Good Intentions - January 23-29

Monday, Jan 23

The Disciplines reading this morning is Micah 6:1-6.  This first part of this chapter is one of those Old Testament passages that makes me scratch my head and wonder why. But the reflection essay highlighted the importance of remembering. Remembering can help bring together past, present and future and make a coherent story of life.  An analogy is made to the remembrance of the communion table which brings together past, present and future, transcending time and space.  Remembering who and whose I are, where I come from, how I got here - all critical to knowing myself and knowing where I might go from here.

I had home tuff to do today, including yoga and banking business.  And I got a pedicure with the gift certificate from the Matzeks.  Smooth pink toenails are a treat!

Sunday, January 29

I started the week with such ambition to record my daily scripture and reflection along with events of the day. I even put my notebook at my bedside so it would be handy in the morning when I read Disciplines.  You see where that went!  The notebook lay there, untouched, all week, so I'm remembering this week.  The remembering of the week brings me pleasure and reminds me that life is made of lots of small moments. Maybe looking back over the week isn't such a bad way to journal.

Tuesday's reading continued the Micah passage and included one of my guiding verses, one I keep before me every day, Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy (act kindly) and walk humbly with my God." However, I didn't spend too much time reflecting and none writing. (I need to get going earlier). I had to be out the door at 9:40 on my way to Lenoir City Elementary. Denise and I were back at work cataloguing books, and yakking for 2 hours. We hadn't worked on this project since late October.  We hope we are almost through, needing one or two more sessions after today to finish. I always enjoy seeing old friends at LCES.  We were surprised as we worked by the school board and superintendents staff walking through on a tour (for National School Board Appreciation Week.)  I had hugs and good words with friends from that group, too. When I left the school, I had a short drive across the highway for lunch with another group of friends. Susan R, Bonnie L and Mary M.  I see Susan and Bonnie regularly but I hadn't seen Mary for months.  She seemed glad that I had reached out to her and we had a great visit, catching up on lots of news.  Her, unfortunately, isn't all good.  Her husband is undergoing infusion treatments for cancer and so she has been staying very close to home. 

Wednesday was date day with Bill.  We went to lunch at The Cafe in Loudon.  Our lunches, soup & sandwich for Bill and soup & salad for me, were good, but a little pricey for what we got. After lunch, I visited Jim A at River Grove and Bill went to the courthouse to pay the taxes. At home I spent another afternoon working on Good Samaritan projects. I am working on writing the United Way grant for "Pack the Pantry," AND on putting together an analysis and report of the two Needs Assessment surveys we did in the fall, 60 Volunteer responses and 94 client responses. The challenge is to present the data in an easy to understand format which will inform our task of updating the GSC Strategic Plan.

Thursday was another busy day with Yoga at 10:15 at church. Kathy went with me again.  The class is fun and a good body stretch. Lunch after was at Shoney's, haven't been there in an age. We were home early and I had most of the afternoon to work on my GSC projects.  Today I changed the presentation format.  I'll have options of which to present to the executive committee in a couple of weeks.

The BIG EXCITEMENT of the day was going to the Lady Vol vs. UConn women's basketball game at Thompson-Boling arena, thanks to Bonnie and Jeff Locket.  I was at Bonnie's house at 4:30.  We picked up two of her friends along the way, Ronnie and Roscoe. We went to Bonnie and Ronnie's favorite pre-game sports bar near campus, Fieldhouse Social, which is an experience in itself for those of us who don't get out much.  The burgers were great.  ESPN Game Day was being broadcast from the arena, and when we got to our seats (row 4!) they were set up right in front of us. The large crowd was loud and fired up for the rivalry match.  The game was intense, and would have been great except that we were outplayed and scored fewer points than UConn.  After all, they are ranked #4 nationally and we aren't ranked, so we were definitely the underdog.  The most impressive aspect of watching the game live and up close was seeing the physicality of the women. They played hard all 40 minutes, neither team giving an inch to the opponent. I didn't get home until midnight - what a night!

Bonnie, Roscoe & Ronnie at Fieldhouse Social

ESPN Game Day - Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, ?, Andrea Carter

My Friday calendar was empty except for picking up eggs.  A couple of weeks ago I made a new connection for fresh eggs, courtesy of Jenny G.  Bill and I drove to their homestead just off Highway 70 in Roane County, about 17 minutes. Their place was beyond the paved county road, up a steep gravel driveway to a beautiful new house at the top of the hill.  Two dozen fresh eggs @$6/doz were waiting.  We enjoyed the drive along Paw Paw Plains Rd, remembering old friends from many years back.  The day was clear and bright, but too windy and cool to enjoy being outside, so I continued working on my GSC projects.  For Friday supper, we had leftover air-fryer fried chicken, peas and broccoli for supper with a special treat of fried eggplant.

Saturday was another sunny day, but warmer and not so windy. After a hearty breakfast, I finished my Sunday School lesson and emailed it out to the class members.  Housework finished the morning. I wanted to work in the yard in the afternoon. Taking advantage of the balmy weather, we got the front door beds cleaned off and shrubs trimmed.  Then I tackled the front bed of the house with the weed-eater while Bill cleaned gutter and used the blower to clear the back roof of accumulated debris (ladders, oh no!).  After resting a while on the sunny deck, Bill cut down some privet hedge below the pool site. I cleaned up flower pots.  Beer and wine on the deck completed the afternoon.  BiBimBap was on the menu tonight. WOW! very good.

And that brings me up to today, Sunday, where I started.  Today's SS lesson was on the Beatitudes, a favorite topic of mine.  I recalled some of my 2017 sermon, Blessings.  Pastor Linda spoke on the Micah text.  She emphasized that we are supposed to be concerned about social justice.  Today's weather is as unpleasant as yesterday's was pleasant.  Football and journalling all afternoon.  Maybe I'll do better keeping up next week. 

Lighten up - January 17-22

Tuesday morning I sat in on a Zoom meeting of the Reproductive Justice Clergy Coalition. I was invited by my UU friend Elizabeth with whom I conspire on various community activities. It was a small group, about ten, of whom at least four were UU Clergy men, active or retired. One woman was from Church of the Savior, Knoxville and another a Lutheran minister. The discussion was primarily informational about upcoming activities and lobbying.  I was interested in learning about what is going on in the area. I hope to be on their email list to keep informed.  There is a National Day of Action (Bigger Than Roe) coming up on Sunday, Jan 22, with a march planned in Knoxville that day. Unfortunately Sunday from noon - 2 pm at Market Square is a time slot that makes it hard for church people to participate.

Right after lunch I went to see Vicki for a haircut. A fresh haircut always makes me feel lighter. While I was out I thought I might as well try to find some frames to hang Amanda's paintings. It took 3 stores and a long wait in line to get what I wanted.  Amanda was here for supper and overnight.  We had a repeat of last night's supper of hamburger steaks.

Wednesday Amanda finished the last of the waffles for her breakfast while I left early for a Good Samaritan Board meeting.  It was really two meeting because in addition to the regular board meeting we had the annual public meeting to elect new board members and officers.  I'm excited that Pastor Linda was elected to the board for a 2-year term. She will be a good addition and it will help her integrate more into the community outside the church. After the two meetings, some committees met, including grants.  I will be working on the United Way grant for the next few months in addition to chairing the strategic planning committee.

I managed to work in a yoga routine before time to fix supper. Amanda was with us for one more supper, but went home before bedtime.  Laura and Mike were due home from their Cancun vacation late tonight.  For our last supper, I made ham & chicken fried rice and sauteed a few shrimp to add for Bill and me.  We all liked the dish.  Bill and I have enjoyed Amanda's company these past few days.

Thursday morning we had the first session of chair yoga class at church, using a video guide.  I picked up Kathy on the way and when we arrived there were lots of people (20) just beginning the routine.  The exercise was only 15 minutes and was good stretching, not too strenuous.  A bunch of us had lunch at Donna's Diner afterward.  Today's specials were hamburger steak or hot roast beef sandwiches, good home-cooking.  The onion rings on the side were great!

The dreary weather of the last few days finally cleared after lunch and even though the wind was pretty stiff we went for a walk.  We chose our side of the river today in hopes that the hills would block the strong south wind. What a joy to feel the sun and light as we walked.

After supper I went back to town for the Loudon County Democratic Party public monthly meeting. The program was a review of all we did in 2022 and we did a lot!  We ended with introductions around the room since we had a few new people.  People's stories are always interesting.  More than one of the newbie's talked about how isolated they have felt in this strongly Republican county and how glad they were to find a group of like-minded people. One woman who has been very active for several years at multiple levels and her words resonated with me. She said that she has friends who are involved in various worthy causes but she is politically active because she believes that only through political activity can she help bring about systemic change on multiple issues.  Her words inspired me to stay involved in political activity.

Friday's main activity was lunch with Marie at Aubrey's in Oak Ridge. I did my yoga practice first though, hoping to stretch my bothersome right hip. Marie and I had a lively conversation, as usual, ranging from family matters to the Book of Revelations.  She is preparing a Bible Study for her church small group and I may join via Zoom. I normally shun Revelations but maybe Marie can enlighten me. She is a serious Bible scholar and leans to Spong side of theology.  

When I got home, Bill and I took advantage of the balmy day for a walk, this time back across the river to our usual route. My right hip hurt quite a bit and I couldn't make the whole 2 miles. Nevertheless, I ended the day well over my step goal, 9225 steps. I find it impossible to make my goal of 7500 steps without walking at least 30 minutes in addition to routine activities.

Yesterday I made air-fryer fried chicken using a new technique. We had enough left for supper tonight. I also put some white beans to soak overnight for soup this weekend.

I rejoice in the light as the days are gradually, but perceptibly, getting longer. This picture was taken at 6:13, about 20 minutes after official sunset. Twilight is lingering on these clear days and in another week, actual sunset will be after 6 pm.  For me, that is a turning point in winter.

January 19, 6:13 pm

My big project for Saturday was making minestrone using a new recipe. Like Borscht, this soup has not often been on my menu. Afte breakfast I chopped all the vegetables and precooked the beans. I had a mammogram at 11:30, but that didn't take long. After a light lunch, I finished putting together the soup.  Homemade soup, all from scratch can be quite a production - and it's not even for supper tonight!

Mid-afternoon we set off for another walk on our usual route.  And as usual, we encountered a couple we've known for years who live on Paw Paw Plains Rd.  They keep a schedule similar to ours, expect I think they are out more often than we are.  I like to look for something new or different on our walks.  That is challenging when we walk the same route frequently. Today, a beautiful cliff-side of moss caught my eye.  The photo does not capture the bright green of the moss that my eyes perceived.  I also liked the contrast of shapes and shadows on another of the steep rock faces.

Sunset, January 21, 2023, 5:51 pm
Clouds are moving in but we still had a nice twilight.

Sunday after church a group of us gathered at Asahi Japanese Cafe in Lenoir City for lunch.

Later, Bill and I went to the Matzeks to see their Cancun pictures.  The weather today has returned to foggy, drizzly, chilly January, not fit for walking outdoors.  But it is good weather for a bowl of hot soup and grilled ham and cheese on home-made sourdough bread.

Minestrone with grilled ham & cheese on sourdough

MLK Day, Monday, January 16

I usually begin my day with coffee in the bed and my Disciplines daily devotional that comes via email from Upper Room Ministries.  The readings have a single author and theme for each week.  The daily reading includes one of the selections from the week's lectionary (RCL) scriptures, a short expository essay and ends with a prayer and an optional "audio lectio" which I don't usually do.  The theme this week is "Courage to Change" and today, of course, references Martin Luther King.  The essay ends with this: "Today as we remember the life and ministry of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., may we choose love over fear, courage over cowardice, and compassion over self-interest." I join this as my prayer.

I fear for our world when where leaders choose might over right and followers do not discern the difference.  Heather Cox Richardson (Letters from an American) wrote today about heroes among us doing the right thing in small acts of heroism. Dancing Faith blogged a poem to the prophets. Great individuals like MLK inspire greatness in others.  They inspire us to greater collective good. Not one of us can do it alone.

I think of my father, John Park Taylor, Sr., on MLK day, not because they shared much in common, but because Daddy died on MLK Day, January 15, 2001. My father was a white, southern cotton farmer. He employed black labor and the farm at one time supported many families.  He made liberal use of the n-word along with many other expletive-deleted words. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church and a respected community leader.  He was like-wise respected in the black community.  He was a loving father who taught me to always tell the truth and to always stand up for my convictions.  He was a complex man caught in a social web not of his making, but one that benefited him and his family at the expense of those who labored for him. He had the reputation of being a "soft-touch" despite his often harsh vocabulary. There is much that I don't know about how things really were on our farm.  I was too young and sheltered to know.  I do know that I was taught to respect the basic human dignity of every person, regardless of their circumstance and status and that poverty was a condition, not a definition of a person. He was no great civil rights leader, but he respected those who were, who risked all for their convictions. He and my mother stood up in their small ways. And they taught us to do better than they did.  That makes for slow progress, each generation building up the next, but it is something. 

I am pained that our civil society seems to be sliding backwards. I hope and pray that what we are now experiencing are the last desperate gasps of the old order of hierarchy and that my children's children will usher in a new order of equity and acceptance. It's still not too late and I see hope in so many young people, our children and grandchildren. 

Speaking of grandchildren, I made waffles for Amanda, Bill and me from a sourdough levain started last night.  (She is spending a few nights while Laura and Mike vacation). I am glad to be at a time in life that the pace is slow enough to allow time for the culture of bread and for watching the birds at my feeders. Amanda will be here for lunch and back again for dinner after her softball practice.  We are planning hamburger streak with gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Just January - January 10-16

Monday, January 9 - Birthday is over.  I'm really 71 now with no more celebrating.  Except for the celebration of each day of life.  My guiding word for several years has been LIGHT.  As the new year begins, daylight increases each day.  It can be hard to see on the cold and dreary days of January, but it is there! This year, I will add JOY to my daily meditation.  I will look for JOY each day.  Jesus said "Seek and you shall find."   

The first event of the day was a UMW meeting at the Boys & Girls Club, just down in the street in the gym of the former Central UMC.  We had an informative program and tour and appreciated even more the great work being done there for young people in our community.  We discussed afterward how we might help beyond the monetary contribution we make each year, by volunteering and/or providing space for extra programs like cooking class.

After a trip to the grocery, I was home long enough to prepare some wings and potatoes for the football game that we will watch with the Brocks later.  But before that, I had to go back to church for and Admin Council meeting.  We enjoyed our wings, potatoes and veggie dippers during the first half of the game, then came home to watch the rest.  Good, busy day.

Tuesday Claire had another round of infusion treatment in the afternoon.  I took her to lunch before at Chuy's on Kingston Pike before dropping her off.  I went to Birds Unlimited to stock up on Bird Seed, then on to Whole Foods to get some beets and other produce.  They did not have their salmon or other fish on sale.

Wednesday I planned to bake bread.  That meant I needed to start promptly in the morning to have it ready for the final rise by 1 pm.  That worked out.  I decided to try a room temperature rise instead of in the refrigerator. Claire had her last treatment today.  I had an email notice that Whole Food had put their King Salmon on sale, so I went all the way back and bought a whole side filet.  It would have been $100 if not for the 25% discount.  I also picked up some chicken thighs on sale.  Wish I had waited and not made 2 trips.  Claire finished early, so I was home earlier that past days.  

My bread spread out more than it rose, always a disappointment.  It is very good and light, though.  I used the new 8-in pans and I don't think that was the problem.  I will go back to the refrigerator rise next time.  The four loaves will last a couple of weeks and provide healthy accompaniment to our meals - flour, water, yeast-starter are the only ingredients, no fat or sugar or preservative or binders, etc.

Sometime during the day I had time to list the birds at the feeders.  They were very happy to have a bountiful supply of seeds.  I even saw a yellow-shafted flicker, not a common visitor.  My usual visitors were Carolina Chickadees (12+), Tufted Titmouse (12+), House Finch (12+), Goldfinch (12+), White-throated sparrow (5+), Cardinal, (6+) Wren (2), Mourning Dove (6), Downy Woodpecker (2), Red-breasted Woodpecker (1), Blue-Jay (2+), Red-winged Blackbirds, (12+). Starlings (20+).

Thursday we were predicted to have rain and storms off and on all day and they were right!  I was so glad that my dental appointment was cancelled.  I would have been on the road in the worst of it.  Instead, I decided that this would be a good day to dismantle the Christmas decorations.  Bill went to the storage unit to get the boxes while I started un-decorating the tree.  By 3 pm, everything was down, packed and returned to storage. I hoped the rain was finished because I had a Girls Night Out planned at Aubrey's in Lenoir City with Susan, Bonnie and Judith.  We were able to meet, eat, drink, talk and laugh.  How blessed to be with friends, Sunday, Monday, and Thursday!

Friday the 13th!  Good thing I'm not superstitious.  I did not have to go out on this typical cold gray January day.  I had time to do my yoga practice and enjoyed watching the birds at the feeder.  I started making Ukrainian Borscht.  I say started because today I cooked the port butt with onions and seasoning to make a broth and provide pulled pork for the soup.  The meat and strained broth will cool overnight in the refrigerator and I'll finish it tomorrow.  Friday night calls for steak! I used some of the beets to make a very delicious side dish.

Saturday started with a dusting of snow on some surfaces which quickly disappeared.  We had sun later, but not much warming.  It was a good day for laundry, cooking and more bird-watching.

Barely a dusting of snow.

I had to fill the feeders again.  Many hungry little birds empty them quickly.  Today, a Brown-headed Nuthatch and a Song Sparrow made their appearance, the first of this season. I had plenty of time to watch the birds while we watched the Tenn men's basketball game.

Beautiful Song Sparrow

Making the borscht was quite a process - shredding about 5 cups of cabbage, a large beet (8+ ounces), and two carrots and chopping one onion and dicing a pound of potatoes. First the onions were sauteed until translucent, then cabbage added and cooked down, then beets & carrots added and cooked down, then a can of tomato paste and the seasonings.  Finally, all this added to the hot broth in which the potatoes had been cooking.  Last was the addition of the shredded meat with a splash of lemon juice and minced dill.  Yes it turned out great!  The recipe as written made a little more than four quarts of soup.  I shared one quart with the Brocks and we ate one for supper.  A quart plus 12 ounces are in the freezer and some leftovers for lunch are in the frig.  If I make it again, I will be tempted to just throw everything in the crock pot and cook it overnight.  

Extra-good served with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a dusting of fresh dill.

Sunday began with Sunday School and I was late as usual.   I'll have to think about why this is the only event that I'm consistently late arriving.  I enjoy the preparation, the teaching and the people.  

Today's discussion was based on I Corinthians 1:1-9 and the theme was that the church is rich with all the spiritual gifts that are needed.  My challenge was that we all find and develop our gifts, and that studying scripture is necessary to the process of spiritual growth.  The other point is that as individuals we do not have all the spiritual gifts, but that collectively we do.  Let us hold up and encourage one another on our journey.

I try not to work too hard, even at cooking, on Sunday, so I am planning take-out Mexican. We are expecting Amanda for supper and to spend the night.  She will also be with us overnight Monday and Tuesday.  Laura and Mike left Friday for a 25th wedding anniversary trip to Cancun (January 2, 1998). Claire returned to Murphreesboro on Saturday to get settled in before classes resume for her 2nd and last semester at MTSU.  Amanda had a friend overnight with her last night (Mom approved).  She will make do with us the rest of the time.  She has a holiday tomorrow for MLK day, so we are planning waffles for a special Monday breakfast.

Laura and Mike's hangout in Cancun

PS. Add Pine Warbler and Dark-eyed Junco to the bird list this week.

Birthday Week - January 7-8

Saturday was a typical January day- cold and rainy.  Fortunately we did not have to go anywhere and we did not. After so much activity, a day at home doing nothing much was welcome.  I prepared my SS lesson about the Wesley Covenant and remember our baptism.

Sunday was the last birthday event.  After church we had our monthly "Meet & Greet" which is always fun.  Lots of good food.  The meat dish and cake are provided.  Since the "meat" this month was baked spaghetti, people brought a variety of salads. They were the best part.  I took simple canned peaches.

The last birthday celebration was at 3:30 at Kathy's house.  Laura made my favorite coconut cake and brought champagne.  With Aiden, Claire and Amanda present, we were nine at the table.  Thank you all!

Birthday Week - Wheeler - January 5-6

January 5, 10:30 am, we pulled out for an overnight trip to Decatur, Al, and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.  We expect to see Sandhill Cranes by the thousands and hope to see a few Whooping Cranes. We planned a different route, starting on I-40 W to Peavine exit, then 127 S to Jasper, TN where we pick up 1-24 W for one exit to S. Pittsburg.  This would take us completely around Chattanooga. From S. Pittsburg we would continue through Scottsboro to Huntsville and Decatur.  Our intention was to have lunch in S. Pittsburg and maybe visit the Lodge (cast iron) factory store. Unfortunately, at Dunlap, TN, we stayed on 127 instead of diverting to TN 28S.  Inattention to detail!. We wondered at the steep winding ride over the ridge and didn't realize our error until we were almost to Signal Mountain, just outside of Chattanooga.  We had to travel down the steep and winding highway down from Signal Mtn to Chattanooga.  The extra miles added almost an hour to our trip.  Nevertheless we made it to S. Pittsburg for a late lunch at a local Italian cafe on the main street.  

After lunch we skipped the Lodge store and continued on to the refuge.  We got there after 3:30 local time and had about an hour.  Thousands of Sandhill Cranes were milling about, feeding and sounding their beautiful, musical warble. None were close to the observation areas. We were told that there were three Whooping Cranes but they did not show themselves. Since our last visit, a new viewing blind has been added and paths upgraded.  The Visitor Center is still closed for upgrades. 

We stayed at the Best Western River City and ate at Logan's Roadhouse next door.  Dessert was a bottle of champagne back in the room to toast my birthday.

January 6 - Epiphany and my Birthday!

January 6, 1952, as my mother labored to deliver me into this world, my father was in California about to board a ship for Korea and the "conflict." His unit of the Mississippi National Guard had been called up. He had applied for an essential worker deferment as a farmer.  He could have also qualified for a hardship deferment because his father was very ill and his two brothers were too young to manage the farm. His duffel bag was already on the ship when the orders cam through and he was sent home.  My whole life turned on that event.  My mother planned to name me Jane Clare, but her mother wanted to name me Jane Clark, and she prevailed.  I am named for my maternal great-grandmother, Nellie Jane McLaughlin Farrar and my maternal grandfather, Buford Clark Westmoreland who went by Clark. My grandmother also insisted on calling me by my full double name, a very southern thing.

We went back to the refuge Friday morning and saw the Whooping Cranes among the countless Sandhills.  Even from a great distance, they stand out by their size and color.  I have not tired of the thrill of seeing these magnificent birds.

On the way home, we stopped at the Lodge store and bought a small pan that I will use for bread-baking.  The drive home through the Sequatchie Valley was much easier that yesterday's route and very scenic.

more pictures:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qYYy1uxThUneFedn8

Birthday Week - January 2-4

Monday a crew of Trinity friends gathered to take down Christmas decorations in the sanctuary and store them away in the attic. Three new friends, Sarah, Barbara and Flo joined us to make a crew of 11. Mike and Terri are not quite old-timers but Deb, Wilma, Melanie, Walter, Ab & I certainly qualify. We had a good time working together then all except Ab went to Chili's for a late lunch. I wasn't hungry for supper so Bill said he could eat New Year's leftovers with ham. We won't take our decorations down until next weekend, after Epiphany.

with Flo

with me

Tuesday afternoon I took Claire to Knoxville for an infusion treatment.  I planned some shopping while I waited for her.  I'm trying to get a pair of New Balance walking shoes that actually fit, so I took back the 1st pair and took home another.  As soon as I came out of the New Balance store it started to sprinkle and quickly began in rain - the leading edge of a thunderstorm event.  I skipped the rest of my shopping and waited in the car for Claire.  The drive home was rough at first, but the line of storms passed and it began to clear before we got home.  I was ready for something different, so cooked a port tenderloin for supper and we finished off the leftover vegetables.

Wednesday morning we had another work session at church, but with a smaller group.  Four of us ended up at Donna's for lunch.  Wednesday afternoon I took Claire for another session, took the latest pair of shoes back to the store and ordered yet another pair.  Here's hoping!.  BiBimBap seemed a good way to use up leftover port tenderloin.  I haven't made it in a long time.

BiBimBap with Gochujang Sauce

Happy New Year - December 30 - January 1

Friday - time to get back to "real life" - groceries, cleaning, etc. We even found time for an afternoon walk.  It has been many weeks since we've gone walking across the river. It was the first time in 2 months that I exceeded my step goal of 7500 by logging 9800 steps. All day we were anticipating the big game - the Orange Bowl, UT vs Clemson.  We planned to go to the Brocks around 7:30 for the 8 pm start.  Kathy shared her Christmas prime rib for sandwiches. Because of the late start, we went home at half-time. Our Vols did not disappoint, coming away with a decisive win.  It was midnight by the time we turned the lights out.

Before the game started, I had to retell Mother's Orange Bowl story.  When she was still a teenagers, 16 or 17, she and her best friend Martha Sue travelled alone from Mississippi to Miami to visit a friend and go to the orange bowl.  That would have been post WWII, 1946 or 1947. If it was 1947, Tennessee would have been playing.  I don't know if they left from Indianola or Jackson. They had to change buses in the middle of the night in Birmingham, which also involved changing bus stations.  Fortunately they found a nice cab driver! I don't know how long the trip took, but at least 24 hours.  Even with today's interstate highways, the trip is 13-14 hours from Jackson to Miami.  Imagine what it must have been like in 1946! 

My grandfather Clark had taken a war-time job at the air-base in Sebring, Fl and took my grandmother and mother with him to Florida.  They lived there until the war was over, about a year. The Orange Bowl trip was to visit a dear friend mother had made during that year.

Saturday - the last day of 2022, started off gloomy, wet and foggy but not cold.  I had not planned to bake, but decided it would be a good day to use up bananas that the kids didn't eat.  I made 2 loaves.  I found time for my yoga routine for the 2nd day in a row. It occurred to me that I did not have to wait for the new year to actually begin to begin new practices.  I didn't practiced yoga much in 2022 because of a shoulder issue and just getting out of the habit.  I have noticed an increasing stiffness in my joints as a result of not stretching enough.  I also spent part of the gloomy afternoon prepping for Sunday School and then decided to call off our class because of the New Year holiday.

I'm reading a novel that Laura gifted me, "The Book of Longings," by Sue Monk Kidd.  She imagines Jesus marrying at age 18 and living as husband and wife until he takes up his ministry full time at age 30.  It is really her story, Ana, and is told with skill and imagination.  I'm delighted.

As I was in my favorite chair reading late in the afternoon, I noticed that the clouds had broken and a few rays of sun were streaming through the blinds.  I got up to refresh my tea and noticed a lovely red sky as the sun was setting.  I rushed to find my phone/camera and shoes to catch the image but I just missed it.  Sunset this time of year does not linger.  

The last day of the year has been representative of the whole year.  2022 began gloomily, with Covid still dominating so much of life.  But the year has ended on a bright note of hope.

Out with the old!

In with the new - Happy New Year!

New Year's Day - Instead of making resolutions about things I will do, I would like to meditate on what I can let go to make room for the new. Pastor Linda titled her sermon today "Searching, Searching." The text was for Epiphany, the "wise men" searching for and finding Jesus.  

Searching

I have long liked to think of myself as a Seeker, on searching for deeper meaning in the ordinary encounters of daily living.  In my search I have found peace, joy, hope and love.  Those words are so often repeated during the Christmas season that they almost lose their depth of meaning.  But they are the universal elements that make life meaningful.  The ancient greeks identified the four basic elements as earth, wind, fire and water.  That may seem simplistic to our scientific minds, but there is truth in their idea. These ingredients are essential to our existence - the earth that nurtures us and forms our material existence; the wind that is air we breathe; fire that is the energy that drives change; and water, about 70% of the earth's mass and of our body's mass, without which life as we know it would not be.   So too, the elements of peace, joy, hope and love are essential to our soul, to our spiritual self, to our sense of meaning and well-being.  What am I willing to let go of to make room for such as these - to make room for an afternoon walk with Bill, to make room for a visit with Laura, to make room for preparing a meal that nourishes instead of merely filling, to make room for being a friend, and most of all, to make room for nourishing my soul.

We welcomed the New Year with black-eyed peas and collard-green soup, cooked with the Christmas ham bone. Corn bread completed a nourishing start to a prosperous New Year.

New Year's Day

Perfect day for a walk

The eagles still nest in the pine tree, but we didn't see them today.

After Christmas but still Christmas - December 26-29

Monday

A few years ago I wrote a poem called "The Day After Christmas," styled after the classic, "The Night Before Christmas." You can read it at the link. This year, the day after is just the beginning.  We spent the morning and early afternoon getting ready for Round-2, David's family.  I made a grocery run and baked sweet potatoes for our favorite casserole.  The family got in about 4:30. A few flurries fell throughout the afternoon, but we thought nothing of it.  No snow predicted for the valley and only a dusting for the area. Laura's family came over and we feasted on ham, turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans and rolls, all set up for self-serve.  After eating, we had a round of gift opening.  There was something for everyone and lots for the young Whitakers.  We enjoyed the excited smiles and kids laughter.  What a joy!  Those flurries kept coming and before dark we had almost an inch on the ground.  The roads were frozen, so they were covered, too.

John David

Allison

Owen

Evangeline

Tuesday

The kids had not come prepared for snow.  It was a surprise for all of us.  So we stayed inside most of the day Tuesday.  There was plenty to do,  playing with new Christmas toys.  Laura braved the snowy roads and came over late morning.  Today, December 27, is John David's fourth birthday. I made chocolate cupcakes and Amanda made buttercream frosting.  I heard that they were delicious!  We had cupcakes and a few birthday gifts before lunch.

John David is ready to blow!

Lunch was leftovers.  After lunch, David and Trisha left for their Christmas Conference with Campus Outreach/Movement in Chattanooga.  David's SEMO (Southeast Missouri State Univ) Campus Outreach group has separated from the main organization to form their own independent group called Campus Movement. He is one of the leaders and devotes 2 or 3 days per week to that work.  

The children stayed with us.  We had planned to go to the Matzeks for late afternoon and supper, but we did not take a chance on their driveway in David's van. They watched a movie instead and played on.

Owen ventured out to fly his remote control helicopter in the snow.

 but I didn't catch him in the pic.

Wednesday

What a weather contrast, sunny and almost balmy today after so many cold dreary days.  We played inside all morning. Amanda and Claire came over for pancake lunch.  I've learned to make gluten-free pancakes that are pretty good.  After lunch, we all went outside to pick up sticks and branches that had blown down in the pre-Christmas storm.  Bill and the kids made a small bonfire.  Pretty soon we were shedding out coats and enjoying the warm sun and fresh air. Evangeline escaped by inside as soon as she could. Owen, Allison, John and I went exploring in the woods (the upper corner of our two acres).  Winter is the only time we can safely walk there.  We trekked through the woods all the way to the park road and up to the overlook.  They thought it was quite the adventure.  Later, I took them to Laura's house to play and I returned there later to share a pizza supper.

Anna called to tell us that today, Dec 28th, was their grandmother Gagi's birthday (Anna Jackson Renshaw, b 1879).  Today was also my mammaw's birthday (Emily Lucille Farrar Westmoreland, b 1902).  I had never made the connection.

Thursday morning we packed all the stuff and the kids too and set out for Chattanooga.  We met David and Trisha at Chuy's near Hamilton Place Mall for lunch.  After lunch we didn't tarry and were home mid-afternoon.  They were headed for a walk-about downtown near the Aquarium plaza and walking bridge.  Hope they had fun.  We surely did.  The time together was short but satisfying none-the-less.