Happy Birthday Lucy

Lucy turns 20 years old today.

How can it be?

She is all grown up and miles away at college, working hard to be a nurse.

She came home for Thanksgiving last week, and we celebrated her birthday a little early,

Sweet family time is the best.

I love how Gus and Erika are gazing at her.

We were so glad to have her home.

I made a chocolate surprise for dessert.

So yummy and delicious!

I also made my famous potato salad, which is one of Lucy's favorites.

We got barbecue from Bow Ties, and I made baked beans loaded with bacon.

She craves home-cooked food after eating in the school cafeteria for the last few months.

Lu and I always wear our birthday crowns.

Happy Birthday, dear one.

You are God's gift to me.

I love you!

 Gram

💗

 

early in the morning

There is nothing better in this world

than to be up way before the sun rises with unlimited time to read, study, and meditate on God's Word.

To do this with the shimmering lights of my Christmas tree is magical.

I'm back in the book of Revelation.

I can't get enough of it.

Every time I read it, I see things I didn't see before.

Did you know that spending time reading and hearing the book of Revelation comes with a blessing?

"Blessed is he who reads

 and those who hear 

the words of the prophecy, 

and heed the things that are written in it; 

for the time is near."

Revelation 1:3

I am so thankful that God, through His Spirit, gave me a great love of His Word.

May I suggest that you commit to reading the Bible every day in the New Year?

You will be amazed at how He will give you the ability to understand.

The Bible is the most fascinating book ever written.

And...

Don't miss out on the blessing promised in Revelation 1:3

 

and Christmas begins

These three much-loved ones just came by and set my tree up for me.

I bought my very first not-real Christmas tree last year.

I didn't measure and bought the wrong size,

I had to send it back and wait for a shorter one to be delivered.

Because it came so late, I never decorated it.

It was so beautiful with just the lights and some bows made out of gorgeous ribbon.

This year, I get to decorate it.

Can't wait to unpack all of my favorite ornaments.

They are so full of memories.

I will be sad.

But I will rejoice because God is giving us another Christmas.

💗

 

one more pic before November slips away

Thanksgiving Day.

Inside the lobby of the Plant Riverside Hotel.

It was all festooned with decorated Christmas trees from businesses all over town.

I love Thanksgiving!

🧡

O give thanks to the Lord,

 For He is good.

 His love endures forever. 

Psalm 136:1

 

Thanksgiving Day

We feasted at Plant Riverside's gorgeous Thanksgiving buffet in beautiful downtown Savannah.

We had reservations for 8 at 12:00 PM.

The excitement was high.

Everyone was hungry.

Let me just say,

It did not disappoint!

My most fun was watching the boys devour everything from 

turkey and dressing to oysters on the half shell.

The delicious dessert bar offered small portions, 

allowing us to sample all the goodies to our heart's content.

The steaming hot coffee with cream and sugar was a delightful close to our sumptuous feast.

As you can see,

the tryptophan in the turkey was already kicking in,

causing Walter and me to almost fall asleep.

Afterwards, we took a brisk walk down River Street to catch a ferry,

but the ferry was not running.

That's okay.

the walk was just what we needed.

Making memories!

🧡

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Yes!

Amen!

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

🧡

 

the sweetest joys

We forget that the sweetest joys are found in the simplest acts,

hugs, 

laughter,

 quiet observations, 

basic movements, 

pleasant music, 

shared stories,

 a listening ear,

 an unhurried visit, 

and selfless service.

Sadly, we forget a truth so elementary.

🧡

 Rachell Goodrich

don't forget to notice

👀

God is still blessing us so much!

Thank you, arrows and bow.

 

in training

Walter is ten,

Meticulous

A perfectionist like me.

So,

I decided to start training him on setting up my Snow Village scenes.

The process began yesterday morning.

We had to create a mess to get started.

There is a menagerie of houses, trees, people, animals, and fake snow.

This little boy was ecstatic.

It was like the ideas exploded in his mind, and there was no stopping him.

His first project was the Dairy Farm.

I gave him complete freedom to create what was in his head.

His placement of each animal made perfect sense.

He had a bit of a snafu with the fence,

But I found some extra and he made it happen...

just like it was in his mind.

We weren't able to finish before the pizza and the family arrived,

But he made a considerable dent in the endeavor.

He did all of these by himself, and nothing was broken.

It took most of the day, and I was exhausted when I finally went to bed,

Thank You, Lord, for Walter, who absolutely loves my lighted houses

And is a willing and talented constructor.

I have hope for when I age out and can't do this anymore.

💗

I think I'll go in there now to work on it some more.

Monday

I finished it, except for the outside choir singers.

Of course, one important thing is always missing.

Something that you search for for hours and never find.😞

Decorating for Christmas early this year!

 

in the home

The one place where your true self is on display is in your home.

💗

 

3 chuck roasts in the frying pan

Last Night ~ Dinner Menu

3 Chuck roasts

5 pounds of potatoes

2 pounds of carrots

I cooked the potatoes and carrots in 2 crockpots with the roasts.

A big pot of green beans cooked the southern way

Yeast rolls

For dessert, 

We enjoyed a pumpkin cake roll and steaming coffee,

With lots of candles lit, the house glowed autumn and smelled divine.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

On the way to the car after a wonderful evening,

Walter told me two things...

"Gram, that food was so delicious."

"I really, really think you should become a chef."

This wasn't the first time he had encouraged me in this endeavor.

So, maybe, 

As I will soon turn 78, 

I should go to work in a restaurant as a Chef.

I'll really have to put some thought into this.

 

Gus and I...

...showed up at church yesterday,

both wearing orange,

celebrating the month of November.

My recently turned 15-year-old grandson

managed to possibly break his hand.

We will find out for sure this afternoon after a trip to the orthopedist.

Yes, it's his right (writing hand),

Yes, he has a cast already signed by all of his people,

Yes, he may have to have surgery.

He was at a retreat,

outside,

at about 11:00 pm in the pitch dark.

He and his friends were playing Manhunt,

running wildly through the woods,

when he tripped over a log.

I am assuming he caught the full weight of his body with his hand.

The kids love the game of Manhunt until one of them falls.

😓

 

happy thanksgiving month

Just checking...

Am I the only person who takes pictures of how light comes into their home?

Again, 

Jesus spoke to them, 

saying, 

"I am the light of the world, 

he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness,

 but shall have the light of life." 

John 8:12

🧡

 

strange pumpkins, normal pumpkins, white pumpkins

Strange Pumpkins

My favorite nursery in the world is Hester & Zipperer, right here in Savannah.

It is family-owned and operated and has been around for 65 years.

It is right around the corner from my house.

It is quirky and homey, and has two resident dogs,

I could spend half an afternoon just wandering around looking at all of their goodies.

Right now, it is filled with pumpkins, mums, and beautiful Fall decorations.

I like it even more now that my grandson Archie is working there.

He knows everything they sell and is very helpful. 

He told me about a certain deer spray that really works.

My resident deer herd no longer comes and chows down on my rose bushes.

They have the most beautiful Christmas merch that is starting to appear.

It is truly a winter wonderland.

Normal Pumpkins

White Pumpkins

"For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart."

Ecclesiastes 5:20

I love the very thought of this verse.

🧡

My gladness is in Christ Jesus, 

Who created and sustains the earth

 in which the pumpkins grow.

 

safe and secure

Thank You Jesus!

💗

 

my blog

I've been writing my blog for going on twenty years.

A lot has happened in my life since then

And it is well documented.

It has been my joy.

Over the weekend, I thought that I was going to have to take it down.

Someone (or something) started clicking on my posts.

It went on constantly for over a week.

There were almost 4,000 hits.

I finally got in touch with the blog guy, and he blocked whoever was behind it.

He said I wasn't the only one affected.

Apparently, there was no damage.

For now, I'm still up and running.

I haven't seen any more of the nefarious stalker.

This one was in Singapore.

Thanks for reading and checking back.

I know it's been a while since I've posted.

cathy c

 

Guess who came home...

Lucy!

It was Fall break at college, 

so Lucy came home to surprise Gus on his birthday yesterday.

It was a huge surprise for the boys that I almost gave away at the last minute.

Gus got his learner's license and drove part of the way to my house for his party.

I can't believe how many of my grandkids are drivers now.

They are growing up so fast.

Bubba missed so much.

He would be so proud.

We played Spoons, and Gus won the big money prize.

David and Archie are away on a trip.

Gus is in High School this year, in ninth grade.

He played on the flag football team, and now he is playing basketball.

He loves drama.

He loves school and any social activity.

He makes good grades, and he loves to read.

You never catch him without a book.

He always gives me a hug and says,

"Here is your favorite grandson."

I can't say, "You are," because I love all six of my grandsons the same.

Gus is such a sweet boy.

I'm so thankful God gave him to us.

 

Happy Birthday Gus #15

You cannot be 15 already.

When you come here for your party in a few hours

You will have your Learner's Permit to drive.

I am so proud of you,

 And I love you to the moon and back.

💙

More tomorrow.

I am busy cooking your favorite meal.

 

pumpkin love

Sadie loves my pumpkin.

She calls them "pump pees."

I am smitten with this precious one.

The entryway to my home.

I love the colors of Fall.

This season change is the best.

Read your Bible every day.

It is the best way to start your day.

Remind yourself by reading who God is and what He has done.

Jesus is Our Savior.

He came to die for our sins.

By dying on the cross, 

He bought for us with His blood forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in heaven.

Read the whole story from cover to cover.

Ask God to send His Holy Spirit to help you understand.

Let Him change your heart by the truth that will be revealed there.

I'll be praying for you!

🧡

 

fall decorating in my bedroom

Bedroom.

A mix of gray and orange.

Some pink blends well with orange,

However, I put a lot of it away until spring returns.

Nighttime reading and checking my phone place.

Sometimes I watch reruns of The Cosby Show.

It makes me laugh out loud.

That's a Christmas cactus in the pink vase by my chair.

My Grandmother's antique fold-down desk and chair.

Each room must have something old.

I love my "Home" lamp,

The bouquet of daisies,

And my framed picture of Jake in the pumpkin patch when he was a baby.

My blog writing desk.

Bubba's picture is up there looking down on me.

That was the last picture I took of him when we were on the cruise.

I cannot for the life of me change the screensaver pic on my computer.

It is the last picture of our whole family together.

The TV corner.

My bathroom.

I made the Fall arrangement.

I love the stormy beach picture on the wall.

Bubba bought it for me at an antique store in St. Simon's.

I 🧡 to decorate.

 

the benediction

The book of Hebrews in the Bible has one of the most beautiful benedictions ever written.

"Now may the God of peace, 

who brought up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead,

that great Shepherd of the sheep,

through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

make you complete in every good work to do His will,

working in you what is well pleasing in His sight,

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen"

💗

Hebrews 13: 20 & 21

 

pumpkin roll

I always put a giant pumpkin in front of my house during the Fall season.

I found this beauty at the commissary yesterday.

"That's the one," I said to myself.

Perfect!

A little while ago, I went out in the driveway to wash her and get her ready to place.

She was quite dirty from growing in a field,

so I decided to wash her with good old soap and water.

When I scooted her off with the hose real good I tried to pick her up.

That was not to be.

She got away from me and started rolling down the driveway.

I couldn't catch her, and she rolled all the way across the street.

Finally, she stopped at the curb on the other side.

I had no idea how I was going to get her back.

I started rolling her, but that wasn't easy.

She kept getting away from me.

No one should have to work that hard to put a pumpkin on display in their front yard.

I persevered and finally got her where she will sit proudly until after Thanksgiving.

I was a wreck,

sweating profusely, and out of breath.

I never saw any of my neighbors.

Hopefully, they were taking their afternoon naps and didn't see that debacle.

Oh my...

How I miss my husband!

 

Harry turns 18 (a repost)

Last Saturday, when I was writing about my fall,

I inadvertently deleted Harry's Happy Birthday post.

I'm going to try to recreate it.

I can't believe that Harry is already 18.

He is a man now.

He is a senior in high school.

 He is a phenomenal runner.

He works at the Coffee Deli, located down the street from his house, when he is not running.

The weather was incredible, so we lined up the lawn chairs

and proceeded to engage in a fun game of lawn darts.

We all played, even me.

David won first prize,

Gus came in second, 

And Walter scored third place.

The only thing he could think of that he wanted for his birthday was,

wait for it,

Toe Socks.

I had no idea what that even was.

He, being a runner, was up on the latest trend.

So his gift was toe socks, and of course, some money.

Harry is throwing a lawn dart.

I'm sharing this so you can see what a dedicated runner's legs look like.

All muscle!

His birthday cake was a pumpkin spice bundt cake.

It was delicious!

Happy Birthday, Harry.

You are 18. 

You still have those dreamy eyes.

Keep winning those races.

I 💗you!

Your Gram forever!

 

and this week...

...I fell UP the stairs.

It was Wednesday afternoon....

time to start decorating for Fall.

Now this is no small feat for me.

It involves removing all of my spring and summer decor,

cleaning every square inch of all flat surfaces,

replacing with fall decor.

I make my house cozy and warm with shades of brown and orange,

maintaining a little bit of beach decor and the color of sea salt.

It is a rite of passage, this summer transition into fall.

My creative juices start to flow.

I make several pilgrimages to Hobby Lobby and Michaels

because I need just a bit more fall foliage and ribbon, and maybe some fake pumpkins.

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

Before I can get started, I have to haul the summer decor up to my attic.

On the very first trek up the stairs,

carrying a lamp and a candle holder, 

in my house slides,

 not holding on to the bannister,

I get all the way to the top,

trip,

manage to propel myself up to the loft area that is carpeted,

fall on the glass and wood candle holder,

taking a direct hit on my face.

All I can say is...

"There was so much blood."

When I realized nothing was broken.

I ran into the bathroom and started to staunch the flow of blood and clean myself up.

I called my family, and David came by to see for himself the extent of the damage I'd done.

Then I sat down to gather myself and be thankful.

Thanks to the mercy of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

I came out pretty much unscathed.

Even the lamp and the candle holder were not broken

I have a big bruise on my arm and my knee 

The left side of my face is a mess...

Black, blue, and red, all mixed together.

My upper and lower lips were cut.

(that's where most of the blood came from)

Should I keep the nursery in the morning?

I might scare the babies.

😟

Jesus' mercy, kindness, and protection kept me from falling down the steps.

💗

I just deleted Harry's birthday post.

Oh my~

😢

I'll try to recreate it.

At least the pictures, but not today.

I'm fixing dinner for my family this evening.

I'm gonna ask the boys to bring all of my fall decor boxes down and put them in the garage.