Friday's Fave Five, 2-7-2020

LINK to Friday's Fave Five Host Blog

1. A very nice dinner for my folks last weekend.  Family from Alabama, Georgia, and Texas were in town for the meal, as well as dear friends for many years from Alabama as well.  Dad's 90th birthday was last week.  They are doing well to both be 90 years old!

2. My siblings and me - photo taken the evening of the birthday party.  My sister (white sweater) got results of her scans this week and they are CLEAR!!  Wonderful news after completing chemo/radiation several months ago.

3. My book project at school is coming along.  With my dad reinforcing the books as they come in, and several students helping, we are replacing many books that are worn out - pitching some, getting new ones, and getting new copies of some that need to stay in the library.  With a generous donation for this purpose, it is a project that I'm loving doing.

4. Thankful for safety yesterday.  This brief video is taken outside my classroom window.  We got 4-5 inches of rain in our county in 24 hours, and also had to go to the ground level of our school building with grades 7-12 for an hour because of a tornado warning nearby.  (We did, however, provide entertainment for the child care children who were in the hallways with us!)  This entire situation could have been much worse, and to my knowledge everyone got home OK.

5. Mike has been down to our property several times this week.  Everything was fine even after the rough weather.  This next video is what I love.  You can't see them - we haven't seen them - but you can hear the wood ducks in the neighbor's pond just beyond those trees!

An Uttermost Part by Eunice V. Pike

An Uttermost Part by Eunice V. Pike
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is not easy to find, but then it's not in big demand either. This is another narrative written by Eunice Pike about her work (along with other translators) in the 1950s and 60s among the people of San Carlos and Chalco in the mountains of Mexico. It is an inspiration and a blessing to read of how their work, selling books, teaching literacy, and translating the New Testament into the Mazatec language, changed lives. The people of the area faced freedom but also persecution for following "God's way." This book is in the same tradition as Words Wanted and Not Alone by the same author (but much easier to find). I highly recommend all three books.


View all my reviews

Friday's Fave Five, 1-31-2020

 LINK to Friday's Fave Five Host Blog

1. A new mattress!!  We got our king-sized bed a little over a year ago, and have never been comfortable with the mattress.  First it was way too high, and we had to exchange the base for a smaller one.  But the mattress was never quite right.  It was still a little too high, and climbing into it, even for a tall woman like I am, felt like I was going to roll right out.  It just wasn't right.  Well, our son and his wife got one of the mattresses that come rolled into a box and then expand when it's taken out.  We tried it out at their house a few weeks ago, and it was very comfortable.  So last Saturday we took the plunge, got one, and I've loved sleeping on the new mattress.  It was a very reasonable price also.

2. My new bulletin board for my seventh grade life science class.  I thought it turned out nicely, especially considering that I do not have much time these days to do bulletin boards.

3. Our Caesar lunch at school was this Wednesday.  The sophomores in my World Lit class enjoy this every year after we finish reading Julius Caesar.  I had considered quietly skipping it this year, but the students would have none of it.  Notice that they are all wearing "togas" - very colorful ones.  We have Caesar salad, grape drink, Italian creme cake, and pizza from none other than. . . .Little Caesar's.  :-)  It was a good time, and I am thankful for students who want to participate in special activities like this.

4. My dad turned 90 on Wednesday!  We will have a family party this weekend.

5. Just finished reading a good book about the building of the Biltmore castle, and got another book in the mail today - this time a missionary biography.  I'm glad just to have had a little time this week to read!  And thankful for the ability to do so.

The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan

The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home by Denise Kiernan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meticulously researched (54 pages of tiny-print notes at the end) and fascinating read about the building of the Biltmore Estate, as well as the fashioning of it into one of the biggest attractions in the Asheville area and beyond. This book puts the whole endeavor into a historical perspective that reveals its huge impact on the area and across the country. I did find it to be an unintended reflection of the Biblical principle that money alone does not make people happy. The story of Cornelia was the best example of that.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in historical backgrounds and detailed nonfiction reads. Denise Kiernan's writing is excellent. Her Girls of Atomic City is equally well done.


View all my reviews

Friday's Fave Five, 1-17-2020

LINK to Friday's Fave Five Host Blog

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

LINK to Friday's Fave Five Host Blog 

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

LINK to Friday's Fave Five Host Blog

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

LINK to Friday's Fave Five Host Blog 

 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

LINK to Friday's Fave Five Host Blog

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!!


View all my reviews