TIME - November 30 - Advent

TIME

Sunrise and sunset
Marking days of my life
Meaning mine to give    

I had my first official PT session with Mike this morning to work on my shoulder.  I hope to get rid of this nagging pain.  After therapy, I made it on time to the first session of Pastor Linda's Advent Bible Study.  The study book is "God Broke Through at Christmas" by our own Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett.  This week's theme is "God Broke Through the Silence."  Good lesson, good group, good discussion.

After we finished, I picked up sandwiches at Ruby T's for lunch at Bonnie's, Pastor Linda included.

Shrimp Scampi with Spinach

FULFILL - November 29 Advent

FULFILL

To fulfill is to keep a promise, meet a need.

Good Samaritan Thanksgiving Distribution
Nov 20, 2021

Keeping a promise
Faithfully meeting a need
Completing a task            

Beth left at 9:30, but not before we got a picture!  The rest of the day was pretty routine except that Bill went shopping with me at Costco for Christmas gifts.

Beth Kiser with me.

PROMISE - Advent Word Nov 28

Today's Advent word is Promise.  I am sharing a poem and photo from my blog dated Sunday, May 9, 2010.  The poem was actually written in 2008.

From my blog, May 9, 2010
https://flowersandfeathers.blogspot.com/2010/05/mothers-day-roses.html

Promise in the bud
Of great beauty yet to come,
Glory unfulfilled.

Promise in the flower
Of sweet perfume that lingers,
Holding memories.

Promise in the fruit
Of ripened maturity,
Bringing life again.

 

Beth Barber Kiser arrived late in the afternoon.  She is returned from a trip to spend the Thanksgiving with her sister Beverly in Clinton, Mississippi and her brother Joe who also lives in central Mississippi.  She spent the night with us Tuesday on her way South from Richmond.  She had horrible traffic from Tuscaloosa on this most travelled day of the year.  She had stayed overnight with a friend there. She arrived too late for us to go for a walk as we had hoped, but we had an enjoyable visit late into the evening.  I served pork tenderloin with roast new potatoes and carrots for our supper.

Bill and me

Beth and Me

Advent Challenge - Photo-a-Day

An Advent Challenge from the UMC is a Photo-a-Day in response to a prompt word.  The response can be in the form of a photo, a poem or something else.  I didn't get started on this until Thursday, Dec 2, so I'm pre-dating these first posts.  Below is a list of all the words. The word of Christmas Day is Worship.

 

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25

The Brocks hosted our Thanksgiving feast this year.  Last year we were not able to eat together, so we each fixed our usual dishes and Laura ferried them from one house to another.  That way each family had access to our usual dishes but no one had to prepare everything.  How glad we were to be around the table together to give thanks and eat too much.  Despite all we've been through, we found much to be thankful for.

Laura brought sweet potato casserole, prepared just like her Mimi (Clara Nelle) taught her, and Sister Shubert rolls which we all love.  Amanda made her soon to be famous pecan pie.  I roasted a turkey and made cornbread dressing (just like my mother taught me!).  I also contributed whole berry cranberry sauce.  Kathy made traditional bread stuffing (like her mother taught her!) and green beans.  She had plain green beans and leather britches.  The leather britches are made from a heritage variety of green bean that has been strung and dried, then reconstituted and cooked long and low.  Wayne's sister Ingrid grew and dried the beans for him.

We were happy that Aiden was able to join us, but we missed Claire.  She cam home from MTSU with a non-COVID respiratory virus and was sick for the whole holiday weekend.

We ate until we couldn't eat anymore and enjoyed our time together.  As usual, I neglect pictures when I'm involved with friends and family.

The Journey Continues, Home Again - November 15-22

Monday, November 15

I was fortified with leftover waffles for the long drive home.  Before starting out, I went to Simmons Catfish processing plant, just down the road from Park's.  I was there when they opened at 8 am and bought a 15 lb box of frozen fillets to stock our freezer.

Instead of following Google Maps advice, I went cross-country to pick up I-55 to Winona where I got US 80 which would carry me to Tuscaloosa.  It might have been slightly longer, but it was a scenic drive that avoided the congestion around Jackson.  Because of heavy traffic, I detoured again at Chattanooga and took Hwy 27 home.  Altogether it took me about 9 hours.  I was SO glad to get home to my Bill and my bed!   We had fried catfish for supper!

Tuesday, November 16

How wonderful to wake up in my own bed, beside my lifelong honey, to have coffee delivered to me by his loving hand.  Of course, I had laundry to do and groceries to buy, but my body needed rest after late nights and lots of driving.  I didn't push too hard today. My Tennessee sunsets are beautiful, too.

Wednesday, November 17

Our neighbor lunch was shifted from Thursday to today at Connie's house.  I picked up Kathy on the way.  Our table was complete and our conversation was fun.  We stayed until 2.  I promised Bill that I would be home by then for an outing with him.

Today was mild and sunny so we wanted to "do something," which means go somewhere in the RV that perhaps includes a walk or hike.  After lunch, we decided to go to the "Quarry Trail" on the west edge of Oak Ridge.  We didn't know at the time that is was so named and there was no signage.  We had a lovely walk on an old road bed and passed two family cemeteries, but saw no sign of a quarry.  We later learned that we were almost there and would have have soon encountered the quarry and a loop back to the main trail.  Next time!

Quarry Trail

Fall Glory

Friday, November 19

More shopping for Santa's Helper gifts, again for 2 teen boys.  I was able to find clothing at Walmart, but had to order the "gift" items.  It doesn't sound like much, but it was very time consuming.

Saturday, November 20

The Saturday before Thanksgiving is reserved for the Good Samaritan Center Thanksgiving Basket distribution.  I got to the St. Thomas parking lot a little after 8 and found that the early volunteers had everything almost ready to go for a 9 am start.  Since cars were beginning to line up, they started early and by closing at noon had distributed boxes of food to more than 300 Loudon County families.  Clients apply at GSC in November and receive a voucher which they present today to get their food boxes and a $15 Food City card for ham, turkey or fresh vegetables.  The food boxes contain all the 'fixings' for Thanksgiving dinner: canned green beans, yams and corn, stuffing mix, gravy, cake mix and frosting, pie filling, rolls.  They even get a pack of toilet paper thanks to a donation by Tate & Lyle (Laura helps arrange that!)  Many volunteers work every year and the community financial support is terrific.  It is one of the highlights of our GSC year.

Time stamp: 8:24 am.  It begins.

Receiving vouchers and handing our Food City cards

Station 1 boxes being loaded

On to Station 2

Finally, the toilet paper!

Sunday, November 21

In Sunday School on this Christ the King Sunday, the last of the liturgical year, we discussed what we expect/understand of the "kingdom of God."

A marvelous string quartet provided special music for worship this morning.  After the service, the Thomas family celebrated Sol's 90th birthday by providing a catered dinner for everyone.  It was the first meal we've had together in months, a joyous occasion.

Sol Thomas in the red tie.  Mike Matzek's sister Monica, standing behind her husband Mark Thomas. Mike Thomas across the table.

Monday, November 22

This afternoon I joined Walter and a small group of the faithful to decorate the sanctuary, including the Chrismon tree, for the Advent/Christmas season.

Journey to Mississippi, Wolf Lake - Nov 13-14

 Saturday, November 13

After a cup of coffee, a bagel and a shower, I said good-bye to Maybee and slipped out quietly.  Melanie was ready for breakfast when I arrived.  We enjoyed our coffee and sister-talk until it was time for me to head north to Wolf Lake and the NEW Taylor Place.  

My drive took me along a stretch of the Natchez Trace which skirts the northern edge of metro Jackson.  Then I headed north along State Hwy 49 to Yazoo City, then took old 49 past grand old dilapidated houses and a downtown that has seen better days. Less than 10 minutes north of town, I turned off the old highway and was soon at 160 Lakeside Drive - the NEW Taylor Place.  Park greeted me before I was even out of the car. I was so delighted to be there with Park and Cindy and their family.  The house is enough like the old Taylor Place to feel immediately comfortable.  

Mississippi State vs Auburn was on TV and that occupied the next couple of hours. I visited with Elizabeth and Rand, watched football, snacked and sat on the back gallery looking the lake.  During some low points in the game,  Cindy joined me outside.  Off the gallery is a large paved patio with a hot tub on one en, a big fire pit in the center, and a small ornamental koi pool on the other end.  Park will add an outdoor kitchen off the end of the gallery behind the garage.  Across the lake is farmland.  Houses on either side a spaced far apart, so that from the gallery, no other houses are in view.  The setting is beautiful and serene, a perfect to come home to after a busy day or week.

Fortunately State made an historic comeback and won the game!  Park grilled steaks for everyone and we enjoyed a delightful evening.

Front Entrance - improvements to be made over time

The back gallery and patio - where Taylor life will be centered

Park Sandling and John Wallace

Sandling and Cindy enjoy the hot tub after supper

I spent most of my time here!

I can't wait to see what it look like next summer

Long pier

Lots of space to enjoy

Sunday, November 14

Park made waffles for breakfast which, of course, were delicious. Sandling and John Wallace had spent the night on the couches while I had the front guest room.  The other guest room, taken by Rand and Bill, opens onto the back gallery, as does the master bedroom.

Bill, Rand and JW left late morning.  Park, Cindy, Sandling and I went to a wildlife preserve outside Belzoni that incorporates an old cypress swamp.  It features a long boardwalk through enormous, old growth cypress trees, some more that 1000 years old and 12 ft in diameter at the bases.  We had the space to ourselves this Sunday morning and the peaceful beauty matched any grand cathedral.  No worship experience could be more Holy.

Back at the Taylor Place, Cindy finished a crawfish etouffee she had started earlier.  We enjoyed a late, gourmet lunch.  Sandling was in no hurry to go home and helped "Pop" all afternoon.  He was comfortably at home playing with the new dog Dottie, a Jack Russell terrier who was left behind by the previous owners.  Cindy napped and I just soaked it all it.

Left-over steak and crawfish etouffee made an easy and delicious supper.  We spent another evening around the "fire table" on the gallery.  We were comfortable, despite the chill in the air.  From sunrise to sunset, the view is fantastic.

Just after sunrise

Sandling posing in a hollow cypress log

Back at the Taylor Place, Cindy finished a crawfish etouffee she had started earlier.  We enjoyed a late, gourmet lunch.  Sandling was in no hurry to go home and helped "Pop" all afternoon.  He was comfortably at home playing with the new dog Dottie, a Jack Russell terrier who was left behind by the previous owners.  Cindy napped and I just soaked it all it.

Left-over steak and crawfish etouffee made an easy and delicious supper.  We spent another evening around the "fire table" on the gallery.  We were comfortable, despite the chill in the air.  From sunrise to sunset, the view is fantastic.

Sunset over Wolf Lake