Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Click above if you'd like to link up.

1. January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Do you enjoy puzzles? What kind (crossword, jigsaw, sudoku, etc)? How often do you work a puzzle? I do enjoy puzzles.  I probably do some kind of word puzzle every day, such as Wordle.  I love a good jigsaw puzzle also, but it's been awhile since I've done one.  

2. Something you currently find 'puzzling'? Why it is that since I've retired, it seems to be harder to get everything accomplished that I want in a day, than when I was working 8 hours a day and trying to get those same things accomplished.  lol

3. What's your go-to dish to take to someone who needs a meal (new baby, bereavement, etc)? Probably something from a restaurant like Cracker Barrel

4. Do you watch any HGTV and/or The Food Network? If so, what's your favorite program there? I don't watch either of those any more.  There's no reason, other than we just don't watch them.

5. Wrap up your January in five words, with a five word phrase, or with a five word sentence. January was a good month.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

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

Cathy

Bits of This and That

 Good morning:

We've had a good weekend, even though it rained through the vast majority of it.  It's looked grey like the below photo most of the weekend.

  

Tracy and I picked up his mom and then we met up with my sister and her husband and had lunch at a place called Rod's Capricorn Inn.  It's just a small restaurant out in the middle of no where.  But let me tell you, their food is delicious and plentiful!  Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures (because no one in our group likes to have their pictures made. lol).

On Saturday, hubby and I went to Culvers for lunch and I found out they have an awesome fish dinner.  Oh my!  It was good.  Saturday evening we watched a Hallmark mystery movie that hubby had recorded and it was good.  I also did some laundry.

I'm still watching "The Chosen" and I'm in Season 3.  I'm still enjoying it.  Last night I finished the project I was helping with for the kids at my sister's church.  So now my plan is to start a new baby blanket or maybe it will be a lap blanket sometime today.  My plan is to make a ripple pattern in several shades of blue with a layer of white involved also.  When I get a good start, I'll take a picture and show it here, if I'm like it.  lol  I have never done a ripple and I'm excited to learn something new.

Tracy preached the 4th sermon from his Jonah Study.  I can hardly believe how much I'm learning from this small book of the Bible.  I'm posting the pre-recorded sermon below. "Outrageous Grace - Travelling with Jonah" Message #4 The Greatest Revival In History.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a great day. We're supposed to have some sunny days towards the end of this week and I am so looking forward to it.  In the meantime, I intend to enjoy the day God has given me today.

Cathy

Sharing 4 Somethings - January 2024

 

Today is our first Share 4 Somethings of 2024 and we're sharing some things we've loved and/or disliked, accomplished, some things we've improved up and/or that need improvement, and noticed.

Loved - I've loved spending a little more time at home.  With the snow and really cold temperatures, we've opted not to go out some days.  I'm loving watching The Chosen again.  I'm also loving listening to the gospels with Annie F. Downs.  

Accomplished - I finished putting away Christmas decorations and have 3-4 big boxes to donate.  I know I will be happy for that next year when I don't have to carry all those boxes in and go through them to decide what I want to use. 

Improved/Still improving -  I'm liking the results of downsizing and decluttering some.  I'm very slow at this process, but I'm loving the results.

Noticed - I've noticed that my reading has slowed down some.  I'm reading the 3rd book in a series and the main character was introduced in book 2 and I didn't much care for her (not knowing she would be the main character in this book)  but I want to finish it (although, I know I said in an earlier post that I rarely finish a book I don't like) so I can read book 4.  So while that has slowed me down, I intend to pick it back up this weekend and get on with my reading goal for the year.

That's my 4 Somethings to share.  You can click here if you'd like to link up.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Friday Photos

 I really haven't taken many photos this week, just 5.  And they are not very good.  But here you go with 2 of them.

Lucy and I relaxing on the recliner,

Enjoying a cup of hot chocolate in hubby's Liquid Patience mug.

Even though I didn't take many pictures, I have enjoyed my week.  I've enjoyed my time reading blogs, watching some TV with hubby in the evenings and crocheting and just enjoying life.  

We'll be leaving shortly to go meet my sister and her husband for lunch.  We're also going to take hubby's mom with us.  It's a good day!

So tell me, how was your week?

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 

Good morning!

It's time for me to give thanks to the Lord this morning.  Here are a few things I'm thankful for right now:

*  The weather has warmed up some.  It's still raining and grey, but it's warmer.

*  Have you ever tried the pineapple/mango smoothie from McDonald's.  It's very good and so is the banana/strawberry one.  I'm thankful to be enjoying one this morning.

*  I'm enjoying the Bible study on Wednesday nights.  Hubby is teaching us from Acts.

*  I started watching The Chosen this week.  I've just finished Season 1 and plan to begin Season 2 this afternoon.  After spending 11 months in the gospels last year, I think I'm enjoying watching it even better this time.  

*  I'm very thankful for my family and my church family.  I feel so blessed.

*  I'm thankful for each and everyone of you, my blogging friends.  

That's my list for today.  What are you thankful for?

I'm linking up with Jennifer for this post today.  You can link up here with your Thankful post if you'd like.  

Thanks for the visit today.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Do you have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you'd like to share, please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don't have a word are you still on the hunt for one for 2024? I do not have a WOTY and really don't plan to this year.

2. January 23rd is National Pie Day...will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What's your favorite? No, I probably will not celebrate it.  I like some pies, but I prefer cake.  My favorite is probably coconut cream pie.

3. Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where? Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a 'suggested amount'? Have you ever left an extravagant tip? We always tip at restaurants, beauticians and the pet groomers.  That's all I can think of right now.  I don't mind the suggestion of a tip amount.  However, I may or may not follow it.

4. Share with us one household 'tip' that works for you. Wash the pots and pans and other items as you cook.  It makes clean-up so much easier after the meal.

5. Influencers on social media are people who've built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new because of that 'influence'? If there's one you particularly enjoy tell us who they are and why you enjoy them. There are many well-known Christian speakers and authors that I follow and enjoy.  I also follow some crocheters that I really enjoy.  Bagoday Crochet is a favorite crocheter. She has over 1,000 free tutorials on YouTube. She’s so easy to understand and follow. She has taught me a lot about yarn. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Thanks for visiting and you can get to the Hodgepodge link-up by using the button at the top of the page.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Books

Books

Click on "Books" above to link up.

From Annie,  "Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  We ask 4 questions each week to get you talking, thinking, questioning and seeing how your friends feel about things too.   It helps us get to know other bloggers."

Let's think about books and reading this week.

1.Do you have a favorite place to read? Maybe you can post a photo of it or describe it for us?  Probably the recliner in my living room.  But really anywhere that's quiet is good to me.

2.Some say reading makes a person more educated, more informed.  Do you think novels do this in any way? Do you learn things from novels?  Would you tell us what you have learned?  I feel I've learned things from some novels, yes.  I sometimes learn what other times were like, and what some other cultures are like.  I'm sure there's more, but that's about all I can think of off the top of my head.

3. Are there any books on your list to read right now?  I'm currently reading book 3 of a series and I have book 4 waiting (Until the Mountains Fall and Like Flames of the Night).  I also have a book about Bill Gaither (I Almost Missed the Sunset - My Perspectives on Life and Music) to read.

4, Which books did you like the most and which did you dislike most? If I don't enjoy a book, I seldom will finish reading it.  I figure there are so many books, why read something I don't like!

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Bits of This and That

 

Good Morning:

It's been another rather quiet weekend...my favorite kind. 

On Friday we stayed home all day.  That is something we rarely ever do.  I loved every minute of it.  Got up around 7:00am and first thing I put on a pot of potato soup and I'm having the last serving for breakfast right now.

Lucy doesn't seem to mind the snow at all.  She loves to go and check it all out multiple times a day.  However, I won't let her stay out to long as I'm afraid it will hurt her paws.

The birds don't seem to mind the cold or snow either

The trees in the back yard were full of birds

Saturday we went out in the afternoon and got some lunch and ran some errands and spent the rest of the day at home.  Sunday we went to church and had some really good services with lunch in the afternoon from Cracker Barrel and a nap.  After evening service we watched some TV and I crocheted some, still working on the project for the kids at my sister's church.  

Here's Sunday's pre-recorded sermon.  It's #3 in the "Outrageous Grace" Jonah's series.   

See, I told you it was a quiet weekend.  So, what did you do this weekend?

Cathy

Friday Photos

 Good Morning:

I haven't taken very many photos this week.  I'm trying to remember to take more, but usually, I don't think about it or I'm driving, or I don't have my phone with me.  But one of these days I'll get better about taking photos (or not).  lol

It's been a good week.  We had lunch with hubby's mom yesterday and on Wednesday I had the crochet group.  Hubby worked 2 1/2 days this week at church and I was there with him too.  As I said in another post, I did get my Christmas things put away and I'm glad.  However, I have not brought back out the things I have out the rest of the year.  I think I may leave it plain for a few more days and then when I do put it out, only put the things I really love.  Hope this will help me do a little more purging.  If I don't love it, I'm going to try to make myself get rid of it...we'll see how that goes.  Here is one thing I don't plan to get rid of.  My sister had this cat sitting by the door of her room.  Now I have it sitting by the door of our guest room/craft room.  I think it's so cute.

Karen's cat

I was visiting Memphis Bridges this morning and she talked about and showed some pictures of food she had made this week.  So, I stopped reading for a bit and started a pot of potato soup.  I can't wait to have this later today.

Yum!

We woke up to maybe an inch of snow,  I'm hoping we will stay home and not have to get out in it today.  Time will tell.  I leaned out the front door and grabbed this photo.

It wasn't totally light out yet, but I still think it's pretty.

So that's about all the pictures I've taken this week that I haven't already shown here.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a good day.

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 

Good morning!

It's time for me to give thanks to the Lord this morning.  Here are a few things I'm thankful for right now:

*  I had a really good night's sleep last night and woke up just before 7:00 this morning and I'm feeling good.

*  I just finished some breakfast and it wasn't particularly healthy, but it was good.

*  We had a good Bible study at church last night.  There weren't very many of us there, but I love it when someone asks a question and gets me to thinking about things I've never thought about before.

*  My new devotional was delivered last night and I will be starting it today.  I'm looking forward to seeing if I'm going to like it.  

*  I so enjoyed our crochet group get-together yesterday.  We really need to get a name for our group cause I never know what to call it when I tell someone about it.  lol  Anyway, we had such a good time talking and crocheting.  We started a little project yesterday to help out 2 of the ladies that (along with another of their friends)  are going to try to teach a group of young girls how to crochet at their church.  The lady running the group has not done much crocheting and asked them to do this.  They are supposed to teach them to make a scarf.  So each of us are going to start a scarf and then they'll take that to the meeting and teach them just one stitch so hopefully they'll be able to crochet the rest of the scarf.  We each have to start 8 scarves.  We're only making them 8 inches wide and we're going to do the first 10 rows.  That way they don't have to learn the chain stitch and we all agree that the first row is the hardest.  All they have to learn is how to do a half double crochet and then how to turn at the end of the row and start the next row.  It still seems overwhelming to do this for 31 girls to me, but hopefully this will give them a fighting chance.  Anyway, I'm sure the girls will have a lot of fun.  These ladies are just a joy to be with.

*  Lucy is eating so much better and I can tell she has gained some of her weight back that she lost.  I'm so thankful for her.  She is a joy and an aggravation to be around.  Guess what?  So am I.  I love this little puppy!

That's my list for today.  What are you thankful for?

I'm linking up with Jennifer for this post today.  You can link up here with your Thankful post if you'd like.  

Thanks for the visit today.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Click here for link-up

 

1. On January 18th we commemorate A.A. Milne's birthday. Milne is the author of the beloved classic Winnie the Pooh. In many ways Pooh represents innocence and simplicity. His optimism reminds us to appreciate the little things. What are three little things you're appreciating in mid-January? 

Good Health, 

Warm Home, 

Loving Husband

2. Piglet teaches us even the smallest of individuals can achieve big things with the proper amount of determination. How do your current responsibilities make you feel? Mostly I feel that I'm keeping up fairly well.  Currently, I don't feel overwhelmed.

3. Tigger is known for his enthusiasm and energy, his boundless joy and love of life. What's something you're interested in learning more about in this new year? Jesus.  I started yesterday working on the spring Bible Study at our church.  At this point, plans are to do the Kristi McLelland study called "Jesus & Women".  Plus yesterday I ordered a new Devotional by Lisa Harper called "Jesus: A Scandalously Devoted, Conspicuously Uncool, Super-Transparent Homage to Who Our Savior Is and How Much He Loves Us".  Typically I do not do a devotional, but I just couldn't pass this one up.

4. Eeyore, while a melancholy character, teaches us the importance of resilience and perseverance. How do you stay motivated and persevere in difficult circumstances? A lot of prayer!

5. What's the last thing you ate that was made with honey? I had a biscuit with some honey on it with my lunch on Sunday...it was delicious!

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

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

Cathy

Bits of This and That

 

Good Monday Morning:

I hope it's warm where you are, because it sure is not warm here.  It's just 5 degrees outside right now.  5 degrees!!  That's crazy!  Well, actually it really isn't...that's normal here in Ohio for this time of year.  But also, like normal, I really hope it doesn't stay like this for too many days.  Anyway, it's fairly warm here inside my little office at the church. Now, I just turned on my little ceramic heater and it'll be even warmer in here in just a few minutes.  I love time being here alone in my office and knowing that Tracy is just on the other side of the sanctuary in his office.

We picked up some breakfast on the way in and I enjoyed my eggs and sausage and listening to the 15th chapter of John being read by Annie F Downs and the podcast called "Let's Read the Gospels".  And now, I'm writing this post.  So here's a bit about my weekend.

I took down all the decorations and boxed most of them up.  On Saturday after getting some lunch I ran into the grocery and picked up a couple of gift cards and checked out their Christmas aisle and they had some really nice bins on sale for $6.99 and I bought 3, as I needed some to finish packing up the Christmas stuff.  They were not super big, which makes it so much easier for me to handle.  I have 3 big boxes of Christmas stuff ready to donate.  I was pretty ruthless as I went through them when decorating.  I got rid of things we no longer use and even though there are great memories connected to this stuff, it's time for me to get rid of them.  And guess what, I still have the memories.  I'll be contacting the Vietnam Vets of America today to set up a time to get this stuff.  

On Sunday we had a great morning service, but hubby cancelled the evening service because we didn't want people out in the bitter cold after dark.  We picked up some chicken at KFC and came home and ate lunch and then took a nap.  After that, I went to the garage and swept and moved some things around and then carried out all the Christmas boxes and now that is finished and ready for next year.  After that, we watched some TV and I napped through a couple of the shows.

Here's the pre-recorded Sunday morning sermon.  This is the 2nd sermon in the series, "Outrageous Grace" which is about Jonah.  I've really been enjoying what I've been learning.

 

So this is bits and pieces of my weekend.  How was yours?

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What's a change you'd like or need to make this year? I've mentioned it before, but definitely I need to eat healthier and exercise more.  

2. Break the ice, on thin ice, ice skating, tip of the iceberg, ice cold...which icy idiom applies to your life right now? Explain. Really not any of them, but let's go with ice cold.  I love to drink my water ice cold and I need to drink more water every day.  I drink more water than I ever have on most days, but there are still too many days that I don't drink enough.  Also, it's supposed to get ice cold next week...like one day they're saying -2 for the low...yuck!

3. What's a project you've been putting off? Will you get to it this month? This year? A purge of stuff from our home.  I've been in the process for awhile, but I hope to get a lot farther along in the process.  I've been sorting and giving away and throwing away, but it's taking longer than I thought.  Who knew, we had this much stuff.  lol 

4. Of the fruits that grow well in winter which ones have you tried? Which is your favorite? pomegranates, clementines, persimmons, passion fruit, pears, grapefruit, lemons, pomelos, kumquats  Clementines, Persimmons, Pears, Grapefruit, Lemons.  My favorite of those is the Clementines.

5. What do you think it means to be courageous? Courage is when you are afraid to do something you do it anyway.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I was listening to an interview yesterday with Joni Eareckson Tada and she mentioned this quote.  It's really stuck with me.  

One example of this is when Christ was crucified for our salvation.  We know God didn't love what happened to Jesus, the beatings, the betrayals, the Cross, but through that He made the only way for us to be re-united with Himself, which He loves. I'm so thankful for that.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." --John 3:16 NKJV

Cathy

The Faith of a Child

My youngest daughter called me yesterday and shared this story.  She's been fighting some kind of infection or something in her eye for multiple weeks.  She's been to the doctor and tried different things and it would start doing better and then come back again.  Her eye would be red and swollen.  Nothing was completely getting rid of it.  She said last week it was getting better and then on Sunday it started back up again.  

That night she asked Colton if he'd like to pray for her eye.  He said yes, so they held hands and his prayer was something like this...God, please heal my mom's eye so she doesn't pass her disease on to others. I guess they both laughed at that, but then he said seriously God would you make my mom's eye better so she could feel better.  

Kerri then told me she woke up Monday morning and her eye was all clear and the swelling gone.  She says it is better than it's been this whole time she's been fighting this.  God is so good and it's wonderful how he hears a child's prayer.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.   And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.  Matthew 18:1-5 NIV

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Bits of This and That

 

Happy Monday:

We had a nice weekend.  Mostly it's been quiet, with a few fun things interspersed throughout.

On Friday, I met two of my cousins at a concert in nearby Middletown.  The Methodist Church there has free concerts by various artists on the first Friday of every month. This one was Jimmy Rogers who is a pianist and singer of honky tonk and blues.  His piano playing was awesome and he had a nice voice too.  After that we went to lunch at Cracker Barrel and just had a fun time talking and being together. After that, I met hubby at church and finished up some things there.  Then we came home that evening and watched some TV (getting back into some of the shows we've been binging in the past year).  I also finished the blanket I was making for Lucy.

Look at all those plugs (most will be going away soon when I take down the Christmas stuff) 
We're not quite ready to turn off the lights.  lol

I think it's safe to say, she likes the blanket.  A couple times when I was still working on it
 and had laid it aside to do something else, I caught her laying on it.

On Saturday, we woke up to some snow, which was pretty much all gone by evening. But Lucy and I went out and took about 20 minute walk in spite of the snow.  Enjoyed every minute of it too.

That afternoon, we grabbed a bite from Freddy's and then spent the rest of the day at home doing laundry, reading and watching TV.  Oh and I also made a pot of potato soup and I've been enjoying that the last couple days.

Sunday we had 2 great services and we had Skyline Chili for lunch and took a nap in the afternoon because neither one of us slept well Saturday night.  I'll post the pre-recorded sermon below.  He started a new series called "Outrageous Grace - Travelling with Jonah".

I received a picture from my daughter of Colton on his first ride on the monorail at Disney World.

I think he likes it!

I finished my 2nd book (this is the first book in the second series I mentioned in my last post) of the year this morning and I have the next downloaded from Libby and onto my Kindle ready for me to start this evening,

So that's pretty much my weekend.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Currently - January 2024

 

Linkup is here

The link started on Wednesday, so as usual, I am running late.  We're sharing what we're currently loving, looking forward to, resolving, doing to stay cozy this month, and cooking.

* Loving - I'm loving the book series I'm reading.  It's actually a continuation of the series I just finished.  Both series are by Connilyn Cossette.  The first series is "Out of Egypt" and the second is "Cities of Refuge.  I really have been enjoying them so much.  

  

This is the first series and below is the other series and I'm currently reading the first one.  In checking Amazon, she also has other series out, so I'm sure I'll be reading more from her this year.

   

* Looking forward to - Meeting up with some cousins for a concert and then to lunch afterwards today.  We did a couple of these last year.  Hope I enjoy this one like I did the ones we went to last year.

* Resolving - I typically do not make New Year's resolutions, and I didn't this year either.  However, I have decided that I'm going to make some changes in some of my eating habits and try to get back to walking 30 minutes most every day.  I just want to be more healthy and hopefully get off some of the medication I'm on.  Having that test last week, has kind of been a wake-up call for me.

* Doing to stay cozy this month - I love wrapping up in a blanket and relaxing in the afternoon reading a good book and/or in the evening watching TV with hubby.

* Cooking - Tonight we made a pretty good supper.  We baked pork chops and made a pot of cooked cabbage and had some applesauce.  It was actually pretty good.  It will be one that we'll do again, I'm sure.  I've also made my favorite potato soup a week or so ago and plan to make it again this weekend.

That's it for me.

Cathy