Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. Tell us about one fun thing on your June calendar.

We will finally be traveling to see

our daughter and her precious family... our only granddaughters age 5 months and  2 and a half..  We haven't  actually seen them except on face time since January!!

2. How careful are you in the sun? Do you tan or burn? Do you make it a point to see the dermatologist every year?

I have to be very careful in the sun... I will burn fairly easily so I use sunscreen,  and I have to see the dermatologist  at least once a year. My appt is this week actually.

 3. Describe a time when you wanted to 'throw in the towel'.

I  don't like to admit this  because it doesn't sound too good at all,  but  to be at one's  rope's end,,  isn't a good thing either... But last year I was on a particularly  tedious  church  committee..  I was co-chair of the  project end of the benevolent committee.  We have always done the Thanksgiving food baskets  the same way every year...  utilizing the  family Life center  to stage  the  putting the baskets together and  aligning them for pick up on the  special day.Last year even though I had  been working with the office  about  setting things up at the last minute  they  scheduled a party in there on the day before when we set up the baskets  so  that threw us for a loop..  we had much more work setting them up and transporting them all and setting them up early on pick up day. This included almost a 1000 pounds of turkeys and 60 5 pound bags of potatoes.Then when I arrived to start  the transport to the FLC  the  gal who teaches  exercises  was there   leading a class. Mind you it wasn't her day to be there.  and She refused to  stop and move.I just about went ballistic...  Even after I had to  call the  pastor  to have someone with  authority  speak to her... she still refused to move and we had to  work around her and her class.  I  was so glad  that was my last year to serve and ..huh.. I'm, still not sure I will  sign up for that  committee again!  

4. What's a song you love that has a day of the week in the title or lyrics? 

Joye our host has already picked my favorite.... Sunday Morning and Saturday, in the Park...  but let's see... hmmmm...

Monday,Monday by the Mamas and the Papas

5. Are you a fan of berries? Which one's your favorite? What's the most recent berry dish you've eaten? Which blueberry breakfast food appeals to you most-blueberry pancakes, blueberry yogurt, or a blueberry muffin?  I just had  blueberries and strawberries with granola in my Greek yogurt this morning.. Hubs fixes it for us everyday!  I love blueberries,   we like to  cook they down and make a syrup for  pancakes and ice cream. I also love them in salads.

6. What's something you want to do before your next birthday?

Well, my birthday is coming up in about a month,  so I suppose it is to get to see   the home that our kids just bought but haven't signed on yet.  They will close on it  after we leave  when we see them  this month,  but  perhaps  we can get in  during a  carpet measure  trip or something..  I am  very excited to see their new home!

7. June 1st is National Say Something Nice Day, so let's all say something nice here. 
I will be seeing church friends today.  I must remember to Be extra  nice today  although I'm always extra nice.. at least in church!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Is it just us, or do others  have a household disaster zone   at home when doing a reno project.. I mean we are just painting the bedroom... BUT!  some of the stuff is piled in the kids room...  there is our lovely new box spring  propped up  in the doorway...

 The foam rubber  section  is  laying in the guest room where we slept last night...  interesting.. now I know what  daughter means about  "wow,  this room is too bright in the morning!!!"

Then we have the project room..  Now for daughter's  information I did

• remove the wallpaper from the accent wall
• use the swiffer to wash down the walls (that works great, byw)
•  and remove the  hardware from the receptacles

 Of course,  to cover that  dark green we are going to have to  do two coats

Lynn said, "You know we will be waking up to a much brighter room, too!"

Yikes!

I am liking the blue though...  I am determined that nothing returns to this room unless it was preplanned  to accent  and  decorate!!

 Until then, poor hubs! Well, he knew when he married me I wasnt a painter...  well, I am an oil painter on canvas,,   but cleaning up my  drips on the floor makes for  a grumpy  hubby!!

The Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ May 31, 2016

The Simple Woman Day Book

Outside my window

Still celebrating   Memorial Day!

I am thinking
that I am so proud  that  the men in my life served their country  during wartime!

                              Grand Pa  1916           Dad  1943                                         

and Hubs  

1971
I am thankful
to live in this great nation...  
May God continue to bless America!

My favorite things~
face time

fairies 

air shows

to name a few!

I am wearing 
my yellow tee and demin dungarees!

I am creating
a style and   the decor for  our master  bedroom. I never had a room that was planned top to bottom before.. Right now instead of getting the  wingback that is in there redone, I think it is cheaper to just  buy a new smaller chair.. like maybe this one...

 I need to take a  sham  to Pier One and check out the  color..  dont want it to  clash..  But I love this chair!
Today it is on sale for $139.00...  can't beat that!!!

I am reading (read) /watching (watched) / listening to

{where you can share favorite titles, give a book review or pass along a current movie, podcast, music video, or television series you are enjoying}

I am hoping 
to have our bedroom  painted and the old carpet  out by week's end...  the  carpet in that room is    indoor outdoor  glued down around the edges  and has to be    pulled out and  the mastick  has to  be  heated and scraped off of the  hard wood floors...   such a  grisly job...  we've done this before and it was  such an awful job  when we did our daughter's room,  we learned to just live with it with  lots of area rugs....  but  time has come to get that  carpet out of there!!!

I am learning

bide my time...  hahahah

In my kitchen
no plans  of anything special....
  it is a tossed salad night with  leftovers form the weekend!

In my garden

 I am so sad...  because I found, purchased,  and  planted  this gorgeous variety of hydrangea  for my garden... and the next day a deer had eaten it down to the ground..

This would be my dream garden..

source
Shared Quote

A moment from my day

 I love looking at homes on Zillow,  because one of these days we are going to  be  putting our house on the market!

Closing Notes:

Stay close to God at all times... and in attitude of supplication, make your requests known to God.. we have not because we ask not!!!

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I am joining HHM

The weather outside is::::

is mostly cloudy with  mild temperatures  but  high humidity.. showers tonight!

On the breakfast plate this morning::::

I just finished my greek yogurt with fresh  strawberries, blueberries banana, and  granola...  Thanks to my Sweetheart!

And my first cup of coffee! 

As I look outside my window:::

everything is  beautifully lush and  fresh

 and the  hydrangeas  are   popping out all over!  yayayayayaya

Right now I am::::

Enjoying listening to  Bible teaching and  hymns on  the radio as I  type up this post.  

"God will take care of you!!!"

As I look around the house::::

I  see  the guest room piled high with drawers from Hub's dresser and  all the lose items from our bedroom  stacked everywhere.. we are in the midst of  prepping the walls for painting today!  I can not wait to get the painting done!

This is my view to the right.....

I  am looking right into the sunroom..  Lots of  bright light  in there for a cloudy day!  Whew!!

And right in front of me.....

To the left of me:

Looking into the dining room...

On today's to do list::::

Laundry....I have  whites to do today!

Cleaning....Today we are washing the walls and woodwork in the bedroom

In the living room.... This week we do need to vaccuum the living room and  today I need to   Swiff the floors!

Currently reading::::

A trilogy of  Irish historical novels...more about those in another post!

On the TV today::::

Since the bedroom tv is  non opertional  probably nothing.. Hubs  has taken over the den tv!

On the menu this week:::

Remembering those who have passed on today....years ago we would have  spent a lot of tkime preparing flower baskets for graves...  today  I am  thinking of great memories in their honor.

End of  season church dinner this week   for summer... last time for a while to socialize with  church friends

Choir~practicing for the fourth of July  celebration

Family Reunion picnic  

I am taking Strawberry pretzel salad and  

crock pot mac and cheese

What I am creating at the moment::::

decorative  design for our  master bedroom

New recipe I tried or want to try this week::::

New to me....

I have always wanted to make this  but  never   have  but it is a favorite  whenever others bring it!

2 cups finely crushed pretzels

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1 8 ounce container frozen whipped dessert topping, thawed

2 10 ounce package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed

2 3 ounce package strawberry-flavored gelatin

2 cups boiling water

Steps

1. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl combine crushed pretzels and the 1/3 cup sugar. Add melted butter and stir well to combine. Press onto bottom of a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

2. 

In a large bowl beat the cream cheese and 1 cup sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Fold in the whipped dessert topping until combined. Spread over cooled crust.

3. 

In another large bowl combine strawberries and syrup, gelatin, and boiling water. Stir for 2 minutes or until gelatin is dissolved. Carefully pour over the cream cheese layer. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until set or up to 24 hours.

Favorite photo from the camera::::

A salute to  America and all those who served on Memorial Day.

Prayers, Inspirational Quotes or Devotionals::::

HodgePodge Wednesday

1. How should success be measured? Using that as your standard, who is the most successful person you know? (or one of the most successful?)

I have  several  friends and family members  who by the world's standard would be considered very successful..  CEOs  making  loads of money, travelling the world, offices in foreign cities,  and living the 'good' life. But that is not my standard for successful living.

I have learned over the years of my life  and as a Christian that success isnt measured by  the things of this world,  but  it is  spiritually discerned. I am reminded of   Matthew 16:26  that says " For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? "

I  think this because  so many of these  well  to do "successful' people  put their  faith on the back burner of their lives  saying  " Religion is for those who can't of their own initiative.. But I don't need it. I dont have time for it..  maybe,  sometime, but not now!" So  my standard of successful living is in everything you do,  do to the best of your ability  giving  God ,the Creator  who gave you  everything  that enables you to do anything,  the glory  and  live your life as the salt and the light of the world that others might see Christ in you! Temper everything with love and mercy, forebearing with one another and seeking to  think more highly of others than yourself. 

2. Have you ever been to a hot air balloon launch/fest/party? Ever taken a ride in a hot air balloon? Is that on your bucket list? According to Frommers the ten best hot air balloon adventures in the world are-

Loire Valley (France), the Serengeti (Tanzania), Napa Valley (California), Lake Champlain (Vermont), Cappadoicia (Turkey), Istria (Croatia), Gstaad (Switzerland), Varra Valley (Australia), Muelle (Costa Rica), and Albuquerque (New Mexico)

Which one on the list would you most like to experience? 

I have been to  a few  hot air ballon fests..  here in our community...  I was completely mezmerized  but the beauty and  excitement of them.. The last one we went to  was over 25 years ago.. Our  daughter  was about 2 years old. I remember  the fun of chasing the balloons in our car  and  being there when the balloons were coming down all over   hubby's old neighborhood where he grew up.. How  amazing it was to see  them come down in folk's back yards..This  photo was taken a t the airport during the show....  I have no idea where  the  ones are that actually show the balloons...   But I love this photo of Hubs!!!

I would definitely love to attend  a show in 

 Gstaad,Switzerland.. how  amazingly  gorgeous would that be..

online images

3. May 25th is National Brown-Bag It Day. Did you/will you pack a lunch today? When did you last pack a lunch for someone and what are your go-to ingredients for a brown bag lunch? 

I packed many a bag  for my lunch as a teacher...  my go to  items were  peanut butter  ritz crackers,  celery sticks  with  cream cheese,   and  usually a ham sandwich.

We  pack brown bags  as  for our travel days when we go to seeour daughter ... a 12 hour drive.. We pack apples, or bananas,  Nabs, and peanuts, usually,  with bottles of water!

4. What's one of your favorite dance scenes from a movie or television show?

Mostly anything with Gene Kelly  but this one in particular!

5. John F. Kennedy made famous the line, "...Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." So what can you do for your country?

Stay informed,  know  the principles  laid out by the founding fathers  and  seek to  apply them  as I vote  and  converse with others  about the election.. Too many voters  are  completeely uninformed.. But mainly, I can pray,  do spiritual  warfare, over our nation and our leaders, our military,  the  social issues and  educational policies.

6. Weekends are made for________________________.

 Family time,  investing in their home  in activity and work,  fun, and play..  spending time  with the Lord and His word!

7. On this last Wednesday of the month bid farewell to the month of May in seven words or less. 
May, thank you for the cool  rain.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Nothing comes to mind

The Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ May 23, 2016

The Simple Woman Day Book

Outside my window

the early afternoon sun has shone up,  but the air is cool...but the days of lazy rain and really cool temps are over, I do believe... through the window I am getting excited about the promise revealed by the many hydrangea blooms that are setting on my dear plant that was stricken so severely by the late frost this past winter.

and the happy yarrow is radiant in the sunshine! 

I am thinking

What a grand time we experienced yesterday at the Blue Angels Airshow...

what started out as a dismal drear day ended beautifully.... Thank you, Lord!!!

I am thankful

for the opportunity to go to the soaking prayer event last Friday and hear one of my favorite Bible scholars and authors speak.. Bob Sorge, author of Secrets of the Secret Place

spoke twice during the evening. Both times was so inspirational~ Mainly, he spoke on the one very important prinicplesJesus taught on 4 different times in 4 different contexts yet was so important for us that in his repetition of it we must not miss hearing and applying it to our lives.

Matt 10: 34-39

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Life lesson: Make sure your heart's loyalty is to Christ alone!

Mark 8: 34-37

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Life Lesson: Deny yourself and follow me

Luke 17:31-33

In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

Remember Lot's wife.Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Life's Lesson: Do not love and cling to the things of this world

John 12: 20-25

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Life Lesson: Live for Christ and die to self ~ be resurrected to life in Him

For those who have ears to hear will heed these words and apply them in your heart!

My favorite things~

Time spent with my prayer sista's. We met this morning over coffee and Bo-Biscuits. But shared about our lives, situations, families and then spent a good 50 minutes battling in prayer... what an amazing gift they are to me each bringing so much of what  we all are learning about God and allowing iron to sharpen iron, as we prepare for the great battle in the heavenlies... time spent before God in His throne room!!

I am wearing

My red wrap blouse and jeans!

I am creating

plans to get the bedroom prepped for painting

I am reading (read) /watching (watched) / listening to

{where you can share favorite titles, give a book review or pass along a current movie, podcast, music video, or television series you are enjoying}

Lately, I enjoy the cooking competitions on Food Channel... the Kid's Baking Competition and the new Food Star Program.. I can hardly find anything on the other networks that interests me. 

I am hoping

that I can take this framed print to the Frame Shop to have it rematted this week.

I inherited this from my Mother and always loved it as it hung in her parlor... but the dark green mat is blaring in my redone bedroom.. even before I begin work on the room, I must get this print rematted.. the tones in the new room will be pale blue and gray... So I hope to pull the ones from the sky to remat the print... 

I am learning

Just as I wrote that I was learning to hold my tongue last week... my dear friend, Colleen, shared a verse this morning that augments my deep desire..

Psalm 141:3 

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;

keep watch over the door of my lips.

In my kitchen

Do I have to think on kitchens.... not even in the ball park... I will spend little time in kitchen this week.. too many other things to do!

I do know I must prepare crab cakes for supper tonight.. today is the use by date! Yikes!

In my garden

everything is wet and enjoying a growth spurt!!! I am enjoying watching things grow and develop!

Shared Quote

A moment from my day

Hubs and I enjoying the improvement of the weather at the airshow!!!

Closing Notes:

Stay close to God at all times... and in attitude of supplication, make your requests known to God.. we have not because we ask not!!!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Click the icon to return to Joyce's page!

1. Tell us about a time you found yourself 'in the middle of nowhere'. Was this deliberate? 

A few years ago after I retired I became very involved with the ladies' summer Bible Study and right off the bat, it was planned that we would go on a ladies' retreat. I was so excited I was probably the first one to sign up... One of the ladies said she had an old house in West Virginia that her family used for summer vacations so it was decided we'd go there. Now it was a country house with no running water so we each had to take a gallon to flush the toilet,.Ok.. my grandparents were good pioneer stock.. I knew all outdoor privies so  this  would be a cinch!No problem.Well, I was a driver and we all fell in line to follow Jan away from Virginia into the uttermost mountains of West Virginia. I could no more find where we went than the man in the moon.. But after we drove about four hours we made a switch back turn and started going straight up for about another hour.. there were the most eye opening shanties along this road and one had to wonder this must be Appalachia.. but yet we continued.. I know we must have passed the Hatfield and McCoys place about half way up... and soon there were no more houses, but yet up we climbed..

I was beginning to wish this was couple's retreat... or least that we had brought along a big dog. finally we were  pulling off the road down through a field through a clearing right at the top of the mountain...  and there before us was a dilapidated old farm house.. this was to be our home for the weekend.. NO cell phone then... thankfully there was electricity but no form of communication... I would say we were in the middle of no where... BUT.. the Holy Spirit did show up in ways I'd never experienced Him before,. but that is for another post and another time.

2. What's something you're in the middle of today or this week? 

We're in the middle of planning some home improvments that I truly hope will be accomplished before fall... the first is re- painting the master and doing a complete makeover... that isn't the hard one except I need to remove wall paper. yuck! But we have to have a professional redo the half bath downstairs... that requires tearing out a hall closet to enlarge the bath, all new reset fixtures and all new shower and floor tiling.. Finding the professional poses our largest problem... Can"t get anyone to do such a "small" job!

3. At what age do you think 'middle age' begins? What does it mean to be 'middle aged'? 

I think around 50ish... I think of middle age as when your children are leaving the nest for college or marriage... now I was a late bloomer and Amanda didnt graduate high school until I was 53 which was also the age I retired after my 30 years of teaching...I definitely took a left turn in life trying to reinvent 

myself.

4. Ravioli, stuffed peppers, samosas, deviled eggs, steamed dumplings, peirogis, or a jelly donut...your favorite food (from this list!) with something yummy in the middle. Your favorite not on the list? 

As a  lover of Chinese food I  love    Chinese dumplings.. (gouzas)  as well as  stuffed wontons  and egg rolls..

5. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying,"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." Would you agree? Have you found this to be true in your own life? Feel free to elaborate. 

Like  I'd say many people I  was  always one to,  firstly, desire to take the safe road...  stay in my comfort zone and coast... but there is no challenge in that.. and thankfully, I had friends and  mentors  in my life that pushed me out of the nest and taught me to fly...it is through  the challenges we face that  fortitude and endurance are forged and we gain the confidence to move even into deeper water.. I have learned that it is when my feet cant touch the bottom that God bouys me and guides me  through my life..  there are many vistas of great magnitude experienced only in the deeper places  and higher  altitude.That is where we learn to trust    and  we actually  become pliable vessels  for Him!

6. What's a song you remember loving from your middle school years? Do you love it still? 

I would have to say  I fell in love with  this one in 1962  

Now I was  just beginning Spanish lessons...  but I didnt learn it in Spanish..hahaha  but, I would sing  it all the time..I think singing this song is what put my groove on... I was  really  led to  enjoy  smooth jazz and  walk with a bit of  swagger... as this tune  became a part of my DNA!  heheheh

7. May 18th is National Visit Your Relatives Day. Will you celebrate? Which relative would you visit if time, distance, and expense were not considered? 

NO question about it.....our daughter's family!

Alas, I must  wait yet another month to get to see them..

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

We have tickets to  the airshow with the  Blue Angels this weekend  and it has  been raining for the last couple of weeks  and  pretty chilly! After  praying for the rain to stop  by  Sunday.. we just heard  the weather man give the latest update.."Sunny... 72 degrees!!!"  Now that is a praise!