Weekend Recap on Monday....

It was my first weekend knowing I don't have to get up early on Monday and go to work. I have to note, though, that TECHNICALLY I'm still employed until the end of July 31st.  Retirement is really effective August 1st. I have a vacation day today. Just a technicality....

Friday, I finished work at 12:30 and had the afternoon off for vacation time (like today). When I got home, Joe had an appointment at 2:00 but when he returned around 3:00 we decided to go shopping. Tuesday Morning was open.  We walked every aisle and picked up a few doodads. Joe likes to shop, probably better than I do.

Saturday, we slept late and then went in search of pots.  We decided to get five decorative pots to put in the bed in our front yard, rather than plant bushes.  We can change out the pots with color (flowers, plants...) as we want.  Who knew finding black pots would be so hard?  Our shutters are black, so we want black pots. We tried Home Depot, Walmart, Lowe's and then decided to drive over to Plant City (next town over) to a place called Southern Hospitality.  We hadn't been in over a year. They now carry the Magnolia line of home decor and furniture!

(Slight distraction...)  I bought a Spinner for $2.99.  That's the best price I've seen. There is so much talk about them and every kid has at least one it seems.  I wouldn't spend $10.00, but $3.00 seemed okay.  Guess who likes playing with it the most?

We didn't find pots there either, but we did find some living room furniture we really liked.  We are in search of new living room furniture and a new mattress. Not in a hurry, but a must.  It's past time. I'll keep you posted, but if anyone has advice on a good mattress, let me know.  Our Beauty Rest pillow top is only five years old and it is shot already. Worst purchase we ever made (other than the sleep number bed, which was even worse). Whatever happened to the mattresses you could flip over every six months for better wear? Am I the only one who remembers doing that?

Yesterday we (again) slept in.  Got up and had a quick breakfast and coffee and then headed out to the cinema for the 11:05 showing of Dunkirk.  Joe wanted to see it. Wow. I cried twice. Tough movie.

I should note that I did not do laundry on Sunday. WHAT?!! I might do it today, or maybe tomorrow. Freedom!! LOL  We read the paper and had another cup of coffee when we got home from the movies.  I walked out of the kitchen a minute and came back to find the entire paper monopolized....

Helen and Cheryl called to see if they could come by.  They brought a cake, a card, and a gift card to celebrate my retirement. Wow.  Not expected but so much appreciated.  They joined us for some of the cake and I sent some home with them. We had a nice visit.

Son Joe called us last night from the road.  He is going to DC for the week and will get to see his brother (Jeff) while there.  It's good that they can get together now and then.

That's all I have. Starting the first week of my retirement......it's finally here.  Peace & hugs!!

Sunday Stealing - Music, Music, Music....

Music, Music, Music

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on  

WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. You may have heard the expression, “honor among thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from, if possible. We also provide a link to the victim's questions in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from recently asked questions from a previous post. Cheers to all of us thieves!

I really like music and so I stole this from a blog called The Green Hearth, who says that some of these are hard."  And they are, but I thought they were fun.  Let's give it a try.

         1: A song you like with a color in the title  Blue Velvet
         2: A song you like with a number in the title  One (by Three Dog Night)
         3: A song that reminds you of summertime  Summer Breeze
         4: A song that needs to be played LOUD  Born to be Wild
         5: A song that makes you want to dance  Celebrate
         6: A song to drive to  Hotel California
         7: A song about drugs or alcohol  White Rabbit
         8: A song that makes you happy  Blessed Assurance
         9: A song that makes you sad  For The Good Times
         10: A song that you never get tired of  Mary, Did You Know
         11: A song from your preteen years  I Want To Hold Your Hand
         12: One of your favorite 80’s songs  Luckenbach, Texas  (I was into country)
         13: One of your favorite classical songs  Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
         14: A song that you would sing a duet with someone on karaoke  Hey Paula (by Paul & Paula)
         15: A song from the year that you were born  Too Young by Nat King Cole
         16: A song that makes you think about life  Ir Was A Very Good Year (Sinatra)
         17: A song that you think everybody should listen to  Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
         18: A song by a band you wish were still together  Our House (Crosby Stills Nash & Young)
         19: A song by an artist no longer living  Bad Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce)
         20: A song that breaks your heart  Honey (Bobby Goldsboro)(I actually hate this song!)
         21: A song by an artist with a voice that you love  I Left My Heart In San Francisco (love Tony)

Thanks to Bev Sykes at Sunday Stealing!  Join in HERE!  This one was really hard!!  I won't say that I love all of these songs but they are the ones I thought of when I read the questions....

Thanks for stopping by! I wish you a blessed Sunday!  Peace & hugs!!

Saturday 9 with Sarah McLachlan's Angel....

Thanks to Samantha for another Saturday 9!

Angel

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Angel (1998)
... because Bev recommended it

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

1) Sarah McLachlan wrote this song about someone she barely knew. She read the obit of Jonathan Melvoin, keyboard player for the Smashing Pumpkins, who died of a heroin overdose. What's the most recent news story that touched you deeply?  Without getting political, the two news stories that touched my heart recently were on announcing the death of one of Lakeland's former mayors.  Buddy Fletcher was Mayor for 14 years, was loved by most and is really responsible for our beautiful downtown and its revitalization.  He was 84 and died from complications of a stroke. The second story was about the SPCA trying to capture a bobcat kitten that lost its mother to a speeding car.  It happened on a busy street near our house so I've been looking out the windows now and then, hoping to see it.  It should still be nursing and they are afraid for its life. Hope they find he/r!!

2) Ms. McLachlan performed this in tribute to Linda McCartney at the 1999 Concert for Linda. She was expressing her hope that, in death, Linda found relief and peace after a long and painful battle with cancer. What do you think happens to us when we die?  I believe in the promises of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.

And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day I'll sing up there

The song of victory. 

3) Daytime dramas General Hospital and As the World Turns used this song on-air after a major character died. Do you follow any "soap operas?"  Not anymore, but oh my goodness I was really hooked on General Hospital, All My Children, One Life To Live and Dark Shadows when I was in high school.
 

4) In 2007, Sarah donated her recording of this song to the ASPCA. Do you have a pet?  Yes, three cats.  If yes, how did you get it (shelter, pet store, etc.)?  They were all rescued from the streets.  Lucy was living in a storm drain, Lilly was born into a feral community and captured at five months to be spayed and put back out on the street and Vinny was born and living in a mostly feral colony that my sister was caring for in Georgia. 

5) She admits she can't watch those ASPCA commercials, where her recording of "Angel" plays over sad photos of animals. Is there a TV commercial that really gets to you (in either a good or a bad way)?  We see very few commercials since we DVR shows from network TV (fast forward ads) and then watch most shows on Acorn TV or Netflix.

6) In 1994, Sarah was stalked by an obsessed fan. Tell us about a time you were really frightened. In retrospect, was your fear commensurate with the threat?  I was a newly wed and not yet 20, living in Columbus, Ohio, in an area close to a more depressed neighborhood (near Grant Hospital back in the early 1970s). I was walking home from a visit to the library and a man who was quite obviously aroused started asking me questions and following me.  Instead of walking to our apartment, I changed direction and told him to leave me alone and threatened him with my husband who was a Marine just home from Nam. He took off, I went home and sat in the living room with a butcher knife for about two hours before I could stop shaking.  My husband (at the time) was at school and then work, not getting home for a few hours yet.  It was unsettling and scary. I do believe my fear was commensurate with the threat and all these years later I can still see him in my mind.  Thankfully, I never saw him again in person.

7) Sarah was adopted by Jack and Dorice McLachlan. Though she has a friendly relationship with her birth mother, she always considered Dorice her mother and sees herself behaving with her son the way Dorice did with her. Is there anyone in your family that you feel you resemble, either physically or by behavior?  I like to think I have some of my mom in me, but I'll never be her.  She was an amazing woman of God who I can only hope to emulate. She was so patient and my dad was so impatient...I do take after my dad in that respect. Sigh. I think I physically resemble my dad more than my mom.

8) McLachlan is one of the founders of Lilith Fair, a summer concert series designed to showcase talented female performers. Do/did your summer plans include an outdoor concert?  No.  We are not concert-goers anymore indoors OR outdoors.

9) Random question: Which of these men would you most like to be seated with at dinner -- Clint Eastwood, Prince William or Jimmy Fallon?  Probably Clint Eastwood.  I'm not impressed by royalty and certainly not by Jimmy Fallon.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for your visit!!  It's the weekend!!  Peace & hugs.

Friday Foto Friends Time.....

I'm linking up with Deb at Breathing In Grace for her Friday Foto Friends!!  Join us!!

It has been quite a week!  My last one as a full-time employee at Polk Museum of Art.  Bittersweet. I'm ready to be done with work, but I sure hate leaving co-workers who are friends and like family. They have been so good to me!

On Monday, my wall had been decorated!

You can click the photo to read the signs. So cute.

On Tuesday, I was treated to lunch out with Diana and

when we returned, there were balloons and a cake!

On Wednesday, we were all treated to breakfast before the staff meeting.

Two of our part timers who couldn't be at the breakfast or lunch

gave me this lovely orchid.

Yesterday, Thursday, I arrived at my desk to find these cats in

every nook & cranny.  I gathered them together here.

AND....I was treated to lunch with most of the staff there.

They also gave me a card full of good wishes and sweet words

along with a very generous gift card for Mazzaro's Italian Market!!

I am only working a half day today.  We have accomplished a lot the last two days so I'm feeling pretty good about leaving them with what is left.  There are still some kinks to work out with the college taking over all the accounting, but payroll is working well now and so will the rest, given some time. I'm ready.

The weekend is here!!  Thanks for your visit!  (Did you hear that Joyce's grandson made his appearance!!)  Peace & hugs!!

Thankful Thursday Link-Up.....

Linking up with Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand for her Thankful Thursday link-up!!

I am SO thankful for all the wonderful things my co-workers have been doing for me this week and I do indeed have photos to share...tomorrow!

I mention now and then that I was blessed (and thankful) to have grown up in a very small mid-western town in central Ohio.  One traffic light, corn and pig country and at one end of Buckeye Lake.  We enjoyed boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter.  I found a video done by a man and his drone of my home town in Ohio.  You can also see the empty Sweet Corn Festival grounds in a couple of shots (empty booths waiting to be filled with delicious food).  You will understand why I say I'm still a country girl at heart.  Please take a couple of minutes to watch....  (I hope it opens in Facebook).

https://www.facebook.com/zack.gorsuch/videos/10155531783077528/

Thanks for your visit!!  Peace & hugs.

Time for the Hodgepodge...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 315

Before I post this week's questions, let's pause for a public service announcement-there will not be a Hodgepodge next week (August 2nd). The Hodgepodge will be back in action the week after (August 9th). Thanks!

Thanks to Joyce for this week's Hodgepodge!  Join in HERE and link up with other Hodgepodgers!!  Joyce is on Grandson alert right now!!  I'm excited too!  Please keep us posted!!

1. We've reached edition number 315 here in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. So tell us, what were you doing at 3:15 yesterday?  I was at work, wishing I could take a nap after lunch out and a cake to celebrate my retirement when we got back to the office. Is that typical?  No, it is not typical!  On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being low and 10 being high) what's your energy level usually like at 3:15 PM?  Even without cake, it is usually a 3 or 4.  I really do fade in the late afternoon.

2. A frisbee, a tantrum, a towel, a party, a punch, or a curveball...which have you most recently thrown or had thrown at/for you?  This week seems to be a party week!!  Elaborate.  I asked that they not make a big deal of my retirement - no formal party or having to make speeches.  So they are doing something for me every day this week, it seems.  Monday was my wall of cat signs, yesterday was lunch out and a cake and balloons.  Today is breakfast at the staff meeting and Thursday is lunch out with a bigger group (Joe included).  I'm only here half a day on Friday so maybe Thursday will be the last of the celebrations.  I'm enjoying it and am really touched that they are doing so much.

3. What are three things that would help you right now.  Actually, three more days to finish the work that isn't going to be finished by my last day.  Tell us how or why.  Just because it is a little complicated and there is a lot that I do that I don't even think about.  I want to leave my desk so that no one has to wonder what the heck should be done with 'this' or 'that'.

4. Do you think you're strong?  Yes.  Why or why not?  I'm still sane and not on meds after a divorce, horrid cancer deaths in my family, dealing with my own cancer, Joe's medical problems, and dealing with a grandmother who was extremely difficult before she died.  What makes you strong?  Faith. My Sweet Jesus.

5. Do you enjoy reading historical fiction?  Yes, my favorite.  What's your favorite book set sometime in the past?  I've read some really good ones, but have to mention Gone With the Wind.  The Outlander Series takes us back to early Scotland which was also interesting.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I'm so done with numbers and my job. I love the Museum and the great folks I work with, but I am so over the job now.  Twenty plus years...I'm tired of accounting rules, auditors, and ERISSA, and all the paperwork necessary today that was not necessary 20 years ago. Sigh. Come on Friday!!  I'm ready!!

Thanks for peeking in today!!  Happy hump day!  Peace & hugs.

Tickled Tuesday....

Time for Tickled Tuesday....

The wall beside my desk.... 

A co-worker went in on Saturday to do it for me.

I was tickled on Monday!!

Thanks for your visit!  Peace & hugs.

Weekend Recap on Monday....

We have had a great weekend!  I really love the ones with no plans and come what may!

We did have plans for Friday evening.  Mike and Mary Ellen came over for dinner.  I made fajitas, yellow rice and black beans and we had flan for dessert.  I also made a pitcher of margaritas that turned out pretty good.  We enjoyed dinner and then played a card game for a couple of hours.  They left around 10:30.  It was a fun time and they really liked our home.  They are about five minutes down the street from us now.  I served dinner in the kitchen, just because it is cozier.

 Munchies before dinner.

 The table before I loaded it up with the food.

My platter full of beef , chicken, and veggies.

I also put sour cream, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado out too.

Everyone had seconds and we still had enough for lunch the next day.

Saturday we slept late (of course) and then went out to Publix for a prescription and a few groceries. We slugged in front of the TV again and finished watching Vexed.  I didn't even have to cook.

Yesterday, Joe left the house for 10 minutes to go get our mail that we didn't get on Saturday.  The rest of the day was spent doing laundry and watching more TV.  Good grief, this heat has to give way soon so we can get outside for some activity.  I put a beef roast in the crock pot for our dinner. Sure made the house smell good!!

I had a request or two to post a photo of my new purse (mentioned last week) once I got it switched out and ready to carry.  Yes, it is a soft leather and I love all the pockets!  This is a more true color than the photo from last week which made it look more green than turquoise.

That's it for this recap!  Today starts the beginning of my last week at work.  The auditors are coming to present the draft audit to my boss and me.  The CFO from the college is also coming, since they are responsible for it going forward.  Thursday there will be a luncheon in my honor.  Not sure where yet, but I've been told to put it on my calendar.

Thanks for your visit!  Peace & hugs.

Around the House with Sunday Stealing...

Thanks to our hostess, Bev, for this week's Sunday Stealing.  Join in HERE!!

Around the House

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on  

WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. You may have heard the expression, “honor among thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from, if possible. We also provide a link to the victim's questions in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from recently asked questions from a previously post.

This is from Around the House, which hasn't posted since 2014, so it's obviously pretty old.  It asks us to look around the house and then answer a few questions.

Bedroom: what’s your sleep schedule?  Week days I'm in bed by 10:00 and up at 5:00.  This is about to change though!!

Kitchen: favorite comfort food?  Mac & Cheese

Washroom: showers or baths? bubbles? bath bombs? Showers

Closet: sum up your style in a few words.  Comfortable comfortable comfortable

Parlor: favorite party or board game?  I'm really not into games. I'll play for fun whatever someone else wants to play.

Living room: what do you like to do with your family?  We eat a lot and we talk and we watch movies on TV (or sports).

Dining room: favorite special occasion food?  Mac & Cheese (grinning)

Garden: favorite tree? Lilac.  flower?  Daisy

This one was pretty easy!  Thanks for peeking in today! Sunday blessings!  Peace & hugs.

Don't Stop the Saturday 9....

Thanks to Crazy Sam Winters for this week's Saturday 9!!  Join in the fun HERE!!

Don't Stop

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions! 

Saturday 9: Don't Stop (1977)... because Country Dew recommended Fleetwood Mac 

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

1) Since we're not supposed to stop thinking about tomorrow, let's talk about it: What are your plans for Sunday?  Sunday will be laundry day, as usual.  No other plans just yet.

2) Fleetwood Mac was formed 50 years ago in London. Fifty years is considered a "golden anniversary." Do you wear more silver or gold?  I probably wear more silver than gold these days but have been known to mix them.

3) This song is from Rumours, which has sold 40 million copies. Is it in your collection?  No, it is not.  I was more into country music back then.  I do like Fleetwood Mac though.

4) It was written by keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie. She was born Christine Perfect, a name that earned her a fair share of teasing when she was a school girl. Do you recall being teased in school?  No. What about?  If there was teasing it was not to my face.

5) Before Fleetwood Mac, she was in a band called Chicken Shack. If you were to order out for a chicken dinner, which restaurant would you turn to?  Publix has great chicken. That's where we usually get chicken to go.  Or Popeye's.

6) Before she could pay all her bills with her music, she supported herself as a window dresser for a London department store. Do you enjoy walking along, just window shopping?  There aren't many windows to shop anymore.  Most stores are in malls or solid buildings for security purposes.  Or do you consider "looking with no intention to buy" a waste of time? I am not a 'shopper' and only go if I need something or am on a mission of sorts.  Just to go out to look is not my idea of fun, so yes - waste of time.

7) When she found herself making big money, one of the first things Christine bought was a pair of matching Mercedes for herself and then-husband, John McVie. If you were handed a check for $1 million, what's the first thing you would do with the money?  Put it in the bank and give myself time to think about how to best use it.

8) The other girl in Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, founded the Soldier's Angel Foundation. She believes in the healing power of music, and so she's proud to provide wounded soldiers with iPods already loaded with music. When you listen to music from your phone, MP3 player or iPod, do you use ear buds or headphones?  Sorry - I don't listen to music on my phone and don't have an MP3 player or an iPod. 
  
9) Random question: Let's pretend your high school reunion is coming up. Which classmate are you more curious about: the one who was your first date, or the one who was too cool to give you the time of day?  I didn't date anyone from my class and I already know about the one who rarely gave me the time of day.  Facebook connections have made class reunions not really necessary.
 

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Saturday!!  Thanks for your visit today!  Peace & hugs.

Friday Foto Friends....

Thank goodness it's Friday!

Time to link up with other's over at Deb's Friday Foto Friends.  You'll find her at Breathing In Grace!

I have to confess that I had nothing to share until I started home from work last night.  We are having friends over for dinner tonight and I needed to do some shopping at Publix.  It's an easy stop on the way home, but I was trying to beat the rain. The only thing worse than grocery shopping, is trying to get the groceries to the car and loaded in the rain.  Well, I JUST made it.  This was my windshield as I pulled out of my parking spot.

I've mentioned before that part of the movie Edward Scissorhands was filmed in Lakeland, at our Southgate Shopping Center.  Take a look at that nasty cloud over the sign!

Southgate Shopping Center is where 'our' Publix is now.  We used to shop at the Lake Miriam Publix, but now we claim this one.

Are any of  you familiar with the store Tuesday Morning?  We had one in Lakeland that closed a couple of years ago. Made us sad.  Then this sign appeared in our Southgate Shopping Center and it is due to open soon!!  AND it's twice as big as the old one!

This is me  on my way home with the groceries. That's Mas Verde on the right and the gate I use is the one where you see the white car getting ready to pull out.

This is our street after I go through the entrance gate.  Yes, it was still raining.

A whole bunch of years ago, my sister Tammy got us this stained glass piece with our name on it. I have never had a window in which to display it until our new house.  When you approach our door, there can be no question about this being our house!  There are no other D'Orsaneos in our entire county.

A few of you asked for a picture of my new purse. This makes it look more green than turquoise, but it really is turquoise.  It is leather and has multiple pockets (a must). I haven't switch over to it yet, but will this weekend!

We are watching a series on Netflix called Vexed.  It's pretty good....detectives solving murders.  Lucy loves to jump up in front of the TV and try to catch movements....drives Joe crazy.  I just laugh. I guess I won't laugh if she knocks it over some day.

That's all I have this morning.  Looking forward to Mike & Mary Ellen coming over tonight for fajitas and margaritas!   I have to get home a little early to work on the food prep and a quick vacuum.  Mike is allergic to cats, so we try to clean up as much as we can when they are coming for a visit. He is usually good for a few hours.

One week to go!!  You know what I mean! :)  Thanks for your visit!  Peace & hugs.