a crazy afghan

I have been picking up leftover bits and balls of yarn when I see them at the charity/second hand shops. I began making a sort of crazy quilt, afghan while I was camping with my family a few weeks ago. I don't know if I'll ever finish it but it's fun to take up knitting again. I don't have to gauge anything because it will eventually be a crazy quilt with all sorts of colours and shapes sewn together. We'll see how it goes...

~

I was binge-watching the series Sweet Magnolias over the weekend and the last episode was entitled "Do Not be Afraid." Later in the weekend, I was doing some scripture reading and twice that same phrase came up. Do not be afraid.

Now therefore do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones. He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:21

What a blessing. I'm so thankful for God's grace and protection.

~

We had a thunderstorm come in on Saturday evening. My sister and cousins, who live in Connecticut were checking in with one another on our group chat. I am in Massachusetts and the storm didn't hit here for another hour or so. There were a few trees down in my surrounding area and lots of heavy rain with thunder and lightening. Sunday it rained heavy and consistent all day. I had planned to go apple picking with my grandchildren but we had to cancel. It had been such a long time since we'd had any significant rainfall that I spent the day enjoying the sound of it falling. 

Another blessing to have a nice drenching rain to nourish the plants and keep the ground wet and safer from wild fires. 

~

My husband was driving to work along the Mass Pike and his tire blew out! He was pulled over on the side of the highway where there wasn't much of a breakdown lane and the other vehicles were whizzing past him at 80 mph! Because he was on the Mass Pike he had to wait for a state trooper and AAA. He called me sounding quite anxious. Fortunately, AAA was able to get the car towed and the tire changed without too much trouble and my husband got to work only about 40 minutes late.  He stopped at a tire store the next day and got a new tire! I'm thankful for a God that answers prayers.

~

I didn't get many pictures this week and I'm late posting. 

Better a little than none at all. 

Friday fave fives

Do not be afraid

 

t

"Now therefore do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones."

 He comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:21

Scripture and a snapshot

Sweetheart weather

September has been full of what Charles Dickens referred to as "sweetheart weather."  There has been nothing but blue skies and perfect temperatures! 

Sky watch Friday

Sail away

My sister came to visit me over Labor day weekend. We took a little ride up the coast and stumbled upon the charming Emerson Inn by the sea in Rockport, MA.

We sat on the veranda and ordered a delicious caprice salad with burrata cheese, and watched the sailboats. It was the Schooner festival in neighboring Gloucester, MA.

I'm so thankful that we got a chance to spend this time together. 

Thankful Thursday

What's for dinner?

 

Are you a meal planner? A person who likes to prep meals?

Or are you a wing it together at the last possible minute person?

I am a little of all three. If I'm going to go to the trouble of going to the market I have normally planned out meals for the week. I don't like to waste food. 

If I have a free day over the weekend, I like to prep what I can. It just makes the weeknights so much easier. It also makes it easier to wing it on the nights I just don't feel like eating whatever it is I planned. 

I can grab something fresh and nutritious from the fridge or the larder and call it a night. 

I love to have my fridge organized and clean with all sorts of fresh fruits and veggies at the ready.

On Thursdays I sit at the kitchen table and write out my list for the market.  

On Saturday mornings or Sunday afternoons I do my weekly shopping. 

I try to get to the farmer's market over the weekend when it is in season.

Sunday afternoon we had steady rain all day long. It was nice to have a candle burning and a nice soup on the back burner.  I used up what I had on hand to make the soup. Those often turn out to be the best tasting of all the soups I make.

White beans

potatoes

veggie broth

sage (picked from my garden)

carrots

one can of evaporated milk

butter

I made a nice cornbread to go along with it.

delicious!

Busy Mondays

Sweet tea and friends

Sunday morning coming down

t 

By wisdom a house is built;

and by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all pleasant and precious riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4

Scripture and a snapshot

Saturday morning at eight o'clock

Saturday 9: It's So Nice to Be Nice  (to Your Neighbor) – 1947

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here

1). In this song, Monica Lewis encourages to greet our neighbors with a smile and a hello. Tell us about one of your neighbors.

The house next door is about 300 years old. It was once a bakery and has lots of brick and old wood inside. It was for sale when I first moved into my house and the family that bought it are European. It is quite a unique home in that the rooms are small as they were way back then. It's beautiful inside but it wouldn't work for a typical American family as there isn't a big family room or a place to hang a super large TV on the wall. This family is lovely though and it has been a joy to watch their sons grow and go off to university.

2). She reminds us that it's nice to be nice. Who has recently shown you kindness?

My sister was visiting over Labor day weekend and we went to a charming inn. We ordered a salad and some mocktails and sat outside on the veranda to eat and watch the ocean. When our bill came it didn't include the mocktails and when we brought it to the attention of our server he said, "the drinks are on the house." It was a little unexpected kindness.

3). Monica Lewis was born in Chicago where her mother performed with the Chicago Opera Company. Have you ever been to the opera?

No I have not. I have to admit that it's not really my thing though I think I would enjoy being in one of the old theatres where they might perform an opera. 

4). Her family moved to New York where she attended college by day and worked at a radio station WMCA in the evenings to help support her family. Which do you listen to more: the radio or podcasts?

I never listen to the radio. I used to when I was younger but not anymore. I rarely listen to podcasts but sometimes I put one on when I'm driving back and forth to work. 

5). In the 1940s she appeared all around New York - in nightclubs, on broadway, and on radio shows. It was then that she got her best known and longest running role - the voice of Chiquita Banana. For decades she was heard singing, "I'm Chiquita Banana and I'm here to say..." Do you have any bananas in your kitchen now?

Yes. I have a small bunch with 2 or 3 left...I see banana bread in my future.

6). Around 1950 she moved to Hollywood. She had recently divorced and wanted a fresh start. There she dated an actor who was also newly divorced: Ronald Reagan. Obviously she never had to ask, "Whatever become of him?" Who is the last former romance, classmate or co-worker that you looked up on the internet?

My husband and I have known each other since we were 11 years old. We both went our own ways after high school and then re-met, through the internet, when we were in our late 40s. We have been together now for almost 15 years!

7). In 1947 when this song was popular, actor Ted Danson was born. He's best known for his role as Sam Malone, the bartender at Cheers, where everybody knows your name. Is there a bar or restaurant where you are recognized on sight?

Yes. I am known in a bar/restaurant in my town. The bartender is my neighbor and my husband and I grew up with the family who owns it. 

Also, the place that Cheers was modeled after, and I believe sometimes filmed at, was in a hotel in Boston and I was married there. It was called the Bull and Finch pub and was in the Parker House hotel.

8). The 1947 Studebaker champion was one of the first cars to have an adjustable driver's seat designed to accommodate motorists of varying heights. When you're driving someone else's car do you usually adjust the seat?

Oh yes! I am just 5'1" so I definitely have to adjust the seat! If the person is quite tall I can't even reach the pedals!

9). Random question: When someone takes advantage of you are you angrier at them for doing it, or at yourself for letting it happen?

I don't really get angry at those kinds of things anymore. I just try to learn my lesson, let it go, and move one. I will say that I am in my "more experienced" years now so I'm pretty hip to most scams.

 Saturday 9