August 3rd: Monday Musings

 

If my hair could only look half that good!  LOL   Gotta love AI...

I have a very sweet Saturday to share with you!  My niece, Sara, her hubby Matthew, and their two boys, Ezra and Andrew, were in Orlando for a very quick overnight.  They invited me to meet them at their hotel, which I was happy to do.  You all know that I hate Orlando and don't go there unless I just have to.  I do make rare exceptions for family.  And their hotel wasn't near Disney or downtown Orlando.  I was able to skirt across on the toll road (417) and miss most of the traffic.  They arrived from the airport, only a few minutes before me, so the timing was perfect.

Their room at the Marriott was really a suite.  They were upgraded with travel points.  Wow, to upgrades!  Look at the "kitchenette"...

...and the balcony with the waterfall/pool view...

 

We ordered dinner from the restaurant on the property.  Matthew and Ezra went to pick it up, and we enjoyed it at the table in the room.

I had such a good time playing with Ezra, making Andrew laugh, and catching up with Sara and Matthew.  Ezra wanted to play hide-and-seek with his beach ball.  He had never heard of saying "you are hot" or "you are cold," so I told him what it meant.  When it was my turn to seek, he used hot and cold like he had been doing it his whole life (all four years!).  So fun.  I can't share pictures of them, but I can share a few...

My brother would be bursting with pride.  Sara was only 15 when he died of cancer.  My nephew, Michael, was only 10.  Michael is a doctor; his wife Megan has a Master's Degree in Music Therapy.  Sara has her PhD in Education; Matthew is a doctor.  They are all active in their churches.  They are all also musicians!!  My brother was very active in his church, and Jo Anne is still active in her church (a retired teacher).  She has been a great single mom and now is a sweet grandma to those two boys!  

Jo Anne was here in April, and we went 
over to Tarpon Springs one day.  

I'm sure I posted this picture back then.

It rained while I was in Orlando, but it held off for my trip home.  Thank you, Jesus!!  The kids are on Amelia Island for the week with Matthew's folks, sister, and her family.  I'm sure they will have a great time.

I was a Greeter at church yesterday.  I enjoy doing it.  Yep... two loads of laundry when I got home.  I was behind on reading blogs, so I caught up with all of you, too.  

Musing about the week ahead, I have an eye doctor appointment on Tuesday, a haircut appointment on Wednesday, Bible study, and dinner out on Thursday.  We will walk each morning if it's not raining!  Wishing you all a happy and blessed week ahead!!  Thanks for your visit today!

I am still enjoying the color-by-number, Happy Color app!

Peace and Hugs!

Verse 1, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

---Robert Robinson Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the Mount! I'm fixed upon it, Mount of God's unchanging love.

AUGUST 1st: The Saturday 9

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

Coconut

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: Coconut (1971)

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

This month, Saturday 9 will be tasty, featuring songs with food in the title.

1) This song is about a woman who complains of a belly ache. How's your tummy this morning?  My tummy is just fine!

2) She responds to this malady by calling the doctor. What if you chose to address the problem yourself?  Are there currently any OTC digestive aids in your medicine chest?  Yes.  I have AlkaSeltzer chewies in the cupboard.

3) Coconut was once a popular ice cream flavor, but no more. It's not on the list of top sellers at Baskin Robbins or Cold Stone. When you last had ice cream, what flavor was it?  Coffee flavor with macadamia nuts. Yum!

4) Coconut remains popular in baking. It's easy to find recipes for coconut pie, coconut cheesecake, coconut cookies ... you get the idea. Have you recently tried a new recipe? If yes, how did it turn out?  No new recipes recently.  I haven't been cooking much of anything this summer.

5) This week's featured artist, Harry Nilsson, was a well-known free spirit. He liked to party and had a reputation for not adhering to a schedule. Therefore, it's a little surprising that one of his first jobs was in the conservative atmosphere of a small bank. Do you prefer a more structured workplace?  No.  I enjoyed a more relaxed atmosphere in the workplace.

6) Harry met Micky Dolenz when The Monkees recorded his song, "Cuddly Toy," and they became fast and lifelong friends. Can you think of someone you met and quickly "clicked" with?  My neighbors, Susan (and Chuck), Sandy (and Bob), and Dee (and Bill).  Anne (and Paul) were here before we moved, but we clicked with them quickly, too!  I am so blessed with wonderful neighbors!

7) In 1971, when this song was on the radio, detective shows were popular on TV. Mannix, Ironside, and Cannon were all in the Top 20. Do you think you'd make a good private investigator?  I used to think I could be a Nancy Drew, but now... nope.  I don't have the patience to be that meticulous in acquiring evidence before turning it in to make an arrest!  LOL

8) England's Princess Anne teed 21 in 1971, and the occasion was commemorated with an official portrait taken by fashion photographer Norman Parkinson. Who took the most recent photo of you?  The waitress at Glory Days on Thursday night.

9) Random question: You can redecorate any one room in your home; money is no object. But only one room. Which room do you pick?  My living/dining room is one large room and the first room you see when you come in, so I'll choose it.

Peace and Hugs!

For The Beauty of the Earth, Verse 1

---Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1864

For the beauty of the earth For the glory of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies. Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.