Reformation celebration

Some congregations are not celebrating the Festival of Reformation until next weekend but our area congregations did. My day began with Bible study at GS and then worship, with Sterling on the MIDI. He did a 'sterling' job of it, too! (Ha,ha...) It was Fellowship Sunday but Justin and I went to Panera Bread for a quick lunch instead.

I ordered the small mac 'n cheese while Justin had a sandwich and soup. Originally I was going to get gas at the station across the street but they seemed to be out of gas! Only diesel fuel available. I was heading to Stephanie's house first to watch the Packer/Jaguar game so my new plan was to get gas on Baymeadows Road, either going or coming back.

Stephanie was still busy in her kitchen when I arrived but she was able to converse through her pass-through. Victory was hosting the dinner after the Festival service and there was concern about having enough food since GS was sending a large contingent. Stephanie was making additional food to feed us all! At first the network showing 'our' game had a game from London on, freaked us out!! I sent Justin a text message to see which network we needed and we were right. I guess CBS just wanted to give us a fit.

Stephanie and I are both WI people and Packer fans, as well as Jaguar fans, so it was a win-win either way for us. Mostly we were rooting for the Packers but I cheered for the Jags as well when they did something cheer-worthy. The best part was just being at Stephanie's and that's it!

Right after halftime, I had to leave to go rehearse our choir anthems. Only a couple people were there, GS choir members, ready to go. Some of the ladies were in the kitchen making things ready but they were not choir members. We had a small choir but sounded like more in number. Rachel was able to bring out the best in us with the church acoustics helping greatly.

As the people began to arrive, it was interesting to see how many more GS folks came than did Victory members. I tallied 33 of us from GS, and had reserved for 39. We had the privilege of hearing interesting sermonettes based upon the stanzas of Luther's hymn, The Battle Hymn of the Reformation: "A Mighty Fortress". Pastor Schleicher, serving Christ, Keystone Heights, was the guest preacher. 

When I arrived at Victory, the eating area was set up outside on the patio. As we readied to rehearse, tables and chairs were being carried in and set up in the back of the church as the temps were already dropping. I am so glad they did that for us leakers who cannot bear the cold! Plus the food was inside! Such wonderful German recipes were prepared...oh my! I even got to bring home some spaetzel which appeared to be home-made. Much much was leftover but I did my share to the dishes.

It felt so good to be there for worship and fellowship, and so good to get home to relax. I was away from home for nearly 12 hours and was ready to get my feet up and revel in the Packer victory!!

All this pumpkin talk!

Many of my friends, both 'live' and on Facebook (as though they are not live!?) have been raving about their pumpkin coffees, candles, and other flavored or scented pumpkin delights. This got me thinking about a delicious pumpkin treat we used to serve at Shady Lane Home called Harvest Loaf. It so happens the recipe was in my dark pine recipe box---all I needed were the ingredients. 

Justin and I decided to have dinner at Nishiki last night even though I was making a version of Swedish meatballs. Somehow I was not in the mood for them but could choke down some fried rice at the former Koko's. 

                                              

After dinner we stopped at Publix and picked up items needed for the next week. He has been wishing to make his chicken and broccoli dish again, made the first time for Lynn and Grandma K., and then again for Linda. Next, for us! Also, got the stuff needed for making a harvest loaf.

Today I decided to mix up the recipe and was doing well until it came time to put in it the pan....no loaf pan to be found! Justin did a room to room search, even looking in the cabinet above the refrigerator, where no one ever looks! By the way---there is nothing up there but dust. 

                                               

This made me sort of sad because it was a pan I'd likely had since getting married, a Mirro pan, and now, it's gone. He wondered if I gave it away like I had the bundt pan, but I am sure I'd keep my loaf pan at least for making meat loaf, or breakfast bread. It's a mystery! I wonder how long it has been gone....Guess I need to attend a Pampered Chef party to replace my vintage pan.

We are having a gloomy day today, no sunshine but very little effects of the passing storm. The 'sea' is mostly calm, not like yesterday, and the wind barely moving the palms. No rain thus far, with a brief passing shower yesterday afternoon. 

My sister, Kerry, reported that a large number of AT&T trucks from WI were heading to the upper east coast to be ready to help restore service after the storm. I hope the storm swerves away and does not pound them like Hurricane Irene did last year.

Speaking of Kerry, she has submitted her vacation request for next year in hopes of getting the weeks she wants to come down for a visit again. That was the finest time ever when she came and stayed for a week. Oh my...great time! I had so much fun watching her have fun. Everything, things I take for granted, were such a delight for her. I hope to do that again next summer if she can arrange it. 

That was in 2010, and only a couple days after I took Kerry to the airport and cried my eyes out saying good-bye (as I cry right now!), I went back to get Lynn and Linda! That was another great week.

When they left, I wrote on Facebook how I'd never had such a wonderful September, reveling in the great times we had had. And two days later, my life changed dramatically---the Great Flood! But, that is enough of that, let's revel in Harvest Loaf made in a square Mirro cake pan instead!

More Bucket List stuff

The other night at Bible study Pastor H. told one of the class members how learning to surf was on his bucket list. Today would be a good one for trying his hand, or his feet!, at surfing, with the wickedness of the waves with this passing storm. But, I simply cannot picture this grandpa on a surf board! 

A couple days ago my neighbor, Gus, came up for a visit. At first he came with Connie to see a large sea creature floating on its side in the river. She determined it was a large red (red what??) but it could have easily have been a small dolphin. The fish is presently being bashed against the rocks by the wild river we are experiencing today. Gus was just coming back from lunch with his friend and decided to hang out up here for a bit. 

He kept telling me how he's been in my home before but never really looked around very much---likely when I am having a flood! Gus insists I get the paints out again, trash my river room with the supplies (my words, not his), and start cranking out some work. I would sooner do that in my room than in there, because I can close the doors to this room!

He enjoyed the art work, the glass, the collections, and my stories of where the various pieces came from. I enjoyed his company! Gus promised to come back some time to look at my scrapbooks, as he is Greek and would like to see the photos. 

Gus mentioned how getting some Chihuly glass was on his 'bucket list'. He told me how he came close to buying some expensive pieces of glass a couple years ago. He passed up the opportunity then and is glad now he did, due to the market falling apart. I hope someday Gus can get a nice piece of glass and not too far off, as he is in his mid-70's already!

Sweet Gus---sadly he told me he has trouble remembering the dates on his parents' grave markers, and that of his wife, but he remembers the 'dash' in between. He was happy that I knew of the poem about the 'dash'. 

The Dash

By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth

And now only those who love her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars…the house…the cash.

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile…

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

Part of my 'dash' was spent with Gus, and with various lady friends this past week. And, of course, with Justin. He is likely going to be moving next month and I am adjusting my mindset to that fact. I can swallow the larger electric bill and eating home cooked meals for a bit longer.....

My new burger

Last night I went to The Club for tapas during Happy Hour(s) to try the new and improved Lahaie Day Slider. As per my request, Chef changed it up to these, pictured below, and made me extremely happy. The sirloin burgers came topped with a dollop of spinach, spread with corn butter, and embellished with onion straws. That's good eatin'! I took these photos before eating but a few moments later, Chef came out and also took my picture! Suitable for framing....

The accompanying side dish was the onion straws, and oh, my!, they are amazing! As you can see in the shot, Justin's meal is already packed in the to-go box on my table into which I piled more than half the straws and poured the dipping sauce into one of the recesses in the box. He declared them as being amazing plus the dipping sauce was the best he ever had! Chef will receive now a follow-up e-mail from me telling him how much I appreciate their efforts and the great honor!

No wonder I couldn't sleep the other night!

The news (you 'new' I'd get to it!) is all about the information being released regarding the terror attack at Benghazi. Perhaps Mitt was right in letting the opportunity pass to clobber PresBO with the facts and let the media do it. Nearly 6 weeks after the event, it comes out only now that there was LIVE footage being streamed to the White House and other points taken from the unmanned drone. In addition to that footage are the communications from the compound reporting being in fear of attack, actually under attack, and who was eating dinner with the ambassador just prior to the attack. NO youtube video was mentioned in any of the communiques---how about that??? 

Who stayed up to watch the footage and carnage unfold, and who went to bed instead? Who failed to order the military to scramble to the rescue as this scene unfolded? With US bases located just across this narrow portion of the Mediterranean Sea, less than 500 miles from Benghazi, help could have been rapidly dispatched. 

Who still has their positions? And who lost their lives while others sat on their hands, or actually watched!, to protect the pontification that we have 'Al qaeda on the run'? That phrase has been pulled from the stump speeches, in case anyone has not noticed. Oops! Presidential race or not, this is serious business, folks, and our attention must be directed to this fiasco.

At least one war has somewhat come to a close, that being the fallacious 'war on women'. This past week the now infamous spokeswoman for nationally funded birth control managed to gather 10 people in a parking lot in NV to hear her speech about this subject. 

Her parents must be so proud of their 30+ year old daughter on the public forum begging for birth control---first before Congressional committees, then at the DNC, and now parking lots in NV. The war is actually evidenced at the gas pump, grocery store, and utility bills. People in the real world realize this, I pray.

I think I'm toasted!

Justin and I bought a loaf of bread at the Fall Festival on Saturday from one of the stands. Slicing bread is not my strong suit but somehow I have mastered it, cutting pieces for my breakfast. Who would think two slices would be so incredibly filling?? Wow, I feel as though I had a four-course feast instead of my buttered toasted bread! We have one more piece of bread left which will work well for my leftover meatloaf sandwich at lunch time---if I am hungry enough by then!

When Justin baked our meatloaf the other night, he had a problem getting it from the oven. The foil pan the loaf came in had a little flex to it. When he grabbed it, some of the juice/grease schlupped onto the floor of the oven, and beyond it. The next morning I saw streaks of grease down the oven door and, yes, onto the floor. This calls for an oven auto-cleaning! So, so thankful for this feature on my oven. Plus some wiping up with a hot, soapy cloth, my weapon of choice!                                  

                                   

Even though the sudsy water is my favorite, climbing inside the oven to wipe up the residue is NOT my favorite. This is where a young and able son comes in. He is so achy and sore all the time but is still more nimble than am I. When I got home from Bible study, I checked the inside of the oven and found it somewhat sparkly, but failed to check the drawer below the oven. I had asked him to wipe that out as well, since it is also a collection point for residue. My oven has been used more in the nearly one year he has been here than it has since I moved in!

Last night at BIC, Pastor mentioned that next week we will not have class as he will be in MN to meet his soon-to-be born granddaughter. He offered to send the lessons via Internet to those interested in order to work ahead. I mentioned that by tonight I would be caught up (I had missed several classes last time through due to being in WI), so I did not need the lessons. He also announced no Thursday classes for two weeks at which point I put my head on the table in sorrow. My spirit will starve!!!

When the class was over, Pastor leaned forward and asked, "So, Kim, does this mean you won't be joining us any longer?" Oh, my! Emphatically (really???) I expressed my desire to continue the class, claiming it to be the highlight of my week. The young couple in the class looked at me, and I told them, "I have a boring life!"  Pastor H.said he was glad I enjoy it so much and am willing to make the trek across the river twice a week to be fed with the Word.  "Please, sir, may I have some more?"

A busy head

Not like I didn't expect this to happen to me but I dislike it nonetheless. I cannot get to sleep! Justin tried going to bed, too, but got up again. He has to work early in the morning. I think he did manage to go to sleep, having taken a Mucinex and perhaps something else to stop his sniffling. He blames it on the fresh air, since we had doors and his windows opened. Not mentioning the fact that he is out in it all day long! Ever since he lost his left ear's hearing due to the virus, he experiences post nasal drip. Very annoying for him, and for those who listen to him trying to keep his throat clear. Usually he takes a 12 hour medication and he is able to manage but the pill wears off!

Both of us were keyed up before and during part of the debate but we faded fast. What we had hoped to hear was not there in the force expected. As I told Justin, we got spoiled in Debate #1, thinking they could all be home runs. The spin doctors will lay it all out tomorrow (or rather, later this morning) but most consider it a tie for now. Nothing huge or game changing happened, which is, I guess, a good thing. The undecided and independent voters likely won't be swayed by foreign policy any way. The one focus group of undecideds were wildly impressed with Mitt's performance which gives me hope.

*****

The other day Twila asked me how much longer we'd be studying the psalms on Monday mornings, and I told her I had it written down somewhere at home. In cleaning off the desk, I found the paper, which showed two more psalms to go through yet, including Psalm 119!! That should take us well into November! 

After Bible study, only four of us went to lunch, Judy C. being absent due to it being picture day at her grandkids' school. She is helping with that and might get a deal on the picture packages. Anyway, I decided to change it up a little and ordered what I thought was a BLT with sirloin steak on it. What actually came out was a salad, with sliced tomatoes, bacon, and a couple hunks of sirloin with a heavy seasoning on the exterior edges. Boy, did I drink soda with my lunch!! I had to laugh at myself because this was so not what I wanted or expected! Should have read the menu better. Jason offered to get me something else but I struggled through, enjoying the potato soup that came with it. Won't make that mistake again!

After lunch I went up to the Publix nearby and got rolls for our sliders. Justin planned to make them for our dinner, adding chopped onion and hand-minced garlic for flavor. I am still tasting my sirloin from lunch plus now the sliders from dinner. My friend, Linda M., sent me a recipe yesterday (actually Sunday!) for an easy refrigerator pie. I got the ingredients for that plus a few other items and then went home. 

Looks good enough to eat!

The pie needed to set for 4 hours so I mixed it up. Gotta love no-bake desserts like this! It used sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, cool whip, and a bag of frozen raspberries, in a graham cracker crust. No fuss, no muss, and so delicious!

Now I must try to calm my brain and get some rest. Tuesday night is BIC, and I have some homework to do at some point during the day. Amber has quit coming for a while, which makes me frightfully sad, but perhaps someday, she will return. Things are tough for her right now and hopefully soon she will have a bright spot. I certainly do miss having her here for Bible history and miss spending that time with her. A prayer or two on her behalf would be appreciated. Remember one for our nation, as well...