Trail Blazer: The Weekly Digest

Looking out the window....

More beauty from this week's walks in the neighborhood: 

Favorite quote(s) of the week... 

 

What drew you to Christ except Christ? What draws you to Him now except His own blessed self? If you have been drawn to the Christian religion by anything else, you will soon be drawn away from it, but Jesus has held you and will hold you even to the end. - Charles Spurgeon, Faith's Checkbook, p. 292. 

 

Do you find yourself cycling through stages in your relationship with the Lord? Have you listened to them?  Owned them?  Sought a love supreme?  Any Christian spirituality must begin with Christ--basking in his love for us and realizing that we can now love as he loves. - Robert Gelinas, Finding the Groove, p. 47. 

"What's in the satchel?" he [Judge Thatcher] asked.

 

"A few books.  I don't think you'll miss them."

 

"What books?"

 

"That's an interesting question." I [Jim] said.  "You surprise me.  A narrative of some slave--that's one of them.  It's never been opened, so I know you won't miss it.  I don't know why you have it.  Candide, something else by Voltaire, John Stuart Mill."

 

"My God, what in the world is going on?"

 

"Call it progress."  I said.  - Percival Everett, James:  A Novel, Part three, Chapter nine.

 

I'm thinking about...

 

The trail down from my apartment:  On one of my walks up Cedar Drive, I noticed a sign for the William Frederick Hayden Park.  Sometimes the fence to the trail is open, sometimes it isn't.  The trail is not paved like the Ladiga Trail back home, so I don't know exactly where the "park" part of this place is.  The view from the road gives the impression that it is a nice trail.  However, with it not being paved and the warning signs about wildlife, I'm not sure if I should even cross the fence line to explore.  If I had another person to go with (or at least borrow an intimidating dog from someone), I'd be game for the adventure.  

 

How would you handle this? 

 

What I've read since the last digest...

• James by Percival Everett ✮✮✮✮  
• You Have a Calling by Karen Swallow Prior ✮1/2 

I'm currently reading...

• Prayer:  Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard J. Foster
• Finding the Groove by Robert Gelinas
• Mansions of the Heart by R. Thomas Ashbrook 
• Streams of Living Water by Richard J. Foster 
• Faith's Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon

Recent blog posts...

• My First and Last words on the book James by Percival Everett here.
• My previous digest, "Fall in the Country'" is here.
  
• Puppy Power:  The Weekly Hodgepodge is here. 
• My "25 for 2025" challenge is here. (Updated regularly)
• My "I Can Only Blame MyShelf" reading challenge is here.  (Updated regularly). 

From the Workshop... 

October 4th was World Card Making Day.  I know I've already met my goal for sending 100 cards to Cards for Kindness, but the organization issued a challenge.  We were to make as many cards as we could on the 4th then send them in the following week.  They want to break the record for the most cards received in a week.  I took up the challenge and managed to make 23 cards in one day.  I was whupped by the end of the day, but it was so much fun.  We'll see if we broke the record.

 

I am thankful for...

• I'm thankful that I'm not having company this coming weekend.  My apartment looks like an okra patch right now.
• Good audiobook narrators.
• My occasional second cup of coffee.
• The lovely walks around the neighborhood.
• So far Colorado is having a real fall...so far.
• Friends who "get" me.
  
  

 

 

Fall in the Country: The Weekly Digest and Hodgepodge

NOTE:  I thought that my combining the digest and hodgepodge would be a once in a while thing.  However, scheduling seems to be going in that direction at present.  Plus I'm teaching soon, so if I get to blog at all, it will most likely be a combo deal.  Enjoy. 

Looking out the window....

Had the opportunity to go on a walk around another part of the neighborhood: 

The shrub (knockout) roses are still doing their thing.

All this holly needs is a little red cardinal perched on it.

The leaves are starting to show fall colors.

Black Dalea

I caught some other gorgeousness while I was out and about this week:

The petunias in the flower box in front of the UPS store are still showing out (mine are dead).

These beauties were in a planter outside of the Hobby Lobby in Belmar.

Favorite quote(s) of the week... 

 

The Father has accepted the great sacrifice of Calvary and has declared Himself well pleased with it; how can He now be pleased to kill us! Why would there be a substitute if the sinner still had to perish? The accepted sacrifice of Jesus puts an end to fear..- Charles Spurgeon, Faith's Checkbook, p. 281. 

 

"That is what equality is, Jim.  It's the capacity for becoming equal.  The same way a black man in Martinique can learn French, and so become French.  He can also acquire the skills of equality and so become equal."

 

"I hate you." - Percival Everett, James:  A Novel, Part one, Chapter six.
 

I'm thinking about...

Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

From Hodgepodge Questions Volume 621

Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)...what's your favorite thing about fall? 

• It's not winter.
• The changing colors.  I know that many of Colorado think that you have to go find the Aspen trees to see great fall color.  However, I've found some fiery reds, browns, and golds just walking around the neighborhood.  Sure, I'd love to see the Aspens, but at present, I have to work with what I've got. 
• The cool evenings and mildly warm days. 
• It's now soup, stew, and chili weather. 
• Football.
• I know that I teach year-round, but fall gives me the new school year feel 

What's one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 

World Card Making Day is Saturday.  I'm considering participating.

Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don't eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

The only one I don't eat is butternut squash.  In all honesty, I don't know how to prepare it properly.  The couple of times I've cooked butternut squash, it came out bitter.  Anybody got any simple recipe recommendations?  Out of the list, I eat apples the most.  They are a year-round food for me.  The jury is still out on pumpkin.  I normally don't like pumpkin (it has a whang to it) or pumpkin spiced anything (too bitter) however, flour-based baked goods with pumpkin seem to not have that malady, so I'm thinking about trying my hand at making pumpkin bread.  I'll let you know how it goes.

From Hodgepodge Questions Volume 622 

What's your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

It's more of a fall-winter scent, but I like the smell of orange spice.  I have an oil diffuser and mix a few drops of Mainstays (Wal-Mart) Cinnamon Leaf and Sweet Orange.  Smells like fall but also like Christmas.  It puts me in the mind of Wassail.  I also like pumpkin scented candles.  However, I'm on candle restriction until I finish the Lavender Lemonade candle I got for my birthday and the Beaver Nugget candle I bought a Buc-ee's earlier this summer.

October is Country Music Month...are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? 

I know it's hard to believe with me being from the South (and a country mouse in the middle of the Denver metro area), but country music isn't my favorite genre. I do have a few country songs (or songs with country flair) I enjoy:

 

 

 

 

 

How about 'country cooking'? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-'barbecue'-gumbo-banana pudding 

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven't tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered? 

Miss Joyce, my scale (and homesickness) is mad at you right now.  😅

What's something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

Anything creative--whether it's my creativity or someone else's.  The comfort of a quilt, the color splash of a photograph or painting, or the sweet melody and/or driving rhythm of an upbeat song can bring me out of a funk pretty quickly.  Even if I'm in low-energy depression mode, I try to hunt for those positive influences.  Other things that improve my mood are good comedy, fun books, naps, and comfort food (not too much).

What I've read since the last digest...

• Gospel Evidences for Saving Faith by John Owen ✮✮✮✮  
• J. R. R. Tolkien by Colin Duriez  ✮✮✮✮  
• On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior (a glorious reread) ✮✮✮✮ 

I'm currently reading...

• Finding the Groove by Robert Gelinas
• James:  A Novel by Percival Everett 
• Mansions of the Heart by R. Thomas Ashbrook 
• Streams of Living Water by Richard J. Foster 
• Faith's Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon

Recent blog posts...

• My previous digest, "Head of the Class'" is here.
  
• Puppy Power:  The Weekly Hodgepodge is here. 
• My "25 for 2025" challenge is here. (Updated regularly)
• My "I Can Only Blame MyShelf" reading challenge is here.  (Updated regularly). 

From the Workshop... 

I'm not quite finished with the project I hinted at last digest.  So, here's another hint:

 

 

I am thankful for...

• Coupons and sales
• All-purpose thread
• My subscription to Creativebug that I get from the Jefferson County Library.  I've been watching videos and plotting and planning.
• Double-sided tape
• Slow cookers/Crock Pots
• Pre-grated cheese
• Walks outside
• Bluetooth technology 
• Good hearing  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Head of the Class: The Weekly Digest

Looking out the window....

I went to a luncheon/training on campus Friday.  These are some of the lovelies I found:

A pretty planter of Dianthus ("Pinks"), Lantana, and Marigolds.

Quickfire Hydrangeas

"Bluebeard" 

Favorite quote(s) of the week... 

 

Lord, if You send me wealth like broad rivers, do not let the galley with oars come up in the shape of worldliness or pride. If You grant me abundant health and a happy outlook, do not let the gallant ship of carnal ease come sailing up the flowing flood. If I have success in holy service as broad as the German Rhine, let me never find the ship of self-conceit and self-confidence floating on the waves of my usefulness. If I would be so supremely happy as to enjoy the light of Your countenance year after year, let me never despise Your feeble saints nor allow the vain notion of my own perfection to sail up the broad rivers of my full assurance. Lord, give me that blessing that makes rich and neither adds sorrow nor aids sin.- Charles Spurgeon, Faith's Checkbook, p. 278. 

 

When many are not ashamed to revile them [pastors] in public, some ought to be ashamed not to remember them in private.  - John Owen, Rules for Walking in Fellowship, Chapter 3. 

 

I'm thinking about...

 

My next class starts October 6th.  I've got the students on my mind and in my prayers.  I've got the preparations I want to make for the course on my mind.  I always want to facilitate my courses well, but as always, I want my students to grow in faith in, understanding of, and fellowship with Christ.  I never want my courses to just be another class students HAVE to take for a grade.  I want them to learn and grow in the process of completing their assignments.

   

What I've read since the last digest...

• Persuasion by Jane Austen ✮1/2
• Rules for Walking in Fellowship by John Owen ✮✮✮✮  

I'm currently reading...

• Finding the Groove by Robert Gelinas
• Gospel Evidences of Saving Faith by John Owen
• Mansions of the Heart by R. Thomas Ashbrook 
• Streams of Living Water by Richard J. Foster 
• On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior
• Faith's Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon

Recent blog posts...

• My previous digest, "Party Hats'" is here.
  
• Puppy Power:  The Weekly Hodgepodge is here. 
• My "25 for 2025" challenge is here. (Updated regularly)
• My "I Can Only Blame MyShelf" reading challenge is here.  (Updated regularly). 

From the Workshop... 

I'm trying something new in Auntie's Workshop. It's not quite finished, but here's a hint:

I am thankful for...

• Friends who can't behave in a store any better than I can.
• Fat quarters.
• Dreams that God won't let die. 
• Signing another year's lease at my apartment.   
• Rain to wash the ick out of the air.
• Pinterest. 
• The safety button on my rotary cutter so I don't cut the snot out of myself.
• Anti-slip grips for quilting rulers (so I don't cut the snot out of myself). 
• Sticky notes--the real ones (the computer version is pain in the booty to use).