Good golly, I've been remis! Not for lack of a life, but I don't think anyone wants to hear about plumbing woes. No, I'll rewind to some bright spots in our week that was.
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Last Saturday, Pastor Janet and Andy invited anyone who wanted to stop by for a little get-together at their new home. He'd smoked 20+ pounds of pork butt ... and I took a bit of ribbing for filling my plate with all most of the greasy burnt/blackened ends. (I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures!)
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Janet's sermon the next morning was so good and testimony by two of my favorite people brought tears to my eyes. If anyone's interested in watching it, here's the FB link.
https://fb.watch/glfPw0HgEA/
(It's probably best to start at the 10:47 min. mark)
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Following Bible study, I suggested we go have a class picture made down the street at Village Green.
.. and since I was having a relatively okay hair day, I twisted Tom's arm to go back Tuesday.
Waiting on Roadside Assistance ... not.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't want this picture to show y'all my $2 boots. (Yep, estate sale.)
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Come Wednesday morning I sat for an interview at Prattville's library. I still feel pretty good about my responses ... but at the same time, a bit disengaged. The hours and salary aren't all I'd hoped for, so it's a good thing they've not called back. Right?! Sometimes you just have to listen to your gut.
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Is there anything in this world more boring than shopping for faucets? At the advice of a plumber, yesterday morning we visited Lowe's because someone who lives here has to look and touch ... and doesn't comprehend when his other half says, "I don't care!"
The afternoon was saved by a stop inside Dollar Tree, where I scored the last 6 stoneware dessert plates (not pictured) which match my dinner set. (Just color me, Big Spender. lol)
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I can't close without yakking about my new joy, Wordle. Yep, I finally jumped on the bandwagon ... and I'm hooked! Both on it and its companion game Spelling Bee (NYTimes.com). Are there any other players out there?
Best I stop for now and get outside to witness the most wonderful time of the year!
... waking to a 45* morning! Just yesterday, our home's A/C was running!
Never mind that I've already had to trade my beloved hoodie for a T-shirt, my favorite season (Winter) can't be so far away.
Sipping
... my first cup of Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea. Heretofore, this coffee lover had never found a tea strong enough to satisfy -- but this may have changed my mind. Thank you for the mention, Jon!
Pondering
... what to serve at Thanksgiving. When I asked my favorite grill master if they were going to offer hickory smoked turkeys again, he just shook his head "no." "On account of the bird flu, my vendor tells me turkeys are going to be in short supply this year."
I wonder if that might account for the Fair selling turkey legs for $18. Each!
Good thing I'm not particularly fond of turkey ... but how to break it to the family?
Blessed
We were licking the BBQ'd ribs' grease off our hands yesterday when the doorbell rang. Andy (Pastor Janet's hubby) was standing there with this. "Happy Belated birthday, Tom!"
Janet had mentioned him creating an oversized wall-hanging for their new home but I'd no idea what.
Some of y'all remember when I posted photos of the storm damage at their lot next door. Come to find out, Andy's taken his knife to the trunk, and scraped the bark to create these art pieces.
Grateful
... for medical miracles. When yesterday afternoon my phone showed "Debbie calling", my heart skipped a beat. Unless something's wrong, we don't chat but once a month on the first.
Come to find out, a couple weeks ago she suffered an attack of colitis - necessitating a trip the E.R. Long story short, while St. Anthony's was running tests, someone accidentally captured a CT image of her heart. Before she knew it, she was being transferred by ambulance to another facility in Palm Harbor where she was met by a thoracic surgeon. "You're next!"
Were it not for the accidental CT scan, she learned they might never have known fluid was building around the heart. One of the nurses even remarked, the colitis attack may have well saved her life. They're even suggesting Debbie's bout with Covid may have been a contributing factor.
I was on the fence about getting my booster, but now I'm not taking chances.
Wondering
... do you ever do this?
Unlike our last study, I'm getting so much enjoyment from Carolyn Moore's Encountering the Spirit.
Her gentle humor and suggestions prompt me to actually put aside the cell phone I've concealed in my lap.
One phrase from Monday's video especially struck me:
Thursday (Oct. 13) is National Train Your Brain Day. What do you do to keep your brain in tip-top shape? Is it helping?
Tip-top shape? Lawdy, I came close to breaking it yesterday. 4+ hours trying to navigate the V.A.'s claim processes.
It's been years since I was addicted to anagrams, the daily crossword. A few years ago, Sudoku became all the rage but I'm far too dim.
Okay! In front of God and citizens of Blogland, I'm making a vow to minimize the Solitaire app on my phone and upload something provoking that won't make me feel like a mental moron. Recommendations, anyone?
You can sit with anyone on the world and 'pick their brain.' Who do you choose?
Without over-thinking, I'm going with the first one to pop in my head. Steven Spielberg. His vehicles are like a grand buffet for our eyes, ears ... all our spidey senses.
I'm seriously in awe of -- and drawn to -- his imagination and (seemingly) unassuming personality.
What's something happening in the world (or your corner of) right now that you have trouble 'wrapping your brain' around?
ON a scale of 1-10, where do you fall in the pumpkin fan club? (1=blech, 10=make it all pumpkin all the time.) Tell us something delicious you've tasted recently that had some pumpkin in it somewhere.
I'm a 5(ish). The pumpkin pecan cheesecake I had last month was delicious but it's not something I crave.
Share a favorite song, book or movie with an autumn title, setting or vibe.
Insert your own random thought here.
My friend Brenda passed this out at Bible study. Not your ordinary task/to-do list!
Thank you for stopping by on your way to doing Life.
Yes, it does! Seeing 'October' on my calendar is messing with my mind -- but I'm loving the cool early morning temps.
It's been a good week for unaccustomed - but enjoyable - 'girl time.' Coming up on the one-year anniversary of Tom's health nightmare, made me realize I've been teetering on the verge of becoming a recluse. On Saturday morning I enjoyed a belated coffee date with Kathy, then introduced her to my guilty pleasure -- Main Street Vintage Marketplace (aka, 'Cool Junk.').
So true!
A rag tree? I'm speechless!
Especially reading the price tag $42/pair.
After Bible study, Deborah invited me for lunch at Front Porch Grill. Their food's mediocre and I don't understand its popularity -- but I enjoyed getting to know her better, learning how much our beliefs align.
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Oh my gosh, y'all! You'd have been rolling on the floor watching Tom and I setting up his new toy. Thanks to Anne (Cooking and All That Jazz), I learned Alexa can be used as an intercom. When 'her' little sister (Echo dot) arrived, I couldn't wait to set them up. No more walking out back and banging on Tom's shop door to ask if he's ready to eat, wandering out in my night clothes to say goodnight.
Sounds good in theory. Picture technophobic senior citizens at their wit's end. In spite of ourselves, we managed. They work like a charm. (Much to the dogs' consternation, lol.) Since we already subscribe to 'unlimited jukebox' Tom can sit out there, bee-bopping to his heart's content.
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I can't believe I'm using 'pleasure' and dental visit in the same sentence, but that's exactly how I felt about this morning's appointment. Apprehensive! I don't exactly hate the dentist but hadn't been in more than 4 years. Finally, I grew so disgusted by my appearance I searched online and made an appointment. Walked in, fully expecting the usual 'tsk-tsk' or another condescending lesson in flossing. Nope! The middle-aged cleaning lady was friendly and chatty. When the dentist came in, he said, "Hi, I'm Steve!" (My jaw may have dropped a little: "Huh?")
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So, I finally got around to making the caulimash using (oooflavorings) mashed potato drops. Son and Lois are coming for dinner Saturday. She, too, is doing Keto so I wanted to pair the roast with low-carb sides. Have to admit, the result was pretty darn tasty -- in spite of my forgetting the Greek yogurt and using cream cheese instead. I won't go so far as saying it tastes just like momma used to make, but neither did it scream, "Cauliflower'!
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Here's a couple images that make me smile
Sister, you look good enough to eat!
Mommmm!
Well, it's going on wine o'clock.
Y'all sleep tight ... don't let the bedbugs bite! Talk soon!
Bringing up the rear..... I'm excited to join Stacy and Cathy in a fun exercise, "Reading A to Z."
I've attached links to titles in case you're curious about one (or some). I hope you'll let me know if anything sounds like something you'd enjoy, too!
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Author you've read the most books from
J. A. Jance
Not only are her mysteries entertaining, but so is she. I've been to hear her speak on a couple occasions and appreciate that she's funny and unassuming ... the Real Deal.
