And Then There’s the Dining Room

It really does help to inspire me to go back through the years and review what was done around the house. 

The side table is always an easy fix …will just have to be sure to have the toppers ready to go! 

Once the boxes are upstairs  I can sit and create some arrangements… I always love to put things together!

So I think it is decided.. I will be using the red transfer ware.  It can always be changed up just by adding the black Christmas  salad plates. Yes, I love that look!

If I do use the red transfer ware then the Christmas Tree plates do look great on the hutch.  And I remember during covid I used my Susan Branch books as part of the decor. I think the girls would enjoy looking through them and  pick out a cookie recipe or two!That’s a plan!

Oh, yes, last year I did a play on the red truck theme.. I never bought a red truck.  Too expensive, but we used one of Lynn’s little trucks we saved.. a little blue pick up. I created a tree farm with twinkle lights and a truck to tote the tree home.   The girls would have fun creating this tables cape!

It looks like  the dining room is a cinch, but I must put going to the Country Store on the list.  We’ll need a few of their gorgeous poinsettias!

 

Living room inspiration

 To put up a tree or not put up a tree!

One option is to simply decorate the small seasonal tree and  really do the rest of the room with lights and festive decor!  That way the furniture can all stay in place!   I am really leaning on this!  

Otherwise to put up a regular tree, means moving furniture, but I’m not so sure it has that much impact!  

Well, let’s look at other years…

When we do not move the gate leg table

 When we do and put up the large tree…

Ok, this is going to take some consideration!

Inspiration is All I Can Handle at This Time

 

Ok, so I appear to be skipping Thanksgiving. BUT, when life throws you a curve ball you sometimes have to switch lanes and go with the flow. So I lie here in bed now bored out of my gourd while visions of sugar plums dance in my head! Meanwhile my life is passing me by and I am in waiting mode , in quarantine until next Wednesday when I return to the hospital for my second endoscopy to very hopefully resolve my bile duct blockage and receive the much awaited good news that there is no C related to my situation!  I am so very expectant of good news and a huge swing back toward feeling good again and allowing this ole gall bladder to heal itself so soon after Thanksgiving it can be surgically removed!  That is the plan!

Of course, this is the year we were assigned to travel to New England to combine ourThanksgiving and Christmas with the kids, that just isn’t going to happen And I’m really sad not to be celebrating with them in their home.. we haven’t been there since covid in 2019 and , well, we are not getting any younger.

It is so great to visit our daughter and enjoy the fruits of her homemaking talent!

Thankfully the kids are coming here during the week of Thanksgiving, and we will celebrate both with them.. It is better to plan a turkey dinner but have our home Christmassy…oh, how I wish I had the strength and fortitude to get right at it, but alas, no. But I do love to plan… so I am using my blog to gain my inspiration about everything!

Meanwhile it is Lynn and I against the world!  God bless him for his help and love! 

Tuesday 4

October Thoughts

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

Hosted by Annie!

This week, let' talk about October. Toni sure enjoyed facts about the months and questions on that topic too.

1. What are your feelings about the month of October? Does it bring anything special to mind for you? Do you have memories to share?This October has been different from all others in my life. Beginning October 8, I  developed a wicked bacterial infection which was wrongly diagnosed as  a UTI.  I  was  insanely  ill and I don't think I ate more than 2000 calories the whole of that week.  I was on a very strong  antibiotic  which I could keep down, but no food whatever. After a week, I returned to the lab  to check the urine which was fine, but the technician noticed I was jaundiced. Neither Lynn nor I had picked up on it! I  just looked ill! Thus began phase two of my October.

2. We were  encouraged to rush to the Er  which to our sorrow was like a war zone. There were hundreds of people everywhere -some in beds lined up against the hallway walls  others  dragging  their IV poles after them  sitting or lying in the waiting room. We arrived at  about 2:30.We  were not triaged until after  midnight.  I could barely hold my head up. All this disarray was due to the ravages of covid and the  terrible depletion of  nurses, doctors and other staff who have left their positions.    We were shocked to see this and hear the plight of so many    dedicated  servants!  We  were so grateful to be taken to a triage room where we spent  that night.I  was poked and prodded and  taken for  a cat scan and  ultrasound. Soon after  teams of doctors were  piling  in-  one set of oncologists and another team of  regular   hospital  surgeons.  There was some debate about what the results of my  tests  were  showing,    but I will tell you I wasn't about to accept what the oncologists were saying after two   tests. By morning I was ensconced in a room upstairs and there in began 4 days  of some delirium, more prodding and poking  and  wondering if I would ever be given a bite of food again. 

3. I must say I was glad  to  be where I was and the care I  received was  wonderful.  The debate continued  until  on Wednesday I had  an endoscopy which showed much light on the topic.  I had a very diseased gall bladder  due to a 3cm stone blocking  the duct to my  liver and another  duct Im not sure where. Stents were administered and antibiotics were pushed  through the iv  continuously   for the next 3 days.There were MRI s, exrays, more blood tests than anyone should ever endure.  My arms were pincushions and  all bruised.The oncology team backed out. praise God and a surgeon came on the spot to  tell me I had to heal  my gall bladder before  surgery so Im looking down the road at that sometime before Christmas.  Another    event that changed my life was  I was awakened on Thursday with a nurse running around because my blood sugar had crashed to 40.I actually volunteered the nurse's name who  came to the rescue  at 5am and brought me tasty food   and drink to  bring my sugar back up to 116 in 15 minutes  for a commendation for services rendered  above and beyond! After the  determined  amount of antibiotics had been administered I was released Friday night   to come home  and continue  strong antibiotics here e  and  try to recover from  my ordeal. This week the phone has rung off the hook  with more  appointments and  procedures to prepare for my next endoscopy   which will definitively rule out cancer and    destroy that  stone.There is more to the tale but  you probably had had enough!  I know I have! But here is my praise . My dear team of physicians  listened to me cry  that my  holiday plans  for November  were coming  up and please can I see them through.. This is the year  we  see the kids for Thanksgiving and do Christmas at the same time.  The other branch of the family  celebrated at Christmas time. Praise God the surgeon said it would be best to wait until after Thanksgiving to do the surgery.. then all should be healed and I would be stronger!   Glory to God!!!

4.Autumn is not the same as Fall. Fall is the time when the leaves are actively falling.  What activities of Autumn/Fall do you enjoy?  Do you decorate your door or home for the season? Well, I am so far off base with Autumn.. but   here it goes. Lynn and I did all our  gift shopping online  and paid for all on Saturday from my bed.  For if we are doing Christmas here  during the week of Thanksgiving  I needed to get Johnny on the spot. Today I have been  copying and pasting   recipes  from my favorite sights online  .. recipes that are  festive and easy.   Entertaining with Beth is my  recipe  guru.. Check out her vlog!!!!YAYAYA! I have shared  my home as it it is decorated for Thanksgiving,  but since I will only get a week of the kids coming to us instead of 2 weeks as we had planned before  when we were going to them , We will cook for Thanksgiving, but decorate for Christmas.  I'm not really up for doing much as of yet.. Hopefully after  Nov 3 , following the endoscopy I will be feeling much stronger..  But  I will be planning   my decor and  gradually getting things  started,  but  I think the girls would love to help do the major  decorating and  we'd make new memories at Gaa Gaa's house!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Hosted by Joyce.

1. What obligation do you believe you have to your country? My family was taught through the generations to serve this great country.  Even with its flaws it has been blessed by God to do great things. Therefore, we give back through service. We have had many of our men March off to war, or serve in the Cold War to maintain the balance of powers.  Two of my young cousins in this generation have served,.. one on an atomic sub, and another is in Ranger School. Young women in our family have served as teachers, entrepreneurs,  and nurses, while other young men have served their community volunteering with rescue and fire departments.  Perhaps most importantly we must stay abreast of our nation’s political situation and vote responsibilities thinking of what kind of nation our grand children will have .. therefore, Lynn and I meet to pray for the nation every week with others who are seeking a nation that returns to Biblical standards of right and wrong.

2. October 12 is National Farmers Day? Do you know any farmers? What do they farm/grow/raise? Are there any farm stands where you live? Do you shop there? My favorite farmer was my grandfather who owned a large dairy farm in SW Va. …spending time on the farm helped me in the formation of the person I am today.  We live at the foot of a mountain that leads right up into farm country and a few farm stands from up there set up shop near us.  We shop there right much for good, fresh summer produce. 

3. What's a skill you think everyone should have? Tell us why? I think everyone needs to be taught the value of money and to develop the skill for providing for themselves and their family. They need to understand  monetary principles , banking,  mortgages, etc.and  should be taught the importance and integrity of work  which is the means for  their needs and wants.

4. Favorite thing you've purchased this year? Our new car, 2021 pearl white Subaru.

5. What's your favorite place to visit in thefall?  I have to name 2.  Nearby we can drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the beauty of fall. Of course, we also love driving to New England…to see the kids and enjoy autumn there, as well. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.  I am somewhat jealous of our daughter who while shopping at Whole Foos happened upon one of all time favorite Star Chefs..Ming Thai, who was promoting one of his new food items. Ming does have a fabulous  restaurant in Boston,  This in a community A bit further out where Amanda 

Tuesday 4

Blogging

Hosted by Annie, 

 1.  How often do you blog? What helps you blog.. what hinders you? I try to blog every day. I like to join a meme every day of the week except Sunday. Sometimes I miss Thursday and Saturday because of time restraints.

2.  What benefits do you get from blogging? Are there any?I enjoy blogging. Many days it is the only writing I do and I find writing very pleasurable. I think of my blog as an online album of life events. 

 
3.  Have you ever changed your blog theme?  No. 

4. Where do you get your ideas for blog posts?   From the various memes I follow and also the Holy Spirit has led me to topics now and again. I do wish for my blog to be inspiring and to honor God. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hosted by Sandra over at Dairy of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather 

Monday sunny, 72

Tuesday cloudy, 76

Wednesday  sunny, 73

Thursday rain, 64

Friday  sunny, 63

Saturday cloudy, 54

Sunday Partly Cloudy, 53

With  a bit of running around to do this week,  it is nice  to have  more pleasant weather!

On my mind

After almost a month of suffering with this  gall bladder problem,  I am finally  in a mend, enough to get some Christmas decorating done.... even if very slowly.. Being  so  poorly for a month has  made me weak with a  terrible  lower back.. But    if I keep moving it gradually improves!

On the breakfast plate

Coffee, 2 eggs, and a small bagel.  I have to watch my dairy intake while on this particular  antibiotic!

On my reading pile

Nothing.. at this time

On my tv

Hallmark movies and and Christmas vlogs!.

Interesting youtube vlog I saw this week:

I really love  Entertaining with Beth.  Her food is amazing and to watch her it seems  fairly simple!

On the menu this week  Yn is  doing most of the main cooking  ..  so ???

Monday -Split Pea soup and  a bit of leftover brisket

Tuesday -  

Wednesday - soup and sandwich 

Thursday- 

Friday -  baked cod, and spinach salad.From the Camera an   Looking around the house

From the camera and Looking around the house

I created a new look on the hall cupboard  I am pretty happy with it!!!

 I , also, got some table top arrangements done today!

Since we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas at the same time, essentially, during one week, I took a fall arrangement and added a bit of red  while removing the sunflowers...  I rather like it!!!

On my to-do list

• appointment with the  surgeon who will eventually remove my GB
• follow up appointment with ophthalmologist who did my  laser treatment is coming up soon
• Straighten up the guest room
• Intercessors for America
• Study group  study of the minor prophets
• Bible Study of Hosea

To relax this week 

Listen to Christmas music, Bible Study, vlogs,

Prayer and devotional

Praise for the election results here in Virginia!!! 
Prayer about the influx of illegals into our nation,
everywhere that persecution is taking place...

Our government leaders to seek God, and for the fear of the Lord to

 spread among all people.
For healing of the sick,
 salvation of the lost,
 deliverance for the hurting,
the supply, food, and building shortage problem: may it not  become

 a huge crisis  
Churches to arise and pastors to  preach according to our times and

 this days.. very vital!
protect our children from the ungodly teachings and protect them

 from ungodly people who wish them harm for their own purposes. 

Especially for  people to turn or  return to God.   Only He can

 save..  There is no other way to God except through the shed blood 

of His son! I cannot imagine negotiating these days  without knowing

 that  God has my back.  Otherwise, I would be a basket case. He is in 

control ;even  the  terrible things He is allowing for his own purposes

 and it may be for the judgement of America. A nation cannot kill 63

 million babies and think God doesn't notice and care.  His judgement

  may be  right around the corner,  but His people  will go through it 

 in the palm of His hand. Please  turn to God through Jesus Christ.