Great Reading and Great Memories

One of those surprises came on Saturday. We've been going through books and such and I came across a book by Erskine Caldwell. I think I bought this book when we were tourists, not sure, but I can say, book bought, came home, put on a shelf and never looked at again until Saturday. I was thumbing through it and then realized it was a memoir of sorts with Erskine's observations on the early 20th century in the south. His father, a minister in the Presbyterian church as well as the secretary of their home mission board shared story after story with his son about churches he was sent to in order to help them. Some successful and some not so much. One story in particular grabbed my attention, the church who was divided over hardwood floors and carpet. Neither side would tithe or place offerings in the plate cause what if it went for the other sides wishes? The electric company was about to shut off the power due to no payments. Two divorces happened over this issue as well as a death and one left paralyzed over carpet and hardwood. The issue with hardwood said the carpet people, you can hear heels tapping along to the hymn and God certainly did not like this display. It was disrespectful to the Lord. From what was written, these Presbyterians hymns were not happy or fast in any way. No When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, no I'll Fly Away. With the sides so divided Erskine's father decided they were too worried over traditions and religious practices, instead of being in love with the Lord and serving His church. This church with over two hundred members, disbanded and the church building fell into ruins. His father said, poetic justice would have been an Assembly of God or Pentecostal Church buying the church property. Oh what singing, oh what shouting, on that happy morning when we all shall rise. I used this story as an example of what not is unity and love that Jesus prayed in the John 17 prayer. 

Yesterday, just like times ago, I took off for Burnsville. By myself. In the past few months I wasn't feeling comfortable enough to go by myself but the last few weeks have been good. Roy wasn't particularly interested in going yesterday but would have if need be. As always the drive there and back, beautiful. The greening of the trees with the multiple colors and shades of green are pretty gosh darn exciting to me. Made a couple of stops but the main goal, Lamp Post Vintage Market. Totally different shopping trip cause I bought mainly clothes. I also ran into Marissa, who had Turkey Creek Grill when we first bought the house. She was so welcoming and friendly when we moved here. Her daughter is getting ready to graduate from college. Time certainly flies. On the way home I stopped in Mars Hill at Ingles and then headed to Marshall and stopped at Penland's. Love that store! Came home with a book, like I need another book. Books are never about need as an adult, but in school that is a whole different thing. 

A couple of Fridays ago when in Hendersonville for Roy's Doctor appointment, we ate afterwards at the Fireside Restaurant. Andy, the Doctor, had recommended a place in downtown Hendersonville but since we were in the truck, it was a no go for this visit. Think we had a divine appointment. The tables at Fireside are very close and in fact, the older couple they sat us next to weren't happy about the table seating. Soon after, another couple was seated on the other side of us. I could hear their conversation and could tell they were tourists as they discussed getting back on the Blue Ridge Parkway. When they kept calling 25 a little country road, I felt like I needed to be like "Philip with the Ethiopian" in Acts and explain that 25 was not a country road, especially as you get closer to Asheville. The couple had moved to the Charleston area from California and first trip exploring the WNC mountains. We had a lovely conversation and we had that moment of, oh wow, we are talking with a brother and sister in Christ. Before we left I did ask one question to see if my tennis radar is still sharp. Yep, big time USTA doubles player and we both shared some tennis stories much to the boredom of our husbands. Just that morning of Roy's appointment I had prayed and asked if the Lord would provide a Holy Spirit guiding moment, since that is what we were studying on Sunday. Yep, there it was. We will probably never see these people again on this side of heaven but what a lovely way to eat brunch. 

Speaking of tennis, my good friend from tennis years, Marti and I have found one another on FB. She has posted some great memories on my timeline from those days. This pic is from a women's ministry event around Christmas time. I bought the table and Mary and Marti decorated it. I told the WM Director about the table décor and she said, we have a lot of fine designers in the church but I told her, you ain't seen nothing yet. That was certainly true. I have a picture of church friends standing around the decorated table with their mouths hanging open. Victorian hot chocolate pitchers, one pitcher to two people, a Victorian Christmas tree as the centerpiece and Mary brought the good stuff, real silver. I am ever so grateful for Mary and Marti, not just for a fun evening, but for a lifetime of great memories on and off the tennis court. 

 

Three of these pics are from the ranch, but the tennis court one, I believe Mary and I are duplicating a pose we saw on a tennis retreat brochure. You can tell from the pic who had classical ballet training and who got kicked out of ballet class cause all I talked about was playing softball. I am thankful that I no longer have to wear that knee brace. I believe the ranch pics are from the time we were celebrating our tennis friend Ann, whose husband had been transferred to the Netherlands but she was back for a visit. This is also at the time when Roy had a job interview in California and then one in Long Island, NY right before Thanksgiving. This is the beginning of how the story begins for Roy turning down both of those jobs and staying right in Houston and working for EPD. A story for another time... I had a pic of Mary, Marti, Ann and I baking Christmas cookies and candies that was a fav but it got stolen in the robbery in Mobile. 

Our third boy has been fixed and we have another appointment in May. This time they gave us a trap instead of using a carrier. It is easier for them to work with the humane trap. 

This rainy and drizzly day have been perfect. Got some studying done, got the outline for the lesson arranged. Also, been doing some reading and even got in a short nap. Ah, the life. We say it so often but living here saved my life and Roy certainly has been enjoying the fruits of his labor. Soon enough, it will be after Mother's Day and he will get those tomatoes in the ground. 

Cats, Learning, Retirement and Play

 There is joy this morning at our home. Roy trapped Fido and they are off to the spay and neuter clinic. We have another appointment for tomorrow and we are looking to capture another member of The Feral Fam, maybe Barney or Toupe Jr. If we caught Toupee we wouldn't be able to take her in because we think she has kittens up on the gravel road someplace. Whereas all this stuff usually brings me to a halt, Roy the plan man has a plan for The Feral Fam to give them peaceful and well fed lives here at the Monarch Minor Manor. At dusk, Blazey made an appearance. He hasn't been around for a while. He missed supper so I took him a few tidbits and he let a few other Fam members join him. He and the youngest, not a kitten anymore, of Toupee hang out sometimes. In other Fam news I am about 90% certain that King Herod has gone onto wherever bad cats go. The last few times we saw him in February, he did not look good. He was nowhere to be found when the few females that still hang out here went into their time. Radley has been around so I figure he is the victor. The black cat population has decreased, the group better known as the Quads cause they quadrupled  in number. Willie's mom passed, we know not when and where but the reason we brought him in and the fact that he is so darn cute didn't hurt his chances. A month or so ago, one of the black cats ventured too far to the road and we found him in front of the mailboxes. So our little band of Fam is decreasing and we are involved with helping with no future increases. 

With our friend recently retiring, Roy and I have talked often about his first year of retirement life. Although, he is not scheduled and his only "work" projects are getting homework done for Community Bible Study. He signed up for a course to know and understand investing. He has nearly completed it. What I like so much as Roy uses his time and materials wisely, an old check off on elementary school report cards, is his early rising to pray and have a quiet time. Some mornings he is up as early as 4:00 am but never later than 5:30 am. If you really know Roy, his whole life, well as long as I have known him, he is about the things of God. He might have a ton of initials after his name, from degrees, accreditations and such but you wouldn't hear that from him, I am the one who tells about those things because I am just so dang proud of him and what he accomplished in his school and work life. If anyone spends time with Roy, you'll see his heart and now the new addition to himself is, he does the work and things that he feels and knows it is God driven or ordained. One of my favorite memories is, Roy decided he wanted to play racquet ball. He didn't hang out at the courts but he bought a book first to read about the sport. He wanted to know the how and why of shots and how to correctly implement them. Most people get a cheap racquet to start the process, Roy bought a book. Roy became very good at racquetball and loved to play. We joined the Y and First Baptist had racquetball courts in the Christian Life Center now known as the Fitness and Recreation Center. He started playing tournaments and he loved how these macho muscled up guys were already counting on a win when they learned he was the opponent. Only Roy didn't play the power game cause he knew he could not win nor compete, so he played the finesse game thus winning many tournaments. He played mixed double racquetball, too scary for me and I had just started tennis, with a friend from the softball team at church I played on. She was a racquetball champion who could play the power game. He set her up for the kill with his finesse shots. Fun to watch for sure. As he continues his life being retired, he is learning a whole lot about gardening and by default, how to care for cats. He is a cat whisperer. The Boys know the schedule and follow him around. Mr Mo waits for him to go upstairs and sits on the chair by the stairs, to be carried up. Mr Mo doesn't always stay up there but he loves being close to Roy. 

I just read there is a degree for Play Therapy with children. Dang, I missed out on playing officially and degreed. I mean, my whole approach to life is, make it fun. Even the very hard days and occurrences, there has to be an element of fun for me to even stay interested or get through the best way possible. Yes, even when studying for a SS lesson, I make it fun and somedays, are such a surprise for me that it only can be God ordained. I'm so glad that Jesus gives the gifts of joy and peace. Yes, I do know the difference between fun, joy and happiness but sometimes in the goodness and the kindness of the Lord, well, all three get intertwined for such an adventure. Many times it happens while studying and many times it enters into The JOY Class on Sunday mornings. So thankful in dreary and weary times, the Lord shines through and we get to delight in the land of the living. 

Last Friday night the class of 73 from high school had their 50th reunion. Invited other classes to join and since our class did not have a reunion, several took up the offer. I've been looking through the pics posted and it is difficult to find familiar faces...cause all our faces are older than when in the beginnings of the prime of life. I just messaged my friend Randy asking if he and his wife made the reunion. He said yes and it was tons of fun catching up with everyone. Lot of the guys are recognizable but there were many who look too much alike, bald with the moustache/beard/goatee thing happening. 

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Day two of operation get em fixed is successful. Roy caught three Feral Fam members, Beanie, who is already fixed, Toupee, we think she has kittens on the gravel road, and one of the black cats...Roy thinks it is Barney. So, he took Barney and he picks up Fido this morning. Spot, the twin of Fido, is going to be happy to see Fido once again. Spot was mopey all day with the absence of Fido. 

We ran to Lowe's yesterday afternoon to pick up a few supplies to complete a project. I am especially thrilled that the dinning room table is just about free of things other than the decorations that should be there. Makes me so very happy. 

One project has been changing the litter box situation for The Boys. We got out the big, looks like a bench, covered litter box and put it in the downstairs bathroom. It takes up more room but it is manageable. Trying to contain litter dust and only deal with little grains of litter from off their paws. They are using it but much study and sniffing went into the whole process by the boys. Mr Mo and GMoey probably spent time in that big covered box as kittens cause the mamas would use it as a place to protect kittens in the garage. Back then only blankets not litter boxes. 

Sam's, Produce Stands and The Feral Fam

 We are once again Sam's Club members. They had an offer we couldn't refuse. $10.00 for a year membership. After our haircuts, we made our way over to shop and get a complementary card for Roy. They were pushing for the premium membership the whole time. We offered up that if we enjoyed our shopping experience, we certainly would give some consideration to upping to premium. Why we were missing out on free shipping, huge discounts with glasses and contacts and I forget what else. We walked away with the card and with a cart or as they are called buggies here, to look around and shop. It was a pleasant experience all around. No one wearing pajamas and slippers, good selection of things we like, better book selection than Costco and potting soil. We still like Costco better yet we were not put off by the experience. Not a bad deal, spend $10.00 to spend $194.00 checking out. 

Reminded me of my last time getting the $10.00 deal when offered by a tennis friend to be added to their membership. Went to Sam's to do just that and well....I didn't know the name of her design business so, without batting an eye, I began to tell a story of how this was my first day, that I was in tennis clothes because my first day included taking our client out for a game of tennis while the workmen measured for window treatments, floor coverings and fixtures. My first day also included coming to Sam's getting the coffee essentials and I knew my first day would be my last if I returned to the office empty handed simply because I forgot the name of the design firm I had just gone to work for. I remembered the boss's name, Betty Magee, that's it. I got the membership add on and I was feeling pretty proud of myself, thinking on my feet like that. Loading the car up, the Lord got my attention and reminded me what I called thinking on my feet was called lying by Him. Was it worth it to lie for a $10.00 add on? Boy, well when you put it that way Lord... Being pressured to update yesterday, well, it was nothing. 

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After a very dry week, we had rain overnight and this morning. The sun is doing its best to shine through and will probably make a showing here sooner than later. While wrapping up the notes for the lesson tomorrow and as I contemplated all of the meaning of these previous chapters, then reading chapter 17 once again, it hit me in such a different way. As written before, the relationship Jesus had with His disciples has seen the spotlight this time through John as well as how much the religious leaders hated Him. Not a bad view from the upstairs window while contemplating these things. After a good rain, all the shades of green show out. Yesterday, while driving to Canton we could see the greening of the mountain side and all the brown and bare is consumed with new life almost to the tops of the mountains.  

We finally made it for our first visit of the produce stand season this year, to Duckett's. We were not disappointed because Lou Lou is selling her canned greasy beans again at the store. They are so good! She has a couple of new items. We picked up the mashed strawberries for biscuits or ice cream. For a brief minute we thought about going to Christopher's Farm, but decided to head back home cause we had things we needed to do at home, projects to finish as well as start.  

While sidelined from blogging I did get some things accomplished. Here is one you didn't see coming, I finally color coded all my t-shirts. I'd even given many away, but still needed those popular colors in drawers to find them easier. The other project is just about done. We have been searching for a wooden cabinet at antique stores and a few thrift stores. Never found what we needed, well once but we waited too late and someone else bought it. While talking to my brother the other night I told him about the search and I was just about ready to empty a bookcase with doors to solve our too little of space pantry problem. Move the heavy bookcase into the dinning room, arrange a few things and go on from there. He mentioned we could turn the dining room into a room we actually use except for accumulating things we don't know where to put. A wonderful idea except if we decided to sell our home in the next few years, it would be difficult with the dining room being used otherwise. We did that in our Cinco Ranch home but that dining room was the strangest room to be used for that. Early on, we should have expanded the kitchen and just have a big eat in kitchen. From this conversation I decided not to move the bookcase but to move the books. I found two places to display books as well as filling in the empty spaces. Worked beautifully. Now I need to find some art deco fabric to cover the glass in the doors. Redneck ingenuity. Really who cares? This kind of stuff is not a high priority these days. 

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Home from church, I took a nap with Willie and Mr Mo, had some delicious strawberries and soon will pick up the book I am really enjoying but so slow, really. When reading slowly, it is written by the point of view of different characters and it takes me a bit to remember who this person is. 

We try to gather another member of the Feral Fam in the morning. Hopefully, we will be able to get the one Roy calls Fido. She follows him all over when he is outside and has even rubbed against his legs. She is one of the twins. 

This will have to do for now. Glad to be back blogging. 

Hoping Problems Are Resolved

 Happy Easter Monday! It is a coolish, sun-filled morning. After a Friday and Saturday of rain and a cool beginning to Easter Sunday, this continues to be a banner week weather wise. The sound of a small pinecone rattling against the floors is the background noise of the morning. The Boys are playing nice and I hope that continues until the second morning nap. 

Roy arrived at 6:30 am to help fix breakfast after the sunrise service yesterday morning. I only made it to the last few minutes of breakfast being served. Only wanted eggs and bacon and they had some left. Ate quickly and then got upstairs to our room to prepare for Sunday School. I did something I rarely do, use music in the lesson. Weeks before Easter, I play grand Easter hymns and one in particular caught my attention this year. So, we ended class with Christ the Lord is Risen Today, full out organ with the little frills and trills. I don't know what that means to y'all but my interpretation is all the extra notes playing along with the deep rumbling of the bass. Reminds me of the organist at Grace Presbyterian for many years. At the end of the service she would play something grand and we would move forward to watch her make those beautiful sounds with her hands and feet. Most people talked through the epilogue of the service, but it sent me out into the world filled with the Word, both in scripture and music.  Easter deserves and has earned organ music as a thankful and sentimental look of Easter's past. With the cool temps of the morning, a slight adjustment was needed as not to be really cold. The adjustment came with a change of shoes, flats, but had to add socks and boots to complete the pink, black and white outfit. 

Following the quarterly, we jumped to John 20 for Easter Sunday. Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, their reactions to the news of the resurrection. The phrase for after Peter and John had been in the tomb...John believed but then they went home. That struck me as an odd thing to say but yet, it isn't. Did they go home wondering or home not to be falsely arrested r go home confident?  

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Well, a beautiful yesterday called us out to the yard. We moved some raised beds as well as doing a few other things yardwork wise. The tulips are just about played out after they brought bright colors this spring. Now it is time to get the flowerbeds ready so they are ready for planting after Mother's Day. Think we had dogwood winter over the weekend and soon we will have blackberry winter, then we should be good to go. 

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I haven't been blogging because of neck issues while sitting at the computer. It's a boring story but I'll just say we have been looking to resolve the issue with screen and distance and we might have found an answer. So this morning, this is the experiment and we shall see if our new set up helps. 

Of course when you cannot sit down to write on the computer all kinds of things enter my brain to write about. Now that I am sitting here, nothing comes to mind. Oh well, I am sure in the coming days something will develop. 

With yesterday and today getting into the 80s, we will probably not continue our raised garden bed work until tomorrow. We have cold returning briefly over the weekend and then things will get to hopping plant-wise. We stopped to pick up strawberries yesterday afternoon and the produce stand people said next week we could see more availability in flowers and veggie plants. We are still holding to the after Mother's Day planting schedule, but we are getting the planting spaces ready. 

Winter Then, Spring Now, Winter Temps Later

 What a wind event over the weekend! We were outside Saturday afternoon picking up things that might be blown about when the trees swaying and they were being blown about so much, got our attention.  They looked like they would snap in two. Many trees in the general area did fall, taking down power lines and the result being several fires. 

Congrats to the LSU Women's Basketball team! I'll admit, I didn't think they would win but they found a way. Since I only watch March Madness basketball and because I am and was such a bad basketball player, I never had too much interest in the game. Roy was telling me how and why LSU's defense was working. So it is always good to have someone who knows what is happening with commentary. It was fun watching them play this year. 

We made it through to the end of the lesson on Sunday. Whew! Really, I am surprised how much I have enjoyed the study of John. We are in the homestretch and heading toward Jeremiah and one Sunday of Lamentations in the summer. There was just so much to take in while studying and finally had to go with a few points out of the many. One is John 15:11, His joy in us and with His joy, our joy is overflowing. I read a quote from William Barclay about joy, internal as well as eternal, that is our focus to how we respond to and live life. Paraphrasing him, basically those who walk around dressed in black and mopey, they are a slap to the face of what not should be. It is not in our circumstances, it is who we believe and trust. I didn't fully develop the point too much but it is much easier to act all sad and mopey, than to be courageous and know who we believe and is with us always. Sometime, and this is Nancy commentary, I think it is easier to go sad than knowing and practicing the joy set before Him. Sad sometimes garners the response we'd like to see. I know both Marge Caldwell and Carole Lewis were both grief stricken while dealing with all the feelings and emotions of losing their daughters. I watched in awe as they navigated life. Oh there were tears and all that goes with grief, but at their core...Jesus, Joy, Overflowing.  This not a commentary on anyone else and how each one deals and plods through those tough days, but it is this, for me, when those tough, grief-filled times arrived, I remembered those two friends. That helped me so much especially with the death of my mom and then dealing with a deranged and evil father. My brother and I once discussed how we responded to the trauma of childhood differently. He'd get out into the neighborhood while I just froze, went to my room and spent copious hours shutting down, then putting all that trauma into individual compartments in my heart and mind. There for a few years as an adult, I went to my fearless zone, said whatever and didn't even care about one consequence, but a very good therapist helped me with that. I am forever grateful. 

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Our Tuesday took a shift of plans with trips to Burnsville and Erwin. Dropped off stuff at Goodwill, did the quick Walmart trip, love a smaller type Walmart, and then to the grocery store. Usually, we would do that later in the week, but opted to get everything done on one day. Stopped in at TJs and got more SC strawberries, then hit the Ingles for a couple of things they had one sale. Got started with unloading the truck and then ran over to see Inez and Cuman. Ah, such a happy afternoon. 

Today, my mom would have been 94 years old. I miss her everyday. Roy said this morning, she was one special person and she was. Alzheimer's took her way too soon from us.  

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Oh Friday, Good Friday. 

We went to Hendersonville yesterday. Roy had to do some additional bloodwork. Afterwards we went to The Fireside Restaurant for breakfast. I had been there pre-covid and remembered the food being delicious. We were not disappointed. We will make return visits, that's for sure. I have been following The Marketplace at Locust Street on FB and we headed that way to visit the store. It did not disappoint! Beautiful things, furniture and lamps. We will make return visits there as well. We made a quick trip to Southern Chicks and it was really quick. All the different fragrances from candles and the like made it difficult for Roy to breathe. I am trying my hardest not to buy décor items. I did find a pair of lamps that I loved but they were $526.00 for the pair. Oh my... Before we went to Southern Chicks, we stopped at an Episcopal church we had passed. Beautiful stone work as well as that welcoming red front door. Thursday their thrift store is open, so we walked around. Very well priced but didn't see anything that needed to come home with us. WE took the opportunity to walk through their garden area and what a beautiful sight. I would think it would be beautiful anytime of the year, but it was especially beautiful with spring blooms and the greening of the trees. So blessed to live within reasonable driving distance to see God's creation bursting forth.