November Prime Purchases

And, here we are, the first Monday of November and, might I add, the day before one of the biggest elections of our time. Anyhooooo......... I'm adding a few "prime" purchases besides those from Amazon.  I decided you might be interested in some of those as well.  Here we go..........

CORK  TRIVTTS

I have been using cork trivets for years and years.  I think they are the best! They aren't heavy, they have a  surface that holds dishes in place and they come in an abundance of shapes.  And, they make a very nice gift and one that's useable.

AMAZON

GUEST  TOWELS

Here I go with the birds, but I can't seem to help myself.  I will be using these in our guest bath since all the decor in that bath is birds.

AMAZON

ASSORTED  DRAWSTRING  CHRISTMAS  WRAPPING  BAGS

These are great to have on hand when wrapping Christmas gifts.  Some things just don't fit in a box and there are several sizes of these and they have a pull ribbon that closes them neatly with a nice tag as well.

AMAZON

CHRISTMAS  GIFT  BAGS

And, what's not to like about these lovely gift bags. They have a very classy look and will hold some very special gifts I have for some special folks.

AMAZON

 

METTALLIC  GOLD  TISSUE

If you happen to order the above gift bags then you need to also order this tissue to go with them.  Talk about a really good look.  It matches the gold metallic on the bags. 

AMAZON

ZELLA  SLIT  HEM  TRACK  PANTS

These are a very good looking casual pant.  They are a lot like Spanx Air Essentials, except they are way more affordable.  The slit makes for a sharp look.  There is a jacket that goes with them as well, just in case you are interested.  And, Nordstrom has free shipping and free returns. Easy peasy!

NORDSTROM

CANDY  CANE  SWEATER

I am a sucker for a cute Christmas sweater and this one definitely fits the bill.  It is so cute, a bit scratchy (should that matter to you) but I always wear a camisole.  It will be good looking with red pants or jeans. This boutique has lots of cute clothes and lovely fashion jewelry.

THE  CLOTHING  COVE 

RITZY  CREAM  GOLD  SHIMMER

I love this lipstick and this color.  It is a warm earthly red with gold shimmers.  If this is NOT your color, check out all the many other gorgeous colors.

RUNWAY  ROGUE

Okie dokie, that's it for this edition, perhaps you've seen something for yourself or for someone on your Christmas list. 

And, I leave you with this.........

Regardless of the election results, God will remain on HIS throne and HE will still be in control.  Let us hold fast to that truth as we go forth.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

It is so good to be participating in the HP this week. It seems to be a rarity for me but I always enjoy answering Joyce's questions when I can work it in to my schedule.  I wish I could be as faithful to the blogging world as Joyce but, hey, I'm here today. 

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like.

Wow! somedays I think it's just keeping things "between the ditches." Other days, it's being the best ME I can be and I'd love to say that I'm doing a great job of that, but........... And, more than ever I desire to live a life pleasing to the Lord and making a difference in the lives of those I come in contact with daily.  I think when I reached the age of 70 my priorities took on new meaning. I have way more years behind me than ahead of me (yikes!) and I want every day to count. 

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of?

 The first thing to come to mind is time with our daughter and her family in Oklahoma. But, I am so thankful that we do see them at least 4 times a year and we talk absolutely EVERY day and then, there is Facetime.  Even the little boys know how to pick up a phone or Ipad and use Facetime. Such a wonderful perk when lots of miles separate families. 

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year?

It's been many a year since we actually celebrated Halloween. When the children were young, they enjoyed dressing up and going around the neighborhood trick or treating. And, thankfully, that was absolutely safe to do 40 years ago. We also went to the Fall Festival at their school. We've never been into the scary aspect of Halloween but into the fun of Halloween.  I have two huge lighted Jack O'Lanterns on our front porch and that's about as celebrated as we'll be.  We have no particular plans this year but will have some candy should we have any trick or treaters drop by.

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate? 

I usually have a small bag of seasalt caramel light and dark chocolate candies.  I enjoy a couple a day. It's my guilty pleasure. ~chuckle~

It has been several weeks ago but the last thing I used chocolate in was a batch of brownies.  I use a recipe I've had for over 40 years and they are, without a doubt, the best brownies you've ever put your "chompers" in.

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

Most of our weekends at this point are fairly laid back and we enjoy it that way. We do enjoy plans and generally have some plans, but just not overloaded. Now, this past weekend we were at our daughters in Oklahoma and it was indeed a packed weekend.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We were in Oklahoma last week to attend Bridget's Doctoral defense this past Friday. It was quite impressive and she did an outstanding job and at the end was deemed, Dr. Bridget Broome. It was a long 4 1/2 year journey, all while being wife, mom to 3 boys and teaching at Oklahoma State University. I found the mug shown above on Etsy and knew she had to have it.~smile~

Daddy update: Daddy is doing quite well, all things considered. He came through the Bronchitis and seems to be getting stronger. He's walking more with his walker trying to keep his legs strengthened. He is often confused but still able to have a good conversation, for which I am thankful. I still have caregivers with him and they have become like family. His 95th birthday is on Nov. 9th and my brother and his wife from Des Moines will be flying in to join in the celebration.

And, I leave you with this......

October Prime Purchases and Daddy Update

And, here we are in October! Can it be that Christmas is just around the corner.  Surely not! Perhaps I'll be of some help to you with gift ideas.  Let's get started...............

BIRD  CANVAS  PRINT

I have a large easel in my kitchen area and I keep some type of seasonal print on it.  I thought this bird had a "fallish" look and snagged it to use through fall.  There are all kinds of stretched canvas prints available on Amazon. 

AMAZON

COFFEE  CARAFE  WITH  PUMP

These pump carafes have been around forever, but, I have never owned one.  Well, I decided it was time to own one.  I think I will enjoy it when we have company as I could make 2 pots of coffee, pour them in the carafe and keep them hot for several hours.  I like that idea better than pulling out my 40 cup coffee maker.  And, this carafe has a very nice look.

AMAZON

RECHARGABLE  ELECTRIC  SALT AND PEPPER  SHAKER

Oh, my goodness, do I LOVE these! I know, I know, I just had a pair of new salt and pepper shakers on here a couple of times ago.  But, I saw a video of someone cooking and they used this type of shakers and I was SOLD! You can set the size of the salt and pepper from fine to course and it dispenses it like a champ.  And, they are very good looking.

AMAZON

DIVA  FINE  LAUNDRY  WASH - 32 oz

If you would enjoy having your towels, sheets and lingerie to have an awesome scent, then you need to order some of this.  Yes, it is very expensive, BUT.  You combine it with another less expensive fragrance free detergent.  It just takes a small amount to give off an awesome fragrance.  I use All Free and Clear and  put about a capful of this in with the amount of All I use.  If you are familiar with Tyler Candles, this detergent is made by the same company

AMAZON

LEFT  RIGHT  CENTER  GAME

 

This is a great mindless game and by mindless, you don't have to think, it's just the luck of "the throw." It's a game that you don't have to think about and can enjoy visiting all while playing.  And, if you want to really enjoy it, replace the chips with "real" money.  Talk about fun!  It would make a great stocking stuffer.

AMAZON

REUSEABLE  GROCERY  BAGS

I love these reusable grocery bags.  The shape is square and they have a formed shape.  I do not like the ones that are just fabric and do not sit up or stay open. There are several designs to choose from but I could not resist these.  I just keep them in the back of my vehicle.

AMAZON

DEVOTIONAL  BOOK  BY  PAUL  DAVID  TRIPP

I was so excited to see that Paul David Tripp had come out with his 2nd devotional book.  I have used his 1st one, New Morning Mercies, for the past 2-3 years.  His devotionals are far better than 90% of the devotional books I've seen. ~in my opinion~  His have depth, based on scripture and food for thought.  A wonderful way to start your day.

AMAZON

LIGHTWEIGHT  V NECK  SWEATER

You may remember that I posted this sweater in last month's purchases in a solid color. I have enjoyed the 3 solid colored ones so much that I ordered this gray striped one. These are lightweight, great under a jacket and I love the V-neck for wearing a necklace. 

AMAZON

UPDATE  ON  DADDY

Daddy enjoying a little time outside a couple of weeks ago.

Well, until last Thursday, Daddy had made great progress.  He hasn't complained of any pain or discomfort in over a month and was getting stronger. He can still have bouts of confusion but had made good stride.  But, on Thursday, he complained of a sore throat and by Friday he had signs of chest congestion and started running a low grade temp.  I've had the sitters give him OTC meds and Tylenol and he hasn't gotten any worse but not really any better.  So, I will be in touch with his Doctor today and seek her advise. I'm pretty sure it's bronchitis as he generally has it at least once a year.  He seems to take two steps forward and one step backwards. Hopefully he will beat whatever this is and be on the road to regaining his strength once again.  

September Prime Purchases and Daddy Update

Well, here we are, September 2nd.  We will not turn around twice and Christmas decor will be in every store and I am not ready for that.  But, for now, I'll share my prime purchases with you this month.  I did not have a lot of time for Amazon in August (more about that at the end of the post) but, here's what I did find.

BIBLE  STUDY WORKBOOK

If the Lord's willing and the creek's don't rise, I will begin this Bible study next week with a group at our church.  We've done another Kristi McLelland study that was awesome, so I'm expecting this one to be equal or better.

AMAZON

COCKTAIL  NAPKINS

If you've been hanging around here for very long then you know I love all things birds.  When I saw these cocktail napkins, I had to have them.  AND, they came in a package of 150! I use cocktail napkins a lot and these are so pretty and aren't seasonal.  

AMAZON

EXPANDABLE  HOSE

I don't know who designed expandable hoses but KUDOS to them!  What a genius idea!  They make life sooooo much easier.  We have about 3-4 at the various outside faucets.  The one near the back porch got a hole in it, so we ordered this one to replace it.  I never mind using one of these because they are so easy to put away.  If you have never had one, you need one.

AMAZON

AIRPOD  PRO 2  CASE

I am a big user of Air Pods and just recently got the new Airpod Pros 2. And, of course, that calls for a new case for them.  Yes, they come in a case but this serves as protection.  I put my pods in as soon as I get out of the shower in the mornings and then start Audible.  And, I wear them a lot when I am home as I can talk on the phone and never miss a beat.  I DO NOT wear them outside the house.  I think it is tacky when folks have them in their ears while they are out and about. ~just my opinion~

AMAZON

LIGHTWEIGHT  CHIFFON  BLOUSE

This is the cutest blouse and comes in a whole host of patterns. I wear a 6-8 and got this in a small and it was perfect.  I love the sleeves and the elastic band allows you to push them up and out of the way. And, the front tuck is so cute!

AMAZON

2-PACK  VEHICLE  ASSIST  HANDLE

Okay folks, it seems that a lot of the newer cars do not have the grab handles over by the windshield.  These are most helpful to someone that has difficulty getting in an SUV.  I just got a new SUV and I couldn't believe it didn't have a grab handle by the windshield. It has one above where the door opens but that is not always convenient.  SO, saw these on a video the other day and they were in my cart before "quick could get ready."  They fit in the vehicles U shaped door lock and make the perfect assist for getting in the vehicle.  I don't know that my Daddy will ever be able to get in my vehicle again but, if he does, these will be a lifesaver.  They are easy to put in and remove and then throw them in the glove compartment for the next time.

AMAZON

As I mentioned above, I had more to be concerned about in August (and still do) than shopping on Amazon.  I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my precious Daddy had taken a terrible fall back on August 10th.  He fell in his bathroom on the ceramic floor and broke his shoulder blade, cracked 3 ribs and has 3 fractures in his lower spine.  Just awful!!! About a week after the fall he had to be hospitalized for treatment.  He was very anemic, dehydrated and very, very confused.  He received IV fluids, 2 pints of blood, pain meds and a lot of TLC. I was able to secure some awesome caregivers to assist me with his care and they are still with me from 7:00AM - 8:00PM.  He manages during the night with the aide on duty checking on him about every hour.  He was hospitalized for 4 nights and my youngest brother flew in to assist with his needs during that time.  He was a lifesaver!  Daddy is back at the assisted living facility  and is doing fairly well, some days are better than others.  He  seems to be getting less confused and forgetful but still has to have assistance with most everything. It has been an emotional roller coaster for sure.  But, the Lord is in control and I know He has a perfect plan, even though I may not understand that plan. He will be 95 years old in November and this type of trauma is hard to overcome for the elderly.  I'm not sure what the coming days hold, but, thankfully, I do know who holds the days, and I'm trying hard to hang on and trust Him. And, Daddy has amazed us before and I wouldn't put it past him to amaze us again.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

I'm on a roll, two straight weeks participating in the Hodgepodge.  Yea! Me! Joyce provides the questions and we provide our answers.

1.What was the best (or one of the best) summers of your life? Tell us why. 

Well, this really is a tough one as I have the fondest of memories of soooo many summers.  But, when I was 10 years old, our family scraped and saved to take a trip to Washington DC in 1962.  My precious Momma was a very talented seamstress and made all 4 of us 2 sets of matching shirts.  I so wish I had a picture of us.  We looked so cute and I just remember what a fun, fun trip it was.  And, it was done on a shoestring for sure. A sweet, sweet memory.

2. When you have a trip coming up do you make a list and check it twice to ensure you don't forget anything? I don't know that I have ever made a list but I do start packing early and throwing things in and I don't think I've ever forgotten anything.  

 Or are you a 'throw whatever you can think of into the suitcase at the last minute' kind of packer? Oh, heaven's NO, I'm not a "last minute" kind of gal in any regard. ~chuckle~

 When returning from a trip do you unpack immediately or leave the suitcase right where it lands? Indeed, immediately or as soon after immediately as possible.

3. What's your favorite food or beverage made with lemons? Is that a flavor you enjoy? 

I enjoy Lemon Icebox Pie, it's not at the top of my list but it's definitely something I enjoy.

4. When was the last time you had to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking I mean? 

I'm pretty sure I've had to do this on more than one occasion recently, but, I cannot remember.  So, forgive me.  I'm sure when I read everyone else's answers that I will think of several.

5. Did you like school growing up? Why or why not? 

My friends, was I not the cutest little first grader with my Shirley Temple curls? Yes, I loved school and thankfully I adapted to change easily.  I say that because I attended 7 different schools in my 12 years of school.  We even moved the second semester of my Junior year and I adjusted just fine, jumped in and made new friends easily.  I was and always have been a very social person and, I must admit, I saw school as more of a social affair  than  an educational affair. ~grin~

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This past Saturday morning I was measuring out all the ingredients to make Banana Nut Bread when my phone rang.  I saw that it was Dad's facility, and that always gives me cause for concern.  He had taken a pretty bad fall and he was in a lot of pain with his shoulder.  I dropped everything and took off (I'm about 8 minutes away) and knew, after seeing him, that he had to be taken to the ER.  I felt like he had probably broken his shoulder.  Thankfully the ER was not busy and we got him right in. And after both x-rays and CAT scan it revealed he had fractured his scapula (shoulder blade) and 3 ribs on his right side.  Bless his precious heart, just not what he needed at almost 95 years of age.  It was obvious that I was going to have to line up sitters for his waking hours of the day.  He is pretty much helpless and needs assistance with everything.  He is quite uncomfortable and is taking some mild meds for pain and they seem to take the edge off.  I was able to secure 5 sitters to work various schedules to cover 7:00AM - 8:00PM daily for now. They are working to keep him moving to prevent him from getting peumonia and to keep him mobile.  Home Health will start tomorrow and physical therapy should begin soon. It grieves my heart to see him like this but I know the Lord is with Him and holding him extra tight during this time and He is supplying me with the extra strength that I need.  Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.  

A very comforting scripture...............

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Well, look at me, I'm participating in the Hodgepodge two weeks in a row. Joyce does such a good job week in and week out with the questions and it's always fun to answer them and then read everyone's answers.

1. What's a task you do on a regular (or semi-regular basis) that feels like it should be an Olympic event? 

We have a lovely fountain in the side of our front yard.  We had our landscaper build a specific spot for the fountain and it is indeed lovely.  BUT, guess what? That fountain requires regular cleaning and filling.  I think we thought if we kept the fountain chemicals in it that they would take care of the cleaning.  Not so. About every month it needs to be completely emptied and scrubbed and refilled.  That is generally my job and while I love the results, I dislike the process.  I'm not sure I should compare it to an Olympic event but, in the heat of summer, it is not for the faint of heart.

2. What's in the trunk of your car right now? 

I drive an SUV, so I have cargo space rather than a trunk.  I LOVE my cargo space and it always has a small fold up rolling cart and not much of anything else stays in it all the time.  I use the cart to carry items to my Daddy because I generally have way more than I can carry in my arms.  

3. Summer foods vs. fall foods...which do you prefer? 

Hands down, fall foods.  When fall arrives, my cooking turns to soups, chili and gumbo. I'm not much of a summer time cook but when fall and winter arrive, I'm all in.  I guess I'm more of a one pot cook. ~smile~

Would you rather-watermelon or caramel apple? Well, I'm not really a fan of either but, if forced, I'll take a few bites of watermelon.

iced coffee or pumpkin spiced latte? I've just recently tried iced coffee and I am a fan, much to my surprise. I got the low calorie kind but it still had more calories than I want in a drink.

 potato salad or sweet potato casserole? Yummy to both of these, I really can't pick one over the other.

 barbecued ribs or roast turkey? Believe it or not, I've never eaten ribs (they are too messy) in my life so guess I'll have to go with roast turkey.

 ice cream sandwich or apple pie? I'm a huge fan of pie, so I'll go with apple pie for sure.

 corn on the cob or candy corn? Corn on the cob hands down!!! I do not even like thinking about candy corn, yuck!

4. August 7th is National Lighthouse Day. Have you visited any lighthouses? Do you have a favorite? Is a lighthouse something you seek out if you're visiting an area known for theirs? 

I "think" we may have seen a lighthouse when we visited the Charleston or Savannah area but I have never been attracted to lighthouses.  My parents always searched them out but I guess their interest never rubbed off on me. 

5. Light at the end of the tunnel, out like a light, give the green light, a lightbulb moment, in a new light, in the limelight...of the 'light' idioms listed which applies in some way to your life lately? Explain. 

Hummm.........I'm scratching my head over this one, so I'm going with "out like a light."  That would not just be lately but most every night.  When my head hits the pillow, I am out.  Sometimes I do wake up in the early morning hours and seem to struggle going back to sleep, but that's not often.  I have always been blessed with really good sleep.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This is Coleman's first year to be able to show sheep.  He was in his first show the last weekend of July and he won. Yea. Coleman!  Of course, he has been watching his older brother show for years and years and Clancy definitely was a great example for Coleman.  Now, Case can hardly wait until he's old enough but he's a few years away.  

Quick update on Daddy and his dentures...........Bless his sweet heart, adjusting to dentures is not going all that well for him.  He needs to use an adhesive to keep them from slipping and that is most difficult for him due to his very limited eyesight.  It's very frustrating for him to try and put the adhesive on, so he tries to not use it and it works fairly well until meal time.  The other issue is he simply forgets to put them in.  In the 4 months that he was without teeth and going through the process of getting dentures, he learned to eat fairly well without teeth.  I told him if he could see how handsome he looks in them (above picture) that would be a big motivation for him.  But, at 94, it's not looking like the dentures will be a part of his daily life. 

AND, I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.................