Marching In To Monday

Good morning friends. What a weekend it has been and I pray for our nation and the world. I pray especially for our troops, for their families, and for God's perfect peace to be over all. Psalm 46:1 tells us 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.' May we turn to Him now. 

Awkward segue here into the ordinary comings and goings of our weekend, but it's a topsy turvy world we're living in, and my blog will be a little topsy turvy too. 

Linking as usual this Monday morning with Holly (Pink Lady Blog) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books). 

I took very few pics this weekend but it was a busy one nonetheless. Friday morning I worked on the tax organizer and there isn't anyone who would find a picture of that very interesting, is there? I certainly don't. Completing this organizer every year is one of my least favorite tasks. 

I played Mah Jong Friday afternoon and then hubs and I went to a local spot about 5 to check on a reservation we have there next weekend. We wanted to see the space as there will be fourteen of us and we wanted to make sure it was going to work, which it will. We ended up having dinner at the bar and neighbors came in and ended up seated next to us. Small town livin' y'all. 

Saturday morning I was up in the early morning hours to make the two+ hour drive to Atlanta for a baby shower. The shower was at 11:30, but I left extra extra early in order to meet a friend for coffee beforehand. It was wonderful to catch up in person. 

The shower was lovely and who doesn't love celebrating a momma-to-be. The festivities wrapped up around 1:30 and I was back on the road headed home. 

Atlanta traffic, no matter the day or time, is the worst. Carry on. 

I got home about 4:30 and hubs made me a cup of tea while we chatted, then we were back in the car to meet up with friends who are renovating their house. They wanted us to see what all they're doing, and it kind of makes me want to build a house. I mean. not really, but a little bit yes. We got Mexican food afterwards and it was a nice relaxed evening. 

Sunday was a beautiful day. We went to church, then had brunch out afterwards, then made a stop at the grocery to get our pork butts for the coming weekend's BBQ. We'll have hubs mom here to celebrate a big birthday with her great-grandchildren and we'll be doing BBQ for Friday night's dinner. 

The weather was spectacular, sunny with temps in the upper 70's, so I took my book and sat beside the waterfall and read for two hours. 

As an aside, hubs has kept these plants in full bloom in our lower level garage all winter with just a grow light and he pulled them outside today. 

So glad one of us has a green thumb! 

Looks like we'll  have another bumper lemon crop this year. 

As I was closing the book on the very last page friends pulled up to our dock and asked if we wanted to go for a boat ride. 

Yes please. 

They had their two dogs with them and they were dying to get off the boat and into the water. 

We did pull up to a beach at one point and let them run and they were so happy. 

Me too. Sunshine is good for the soul. 

I made a salad for dinner and hubs ate some of the leftover pasta from my Friday night meal, so an easy peasy end to the weekend. 

 As we roll into this next new week may your faith be bigger than your fear.

Home For The Holidays

Technically we celebrated in my sister's home, but all my sibs plus my mama were there so it felt like home. Family is home, right? 

We put a million miles on the car, but opted to drive because a) we needed to drop our dog off at hubs brother's house in Tennessee and b) we were hauling a lot of stuff. Originally our pup was going to spend his Christmas holiday in a kennel closer to home, but after his Thanksgiving 'mishap' occurred my sister-in-law very kindly offered to have him come there. 

We didn't bring him north with us mainly because my sister has two cats and a pup, and my other sister has a pup, and my niece has two pups. All those dogs would have been a little bit too everything so all the out of town dogs stayed home. 

We drove to Tennessee the Wednesday before Christmas and spent the night at hub's brother and sister-in-law's house. We had a most fabulous Italian dinner at a restaurant there and a really nice evening being together. 

This pasta made inside a wheel of cheese is as deliziosa as it sounds. 

Hubs and I got on the road early Thursday morning for the trek to Philadelphia. There was some slow traffic in spots, but we were never at a standstill so calling it a win. A ten and a half hour drive made in twelve hours four days before Christmas is definitely a win. 

My mom lives with my sister and my brother lives nearby too. My older sister and her daughter and son-in-law flew in from South Carolina early Saturday morning, and then the gang was all together for the duration. Actually my brother was with his wife's family Christmas Eve, but they all came to Philly for Christmas dinner, and then they had my sister's birthday at their house the next day. 

We had the famous breads from Marchiano's Bakery for breakfast on Christmas and the day after too. If you want these breads for Christmas you have to order months ahead, and we definitely want. They are somewhat similar to a calzone, but are filled with egg and pepper, or bacon, egg, and cheese, or ham and cheese, or sausage and egg, and they are so so good. We spend a lot of time talking about these breads on our drive north lol. 

My niece got us all matching shirts to wear with our pjs and the wording was truly on point-ha!  

The boys got shirts too but I don't know how they feel about their pj picture posting here, so how about one of hubs (the dog whisperer) instead-

This dog is not easily won over, but she took to hubs right away this visit. 

My sister is a wonderful cook and made so many delicious meals while we were there. Is this post all about food? Perhaps. But we did spend a lot of time in the kitchen and it was fun to chop and stir and gab unrushed with my sisters and niece.  

Hubs acted as sous chef Christmas Day while my brother-in-law made us a fabulous beef wellington for dinner. They had lobster on the grill too and we ate like kings at every meal. 

On Tuesday hubs and I drove over to NJ in the early afternoon so we could meet up with friends for an in-person catch up before going on to my brother's house. My older sister's birthday is the day after Christmas and we try to make it extra extra. My brother and sister-in-law made yet another scrumptious dinner and there was cake and presents and the happy birthday song sung. 

We lived in this part of the country a long time, and a trip back reminds you of so many things you miss. 

Family most of all. 

We were up early on Wednesday to make the long drive home, with one more overnight stay at my sister-in-laws house to collect the dog. He was not spoiled at all while we were away-ha! 

We were on the road from sun up to literally sun down, which happened to be spectacular. 

It was a lovely holiday, a different kind of Christmas for us without our girls or any grandchildren in the house, but lovely all the same. I'm grateful for family who fill in the spaces, make me laugh, and hold our childhood memories especially close this time of year. 

The Dog Days Of A Summer Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions  add your link at the end of my post, then be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. That's how the Hodgepodge rolls-

1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Dog Day this year (August 26th). Do you own a dog? Did you have a dog when you were growing up, or maybe some other kind of pet? Would you say you're more of a dog person or a cat person? Neither is okay too : )

Do we own a dog? Trick question-ha! Technically no, but we have two living with us and one will likely stay on as ours once our daughter and her family return stateside. We haven't set that in stone, but he's so happy here and loves the lake so I imagine he's going to stay with us for good. 

Plus they might have to wrestle hubs down to get him back even though he sometimes makes us a little bit crazy. Don't all dogs sometimes make you crazy? 

Daughter2 will be taking her sweet pup with her into married life many states away. 

And we'll cry in the driveway because her dog never makes us crazy. 
Well almost never. 

I grew up with a dog in the house and am definitely a dog person. I'm allergic to cats. 

2. Last time you felt 'dog tired'?

That's extra extra tired, right? Utterly exhausted as opposed to the normal 'age I am' kind of tired? I probably haven't felt dog tired since the Asia jet lag we experienced back in the fall. 

Although there was one morning this summer hubs and I pulled weeds in the high heat and ridiculous humidity and I pretty much felt like I'd been run over by a truck the rest of the day. 

3. It's said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. When did you last prove this idiom true or prove it wrong?

I feel like I mostly prove this true, but every now and then I figure out some trick of technology (usually with a lot of help from my girls) and when that happens I feel like I could rule the world. It's the little things people.

4. A favorite book, television show, or movie featuring a dog. Why did you love it?

Without a doubt my favorite dog book is Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, which I've sobbed through more than a time or two. Pretty sure to qualify as a good dog book tears should be shed in the reading. 

Why do I love it? It's an old fashioned-never gets old story of a ten year old boy and his coonhounds living in the Ozark Mountains, which sounds like it might be boring but I assure you it is not. The writing is so wonderful and the story nestles right into that part of your heart where the memory of childhood remains. You really just need to read it for yourself. 

5. Last time you had reason to (literally or figuratively) exclaim 'hot diggity dog'?

This phrase is defined as an exclamation of surprise or delight so I'm going with earlier this summer when our soon-to-be son-in-law asked Daughter2 to be his bride. Hot diggity! 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

The weather, like so many things this year, has not been super stellar. Still we are taking advantage of pretty sunset skies when we can and Sunday was one of those days.

In 2020 find beauty where you can. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 383

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. I think you know the drill, but in case anyone is new I'll go ahead and re-state the 'how-to's. Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party.  See you there!

1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Dog Day this year (August 26th). Do you own a dog? Did you have a dog when you were growing up, or maybe some other kind of pet? Would you say you're more of a dog person or a cat person? Neither is okay too : )

2. Last time you felt 'dog tired'?

3. It's said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. When did you last prove this idiom true or prove it wrong?

4. A favorite book, television show, or movie featuring a dog. Why did you love it?

5. Last time you had reason to (literally or figuratively) exclaim 'hot diggity dog'?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Blog Jambalaya

It seems the month of January is sorely lacking in ready made blog fodder.
What to do, what to do?

How about we make a list?

And since it's Thursday I'm going with thirteen items because that used to be a thing. When there's a whole lotta random and just a tiny bit o' meat a list works-

1. Hubs and I drove to N.J. last week to spend a few days with my mom. She was recovering from the flu, but was feeling a lot better by the time we arrived. We were able to get her office mostly organized for 2020, and see my brother and sister both which was really nice.

2. The flu is wicked this year. My teacher daughter says it's slowly making it's way around her classroom which, UGH! Pass the hand sanitzer please.

Also the Lysol, Emergen-C, clorox wipes, and more hand sanitizer.

3. Hubs and I have decided we don't want to do 12-hour car trips in a single day anymore. We can do 8 hours no problem, 10 hours if we must, but 12 is two hours too many. Plus coming home we were forced to make an unscheduled stop when hubs realized his diet coke cup had a pinhole in it and was furiously leaking into the cup holder. Good times!

4. This guy was with us-

And was not happy I claimed the front seat.
He loves a car ride and is a good traveler.

5. Our other dog which I know is technically daughter2's dog had a minor accident requiring an emergency run to the vet for a leg full of stitches. She's healing really well now, but about two weeks ago this sweet girl slipped crossing a sewer grate and in went her leg. She promptly yanked it out, and chaos ensued.

Truth be told the chaos was less about the dog and more about the fact that hubs was walking her alone and couldn't reach me. I was in the shower and didn't have my phone with me so he had to carry her a fair distance home.

Do you take your phone with you into the shower? Asking for a friend.

6. This little nugget is officially three months old.

photo credit: sincerely-shannon

7. His hair! Grandson number one, aka the mancub, has always had the most fabulous head of hair which I did not think could ever be topped, but this little man is giving him a run for his money. The mancub had more of what we liked to call 'boy band hair'. This one is rocking something like a mohawk and I can't get enough of it.

8. Grandson number two needs a blog name, but I haven't landed on just the right one yet.

9. Perhaps if I made a trip to S. Korea and spent more time with him?

10. I've been reading a lot this month, currently finishing up our book club selection for February-The Amateurs by David Halberstam. In short it's the true story of four young men trying to win a place on the 1984 Olympic rowing team. Once you sort out who's who it's a good read.

11. Still have not tackled my 30-day home organization plan although I did get the frig cleaned out and hubs painstakingly cleaned all the light fixtures til they sparkled. That's something, right? February is a shorter month so perhaps we'll knock the rest out then.

12. These winter sunrises y'all-

13. Absolutely breathtaking-

Long Time No Blog

I do still have a blog, I just haven't been here in a while. Nearly a month but who's counting? No worries, I excel at cramming a month's worth of happenings into a single post so strap in.

Actually no need to strap in because it's been a pretty low key month round here. Our definition of low key that is. Other people might say we're still awfully busy but we've managed not to leave town so that's something.

Wait. Hubs left town. He popped over to Tennessee for a couple of days to visit his mom, but other than that we've been planted here at the lake.

And maybe instead of telling you ALL the things I'll pick just five that stand out in my mind-

1. The dogs. Y'all. It's almost like hubs has a job, and the responsibilities of that job are focused primarily on wearing out the newest addition. Hubs takes the little brown dog for long walks, he swims with him, he kayaks with him...well hubs kayaks and little brown dog sits on hubs lap the kayak, but even when he's just sitting he's on alert. He knows as soon as that kayak hits the beach hubs will throw the baton into the water approximately 47 times and he will fetch it all 47 times. Then they'll kayak back to the dock and little brown dog will launch himself off the dock after that same baton another 47 times, and even after all of that the little brown dog will not seem overly exhausted.

Hubs on the other hand...

And Daughter2's dog has been sick since Sunday so she has needed watching. Normally the greyhound is super low maintenance, in fact we joke she's like living with a stuffed animal, but then hubs spent all of Tuesday morning with her at the vet because Daughter2 needed to go to work and great dads step in where they're needed. Hubs is a great dad.

For people and for animals.

2. Also he's a whole year older.

He had a big birthday recently, and we had the best time celebrating his special day. We invited a whole slew of friends and neighbors to bring their favorite raft or noodle and come for a 'float party'.

The weather could not have been more perfect and it was a great way to ring in a new decade.

photo credit: Pam N. 

Still young at heart!

3. We've done lots of face timing with our daughter and grandson in South Korea this past month, and we love that. Facetime really does make them feel not so far away. Daughter1 generally calls in the evening which is their tomorrow morning and that works on both sides of the world.

photo credit: Sincerely-Shannon

They've settled in beautifully and if you're not following her blog and/or YouTube channel you should. She has made several short videos that are wonderful and give you a fun glimpse into life overseas. Click here for her YouTube channel and click here to visit her blog.

4. We've had lots of relaxed evenings with nearby friends and neighbors, most recently at a local brewery where the Cousins Maine Lobster Truck made an appearance.

It also happened to be the night of the Clemson home opener (they killed it btw) so downtown was hopping, but we enjoyed that. Even better Daughter2 offered to hold a place for our gang in the super long line, and we all gave the lobster rolls two thumbs up! You should know that lobster tots are a thing and they're delicious.

The Cousins have a great story, but essentially they got their big break on Shark Tank after being asked more than once to audition for the program. Turns out producers of the show were some of their earliest customers and eventually convinced them to try out. They have over twenty trucks now in something like thirteen cities, and ours was I think from Charlotte.

5. Lastly but not leastly we have marveled at God's handiwork in a water colored early morning sky-

Been sun kissed-

And heaven blessed-

Not quite ready to let summer go...

No Getting Rid Of The Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, and then be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you. That's what good neighbors do here on From This Side Of The Pond-

1.What's something in your house you'd like to get rid of, but can't?

We have some furniture in our lower garage bay I've been holding on to thinking Daughter2 may want once she's married. Or she may not and that's okay, but I'm not doing anything about it until I know for sure. 

2. When is the last time you experienced a sense of nostalgia? Elaborate.

When my sister and brother were here we were sitting around the table talking and sharing some memories of a trip we took with cousins to an amusement park nearly fifty years ago. 

How my brother rode a roller coaster with my cousin and that particular cousin screamed he was going to die at the top of his lungs the entire ride. How my sister hated the roller coaster and then the operator forgot to stop the cart and she had to go around again. 

There was more but it all left me feeling a bit nostalgic for the magic of childhood, our family of six around the dinner table on a school night, siblings asleep in the same upstairs...

3. You're only allowed three apps on your smart phone or tablet...which three do you keep?

This is a toughie! If you make me choose I'll go with Instagram, Music, and then FaceTime because I need this face in my everyday-

 photo cred: Sincerely-Shannon

4. July 11th is National Blueberry Muffin Day. Who knew? Do you like blueberry muffins? If you were going to have a muffin would blueberry be your choice? What's the last thing you baked?

Honestly I don't love muffins. They're usually too heavy and 'bready' for me so if I'm having a muffin I'd prefer a mini. A blueberry muffin is okay, but I'd rather have cranberry-orange. Actually I'd rather have a bagel, but that wasn't the question. 

The last thing I baked were fresh strawberry cupcakes for my brother-in-law's birthday a few days ago. I linked the recipe in Monday's post so you'll need to hop over there if you're curious. They were delish! 

5. What's the biggest way you've changed since you were a child? In what way are you still the same?

Biggest way I've changed? Well I can't eat whatever I want whenever I want. Is that an answer? 

While I'm still a great big chicken about so many things I know I'm braver in a lot of ways too. And I'm definitely stronger, both mentally and physically. My mom pointed out to me recently that I've got muscles in my legs. To quote her, 'they don't look like toothpicks anymore'.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Daughter2 bought a life jacket for her pup and we thought we'd see what she thought of the water...

Let's just say she's more of an indoor girl.