Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Click above to visit and link up with Joyce.

1. Sum up your November in ten words or less. How about no words, just pictures.

2. Are you hosting any holiday parties this year?  No Attending any? Not parties, but lunches, yes. Party pooper, party animal, or life of the party...where do you land when it comes to parties? Probably somewhere in the middle.

3. Do you purchase holiday clothing of any sort (sparkly tops, Christmas jammies, Santa suit, etc). Rarely, but I did buy these Snoozies last year. I also have jewelry (earrings and pins) that are Christmassy. 

4. What's your go-to recipe when you're asked to bring an hors d'oeuvre to a party? Never been asked to.

5. December 3rd is National Play Outside Day...what might you do to celebrate? Depending on the weather, I'm considering going to the Horse Carriage Parade in our town. Here's a post I made about it in 2009.

6. Insert your own random thought here. My sister and I did some decorating of the graves earlier this week.

My Brother

Dad and Mom

My cousin

Grandpa and Grandma (my mom's parents)

My Aunt and Uncle

Thanks for visiting and if you'd like to link up with the Hodgepodge, click on the button at the top of this post.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Holiday Time

Holiday Time

Hi. Welcome to the continuation of Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  Just 4 questions to get you thinking, talking and visiting other bloggers. Click Holiday Time above to link up.  

This week it might be nice to focus on December and it's traditions.

1.   The 7th is Pearl Harbor Day when a terrible sneak attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii destroyed many ships in the American fleet and convinced Congress to declare war.    

President Roosevelt said,  "Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan."    Yes, it should be infamous forever.    How do you honor the memory of the men who died in this cowardly attack? Do you put out your flag on that day to remember the service men killed?  No, I don't because by then my Christmas flag is up and honestly, I've just never thought to put the flag up that day.   I am very thankful for the men and women in our military both then and now.

2.  Many people begin baking, buying gifts, decorating for the upcoming holidays of Chanukah and Christmas.    Do you bake or buy?  What cookies and cakes are your favorite this time of year?  Got a recipe to share?  I used to bake cookies and sometimes make some candy.  I don't do that now, because if they are in the house, I will be the one who eats them.  However, my favorite cookies are Tollhouse Chocolate Chip and I follow the recipe on the Nestle's Chocolate Chip Bag.  As far as candy homemade it would be Buckeyes and Dad's homemade Peanut Butter Fudge.  

3.   December 15 is Bill of Rights day. The 18th begins Chanukah the Festival of Lights during which the light was rekindled in the desecrated temple in Jerusalem.  The temple was cleansed and the light reentered it.  The 21st is the Winter Solstice or first day of winter.    What traditions, days, etc. have meaning for you in December?   How about advent.. does it hold meaning for you?  December is birthday month.  My sister's birthday is the 2nd and it's a big one this year.  My mother-in-law's birthday is the 15th, my daughter's fiance' has a birthday on the 16th and then we celebrate Jesus' birth on the 25th. 

4.  Christmas music is being played in stores during these December days.  Does it play in your home? How excited are you for the upcoming holidays?  Yes, I love Christmas music and if I'm alone in the car it will be playing and sometimes we play it at home.  I've also been practicing playing Christmas carols for church.  I'm looking forward to all the music, decorations, lights, etc. Oh, I forgot...I also have put the Christmas ring tones on my phone...it just makes me happy.  I also enjoy being with family, although we seem to be dwindling down and our groups are much smaller.  Of course with my daughters out of state, we don't get to be with them, but we enjoy some live video chats.  Not the same, but it's still good.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Bits of This and That

Here are a few things from the past several days.

On Friday, hubby and I went out to lunch at Red Robin and then I ran into a couple of stores.  He was driving, so he'd drop me off at the door and then pick me up when I was finished (best way to shop, I think).  I went in Wal-mart and picked up a couple of things we wanted and then to Lowes so I could get some stakes to keep our outdoor nativity from blowing over.  Then I ran into Aldi's and picked up a couple of things like the low carb bars that help me when I get to craving something sweet.  I've actually lost 16 lbs in the last 6 months and while that's not a lot for 6 months, it's better than gaining and I believe it's a way I'll be able to keep it off in the future.  Friday night we watched a couple Christmas movies.

My brother-in-law made this for us last year
and I added the red Joy sign this year.

On Saturday we went to lunch with hubby's mom and then I went with my sister to purchase some gifts for a couple of  residents at the assisted living place our sister lives at.  Then we watched a couple of Christmas movies (well, I watched one and fell asleep during the other one. lol)  Then I couldn't sleep Saturday night, so I finished the book I've been reading.  It was really good.

Thanks Jennifer for the
recommendation. I will be looking for some
 more of her books.

Sunday we went to church and then came home for some lunch and a nap and then I read some of another book I'm reading and decided to get this post ready for Monday and read some of your posts.  Then back to church for the monthly Hymn Sing Service.  Here's a video of hubby's sermon.

So basically, that is my weekend.  How was yours?  Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Saturday 9 - Two Black Cadillacs

 Link up - Saturday 9: Two Black Cadillacs (2011)

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

1) This week's song is about two women who share a very dark secret. Are you good at keeping secrets? I think so, but I really prefer not being put in the position to have to.

2) Carrie Underwood's favorite author is Stephen King. In fact, she credits King's Christine as an inspiration for this song. Have you read much Stephen King, or seen movies based on his books? I have read 1 or 2 of his books, but the movies are a little too scary for me (I have seen part of Carrie and The Shining).

3) Carrie first came to America's attention when she won on American Idol. Prior to competing on that show, she'd never been on an airplane. Crazy Sam takes at least one round-trip flight every year and pays using the miles she accumulated from credit card purchases throughout the year. Do you try to earn miles, points, or cash back when you make purchases? Cash back happens with the card we use most. 

4) Black is this week's signature color because November 25 was Black Friday, when retailers historically have slashed their prices and the holiday shopping season begins. Have you begun your gift shopping? I've bought 2 gifts.

5) Black Friday began as a local event initiated by store owners in Philadelphia back in the early 1960s. When you think of Philadelphia, what comes to mind? The Liberty Bell and other historical stuff.

6) Black Friday always comes after Thanksgiving, a day of feasting. What was the best dish at your holiday table this year? To me it was the dressing and mashed potatoes (all the carbs! lol).

7) Thanksgiving is also a big day for watching football. Did you watch any games? No

8) What are you thankful for this year? Every day I get up out of bed and have decent health!  You know, just being on this side of the dirt is a real blessing.

9) Random question: You're in a public restroom and have a choice between paper towels and a hot air hand dryer. Which do you choose? Paper towels.

The link up for Saturday is at the top of this post.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

SkyWatch Friday and Friday Photos

Photo from our vacation for SkyWatch Friday.  I never tire of the beautiful skies over the ocean.

I've taken almost no photos this week, but below is a picture of hubby's and my Advent Study Books.  We get them from She Reads Truth/He Reads Truth.  This is our 3rd year doing this together.  Each day we read together.  The daily readings are identical, but some of the extra stuff, is a little different in the male and females books.  We really enjoying doing this together.  It starts this Sunday. 

We're taking the books today to have them spiral bound.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day!

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Click above to link up with Joyce and the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. Have you ever been on a cruise? Yes, I have been on 2. If so where did you go and how did you like it? The first trip was like 3 days and it was to the Bahama's and the second trip was a 7 day cruise to the Carribean and yes, I loved it.  If not, do you have any desire to take a cruise someday? While I loved the cruises very much I was only in my early 20's at that time. And really at this age, I don't have much of a desire to cruise again, except maybe a riverboat cruise would be fun.

2. Tell us about your Thanksgiving plans...are you hosting? cooking? eating out? turkey or some other main? is it stuffing or dressing in your house? homemade cranberries or cranberries in a can? are pies on the dessert menu? what kind? what are your 'must have' sides? Tell us one thing you're especially grateful for this year. Right now, our plans are to go to Bob Evans and have a special Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey, ham, dressing, corn, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, cranberry relish and pumpkin pie. We will be meeting his mom and my sister and her husband and our other sister.  Hubby and I are going to cook a turkey breast and do some of the fixings for dinner tonight and for leftovers for the weekend.

3. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Sometimes.  Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Sometimes. Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round? We sometimes choose a child off the giving tree for the city we also donate to our local food pantry and other various things throughout the year. 

4. Have you started decorating for Christmas? Not yet. Is your tree up? Nope, but may be tonight. Shopping done? Not yet, but it is started.   Wrapped? Nope.

5. Create your own acrostic using the word THANKS. 

T - Trust God

H - Have Faith

A - Always Be Thankful

N - Never Stop Loving

K - Keep on Living for Jesus.

S - See Others the Way God Sees Them

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for visiting my blog.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - The Thanksgiving Feast

 Welcome, welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 .  You can link up here.

Let's talk about the Thanksgiving Feast.

1. Do you celebrate with family, friends or by yourself? We typically celebrate with family.  My sister and her husband, my other sister, hubby and I and his mom plan to have Thanksgiving lunch at Bob Evans this year.  We've done that several times and we always enjoy it.  No one has to cook and we can just be together and enjoy the time talking, eating and just enjoying each other's company. I miss the old days of going to his or my parents and having the girls there with us, but we've learned to be happy with getting the local ones together.  Of course, I imagine at some point we'll talk with the girls and grandson on that day too.

2.  Do you watch the Thanksgiving Day parade from Macy's in New York City? Usually at least a part of it.  The appearance of Santa at the end signals the start of the Christmas season.  What does the day hold for you?  Well, see #1 and then after that at some point we'll probably finish our Christmas decorating and watch some Christmas movies and maybe get some reading in.

3. What foods are the hit of Thanksgiving Day for you? Really, I'm not too picky.  It's just not about the food to me any more, it's about being together.

4.  We say grace before and after meals. Is grace a part of your Thanksgiving meal?  Before meals, yes and any other meal too!

Whatever your Thanksgiving traditions, I pray that the day is meaningful and filled with love for you whether with family, friends or alone. May God shine his blessing love down on you and yours and make us all truly thankful this year.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Bits of This and That

We had a nice, fairly quiet weekend.  We left Myrtle Beach about 5:00am Friday morning and arrived home about 5pm.  We unloaded some things and then headed to the kennel to pick up Lucy.  We came back home and unloaded the rest of the van, unpacked the things that needed to be for the night and then we relaxed and watched a Christmas movie and then to bed.

Lucy was so happy to be home and did not want to get too far away from me.  I love how her
little paws are crossed in this picture and yes, that is me she is laying on.  

Saturday, we finished unpacking and I did about 5 loads of laundry.  In the middle of all that we went to Chuy's for lunch and I ran in to Wal-mart to get a couple of things we needed.  That evening we had soup for dinner and again watched a couple of Christmas movies.

Sunday we were back to church and it was so good to see everyone again and worship together.  We picked up our grocery order after church and then picked up a quick lunch to take home.  We both took a much needed nap and then back to church for the evening Bible Study.  And back home to watch a couple of Christmas movies (one that I fell asleep in, but hubby filled me in on what I missed and I woke up in time to see the last 30 minutes or so.)  I've attached Sunday's Sermon below.

I hope you had a good weekend and thanks for visiting

Cathy

SkyWatch Friday

 

Thursday afternoon skies here in Myrtle Beach.  Link up with SkyWatch Friday here.  Since we'll be leaving really, really early I'm posting this Thursday evening.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a wonderful Friday.

Cathy 

Thankful Thursday

* Things I am thankful for:

My new Bible - Inspire Journaling/Coloring NLT Bible - I finally finished my first page of coloring today while sitting out on the balcony and watching and listening to the surf. Don't look too closely because I'm not that great at coloring...but I so enjoyed it.  Are you wondering why I chose Haggai as my first page?  It's because we just finished our fall Bible Study the Tuesday before our trip started.  It was so good.  If you're interested it was called "Take Courage" by Jennifer Rothschild.  I definitely recommend it, if your looking for Encouragement in your life.

My view

* New Reader Glasses:  I went to Dollar Tree and picked up some new readers.  I needed something stronger to be able to see all those small spaces to color.  Best $1.25 I've spent lately.

* Hallmark Christmas Movies and Great American Family Christmas Movies - We've been watching them each evening on our vacation and we're so enjoying them. 

* Books - I've completed 2 Christmas books and have started a 3rd while on this trip.  You can see the names of the books and their author in my sidebar.  

* Marshes - we've gone to several different parks where the marshes are and we both love just watching the birds and seeing all that's around.  

* Vacation - This has been one of the most relaxing and restful vacations we have ever had and I'm so thankful for each moment.  Time spent on the balcony, time spent on the beach and when it was raining or too cold, time in the room looking out the window that covers the whole wall that's beach side.  I just feel so blessed.

I'm writing this on Wednesday evening watching a Christmas movie.  We have just one more day and then we drive home Friday.  Prayers for safety would be appreciated.  You can link up here. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Click above to link up with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond

1. When did you most recently need to 'think fast'? Elaborate. I'm doing most of the driving on this trip, and there have been a few times, when I had to "think fast" to get where I needed to when I needed to.  And there have been several times we've had to turn around and go back.  lol

2. The Hodgepodge lands on National Fast Food Day. What was the last fast food you ate? What's your favorite fast food? How often do you grab fast food? Last night (Monday) we got dinner from the DQ, hubby had chili cheese dogs and I had the chicken strips with gravy.

3. Life in the fast lane, get nowhere fast, on the fast track, not so fast...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life in recent days. "not so fast" as while on vacation, we're just doing what we want when we want.  And also, when I'm walking out on the beach, I'm moving very slowly, as I can't quit looking for sharks teeth and pretty shells.  So I really don't get very far or move very fast out there.  Love this kind of vacation.

4. Are you a fast walker? not particularly fast talker?Yes, as in I say a lot of words in a short time. lol  fast worker?probably not fall asleep fast? Most of the time. stay fast asleep without too much trouble? Not really.

5. What is one 'hard and fast rule' in your house? It's not a rule, but we do try to pray together every night for our girls and their families. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. Another picture from our trip.

Just before sunrise.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Love It or Leave It

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4...You can link up here.

Do you love it or will you leave it? 

1. Coffee flavored or  coffee plain? What is your favorite kind? No coffee for me.  I've never learned to like it.

2. A trip to the Caribbean or a trip to Spain? Why? Caribbean.  Although, honestly I'd prefer to stay in the continental US for travel.  There are so many things here I'd like to see.

3. Goodies on your pizza or just plain? Both What toppings would you love or leave? I enjoy mushrooms, onions, ham, olives, and tomatoes. I also love just extra cheese.

4.   Dinner at a 5 star or dinner at  Rosie's Diner known for home style cooking? Probably Rosie's.  I'm not really into fancy, schmancy restaurants.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Bits of This and That - Vacation

 Good Monday Morning.  We had a really nice quiet weekend with beautiful weather.  I just feel so blessed that God has allowed us to have this time together in one of our most favorite places.  We have so many memories here of fun times with hubby's parents and also with our girls.  Of course, it's just hubby and me this trip and I love that too.  No pressures or worries, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company.  

We still have a few more days left and I intend to enjoy every moment.  The weather has changed overnight.  We've mostly been in the 60-70's range this trip, but last night the temperatures dropped alot and it's only 41 degrees right now with a high expected of 59.  But it's sunny and beautiful and I'm pretty sure before the day is over, I'll be out on the beach, even in the cold.  Here's what it looks like from our room this morning.

Cold, but beautiful

Here are a couple of pictures from this past few days. 

We went out to breakfast yesterday for the first time on this trip. 
 I had a great cup of hot chocolate!

Some little birds came to visit me for breakfast on Saturday

We stopped to take a look at this marina and I just had to take a picture of this guy!

We love seeing the marshes.  They are always teeming with birds, although I
don't think there are any in this photo.  lol

Well, that's it for today.  I hope you have a great day.  Take care my friends and thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Thankful Thursday and Friday SkyWatch

 Today I'm linking with Thankful Thursday right here and with SkyWatch Friday right here:

I'm thankful for the beautiful weather we've been having until today.  Today is very gray and rainy.  I believe this is from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Nicole.  I think it's going to be like this tomorrow too.  But that's okay.  It's given me time to take a nap and read some and now watching Christmas movies.  Of course, I've done some of this most days anyway.

I'm thankful for my new Journaling/Coloring Bible.  I got it off Amazon about a few weeks ago and now because of the weather I have the time to do it.  But, I found out I color about like a 5 year old.  lol  But I'm still enjoying it. 

Here are two pictures for SkyWatch from earlier in the week.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you all have a great rest of your week.

Cathy

Photographs from Vacation

 Here are some pictures from the last couple of days.

Sunrise this morning (Tuesday the 8th)

Monday evening.  The moon was gorgeous!

Pier close to us

I was down on the beach Monday evening look for sharks teeth.  I don't know who those people are.

Beautiful morning from our balcony on Monday morning.

Love this picture of hubby!

We are having a good vacation, although both of us are fighting sinus issues, but we're still having fun.  Hope you all are doing well and that we all have a good day.  Don't forget to vote (we did before we left for vacation).

Cathy