Sunday Solidarity

[OKay]

“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.”

Thinking of Dee this morning. Check J&C if you haven't already

[OKay]

I love to see the beautiful sunrise!! I have never seen a painting or photograph that fully captures it. However, the next morning.....it happens again. Breathe taking beautiful!

Yesterday I grilled summer squash with limited success. I used a lemon/olive oil marinated on the squash slices and they looked pretty with the grill marks across them....and they tasted good.....but not knock-my-socks-off-wonderful. THAT perfect blend of flavors is what I'm seeking! I used the propane grill yesterday, next time I'm going to cook them on the charcoal grill and see if that is the missing ingredient. After I conquer the grilling method, then my next squash dish will be a casserole. I have a list of about 1/2 dozen ways to cook squash and I'm working my way through them all.. Have I mentioned it is SQUASH SEASON? That means it is time to start locking vehicle doors so friends won't stick sacks of squash in your vehicle

While I had the grill fired up yesterday I cooked chicken breasts that had been marinated in a maple syrup/butter/garlic blend. While they were cooking I sauteed some pears & onions rings in butter and then covered the chicken breast with that mixture. YUMMY!! We have plenty of left overs from the last couple of days, so today I have the "day off" from cooking.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I shouldn't be here now but just posting to say I'll be checking in for news here as soon as I can.

It will be hot and humid here today. The house is clammy now because it was cool overnight (and windows were open) and it is still foggy outside. This is going to be a scorcher.

(edited to add, a scorcher for us, nothing compared to the South.)

[Indiana]

I love this morning's quote. We can't do it alone.

OKay last night at dinner we had zucchini and yellow squash with broccoli as one of our vegetables. It was so good but not as good as on the grill (charcoal - it does make a difference).

I agree that the sunrise is breathtaking. I love the mornings when Jake and I are outside. I sit and watch the sunrise as I say my morning prayers.

[Emptynester]

Tried to go to breakfast but only cafe not open. So back to MH for cereal. Had the same problem last night for dinner. Finally ended up at Ice Cream stand that serves hamburgers. Someone could make a mint with a GOOD restaurant in these towns.

We are off to church now at DH's boyhood church.

Sending good thoughts toward Dee and Mr. Dee.

[Harriet]

Getting dd to SS and will later get to church myself, I hope. So far on that plan, so good.

Sending good thoughts toward Dee and Mr. Dee.

lucylee, I immediately sent review to HRH. Yes, I remember now 1/2 Jack Russell Terrier, hmmm......they are excited in their SLEEP, in my experience. need activity, exercise.

lucylee, yes wish you could teach our three rising 9th grade girls and have P-T conferences with LisaB, helia and me!

[OKay]

Jack Russell Terrier, hmmm......they are excited in their SLEEP,

Well said! But OH SO LOYAL!! DSon JRT copes okay when separated from DSon for a few days, but goes bananas when they are apart for a couple weeks. DDIL/Vet now medicate DSon's JRT during DSon's longer trips away from home.

MT - what size town are you staying in?

AM cards almost finished. I'm running ahead of schedule this morning. Just need to take rollers out of hair and dress LO, then will be ready to attend group worship.

[Emptynester]

OKay - probably about 700 - 800. But close enough to Sioux Falls that most of the business are gone. Main street (2 blocks long) is one bar, one cafe that is usually open from 6 to 2, City Hall a grocery store and a gas station. All the rest are closed.

In most of the plains states (ND, SD, Iowa, etc) small towns were along the railroad and spaced about every 10 miles. At one time they were thriving but with towns filling up with retired farmers and young people moving away they are dying. Here the only thriving ones are a small grocery store and the ethanol plant.

[Harriet]

Back home and had a happy day at church. Kathryn, our pastor gave a report from Presbytery and I thought of you as we now have our first Canadian Moderator. (Canada is such a small place I thought of you.) SMILE! No, just thinking of church doin's and how you've been involved in crossing the border for meeting/service, too, recently. Many other exciting pieces of news from our Presbytery on national and international scale. Our school in Pakistan has painstakingly, slowly, come back to us from its time under local authority, and boys and girls are both getting to attend school there now like they were when we ran it before. This is especially meaningful to my church, because it was missionaries from right here a mile from me (women) who began the school, something like 75-80 years ago. And we're "planting" a church in Scotland, which is almost amusing since we came from there in the first place.

After church there was a surprise bday party for our pianist - just a huge spread. I called home to make sure it would be all right and stayed for the meal, getting to chat with so many friends, also some of pianist's family whom I haven't seen in years. Oh, perhaps I shouldn't have eaten at a big meal like that, LOL, including cake and stewed apples. But there are no calories in a worship-family fellowship meal, right?

Did you have a good hair day, OKay? I ask because I was smiling to read you took curlers out of your hair right before leaving. I took mine down from a low loose bun just before leaving and it had been in the bun since yesterday midday when it was still slightly damp! Talk about having zero extra time, and also sleeping so hard I didn't notice it all night. But, you know, it looked great. Surprise!

[Twins' Mom]

I need to get busy here at home. Rainy day and I'm enjoying the opportunity to stay in.

Yesterday dh and I made something of a list and discussed what the realtor wants done, then made a run to Lowes. Forgot to get replacement switch covers but they don't get installed until after we move out and the painters touch up. DH was quite negative about some things the realtor asked us to do and at Lowes we decided that I will consult w realtor re: replacement of kitchen light fixtures. DH kept wringing his hands about what a waste he thought it was because the eventual buyer of our house probably won't like whatever we choose and would replace it anyway. (The light fixtures over our island is an 80's long florescent, and the fixtures over the kitchen table is a ceiling fan/light and the blades are warped.)

We also went to a St Jude Dream home in this area that turned out to be our general floor plan with some modifications. We had asked last Dec if the builder had our floor plan under construction anywhere, and were told they didn't....Would have been nice to see this earlier but I do feel pretty good that ours will look as good. There will always be some things we might have changed had we thought about but we're going to love the house, I think. We also went out to eat last night to a hamburger/barbeque joint with ds.

I picked up a brochure from the company who "did" the MBR closet at this dream house - it was fantastic to see how our closet could work. Also took a lot of photos...

DH and ds have gone to an outdoor market today - it's in a covered pavilion. I texted dd on Friday night (for Shabbat) and she responded this morning and asked us to write letters!

Now to get busy....
-finish clearing and wiping down kitchen counters
-reboot laundry
-clear kitchen table
-s2s
-make the bed

Also making myself an iced coffee...