1. Thankful for the many fire fighters out there fighting the fires all over California an Oregon.

2. Thankful for the police officers who put their lives out there each day to keep us safe.

3. Thankful for the way our church has been doing outdoors church.

4. Thankful for the scientist that are working on a vaccine.

5. Thankful for the peace I have felt this year in spite of what is going on.

6. Thankful for my Bible reading group. We are reading through the Psalms now.

7. Thankful for my crafting group.

8. Thankful for my family, we are getting together on Saturday to celebrate birthday's.

9. Thankful for my Lifegroup friends, we are going away for a few days.

10. Thankful for a husband that encourages me to do things with my family.

11. Thankful for the little things in life that bring please.

12. Thankful that I can pray and know that God hears my prayers.

 

 

Tueday 4 & Marriott Vacay

 

1.Can you name songs that remind  you of autumn , spring, winter or summer?
See you in September The Happening 1966 and also sung by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Reminds me of a certain summer.  

2.Do you like background music when eating or shopping? Do you play background music at home? If I am reading, I like quiet. If I am crafting, I like to listen to music. If I am gardening or in the spa, I have music on. Always in the car too. Lately I listen to more music instead of watching. I listen to mostly Christian music, but I do like oldies.

3.Christmas music begins playing some places as early as November just before Thanksgiving. Do you have a favorite Christmas song? If not, how about any seasonal song that you love? I love Christmas songs! O Holy Night, Hark The Herald,  Mary did You Know and Breath of Heaven are a few that I love.

4. Songs bring back memories. Would you share a song that triggers memories, good or bad, for you? Refer back to #1 Saying goodbye to my first boyfriend and then regretting it. Are You Going To San Francisco, 1967 makes me sad.  I remember seeing my P.E. helper crying because she found out her brother was going to Viet Nam. The song was popular at that time and I heard it that day. It also made me think of the Hippies and peace. The following songs are a few from dating and marriage.
Let's Stay Together by Al Green, Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - Spinners.
Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun - played at our wedding and One Love 
Star Wars Theme reminds me of taking my husband to work and listening to it while we drove. They played the long  version and it made the ride enjoyable. Now it remind me of my older son who is a Star Wars trader. 

I could fill a journal of songs that take me back in time, tied to a memory, a person. Some make me happy and some make me sad. Music helps us remember. We played songs for my mom when she had Alzheimers and it calmed her. We played music for my dad his last few weeks and it calmed him.

Our mini vacation at Marriott Newport Coast

  

We have been having a heat wave in California. Our normal summer temperatures average in the 90's. It was 115 yesterday and we have been in 100's for 3-4 days. Thankfully, we were able to join my son and his family at his time share at  Newport Coast by Newport Beach. It was in the high 80's on Saturday and in the low 90's on Sunday. We spent a lot of time at the pool. We have been going to the Marriott Newport Coast for the past 5 years. 
We also celebrated Audrina's 10th birthday. This year we did not go to the beach because with record heat, we knew the beach would be super crowded. It's is the same beach we went to for our anniversary.

The Marriott never closed, but lost a lot of guest at first at the beginning of the Covid crisis. They had to follow strict guidelines to keep things safe for guest. So there was no free fruit flavored water in the Lobby. Everyone had to wear a mask while walking in the lobby or in the hallways and elevators. Sanitizer was everywhere. The kids room, movie theater and playground were closed. Everyone going to the pool area had to wear mask. Once you got your seats and went in the water, mask could come off. If you had to go to the area were the drinks, food and restrooms were, you had to have mask on they would not let you through. We had to ask for ice water instead of helping yourself to the ice/water machine. The number of people allowed into the pool area was monitored and they did turn people away from the main pool. I didn't even know they had other pools! Everyone keep safe distance in the pools too. 

Saturday my hubby and son Andrew barbecued steak, chicken and shrimp along with zucchini, mushrooms and onions. We had ice cream and chocolate chip cookies for desert. 
Then Audrina opened up her gifts from us.

 

 

We left after the sun went down.

On Sunday my daughter said they were spending the night so I packed an over night bag and we headed back to the resort. Hubby stayed home with Minnie. We spent around 5 hours by the pool and then went back to the hotel for dinner which my son went to pick up.  We took the kids back around 8 for night swimming which they loved. After breakfast we packed up and left for home. It was a fun weekend!

 

Getting ready to get some lunch, mask required!

 We had to request cups of ice water and the kids decided to play with the cups!

Mommy's were up front by the kids so I decided to enjoy some reading.

 

 

 

  

  

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the second day of a brand new month. Tell us one thing you're looking forward to in September.
Birthdays, my daughter in laws on the 2nd, my grand daughter's on the 3rd, and my son's on the 8th. We will be celebrating at my son's timeshare in Newport Coast.

2. Do you enjoy browsing second-hand shops? Last thing you bought or 'inherited' second hand? Yes hubby and I like to go to
"antique stores" The last thing I found was a cute Boyd's Bear and a Lennox bowl when we went shopping on our anniversary in Old Town Orange Calif.

 

3. Something you had second thoughts about after committing to, purchasing, or posting/commenting  online? I would say yes to all three. I have said yes to some things because I really wanted to do it, but then life happened and I could not follow through. I have ordered a few things online and then had second thoughts after I did because I wasn't getting the best price.  I usually think about what I want to say before I comment but I am sure there have been a few times I regretted a comment.

4. What's a product or service you use that you'd rate as second to none? I like to use Amazon Prime.

5. Something you do so often or that comes so naturally to you it's second nature? Check my Iphone in the morning. Read my Bible in the afternoon or evening.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I am in a few Facebook groups that keep me busy during the week. One is called Journey Through the Bible and we started in February.  We are reading through the book of Psalm right now. I am also in crafting group called Fussy Cuttin Cuties. I completed one of the projects we had to do. We got a print out and put together a "berry basket.  Thing we got some other digital graphics and made cards to go in the basket. We call it our fruidex since it was a fruit theme. I was able to use another set I had on the Fruit of the Spirit A dex card came from the idea of Rolodex  that were used to keep business cards in.  Here is what I did. There are about 10 cards not shown.

 

 

Tuesday 4

1.What memories does September bring back to you of school, autumn, songs, movies? Would you share with us? When I was a kid, our family went to church camp every Labor Day weekend. We would come home Monday and start school the next day. We didn't think about it being fall yet because in California it is hot through October. We always got new clothes and shoes before school. Picture day was always a special day. Here I am in my Kindergarten picture and the picture below is me with my 4th grade teacher Miss Help.

2. September is the first of what are called the "ber" months. and the end of summer and beginning of autumn. Which do you enjoy more, summer or autumn and why? When I was a kid, I loved summer because of no school! As an adult, I prefer autumn because of the cooler weather and I love decorating for fall! I have lots of decorations and things to hang up on the wall. The day after Labor day I take down the patriotic decorations from my seasonal tree and I change it to fall decor.

3.Have you ever gone apple or pumpkin picking or gone into a corn maze? What was that like? I have done all three. I love doing things for fall. When I was a kid, I enjoyed watching the leaves fall.  I would help my dad rake leaves and then jump into them. I go all out decorating my home and the yard. I put out hay bales in the front yard and add decorations, mostly scarecrows and sunflowers. We hope to go apple picking in late October.

4.Are fall weekends different for you than summer weekends? What do you enjoy in autumn? I think I am actually outside more in the fall. The weather is not hot anymore. The mosquitoes have left and I love bringing fall into my home. I diffuse essential oils that give off a pumpkin spice scents. I also put put my fall themed blankets and pillows.

This week is heating up and we will be at 106 this weekend. It will be hot all over California. We will be at the beach on Saturday for my grand daughters birthday. They will be at their timeshare. I will change over my blog after Labor Day.  One thing that will be new is wearing mask. I have fall material and I plan to make a few fall themed mask.