Friday Fotos 2024 #5

Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life.  I really am doing a horrible job at keeping up with these posts! It seems I've skipped a couple (or a few) weeks.

My back porch is finished! Now if it would just get warm (and stay warm) so I can enjoy it. On the days when it has been warm, it's been really nice to leave my sliding glass door open and hear the birds.

After Mass on Holy Thursday evening, the Eucharist is placed in the Tabernacle (which is open on the altar) and Adoration takes place until midnight. Compline (night prayer) happens then with the Eucharist removed until the Easter Vigil (Saturday night Mass which begins after the sunset).

My car on the left, its twin on the right

The traditional Easter Bunny cake was made, probably for the last time. It hasn't even been cut into at the time of this writing. 😒

Gurl Dogg (in need of a trip to the beauty parlor)

Monday morning after Daily Mass, the main church was quiet. It was beautiful with the Easter flowers and the sun hitting the crucifix.

MS, his girlfriend, and her parents took me out to dinner for a belated birthday dinner. The wine was excellent, even if it wasn't the one we ordered. We ordered the Italian Pinot Noir but we were given the California version. Lesson learned: make sure you double-check before accepting it! The GF looked at the label but didn't think to make sure it was the right one, but I didn't either. We went to an Italian restaurant in the Rival Town; I was the only one who had not been there. It was excellent food and they gifted us some Italian doughnuts for my birthday.

Until next time...

Hodgepodge Madness

 Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1.What do you love about your life right now? 

My life is fairly stress-free at the moment. I've managed to get some things done around the house (or make plans to get some things done) that should have been done a long time ago. I have the freedom to spend my day doing what I want to do.

2. March 26th is National Spinach Day...are you a fan? If so, how do you like yours prepared/served? 

I'm not a big cooked vegetable person, so if I eat spinach it's in a salad or on a sandwich in lieu of lettuce.

3. In this current season would you say you need to spend more time looking inward or that you need to get out of your head? Tell us why. 

Inward. I'm newly retired, newly widowed, and trying to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to be doing with my life now. I'm planning on taking the time to rediscover myself and what my purpose is.

4. Are you following the 'March Madness' madness? (That's US college basketball in case you're out of the loop) What's something that feels like actual madness to you right now? 

I'm mainly following UT...that's the real UT...University of Tennessee. The campus is 15 minutes from where I live. The Lady Vols are out but the men are still in. I don't know if I'll keep watching or not.

I need to keep what feels like actual madness to myself but believe me, it is utter madness!

5. How will you celebrate the Easter/Passover holiday this year? 

The Triduum is a very holy and sacred time of the year in the Catholic Church. We begin on Holy Thursday with an evening Mass. 12 parishioners will have their feet washed by the priests. I've had the honor to be one of the 12 and it is quite humbling.  Mass doesn't end on Thursday; it's "open-ended" until the Easter Vigil on Saturday night after the sun sets. Good Friday will be the Stations of the Cross by the youth at 3:00 pm, then Good Friday Service that evening. As I said, the Easter Vigil Mass begins at 8:15 pm and will last around 3 hours. Those who have prepared to enter the Catholic Church since September will finally be admitted! I will be playing my flute for Easter Sunday Mass. After that, I plan to just relax and maybe have the boys over for dinner if they're around. 

This is what the altar will look like on Good Friday. Completely stripped with the tabernacle (I've circled it) open and empty.

I have to add that the Easter Vigil Mass is my favorite Mass of the year. It doesn't seem like it's as long as it is; the time goes by very quickly. There are a lot more readings than a usual Mass and then there's the rite for the new Catholics. It's all just quite beautiful.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This is a picture of my MIL as she was being sworn in as a US Citizen in 2008 (I think it was).  She passed away last Friday at home following a prolonged illness. 

She was an incredible, feisty, little Danish woman who spoke her mind. Like CH, she lived a good life. She was the best MIL I could have asked for. She never meddled and only gave advice when I asked for it. She will be missed.

Hoppin' Into the Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions, we provide the answers. See how others answered at From this Side of the Pond.

1. Do you celebrate Easter? If so what are your plans this year? Did you have egg hunts as a kid? 

I definitely celebrate Easter. As the boys have grown, it looks a lot different than it used to. Before the big day, I'll attend the Triduum: Holy Thursday Mass, Good Friday Service, then the Easter Vigil. An interesting tidbit: In the Catholic Church, the Mass doesn't end on Holy Thursday; there's not an end to it until the Easter Vigil. There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until Midnight when Complines will be held and the Blessed Sacrament will be hidden away until the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday). I went to my first one last year and it was just incredible. I plan on going again on Thursday. Holy Thursday is also the time when 12 people from the church have their feet washed by the priest. I was chosen one year (it just happened to be my birthday), and I can't even begin to tell you how emotional it makes you. Good Friday isn't a Mass because the host used for Communion was consecrated on Thursday. At this service, we have the opportunity to kiss the feet of Jesus on the crucifix. Also, at my church, we have the live Stations of the Cross at 3:00 in the afternoon, but they are done behind a screen so it is in silhouette. Again...very powerful. Easter Vigil (the night before Easter) is when people who want to enter into communion with the Church (i.e., become Catholic) are administered the Sacraments to become Catholic. It's an extremely long Mass (around 2.5 hours) but the time goes by quickly and it doesn't seem that long. It is an amazingly beautiful Mass...in my opinion, the most beautiful of the year.

So, now that you've had a lesson, the Catholic Church doesn't just celebrate Easter 1 day; it's a whole season! :) The Easter Season lasts for 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost!  For Easter Sunday we will invite YS & his GF over (MS is still living with us and OS lives out of town) for dinner. If YS has to work, GF may come on her own. I'll probably go to Mass again with CH & MS (as long as CH feels up to it) then take the rest of the day to relax.

When I was little, we didn't have egg hunts. We had  AN egg hunt for the Alleluia egg. Since there were 10 of us, we were divided up into older & younger. I don't remember ever finding it.

2. What's your favorite bread to find in a bread basket? 

Having just vacationed in Ireland, I have to say Irish Brown Soda Bread. My SIL sent a recipe that a B&B owner in Northern Ireland gave her & I tried it out. Not exactly the same but pretty close. Delicious!

3. Your favorite chick flick? 

This time of year it has to be Steel Magnolias. It depends on the time of year as to my answer.  I wrote a blog post 11 years ago outlining my favorite movies to watch on different holidays. 

4. Tax day is rapidly approaching in the US of A...what's something you currently find 'taxing'? 

Having to work? Not being able to live in Ireland?

5. Have you ever ridden in a taxi? Do you have a funny-scary-crazy-interesting taxi story to share? Do you use any of the newer taxi-like services such as Uber? 

Yes, I've ridden in taxis. I don't have an interesting taxi story, but I have an incredibly scary Uber story. 2 friends & I took an Uber in Nashville; 1 of the friends lives in Nashville. The driver was taking us through some questionable parts of town so my friend was commenting on the areas so the driver would know she knew where we were. Shortly after getting in, there was an alarm going off; the driver said it was her glucose monitor. I asked if she needed to do something and she said no. Later, she attempted to go up a ramp onto a busy parkway, realized she was getting onto Briley Parkway, and turned around going the wrong way. My Nashville friend reported the driver and recouped the fare. It was just crazy. I think we should have known better to get in the car when we saw tape over what appeared to be bullet holes in the window.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I've started a series of posts about our trip to Ireland, but what I haven't said (yet) is that I'm also doing some posts about camping in Ireland on our Flyin' the Coop blog. This was such an amazing trip; I'm really glad CH suggested a campervan and followed through with the plan. It was the perfect way to see Ireland without getting into "touristy" places.

Memories & Miscellaneous Hodgepodge

1. April is Lawn and Garden Month. On a scale of 1-10 what's the current state of your lawn and/or garden. (10=a showpiece, 1=send in the professionals). Tell us about any lawn or garden plans you have for this month.

Definitely a 2. Our next door neighbor has a yard service and his yard looks impeccable...which makes ours look worse!
I hope to get a young man in to weed the little area between the back sidewalk & house. My plan is to have him transplant some flowers from my parents' house.

2. "Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there."~Thomas Fuller  What does this quote mean to you?

Weeds. That's about as deep as I can get right now.

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God?
The mountains & sunrises. Seriously...how could you not believe in God when you see a sunrise over a mountain?

4. If we were chatting in person, how would I know if you were nervous?

By my hands. And probably my facial expressions.

5. Do you like the color yellow? Would I find any in your home or wardrobe? Daffodils, tulips, roses, sunflowers, day lily, black eyed susan...which yellow bloom on this list is your favorite?

Yellow is CH's favorite color. My kitchen walls are yellow; I like a bright kitchen!
Daffodils (Jonquils) are high on the list because they bloom first around here. It's a definite sign that spring is on the way. 

6. Flip flops or bare feet?

Bare feet. (Southern girl)

7. Tell us about any Easter plans, celebrations, or traditions you'll carry out this month.

I haven't really thought about Easter, other than Holy Week. I'm planning on attending Mass on Holy Thursday and the service (it's not a Mass) on Good Friday. Saturday morning I have to be at the church early for a retreat for adults who will be entering into the Catholic Faith that night. Then, Saturday night I will be attending Mass for Easter Vigil. I'm sponsoring someone who is entering the Church. That leaves Easter Day open. I'm not sure what we'll do since it will probably just be the 2 of us.
When I was growing up, instead of hiding a bunch of eggs for an egg hunt, my parents would only hide 1: the Alleluia Egg. Whoever found it won a prize. When my boys were little, we continued the tradition with them.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I went by the house yesterday afternoon and my oldest brother was there. We went inside and started looking through this 1 cabinet and he found some dishes that 1 of my sisters said she wanted but we couldn't find. My mom used to play bridge, and every now & then she would host. I don't remember much about it; I just remember card tables being set up with tablecloths on them, and that there were fancy dishes. Mostly, I remember being shooed out of the room. How cool is this?

My brother just got out 3 of the dishes; there are 8 and they look brand new. The middle is a "Lazy Susan". Apparently, they aren't just for serving, either:

Isn't that fantastic? 

Leftover Hodgepodge

1. Besides left over Easter goodies, what's something currently kept in a basket at your house?
I'm not a "basket" person. The only thing I have in a basket at the moment is some placements. The basket is in a cabinet. During the winter, I'll put oranges in a basket...but not in the summer!

2. 'The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.' ~Michelangelo Buonarroti 

So which one are you...the one who aims too high, or the one who aims too low? Have you ever seen The Sistine Chapel? Did you know Michelangelo's surname prior to answering this question?
*sigh* Maybe someday I'll see the Sistine Chapel. I didn't know his surname. I don't think I aim too high. I'm probably more guilty of aiming too low.

3. April 7th is National Beer Day. Hmmm...wonder how that's celebrated? Do you like beer? Have a favorite? If you're not a beer drinker do you have any recipes you enjoy cooking that call for beer?

Do I like beer???? Have you read my Germany posts? Maybe this collage will help you out:

As you can tell, I don't like dark beer. I really like the pilsners and lagers.

4. When did you last travel somewhere new? Tell us where? How'd it go?
Last October, CH & I went to Johns Island, SC. We camped in the county park, and it was amazing.  Even though we've been to Charleston a few times, this was our first time to really explore the whole area. October was definitely the time to go...at least during the beginning of the week!

5. The value of _________________________is greatly overrated.
I've got nothing for this one, so I'm not going to answer it!

6. What's a pet peeve of yours when it comes to restaurant dining?
Not having my water filled.

7. It's Poetry Month...share a favorite poem, either the title, a few lines you find meaningful, or the whole kit and caboodle.
I'm not much into poetry. I used to write poems when I was younger (jr. high & high school), but I don't have them anymore.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I ended up going to 3 Masses Easter weekend. After the Easter Vigil (Saturday night), I put out my Easter Egg Tree and took this picture:

(You may have to click on the pictures to see the details)

I'm really enjoying my "big girl camera". I grabbed it on Easter and came out with these:

 (I've seen this woodpecker on the bird feeders before, but never was able to snap a picture of him.)

Wednesday Hodgepodge: Holy Week Edition

I love reading Joyce's posts, but her A to Z Blogging Challenge Posts are killing me!  She's been to places I've only dreamed of, and she has the most amazing pictures.  

Here are the questions for this week:

1. What are your plans for Easter Day/weekend?

Saturday I need to put out my Easter decorations.  I just couldn't put them out during Lent this year, in keeping with the solemn time that Lent should be.  I'll keep them up for a while:  In the Catholic Tradition, the Easter Season lasts until Pentecost, which is on June 12th this year.  I don't think I'll keep my Easter flags and mailbox cover up quite that long!

2. Besides Jesus, what one person from The Bible would you most like to meet and why?

Mary.  I didn't even have to think on that one.  The Mother of Jesus, the one who said "yes" when God asked.  How incredible it would be to talk to her and see what it was like to be the Mother of God.  How deep her pain must have been.

 

3. What is one modern day convenience you didn't have as a child that was easy to live without?

Oh, that's easy!  Cell phones!  How in the world did we live without them?

4. Are you more right brained or left brained? If you don't know what that means there is an interesting little quiz here.

Oh, Joyce! Where do you get this stuff?  The quiz said I was more left-brained, but I'm left-handed, so what does that mean?  When I read the description, I thought "there is no way".  It said I'm not verbal.  HEEEEELLOOOO:  I'm a speech pathologist.  How can I not be verbal?    When I read each category and the descriptions, I kept saying, "oh, definitely"!  Interesting.

5. What is something you intended to do today but didn't? Why?

Call the heating/air guy....because I forgot.  I asked CH a few weeks ago if we should check the air conditioner, but he said he thought it was going to be okay.  We turned it on a couple of weeks ago, and it worked fine for a while, but then it quit blowing cold air.  I need to call and get them to come out before it gets really hot again and they're covered up.

6. Cadbury Creme Eggs or Reeses peanut butter?

I have a friend whose husband is British.  She swears by the real Cadbury Eggs, but she hasn't bothered to share!  Give me Reeses...anytime!

7. Who was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?

I don't think I had a favorite.  I don't remembered what I just had to watch on Saturday mornings , aka "Cartoon Day".  These poor kids today:  they have cartoons anytime they want.  They have nothing to look forward to during the week!  When I was in high school, I would come home from school and my mom & I would watch "Tom & Jerry".  I don't think that went on for very long, but it was a memorable time! 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Since Joyce asked about Easter candy, I have a question:  Remember those cheap cream filled eggs that you used to be able to get in a pack of 6?  I'm not talking about the Russell Stover eggs; I'm talking the cheapo eggs.  Are they not making them anymore?  I can't find them anywhere.  I haven't looked at Big Lots yet.  I LOVE those things!  On second thought...maybe it's a good thing I haven't found them!

The Dove peanut butter and the Dove coconut eggs are wonderful.  Has anyone else tried them? 

Friday's Fave Fives

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes for Middle Son!  I think he had a good day.  He had soccer practice, then he and his girlfriend went to a concert.  We usually don't let him go out on a school night, but, it was his 18th birthday and it was Drew & Ellie, we made an exception.  He had seen this band on a Young Life Weekend and really liked them.  He was so excited that they were going to be in "the big town"! He was jazzed when he came home last night.  He said his girlfriend went in thinking she wasn't going to like it (she thought they were country singers), but she really liked them!   He actually was there when this video was made:





Now for the real reason for the post:
This is the first time I'm participating in this Meme...looks like a good one!

1.  I'm going to start off with Easter Sunday Mass at our old parish in SC.  This church started as a mission church to the African American community, so the singing is outstanding!  I've been singing the "Glory" all week.  You can feel the love in that church!

2.  A day off!  Actually, I had 2 days off this week, but Thursday was spent with YS' high school band at a a band festival, so I'm not sure if that really counts!  And, it was an absolute gorgeous day.

3.  The Blind Side.  We finally got around to watching it.  What an exceptional movie!  Sandra Bullock was very believable as the mom, but, in my opinion, Quinton Aaron was amazing.  He had me feeling sorry for him and tearing up from the beginning of the movie.

4.  YS' high school band participated in a concert band festival, and they received straight 2's (including a 2+)!  If you know anything about band, you may be thinking, "why is she excited about a 2?"  If you do know anything about band festivals/contests, you know that a '1' is the highest mark you can get.  Well, our little band went to the same festival last year, and got all 3's.  They are really improving.  I was able to watch them perform, and, the whole time I sat there thinking how much they've improved the 5 years YS has been involved in band.  When we moved here, there were only about 19 people in the band.  6 years later, there are around 50.  The band director was straight out of college our first year here, so he's young and enthusiastic.  I'm sure I'll be writing more about the band in the future!

5.  This actually happened last Thursday, but  my  favorite coworker in the whole world made sure the staff ordered in last Thursday since 1) I was there (or so she gave that as the reason...I totally believed her!) and 2) we didn't have school on Friday due to it being Good Friday.  It was nice not having to make sure I had a lunch ready to go that morning!

And, on the same day, my other favorite coworker in the whole world (especially when she brings goodies to school on Tues. or Thurs.!) brought this Orange Cake to school.   She also brought the chocolate chip pie last month. The Orange Cake was so moist and delicious, and she said that it took her no time at all to mix up and get into the oven!  I borrowed her picture:

and her recipe:

Preheat oven to 325

1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 pkg. lemon pudding mix
3/4 C. orange juice
1/2 C. vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 t. lemon extract

1/3 C. orange juice
2/3 C. sugar
1/4 C. butter

Mix cake mix, pudding mix, 3/4 c. OJ, oil, eggs, and lemon extract. Pour into a greased bundt pan. Bake for 50-60 mins. (I baked mine 50 mins.)  Let cool.

In a saucepan, cook 1/3 c. OJ, sugar, and butter for 2 minutes. Drizzle over cake. (I punched holes first using a toothpick)

 Okay, everybody, click on the link below and join in the fun!

                       http://susannesspace.blogspot.com/2008/09/hello-and-welcome-to-fridays-fave-five.html

Easter Memories

I was trying to think of the best day to reflect on Easter Memories, and decided this would be the best day.  When I was little, Easter was a big day.  We all got a new outfit (probably that my mom made for us) and an Easter basket with goodies inside.   Here's a picture of all of us in our finery (I'm the one in the front holding a pocketbook):

Don't you love my oldest brother's pants and jacket (and it looks like he's doing something to my  other brother)?  And the glasses on my sisters and my mom!  Oh, lawdy!

Anyway, Mass was a given.  And the "Alleluia" egg.  We decorated eggs, but we didn't have a big egg hunt; we had one egg that had a cross on it with the word "Alleluia" that was hidden.  Whoever found that egg got a chocolate Easter Bunny, or some other prize.  (If my siblings or parents are reading this, I'm sure I'll get corrected if I get anything wrong!) Since there were so many of us, we were divided into "big kids" and "little kids".  Unfortunately, the younger of my 2 big brothers was put in the "little kid" group.  He was definitely all boy and quite a handful!  If memory serves correctly, he found it most of the time.

We would have a big Easter dinner of ham, potato salad, deviled eggs, and I'm sure some other things.  But, the highlight of the dinner was dessert:  A bunny cake.  I've carried on the tradition with my boys.  Here's what they look like:

One Easter MS got into his Easter basket before Mass.  Whoever said that sugar doesn't affect kids was so wrong!  He was hanging upside down on the pews and jumping around the whole time! The Alleluia egg and bunny cakes are favorite traditions at our house.  In our house, the winner of the Alleluia egg gets to share his prize with his brothers.  I'm pretty sure that's how it was when I grew up; I just don't really remember getting any of the prize!

I hope everybody has a safe, happy Easter weekend.  Here's my favorite Easter  song:

Light it Up Blue for Autism & Random Dozen

 

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Before we get to the fun stuff, a little serious matter.  About the Autism Button on my sidebar:  On the night of April 1st, many buildings in North America will "Light it Up Blue" in order to raise awareness for Autism.  What you can do:  Wear blue on April 2 and encourage everybody you know to do the same.  I have been very fortunate in that Autism has not affected my family, but I work with some children who are autistic.  They are amazing to work with because when you see progress, you know you've made an impact in not just their life, but in their family's lives.   Before I ever worked with an autistic child, I pictured the stereotypical hand flapping, rocking back and forth behaviors.   In actuality, I have rarely seen those behaviors.  Each child is different and is truly a puzzle.  If you have a minute, please click the button and learn more about autism.

Now for the fun stuff:







1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?  
EEEEEWWW!

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
I get busy around the house.

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
I love a good spring rain, especially if it's warm enough to open the windows!  Everything smells so clean and fresh after the rain.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
Jesus because he's the mainstay in my life.

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
A small tattoo where no one could see.

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
Going to where we used to live in the Carolinas to see friends and neighbors.  We hope to revive a tradition with another family:  we used to go out to a Chinese restaurant almost every Sunday after Mass.  We'd sit the kids (8 total) at one table, and we'd have some adult conversation at the other.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
Cadbury...you can get Reese's anytime.

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
The restaurant where we ate for my Birthday dinner.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
"The Poet" by Michael Connelly  I'm about 2/3 of the way through it.  Really weird:  the book I read before that ("Eleventh Hour" by Catherine Coulter) was also about the death of a twin and the living twin worked on solving the crime.  Love a good mystery!

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
Ummmmm...everything?

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
3

12. Which color makes you happiest?
Yellow; isn't it just the happiest color?