Like a Chicken... February 6-12

 Like a chicken with its head cut off, running around erratically, that's a little bit like what last week felt like.  Actually, my days were not erratic, but rather methodical.  It's just that I was juggling multiple tasks, like in the days when I was a working woman. Not like the days of retirement. And especially not like the days of Covid confinement. I find joy in purposeful busyness, so it was also a joyful week.

Monday started with a UMW meeting.  Our task was decorating valentine cards/envelopes for River Oaks (assisted living) residents.  Terri, card maker extraordinaire, had made beautiful cards. We added a message and signature and decorated the envelopes.  Fourteen women gathered around tables sharing laughter.  We even ended with a little bit of serious discussion about our new direction and what near-term projects we want to tackle.  One will be to host the Wesley House "Grannies" for lunch and bingo.  Wesley House Community Center serves the low-income Lonsdale/Burlington/Mechanicsville neighborhoods in Knoxville.  Our monthly collection of Vienna Sausage goes to their programs.  The "grannies" all live on a very low fixed income, basic social security or SSI.  They enjoy a meal and bingo at the center every Friday and love to take road trips to area Methodist Churches for their Friday fun.  We have hosted them at Trinity in the past and have taken a meal and bingo prizes there to share with them.  Bingo prizes are valued household items, like paper goods, soap, detergent, toothpaste - things that SNAP doesn't cover. We also set a date for Friday at 10 am to deliver our cards at River Oaks.

Tuesday held a very exciting adventure.  Laura had tickets for Amanda and Claire to go the Hamilton (live musical, not movie) at the Tennessee Theater.  Claire could not make it home, so I volunteered to go with Amanda.  The Tennessee is described on its website like this: The magnificent Tennessee Theatre first opened its doors on October 1, 1928 and was hailed as “the South’s most beautiful theatre.”  A major renovation and restoration was completed in 2005 and the Tennessee is "world-class performing arts center, hosting a wide variety of events and performances, including Broadway musicals and plays.  We ate at Bistro at the Bijou just down the street before the 7:30 performance.  The theater was magnificent and the we enjoyed the performance.  It was a real adventure for me as I'm not accustomed to going out in Knoxville at night without Bill.

The stage is set and the orchestra is tuning up in the pit.

We had good seats in the balcony, near center. 
The odd theater lighting gave everything a red glow.

Wednesday started early with a 9 am Executive Committee meeting at GSC.  I am not on the Exec Com, but I was invited to present the results of the needs assessment that our committee did in the fall in preparation for updating the Strategic Plan. I left with a great sense of pride at being in the presence of and part of a dynamic group of women who know how to get things done.

Thursday after Yoga, the Energizer group (mostly the same people) had a pot-luck lunch and bingo.  Kathy and I enjoyed lunch but skipped the bingo.  I took a bowl of egg & olive salad and crackers. After we got home, I took Bill to pick up the X-terra.  The repair estimate was $4500, but does not have to be done immediately.  He is going to get a 2nd opinion.  That is a lot of money to spend repairing a 2008 vehicle with 178,000 miles, but to replace it would be $30,000+.

Friday I went to town again, this time to meet some of the UMW women to distribute cards at River Oaks.  We had 50 cards, one for each resident.  Five of us split in different directions and visited briefly with those who opened their door or called us in.  For the other, we left the card on the mailbox.  The brief visits were meaningful, but sometimes painful.  We get a taste of what might be ahead of us.  While I was gone, the man came to remove the downed and damaged trees on our west and front.  His crew was just finishing as I drove up.  

Bill wanted to take the X-terra to the Oak Ridge Nissan dealer for a diagnostic and estimate, but first he wanted to talk to the service manager in person.  We went to lunch first at El Cantarito, our new favorite Mexican restaurant in Oak Ridge, then to the dealership.  He was satisfied with the conversation and made an appointment to take the X-terra in next Wednesday.

Even with all that, we were home in time for me to make a start on the garden work while Bill did some other yard work.  I was able to work for about 30 minutes before my back started bothering me.  I need a weed-eater for the next jobs, but ours is broken.  Bill has ordered a part to fix it, but it hasn't come yet.

Since we had a big lunch, supper was Ukranian Borscht that I had frozen a few weeks ago, with fresh cornbread.

Sage had been pruned but not cleaned up.

Okra stalks have been removed

Broken limbs and dead trees removed

The area looks very barren. 
The stump will be removed on Saturday

Saturday I stayed home and didn't work too hard!  I prepped the Crunchy cole slaw that I'll take to church tomorrow.

Sunday was no sabbath day this week.  My SS lesson was on the very hard teachings found in Matthew 5, as the Sermon on the Mount continues.  You have heard it said....but I say... Jesus gives us an impossible standard to live by.  But again, he is changing the emphasis from action to intention.  It is not enough to just be good externally, we need to have a heart of love for others.

During worship, we dedicated Hygiene Kits that are going to Family Resource Center to distribute to teen students who are in transition and lack personal hygiene items.  They may be in foster care, or homeless or have lost their belongings in. After worship, we had our monthly Meet & Greet fellowship meal with a Valentine theme.  Fun and delicious as usual.  

Later in the afternoon, we went to the Brock's to celebrate Wayne's 78th birthday and later watch the Super Bowl.  Kathy had ham and a variety of cheeses for sandwiches and I took French Potato Salad.  Aiden ate supper with us, but skipped the game. The Matzeks - Laura, Mike and Amanda stayed for the first quarter of the game and Bill and I stayed through the half-time show.  Kathy and I managed a bottle of wine and a bottle of champagne between us. 

Salt and Light - January 30 - February 5

Again, I'm starting Sunday morning, Feb 5, and working my way back through the week.

Early this Sunday morning, way too early, I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep.  I hate it when that happens!  Finally 6:30 arrived and I got up for coffee.  The living room was cold.  The sky was beginning to lighten.  Even my little birds were not up yet.  I read my daily Discipline, Psalm 112, and a couple of blogs that I follow occasionally.  Each reading in its own way pointed toward a common path, interpreting all scripture, Old and New, from the Jesus perspective.  Today's SS lesson is a reflection on Matthew 5:21-37, a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the teaching on Salt and Light. I did a sermon based on this back in 2012.  Re-reading, I find it still relevant. Salt and Light. My readings often reference Fr. Richard Rohr, Particularly his book, "The Universal Christ." I ordered it this morning and the workbook that goes with it.  It's about time that I study it.

Biscuits are ready and it's time now to shower and move forward into this day.

Sunday afternoon I'm settled into my easy chair again, watching the little birds come and go. I always expect to see the regulars - chickadees, titmouse, house finch and goldfinch. The white-throated sparrows, doves and little pine warbler clean up the seeds spilled by the careless cardinals.  This afternoon a downy woodpecker stopped by for a snack, along with their bigger cousin, red-breasted woodpecker. I nuthatch came and flew away so quickly that I couldn't tell which one it was, brown-headed, white-breasted or red-breasted. Maybe it will come back later.

This has been a busy week with something on the calendar every day. Monday (Jan 30), Claire was home for an infusion treatment.  Of course, the Nana Uber took her.  Since her appointment was not until the afternoon, I planned to work on a batch of sourdough in the morning.  I got started early so that I had the loaves in the refrigerator for the final proofing in time to pick her up at 1. I had time to go to Whole Foods and Birds Unlimited during the wait time. Loaves were ready to start baking at 5 pm.  They turned out pretty good.  I have new cast iron small pans that I'm using, one for bottom and one for cover. With these smaller pans, I can cook two loaves at once, cutting down my oven time.

New cast iron small pans

Pretty and good, too!

Tuesday, Denise and I worked on our pre-school book cataloguing project at the elementary school for a couple of hours.  After that, I met with Evelyn, the pantry manager at Good Samaritan to collect some data and "success stories" for the United Way grant application. The remainder of this miserable rainy day I spent working on the grant - good rainy day work.  I almost finished my part, just lacking a little more data from Evelyn.  I had planned to go to the Loudon County Democratic Women's meeting where the program was on climate change.  However, I decided against making the long drive to Tellico Village on a dark and stormy night.

I called Wednesday "torture day." The torture started with my semi-annual visit to my dermatologist. She took one biopsy of a spot in my scalp that has been bothering me and froze a dozen benign keratoses that itch and irritate and are unsightly.  From there, I had a light lunch (alone) at Maple St. Biscuit Co. and then on to the dentist.  I got away with just a good cleaning, so not too bad. 

Thursday has become Yoga day at church.  A group of us had lunch at Casa Fiesta.  Each week the lunch group is a slightly different mix, but most of us are regulars now.  I spent the rest of the afternoon working on the UW Pantry grant.

Friday was almost a stay-at-home day.  Bill had arranged to drop off the Xterra at the repair shop he uses in West Knox for a diagnostic and possible repair related to the check-engine light.  He offered to take me out to eat - an offer I never refuse!  We finally settled on Bonefish Grill in Turkey Creek since we both wanted fish or seafood.  He had a grilled fish entree and I had a shrimp and scallop pasta dish. My serving was so huge that the leftovers were enough for Saturday supper for both of us, with the addition of a few more shrimp and a salad.  We don't often eat out together and we both enjoyed the early dinner.

Have I talked about ONE HEART-ONE COMMUNITY? This project was conceived by my Venezuelan friend, Raquel Leal-Alvarez, a very talented and accomplished woman about Laura's age.  I connected with her through GSC about six years ago when she, her husband and her daughter immigrated here.  When I heard about her dream project, I knew it was something that Trinity UMC would support, with my encouragement.  We have provided her space to set up a community closet with clothing for recent immigrants who often arrive with very little, if anything, warm to wear.  The closet is open to anyone in need, but the primary outreach will be to recent immigrants.  No cost, no questions.  It will be open on the 1st Saturday of the month or by appointment. We still have a long way to go in getting the word out about what we are offering.  Collecting clothing is no problem. When word gets out, clothing pours in.  The problem will be in controlling the flow and getting it out to those in need.

Anyway, I spent my morning, 10 am until 1 pm at the church with Raquel.  She had not advertised, so we only had one person come, but we had the opportunity to discuss how she might organize and advertise more effectively.

Saturday Sunset:

Later Sunday afternoon I spent some time in the garden, surveying the work to be done.  I will have to work up my stamina for garden chores.  I'm in winter-out-of-shape mode. A winter garden is a dreary place. There is so much work to do, and I did very little.

Asparagus fronds to be cleared

Remains of okra and merigolds

Okra stalks and remains of purple-hull peas

Dead iris leaves and stems in the pond to be cleared

A lot of work to make a pretty flower garden again

Sage to be pruned and tomato cages to remove

It should be a rose bush.  It will be.

Hard to believe that it will bloom again, but it will. 
That is the faith and hope of the gardener.
Seasons come and go, life and death and rebirth.

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!