tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1200688968040017852024-03-28T13:41:36.661-05:00Nancy's MonablogNancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.comBlogger2661125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-90331821297857527972024-03-26T07:42:00.000-05:002024-03-26T07:42:57.883-05:00Mostly Weather<p> Yesterday morning, I looked out the window and white flakes filled the view. It was above freezing and no precip yet. The blooms are off the trees because of the wind and floated down across the yard. Now this is the kind of snow you like seeing toward the end of March. In the backyard, where the wind doesn't quite have the effect as in the front, the petals have come to rest on the ground. What a beautiful sight to behold. </p><p>Our rain came late in the afternoon Friday and has moved on. The rainy day forecasted for today isn't happening anymore. Cooler temps though. We need to get the fertilizer stakes in the ground for the fruit trees today or tomorrow. Today might be the day because LSU Women's BB plays tomorrow. I hope they play better than they did yesterday. Ugly win. While watching I mentioned to Roy several times that the expressions on some of the players for LSU gave the story that there might be some issues happening. Kim Mulkey said in an ESPN interview afterwards that she felt like there was too much selfishness on the court. Hmm...facial reading did not fail me yesterday. </p><p>I finished the Cloverdale book last night in the Miss Budge series. Y'all, I almost always see the twist at least not to be surprised, but even seeing the twist early on...the story didn't play out at all how I imagined it to do. I loved the story, the wisdom, the funny and the twist in this novel. There is significant character development of Miss Budge and in some of her church lady friends. </p><p>The seasonal produce stands and places are beginning to open up. Think we will try and make a trip to one of them. Spring onions are looking good. It is the most wonderful time of the year.</p><p>Every once in a while I see Bobbsey, an earlier member of the Feral Fam. Bobbsey is the twin of HP. When he is around there for just a moment I think it is HP, but Bobbsey has a dark nose. We saw him twice yesterday and once this afternoon. There is a Radley relative hanging around as well. Almost the same markings but not as furry. I haven't seen Radley in a while but he is a wanderer. </p><p>*****</p><p>Whew, I had to do my part to help the LSU Women's Basketball team. The second half I stayed away from the TV and only kept up with the score on Google. Middle TN was a great team but it was so good to see LSU get some defense going and play together as a team. </p><p>We did not get through the whole lesson this morning. Think we will just keep on moving through Genesis and not do an Easter lesson next week. One of the class members surprised us with banana bread, so moist it nearly melted in your mouth. Her husband made it for us and she had enough to share with other church members. The large container was nearly empty after the morning service. That is just one thing I love about our church but more specifically of our class. So giving and generous. We will pick back up with the dysfunctional family of Isaac. There is so much to be gleaned from their approach to life. That Rebekah was a wonderment of Type A temperament. She had her ear to the ground, knew the comings and goings of quiet conversations and was still able to kill, skin and fix up a meal from goat meat. She had purpose and a plan although the Lord probably would have preferred that she would trust Him and not manipulate circumstances to help in His work. Isaac, most commentaries believe, he knew what the Lord had told Rebekah while she carried the twins. He favored Esau, so he wanted to sneak the blessing to him since it would normally be his by being the first born. Esau was purely into the hunting as a sport of leisure. The family owned all kind of flocks so it wasn't necessary to have wild game for meat. He wasn't into the the family business. Jacob kind of had an interest maybe only to use in his duplicitous dealings. Well, that is until he has his Bethel encounter with God. </p><p>******</p><p>Our rainy Tuesday has arrived. Right now more of a heavy mist. I started another Mildred Bulge book, skipping to book three in the series. It pulled me right in and although it is answers things probably addressed in book 2, it comes as no surprise. The weather makes it a great reading day although there are several chores that need to be done. </p><p>I watched a little of the NCAA women's BB championship last night. I finally decided to cut off the BB and go back to reading. I can only watch so much of Caitlyn Clark. Watched the last quarter of the UConn game which was good. LSU plays UCLA this coming weekend. It should be a good game either way it goes. </p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-68295510626942931652024-03-22T08:00:00.000-05:002024-03-22T08:00:12.802-05:00Memories, Books, Hunks and Apps<p> Monday mornings are usually the time I sit down to write but this morning I got involved with a card challenge. Some came easy and there were two that came with a great deal of difficulty, so off and on all morning until lunch I would busy myself with chores then come back to challenge. Finally before lunch, I solved it. The chore I chose was cleaning out a kitchen cabinet. So, time well used. We have been outside working on the flowerbeds and getting stuff together for the College Hunk haulers to pick up. There is a brisk breeze and the temps go below freezing this evening. Also a burn ban, not that we are planning on burning yard waste and such. </p><p>Yesterday, I looked at FB memories and there was the famous March 17, 2012 post about the snake at our front door. I don't think the water moccasins have a welcome wagon for new neighbors, but he was sitting mighty pretty on the welcome mat. Roy took care of him and no other snakes ever visited us there. After all that happened with my father toward the end of March back then, it sure seems like it was a warning. </p><p>Almost done with the Miss Budge book and this time it is cracking me up. The ladies are at a mission emphasis luncheon and one of the young missionaries asks Miss Budge if chicken spaghetti will be served. Nope, that is strictly a condolence dish cause it travels well in those aluminum throw away pans. No, for women's missions conference the dish is, chicken with prunes and olives. Ugh! That sounds disgusting but the conversation that takes place about the unjust inequities between men and women events at church is hilarious. For the same mission conference, the men are eating at a BBQ restaurant complete with banana pudding for dessert. The women have a fake meringue, artificial ingredient, damp crust piece of pie, sliced in lady sized portions. Then men have such freedom they can return to church with sauce on their shirts, while is some prune got on a blouse...oh for shame. Mildred and Gertrude had a retreat script for just such observations, the inequities and differences of retreats. Women, mostly are put four to a room, not men. Just two will share a room. Women do crafts, guys get to shoot guns or do crossbow target shooting. If a woman has a hearty appetite, well you'll starve at a retreat. Bring snacks, better yet and the profit would go to the Lord, sell them to the women who didn't plan ahead and find themselves faint due to hunger. I could go on but I think my favorite line in our retreat script was Gertrude telling us she was the last one in her room to be able to take a shower and clean up. By that time all that was left for her was one dry wash cloth. Then she pulls out the wash cloth for proof. Over the years M&G planned Sweetheart Church Banquets, using Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Jacob with Leah and Rachel...you get the drift of this direction, don't get us started on Solomon... We did a script for a church out in Magnolia, when Magnolia was just a bunch of pine trees. The lady told us there would be tons of young mothers there. Nope. We only did that young mother skit once, for all those older ladies, but it is a favorite memory of Peggy in the bathroom with leaves and tree limbs stuck in her hair and the fox tail showing from the waist of her pants and no one, not one lady said a thing to her. Like they saw this everyday. I was awaiting our cue and a lady sat by me and asked, now who are your people? She thought I was resident of the area. </p><p> ********</p><p>The College Hunks arrived yesterday afternoon to pick up the recliner on the front porch, old carpets and a trundle bed mattress and the frame. The frame they will take to ABCCM cause it is still good. The chair is as well, but Buddy had scratched a place on the back that opened up the fabric. Were they college hunks? One out of three but they were all so very nice and helpful. Two of the guys loved our front yard with the blooming trees and soon to open tulips. Truly their help was reasonable and like the slogan says, stress free. So while four years ago I was celebrating phase one of the flowerbed I worked on during those ***demic years, now became final phase of shutting down the experiment. We are going to let the grass grow in the bed to become part of the yard again. We will probably move a couple of snowball bushes to help the reclaim back to grass. </p><p>This morning Roy is getting new shoes for the truck. We bought Cooper Tires probably in 2018 and they have lasted. We could really wait a couple of more months, but thought we should get this done now and not later when it is hot. The waiting room is outside. </p><p>***********</p><p>I have decided that Isaac has middle patriarch syndrome...just like middle child behavior. Basically, he rusted away after dealing with some wells. There are particular habits of his that scream middle child but he is the bridge between Abraham and Jacob. I think Rebekah was a type A personality and had her hand in all things. I have most of my notes written for Sunday but I will take the rainy afternoon that is being forecasted to fine tune. Since my style of teaching is applicable, I want us to take home some different things to think and meditate upon, especially with Easter week coming. </p><p>With the dip into the 20s, we weren't sure if the peach tree would be okay or not. Looks like the dip didn't hurt the blooms. We covered our new blackberry plants, much easier than you know a big tree. We got some more daffodils and yellow tulip plants last weekend. It is great to plant when the bulbs that have been previously planted start showing. You add the new plants among them for the next year. Mary Joyce would have been so happy with her daffodils this year. She planted a lot of white and yellow ones and they have popped out beautifully. When Mike was here mowing, he didn't have to mow Mary Joyce's yard. Don't know if Dave, her son in law, will be doing that or not. Haven't heard too much on what they are going to do or not do with her house. Our new neighbors across the way are outside a lot this week working in their, yard...although right now it is just empty space still with straw on the ground coaxing green grass out of the red clay. She has some shrubs in large containers either for easy access to move them with the next chance of frost or that's how they will stay. I kind of like that and during the winter while planning our gardens and flower gardens, I have come to this same idea. Only I think I am coming to it as ease rather than looks. </p><p>My app on my iPhone tells me they predict a fall for me in the next year. I have not fallen since 2016 and I know pride comes before a fall, but this is more in the category of being up in my business. Of course what they don't know is my unsteady gate is related to my hip pain. We eliminated the chair, see above reference of recliner on the front porch, and I have been doing the hip flexor stretches. Those stretches have helped tremendously. I noticed that my right foot has been gearing toward the right while I walk...which tells me I am not walking in alignment. After being pigeon toed for most of my life, this is a different phenonium. I guess this all a part of the aging process. This week Monday, I felt horrible, Tuesday great, Wednesday okay, Thursday horrible and today great. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-15035378160603957092024-03-15T09:11:00.003-05:002024-03-15T09:11:42.186-05:00A Good Place To Be<p> Roy and I just came back in from the front yard. He added raised bed soil to several of the raised beds and checked on a few of the shrubs. The forsythia is blooming as well as the peach, red bud and dwarf dogwoods. The willow tree is all a buzz, really with bees hanging out in the top branches. It is true that bees are as busy as bees. Cha Nay Nay spent a lot of time with me out there as well as Fido, although he likes to help Roy. The clover is everywhere, the thickest and most prolific I have ever seen it. </p><p>This morning we did the Publix thing. There was an older, really older couple that arrived about the same time as we did. They parked in the pick up or curbside grocery places. I told Roy every time we were on the same aisle with them that I wanted to yell in my best Gomer Pyle voice, "citizens arrest, citizens arrest!" We stopped at the BBQ truck across from the post office on the way home. Delicious! I was hoping for some banana pudding cause they had it one time last week at another site. No pudding but Roy got me a cookie. </p><p>The lesson of laying down your Is*ma*l has had me thinking a lot more. Of other times, I let myself respond in not the best ways. Really powerful effect in how I respond or responded to things. There is a fine line of beating yourself up verses letting it all go to the Lord and learn of His ways. Sometimes we and most certainly I am guilty of responding, well that's just who I am. There are all kinds of personality tests to take and use for back up. But the whole Romans 12:1-2 doesn't take that into account. It is God working within us, our personalities, both real and imagined...ha, making us like Him. Using our brains, gifts, and personalities. </p><p>******</p><p>Well, it must have been the fresh air but I have been up most of the night. Really have had a difficult time sleeping. I was productive though, cleaned out the pantry, worked some on my lesson and responded to a message. Since we had planned to go to Sam's and pick up some bagged soil, I just stayed away and if need be, if haha, I could take a nap in the afternoon. Only can get five bags at a time this round, so we picked up a couple of other items. The best being, our Sam's now carries the Fancy Feast cat food. Yay!</p><p>We got home and with the temps going into the high 70s, we did some of the prep work once we got home. The clover is taking over but that is a Mike the Mower Man task. We got some of the soil mixed into the raised beds, better distributing the egg shells into the mix. We won't be able to plant tomatoes until in May, but soil prep keeps one occupied garden wise, until the next stage of the process. </p><p>Roy was able to get his workout in. So all in all with bags of dirt to be carried and toted, along with his regular workout, he did quite well. </p><p>******</p><p>Fourth Friday in a row of rainy weather. I don't mind it cause it helps me sit down and get all my notes together for Sunday. This morning on FB memories, a post from 2009 reminded me of the difficulties with my father and knowing his actions, now seeing in hindsight, helped spiral my mom quicker into her dementia/Alzheimer's. He had called and as I debated on whether to answer or voicemail it, I decided to answer because we were so close to his upcoming heart surgery. </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It was the all too familiar ring tone of my father that momentarily stopped Roy and I from our cleaning duties yesterday. I hesitated to even answer the phone because there are times it is best the calls go to voicemail and then have time to pray and think before calling back. Sometimes time diminishes the drama or whatever was so urgent a couple of hours ago, cannot even be recalled. Since my dad is anticipating heart surgery sometime after March 23, I thought best to answer. He began saying what he always says, "Nancy, this is your father." Yep a little too Star Wars but I don't think he has ever seen the movies to enjoy the humor of his words. And the next statement always holds an element of surprise, "Do you have a few minutes to talk?" OK, at that point my brain is sounding the alert alarm and calling my body to all hands on deck. As he begins to talk I either heighten the alarm to Anne Frank sounding sirens or the three buzz sounds on the radio for the prepare alert during bad weather. He asks me about my blood type, which is O-. He says did you say B, did you say B? I have type B and type B's have more tendencies to get cancer. I'm sorry, but you are going to get cancer. Me thinking, what the heck? I again told him O-. He was rather disappointed to hear that news. Then he gleefully told me well, I wasn't out of the woods, I could get cancer. Who does this? It is usually an over worrying and micro managing mom who calls with this kind of information.</span></p><p><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> In hindsight, I can see that narcissistic personality all over this. Roy also talked with him that day and found out that my father wasn't having valve replacement surgery but going in as an outpatient for some tests. I think this is the first time that my father dealt with Work Mode Roy. He is totally different in work mode. He gave my father some marching orders and out of shock in how talked to him, we remember my father doing everything that Roy <strike>demanded</strike> uh requested. How timely as we begin to study Jacob, the deceiver as well as being the deceived. An encounter with God transformed Jacob, sadly I cannot say the same about my father. I do love that his friend/caregiver asked him every time she saw him, if he really knew Jesus. She'd go over the plan of salvation with him on every visit. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I've been reading a biography on Donald Barnhouse, well known preacher in the 1940-1950s. His second wife wrote it and man oh man, it is powerful. This man really had a way with the scriptures but knowing the change in him, later in life not so bombastic but loved people God's way. I am also reading the Cloverdale or Cloverleaf novel of Miss Budge by Daphne Simpkins. Such a message given in the folds of a fictional church and friends. Along with the study and reading I did for last week's lesson, as they say, I have more than I can say grace over but in a reading world, it's a great place to be. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Maybe it is the rainy weather but The Boys are quiet this morning. GMoey is extra needy, Mr Mo is slinking around and Willie is more affectionate. Or maybe they've done something that we haven't discovered yet. Even Roy is napping but he had a busy Thursday. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-21080950559365539442024-03-12T08:13:00.000-05:002024-03-12T08:13:21.098-05:00It's A Small World or Is It My Little World?<p> Monday morning after Daylight Saving change. The Feral Fam is having none of it but they'll soon adjust just like we will. It is easier to adjust when one is retired, though. While not minding the fall back portion of this thing, it was harder because it was dark at 5:00 pm and people who usually work past that hour hit the road with everyone else cause it is dark and time to go home. The first week of fall back traffic is horrible in Houston. </p><p>I watched a reels, has to be short cause the attention span is not all the way back, on a way to approach getting older. Sometimes, when thinking of making a change in the house or in the yard that wouldn't have phased me one bit when younger, I have to remember that the change, like moving furniture, will be more difficult now or at least take a lot more time. The person speaking to a group on reels talks about how our world gets smaller as we age. Some fight it wrapping their personality and strength to battle against this phenonium. They are who they are because of their work or title. Well, that's what we tell ourselves. For years I repeated to myself what I had been told or called all my life. With a therapist and with the Lord, that doesn't even play anymore. Now, there are things that will trigger a response, but I now acknowledge that sooner than later. Others take and choose what they want in that smaller world and to me that seems the best choice. When you're working there is all kinds of interaction but as one retires and then enjoys those retirement years, subject matter naturally declines. Truthfully, I did not like all the interaction one has at work so that was not a loss for me. But, our world has gotten smaller but it has gotten more beautiful so there is that trade off. Especially with warm temps of late, all the budding trees are doing just that...buddying but it looks like frost tonight and maybe next week or so. Our peach and plum trees are blooming all over. As an introverted extrovert, I am leaning more toward that introvert part of me. It is interesting how each of us choose to relate to the smaller world concept. Of course, with the smaller world we can take much more interest in us which is boring to others. The key is our view and observation skills in the daily life we each live. I love reading about others adventures on FB or their hobbies or whatever that is positive. </p><p>Roy wanted more blackberry bushes so we got a couple and got them in the dirt. We also cut back the dead offshoots of our mature plants. We contemplated planting them in another part of the garden but realized the best place is with the others. The trellises we bought last year have finally come into play and got those arranged for the blackberry bushes to wind around them. You might say Nancy, this part of your smaller world is boring and you are correct to say that but the blog is written many times for me, to remember dates and details that get pushed to the back of our minds. </p><p>We finished up Genesis 21 and went right to Genesis 24 as we've taken extra time looking at the Plan B that was Sarah's idea and really hasn't worked out well as we read the story. Hagar and Ism*el are sent away with limited provisions. Abraham was sad letting Ish go, but we learn in Galatians that one life represents the fruitful spirit of God and the other the flesh. I had read an article on laying your Is*m*el down. I gave the example used in article about Dr Donald Barnhouse, a noted theologian of his day. Billy Graham said he never had known anyone like Barnhouse that had such a knowledge and grasp about the scriptures. I have never heard of Barnhouse and his remarkable change late in life. He said if you agreed with him on 95% of theology, he would spend the rest of his days beating you down about the 5% that y'all didn't agree on. He made enemies from every side of the spectrum. It's like rival football schools in the SEC, we may not like other teams but the thing that brings us together is, we all don't like Alabama. That may change now that Saban is gone...anyhoo... Late in his life, Barnhouse not Saban, decided to change. He made a new year resolution and his friends and enemies could not believe the change in this man. He was kind and loving, not argumentative and obtuse. Preaching the gospel was life in the Spirit, his approach to present it was just all about the flesh. I shared with the class that during the two weeks I had to study this, I had learned a lot about some of my approaches toward people and situations. The off the cuff remarks and the smart aleck remarks are the sins that so easily beset me. In this I realized something had been wrong in my approach. At First Baptist I encountered a vexing situation. It was maddening, frustrating, limiting, unfair and undeserved. It also hurt me deeply and I tried to avoid it and person at all costs. So sometimes when confronted with unfairness I resort to the off the cuff remark. Who am I kidding, I become relentless in taking every opportunity to attack, whether by off the cuff or witty and clever, curated smart aleck responses. (note, back in the day curated wasn't ever used or maybe not even a real word.) After a period of time, I came to the conclusion I was supposed to let this go and give it to the Lord, the situation which in turn stopped me from saying all those things that amused me. That's where I left it until a friend visiting me here in the mountains challenged and questioned me why. Why didn't I do this thing that she felt I was good with. Being that good Baptist that I am, my response and said in my best holy voice, I laid that at Jesus's feet. She said well I am going to pray that He shows you to pick it back up. That night, I was extended an invitation and my friend was sitting there with me at that time. She said, dang, I didn't even get a chance to pray about it and the Lord has already done something about it. You see, I would have said no to the request if my Houston friend hadn't expressed her question to me. In my holy voice I would have once said again, no I laid that down and gave it to God. This long story to say this, until these past two weeks I now realize it wasn't to lay down the thing God gifted me to do, it was to lay down the fleshly response to it and trust the Lord. My goodness clever words, snubs and snubbing, terse words and hurt feelings on both sides are a lot of work and takes a lot of energy. It was all about my approach, that is what God wanted, to trust Him with all of this. </p><p>Our yard is so green, with clover. The tulips keep pushing through and soon those buds and blooms with show. Still have quite a few daffodils in the back blooming. Love those pops of yellow. </p><p>It is now Tuesday and Monday wasn't nearly productive enough but I felt horrible. Shoulders hurt, hip hurt with just a general malaise. It was an afternoon of a heating pad and Bio Freeze. We switched back to cotton sheets yesterday and that made a word of difference in my sleep as well as not waking up sore with aches and pains. What a difference that little change made. </p><p>Last night a memory popped up from several years ago as I remembered the youth musical in 1972, Natural High. Our church really loved youth ministry and that included youth choir. We did the musical and as I remember it was the first time they let girls wear pants, well pant suits. My mom made me a hot pink pant suit with white trim. Hey, it was the 70s! I shared the album cover on FB and tagged a few friends who were in choir back in the day. I listened to most of the album on You Tube and many songs I could sing just like yesterday, even singing alto. My favorite song from that musical is, My Little World. Listened to it several times remember the many, many times a great big God came right into my little world and the change...sometimes difficult but always for the best. I like the song My Little World better than with my earlier paragraph about our world getting smaller. That triggers the song It's a Small World Afterall. You can thank me later for that musical hint that might stay with you all day. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-33613477157057876052024-03-09T08:31:00.001-06:002024-03-09T08:31:43.024-06:00Cat Wrangling and Other Such Stuff<p> I'm cat wrangling again today. One of the cats discovered by our redneck solution, uh temporary solution, a small slit in the screen whereby gaining access to the back porch. I thought I was seeing the shadow of one of The Boys in reflection but no, it was a cat not in the hat but on the porch. My presence, compete with my disheveled appearance of hair straight up and flannel robe. Think a messy Aunt Bea or Granny Clampett. I opened up the screen doors and finally nutsy the cat gave up going against the screen and leapt to victory out the door. That's when I began looking for his access and found the small opening. Another hint was his going to that spot and trying to get out. Got a long piece of metal from when we got our metal roof and put it up against the screen, using some small flat rocks to hold in place, dag nab it...That way when Roy gets home from his unplanned trip to Lowe's after working out we can fix it but in case the curiosity that could kill that cat temps, I'll hear the rocks falling on the porch. Yeee doggies! </p><p>Via my friend Pam, I discovered the joys of reading the Mildred Budge series. I started the first book written and it is kind of rough. Not polished like after writing several books of a character. So for now I have skipped that book and reading the Cloverleaf book. It's in the title and I cannot remember titles. Miss Budge is an older lady, retired teacher, never married but dutiful church member. She has a soft side but she doesn't show it often. She was working in the clothes closet at her church, she had parted with a few strong, respectful polyester blouses and hanging them up for the missionary conference where they helped missionaries and part of that help was good used clothes. The thrice widowed Liz came in, to leave her third husband's clothes and the two Sunday School members begin a conversation that softens up as they talk. Mildred begins to see beyond the facade of Liz and maybe she has misjudged her fellow classmate. Mildred ponders her change of heart and she places it right on the practice that church feels like home. Liz had told her that, it just wasn't a place to be for her. Mildred ponders this and goes through her duties and such quickly in her head. She had jobs, she knows where stuff is and she is always on the lookout for a mess to clean up or a speck of dust to destroy. She never had thought about the softer side of home, especially there at the church. That got me to thinking as well. First Baptist in Houston has always been a big church but it had a small church feel. There are so many opportunities to join others not just for study or volunteering and such, but being able to make friends while doing these things helped many get over that First is too big for me feeling. At First Baptist, I mainly made my first friends at the fitness center and in choir. I am so thankful for the vision that Brother John had to build up the Body of Christ, to be able to go out and do the work, both physically and more importantly, spiritually. Guess church is like home too when someone in the family is mad and at odds with other family members. I like thinking since I haven't finished the book, that good old Mildred lets some of that legalism go. I do like that she practices praying without ceasing and we get that look into her prayer life from the author. </p><p>Roy brought home stuff from Lowe's and we fixed up the screen near the back porch door. We are thinking that we might try to find someone who can do kickplates to put around the bottom of the screens. For the most part the back porch isn't of interest to the cats but every once in a while, you have a cat that seems obsessed with the mystery of the porch. We got everything done before the rain hit. </p><p>This week while studying for Sunday, no surprise here, but the lesson took a different direction. There is something about some of the phrasing or wording that gets my attention. I have been researching two of those phrases. I haven't found out that much about them but that hasn't thwarted my pondering and meditating on them. This whole story of Abraham has come alive for me. I remember we were doing the Patriarch study on Tuesday nights with Beth Moore and Katrina had hit New Orleans and we had many people in Houston sheltering. Franklin Avenue Baptist began having their services at First and office space was provided for their staff. It was looking like Hurricane Rita was on a direct path for Houston. We met that Tuesday night and Beth said, who knows what will happen but we will trust the Lord. Roy and I made the decision late that since everyone was headed west, we would head east kind of in the path of the storm but we felt we could beat it. We were heading toward Shreveport. All along the way our plan had been if we reach Beaumont and we don't think we can make it, we will turn around because that is the amount of gas mileage we would have. To this day, I have never seen this sign again, but while Exxon stations were packed along the route, we noticed this little sign pointing to a neighborhood Diamond Shamrock station. There it was, no line and as dark as pitch. We filled up and headed back to I 10 making our turn toward Shreveport in just a few miles. With the study of Abraham fresh in my heart, I told Roy we are like Abraham and Sarah, we are going someplace but we have to have faith that the Lord will get us there. Do you know that all through the years Roy and I have tried to find that gas station. It is nowhere to be found. I think we had a Hagar experience like she had when she and Ishmael were wandering aimlessly in the desert. God heard their cries, she saw the well. God heard our cries and we saw the sign. In commentaries I've read, the discussion is was the well always there or did God create that well just for her? I don't know about that nor do I know about that gas station we found, but it was all truly God. He is the God who sees and hears us. </p><p>The second house across the way has sold and the people moved in this week. We were not around for their actual moving day nor have we seen them. It seems strange to have those houses there now. It is also strange not seeing Mary Joyce across the way. Her daffodils are blooming and she loved her little plot of flowers. </p><p>The Boys are full of energy this morning. Thundering paws break up any silence around here. At least we know they are on the move and soon will come nap time.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-40668012960387168542024-03-08T08:55:00.000-06:002024-03-08T08:55:47.891-06:00Sweet Dreams of Baylor and Basketball<p> We finally got around to changing out the batteries in the smoke alarms. Yes, that exciting adventure of dodging loud beeps. The hardest battery change out is downstairs and we conquered that one right off the bat. We thought those loud beeps would scare Mr Mo and GMoey but they diligently hung around with us because all hallways lead to the bonus room where treats may or may not be given out. This trip was a bust for the cats since being all wrapped up in the changing of the guard so to speak. </p><p>We are having more foggy mornings at this time of year. I am reminding the month of August when foggy mornings are counted as days of snowfall, August has lied to us the past few years. It was 71 Sunday afternoon and I took the warm temp opportunity to go out to the raised beds where the tulips are planted. Those stems are up from the dirt, they arose. Now waiting for blooms. Daffodils are still blooming and that is so welcomed because that is what is mainly in the back. </p><p>The Garage at the Catmore Estate closed Saturday afternoon, although Fido gets special privileges to spend the night. We got the garage swept out, at least good enough for the first pass and now are going through the blankets and such, shaking them out before we wash them. </p><p>We got halfway through the lesson on Sunday morning. We finished up with Lot and got tight into the birth of Isaac. Sometimes it is difficult for me to like Sarah. Tends toward bitter but at some point her faith is redeemed and recognized cause she makes it into the hall of faith in Hebrews. I feel more for Hagar cause she has been thrown into the drama and the time she tried to assert her newfound rank, well...Sarai didn't like that at all. I did remind everyone was Sarah was menopausal and the high temps and hot flashes made her a little cranky. Heck, it made me cranky with Houston heat and hot flashes. </p><p>I had a Baylor dream last night. I used to have those dreams about four times a year and the theme of most of those dreams are as an adult going to Baylor. Last night's dream I was college age and navigating classes and such. My most rememberable Baylor dream is, Roy sends me to college at Baylor and he got a good deal on my room and board. Why? Because my room opened up as overflow in the cafeteria. Kind of like pocket doors. </p><p>*******</p><p>The next night after the Baylor dream, I had a basketball dream where in Kim Mulkey kept asking me, "why didn't you play basketball?" Even in my dream I told the real story. I learned the game while in junior high and at that time, three players were in circles and could only shoot from those circles and guards stay on their own side of center court. Only the center, usually me, could travel the length of the court but get this, could only dribble three times and had to make some wild pass. I got so confused over the pivot foot and when and where I could dribble. In high school, the rules were changed, teams only had five players, no silly three dribble rule, but it was the pivot foot that got me, still. I was horrible at basketball, took fouls personally but I could block. Back to the dream, I mean nightmare of every few steps having Coach ask me why didn't I play basketball? In one segment of the dream when she asked why didn't I play for her, I reminded her I was eight or nine years older than her. Just as there is no crying in baseball, I have a feeling playing for coach would mean there is no crying in basketball. Believe me, I would be crying a lot. </p><p>I am happy to report no notable dreams last night. I was tired. We ventured to Costco yesterday. Got the early start, really wasted no time there and got home after 2:00. Raised bed soil was on sale as well as other needed stuff. We bought several boxes of compactor bags that we use as garbage bags. Love the thickness and they hold more garbage. Bet you could have gone all day without reading that bit of newsy news. We had our $1.50 hot dog lunch with a strawberry sundae for dessert. Unloaded our ever so full cart, buggy and then went back into Costco for the dirt. Then, we headed home. We might give up the Costco membership because I 26 is just going to get worse with all the expanding and new construction. Next time we might opt to go to Greenville and that Costco and see if that works. We haven't been to Costco since September or October of last year. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-69297650221922900372024-03-02T08:20:00.000-06:002024-03-02T08:20:16.301-06:00Tea Biscuits, Honey and Stuff<p> The new tulip and daffodil bulbs we planted in the raised beds are finally showing stems. In the back several more daffodils have bloomed. Soon, those tulips will be showing as well. I love living in a place where you don't have to dig up the bulbs cause it is cold enough here for them to remain in the ground. The little blast of cold temps last night doesn't seem to have caused any damage. </p><p>Monday morning found us up and out of the house earlier than usual. We needed to make a much needed and a much rescheduled trip to Sam's. This is the best part of the Plus membership, going before 10:00 am. It seems that we stuck to our shopping list and didn't pick up anything except maybe for a shirt. We were going to make a couple of more errand stops but our chosen route had a huge accident on it and people sat in traffic for two hours. </p><p>Tuesday, we celebrated Roy's birthday. Started off the day with a shave and a haircut, two bits. No, just haircuts for both of us. Always a joy to see Tammy and laugh and visit with her. After getting all hair spiffy, we drove over to Burnsville for Roy's birthday lunch. He loves Pig and Grits! He loves their banana pudding so...we needed to go there since he doesn't eat birthday cake. He had the brisket and I had a lunch of sides which included, fried okra, collards, mac and cheese, coleslaw and the afore mentioned banana pudding. What is so ironic is that when we have gone before the parking lot is packed but when go inside tables are available. On Tuesday, the parking lot actually had plenty of close by parking but when we got inside there was a thirty minute wait. Y'all, it was worth the wait. After waddling out the door, we went to downtown Burnsville for a little shopping. Uh, that was for me not so much to celebrate Roy's birthday. Anyway, I think I had the most noticeable "stern" answers to a couple of questions mainly due to the fact, clearing throat, I am of the older ilk. Short, terse, stern responses with not so much patience. She could have been having a bad day or worried about something else, so I chose to say, oops, I must be wrong on the name cause that is not hard for me. Truthfully, that has been for all my life, being bad with names. Then, people more forgiving, now, not so much. Of course Roy is trying to help with clarification but all it is doing is prolonging the time cause I am in the ready to exit mode. The store was hot and heat really affects me, so for the sake of no afib, the exit is becoming more expedient. Whew, finally outside where I waited for a cool blast of wind but nope just warm, humid...to the Mustang and get that AC cranking. </p><p>Wednesday morning we went over to Madison County to pick up the large mugs we special ordered. It was an beautiful drive and an exciting adventure driving up a mountain on a gravel road. So glad I had googled up the address and saw that the road was mostly gravel. Didn't know if we would need four wheel drive, thus we drove the truck. What a beautiful sight. Their home is beautiful with a copper colored metal roof. Great little private areas in the yard with benches and arbors and trellises. Two huge rottweilers greeted us at the door. We had a nice visit and such. Her husband's hobbies are wood working and metal work. He is building a shop farther down the mountain that we saw on the view up. We asked if we could take some pictures of the views but we would not include the house. That seems like the polite thing to do. Very gracious in our request and told us of a couple of things to look for on our way down the mountain. Roy and I talked about the land and views as we headed back toward the freeway. I mentioned that it was too bad we didn't know ten years ago of these places that existed, well except for the third house we looked at on top of mountain in Haywood County. Although, we would not know how to live with nature and such back in the day. Don't know that we are that good of knowing now. We do know that we are basically outsource people. We have seen a few deer and turkeys but never a bear on our property. These conversations usually end like this...if we were younger.... Oh well, we are not and we love where we live so all that other is just wishful thinking that isn't very productive. </p><p>******</p><p>Working in earnest on Sunday's lesson. Once again the fine folks at Lifeway skip over the birth of Isaac and go right to Abraham and Isaac on the mountain. So, it feels like one of those many, many times where the background material leading up to this moment needs to be looked at and talked about. Once again we meet Hagar and once again she is in circumstances that are mainly beyond her control but somewhere in the back of her mind she must be remembering "the God who sees." In this case He is the God who hears because He hears the cries of her son as well as her cries out there in the wilderness and desert of Beersheba. </p><p>Out of the three Boys, Mr Mo is the least feral of them all. He has taken to sitting beside me in the afternoons or on my lap. He is still the neediest one out of the three. Jealousy plays a huge part in that. Since GMoey's teeth removal, we have found that he likes the squeeze treats in a tube like package. He and Willie love them, the Mr not so much. I try to take opportunities to give them what I have started calling it, squeeze cheese, individually. Sometimes that doesn't work out but it is finding those individual attentions that keep building levels of trust. I don't think I mentioned Cha Nay Nay's quick trip into the house. She got scared right off and was climbing the windows in the kitchen and in the dinning room trying to get out. She hissed her way out the back door. That adventure hasn't affected her need for pets and attention. </p><p>Roy got his workout in yesterday afternoon. It was kind of touch and go cause it was a rather coolish day. He and a whole bunch of people had the same idea since he said the gym was really crowded. He wasn't able to get his balance work in. He also made a quick stop in at Publix. This week the bacon we like is BOGO so, he is storing up as many as possible. </p><p>The other day, I was looking at FB memories and those stressful and trying times of getting my dad into assisted living to recover from a fall or a stroke. We never got the truth from him cause he told a different story of what happened to my brother. Looking back at what I wrote, now I can see the beginning of the end of our relationship with him. Those were some weeks that I was so tempted to treat him like he had treated me when I was growing up. God provided a way out of that temptation. He snuck in and out of that assisted living place and threw all kinds of fits and arguments. I knew then, he being a narcissist would not have done those arguments in front of people because there wasn't anyway he could redeem what he said to look like a victim. My response was even and not angry...that is the Lord by the way. He lost the argument that day but he found meaner and more evil to pull in just a few weeks. </p><p>****</p><p>Foggy Saturday morning after a chilly Friday with sleet then changing into rain. I wore my favorite beat up sweatshirt that makes me feel all cozy to settle into a day. I worked on the lesson as well as started another Mildred Budge book. I also made tuna fish sandwiches for lunch, something I have not done in a long time. I used to go over to the Fresh Market to get their tuna salad from the deli but when it went up to $12.00 a pound meaning I was paying over $6.00 for a half of pound, it got cut out of the budget. In fact going to The Fresh Market kind of got kicked out of the rotation due to the Publix influence. Yesterday, I cut up dill pickles, more like chopped up dill pickles, a tad of pickle juice and Duke's. My sandwich was delicious. </p><p>This morning I added a couple of tea biscuits with my eggs, bacon, and cantaloupe. Used honey from our neighbors bees. Great way to begin the day. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-67629531712540294672024-02-29T07:27:00.001-06:002024-02-29T07:27:45.090-06:00Dormant Is Leaving, Hope On The Horizon<p> Yesterday, late afternoon the sky to the north/northeast of us sure looked like snow skies. The steely gray overshadowed us either of the promise of snow or the famous dry ridge split with the promise of snow falling to the north of us. No matter, the sky was beautiful and when I tried to take a picture of it, the camera could not pick up the nuances and blending of colors. So, I just opted for the picture of our neighbor's horses. A couple of weeks ago I tried to take a picture of the steeple at the church just a piece down the road but it didn't turn out well. Yesterday, was the better day for picture taking. With the rise of our road from our point of view, all we can see is the steeple. Not the church building or the cemetery. Guess the lesson is look to what points you to God. Of course, I am going to leave all that kind of writing, right there. </p><p>The dermatologist call came earlier than expected yesterday in the late afternoon. The biopsy did show the spot on my arm was pre-cancerous but the biopsy removed it. So, didn't have to go back for a deeper or more extensive biopsy. All for that! What's funny is this spot showed up a couple of years ago and it had been removed by the lovely freezing method. So, not a blip on the radar for me yet I was concerned for another mole on my right arm. Nothing, all looked there... When we left the doctor office I told Roy that I felt the peace of God on this situation and it would not be anything. Just have to change out bandages and keep Aquafer on it for a week or so. Can do! </p><p>When I was younger I wouldn't have believed that I would be content being around home and not taking a lot of trips. The fact is, I have never been a good traveler and I now I can say, Hello my name is Nancy. It has been five years since doing any extensive traveling. It could be longer but hey, it is just a little after 9:00 am and had no plans of doing math this morning. Tuesday, the doctor making small talk as she was making the rounds so to speak of connect the dot with my moles and freckles asked if we had any travel plans for the summer. With a resounding, no, I think she was a bit shocked. Told her we have day trips planned but nothing extensive. Someday, I would like to go to the outer banks but you know talking of beaches probably isn't the smartest thing to do at the dermatologist. Besides, I would like to go in the fall time of year. We would probably do a vacation rental more than a hotel. </p><p>********</p><p>I've been thinking about the Sunday School teachers that influenced my life for the good as a child and into high school. Oh, I also had some teachers that influenced me for the bad but it wasn't so much about what they taught, more like their attitude toward the lesson and the class. Even thinking of teachers as an adult there are those who use gimmicks and such to fill their teaching time. Thankfully, there were just a few if only one of those. But as a kiddo Mrs. Gandy, Mary Jo Carleton, Margaret Simmons and Ryn Bower made huge inroads to how I teach today. All those teachers were serious students of the Bible but they had fun teaching God's Word and with that fun it made us all sit up and listen cause you never knew when something funny might just be afoot. Especially Mary Jo. She was one of my mom's best friends and Mary Jo could and would make everything a whole lot of fun. She gave great hints on how gum and Vicks Vapo Rub could be the very things of practical and wonderful antics both at home and to cars. Of course this is back in the day before security cameras picked up your every move. </p><p>I think our new neighbors across the road are musicians, like rock and roll or whatever you call it now. They are good and the music while not in my wheelhouse of favorites makes me think I can request I<span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px;">n a gadda da vida,</span> , by Iron Butterfly. That would help me plant flowers quicker in the spring. </p><p>We had our fourth Sunday Fellowship Lunch yesterday. Always a lot of fun to get to visit with friends. Our pastor has that nasty stomach virus that is going around. So we had a fill in Sunday morning. </p><p>*****</p><p>Here we are on a Thursday morning. A beautiful sunshiny morning. People began moving into the two story house across the road yesterday. I can't help but wonder if they realized just how close they are to the road. After a rainy afternoon, the traffic was especially plenteous and noisy last night. I am thinking of bringing this post to a close and beginning a new post later today. I need to work on the lesson for Sunday, although we didn't get finished with last week's lesson, so we will start up again where we left off. </p><p>Just a thought, but I wonder if the boring group suggested to me by FB, which I think is something else entirely, is based on them thinking I have a boring life. No, life is exciting and wonderous especially once again having the privilege of watching dormant trees and plants begin that hopeful journey into spring. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-86999212305802574752024-02-23T08:46:00.000-06:002024-02-23T08:46:35.715-06:00Life Continues in the Mountains<p> The Feral Fam, The Boys, Roy and I have had our breakfast on this chilly morning. It is warming up into the sixties this afternoon. The generator people will be in our area today and will be doing the spring maintenance this afternoon. Guess the countdown to spring is on but it seems likely we will have a winter blast in March or April. </p><p>Yesterday, was the follow up and mole patrol appointment with the dermatologist. Originally, we planned lunch and such before the appointment but with Roy's new found interest of easing into a day, we just went to the appointment. The staff there is so nice and they get you in, looked at and out in a decent period of time. Had a skin biopsy of a place on my arm and had some pre-cancerous places on my upper lip. Those got blasted. So probably in a week or so I will know the results of the place on my arm. In my heart of hearts I feel that it is all good. The places I pointed out to her that I was a bit concerned about...yay, nothing! The spot she biopsied, didn't even get a blip on my radar. So thankful the traffic coming and going was manageable. I am also thankful that the close call with being side swiped by a huge truck and horse trailer along with being pinned in by a cube truck was escapable, barely. I did get ahead of the back end of the trailer as the truck changed lanes. Whew! Thank you, Lord!</p><p>GMoey is really doing well. He is playful and has energy. We've only had one throw up or clean up on aisle 9 as we call it. That was our fault cause we didn't notice that he got into Mr Mo's dry food. Stomatitis is one of those things that have no cause in why certain cats develop it. GMoey is becoming more and more of a lap cat, yay, and Mr Mo will actually come to you when called, mostly...he is still a cat. Willie is still the wild child but little by little, we are making inroads with him. He is not a study buddy yet, but he naps under the daybed when the other two nap beside me in the afternoons. They sometimes influence me into taking a short nap. </p><p>*********</p><p>We have punted original plans till tomorrow. Not feeling it to mess with the bandage on my arm cause of the bleeding. Ugh! This afternoon though, I will have to deal with it but not so much in a rush. </p><p>Roy has his new camera choices down to one or two choices. He saw the camera he really likes is cheaper at Walmart than Amazon. For the first time he is leaning toward a non Cannon camera. His favorite camera was stolen during his ordeal in Mobile...ooh, that rhymes. He just isn't that happy with the one he bought for here. Once he makes his final choice, I am excited to get out and about in spring. Cause we will be looking for scenes and places for him to practice his photography. </p><p>We braved the old people at Publix on Wednesday. If you arrive a little bit before the horde, traversing the aisles is much easier. Especially since I am married to a cart blocking kind of guy. He is working on that but if he sees a deal, he is off to the races to the deal. Thus, I have just identified us as older types. We hit Ingles as well cause Pepsi products are on sale...and Ingles has a great selection of Easter candy. We also did another old person thing, Roy set off the alarm upon returning home. At least it was not the panic alarm and I was able to cancel the call before time ran out. Our regular routine got upset a bit and thus the alarm debacle. </p><p>*******</p><p>The big reveal in changing the bandage on my arm was last night...yuck! That's all I am going to say about that but so yucky, I just stayed upstairs and didn't watch the first part of the LSU Auburn women's basketball game. I do think I am having a reaction again to the adhesive. I think Roy might have watched till halftime. I fell asleep rather easily last night after loosing a couple hours of sleep the night before. I had a nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep. I don't usually have bad dreams but have had three nights of having them. Last night, no. So thankful. </p><p>With our day beginning rather foggy and now changing into rain, we will probably stick around the house today and get several projects finished up. Roy changed to a CBS night class from early Friday mornings. It makes it an much easier Friday morning that's for sure. </p><p>For some reason a FB group that FB thought I would be interested in showed up in my timeline. You know...basically it is about being boring. Well, I guess to some there might be the thinking that truly, truly life now is too basic and too boring. The funny thing about the FB group is I think it is a cheap front to meet others cause why would you add at the bottom of your boring post, your dress size and shoe size or your age or fuzzy status. Not all do that but some. Now, I am not admitting to be being a boring person with a boring life. In fact, I totally feel the opposite, well about life. I can't help it if some fine me boring just like some find me a bit too much. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-66446624623045921262024-02-19T08:26:00.002-06:002024-02-19T08:26:30.681-06:00He Still Overachieves But Now Starts In The Afternoon<p> Good morning on this coolish but sunny Friday morning. Roy has an eye doctor appointment and I have the plan of taking the unorganized notes for the lesson on Sunday and putting them in a notebook in some kind of order. </p><p>The flash of two cats running and chasing flew past the desk just now so I think it is safe to say GMoey is on the road to recovery from his dental procedure. He really is doing well. The vet was able to save his canine teeth but everything is gone. She said the teeth came out easily because they were in such bad shape. I am really thankful for those Penny videos of her stomatitis journey. GMoey, once we figured out how he needs to be fed and with the surgery is playful and active. He still takes the best naps in the afternoon but playing with toys and with his cuzbros has returned. He is not too crazy about his anti-inflammatory meds but he gets a churo treat as a reward. </p><p>Once again, we ordered hamburger meat from Troyer's. A lovely drive through the farmland of East TN but there are several new homes being built in and around the pastures. All the fields looked like they are ready for the beginning of planting. One of our favorite barns is in the process of being torn down. Glad we got pics when we did several years ago. Beside the old, falling in barn, a row of old junky cars that must have been in the barn line the back side of the property. We arrived at Troyer's just before the busy part of the day begins. We picked up a few more goodies and then headed toward Erwin. It felt like Friday all day yesterday because our trips over the mountains into TN are mostly on Fridays. Stopped at Walmart and Food City and then rewarded ourselves for jobs well done we got burgers, fries and shakes from Pal's. On the way to TN we saw people working in one of the big flowerbeds at the NC Welcome Center. Over the years different flowers have graced those beds but my all time favorite is the poppies. </p><p>Just looked out back and two unknown cats are sitting in the yard. A black and white I've never seen and a ginger cat that looks a bit like Charlie. Roy's presence scarred them off down the gravel road. We have converted another feral cat to the fold of those who trust us. The last litter, the runt of the litter has watched us with Fido, Cha Nay Nay and Beanie. He started hanging close by and he meows a little squeaky meow. In the past week he now runs to us for pets and has his own little dish to be fed right next to Fido. I was calling him Boo Boo Kitty, but Roy's name for him has stuck, Squeaky or Squeak. </p><p>********</p><p>It is 9:21 on Saturday morning and we are already below freezing. What a difference a day makes. A cloudy day at that but our grass in the front yard is so green. Mike the Mower Man fertilized it at the end of the season last year. With all the precip, it is doing well. Roy continues to prep the beds that tomatoes will be planted in this spring, well in May. We are considering another raised bed to grow another vegetable, but we are still in the discussion stages in that, mainly what would we like to plant. </p><p>Got the roast in the slow cooker and I can take in the delicious fragrance of veggie and meat slowly cooking. A great accoutrement with a cloudy and chilly day. The forecast for March, April and May is for milder temps with above average rain. Might be the last roast of the season and I have the makings for one last round of taco soup. My winter mainstays for suppers and leftovers for lunch. </p><p>Once again it is time to teach on Abram, Sarai and Hagar. This whole week I have thought of them in the terms of being on the Dr Phil Show or other shows like that. Both Sarai and Hagar being spicy and salty with their words. </p><p>*******</p><p>We made it through the Abram, Sarai and Hagar scriptures yesterday. I told the class we were supposed to be in chapter 17 but I thought this portion needed to be looked at because we all need to remember and know that He is the God who sees me. Also since the least preached portion of scripture preached by men is the woman with the issue of blood, I figured I would give circumcision a pass in the 17th chapter. </p><p>Roy was kind of down for the count Friday afternoon. The combination of eye drops dilating his eyes were stronger this time. He had blurred vision almost all day. I am so happy he made it home cause he said he shouldn't have been driving. Usually, there is not a problem with this. </p><p>We are both easing into the day. I love how Roy has embraced this concept in retirement. Oh, yes, he still overachieves but starts in the afternoon. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-38422820464841599432024-02-13T07:30:00.001-06:002024-02-13T07:30:36.343-06:00Food, Fun and Tooth Extractions<p> Just finished looking at FB memories for February 8th throughout the years. In no special order, it was the day I was released from PT when I broke my hip, meaning I was ready to pack up and head back home to the mountains. In PT we were doing cane work and I came up with the name Cane-Nan because I was going to the promised land. It snowed on this date several times throughout the years. The memorable event of February 8th, my last babysitting job and I failed miserably. Peggy at home recovering from knee replacement and someone needed to be there to answer the door when PT came. I brought her breakfast from McDonalds but I accidently dropped her McDonald Coke while bringing it into the house. Like she said so many years ago, you get what you pay for...I don't remember if I left to get a replacement or not. </p><p>We met our neighbors across the road yesterday afternoon. We were out picking up broken branches in the big flowerbed that I want to return to grass. Jessi and Mila were in front of their home and we waved. Why did Jessi and Mila cross the road? To get to the other side and meet neighbors. Had a pleasant conversation of this and that. They bought the lot next to them so they can garden and build a garage. Funny, until we met, I would say well, I guess the new neighbors are seeing first hand how loud the road traffic is. Last night traffic seemed especially noisy and I was concerned that Mila, a toddler, might have trouble going to sleep. Hmm...just meeting them changed my mindset. We talked about the beautiful sunrises and of course I had to tell her about produce stands etc. Jessi said, I am sorry we ruined your view and you know there was a day I was upset about that. Not now though. I have come to terms with that and I am learning to find and notice beauty other than in the obvious places. The two story house next to them is under contract and it looks like another house or two will be built higher up and to the right across the way. Our trees cover that view for most of the year, so that's good. </p><p>*******</p><p>Christy's Crafts, Pig and Grits and Lamp Post Vintage Market were the destinations yesterday and we almost made it home in front of the rain, but alas we hit a couple of rain showers. I am really excited about the purchases at Christy's. Even in her area commercialism is rearing its head. Not houses being built but the quest is for rock. While we were there a neighbor came by and they were discussing the dilemma in their area. The new wrinkle for us is, someone has discovered muffler less cars and their joy of running those cars in the evenings and in the middle of the night. Our neighbor called the sheriff to see what if anything could be done. Until 4:00 am this morning, they had taken the night off. </p><p>So, about yesterday...it was so fun! We tried lunch at Pig and Grits and it was fabulous. They have country fried steak which in Texas lingo is chicken fried steak. Pepper gravy, awesome. But the finishing off of the meal was the banana pudding. The best I think I have ever had. Oh my we left stuffed. We don't eat big meals like that anymore and my stomach reminded me that it needed advance notice before I stuff myself. Also more fat content than I eat and so last night I was getting pretty sleepy. </p><p>And just like that it is Monday morning. Supposed to be a rainy day and that is fine by me. Rainy days and Mondays do not get me down, neither does the month of January but I have always marched to the beat of a different drummer. </p><p>After church yesterday we had a senior adult Valentine lunch. Gosh, it still feels weird to think of myself as a senior adult. Soup and salad and great desserts. Oh and baked potatoes. It was such a good time of visiting with friends around the table. We don't get a whole lot of opportunities to do that. Oh and there was banana pudding for dessert, so it was all good. On the way to church the clouds laid on those mountain tops and valleys in such a unique way. I wish we could have stopped to take a pic but as it is, rural roads have very little opportunity to find a pull off spot. </p><p>It is that time of year and guess at that time of life where we have options from all kinds of tours geared toward the older set. Doesn't really appeal to me but see above paragraph referencing senior adult lunch. I'll never forget seeing some tour groups of the older set touring through the Biltmore Estate. Looks like they had been to the house and were in Antler Hill Village. Most of them were carrying the three bottle box of wine that they used to use from purchases at the winery and they were sitting at the Creamery wondering when the bus would return so they could go sit on the bus. None of them talked, just a way off stare of searching the parking lot for said busses. And most of the women wore white pants. What!? The risk of spillage goes up. </p><p>It is Tuesday. Roy just took GMoey for this tooth extraction. GMoey has been feeling so much better since we feed him small meals throughout the day to keep him from vomiting. It is so encouraging to see his energy return and to rough house with his Cuzbros. Mr Mo and Willie were well behaved this morning upon learning breakfast would not be served until GMoey left for the vet. Willie hit that food bowl hard but Mr Mo ran upstairs just in case we decided to take more kitties. Think he has finally calmed down. </p><p>Yesterday, both Roy and I took an easy day. Neither one of us was productive although I did some studying for this coming Sunday. Prone to ponder, Lord I feel it. </p><p>Looks like all the rain has left and now we it is a coolish day. I like em like that. </p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-28186407732720032002024-02-07T07:25:00.002-06:002024-02-07T07:25:34.399-06:00Authors and Books<p> I just saw on FB a picture of 1967 cheerleaders at the junior high I attended. Back then junior high school was 7th, 8th and 9th grade so these cheerleaders would have been nineth graders when I was in seventh grade. What struck me about the picture was this, almost all the cheerleaders had long hair which had become the dominate look for the late 60's and into the 1970's. Just one cheerleader kept the teased bouffant or as we joked about the look back then the bouffant-y. Even then just kind of knowing fellow seventh graders, stories abounded about the one girl's look and that roaches had been seen coming our of her hair in home ec class. The roaches thing was an urban legend story told all over the country. Just one out of the eight cheerleaders. Seems like she kept the look all through high school as well, according to my addled memories from high school. </p><p>My reading tastes have changed and what has felt like a desert of wanting to read has found an oasis at least one for the right now. Several times on FB the ad for Mildred Budge books would be in my timeline. A friend mentioned she had read some of the series and she has great taste in books as well as music. I ordered three of the books. Started the first one, good but it felt like the author hadn't found her dynamic, rhythm and timing. Upstairs I had one of her later books and it flows along and while being entertaining it also tells deep truths in the story without feeling like being preached to. Just some thoughts thrown out there, held together by strong characters, and some laughter. What I read last night hit me deeply. The reaction of a character named Belle is wonderful when called by a syrupy sweet member to see if she would like to come to the small group Bible study on Monday mornings, studying Leviticus and would she bake some cookies for the first meeting. She is asked all of this when the caller knows her situation with a husband who has dementia. Bella responds, no I am busy on Mondays, I don't want to study Leviticus and don't want to make cookies. A little time goes by and a deacon shows up at her house, just happens to be the husband of the lady who called. He interrupts her changing out cam lights in her ceiling. Mumbles something about he should help her but goes into the purpose of the visit. Wouldn't you know the husband with dementia is having a lucid day and carries on a conversation with the deacon, who just happens to be working toward becoming an elder before he is forty. The husband is now an elder emeritus and they have served in their church for years. As a final insult to Belle, he brings up church attendance, she has missed five weeks in a row and then leaves her a card with the plan of salvation on it. Boom! It feels more spiritual to do those churchy le femme things but the spiritual thing would have been to help that lady change out the remaining light bulbs. </p><p>With temps in the 60s, we worked in a flowerbed this afternoon getting things cleared. Roy also put more egg shells in his tomato beds. We also got The Garage on the Catmore Estate cleaned out a bit. Two of Camo's kittens have moved in with their cuzbros and The Feral Fam has taken them in. The third kitten of Camo was hit by car or got into something at the junky house down by the road. We found her a couple of weeks ago but hadn't written about it. We took care of her as she had already crossed the rainbow bridge. </p><p>***********</p><p>Roy was home from deacon's meeting early last night. I like it when they have short meetings. The Boys sat with me as I read but when Roy entered the house all tranquility was abandoned. The chance of treats or supper hung in the air. GMoey is doing good with his expanded time wise meal plans. </p><p>I read last night that one of my favorite authors had passed away January 30, 2024, Ellen Gilchrist. She made short stories into art form as well as a unique approach to novels and fiction. She had some of the best observations on tennis. Ellen Gilchrist was 88 years old. That only leaves Gail Godwin in my early trifecta of southern writers, the other being Ann Rivers Sidon. </p><p>This morning Roy made the decision to put the other blockers under the refrigerator so that the never ending number of small pinecones can remain unhidden. The Boy hit those pinecones under the refrig and then sit there forever trying to extricate them. Roy had helpers this morning, Mr Mo and GMoey. Helpers is a relative term. </p><p>I finished up the book I referenced earlier in this post. Laughs for sure, wisdom and lots of insights. I have started another one of the books which is short stories. Liking it as well. Very fast reading. I have also a couple of spy and WW II novels to read. Hopefully, I can latch onto something in those books that will keep me coming back. </p><p>Had one of those nights where I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I read a little more for the lesson on Sunday. I feel a little better about the direction the lesson will go. </p><p>Roy is upstairs yelling at The Boys, calling them meatballs. He calls them meatball, overgrown sardine can or fruit loops. They must be wanting to help him on his computer. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-15308219764974829502024-02-05T07:57:00.001-06:002024-02-05T07:57:39.331-06:00Gifts Plus More<p> We were talking yesterday about gifts. More specifically gifts given with words and actions. When Roy was finishing up law school, we could not afford to send him to either Bar review classes offered. He was just about to give up going to at least one by selling so many class applications. Most of his fellow night class students surprised him on that giving up night by buying their registrations from him. He was able to attend that and a friend of his gave him all his notes from the bar review class. As per Roy style, he passed on his first time taking the test. Over the years he has mentioned several times the kindness afforded to him by those long ago classmates. </p><p>It happens all too often in gift giving and receiving, the aside look that tells those who catch it, the delight in the gift or the snide private joke that passes between others. Saw this happen one time where the "joke" of the gift look was seen by the giver to another at the party. It was a wonderful gift and could be exchanged because it came from a generous return policy store, so the look didn't need to be used. The giver, whom I am guessing made sacrifices to afford the gift looked a little deflated for the rest of the party. You know, I wanted to go over to the person and console them but it wouldn't be right to do so cause it might be more embarrassing that someone else saw the look. </p><p>Today will be a fine tune of the lesson for tomorrow. We are studying Abram/Abraham and his journey from UR to Haran to Canaan. We are to look at Abram and Lot as well, but think we will cover that in next week's lesson. After studying and researching I like to read Charles Swindoll's view on the subject matter. He fills in between the spaces of cultural and historical importance. He is also a great applicable teacher. </p><p>We upped our Sam's membership to Plus a few months ago and I'm telling you that before 10:00 am shopping is the biggest asset for us. We are able to get in and out in under an hour and that includes browsing time. The main purchases are cat litter and cat food but our list included some stuff for us. We stopped by Jessi's Cakes on the way home. I have watched her on FB grow her business and a treat to come to the store. Her Banana Pudding Cake is delicious! We bought one of the smaller servings you can get instead of a whole cake. I know where my next dessert purchase will be for church functions. When we got home and got everything put up we headed to the front yard to do some maintenance. We had let the sunflower stalks and such in a pile for decomposition and easier to get bagged up. We used some of the debris for flowerbeds but we were mainly clearing the area because the stems of daffodils and tulips are breaking through the ground. This week once or twice we heard the sound of a lawnmower. We are not at that place but wow! That's not surprising in Houston but it is here. I think we will be able to get back outside this afternoon when it has warmed up a bit. Still lots of winter gardening which translates clean up to do in preparation for the arrival of false spring, then winter, then spring and so one. Roy has been putting the eggshells in the garden beds for the calcium needed especially for tomatoes. </p><p>I think the boys have settled down for maybe the second time this morning. We keep a close eye on GMoey and his consumption of food. Therein lies the key to his keeping his digestive system on an even keel. We have just had two accidents and clean ups on aisle 9. He has a lot more energy and is interested in playing. That is a good sign we are on the right path for his health. In a couple of weeks his teeth will be removed because of stomatitis. That should be a help as well. </p><p>A friend recommended the Mildred Budge series of books. I started on the first one last night. Oh my goodness, fun stories of church women probably in my age set. Kind of corny but kind of fun. I am really tired of gratuitous whatever thrown into stories to help them sell. Really, maybe just having a good story is a great selling point. Probably not because I am not in the age range publishers are trying to reach. Being a boomer is kind of like being a cuss word these days. </p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-87471748996475492202024-02-01T08:04:00.000-06:002024-02-01T08:04:28.536-06:00Memories, Money Spent at The Vet Office and Feud<p> On this very foggy morning while looking through FB memories a picture taken long ago at my grandparent's home came up. The scene, their dining room. In memories eye, I thought that was the biggest and grandest dining room ever! We could squish in and several immediate families of the family would eat together over Grandma's fried chicken and her homemade yeast rolls. The kitchen was abuzz in preparation, with grandma, aunts, and my mom getting everything together and finetuned to present on the table. Over in the living room, all the men sat around talking, waiting for the call to approach the table. Us kids, I don't remember where we were but I do know we knew enough not to get underfoot. Once we were around the table my grandfather or uncle voiced our prayer. Don't think my father ever prayed before the meal with all the family. I don't remember any of the women praying or giving thanks before a meal, but I will tell you when I prayed. If I was in the car when my grandmother drove. Whew! Always left the car with some bruising, being thrown into the passenger door with her wide swinging turns and not so smooth braking. You could get the whiplash. Nobody was wearing seatbelts back then. I don't think they were even installed yet in cars. When I was younger and the meal was just my grandparents and me, Grandma while frying chicken told me that hers was so good because she was from Kentucky and that the Colonel Sanders had stolen her recipe. You know, I believed that for years and years. </p><p>After several hours at the Vet office, Roy and GMoey returned home a little tired. X-Rays, bloodwork, and the like revealed nothing but maybe an upset stomach. They gave him some meds and Roy brought home a free can of cat food. I would like it duly noted that was an expensive can of free cat food. This morning GMoey is lively and of bright countenance. Hasn't thrown up. We are regulating his dish time. I think that is the one thing that a rescued feral cat will not give up, eating like there might not ever be another meal. Willie while always being a friendly cat with us, really hasn't until recently sought us out except when he thinks there might be food involved. Within the past week or so, he comes to us for a little bit of scratchies and pets. It is a beginning. He is the only one that is difficult to catch or even find if there is a trip to the Vet involved. He was so little and on his own because his mom died. He kept to himself because she kept him separated from the other cats. The morning I picked him up and put him inside my jacket I knew he had to come inside. He didn't fight me or be sassy, he just leaned in like he had finally found hope. </p><p>******</p><p>A trip to Hendersonville yesterday on I 26 was rather pleasant. You don't get to say that very often. Not too much traffic. While Roy was seeing Dr Andy, I went over to Southern Chicks. Boy, they have beautiful lamps which are out of my price range and they had a beautiful stretched canvas picture of sheep in a pasture but we don't have enough wall space for it. I ended up with a couple of mugs and a wooly sheep. Then I ran over to Ingles for Pepsi Zero. Timed it perfectly cause Roy was finished about the time I was paying for the Pepsi. We went back to Ingles on our way home to pick up some orange drinks, then came on back home. It had been such a good temperature in Hendersonville that we talked about doing some outside chores but when we got home, it was windy and rather cool, so we punted those plans to the curb. </p><p>It was a strange night in that with rain and other outdoor sounds, they kept me awake. I even woke up Roy once, and then he kind of dismissed it all, so.... I realized a little later a lot of the sounds I was hearing, not from outside but inside. The Boys in the bonus room and the snores from Roy in our bedroom. Roy was especially snoring, loudly. He doesn't snore that much anymore but when he does...I certainly know about it. He asked me last week what I thought about when someone uses the term alert, other than breaking news alert. My response, when your wife hears a noise in the middle of the night, the husband, goes from deep sleep to very alert. Well, he didn't particularly like that example and now I know why. </p><p>GMoey is doing well and we have discovered the best way to feed him is little meals throughout the day. He only had one accident and that at night when he could get to Willie's and Mr Mo's food. He is playful and engaged in chasing and playing. </p><p>We got our haircut and then ran over to Publix. The aggressive old people must have been there earlier. Not too bad of a shopping trip. Quick stop at Ingle's and we returned home. Yes, we live the high life. </p><p>I want to stay up and watch Feud, Truman Capote and the Swans he betrayed. Feud is being like the Original Housewives, but these rich and socialite women couldn't be construed as housewives. I know I will not make it and hopefully it will be on demand sooner than later. We don't have Hulu or I could watch it there. I have read a couple of books about this time in social history, very 1960's. The interest for me is the social dynamics and the power of small groups over many. The bait of course is wanting to be a part of the group. Over the years I have observed some of the best and some of the most haphazard small groups command and dominate. What is inevitable is this, all that comes to an end and picking up the pieces is difficult for some while others go out and create another group in which to have a coup d'etat, which isn't really the correct usage but that's all I've got mentally today. I just read reviews of Feud and they aren't very good. Slow moving plot is one of the chief complaints. Glad, I went to sleep instead of pushing through to stay up. Eastern Time Zone is difficult at times. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-29586000944756715762024-01-29T10:41:00.001-06:002024-01-29T10:41:27.062-06:00Distractions and Discipline, Might Have to Attend Bad Sunday School Teach School<p> Our Monday already has some distractions to contend with but mostly laugh at. There is a little bit of snow falling, won't stick, but when really small flakes fall I noticed something. Notice is my One Word for the year. In the midst of these small flakes a larger flake or two make appearances. Instead of the gentle fall those bigger flakes come in like bomb divers. Falls straight to the ground without a whiff or a waft. </p><p>GMoey was a tad lethargic yesterday and even before we left for church we had to do a clean up on aisle 9, the stairs, of cat regurgitation, translate that from GMoey. He has stomatitis and his teeth will be removed in February. We keep dry food away cause he swallows it whole, then we see it later in a different form as what went into his mouth. This morning we called the vet and he has an appointment later this afternoon. I was able to get some of those treats that come in a tube...liquified, in him. He has kept that down, so he is getting some nutrition. Calling the vet to talk about getting him an appointment, I was calm, gave facts and kept emotions on an even keel. When they called back with a time, that is when I went into my nervous Nellie voice...then apologized cause I realized what I was doing. Almost, yes, almost held it together. </p><p>Our other excitement didn't involve me except trying to help Roy figure out what the ruckus and noise was in the kitchen. This mechanical roar came from under the sink as he was fixing his coffee. He is pulling out cleaners and such while I got a flashlight. I think garbage disposal when weird noises come from the sink/dishwasher area. Finally, Roy realized his size 14 foot had tripped the in house vacuum cleaner that we never use. The plus is reorganized side of the cabinet and consolidating a few bottles of carpet cleaner. </p><p>We studied Nimrod and the tower of Babel yesterday. Got a later start to the lesson so I kind of rushed through it but I also got us distracted by taking a bunny trial that may or may not get me sent to bad Sunday School teacher school. Cause there are times even though I be older, I have a <strike>childlike </strike> I mean a childish sense of humor. Maybe I will share that, maybe not. Anyway, it is entirely different when one focuses on building the city being the main point. It wasn't the tower. The city kept the people from doing what God had spoken, disperse, go populate the earth, not gather together in a city not wanting to leave those social confines. The tower of Babel does have a spiritual sense in that it was considered a religious building to meet God on the tower, in the air...if He was needed. The tower was a distraction, a way to unify the people, one common goal and played on the age old fear of, God might not keep His promise. That tower was waterproof, you know, in case of flood, climb tower. Nimrod's spirit and influence is still at work today. Unify, distraction, and God cannot be trusted. Now, here is where I took the turn...I was talking about a conference and a noted SBC type had attended. Not the type of conference you might find a SBC type...much less a woman SBC type. So, let's see how can I say this without really saying it. Hay, my favorite fragrance in the fall. Yes, hay...<b>Hay</b>. What do you use to keep rows in your garden straight and weed free? Why of course you use a<b> hoe.</b>..Put Hay with the h*e and that is the last name. Mentioned the sing songie chant you can hear at concerts or games, Hay....hoe.... Or even better yet, say as in a greeting or shouting across a distance, Hay....h*e. I am so glad the class was laughing...cause I specifically prayed, this week, asking the Lord to give me strength, not to make fun of a name. But, being the immature elderly woman that I am, "Oops, I did it again!" In our class we have lots of laughs and yet we learn God's Word and His truths. Yes, the name was a distraction just like the tower...ooh, good spiritual turn there Nancy. I am thankful that when we talked about the oven fired bricks and that the people were kind of proud of their invention, I did not sing...they made a brick house, they were mighty mighty...only Nimrod was called mighty three times in Genesis and once in a minor prophet who escapes my remembrance right now. </p><p>This came up in Memories on FB. </p><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Broken hip recovery fun. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am having fun and keeping myself amused by talking to realtors who want to re-list the house. Uh no...we love Courtney Wade McEachern! Then the telemarketers. Just now a call came in about our factory warranty on a car we don't own anymore. I start the conversation with a very weak hello. So this guy goes right into the spiel and as he is talking I start to fake cry and say, they told me you wouldn't ever call me back but you have and this means so much <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>to me and gives me great hope. That is when you start reeling off fake instances of very bad break ups and the fake things that broke your heart. This guy is trying to break in my crying letting me know I have him confused with someone else. My response? My one true friend said you would call with a disguise at first to see if I will take you back. I will but in all fairness I need him to know I've gained a little weight topping the scale at the highest ever about 402 pounds and my good leg ain't working well. I have just three more payments and those dentures will be mine again. Silence on his end. I think he must have hung up. I have always had the ability to entertain and keep myself amused.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;">Ah, recovering from hip replacement surgery can make one a little bit crazy. This happened in 2017. As you can see, my maturity level is still....the same as it was only now I know it is wrong. Okay, I knew it was wrong talking about the hay, hay, hay name. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto">Last night our church had the member business meeting. Roy had to fill in to give a report cause the chairman was recovering from surgery. Lots of business to take care of and all the while a football game was being played. Many in that room had the thought in the back of our minds. If the meeting had gone on any longer I might have taken advantage of, "does anyone else have a question?" I was prepared to ask, for church minutes in perpetuity, if snacks would be served anytime soon. They would probably revoke my re-up being a Sunday School teacher for the new calendar year or be sent to bad Sunday School teacher school. </div></div>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-30824742761872748702024-01-27T08:42:00.000-06:002024-01-27T08:42:21.618-06:00Named For His Fifth Grade Girlfriend<p> It is one of those non productive days. Oh, yes, there is plenty productive things that need tended to but a bit of relaxing after a few attempts to get going have done gone and went. I culled through some books and several have formed into a stack of books to be given away, the discovery of books forgotten tendered the action of them returning to the shelf to be read or given away on another day. </p><p>Last week bitter cold with snow in the forecast. Today, this week, much warmer and rain. Today was supposed to be filled with rain but it more overcast and drizzly. We even had a bit of fog this morning. Tomorrow is the day that begins the deluge. We had a bit of a drought going into winter but think the seasonal precip is taking care of that. Roy just went out with all the smushed egg shells to put in the garden where his veggies grow. Adding calcium to the soil. </p><p>We did our Wednesday thing of Publix but we weren't needing a lot. Just got some of the dinners Roy likes and a few other things. Highlight of the trip was seeing our friend who went to University of Florida and we have a great time giving one another a difficult time about football. Last year, baseball as well. She works there and we don't see her often. </p><p>******</p><p>I think this hair thickener is working. I can see some growth and filling in. Of course I should have taken a before picture. I've also read that castor oil is good too. Organic is the best, so I have read. </p><p>Yesterday I learned on FB that a friend from a long time ago has passed away and is dancing on the streets of gold. Knowing Frank, he and Daryl Armstrong have organized a volleyball game on the courts of gold. I met Frank playing volleyball. I played on a co-ed USVBA team and we named ourselves aptly, Controlled Panic. Seeing Frank play intermural volleyball at church led me to meeting him and then inviting him to join our co-ed team. All those years playing only certain friends come to mind, Les, Ruth, Kent, Daryl and Frank. Team members came and went with job transfers or maybe even a better offer to play. We consistently won our division. Ironically, just days before Frank's cardiac arrest he and I set over to the side of the gym talking. He and Carolyn were newlyweds. He was finishing up his degree. Frank loved volleyball and he shared that he would like to coach, maybe a small to medium size private school team to start with. Then his "event" happened and he was never the same, physically or mentally. If I remember correctly they had lost him twice on the operating table. His wife Carolyn has taken care of him these last forty years or so. I have thought of them so often over the years. </p><p>Think the lesson for Sunday is in the fine tuning stage. These two chapters are the bridge between Noah and Abraham. At first glance, I thought, you've got to be kidding me, but so much from this beginning is so much today. I was reading about the culture of learning another language and the mistake that is made all too many times is, you can know the correct usage of words but you don't have the culture of a language unless you immerse yourself into the culture. Made me think about modern day church culture and where it is headed or making a return circle. Being a young believer in the 1970's felt like we were breaking though all the old church norms. Youth musicals and mission trips. Modern translations and paraphrased versions of the Bible came out. Bibles didn't always look like Bibles...then we, grew into adulthood and began those responsibilities and meshed into the way of church, if we were some of the few that still attended. Every generation thinks they have found the new or better way of loving God and people, but like Solomon reminds us, nothing new under the sun. The minister I worked for used to tease me by saying, your generations response to God's blessings or miracles is to always sing, How Great Thou Art. Replied with his generations example. Well, yes, but your generation when you comes time to be the older ones will sing, How Great Is Our God and just maybe no one will sing with you when singing, sing with me. </p><p>January is the month I do take a step back and regular readers know this to keep my health on the up and up. You get a lot of time to think on these things and then think on this junk. I have watched a little more than usual episodes of I Love Lucy. I've written before how my attention is more attuned to Vivian Vance. She was the perfect set up partner for Lucy. I've been catching the series where she wants to dance and sing, but mainly dance, at the Tropicana. I don't know if she had any formal dance training but she found a few steps that worked with any type of music or dance routines. She was a ground breaking actress on so many levels and still brings laughter these days. I always feel a bit sad that she didn't break out or keep stretching in her comedy. She went with what brought her there and you can't argue with that but what if...? What if she had. We will never know but in the month of hibernation besides thinking of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, my attention is drawn to this. Nothing new here but so good to ponder. </p><p>My cousin and I had a delightful texting conversation yesterday. I had been studying or rather looking over my notes when Mr Mo decided he wanted to nap beside me using my arm as his pillow. I saw an interesting picture from the city where I was born and that led me once again on a Google street view and map extravaganza. Until yesterday, I hadn't been able to find a picture of the school that was across the street from my grandparent's house. Yesterday, I hit paydirt and wanted to confirm that the pic was really of the elementary school. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl4GYzYM8lXEPbW1FMvlKI1ZWJ4Sq8_sNFkwFEIkrdhgoQHMB7p7dg2s6nGTR8wUHN6Fgy_dKEpudXYykSZTPrwVcTJ6pnf0SUfXGs9JU3YAydpIkiEOGqlpSn5FPlBac-1azN1UFB05DRlVlWcXfmtcYpBCfa2vje1Exi5TM8mxK4P8tIhCfDc8dD0Z4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="801" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl4GYzYM8lXEPbW1FMvlKI1ZWJ4Sq8_sNFkwFEIkrdhgoQHMB7p7dg2s6nGTR8wUHN6Fgy_dKEpudXYykSZTPrwVcTJ6pnf0SUfXGs9JU3YAydpIkiEOGqlpSn5FPlBac-1azN1UFB05DRlVlWcXfmtcYpBCfa2vje1Exi5TM8mxK4P8tIhCfDc8dD0Z4" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji5E0pWAq7Jutj21zjpq5dkBhv2aYPYC2X8Dzmcv3sJtSUhK0YjbPIWRKHXn6ADJoNAiLbexuCkxv1nvRKwFsMWxAuKCaYISljLhuAPNlOKIXAQg2lRkULiO7cfSkQyBLlgyVAoqtsG-GkfcJT0vYI1yL6woh3GWn7uDM4qRqupB3xPvQWG-xLQjn9sBA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="801" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji5E0pWAq7Jutj21zjpq5dkBhv2aYPYC2X8Dzmcv3sJtSUhK0YjbPIWRKHXn6ADJoNAiLbexuCkxv1nvRKwFsMWxAuKCaYISljLhuAPNlOKIXAQg2lRkULiO7cfSkQyBLlgyVAoqtsG-GkfcJT0vYI1yL6woh3GWn7uDM4qRqupB3xPvQWG-xLQjn9sBA" width="320" /></a></div><br />The first pic is the school and the second one is too but I kind of modified it to be blurry and not sharp in contrast. The second pic is somewhat of my memory. To me, as a little girl this school was more cylinder shaped, it was kind of, as well as six stories high. The dormer windows at the top gave that impression as well as the basement windows. They stopped using the school for teaching classes in 1968 but it hung around into the late seventies and used it as storage. It was torn down years ago. The elementary school I went to was one story and had several pavement playgrounds. It also had lots and lots of open area for kickball and relay races. This school had hopscotches all around it, painted on the shell/asphalt pavement. Think it had tether ball poles too. The fire escape tube always mystified me. My father went to school here as well as his fifth grade girlfriend who I am named after. Go figure....<p></p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-88928199825663186022024-01-23T08:07:00.002-06:002024-01-23T08:07:52.885-06:00Stepping Into Warmer Days<p> <span style="font-family: arial;">The sun is hiding behind the mountains giving a hint of gold and reds. The clouds are even in cooperation helping stage the handiwork and creativity of God. I think this is the last day of deep freeze for a while. The last night to drip the faucets. I like cold weather but making sure that pipes don't freeze for extended periods can wear on you. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There are still patches of snow. Unusual for the front of the house because of a southern exposure and usual for the back of the house. Lots of shade and the trees around the pasture fence above us keeps the winter light at a minimum. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Last year I made a serious dent in giving away books that have been favorites, either story or author. I have been a holdout on making the same dent into Ellen Gilchrist and Alice Adams books. Alice Adams, while born in Virginia, placed most of her stories in San Francisco. She wrote on the choices strong women have to make or at least back in the eighties. She is one of the first authors I read when my love of reading returned way back in day. Her books have made every move but I haven't reread them. Did a quick a Google search to refresh my memory on her writing. She passed away in 1999, I did remember that. Ellen Gilchrist wrote in similar fashion of using short stories with a theme to tell the story of Rhoda Manning. Rhoda Manning's adventures were loosely based on Ellen's life. At some point her stories became harder for me to read because of a turn in her own life. Still bought the books, read them and carried them about for every move. I am at a point where the books I didn't fully appreciate will be given away. Her first few books will remain and maybe I will skim them. I was mentioning to Roy of my intentions with these books. He remembered the night at the bookstore I discovered Ellen Gilchrist. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We had Chinese food, bookstore and a trip to Sharpstown Mall, when it wasn't such a danger zone, to Shelly's Tall Girl Shop. Something in the food didn't sit right with me and there isn't a need to go into that. Good ol' Shelly's Tall Girl shop...expensive and my only choice for work and dress clothes. Thankful for layaway cause that's how I bought stuff. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The following is from a blog post in 2021 that I reposted from sometime earlier in the beginning of good ol Monablog. It showed up in my memories on FB. This morning has not been the greatest morning for me. Just some circumstances that I don't particularly care for, a broken drawer that Roy says he can fix...guess cause he installed it. Haha, and when stuff happens it just makes everything else that is tolerable, just plain old worse. In the midst of this and believe me I am not trying to sound spiritual cause I'm not, I am remembering give thanks in all things. So, I complained and almost had some tears cause my insides want to have a grouch fest but the Word that gives life is saying give thanks IN all things. Don't think I am going to get to pout. So here is the blog post:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yesterday, Soulprint by Mark Batterson was released. So I downloaded that puppy post haste. He has been putting portions of the book on his blog and I was hooked. The following quote is just in his introduction;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>All of us start out as one-of-a kind originals, but too many of us end up as carbon copies of someone else. Instead of celebrating our uniqueness, and the uniqueness of others, we're too often threatened by it. We forfeit our uniqueness because we want to fit in. Instead of daring to be different, we sacrifice our soulprints on the altar of conformity." </i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The term soulprint refers to who we are, who we will be and just not who others see as they look at the outside in. It is a testament to God who has created us. Uniqueness is God's gift to us and our gift to God. We are created to worship God in a way that no one else can. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The above reminds me of my favorite Gail Godwin novel. Against the odds the main character is trying so hard in a new family situation, she's about 12 years old, and keeping her self unique among the status quo. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Do you think I get to be Christ-like and be grouchy? You know uniquely made to be funny, yet cranky, yet godly? After studying Mark for Sunday School I know that Jesus overturning the tables and cleaning out the temple wasn't done cause he was grouchy. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">******</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A morning above freezing. Once the rain begins the remaining snow patches will melt into the ground. It has been quite sometime since snow stuck around for this long. We were able to get out and about yesterday. Grocery store where we saw Lois N and then we went over to Inez and Cuman's home. Great seeing everyone. Roy will probably get back to his workout routine this afternoon but he has been diligent and faithful in his home set up of exercise. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The blogger I mentioned in a post a few days ago no longer blogs. Heck, hardly anyone that was blogging when I started isn't blogging. It is the most consistent thing that is hobby-ish I have ever stayed with. The bloggers that used their platform have gone into podcasts. My attention span is still limited and thus hardly ever listen to podcasts. I just picked up Journeying Through the Bible and the way it is set up you can read short snippets or hang in there reading large sections. Either way, it is good. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -0.41px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-4566683980227852782024-01-21T12:53:00.000-06:002024-01-21T12:53:19.675-06:00Thinking On These Things<p> Either we are getting a little snow shower or it is the frosted flakes scurrying off the roof tops and tree branches. </p><p>My brother called last night and his Christmas/New Year gift arrived yesterday. Like me, he is blown away by the presentation of the product and the marketing of it, off the charts. The company is Spoonful of Comfort. You can send all different types of packages; birthday, comfort, get well and so on. After the soup, rolls and cookies are gone you are left with the wonderful memory of a silver soup ladle. We ordered the chicken noodle and tomato basil for him but we ordered the poblano soup for us. At this time both containers of soup have to be poblano. The soup can freeze for two months. His delivery was postponed when the snow and ice hit the Midwest. The company was able to get back the product from UPS and sent a new shipment. Wow! Great customer service. In fact Doug mentioned it reminded him of how Nordstrom used to be. And for us box lovers and box collectors, each box used in the delivery is a good and sturdy box, with attached lid. Box heaven I tells ya!</p><p>Sometimes the most far flung thoughts tip toe into my thinking. Probably what started me down this road yesterday is, I gave some time looking at a half full snow globe that was given to me when I was probably in the 6th grade by the boy next door. It was full at the time. There is nothing special about it except maybe this is the first gift I ever received from an older boy. Now, if someone would catch a glimpse they might be thinking, is Nancy a hall full or half empty kind of snow globe person? I am neither. The only comment worth focusing on would be, why didn't she throw this away? From that thought somehow I rabbit trailed to my summer between sixth and seventh grade. When I arrived home from my summer with grandparents and cousins my mom had a surprise for me. While in Illinois, she and a friend made a round table out of a cheese barrel. My mom made the round table cloth for it and she bought a small rocking chair to sit beside the table in front of my bedroom window that faced the backyard. She painted it a lovely blue that went with the newly made round table. The lamp she got was not frilly yet it was cute and added charm to my reading corner. She made a pillow for the rocking chair and the big surprise was, new bedspreads for the twin beds. The white thin chenille bedspreads that had accompanied us from Illinois and Indiana arrived with us when my father was transferred to Texas. But oh my, the floral bedspreads, blue and white with a tad bit of green...I had never seen my bedroom be so beautiful. I felt so special that day, like my childhood room, by most standards was rather barren and utilitarian, was the announcement I had a grown up room. Well, as grown up as one can be in junior high school...whatever that means. </p><p>As I have studied this week on the lesson, it has been difficult to get past Nimrod. He gets a shout out in Chapter Ten but when you study how rebellious as well as influential he was over the people, he made quite the impression the wrong way...What he instituted way back then is still going on today. Same strategy, nothing new under the sun. He is a type and there is so much there before even getting to God coming down and confusing the language. The phrase making a name for themselves keeps rolling around while studying. There is no lack of modern day material on the subject of being famous or making a name in whatever sphere of life you are in. A tennis friend came to mind. Her husband was an up and coming mover and shaker. He made all the right moves and his business continued to be very successful. They made the moves from the get go in their home choices. At one point he wanted his wife to only play at River Oaks and drop their membership at the U Club. She wasn't too happy about it but she dropped the club and the tennis league teams. So, I googled him up the other day. Still a powerful man, got what he wanted out of life at ROCC, even being President. Why am I telling you this? I don't know...no I know. There was a humorous story of a young fast track man who worked at this man's firm, but was leaving to go into Special Ops in one of the branches of the armed services. Many asked him wasn't he afraid of the toughness and difficulties serving in special forces and without hesitation this young man said, I worked for ______________, special ops will be a cakewalk. Tennis friend husband did exactly what he wanted to do, make a name beyond Houston, and his company is so involved in real estate deals all over the country and the world. I also think of two people, one from the blogging world and the other from various church functions and Bible studies. Both interested in starting successful ministries. Both talented and gifted, but there were others at the same time trying to do the same thing and somehow in all the politics of making a ministry name, the accolades and contracts didn't arrive. They are successful but not as much as they might want to be or as much as those who started at the same time. I admire that they still plug away at it. Building a platform, enlisting those who can help them make a way. So, what does this have to do with Nimrod? Well, we have to also watch out for those who want to make a name for themselves and we can get drawn into a web that we will so desperately want out of. Remember Nimrod was a world renown hunter...of both animals and I am sure of ideas and control. I remember a very talented young man telling the choir he led at the time about telling his father he wanted to be famous when he grew up. His dad, a very godly man said, make the Lord famous and you'll be satisfied and successful more than just plain old being famous. What wisdom! </p><p>And they say FB can be a waste of time...yes, it can be but when you see early in the afternoon that church is cancelled due to the frozen tundra, not our truck, but when it is 6 degrees on a Sunday morning with snow still on the ground, ice is a hazard. In the past this decision was made on Sunday mornings and keeping up with closures as you look for the church name takes up a lot of getting ready time. It has been sometime since snow remained overnight. Our home faces south and even cold temps can't keep the sun from melting the snow. Except for this time. So, after I slept in, again, before and during breakfast our conversation revolved around staying alert and all the times being alert in the Bible was a good, nay I say, a very good thing. Being alert as these Boys are to sound. The sound of a treat package being opened, the sound of a can of food being opened, the sound of a small pinecone rolling along on hardwood floors and the sound of foot steps on the stairs. For those things, they are alert. When we want them to come when called, selective hearing. I think they take after Roy in that, selective hearing which is a whole nother subject to cover at another time. </p><p>There is a warm up coming on Monday. We will close down The Garage at The Catmore Estate for several nights. Lows to be in the forties and fifties. A heat wave in January! This will be the last week without any appointments. Life picks up in February. </p><p>Since we didn't have church today I was able to Zoom in with my LBS, think Sunday School class, this morning in Houston. Carole taught and of course the lesson was fabulous. Not only do I have things to ponder but a point in my lesson for next week got some clarification while watching. I came downstairs for lunch and Roy had moved a couple of chairs in the living room. So thankful for that but yet I cannot help but think he moved the chairs like I wanted in order to give up on my idea of moving the bookcases into the dinning room. Saw a picture and it would work well here. I'll have to think on these things. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-5512387127567606862024-01-20T08:29:00.000-06:002024-01-20T08:29:15.077-06:00Snow Days Are Here Again!<p> What a difference a full night's sleep makes. I went to bed early last night and slept right through till Roy got up earlier this morning. I was running on empty after the lack of sleep and taking care of stuff that took lots of energy yesterday. The reports of black ice this morning is ticking upwards. Even though we are above freezing, road temps can be below freezing especially in shaded areas of the roads. </p><p>We used the first of the Amish ground beef we bought and froze into pound portions this week. We made sloppy Joe's and wow, what a difference it made in the taste. No antibiotics in the meat. </p><p>I wrote about my collection of Mead notebooks the other day and I have quite the collection of another type of notebook with even narrower lines. I had a collection of planners and Bible study themed notebooks but just because one has the notebook or planner, does not translate into usage, thereof. </p><p>It has been snowing most of the day. At times we couldn't see much past the road. The flakes huge, the wind rather strong causing the drifts of snow lying on the branches of our fir trees to be whipped up into the air, almost in a spinning fashion. Then the snow showers came a little slower with the snow not falling that quickly. I have spent a great portion of the day being mesmerized by the snow show. In between observing and napping, I have worked on the lesson for Sunday. There has been one snow plow come by not so much to scrape but to salt the roads. We have been below freezing since the later part of the morning. The roads will be dicey this evening with the low being 11 and the high tomorrow 18. I thought wouldn't this be a fun time to be staying at The Inn on the Biltmore Estate...big fireplaces with roaring fire, the beauty of lunch in the library taking in all the beauty while being ensconced in a beautiful and charming place. Snow tends to quiet things down at bit. More are being cautious on the road but even now while writing a loud motorcycle flashed by the windows. My cat besties spent most of the afternoon with me. Mr Mo snuggled up close and GMoey wrapped up in a barefoot dreams blanket. He doesn't share too often. Fortunately, Mr Mo and I shared the long styled heating pad. Sure helps my hip. </p><p>*********</p><p>Yep, since yesterday morning we have had snow on snow, snow on snow. The northwest backflow proved to be a strong one, sending bands or streamers down into the valleys and breaking containment in and from the higher elevations. These streamers wrung out the moisture, thus we received about three inches of snow. If the above sounds like I know what happens with a northwest flow, it is just this, I am a good listener when Hunter Ward gives the weather updates. </p><p>Around 2:15 am I got up to check all the faucets to check drippage. All were doing fine but I felt compelled to stay up and come downstairs. This was one of those times where I could go back to sleep. Thought, I'll wait for the dishwasher to start and then I'll head back to bed. A quick glance out the window and it was still snowing a little bit. Then, before I knew it, the house went dark. I sat there counting the seconds for the generator to kick in. Then it did, light was restored. Duke sent a text estimating a 5:30 am restoration. Set the kitchen clocks and resumed the dishwasher cycles. The outage affected about 220 homes but you could see in the distance up on the ridge that those homes had not been affected. That young couple that moved in this week will have quite the weather stories to tell. The second house, two story, just dropped in price but saw the photographer over there after the cleaning had been done. The house has some nice touches but those two bedrooms upstairs are tiny. Finally, around 3:30 I headed back to bed and went to sleep with the welcomed drone sound of the generator. Guess Roy felt since I had been on duty it was time for the changing of the guards. He got up, let The Boys out of the bonus room and then turned on the coffee pot. The electricity came back on around 5:13 am. I got up a little after 6:00. The main road in front of our home has not been plowed or salted yet this morning. A few brave souls have driven by and driving safely. Of course there are the few that drive like a bat out of heck. Makes me want to sit on the front porch and shake my fist at them. You know, act like an old lady but this old lady isn't going to get frostbite to do so. </p><p>Well, I had forgotten, but eight years ago today I had my hip replaced after tripping at the Cracker Barrel in Lafayette Louisiana. What is so eerie is comments made by friends who have now passed away. It kind of shakes you up a bit. </p><p>Thursday, I ordered some larger pottery mugs from a lady who is a talented potter. Everything she makes and sells goes into a local ministry to help people. We like big coffee mugs and we are trying to get away from mugs made in a foreign land. We have several pieces of her pottery and we have given her pottery as gifts. We are all lined up for the March throw. Yahoo! </p><p>Well, now to face the cold, cold day. Trying to keep the water flowing as not to freeze. Laundry day is certainly in order.</p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-203718488700372782024-01-18T17:41:00.000-06:002024-01-18T17:41:19.003-06:00Nimrod and Poindexter <p> Another cold morning but with it the hope and fact of getting above freezing today. It took a while for me to fall asleep last night but around 12:30 am I was awake again. I got up and moved into the front bedroom. We have heat pumps here and after the temps hit low, it just works to maintain with a few times of going to auxiliary heating. You just watch the dollars add up in heating costs. This has been happening since our recent descent into the freezer around here, but I haven't been awake. This means we are in the drip faucet stage and while we feel pretty confident about the downstairs, cause we program the dishwasher to run at 2:00 am, upstairs is a different story. Tonight the low temps are manageable but Friday into Saturday, another artic blast. Next week have highs in the 60s. Just like Texas NC weather can be all over the place but the mountain variable is certainly an interesting factor to all of this. </p><p>Robin Blu is closing in Waynesville. Since they moved from their Hazelwood location I haven't shopped there. They are on Main Street and thinking about parking or the lack of kind of made the decision for me. Lord knows, I have saved a lot of money not going there. Always had the best jewelery selection as well as interesting journals, decor' and the like. They are open until the end of March but after eleven years, they are closing. I have been around for ten of those years. </p><p>Talked with my cousin yesterday. She has always been such an encourager and supporter of my blog. In our conversation, text first, then talk...anyway she asked if I knew Grandma and Grandpa D's favorite scripture or life verse. No, I couldn't recall but I do remember that Grandma loved the song Precious Memories and Grandpa loved Out of The Ivory Palace. We must have talked for over an hour and with the conversation a lot of laughter. We also touched on the sensitive subjects when it came to family dynamics and such from the long time ago, but not for too long. </p><p>So, studying Nimrod and the Tower of Babel is a whole lot more interesting than I originally thought. One of the resources I am using is a commentary first published in 1922. Meditative type thoughts on the major theme, yet while doing my own research yesterday, the author quoted a paper that was originally published as a spoof and as I read it, the spoof paper was to show how if anything is put into Christian-ease writing, we can be prone to believe it cause of the style. I asked Roy if he knew anything about this manuscript and my walking commentary said he had no knowledge of it. While this quote he used is really good, it is really false, so I won't be using it. The manuscript, spoof, was originally published in 1817. Guess not having the ability to Google it up caused the misuse. Even back in the day, people fell for this kind of stuff. You can find it all over the place today in all kinds of denominations, churches and leaders. It might sound good but it is not always the truth or even a half truth. Back to Nimrod, he is relevant in the twenty first century. His attention to control, his attention to elevating mankind to compete against God and win. I'm still studying so nothing definite to write about this morning but I will leave you with this and I don't know that I have ever heard this or not, but building the Tower of Babel in entrenched in the fear that God would flood and destroy the world again. The tower is not a tower of power in the beginning but a tower of fear and not trusting in God's promise. When talking to Roy about this I mentioned that it seems futile to build a tower on flat land between two rivers. Why not on top of a mountain? Well, practical living in the mountains answers that question, that's a lot of work bringing supplies and such up a mountain as well as this fact that anyone who has ever lived in a mountainous area for anytime at all will tell you, you are always looking for flat land. A garden on the side of the hill is hard, flat garden space in the yard...oh so much easier. The bottom line with Nimrod and his people...they wanted to make a name for themselves. Nimrod seems like a nerdy name just like the old board game Mystery Date. No one wanted to get Poindexter. Remember the song? Open the door for your mystery date." </p><p>Being up all night coupled with the additional stress of trying to get the gate lock unfrozen certainly has taken it out of me. We tried to leave for grocery shopping around 11:00 am but the gate lock was frozen. Roy was going to pour hot water on it but I suggested we google it up. Hot water was not the answer. WD 40 or rubbing alcohol. Hand sanitizer works too but not for us. Truthfully, I don't think Roy used enough. So we linked all our outdoor extension cords for Christmas decorations and I got a hand dryer. That did the trick. We were finally on our way after we got everything else put up. After we got home and had a late lunch, I took a nap and it was a long nap. I'm still exhausted. I decided not to go to Bible study tonight because I will probably be asleep by 8:00 pm. </p><p>We have another round of very cold weather. Tomorrow won't be too bad, maybe a dusting of snow, but Saturday the high is 17 and the low is 4. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-67555716902942316052024-01-17T08:04:00.000-06:002024-01-17T08:04:08.661-06:00Be On The Lookout For The Presence of Wonder<p> With a day of below temps Roy and I took our time easing into the day. I slept in a bit, he had a quiet quiet time and we just finished up a lovely breakfast. We discussed and pondered over Genesis 9 and 10. Hey, isn't that everyone's topic of conversation today? I love his insights into scripture. He is my walking commentary but there are some mornings I can hold my own and this morning, much to all of our surprises, well except for The Boys for they care not for any discussions other than, mealtime, treats, naps and being petted, I went step by step with Roy. Now, I'm exhausted and might need that morning nap that The Boys rave about. </p><p>Several years ago before moving up this way, I had a quest. That quest was to find hardback notebooks made by Mead. The paper thick, the lines narrow. I had been told that Mead was in the process of discontinuing the production of both the regular and legal size. My job or obsession was to find and buy each and every notebook that could be found. Friends in different areas of town were shopping their Targets for me. In fact, on several road trip up this way, we stopped at every Target we could see from the freeway in the search. Finally, that day arrived that there were none to be found. Now, what to do with all those notebooks? Even if I journaled diligently each and every day, several pages at a time, I would never get through all those notebooks, until one day. In 2019 when I became the sole teacher of The Joy Class I discovered that teaching each week, that I did better with hand written notes. I remembered what I studied much better than printing out a lesson from a Word document. I used other notebooks until I remembered the container of hard back, narrow lined, thick paper notebooks. Perfect size and perfect notebook for study notes. Roy is using them as well, not for his lessons but for his quiet time reflections. Those notebooks were for such a time as this! We are both using the smaller size but those legal sized notebooks are just awaiting the call. </p><p>January 14th went by without a hitch, just like it has for so many years now. At one time in our life, Roy's father, my father and our dog Tiff had January 14th birthdays. The hitch was always my father's birthday because you knew going in it was never going to be good, but some years were better than others. This year I stumbled upon some really good information on narcissists. In depth information that has answered questions that I put on the shelf a long time ago. It has given me a better insight in the nuances in their outlook and ways. Any celebration, even one centered on him was usually sabotaged and taken hostage. Narcissists usually accuse you of what they are actually doing or they form opinions on what you aren't doing right, not that you would ever do something right. One thing my father said consistently was, "my best isn't good enough!" He was talking about something he had done for the family in that vein, but after a while my brother and I both picked up on the fact, that he didn't do his best. We, our family, was not deserving of his best because we were all pitiful. In fact, why couldn't we be like the so and so family? My therapist told me that being a strong willed child is what probably saved my life. Roy and I were talking during the holidays about some of those gifts that were never good enough for him. Not knowing anything back then and thinking there was something that could be done to win him over, one Christmas I had a ruby and small, minute, diamond ring melted down. I had the small diamonds and rubies placed on an initial pin for the lapel of suits, were all the rage back then. His initials. Y'all I was so happy how that all had turned out and thought he cannot dismiss this gift, especially since it was sentimental and a sacrifice. Well, I was wrong...it was dismissed so much so that he told me after a couple of months, he threw it away. Insert emotional stab wound. I have no doubt that he did cause I never saw it again. As with anyone with any gifts or talents, natural abilities, sometimes those things we have been so good at, start ebbing in strength. Singers feel that, athletic abilities, but I think artists might not see the ebb as much. As for my father, he couldn't keep up with his lies and stories as he aged. That steel trap mind trained for any slight, or a chance to slight or hurt showed the cracks. He could be caught now, his adroit lying wasn't as convincing. I would say the big lie he started involving us was his downfall as well as I didn't speak to him again once he had papers served cutting off communication with him or for his behalf. I don't think he factored in, that we didn't respond, we spoke with his lawyer once, then had to threaten legal action against her. The last thing I told her is, you see what he is doing to us, he is going to do the same to you and guess what, he did. With nothing to elevate his story, he had to make up more and more. It also helped that I was living in North Carolina. I wasn't there stealing his wallet, turning on the stove and running water. You starve a narcissist. There is nothing there to make them the victim which when their ways fail them, they turn it as harm against them. Over the years I have known a few more narcissists. Keeping a distance is key that is for sure. </p><p>We got a dusting of snow this morning. Sure was pretty watching it lazily falling in moderate flakes. The snow ended and now the sun is out. Wow, sometimes it feels like Texas with the weather but mostly not. A little more snow fell this afternoon but with the sun all evidence of snow has melted away. </p><p>*******</p><p>This morning is either a heavy frost or a bit of snow. The way the sunlight is hitting our front yard the frost or snow flakes glimmer like small diamonds. A little bit of snow might be falling now and is more visible in the front, once again because of the sun. There is beauty even in these cold, 8 degree temps. </p><p>"Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." EB White. I've always loved this quote. There is a lot of undiscovered wonder or at least that has been my experience. Using my One Word for 2024, Notice. Last night while turning off lamps in the front bedroom, the view is filled with light. Now the light exposed is the light of all the homes that have been built in the last couple of years. For a long time it was not a welcomed glow, but in the cold evening the lights, especially the two homes that are the closest to us brought extra light for the road. Workers in the home that hasn't sold left the porch light and the upstairs lights on. It was nice. The people who live in the other house are making the home theirs, got their mailbox set and Waste Pro garbage and recycling bins to the side of the porch. </p><p>Speaking of wonder, I wonder where I put a box that has some childhood relics of Sunday School past. I am looking for something in particular and won't need it until the following Sunday. You know, it is somewhere safe...so safe, I can't find the box. Speaking of boxes I ordered some fresh type food from a company I had never heard of but I took a chance. Had a package delivered for us and one for my brother. His order got caught up in the massive storm and the company emailed to let me know they had recalled the package from UPS due to the arrival past the expiration date. His delivery should make it tomorrow or Friday. But the boxes for this product are beyond good, sturdy box with lid. And there are quotes on the box as it relates to food or comfort or relaxing. Good boxes, delicious food and great quotes! That is a win, win, win in my mind. </p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-79612159085921464792024-01-16T08:07:00.002-06:002024-01-16T08:07:57.009-06:00Hibernation Feels So Good<p> Y'all know I am a Publix kind of gal but when Roy looked at King Cakes he was disappointed that the King Cakes at Publix are made in Massachusetts. What? Good thing I am not a fan of King Cake or I might just be very disappointed. </p><p>The women's Bible study for this semester started last night. We are doing the study The Great Disappearance by David Jerimiah. We watched the intro and I am real excited about the study. Maybe I can quit saying if it's prophetic I'm pathetic, when it comes to teaching prophecy. </p><p>From the FB pages that are a part of the city I was born in is always interesting. Lots of Wabash railroad stories, buildings and the like. The thing about the city seems to be a problematic solution of what to do with buildings that were once beautiful and haven't been maintained is to tear the down and build a parking lot. Didn't Linda Ronstadt sing about this? Anyway, with diminishing population in the city I just wonder how many parking lots do they really need? Then some investigation from people who want to know are looking into the legality of the process and is someone benefitting from all these tear downs. </p><p>Last night I pulled out a tried and true favorite for studying scripture, Warren Weirsbe. I turned to his commentary of Genesis 8 and no pun intended but he blew me out of the water with his insights. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about what he said. Got up and wrote down some thoughts as well as read Genesis 8 again. Then I went downstairs to get the book and read his insights again. I think I will probably rewrite notes today because while what I have studied goes in hand with his, I just like the personal and applicable touch. He mentions several times, his wondering if the family got on each other's nerves that year or so in the ark. I've been wondering about all the animal poop. Guess they had to shovel it out through the 18 inch space for air and ventilation. Of course I'm thinking big shovels but I doubt that is what was used. This time around studying Noah is totally different than any other time in the past. There is so much more to see, to notice. Notice is my One Word for 2024. </p><p>Word on the web is the probability of snow beginning Monday afternoon and into Tuesday. Maybe even accumulation of a couple of inches. It is always nice, well it is nice for the first snow. I might better find my Wilma Dykeman book of articles she published in Knoxville and in New York City. Her essay on snow is just so beautiful. Gosh, I didn't realize until this morning she married into the Stolkey food family. Her husband kept enough interest in the business to support them but he was a poet at heart. I also liked her novel, The Far Family. </p><p>Camo has been around more often but we have seen only one of her three kittens. That's not to say they have come to an unwelcomed end but she usually in the past has favored one kitten. We have not seen the black and white one but this morning saw the Camo-ish looking kitten. </p><p>********</p><p>Monday morning holds the hope of snow but the reality of it being mostly rain. Forecast models are all over the place but we are in our one place and don't have to go out. That is a very nice thing. </p><p>Yesterday, I went with the Genesis 8, Warren Weirsbe thought of God with us and strengthening us before, during and after the storm. Cause there was a lot of work to be done post flood. Several in our class have been to the ark in Kentucky and added some depth to our understanding of what and how. I mean one can only eat chick pea and humus for so long. I am considering going straight into the life of Abraham with a little bit of an intro. </p><p>I never have minded the month of January. I kind of like it. The beauty of winter and the treasures one finds in these chilly and cold months. Not being on the go so much has made inroads in down time with The Boys. Mr Mo hangs around me more and GMoey doesn't seem to get enough lap time even joining me in the mornings when I blog. In fact, he is on my lap right now purring away. The circle of social gets smaller now and maybe that is a good thing. The student ministry had a game night last night for a fund raiser to earn money for camps this summer. Since I limit myself in January and the first part of February to smaller type gatherings, we had to miss but we shall support. </p><p>It is snowing all around us but not here. Kind of funny. It is colder in Houston than here. Oh well, tomorrow is a really really cold day. Glad not a string of them. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-29454741072822966402024-01-11T08:15:00.001-06:002024-01-11T08:15:27.502-06:00Just Another Weather Update or So<p> A low pressure system is in the area and it is producing lots and lots of rain. Lots of rain. We even had a big flash of lightning and the longest and deepest rumble of thunder I have ever heard. Flood watches and wind advisories. Temps are above freezing so no ice nor snow. It is still dark outside so it will be interesting how the driveways across the way have fared. The past few days we've seen several looking at the houses. The one story is under contract. </p><p>I don't know if we should be worried but the Feral Fam is lining up two by two. Seems perfect for another week with Noah's Ark on the Sunday docket. It is fitting on this day of rain to be further looking at this story and lesson for us in the OT. Roy and I both have commented this is very close to Houston weather. Flash flood watches, torrential tropical or sub tropical rain for extended periods of time. </p><p>I must truly be a grown up...I am so happy with this new vacuum cleaner. I thought the cordless one was good but wow, this corded Dyson is fabulous. With three cats, Willie having long hair, got things cleaned up right away. While we were rearranging things yesterday we were able to move the cat tower in front of a window. Willie and Mr Mo love it. GMoey, although is usually on it doesn't quite trust the new move. </p><p>Just noticed that the couple looking in the windows of the one story house across the road are back this morning. Think they are taking pictures of the pooling of the rain water in the side yard that runs down not away from the house but toward the house. The first two vents on the crawlspace wall are covered with mud. The water draining from the two story house also goes toward the one story. They have someone over there now and just looking at the truck I speculate and of course I am not a professional but maybe some damage inside the home. Who knows? Too little of a driveway and too close to the road would be my first objections. So, this afternoon the young couple is back with a U Haul and unloading small items. Looks like they have a small toddler. Yikes! That close to the road. </p><p>***********</p><p>Back to the tale of two houses...couple moved stuff in but didn't spend the night. Early this morning a car and a truck were parked in the two story house driveway with lights flashing. The temps have stayed above freezing so no ice but soon enough came a sheriff so the early morning was a blaze with yellow flashing lights from the car and truck and blue and white flashing lights from the sheriff. Yeah, this is going to be interesting for the future. </p><p>Since this post seems to be all weather related I will add that we get two days to dry out and Friday is forecasted to be a rainy day. Like I wrote before, this weather seems very Houston like but the kicker here is, rock and mud slides. </p><p>One of my long time friends hit the milestone birthday and to the best of my knowledge she is the first of the group of us that hung out together. It is hard to get my brain around the fact that a lot of life has been lived since junior high school. What an impact she made early on in my walk with the Lord and her influence is still a part of me today. And we have laughed a lot throughout the years.</p><p>*********</p><p>Young couple spent their first night in their new home. Yay! It is kind of different to see the lights on over across the road. </p><p>Black ice on the roads this morning. We don't have to be out and about until later today. </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-90653279530465469172024-01-08T17:45:00.003-06:002024-01-08T17:45:59.411-06:00Rain and Wind Here It Comes Again<p> A sunny Monday and it is also a weather aware day. Tomorrow, rain and wind. Guess it is time to bring in the LSU flag for the season. Normally, it is down by now with the key emphasis on normally. Ain't nothin' around here being done normally going on nigh these last eight years. Just took down the few and really it should be very few Christmas decorations. Even though we don't celebrate old Christmas, I'll just think to myself that yes we do. </p><p>Over the weekend I read two articles on the opposite end of the scale, loving living here and not so much living here. In between an article on what to do to love living here. I have never not, oh a double negative so early on this morning, loved living here. Well, in August of 2015 I came close to thinking what have we done, but that was an emotional summer and everything felt turned upside down. I do know that is the only time Roy had to make an emergency trip here and I am forever thankful for that. The people who don't like living here find it difficult to make friends. That wasn't the case for me. If you figure in Appalachian history, for years and years people come here and try to change everything to be more like the place where they came from. Seriously, don't get that. I will mention I miss our Rancho de Five home and if we could move it here, oh that would be wonderful. We can't so no extra storage and a small primary on suite bathroom, look who has been watching HGTV, is just fine. Very livable. Even with houses being built across the way, we have a great view of long range mountains. In the back, we can watch our neighbor's horses frolic. Yes, animals run and frolic here because it isn't so dang hot. Closer in we watch The Feral Fam. I talked with one lady randomly in the grocery store. She wasn't too happy being in the mountains, even at our lower altitude. I asked her if she went to church. Well kind of she said. You have to go enough times for people to notice you've come back several times. Also encouraged her if on first try, you miss, try another church. The article on loving life here resonated more with my spirit. The author describes certain scenes he passes while driving from Marion to Waynesville and I can picture those same mountain views. He and his wife like to hike and one of his loves is that they can get on a trail right outside their backyard. I'd feel guilty a lot if I lived there cause I would ought myself to death. I ought to be hiking and such, but I would turn toward the kitchen, make a hot chocky and pick up my book to resume reading where I left off. I'd feel more guilty about not reading than not hiking. We are making a list of day trips for this upcoming spring and summer. Limited hiking as I am more and more like my mom, "can we see it from the car?"</p><p>Yesterday, before class we are all visiting as per usual. One of the three Karen's in class, called me over. We have three ladies in the class named Karen, well two and the other spells her name with an o. This is not a descriptive term that we see used in a not so good way. Anyway, Karen begins to tell me about her mother's experience in our class last Sunday. Her mom was visiting. Y'all, I got a little nervous because Karen's mom was a pastors wife and maybe a tad more serious than me. Karen tells me her mom loved the class cause you learn and laugh. Instead of having lunch and learns, never did like them for various reasons, but our class could be a laugh and learn. Wow! That made me so happy all day. Put a spring in my step. I need to mention once again our lesson this week was on judgement. Yes, an important topic and all, but sometimes I think if your class are all believers, maybe just maybe we should reflect on Noah, who walked with God more than the people who rejected the Lord. Yes, we need to keep judgement in mind as we talk to those who do not know the Lord...well anyway, we looked more at Noah's life and obedience than we did at the scoffers and rebellious ones. And...what a perfect Sunday to pull out an oldy goldy, Rise and Shine. Around high school time, this song became a favorite of youth groups. Corny, rhyming lines with actions and claps, what's not to love except it will get on your nerves. I think only one class member participated with me and I am ever thankful Judy C. We have another lesson on Noah and the Arks, doesn't that sound like a 70s pop rock group? Just might have to pull out the second and third verse. </p><p>One of the ladies in our class was baptized yesterday. Yay! Fun celebrating with her. After her baptism, Roy and I left due to the practice of no big church January for me. Keeps good health rolling right along. </p><p>It is exciting around here this afternoon. We used the new vacuum cleaner and wow, what a great job! I, mean, we were inspired to move things around. We have been talking about this for months and today, we moved the recliner that is causing my hip problems out to the front porch. Can't put it in the garage cause the cats would mess it up. It has some life in it, just not for us. When my knees were so bad, I used the right side arm to pull myself up and out of the deep recliner which cause some stress to that side. In the midst of all this The Boys are not happy with the change. Buddy used to get so upset if just a chair was moved. They are not at that stage, but the displeasure is apparent. </p><p>The LSU flag is put up till the fall. Sounds like we are going to get a lot of wind and rain tonight into tomorrow. Roy worked out and picked up strawberries this afternoon. We are batting down the hatches. I can use the time for study and reading. Until later....</p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120068896804001785.post-62130844700343612952024-01-06T09:03:00.000-06:002024-01-06T09:03:15.274-06:00I Need A Price Check<p> Right cheer in the mountains we are preparing for ice and then rain but little to no snow. So 🎵no snow on snow, snow on snow...in the bleak first part of winter, ice is forecasted for us although.🎵 First winter reference to In the Bleak Mid Winter and as usual practice, cramming words onto notes. Yes, that seems to be my forte. Another unusual note on music...haha...oh Nancy... I didn't hear Mary Did You Know or Happy Birthday Jesus one time...no, not ever during the Christmas season. I did hear Shepherds Pipe Carol about six times and as I have written before I still know the alto note, ok, the alto two alto notes. </p><p>Once again we punted plans because of temps. Roy didn't want to make a longer type road trip in these very cold temps, in case of car or truck trouble. Hey, not a problem. I may not be as flexible physically but I am more flexible emotionally and planfully. Yes, I am aware of a word that doesn't exist in the grammar world but in my world, it does. </p><p>We stopped on our way home at the BBQ truck parked across the way from the post office on the river road. We ordered a rib plate and a brisket plate each with two sides. It was all very good! I used Goode Company BBQ sauce on the brisket. Ooooh, it was almost like eating at Goode Company in Houston. Think the food truck is named 6 Pigs. It there on Thursday and Friday. The man who BBQs and runs it is a fire fighter. I'm telling you fire fighters in my experience do some awesome BBQ. </p><p>*********</p><p>No snow nor ice, just rain. Would love to get some snow but for this rain we give thanks. I woke up around 3:30, got up and read till Roy woke up. Then I went back to sleep and slept in once again. Now, here at 8:30 I am the only one awake, cause Roy went to take a nap and The Boys have settled into their second morning nap of the day. </p><p>Wow, the news on the Stanley Red Cup that can only be purchased at Target is making the rounds. It reminds me of a Simpson episode where Malibu Stacy talks and it is just stereotypical phrases, "like I don't know, let's ask a boy." Lisa meets with the original developer of the doll and they try to get girls interested in it because of empowerment and encouraging phrases. Crowd lined up at the toy store to get this new edition, Lisa Lionheart. Only to be topped by the Malibu Stacy team introducing a new version of the doll, now with a new hat. Everyone runs to that display leaving Lisa a bit disheartened not lionhearted. That is what this seems to be. Stanley cups, now in girl colors. When we first bought the house here and when workmen came to the house, I had a Stanley thermos and work boots by the back door indicating that a man was in residence. Whenever more info on a husband had to be given I just said he works for an oil and gas company. Most of these guys took that phrase and had Roy working on the pipelines or offshore or drilling for oil when in fact he was in an office building in downtown Houston. </p><p>A long time ago in Houston, before a hurricane, I had gone to the grocery store not to panic buy but to pick up a few things we needed in the course of daily life. When the hurricane tracking maps came out that is when I shopped for a storm. We needed some bananas but the panicked shopper next to me was all in a tizzy. In a low tone I mentioned to her that these were the last bananas available before the rain and wind hit Houston. Never in a million years did I think that she would say anything out loud. I thought she would just pick up a few more than she needed. Her voice up several octaves she repeats what I just said. There was such a rush over to the bananas. I kind of felt bad I had done that but it kind of amused me. This came to mind yesterday as we stopped in Publix to get some strawberries and dinners that Roy eats in the evenings. With the impending...drizzle, with the chance of freezing rain, ice or snow, it didn't feel panicked. Felt like a normal Friday. While Roy checked out, I waited by the doors. I had gone back to check on something and upon returning the line behind him was a bit long. Easier not to plow through the line with the suspicious look from others that I was trying to deceive them and cut in line. Anyway, I saw the manager put in the code on the phone to make announcements throughout the store. How tempting to call out for a price check. There is something in my memory of a store in San Marcos my freshman year. Murrays, ran by Ma and Pa with the help of a couple of cousins. In my eyes they were all ancient. Way back before bar codes products were priced with a price gun. Ma worked the register and if we college students took too much time in an aisle, Ma would call for a price check on items that we brought with us to check out. Suspicious that we had changed the stickers with a cheaper product, she wanted to make sure. Two lines to check out but only one was ever open. Ma would grab that microphone and call out for a price check on chips, beanie weenies and other food purchased by college students. That store was about the size of a 7 11 and didn't need a microphone to call out over the noise and chaos. Uh, there wasn't noise of chaos. Never many in the store. Texas State bought up that property long ago and Murrays is no more except for those fortunate enough to have shopped there back in the long ago. Back to now...anyway, we had to go across the road to Ingles but Ingles was a whole nother feeling. A bit of panic in the air, long lines to check out and some shelves picked over. Oh to know the code to call out for a price check or ask if the last bananas had been stocked before the snow or ice or freezing rain or....drizzle. I would have even had fun calling for clean up on aisle 7. </p>Nancy Monhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07643177474590843817noreply@blogger.com0