Thanks to Annie for today's Tuesday 4!  You can join in HERE! 

Tuesday 4

Memorials...

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

We celebrated Memorial Day on Monday... let's talk about memorials and memories.

1. Do you find memories comforting or troubling?  Most are comforting. Gotta let the troubling ones go...

2.  Have you set up a memorial for a loved one or friend?  I did Joe's memorial service, but not sure that is what this question is about.  I haven't set up a memorial for anyone.

3.  What songs bring back good memories for you?  In-A-Godda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly, 1968.  The first time I danced under strobe lights on a dance floor was to that song.  Still takes me right back there!!  (All 22 minutes of it!)

4.  Have you visited Civil War or Revolutionary War sites?  Yes, quite a few in and around Washington DC, including Gettysburg and Harper's Ferry.  

My company will be here tomorrow!

Peace & hugs!

God is SO good!!

Monday's Weekend Recap...

I am working today but am thankful on this day and every day for the men and women who serve and have served our great country, many of who did not make it home.  

I want to recap my weekend that started with dinner out on Friday night.  My across-the-street neighbors, Anne & Paul, and I went to Ford's Garage for dinner.  I rarely see them, more than a quick wave or hello, since we aren't playing Nickels at the clubhouse anymore.  It was great catching up with them before they head north to visit family for a couple of months up in New York.

After work Friday, before going out to dinner, I stopped in to see Helen.  She looked better than last week when I visited, but she seemed agitated and more restless than usual. She is getting her second covid booster tomorrow so I hope she handles it okay.  The first one went okay so hoping this one doesn't give her any problems.

I got to talk with my daughter-in-law/love, Darlene, this weekend, and Joey called too.  It was great catching up with them.  Joey will be home in seven weeks!

I got the bedrooms made up for my company.  I thought about menus and what groceries I need to get.  I will go to Publix after work today and will go to Sam's after work tomorrow.  I expect my sisters and brother-in-law to arrive mid-afternoon on Wednesday!!  I don't really have anything planned and Patti agrees that we can just play it all by ear and chill.  I have pedicures scheduled as their birthday gifts but not much else.  They are visiting me at work, too, and my boss said he will give them a tour so that will be fun.

My friend, Theresa, is having breast cancer surgery tomorrow. If you pray, please add her to your prayer list.  I made a casserole for them and will drop it off this afternoon so they have it for whenever they want to eat it.   This picture is from the Memorial Day luncheon at the clubhouse in 2019.  Al and I worked together at the Museum and they moved to Mas Verde after we did.

The man who gave the eulogy at Joe's service lost his wife to cancer.  Her obituary was in yesterday's newspaper and the funeral service is Saturday morning.  I told Patti (sister) that I need to go.  That eats into our Saturday but I can't skip her service.  David was one of Joe's best friends.  So very sad. She was just 68.  They have two biological children, adopted six, and have fostered dozens more, over 20 of the 38 years they were married. 

Wishing you all a blessed week ahead!!

Peace be with you!

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!

 

Sunday Stealing...

Thanks to Bev for today's questions.  You can join in HERE. 

Love Me Some Surveys

 

 

Hi! I'm your host Bev Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing.  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 Love Me Some Surveys

 

 

 

 

1. Who was the last attractive person you saw?  Lots of attractive folks at church!

2. Do you have a tattoo?  No.  If not, are you going to get one? No.

3. Have you smoked a cigarette in the last 24 hours? No.

4. Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?  Most of the time.

5. What is your favorite number?  Three.

6. What time did you go to sleep last night?  Around 10:00.

7. Are you one of those people that always answer their phones?  No.

8. If you died today would your life be complete?  Yes.

9. If you are being extremely quiet, what does that mean?  I am tired. I don't
have anything to say.  I'm watching TV.  Or absolutely nothing.

10. Do you know what high school your dad went to?  No, but he didn't graduate.

11. Last time you had butterflies in your stomach?  Can't even remember.

12. Where is your cell phone?  Right next to me.

13.  What is the nearest purple thing to you?  There is no purple near me.  

14. When did you last step outside?  This morning. What were you doing? Going
to church!

15. What is the last thing you watched on TV?  Monk.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!!

Saturday 9...

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

America, The Beautiful

 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: America, the Beautiful (1987)

Unfamiliar with Barbra Streisand's recording of this tune? Hear it here.

Memorial Day is the federal holiday designated to honor American service people who died in battle. 

1) Memorial Day was introduced after the Civil War. War memorials, as well as graves of veterans, are to be decorated with flags and flowers this weekend in a show of appreciation. Is there a war memorial in your neighborhood?  Not in my neighborhood but we do have a Veterans' Park here in Lakeland.

2) Here at Saturday 9, we regard everyone who served -- veterans and active military -- as heroes. Have you, or has anyone in your family, worn the uniform of our armed forces? We want to hear about them.   My dad was in the Army; my Uncle Jim served during WWII; my sweet Joe was in the Army;  both of Joe's brothers were in the Marine Corp; my nephew, Julian, is in the Marine Corp.

3) Memorial Day is the traditional kick-off of the summer season. Have you packed away your winter clothes yet?  This is Florida. I don't have many clothes that I consider just for winter.  Christmas tops and jackets are in a different closet but they don't get packed away.

4) What's your favorite picnic food?  I am not fond of picnics.  It's too hot and there are too many bugs.  I do like picnic food like fried chicken, watermelon, potato salad, baked beans, etc...

5) As you answer these questions, is there a fan or an air conditioner cooling your room?  The AC is on and so is the ceiling fan.

6) Lyricist Katharine L. Bates said she was inspired to write "America, the Beautiful" after a trip to Pike's Peak. What's the most beautiful spot in America that you have ever visited?  Probably the Smokey Mountains but there are beautiful beaches here in Florida with lovely sunsets over the Gulf.

7) Though we're talking summer this morning, Santa is going to get a shoutout. Before "America, the Beautiful" was published, Katharine L. Bates wrote a poem called, "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh" which is remembered for introducing Santa's wife, Mrs. Claus. Share a fond memory of the 2021 holiday season.  My sister, Tammy, was here with me for Christmas last year and we had a great time.  It was my first Christmas without Joe since 1983 so having her here with me was beautiful.

8) This week's featured artist, Barbra Streisand, sang "America, the Beautiful" during a benefit concert. She admitted to James Corden that she suffers from stage fright and before she performs, she prays, "Let go, let God." What's something that scares you, but that you do anyway?  At 70 years old, I have conquered fear from most things but I still won't speak in public unless there is no escape.

9) Question for a weekend when many of us will sleep in: Are you a morning person?  I am more a morning person than a night person but I do enjoy not setting the alarm and like sleeping in until 7:30 or 8:00 on the weekends when there is nothing going on.

Peace & hugs!

Relax, God is in control!!

Friday Fotos...

 

I took not one picture this week so I decided to look back.  With all the graduation photos being posted I pulled some memories from this month in 2015.

Grandson Tristan's high school graduation.  He went on to graduate with two Bachelor of Science Degrees (economics & engineering) from Southern Methodist University, in Dallas and is now working in Washington, DC.  Time flies!

Tristan, me, Darlene, Joe, and Joey.

Proud parents and grandparents!

Tristan and his sister, Lauren.

College graduation in May 2019

Tristan's kindergarten graduation.

This was probably 2001.

May 2015 was our 30th anniversary month.

Joe and I went to New Orleans for a week to celebrate!

This is my favorite picture of him having beignets

at the Cafe Du Monde.

We also learned how to eat crawfish while there.  Good eating!!

A lot of work for a little taste, though.

I enjoyed looking back at wonderful memories and good times.  

Praising God from whom all blessings flow!!

Remembering those who gave their lives for our country.

Memorial Day honors those who gave it all.

Peace & hugs!

Whimsical Fashion Review 2022...

 

There isn't a linky and there aren't any rules.

It is all in fun and just a whimsical thing!

This photo is from Everything Vintage & Shabby. (Good find, Myra!)

Check out the dress and pick the shoes you like best for the outfit.

Another vintage dress. Count down the shoes 1-2-3 and tell us which pair you like best for the model (or for yourself)!

My thoughts:  I do like the dress and actually had one that was almost the same style way back in my younger years!  I don't care for the gloves or the big necklace & bracelet but do actually like all of the shoes.  I'll pick pair #1 today.  What are your thoughts?

Peace & hugs!

Jesus is all the world to me...

He is my strength from day to day, 

Without Him, I would fall.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge...

Thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for today's Hodgepodge! Be a Hodgepodger HERE! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 464

1. It's National Wine Day (May 25)...do you like wine?  Yes.  Red or white?  Red.  Dry or sweet?  Dry.  Do you have a favorite?  Pinot Noir.  Have you ever been to California wine country?  No.  Or any other wine region?  Tuscany!  What's a dish you make that calls for wine?  Sometimes I put it in spaghetti sauce.

2. What's something you've whined about lately?  Gosh, I don't know. I whined about the recliners but that was a while ago.  I'm sure y'all could answer this better than me since you are the ones that read my whining!!  

3. Last time you were 'wined and dined'? Tell us about it.  Lois brought a couple of bottles of wine when she visited last weekend but I don't think that is what is meant by the question.  It has been years and years and years since I was wined & dined. 

4. Three cheers for The red, white & blue!! 

5. This will be the last Hodgepodge in the month of May. Somehow next Wednesday the calendar rolls into June. Before we go through, sum up your May in twelve words or less.  May brought fun connections with new friends and with old friends!!

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I am excited that my sisters and brother-in-law are coming next week. Right now, I am expecting them on June 1st.  We will celebrate both sisters' birthdays while they are here!  June 1 for Patti and June 5 for Tammy!! 

Peace & hugs!

God's love is steadfast

and unchanging!!

To those who asked for a photo of my new nephew, Ezra, they are not sharing him on social media so I won't be able to post pictures of him.  Trust me, he is beautiful!!  

The Tuesday 4...

 

Tuesday 4

Time...

Hi! Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  Toni has moved on to higher ground but we keep her memory alive.

Let's consider time...

1. When you say "in a couple of days" what time period are you thinking?  When I say a couple of days, I mean two.  Is your time exact or fluid?  Exact.      

2. Does time get away from you? I am pretty organized when it comes to working, but time does have a way of slipping away, day by day and month by month.  How do you handle time?  I handle time okay, but I do enjoy the weekends with nothing scheduled and no work to do.  That's when time can be more fluid!!

3. People say time is short.   Then why do you do so many things you don't like and so few of the things you do like?  Working on that!!  It is definitely important to enjoy your work and to count your blessings.  I don't like housework, but I am so blessed to have a house to clean...

4. Do you have enough time to do the things you want to do or live as you would like to live?  We make the time to do things we enjoy and I am blessed to be living as I am, where I am.  Would I like to be retired again? Yes.  Would I like money to travel more?  Yes.  But I am blessed and I know it. Life is good, praise God!!

Peace & hugs!!

Count your blessings and

name them, one by one!

Monday's Weekend Recap...

 

My friend, Lois, arrived around 4:00 on Friday.  It was like she lived in town and we saw each other often, instead of it being 20 some years since we were together.  Got the hellos and hugs over, brought in her gear, and sat for a few talking before we went out to dinner, just before 6:00.  We decided on Glory Days because of their Friday fish dinner (half price on Friday & yummy).  Yes, we both had an adult beverage...

Saturday morning we took off for Lakeland's farmers' market and walked all five blocks and halfway back again. It was overcast but it didn't rain on our parade. 

If you remember my blood lily (coronavirus lily) from Friday, they had some for sale at the market for $25.00!!  Wow!

We stopped in at the Museum and saw the art in all the galleries.  I showed Lois the student art piece I am hoping to acquire.  I have made an inquiry about it.  I just fell in love with the cat collage made by a very talented 5th grader. 

The sign at Southside Cleaners is another good one this week!

My sunflower seeds sprouted and were reaching for sun 

so I moved them to a sunnier spot!

Lois went to church with me on Sunday and after church, we went downtown again to tour the Hollis Gardens.  We walked through them and worked our way around to the Garden Bistro for some lunch.

We came home after checking out The Joinery (a new eatery--just walked through) and watched some TV.  Had some dinner - made those turkey sliders I made for my church group - and enjoyed our last evening talking and talking some more.  It has been so great catching up with Lois!!  Sure wished we lived a little closer!  She is leaving this morning when I leave for work.  Sad but it was a happy see ya again.... not goodbye!!

I must report some wonderful news that came yesterday afternoon!! My niece, Sara, delivered a healthy baby boy and Ezra and momma are both doing fine!!  Over the moon happy!!

Peace & hugs!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!!