RAIN, RUNNING ERRANDS, AND IT'S GETTING COLD

 

Another week is almost over.  And so is the month.  Time marches on.

Yesterday it was a rainy day.  Pouring rain!  And cold.  About 8:00 a.m. I get a text message from Pastor asking if I would like to run an early morning errand for him.  I replied, "It depends on what it is!"  It turns out that he had a 10:00 a.m. meeting with some pastors and wanted to get some soft pretzels for them.  I ended up calling his office, finding out the details and heading out the door.  Before I even ate breakfast!

I drove down the avenue where all the rioting had taken place the day before.  How sad to see everything boarded up.  Some of the stores. I think, will not reopen.  When I got to Philly Pretzel Factory I wasn't sure it was open even though the internet said it was.  Like all the rest of the stores, it was boarded up.

I ran through the rain to the store and then realized I left my mask in the car.  So I ran back and then back to the store.  It was open and I bought 25 pretzels (and a free jar of mustard) for the meeting.  They were hot and smelled so good.

When I left Joe was still in bed.  I woke him up and told him where I was going.  He said to bring some mini pretzels home for us.  So I did.

That was breakfast for us.  They were still hot when I got home and oh, so good.

I went to the hospital today to see my doctor.  I have to have some tests done and the next available day is December 30.  I have to fast the day before and be put under for the test on the day of.  Which means for two years in a row I will be spending my birthday and the day after in the hospital.  *sigh*

It is getting very cold here.  Going down in the 40s and 30s over the next few days.  Cold weather is not my friend and I am always sad to see the summer and fall go.  So now I am looking forward to the holidays and then spring.  After Christmas I always start planning my spring garden.  Because of the great success I had with my tomatoes, I am going to get some plants for next year also.

I have one more picture to show you.  When we got home today I had to park in the lot across the street from me.  This had me facing the houses on the next street over and I saw this house decorated so nicely for Halloween tomorrow.  I snapped a picture to show you.

And with that I must go to bed.  I'll try to show you Halloween pictures tomorrow.

Kathy

GIVEAWAY WINNER

 

Hello, friends!  Hope you have all had a wonderful day.  It was another slow and lazy day for me.  But when I was taking my medicine tonight, I realized that I had not taken it last night.  No wonder I was feeling poorly.  Hopefully this means tomorrow will be a better day.  The only thing I got done was laundry and dishes -- the two things that never end.

Well, today is the day.  Exactly 10 years ago I began this blog.  At that time I called it "Kathy's Trip Through Life" but I had to close it down and started this one.  Fortunately I was able to save the original posts.  It is amazing how blogs seem to change and take on a life of their own.  This is nothing like the original blog.  I guess we as people also change as we go through life.

So let's get to the drawing for my giveaway.  There were 14 entries and I wrote all your names on pieces of paper and put them in a bowl.

Then I closed my eyes and picked a name.

And the winner is...

Congratulations, Diane!  If you will email me your address, I will get it right out to you.

I wish I had 14 gifts and could give something to each of you.  Wouldn't that be nice?

Here is what Diane won.

Pumpkin salt and pepper shakers.

Two cranberry scented candles.

A pretty dishtowel.

And a Thanksgiving wall hanging.

I hope you like them, Diane.

And now it is almost time for bed.  I am very tired tonight.  I'll be back very soon.

Until later...

Kathy

ANOTHER THIS AND THAT POST... I HAVE TO GET A LIFE

 Hello, friends!  Happy Tuesday.  I wanted to give you a Monday Magazine yesterday but...  my camera battery died while I was taping the service on Sunday and I still haven't charged it.  I had a very lazy day yesterday where I did nothing.  Every once in awhile that happens.

While reading facebook yesterday I saw a notice that the mother of Joe's best friend had passed away and the funeral was this morning.  But it was the same time as my Bible Study.  I spoke with Pastor and he offered to pick up Debbie (who I give a ride to each week) and start the study until I showed up.  That was so nice of him!

Joe and Rich talked for about 1/2 hour.  It has been 2 years since they saw each other so that was good.  I sat and talked with Rich's sister-in-law from California.  She was so sweet.

We got to study just 20 minutes late and Joe had to stay and study with the ladies.  But he said I did a good job and since he is my Elder as well as my husband that was nice to hear.  We almost finished chapter 2 of Titus and will definitely finish up next week.  We plan to take our winter break in three weeks, so I am trying to move it right along.  Not being able to meet most of the year because of COVID-19 has really set me back on what I wanted to accomplish.  But it's more important to know what we are studying than to rush through.

So many helicopters are flying overhead.  There is major looting and rioting in the city tonight right near where I live. I'm sure a lot of you have heard about it.  Businesses are being broken into, things stolen and then set on fire.  We are staying in and everything is locked up so we are safe.  But please pray for our city.  So many people that need to know Jesus.  So sad.

I want to work in the yard tomorrow.  The tomato plants need to be pulled up and the bird feeder uncovered from the morning glory vines so that we can feed the birds this winter.  So much to do.  Hopefully I will have the energy to get something done.

And then I need to attack the living room.  And get caught up with dishes and wash.  Does housework ever get done?

It has gotten cold so I had Joe turn on the fireplace stove before he went to bed.  I will stay up just a bit longer before joining him.  Hope you are staying warm and enjoying these last days of October.  2020 is quickly coming to a close.  And what a year it has been!

Until later...

Kathy

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

 Hello, friends!  Sorry I haven't been around for a few days.  It's been tough between doctor appointments, not feeling all that well, and trying to get the house under control.  The latter is a losing battle.

But anyway, I thought I would show you what I've been having for dinner the last week or so.  Several days Joe has called out for dinner because I haven't felt well enough to cook.  Or I've been asleep.  I didn't photograph those, though.  In any case, here are some of my meals.

On Wednesday the 14th I had a boneless pork chop, mashed potatoes, asparagus and applesauce.  I have another two pork chops in the freezer that I think I will have for dinner tonight.

On Thursday the 15th I had some leftover chicken from Royal Farms.  Do you have a Royal Farms near you?  They have the very best chicken I have ever had.  It's not fried but it's not roasted.  It is very moist and has a wonderful flavor from the seasonings they use.  I had it with a sliced tomato from the yard and a little ear of corn.

Saturday the 17th we had breaded flounder fillets, fries, and another sliced tomato.  I had forgotten how good homegrown tomatoes are.

Last Sunday afternoon I decided to make myself some fried rice for lunch.  I had a little bit of leftover Moo Goo Gai Pan, took that and some left over rice, added a slice of bacon and an egg, and made myself an entirely new dish.  It was good.

Tuesday the 20th I had slices from a brown sugar ham slice, peas and carrots and mashed potatoes.  Peas and carrots has become my new favorite veggie.

And finally last night we had chicken thighs in the air fryer, green beans, mashed potatoes and sliced tomato.

The tomatoes are just about done for the season.  They are not ripening on the plants anymore, so I am pulling them off and bringing them in.  I had three more yesterday, so that makes 14 tomatoes I got from the yard.  It is the best I have done in years.  There are about four smaller ones that I will get this afternoon and then that will be it.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my meals.  Now I have to get ready to go to church.  I am picking up an extra person today so that will take more time so I am leaving earlier.  It was my turn to bring the treat for Fellowship Time so I made some pumpkin spice cookies.  They turned out so good.

Have a good day, everyone.  Thank you to all of you who have entered my giveaway.  I will be announcing the winner on Wednesday.  Good luck to all of you!

Until later...

Kathy

IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE FALL

 Hello, friends!  Hope you are all doing well.  It has been beautiful weather this week.  Today I even went to Bible Study with no jacket.  I was wearing a sweatshirt and that was enough.  It is supposed to be in the 70s all week (20s C.) but I think this is the last hurrah.  Next week is to be freezing.

Yesterday I went to the hospital to get a Holter monitor put on.  I was feeling much better than the last time I was there.  The only thing I have left from my upper respiratory infection is a lingering cough that I can't get rid of.

I got there early and looked for a parking place.  None to be found.  I ended up driving around the entire lot four times.  The only ones were a long way from the door and I knew I couldn't walk that far.  So finally I left and went to the Cancer Center parking lot.  There was one spot left and that was a handicapped spot.  I took it and was able to walk through the building to my appointment.  Quite a walk, but not as bad as walking uphill through the parking lot.

I was able to take the monitor off today and I will mail it back tomorrow.  Of course I didn't have one instance of heart palpitations while I was wearing the monitor.  Isn't that always the way?

When I got back into the car to come home, I saw a squirrel climbing a large tree.  I grabbed my camera to take a picture, but was too late.  But I did get a pretty picture of the trees I was parked under.

As you can see, there isn't much color in our trees yet.  Just a touch of yellow among the many green leaves.  It will be another two or three weeks until our trees are at their peak.  But this beautiful picture gave me the idea of seeing what little color is out there.  Unfortunately since I was driving I couldn't take pictures of the most colorful trees I saw.  But here are some I could get while I was stopped at red lights.

This tree is a few blocks from home.  Again it is mostly green, but there are hints of yellow there.

This is by the Catholic church a few blocks from my house.  A little bit of red, but not much.

This beautiful oak is across the street from my house.  It is mostly green now, but in a few weeks it will be beautiful colors.

This is Kitty, one of the four outside cats I feed.  She is so beautiful and friendly, but I can't get her to come inside.  She has been around for about four years now.  As you can see, she doesn't miss many meals.  She truly is the queen of the street and the other cats fall in line behind her.  She gets to eat first and tells the others what to do.

Now you are seeing some more color in the trees.  I took this today as I left church following our Bible Study.  For some reason the trees in this neighborhood are more colorful than the ones in mine.  It is only one mile away.  Maybe it's because we have chemical plants running and things are kept warmer.

I also took pictures of the garden at church.  Remember when it was first put in during the summer of 2019?  In case you don't, here are some pictures.

What a difference a year makes!  It is beautiful.  There had been a little shower and the rain on the Dusty Miller plants made them sparkle and look like glass.

The dogwood tree in the church yard is especially beautiful in the spring and the fall.  As spring arrives it is covered with huge pink blooms.  In fall, the leaves turn this bronze and purple as you can see in this picture.

These trees are also across the street from the church.  Not as colorful as the others, but just wait a few weeks.

I'm home now, and this tree is at the end of my block.  Again, it is just beginning to turn.  It will be beautiful.

Of course, the most colorful leaves are in the wreath on my front door.  Ha, ha.

Hope you enjoyed looking at all the trees.  You know I will be back later with more pictures as the trees turn.

Don't forget to leave a comment telling me if you want to enter my give-away.  So many of you have entered already.  I'm closing the entries next Sunday, the 25th and the drawing is on the 28th.  So you still have time to think it over.  I will be showing you what is in it later this week.  I think you will like everything.

And now I have to get some sleep.  Until later...

Kathy

THIS, THAT AND A GIVEAWAY

 Hello, friends.  How is your weekend going?  We had a nice Saturday.  

All week I have been wanting to clean the bathroom.  I have done little things, but nothing of any significance.  So today I began and really got some things done.  First I got the sink and faucets shining.  I read this week that using window cleaner really makes a difference and it does.  I am remembering this trick.

Then I decided to attack the chest of drawers we have in the bathroom.  The top is a mess because it is right inside the door and it seems everything gets dumped there.  I am not finished by a long shot, but I did quite a bit of gathering band-aids into one box, throwing things away, and finding lost earrings.  It's beginning to look good.  Or at least better.

It is amazing that we put things off, dreading it, and then when we actually do the job it isn't as bad as we thought and doesn't take as much time as we anticipated.  You would think that I had learned that by this time.

This afternoon I drove Joe to the bakery.  He had ordered a cake for church tomorrow to celebrate our Pastor's birthday on Monday.  I didn't go in with him and the box was tied up when he came out so I haven't seen it yet.  But I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow before it is cut.  Pastor is going to be so surprised.

On the way home we stopped at Rite Aid.  He wanted to get a birthday card for the congregation to sign and I wanted to get a couple of Halloween cards for our great-grands.  I found the perfect little cards.  I have Halloween coloring books that I am going to mail to them with the cards.  The only thing I couldn't find was mailing envelopes.  I will try to find them at the post office on Monday.

When we were checking out, Joe spotted a display of cloth face masks, so we each got one.  I tried mine on and think it is easier to breathe with than the paper ones I have to wear in the hospital.  Joe's is a camouflaged one.

 Mine is pink, blue and white with the colors fading into each other like a sunset.  So pretty.

Yes, I am wearing a snowman sweatshirt.  The shirt is warm and the weather is cold outside.  A few days ago it was almost 80*F and now it's in the 30s and 40s.  I even have the stove in the living room running to keep things warm.

Yesterday I made some sugar cookies with pumpkins on them.  They turned out so cute.  Yes, I used the ready to bake cookie dough but they are delicious.

Well, let me tell you about my giveaway.  I began this blog 10 years ago this month.  October 28th to be exact.  And I think that is worthy of a little gift for my readers to thank you for making this a popular site.  So I am putting together a fall package for you.  I'm not exactly sure of what will be in it, but I promise you it will be at least three things that you will like.  To enter, please leave a comment saying you would like to be included in the giveaway.  If you comment and don't say you want to be entered, I will take that as a regular comment and not enter you.  I always hate when I want to comment on someone's blog but can't because I don't want to be entered in a drawing so I will not do that to you!  I will draw a name on the exact 10 year anniversary of the blog -- October 28th.  Good luck, everyone!

And now I must get to bed so that I can get up in the morning.  Have a good night!

Until later...

Kathy