Thursday, November 19, 2020

2020~The year I broke the rules!

 






I do feel like I'm breaking all the rules.. plus I think we have passed over into  older age  category.  😟

When we  discovered we would not be hosting  a  dinner for Thanksgiving,  we  just gave in.. I mean,  make that huge mess for just the two of us! SO the other day while we were breakfasting at the  Roanoker  we walked right over to the  take out  window and ordered  our Thanksgiving dinner as take out for  next  week.. so here  is where I am crossing the line of major rules!  We still had our Halloween decor up,  well, it wasn't much.. just a candelabra with orange flowers draping it and and a couple of black cats  on the dining table.. It actualy looked sort of cute...  but today,  when I  put  it all away and started planning a Thanksgiving table, I thought, Why?   To eat food out of a paper bag!  So that idea  when bye, bye,    so now I'm  gladly looking at a bare table  with visions of   Christmas ideas  swirling like snowflakes around in my head!  Problem is I feel my mother and grandmothers scowling down at me from on high.  I mean we've got it so much easier  when it comes to  celebrating  and feeding hoards of family and   killing the fatted goose, with your bare hands, etc..  and here I am so lazy I am skipping right over  Thanksgiving   decorating    and moving  on...  well,  I did send out  Thanksgiving cards  and  I have been counting my blessings!   Is it so bad that I  dont want to decorate the table for a Thanksgiving spread I will never lay!  so  I am breaking rules,   and    hoping  it doesnt come back to bite Me!

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Hosted by Joyce! 
     
1. It's Mickey Mouse's birthday (November 18)...happy birthday Mickey! He reads here, right? Have you ever been to Disney, any of the parks at all? Are you a Disney superfan or something less than that? They're open right now so tell us, would you go if you had the time/money/a free trip?
Hubs and I were among the very first visitors of  Disney World.. We went there in spring of 1972  on our honeymoon very soon after it opened.  My senses were  completely  over charged. I couldnt imagine how wonderful it was.  We were both like  kids  enjoying the wonders of the park!  We went back when Amanda was   a houngster  and  it was still jsut as magical.. Then    for    Amanda's  fiance's  graduation  from gradschool  present we all flew down to go to Epcot..  I loved it best of all. I loved the different countries represented!!!


2. Your favorite place to go when you want to be quiet as a church mouse? Would those who know you well describe you as more churchmouse or perhaps more like mighty mouse? 

Well,my Secret Place to  go to the Lord is a special chair  in the living room..  I do  my best praying and study in that spot..  I mostly go there  when I'm home alone.. I  really  need quiet  to  really  dig in!!!  defintely a  churchmouse!


3. The day before Mickey's birthday happens to be National Homemade Bread Day. Did/will you celebrate? Do you bake your own bread? Last time you had hot out-of-the-oven homemade bread? What's your favorite kind of bread? NO, I won't celebrate Homemade Bread Day.  I am not a loaf bread maker,  but I make  wonderful homemade biscuits and scones! My favorte bread is sour dough. I   do make soda bread, but  I  am not good with yeast!

4. What's something you might say is 'the greatest thing since sliced bread'? I guess Id have to say the Apple ipad..  I certainly use it enough!  I  use it for facetime and zoom!  Facetime is almost as good as a real visit..  except I miss those hugs and kisses!!
 

5. Let's keep the gratitude theme we started last week rolling on through November. Share with us five little things you're grateful for today. Small blessings. One catch-they all must start with the letter T. Gotta keep us thinking, right? 

Timely answers to prayer
Tasty sweet breads  and desserts
Thanksgiving get togethers
Tearful hellos  when we  see  each other after a long quarantine!
Teal evening skies as the stars come out

6. Insert your own random thought here. 
Today is the day I took down  the autumn decor and started    organizing the Christmas... We can do it because my Thanksgiving    will be just the two of us, after all.  So  why not!?!

Tuesday 4

 


Fun Times
Hosted by Anne!




Did you as a child or do you now like amusement parks, going out to
 places of entertainment? (theaters, themed parks, etc.) We lived very
 near Lakeside, one of the most popular amusement parks in the state 
during the 50’s and 60’s. I loved most of the rides but was sort of scared
 of the Shooting Star and the Peanut!Ever since 
I have always enjoyed cultural amusements, concerts, symphonies, plays,
 and films. I'm game to go anytime I can. One of my very favorites is going
 to the Barter Theater!


Which rides/parks did you enjoy the most or what snack foods to you 
enjoy when you are out and about? I loved the Merry Mixer, the Airplanes, bumper cars, and caterpillar. I have always been a pop corn girl. Even 
when we go to baseball games.


When you were a kid, what activities /games/places brought you the 
most enjoyment? I loved to play board games with my neighbor friends. 
 I , also was a great player of Barbie’s. We would take things we found 
around the house and create very imaginative Mid century modern 
apartments, inspired by the movie sets say, from Ingrid Bergman or 
Doris Day movies, or even those older b/w movies when the players 
lived in such gorgeous NY city homes.I will say again,,,we were very 
imaginative, but my friends always liked mine best.


Would you share with us a fun time or great trip that you've experienced. 
When our adopted daughter was 6, we decided to take a great vacation to Philadelphia. You see Hubs and I drove to Philly International Airport
 to pick Amanda up when she was 3 months old. She was born in S. Korea.
 So we stayed on our vacation in the same hotel we stayed in 6 years 
previously. We used the Airport conveyance from the hotel to the airport
 and showed Amanda all about that fatefully wonderful night she joined
 our family. We relived everything. The next day we toured everything
 in Philly, the history museum, which we all loved! And of course the 
Liberty Bell and Carpenter’s Hall. The next day we surprised Amanda 
with a special tour. We had recently read the Trumpet of the Swan to her
 and she enjoyed the love story between Lewis and Serena, two swans in 
the story who ended up living in the Philadelphia Zoo. So we toured the 
zoo from one end to the other and we were getting a bit concerned because
 there was no swan exhibit. Just as we were stepping into the gift shop on 
our way out, we heard a swan trumpet. We hurried to the sound and there
 in a lovely stream were two of the most beautiful swans you could ever 
hope to see. We were so delighted. So on the way through the shop we 
relented and let Amanda pick out one thing.. she picked out a beautiful 
stuffed tiger she called Tigger! We were pretty exhausted so we found a
 nice restaurant and then headed west to actually just drive through Valley
 Forge, probably 150 miles away where we had our next hotel reservation.
 When we got to the hotel Tigger wasn’t in the car! Oh, my! It was the end 
of the world. Dear sweet dad drove us all the way back to the restaurant 
and as providence would have it the cashier had Tigger under the register!
 We were super tired when we checked in there in Lancaster. Thankfully, everything at Lancaster was mainly driving with a few shopping stops, but 
such gorgeous countryside all around, and we were sure to ride the steam locomotive in Strasbourg.Thus ended our Pennsylvania vacation back in 1991. 
At 41, it was a perfect trip. I’m glad people have kids when they are younger, although we were getting along in age when we adopted. Couldn’t do all 
that now!

Monday, November 16, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday

 


                                                                     Hosted by Sandra!


     ♥♥The Weather♥♥

Very



♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Well, we got COVID tests Friday which we passed with shining colors so now I know my horrible symptoms are all allergy! Bah!

♥♥On my mind♥♥

Well, I am still praising God that with this crazy culture and dilemmas we are enduring, I still  am at very much peace in my inner soul. I know nothing takes God by surprise and His purposes will be fulfilled in His timing!  

♥♥On the breakfast plate
Cup of coffee and fruited yogurt, as usual! Thanks to my dear Hubs who has it ready for me every morning!  I am Blessed!

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥
We did the chapter on God's Mercy.....learning to demonstrate God’s marvelous attributes is awesome.  We do have our work cut out for us! Whew!
In His Image, Jen Wilken.
Wonderful book, so well written..  almost poetic!  

We are  reading and discussing this book  weekly  for  Women's Bible Study...Love the book... 

♥♥On my tv♥♥

Youtube videos, Laramie, Hallmark movies,HGTV  The Create channel,  (a PBS station)
I  started watching Fairyland Cottage and Cottage Girl vlogs on Youtube on Tv..  oh,  that is  so  fantastic to watch them on  the big screen!!!
I will add another  great vlog.. Jeri Landers of Hopalong Hollow.  Her  posts  are   amazingly  beautiful.  Such talent and  hominess! I am hooked on these blog..so much better than regular tv! Although , I do understand a new season of The Crown began last night!

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥
Monday:  chef salad
Tuesday: hot dogs, slaw, and baked beans
Wednesday:  Out  to dinner with friends
Thursday: Potato soup 
Friday: Fish fry and tators

♥♥From the camera♥



Our dearest friends...we all met at Cherry Grove Beach a couple of weeks ago and had such a grand time. Here we are at The Boundary House in Calabash.. yummy scallops!   I’m planning on having them all in sometime over the holidays.


Happy Holidays..  they'll be here before we know it!!

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

In fact, we cleaned house today so we can start decorating for Christmas!

A few photos from last year for inspiration!





♥♥New recipe I tried last week, or one that we really enjoyed♥♥
NOTHING THIS WEEK

♥♥Something I want to share♥♥

She is such a wonderful teacher, author...she really calms a tense spirit.   I am filling my life with beauty and peace!

♥♥On my prayer list♥♥
Dear  God,  nothing takes you by surprise. You know everything that has transpired in the last  few years in  our nation..  I won't your time reminding you    but please  know  that our hearts are wrenching from the  knowledge that our nation  has  fallen beyond the pale into the  hands of an evil intity  that has been brewing for  a long itme  but  who has  reared its ugly head  mightiy  in the last   couple of weeks. Deception,   deception deception!!!   YOu know best   what is to be done,  so  we wait patiently for your help!   Thank you for your peace  that passes all understanding.

Devotional::










Saturday, November 14, 2020

Saturday 9


All of Me

Welcome to Saturday 9. Hosted by Samantha!


Saturday 9: All of Me (2013)


Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) John Legend sings he loves his woman's "perfect imperfections." Tell us something quirky or imperfect about a loved one that you would not change. There is a quirkiness about my hubs,  but if I wrote about it it would  make  him  too self conscious.  so I will just appreciate  alone, thanks!

2) John wrote this love song to his wife, Chrissy Teigen. The couple recently lost their baby after pregnancy complications. To whom did you most recently send a sympathy (or "thinking of you") card or message?  At my age,  it sees I've sent  many  sympathy cards and  I can't remember but is probably to someone in our Sunday School class  on the loss of their spouse, or sibling.

3) While adventurous in his creative career choices, John admits his taste in food leans toward the tried and true. His favorites are chicken (rotisserie or fried), macaroni and cheese, and steamed vegetables. What's on your weekend menu?  Today I am making  one of our favorites... spaghetti!


4) When he was growing up, John's mother, Phyllis, helped support the family as a seamstress. Are you any good with a needle and thread? I get by... as a home ec  student I learned to sew  clothing and  Ive made  a few things for the family,  but Im not into  it too much;  I can  do mending now,  but if it is too difficult I send it to   our   dry cleaners..  a gal there does  awesome work!

5) As a child, he was such a big fan of Andy Griffith and Matlock that he wanted to be a lawyer. If you grew up to have the same occupation as the TV character you liked best as a kid, what would you be doing? I be a cowgirl... I loved westerns growing up!!!

6) John is a judge on The Voice. Do you watch that show? Or America's Got Talent, or American Idol?  I do watch  but not faithfully.

7) In 2013, the year this song was popular, twin baby pandas were born at Zoo Atlanta. Their panda parents had been given to the US as a gift from the Chinese, with the understanding that any offspring would be given to China. So, in 2016, the panda cubs were flown to a Chinese conservation center. They had a hard time adjusting at first, confused by jet lag, unresponsive when spoken to in Chinese, unimpressed by their new diet. Have you ever found yourself similarly overwhelmed when you traveled far from home? (BTW, the pandas are doing just fine now in their permanent Chinese home.) I flew to Germany  at age 22 to live for a year... with my husband who  was  stationed there. Flying alone that distance in 1972 was rather daunting.  And living   out on the economy,  in a village  unable to speak the language  was, too.I was fortunant that our neighbor and landlord lived  beside us and his children spsoke ENglish  form school so I helped them  speak more fluently and  they helped  me quite a bit!

8) Also in 2013, The Pope posted his first tweet. What social media platforms do you regularly use?  I'm on facebook, and Instagram.  I am trying to get on Solikick,   which is much like FB, and I just this week got on Parler, but it is too political!


9) Random question: Have you ever a) written something on a public wall or b) carved anything into a tree of bench?Years ago I carved in to tree.

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Tuesday Four~ Showing Kindness



Hosted by Annie!

Do put up birds houses or have a bird feeder or bath?  We have some bird feeders, and a couple of bird baths.   We love to watch the birds at the feeders during the winter.  We do not usually feed them through the year. We have planted various sources for the birds, but winter is definitely the time to remember the birds!

 The bible says your domesticated animals are to eat before you do since they cannot 

provide for themselves , what pets do you have and when do they eat? We haven’t had pets since our daughter, Amanda left home. 

Do you feed the birds in winter?  Yes, we do! 

How can we show kindness to others? Suggestions?

We believe in helping others with acts of kindness... we are actively working on committee in our church to help and serve others in need.   This world is starving for acts of kindness! One way is to pay for the person in line behind you at chic Filet. Or just hold the door for folks coming in behind you.  Showing others that you care and think of them before yourself. 

We send seasonal gifts to children and families to a poor village in Guatemala.  

We do Christmas food boxes for the needy in our community

We serve an inner city after school program that is providing Christian teaching and after school care, tutoring etc.  we help provide food and help with new winter clothing for the children. 

We “adopted” several children through the years in India through Bibles for the World.  Our boy now is Joseph. We pay for his school fees and needs.  He then has the help he needs to get a great education and hope for his future.  His family is ultimately helped as their children receive this boost up in life. We receive letters from Joseph every couple of months.Prior to him we helped 2 other children until they graduated. 

We   give monthly to Operation Smile that provides  corrective surgeries for cleft palates to under privileged children around the world. 

We give month to Samaritan’s purse which helps hurting people all over the world.. due to catastrophic circumstances. 

There are zillions of ways to invest in showing kindnesses where hope is waning and circumstances are crushing in.    And there are so many opportunities in communities .  Senior living facilities are always anxious for people to serve,  sit and visit, read, sing, play the piano.  The virus will not last forever, hopefully!   Writing Christmas cards to soldiers, or seniors, or volunteering at Rescue Missions, especially during the holidays.   



Monday, November 9, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday


Hosted by Sandra!

♥♥The Weather♥♥

Mild this week, but  3 days of rain midweek!


♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Allergies are  CRAZY!!

♥♥On my mind♥♥

Well, I am praising God  these days because He has  poured out His peace on my mind  during this unprecedented time in our  history.  I have never  seen such evil that has pervaded our  nation and usurped  the natural flow of life. Yet,  God's peace shelters me and I am able to rest in the knowledge that He is in control.

♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥
Cup of coffee and fruited yogurt, as usual!

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥
In Sunday school class we  did chapter on God's Justice... how timely!  
In His Image, Jen Wilken.
Wonderful book, so well written..  almost poetic!  

We are  reading and discussing this book  weekly  for  Women's Bible Study...Love the book... 

♥♥On my tv♥♥

Youtube videos, Laramie, Hallmark movies,HGTV  The Create channel,  (a PBS station)
I  started watching Fairyland Cottage and Cottage Girl vlogs on Youtube on Tv..  oh,  that is  so  fantastic to watch them on  the big screen!!!
I will add another  great vlog.. Jeri Landers of Hopalong Hollow.  Her  posts  are   amazingly  beautiful.  Such talent and  hominess!

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥
Monday:  chef salad
Tuesday: hot dogs, slaw, and baked beans
Wednesday:  Out  to dinner with friends
Thursday: Potato soup 
Friday: Fish fry and tators

♥♥From the camera♥♥


Last week  while we were at the Beach we  went to a Christmas shop and I found   a  battery operated snow globe type  decoration that I had seen on QVC and just loved..So HUbs bought it for me..  It is my first Christmas decoration of 2020!


Happy Holidays..  they'll be here before we know it!!

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

I have a  mess in my dining room.    We  finally got our Christmas Child  boxes  filled and off to Church yesterday...


♥♥New recipe I tried last week, or one that we really enjoyed♥♥
NOTHING THIS WEEK

♥♥Something I want to share♥♥


♥♥On my prayer list♥♥
Dear  God,  nothing takes you by surprise. You know everything that has transpired in the last  few years in  our nation..  I won't your time reminding you    but please  know  that our hearts are wrenching from the  knowledge that our nation  has  fallen beyond the pale into the  hands of an evil intity  that has been brewing for  a long itme  but  who has  reared its ugly head  mightiy  in the last   couple of weeks. Deception,   deception deception!!!   YOu know best   what is to be done,  so  we wait patiently for your help!   Thank you for your peace  that passes all understanding.

Devotional::



Farewell

 After  17 years of   blogging  I am  pretty sad to  just fade  out  with  hardly  anyone showing any   farewell,  concern  about my  surger...