Friday Fave Five - last one for January

 

I'm back from a Florida vacation visiting my daughter and son-in-law and it was wonderful. They are moving to France in March, and this will be my last time to hug them. And now, it's time to share my blessings with you all. Come and join us at Living to Tell the Story to share yours. Thank you, Susanne for giving us this spot each week. 

1.  Safe flights: I am not a comfortable traveler when it comes to flying. Even a 2-hour flight makes me edgy. The flights down and back were uneventful for which I am so glad. The only snafu was landing in Punta Gorda where we were on the tarmac for half an hour waiting to taxi to the terminal. Apparently there were 3 planes head of us trying to offload passengers. 

2. Lovely weather: After leaving freezing temps here in TN, it was wonderful to feel sun and temps in the 70s. My first day there was a bit chilly but after that, paradise! Salt air, breezes and sunsets. 

Sunset from my daughter's front door.

When I got back home, it was not too chilly but then the next day back to cold and rain. I could already feel what color I had fading. 

3. Time with great grand kiddos:  I was able to spend the afternoon with my grandson and wife and my great granddaughters. What cuties they are! There were video games and then a walk to the park for playtime. The two girls played on the slide and swings. Lots of visiting and family time.

Playing video games with Grandpa 

Bella ready for a ride in her wagon.

Going down the slide

4. My grand dogs - Max and Mosey: What cuties! They love to cuddle and burrow under blankets. Such well-behaved dogs and what personalities!

Max on the left. . .  Mosey on the right

5. Beautiful beaches, wonderful seafood and time with family: Venice Beach is beautiful. The city itself is also very pretty although the "snowbirds" are still around which makes traffic a bit of a challenge. We ate at a couple restaurants while I was there with amazing Italian food and another with great pizzas. 

On the Venice fishing pier looking down at the beach.

There were still remnants of repair from Hurricane Ian.

My beautiful daughter and me.

We visited a shopping district with a restaurant called Oak Stone with the best pizza in the country!

As it is whenever you come home from a trip, there is that feeling of comfort that you're back home but a bit of sadness that your trip is over. This one was bittersweet, knowing of their leaving in just over a month. Lots of talking and even some tears. They are ready for their great adventure and I'm hoping to visit them towards the end of the year. As nervous as I am on a 2-hour flight - the thought of flying across the pond is a bit daunting. But what an adventure.  But I'm settling back into being home. Apollo, my cat is very happy I'm home!

I hope you all are doing well, and I want to catch up with you to see what's going on in your lives. My prayers for the families of those lost in the airplane and helicopter crash in D.C. 

Friday Fave Five

 

Here's another week gone by and we're very near the beginning of April and Easter. It's been a quiet, fairly uneventful week and I've had to dig deep to find anything of interest to write here. But I'm giving it a shot. come join us all at Living to Tell the Story and let us know what's going on with you. And thank you, Susanne for hosting this.

1. My daughter in law is home: My daughter in law has been in Florida since last Thursday, helping to care for her mother after a nasty fall with injuries to her arm.  Unfortunately, her mom was misdiagnosed and went several days before another doctor found out the severity of her issues. She's having surgery today. Her mother lives with her sister which is a blessing, but she wanted to be there to help. Unfortunately, she caught a flu bug from a fellow passenger on the plane and was sick for most of the week. She flew home yesterday evening as planned. She's glad to be home, I'm glad she's home. and I know my son is glad.

2. My daughter coming to visit: This may be old news. My daughter is coming up for a short visit the second week of April. We always have such a sweet time. We're not planning any excursions or trips - just being together and knitting and chatting. 

3. Books..books..books: I've always been so thankful that I enjoy reading. I enjoy all kinds of books - from mysteries, historical fiction, even theology. This week I came across an excellent book, recommended by a friend on Face Book. "Cora's Story - Life on Bays Mountain". The character is fictional, but the location is very real, not too far from where I live in east Tennessee. She refers to the Knoxville newspaper and names of places I recognize. It's a sweet story with its ups and downs, sadness and happiness, folly and redemption. The author, Barbara Arnold Linkous, wrote a sequel called "Murrell's Story - Life on Bays Mountain", Murrell being her husband. I'm reading that now. They are available on Kindle Unlimited.

4. Sun: We've had stretches of days and weeks when we never saw sunshine. This week has been a delight, and I can feel how lively and more cheerful I am when the sun is shining brightly. Spring has been here and gone and back again, as is usual here in east Tennessee. I'm looking forward to when it's here to stay. And then, it will be summer, and I'll be complaining about the heat. Humans are never satisfied for long!

5. My new Bible: I mentioned a week or so ago that I had invested in a new Bible. This one is a treasure, wide margins for writing in and a font that is comfortable for me to read. I created a color code for verses that I wanted to highlight as I read and studied. Colored pencils are always handy when I read, and I've been enjoying highlighting passages: Purple for personally meaningful verses. . .Green for our identity in Christ....Orange for end time prophecies - as an example. 

BONUS: Apollo has been especially cuddly this week. He was a rescue of about 4 years of age when I adopted him from our local Humane Society. For those of you who have adopted (and thank you!) you know that sometimes the transition to your home can be length. I've wondered what happened in his past to cause some of his habits. It took months for him to really feel at home here but each new act of trust has been a blessing and delight to me. 

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

 

Weekly Chat

 

Date:    February 19, 2024

The weather:  Twenty-five degrees. Supposed to be sunny today.

Reading:  Sweet Tea and Southern Grace by Glenda C. Manus

Viewing:  Nothing at the moment but I'm going to begin watching my Poirot series.

Thankful for:  Feeling better after a sick weekend.

Knitting:  Nothing right now. I'm in a slump.

Dulcimer progress:  Not much. In a slump. Do you see a pattern here?

A peek into my life:  I've been in Tennessee for almost 7 years now and love it. But I do still get homesick for Florida at times. Here is Mom and Mandy at Flagler Beach circa 2013, I miss them too!

Pondering:  I'm about to invest in a new Bible which isn't an easy decision. I have all sorts of boxes that need to be checked off: large font, red-letter edition, verse-by-verse and, of course the translation. 

Quote:  

Scripture: 

"I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Psalm 34:1

The beginning of another week and nearing the end of February. Already! In a few weeks, there will be daffodils and a time change. The air will consistently feel warmer and Spring will be very near. I am looking forward to that! Have a blessed week.

Friday Fave Fives

 

It's Friday and time to list the blessings that have come to us this week. It's been a quiet week as I've been down with some flu-like symptoms, so I've done very little. It's during this time that I look around me - those things I sometimes take for granted. When you are feeling poorly, it's such a blessing to realize that you are surrounded by God and His blessings, in whatever form they take. Thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for hosting this!

1. A warm home: With forecasted temps going down into the teens for this upcoming week, I am so thankful for a warm home. Such a simple need but I'm reading of several places in my area that are opening their doors for the homeless. I can't imagine having no home and having to weather the cold we have been having!

2. Full cupboards and fridge: Another provision we sometimes take for granted. Because I had shopped (maybe even over shopped), I have plenty of what I need during this ultra-cold snap. 

3. Books: Someone included this in their blessings a few weeks back and it reminded me of how much I love to read and how precious books are to me. I can travel anywhere I want simply by opening a book. I can learn to knit, bake a cake or temporarily live in a small town full of lovely but quirky people. My favorite is the printed page that I can hold in my hand. I've learned to adjust to my Kindle though and that's kinda neat because I can adjust the font size. I listen to many of my Mitford books through Audible which is a wonderful way to fall asleep.

4. Feeling better: I'm very thankful that what I've felt this week has been mild compared to some. I'm hearing that ERs are full of those suffering with COVID, RSV and flu. I've just been congested along with some unpleasant GI issues. I won't go into detail. It's given me a week of enforced staying at home and resting. And that's been a blessing unto itself.

5. Safety from severe weather: I'm seeing photos and hearing tales of being snowed in, of flooding and tornadoes. I imagine some of you, my faithful readers, have seen some of that. Our area is under a high wind alert with possible wind speeds in the 80s and 90s in higher elevations. We might get snow next week. I've lived through severe tropical weather when I lived in Florida so I know how stressful and anxiety-building it can be. 

, 

BONUS: I began writing out scripture a few months back through Love Worth Finding, a ministry begun by the late Adrian Rogers. For me, scripture sticks to me better when I'm writing it out. I don't do it every month but when I do, I find it such a blessing. If you're interested, you can click here.

Stay warm and safe, my friends. 

Or if you're a Lord of the Rings fan. . .

Friday's Fave Five - February 10

 

I've been MIA for a week or so, still fighting sinus issues that bring on a wracking cough. I've not even visited any of my friends here. When you feel crummy and basically want to just sleep and eat, it's even more important to sit back and remember the blessings you have been given - great or small. So, here are mine. Thank you, Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for giving us such a lovely spot to do it.

Come join us!

1. Sunny days: Despite so much rain lately, we did have some sunny days with temps up into the high 60s. I actually went out and sat soaking it in yesterday. It felt good to feel the warmth on my face. 

2. My church small group: It is always a blessing to get together with some of my church family each week for fellowship and Bible study. I attend a "visitors" small group which began as a group led by our pastor and his wife for those new to the church before they found a group they felt was their fit. Somehow, our "visitors" have never gone away, and we are a cozy bunch who feels they have found their spot. We meet on zoom which is sort of nice because I can attend from the comfort of my home. It is always a blessing and a "lift-me-up".

3. I found cat food: This may seem like a strange blessing but if you have a cat, who sometimes is a picky eater, you'll understand. For a few reasons, there has been a very short supply of cat food in the stores. Even the two kinds I give Apollo are out of stock at Amazon and Chewy. But I found some on the shelves at my local Publix this week and stocked up. Apollo didn't seem especially thankful for my efforts but then, he's a cat.

4. Homemade chicken soup: My daughter in law, Stephanie is a fantastic cook and often I'm the recipient of her culinary endeavors. This week, she and Mike brought over a big container of her chicken soup. What a blessing on those days when otherwise I only had energy for a bowl of cereal. 

5. Streaming my favorite shows: I am so thankful for the streaming services we have at our fingertips when it comes to TV viewing. I've got access to wonderful viewing - clean, wholesome entertainment. I can laugh, weep, learn - all from the comfort of my living room. Currently I've been keeping up with All Creatures Great and Small on PBS, The Chosen on the Angel Network. What do you all watch on streaming?

Winters for me are not the greatest. These Florida bones are still getting used to the cold of Tennessee. This is year #4 that I've gone through sinus and coughing issues. I love the ambiance of seeing snow fall but am still not feeling the confidence to drive in it. It's in the winter when, even though I love the Smoky Mountains, I yearn for Florida's Atlantic beaches. To top it off, Phil, the Groundhog didn't see his shadow. 

Let's hope he did.

Have a lovely weekend.

 

Friday Fave Fives - January 20

 

Another week has gone by and time to think of the many blessings and things that have happened to me since last week. It's been a challenging week and I had to dig deep but no matter what's going on, God still encourages me and holds me in the palm of His hand. Thank you, Susanne from Living to Tell the Story prompting me to do this.

1. Reminiscing: I found in the bottom of one of my desk drawers a bunch of CDs, full of photos from long ago. I spent most of the afternoon watching grandchildren as they frolicked and played. I saw photos of a granddaughter after she was born. This wee one is now a mother of 3! What wonderful memories! It was a wonderful trip down memory lane. 

2. A good doctor visit: On Monday, I had my 3 months follow-up for my blood sugars. My doctor had been adamant that I needed to begin a third diabetic med and I was just as adamant that I not. My blood work showed that my Hgb A1C which measures 3 months of control was still much too high but had lowered since previous. Because recent morning blood sugars this month have been much lower than before, she agreed to let me continue doing what I'm doing. No sugar for 20 days has certainly paid off!

3. New coffee maker: My old coffee maker finally bit the dust, so I now have a new Mr. Coffee maker. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles but that's fine. I still makes good coffee! 

4. My church family: I've been feeling a bit low this week, still struggling with a cough that seems to go on and on and generally feeling sorry for myself. I've not gone anywhere except for necessities, and I've not been to church for 2 weeks. And I feel it. This morning, a friend who is my small group leader called me and prayed for me and we talked for almost an hour. Her prayer and encouragement were just what I needed.

5. Sunshine: We've had lots of overcast days that makes me have to keep lights turned on. Today, we have sun and temps in the 50s but with the sunshine, it almost feels warmer than that. I sat outside this afternoon for a bit until a wind kicked up to make it feel colder. Living in Florida for so many years, I still haven't totally acclimat4ed to Tennessee winter weather and I usually more than happy for spring. 

I hope you all were doing well and enjoying your day. 

Friday's Fave Five - November 11, 2022

 

Here we are mid-November and it's a Friday. So, time to think of all the blessings I've encountered this week. Thank you, Susanne from Living to Tell the Story for giving us an opportunity and place to share these! Come join us!

1. Doing better: I've had a painful week from a fibromyalgia flare but it's getting better. I'm never 100% sure what brings these on but this one has been a doozy! But I'm feeling much better.

2.  A house cleaning schedule: I thrive on schedules and plans, but I've never really had a housecleaning plan. Last week when my Florida BFF came to visit, I spent a couple days cleaning my apartment and realized that some things were long overdue. I promised myself not to have to do that again and so created a schedule. When all the joint and muscle pain hit, I still kept to it, and I felt very accomplished. A small thing, I know but it really has helped.

3.  A great granddaughter birthday: Today is my great granddaughter Ava's birthday! Two years old. Coincidentally, her mommy is expecting daughter #2 - Arabella the same day as Ava's birthday - today! I've only gotten to visit with Ava twice in her young life, but her mommy is a prolific photo taker, so I have lots of photo memories. 

One month old

One year old in her birthday finery

November 2022 - almost two!

4.  A long telephone conversation with my daughter: My daughter, way down in Florida, and I spent an hour on the phone the other day just chatting. I love those times when we catch up with each other's lives. Often our calls are short and to the point, but times like these I cherish.

5.  Veteran's Day: Today we honor those who have served our country in the military. We wouldn't be the "land of the free and the home of the brave" if it wasn't for them.

My father - William S. Black Jr. 

My son, James Merli - USS Coral Sea

My heart felt thank you to all who have served.

I hope everyone is having a good day and looking forward to a good weekend. My prayers to those who have been hit with another hurricane. It's been a tough 3 months for them. I lived in Florida for over 40 years. I have family and dear friends there. Thankfully all have been safe with minimal damage.

Friday's Fave Five - October 28

 

It's the end of another week and time to count our blessings and the things that God has blessed us with. Thank you, Susanne from Living to Tell the Story for giving us a space to do this!

1. Yarn on sale: There was a certain yarn that I wanted to finish a crochet project. I found it and it was at a price that I thought was more than it should have been. I decided to check Michael's Craft Store, which is maybe 5 miles from me. They had my yarn cheaper and even with a coupon so I was able to get 2 skeins there for the price of one at other places I ordered online for store pick up and 2 hours later, there was the email that my order was ready! Easy peasy!

2. Computer issues: I've suspected for a while that I was going to have to invest in another computer. I have a spare laptop which has issues and my primary one that has also developed problems. My primary one is suddenly giving me problems with typing "t" and "y". Do you know how many times you use the letter "t" when you're writing something? I was able to access my Word program on the spare computer (which incidentally is faster). Its issues are minor and so between my two laptops, I have one complete working computer! That's a blessing until I can spare the expense to get a new one.

3. A visit: This is a coming blessing. My BFF and her husband in Florida are coming up for a visit this weekend. Their son lives half an hour from me and that's where they're staying. We get to spend a whole day together next week and I can't wait. This treasured friend and I have been through so much. When I lived in Florida, she and I spent every Saturday afternoon watching PBS programs like Father Brown and when the newest Downton Abbey season came out, she bought the DVD and we were watching it before PBS subscribers could. Now, 600 miles away, we still talk on the phone every week and even do Bible studies together.

4. A full cupboard: When my retirement comes in each month, I do some serious shopping. I'm close to being out of many things by then and Mother Hubbard's cupboard is getting bare. After my shopping and putting away, I also feel so blessed to see a full cupboard and fridge. I have the convenience of going to a store with everything I need and bringing it home. To some, this may seem trivial but there are some who don't have that blessing.

5. Beautiful weather: Our colors are still lovely, although you can see it changing. Our nights are in the 40s and our days high 60's and into the 70s. I wish it was like this all year 'round, but I'll take it when we get it. 

I hope one and all are having a lovely day and looking forward to a great weekend.  

Hello, October!

 

I do love fall! Our temps have been "fall-like" the last week or so and today we have some light rain (courtesy of Ian). I'm in the mood for chili and I plan to visit a store or two and get some more fall decor. 

Apollo is watching out the window, waiting for the leaves to change. That will probably happen in a couple weeks. 

Last night, after reading of all the devastation in Southwest Florida from Hurricane Ian, it was so lovely to walk out my front door yesterday evening to see this.

Fall has just arrived and already I've got Christmas on my mind. I bought a new tree for this year - a pencil thin one that will fit better in my small apartment. Our local thrift store - KARM - has opened up their yearly Christmas store in what was originally a Whole Foods store, - so it's big! I think I'll make a stop there this today. 

I've been busy with a crochet hook and yarn with two great grand babies due to enter this world in November as well as a Christmas gift for someone. 

I've also been evaluating life related to my health and the worsening diabetes. Recent lab work has not been good and I'm looking for recipes and working on menus. I'm not a planner when it comes to things like this, but I need to be now. I'm not letting this dreadful disease get me down.

I hope all is well out in blogland. My prayers are for those who have been so gravely affected by Ian. I've been 5 years living in Tennessee, but my heart is still in my former home state. 

Happy weekend!

Friday's Fave Five - September 30

 

It's been a very interesting week and one I'd just as soon not repeat. But in all that has happened, I've been able to see the blessings coming through. Thank you, Susanne from Living to Tell the Story for giving us a place to share our blessings with others.

1 and 2. Safety through a storm.: As far as I'm concerned, this blessing, deserves two spots. On Wednesday my daughter and son in law who live in Venice, FL were in the path of Hurricane Ian. The day before they were a bullseye, but throughout Wednesday morning it moved more south., as a strong Cat 4 (extremely close to a 5). On top of everything else, her husband, who is a county employee was required to man a shelter in Northport. So, she was alone with the two dogs and no power. On top of that, her weather app wasn't working so she had no idea how things were progressing. Her mother - "meteorologist Mom" was 600 miles away, monitoring things with the help of live coverage from a Sarasota TV station. I'd text her periodically with details. I honestly felt like I was going through it with her. The complex where they live is sturdy, but the wind and rain were relentless, and she was emotionally done in. That hurts a mom's heart when she's 600 miles away! By yesterday, the storm had passed, son in law was home and power was back on. The most wonderful blessing!

That can't be said for those north of them - Naples, Ft. Myers etc. My heart and prayers go out to them. The devastation is unbelievable. And because Florida was my home for so many years, my heart is still there, and I hurt for them all.

3. Cool, fall weather:  Finally! I haven't had my air conditioning on for days and when I step out first thing in the morning, I really could use a light jacket. I don't see any leaves turning yet but that will come. I'm loving it!

4. Doctor visit: This was the big one - my annual Medicare visit. Labs were drawn and some numbers I was concerned about were normal, but the diabetic numbers were worse. She added another diabetic med which isn't cheap even with a co-pay, but my doctor gave me almost 3 months of samples to see how the med works. That is a huge blessing! I'll see her again in January.

5. Another baby blanket: Some of you may remember my raven quote from Edgar Allen Poe when I finished the first baby blanket. However, I really needed to crochet another blanket for another granddaughter expecting in November and still had lots of that chunky baby yarn, so I bit the bullet and began another one yesterday. It's much easier going this time so I guess "practice does make perfect." This one is for the wee one up in Connecticut so I'm making it a bit bigger to give extra warmth.  

My first two blessings here have made me reflect. When I lived in Florida and a tropical storm or hurricane was barreling down, I'd pray for it to change direction and just leave me alone. It was survival back then, but I knew that. But if it didn't hit me, it would hit someone else. It was not always a great comfort to be spared only to see fellow Floridians suffer - or Texans, or Georgians or wherever else it hit. To see the devastation down in southwest Florida and what may happen in SC today when it makes landfall as a Cat 1 once again, is heart breaking. Life is precious and our possessions are fleeting. Only our faith in God is ever present and eternal. 

I hope you all are looking forward to a great weekend!

Prayers for Florida

 Many of you may have already heard that a major hurricane is headed for the west coast of Florida. As of last forecast, it is due to hit Tampa area as a Cat 3 sometime in the early hours of Thursday morning. Having lived in Florida for many years, I know that hurricanes and tropical systems can change course at the last minute. But as of now, it's made me very anxious.

Photo courtesy of Bay News 9

I lived in Florida for many years, having moved to Tennessee 5 years ago. If I were living now where I was then, I would be in the crosshairs. What makes me very anxious now is that I have family and friends all up and down the west coast of Florida. I have a granddaughter and husband in Tampa, A grandson, wife and child in Sarasota and a daughter and son-in-law in Venice. I also have a very good friend and her husband who live just north of Tampa. All are preparing for the storm right now but with probable power outages, I don't know when I'll hear from them once Ian passes by. 

Thankfully, with all the years I lived in Florida, I never experienced a hurricane. I've been through a couple strong tropical storms that, by wind speeds, were only a tad less than a hurricane. I've been through power outages and waiting in line for cases of water at our local fair grounds. I've endured Walmart trying to grab what I needed off almost empty shelves. It's not fun.

I would appreciate prayers for Florida and especially for my family and friends at this time. 

Friday's Fave Five - September 9

 

Here we are at another week and time to recount the blessings of our week. Come and join Susanne at Living to Tell the Story so that we can take a peek at yours!

My blessings really begin last Thursday when I flew to Florida for a family visit and baby shower. I lived in Florida for many years and so besides seeing family, I loved seeing the beach and palm trees once again. We don't have that here in Tennessee!!

1. Staying with my best friend - aka my daughter. We had a great time! We both are chatterers, and my son-in-law can't get a word in edgewise. They live in a lovely apartment complex in Venice, Florida. It's the part of the state that just screams Florida with its tropical vibe. The only downside to the visit was that it was hot. . .hot. . .HOT! But that's what air-conditioning is for.

2. Time with my great granddaughter, Ava. It's her Mommy's baby shower I came to attend. This expected wee one is already named - Arabella and she is due on the same day as Ava's second birthday. What a cutie, Ava is! Smart as a whip and always smiling. She was very shy with me at first since she was only a few months old the last time I saw her, but she warmed up fast.

Ava with her mommy. Her badge says "Big Sister"

3. Beach time: We only visited the beach one time at sunset to get some photos. Otherwise, it was just too hot! We did stick our feet in the water which felt like bath water. 

4. Good trip - coming and going: When it comes to flying, I'm not the best and most relaxed traveler. The flight was only 1 hour and 35 minutes, for goodness' sake, and that part was good. It's the packing, the security check in, finding the gate, and waiting for the boarding call (which isn't always clear). Each time checking in, I was "patted down". I set off an alarm apparently. The first time I thought it was my watch so the second time, I put it in the bin with my shoes etc etc. Still happened. But all turned out well. 

5. Home: "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." No matter how wonderful a time, there is just nothing like home. Apollo was very happy to see me, and the good news is that while I was away and my son and daughter-in-law looked in on him (feeding, watering, cat box cleanup) this cat, who previously hid from all who wasn't me, actually interacted with them. A couple days after arriving home, I came down with a cold so it's nice to sleep in my own bed and complain to my cat.

Today, I have a sore throat and practically no voice but I'm doing okay. My daughter who is an absolutely amazing knitter has gotten my juices going to pick up my crochet hook again. I'm also going to try my hand and simple knitting again - just so I can say I can do it.

My thoughts and prayers for England's Royal family and the whole of England. They lost a great lady yesterday. Seventy years on the throne and she was much loved. 

R.I.P. Queen Elizabeth II

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend and are seeing cooker temps. Ours are hanging in the low 80s which I'm thankful for!