Monday's Weekend Recap...

 

Gosh, another ho-hum weekend I'm afraid.  I already posted about our dinner out with friends on Thursday. It was fun and the Italian food good... two days in a row since we had leftovers on Friday!

I did laundry on Friday and not much else. Saturday found us out and about just for fun. We have a new Home Goods store that has had lines outside waiting to get in. We decided to try again and, again, there were 20 people waiting in line to get in.  Nope. Nothing there to stand in line for.  So, we went to our Lakeside Village shopping area and checked out sales at Belk's.  Joe's birthday is this coming Saturday and he did some birthday shopping.  New PJs, a new pair of cargo shorts, and a new pair of shoes. All set and I don't have to wrap them!

We had church yesterday with 62 in attendance.  Our assistant pastor, Brian, is leaving us.  I will miss him and his family. He and Ella have six kids. Such a nice family. They aren't leaving the area, at least not for a while.  Since we couldn't have a potluck, everyone brought a card for them. We added a $$ gift to ours and I hope others did too.  Brian came here from a Head Pastor position and he really needs to be Lead/Head Pastor again. He is a brilliant Preacher. I always enjoy his sermons. We love our Pastor too, so no worries there! 

Joe is still having trouble with his gums bleeding from the extractions last week so our mission today is to get in to see the oral surgeon and see what's going on. I only hope he can take him quickly. He isn't in pain but there is blood everywhere. I told him to wear a black T-shirt yesterday!  He didn't go to church because of the bleeding but was getting ready to watch online as I left for the church. We have tried everything on the post-surgery info they gave us. A teabag actually worked for a while last night. Fingers crossed that we won't have to see the surgeon. (Writing this Sunday night.)

Our dear friends and immediate neighbors, Bob & Sharon, sold their house on Saturday. They are moving to Franklin, TN, and are looking forward to spending the holidays in the mountains. We are happy for them but sad for us. Sharon ran over to tell us the news and said we will love the new couple who are moving in. The man is a retired minister and his wife is a hugger. Sounds good to me! I will look forward to meeting them. They have two kids, all grown up and living their lives elsewhere. They are from Illinois.  Mid-October is the intended move-out/move-in time frame.

Many of you mentioned Abigail Adams yesterday, in your comments, after I wrote about her in my blog answers. I base my interest in her totally on the John Adams series that was on TV years ago and is now streaming on lots of platforms. You can look for it on Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube, DirectTV, and probably more. I just googled it. We loved it so much that we bought the DVDs and have watched it a few more times over the years. Abigail was the brains behind John's political career and was quite intelligent. Watch it if you can find it. Well done and takes you through the Revolution and all the way to the deaths of Adams and Jefferson. It covers lots of America's history.

Well, I can't think of another thing to commit to writing so I will end this with a wish for you all to have a good week!! Good-bye August. (Wow!)

Peace & hugs!  God bless!!

UPDATE:  Joe got right in at the oral surgeon's office. We were there at 9:00 a.m. and he was stitched up and we were home by 10:00.  They had only stitched two of the extraction sites so had to stitch the other two.  He is hurting from the novocaine but there is no blood.  Thank goodness!!

Sunday Stealing...

 Big thanks to Bev for this week's questions!  You can join in HERE!

Live Journal

 Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World"... Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. 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. Cheers to all of us thieves!

  

Excerpted from Live Journal 5000 Questions

1. Who is the hottest celebrity you can think of?  Sam Elliott is always my answer to this question.

2. Do you ever get so nervous that you can't even think?  Public speaking. Yes.

3. Do you sing when there is no music?  If I am alone. You don't want to hear me sing. Since my thyroid surgery, my already limited range has decreased even more. It took three months for me to even talk normally after that surgery that messed with my vocal cords.

4. Who was the best political leader in history and why?  Abigail Adams.  I admire her and her role in advising her husband, John, when he was president. But I really don't have any idea how to answer this question with acuity.

5 If you could dance with anyone in the world right now, who would it be and what song would you dance to?  I would just like to dance with Joe and any slow song would be fine.

6 Finish this sentence in your own way. There are two types of people in the world... Believers and non-believers are what came to mind first.
 
7. What have you saved since elementary school? Only memories.

8 Have you ever won an award? Yes. A few but nothing worth mentioning.

9. Do you feel more connected to the sun or the moon?  The sun.

10 Do flaws make people interesting to you? No one is perfect, so yes!!

11 Who is your favorite historical figure?  Gosh, I don't think I ever gave this any thought. Abigail Adams...

12. White bread or wheat bread?  Wheat.

13. Do you usually do things fast or right?  Fast AND right!! LOL

14. Are you or have you ever been in a band?  Yes. I played trumpet in the Jr. High and High School bands (marching and concert).

15. Here are 4 statements about me. Only one of them is true. Which one is it?

1.) I am almost 6 feet tall; 2.) I wear a size 7 shoe; 3.) I love oysters; 4.) I have six cats.  (Any of my followers should know which is true.)

16. Would you wear a thong bathing suit in public?  Good grief, NO!

17. Have you thought about death today?  Yes, as a matter of fact. My sister lost her husband a few weeks ago and we texted about her feelings today (as I type this). She told me she was watching a show on TV and it made her laugh, which made her feel immediately guilty. Of course, I told her there was nothing wrong with laughing. It is good medicine.

18. What is your favorite breakfast?  Bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, wheat toast.

19. Are you the life of the party?  Not even close.

20. If you hit an animal with your car would you get out to try and make sure it was okay?  Not a wild animal but a dog or cat, for sure. Gosh, I hope it never happens!!

21. When do you get your most peaceful and satisfying sleep?  At night! 

22. What thought gets you out of bed in the morning?  It is time to feed the cats.

23. What are you a member of? Our church and our church community group. I quit everything else when I retired.

24. Name one place you refuse to ever go. My traveling days are pretty much over so I can't really think of a place I would refuse to go. California perhaps.

25. When (and if) people (or animals) go to heaven, do they become angels? I do believe in Angels but I have no idea what the qualifying criteria would be. I doubt animals become angels but I sure hope there are animals in Heaven.

Thanks for your visit! Happy Sunday!

Peace & hugs!  God bless!!

Hot Buttered Popcorn Saturday 9...

 Thanks to Crazy Sam for today's questions!  You can join the fun right HERE!

Buttered Popcorn

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 are today's questions!

Saturday 9: Buttered Popcorn (1961)

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

1) This Saturday, the treat's on Sam. Will you have buttered popcorn, caramel corn, or cheese popcorn?  I would most likely grab a handful of caramel corn but I also love buttered popcorn if it has lots of real butter. Cheese popcorn...  not so much.

2) This record represents the Supremes as they are seldom heard. Florence Ballard is singing lead, with background vocals provided by Mary Wilson, Barbara Martin, and Diane Ross. That's right, "Diane." Her parents meant for her to be named "Diane," and that's what old friends and family still call her, but the hospital mistakenly put her name down as "Diana." Motown execs thought "Diana Ross" had a better sound and the rest, as they say, is history. Do you often make typos? Or are you careful and precise at the keyboard?  Yes, I make typos and am not a good speller. I have become even lazier about it since the computer catches most of my mistakes and corrects them (sometimes not correctly, I might add).

3) Barbara Martin left the Supremes in 1962 before they reached stardom because she was a new mom and wanted to stay home with her baby. Have you ever found yourself in the difficult position of having to choose between your personal and professional lives?  No. Fortunately, I have not been put in a difficult position like that. I never had children so didn't have to choose between staying home with them or working.  That would be the most difficult decision a mom would have to make, I think.

4) Florence Ballard's cousin, Hank, wrote the famous Chubby Checkers dance record, "The Twist." When did you last get on your feet and dance?  New Year's Eve in 2018.  We went to the clubhouse here to celebrate and danced a few times.  We didn't go last year and there haven't been any weddings to dance at for a few years.

5) Mary Wilson stayed with the group until it disbanded in 1977. She has said that one of her most memorable moments came in 1968 when the group performed for Princess Margaret. Mary recalled that the Princess loudly asked if Mary's hair was real or a wig. Mary was shocked, expecting better behavior from a royal. Tell us a time when someone's behavior shocked you.  Oh, let's don't even go there because it would be all about politics.

6) In 1961, when this song was released, the TV show Hazel premiered and was a top 5 hit for NBC. Oscar-winner Shirley Booth played the title character, a very capable and lovable maid. If Crazy Sam could have a maid for just a few hours today, she'd love to have her refrigerator cleaned and kitchen cabinets organized. If you could have a pair of helping hands around your house this afternoon, what would you ask the maid to do?  My fridge and cupboards could probably use a good cleaning rather than the cursory quick wipe I usually do. Our cleaning person comes once a month and her main targets are the bathrooms and the floors. I can't get down on my hands and knees to really scrub and get under furniture, etc., so she helps with those areas as she cleans the entire house. Deep cleaning cupboards, closets, and the two refrigerators (yes, two) doesn't get done like it should. 

7) Also in 1961, President John F. Kennedy appeared on the cover of Time as their Man of the Year. Are there any magazines in your home right now? If so, who is on the cover?  There is an old Pioneer Woman magazine in the guest room with the Pioneer Woman herself on the cover. I probably need to toss it and put some newer reading material in there... next time company is coming to stay.

8) Ernest Hemingway died in 1961. Have you read any of his works?  I had to look at the list and don't believe I have read any of his books but I have seen a couple of them that were made into movies.

9) Random question: How many pancakes are in the perfect stack?  I am not a big pancake eater so three saucer-size would be plenty for me.  I think they give you two at IHOP unless you ask for a stack - and you get four.

Happy Saturday and thanks for stopping by!

Peace & hugs!  God bless you!

Friday Fotos...

 

Farm pictures from the ranch (Joe's client) are all I have (again) this week but they are from a different perspective.  My buddies, Doc and Pistol, were not in their usual pasture. They were in a walk-way where they could eat some 'premium' grass that runs between pastures. It also took me to the pasture with some of the goats.  

I had to duck under these bushes with the beautiful flowers and thorns to get to the horses.

Bottom center is a very blurry dragonfly on the branch, holding onto his lunch... a moth. 

He wasn't moving, even when I ducked under them.  

Pistol and Doc, anxious for their treats.

Goats!  I didn't feed them. Not enough carrots.

Guinea Hens... making a lot of noise!

Majesty

Vanna

Our beautiful Florida sky.

More goats...

More guineas...

That lovely view from the patio... notice the funky looking yellow flower at the base of the palm tree.

Here it is, up close.  Some kind of cactus/succulent.

It reminds me of the flower in The Little Shop of Horrors!

The cactus is growing up the palm.

We went out to dinner for Italian last night, with our neighbor/friends.  It was lots of fun and we had some good laughs.  Next week we go back to Miller's Ale House.  

Joe and I both have haircuts this afternoon. I am also going to do laundry, I think. Joe and I both have food leftover from last night so I will add a salad and dinner will be easy to prepare!

We are still praying for all those in the path of Hurricane Laura.

Thanks for your visit today! 

Peace & hugs!  God bless you!

Whimsical Wednesday on Thursday...

 

It's time for Whimsical Wednesday on Thursday!

There are no rules and there isn't a linky.

Just check out the dress and choose a purse for her!

Have some fun! It's just a whimsical thing!

(Photos from The Storybook of Dreams & Beauty)

Once again, the pictures are all together. Count from the top, 1-2-3, and tell us

in the comments which purse she should carry with her

"rock-a-billy" dress.  (That was the description!)

My thoughts:  Well, I guess I can see her dancing a jitter-bug or a square dance in this dress.  I love the color and could have worn it (without the crinoline) a long time ago. Ha!  Those who know me, know that I pick purse #3 with the cat on it. I actually want that purse!!  What do you think?

🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈🐈

Today is also Thankful Thursday so don't forget to visit Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand to share some blessings with everyone!  I am thankful that Joe got his teeth pulled and is doing well so far! I am thankful that Laura and Marco passed us by and pray that those affected by the storms are okay and didn't suffer much damage.  I am so thankful for my family and dear friends, including each of you!

Thanks for your visit and for playing along!

Peace & hugs!  God bless you!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge...

 

Thanks to Joyce for today's Hodgepodge! You can join the fun right HERE!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 383

1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Dog Day this year (August 26th). Do you own a dog? Did you have a dog when you were growing up, or maybe some other kind of pet? Would you say you're more of a dog person or a cat person? Neither is okay too : )  We had a dog when I was growing up named Happy.  I had a collie during my first marriage and two cats.  We had to give up the cats when we moved to the DC area but kept the dog, Sarge.  My ex got custody of Sarge.  Joe and I have had cats (plural) here in Florida for the last 30 years.  We both love dogs too, but our lifestyle (working full time) kept us from getting a dog. Now, with three cats to care for, we just enjoy our friends' and neighbors' dogs.

2. Last time you felt 'dog tired'?  These days, staying at home with nothing special to do makes me dog tired.  Just going to the grocery perks me up!  LOL

3. It's said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. When did you last prove this idiom true or prove it wrong?  Well, I am old but do learn new things fairly quickly. I don't have a specific example to write about - who has done anything new these past five months? - but I am pretty good with techie things and am also good at putting things together, etc.  That might change in ten years...

4. A favorite book, television show, or movie featuring a dog. Why did you love it?  I loved watching Lassie on TV when I was a kid.  Lassie was smart and loved Timmy. These days, I don't really seek out movies or books with dogs in them.  So many of them have the dog die during the story and that always breaks my heart.

5. Last time you had reason to (literally or figuratively) exclaim 'hot diggity dog'?  When our church opened its doors to in-person worship again I was thrilled!

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  Joe is doing well with his tooth extractions. The bleeding has stopped and there isn't pain.  He said the numbing needles hurt worse than his gums did.  Guess I have that to look forward to...

Happy Hump Day!

Peace & hugs!  God bless!!

Tuesday 4...

Thanks to Annie for today's questions!  You can join in HERE! 

Soda Pop!

Welcome to Tuesday 4 which was started by our friend Toni Taddeo and kept up in memory of her.

Different sections of the USA have different words and customs they use. Let's talk about them.

1. In New Jersey, you put your groceries in a paper bag or plastic bag. In Athens, Ohio where I went to university, you put them in a paper sack.
Is it a bag, sack, or something else where you live?  I think I use bag and sack about the same. I'm from Ohio but lived in Virginia for 12 years and here in Florida for 30 years. Some old-timers in Ohio might call it a poke!! :)

2. NJ says Stockings. Athens, Ohio used to call them "hose" and in Britain they are tights. What about where you live?  I have always called them pantyhose.

3.Soda, Pop, Coke? In Ohio we always said pop. Here I usually say soda.
 
4. Shopping cart or trolley or? What do you call it?  I say shopping cart. Once in a while, I might use a buggy though. 

It will be fun to see everyone's answers today! Joe got his teeth pulled and is resting with a mouth full of gauze now (as I write this), with an ice pack. He will be hurting for a couple of days. No hot foods and soft food only. Thanks to all who offered prayers!

Your visit here is so appreciated!

Peace & hugs!  God bless you!!

 

Monday's Weekend Recap...

On Thursday, Joe and I went to dinner with friends, Tim & Judy, and Bob & Sharon.  We talked them into Cuban food.  Judy had never had it before and didn't think goat sounded good!  I told her I usually order yellow rice and chicken... not goat.  So who ordered the goat?!  Judy's husband, Tim!  We all just laughed.  None of the others had ever been to West Caribbean Restaurant so Joe and I were glad they all seemed to like it.  I really love the fried plantains.  We are going to Il Forno Italian Restaurant this week.

(not my photo)

Bob and Sharon are in front, in the middle are Joe and Tim, then me and Judy against the wall.

On Friday, we decided to invite Helen and Cheryl out to eat. Helen enjoys IHOP so that's where we went.  She had French toast and one of my chicken fingers.  Joe and I had dinner food instead of breakfast food. They really have good onion rings!! No photos, but we enjoyed their company and the food.  Helen is still doing better than a month ago as far as staying in the present goes. We will take it. Cheryl goes back to work on the school bus today so we increased by a day help from Home Instead to be with Helen during the afternoons when Cheryl is gone for the longest time. 

Saturday was a very lazy laundry day. I got that done and cooked some Italian sausage for our dinner. We watched a couple of movies.

I got a phone call from my sister, Patti (during one of the movies), and when we hung up she texted me this picture of her with her FORTIETH YEAR OF TEACHING gift from her school.  It is a Citizen's clock and looks like it is engraved.  She just started her 41st year teaching elementary school and isn't ready to quit yet.  She is teaching grandkids of some of her first kids.  Amazing.  I told her I would post it and brag about her.  The kids just love her.  A few years ago, we were up there visiting during their county fair time.  We went to the fair and couldn't take five steps without someone stopping to talk to her!  Patti calls me on my birthday (most years) and has her class sing happy birthday to me.  How fun is that?!!  She gets my blog by email. So here is my (Ohio) sister...  (Love ya, Sis!!)

We went to church yesterday morning.  I sit near Deacon Ken and his wife and he gets the count and then tells her the number which I easily overhear.  We had 62 in attendance.  The service is still being streamed on Facebook and on the website. There are a lot of folks who haven't come back yet.

Lift a prayer for Joe this morning, if you would please. He is getting four teeth pulled at 10:45 but his blood pressure has to be closer to normal than he has been running lately.  Fingers crossed that they will do the extractions.  I will be there at the same time for my consultation.  I have one tooth that needs to come out (hopefully in a week) so wish me luck too, please.

Wishing you all a good week ahead!

Peace & hugs!  God bless!!

Sunday Stealing...

 Bev Sykes gives us the questions on Sundays!  Thanks, Bev!  You can join in HERE!

What's to Eat?

 Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. 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. Cheers to all of us thieves!

 

 Stolen from Mantelligence

1. How old is the oldest expired thing in your refrigerator? It's not there anymore but a few days ago I found some salsa in the back corner of the fridge that expired in November 2019. I do try to stay ahead of expirations.

2. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done on a date?  I can't even think of anything weird I've ever done, let along on a date.  Sorry!

3. What animal most closely resembles your eating style?  Lately, a starving dog.  I eat much too fast and over these past five months have gained eight pounds.  Ridiculous!

4. Have you ever sent someone a text you didn’t mean to?  Yes, just last week.  It wasn't embarrassing. I told her it was a butt text!  LOL

5. If you could learn any language fluently, which would it be?  Italian, though I should probably say Spanish.

6. Would you rather be bald or covered head to toe with hair?  Bald.  They have pretty wigs these days and I wouldn't have to shave my legs anymore!!

7. Do you think you’re brave?  Yes.

8. What horror fiction character scares you the most?  Fiction?  Zombies, I guess. I don't really get that scared over horror fiction stories.

9. What food do you crave more than any other?  Crunchy and salty snacks.

10. Which holiday would you erase from the calendars, if you could?  I love all holidays! 

11. What’s the cleverest word you know?  How about camaraderie.

12. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?  No, and I don't want to know!

13. What do you collect that nobody knows about?  I don't collect things anymore.

14. Have you ever eaten only candy for dinner?  No, I don't think so.

15. Have you ever taken anything illegally across a border?  Nope.

16. Have you ever blown your nose in anything other than a tissue?  A real hanky and toilet paper.

17. Are you a good time manager?  Yes, I believe that I am.

18. Has life been hard on you?  There have been some hard times, but I am so blessed that they don't even count!  God is in control!!

19. What is the absolute worst song in the world?  Blue Christmas as sung by Elvis. I can't stand it.    I also can't stand  I Honestly Love You by Olivia Newton-John.  They both make me cringe.

20. What is your culinary specialty?  I think I am just a mediocre cook but the neighbors brag on my Italian cooking and so does Joe so I'll say Italian.

Thanks for your visit!!

Peace & hugs!  God bless!!

Saturday 9...

 Thanks to Crazy Sam for today's questions!  You can join in HERE!

I See Love

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! 

I See Love (2010)

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

1) This is the theme from Mike and Molly, a TV show that ran from 2010 to 2016. Were you a fan?  I have never watched even one episode of this show.

2) Molly was played by Melissa McCarthy. Today she's one of Hollywood's best-paid actresses, but when she began her career, she was barely scraping by. She recently recalled the time when, as a struggling actress, she was rejected at the ATM because it only gave out $20s and she didn't have even that much in her checking account. How often do you visit the ATM? Several times a week? Several times a month? Never?  Rarely do we visit an ATM because when we need cash, we get extra at the grocery store. We use our debit card for nearly everything and rarely even need cash these days.

3) When she was broke, Melissa couldn't afford blueberries and avocados.  Now she savors them. When you're a few bucks ahead, what do you splurge on?  Shoes or purses.

4) Mike was played by Billy Gardell. He was working at a comedy club, cleaning the bathrooms, and answering the phone. He used to crack jokes with other employees and finally one of his coworkers dared him to go onstage on "open mic night." A comedy career was born. Tell us about someone who pushed you to make the right move.  I don't know that Joe ever pushed me to make a decision about my work or going back to school but he always supported my decisions.

5) On the show, Mike's best friend was his fellow officer, Carl McMillan. Carl was not especially motivated and still lived with his grandmother, well into his 30s. How old were you when you moved out of the house for good?  Two weeks after my 19th birthday when I got married the first time.

6) Mike's and Molly's mothers are different as night and day and frequently did not get along. Have you ever had in-law trouble?  I have been so blessed with in-laws!  I missed my first husband's parents more than I missed him after the divorce.  They were great.  Joe's folks took me in and loved me too.  His parents were wonderful and I loved having his mom come down for a couple of months each winter to stay with us. We always had so much fun!!

7) This week's song was written by Keb Mo. He switches among several different guitars when he works -- electric, acoustic, and resonator. Can you play the guitar?  I learned a few chords a long time ago and strummed a bit, but no, I can't play the guitar.  I messed with it enough to get little calluses on my fingertips. 

8) In 2010, when this show premiered, Apple introduced the iPad. Do you use a tablet?   My "tablet" is my 10" Kindle Fire.  I have never used an Apple product.  PCs and Androids in this house.

9) This week's random question gives you an opportunity to brag: What's something you do better than most people?  You know, I have never really excelled at anything. I am one of those people who figures out how to do something and then say "okay, what's next".  Jack of all trades and master of none. I get bored too fast to stick with something long enough to truly excel so there are more people that do things better than me than the other way around. I can do lots of things 'okay' but not many things really 'great'.

Thanks for your visit today!

Peace & hugs!  God bless!!