Bits of This and That

It's Monday and I'd like to share a few things with you today.

First thing on Friday I had a doctor's appointment with my primary care nurse practitioner.  All is well.  She is pleased with the progress I have made towards improving my A1C, tri-glycerides and Cholesterol numbers.  Quite frankly, I'm pleased too.  She didn't take me off any of my meds yet, but I'm hoping when I go back in 6 months she will.  I guess, it's all up to me and if I make myself stick with the changes I have made.

After that I met up with 2 of my cousins at the Middletown First United Methodist Church for a concert.  The group is called The Harps of Grace and it was 12 harpists playing and it was so enjoyable and beautiful.  I've never imagine a group of harpists before.  When I was first invited, I assumed it would be a solo harpist, but it turned out to be 12 of them.  The church was beautiful and the music was so good.  They played hymns, Christmas Carols and secular music too.  Below are a couple photos and one video clip just to give you an idea.  

After the concert we met up at Cracker Barrel and had lunch.  That was really good too.  So Friday was a really good day.  Oh I forgot, later after dark, hubby and out went out driving and looking at neighborhood Christmas lights.  We saw some really pretty ones and then we came home and watched a Christmas movie.

Saturday we didn't do a lot.  Got some lunch and ate in the van and then I ran in to Kroger and got a few items and then we came home for the rest of the day.  I did a little more decorating and 4 loads of laundry and then, of course, we watched another Christmas movie and had dinner.  I made my first pot of Potato Soup for this winter and it was delicious!  It is the easiest soup I've ever made (and I've been using this recipe for years now).  Here are the ingredients.  Frozen Potatoes O'Brien (I believe it's a 28 ounce bag), chicken broth (32 ounce) and a packet of Pioneer Peppered Gravy.  That's it!  I'm sure you could doctor it up by adding cheese or anything else, but this is the way I like it.  

On Sunday, we had church along with a nap in the middle of the afternoon.  Hubby is currently doing a series called "O Come Let Us Adore Him".  I'll post the video below.

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

Cathy

Friday Photographs and SkyWatch Friday

 

I haven't taken many pictures this week, but here's Thursday night's sunset. SkyWatch Friday

Hope you have a great weekend.

Cathy

Thankful Thursday

I'm sitting in my office on Wednesday afternoon and thinking about what I am thankful for this week.

***Office - speaking of being in the office, I am very thankful to have this office.  It's a place I enjoy being and I get so many things I love doing, accomplished here.

***Reading - I'm thankful that my mom passed down her love of reading.  I remember as a child she used to take us to the library quite often in the summer.  We'd all check out books (including her) and we'd go home and just enjoy reading.  I'm also very thankful for good Christian fiction writers.  They are my favorite to read, especially when it comes to the romance books, which I have been reading forever. I'm currently reading the book pictured below on my Kindle.  This is book 49 for the year and my Goodreads goal is 50.  I think I’m going to make it  

***Retirement - It has been almost a year now.  My last day was December 31, 2021.  I just feel so blessed and when I'm asked how I like retirement, my answer is, I love it and I highly recommend it.

***My Girls - Love them both.  My oldest facetimed me yesterday to let me know she got the promotion she applied for.  I am so happy for her and proud of her too.  She loves her job and this will be a raise and will help them toward their goal of buying a home in the next couple of years.  My youngest calls me almost every day and we chat and have a good time.  She took a part-time job at a McDonald's near her son's school and I love that she's doing that.  It gives her something to do while he's at school and some extra spending money.  I'm very proud and love both my girls so much.

My beautiful girls at the oldest's wedding

Oh how I loved these days too!

That's all I'll share this week, but there are so many things to be thankful for, as God has always been and will always be so good to me.

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

Cathy

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