Thankful Thursday

Today I'm linking up with blogging buddy, Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand to show a little gratitude to the One from whom all blessings flow. Visit Rebecca Jo to join in or find more lists to read. 

This week I am thankful...

** I am finally over the virus!!!

** I got to share in the fun of Colton's field trip to the aviary and encourage the kiddos in their love of learning and nature.

** for a beautiful day today before storms roll in tomorrow and winter returns on Friday.

** to live in an age when technology allows me to enjoy my shows when I have time.

** for the birds singing every morning and the spring peepers singing every evening.

** I was able to treat my friend to lunch for her birthday.

** for every smile, every giggle, every hug from my grandchildren.

** Megan brought her Maine Coon over today to see if he and Jasper got along because when we go on vacation Jasper is going to stay at Megan's house so the cat sitter (a friend and neighbor) can take care of all of them at one house. Oh, and they basically could not have cared any less about each other.

** for books! I've been reading some very interesting books lately and I just got the new Janet Evanovich, the first in her new series...which I just might start today while the thunderstorms roll through.

** for the incomparable peace and joy my relationship with the Lord brings me.

** for the love, support, and laughter all the people in my life give me.

I hope you are all having a great week and are thankful and on the lookout for all the blessings coming your way!

Currently...

I am...

Reading...  A Son is a Son Til He Gets a Wife: How Toxic Daughters-in-Law Destroy Families  This is a quick read, but man the emotions it brings to the surface. Many of you know that we are estranged from our son, and therefore, our grandchildren. We did not do anything so wrong that it should warrant such a reaction. We believe his thinking and emotions have been manipulated by his wife. We were close and had a good relationship with our son until she entered the picture. She seemed to be trying to drive a wedge between us from the very first meeting. It went down hill from there. This book really doesn't offer suggestions about how to change the situation. In fact, it suggests that there may be nothing parents can do. What it does offer is a sense of not being alone. It is comforting to know that you are not the only one and that you haven't lost your mind, that some people really are that toxic.

Listening to...  our nightly binge of Blacklist.

Loving...  having nothing to do and just relaxing at home. Yesterday it was go, go, go from beginning to end.

Thinking...  it's about time I'm finally feeling (most of the way) better. Now if  we can just get Tim healthy. He's had whatever this bug is for the last 4 days or so and he sounds way worse than I did and I fought it for over two weeks.

Feeling...  cozy and content. Snuggled up with my furry buddies on the couch after I spent the morning at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh with our daughter and grandchildren. It was the boy's school field trip.

Celebrating...  a friend's birthday tomorrow with lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

Grateful for...  my family and friends.

Weather...  22* and windy.

Enjoying...  my life.

A quote I want to share...

Saturday 9: Memories

Saturday 9: Memories (2019)

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

1) This song is a toast. Have you ever performed an official toast (at a wedding, a graduation, a retirement party, etc.)?  No, I haven't had that privilege...not that I would be good at it.

2) According to Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine, this is a "toast to the ones here today." Tell us about someone in your life that you're especially grateful for.  That would be our daughter. She is rather high-maintenance with all her emotional issues, but she has a big heart and though I grumble about it, she refuses to allow me to follow my hermit tendencies as often as I'd like. Where I have always been an introvert and a bit of a loner, she doesn't accept that and visits often with the kids or bugs me to go places and do things. I would go out a lot less than I do if she wasn't around.

3) Levine is the song's composer. He said he was compelled to write it, to help him cope with the death of a friend. His lyrics acknowledge that "everybody hurts sometimes." What advice would you share with someone who is struggling?  I would share with them what Jesus has done for me and explain that He can and will do it for them, as well, if they only accept who He is, admit that they can't do this on their own, that they need Him, and ask for His help.

4) Adam Levine was one of the original judges on The Voice. Are you a fan of the show?  I've watched it a few times, but never really got into it.

5) Among his friends, Adam is known to be an excellent Scrabble player. Is there a game you're particularly good at (or you especially enjoy)?  Lately, I am hooked on Codenames.

6) Though he's a multi-Grammy winner, Adam wasn't always successful. In fact, he was fired after just three hours at his first job as a waiter. Have you ever had a job that just wasn't a good fit?  I don't think so.

7) In 2019, when this song was released, Joaquin Phoenix gave his Oscar-winning performance in Joker. Heath Ledger also won an Oscar for is portrayal of the same character in a different film, and Cesar Romero was The Joker on TV. Today The Batman is doing great business at the box office. Do you have a favorite super hero, or arch villain?  I've never really gotten into the whole superhero thing, but then came Jason Momoa as Aquaman...and suddenly he's not the lamest superhero ever.

8) Also in 2019, two familiar names had books on NY Times best seller list: John Grisham with The Guardians and Janet Evanovich with Twisted Twenty Six. Are either of these authors among your favorites?  Janet Evanovich is one of my top 5 favorite writers. I've kept up with all her series. In fact, I just ordered the first book in her new Gabriela Rose series, The Recovery Agent.

9) Random Question: What's something you wish you'd figured out earlier?  The need to plan for retirement.

Thanks goes, as always, to Sam over at the Saturday 9 for the music and questions.

Likes & Dislikes #7

Things I like...

... my cat's ginormous, floofy, Maine Coon tail ...

... my Poodle's stubby, little, barely there, puff-ball of a tail ...

... my grandkids' chalk drawings all over my sidewalk ...

... cinnamon tea with French vanilla stevia ...

... getting a pedicure ...

... some Amazon items are once again arriving the next day ...

... Pittsburgh's beautiful skyline ...

... Jason Momoa ...

and things I don't ...

... daily "treasure hunts" to find all the things the cat has stolen ... 

... people staring at me when I am eating ...

... uncontrollable coughing ...

... the swampy, muddy mess our backyard is at this time of year ...

... the hybrid Poplar in the backyard, such a dirty, messy tree ...

... the yellow cast of my teeth ...

... "plain" water ...

... the chin whiskers we women of a certain age have to deal with ...

... winter is coming back this weekend, it's going to be in the 20's by Monday!

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday so you know I'm linking up with bloggy pal, Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand for Thankful Thursday.

This week I am thankful...

** whatever this illness is that has been plaguing me for nearly 2 weeks, it is NOT Covid. I got tested. It is a plain, old, ordinary, run-of-the-mill virus. Or allergies. Or a combination of both.

** I know the cough that won't quit is caused by post-nasal drip. To get rid of the cough I have to defeat the drip. Meds aren't working, though I haven't tried saline solution yet. In the past I've gotten doctors to give me steroids and that has done the trick.

In my digging online, I discovered there is a condition that can be triggered by the post-nasal drip, but is muscular in origin. I forget the name, but essentially, the muscles of the throat tense and become too easily stimulated and over active. That sounds like exactly what I have going on every single time I get sick. The treatment is actually therapy. They can physically massage the throat to try to get the muscles to relax and there is also breathing therapy where they teach you how to breathe better so the muscles don't tense up. I have my doubts our insurance will cover something like that, but it's worth asking about.

** in spite of the coughing, I am beginning to feel better and I'm getting some things done around home. I'm continuing on my quest to thin out my stuff. With the books done I'm moving on to, well, everything else. I haven't done much yet, but I did pull a few things and my mental list is growing.

** I've been cooking dinner every night and it hasn't been that bad since I'm not working. I've been trying to be more creative (but not too or Tim won't eat it) and add some more variety. Monday we had beef fried rice with a green salad and deviled eggs. Tuesday's supper was a seafood boil and last night we had a roast I made in the crock pot with egg noodles, gravy, and mashed sweet potatoes. Tonight I am thinking of either pierogies with kielbasa or some kind of pasta with a green salad. Friday night will be fish fry night and Saturday Tim will be on his own as I will be at church for a soup and game night (he has refused to go).

** All the amazing things God has been teaching me and the wonderful teachers and examples He's provided for me to learn from.

** for the cute Easter decorations in the basket I won a couple of weeks ago. I put the St. Patrick's Day decorations away yesterday and put out the bunnies and eggs.

** all the rain yesterday that helped to wash away the grime of winter and bring the world back to life.

** no one other than Leah seems to have caught my "bug" and she is not too bad with it.

** I have lots to keep me busy.

** for my family, my pets, and my relationship with the Lord.

** for all my wonderful friends, online and off.

Currently

Reading...  the same as last week, plus I've started Uncanceled: Finding Meaning & Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation by Phil Robertson.

Listening...  to my own coughing. It's ridiculous. It is like this every single time my allergies get stirred up or I get any bug that stirs up my sinuses. It got so bad a few years ago that I actually sprained my neck. The post nasal drip and cough always hangs on and rarely goes away before I can convince a doctor to prescribe steroids.

Loving...  the less cluttered look achieved in my office by donating 4 boxes and 4 paper grocery sacks of books. It was painful to give them up, but the clearer space is very nice.

Thinking...  about all the things I want to accomplish around the house when I feel better. I am in a serious decluttering mood and I need to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. If the mood passes, the clutter will stay for who knows how long.

Feeling...  tired of being congested and coughing.

Celebrating...  I followed through tonight on my resolve to start cooking more at home and cooking healthier meals.

Grateful...  our daughter has actually respected that I'm not feeling well and hasn't tried to rope me into babysitting or come over with the kids and hung out.

Enjoying...  being unemployed.

Weather...  cloudy and 59 degrees today.

A quote I want to share...

"But I do not want to respond in the same way they do, with anger, hatred, bitterness, and control. I'm not out to destroy them just because I disagree with them. I want to have a meaningful, respectful conversation with them instead. I want to persuade them that God is real and that we can trust Him."  --Phil Robertson, Uncanceled.

 

 

The Weekend I Did Nothing But Go to a Wedding

The weekend began on Friday evening with dinner from a local fish fry again...probably it will be the norm throughout Lent. Tim was later getting home and really tired so not much of an evening. He went to bed early and I spent the evening watching TV and messing around on the laptop.

We woke up early on Saturday, but didn't do much of anything in the morning. By 2:30 we were on the road along with my mom, our daughter and her husband. We drove an hour and a half to attend the wedding of one of Tim's cousins. 

The wedding was very nice and since both the bride and groom have Irish and Scottish roots the wedding carried that theme. No kilts, however.

The very nice program that listed the order of the ceremony, all the attendants, and all manner of other things it was interesting to know.

The dinner menu. The food was absolutely scrumptious!

The groom's nephews acted as Ring Security (ring bearers).

Their sister made the prettiest little flower girl.

The best man (leading the way) and groom. These two are technically Tim's cousins as their mother was Tim's father's half sister, but they have always been more like nephews as they grew up with our kids. 

 

The new Mr. & Mrs.

The table settings were simple and elegant.

Each table was named for a location, distillery, or other point of interest in either Ireland or Scotland and displayed a card with information about it.

The wedding party was HUGE, consisting of 18 people plus the bride and groom! It also had 2 best men, a maid of honor, a matron of honor, and a female groomsperson.

There was a small table for two set for the bride's father and the groom's mother who have both passed away (the groom's mother only a month ago).

Our daughter and her husband.

My mom and her granddaughter.

Tim and I with our daughter.

Tim and I. We still clean up pretty well.

Spring officially arrived today and I didn't do a darn thing but sit on the couch watching TV, playing around on the laptop, reading, and snoozing. What yesterday accomplished was forcing me to admit I have more than allergies going on. I was so miserable and coughing nonstop by the time we got home.

I don't feel quite as bad today but I'm still coughing (it's from sinus drainage) which has made me tired, my head ache, my throat sore and my voice hoarse. I skipped church and small group so I wouldn't spread anything more than I may already have. I do still think allergies are in the mix making things worse, but the double whammy of a cold (or whatever) and allergies has really whipped me.

Hopefully, Monday will find me doing better and I can get on with enjoying my semi-retirement. The first week was kind of a bust with not feeling up to par. If I am not at least a little better in the morning I will break open one of the home covid tests and say a prayer. 

Sunday Stealing

Linking up with Sunday Stealing today. Thanks to Bev for finding the questions.

Stolen from Swap Bot

1. Do you like sushi?  Not really. I've tried several types and I can't say it was awful, but it did do anything for me, either.

2. What color is your car?  A dark red with a layer of "glitter" so she sparkles like the ruby slippers on a sunny day. It's why I named her Ruby.

3. What is your favorite thing about the place where you live?  We have the best of most worlds here. It's a small town, but we are not far from a major city and all that it offers, nor are we far from beautiful natural areas. The town reflects that and offers a wide variety of things itself. Plus, it is home. I've lived here most of my life.

4. Are there brands of certain items that you will ONLY buy that brand? Ie paper towels, ketchup etc.  Diet Coke is the only thing I'm not willing to try a less expensive version of.

5. Are you allergic to any food? Animals? Plants? Medicines?  Given my seasonal allergy woes I'm apparently allergic to something in the plant world, though I was tested by an allergist for the 50 most common allergies and he said I don't have allergies. My doctor's response was "There are more than 50 things in the world.") I'm also allergic to amoxicillin and sulfa antibiotics.

6. Have you ever been stung or bitten by an animal?  I've been stung by bees and wasps/hornets/or whatever several times. I've been bitten (not severely) by lots of dogs and cats, parakeets, rabbits, and a chipmunk that I remember.

7. Do you have a favorite bird? Do you feed the bird at your house or the park?  I have a love of birds that came from my grandmother who was a huge bird watcher. She kept feeders outside her dining room window and the whole family spent many hours sipping tea and watching the wide variety of birds that came...she lived in the country surrounded by forest, farms, and a national wildlife sanctuary that included a swamp. My favorite wild birds are blue jays and chickadees. My favorite domesticated bird is the parakeet. I don't have bird feeders here at the house. I've tried and the birds just never seemed to come.

8. What would you recommend binging on Netflix or similar?  On Netflix I've enjoyed Longmire, Blacklist, Sweet Magnolias, Grace and Frankie, The Ranch, Virgin River and NCIS. On Paramount+ (though I believe it airs on CBS) I love Ghosts, a wickedly funny and irreverent show about a woman who inherits a mansion full of ghosts that only she can see and here. On Peakcock I liked Rutherford Falls, which is also irreverent and off the wall.

9. What is your proudest achievement?  I don't know. I don't really think that way, but I suppose it is raising my children to be good people and productive members of society. 

10. Do you have or are you from a big family?  No to both. 

11. What do you do for exercise?  I used an exercise bike, workout videos, walking, swimming when it's warm.

12. What would be your favorite breakfast? (You didn’t have to cook it yourself.)  French toast and sausage.

13. Is there an item that you really want but can not afford?  Other than an addition to the house, I can't think of anything.

14.  What was the farthest distance you made for your holidays?  I guess it was about 1000 miles the year we drove to Alabama to have Thanksgiving with Tim's sister and her family.

15. Are you afraid of speaking in public?  I used to be panic-attack-inducing scared of it, but now I can do it if I have to, but I will be nervous and uncomfortable the whole time.

Saturday 9: Get On Your Feet

Saturday 9: GET ON YOUR FEET (1989)

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

1) In this song, Gloria Estefan encourages us to stand up and make it happen. What's something you want to accomplish this fine Saturday?  I can't say that I really hope to accomplish anything today. We are leaving early this afternoon for a wedding on the far side of Pittsburgh. That will pretty much shoot the day.

2) She sings that we've all been through some nasty weather. How has winter 2021/22 treated you thus far (weather wise)?  Even though I've grumbled about snow and cold, it really hasn't been that bad of a winter as far as winters here go.

3) Best known as a recording artist, Gloria is also a best-selling author of children's books. When you were a kid, were you a big reader?  Oh my, yes! I started reading early on and was reading adult novels by the time I was 12. I read everything I could get my hands on. I'm still the same way.

 
4) In addition to music and writing, she's a linguist. As a college student, she supported herself as an English/French/Spanish translator at Miami International Airport. When were you most recently at an airport? Were you traveling yourself, or picking someone up/dropping them off?  I think I was picking up Tim's sister when she flew in for their brother's funeral. That was about 6 years ago, I think. I don't remember anything since then. I took her for the return, too.

5) Gloria made her acting debut in 1999's Music of the Heart, a Meryl Streep movie about music teachers in Harlem. Did you have music classes in school? Have you ever taken private lessons?  I think I had music classes in school until I was in 8th grade. I considered them pure torture since I can't carry a tune. One teacher even commented on my report card that I was tone deaf. I did want to learn to play the piano at one point, but my parents, probably remembering that comment, refused.

 
6) Today Gloria is one of the celebrity residents of Star Island, a man-made island in Biscayne Bay. Star Island is connected to the mainland by MacArthur Causeway, named for General Douglas MacArthur. Tell us about a street in your neighborhood, and who it's named for.  My Mom lives on Brinker Street which was the name of the family and farm that was here before the land was developed. We live on Penn, which I could speculate is named for William Penn since this is Pennsylvania, but there's no way that I know of to know for sure. Everyone from those days is long gone.

7) 1989, the year "Get on Your Feet" was popular, was the year of the first HDTV broadcast. By 1998, high-def shows and TVs were dominant. How many TVs are in your home? Do you watch shows on your computer or phone?  When the kids were at home and we could pay one price for cable no matter how many TVs were connected, we had one in the living room and one in each bedroom. About the time our youngest was leaving us with an empty nest the cable company started requiring you to have a box-thing for each TV and you had to rent them. We went to just the one TV in the living room. Now that we've been streaming for a couple of years, we finally got a second TV for the bedroom. And no, I don't watch shows on my computer or phone.

8) Also in 1989, The Simpsons premiered. It's now the longest-running prime-time TV show ever. Are you a fan?  We used to be fans and watched it all the time, but I'd say we stopped watching it somewhere between when our son graduated in 2005 and when our daughter did in 2010. I tried to watch it not long ago and found it to be not at all funny...kind of like the current incarnation of Saturday Night Live.

9) Random question: Should husbands wear their wedding rings?  Yes, they should. Unless they have a job where it would be dangerous to wear it. My husband hasn't worn his in years. He works in commercial construction and he used to wear it, but got it caught more than once. I am the one who finally told him to stop wearing it. (On a side note, I am not wearing one these days, either...because my very naughty cat stole mine off the sink and I haven't been able to find it. We have torn everything apart, including the drain, where it would have been stopped in the trap had it gone down.)

Thanks as always goes to Sam @ Saturday 9 for the music and questions!

Likes & Dislikes #6

Things I like...

...houseplants...

...watching podcasts on YouTube...

...reading magazines...

...finally starting to feel better...

...having pets in the house...

...my husband's French toast...

...spontaneous conversations with strangers...

...good manners and general respect for yourself and others...

...weddings...

...all the space left behind by clearing out books...

and things I don't...

...the cat digging in and sitting in my houseplants...

...magazines costing as much as books these days...

...allergy season...

...the ridiculous things people seem to put in their gift registries. Do they think they are inviting the Rockefellers?...

...rudeness and disrespect...

...getting rid of books...

...my cat will not take "no" for an answer.

Thankful Thursay

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We woke up to some light rain today, but it has passed and the day has turned sunny and mild with temperatures in the 60's. 

Daisy, Jasper and I have already had a visit from my daughter and granddaughter this morning. Little Leah loves playing with Jasper and they had a pretty wild time today so Jasper should be calmer for the rest of the day. He nearly always needs a good nap after her visits.

Today's big thing was the new kitty tunnel I bought Jasper yesterday. Leah would hold one end up in the air and Jasper would leap into it and slide down through. When not doing that, he would hide inside, waiting for Leah to come near so he could pounce on her which would set Leah off into fits of giggles. Not a bad way to start the day.

I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand on this lovely St. Patrick's Day to share some of the blessings God has seen fit to give me this past week.

** Last Saturday's big snow storm was nothing more than a final excuse to spend a lovely day cocooned at home doing nothing more ambitious than watching movies, reading, and playing on the computer. By Monday afternoon all traces of it were melted.

** While I have been fighting a spring cold (or maybe it's allergies...I don't know), it hasn't been too bad. I have mostly been taking it easy. Yesterday was the first day I went out. I had to go to the mall with Megan and Leah because we are going to a big, fancy wedding on Saturday. They want everyone to dress up so I needed to do some shopping for my wear-nothing-but-jeans-and-work boots husband. Megan needed a dress and I needed some comfortable shoes that didn't require a pedicure before Saturday (because that's not happening). We had success on all fronts and we amazingly did it in 2.5 hours!

** Mom and I had a good time at a basket bash on Sunday. It was to support the public library in a town about 40 minutes from here. We've started going there for their used book sales since our local library hasn't had any since Covid. It's an unusual library...completely funded by fundraisers and donations and staffed only by volunteers. Anyway, Mom won a basket of Lenox Christmas items and I came home with a basket of Easter decorations, a Star Wars basket, and a brand new Fit Bit. Not bad considering there were probably close to 300 people there and some people were going crazy buying tickets. I would love to know how much money they raised.

** I had a rough night with congestion and a runny nose and am not really up to par today. I have been taking it slow this morning and Jasper is taking care of me. He's curled up on my chest as I type with his head tucked under my chin. It makes it harder to type, but it's still so comforting and cute. He is his momma's boy.

** There is leftover chicken noodle soup in the refrigerator for today's lunch.

** Even with being under the weather, I managed to start sorting my books. It is killing me, but I am being brutal and parting with a LOT of them. Tuesday I got 4 good sized boxes and a (paper) grocery sack packed full and taken up to Mom's. She is keeping them for donation to a used book sale. We are just waiting to see if it will be our library or that other one I wrote about. She is part of the organization that fundraises for our library and they are meeting today so she should know if they are going to revive the used book sale. The problem, I guess, is that most of the members are all for it, but no one wants to be in in charge (because the president, who can't do it due to health issues, remains very controlling) and when it comes down to working the sale, precious few bother to show up.

As for my book sorting, I am still at it. Mom said to just donate any more books to Goodwill or wherever. I have one grocery sack filled and expect there will be at least 2 or 3 more when I am finished. I am definitely clearing shelf space!

** I love my church, but I am thankful that technology allows me to visit so many others and hear great teaching from a wide variety of people and perspectives.

** Tim finally made an appointment to see the doctor. He goes next week. His muscles (all of them but especially his shoulder) have just been aching something awful for weeks now.

** Of course, I am always thankful for you and all the people who touch my life and add something to it.

Early Morning Thunks

This hasn't been the most productive of weeks so far and the fact that I have been awake since 4:00 doesn't bode well for today. The problem? I woke up not feeling that great on Monday...achy and just so weary I didn't want to do anything but sleep. A little bit of congestion came on as the day went on. Yesterday I felt better, but the congestion was still hanging in there. This morning the congestion was bad enough to wake me up. At this point, I'm thinking the congestion might be at least partly allergies since our weather has warmed up again and has been breezy so any dust and pollen has been kicked up.

So, I'm just setting the scene for what will probably be a rather rambling post.

I'm sitting here watching an Unashamed podcast on YouTube. If you are unfamiliar, Unashamed is Phil, Jase, and Al Robertson's platform. You can pay to watch it on Blaze TV, which does include more content, but you do get an hour's worth when it's posted to YouTube. They chat about things in their lives, which can sometimes lose me if they are going on about hunting or fishing. My interest in those topics is limited.

It's when they get to talking about scripture and it's application that I get interested. The whole family is a wonderful, godly example and Phil and his sons are almost all preachers and/or elders in the church. They speak a lot of wisdom in a down to earth way. In the one I am watching today they are talking about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. They've made two good points. First, Phil said if people were living in the Spirit, cultivating the fruit, our society (and world) would be a whole lot different. We wouldn't see a lot of the garbage going on if people were being kind, patient, and gentle with each other. 

Then, second, Jase commented that he thinks most Christians don't put enough emphasis on self-control. He got into the whole subject of legalism...you know, the believers who have some knowledge and think they know it all and start policing everyone. The examples he spoke about were people who condemn all drinking, all gambling, etc. The point he made is that there is mention of drinking wine in the Bible. Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding. Why would he do that if drinking wine is a sin? It's the lack of self-control that leads to drunkenness that is the sin. Those same folks say gambling is a sin, but is buying a lottery ticket now and then or making a bet with friends a sin? Again, Jase argues that it's not. It's the lack of self-control that leads to gambling yourself into debt or destitution.

Anyway, give them a listen if you are looking for some good Christian teaching and discussion.

Now, just for fun, I'm linking back to Rebecca Jo @ Knit by God's Hand for 3 Things.

Three things that make me feel free

1. Heading out on an unplanned, uncharted road trip.

2. Being out on a boat.

3. Praising and worshipping the Lord.

Three things I am inclined to forget when leaving the house

1. Cell phone

2. The pill bottle I need to get a refill.

3. My drink.

Three things I recommend

1. Spending time with young children...see the world through their eyes. 

2. Ozark Mountain insulated cups...work as good or better than Yeti and for a lot less $$$.

3. Magnilife Pain Relieving Foot Cream

Three things I keep saying I should do and continue to not do

1. Take lots of pictures with my phone.

2. Exercise and eat better.

3. Cook more

Three reading related things I don't do that you might 

1. Read in bed

2. Crack the spine of a book so it lays open flat.

3. Read sci-fi, fantasy, or dystopian books.

Three places I am dying to go 

1. Israel

2. Across the country on Rt. 30 and make the return on Rt. 66.

3. Plymouth, MA...it's a genealogy thing.

Three things I do every day by noon

1. Bible study.

2. Drink Diet Coke.

3. Wash at least one load of laundry.

Three fashion trends I can confidently say I will never do again

1. Jumpsuits.

2. High heels (wish I could, though).

3. Shoulder pads.

Three things I'm over

1. All the hate and judgementalism in the world.

2. Winter

3. Covid

Three things I'm looking forward to

1. My cat ever behaving.

2. Warm weather.

3. Vacation.

Still wide awake so I guess I'll go get some breakfast and get this day started. Later I'm going to the mall with my daughter and granddaughter. We are going to a wedding Saturday that has requested formal dress. My daughter needs a dress and I need shoes for me and for my husband. I hate clothes shopping with my daughter....she is sooooo indecisive and it is usually a painful process. I agreed to go only because the mall opens at 11:00 and she has to pick her son up from school at 2:00 so the process can't go on too long.

It is going to be a beautiful day, not sunny, but 70 degrees! I intend to enjoy it. I hope you do, too!

Tuesday 4: Just Wondering

Linking up today with Ann at the Tuesday 4, continued in memory of Toni Taddeo. Today's questions are taken from one of the last Tuesday 4 posts Toni made.

1.   When was the last time you tried something new?  I tried a charcoal toothpaste recently. It doesn't taste too bad, just different, but the black foam and spit takes a bit of getting used to.

2.   Who in your family do you compare yourself to?  No one. I don't think I'm very much like anyone. Maybe a little like my grandmother, but not a lot. 

3.   What lesson in life did you learn the hard way?  Not everyone who says they're your friend really is.

4.   What can you do today that you weren't able to do before?  Forgive life's deepest hurts even if the one who caused it has never acknowledged it or said they are sorry. I've learned that I don't forgive for their sakes, it's for my own well-being.

Currently

It's Monday and...

The weather... sunny with a predicted high of 52 degrees. Yay! Spring is coming back.

I'm reading... Death in the Sunshing (The Retired Detectives Club, Book 1) by Steph Broadribb

I'm listening to... Jasper's very loud purrs. I wasn't home most of yesterday and he apparently missed me and is glued to my side today. And the news out of the Ukraine.

I'm loving... being home and not having a set schedule to follow. It's nice being able to spend some time in Bible study or reading or reading blogs and Facebook before I have to be productive.

I'm thinking... that I need to start remembering to take pictures of things throughout my day so I have them to share here on the blog.

I'm feeling... sleepy. It's warm and cozy here in the recliner with Daisy and Jasper and yesterday was a very long day.

I'm celebrating... St. Patrick's Day, of course! Anybody who can rid an entire country of snakes just might be my hero!

I'm grateful... for a fun day with Mom yesterday. We went to a basket bash and (woot!) I won three baskets! One filled with Star Wars items for the kiddos, one filled with Easter decorations, and a brand new Fit bit! Mom won a basket filled with Lenox Christmas items. 

A quote I want to share...

“That is the best scent in the world, better than any perfume, any flower. It’s the smell of lives lived, the weight of words …’ ‘Well, I guess I never quite thought of books that way before.’ Sure, they could transport you to another place, be there for you when no one else was, but I hadn’t quite pictured secondhand books as having lived their own important lives, being ferried from one person to the next, imparting a little magic along the way.”
― Rebecca Raisin, Rosie's Travelling Tea Shop

Saturday 9: Beautiful Day

Beautiful Day (2000)

Unfamiliar with this week’s song? Hear it here.

1) This song is about finding joy in an imperfect world. What brings you joy today?  Having nothing in particular to do and nowhere I have to go with a winter storm on the way.

2) The lyrics mention being stuck in traffic. A poll of Boston commuters revealed that drivers have a variety of responses to be stuck in traffic — everything from bored to impatient to angry. How do you feel when you’re stuck in a traffic jam?  Sometimes I'm impatient, but mostly I'm just bored.

3) This year Bono and his wife, Ali, celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Who is the longest-married couple you know?  Friends of mine have been married for 52 years. They were only 18 when they got married.

4) When Bono inducted Frank Sinatra into the Grammy Hall of Fame, he complimented Frank on his “swagger.” Do you think you have “swagger?”  Hahahahaha! That would be a BIIIIIIIG no.

5) When U2 guitarist The Edge did a charity concert at the Sistine Chapel, he became the first rocker to perform there. If you were to travel to Rome, what sites would you be certain to visit?  Um, I want to see alllllll of it! Vatican City probably tops the list, though.

6) This week’s song was chosen because St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and U2 is one of Ireland’s most famous exports. What else is Ireland famous for?   Potatoes, corned beef, Guiness, leprechauns...

7) Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick’s Day dish. Is it a favorite of yours?  Yes, it is. We have it every year on St. Patrick's Day and if it wasn't such an expensive meat I'd have it all year round. Love it!

8) St. Patrick is credited with driving snakes out of Ireland. Ophiophobia is the fear of snakes. Do you suffer from ophiophobia?  Very much so. My eyes are on the ground during warm weather walks in the woods...or fields...or water's edge...or any other place a snake might be.

9) St. Patrick’s Day fantasy: A leprechaun will share his gold with you, but you must request a specific amount for a single item. How much would you ask for, and what would you buy?  I'd ask for $250, 000 to buy my dream home.

Thanks goes to Sam at Saturday 9 for the music and questions!

Likes & Dislikes #5

Things I like...

...spending most of the day with my granddaughter...

...kinetic sand (there is something so satisfying about playing with it)...

...quiet evenings at home...

...word puzzles...

...the smell of ripe concord grapes...

...knowing my family history going back generations...

...shows about hunting Bigfoot (even though I don't believe in him)...

...being married to my best friend...

...old, classic museums...

...learning about Egyptian history...

...the sound of the ocean...

And things I don't...

...having to wait...

...secrets...

...inflation...

...war...

...having to part with books...

...intentional cruelty...

...politics...

...being put on the spot...

...olives...

...how expensive Disney World has become, excluding a lot of people...

...getting all the way home before realizing something is missing from the take-out order...

Thankful Thursday

Today is the first day of my new work status. Unemployed? Yes, definitely. Retired? Maybe, we'll see how it all plays out in the coming months. Anyway, I'm up early (thank you to my kitty, Jasper), have laundry going, and a long to-do list for the day but I want to join in with blogging pal, Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand to show a little gratitude to the One who blesses me with all good things and to hopefully encourage someone else.

This week I am thankful...

** My husband would rather I am a stay-at-home wife (he is a tad old-fashioned that way), but that he wants my happiness more than his way and he supports me in whatever I choose to do.

** The job ended smoothly and I have the promise of continuing to spend some time with a few of my clients as friends.

** My, now former, employer has no problem with me seeing some of my clients.

** I have a few little side jobs waiting in the wings that will bring in a bit of income here and there.

** There was an unexpected bonus deposited in my bank account this week. It seems my employer received a grant to retroactively pay bonuses for working during the pandemic.

** The godly men who lead my church, their wisdom, and their humbleness. I am just amazed continually by their teachings, insights, and example. 

** So many things I want to do to fill the hours of my new stay-at-homeness. Maybe I will actually do those things I said I'd do during the pandemic. Ha!  (Actually, my number one goal is finding a way to stop Jasper from stealing my socks. I have done some pretty elaborate things to thwart him and he still gets them.)

** Winter may be making a comeback (snow flurries yesterday and 4-8 inches coming Friday night), but it will be short-lived. Spring temperatures will be back by Monday.

** Our daughter's sleep study showed she doesn't have sleep apnea. However, she does have restless leg syndrome. During the test her legs moved a ridiculous 800+ times. The doctor said that is why she is so tired and put her on a medication to help it.

** The Lord chose me before the world was formed and set me apart. His great love amazes me daily and it is the one love that will never disappoint me or forsake me.

** My life is filled with wonderful family and friends...and God is teaching me to love and forgive the more difficult ones in the bunch.

** As always, for all of you.