Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What is one cliche you think is nonsense? Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never.  I remember this from my childhood.  But I've learned words can hurt very much and maybe sometimes even worse than broken bones. What's one you think holds truth? Laughter is the best medicine.

2. What's the last thing you broke and how did it happen? Can't think of anything right at the moment.

3. Are you a fan of s'mores? Not really.  I like the components, but I think they are just too messy to eat.  Have you had a s'more this summer? No Last thing you ate that you wanted to ask for 's'more of'? Chicken and Dumplings from Cracker Barrel    

4. A mode of transportation you've never tried? A Taxi Cab  Will you someday? I don't know.

5. Believe it or not, next week's Hodgepodge lands in a brand new month. What's your happiest memory from the month we're bidding adieu? Our Birthdays  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Thanks for visiting.  Here's the link if you'd like to join in the Hodgepodge fun.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Dark Academia

 

Dark Academia...

 All words in black are from Annie who Hosts Tuesday4.  You can link up here.  All words in blue are mine.

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  Toni loved to have people open their minds and think about things .. think into things.  Let's try that this week okay?      

 A popular trend in home décor and mood background music is called  *Dark Academia and it is based on novels set on old university campuses that have secrets, love affairs, mystery and the scenes and mood these novels evoke.    Velvet sofas, old books, Victorian wallpaper, deep high back chairs, antique photos and paintings,  candles, romantic lighting and classical music are all part of it.

1. Does this picture evoke any feelings in you? If so share what they are please. What is the mood it sets for you? Honestly, the first thing I thought of is Harry Potter.  I know, I'm weird.

2. Put yourself into this scene.  Where are you going? Just out walking and exploring this neighborhood.

3. Do you have a companion or are you going to meet someone? Who is it? I seldom travel alone, so I'd probably have my hubby walking along with me.

4. Using your imagination describe who and what you find inside the foreground building.  Is it a restaurant, library, academic building, a home?    It's a small used bookstore, with a bookstore cat and dog who love to be petted and held by the visitors.   There is lots of comfortable seating so hubby and I intend to spend some time relaxing and browsing with maybe some hot chocolate to sip on.                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Dark Academia is a style steeped in the romanticism of literary nostalgia and the academic aesthetic of classical architecture and arts. Originating in the hall of Ivy-covered universities, this style speaks to those who yearn for an era of structured elegance and intellectual pursuit.

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

Cathy

Bits of This and That

 

Good Morning:

It's a beautiful Monday morning.  I took a short walk with Lucy while it was still in the 60's.  Planning to finish up that time I need to close the ring on my Apple Watch before the day is over. I may walk up and down the aisles here at church to get my last 10 minutes or so in.  It'll be a lot cooler in here as opposed to the 90 some degrees it's supposed to get today.  I'm pretty proud of myself that I walked at least 30 minutes all 7 days last week and want to continue that trend this week.

Beautiful sunset skies

It appears he has outgrown the kids' meals and is now moved onto to
 a Big Mac.  I sure do love this boy more that I can even say.

Early morning sky.  If you look close you can see the moon is still out.

We spent a lot of time at home this weekend.  I read an entire book by Linda Ford on Friday and then started another by her, which I'm still working on.  

I've been struggling with the pink blanket I've been working on (crochet).  I started it out too big and I wasn't sure I was going to have enough yarn.  So when I laid it out to measure and see what I thought, I saw that for some reason it was getting wider as I went and about 5-6 rows back I noticed an error I had made.  So I decided right then and there to start completely over.  Now mind you, I had probably used 5-6 skeins of yarn already.  But I did it anyway and I think I'm much happier for it.  I still will have to frog what I've already done because I'm going to need that yarn.  But it's worth it.  If I'm going to make something, I want to be happy with it.  I'm not saying it has to be perfect, but it needs to make me happy and proud to give it to someone.  For those of you who crochet or knit, have you ever frogged a project that you've already spent hours working on?  Was it worth it?

Hubby preached a really good sermon on Sunday morning.  He's been doing a series on the names of God.  Sunday's was Jehovah Adonai.  The pre-recorded sermon is below.

Sunday was also hubby's birthday.  We had a very quiet day (which is what he wanted).  We are taking the week off next week and we plan to celebrate both of our birthdays sometime that week.  I love this man with all my heart and am so blessed to call him mine.  God has been good to us both.

So how was your weekend?

Cathy

Linking up with Hello Monday, Holly and Sarah

Friday Photos

Good morning:

It's Friday and I'll share a couple of pictures from this week.

This bird was sitting on the wire watching us load up into the van.

I love adding books and sometimes even grabbing a
book to read from these Little Libraries.

Colton got a really good reading score earlier this week.  He tested out at the
beginning 4th grade reader level and he is just beginning 2nd grade. 
That made this gigi's heart very happy.

Hubby picked Cheddars for lunch and it was delicious, but neither one of us 
could finish our meals. So Miss Lucy got a small taste and there is still
more in the fridge.

We took a drive through the country yesterday and stopped at Jackson's Farm
Market.  Can't wait to try this queso.

That's about all I've got for this week.  I hope you've had a good week.  Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

 Good morning.  It's another beautiful day that God has given us and I want to give Him thanks:

*For Lucy who woke me up this morning to take her out.  So I cleaned up enough to go take a walk around the neighborhood.  I love when I can talk myself into getting my exercise done first thing.  Things I'm thankful for during my walk:

            *The beautiful sunshine and wonderful temperatures which were around 50 this morning.

            *Listening to the birds singing and seeing the squirrels running around and waving and saying hi to people that are heading out to work for the day.

            *Talking to God about things as they come to mind.

*Coming in when we were done walking and finding out hubby had made some plans for us for the day as we are not going to the church.

*He's also researching some documentaries for us to watch.  We both enjoy a good documentary.

*Blessings He gives us every day.

            *Health - even though not perfect, we are good.

            *Air to breath

            *A husband who loves me just as I am.

            *A dog who loves me just as I am.

            *Food to eat.

            *And many more blessings each day.

*And I am most thankful for my God who loves me just as I am, but is also helping me to grow and learn to be more like Jesus. I've got a long way to go, but I believe I am farther along in the process than I was a year ago.

Thank you friends, for visiting and I hope each of you take a moment to give thanks to God today too.  

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What's the last thing you completely overreacted to?  I can't really think of a thing right now. 

2. Your top five snacks? Ice cream, cake, cookies, chips, fruit.  Now, just because I listed them as the top 5, doesn't mean I can eat them very often. They are definitely not good for me.  Well, the fruit is okay, but even that must be done in moderation.  I do love to have a snack of apples and peanut butter, and we have found some pretty good lower carb ice cream stuff.  That definitely helps.

3. What smell always brings back some type of memory? I'm sure I've told this before, but Fruit Loops, remind me of my grandparents.  Because the first time I ever had Fruit Loops was at their home in Florida.  Elaborate. Unfortunately, I lost my since of smell about 3-4 years ago.  So, if I choose to eat them, I can no longer smell them.  But I still have the memories.

4. What's something you learned from the last book you read? The last book I read was a Christian romance book and I'm not sure I learned anything from it.  But I sure did enjoy it.

5. What's the next thing on your to-buy list? Groceries.  Will you make that purchase before the end of the year? Well, I certainly hope so.  lol  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

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

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - More About You...

 

More About You...

 

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4..

 Let's jump right into the questions for this week....  Click on "More About You..." for the link and also the questions for today.

1. What are you best known for in your family or among friends?  Probably that I talk a lot and laugh a lot and try to always find the silver lining in most all situations.

2. Were you popular in school? No, not popular, but I had plenty of friends.  I think we moved too often to ever be popular. I went to 3 elementaries, 1 junior high and 2 high schools.

3. Would you rather take a drive in the country or shop in town on a day off? Depends on the weather and who I'm with.  I like doing both.

4. Are you a member of any societies, clubs or associations or were you at any time?  Did you enjoy them? No, I'm not a member of anything.  However, I have a church family, a crochet group, and a Bible Study Group and blogging friends, too.  And I enjoy all of these groups.

Lucy and I went for another walk this morning, a little longer and a little farther.  Today, it was only 54 degrees when we went and it's 10:30 now and it's still only 63.  I actually wore a hoodie this morning even. Kind of crazy in August, even for Ohio.  lol

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Bits of This and That - Hello Monday

It's Monday morning and it's going to be a good day.  Every day is a good day when I wake up on this side of the dirt.  Hope you are going to have a good day too.  My plans for today have already changed.  When I got up this morning, I did not plan on taking a walk, well at least not more than was necessary to get Lucy to take care of business.  Then when she wouldn't go in the yard, I ended up putting on some clothes (I just can't walk the neighborhood in my pj's.) and we took off for a walk.  Actually, I'm glad we did it.  It was so nice out, only 64 degrees and sunny and we both enjoyed it.  

Hubby and I then got cleaned up and picked up some breakfast at Burger King and now we're at the church.  We stopped at one of the Little Library's in town and dropped off a few books I had in the car.  They had some really good books in there too, but I didn't take any this time, as I've recently downloaded several to my Kindle and that's what I'm currently reading.  

My plans today are to finish this post, check in with some friends' blogs, and do some Bible study prepping for our upcoming Fall Study.  I'm also hoping to practice the piano some and then maybe watch a documentary series that I started over the weekend and do some crochet.  Time will tell if I get to all that or not.

Hubby and I had a very quiet weekend.  I finished a book and started another.  Did some normal housework and went to lunch on Saturday with his mom.  We had 2 good services on Sunday and I'll post the pre-recorded sermon below. 

I'm also linking up with Holly & Sarah for Hello Monday.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a really great week.

Cathy

 

Saturday 9

 

Link here.

I Get Around

From Sam: "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: I Get Around (1964)

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

1) 60 years ago this month, the Beach Boys were singing that having a cool car and helped them get girls. In your teen years, what did you drive? I got my driver's license when I was 17 and at that time if I drove at all, it was the family car which was a light yellow Buick LeSabre.  I think I was probably 18-19 when I bought my first car and it was a maroon 1967 Ford Fairlane with a hole in the floorboard. lol

2) They are searching for a new place to party. This weekend, will you be visiting any bars, theaters or restaurants? We're going to lunch at Fazoli's today.

3) When Brian Wilson was forming the group, he turned to his friend Al Jardine, his brothers Dennis and Carl, and his cousin, Mike Love. Though most of their songs were about cars, beaches and surf, only one of those founding members was a surfer: Dennis. Do you enjoy the beach? Are you good on a surfboard? I enjoy the beach.  I do not surf, however I used to body surf.  Now, I just like to walk on the beach and look for sharks' teeth and shells.

4) They were originally from Hawthorne, California. Hawthorne was the early childhood home of Marilyn Monroe. Since Marilyn was one of the most iconic women of the 20th century, we know you recognize her image. Have you seen any of her movies? I have seen some, but it's been a long time.

5) "I Get Around" is included in Endless Summer, the greatest hits compilation released in 1974. Influential music critic Robert Christgau said Endless Summer should be part of any basic record library. What's one of your favorite CDs? I don't know what would be a favorite CD, but my favorite music is southern gospel. Always has been and I suppose always will be.

Let's look at the summer of 1964.

6) The #1 film of the summer of 1964 was Walt Disney's Mary Poppins. Have you seen it? Yes, I have seen it and also I've read several of P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins books.

7) President Lyndon Johnson accepted the Democratic party's nomination at the August 1964 convention in Atlantic City, NJ. Atlantic City is known for casinos and gambling. Do you often play the lottery, bingo, or any other game of chance? No, I don't. 

8) Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was still a baby in the summer of 1964. What was in your most recent Amazon delivery? My dog mom hat.

9) Another little one born in '64 is Mariska Hargitay. The star of Law & Order: SVU is the daughter of a well-known movie star. Without looking it up, do you know who her mother was? No, I do not know (until I read Terri's answers)

Cathy

Friday Photos

Good morning!

Tracy and I just came from our chiropractor appointments and are now at the church.  He is recording the sermon for Sunday morning to post on FB and YouTube and I'm here in my little office writing this blog post.  Lots of pictures.

My friend, Traci and I met at Frisch's on Tuesday night. We used to
work together for probably around15 years at the local police department.
We had so much fun catching up.  A group of us try to get together every
 now and then, but this time, it was just she and I who showed up

  

Loving my new ball hat I got on Amazon.  So many times Lucy and I take a walk in the morning before I get cleaned up and have my hair done for the day.  So I thought this would be the perfect thing for me to wear.

Pretty skies yesterday as we were driving north to Plain City

Here is the Amish Style restaurant where we had lunch.  Food is always 
delicious and it did not disappoint this time either.  I also, picked up 1 donut 
for each of us to take home and eat later.  Sorry, no food pictures, but
everything including the donuts were very good.

After lunch, we went to Yutzy's Farm Market.  I got some yellow tomatoes and some strawberry jam and Amish noodles.  The tomatoes are very good (I had a cheese and tomato sandwich for supper last night).  I haven't tried the strawberry jam or the noodles yet, but I'm sure they will be good too.

We drove through London on the way home and I noticed this 
memorial, so we stopped and took a couple of pictures.

This church was also in London.  It was so pretty so I grabbed a
picture on my way back to the car from the Memorial site.

I also saw this on the way up and stopped on the way back home
to grab a couple of pictures of this historic log house below.  This is
near Cedarville, OH

That's about it for our day.  We both enjoyed the trip very much.  I hope you did too.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

 

Thankful Thursday

 

I'm writing this on Wednesday evening.  I'm thankful that hubby and I are planning to take a drive tomorrow to Plain City, OH.  First of all, I love having a day together to do something we both enjoy.  I'm so looking forward to being together for the driving and we'll be driving through many farm fields and small towns.  I hoping to get some pictures too.  Our plan is to eat at an Amish style restaurant...food is awesome. Then they have some shops and a bakery connected to them.  I'm sure I'll take a run through and see if there is anything I need (lol).  After that, I'm hoping to stop at a farmer's market close by and then we may stop at Young's Dairy Farm (they have some cute goats that are always fun to watch and photograph) and we might even get an ice cream.  They have some of the best ice cream.  After that I'm sure we'll mosey the rest of the way home.

We'll see if all this really happens.  But whether or not it does, I'm thankful to be spending the day with my hubby.  

I hope you all have a great day!

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Click above to link up

1.What was the best (or one of the best) summers of your life? Tell us why. I don't remember any certain summer as being the best of my life.  I enjoyed summer more when I was younger maybe.  But actually I love all the seasons and am just happy for each day of life, no matter the season.

2. When you have a trip coming up do you make a list and check it twice to ensure you don't forget anything? My husband makes the lists (one for each of us) for our trips, but we both follow them.  Or are you a 'throw whatever you can think of into the suitcase at the last minute' kind of packer? I'm more the last minute girl, but I make sure I check off everything on hubby's lists before we leave. When returning from a trip do you unpack immediately or leave the suitcase right where it lands? It all depends on how tired I am when we arrive home.

3. What's your favorite food or beverage made with lemons? Is that a flavor you enjoy? My favorite would probably be strawberry lemonade. I'm not sure there's much of anything else I use lemon in.

4. When was the last time you had to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking I mean? I can't think of a thing right now.

5. Did you like school growing up? Yes, mostly. Why or why not? I always enjoyed being with my friends. I especially liked grade school and junior high.  I wasn't quite as thrilled with high school, but it was okay.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I stopped by my sisters house a couple of times and played with this
handsome guy. He misses his dad and mom when they are not home.
By the way, my brother-in-law came home yesterday.  He's doing well,
but he is facing some more procedures in the future.  I so appreciate
everyone's prayers.

While I was there, I "stole" some tomatoes from their graden.

I also walked to the back of her property and caught these cows trying to stay in the shade.

I think someone was not very happy with me for not letting
 him go with me, but that part of their land is not all fenced in, 
I made it up to him by playing ball with him for a few minutes.  lol

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

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - A Little Tea Party

 

A Little Tea Party

From Annie: "Welcome back to another of Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

For my southern friends.. I pray the weather lightens up on you all.  I know it's been a very rough summer heat wise.  Let's pray together for a solution.

This week could we talk about your personal thoughts?"  

1. Do you find yourself day dreaming about your situation and things you would love to do if only...? Sure I do sometimes, doesn't everyone.

2. If you are having tea/coffee, a little break in the day does your mind wander off to other thoughts and meditations. Yes

3. Do you find yourself meditating or revisiting in your mind a scripture, verse from a book you've read and it's impact on you?  I've never really thought of it as meditation, but I do love it when scripture pops into my mind and I have time while relaxing to think about it.  However, I must be honest and say that I believe that my mind has ADD and I find myself getting distracted pretty easily.

4.  Do you find yourself sometimes replaying conversations with others?  Yes, but I try not to stay there very long, especially if they have upset me and I want the chance to defend myself.  I'm learning, it's better not to keep going over and over, but instead give it to God and let him defend me, if needed,  Are there books or movies that stay vivid in your mind? As I said above, I think I have a little ADD and I can read a book and absolutely love it and then a year later, read it again and realize I've forgotten a large part of it.  

Thanks for the questions again this week, Annie.

Have a great day!

Cathy

Bits of This and That - Hello Monday

 

It's Monday and I'm linking up with Holly & Sarah for Hello Monday. 

On Friday, hubby and I went out to lunch and I ran into Walmart to get a few things and then we stayed home the rest of the day.

Saturday we grabbed some Chinese food at a new to us restaurant and took it home with plans to be at home the rest of the day.  I was scrolling FB Saturday afternoon and found out that our town's Ladies Night Out was from 4p-9p that day.  I called my sister and we went down and had so much fun.  We'd never been there for Ladies Night Out.  I think they have it several different times during the year.  Most of the downtown shops are open and then they have some food samples and drinks in the some of the storms.  You get a card and if you go to 15 places and get your card stamped, you are entered into a chance to win a really nice gift.  Of course, we had to do that.  We bought a couple things, but mostly just walked and looked and just had a great time being together.  We ended up staying a lot longer than we anticipated.  Here are a couple photos I took.

This is inside the Golden Lamb which
is the oldest continually opened inn in Ohio.

This photo and the next couple photos were
from the Golden Lamb Gift Shop.  My sister
 has this nativity set and she bought a
couple of these pieces to add to her nativity.

 

These flowers were in a window box outside a store (see below).  If you look really closely had the purple flowers some of those little flecks on them, are stars.  So beautiful!

This is the book store Kelli and I visited when she was in town. And below is their resident cat.

Bookstore cat

Of course, Sunday we had church and a nap in the afternoon between services. The pre-recorded sermon is below.

  

Then that evening I got a call from my sister that she had her husband at the local emergency room and they said he had a heart attack and they were taking him to their hospital and straight into the cath lab to have a procedure done.  She called to see if I would go with her as she didn't want to drive by herself.  It's about a 30 minute drive.  So I met her at the ER and went with her.  He came through the procedure and was resting comfortably when we left around 1:00am.  I don't have an update yet, but she's at the hospital and will let me know when she finds out more about what's going on.  I'm heading out in a minute to go let her dog out for a bit.  If you pray, I know he would appreciate you praying for him.

So, that is my weekend.  How was yours?

Cathy