Where have you been?

I have been to Ridgecrest, North Carolina, with 34 senior adults. It was good trip. I made new friends and saw beautiful scenery. I got out of my routine. I love routine, so I am usually reluctant to break out of it. And then, afterwards, I am usually glad I did. We drove up in a luxurious Travel Lynx bus and my room mate was Miss Evelyn, 87 years old. When we arrived at Ridgecrest, Evelyn and I were joined by Miss Audrey, so our room was the only one with three occupants. I didn't mind. All three of us snore and get up multiple times in the night. The schedule mainly consisted of driving up, eating and conferences, sightseeing, sleeping and driving back. A great deal of eating...full meals at 7 AM, 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM. The evening preachers were my favorite: Ted Traylor, Sr Pastor at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola and Junior Hill, the evangelist. I went to two conferences: Fun and Games for Everyone (hoping I could get some ideas for Joy Fellowship) and another conference on humor. The speaker played a song complete with mistakes (like Victor Borge) and told us the name of the song was "I'll Meet You in the Rock Quarry Where I'll be a Little Boulder." BAHAHAHAHA! I took my computer but the only internet available was in the lobby so I didn't spend much time there. When I did take the time to shoot off an email, it didn't go so I didn't try again. I wish I had brought my cross stitch or something to read but the activities were just spread out enough that it made immersing yourself in a project difficult. We spent Wednesday and Thursday afternoons touring the countryside on our bus. We went to Billy Graham Cove and Conference Center, the Grove Park Inn, the Montreat College Campus and Downtown Black Mountain. The colors were so beautiful. My camera could not do it justice. The weather was very cool, which actually pushed the leaf color while we were there, but it did not rain until the day we left - and then it rained all the way home.

I enjoyed getting to know my senior adults better. I enjoyed having time to reflect on the spritiual truths so elequently spoken. I loved the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves. Perhaps I will not be so reluctant to leave my routine next time.

What's it worth to you?

There is one gas station in our area that hits a low price seemingly before anyone else in the area. Gas prices, as everyone knows are going down. Still, I never thought I'd ever see $2.99/gallon again. I grabbed gas at $3.59 only to have it hit $3.29 before I had used 1/4 of a tank. I took this picture when gas stations on the main roads through town were still charging $3.29.

So, Saturday morning when my gas light went on, I checked the price at the same gas station. It was 2.79! This gas station is small and cars were lined up 2 and 3 deep at each pump. Now, I ask you, is a 30 minute wait worth it for $1.30? Is it worth a 20 minute wait? I decided a long time ago that I would not drive around the block searching for a lower price (and sometimes find a higher one!) I have to admit, I was not up for the frustration of this tiny gas station this morning. I drive on down the road and paid $2.92.

Yes, with a little patience, I can buy gas for $2.79 a gallon. Unless the Lord decides to come back before then, I'll be working until I'm 90 (because my retirement is gone) but, hallelujah, right now gas can be bought for $2.79! Is that what you call seeing the tank as half full instead of half empty?

Disregard earlier request..I'd like one of theeeese!

This and many more fabu shots over at Memphis Online.

Christmas Gift Ideas

I know I'm hard to buy for. In my family, the adults quit trading gift certificates. In all fairness, we do live far away from each other. I like to give gifts that are specific to the person, bought during the year because you know that is exactly what they want and tucked away. So here's an idea: a tiger cub! Vladmir Putin knows exactly where you can get one of these because he got one.

No? It doesn't have to be the rare Ussuri tiger that Vlad received. After all, there are only 400 remaining in the wild and they grow to be over 600 pounds.

Oh, well, I guess I would be very happy with the new Casting Crowns Christmas cd instead

Why Do We Put Our Dogs in the Car?

I was driving to work this morning when I pulled up next to this little number. I think this puppy matches his vehicle very well. I enjoyed the view for a moment and then decided to take the picture. If I had a little more time (and a little more nerve) I would have spoken to puppy first because when I first pulled up his head was out the window and he gave me a quick smile.

Dogs in cars are a happy thing. Let's face it, unless the pup is going to the vet, he would be in the car because his owner wanted to be around him. I figure either he gets to go to work with his human, or maybe they are off for a weekend at the lake, or maybe "Hugh" is just running an errand and he knows how much puppy likes to hang his tongue out the window. In the time it took for me to grab my camera, puppy got a quick scratch behind the ears, and a solid pat on the head. Any way you look at it, it is happy, happy, happy!

Yard Appeal

The starting point: a flowerbed overgrown with weeds. The potted crotons that were in this space passed away from lack of water. Two of them were revived, one's passing was permanent. (That's another post.) Meanwhile, mom brought these verigated (something or another) that would be easier to take care of. I actually wanted to round out the flower bed but we ended up with enough to do just to freshen the existing area. The elephant ears were easy to uproot but there were strong, deep roots from baby oak sprouts and an entire network of roots from a huge oak tree removed just after I bought the house 14 years ago.




















Everywhere we dug or raked there were roots, some as large as one inch in diameter. I borrowed a serrated knife from the kitchen and sawed some of the roots out of the ground. The larger roots were a problem when we dug the holes for the plants. These roots are definitely responsible for my cracked driveway and sidewalk and possibly even my leaky bathtub.

Mom, the gardener in this operation, knew that the mulch in the bed contained valuable nutrients and should be left as layer underneath the fresh cypress mulch. I knew enough to make sure that the new plants were far enough from the house to be out from under the roof overhang and in reach of the benefit of rain water.


The finished product was tiring but rewarding.




















Note to self: replace dingy shutters








Next outdoor project: find something that fits in that tiny space between sidewal and house. OR, jackhammer sidewalk, replace with stepping stones and .....oh, I better lay down until this idea goes away!

The Flavors of Coffee

I love flavored coffee. I have been drinking it for a while so I've been through a few "phases." I really like Gevalia Kaffe (And, believe me, I have the "free with purchase" coffee pot, mugs, and canisters to prove it.) One of my all time favorite coffees is a Gevalia: Pecan Torte. It has an amazing nutty aroma and taste. I have not found anything like it and that is sad because I only have 1/2 pound left. The actual coffee price is not bad - it's the shipping and handling that kill you. And they have never been anything but pleasant when I cancel my membership. I do feel compelled to offer a reason or even a story with my cancellation. Perhaps it's entertainment for them.






WE INTERRUPT THIS PREVIOUSLY READY POST FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT. THE COFFEE SUPPLY CRISIS HAS BEEN AVERTED. YESTERDAY, I BID ON, AND WON, 2 POUNDS OF PECAN TORTE COFFEE. I REPEAT, THE COFFEE SUPPLY CRISIS HAS BEEN AVERTED. THANK YOU.

Nine boxes of chocolate raspberry decaf were also available for a steal. I bid once and then decided that it was just more coffee and money than I needed right now.

I divide coffee flavors in two categories: nutty and fruity; pecan, hazelnut, pumpkin spice vs. blueberry creme, raspberry chocolate and bananas foster. Christopher Bean makes a lovely Bananas Foster, but their Pumpkin Spice has, for me, a very unpleasant after taste. I thought, perhaps, I didn't like cinnamon in my coffeebut this weekend, while organizing my coffee stash, I unearthed a half pound of Giievalia pumkin spice and I liked it.

I've decided to pick favorites, establish suppliers. Eight o'clock brand makes a lovely and very inexpensive hazelnut. My Banana Foster will have to come from Christoper (so watch out for those "buy 6 bags, get 25% discount" emails. Chocolate Raspberry and Creme Brulee can be purchased at Target. I like Folger's Caramel Drizzle, available at Walmart.

Then there's the regular vs decaf discussion. Weekends and holidays need regular coffee, evenings requre decaf. And don't forget iced vs hot.

Oh, yeah, can't forget we get FREE coffee at work; regular, unflavored. I drink a very large mug of hot coffee, flavored with sugar free vanilla, hazelnut or caramel creamer and plenty of little pink packets.

The snowfake cup on the left is not a mug. The large blue green container on the right, now that's a mug