past, but perhaps at this stage of life less is more and I am perfectly fine with that!  Less means not so much to take down after Thanksgiving. So I am blessed to feel my age, act  my age  and be satisfied in the  this stage of life.  

One of the things that really blesses me is that after all the therapy I did all spring I have learned how to deal with pain and discomfort, and how to do my exercises in bed before getting out of bed which makes a huge difference, and I learned by all the walking and activity I did in Scotland and how I am much more able to do so much now than before the trip by staying active, I am now able to  prepare meals for my friends who are enduring hospital procedures, knee and hip surgeries.  I am not bragging, I am genuinely happy to be the one who can serve them with love and caring!  Thank you, Lord!

 We went out this morning to look for hardware for the cabinets beneath our book cases. I knew that I wanted a Champagne Brass that I had seen on line and was hopeful to find something locally. I just think 

this  brass would look so gorgeous  on my teal doors. Much better than the garish regular brass.. Anyway, the top hardware in town had them and I am over the moon! 

I think about our daughter’s family so much, even though we mainly see then online except for a couple times we visit each other each year.  Since we were together in Scotland, they want us to come to them  for Christmas… well, as each of us, in laws,  take turns visiting the kids for Christmas, it is our turn! I am so thankful Lynn ( Hubs)  told me he doesn’t mind driving up there, I suppose I need  to get over the angst and dread of going again following the close calls we had returning  home from there after our trip.   This will have to be a matter of prayer for me, and I know God did protect us  as He always has,  so I am getting used to the idea of us traveling to Boston again this year! After all, it is so precious to be with our girls in their element.  It is a blessing that they are so looking forward to us coming for Christmas this year, and truth be told I love Christmas there!

Friday Fave Fives

Hosted by Susanne. 

Due to my torn meniscuses in 2019, then shingles, gout,  staying home with covid,  a general lack of exercise, walking, etc, I got into pretty bad shape. I took several months of therapy, that helped but didn’t last. At my age I became pretty sedentary which was the worst thing I could do!

When  I heard about our trip to Scotland I knew I had to do something, so I started more intense therapy and I was  in a good place when we left in July. While I  was in Scotland I started every day with the exercises I could in bed before getting up. I was then able to do everything that meant so much to me, even though for major walking I did take a cane , (ie in Edinburgh and Glasgow). I write this to say, I am amazed and delighted that I am so much better after my trip. All the walking and exercise I got there has helped me so much. I used to get up and could not stand up straight because of lower lumbar issues. Now that is almost completely gone. I find myself walking nice and tall everyday! That lower back pain is almost a faint memory. I am getting around here in the house without thinking about it…getting chores accomplished that I couldn’t even think about before…  for this wonderful change  I am extremely thankful.

One example was walking up to the Queen’sView without my cane. Since we have been home for this last month I am very excited about the work that is being done in our den.  It was a slow start after we got over covid, Lynn had residual fatigue, but once he got started on the project he has really got a lot done.  The room required washing all the woodwork including the two bookcases, doors and window trim and eventually the window glass inside and out. Then the painting of the windows , then the bookcases -a few layers,  and the shelves- which some will be installed today so I can load the books back onto them along with some decor to be styled on them. Then, of course, there is still the window seat problem . We still do not have an exact plan for how to get the seat and front grill disassembled ..it is so tight and it looks like there will be some damage to the wood in the process so a rebuild is going to be necessary.  All this is due to the fact that the seat blocked the radiator heat and the den has always been a chilly room.  But I cannot wait to start moving the books out of the sunroom and onto the shelves. Progress is such a wonderful word!

This has been such a hot summer I am definitely right in there with all those who are pushing for autumn  to hurry up!  I brought the fall storage tubs earlier this week and have had so much fun styling various ares around the house. Today I will work on the fireplace mantel and once the sunroom is cleared of all the den decor, I can start out there. Decorating for fall is so cathartic for me. I just love it because the glorious colors and crisp air make it my favorite season!

Tomorrow is a sort of Red Letter day around here.  One of our dearest friends at church is a couple  we used to be members with at our previous church that  basically failed partly due to covid , then the pastor left.  Anyway, actually three of us families now go to the same church, and this one couple have  a beautiful daughter who recently graduated  from Liberty U and is a teacher .  Our new pastor has a son who was feeling like he would never find a mate , there just wasn’t anyone of age at the church, and he was thinking perhaps he would have to find a new church,  but instead he started praying  that God would intervene for him. Suddenly in walked the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen… in his church and the family joined the church that next week.   Never underestimate what God will do! Tomorrow is the Shower! There is so much joy in the church. God is so good!

You know, or may remember that once we painted the living room and  redid the decor, suddenly I really wanted to be rid of our wonderful piano, a Baldwin we bought  soon after I started working in 1974. I really enjoyed playing it for several years, but once Amanda came along, I just didn’t have that much time for it anymore.  My interest waned, and then I realized I was getting rusty, and then one day I realized my eyes had changed and I could not  read the music well. So there the piano sat , taking up valuable wall  space in the living room. I never thought to get rid of it until this change in there this past winter.  It was pretty sickening to think that pianos are not worth anything anymore and that I would  have to give it away, but we did …to a college friend of Amanda’s who we knew would appreciate it!  It is funny, I guess in my older age I sometimes find myself thinking “ I think I’ll go play the piano,” then stop myself and chuckle remembering , and also remembering how delighted I am that the living room seems so much larger without it. To everything there is a season! All is good!

Friday Fave Fives

Sharing my FFF with  Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

1.  Out the library window  I see  that  Jonas continues to    visit us with  his  wintry wonderland  for those of us who  have the luxury of  staying home and dont have to battle the  ice and  traffic   to work and back home....... one of the many  pleasures of living the  life of retirement.

They say we  can get  24 inches by Sunday!

2. 

Today I chose to  really get into  my  Christmas  presents...So  took down  the  fabulous tea Amanda gave me... Oh, my goodness.... 

 I could just be  elated over the  tin itself...    this   Downtown Abbey    Specialty tea,   but this one , the Estate Blend,   pays tribute to Grannie!!!!  What I've been coaching  lil Birdie to call me if not  grandmama! It may just be   she  calls me what she does now... GAGA... which would also be just fine.... but  as you can see it doesnt take much to get my mind onto my sweet  grand babes...  but back to the tea....  This   is a classic earl grey black infused with    real vanilla bean...  the   vanilla really shines.. makes me  think, 'Now I can't wait to host a  tea soirre' with my prayer  gals...  sooner rather than later!!!!  
3.  So  I  set myself a bit of a tea time....

    

The  wonderful tea tasted so  grand in my    Johnson Brother's  Vintage Charm mug... and   thankfully, I hadnt opened  a present from  Lynn's cousin..Marnee....  Chocolate wafers... just the  item  to  make  my  lovely teatime  extra special.. I love the  beautiful bird on the cup... when I saw it I knew I had to have it, and I think of my lil Birdie  each time!

 Sitting there  looking out the window sipping my tea   puts me in a reverie.... of those  special moments we  shared with  our grandbabes over  the holidays.

4.  Last week,  I  really  enjoyed  our  Netflix membership  especially  watching  the entire  series of  Monarch of the Glen... Amanda had purchased a couple seasons for me  a few years ago..  because I had run across it on amazon but had never heard of  the show....  of course, anything  of  a Scotch, Irish, nature,    thrills me , so I was  overjoyed to  find the series on Netflix...

Many of the  reviews I've read about the show  showed disappointment with the turn over of cast members... but I stayed true to the show to the end and cried  at the end... I didnt want it to be over!!!

-

The  show lasted  about  6 years....  these photos  show the begining and ending  cast members of the show..  but,  for me  alot of it was 

about the land and the  glorious  castle..

5.  Another   Christmas present I  received  was from a dear friend,   Dot. She gave  each of us  girls  Jesus Calling by Sarah  Young.... a daily devotional    about  experiencing the presence of God every day....  I loved today's  as well as every day's  devotional,  for I need to  have it drummed into my thick skull    about  how truly  faithful God is...  I know  it in my mind.. but  it has a long 18 inches to reach my heart  where  so many  strongholds and doubts  creep in....  
Today's scripture reference is Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Because of God unfailing love and His perfect sovereign plan for our lives, we can live each moment free from fear and doubt... accept things as they are, and live through each circumstance looking for God's path.. and he will lead us through!

Five Favorites on Friday

 

Today marks  my  first opportunity to join in with   this fun   meme...click the image to return to Susanne's Place!This  has been an exciting week...

1. Last Saturday  Lynn and I drove up  to  Newburyport, MA.... what a delightful  diversion for 2 old fogies like us...the very first thing I noticed about Newburyport is that is  is laid out  almost exactly like  Donegal, NI! ...  which is btw, my  very favorite  spot on earth! 

 

THis photo  from online   shows   N,Ma  town center... 

as per the following  photo of Donegal.. both are  situated  so   beautifully  about  round   town  centers..

 

The streets  about both  curve ever so   nicely  around   as  several streets  find their apex  at town center! Can you  ever imagine  how delighted I was to find that  Newburyport had a lovely Irish shop right there  across forom the   circle.

 

Again,  an online shot shows  the  main street  a  few shops down...

but  I will now try to post  some of my photos...

 

We were just arriving in town when the similarity hit me...   the Irish store is there on the left.. note  there was the remains of a 2 inch snow from the previous week!

THis being so very near the  Massachusetts northern coast,  a short drive took us to Plum Island  and  a view of their lovely  lighthouse!

 

As we passed back through Newburyport,  the    lampposts were  lit and   the remnants of  Christmas past   were  bidding us adieu!

2.  Another  huge blessing is that our  newest family member is  growing and thriving   and  a  delightful  bundle of joy!!!

 

3.   WE  also  revel in the joy that this one brings us every moment of the day!

 

4.  Our sweetheart, Birdie,  caught GA GA today trying to get the dough done while she and her mom were upstairs tending to baby... When she wakes up from her nap   she and I will  roll out and  cut out our Linzer cookies with  my new  Linzer cookie cutters.. 

 

 

We're making these  plus some with  chocolate in the center!! 

5. 

Birdie and I have done crafts every day since we got here...  and  we have decorated this tree with our handiwork.. pretty  great  working with an  awesome  two year old.. we particularly love the pinterest  project of the hand made owls  out of  paper towel rolls.. we named    them "Hoot" and "Annie"!  
God bless!