Friday's Fave Five, 1-17-2020

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1. Last Friday night I was taking up $$ at the homecoming basketball games, and this little sweetie stayed on my lap for over half an hour.  A couple of cookies from the bake sale helped, but she was just as happy as could be.  I hope her mother enjoyed having a break, and I certainly enjoyed having that precious girl on my knee for that time.

 2. I got published this past week.  :-)  I was asked to write an article for local birdwatchers for a local paper, and felt that this came out pretty well.  The illustration is from our own feeder.  It was fun to do and fun to see in print.

3. Mike finally got his truck back.  This is him in the place where we stopped to eat after going to the body shop.  He had "dinged" his new truck while working at the farm, and so for the past few days he's been driving my car while the truck was being repaired.  It's actually worked out fine, as I haven't really needed my car too much - but I do love my independence!!

4. A good few days in one of my classes.  We've been reading Cyrano de Bergerac together, and we are really enjoying it - so much that several days they've actually expressed disappointment that class was over.  Now, that happens v-e-r-y rarely with high school students, so I've got to take great advantage of it when it does!

5. My project.  I am absolutely loving this.  Someone gave some $$ to our school library, and I have been given the privilege of spending it.  (This may have been mentioned in a previous post.)  I am pulling old books, replacing some of them, and getting new ones, for all ages.  My dad is a huge help in that he takes the new paperbacks and reinforces them so that they will last longer.  It is starting to take shape and is very rewarding to get the library in shape for the next few years of students.

And - we get a 3-day weekend starting tonight.  Wonderful!!

Friday's Fave Five, 1-3-2020

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Christmas Vacation Edition

It has been a nice two weeks of Christmas break.  Since last Friday was busy with another family holiday, this week's FFF will go back a little more than one week.

1. About a month ago, I stopped at a yard sale on the way to work one morning.  Amazing that they let me in at 7 am when it wasn't supposed to start until 8 am.  I immediately spotted a large stack of books and regretted not having much time to peruse the entire stack - however, I did see this and bought it along with a few more.  It was worth the $.50 I paid for it to see if it had any value.  Well, it did.  Turns out it is a later printing of the first edition.  Two days before Christmas, I sold it for $125.00 on eBay.  Not a bad investment.  :-)

2. Christmas with our immediate family on Christmas night.  We had our sometimes traditional shrimp creole (this time served not only with rice, but also riced cauliflower since so many of us are eating low carb), and then a gift exchange afterward.

Sweater from my daughter - I love it and like how it looks also!

Tableware caddy for the farm from my son and daughter in law.  Perfect for picnics there.

3. Our extended family Christmas, at the farm, last Friday.  Other than a mishap for my daughter (requiring an urgent care visit and five stitches in her knee), a good time was had by all.

My sister and my son

Four-wheeler rides are always fun.  My sister and nephew.

 4. The annual holiday jigsaw puzzle.  It wouldn't be vacation without one.  This is going to drive me crazy.  The white parts are almost indistinguishable and must be pretty much identified by shape.  Next time I'll think twice before buying that kind.  But it's still enjoyable to do something that requires no time commitment or obligation - just work on it when I feel like it.

5. Books.  Arriving daily - Yesterday eight packages worth.  Our school library has been given some money, and I've been given the privilege of spending it.  :-)  Because of the holidays, I've had a number of them delivered here instead of to school.  And it's so much fun!!

Happy New Year - here's to seeing more clearly in 2020 (a pun we will hear often, with many varieties, this year).  In closing, here is something my cousin posted on FB (along with a picture, but I'm not importing that).  This is worth thinking about.

Not sure who wrote this, but it’s deep:

”Every minute someone leaves this world behind. We are all in “the line” without knowing it. We never know how many people are before us. 

We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.
So while we wait in line -

Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.”

Thanksgiving 2019

U.S. Thanksgiving Day 2019 Friday's Fave Five

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I'm going to do this a little differently this time.  I'm just going to list the Friday's Fave Five, and then put pictures and commentary below for those who are interested.

1. Thanksgiving Day - A beautiful holiday every autumn regardless of the year or the circumstances.

2. A wonderful meal yesterday - many contributions from those who were there.

3. Family in abundance. We had 30 people attending.  Most were from Mike's side, but my folks and sister were there too.  And our son, his wife, and our daughter were there also.

4. A beautiful piece of property with a well-appointed cabin for every need.

5. The weather was perfect.

A wide-angle view of the property, facing the cabin.

The two of us stuffing our faces with great Thanksgiving food.

Sweet children having a good time 

We had a hayride - Mike loved driving his tractor around the property.

Mike in his element. . . 

and in his element again, taking the children for rides.

View as the sun is setting.

Parents and sister, with nephew in the background.

The fire pit was great.  We had just a big enough fire to set the mood - the weather
was warm enough that we didn't need a huge one at all.

Mike took his oldest sister to see the creek.

This pic is one of my favorites of the day.  This little boy had a ball running around and playing with my sister-in-law's dog.  He also had no qualms about going to the food table after we were done, and getting more food to "graze" on.  He loves raw vegetables.  Here, he has made himself a plate:  A roll, cucumbers, and whipped topping!  :-)

Andrew and one of the nephews riding the four-wheelers.  The nephew's wife is behind Andrew.

Daughter enjoying the view!

x

Friday's Fave Five, 10-18-19

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 1. The five chairs above - I got all five for $40 at a yard sale last Saturday.  Just what we need for our property - the outdoor chairs that the previous owner left for us on the porch area were worn out and somewhat nasty.  My only problem was that Mike was off hunting for the weekend - I couldn't get them in my car.  So I called Andrew, who was working, but he let me borrow his truck.  I sort of enjoyed driving around town in his truck!

I was sitting in the parking lot of a store that was not opened yet, when I was texting Andrew.  I was texting him using Siri, and forgot to say "Text Andrew" before saying "I've decided not to wait."  Siri answered "Fine!"  Weird feeling, but funny, to have a non-person answer me.

2. Another piece of furniture.  Mike bought this today - I haven't even seen it yet.  We got it for $40 also.  Mike says it is very solid and nice, and perfect for the cabin.  Again, the one left there for us is worn out.  I feel like I'm getting up off the floor when getting up out of the old love seat.  So this will be very nice to have there.

 3. BUG PROJECTS are done as of today.  I finished grading them this afternoon.  It's a big deal at our school - students not only collect and identify bugs, but also put the bugs on themed boards.  The winner made a "beach party."  They all did good jobs on their projects.

4. This was my salad last Sunday night.  I thought it looked pretty nice.  It definitely tasted good!

5. Wonderful, beautiful, cool fall weather!!!  Two weeks ago we were in the 90s.  We are loving it.

Friday's Fave Five, 10-4-19

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1. This is actually from Thursday a week ago, but I was gone all day Friday last week and couldn't post.  I was at a teachers' convention at Myrtle Beach, and had plans to go visit my daughter (who lives south of there) for dinner that night, when she texted that she couldn't get off of work.  By then my fellow teachers already had plans to go to an escape room, and the rosters were full.  Well, since I was already going toward the south, there was no reason not to go to Huntingdon Beach State Park with my camera, to see if I could get some sightings and pictures of roseate spoonbills.  Success!!  I've seen them one other time, but those were immatures and not nearly as brilliant as these.  Ibises and egrets were also in the water with the spoonbills.

Mike says a roseate spoonbill looks like flamingo that ate a pancake.  :-)

2. This was a very interesting week.  We got a text on Sunday afternoon that the air conditioning was broken in our high school and day care building, with a major part needed that had to be ordered--and all high school classes would be in other locations.  So I taught from Monday through Thursday in the game room of the church activity center.  :-)  It was difficult on one hand, but there were definite pluses:  I got more steps in, and we had more interaction with the elementary teachers, as we used every available space in their building. (I had a last-period study hall in the conference room right next to the first grade classroom.) However, today I was back in my regular room, and it was so nice to be "home" again.  Plus, we all have a new appreciation for air conditioning!!

3. I put this up today.  I really like it!!  The pieces were ordered from a catalog, but it doesn't scream "pre-prepared bulletin board" like some do.

4. We sold a chair on Craigslist last night, so I have a little extra pocket money.  :-)

5. And this one is actually a future one:  This should be our last day of very unseasonable warm temperatures.  It's been in the 90s all week.  Tomorrow we have a 25 degree drop!  Hopefully the hot weather is done now for several months.  I am very ready for fall this year.

Review - Suffering is Never For Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot

Suffering Is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great to get one last book from Elisabeth Elliot (hard to believe that as of this writing, 9/19, she has been gone for four years). This was edited from a series of lectures she gave; the only things changed were references to "yesterday's session" or similar things that dated the material. Elliot starts by defining suffering: "Suffering is having what you don't want or wanting what you don't have." While some people suffer more than others, everyone has suffered in one way or another. Elliot, without papering over the difficulties of suffering, speaks the same truths she has spoken many times: Accept it. Thank God for it. Give it up to Him who allowed it in your life." "In acceptance lieth peace." "Do the next thing." Anyone familiar with her work knows these themes. And the truth of them, expounded beautifully by Elliot one last time, makes this another of her excellent books. Well worth the time to read!!


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Friday's Fave Five 8-9-19

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1. Inservice has started and my room is done.  I didn't get any pictures taken of it, but it is done.  Always a load off of my mind.  I have to give a workshop on Monday morning on bloodborne pathogens, but I've done that in the past, so it shouldn't be too much of a burden on my mind this weekend.

2. We enjoyed our property last weekend, taking a long weekend there since we didn't get a vacation this summer.  I always enjoy watching Mike mow.  He loves to do that, and he is loving having a piece of land.

3. A crazy wild goose chase that was so funny that it was fun.  We went out Monday to look at a couch/love seat combination for the living quarters at our property.  I accidentally had the wrong address to start with, at the location of another yard sale last weekend.  The people came out to speak to us, wondering why we were there, and we were wondering why they didn't mention the couch.  (We had been in contact with the owners, who were expecting us.)  After some small talk, when Mike said we were there to look at the couch, they said "What couch?" Major fail on my part.  Then we finally found the right location (fortunately close by) but couldn't figure out how to get in, as it was in a warehouse/auction house.  We had to go through two other junky businesses (I'm not sure what they were selling) and wait for a door to be unlocked, just to go see the couch - which, after we sat in it, Mike whispered "I wouldn't take that couch if they gave it to us."  It sure looked better in the pictures.  You gotta laugh.

4. Lindor 70% Cocoa Truffles.  I allow myself one each night as they are only four carbs apiece - not  as high as most Lindor Truffles.  They are decadent and they fill that need to have something sweet.  And they don't ruin my eating plan.

5. The best for last:  I had to go to the doctor yesterday for an issue.  While there, I had an A1C done since it has been three months - and it was down to 6.  That's in spite of cheating a little this summer.  The doctor said if it's any lower it will not be considered a diabetic A1C.  (Now, that's with two strong diabetic drugs in me, so it doesn't mean I will no longer have diabetes.)  But that is great news; it does mean that maybe I can consider in the future going off some of the meds.

Friday's Fave Five 8-2-19

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1. This blanket is almost done!  I plan to take it down to the farm when it is finished.  It's made from "sugar wheels" by Yarn Bee.  A few weeks ago, Hobby Lobby had some discontinued sugar wheels marked way down, so I got three of them - the purple and green at the beginning, middle, and end.  That wasn't enough, so I got two more sugar wheels that were shades of purple.  It's nice to crochet with those wheels because the colors change without having to change yarn very often.  I love how the colors turned out.

Example of a sugar wheel - picture
pulled off the internet.

2. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches.  The tomatoes right now are mid-summer perfect, and I get several every Saturday at the local farmers' market.  A BLT is the best sandwich ever.  I can't eat them like I used to (with two pieces of white bread); however, I use one piece of rye bread on the bottom and a large piece of lettuce for the top.  It works.

3. A good last full week of summer vacation.  I start back to teacher inservice next Tuesday, but I've enjoyed these last days, getting a lot done around the house.  

4. Some new clothes.  :-)  I always feel better about starting the school year with a few new pieces in my closet.  And - the best part - I needed to buy some new slacks because last year's were too big.  It's great to try on new clothes just to see how they look instead of being concerned that they will be too tight.

5. Great times with friends.  This week we took two different sets of friends down to show them the farm - two on Monday, and two last night.  This pic was taken last night.  I cropped off our friends just because I don't know if they want to be displayed all over the internet.  But we had a lovely time with them.

Friday's Fave Five 7-21-19

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1. Land.  We've purchased a piece of land where we can get away and my husband can hunt, bush-hog, and enjoy being outside to his heart's content.   We've been down to the property three times this week.  The shop building on the property includes a small living area, so I can go down as well.  I got the small bedrooms fixed up this week with the beds made and am getting the tiny kitchen organized as well.

2. Tomatoes. The previous owner left 30 tomato bushes that are producing Roma tomatoes by the bucket.  The place also has blueberry bushes, but they are pretty well done for the year; and fig bushes, which are probably not going to get ripe until after I'm back in school.

3. A restaurant close by.  See right picture above.  We found this place today, about a mile away in the small town close to our piece of property.  I ordered the small Philly cheesesteak sub without the bread.  This is what I got, and this is also after several bites.  It was huge and it was good.

Husband ordered a hamburger and onion rings.  I expected him to get the frozen, heavily breaded kind.  They were not.  They were hand cut and dusted in flour.  I'm not supposed to have much flour, but may have broken that rule a little today with those onion rings.  They were delicious.

I suspect that this restaurant may be getting more business from us in the future.

4. Sugar free strawberry ice cream.  At a small shop in the small town where we were today.  This was very good, and it was so nice to enjoy some guilt-free!!

5. Fleece. Clearance, $1 a yard at Wal-Mart.  Yes, $1.  Not a typo.  Some of the girls at school love to make blankets for charity each fall.  They can now make blankets to their hearts' content!