I Thought I was Living in the South

It has been a long 2 weeks.

There was the dreaded buildup to a storm predicted to do ANYTHING!

Then there was the 2 days of weather activity.

And now over a week of "thawing."

"Fern" produced 3-4 inches of snow followed by an inch of ice.

The south is not equipped to handle snow, but less able to handle an inch of ice.

We discovered following this storm that we are on a "D" route for plowing.

Because of the extent of the storm, our little cul-de-sac never got plowed.

The storm started out beautifully with glistening trees.

But the novelty has worn off and I am ready to have clear sidewalks and walks outside. 

I am ready to feel the warmth of the sun and to walk outside in flip flops.

1 week after the storm (Monday 2/2)

We chipped ice rather than shoveling snow.

Tuesday 2/3

Wednesday 2/4

a little patch of road showing just at the end of the driveway

Today 2/5

Finally some clear patches on the road!

We chose the south because we like warm.

We like VERY short stints of snow, cold and winter.

I think that this is the longest stretch of snow I have seen since leaving NY in 2003 unless we have been visiting in NY.

This little episode has reminded us that we are no longer northerners.

I for one am looking forward to some 60 degree weather soon (as in next week).

We did have electricity the whole time for which we are thankful.

We are thankful for a new car that rides a little higher as we passed over LARGE ice chunks and unforgiving ice ruts in the road.

We are thankful that the greatest casualties were a bird bath and the tip of my garden shovel.

But oh the reminder of the beauty of God's creation in the snow and ice.

Oh, the reminder of His ability to stop everything with one weather event.

Oh, the reality that He is so powerful!

All Because it Snowed ...

 In Kentucky,

and perhaps where you are,

we are in the middle of "Snowmaggedon."

For days, the locals have been hoarding milk, bread, eggs, and toiletpaper.

When I visited the store on Thursday, it looked like a lot of folks were making BIG pots of chili

for the beans and tomato aisles were looking sparce too.

We are probably inside for a few days ...

so why not blog?

We have enjoyed watching the snowfall all day and are now listening to the mixed precipitation and freezing rain.

As the storm approached, I was reminded again of so many things that I have to be thankful for.

I am thankful to live within city limits. (GASP!)

My roads will be plowed early.

If the power goes out, it will also be restored quickly.

I am less than a mile from the highway.

I am thankful that my January snow decorations look less out of place on a snowy day.

I am thankful for an efficient home that holds heat well.

I am thankful for suburbia and a short driveway to shovel when the snow falls.

I am thankful for a gas stove.

It was not on my home "wish list,"

but if the power goes out,

I can still heat up something to eat.

I am thankful to share my home with my bestfriend.

I am thankful to be able to be "stuck" with someone I can laugh with.

I am thankful that he will do walking workouts inside with me.

I am thankful to share devotions together.

I am thankful to blog side by side.

I am thankful for a break from the norm.

I am thankful for the peace of a snowfall.

I am thankful for the beauty of God's creation 

and the show of His power when the ice "cripples" us for a couple of days.

What are you thankful for today?

Curiosity Killed the Cat ...

 ... but not me!

About a week ago, hubby and I went for a walk after dinner.

There was nothing new about that,

but the builder in our neighborhood was having a grand opening of the new Model Home.

I love seeing the latest in home designs and decorations,

so I asked hubby if we could stop in.

We took a quick tour of what they were labeling "The Barbie Home."

As you can imagine, there was a lot of pink.

It was definitely not decorated to my liking.

But, as we left, they took my contact info.

Normally I would not share this,

but technically they already have it

and I have already purchased what they are selling.

Today they called and told me I had won a $50 Amazon card.

So curiosity may have killed the cat,

but a 5-minute self-guided tour made me a few dollars!

Something "Out of the BLUE"

I often blog about changing ministries.

I often remind myself and others that sometimes ministries need to change.

Sometimes ministries involve creativity.

I am not currently teaching,

I don't have an abundance of music responsibilities,

but since our time in NC, I have had a heart for college students.

 Within the next few day,

I hope that there are some very happy college students.

I organized a collection to send out boxes to 11 students and one airman.

The only stipulation was that the items had to be blue - or at least wrapped in blue.

The church came through and we filled 12 of the USPS large boxes.

The boxes were light enough that it was cheaper for me to wrap the boxes 

rather than paying the "one rate" price.

Here are 6 of the 12 boxes.

The other 6 had already been delivered to the post office.

O Where O Where Has the Little Month Gone?

 Ah!  May has disappeared.

May typically blows by in a blur.

It is usually a roller coaster of activities and emotions

and this month was no different.

May is a month that reminds me that the plan God has for me is different than that of most others.

This reminder usually comes with tears as well as a renewed trust that God is in control.

Verses of God's goodness and His trait of only doing good become more and more dear.

May also comes with a birthday.

Hubby celebrated me with two party weekends.

We shopped for flowers for the yard and the planters.

We visited a favorite local eatery and tried a new-to-us gluten-free bakery.

Of course, we enjoyed long walks to celebrate another year of life.

We have enjoyed the local WKU campus for walks

and recently enjoyed a new greenway in Clarksville, TN.

We enjoyed our first "non-family" overnight guests this month making room for 7 extras!

We may not be related by blood, but a bond in Christ can be as strong or stronger than family bonds.

We have also seen God's protection through 2 or 3 large storms complete with a tornado in at least some part in B.G.

So I have been absent online, but am still here.

I am thankful for a God who is my strength.

I am thankful for a God who protects.

I am thankful for a God who has given another year of life.

Random

 

It's always nice to have the option of an Air BNB for guests right in your culdesac.

Of course, it is subject to availability!

Just watch out for those fees :)

Teaching Giving and Friendliness

 It is hard in the days of wickedness that we live in.

It must be fearful to be a parent in this day and age.

Who can be trusted?

How can you teach friendliness to your children while also teaching about strangers?

My tablet and its happy face is an example of a momma who was/is doing a good job.

I was visiting a local Walmart one early Saturday morning.

As I sat on a bench waiting for hubby to finish some business,

I saw a little boy giving a sticker to someone he met while leaving the store.

It made me smile.

Then I smiled even more as he said to his momma, "I want to give that lady a sticker."  (ME!)

His momma looked a little concerned not wanting to bother me,

but I said "hi" and asked him what he had.

Maybe he received a sheet of stickers from the greeter, or maybe he had picked stickers out in the store.

I asked if he wanted to put it on my shirt.  He didn't.

On my jacket.  He didn't.

He wanted to put it on the back of my hand - my wrist actually.

It was such a simple act, but made my day.

When I got back to the car, I put my sticker on my tablet -

a reminder to be kind and giving to others.

What Does Your Floor Say About Your Diet?

 As I clean on Monday and throughout the week,

I can't help but marvel at how quickly the kitchen floor gets dirty.

It seems that it is always in need of a good sweep.

On Monday, while on my hands and knees,

I looked closely.

My floor says a lot about what we have been eating.

This little snapshot shows a piece of kale, a red onion paper, and a pepper seed.

Often there might also be rice, quinoa, or a stray pistachio or cashew.

The job seems endless,

but as I tidy the floor AGAIN,

I am thankful for the good food that God provides and the energy and strength it gives.

Spring, Spring, Spring

.

On this particularly grey day,

the cherry blossoms are extra bright and cheery - they almost seemed to glow this morning (at least in real life).

They are the first show of Spring on our property.

It is still a "baby" tree, but this little snatch of Spring is encouraging.

We actually killed a lethargic wasp yesterday probably a queen coming out of hibernation,

I put out 2 hummingbird feeders and a hummingbird swing yesterday,

the robins have been hopping across the lawn,

and I am trying to decide when to break out the mower.

The weather yesterday was just about perfect and we enjoyed a return to a "pleasant" run for our exercise.

Of course, we still have a few more cold snaps,

but we can be thankful for the life that is showing.

Because I Needed Some "Sunshine"

 As I said last week,

I love Valentine's Day,

but I do recognize that prices are inflated for such a flower and candy-centered holiday.

Hubby often just gets me a helium balloon.

I am as cheered by a balloon as Eeyore (which is surprisingly cheery).

And sometimes a live plant joins the offering.

And thus we avoid some of the gouging.

While I shopped on Friday,

the highly inflated prices were highly deflated.

Since hubby was out of town for 2 days,

I bought myself some $4 sunshine.

(Don't worry, he approved)

And for a few days,

the decor in my bathroom is elevated with some yellow roses!

When the Engine Breaks ...

 Visit the Giants

We were planning to take a "leaf peeping" train ride on Saturday.

That was the plan.

On Friday, we were told that our ticket price was refunded because the train engine was not working.

So, we made another plan.

Instead of driving east,

we headed north ...

to the Bernheim Forest just south of Louisville.

The arboretum is known for its "Giants" sculpted or constructed of wood.

We followed the short path to see the 3 giants

and then found a few other paths to follow and enjoy.

One path was called the Iron Ore Loop - but felt more like the Iron Man Loop.

We followed that with the Meditation Loop which was much easier.

And we ended with the Nursery Trail which also was a storybook trail (my personal favorite - who wouldn't want to read a story about a polite garden slug while enjoying a walk?)

The day was just beautiful.

While the "main attractions" were man-made,

we enjoyed the work of our Creator in the forest around us.

We enjoyed the pleasant breezes,

the warm sun,

the scent of warm pine trees and hardwood leaves,

and wandering new paths.

It Just Makes Me Smile

 There are just some things that make me smile,

Recently, green grass has made me smile.

I am excited to see that the yard has filled in and is looking healthy.

It is encouraging when an investment of time and money pays off.

These little fruits - Rambutan - made me smile in the store.

They look like little little monsters or critters.

I saw them in the store ... and I just needed to try them.

They were yummy,

probably not worth the price,

but definitely an experience.

This little chubby scarecrow has been cheering me as I do the dishes.

Just a cheap Hobby Lobby trinket, a little piece of fall that makes me smile.

And of course, an essential oil for fall.

This "Autumn Wreath" oil smells like apples

and fills the house with such a pleasant scent.

When in KY ...

 Mammoth Caves ...

Corvette Museum ...

Fork in the Road?

Yes,

it is a thing.

And we went ...

it was a beautiful drive on a Friday evening.

Hubby was certain that Google Maps could have taken us a more direct way,

but no, it is in the middle of nowhere.

We basically drove tree-lined one-lane roads to get there.

The brief story ...

made by a welding class from a local high school.

21 ft tall

680 lbs

anchored by a ton of concrete

So put it on your bucket list ...

or scratch it off your bucket list if it is just not your thing.

A Typo?

 I am beginning to think that the name of our new city is a typo.

I think that instead of Bowling Green, it should be Blowing Green.

This sure is a windy town.

But with that, we are also enjoying the frequent thunderstorms that we just didn't have in Oregon.

There is nothing like being inside on a stormy night watching the lightning and listening to the thunder.

I Found My Happy Thought

 When Peter Pan found his happy thought ...

he could FLY!

Well, I must have found my happy thought,

because I drove myself to town for the first time in 11 weeks!

It was kind of exhilarating to be in the stores bustling before Christmas.

I enjoyed just wandering without feeling that I was holding anyone up.

Between living right in the city and then being a "cripple,"

I think I have had about 6 months off from driving this year!

And that means that I can drive myself to my final (I hope) checkup with the surgeon on Tuesday!

If You Want to Break a Wrist - A Satirical View

 Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared.

If you want to break a wrist - plan ahead.

First of all, teach your husband how to perform a basic ponytail.

If there is no time for this, at least teach him how to use a hair straightener.

Second, stay current on all of your home projects - don't leave anything for tomorrow.

Always keep a stash of small trash bags and duct tape around for cast shower covers.

Stock the cupboard with food in boxes (cans are difficult to open).

Be sure to have at least a few "stretchy" shirts with short sleeves and elastic-waisted clothing items.

Make friends with the flip-flop.

Plan your accident between summer and winter 

(you don't want to sweat up the cast, your jacket/coat sleeves may not fit over your cast

and the yard work is waning)

Sign up for share services (health insurance) the month before your accident to help with hospital bills.

Learn humility and willingness to ask for help.

Keep life as simple as possible.

Most of all - Plan to avoid the accident.

Be careful on ladders!

Making Friends - Do You Want to Play?

One of my goals when getting settled after a move is to make friends.

I usually find it easiest to make friends with "little" people first.

This move was no exception.

Early in our time at our new church,

we made friends with the children of the church.

They liked to play hide and seek.

And they wanted us to play as well.

They liked to hide in cupboards,

between cupboards,

behind tables,

all places that grown-ups can't really fit.

We played a round one day,

but then I decided that we needed to change up the game.

Enter - the little wooden people.

I made some wooden people to stand in for us.

The children even call them Mr. and Mrs. B.

We hide them so that at least some part of them is showing

and then we have to be found.

It is a lot easier for us, for they can hide in a lot better places.

Another Year Older

 I celebrated another birthday on Sunday.

It seems odd to be in the upper 40s.

I remember when that just seemed so OLD!

And now, I only feel old after I have overworked myself on a workout.

I had a good weekend.

Hubby took me for a Vegan Greek Pizza on Friday night.

The place was close enough to walk and we enjoyed the pizza immensely.

On Friday, my folks made the 3-hour drive to see us.

They took us to lunch at Chick-fil-A, we visited, and they toured our new home.

(By the way - the house did get its first coat of paint inside last week along with trim and doors).

The garage was full of cabinetry and sinks ...so maybe this week.

And the exterior stone was delivered on Monday).

On Sunday, we were down at church all day.

We went to the 3 services and helped on Visitation in the afternoon.

We did take a minute to get free birthday coffee and to enjoy some birthday texts and video.

There are still a few more freebies that I plan to collect on - 

one is a sub ... at Firehouse Sub.

I have a birthday sub ... and, in addition, today, if your name starts with C or U, you get a free sub.

Sounds like hubby and I will only have to pay for our gluten-free rolls and will have lunch tomorrow!

I No Longer Live in Oregon

 Another tale for my younger readers who love to see that I am just a real-life human and make plenty of mistakes.

It is said that 

"Those who do not learn from history

are destined to repeat it."

And so ... I guess I did not learn from history.

In June of 2019, we moved across the country.

Right away, we needed a bed and a lawnmower.

Quick as a wink - I ordered a bed and a mower from Amazon.

How exciting that they would be delivered in just a few days!

At least it was exciting - until I realized that they were being delivered to NC!

It all worked out - 

I caught one delivery and turned it around.

And some friends rescued the other delivery and got it returned.

I partially learned my lesson.

When we moved, I changed my Amazon address right away.

... and then I proceeded to order from Ebay ...

... without changing an address.

And so I go through the process again.

I ordered a work bag for hubby

and the next day it was out for delivery ... in Oregon!

A dear neighbor rescued my package and helped to return it.

And a new order is placed.

Maybe I will completely learn from history this time.

On an odd note:

Just last week, we noticed 2 vehicles with Oregon plates in our parking lot.

When we arrived home from church on Sunday,

we saw the family leaving their Oregon car and introduced ourselves.

Not only were they from Oregon,

but they were also from ALBANY, Oregon.

Small World!

Stressors

 You can tell that this week did not yield much writing.

I think it is the stress of an upcoming move.

There are so many intricate parts,

there are so many questions,

there are so many uncertainties.

There is a peace in the midst of the storm.

We know that God will provide.

We know that God already knows the path He has for us,

but sometimes, my mind and emotions run ahead of what I know to be true.

I spent a lot of time walking this week.

Walking is one of the ways I think

and also a form of stress relief.

$10,000!

Remember that number.

There was a question of if I even owned that much stuff.

Maybe it would be better to just leave everything in Oregon!

But, we had to think of the mechanic's tools that make up hubby's livelihood.

And there are some things that are irreplaceable - like handmade furniture.

We did need a truck, but could we shrink that truck?

This week, we decided that we would cut the Penske bill nearly in half by opting for the 16' truck.

We know it is the right decision,

but there is stress in that too.

It is hard to leave stuff behind,

to sell belongings that you enjoy,

to take a loss in the sale.

We moved from WA to NC nearly 20 years ago in a 16' truck.

Can we do it again?

We decided that it would be wise to sell off all the large furniture - 

couch, recliner, two beds, dining furniture, tray tables, washer, dryer, fridge.

I added up their new value and it was $4000 - less than the amount that we will save on the smaller truck.

And I hope that we can at least get 1/2 of their value out of them in the sale.

Then I can start fresh in a new location.

Not only do we save money on the rental,

but the smaller truck is more comfortable to ride in (bucket seats rather than a bench)

The smaller truck is easier to get in and out of places along the way allowing for more convenient stopping.

The smaller truck will actually fit in the driveway of our small culdesac while packing.

The purging may help if we need to rent something small until we can find more permanent lodging.

So, if you are praying for moving prices to go down,

keep it up, please!

And could you also pray that when we are ready to sell things off,

that God would bring the right buyers with the right price.