Friday's Fave Five

 

We've had some very pleasant weather here in east TN this week and I've loved seeing the sun. Now as I come to another end of the week, it's time to reflect back and list the blessings, both great and small, that I've seen. Thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for giving us this opportunity. 

1. Learning something new. For my birthday, my daughter gifted me two beautiful hanks of yarn and a ball winder. When you begin with a hank, you have to do something with it before you begin to knit. I can remember as a child holding one of these between outstretched arms while my mother rolled the yarn into a useable ball. My ball spinner makes the job much easier. My patient daughter and I met on Zoom as she showed me how to do it and voila. . .

I went from this...

To this!

This is only one hank. I still have to do the other one. 

2. Lovely sunny weather: It's been in the 60s and sunny most of the week and what a pleasure! It feels like spring is almost here. I've seen a couple robins looking for food which reminds me. I want to buy a bird feeder this spring.

3. My Apollo: I never cease to be amazed at this little guy. He is definitely his own person, so to speak but he gives me love and affection. There is something about rescuing a defenseless animal from a bad environment and giving them a good home and love that makes me feel so good. This past weekend, I found out more about Apollo's background. Some of this I may have said before so forgive me. 

I adopted Apollo from East Tennessee Humane Society almost 2 years ago. The story given me was that he belonged to an elderly man who kept Apollo in his room. When he died, his wife wanted no part of the cat and surrendered him. I learned very recently that it was not her but another man who took pity on Apollo and brought him to the center. When the center accepted him, Apollo had been kept in a crate for at least 3 days straight and not let out. I don't know if he had been given any water or food. When he was surrendered, he was covered in urine and feces. He was very scared of people and the other cats and subsequently was kept in the center's kitchen on his own. The center did an awesome job of caring for Apollo and he finally warmed up to people, to a point. It took him at least a year with me before he began to relax and trust me. I'm so glad we ended up together.

4. Ancestral memories: My grandmother and my mother kept everything, and I inherited photos and memorabilia of my maternal ancestry that go way back. I even have tin types of people I'll probably never be able to identify. Along with photos, there are treasures that have survived for decades, even centuries. I have my grandmother's school bell from when she was a teacher in a one room schoolhouse in Kansas. I have a small sewing kit that my Great, Great Grandfather John Elston carried with him during the Civil War. I may at some point write a few posts to show them off. Here, for instance is my Great, Great Grandmother Jane R. Elston.

My grandma looked very much like her.

5. My Kindle: If you pin me down, I'd have to admit that I prefer to read from a real book. But with running out of room on shelves, I reluctantly got a Kindle e-reader. I wasn't crazy about it at first but now I love it. I can adjust the font size. I can hold my finger over a word I don't understand and immediately the definition pops up. My Kindle has enough room for more books than I'll ever read in a lifetime. Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited which allows you to borrow up to 10 books at a time. Not every book on Amazon is eligible but a whole lot are. 

I hope you all are looking forward to a nice weekend. Here's to green grass and robins and daffodils!

Friday's Fave Five - March 17

 

I apologize that I skipped last week's party, but here I am today. This week we're back to cold..cold...cold. There are still signs of spring here and there but with cold temps once again. I won't elaborate on how that's affecting my sinus issues and coughing. It's St. Patrick's Day!  Also, the 6th year of my mother's graduation to heaven. This week has been very reflective, and I've had to look closely for those blessings. But they have been there. Thank you, Susanne for giving us this spot.

1. My sweet mother: Mom was 90 years and 6 days when she passed on. She was a feisty, independent lady who had strong opinions and beliefs. She was my best friend and she taught me so much about life by words and example. She lived with me the last 6 years of her life and passed away at a rehab center recuperating from surgery. She had a great love for the Jewish people and chose to worship God in a Messianic congregation. She knew Jesus as "Yeshua" - his Hebrew name and discovering the Jewishness of her Messiah and Savior was a tremendous blessing in her life.

2. Signs of spring: Despite temps in the upper 20s and low 30s at night, we can still see signs of spring. I saw my first robin the other day and yellow and white daffodils adorn the highways. The Bradford Pear blossoms are gone, but the Red Bud trees are in full bloom. The photo below was taken quickly at the grocery store parking lot.

3. My grand-cat, Gus: Gus belongs to my son and daughter-in-law and is around 14 years old. For most of their married lives, they've been "cat rescuers". At the beginning of 2020, all five of their cats were around the same age and elderly. One by one, they've crossed Rainbow Bridge with the exception of Gus.

Yesterday, they were concerned about his suddenly not eating, and acting very listless. Because he was also vomiting, they feared the worse. Off he went to the vet where he stayed overnight so they could observe him. His blood work was good, and they think it's was perhaps a stomach bug. Hopefully he'll come back home today if all goes well. I know he's not happy at the vet. The photo doesn't show his piercing blue eyes! 

4. Knitting coming along: I'm pleased at how my knitting is coming along. My daughter and I spent an hour on Zoom the other day while she gave me a some tips and instruction. No photos yet but I will when there's more to show.

5. A ministry at church: This past Tuesday was our monthly meeting of Servant's Hope. This ministry is for shut ins and those in nursing homes as well as taking people to doctor appointments and whatever else is needed. This month is the 25th anniversary of its inception. We have a short devotion, pray and share what has been going on in the ministry. And there were a lot of memories to share. After that, we went out for lunch. It was a special day.

I hope all you are doing well out there. Forgive me when I whine about the cold temps. Many of you may be snowed under. I think we're all ready for the warmth of spring. 

Until next week. . . .

Friday's Fave Five - March 3

 

Here we are at another end of the week - another Friday with an opportunity to reflect on the many blessings throughout the week. Today is a day I need this. It was 22 years ago today that my husband, Alan graduated to heaven. Some years I feel more keenly than others. This year is feels almost fresh. You never quite get over losing a loved one. You just learn to cope. 

There have been good things this past week. Right now, we're under a high wind alert until 3 am. The birds on the wire above may not stay too long! Come join us at Living to Tell the Story and share what's been going on in your life.

1. My new knitting supplies: My order from Knit Picks came in this week - a set of needle tips and several sizes in cables for knitting in the round. The needle tips are the size I need for the cowl which I'm going to to knit. The yarn I will use can be found here. My daughter is ready to help me begin. Updates to follow.

2. Spring is in bloom! My apartment complex is surrounded by Bradford Pear trees, and they are blooming in all their splendor! So beautiful! I'm seeing daffodils now along the interstate. It makes me smile.

3. A new way to learn dulcimer: I've struggled to learn to play my mountain dulcimer, using You Tube videos and whatever I could find online for free. I finally bit the bullet and decided to invest a monthly fee for a subscription to a learning platform called Dulcimer Crossing. I've started "string side up" - absolute beginner just to refresh and I enjoy the site very much. Nothing like investing money in something to suddenly spur you on!

4. Lunch with a friend: Yesterday my dear friend Barbara and I met at Red Lobster for lunch. We do this every month and I always look forward to these times. The seafood was great, but the conversation and friendship is even better!

5. My newest grand cat: I told you about him a few weeks back but at that time, he had no name. Now he does - Ziggy! How he came by that name is a story in itself. My daughter in law said she and my son were discussing a name for him, calling out different prospective ones. The cat basically just lay there. He could have cared less! When the name Ziggy came up, he popped his head up and looked at them. So, Ziggy it is! He is pretty frisky and playful and his older brother, Gus is learning to adapt.

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend and looking forward to some fun. My prayers and thoughts to you all who are still under lots of snow. Weather people in the know say we have entered "meteorological spring" so I supposed that gives hope!

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 Five - January 13

 

It hard to believe that we are in the second week of the New Year, isn't it? It seems like only yesterday, I was looking at the Christmas tree and wondering if I should take it down. It's time to remind myself the blessings that have come my way in the last week. Thank you, Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for giving us a place to do this. Why don't you join us?

1. A favorite is back: I've always been a fan of the TV series "All Creatures Great and Small". It's first incarnation began in the 70s on the BBC. For those not familiar, the series was adapted from stories in books based on the real life adventures of Alf Wight, a vet in the Yorkshire Dales. James Herriot was his pseudonym and these stories have enchanted readers for decades. A whole new incarnation has been created for Channel 5 in Great Britain and for PBS here in the U.S. On Sunday night, the long awaited first episode of season 3 premiered. I've been waiting (not so) patiently for the new season. It did not disappoint. 

2. The new kitty: Last week I introduced you to my newest Grand kitty, belonging to my son and daughter in law. I was able to meet him last Sunday and he is a sweetie. He loves to cuddle and play and has settled in quite nicely. He still doesn't have an official name, but I do have photos.

He is polydactyl with extra toes.

3. A new (sort of) DVD shelf: I've been looking around for a shelf to store my DVDs so that I could get them off my bookshelves (so I can get more books!) I really didn't want to spend the money right now and thankfully I thought of a plant stand I bought for the front of my apartment. Since I can't seem to keep plants alive, it's been sitting empty. I brought it in and here ya' go!

It's perfect!

4. Feeling better: Every year about this time when it gets cold and I have to use the heater, my sinuses act up and I end up with a cough. It usually begins around December to stays with me until around March. Last year I was in the doctor's office twice for antibiotics. This year, although it's back, it hasn't been as bad. I'm doing all the things I'm supposed to: using saline nasal spray, Nasacort and a humidifier to moisten the air. Overall, I'm feeling okay - a much better scenario than has been in the past.

5. A change in diet: At the first of January, I decided I needed to take charge of my health and this pesky type 2 diabetes. I went completely off sugar and most processed foods. I eat whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies and my protein, leaning heavily on fish and poultry. Being a sugarholic, I never thought I could do it, but it's been going well, and I feel so much better. The best part is that my fasting blood sugars are significantly lower. It makes me wonder why I didn't do this long ago.

 We've had mild temps this week, but we are expecting some snow as another cold front moves in. Back into the 20s for a couple nights. How long is it until spring? I'm not a fond of the cold.

You can tell I'm reading Lord of the Rings, can't you?

I hope all is well with you, my friends. Happy weekend!

Friday's Fave Five - November 18

 

The weeks are flying by! I wake up and it's Monday and I blink my eyes and it's suddenly Friday and time to reflect on all the happenings and blessings of the week. Thank you, Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for giving us an opportunity to share with others. Come join us!

1. COVID has hit my family: This doesn't sound like much of a blessing. In 2020, my oldest son came down with it. Since then, two granddaughters have had it. Then yesterday, my daughter informed me that my son-in-law has come down with it.  Even though she wasn't tested, my daughter, who hadn't been feeling well for a couple days, is now sure she has it as well. They probably both got it together. So, now they're in isolation. The blessing in all this is that none of my children have had serious issues with it. They don't feel really great, but they recover without a problem. Not so with others. I've lost a former pastor, and a couple friends to this horrible thing, and one dear friend is still dealing with the aftermath of it. 

2. A week of cat sitting almost done:  My younger son and daughter-in-law have been gone this week on a well-deserved vacation, so I have been taking care of my two grand cats. Other years, I stayed at their home for the week. I happened to be without a pet during those times and so it was easier. Now, with Apollo, it's a different story. Their two cats are older and less accepting of a strange kitty in their home and Apollo is not eager to make any new friends. Add to that, the oldest grand cat has no teeth and only eats wet food which can't be left out for long hours. This means that twice I day I make the 20 minute trip to their home. The morning run is very early while the second run is midafternoon when I stay for a few hours, watching their TV, cuddling with the kitties and then at dinner time, feeding them before I leave to go home. Needless to say, I'm blessed to be able to help them out, but I'll also be blessed when this weekend comes, and my cat duties are done. Meanwhile, Apollo is suffering terrible from my being away so much.

This was taken while I was home. I don't suspect much changes when I leave!

3. My grand cats: My son and D-I-L are soft touches for needy cats. About a year ago, they had 5, all rescues except for Raz. They've had them for years until age took its toll and now, they are down to 2. 

Raz was a kitten when they first married. Now, he's approaching 18. He's had thyroid issues and been on medicine and even had surgery. It was able to be corrected temporarily but he's now very thin. He is my sweetie and a cuddle bug. He's the one with no teeth. 

Gus has got the prettiest blue eyes although they don't show well in this photo. Another cuddle bug, he loves his treats and snuggles. He must hear my car when I arrive because he's right at the door to greet me when I arrive.

They are what make these two-times-a-day visits worth it. We sit on the couch together and watch TV. So far we've watched Downton Abbey - A New Era and I Can Only Imagine. Today we may tackle Lord of the Rings - Fellowship of the Ring.

4. Watching God's creation: Lately, I've been catching glimpses of bird migrations. At least, I'll call it that. There have been clouds of birds swirling around and sometimes two "clouds" swirling back and forth. I'm never able to get at my phone in time to catch them in action but they are a wonder to behold. One morning during one of my early morning runs, during a very long red light, I watched fascinated. There were two swirls of birds, swooping around, changing direction and swooping another way. They would all light on power lines for a moment and then up they'd go again. It amazes me how they orchestrate such movements! Obviously, there is the "Head Bird" who directs it all and they just follow.

 

Photo courtesy of Google

5. Increased energy: After a week of going through a fibromyalgia flare, I was concerned about my energy level this week with the extra things to do and going back and forth. I am pretty wiped out in the evening but I'm doing well so far. I've even been able to keep up with my household cleaning schedule which I just began. Our early mornings have been very chilly (28 - 31 degrees). Usually, I moan and groin to even think of going out in that chill. But this morning, I noticed how invigorating it felt going out to the car. That, my friends, is truly a blessing!

I hope all have a great week. Next Thursday, here in the U.S. we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. With all the ups and downs of life; with all the gains and losses, I am truly thankful. God has been very good to me!

My pet story

Some of you may remember me from before or know me from Face Book. So, you may remember my sweet Mandy, my silky terrier.

 She crossed Rainbow Bridge in October of 2020 from inflammation that had traveled to her brain. It broke my heart.

Then I adopted Baxter/

I adopted him from the Humane Society of East Tennessee in January of 2021. 

Baxter's back story is uncertain. He was apparently found as a stray by a lady who couldn't keep him, and he was surrendered to HSET. He was blind and probably had been for a good amount of time. It was felt that he had other issues as well such as thyroid problems. I had never dealt with a special needs animal, but Baxter was an easy one. He acclimated himself quickly to my home and was a cuddle bug. In November of 2021, he began staggering around and the vet said that he was unsure of the cause but suspected it was neurologic in nature. He quickly became worse and his prognosis was very, very poor. I had to let him cross Rainbow Bridge as well.

I'd sworn off pets by now but then along came Apollo. I volunteer for HSET and when I saw Apollo, I fell in love, His backstory was sad. He had been raised from kitten to adult by an elderly man who kept him in his bedroom. He had also been declawed. (Please, don't ever do that to a cat!) When the gentleman passed away, his wife wanted nothing to do with Apollo so he was surrendered to the center. He had a difficult time socializing with the other cats and was kept separate for his physical and emotional well being. He would be destined to be an 'only cat.'  I decided he needed some full time love and so I am fostering him. He is what is called a 'permanent foster." He'll never be taken away from me. 

Although I adored Apollo, he was very unsure about me and even nipped at me once at the center. But I took a chance and brought him home. 

I picked him up from the vet after his exam and shots. He was not a happy camper!

He immediately hid for the rest of the day and then later in the evening, came out from under the bed.

He was very wary of me!

The next day, he became a bit braver and jumped on the couch next to me.

It didn't take him long to find a snuggle place on the bed.

Surveying his kingdom!

Apollo has become a snuggle bug and can be very affectionate but as with most cats, only on his terms and his timing. It's been a joy to watch him come out of his shell and make this his home. He is an unusual cat. He doesn't care for treats and doesn't seem to understand how to play with toys. But we're working on that.

He's pretty sweet! I guess he likes me after all!