AuburnChick's Adventures

Happy Turkey Eve, friends!

Boy, Thanksgiving rolled around rather quickly this year, did it not?

It’s hard to believe that one year ago this week, the Mr. and I were meeting our littlest granddaughter, who had been born three weeks prior.

Everyone’s a year older and, I pray, a year wiser.

Anyhoo, I really need to get to the Hodgepodge questions. Thanks, Joyce, for being a gracious host.

1. Do you feel like you have a ‘full plate’ at the moment? In what way? 

Boy oh boy, I’ve had a full plate since late-September. I’ve scarcely had a weekend that wasn’t spoken for. Either I’ve traveled, or others have traveled to me. My heart is brimming over with joy at seeing my babies multiple times since September and for meeting new friends too (see Monday’s weekend recap post).

2. How did you learn to cook? If you have children did you teach or encourage them to cook? Do you like to follow a recipe or is your cooking style more ‘let’s wing it’.  

I learned to cook by watching my mom and basically being told to cook whatever she told me to. My mom worked a lot, so the onus was on me to cook, clean, and do the ironing. I only had a few things I could cook when I was younger, and when my kids were growing up, I had a two-week menu of items that I rotated. My kiddos were very picky, so I didn’t dare get adventurous.

I became a much better cook when my kids left home. I had time to try out new cooking skills and recipes. Becoming a vegan in 2010, after my oldest left home and shortly before my son left for college, presented some challenges. Food bloggers didn’t have social media back then, so it was difficult to find recipes to accommodate my dietary lifestyle. Thank goodness that changed! Recipes and cooking videos are so much more accessible!

Practice definitely makes for better (not perfect). I tend to color inside the lines. I usually follow a recipe – especially where it comes to baked goods since there’s a science to getting things to rise properly.

When my kids were younger, I taught them how to cook a few things. They used to cook during the summer when I worked part time. My daughter became an expert at making risotto.

My son will claim he doesn’t know how to cook. Uh huh. He is still a picky eater, but he loves grilled meat. He’s become a master of the smoker and grill.

My daughter is an incredible cook. She’s also very adventurous.

3. Last time you bit off more than you could chew? Elaborate. 

I’d say having so many weeks of company, back-to-back, has almost been more than I can handle. I’m a planner to my core, so all of the ins and outs, managing people and sleeping arrangements, and meal prepping have been a lot. Thank goodness for a retired husband who is good at following my instructions and gets things done while I’ve been busy at work. Teamwork, y’all!

4. When did you last say ‘the more the merrier’ and mean it? 

The theme of my Hodgepodge answers seems to be “November visitors.” Lol! When my daughter asked if we could host her two friends, in between her visit and Thanksgiving, I took a page from my generous, God-serving son-in-law’s book, and said yes, the more the merrier. I’m not sure that the Mr. quite knew what to make of it. I didn’t consult with him first. Oops. But he felt so much joy afterward. God has blessed us beyond what we deserve. Everything we have is on loan from Him. I pray that He gives us more opportunities to open up our home to more visitors.

5. Write an acrostic using the word T-H-A-N-K-S. 

Today and every day, I give thanks for the countless ways God has blessed me.

He knit me in my mother’s womb. Every breath I take is

Ascribed to His providential grace.

Never could I have imagined Someone loving me so unconditionally.

Knowing that I am never alone brings me much

Solace and joy. Praise be to God forever.

6. My Random Thought

This November weather is about as finicky as a woman going through menopause.

Can someone please tell me why I still have flowers blooming in my front flower bed?

Don’t get me wrong. Seeing these yellow beauties last weekend made me smile – especially because I know that this particular plant has chosen to return year after year.

But y’all, is it any wonder that my allergies are confused, and my throat can’t decide if it’s supposed to cough because of the late blossoms or because I keep walking into spaces that are air conditioned one day and heated the next.

I pray that your Thanksgiving is the best you’ve ever had, and for those of you spending your first without a loved one, my heart goes out to you.

Our town recently lost a sweet mama of two to a horrendous accident with a bus. I didn’t know her personally, but the tributes that have poured in have demonstrated the incredible woman of God that she was.

I also learned of my daughter’s high school friend’s mom’s passing last week. I’m brokenhearted for her three grown children and am reminded that the holidays can be a bittersweet season for people.

Tender hugs to all of you.

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Good Monday morning, friends.

Can you believe that we are almost at the end of November? Unlike January, which drags by, November goes by in a blur – especially if you’re busy hosting visitors three weekends in a row.

This past Thursday, our second group of guests arrived – friends of my daughter’s who were coming up to talk to people at the college about the Eagles program, which Auburn is well-known for.

The young ladies arrived Thursday evening. We had never met, but after chatting for an hour or so, I felt like I’d known them forever. They were absolutely precious.

I gave them a key to my house and told them to treat it like an Airbnb. I didn’t want them to feel obligated to hang out with us old folks. Ha!

I headed to work Friday morning after making small talk with them. They’d risen early to get in a quick walk around our neighborhood lake. I gave them pointers on where to shop and eat lunch – Auburn must-do’s.

Friday afternoon, the Mr. texted and asked if I thought they’d want to eat with us. He was planning on grilling burgers. I reached out, and they responded with a hearty yes.

We had the sweetest time getting to know them better over dinner in our dining room. We only eat in this room when we have company. As empty nesters, we just eat wherever we are comfortable.

They had already purchased tickets for Saturday’s football game, but someone they’d met with that day gave them tickets for box seats. They were excited, as I was for them! I’m so glad they were getting the royal treatment.

They headed into town early the next morning to take full advantage of all of the pre-game activities.

The Mr. and I followed along later. We decided not to visit our friends’ tailgates. Most people we knew were out of town.

We got in early enough for me to grab a beloved pretzel. There’s just something about a stadium pretzel that hits differently.

We took our traditional pre-game photo.

Although rain had been threatening, it never appeared. Instead, it was a wee bit hot and humid.

We played Mercer, which I guess is a smaller school but one in which Pat from ESPN’s GameDay show had predicted would beat us soundly.

Bah. A few of their fans – young men who’d graduated from Mercer – sat behind us. They were very kind. I love good fans.

I watched the eagle fly. My eyes are crap, so I wasn’t able to keep track of her while she flew – hence no video. Lol.

I enjoyed watching the band come out. I always get chills as they do their quick marching cadence into the stadium.

The flyover was done by the Coast Guard. The planes flew low.

The team came out.

My heart always smiles when I see the players praying in the end zone.

The game started, and we ran the ball all the way back down the field on our first play. We were excited!

I saw this in the Chick fil A app.

I won’t eat it, but someone in my family sure will.

It looked like Mercer was going to keep things close, but then we got on a roll and scored touchdown after touchdown.

We won pretty big – embarrassingly so.

The Mr. and I left about five minutes into the fourth quarter. He was eager to get home and watch other games on TV.

We took a photo under one of the trees because why not?

Gambit was pretty happy to see us, but he barked and cried for the girls who were visiting. Gambit used to be afraid of visitors. Now, he lives for them. He’s a sweet boy.

They stayed out awhile longer and even ate at one of our favorite restaurants in town.

They were smiling from ear to ear when they got back to the house.

They shared the sweetest story of overhearing a conversation at a local coffee shop between two college guys discussing God and Christian stuff. Be still my heart. We have a wonderful group of college students who really love Jesus.

The girls went to bed early since they had a long drive ahead of them the next day. The Mr. and I watched more college football before calling it a day.

I got up early Sunday morning to get ready for church. I’m so glad I did because the girls headed out around 7am. The Mr. was still sleeping, so he missed saying goodbye.

It was a blessing to be able to host them for the weekend. I know I’ll be seeing them when I visit my girl because they all attend the same church.

I was reminded that this faith of ours is pretty special because when we meet other believers, it’s like being connected with extended family. What a beautiful picture of what heaven will be like for us.

The Mr. and I went to church, where our sermon was centered around the movie, Lion. My church does a special series called “At the Movies” each year. Our pastor crafts each sermon around the movie clips presented. This movie wrecked my heart. I saw that it’s on Netflix. I’ll definitely be watching the whole thing or looking for a book about it.

The hubby and I headed to Sam’s on the way home to pick up much-needed dog food. We also grabbed a box of new plastic/reusable bowls.

I wanted something that could be used in the fridge or freezer.

I ran a couple of errands after we got home. I had Old Navy cash that I wanted to use, but I couldn’t find anything I couldn’t live without, so I didn’t buy a thing.

I ran to Books a Million and bought a couple of stocking stuffers for the hubby. I’m hoping that I’ll be in the middle of cataract surgeries around Christmas time, so I’m trying to get stuff done ahead of time. By the way, the referral came through in record time. I’ve got a consultation scheduled for the first week of December!

When I got home, I did a bunch of chores. Cleaning and refilling Gambit’s water bowl is always a big task.

I also began washing all of the bedding. Round 3 of visitors will begin Wednesday evening.

While the washing machine and dryer were doing their thing, I got busy meal prepping.

I made Creamy Tortellini Pasta for my lunches this week.

This was a great way to prep tomatoes for peeling. I used tongs to peel the skins off after lightly cooking them for seven minutes.

The recipe was super easy! I couldn’t find vegan tortellini, so I subbed penne for it.

I should have mashed my tomatoes more, but the flavor was perfection.

I took it easy the rest of the day. My right shoulder has been feeling yucky all week – most likely because of all of the extra work I’ve been doing at home. So, I tried to baby it the rest of the day.

We got a surprise FaceTime call from our girl late in the afternoon. Little Miss E had been very sick since they got home from their trip up here, so she and Chicky had stayed home from their trip evening church service to chill.

Seeing E’s chubby cheeks and wide grin put a smile on my face. Gosh, I sure do love my babies.

The college is open Monday and Tuesday, and then we will be closed the rest of the week. Even though students have left for Thanksgiving, I anticipate busy phones. It’s the nature of what we do that keeps us on our toes while campus feels like a deserted island.

I pray that you have a wonderful week!

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Happy Wednesday, bloggy friends! How goes it today?

I think I’m finally catching up from my hectic weekend, but I’ve got another busy one ahead, so I need to get going with the questions Joyce has for us this week.

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the blog world.

1. Let’s do our gratitude question first this week…what’s the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

My kitchen is the best thing about my home.

It is huge, has a lot of cabinets, and when I’m busy cooking or washing dishes, I don’t feel isolated because it opens to the den.

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one’s your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

I do like squash, but I prefer crookneck straight from the garden. I also like to prepare in a simple manner – slice it up, dice an onion, add a bit of salt and pepper, and cook the lot until the squash is just tender. I won’t be serving squash for Thanksgiving.

3. Last time you were ‘squashed in’ somewhere, or felt squashed? 

The last time I was squashed anywhere was when I rode in the backseat of my daughter’s car during my visit in October. I squeezed in between her two kiddos’ car seats.

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other ‘racquet sports’ such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

I have never played squash, racquetball, pickleball, or badminton. I tried to play tennis shortly after graduating high school, but I was a miserable failure. In fact, I took tennis as an elective my first summer in college. I was so bad that nobody picked me to play against. I dropped the class after the first couple of sessions. I enjoy table tennis, but my reflexes and eyes aren’t so great, so I stink at this game too. I’m not gifted in athletic ability. Ha!

5. Something in today’s society or culture that feels like a ‘racket’ to you? If you don’t like that one, tell us about a place you’ve been recently where there was a lot of ‘racket’. 

Many of the health products that are on the market these days strike me as being a racket. There’s too much contradicting “information” out there for me to buy into the hype.

6.  My Random Thought

Monday afternoon, I had my yearly eye appointment.

Do you get stressed like I do at these appointments?

Which one is clearer, 1 or 2, 3 or 2, 4 or 1?

Oh my word.

Thank goodness they no longer blow that horrible puff of air into your eyes to check for glaucoma. That was the worst!

Unfortunately, my eyes have gotten more nearsighted since my visit last November. In fact, they’ve worsened almost a whole point. My right eye is a lot worse than the left.

The doctor and I had a serious conversation. He informed me that I have cataracts. This was not new information since I’ve known about my cataracts since 2020.

What was new information was that I have nuclear cataracts, which are in the center of each cornea and are making my nearsightedness worsen each year.

I’d known my vision had spiraled downward this past year. My glasses make me nauseous.

I’m also having trouble driving at night and seeing well enough to walk in the dark.

So, my eye doctor is sending me to a specialist about the cataracts.

But y’all, you know I’m extra, right? I have to go to a doctor who specializes in corneas and cataracts because my eyes are a complicated situation.

Of course they are. I’m an overachiever.

I had LASIK and PRK to correct my vision over 20 years ago, so my corneas aren’t shaped like most people’s.

Fortunately, he’s referring me to a doctor who was the best in Atlanta before he relocated here. My doctor said that he would have his cataracts fixed by this doctor.

I’ve got to wait for the referral since I’m using my health insurance. They are really going to dislike me after the year I’ve had with my shoulders.

The good news is that once my cataracts are fixed, I should be like a normal person who only needs reading glasses.

I am praying that the referral comes through quickly so I can start down the path of better eyesight.

Y’all have a wonderful week!

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Whew! Y’all, it’s Monday evening, and I’m only now sitting down to catch my breath from the weekend, which kicked off Thursday since I had taken Friday off.

My Florida girl and her little family flew into Atlanta Thursday evening after having to rebook the morning flight that was canceled Wednesday afternoon.

I’d originally planned on working the first half of Thursday and leaving at lunch, but with them getting in so late, I worked all day. The Mr. made the hour-plus drive to retrieve them since we don’t have a car with enough seats for four adults and two kiddos.

Although I was disappointed that we were being shorted a half-day, the few extra hours I had at home after work was a blessing. I ran around like a maniac putting the finishing touches on the house . . . tucking things into random closets and drawers and putting toys in strategic places.

Chicky had warned me that Little Miss would be heading straight to bed and that J Man wasn’t to be riled up so he could follow shortly afterward.

But y’all . . . how do you stop a three year old little boy from exploring all of the nooks and crannies and loving on the fur baby he’d seen two years prior (and had no memory of) and via FaceTime.

He immediately fell in love with Gambit. Gambit, in his gentle way, allowed J to hug on him. Gambit loves young children. He is everyone’s favorite, that’s for sure.

E girl came right to me without any tears. Being able to see her in September and October helped her get to know me.

My heart melted as I toted her through the house.

The kiddos finally made it to bed, and after a short time chatting with my girl and her hubby, the grownups hit the hay.

Friday morning, I got up extra early to ready myself for the babies’ appearance. J woke raring to go. He is all boy.

E girl saw me and toddled down the hallway into my arms.

This began the real fun.

The kids played outside a long time. The weather was perfect last weekend.

My littlest grand was scared of Gambit. She’d never been around a dog, so the sight of a hairy muzzle sniffing her wasn’t to her liking, and she cried every time Gambit got near her.

She eventually overcame her fear, but it took a lot of coaxing.

After Little Miss took her first nap, we loaded up the kids and took them downtown to eat at the Hey Day Market. It’s like an upscale food court with outside seating and a fun putting green for kids.

Then, we walked to my office so I could show off my babies (grown ones and little ones). It’s a rite of passage for a grandma, is it not?

We headed home for naps after lunch, and when the kids woke up, my son and his family had arrived. They drove down from their little corner of the state just to spend the weekend with us, so I had all of my babies under my roof (hence my mad dash Thursday evening to prep all of the bedrooms).

They brought their four month old dog, which led to more tears for Little Miss.

My eldest E girl loves her younger cousins, so chasing and sharing toys (a little h willingly) ensued.

Friday evening, we invited the Mr.’s parents and our siblings (who happen to be married to each other) over for taco night. It was a loud couple of hours, but everyone seemed to have a good time.

The kids were ready for bed, let me tell you.

Early Saturday, I spent a couple of hours quietly taking in the morning . . . waiting for the kids to wake up.

As soon as they made their appearance, we baked chocolate chip muffins – something that’s become a bit of a tradition when they visit.

I had prepped everything beforehand to make the process go a little smoother.

These didn’t last long . . .

We took the kids to a new park that recently opened near my house. It was fabulous and is my new favorite after Saturday’s visit.

After a quick lunch at home, two of the kids went down for a nap, and some of the grownups dispersed to go shopping. Chicky and I took Little Miss to get shoes. E girl recently started walking and doesn’t really need shoes unless the grass, which she loves to play on, is wet.

We had more outside time and then a smaller family dinner that evening. The kids played their little hearts out and hit their beds hard.

Sunday, Rooster’s family headed home. We attended a later church service to allow E to take her first nap. Then, we had lunch, played outside, and put the kids down for another nap.

We took the kids to our favorite sushi restaurant for dinner that night. My grands can put down some food, let me tell you. We tipped our server extra because we left the place a lot messier than we’d found it.

I tried not to get too sad Sunday evening. I knew Monday was coming – the end of our visit. J and I watched a bit of The Grinch before his mama put him to bed.

Sigh.

Monday, the kids had a mid-morning flight, so we all left the house around 7 – headed in opposite directions.

Boo.

Chicky sent me a picture of J riding home from the airport after they landed. He was sound asleep in his car seat with a pile of Cheerios under his chin. It was the sign of a great trip.

It was too quiet when I got home from work. As a young parent, you long for peace. As an empty nester, you miss the noise and chaos.

It took me two hours to put my house back in order. The laundry is going to take a couple more days to catch up on.

Honestly, this is how I deal with being sad after my kids leave.

Even Gambit has been dismayed by the return to silence, and he vocalized his displeasure.

It was a wonderful weekend, and my cup is brimming over with love.

Y’all have a wonderful week!

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Happy Wednesday, friends!

How’s your week going? It got c-o-l-d up here! It’s sad when it’s colder when you’re leaving work than when you got in. Here’s what I looked like Monday afternoon.

Fortunately, the weather is warming up and should be gorgeous by the time the weekend rolls around.

Here are my answers to the questions Joyce posted for us this week.

1. What does patriotism mean to you? 

I recently read the book, The American Story: The Beginnings. I highly recommend it.

I’ve long been a fan of American history. I may be slightly obsessed, truth be told, and enjoy reading as much as I can about how our country was founded and what those who went before us did to secure our freedom.

I’m grateful for sacrifices made by those currently serving in the military. My own son was a member of the military for a few years.

Our country has been and continues to be incredibly blessed. I pray that we never lose sight of this.

2. September-October-November…your favorite fall month? Tell us why. If you live in the southern hemisphere use these months but sub spring for the word fall. 

I think my favorite fall month is October. The temperatures are a little milder without being bone-chilling cold, and it’s the calm before the craziness of November and December.

3. A song you love with the word thanks (or some form of that word)  in the title or lyrics?

The first song that came to mind was “Thank you, for giving to the Lord.” I imagine heaven will be like this with all of us thanking our Christian mentors for serving God and being a part of leading us to Him.

4. November is National Peanut Butter Month. Are you a fan? What’s the last peanut butter bite you had? Fill in the blank: peanut butter and _____________________ . 

Oh, and you can’t say jelly. 

I LOVE peanut butter. I had peanut butter in my smoothie this morning. I’ve been known to eat a spoonful when I’m looking for a little snack. I prefer it creamy but will make do if it’s crunchy.

My fill in the blank is: peanut butter and chocolate.

5. This week’s gratitude question-What event from this past year are you most grateful for? 

I am most grateful for the shoulder surgeries I’ve had this year. I wish I hadn’t had to have them, but because I did injure my shoulders last fall, I’m thankful for a skilled surgeon and the knowledgeable physical therapists who are helping me get back to normal (or a less-painful form of normal).

6. My Random Thought

Take a look at what I picked up from Chick fil A on my way home from work Monday.

One of our student workers told us that Chick fil A was giving each person who placed a mobile order an Iron Bowl cup. Monday, they started off with Auburn cups.

Thank goodness for my sweet student because I had not seen this advertised anywhere, and it wasn’t in the app either.

Naturally, the hubby got his earlier in the day.

I love all of the highlights from memorable wins.

Y’all have a wonderful week!

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Good Monday morning (or afternoon or evening, depending on when you’re reading this). How was your weekend?

Mine was b-u-s-y.

As soon as I got home Friday, a friend’s husband dropped off a car seat we are borrowing through next weekend. With my kiddos flying up, we have been trying to find ways to ease their travels. Two littles ages three and under make for lots of stuff to tote back and forth.

Friday evening, I didn’t do much except for watch college football and the final episode of season 13’s Survivor. This was Parvati and Ozzy’s first appearance. If you know, you know.

I actually stayed up past midnight watching the reunion show. It brought back so many memories.

Gambit got me up at 5:45 Saturday morning. This little guy has issues at night, which leads to him waking me up two or three times. It’s almost like having a baby in the house again, but I love his almost-15 year-old-self, so it’s okay.

I popped some raw peanuts in the instant pot.

The recipe is easy: one pound of raw peanuts, washed, ten cups of water, and 3/4 sea salt.

We usually cook them for six hours, but we had to tack on a couple of extra hours because they were still crunchy after six. My instant pot only goes up to two hours, so we have to pay close attention and restart it every two hours.

My sister suggested that I soak them overnight prior to cooking them to cut down on the time. We will see.

Do you like boiled peanuts, or is this strictly a Southern thing?

I watched College GameDay and played my little word games. I also researched how to install a car seat.

The Mr. told me our siblings might come by to grab some of our firewood, so I went ahead and got dressed and put on makeup. They never arrived, but since I had errands to run, the effort wasn’t for naught.

Because of our kiddos’ visit, we had (and still have) a long list of things to do. I made a dreaded trip to Walmart for a couple of needed items. I can’t tell you the last time I shopped at this store. Fortunately, I was in and out in no time.

Then, I ran by Sam’s to grab a big bag of Dum Dums for my office and some honey. They recently reorganized their goods to make room for Christmas stuff, so I had trouble finding my items. Thankfully, a couple of store associates helped me, and I headed to my next stop . . . Old Navy.

My girl wore the cutest pair of blue jeans when I was there, so I got all the deets and headed to the store.

These are the Wow High-Waisted Barrel Ankle Jeans.

She’d warned me that they were baggy, unlike the more form-fitting jeans that I tend to wear.

They were so comfortable that I knew I had to get them – after sending Chicky the picture above and checking with the two store employees folding clothes in the dressing room area.

I wound up buying a dark blue pair too.

They were on sale, so I didn’t feel too badly about getting two pairs.

Next, I headed to Ulta. I had to exchange an eye shadow pallet I’d bought last month because it randomly decided to bust on me when I visited my girl a week ago. The store manager was understanding, and I walked out with the new one along with another color pallet that I’d had my eye during my last visit. They were out of stock during that shopping trip, so I was happy to see some on the shelf Saturday.

I ran by a fast food place the hubby likes to grab lunch for him. He was in the throes of college football game watching and needed sustenance.

Then, I ran back out to get my car washed and pick up a prescription.

The hubby will be picking the kids up from the airport and driving them back, so I wanted my car squeaky clean.

Auburn played Vanderbilt mid-afternoon. It was our first game since our head coach stepped down last Sunday. We didn’t win, and our defense was a little weak considering how strong it’s been all season. It probably didn’t help that the defensive coordinator is the interim coach at the moment. The offense was on fire, though, so we walked away with a bit of hope.

We watched football the rest of the evening.

Sunday, we went to church. I wore the new jeans. I tucked my sweater in the front, per my daughter’s instruction.

I washed everything in the picture and am wearing them to work today – with boots!

What a wonderful sermon we had! It was all about the questions we are going to be asked when Jesus returns to take us home.

This quote needs a frame.

This one too . . .

The Mr. and I hit the ground running after church: gas fuel up, trip to Shoe Station (didn’t find anything), and more groceries for the kids.

Then, I did my regular Sunday chores, prepped black bean soup for lunch this week, made more turmeric-ginger juice, and started getting the house ready for the kids.

My son and his family are coming down Friday and will stay until Sunday. I always want all of my kids under my roof, so we are putting families together in their own rooms. We plan on looking for a house with more bedrooms in the next few years, so we are making do.

My oldest grand will sleep on this new air mattress.

I cleaned out a closet for the pack and play my youngest will sleep on. We also put up black out curtains for nap time.

J man will sleeping a different air mattress – one that my oldest grand slept on two years ago but has outgrown.

Kudos to the Mr. for helping me move all of the furniture.

We added table extensions to the dining room table.

To make room, we relocated a bunch of potted plants to the master bedroom and bathroom.

The high chair is one we bought a few years ago. It’s been money well spent.

We have had it stored in the garage, so I cleaned the tray. It was drying in my sink when I took the picture you see above.

Whew!

Oh, and we got the car seat installed. I told the Mr. that we had to do it while it was light outside. Installing a car seat is not for the faint of heart, y’all. I e fully expect our kiddos to make adjustments.

I finally sat down late in the afternoon. There are still a few things to do, but I am so proud of the progress we made. I tend to come home exhausted on Mondays. Having to get up and out of the house early has started doing a number on my body. I don’t expect to be very productive this evening.

I spent the rest of Sunday giving my shoulders a break and reading.

So, what are your plans for the week? Did you scramble like I did the past two days?

How can I pray for you?

Have a wonderful week, sweet friends.

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Happy Wednesday, friends!

Isn’t my title clever, given the questions Joyce posted for us?

Sometimes I surprise myself with my smartness. Ha!

Why don’t we get to my answers before your eyes are stuck in your head from rolling them at my awkwardness.

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something on your November calendar you’re looking forward to? 

November will be the busiest month I’ve ever had, I do believe.

I was out of town the first weekend. Next weekend, our kiddos will be at our house. Chicky’s crew is flying up for an extended weekend, so my boy and his little family are driving down.

The weekend after that, two of Chicky’s friends are coming to stay with us. They have business at the college and plan on attending the football game. Chicky asked if they could stay with us to save money, and we gladly said yes.

The weekend after that is Thanksgiving. Our boy and his crew will be back down here for a few days. The Mr. and I have tickets to the Iron Bowl, so we will be nervously sitting in the stands, praying for the best.

2. Dictionary.com’s word of the year is ‘6-7’. Huh? 

Is it even a word??? I had to consult the internet to find out its meaning because apparently I’m old and this particular slang is not part of my vocabulary. Is it part of yours? According to the article I read, it’s a viral term, more of an inside joke with an unclear meaning driven by social media.

What do you think? 

Dictionary. com says its selection each year is a ‘linguistic time capsule reflecting social trends and events, but they also admitted to being confused by ‘6-7’. Some say it means so-so and is sometimes accompanied by the up and down hand motion we associate with the phrase so-so.

What word do you think would have made a better choice? 

I think the “six-seven” thing is one of the dumbest trends I’ve ever seen. What is the point? Say real words please.

I don’t have any suggestions for a word of the year because I have little patience for social trends.

3. What’s a food, trend, activity, or thing people love but you think is just so-so?

The whole business of AI/Chat GPT is something I’m completely meh on. While I appreciate technology and many of its benefits, removing human effort to arrive at answers (or write an essay) scares the bejeepers out of me. I also resent that I cannot trust that what I’m looking at online is real. What is this world coming to, y’all?

4. Are you a tea drinker? Hot or cold? How do you like yours and at what time of day? Do you like flavored teas or teas billed as calming, energizing, healing, etc? 

I am a tea drinker! I have never liked coffee – not even the smell of it.

It’s only been in the last two or three years that I’ve embraced hot tea, although I absolutely love a big cup of sweet iced tea (I’m a southern girl to my core).

My morning routine includes the making of a big tumbler of tea as soon as I get to work (or when I get up on a weekend morning).

I don’t ascribe to teas billed as calming, etc. I’m a simple girl with simple tastes. Give me English Breakfast or Earl Grey (or matcha), with a spot of dairy-free creamer, and I’m a happy gal.

5. The November Hodgepodge has always included a weekly gratitude question. Here’s the question for today-what are three things that make your heart sing? 

Three things that make my heart sing are:

1) God’s saving grace through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus

2) My family

3) A beautiful sunset

6. My Random Thought

Do you set yearly reading goals? I usually try to read at least 50 books a year. I track my books in Goodreads as well as an app called Fable.

Here’s what I finished reading in October.

October wasn’t my best month quantity-wise. Actually, looking at my ratings, I guess it wasn’t the best quality-wise either. Lol.

I’m almost finished with book number 49. I’m enjoying it so far and will post an update when I finish.

Are you reading anything decent?

Y’all have a wonderful week!

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Happy Monday, friends!

I’m still in denial that the weekend is over. It literally flew by.

My weekend started last Thursday. I’d taken Thursday and Friday off so I could catch a flight to my daughter’s house to celebrate her little miss’s first birthday.

The Mr. and I were out of the house slightly past 6am because the airport is over an hour away.

I was also nervous with all of the shutdown issues; however, the line through security went as quick as always. I was relieved. God bless these workers. I cannot imagine the angst they are going through right now.

I had the sweetest little chat with the lady who sat beside me on the plane. We wound up having a lot in common despite our age difference (she must have been in her 70’s or 80’s). We talked the entire flight!

I got there mid-afternoon. Chicky’s in-laws watched the kids, who were napping, so she could pick me up from the airport.

The kids were happy to see me when they woke up. Since I’d been there last month, E girl remembered me.

We enjoyed a rare dinner out at a delicious Mexican restaurant.

We sat on the covered porch outside. The weather was absolutely delightful, and the littles were able to play while we waited for our food. Little Miss started walking a few weeks ago. She resembles a zombie with her teetering side to side, but she gets where she wants to go faster than you might imagine.

The service and food at this restaurant were top-notch. The portions were huge. I had leftovers for two more meals.

J man and I played when we got back to the house. His other grandpa had bought him a play doctor’s kit, and he decided to fix me up. How convenient that my shoulder needed extra loving and a bandaid to boot.

After the kids went to bed, my girl and her husband got to work on a DIY project they’ve been completing in stages.

Homes in south Florida don’t typically have fireplaces, but they have a huge wall that has been begging for something.

The fireplace insert is fake, and the mantle is as well. They’ve had friends helping them along the way, but the faux concrete was something they were doing all on their own.

It was quite the laborious process that continued the next day after we took the kids to daycare/preschool.

My son-in-law sanded down the “concrete” while we ran errands.

My poor girl. She’s a clean freak. The dust nearly drove her bonkers – especially with a birthday party looming on the horizon.

It’s not finished yet. Chicky wants to add a faux limestone finish, but wow, what a difference already!

We picked the kiddos up from daycare after watching them walk through a Halloween parade in the building. J refused to wear his costume, but he sure didn’t mind getting treats from the classrooms he visited.

We had to work off some of their energy and took them for a walk when we got back to the house.

That evening, we went to one of their friend’s houses for dinner. Their friend group is comprised of quite a few young couples from their church, and they collectively have a LOT of kiddos. It was great fun and a wonderful alternative to traditional Halloween festivities.

Saturday, we were on the go from the moment we woke up.

I gave E her presents from us. This little Fisher Price chair is adorable. It does make noise, but what can I say? She loved it. So did big brother, and I definitely saw some sibling rivalry happening as they tried to pull each other off of the chair.

Chicky and her hubby always do an amazing job hosting shindigs.

Chicky made E’s smash cake, which was comprised of almond flour, banana, vanilla, peanut butter, and eggs. We gave her a hard time for adding three candles to it.

Chicky bought a bigger cake from a local bakery. They said it was good. It wasn’t vegan, so I didn’t eat any.

E didn’t quite understand how the smash cake worked when it was time to do her thing. Big brother was happy to demonstrate.

After the party was over, we cleaned up and got the kids down for their naps. I watched some college football.

We spent the latter part of the day at the park letting the kids burn off their energy.

Little Miss loves following her brother around.

They were so precious.

My son-in-law prepped a stir fry on the flat top of the grill and even cubed up tofu for me. My kids are incredibly mindful of my dietary needs.

Then, it was time for baths and bed.

It was also time for me to turn on our game, which was a frustration all the way around. I had trouble getting the app to work on my gal’s TV even though it worked earlier in the day.

A call to customer support didn’t help. I wound up deleting the app and reinstalling it. It worked. I probably shouldn’t have bothered because the game was atrocious.

We lost, and in case you missed it, Auburn fired our head coach the next day (which I do feel bad about since he seems to be a very nice man, and nobody should celebrate another person’s job loss).

Thank goodness for the time change. I was exhausted.

Sunday, we went to the later service at church so Little Miss could get in a nap. The kids had woken up incredibly early. I slept on the couch all weekend, so I heard them and even popped E’s paci into her mouth in the wee hours of the morning.

Yawn.

We grabbed a quick lunch of leftovers after church, and then Chicky drove me to the airport.

Ugh. See you laters are not fun.

I settled in for a long wait. Chicky’s husband had to be back at church early, so i was at the airport several hours early. I’m not keen on taking an Uber by myself.

Snacks for the win!

My flight kept getting delayed, so I got out of there later than originally planned.

Sigh.

It’s hard for me to complain because flying sure does beat the nine-hour drive.

My flight wound up landing about 35 minutes after the originally scheduled time. I didn’t actually get home until a little before 9pm since the airport is a ways away.

I unpacked, showered, and did a couple of household chores before calling it a day.

Yawn.

And now we are back to Monday. I know I’ll be tired, but again, I can’t complain. After having two days off and getting to love on half of my family, I’m simply counting my blessings.

So, how was your weekend? Did you do anything fun? What is your week looking like?

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Did you know that October is Physical Therapy Appreciation Month?

I wasn’t aware of this until I overheard a conversation about it two weeks ago during my physical therapy session.

If you’re like me, you might be surprised to learn that they get an entire month for this recognition. They certainly deserve it, in my humble opinion.

Speaking of which, today, I’m 20 weeks post surgery. It’s hard to believe that five months have passed since I went under the knife to repair my right shoulder.

To date, I’ve been in physical therapy nearly eleven months, so I am especially appreciative of the knowledgeable and gentle care I’ve been provided.

I found it sad that the sweet little office I visit each week barely got a nod of thanks, so I grabbed a box of cookies from my favorite place and took it with me last week.

There are five full time physical therapists in the practice I go to, along with the gal who runs the front desk and the young lady who takes care of the insurance.

They have always been kind to me. They quickly remembered my name and made me feel welcome.

I’ve seen them interact with many, many patients – some of them frequent fliers like myself – others one-and-done.

Their patience knows no bounds, which I can’t imagine given the horrible condition most of us start out in and the incredible amount of pain we’re suffering from during many of our early appointments.

It’s not uncommon for patients to get sick their first visit because of the stress of trying to move body parts that don’t want to cooperate. I nearly threw up during my first visit after my first surgery last December.

I want to be mindful of other places where service goes unnoticed – taken for granted or demanded with the expectation that it’s their job to do such and such.

That little box of cookies put huge smiles on the therapists’ faces and reminded me that it doesn’t take much to make someone feel appreciated.

Oh, and my shoulders are doing great! The left one hardly has any pain these days. The right one is coming along nicely. The pain continues to decrease while my ability to complete routine tasks improves each week.

My internal rotation continues to be a struggle with my shoulder unable to comply, but I know, from what I’ve been through with my left one, that it needs more time and work in the physical therapy room.

My precious five year old granddaughter constantly exclaims over how good my arm is now that it’s out of the sling, and we enjoy flexing our muscles to one another when we FaceTime. I make sure to brag on the “doctors” for the way they help me. I want her to know that doctors are helpers – used by God to provide healing.

I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in physical therapy. I’m thinking it will be a couple more months. I’ll be sad when it’s time to part ways, but I am grateful for having the opportunity, once again (I did seven months of therapy after I broke my ankle a few years ago) to see God’s hand at work, through the human hands I’ve been blessed to do life with this year.

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Happy Wednesday, friends!

Is it just me, or has October gone by in a flash? Time seems to speed up with the fun events that accompany fall.

Thank goodness for the weekly Hodgepodge, which almost feels like a reset/check-in . . . a time to pause for a few minutes while mulling over the questions Joyce has posed for us.

Let’s get started, shall we?

1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree? 

I wouldn’t say I’m a risk taker. I tend to be cautious and consider new things from a variety of angles. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m opposed to taking a well-informed risk because I do enjoy an adventure every now and again.

2. What’s your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth? 

I love Twizzlers. I’ve mentioned before that they happen to be vegan – thank goodness because this is my go-to candy when I see a movie in a theater.

I wouldn’t say that I have a sweet tooth. I rarely indulge in desserts, and if I do, they are usually ones I’ve prepared to ensure that they are vegan. My milk allergy makes it difficult to enjoy many desserts.

3. Somewhere you’ve been recently that had you feeling ‘like a kid in a candy store’? 

I guess my little shopping trip to find an orange sweatshirt for our game against Georgia was the most recent time I’ve felt like a kid in a candy store. Seeing all of the fun Auburn-themed apparel was a little overwhelming. I could have easily purchased a few items!

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world? 

I think that the most effective way to make a positive change in the world is by taking the time to treat each person with respect – looking for opportunities to extend kindness. This can have a trickle-down effect, much like a stone creating ripples when thrown into a pond.

5. Do you like surprises? 

Not all surprises are good, y’all, so I’m going into this answer with this mindset.

Finding out I’d broken my ankle almost nine years ago was a very unpleasant surprise. I was quite dismayed when I learned that I’d torn both of my shoulders up last year and needed surgery.

Yeah, surprises with my health are not usually my favorite.

Now, if I’m surprised with an unexpected visit from a friend or a beloved family member, I’m all in. Many years ago, my dad surprised me when he showed up on my doorstep, carrying a beautiful birthday cake a professional chef friend of his had made. He’d traveled all the way from Texas to pull off this sweet surprise. It’s a memory I’ll always treasure – especially since my dad passed away unexpectedly in 2001.

6. My Random Thought

Today is my youngest grandchild’s FIRST birthday!

How is time passing so quickly?

Our E girl is my daughter’s mini me. When I look at E, I see my little Chicky girl at the same age, so full of pluck – always into something – always ready for an adventure.

E has been walking for a few weeks now. She started a week or two after we went down to visit J for his birthday.

We suspect that the allure of her big brother’s toys and his own wild shenanigans motivated her to learn to walk a little earlier than he did.

She is the happiest little girl, unless it’s five in the morning and she wants her paci.

Being a grandparent has to be one of the most priceless privileges God has bestowed upon me.

Y’all have a wonderful week!

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