Computer Issues and Such

 There is an advantage for us and the detour. Our road is busy with all kinds of construction equipment being hauled here and yonder, big ol' dump trucks filled with dirt or going to pick up dirt, and last but not the least noisiest, motorcycles. With the detour there are a couple, just a couple, of through ways to head over to the other side of the river. The mornings sound like mornings from about ten years ago. Heard yesterday that everything is at a standstill as bids are being taken for the work. We will enjoy the serenity for the time being. 

Several observations and articles of late have exposed the lack of color in homes, advertising, and buildings. A friend from Atlanta visited one time and couldn't believe how beige Cinco Ranch was. You know, when a HOA is involved lots of fun gets eliminated in a furry of good taste. Basically, some guidelines were established and because we all like to push boundaries in different places and different ways, home landscaping and presentation gets everyone punished and the clamp down begins. Lot of people are just frustrated vigilantes, and the bane of their existence is being the keeper of the rules. But this paragraph started out about color. Newer buildings here are going bland but older ones are the keeper of the colors bringing merry hearts to all that notice. We get into a mood of looking at houses online. The one we loved in Burnsville did not get an in person visit because it would have been too tempting and it would not be a good decision. We looked and still look at Mars Hill. So many of the new home's interiors is gray and white. I understand you can use the gray as a wonderful backdrop but at this time my interest is not in decorating or investing in projects even though I have found a new interest in doing things around here. 

The side flowerbed is starting to scale back on blooms. It is looking kind of sad. This evening I will get out there and see what the next steps will be. Roy worked on some vine weeds, different from Morning Glories, and for now got the base of them cut back and out of the tree. Seems we will have warm afternoons and cool mornings and evenings. Didn't get to the side flowerbed but worked in the little backyard with driftwood roses and pulling a few pesky weeds around the back porch steps. The Feral Family kept us company just in case treats were involved. 

I did something last night that I haven't done in awhile...I went to choir practice. Not only did I go to choir practice I also drove home in the dark detour roads home. Only scared myself twice. Dang, it is really dark and not a lot of curves but enough. We bought some of those glasses that help with glare at night from the lights. They do help quite a bit. I had music and God for company. How can you go wrong? I was singing with Hezekiah Walker, Every Praise cause those alto notes are low. I certainly received grace though in choir practice. I knew the songs and remembered the alto part and another piece we worked on was a part of the HFBC legacy of choir. An hour and fifteen minutes in, my voice was shot and yes, I am aware there isn't much to lose with my voice but definitely raspy.  

Chubola is coming around and more friendly than she has been. She wants her head petted and even will sit in our laps, momentarily. That's a start. Willie has won the war of the bathroom window perch. He took it back from Buster and Chubola. Baxter and Buster are fighting in between playing. As my mother used to say, it's always fun until someone gets hurt. We had to separate them several times yesterday. GMoey is just being himself, cool, calm and collected unless he is forced into different circumstances. Then he proves that he is the alfa cat of this household. 

Rarely do I use the KJV except when looking for poetic readings of the Psalms. Came across a word this morning that got me thinking, divers. Not divers like into the sea but divers as the archaic word for diverse, several or different. I get interested in words at the strangest times but divers is my archaic word of the week. 

Seems like we just went through false fall # 2. The fact of fall or autumn is the favorite season of many people, including me, and it feels like the shortest season. Summer wants to hang on and then winter impatiently wants to move in and push out those autumn moments. Maybe because it feels like the shortest season is why it is so beloved. It is change yet it begins to close out the produce stand season. That makes me kind of sad. Our ornamental cherry trees have dropped leaves earlier than usual. I was told it is due to the cicadas at the beginning of summer.   

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Cool enough to remove small shrubs and weeds that are pretty much just junk. Oh and the dreaded morning glory vine. Stopped around 10:30, fed the kittos, had lunch and checked email. I feel just like Sheila E's song, Glamorous Life, complete with drum work. I have kind of stopped working in the evenings cause I'm getting eaten up by mosquitoes. 

We receive a lot of rain last night and everything is looking refreshed outside. My lap top might be on the verge of crashing, so until I get a new computer or this one works better, I'll greet you on the other side of computer issues. 

Little Detours and the Like

 I read a snippet of an article on LSU football and something that Brian Kelly said. This week LSU plays Louisiana Tech in Death Valley. When asked about preparation for the week Kelly said, it is difficult when you have an un-named opponent verses preparing for SEC games and rivalries. You know what to expect and the players themselves know the history. There really isn't any history with La Tech except that LSU is trying to help football programs at universities in Louisiana with much needed funds. Also hopeful that one of these other teams doesn't upset LSU. Preparing for an un-named opponent verses an unknown opponent has kind of settled in the brain thinking through that in life situations. Maybe even into a spiritual capacity. Don't have much to write about in this capacity cause I need to think about it and ponder it. This also will help me remember I once had a thought about this. 

We are socked in with fog, a dense fog. The house across the way has disappeared again from view. The weather report last night told us it would thusly and they were right on this one. No place pressing to have to be at this morning. So thankful for that. 

With the beginning of fallish like temps, some days, and with those autumnal hues of nature come the "good try" colors of fallish clothes. I love looking at the websites suggested to me by FB. That also means my inbox is filled with offers from said clothiers. Love J Jill and April Cornell, I check in with The Nord and Macy's and a few others. This year got the early jump on two pairs of boots. Now I'm on the search for a particular style jacket and so far the regular stops on the internet have proved futile.

Got the good news on the skin biopsy, the mole is benign. PTL! Now I just have a return appointment to take care of another little problem area and I should be good to go and maybe even get on the once a year mole patrol. 

I finished the book When Narcissism Comes to Church. So much packed into the relatively small book. The author goes beyond a person with NPD but systems that continue a supply for a church or nonprofit system to run. This goes to a deeply personal level with me being raised by a father with NPD. All the hurt and quirks are brought to the level of the years and years of his abuse toward our family and toward others and the best part, the escape out of those grasping emotions. Textbook really because he couldn't find a new way of using people as possessions. Men with NPD have mother wounds and believe you me, he had those issues with his mother. He was not the golden child he was the scapegoat. It caused his attachment issues and lack of compassion, empathy or mercy. I read yesterday that abnormal brain development can be seen clearly in those with NPD. I've remembered these past few days the enormous weight I carried as a child because he put all those issues and problems on me because and this is no surprise at the end of the story where life did not turn out to his way of thinking, I was the cause of those problems. So while most second and third graders were challenged by math problems and learning how to write in cursive, I was worried that we wouldn't make the mortgage payment or that he was going to lose his job. The problems he had with my mother and that mainly to her credit was resisting the total destruction of her personality by him. I think about that more now than the destruction attempted on my brother and me. His lack of friendships at church of course, were due to my mom. She wasn't good enough and no one wanted to be around her. Uh, change that pronoun to he/him and there is the true version of that story or stories. In his later years he chose the attempt of taking down a good man that was beloved by their church. My father failed and he was left to sit alone on Sunday mornings, at home, reviewing every hurt that had come his way instead of making things right with the church or visit other churches. The term I learned in reading this book is, looking for a supply. Supply = people to control. His supply was running thin and I think the attempt he made at trying to ruin Roy and me and our reputations with his false accusations and false reports made to the police, constable office and adult protective services was the last straw in his once never ending supply. His malice and hatred turned into his being the victim. I truly think during all of this he wanted his cancer, non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, to return because of all the attention he received in his first go around. All the friends and church that did care, had died, including my mother. He had been fortunate in most of his life, getting away with his behavior. It's ironic, he got tired of taking care of my mom and most probably hastened the end of her life. One of the very things that saved him, her presence and her willingness to pick up the pieces in the places he messed up. She did the reconciliation with friends and family, she made things right. Here was this man with huge mother wounds, issues with women but most particularly strong women and they and we were the ones that did the work to cover and make excuses for his problems. edswf - Baxter tried to help me write. Just within the last few years I have realized the huge price my mom paid, the things she gave up and her actions to appease the wildly predictable reactions and thought process with my father. Maybe that should be lack of thought progress with my father.   

Looks like our detour will be needed for several months. We don't mind it because the detour views are beautiful, more scenic than the regular route. We are having rain in the afternoons again and everything is so greened up. Hopefully, this will make for spectacular fall colors. 

LSU won but they didn't look good and Florida is the next opponent in Death Valley. 

With the cooler temps we have checked a few things off the list concerning outdoor chores. We decided to outsource a couple of things that we felt we could take care of but if we outsource we can do some of those little bothersome chores. I put a new coat of paint on the railings of the front yard steps. Dead headed two and a half rose bushes and cut off some zinnias dried blooms for the seeds for next year. Looks like our beans and peas are finished blooming for the year. I didn't think anything would come of this experience and happily I can report I was so wrong. The footrests of the outside furniture got a coat of paint today and the chairs will be ready to do later this week. 

Roy took a bunch of stuff to Goodwill yesterday. Once again I can tell stories of where I was in life but what brand of clothes I liked. When Eddie Bauer launched dressier clothes back in the day, those clothes were the foundation of my work wardrobe. Then in an especially trying time of life, Soft Surroundings but not the full price clothes, always the clearance. Clearwater Creek because it was convenient in Katy. J Jill has been a recent love but April Cornell has been my choice of late. Every once in awhile I would buy Soft Surroundings things since they were across from Wink, where I got my hair cut. But not a lot cause of the memories in that time frame. 

All Along the Way

 Officially, we are in the "ber" months and probably some of my most favorite months. Increased use of the word autumnal is always welcomed. Autumnal food is tasty and dare I say cozy. Cozy is a funny word to me but maybe on another post I will write about that. One pair of my new glasses came and I am still trying to get use to them. In hindsight I wish I had gone with chunkier frames. 

Saturday was the memorial service for my friend I wrote about previously. As FB memories go a lot of her comments and nine years of celebrating our friendship are reminders of just what a lovely and fun person she was. I was hoping for a few stories to be told at the service but none were. Don't know if that is what the family wanted or if the interim pastor who didn't know her except for one visit in the hospital chose to do. But, we honored her life. I met the assistant principal she worked for at Asheville High School. What a delightful visit. I don't think Ann knew a stranger. She sang backup with choreography at at Sunday School party with me in our lip sync of Ain't No Mountain Hight Enough. We both loved Earth, Wind and Fire and sang and danced in the Mustang on our way to The Farmer's Daughter. Her bear at the backdoor story is hilarious but underneath all that fun was a woman who relied on the Lord to get her through so many tough days. And in it's a small world...don't think about the song...don't think about the song, her son works on our Mustang at the shop we take Mustang Sam to. 

When we woke up Sunday morning I checked the LSU/Clemson score thinking it would be another opening season loss for LSU. I couldn't believe that LSU won. Now where did that LSU flag go? Another chore on the list, find that flag! 

 I officially tendered my resignation from teaching The Joy Class. I miss my friends but the stress I put on myself studying had an effect on my health. Over the weekend I read about this kind of pressure and if it is isolating you, stress feels heavier, health problems become overwhelming and your general outlook begins to be more inward. The article gave me words to help describe how I have felt and knowledge to take care of the issue before it became more cumbersome. When Gale, the former class teacher resigned due to health issues, she came back a couple of times as a class member. She pulled me aside after class and told me it was difficult to be a class member after teaching for so long and she had decided she wouldn't come back too often. I know how she feels. This summer as I have written before went very differently than expected. The routine cardiologist appointment became a little more than routine. The time it took for a decision for what needed to be done was delayed several weeks by the lack of follow up by the N.P. The new addition of high BP added a little drama to the whole thing and thus this summer has been laid back, relaxing and eliminating stresses that caused spikes and such. I have been researching some lifestyle changes in having a little more balance to life. We have changed up some of our meals and I am working through putting exercise as a priority. That seems so strange to write that because exercise was always a priority. 

Last night I talked with a friend whose health has caused her to step away from a lot of life. She being always busy, thinking of others and doing for others. She has a few things to conquer in the near future. Some daunting and some just the ordinary themes of our lives that now don't seem ordinary but a mountain to climb. While we were visiting, an interloper disturbed the conversation. A stranger, but maybe the boarder renting the airstream on our neighbors farm or maybe not. She walked the gravel round with an eye toward our backyard. I alerted Roy when she circled back on her path and stood for a bit by our gate on the driveway. Then headed down toward the main road. He went outside and it worked out that he was doing a regular nightly thing with the Feral Fam. Roy came inside and before long the young lady came up our road carrying a big ol' cat. It had gotten out. I felt like she was the boarder at the farm but just to be on the safe side cause there are reports here and there of people scoping out homes. 

After several weekends of making tacos, we will have a blip on that record. In May at VBS training we had a taco bar and I had forgotten about shell tacos cause I made soft ones regularly. Since then we have been on a hard shell kick. This is not to be confused with hard shell Baptists. Queso, meat, lettuce and tomatoes are much easier to stomach. This weekend I am making Carol Billing's famous chicken tortilla soup, chicken broth based. Roy loves it! He kind of wanted Taco Soup but it really needs to be chilly temps outside to truly appreciate the tastiness of such an easy recipe.  

During the summer we had planned on visiting churches around the area. I chose them merely on aesthetics. They looked beautiful but a couple of things happened to those plans. Heart stuff slowed me down quite a bit and some of the churches are down to like 13-15 people. That would just feel weird to me. 

I came across the snippets of a Pod Cast, with visuals so that's what kept me interested for those couple of minutes. It was an interview with Fannie Flagg. She is known for Fried Green Tomatoes. She told the story of how she won a writing contest and met Eudora Welty. As she continued working on the manuscript that could not find a publisher, by chance she met Harper Lee. Harper Lee encouraged her to keep working and keep at it and finally, as we know the rest of the story it was published and became a movie. Fannie Flagg said until the manuscripts acceptance, she was told, no one is interested in a story about a woman in a nursing home. Guess some beg to differ. I also came across an article or a Substack thingy, by Karen Swallow Prior. Her thoughts and outlook? Well, I find them refreshing and she is so articulate as well as poignant as she selects and shares her thoughts. While academia has never held any sway over me, her experiences translate into mine on a much smaller stage...no stage, maybe a tiny step. So, as we've made decisions and choices based mainly and mostly on my health, there are some contributing factors that have truly made a path for us we never expected to take. Of course, that is true about so much of life. Are we willing to trust the Lord? Will we trust Him by faith? We have made that decision of yes, we will. A couple of weeks ago the choir sang with the congregation added, "So Send I You." I haven't heard that song since I was in elementary school. At the close of the service we sang, "Wonderful Words of Life." We sang the three verse version but I have seen five or six verse versions. Just reaffirming to us knowing we have been led by the Spirit as all along the way reassurances of, "this is the way." 

 

Nothing Earthshattering To Report-Yay!

 We've gathered the Feral Fam into the garage because our neighbors just down the road and as it is affectionally called the crack house in our area, well their two pit bull dogs are running free and terrorizing the unsuspecting. Our neighbor texted us that they were headed toward our home and I thought I had seen the dogs when the neighbor was trying to take horse renderings to the compost pile down the gravel road. Roy decided that a later pick up of the garbage can from the road could wait. 

The next three days hold various appointments for either Roy or for me. Roy's appointment is the earliest but mine are the farthest. Once this week wraps up that is it for at least several months before we do the doctor regimen again. 

One of the first friends I made at church passed away a week ago Friday night. She was such fun, loved Earth, Wind and Fire, one of the kindest people I have ever known and she was very familiar with Texas, Clear Lake and Pearland because her in-laws moved from this area to Clear Lake. She said her family, hubby and three kids would drive all the way through. She knew of the oppressive heat that one comes into contact with along the coast of Texas. Her stories were so good. She and her hubs had been cloggers and danced with a group that entertained tourists at a Pisgah area farm. Her husband's funeral was the first funeral I attended here and just the people and the eulogies gave me such a favorable impression of not only life here but death and remembrance. So once again we will honor a loving and giving friend, full of joy in the midst of her circumstances. Her strength to endure came from her steadfast faith in the Lord. Over the years I have told and laughed over her story about the bear at her back door. 

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The three days of appointments is finally over. No more driving into the Ville with a major detour and August fog. The detour doesn't deter me much, you just have to plan accordingly. With such beautiful scenery it is almost a very calming addition you need before doctor appointments or any appointments. We did enjoy a Moose Cafe breakfast after Roy's eye exam. Those appointments are usually scheduled early in the morning and thus the bonus of breakfast. The additional bonus for this trip was going to see Audrey at Warby Parker. Roy needs a pair of reading glasses with a slight adjustment to see away. Like in church going from looking at the pastor and then looking down at notes or the scriptures. 

It has been a lovely day staying home. Roy worked out and did a little grocery shopping. I worked around here taking care of some small things that have been getting on my nerves. We've been outside watering and picking green peppers and tomatoes. I quit early on but I did do less strenuous chores. The breeze was lovely and made the work not as strenuous since we weren't battling the heat. We need to pull out the greasy beans because I believe they have harvested out but the peas seem to be going strong. 

The result of the smash and grab mammy gram-y came yesterday. All is well but I am still puzzled by last year's results with an additional letter weeks after last years about further investigation and it mentioned things that were not in the initial report. This year during my regular check up I balked over going for a smash and grab this year instead of the every other year thing except for Covid time. Some numbers were mentioned that didn't register or mean a thing to me except being advised to get the mammy gram-y. Email letter yesterday didn't mention anything about numbers but I went to the patient portal and read the report and once again the word malignant shows up and this time some comparisons were made and the conclusion is nothing found. I welcome that news but I am also being vigilant in my prayers cause I don't want no surprise next year. 

Low Wires and Stability

 It's a lovely foggy morning in August. It's a lovely Monday morning in August. It's a lovely verse, how lovely are the feet of those who bring good news. 

Last Friday we took the backroads with adjustments to the bridges being out on several of our main roads we take to get over to Troyer's. We left earlier than we usually do to get to the store before 10:00 am when the parking lot fills and the store overflows. We shopped just a bit before going to the register to check out and get our receipt marked for peaches purchased. While the scenic return is usually our choice we opted for the quicker route, not as scenic but we were in TN to shop, not fun shopping but stock up on things we use and our supply is getting low. The pre-winter stock up. We also need to go back to Ducketts and see if Lou Lou has canned anymore greasy beans. 

As is the tradition it is now a week out from last Friday. We are nearing what is called false fall 2 this weekend. It has been so dang hot and most are looking forward to the temperature respite. The forecast calls for a low in the forties on Wednesday. Less humidity too. It will be tempting to start that season exchange of clothing but I will hold off. 

This week I have been reading Luke 5. Funny how I came to that chapter. I was watching an old interview with two Bible teachers or pastors. One told about his mentor and how the mentor came to Christ. The mentor was doing conscientious objector work on a farm assigned menial farm work. His mind was free to think and pursue. He was an agnostic but had been challenged to read the Bible. So in his readings nothing particular stood out until he read Luke 5. It was the pattern of numbers that drew him in and there on a farm doing menial work he accepted Christ. So you know, being the numbers girl that I am...did you laugh? Anyway, I thought that's interesting how God had gotten his attention. The Bible teacher guy was right, you do see a pattern of one, four and large crowds all throughout the chapter but the verses that drew me in is the story of the four friends bringing their one friend to Jesus in the large crowd. The verses that stood out for me: after Jesus heals the man on the mat He says to him, Get up, Pick up and Go Home. This time those words hit me differently. One would think the stand up and the pick up would be the hardest part of doing what Jesus commanded but now I am thinking the go home would be the hardest. Why? Well, I am glad you asked. Just thinking back to those days of bilateral knee replacement rehab days, standing up was a little easier than pre knee replacements. Learning the correct way to pick up stuff was easier and quickly do-able. Now this is where the example ends because I was so ready to go, but it was the best. Take what I have learned and put it into practice. Go home but when you think about it, after a huge miracle for that man, he would have been hounded by the Pharisees and swarmed by the people. The Lord knew he just needed to return home and be surrounded by his family. Jesus would take care of the Pharisees and teaching the people in the house and out of the house. The healed man would be overwhelmed and maybe he just needed to get away from the crowds to truly ponder what he just experienced and then tell others of the miraculous love of God . We are told he was praising God and for this we give thanks. 

Most afternoons this week have had rain and some of that rain rather heavy. We are both thankful we haven't had to go out and water. The purple peas are doing well and with cooler temps I can get out there and get some picked.  

The thought of how everything is cyclical has been in the forefront lately. Our lives, culture, churches, and schools just to name a few. All the hype of the Cracker Barrel changes is viral in all the media types and hypes. My first experience with CB took place in the 80s. Roy and I were visiting my brother north of Atlanta and there was one near his apartment. My goodness I think in those couple of days we ate there every chance we got. Home cooking, well not like my home cooking but somebodies. Through the years it was not a destination but a oh, it's close to _________, and that is where we ate. In 2019 we ate there after Roy's colonoscopy. He was hungry for pancakes. In all the trips between Houston and here Cracker Barrel became a safe spot to stop and use the bathroom and pick up more snacks for the road. My most famous relationship with Cracker Barrel was breaking my hip at the one in Lafayette. Of course they contacted Roy and said they could not compensate much financially and Roy said, can you just cover out of pocket expenses? They agreed most heartily. They sent me a CB gift card in good faith and let's just say Dayspring, my Houston Sunday School class, gave me one with a lot more money on a gift card than CB. People are mentioning the nostalgia factor and I see that but it did bother me that if I was thinking of grandparents upon entering I would nostalgically remind grandma that her floors should look cleaner. Several years ago I read about the man whose one job was to shop for things to go on the walls of CB. Why was this not covered as a job option in high school? Guess it is because CB wasn't even around back then but this guy had a full run on his job years until maybe last year. When we were traveling back and forth to NC we liked stopping at the CB in Sulphur, La because LSU shirts and sweatshirts were a reasonable price. 

Oh my, I just learned that Chuck Girard has passed away. His music played a huge part of my early Christian life and my favorite song was, Love Song. Just listened to it and remembered how that song ministered to my spirit on some of the hardest days I had faced. 

I went back and listened to several more songs from that era. It seems that I am getting sentimental about music these days. Two separate afternoons last week I listened to The First Baptist Choir Dallas on You Tube. Once again I cried but not from having those opportunities anymore, but because I did. Think I was having so much in those days and because in that time of life I wanted every minute to be filled with busyness, I didn't take the time to appreciate the musical foundation given, yes, even to people like me that loves music but never had any kind of training. 

Our main road is closed again, same spot and same problem but the detours are farther out. I bet it is kind of messing up first day of school traffic. Hazards everywhere. When we turn right on the road there are very low hanging wires that should mess up dump trucks and to the left a road that is having trouble staying stable. Sometimes that kind of sounds like life. 

Eyes, Lunch, Books and Supper

 It was such a relief to get my eye exam done and come away with good news. Prescription, very little change and while I could have cataract surgery all that eye stuff has stayed the same so I don't have to get it on the schedule right away. That's great because the thing that is holding me back from doing this is, I hate putting drops into my eyes. I know, stupid excuse but messing with my eyes has always been kind of wonky to me. Main reason I never got contacts. We have a wonderful eye doctor and he is just so kind because he went over with me how to easily put drops in the eyes. When he asked if there had been any health changes I mentioned my what I have done this summer essay but my primary care doctor kept my art work so I had nothing to show him. I can always go on the patient portal and print heart art out. The doctor said, oh no can do your eyes right now even if you were looking to get on the schedule. They wouldn't even let me schedule you. So, that ended well really. I am looking forward to getting new frames and seeing my friend at her new eye glasses place. Anyway, it was a rainy and cloudy morning so my eyes didn't have to deal with bright sunlight. 

Tuesday we met a friend for lunch and then stopped for cat food. The cat food that was on sale has not been a fav in times gone by but for some reason both inside and outside cats love it so we stocked up. I was so tired by the time we got home I didn't do too much else. Today, Wednesday, hair cut day and then we came home. The rain had cleared so we decided to go back to the store for the new specials and stop at 6 Pigs BBQ food truck. They were by the river a little later than usual. We ducked out of most of the afternoon rains. 

Years ago, I saw a documentary on all that goes into selling a book from the publishers standpoint. A great portion of time was given to selecting the book cover to draw attention. Until then, I had never really thought about that work. Not all the time but some of the time I notice trends in book covers. It might be the end of this design, but the silhouette of people with their backs to us looking into mist or fog or murky surroundings seems to be very popular. Here are a few examples and I don't know anything about these books other than the cover design is the point. 

 

I've been thinking about trends and I don't know why. Saw a thing on what backsplash not to use and what counter tops are popular. By next year what is unpopular will be popular again. Just an opinion of what I did this summer theme of doctor and procedure appointments, but I feel like I and maybe we are standing with our backs to the view of foggy unknowns. Right now whether it be popular or not; being your own advocate as well as having someone like Roy who advocates for me when it comes to health decisions is the trend or picking up in popularity. Maybe it is really survival. I have done a lot of research over the past few years to help me along with a few issues and now that I have a window of opportunity to stake a flag so to speak, I am trying to take advantage. Something I have expressed before but it is reminding me that our idea of quiet times with our cup of coffee, favorite chair, lighting, journal and Bible...oh and a lovely throw, favorite jammies and all that...which I like but it doesn't seem too many in the Bible had that luxury when they needed to pray or seek God or study His Word. Those whose prayers and cries were on the run, in the wilderness, on a mountain...not a beautiful mountain but a dry and dusty looking mountain, Moses, Elijah, Joseph (prison), David and John the Baptist. Don't get me wrong I'm not asking for a change from coffee and a comfortable chair but we fall into a trap of things like that. Somehow the conversation is going through social media again about what people wear to church. It seemed like that was settled several years ago and could be a rallying point or something. It would be so Christ like to wear Colossians 3 clothing. 

These days as I wont to do this post has turned into a weekly reader kind of deal. There are things I want to write about but it is not such a time as this. In our quest to get out more, mainly for me, we headed over to TN very early to pick up peaches from Troyer's. Then we did our usual Erwin thing and then had Pal's for lunch and as usual we ate as we drove. Made for a very fun day. By the time we got home I was looking for some much needed rest time. My energy waned as we finished up in Walmart and then at Food City. My supper last night was Amish bologna and fresh tomato sandwich. Delicious! 

 

Celebrations, Memories and Reality

 Oh Friday, no fog and the high temp of the day is around 80 degrees. This has been a week of appointments and such, mixed with the regular chores which has made me be out and about more this week. Doesn't matter, really because I enjoy being home and I enjoy being on the go. The Trio and The Boys might be happier that we are home because meals are served on time and there are laps to sleep on. 

We celebrated my birthday on Wednesday. Roy had a dental cleaning in the morning but we left for Waynesville a little after noon. We stopped at Duckett's Produce first and got some greasy beans canned by Lou Lou and some of her veggie soup. Stocking up for the winter. Next stop, Blue Rooster. We avoided the lunch rush and settled in the booth. After such a long drought of fried chicken and coconut cake it all tasted divine. The fried okra, perfection. It was one of those days where I could have ordered all veggies cause the choices were excellent, but the call of chicken of the fried variety was the stalwart call. Had to get the coconut cake to go. What a treat! The next big stop, Tractor Supply and we got the kitties some dry food and the indoor gang some different flavors of wet food. Oh and at the last minute I found a cute t-shirt cause you know I don't have enough t-shirts. We then headed over to Barber's Orchard. Our first trip of the season and the crowds were still around. Think it was due to the first day of their honey crisp apples available to purchase. Apples, peaches and muscadine grapes along with an assorted choice of baked goods. Not many though cause we are putting in some changes for food choices. Of course the fried chicken did not count cause it is not an every week or month thing, desserts are more accessible. On our way home we stopped at our friends home to deliver some baked goods. Had a great visit. Wednesday night, I was surely worn out and tired but I wouldn't have changed the day because we had fun doing the things we've wanted to do. Very simple for sure, don't care about traveling other than day trips. Roy said the other day he traveled so much earlier in his career that air travel just reminds him of work. He also has one of the worst airline travelers ever by his side so he is getting the double whammy.  

The main road we take just about everywhere has been dealing with a slide causing the embankment to be unstable. About a month ago they came and repaired the breach but low and behold that embankment slid again and there is a modular home just a few feet away. There are so many issues I could address but it is mainly some car skids over the edge and into their living room as well as flooding and ponding of water because your home is below the road. 

Our Von Cat Family Climb Every Obstacle Cat is making us use new deterrents to slow down his hiking and climbing ambitions. Since we have foiled his attack...hahaha...on the top of the refrigerator with the thinnest aluminum foil ever barely created and since he has somewhat moved on from being on the top of the tall bookcases, Baxter now faces the challenge of a arts and craftsman style bookcase. It just happens to have the TV on it. Baxter gained access via my desk. This cat has no spatial presence. When he jumps into my lap most of the time his face hits my face.   

And now easing into Saturday morning. A little fog, so fog number 1 if one is counting August fogs for winter snow days. Last night I de-peaed... the peas that we grew this year. We will probably go out and pick a few more this morning and shell them. It was such a beautiful late summer evening. Nice breeze with good temps. It was almost but not quite the feel of fall that one can experience before autumn sets in. I kind of just sat in the rocking chair taking it all in because I am experiencing a few side effects from the increased dosage of heart meds. To help Roy out though I tackled watering the flowers by the delivery box and in the flowerbed. Zinnias are looking good here in August. Last night the view from the front bedroom of the full moon was spectacular. Yes I got those professional type moon pics with my phone. Doesn't pick up the night sky nor does it take clear pics of the moon and then the moon and the clouds. This morning it is always a joy to watch the the sky go from black to gray and then to light. 

 This afternoon I worked on a couple of projects mainly because they are sitting projects and I don't feel bad while doing them. Then I started listening to First Baptist Dallas Choir and Orchestra. You Tube made a mix of all the choir songs and anthems we as a choir of HFBC sang through the years. There were the Gerald songs, John Bolin and then some of the music we sang when we had a choir here. I don't sing much anymore and just barely a blender alto at that, but I sang along. My voice weak and not able to hit the higher low notes of an alto. Poor Roy, he had to listen or he blocked out all my singing. Then I listened to a few more and I sat here this afternoon and cried while listening. Shedding tears for the past and the present. Memories of hard work and memorization not using a folder. Thinking of friends like Loraine, our Naomi cause whatever notes she sang, they were our notes, we followed her. Velda and Lois were a hoot to sit with as well as Angela and Karla, Donna and Beth. In Houston I loved choir and love the friends I made. I was thinking the other day that I wish I could talk with Gerald because I would apologize for not liking and making fun of Sanctus back in the day. I've been listening lately and it is one of my favorites now. Guess I will add it up to immaturity. Being on the social committee better known as the Socialists was more fun than anyone ought to have. So many opportunities to play fun parts. Being Tonto or rather Tontito as the orchestra of HFBC played the William Tell Overture, Drew was the Lone Ranger and Peggy the villain. Type casting for sure. Maybe I am circling back in my history craving to hear these hymns and choir songs. Soothing to my soul and helps keep my heartbeat in sync. The ol' heart murmur is alive and well. 

That is the reality of things, what am I going to do to insure my health doesn't get worse when everything hurts to maintain status and move ahead when that is a reality. Of course I go to The Word and find my strength there but the next steps. A friend who just had quadruple bypass heart surgery says keep moving forward, be motivated, and don't rest and don't give up on doing the hard things.