Peace & hugs!!

Blessings to you in the week ahead, too!!

August is here!  

The Saturday 9...

 Thanks to Crazy Sam for today's questions!  Join in right HERE!

I Would Be in Love (Anyway)

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 Would Be in Love (Anyway) 1970

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

1) Frank Sinatra sings, "If I knew then what I know now." If you were giving advice to a recent high school grad, based on that phrase, what would you say?  Don't get married!  Go to college or a technical school!  Have fun.  Enjoy your youth!!   (Based on my own experience!)  PS:  In answer to Pam's question and concern below... don't RUSH to get married.  Marriage is a blessing and a gift with the right person.  My first marriage was not to the right person.  It's what I thought I should do but this isn't the 1950s any more.  Just don't rush!!  Have fun. Live a little!!  

2) This song is about a man looking back on his marriage, which has ended. While he is sad, he is not sorry he loved her. Do you believe that it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?  Yes.  Definitely.

3) Sinatra married four times. He met his first wife, Nancy, when he was 19. He saw a pretty girl sitting on her front porch, giving herself a pedicure, and he rushed home for his ukulele so he could serenade her. Have you ever sung to anyone?  Good heavens, no!  I couldn't be that cruel!  Has anyone ever sung to you?  Not specifically, unless Happy Birthday counts.

 

4) According to Barbara, his final wife, they met when they were neighbors in Rancho Mirage, California. Sinatra had his own tennis court, needed a fourth for doubles with his houseguests, and invited the lady next door to play. Tell us about your neighbors.  I am so very blessed with wonderful neighbors, both here in Mas Verde and in our first Lakeland home.  Susan and Chuck live next door to me.  Chuck is a retired Pastor and Susan is a talented seamstress and a beautiful, generous person.  They have great kids and grandkids, too!  Anne and Paul, from across the street, are Italians from New York.  They are loud like all Italians and also have big Italian hearts.  Jill and Murray moved but were my wonderful neighbors from Canada.  Love them to pieces and am glad they will be back for the winter in a rental.  Still waiting to meet my new neighbors across the street and to get to know the folks who bought Jill & Murray's house, next door.

5) When not performing before an audience or cameras, Sinatra often wore hats and caps because his hair was thin and his toupee annoyed him. Is there anything you wear for "dress up" that you're happy to ditch when you go casual?  Not any more.  I am casual now.  No hose, no heels, no makeup... (no underwires!!)!!

6) Frank had a sweet tooth and to the end of his life, he enjoyed chocolate-covered apricots, ordered from Lepore's in his hometown of Hoboken, NJ. What would you request if you could have any sweet treat right now?  I have a big weakness for anything toffee and/or for chocolate-covered macadamia nuts!!

7) This song was written specifically for Sinatra by Bob Gaudio, best known as a member of The Four Seasons. That 1960s quartet is now legendary. In addition to 25 Top Ten Hits, they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and inspired the Broadway play and movie musical, Jersey Boys. Do you have a favorite Four Seasons song?  Jersey Boys is a great movie!! I am a Four Seasons fan. I like Bye, Bye Baby, Big Girls Don't Cry, Rag Doll...

8) In 1970, the year this record was released, The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered. Were you a fan?  Yes! I loved The Mary Tyler Moore show!

9) Random question: Have you ever named your car or truck?  No. Unless "yours" and "mine" count. 

Peace & hugs!!

1 John 4:19   We love because He first loved us.

Friday Fotos...

 

I had so much fun out on Picnic Lake with Paolo on Wednesday morning!!  His co-worker wasn't able to come (from a different office) so it was just the two of us.  This time on the lake turned more into showing me how the shockers work and what they do to count the fish, measure the fish, and note the kind of fish.  They keep tabs on the fish populations, etc., in all of our lakes.  We did very little of that but he let me use the net and gave me a good lesson.  Paolo is a year younger than my granddaughter, Lauren (by the way). He is a Fisheries Biologist and graduated from Auburn. He is dedicated and he is lots of fun.

This is the dock at Picnic Lake.
We allow bank fishing on this lake and only boats with trolling motors are allowed.

Notice the Great Egret at the end of the dock.

Paolo put the boat in the water.  I got in from the dock.

Away we go...

Notice the big generator on board.

That creates the electricity that goes to the shockers.

Shocking the fish just stuns them momentarily so they

can be scooped up in a net, noted (size, weight, type, etc.) and then

they are returned to the water, unharmed.

Such a pretty lake.

These are the shockers that hang off the front of the boat.

I was in charge of the net.  A big joke because by the time

I saw a fish big enough to net, it was long gone!  LOL

I wore long sleeves because of the sun and that is a life jacket (boy, have they changed!).

I did capture this little bass.

Not a trolling motor, but the lakes are not open to the public

on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Another Great Egret in the grass (to the left).

Then I netted a much nicer bass (still not that big, though).

I saw garfish, catfish, tilapia, sunfish, and crappie, and we 

spotted an alligator but it dove under before I could get a picture.

Paolo noticed a lure in the trees.  He has

a huge basket of lures in his office.  People lose them

and Paolo finds them!  He has quite a collection.

Back at the dock and my lesson was over.

It was lots of fun for me but when they have three

biologists on the boat, really doing the work,

it is HARD work and they have to be FAST.  

I can't even imagine (but they are younger!!).

Paolo put that boat right on the trailer like the pro he is.

Not a fisherman. But it was fun!

Peace & hugs!
God's love is steadfast and unchanging!!

Whimsical Fashion Review 2022...

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

Check out the dress and pick the best shoes for the model.

It is all in fun and just a whimsical thing!

Photos are always from the Storybook of Dreams & Beauty!

I guess it's time for some crazy shoes again!  Very pretty, classic style dress and they paired it with some crazy shoe choices.  Count down 1-2-3 and tell us which ones you choose!! It's all in fun!

My thoughts:  I love the dress. Couldn't wear it but it is gorgeous.  As for the crazy shoes, I'll pick #2 because they are the most classic looking.  The heel height is ridiculous!! LOL  What are your thoughts?

Peace & hugs!

God is good, all the time!

 

The Wednesday Hodgepodge...

Thanks to Joyce for today's Hodgepodge!!  You can join in HERE! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 471

1. According to author Gary Chapman there are five love languages-words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts. Which one is yours?   I think I do all of those, depending on the who, the why, and the what.  The order listed is kind of the order I would put them.  Affirmation for sure. You can't say "I love you" or "I care about you" too often.

2. What are five foods you eat every day?  Eggs, toast, some vegetables, cheese (in some form), meat (a variety).  

3. Five places you'd love to visit?  Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy (again), and Denmark.

4. Something you've done recently that deserved a 'high five'?  Gosh, I don't know.  I haven't done anything remarkable lately.

5.  Give us five 5-letter words that describe your July.  Yummy, happy, sweet, quiet, peace(ful)...

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I am kind of excited because one of our biologists, Paolo, is taking me out on his boat to do some fisheries work.  I don't think I'll be doing much work but am excited to watch what they do.  Our lakes are closed to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays so that is when work gets done on the water.  I will have some photos to share on Friday!!  It is HOT outside so I'm not looking forward to that, but he said we will only be out an hour or two.  I will be wearing sneakers and old clothing and lots of sunscreen!!  

Peace & hugs!

Mark 1:17. 

The verse states “Come follow me, Jesus said, 

and I will make you fishers of men.”

A Tuesday 4 from the Archives...

 It is nearly bedtime and I haven't seen a Tuesday 4 yet so I went back to this week two years ago.  I didn't make any changes.  It is kinda fun to look back now and then.  

I had my annual mammogram yesterday.  It is always good to have it done and I just hope the news later this week will be good news.  When I was leaving, the technician said "see you next year" so I hope that was code for it looked okay to her.

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Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Tuesday 4...

Thanks to Annie for this week's Tuesday 4!  You can join in right HERE!

Question Variety

Welcome once again to Tuesday 4 in honor of our dear friend Toni Taddeo.


 1. What kind of restaurants do you enjoy most and why? Do you have a favorite?  I enjoy restaurants, period! LOL  If I don't have to cook or think about what to cook, it's a good day!  I like Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, American...  you get the idea!

2. Do you have a favorite cartoon from film, news, or comic book?  My favorite comics include Pearls Before Swine, Pickles, and Baby Blues.  I read the daily cartoons before I skim through the rest of the newspaper.

3.  Do you belong to any clubs or societies or organizations? Can you tell us about it?  Not anymore. When I retired from work, I also retired from many organizations I belonged to. They just make me weary now. I don't have to network with colleagues for business purposes now and most of them have dues that don't fit the budget now. Our new church's community group is the only "group" I belong to.

4. The internet is filled with ads. Are there any ads that you enjoy seeing or hate to see?  I don't like being inundated by sales ads. When it is possible to turn them in as spam, that's what I do. And don't get me started on the Chinese companies that have such cheap merchandise and make you think you are buying from an American company...

Thanks for your visit today! 

Peace & hugs!  God bless!!

Weekend Recap...

 Not much to recap. Disappointed about my trip being cancelled but I trust that there is a reason it fell apart and pray that all will be well with my cousins who aren't able to do the trip.

I cleaned on Saturday. I went to church on Sunday, and did laundry.  That's it. I talked to Myra, both of my sisters, my cat sitter, and my BFF Elaine. I was on the phone more than usual for me on any given day. I am not a phone person, but it was sure good to hear the voices of people I love.

I am doing this on my Kindle Fire because I forgot until bedtime!! No avatars.

God is good!! Peace and hugs! Have a blessed week!

Sunday Blessing...

 

Peace & hugs!!

An added PS:  I just found out my cousins' weekend is postponed until Fall (hopefully).  Three folks, last minute, can't come this week so that kinda throws off the whole reason for getting together.  I'm sad about it. Called Myra to cancel lunch on Thursday; called the cat sitter to cancel her services; called my sister so she doesn't need to put sheets on the guest bed... bummed but re-booting about it.  I will save money on gasoline and I don't have to work six more extra hours to make up the two days I would be off... life.  It's always something. God is in control. 

A Glittery Saturday 9...

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

Diamonds

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: Diamonds (2012)

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

1) In this song, Rihanna sings that when she looks at her lover, she sees the light in his eyes. The internet is filled with makeup tips for making your eyes look brighter. Drugstores sell eye drops that promise to get the red out. Are you bright-eyed this morning?  I have a Saturday with nothing to do but clean the house so I am sleeping in and then getting some work done. Bright-eyed?  Probably not so much! LOL

2) She likens him to a shooting star. Astronomers tell us that shooting stars aren't that rare at all. They occur when dust, asteroids or comets enter the earth's atmosphere, and are often visible on clear, pollution-free nights. Have you ever seen a shooting star?  Yes, I have. My childhood bedroom allowed me to lay in bed and look out the window where I saw shooting stars often (and also thought there were UFOs!!).

 
3) In ancient Rome, shooting stars were considered good luck, especially for those going into battle, while some tribes in East Africa believed shooting stars were a harbinger of doom. Are you superstitious?  No, but I do "knock on wood" now and then.

4) The singer of "Diamonds" hosted a lavish Diamond Ball to raise funds for education programs in Malawi, Senegal, and the country of her birth, Barbados. Rhianna named her charity initiative the Clara Lionel Foundation after her grandparents. If you were to name your foundation after your grandparents, what would it be called?  It would be the Ora Leota Foundation.  What would you ideally like to do in their honor?  Since they were farmers, I would help to support New Paths Horse Sanctuary in their names.

 

5) Rhianna recently had her first baby, a boy. According to the Social Security Administration, the top names for baby boys in 2021 were Liam and Noah. Is there a Liam or Noah in your life?  Nope.

 

6) When she was still in her teens, Rhianna entered a beauty pageant on a dare, and won! Can you recall a time you acted on a dare?  Yes, I can. One summer, working at the ice cream parlor, the owner's daughter dared me to drop a sundae in a boy's lap because we didn't like him.  She actually bet me $5.00 that I wouldn't do it.  Well, I did it, and exclaimed how sorry I was!  I made him another sundae and collected my $5 bucks. Yes, I did!

7) While on tour, she likes to sneak out into the audience, just to get the vibe from out there. To disguise herself, Rhianna slips on a black oversized hoodie. Are hoodies a staple of your wardrobe?  No.  I do have one that I have worn, maybe three times, and not with the hood up.  This is Florida.

  

8) In 2012, the year this song topped the charts, London hosted the Olympic Games. If you won a trip to London, what would you like to see?  If I was in London, I would ask to meet up with my blogging friend, Wendy, and would ask her what I should see!!  I'm sure Joyce could give me advice too since they lived over there for several years. I will say that London has not really ever been on my list of places to see. The English countryside appeals to me, however!

 
9) Random question: Did either or both of your parents go to college? No, they did not. My dad didn't even graduate from high school. He quit his senior year to join the army at the end of WWII.  The war ended before he finished boot camp (thank God!). All four of us 'kids' did finish college though. Joe's folks didn't finish school but his dad always said he wanted his boys to get good grades and go to college. All three of them did.  The world has changed.

Peace & hugs!

Proverbs 18:15  An intelligent heart acquires 

knowledge and the ear of the wise seek knowledge.

PS:  Thank you for the sweet words concerning Helen yesterday.  I said visiting her is not fun and it isn't, but I love her and find joy in being able to care for her needs.  She is still a blessing to me even though seeing her makes me sad.

 

Friday Fotos...

 

I have a few new photos from this week...

Our Femaleship group met at Il Forno (Italian) on Wednesday evening.
There were 13 of us.  This selfie is friends Marianne, Wilma, and me at
one end of the table.

This is the rest of our group, including our Pastor's wife 

and daughter.  It was fun and the food there is always delicious.

I stopped to see Helen on Monday.  She wasn't having a good day

and was a little feisty.  I took her on a walk in her wheelchair but

she wanted to be somewhere else - no matter where we were.

It is just not a fun visit with her, ever, and I always leave there

feeling inadequate and sad.  God bless all caregivers in memory care units!

The new house across the street from me is almost done. Still some sod to lay and they should be about done inside, I would think.  It sold before work was even started, but I don't know who my new neighbors will be.  It is a two-bedroom and sold for just under $190,000.  Hard to imagine.  I will keep you posted!! 

Peace & hugs!

....Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Whimsical Fashion Review 2022...

 

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

Check out the dress and decide which purse you like best.

It's all in fun and just a whimsical thing!

Photos are always from the Storybook of Dreams & Beauty!

A sweet dress for a special occasion.  Not sure where she might be going but she needs a purse!  Count down 1-2-3 and tell us which one she should carry (and where you think she is going!).  

My thoughts:  Well, I'm not crazy about any of the purses to go with this very sweet dress but these are the ones given.  I guess I choose #3 because it goes with her shoes and isn't as "busy" as the other two.  As to where she might be going... how about an afternoon tea at "the club"? It could also be a wedding dress!!  I think it needs a pop of color with different jewelry, though.  What are your thoughts?

Peace & hugs!

Jesus is all the world to me!!

Wednesday's Hodgepodge...

Thanks to Joyce for today's hodgepodge of questions! You can join in HERE!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 470

1. Last time you drove more than 100 miles from your home?  Last November.  Where did you go?  To my sister's house in Georgia.

2. Something that drives you batty?  People who are always late.

3. Do you feel like you're 'on track'?  Yes.  For what?  For my trip to Alabama next week!!  I'm meeting up with Myra for lunch on my way to my cousin's in Birmingham!!

4. Your favorite car snack(s)?   Joe and I were serious about packing snacks for a road trip but I can't manage to snack while driving alone.  I have been known to grab some chicken nuggets at McDonald's when I stop for a McPee.  They are easy to munch on while driving.

5. Something you've done recently 'on the fly'?  Sorry... I can't think of a thing.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  My son, Joey, called me last night from GEORGIA!!  He is back from his year in the middle east and I am so happy to know he's back in the USA .... probably almost as happy as his sweet wife, Darlene!  I will see them in August!!  Whew!!

Peace & hugs!

Our God is so good!!

 Thanks to Annie for continuing Toni's Tuesday 4!  You can join in HERE.

Tuesday 4

Inquiring Minds Wanna Know...

Hello!  You are so welcome here at Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.   I hope you enjoy the questions and the chance to blog about your likes, dislikes, and opinions and learn about those of other people.  Be sure to visit around.  That is part of the fun.

Let's inquire about stuff...

1. What gets your blood to boiling?  People who are unkind, especially to children, the elderly, and animals. 

2. What does a really good day look like for you? What makes you say, "That was a great day"?  At 70 years old, every day is a good day!  It's good when traffic is lite on the way to work.  It's good when there is nothing on my calendar and I can sleep in and have a slower day.  Paydays are always good! Getting together with friends or family always makes a good day!

3. Are you continuing to grow mentally, spiritually, and talent-wise or just marking time?  I hope I never just mark time.  Still working keeps me growing mentally.  I am still growing spiritually and love my church and church family. Talent-wise... not so much. 

4. Have you changed your hairstyle since high school?  Yep!  Why or why not?  I got tired of fighting the curls and have just given in.  My senior picture - big rollers and Dippity Do.  

Then...

...and now.

Peace & hugs!

God's love is steadfast & unchanging!!

Monday's Weekend Recap...

 Here are some photos from my busier than usual weekend...

As mentioned last week, I was blessed to be invited to a 50th birthday Fiesta for my boss's nephew.  They have 'adopted' me as extended family.  I met half of the people at Thanksgiving so wasn't a total stranger.  They also invited Monika so I wasn't the only non-related person attending!  I got there just before 11:00 to help Mali put decorations up.  She had purchased a whole bunch of stuff from Amazon and got a helium tank from Walmart so we were blowing up balloons and tacking things up around the pavilion. 

The food was picked up at 1:00 and we ate around 2:00.  It was lots of fun and the Mexican food from Tapatios was delicious!  

The cactus had ice in it to keep drinks cold.
The cooler did a better job of it in the heat, but
the cactus was fun!

Mali, working on decorations...

Danon (my boss) and I got the TACO letters strung up behind the food table.

We were happy about the brisk breeze but it 

wasn't good for the tablecloths or balloons.

This was a backdrop for people to take pictures.  I don't think anyone did.

I saw these two BIG birds and had to go get a closer look.

They are buzzards and were looking for fish (I guess).

I thought they would fly away but I almost walked right up to them.

Ugly things but they do so much good.  Kinda scary that they weren't afraid of me...

Just a shot of the lake.  So pretty.

The kids were having fun.  So were the grown ups!

Danon and Mali getting the food ready...

Refried beans, rice, chicken, ground beef, lots of salsa, and sour cream,

along with chips.  There were hard and soft taco shells.

The kids got to fish after we ate.  They were having a blast.

By 3:30 I was ready to go home so I made my goodbyes.  They hadn't cut the birthday cake yet but I was about done in after nearly five hours in the heat.  I was sorry to not stick around to help clean up, but hopefully, all the family members helped with that.  It started thundering and raining around 5:00 so I was happy to be at home.  Mali said they got it all packed away before it rained there.  

Church was good yesterday.  Our Pastor was back after being away for three Sundays.  The first week was church business and the last two were his vacation with his family.  He was missed.

Not much ahead this week except for our Femaleship dinner on Wednesday evening.  Femaleship is our word-play on fellowship.  We don't do it every month but 4-5 times a year we gather for dinner and there are usually 12-18 of us.  All ages of women from church so it is really nice. 

Peace & hugs!!

Ephesians 6:10-11   10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.