Monday, August 21, 2023

This and That Photos

 







Bounce, bird bath in my back yard, peaceful place to sit in the gardens at my favorite coffee shop, wonderful book "Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me About Life, Faith and Second Chances" a true story written by Rachel Ann Ridge, Foreword by Priscilla Shirer (love her), and clouds near my home. Dori complimented the photographer of Bounce and said Bounce likes the photographer, that is so true, my oldest son took the photo.

Friday, August 11, 2023

A Busy Week and a Funny

 


This has been a busy week. Who knew being retired can be so busy? At this point, most things I do are things I choose to do and the people I spend time with are people I choose.

We celebrated my older son's birthday at our family's new favorite restaurant and our three nonalcoholic drinks were so pretty I took a photo, see above. Mine is the pretty lavender color drink at the front, it had Rose in its name and was delicious.

The next day I had lunch with my two long time friends of 25 years who I met while we worked at the university. We went to a restaurant that has Greek and middle eastern foods. They even have a dish I love, flaming cheese, which makes me happy. In an earlier post I shared a photo of flaming cheese, with its three foot tall flames at our table. That Greek restaurant closed and now I have found a new one that offers that entertaining dish.

The day after that I attended Women's Bible Study at church with ten wonderful ladies. The age range is 30 to 80, I am guestimating. Two of the ladies immigrated to the USA from other countries, Jamaica and the Philippines, and we are a diverse group, united in our love for Jesus and for each other. The group leader brings her one year old daughter who is a friendly youngster, and her daughter even sat on my lap briefly, Those were treasured moments.

And a funny for you. Some readers like when I type out the words, Remember Life's Most Valuable Antiques Are Dear Old Friends.


 

Now this little old lady wants some quiet time at home.

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Johnny Jump Ups On My Patio and "Mapp and Lucia" Fun to Read

Do you have favorite flowers associated with childhood? One of my favorites is Johnny Jump Ups which my mom always had in her gardens. Now I grow them every year in mine.


These are growing in a big pot on our patio. I think they have cute faces. Lilacs and bleeding hearts were also grown in our gardens when I was growing up Do you grow flowers that remind me of favorite people?


 

Have you seen the two TV series of Mapp and Lucia? I enjoyed them and recently read "Miss Mapp" and "Lucia in London", both by E.F. Benson. I think the TV series were BBC productions. The author has a great knack for gentle humor, a comedy of manners and I like all the characters in the two small towns they are set in. Plus London in the second title. Miss Mapp and Lucia have some annoying competitive habits which add to the plots. I think there are six novels in this series, plus other authors have written more in the style of E.F. Benson, I read one titled Mapp at Fifty by Hugh Ashton and it was also excellent. A fun series to read any time, and especially if you need a pick me up diversion from worry or events.