Odds and Ends

Here are just some odds and ends from my phone!

We had a staff "retreat" at work -- we worked together all day and have plans in place for ministry through January. The pastors have sermon series planned through next summer. Our meeting was in our Children's Gathering Space and it is such a cool room.

Bio 102 has begun and it is hard. I watched a video yesterday of a guy explaining how to uses the Hardy Weinberg method and he was doing the video for folks trying to take the MCAT to get into medical school. If those folks sometimes struggle with this . . .I actually feel much better.

I used my sister-in-law's recipe for Mac and Cheese for the young adults. It is a good recipe!

I snapped a photo of last Tuesday night's meal. We've been feeding between 15-20 most weeks. We served Honey Baked Smoked Turkey Breast, mac and cheese, green beans, salad, and rolls. A group of friends provides dessert each week and we served homemade brownies.

As I was leaving for work one day last week, the sun was shining into the courtyard. I looked and there was a massive spider web. I don't particularly like spiders BUT their handiwork amazes me. If you look VERY closely, you can see what looks like stitches (sewing). Hint- the stitches begin near the bottom left quarter of the photo. A tiny (not so tiny) spider made this gorgeous hand stitched web.

 

Running behind . . .trying to catch up

I'm running a full week behind (if not more)!!

Last weekend (a whole week ago!), we had lots of great family time. The apartment was just too small for Laura, Scott, and granddaughter #2 to come visit very often. It was with great joy that we welcomed them back to our house last weekend.

They drove up after school on Friday and we met them at our son's house. Our daughter-in-law made a gorgeous charcuterie board for the appetizer.

Our son loves to cook and he said, "you have to try my new appetizer." When he described it, I thought to myself, "I'm not sure I'll like that!"

Guess what? It is actually delicious. So the bottom layer is a regular old saltine cracker. Add a dollop of good stone ground mustard. On top of that, add a slice of grilled Conecuh sausage and a dollop of pimento cheese and a Wickle on top. Delicious!!

The little granddaughters wanted Pops to sit with them. Mark has a silly face in this photo.

During the day on Saturday, we all did various things. We had dinner reservations at Bricktops for Mark's birthday.

The little girls had dessert and I think a few others had a spoonful or three.

I love this picture below of Mark and sweet granddaughter #2.

 On Sunday, I worked. Mark went to early church. Laura and her family went to the more contemporary service and Glenn's family went to their church and then

we all ate lunch together with Mark's extended family at his mom's house (regular Sunday lunch).

This woman is the energizer bunny. She is 98 and pretty amazing. A few weeks ago she fell and broke her clavical. That would have been the end for most 98 year olds. Not her. She is back up and walking with her walker. Here she is with her two great grandchildren.

It's Sunday Stealing on Animals!

I'm joining up with Bev and friends for Sunday Stealing for some fun and silly animal questions:

1. If animals could talk, which one do you think would complain the most about their day? My answer would definitely be CATS!! I would love to hear what Harvey has to say. This weekend it would be, “why did you let that little girl (granddaughter #2) come and spend the night”? Or “why did you just step on me twice, mama”? Or “how dare y’all keep me from taking my all day nap”!!

 

2. What do you think cats dream about during their epic naps? Harvey twitches when he goes into a deep sleep. Thursday night, he fell asleep in my lap and his head fell over and bonged my knee. He was so offended. I think he is running after a mouse when he is twitching!

He was napping in my lap and twitching

So sound asleep that his head lolled over

 

3. If squirrels organized an Olympics, what events would they have? They would have “who can climb the highest” event. They might also have a “who can cram the most nuts into their cheek” event or how about a “who can flick their tail the fastest” or “who can jump the farthest from limb to limb” event.

 

4. Do you think penguins ever get jealous of birds that can fly? I think penguins are just happy being who they are.

 

5. If animals had their own social media, what kind of posts would we see from them? Can you believe what my people did today? Did you know that people eat animals? Who stole my eggs? Who stole my nut stash?

 

6. What would be the title of the autobiography of a lazy house cat? Musings of the High and Mighty Harvey (or whatever name you insert) would be a good name.

 

7. If you had to choose an animal to be your personal bodyguard, which one would you pick? If you could train them, a bear would make a good bodyguard. If not, it would need to be a dog that was totally loyal to your family and to no one else.

 

8. Do you think dogs secretly judge us for not being able to sniff out everything they can? They are probably happy we can’t sniff it out so they can find it first.

 

9. If animals could wear clothes, which animal would have the best fashion sense? Once again, I want to say cat but would a bird count? How about a peacock?

 

10. If a group of owls started a band, what would their music style be? Who Who Who – maybe hard rock?

 

11. What do dolphins think when people swim with them? Look at these silly folks – let’s entertain them.

 

12. What do you think squirrels gossip about when they chatter to each other in the trees? Can you believe the guy in that tree over there? He has such a messy nest!!

 

13. If elephants played hide-and-seek, where do you think they'd hide? They would have to hide behind something VERY large – maybe in a cave?

 

14. What do you imagine a llama would say if you asked it about the meaning of life? I live to spit on you!

 

15. If you could swap places with any animal for a day, which one would it be, and why? Dogs seem so happy all of the time – they love their people. Someone feeds them. Someone pets them. I think they surely have a positive outlook on life.

Early, Old, New Hodgepodge

1. What's your earliest memory? I was about three years old. We had a porch on the back of the house with a screen door with a “hook and eye” latch. This latch was up high so that three year old me couldn’t get out. I wanted out so I pushed my tricycle over to the door and stood on it to unlock the latch. The trike scooted out from under me and I fell. I hit my chin on the concrete floor. I remember being picked up and placed on the kitchen table so they could see the damage. We didn’t go to the doctor. We probably should have.

2. What's something about you today that the old you would find surprising? I am seriously thinking about getting a small tattoo. If you had told 40-year-old me that 65-year-old me would consider a tattoo, she wouldn’t have believed it.

3. Do you like to fish? Are you a fish eater? Favorite fish (to eat)? Favorite way to prepare fish? I don’t particularly like to fish. My husband, on the other hand LOVES to fish. The story goes that when he and his twin brother were tiny, if they walked near a puddle, they would say “fish fish fish.” He just returned from a fishing trip in Alaska. 

We also have a small lake on family property and he loves to fish there. 

Fish is not my favorite food but I have learned to love Halibut (caught by hubby). I have learned to eat a small serving of salmon (not my favorite but he has learned a couple of ways to prepare it that I will eat). I love a firm white texture to my fish. Our new Wolf oven has a gourmet setting to cook fish and we’ve used it twice and it cooked the halibut perfectly.

4. What's your biggest first world problem? I guess it is the fact that it takes about 12 weeks, or more, to get furniture after you order it. Sofa should be delivered on September 1. I'm waiting on the upholstery folks to come pick up 3 chairs, a footstool, and another sofa to be recovered. Our outdoor Pottery Barn chair cushions aren't coming until November! Just got a text from Pottery Barn - bookcases are coming on September 1. I’m excited because I can't finish unpacking boxes until I have a place to put things.

5. What one word would you use to describe your year thus far? Better! (August of this year is definitely better than August of last year. - you can read about some of August 2022 here.)

6. Insert your own random thought here. It is so hot here in Alabama!! What is the high temp for your location today?

A Favorite or Two

I’m joining up with the Sunday Stealing folks! I’m not good at favorites but I’ll give it a try:

Name Your Favorite…

 

    Place: at the beach with my people

    Color: red (I also love pink and bright blue)

    Smell: bread baking? I also love the smell of a fresh cup of coffee but I don’t drink coffee. How about popcorn popping?

    Magazine: Garden and Gun - that magazine has great articles and beautiful photos

    Texture: Velvet or satin

    Thing to do when bored:   blog! Actually, I usually read.

    Precious stone: Diamonds . . .but I do love pearls, too.

    Animal: Cat -- Harvey

    Time in history: I’m going with this moment – living in this moment.

    Font: I use Cambria a lot.

    Sound: We have some new wind chimes that our friends gave us as a “moving back into the house” gift. I love to hear them. Actually, my favorite sound is a baby’s belly laugh!

    Fruit: Watermelon, strawberries, fresh Chilton County peaches, fresh cherries – I told you . . .sometimes I can’t pick a favorite

    Vegetable: homegrown tomatoes

    Store/shop: I’ve recently spent the most money at Pottery Barn – things for the house. Or are we talking about grocery stores? I use Publix and Target and Walmart but I do love Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods

    Quote: My boss says, “Err on the side of grace.” I think it might be my favorite quote these days.

    Historical figure: I wish I could talk to some of the women in history – those who did amazing things but didn’t get the credit due to them.

    Letter: the letter “e” - - I’ve been thinking about having a small tattoo with e’s

    Memory: There is no way I could pick one favorite memory. The day our children were born. The day that each of our granddaughters was born.

    Dessert: I don’t eat sweets anymore but I love anything chocolate and peanut butter (Reese’s) and I love cheesecake and I love German Chocolate cake.

    Candy: oops – see above . . .even though I don’t eat it, Reese’s

    Restaurant: Birmingham has so many great restaurants. I love Hot and Hot. I love Blueprint on Third; I love Bricktops.

    Language: I speak English but I wish I had continued with Spanish

    Thing to learn about: See above – I wish I had continued with Spanish. I’m taking Biology 102 this semester and I wish I could pick it up easier.

    Thing about yourself: I like my smile!

 

It's a HodgePodge

I'm linking up with Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond for her Wednesday Hodgepodge. She is so faithful to write the questions every week.

1. What motivates you to work hard? Words of affirmation usually get me going PLUS I'm a number one on the Enneagram and I like to do well. I'm the one who wants the A. Sometimes I can be ridiculous.

2. It's been said "Ignorance is bliss"...is it? It can be. Sometimes I just don't want to know. I gave up watching the news several years ago. I do glance at the online headlines but I don't read it all.

3.Would you rather be stuck on a broken elevator or a broken ski lift? Explain. I think I would rather be on the ski lift. I think I might feel claustrophobic on an elevator. Have you ever actually been stuck on either? I thought I was going to get stuck on the one at the church - it sort of did a weird between the floors thing. Our maintenance person was here locking up one night -- all by himself -- and he got stuck in the elevator and had just enough charge on his phone to make one call!!! Of the common fears listed here what's your #1-

heights-enclosed spaces-snakes-public speaking-the dark-flying I don't particularly like snakes. Of all of those, I guess it is enclosed spaces though I had never really thought about it. I don't like that feeling of being trapped somewhere.

4. What's something you like about the town or city where you live? I know that Alabama has a bad reputation and when some people hear that I live in Alabama . . .they might roll their eyes. Alabama has a lot of good things, too. We have wonderful fruits and veggies. We are actually a foodie town with some of THE best restaurants. The people are truly friendly and will speak to you and not ignore you. We don't have a lot of bitter cold weather . . .though we do have some blistering hot days this year. We have easy access to mountains and to the Gulf of Mexico and white sand beaches. 

5. Life is too short to____worry about what other people think____. Now if I could just remember that when I get caught up in worrying about that!!

6. Insert your own random thought here. Mark and his twin brother, George, are in Alaska fishing this week. He has texted several times and I think they are having fun. The water was rough yesterday and he said he was sore this morning from riding the waves. He hooked (by accident) a huge sea lion yesterday. One of the boats had a whale jump so close by that the people got wet!!

Mark on the left, Celia, Sonny, George on the right

Mark, Celia, Sonny

He sent me this one on Tuesday night
It is a silver salmon

One more random thought -- Biology 102 starts on Friday. I made an A in Bio 101. It was hard earned.

YA - 13 years later

I can't believe that Mark and I have been hosting YA in our home on Tuesday nights for 13 years. I came across a memory on Facebook recently and it made me think of all of the YA we've had the pleasure of meeting in those 13 years.

Below is our current group. They are amazing. We have a school teacher and a social worker and a guy who works at Lowe's and a travel agent and a pediatrician and a nurse practitioner and an engineer and a musician/roadie and a medical librarian and the list goes on!

We limped through covid. We met on zoom and then we met in the park in front of our house. I remember when we finally sat around the table on our front porch together for the first time since covid. There were just a few of them at that point.

Then our home burned and we moved into a two bedroom apartment. New folks contacted the church and asked about the group and the group started back after a 6 week hiatus and the group began to grow once again.

Last week, and again tonight, we are playing Bible games. Last week we played Family Feud, Jeopardy, and another game where we played for "gold" by answering Bible Trivia on our phones. Hannah, standing in the picture, teaches high school Spanish and is a whiz at creating fun ways to learn.

She did an incredible job creating all of these games and even brought

buzzers.

For Family Feud, we had to divide into four families and two families played at a time.

Someone asked me about this group the other day and I told them, "they keep us young." They really do because we know what they are watching on TV . . .so we watch it. Sometimes I read books they mention. We hear the topics of their conversations.

Are you a part of a small group? If so, is it a mix of ages? What have you been studying? Or is your group a social group? or a book club?