Crimson, White, and Blue: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Want to join the party?  Come on over to From This Side of the Pond  for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Are there any men or women in blue on your family tree?

No.  We're just happy when people in our family stay out of jail.

Are you someone who suffers from the Sunday night blues? What helps you get over it?

Only if it's a weekend (like this past one) where I haven't gotten enough rest, haven't had any fun, and/or I'm dealing with illness or depression.  I enjoy my job, but if I haven't refueled over the weekend, I dread setting that 4 a.m. alarm.

I read the color blue is an appetite suppressant since there are very few naturally blue foods out there. How do you feel about blue cheese? Love it or blech? If you're a fan, what's something you like that's made with blue cheese?

Blue cheese is nasty.  If athlete's foot had a smell, it would smell exactly like blue cheese..  If I can't pick it out of a dish, I either don't eat the dish or suffer through it.  BTW--if regular cheese looks or smells like that, you THROW IT AWAY!  Gag! 

We can't head in to the Labor Day weekend without a related question, can we? Complete this thought: I work best when...

...I'm left to work at my own pace.  I get more done when I'm not being stared at.

"Everything yields to diligence." - Antiphanes.   Your thoughts? (on this particular quote or on diligence in general)

I don't really understand the quote, so I can't comment on it.  Who is Antiphanes?

Naccalula Falls

The National Park Service turned 100 years old on August 25th. Have you been to any of America's National Parks? If so share with us a favorite or two. Which National Park would you most like to visit before the next birthday rolls around?

I've yet to visit any of the National Parks.  I've visited two of our State Parks:  Cheaha State Park, and Lake Guntersville State Park. Both visits were in the context of other events (a wedding and a woman's conference).   I need to go back and actually experience the parks.  Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Alabama isn't bad either.  I wonder why it isn't considered a State Park?

Bid farewell to August in seven words or less.

Goodbye, Fear the Beak, and Roll Tide!

Insert your own random thought here.

I don't have any salient comments today, so I'll share something pretty.  Enjoy.

 

Killing Kudzu: The Simple Woman's Daybook

If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today:  Sunday, August 28, 2016
 

Outside my window …  In a word...HOT.  I've got such a severe case of cabin fever that's it's turned in to cabin malaria. While I don't want to rush the seasons, cooler temperatures can't get here fast enough.

I am thinking...  The hiatus I took from social media in July was both the best and worst thing I could have done.  The best, because when I signed back on, I found I didn't miss it as much as I thought I would.  In fact, it's really getting on my nerves and I'm spending less and less time on it.  The worst, because though I'm still taking proactive measures to find community, I'm still as lonely and disconnected as ever.  It's pathetic and ridiculous.

I am thankful...  Honestly, I'm not feeling very thankful right now.  I'm running out of cheer up juice.

 

From the Workshop...

Keeping with the upcoming fall season, I made a scarecrow wreath for this month's senior dance prize.

Getting ready for the Christmas bazaar by starting my snow tree items.  More to come.

I painted this from the photograph I took of the magnolias on the Ladiga Trail.

I am reading...  I just finished one of the newer Mitford series books by Jan Karon.  The review is here.  A couple of friends and I are reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan together.  It's been pretty interesting. We're just getting to the meat of the book, so I don't know what to make of it yet.

In my read through the Bible, I'm about halfway through Ezekiel.  God willing, I'm going to do an exhaustive study of the Bible starting in 2017.  Much of the Old Testament is still a mystery to me.  I need to dig in and gain more understanding.

I am learning... I learned that change, though annoying, isn't always bad.  Jacksonville Wal-Mart has changed their craft department again (add appropriate cuss words here).  I was in need of Folk Art white acrylic paint for the painting above, and of course, they've quit stocking it.  I normally don't fool with any other brand, but I didn't have time to drive to Lenlock, Oxford, or Gadsden to see if the other Wal-Marts still carried it, nor was a trip to Hobby Lobby feasible.  I tried the Daler-Downey brand on display and found that I really enjoyed creating with it.  This paint is very creamy and stays wet longer, thus it's easier to blend.  I think I'm going to like it...that is, until Wal-Mart changes things again.

Favorite quote(s) of the week: 

"Can we take a moment to appreciate fine china? I have a theory that much of the rudeness-ugliness-impatience in the world today stems from that moment we started drinking coffee on the run in ginormous disposable cups." - Joyce Daley, blogger: From This Side of the Pond.

"His relationship with Emma Newland [retired church secretary] personified what he'd heard about childbirth--one forgot the agony 'til the next time around." - Jan Karon, Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good.

"I'd rather hear an eighteen year old with faith than I had some wore out 40 year old who ain't got nothing but religion." - Kenneth Copeland

"Do you ever feel like Kudzu to the people around you--nobody wants you, and they try anything to get you to go away?" - Auntie's musings.
 

I am looking forward to... 

• The opening kickoff of college football season this weekend.  Jacksonville State's first game is Thursday night.  Alabama's kickoff is Saturday night. 
• The holiday weekend and getting some quiet refreshing rest.
• Trying a couple of new 5ks in October.
• The Marching Southerners reunion in November.

In the kitchen... Ok, I know I wasn't going to do posts on food, but I finally got make something out of Auntie's test kitchen for someone other than ME.  I made this for a ladies' potluck Friday night.  They picked the bowl clean,  I'd say it was a success.  BTW--I know I need to get back to that blog series.  I'm working on it.

And now for something totally different...
  

 

From Facebook:  J.Scull shared:

From Facebook:  M.Cheyne shared:

 

Auntie's 2016 Bookworm Challenge 08

Book: Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good.

Author: Jan Karon

Info:  Copyright 2014: New York:  G. P. Putnam and Sons

Where acquired: Library check out.

Rating (on a scale of 1-4 hashtags): # # # #

What it's about:  Picking up where Light From Heaven left off (sort of), Jan Karon brings us back to the world of Father Tim Kavanagh and the downhome folks at Mitford.  Retirement is not setting well with the Episcopal Vicar, while change is not setting well with the rest of the town.  Changes in leadership, suicide, and angry teenagers bring Father Tim to the brink of breakdown.  Through it all God remains faithful.

Favorite Quotes: 

"His relationship with Emma Newland [retired church secretary] personified what he'd heard about childbirth--one forgot the agony 'til the next time around." - p. 90.

When questioned about the breed of his dog:  "Mongrel, like the rest of us." - Father Brad.  p. 341.

"Love is an act of endless forgiveness." - p. 350.

What I Liked:

• This book is part of a series.  Karon does a masterful job of weaving the differing storylines from the previous novels together.
• The quotes sprinkled in about books and reading were quite enjoyable.
• The humor infused in this volume gave many "LOL" moments.
• The love letters between Father Tim and his wife, Cynthia were precious.
• The Christmas celebration at the end of the book was truly moving.

What I didn’t like: 

• There were several instances of missing essential information.  Without giving spoilers, an example would be that a character ended up in the emergency room, yet the outcome was never revealed.
• What was the deal about the raisins?

Takeaway:  I feel that my review doesn't do the book justice.  Those of us who've read the previous series are glad to be back to the small town fun of Mitford.   Reading the ups and downs of Father Tim is an inspirational example of exceptional living.  Not only is Father Tim deeply spiritual, but remarkably intelligent and has the depth of feeling needed in any man of faith.