Tuesday 4 - The Windy Month

 

The Windy Month

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we try to have fun answering questions about various subjects.

March, they say, comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.  It is called the windy month like Chicago is called the windy city!

1.  Has March come in like a lion or a lamb in your neck of the woods? It's been a mix, I guess.  We've had several days with some pretty strong winds, but we've been blessed not to have any damage.  We've also had some strong rain and some beautiful warm, sunny days.  I'm trying to enjoy them all.

2. There have been some awful storms of late.. have you suffered through them or have you ever suffered through a very bad storm in your life? (if so we wish you well) I guess we all have had some bad storms in life.  But I know the Master of the storms of life and He goes every step with me.

3. Spring begins March 20th and ends with summer on June 20th this year.  Any plans for Spring in general? How about the spring holidays? No real plans for the holidays yet.  We do start our Ladies' Spring Bible Study tonight.  It's about Heaven and I'm so looking forward to it.

4.  What are your favorite springtime flowers?  Lilacs  Trees or shrubs? Most any blooming tree or shrubs.

Actually they aren't blooming yet. 
This photo is from a previous year.

How about a song with a springtime theme to it that you enjoy?  This song is not about spring necessarily, but it goes along with my answer to #2.

The Master of the Wind

My boat of life sails on a troubled sea

Whenever there's a wind in my sails

But I have a friend who watches over me

When the breeze turns into a gale

I know the Master of the wind

I know the Maker of the rain

He can calm a storm,

Make the sun shine again

I know the Master of the wind

Sometimes I soar

Like an eagle through the sky

Among the peaks my soul can be found

But an unexpected storm

May drive me from the heights

It may bring me low,

But cannot bring me down

I know the Master of the wind

I know the Maker of the rain

He can calm the storm,

Make the sun shine again

I know the Master of the wind

He can calm the storm,

Make the sun shine again

I know the Master of the wind

Let Jesus calm the storm

Make the sun shine again

He is the Master of the wind

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.  Thanks Annie for some great questions again.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Dream.. Dream.. Dream

 

Dream.. Dream.. Dream

 Words in black are Annie's and words in blue are mine. Link up is here.

Welcome to Toni's Tuesday 4 friends!  

It's up early due to a busy weekend.

Dream, when you're feeling blue
Dream, that's the thing to do
Just watch the smoke rings rise in the air
You'll find your share of memories there

So dream, when the day is through
Dream, and they might come true
Things never are as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream
                           ........by Johnny Mercer

1. As evenings are long, temperatures drop and we have more time to dream and ponder, are you pondering or dreaming of anything right now? No, not really.  Just enjoying life as it is.  Not perfect, but good.

2.  Day dreaming , singing, humming even, can lift your mood and change the entire state of your health.   Do you daydream or sing during the day ? Now that you know it can improve health will you try it? I don't daydream much, but sometimes I sing.  

3. Fess  up friends!   When you window gaze is it because you are nosy or because it's just so lovely outside?  We will still love you no matter what the answer. Both!

4.Daydreams can become reality if they stir us to action.    Were there any times in your life when dreams came true?  Marrying my husband and raising our girls was my best dream come true!

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Weathering the Storm

 

Weathering the Storm...

This color words are from Annie.  This color words are from me.  Click here for link-up with Annie.

Weathering the Storm

 Hello .. This is Toni's Tuesday  4 where we strive to get you thinking and blogging and connecting with others.

 The saying used to be on my blog as a description: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

This was important to me when my spine went south on me.  I was born disabled  and became a dancer.  Now I am disabled again. Que sera, sera, whatever will be will be.   But we keep on going. and turn the lemons to lemonade...or we should I think.

Let's talk about it because we have all been there, done that.

1. What/who is your rock through the storms of life? God, My heavenly Father, Jesus My Savior.  My husband would be my earthly rock.

What beliefs do you have to stand on?  The Bible.  I believe it is the true Word of God.

2.  Do you take precautions for bad storms? Yes, when needed.  What precautions do you take?  If it's a tornado, we wait for the actual warning and then head into our laundry room (we live on a slab, so we have no basement to go to) and bring in chairs and our phones and iPad to be able to keep up on what's going on.  We also bring Lucy in with us.  We try to make sure we have flashlights available.  For snow storms, we stay inside and pray we don't loose power.  We have lots of blankets and we almost always have plenty of non-perishable items in our home.

In fact, here's us during a tornado warning sitting in the
laundry room  Do you see the water heater and water
softener behind us.  It's kind of a small area, but it works.

3. The Sheep are caroling in the snow... do you sing during the tough times?   Yes, sometimes.  Hubby and I have been known to start singing thankful praise songs when we are in a stressful time.  What things, what activities pull you through?  Reading Psalms, praying together, reading, watching TV together or pretty much doing anything together.

4. Whatever we do, we should be there for others in the difficult times.

What advice can you give to those who are going through a difficult time now?  If they want advice, I'm willing to try to help.  But the only thing I can really tell them is to seek God and spend time with Him.  I'm not sure how people who don't know Jesus make it through the many trials we all have in life.

I did not write a post yesterday about our weekend, because we mostly were just home.  I did laundry and picked up Olive Garden for lunch and we both had enough leftovers for our supper too.  Sunday was church and hubby preached the 3rd message from his series on the book of James.  Below is a copy of his pre-recorded message. And then on Monday we spent a lot of the first half of the day watching the Presidential Inauguration.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you are having a wonderfully blessed day.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Winter Musings

 

Winter Musings

Words in black are Annie's and Words in blue are mine.  
 Hello and welcome once again to Toni's Tuesday 4. 

It's cold in these United States.  Everyone seems to be chilly and some have blizzard conditions to contend with.

But I think winter is a time for us, as well as animals, to hibernate and takes things slow and easy.  I think many find themselves a bit more sleepy than usual and maybe we are supposed to take the time to rest... Let's talk it over okay?

1. Do you find yourself a bit more lazy or tired as the nights get longer or does it not seem to do much to you? In general how are you doing this winter?  I don't feel like the longer nights cause me much problems. I feel like I'm doing fine, although, I think I've had enough of the snow.

2. Do you appreciate the extra hours of dark that allow for more sleep, more leisure, less travel and hurry or not?  I'm fine with things as they are.  Dark or light, we still don't go to bed much before midnight.

3. I know I love a hot drink on a chilly evening and the quiet of the streets outside as people stay inside more on cold nights.  I feel more relaxed in the winter.  How about you?  I love a hot drink in the morning or the nights.  And as far as being relaxed...I think I do okay most nights relaxing.

4. Do you ever gaze out of your window like Miss Kitty in the picture just watching the world go by? How do you find yourself relaxing on a chilly evening? I've been watching out the window quite a bit lately...watching the birds at the feeder and watching the snow getting deeper and deeper.  We relax watching TV and reading some and working on my blog, like right now.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Hello January

 

Hello January

 

All in purple is from Annie and mine is black.  Welcome to the New Year friends and to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

Toni liked to talk about each new month and it's meanings. 

January was named for Janus the two faced god who looked behind and ahead.  Its the warmest month in the southern hemisphere and the coldest in the north.

Garnet is it's gem stone.  Garnets come in all colors but the rarest is the Tzavorite.   

January 7 is Eastern Orthodox Christmas because some eastern churches use the original Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar.   

January become the first month of the year in 450BC for the Roman world .

Let's talk about two faced January.

1. Looking back, what do you hope continues or does not change in your life?  I hope we stay at least as well as we are and that hubby gets a lot of improvement in his health.

Carnations & Snow Drops

 2. What good came to you from the previous year?  Well, we survived.  We still love the Lord and more importantly, He still loves us.

3.  Are there things you hope to accomplish in the new year? Yes, I would like to get some updates done on our house and I would also like to get a new vehicle, as both of ours seem to be spending more time with the mechanic than with us.

4.  January's flowers are the carnation and the snow drop. Do you sometimes buy flowers for your home? What kinds of flowers to you like best? I like morning glories.  Sometimes I'll buy some flowers for in the house.  I do have a couple of artificial flower bouquets and green plants.  I really love those, because I can't kill them.  

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

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - New Year's Eve

 

New Year's Eve

From our hostess, Annie:  "Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 and the eve of 2025.

Growing up New Years Eve was one of my favorite times of the year.   Everyone would come to our home for snacks and drinks before heading out to parties.  And I do mean nearly everyone we knew.  

All dressed up in formal clothing they would join in the fun. My father would play ragtime on the piano, our German friends played German music and everyone would dance to it.  My mother made  hors d'oeuvres on tiny bread rounds and crackers... bayberry candles burned down for luck. Guy Lombardo was on the TV in the background."  Everything in blue is from Annie and the black is from me.

                  

1.What memories of New Years Eve do you have? I remember some years dad and mom would invite friends over and there would be food and games and just a lot of fun.  I also remember fighting not to fall asleep before midnight.

2. Do you go to bed early or stay up until midnight to ring in the new year? I usually stay up.

3. Do you have special foods or customs for the New Year?  No special foods or customs.
4. Will football and New Year parades be on your agenda for New Years Day? No football, maybe some of the parade.

Whatever you do I hope you have a blessed, safe, happy and healthy New Year.

Thanks for visiting and I hope 2025 treats you kind.

Tuesday 4 - Holiday Thoughts

 

Holiday Thoughts

From Annie, "Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 which you can do any day of the week you want! No time limit.

 It's frigid across Canada and America and winter is early this year.  

There are only a few days left until Christmas...how are you spending this time?" Link is here.

1.What are you up to in preparation for the holidays?  I finished my last bit of gift shopping this morning.  Now, we'll see if they all get delivered on time.

2. What is your absolute favorite holiday movie? White Christmas

3. What are your hopes for this coming season? That I'll stay as close to Jesus as I can and that others will see Him in me.  But truly this is my hope for every day of my life.

4.  Tell us your view on the great tea/coffee/hot chocolate debate and do you want it with fruitcake or cookies?  Come on own up!! Hot Chocolate with cookies.

Thanks for visiting and tell me your answers.  I'd love to know your thoughts.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - September Musings

 September Musings

From Annie:  "September is back to school month and even if you are an adult now, you can usually still recall the back to school days. It was a new beginning.. sometimes scary, sometimes joyous. New experiences were awaiting you.

How about now? September is still a new beginning to the year. What will it hold for you?"

1. As summer's heat fades do you get out and about in nature often?  As it gets cooler it's easier to be more consistent with my walking and if I miss it in the morning, I'm able to do it later in the day.  In the heat of summer, not so much.  Where do you go, what do you do?  Walk our neighborhood and sometimes even sit on the porch and relax.  What would you like to do? Honestly, I think I do what I want already.  I'm really not a big outdoors person. 

2. What has changed in your life that you miss/regret the most?  I miss my family members who have died.  There used to be seven of us and now there are only 3 left.

3. Money is no object, nothing stands in your way.. are you going to move or stay where you are?  Most likely stay where we are.

4. How can you improve your life?  Just walk closer each day to the Lord.  I'm very happy with my life.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Autumn Reading

 

Autumn Reading

 Happy September friends and welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. 

The Autumnal Equinox is September 21 and it is the actual beginning of Autumn. Many, however, consider Labor Day as the unofficial opening of the Autumn season of the "Ber" Month

1. What's on your reading list for September?  I usually don't keep a list, but just choose the next book when I'm ready for it.

2. Does your favorite reading nook look anything like the one in the picture or do you wish it did? I read just anywhere I am.  In the car, in my recliner, wherever.  But I do love the looks of the above and would be happy to sit there on a cold winter day and read.

3. Can you name some books you've read many times? Little Women, Gone With the Wind, books by Lori Wick  Do you recommend them? Yes

4.   Which of the classics have you read?  Good Reads offer a list of classics they recommend here. I've read very few on that list.  But I read Charlotte's Web, Little Women, The Bible, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and some others too.

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

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

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

Tuesday 4 - Painting with Tom Sawyer

Painting With Tom Sawyer

Norman Rockwell's Whitewashing the Fence

From Annie:  "Well, we are on the doorstep of August. How do you like that?   A lot of Tom Sawyers adventures take place in the summer like whitewashing Aunt Polly's fence.

Hannibal, Missouri has fence painting contests in July and and July 4th is National Tom Sawyer day there.  They have a parade, carnival,  fireworks, and a general good time is had by all it seems.

So here is another set of questions for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.        I hope you enjoy them."

1. What special things happen around you in summer? The Warren County Fair takes place in our town.  It just ended last week.  The amusement park, Kings Island is in our county and it's a great park. If nothing, have you ever considered organizing something? Nope.  

2. Tom hated painting. But on the subject of painting, what color is your house? Red brick with black shutters Your living room? 3 shades of Teal, from very light to pretty dark.  Your bedroom? Pale Blue Thinking of  changing anything? Yep.

3. Were your childhood summers carefree and did you have any adventures or chores like Tom did? Our chores were whatever we were told to do. We had lots of playtime and in the summer mom took us to the library and we did lots of reading.

4. Did you ever help paint a house or a fence or anything at all? Yes  How did that go? Pretty good I guess, although, I do not enjoy painting.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Tuesday 4 - Great Architecture

 

Great Architecture

 

From Annie: "Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. She would be delighted you are here to join in and so am I.

The photo to the right is the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.  It is the largest cathedral outside Europe . Not only is it beautiful inside and out but has a magnificent pipe organ   It's cornerstone was laid in 1899.

As  buildings go she is a masterpiece of great workmanship."

1. What are some beautiful buildings in your neck of the woods? As I was starting this post, I got these pictures from my brother. This is his home and he has just completely finished remodeling the whole thing and now they are going to sell. If anyone is interested, it lists Wed/Thurs. I think it's beautiful!

2.  What buildings of renown have you experienced or would like to experience? The Louvre? Maybe  Versailles? Things closer to home perhaps? Probably one of the most interesting homes I've seen is in Wisconsin and it is called House on the Rock. Here is a link to their website.

3. What do you think of the current trends in modern buildings? I think they are fine. Times are changing and so do building trends. I'm okay with change.

4. If you could choose any style home you would like, what would it be? Victorian, Farm House, Craftsmen, Ranch, Georgian, Tudor, Cape Cod? I've always enjoyed the Cape Cod style.  But I love our ranch a lot. At this time in our life, we definitely don't need anything with stairs.

Thanks for visiting and if you'd like to join in, here is the link.