Sandy's Daily Updates

A beautiful start to November, 2024. We had rain this morning, a nice soaking rain. It didn’t last very long, but gave quite a bit of water to the thirsty lawns and trees, plants and bushes. There were even a few puddles that the birds could bath in. Now, it is sunny with a few clouds hanging around. Right now, it is 68 degrees and the time is 4:13 p.m. The weatherman said that we might have a few showers between now and noon tomorrow. We shall see.

Tomorrow is the football game between Tennessee and Kentucky. It is a big game. One of the gentleman from Tennessee was telling about the differences between Tennessee Whiskey and Kentucky Whiskey. Also the difference between bourbon and whiskey. Bourbon is basically the highest grades of whiskey. And there are three kinds, one made with corn, one made with another made with a wheat,, and the third made with rye. He said the first one taste sort of sweet, like sweet corn. The other taste like toasted bread, and the rye one tastes like cinnamon toast. The tastes are very light. I hope I got that all correct. I haven’t been out taking taste tests so don’t really know that personally. It was interesting though. Back here one hears about Tennessee Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon. I think I an more into the Tennessee Walking Horse and the Kentucky Race horse. They too, are mellow, soft and smooth.

Not much planned for the weekend. We should have the changing of the beds, the changing of the clocks, both on Saturday. We might put the Halloween stuff away and just enjoy the fall decorations. There isn’t a lot of Halloween stuff to put away as the best thing about Halloween is seeing the kids in their costumes. We had about 20 last evening. All was quiet by 8:00 p.m. I loved seeing the parents out with the kids, making sure they said, “Trick or Treat” and then “Thank You”. One little boy was dressed as a sailor and he was adorable. He was between 2 and 3, I would say. Also bashful. I thought that all moms with toddlers should wear skirts or dresses as it is hard for the little ones to hide their faces when mom has on leggings.

Sunday we will have church and hope that we don’t arrive an hour early. I believe we are greeters this Sunday. After that, who knows. No plans.

Quote of the day: ” Faith has to be exercised in the midst of ordinary, down to earth living.” Elizabeth Elliot, M. Martyred Missionary Jim Elliot

Have a great rest of your Friday. Make it a fun and safe 1st day of November. Have a wonderful, adventurous, relaxing, enjoyable and fun weekend.

Blessings

Halloween and the wind is blowing, the leaves are flying. It is a sort of sunny, sort of cloudy day. Maybe rain later this evening or tonight into tomorrow morning. Perfect weather for the trick or treaters to wear their costumes without a coat or jacket. The temperature is 78 Degrees and it is 5:08 p.m. In the house it is much cooler. I have a sweater on, of course. But, we didn’t get much sun today so it didn’t get very warm in here.

We are all set for the trick or treaters. We have a big bowl of candy, the pumpkin out front has an orange candle shining through its eye, nose and mouth, and the scarecrow light is in the front window. I hope that we get some cute little ones again this year. People drive from all over to hit our little neighborhood. I hope the one family that were here last year comes back. they had two little one who were cute as can be, all dressed up in cut outfits and enjoying all the fun and candy. They just got to look. Mommy said that they could have a piece when they got home.

It is hard to believe it is the last day of October. This month has gone by way to fast. It has been a busy month and I am not quite ready for it to slip into the history books . Of course, I wasn’t asked if I was ready. I hope to be more on the ball in November and get the projects done that I have going. Of course, they take time and patience, so that means spending more time on them and less time on other things like dusting and such. Housework, you know. Like dinner time. Leftovers tonight.

Quote of the day: “It is an extraordinary and beautiful thing that God, in creation…works with the beauty of matters; the reality of things; the discovery of senses, all five of them; so that we, in turn, may hear the grass growing; see a face springing to life in love and laughter….The offerings of creation…our glimpses of truth.” Madeleine L’Engle, 1918 – 2007, American Writer.

Have a great rest of your Thursday. Enjoy all the ghosts and goblins, witches and monsters….and candy.

Be safe, have fun.

Blessings

Another beautiful Fall Day! It feels more like spring then fall, but regardless, it is beautiful. The sun is shining, there is a slight breeze, with a few very high clouds. The temperature is 71 degrees at 4:05 p.m. The low was 51 when I came downstairs this morning at 5:00 a.m. At least 10 degrees above average for this time of year in the East Tennessee area.

Today I have nothing as interesting to report as I did yesterday. I am still in awe when I think about the beauty of the falls, and the picturesque trees with all their bright, cheerful colors. Fall colors are the best, I think. I probably say that at each season. But here, this area, or maybe all of the East coast has got to be the painters paradise. So pretty.

I cleaned out all of my e-mails today, 704 of them. I haven’t looked this afternoon but I probably have 10 or 20 more now. Mostly adds. I am going to start finding out how to get rid of them without them coming back. Is there a block on the e-mails like on the cellphones? That and scams!

Speaking of cell phones, mine only dropped three calls today and wouldn’t let me make two. When it won’t let me make the call I want it just puts a phone receiver and the word “smart” by the number. Personally, I don’t think that is “smart”! This phone has gotten to be more like a dictator then a cell phone. I am having serious thoughts about getting rid of it. I am not positive that it is the phone and not the provider. I want to make sure which one it is before doing anything. What if it is AI? How do I handle that one????? Oh, these modern day ” helpers”!!!

Guess it is about time I head for the kitchen and dream up dinner. I believe it will be chicken and a salad. That is simple enough and also nourishing providing you don’t add salad dressing. I can add a hard boiled egg to it. The snack this evening will be Skinny Girl Popcorn. Yummy! So easy on the waistline, and the scales. Isn’t this TACO TUESDAY?

Quote of the day: ” How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Ann Frank, 1929 – 1945. German Jewish Diarist

Have a great rest of your Tuesday. Make it a cheerful, pleasurable, positive, productive and fun day.

Blessings

Another beautiful day, though with a few high clouds. It was very overcast all morning, until about an hour or so ago, then started clearing. We ran into rain on Saturday but none reached Oak Ridge. Now it is dry, and no rain predicted until Thursday evening. Right now the temperature is 65 degrees and the time is 3:34 p.m.

The surprise trip on Saturday was wonderful. It was a belated birthday for Dottie as when her birthday was, last month, we couldn’t go because of the hurricane. We just didn’t know it. So this was her surprise birthday trip, and it was fun. We went to Colonel Sander’s Kentucky Fried Chicken Museum, located in Corbin, Kentucky. I had never heard of it. Neither had Tina, and I believe Dottie hadn’t heard of it either. It was so interesting to read about him and all of his accomplishments, and how he got the KFC business going. He started out with a gas Station, then a motel and finally the restaurant. That restaurant grew into chains all around the world. After we toured the museum we sat down and ate. It was very good. The best.

After stuffing ourselves, we started out again. The scenery was so beautiful as all the trees are changing colors, and the higher up we went in the mountains, the prettier the trees got. after about 20 minutes or so, we arrived at Cumberland State Park. The star point there was the Cumberland Falls. What a beautiful place, so calming and pretty. It was cloudy so that enhanced the falls and scenery around them. These falls are called the “Niagara of the South”. This 125-foot curtain of water drops 60 feet, causing a mist on the boulders in the gorge below. The western hemisphere’s only moonbow is a spectrum of color created by the moon’s reflection off the falls’ mist visible on a clear night during the full moon. The park si beautiful, with walking trails and bridges, etc. We didn’t do a lot of walking of the trails as it was spitting rain, threatening do increase at any moment. The “rain” was making some of the walking areas a bit slippery.

The store was fun to visit and had lots of pretty things to buy. Tammy bought 3 magnets, and gave to us, one for us, one for Dottie and one for herself. I got 2 post cards and Tina bought a sweatshirt. Of course we took pictures. We were glad we took sweaters as it got a bit cool thanks to the rain.

Coming back home we hit rain and it poured for a bit. We also had a stop and go area as a truck ran off the road and hit the guard rail. No on was hurt. So, it wasn’t a bad trip. the trees were spectacular with their colors so bright and shiny. So awesome.

Sunday sort of dulled in comparison. We went to church, then preceded to do the things we didn’t do Friday evening or Saturday. We went grocery shopping and did some house work , etc. We were busy so by TV time in the evening I was ready to go to bed. But didn’t!

Today was the bible study group’s monthly lunch. We ate at the “HOLE IN THE WALL”. It isn’t the best restaurant in the area, but one of the lady’s son works there so she wanted us to try it. After that, a trip to Walmart, and then home.

Quote of the day: “Whether we are poets or parents or teachers or artists or gardeners, we must start where we are and use what we have. In the process of creation and relationship, what seems mundane and trivial may show itself to be holy, precious, part of a pattern.” Luci Shaw 1928 -American Writer.

Have a great rest of your Monday. Make it a productive, prosperous, pleasant, peaceful and fun day.

Blessings