THIS AND THAT

Isn't this pretty?  It looks cold and lonely to me, but the trees are lovely and I could see myself sitting there contemplating life.  No matter what the season each day is a gift from God.

I took my car in to the garage yesterday to have the brakes looked at.  All is well with them.  The lowering of the fluid seems to have been from a combination of everyday wear and tear and the really hot summer we have had.  I'm glad it was nothing more than that.  While I was there I got the oil changed.  I was 1,000 miles overdue for that.  Now everything is done until December when I have to take it in for inspection.

I didn't realize until today that yesterday was International Coffee Day.  So for all you coffee lovers, Happy Day a day late.

Wednesday was a lovely day and I took pictures of the morning glory growing up my neighbor's drainpipe.  I'm sure it's not good for the pipe, but it sure is pretty.

We finally gave in and took out the downstairs air conditioner yesterday and put the storm windows in the doors.  It is cold.  My friends say cool, but it is cold to me.  Today we will attack taking the air conditioner out of the bedroom.   One thing at a time.  We have to move a bunch of stuff to get the air conditioner into the closet so it's going to take more than a few minutes.  But it will get done.  Joe is going out to do visitation with the pastor this afternoon so I think I will take advantage of him being gone to move things and go through my clothes.  I think I will have at least two bags to give to Salvation Army on Tuesday.

This morning I am heading to the doctor for myself.  I want to talk to her about the results of my last blood test and how she wants me to take my thyroid medication now.  Every time I have a blood test it seems to get changed.  Ever since I was diagnosed with thyroid disease I have been reading up on it.  I had no idea that the thyroid controlled so much of the way my body functions.  It seems as if I had been having trouble for years and no one caught it.  I have been doing so much better with the medication.  It's just a matter now of finding the correct dose.

My nephew was having a fund raiser for his school so I bought a couple of things off of him.  They came in the mail today. 

My birthstone earrings.  They were so pretty I couldn't resist.  I'm a sucker for turquoise and silver.

 I love everything about this big cup -- the color, the saying, the little bluebirds on it and the size.  It's great for the winter when I can put hot beverages in it.  The other one I got was great for the summer but held only cold things.  It was a little pricey, but it was worth it and it was for my nephew's school so it's all good.

I've got to get going.  Lots to do today.  But before I go I have to show you these cute pictures of Snowy that I took.  She is such a good girl and so sweet.  I couldn't ask for a better cat.  They are a little dark because I didn't want to use the flash (it makes her eyes look funny).  I hope you can see them.

The next time I talk to you it will be October.  This month went so quickly, but it was a wonderful month with so many terrific things happening.  I can't wait to see what October brings.

 
Kathy

Sunrise:  6:56 a.m.

Sunset:  6:43 p.m.

11 hours and 47 minutes of daylight

Temperature:  63*/58*

MARIANNE STORIES #38

As my friend Marianne found out, it's nice when people think you're a genius.

June 18
Two of my boys were volunteering at the Summer Reading Game table. They have volunteered for me for years. As I always do, I gave them the Word for the Day and told them to look it up in the dictionary. The word was obsequious. I came back 10 minutes later to find them still at the dictionary. 

"Did you guys look it up?" 

 "Yeah, Ms. B, but we didn't understand what it said." 

"You didn't understand? Why?" 

"Well, it used a word we don't know so we have to look that up." 

"Oh, I see. Might the word be fawn?" 

One of them said, "How did you know that?" The other replied, "Don't you know by now she knows everything? She IS the dictionary!" 

HELP, I'M ADDICTED TO YOUTUBE DOCUMENTARIES!

Isn't this a great list?  I love autumn so much.  Not too hot, not too cold and with lovely color thrown in.

I began teaching a new topic in Bible study today.  Because it's a different author I was using I didn't know how it would go, but it actually went really well.  I was surprised.  Just a few more weeks and we will break for the winter.  It seems as if this year has just flown by.   

On the way home the alarm in my car started ringing and a message came up on the screen that said the brake fluid was low.  So after I took Dottie and Debbie home I stopped at STS and got some brake fluid.  Joe said he will put it in tomorrow and I should be OK until I get it to the garage.

After I got home I got something to eat and then sat down to watch some more youtube.  The other day I watched a documentary on Diana, Princess of Wales.  That led to one on Mary Tudor which led to the health of Henry VIII which led to the life of Elizabeth I which led to the last days of the Romanovs and so on.  Of course I watched this over the course of several days but it seems I can't stop.  I watch one and then see another I want to watch.  Oh my!  I am wasting so much time when I could be doing other things and at the same time I am learning so much.  What a dilemna!

I really must get off of this computer and get some work done around the house.  Laundry and dishes await me.  Don't they always?  That seems to be the things I do each day.

See all of you later.  Thanks for stopping by.

Kathy

Sunrise:  6:53 a.m.

Sunset:  6:48 p.m.

11 hours and 55 minutes of daylight

Temperature:  76*/55*

FIRST THE DOCTOR, THEN THE FUN

We don't see that here until sometime in November, but I do like to see the leaves change.  Only problem is they don't last long around here.  As soon as I see some pretty trees I will be taking pictures of them for you.

I had to take Joe to the doctor today for a check up.  He is doing good and that is definitely good news.  

While I was waiting for him to come out of the office I was working on my lesson for tomorrow's Bible study.  We are starting a new series on the 7 churches in Revelation.  I think it is going to be good.  I am using David Jeremiah's study instead of my usual Max Lucado study so it's going to be a different take on things but I hope one that will leave everyone with a lot more knowledge and encouragement.

After Joe was finished we headed to Petco to get cat litter and a pair of nail clippers for Snowy.  Snowy's nails are way overgrown.  She really needs her nails cut, but doesn't like anyone to touch her feet.  Joe was able to get one back paw done before she decided to pull away and dig her claws in the my arm (I was holding her).  I didn't get hurt, but we realized the nail cutting will have to be done a little at a time.  We are going to try to get the other back paw cut later tonight.

When we left Petco we headed to Target to get some ink for our printer.  We go through ink like crazy with all the printing we do for church.  But at least I get a 5% discount with my red card.  It's the cheapest ink I've found in a store.  While we were there you know I had to look around.  So many cool things.  I'm going to have to go back after I get paid.  But here's a few things I got today.

I love pretty tissue paper.  This was so cute.  So was the little "Give Thanks" plaque that I will put on my back door.  The cookies looked too good to pass up.  They were on sale too.  They will be dessert for dinner tonight.  And the candy corn is for Bible study tomorrow.  I love it too, so it will not go to waste.

We also got new pillows for our bed.  Our pillows were shot and these were only $7 each.  I know we will sleep a lot better on the new ones.

We were both hungry when we left Target.  So we headed for Chick-Fil-A.  It was nice to just sit in the booth, talk a little bit and enjoy each other's company.  Joe was getting strangely shaped fries in his lunch.  He was making faces and I was snapping pictures.  We laughed so hard that people were turning around and looking at us.  But we were having fun.

Joe said this one looked like rotini.  He asked if it was pasta or potato.  Ha, ha, ha!

Then he got a giant fry.  The others were half this size.  He was a happy man.

As we headed home we were saying to each other what a fun afternoon we had.  I love that I'm not working and we can spend more time together.  Now it's off to make dinner.  Hope you all have a good evening.

Kathy

Sunrise:  6:52 a.m.

Sunset:  6:50 p.m.

11 hours and 58 minutes of daylight

Temperature:  73*/65*

THE TWELVE HOUR DAY

I wore my Tennessee sweater to church for the first time this season.  I needed it too.  It has gotten cooler this past week.  I think Summer has really left us.  I just looked at the 10 day weather forecast and it isn't getting out of the 70s for the foreseeable future.  I just loved my Summer this year even if I didn't get to the shore.  Again.  I am determined to go next year.  It's been two summers now that I haven't gotten there.

I was thinking that today should have been the Autumnal Equinox.  It is exactly 12 hours of daylight today.  Funny how that works.  Now the sad thing is that we will have less and less daylight for the next three months.  I am going to try to soak up as much daylight as I can so that my SAD isn't so bad this year.  I noticed that after I retired and was able to sit at my kitchen table in the daylight and in my yard in the sunshine that I did better.  Even though there was sunlight in the library, it just wasn't the same as sitting outside in the sun.

Joe wasn't able to get to church today.  His neck and back are bothering him.  Just as mine gets better, his gets worse.  At least we aren't bad at the same time.  That would be awful!

Another busy week is coming up.  I have something going on every day except Thursday.  Hopefully I will have enough energy to get a lot done around the house that day.

To end off tonight I thought I'd show you another "Picture From the Past".  This was taken September 2011 at Cracker Barrel.  It's so cute.  Just ignore the date on the picture.  I had it set wrong.

I have things to do before I go to bed, so I'm going to end.  Have a good evening everyone.

Kathy

Sunrise:  6:51 a.m.

Sunset:  6:51 p.m.

12 hours of daylight

Temperature:  72*/57*

WHAT A WAY TO START THE DAY

Hello, Piglet!  Happy fall to you!  Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having.

I woke up this morning to the sound of a jackhammer.  Several in fact.  How would you like to wake up to the sound of the street next to you being torn up to put in new sewer pipes?

It was not fun.  They were there yesterday too.  Our street has been dug up for weeks now.  I hope it doesn't last too much longer.

It was so early that I actually watched the sun come up while they were working.

It was a lazy day for me.  I didn't sleep well so I really didn't get going until around noon.  And now I'm ready for bed again.  But I have some things to do first.

I got another gift from Joe.  When he found out the first cutting board was a tray, he bought me three more.  And then another one which I didn't photo.  Joe!  You broke only one cutting board.  You really didn't have to buy me five to replace it.  But I love them.

I've got to go get ready for tomorrow.  It seems as if the weeks just fly by.  Busy week next week too.

Until later...

Kathy

Sunrise:  6:50 a.m.

Sunset:  6:58 p.m.

12 hours and 8 minutes of daylight

Temperature: 76*/63*

THE FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN

Same to you Pooh Bear.  Pooh has always been a favorite of mine ever since I first met him in third grade.  I even have a stuffed Pooh sitting beside my bed.

It was very warm for the first day of Autumn.  In fact it got up to 84* which is 11 degrees above normal.  Tomorrow is supposed to get up to 89*.  I'll take it.  Soon it will be cold and dark.  Already it gets dark before I make dinner.

But the sunsets are spectacular.  Here's one from the other day.

We had chicken, potato salad, macaroni salad and coconut custard pie for dinner.  A little heavy on the carbs but that's OK for one meal.  I'll do better tomorrow.  It was good.

I got my nails done too.  This month's color is Julep's Zori.  I thought it was brown and here it turned out to be pink.  But I like it a lot. (Yes, there are gold sparkles in it.)  I think it looks very fall-like.

I got a surprise tonight.  On Sunday my cutting board broke.  I had had it for years and it was my favorite.  Not that I don't have any others.  Joe felt bad about it so he bought me another one.  And not just a cutting board, this also serves as a tray.  It has a rim around it and each corner is a spout to pour any liquid into a container.  I love black and white things.  I think they look elegant.  And I just love this cutting board tray.  I'm going to use it to take treats to church for Fellowship Time.

I'm going to head for bed now.  I'm so tired today.  Have a good night everyone.

Kathy

Sunrise:  6:48 a.m.

Sunset:  6:56 p.m.

12 hours and 8 minutes of daylight

Temperature:  84*/60*

MARIANNE STORIES #37

I just love my friend Marianne's story of this boy who takes things literally.
 
June 18
12-yr-old Labicq, a Bangladesh boy, was volunteering at our Summer Reading Game Table. He is very literal, and often doesn't get implied humor or metaphor or commonly used idioms. He was very patient with some of our more difficult customers as he explained our Summer Reading Game rules. One woman, a Puerto Rican, seemed to give him a particularly difficult time, all due to language issues, hers as well as his. I made a joke saying, "Are we all speaking English right now?" The woman laughed, but he said, "Ms. B, what language did you think we were speaking?" After the exchange was over, I told him he was a very good sport. His response: "Actually, Ms. B, I'm not very good at sports!" 

I THEE WED

Can you believe it?  In a way Summer has seemed so long and in another way the time seems to have flown.  I guess not going to work every day has messed up my sense of time.

Carolyn sent me the pictures of our Renewal of Vows ceremony so I thought I would share them with you.  Today's post is going to be mostly pictures and I hope that's OK with you.

left to right:  Joe, Donna, Pastor Wayne, Pastor Ralph, me, Mrs. Soper, Dr. Dave

Joe affirming his intentions

Me affirming my intentions

Pastor Wayne

Pastor Wayne telling the congregation about how he forgot to let us kiss at our original wedding but he was going to make up for it now.

"Joe, you may finally kiss your bride."  (I love how Pastor Wayne is laughing in the background.)

It meant more to us than I can express that Pastor Wayne was willing to do this for us.  God worked all the timing out so beautifully even down to the day that Pastor Wayne and Phyllis made settlement on their new house.  And Pastor Ralph having his Installation Service two days after our anniversary.  And all of them being there on our 10th anniversary weekend.  It was perfect.  I think I am still glowing from it.

Thank you so very much, Carolyn, for taking the pictures.  I've known you for such a short time and already you are a dear friend to me.

On with my day.  Laundry, dishes, cleaning, shopping -- well, returning, post office...  It's going to be a busy day.

Kathy

Sunrise:  6:47 a.m.

Sunset:  6:58 a.m.

12 hours and 11 minutes of daylight

THE HEART OF FALL MOVIE: THE SWEETER SIDE OF LIFE (2013)

Isn't that the truth?  Winter seems to hang on and on.  And to top it off, it's my least favorite season.  I am not a fan of ice, snow and bitter cold.  My whole body hurts so badly all winter.  But, it all works out because summer is so lovely.

We had a great Bible study today.  We finished up the book of Philippians.  It has been an awesome study.  I think I will teach it again someday.  Next we are going to study the seven churches of Revelation before breaking for the winter months.  It's just too hard to have the study during the holidays and the cold weather.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know that last year I watched a movie a day between Halloween and Christmas to celebrate the holiday season (and because it was the only way I could get in all the movies I wanted to see).  I am starting now in September watching just one or two a week.  This is the first one that I watched.  It's part of the Heart of Fall series on the Hallmark Channel.

The Sweeter Side of Life

2013 ‧ Romance/Comedy ‧ 1h 30m

Dumped by her husband, a woman takes a job at her father's bakery.

Initial release: July 11, 2013 (France)

 

Cast:  Kathryn Morris, Alastair Mackenzie, Steve Varnom

  

I loved this movie.  It was sweet but with some tense moments.  Of course like most Hallmark movies the end was predictable, but I would still watch it again.  I guess because I like shows about cooking or baking.

That's it for now.  I've got to get to Shop Rite and get a rotisserie chicken for dinner while they are still $3.99 each.  Can't beat that!

See you all later.

Kathy