Currently...

It's back-to-school day for the kids around here and at 8:00 the temperature is already a very humid 75 on its way to a predicted high of 91. Our kiddos don't start today, but Colton goes to meet his teacher. His first day is Thursday and Leah goes to meet with the teachers for an assessment that day. We don't know yet when her first day is. They had a great end of summer this past week with the excitement of the garage sale and a trip to the county fair.

This kid has his mom's very expressive face!

Happy riding the flying tigers.

Little country girl strutting her stuff!

I'm moving slowly this morning. I was at the ER with Megan last night until 11:00 and then we had to pick the kids up at her in-laws' place. She is having weird, vague symptoms again...still with the numbness and tingling and pain in the arms and legs...and Saturday she had an episode of pressure in her left ear that spread up over her head and resulted in her blacking out for a few seconds WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING!!! She hasn't felt right since.

She went to Med Express and given her symptoms and high blood pressure they wanted her to go to the ER and have blood work and a CT-scan done. Okay. Except that we sat there for 3 hours and still never got called back to a room and there were quite a few people in front of us. She finally decided to go home and call her doctor first thing this morning.

I need to get the garage sale stuff that's left out of my mom's garage, but I will be driving Megan around today for appointments and for Colt's meeting with his teacher....and she just called me to ask me to take him to his teeth cleaning appointment this afternoon, too. No way is she driving those kids around until we get an okay from a doctor!

As for the garage sale, it went really well. The last few we've had were a lot of work for little payoff. I guess we just had the right junk this time around. Tim and I got rid of over $500 worth of stuff! 

I finished up a book in the Library Lover's Mystery series on Saturday and got a good start on another in the series while I was sitting around at the ER. I was determinded to get back to reading more this year and spending less time online. I set the bar kind of low on Goodreads...just 30 books for the year, but at the moment I am 5 books ahead of schedule. Go me!

I'm interviewing for a part-time job with our local library system on Wednesday so that's on my mind. It would be fun. I don't know how much it pays, but at least if I got it and it wasn't much I could work and keep looking. I need to find something. Gas prices may be coming down, but everything else is going up, up, up!

This week's schedule:

Monday: Errands, banking, driving Megan and the kids around and hopefully getting stuff out of Mom's garage. I also have go to the bank to deal with a fraudulent charge from a resume service I discovered this morning.

Tuesday: Laundry, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and mopping, and getting stuff out of the garage if it's not done. Take Megan to a doctor's appointment.

Wednesday: Interview for part-time library job. Maybe post garage sale things to Marketplace.

Thursday: Colt's first day of school, Leah's orientation.

Friday: Nothing yet. Household chores.

Saturday: A me day to relax and read or whatever.

Sunday Stealing: Upstream Life

Hi! I decided to join in with the Sunday Stealing fun this week, even though I am answering the questions late on Saturday and probably won't be able to get around to visit everyone until later in the day on Sunday. 

It's been a busy couple of days having a big garage sale with my mom and daughter, then hitting the county fair last night and babysitting the grands tonight. Our daughter has decided to open the garage sale for one more day tomorrow on her own (Mom said she isn't coming down from the ridge for it and I have to help staff the nursery at church) so once she shuts the doors we will have to load up what's left and either take it back home or drop it off for donation and put all the folding tables away. The good news for me is that sales of the stuff Tim and I put out were quite good and we won't have much to deal with.

Anyway...a long-winded way of saying I just wanted to do something fun and easy to relax for a bit before heading off to bed. So let's get to it!

Source of Questions

 1. Your favorite sport.  To watch, football. To participate in, bowling.

 2. A quote to live by.  My dad's number one rule   was  If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say   anything at all.

 3. A city in the US you would like to move to.  I   have   zero desire to live in a city. I'm a country girl at   heart   and I can deal with the suburbs or a small town,   but I   would not be happy living in a large city. I   wouldn't mind visiting San Antonio, Minneapolis, Charleston, or Boston.

4. 3 beautiful little things in your life.  My family, my church family, and books.

5. What made you laugh today?  My grandchildren being silly and laughing. They just fill me with joy.

6. A good deed you did today.  Our daughter is going to use the money she makes from the garage sale to help pay for a trip to take the kids to Ocean City next month. When she was somewhere else today I credited some of the sales of my stuff to her.

7. Activities you like to do when you are bored.  I don't actually get bored very often. I grew up an only child in rural areas with no other kids around except for at school or church. I'm also a bit of an introvert. So, I tend to be pretty okay with my own company and finding things to do. When I do get bored I tend to either read (which I do when I'm not bored), do mindless things like computer games, or if it's really bad, I'll try to find someone to go do something with.

8. Are you a procrastinator?  Mmm...let me get back to you on that one.

9. Your thoughts about dying.  I'm not in a big hurry to do it, but I'm not afraid of it, either. My faith comes with the belief in an afterlife. I believe I will be with God so I am looking forward to it even though I don't want to rush it.

10. What super power would like to have?  As I'm sitting here with all my aches and pains I'm thinking super strength or the ability to heal myself and others would be a good one.

11. Top 3 Netflix series.  Tim and I enjoyed The Ranch and I've liked Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias, Arrested Development, and Grace and Frankie

.
12. Things you want to do before you die.  Make a difference as much as I can, see my grandchildren grow up, live debt free.

13. Your biggest fears.  Ending up in a nursing home, snakes, and something happening to any of my family.

14. What makes you angry?  Let's just say the news and leave it at that so we don't have any arguments.

15. Do you listen to podcasts?  I watch the Robertson's podcast on YouTube. It's a Christian one. I enjoy the discussion and their perspective on things. I've seen a couple of others I'm going to get around to one of these days.

Thankful Thursday

Good morning! It's the last Thursday of summer around here. Yes, I know it's not the end of summer according to the calendar, but the kiddos head off to school next week and that is always marks a mental shift for me...admittedly, the shift isn't as jarring as it was when I drove a school bus and it also meant back to school for me.

Anywhooo...I'm linking up with Jen today for Thankful Thursday. I'm thankful she's carrying on while our friend Rebecca Jo deals with her painful shoulder and covers for a coworker. 

This week I am thankful...

** Mom, Megan, and I are getting everything pulled together for a garage sale this Friday and Saturday. I had been wondering if we would. Megan finally hauled a LOT of stuff up to Mom's garage and priced it yesterday. We can barely get in there at the moment, but that's because we had to put all the big things and all of Tim's tools on the ground until tomorrow when we can pull them outside and put things on tables there as well as inside. 

I made a video and shared it to Facebook yesterday and also posted several photos on Marketplace and the groups I belong to there. So, as someone pointed out, if we are Facebook friends you can hear my voice. 

All that free publicity paid off. I've had a lot of contact and several items have sold already! Two men are coming tonight for tools.

** My church's back to school bash last Saturday was hugely successful and the rain held off. We were able to hold it on the grounds of a local elementary school and made contact with at least 80 kids and 40 adults. Around 100 Bibles were given out...a preschool version, a comic book version for older kids drawn by a Marvel Comics illustrator, and adult versions. We gave them free school supplies, fed them, played games, and had music, a competition jump rope team doing demonstrations and giving free jump ropes, and a firetruck the kids could check out.

** The school district gave the okay the day before the back to school bash for the church to begin holding and after-school "Good News" club at the school! We already offer tutoring at the church during the school year and with the bash...I guess they finally decided to open the doors to us.

** I have an interview next Wednesday for a part-time job as a Desk Assistant in our local library system. The hours would encompass Monday afternoon and evening, Tuesday afternoon and evening, and Saturdays. I'm not sure pays much, but it would be a fun job and if it doesn't pay enough, I could work and still keep looking for something else. So, keep that in your prayers, please?

** Leah gets to go to pre-school. Up until Tuesday we were afraid she might not. Colton had gone through the county's Head Start program. Megan and Cody were over the income limit, but after a wait, Colt was able to go when a spot opened up. 

Last year they told Megan there would be no problem with Leah going because they had 40 spots open and few registrations. That apparently changed over the summer and a few weeks ago they told Megan Leah would have to be on a waiting list. Thankfully, a spot opened up this week. We don't know what day she starts yet, but she is so very excited about going.

Colt had his kindergarten orientation last night. I guess it was rough at first. He is so shy and has such awful anxiety in new situations and it did not go well when they got there and right off the bat separated him from his parents. It took Megan and the guidance counselor a while to calm him down and then once he saw a couple of friends he remembered from last year he was fine.

Oh, how I pray for these kids. School was not a positive experience for Megan or Cody and I hope that doesn't transfer over to them.

** We've been enjoying cooler than normal, though wet, weather this week. It is beginning to warm up a bit...85 degrees today...but still comfortable and the nights are cooler. 

We've decided we're going to have to look into a heater for the pool next year. No one has been in it since the very beginning of the month. The water temperature is down to about 70 degrees. That's blue lips and teeth chattering water! Doable if the days are really hot, but they haven't been. 

** Megan has been pretty upset over a situation at work, but everything seems to be calming down and she is going to stay for now. I'm afraid of how things will go once the kids are in school because she won't see much of them through the week. I remember those days of being torn between work and home. It's hard to be a working mom and in this economy, Megan doesn't really have a choice. But I am glad the situation seems to have passed and she isn't miserable over it, anymore.

** The sunshine that makes the dew-covered spiderweb outside the kitchen window sparkle like it's spun from diamonds.

** The chubby gray squirrels chasing each other around and up and back down the big Poplar tree outside my office window.

** Jasper is cuddlier since my mom's dog stayed with us last weekend and he hid from her the whole 4 days. I think he missed me. Ha! Here he is helping me at my desk.

** For neighbors I've known all my life.

** For the season of pumpkin-spice flavored everything! I bought pumpkin bread and pumpkin spice English muffins yesterday.

** For my husband and all of my family.

** For all of you, my online friends.

** For God's love, grace, and fresh mercy each day.

Currently

It's 10:00 on Sunday evening.

The temperature is 71 degrees. It's raining. We have had thunderstorms rolling through all day. Storms are still in the forecast for Monday with a high of 76 degrees predicted.

I am tired. It's been a good weekend. And a busy one.

Friday I started out babysitting Leah while Megan and Colton ran a couple of errands, had lunch and just enjoyed some mother and son time. Once Leah went home I wasted no time finding more things to sell at our upcoming garage sale. I also made several trips hauling the stuff valuable merchandise up and putting it on the tables. I still have more things to go through.

Megan worked an 8-hour shift Friday night. I expected to get the kids at 9:00 when our son-in-law went to work, but he texted and let me know his parents said they'd keep them till Megan got off work. So Tim and I enjoyed a dinner of pizza made on tortillas and a fresh salad with tomatoes from our neighbor's garden.

Tim worked on Saturday so I had a quiet morning at home doing a few chores, reading, and just taking it easy because the rest of the day was very busy. My church had its Back to School Bash at a local elementary school Saturday evening so it was all hands on deck at the church that afternoon as we loaded up tables, chairs, tents, decorations, games, food, and anything else that was donated and needed into a long caravan of pickups, vans, and SUV's. 

We arrived at the school before 4:00 to set up and with so many hands we had everything done by a little after 5:00, which was a good thing because we were not advertised to begin until 6:00, but had families lining up by 5:30. So many, in fact, that we opened the gate and started registering at 5:40.

Everyone was very positive and seemed to have a wonderful time. We had free food, music, games, prize drawings, free school supplies, free brand new Bibles (different editions for the elementary kids, little ones, and adults...we gave out about 100 all together), a contest where kids could vote for their favorite teacher (winning teacher got a $250 gift card to buy supplies for their room), the fire department brought out one of the trucks for the kids to check out, and a competition jump rope team did demonstrations and gave out free jump ropes.

It got very dark right about the time we opened the gate. There was thunder and lightening was seen. We were sure praying as it was an all outdoor even with no rain date since school starts next week. God was so good and pushed those storms out all around us, but we never saw so much as a single drop of rain until we had cleaned up and unloaded back at the church. I saw posts all over Facebook when I got home about all the rain and storms everyone had gotten and then about the rainbows afterward. You can't tell me that wasn't God in action!

It was such a great event. Unfortunately, I forgot my phone in the rush to leave the house so I don't have photos. I'm hoping someone will share some eventually so I can borrow them. 

Not only was I keyed up afterward, but my right foot, ankle and leg were really throbbing so I was up pretty late until they settled down enough for me to sleep.

Today we had Colton and Leah from 9:30 to 6:30 while Megan worked and Cody slept. It's going to be a regular Sunday thing for a while. Next week I work in the nursery so I'm going to take Leah with me to give Tim and Colton some one-on-one time and Leah will love having other little ones to play with and she will really love the babies.

Oh, Mom came and picked up her dog around 1:00 today. Jasper is a happy camper. He had spent the entire 4 days she was here in hiding. I don't even think he ate the whole time. I also don't think Mom's dog even knew I had a cat.

On the schedule this week:

Monday: Keep sorting out things for the garage sale.

Tuesday: Get the tables set up and start pricing items. Call in ad to newspaper.

Wednesday: Finish pricing.

Friday: Garage sale 8:00-3:00, maybe lunch at the parsonage w/ Megan and some young moms and their kids (depends on whether Mom can handle the sale for a bit on her own or Megan is willing to go to the lunch by herself), taking my former client to the county fair in the evening.

Saturday: Garage sale 8:00-3:00, clean up what's left and drop it at Goodwill, Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul.

Sunday: Colton and Leah will be here all day; staffing the nursery at church and taking Leah with me.

Saturday 9: A Little Ditty About Jack & Diane

Sam, you are speaking my language today with your Saturday 9 choice. I do love me some John Cougar...and some John Cougar Mellencamp and some John Mellencamp. So let's get on with the fun!

Jack and Diane (1982)

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

1) The video for this song features lots of snapshots. Do you have many physical photo albums? Or do you store your pictures digitally?  I do have quite a few photo albums from the early years of our marriage and when the kids were young. Then there was a phase where I still took tons of photos, but they are just stuffed in boxes (to sort out one day...but we all know my kids and grandkids will get stuck with them). I started switching over to digital about 15 years ago, I believe. I still have some of those printed out if they are really good.

 

2) This song tells the story of "two American kids growing up in the heartland." Young Jack dreams of being a football star. When you were in high school, did you fantasize about stardom? If yes, what were you going to be famous for?  I did, but I was going to be known for being a famous news reporter who would go anywhere to get the story.

3) Diane wears Bobbie Brooks slacks (at least briefly). Bobbie Brooks is a popular brand at Walmart. If you had a $50 gift card for Walmart, would you be more likely to use it toward groceries, clothes, household items, or electronics?  These days? Groceries. Back in high school I did wear Bobbie Brooks clothing. Their ads appeared in Seventeen magazine so they were among the must-have clothes of the day.

4) They go to the Tasty Freeze. If you were to run out for fast food right now, where would you go?  Maybe KFC. I do like their Famous Bowls. Yummy comfort food right there.

5) When John Mellencamp made this record, he was known professionally as "John Cougar," a stage name suggested by his manager. He has said that adopting a stage name is something he regrets. Looking over your life, if you could take a "do over," what one thing would you like to do differently?  I would care a lot more about getting a degree and hold off on getting married until I finished college.

 
6) Even though he suffered a heart attack, John Mellencamp continues to smoke, admitting that nicotine is something he simply can't kick. Do you have a habit you wish you could break?  Biting my nails and overeating or at least eating the wrong stuff (like my lifeblood...Diet Coke).

 

7) John's daughter Teddi was one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She went on to join the cast of Big Brother. Do you watch any reality shows?  Don't we all? The majority of what's on these days seems to be some form of "reality" show...American Idol, America's Got Talent, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, all those decorating and real estate shows on HGTV, etc. I seem to have a special fondness for the weird ones like Mountain Monsters, Hunting Bigfoot, Skinwalker Ranch, etc.

8) In 1982, when this song was popular, William Windsor was born. He's better known by his job title. Without looking it up, do you know who he is?  Prince William, heir to the British throne.

 

9) Random question: What do you do when you can't sleep?  The wrong thing. I usually just lay there flipping and flopping with my mind going 100 mph.

Thankful Thursday

It's my favorite blogging day of the week, Thankful Thursday. I'm linking up with Jen over at Overflowing With Thankfulness, who continues to host the link up as Rebecca Jo is still on a blogging sabbatical.

This week I am thankful...

** Everything is coming together for my church's back-to-school bash this Saturday evening. We are a small church, but we are prepared with school supplies for 200 children and thanks to donations from generous local businesses and individuals, we have very nice prize baskets to award, a $250 gift card for the teacher the kids vote as their favorite, free food, and most important...100 free copies of the Action Bible (it's a great Bible done in comic form to interest kids) as well as copies of The Kindergarten Bible for younger kids. There will be live music, a double-dutch jump rope exhibition, and 11 or 12 game booths! The fire department is going to be there, too, with the big hook and ladder truck for the kids to see up close and sit in. It's a big outreach event and for the first time ever, the school has allowed us to hold it on the school property with the hope of drawing more families. Because of the late date, there is no rain date so, please, pray for good weather!

** for a wonderful birthday celebration. I got to spend Saturday with my hubby going to farmers' markets and having a wonderful lunch out. All day Sunday with my grandchildren. And Monday I was treated to lunch by my daughter and overwhelmed with birthday wishes via text and Facebook. Oh, and Tim brought dinner home with him so I didn't have to cook!

** My daughter and I made progress today with sorting things out to sell at the garage sale (not this coming weekend, but the next one) and hauling them up to my mom's garage. I am really being brutal with thinning out all my stuff. I am keeping sentimental stuff for sure, but even with that, I'm really, really looking at it and maybe choosing to only keep a couple of things that are representative of  a whole pile of stuff (like school papers, greeting cards, etc.)

** Our great-nephew checked into Children's Hospital on Tuesday and had the surgery to insert 2 ports for his chemo treatments. Yesterday he had his first IV chemo in the morning and another oral dose in the evening. He did well with them only spiking mild fevers both times in reaction. Today he gets a double dose of what he got yesterday. He's been doing great and has a good attitude for the most part, but yesterday he did give his mom some grief about taking all his medications. It came down to the fact that pretty much everything in his life is out of his control right now and he was trying to control something. They got it worked out, though, and he took his meds.

** For all of you who are praying for him.

** My mom is able to go to her class reunion this weekend. There were only about 60 in her graduating class and there aren't too many of them left or of those left, who can travel. They are marking 60 years! Yikes! That's a reminder that this year marks 40 since I graduated. How can that be?!

I would, however, welcome your prayers for me while she is gone. She is leaving her dog with us. The dog is sweet, but...well...a bit of a hyperactive idiot. It's always a bit rough when she stays, but this time I have a cat. Mom's dog had never met a cat until we introduced her to mine a couple of weeks ago. Let's just say it did not go well. I imagine my poor cat will spend the entire time behind the couch hissing and growling. Mom's dog doesn't learn or give up so I'm afraid at some point she will either go after my cat or the cat will lay into her. Pray they both come through the weekend okay...and that my house survives!

** The feel of fall in the air and the coming season of pumpkin spice flavored everything!

** and I'm thankful for each one of you!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge: Back to School

I'm linking up with the Wednesday Hodgepodge today to talk about "back to school."

1. August is National Back To School Month...how does that make you feel? Share a back-to-school memory.  Since I gave up driving a school bus and my kids are grown with kids of their own, back to school doesn't really bring about much change in my life. It does bring the shift in my thinking to fall, though. 

This year might be a bit bittersweet since our grandson, who lives next door and is a daily part of our lives, starts kindergarten. Also, depending on how things go with our daughter's work and me finding a job, I may be the one either getting him on or off the bus. I hope he has a good experience with school. 

As an only child who always lived in rural areas until my teens, I loved school when I was a kid. I also liked getting there. The first couple of years of my school career I rode to another district with my mom because she was the librarian there. I still remember all the talking and singing we did. 

2. Something you've learned in 'the school of life'?  You have no control over what anyone else says or does. All you have control over is how you respond to it. 

3. Three words to describe your current mood.  Thoughtful. Relaxed. Motivated.

4. A summer food you've eaten too much of/are tired of? A summer food you haven't had enough of?  I haven't had too much of any summer food and I haven't had enough of corn-on-the-cob, fresh cantaloupe, tomato sandwiches, and White House ice cream.

5. What small stuff do you sweat that you know you shouldn't?  When my husband uses something and then just leaves it and doesn't put it back. I know it doesn't matter, but it just drives me nuts like nothing else.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I've lost my mind and decided my mom, our daughter, and I should have a garage sale (not this coming weekend, but the next one). I'm really trying to make hard decisions and get rid of a lot of stuff. I'm tired of clutter. I guess I've become that older person ahead of schedule and I'm getting rid of stuff. Giving it to family, selling it, donating it. I'm just tired of....stuff.

Have a good one!

Tuesday 4: Dining Out

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. Thanks goes out to Ann for keeping it going.

1. Do you like eating out with friends or would you rather have them over for a meal?  I'd rather go out most of the time. It's easier to relax if I'm not doing the hosting, cooking, cleaning up, etc. However, it's nice to have everyone come over after dinner for dessert and conversation.

2. Let's go out to eat. You pick. Where are we going?  If there is nothing else to consider, I'm ALWAYS going to pick someplace with scrumptious seafood. Other than that, I'd choose a friendly local place with yummy comfort food or Chinese. Chinese food is always good.

3. What are you going to order tonight?  If it was up to me, shrimp scampi would be on the menu.

4. Are you going to have dessert? What will it be?  I'm not really a big dessert person, but if I do have something sweet, I'd probably pick cake or cheesecake.

 

Currently...

I'm celebrating it's my birthday today! It's also my mom's birthday. What a present she got 58 years ago! Ha, ha! So far I have spent the time since I got up responding to texts and messages on Facebook wishing me a happy birthday...and that includes many of you, my dear friends. Thank you for thinking of me and blessing me with your prayers and wishes!

The weather is blessing me with a rainy day and a predicted high temperature of 70 degrees! In the middle of August! The last couple of days have felt more like fall than summer, but this seems to be the pattern we've moved into as the climate changes. It will get hot again and usually that heat will hang on through September and possibly into October. It's all good. Fall is my favorite time of year so I'm loving the cooler temps, the smells, and the sounds.

I'm feeling happy and blessed, of course. Not really any older. That's good, right? And content. Daisy is curled up against one side of me and Jasper is snuggled up on the other. 

I'm thankful for a good weekend. Tim didn't work on Saturday so we decided to spend the morning out doing whatever I wanted for my birthday. I chose to go to the farmers market in Ligonier. It was the first time we'd been there in several years. It is a bit smaller than it used to be, but still a nice market. We didn't purchase any produce, meat, or crafts...prices are very high. We did purchase 2 bottles of wine, nice, light, fruity ones. 

Oh, we saw these pine (or are they fir) trees planted all around the parking area. We really liked them. They are pretty and the needles are soft, not jaggy. Does anyone know what kind of tree they are?

From there we drove up the mountain to the Mennonite market in Stoystown. Tim wanted some corn and what I had gotten there was the best we'd had in ages. We came home with a dozen ears of corn, a huge watermelon (Tim's favorite fruit), a cantaloupe, some cucumbers and from the regular store we got my favorite pepperoni rolls, a couple of bags of Martin's barbecue potato chips (the best ever!) and some green gummy frogs for the kids.

We stopped back in Ligonier on the way down the mountain and had lunch at Fat Daddy's. Tim had a crock of his favorite French onion soup, I ordered some fried zucchini, and we shared the best pizza we've had in years. It was a little pricey, though, so we probably won't make it a habit.

The kids came over when we got home to give Megan a break. They had been being real stinkers for her when she was trying to get her shopping done and she had called me in tears while we were out asking me to give them a talking to on speaker phone. 

Sunday we had the kids all day because that is the day Megan works daylight and Cody had a union meeting in the morning and then needed to sleep so he could work last night. We mostly just hung out in the house because it was a day much like today.

I did make a Walmart run in the morning. I needed to pick up Tim's new cholesterol medication and I bought an anti-fungal for Leah because in addition to all the big red bug bites (she is apparently sensitive to bites and they all get huge and bright red) we think she has ringworm. Not a big deal, but you do want to get on it and clear it up. I also got both Colton and Leah a smaller kinetic sand treasure chest. Best money spent! Each one comes with 4 treasures, a special digging tool, and a key for the chest as well as enough kinetic sand to fill the chest. I gave them each a "diamond" and a "pearl" to add to their treasure and they had so much fun digging up treasure and reburying it over and over. Pappy made pancakes and bacon for breakfast and later we had hotdogs and corn-on-the-cob. It was a happy day.

I'm feeling happy, content, and blessed. As far as lingering Covid symptoms, I still have trouble with the cough. It has gotten a good bit better than it was, but it just will not go completely away.

Today I'm not doing anything special. I will see my mom at some point and give her a gift. Otherwise, it will be a normal day...laundry, cleaning, some reading, and I want to figure out how to install the printer I bought new in the box at a garage sale last summer. It was a backup and since my other printer has quit working, I guess it's time.

Happy Monday! Have a blessed and wonderful week!

Saturday 9: W.O.L.D.

W.O.L.D. (1973)

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

1) This song tells the story of a man who has made a career in radio.  How many professions have you worked in?  I don't know if I'd call them professions, but I've had jobs in 6 different fields of employment. Finisher in a foam rubber plant; office assistant in a grocery store; retail sales; bus driver; activities assistant in a nursing home; and companion to developmentally disabled adults.

 

2) He describes himself as "45 going on 15." This morning, do you feel older or younger than your years?  The mind ALWAYS feels much younger than my years. The body...not so much.

3) He estimates that he's traveled thousands of miles, from town to city, as disc jockey at various stations. Have you ever relocated for a job?  We've relocated twice for Tim's work.

4) This song is written as though he's reached out to an ex. Is there someone from your past who is on your mind this morning?  Not really.

5) Tell us about a radio personality you grew up listening to.  Casey Kasem is the only one I really remember all that well even though I listened to the radio all the time. Well, I also remember a local DJ on (at the time) Pittsburgh's biggest station, AM or FM, KDKA. That was Jack Bogut. I didn't listen to him on my own, but heard him all the time in the car with my parents. I also met him and snarled the line on his personal fishing pole into a huge knot. That probably contributes to why I remember him so well.

6) This week's featured artist, Harry Chapin, was an Oscar nominee. Before he became a musician, he wrote and directed a documentary about boxing called Legendary Champions. When you sit down to watch a movie, would you prefer action, comedy, drama, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, thriller or documentary?  It depends on my mood, but generally I will choose a romantic comedy, a comedy, or something in the action/adventure genre. I do watch the others, just not as much.

 

7) Today Harry Chapin is fondly remembered for his philanthropy. He filled his calendar with benefit concerts that supported local food banks all around the country. How would you like to be remembered?  As a nice person who loved the Lord, tried to be kind, do good for others, and leave the world a little better.

8) In 1973, when this song was popular, one of the top-selling toys was a Curious George book packaged with a plush Curious George. Can you recall a favorite book from your childhood?  Misty of Chincoteague, The Big Tidy Up, and in my very early years, Dr. Goat.

 

9) Random question: Here's $100. What will you spend it on?  Tim and I are going to the outdoor market in the next town over this morning and then on to a couple of wineries for my birthday outing, even though my birthday isn't until Monday. I'd put the money toward a fun day.

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

Friday Photos

I don't usually participate in Friday Photos, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to show you yet another treasure my mom recently gave me. 

In among a stack of papers and cards from my childhood was a plain white envelope that contained...

a stack of beautiful Audubon prints! (Click on any photo to view it larger)

Just look at the beautiful detail!

Such a wide variety of birds.

I think this one is my favorite.

This one is just for Pam. It made me think of her beautiful photos of Still Waters Pond.

Also in the collection of stuff from Mom were these decals. Do you remember when decorating furniture with decals was all the rage? These aren't exactly treasure, but they are cute...and check out those prices!

My daughter stopped by this morning and took this photo of Jasper giving her the stink eye.

And finally, here's a peek at tonight's supper while it's still in the Crockpot. What is it? Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.

That's it for my Friday photos. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thankful Thursday

I'll begin with a praise...the laptop seems to be cooperating, so I'm able to participate in Thankful Thursday. It was mentioned in a comment on yesterday's post that Microsoft was having some problems and I should hang in there a bit longer and see if it gets better. It seems to be. It's not great, but it's better than it was both yesterday and Tuesday.

I'm also thankful I'm able to link up with Jen who continues to fill in for Rebecca Jo. Now on to the "real" list!

This week I am thankful...

** as mentioned above, to be able to post on the blog.

** to live surrounded by my family and have them as a daily part of my life.

** to be able to help my daughter out with childcare quite often. What a blessing it is to have the grandchildren be such a big part of our lives and to be part of theirs.

** for all the used books I picked up earlier this summer and for the unintended and unplanned theme of so many with librarians as the main character. All the book talk has helped me get back into my reading groove. Well, that and being stuck at home with Covid....but Covid is gone and the reading continues!

** Tim and I had a good visit with Mom and my stepdad Monday night when we drove up the ridge for Tim to get something from John. Mom is at her house nearly every day so we don't often drive up to John's (they spend summers at his house and winters at Mom's). 

** for a fun lunch with some of the ladies from church. It was a crowd I don't know well so it was nice to get to talk to them. It was nice, too, that a young girl of 24 actually came with her adorable 9 month old twins, Genesis and Magdelina. Lots of grandma's around that table willing to hold and entertain babies!

** Leah had a wonderful time at her birthday party and loved everything she received. I was really glad our son-in-law's parents were friendlier and chattier than they usually are. Maybe one day we will be able to have one big family Christmas so the kids don't feel so torn every year.

** for cooler temperatures this past week and lots of rain...even though it meant no time in the pool.

** though she gets frustrated with a lot of things and some co-workers, Megan continues to like her job. (Frustration just seems to be a natural part of working in a nursing home. I always found it to be, anyway.)

** I have received a couple of birthday cards already, even though my birthday isn't until the 15th. Someone asked me today if it was a big one. I said, "Yes, I'm not 60 yet!"

** Tim's latest round of blood work showed his cholesterol is through the roof and his kidney function numbers are high. Those are not things I'm thankful for, but in knowing it the doctor was able to prescribe a new cholesterol medication and he will have the kidney numbers checked again in a couple of months. Oh, and he heard from the sleep doctor. He goes on Sept. 13 to get the monitor to use at home for just one night. I am very thankful we are finally moving on that. Lately his snoring has been, not loud, but filled with the strangest sounds.

** Jasper, my naughty kitty, seems to be (maybe) calming down a bit finally and not getting into trouble quite so often. I was worried we'd never see the day! Our s-i-l's parents had gotten his brother and he was so bad for them they gave him up (to someone Megan and I know). It was good all the way around. Their scratches can heal and Charlie (that's the cat) loves his new home and isn't bad at all. He is even friends with a cockatiel.

Jasper's latest photo.

** as I am each and every week, for all of you!

Tuesday 4: One for the Books

A day late and a dollar short, that's me today. I wanted to play along with the Tuesday 4 yesterday (because BOOKS!), but I'm having computer issues. It is taking Microsoft Edge forever to load anything. I've done updates, diagnostics (everything is FINE). I have a feeling it's going to grind to a halt and I will have to take the laptop to be repaired. Just mentioning it so you know what happened if I disappear for a while (I can't stand writing a whole post on my phone).

So, let's talk about books!

1.  What book brought out your emotions and why?  I don't get terribly emotional over books, but I'd have to say the Bible accomplishes that more than any other book because it shines a light on things in my life that need some work. The other books that consistently get to me are any of Jodi Picoult's works. She writes about the most difficult situations you can imagine.

2.  How has reading changed your life both for good or for bad? What you get out of it?  Reading has certainly given me a lifetime of entertainment, sparked my imagination, introduced me to new ideas, and taken me to worlds I'd never see otherwise. The most profound change is my faith in the Lord. Because I read I was able to read a book that led me to accept Jesus then continue reading the Bible and doing loads of Bible studies that have all helped me grow in my walk with God.

3.  What character(s) do you love and which do you hate and why?  I tend to like strong female characters, especially ones who are normal, everyday women who have doubts and fears and messy lives and then find out they are stronger than they think. I like characters who make me laugh or think. Lately I've been on a kick with cozy mysteries featuring librarians and other literary types. The women are book smart but also have to face things they didn't think they could to solve murders. All that said, my most favorite character ever is probably Jo from Little Women. I identified with her a lot when I was growing up. I can't think of any characters I hate.

4.  What book or books do you think everyone should read once in their lifetime?  Well, I'd recommend the Bible, of course, but other than that I could recommend what I like, but that might not be what you like. I've read a lot of the "classics." I'm not a huge fan of most of them. I think there are lots of modern books that are just as good as the classics. One book I always recommend that was never a big success is Lottery by Patricia Wood. It is the story of a young man who is mentally challenged and what happens to him after he wins the lottery. It has ALLLLL the feels and really makes you think. Mostly, I think people should just read what they like.

Hopefully, I'll be back again tomorrow for Thankful Thursday, but it's all up to my laptop. Have a blessed day, friends!

Currently...

The Weather continues to be warm (low 80's) and HUMID. While not uncomfortably hot as so much of the country is, it has been so muggy just walking outside makes a person drip sweat. Yuk. I just looked it up and right now, at 9:30 in the evening, the humidity is 87%! Of course, all that humidity has meant thunderstorms. We've been having multiple storms per day for a few days now and the pattern is predicted to continue through Thursday, the last I saw. The storms have brought very heavy rains and flash flooding in many areas. We have been okay here on the hill, but many folks have had to leave their homes, some by boat. The customers in one local grocery store had to be rescued by boat! Our daughter reported flooding at the nursing home, too. Water came into the lobby and front offices, but not into the residents' rooms, thank goodness! We are very grateful to be high and dry (though tired of rain) here. 

** On a side note, I read this evening that the "Farmer's Almanac" released its winter prediction. They say it's going to be a bitterly cold one for a lot of the country, particularly in December and January. Will it mean a white Christmas?

I'm feeling pretty good except for the cough. I can't seem to shake the cough. I have an inhaler for when my chest feels tight, but...that doesn't happen very often. Mostly, it's just a bit of a tickle in my throat and the cough is a response. 

I'm watching M*A*S*H at the moment. Tim turned it on then went to bed. I had intended to change it, but got sucked into it. It's been ages since I've watched an episode. It is one show that sure carries over, though a lot of what was cutting edge social commentary then is sure not aligned with today's political correctness. I'm not offended, but I'm surprised no one has complained and had it banned. Oh, and I discovered Auction Kings today and spent the afternoon watching it. I love shows like that.

I'm happy we finally got to celebrate Leah's birthday with a little bit of a party. Nothing fancy this year, just family, pizza and cupcakes. Mom and Dad did decorate the house with Frozen streamers and such. She is three. It was enough and she was happy. We got her a big girl bike, Frozen themed, of course. Our son-in-law's parents didn't stay long (they never do), but they did socialize a bit, which is more than they usually do.

I'm celebrating that I finally got to go to church today! I have barely been there this summer. I went the first 2 Sundays in June then missed Father's Day because we had something going on. That week the text messages started to roll in reporting more and more cases of Covid among church members. I stayed home the following two Sundays to make sure it had cleared out. I went back the next week and right after that is when I started at the nursing home and missed a Sunday and then I got Covid. It was good to be back, though I will miss next Sunday again because...next Monday is mine and Mom's birthday. I am turning 58 and she will be 78. Tim and I will probably do something on Sunday, possibly drive to the Shakerwoods Festival in Ohio just like we did last year.

I'm reading...nothing at the moment. I stayed up late last night to finish a book. I need to pick a new one tomorrow. I made up my mind that I was going to get back to reading more this year. I set my goal on Goodreads fairly low (30), but I'm doing great. I'm three books ahead of schedule! I've been reading a lot of cozy mysteries so I'm thinking I might need to choose something a little meatier this time.

I'm thinking about my mom and stepdad getting older, him in particular. He came to Leah's party and he just seems so frail and getting more so each time I see him. Mom told our daughter that when they went into her basement yesterday to check if the new waterproofing held up through the big storm on Friday, he wanted to know where his room was. I guess he seemed confused and said "it's not here anymore." I don't think the last two years of covid isolation have been good for him. Since he has heart problems he is one who has chosen to remain almost totally isolated except for seeing us. He doesn't go anywhere but to his doctor appointments. He doesn't do much of anything at all. I think he's depressed. He has expressed how much he hates getting old and feeling useless. I'm worried he might not be around a lot longer and then I worry how Mom will handle it. Not that worry changes anything. I know God's got it all under control.

Leaving you with this thought...

Saturday 9: Big, Bad John

Oh, how fun! I'm linking up with the Saturday 9 for this week's song and related questions. It's a bonus this week as this was one of my dad's favorite songs...probably because his name was John and he was a big guy. I often wonder if friends and co-workers ever teased him about the song. Well, anyway...thank you, Sam, for a trip down memory lane.

Big, Bad John (1961)

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

1) This song tells the story of a stern, enigmatic miner. None of the other miners knew much about him. When people first meet you, do you think they see you more as mysterious or straightforward?  I think I am open and honest about who I am, very much a what you see, is what you get kind of girl. However, people have told me I am hard to get to know, closed off, a bit of an unknown.

 

2) During a serious accident, many of the miners panicked. But not John. Think of your family, friends and acquaintances. Who would be the most dependable in a crisis?  My husband and after him, me. We are both calm in emergencies and have some training. My skills haven't been put to the test to the same degree Tim's have been. He has had to be hands on in some awful situations so I KNOW he is dependable.

3) His heroism allowed 20 miners to escape, but cost John his life. According to the lyrics, there's a marble slab on site of mine that honors him. Is there a memorial to a local hero in your town?  Not for that kind of heroics. We are not far from the Quecreek Mine rescue site or where Flight 93 went down. Lots of heroics in those places.

4) This song was written and performed by Jimmy Dean. He began composing it on a flight from New York to Nashville. How do you amuse yourself while traveling?  Reading, talking to my companion, watching the scenery, movies, music.

5) Jimmy Dean hosted a long-running variety show on CBS, which is best-remembered today for introducing Jim Henson's puppets -- especially Rowlf, a dog who sang and told jokes. While Rowlf didn't make it to Sesame Street, he was a recurring character on the Muppet Show. Are you a Muppet fan?  Absolutely! I cut my teeth on Sesame Street and the Muppet Show.

6) Jimmy found success in business with The Jimmy Dean Sausage Company. He sold the company to Sara Lee in 1984 for $80 million. Today Jimmy Dean breakfast products are still popular in grocery stores all over the country. What's your favorite breakfast?  Biscuits and sausage gravy or scrambled eggs with peppers and onions, cheese, and salsa rolled up in a tortilla.

7) In 1961, when this song was popular, Vogue asked if fashion sense is inborn or if could a woman could learn to be chic. What do you think? Do you think style is either something you have, or you don't?  I do think true style is something you're born with. People study and copy a look and while it may look technically right...there's just a certain something missing.

8) Also in 1961, Ernest Hemingway took his own life. Did you read Hemingway in English class? Can you recall any other novels you read for school?  I did. I believe my first Hemingway was The Old Man and the Sea in 6th grade and while I know Hemingway was rather a jerk, he lived life to the fullest and was larger than life. His life and adventures have long fascinated me. As for other novels read in school...I was an avid reader on my own and also,I took every elective English class my high school offered so I read a LOT of novels. I don't think I missed too many of the "must read" books.

 

9) Random question: Think about the last "white lie" you told. Was it to make your own day easier or spare someone's feelings?  It was more a lie of omission. My mom tends to be super critical and judgemental of, well, pretty much everyone. There are a lot of times I just don't tell her stuff to avoid a lecture or one of her rundowns on someone else.