Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live? No, 90's this week and if leaves change, it is mostly from the heat.

What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall? Decorate.

I love to bring fall into the house since we really don't have it here until November-December. I did not put as much out this year. I love scarecrows but didn't put out as much this year. I miss going to the pumpkin patch with the grand like we did when they were little. The picture below is my practice setup for our church's Fall Harvest Festival.

2. What's a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy? Dusting, it always brings on a sneeze attack.

3. What's something you're falling for lately? Shoes, I have been trying on a lot of shoes for my trip to Hawaii and exercise. I have a few I have to return. I have been dreaming about trying on shoes.

4.  Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year.  Are you a fan? Yes, I do like my pumpkin spice creamer. I have several fall coffee mugs that I like to use. I like pumpkin bread and scones. We give plain pumpkin to our god Minnie to help her digestion.

Pumpkin spice cupcakes.

5.What's something you wish would never change? Explain. Time with my family. I am blessed to see my immediate family, but I don't see my siblings often anymore. Everyone is busy with their families. But there is a shift even with our immediate family as the grands are doing more things with their friends. I look back and see it was the same when we were raising our kids, being busy with them and church. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. The trip to Isreal is still on. We got our information packs from the tour agency. I went to the Lufthansa site and looked up the size for the personal item, and it is smaller than the backpack I got. So, I had to order a smaller one. I got my check in luggage out and now to fit 9 days of clothes in a medium-size luggage. We need to take water shoes too. I plan to take a beat up pair of shorts and a shirt that I plan to throw away after going in the Dead Sea.

Lots of planning and prep and I am excited. If the tour agency says it is not safe, they will let us know.

It is in God's hands and prayers are appreciated.

Minnie is holding her own and we thank God for that!

Tuesday 4 &Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thanks to Annie and Joyce for the memes, Links are on the left.

1.Do rainy days and/or Mondays really get you down? No, because I am retired. I do worry about my kids and now grandson. I am not sure if my grandson has driven in the rain yet. We don't get a lot of rain here. We sure need it!

2. Does thunder and lightning frighten you at all? A little because we don't get it often.

How about your dog or cat and what do you do to help them out? My dog hates it and she wants to hide in her crate.

3. If you are at home on a dark, rainy day what do you do with your time? Some find it a good day to cuddle up with a cuppa and read or watch TV.. what is your preference? Watch a few tv programs with hubby. Then go and read or Bible journal/study. We would probably enjoy some hot soup too!

4.Ever been caught in a downpour or has rain ever ruined your plans? Yes, one summer we were on our way to Utah after leaving the Grand Canyon. It was my turn to drive and hubby was resting in the back with the baby. Then these big clouds came in and before you know it, it was pouring. The final straw was when lightening hit before our car and I could not see so I pulled over. By the time we got to the campground, our camp site was no longer available because of the river had gotten to close. They had a few cabins, but only the expensive one was left. Thankfully my parents blessed us with spending money and we go the cabin and cooked our steaks on a bbq instead of on a camp stove.

bonus question: Why do Mondays seem to be so unpopular with so many? I think having to go back to work on Monday is bad enough. Driving in it makes it worth. If am at home, I don't mind the rain.

1. How do you feel about the transition from lazy summer days to a busier fall routine? Since I am retired, I don't really experience in my own life. But the grands going back to school is a transition for the school year, but not the weather. We will be at 100+ all week and we won't see any fall weather until the end of October. However, I will start my fall decorating next week. I won't do as much this year because of my Israel trip. As of now, it is still a go and 6 weeks away.

2. Your favorite cookie? I have always love homemade chocolate chip cookies. I don't bake until late fall and at Christmas. So gingerbread is my Christmas favorite. I got some cookies at the store bakery that tasted really good and they were oatmeal with pecans. I took them to my Bible journaling group.

3. What's something you've learned from a culture different than your own? The Jewish people practice the Sabbath, from Friday sunset to Saturday Sunset. I like how they take the time to be still, to focus on family, good food and God. It seems so special to me. I was so fascinated from the Sabbath scene from Fiddler on the Roof. I also liked the song, Sunrise, Sunset. They played that song at our wedding. My sibling and I still discuss how special it was that mom and dad took us to see this and other movies together. I have learned a lot in the past couple of years about the Jewish feast and holy days since I started teaching Bible Journaling. 

4. Food critic, film critic, book critic, art critic...which hat would you most like to wear? Tell us why. I would say art critic first because I like to see artwork. This past January, we went to Las Vegas and my granddaughter, and I spent time talking about art things. We even went into a couple of art galleries. Besides singing, she also draws. 

5. What's a small, random thing from your childhood that you still remember clearly? Building a cardboard house in the backyard with my dad. My parents had new refrigerator and stove, and they came in carboard boxes from Sears. So, my dad cut the sides, and we made a cool clubhouse. it even had a door and window. I have a lot of special memories with my dad. I was the firstborn and a tomboy I loved to be outside with him. I still remember him helping me adjust the seat on the new bike I had received for my birthday.  He and I were talkers, and we could talk about anything. I sure do miss him! 

This was around 1965, and dad worked for Hughes Aircraft Company.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I have a several boxes of shoes that I have ordered and I have to decide which shoes I will take on vacation. I will take back the others. I will still take my old faithful. I still have to get my new iPhone and I hope to do that by this weekend. I found out today that I am also going on a 4 day get away with 9 friends mid- September. Several of us have gone away before. We will be going about 4 hours away. I may not get much sleep, but I know we will get lots of walking done and eat a lot and not sleep. My daughter has encouraged me because she knows how important it is to stay active. I am still having some lower back issues because of my bulging disc. The numbing feeling can be aggravating, but better than pain. I have to keep doing my exercises. Walking is good exercise. I am supposed to go to Disneyland on Friday, but it will be in the 90's so we will either go later or not at all, and I am okay with that.  

Previous post has family pictures.