It is Good to Be Back With the Wednesday Hodgepodge

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From This Side of the Pond

1. On Thursday we pause to remember a dark day in history-9/11. Will you mark it in some special way?

I am praying for God's protection and blessings on our country. I am asking that in His great power, that He thwart any evil plans or devises that might be used to come against us.  I am praying that as He instructs us in His Word, He honor the prayers of His people and turn evil away and in so doing bring Honor and Glory to His Name.

2. Do you ever/still...listen to an actual radio? Watch a videotape (VCR)? Look up a number in a phonebook? Refer to a paper map while traveling? Set an alarm on an alarm clock as opposed to your phone?

I recently found some old VCR tapes that contained our first grandchild's baby dedication 21+ years ago.  There were also tapes of special music programs at a former church that go back at least 15 years.  Yes, they are grainy, but who cares.  They bring back so many precious memories.


And yes, on this long road trip we have just taken, we used our trusty old Atlas.  We also used the GPS and the directions I printed from MapQuest.  Don't think I wasn't prepared!

3.  Is it ever a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don't know?

Probably not unless your intention is to just to dialog.  This may then open the door for a more serious discussion of beliefs and philosophies.

4. What's a dish you haven't eaten all summer, but come September find yourself craving? Have you made it yet this month?

I really don't crave foods so can't answer this one.

5. What's something you know nothing about?

How God keeps the moon and stars in place; the earth on its axis while rotating around the sun.
How to use a slide rule.
How to perform surgery on the brain.
How to play a Euphonium.
etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

6. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like classical music? If so, what's your favorite piece?

I love classical music and this was a very difficult question to answer.  In the end though I think my favorite would have to be Handel's Messiah.  Such an amazing and inspired work!  But a close 2nd would be Back's Toccata & Fugue on organ.  I look forward to getting back home and using our Shreveport Symphony season tickets.

7. What's the oldest thing you own?

I have some books that belonged to my father that date back to the 1800's.  In one I found documents of land transactions dating back to the early 1800's.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We are visiting our son and family for these next two weeks.  Son and DIL are taking advantage of our being here to take their own week-long trip to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.  Son has planned a wonderful trip for his bride to Seattle (which she already loves).  Today they took a clipper over to Victoria Island.  (He sent this picture while I was writing this.)

On Friday he has secret plans on their way to Idaho where their son's football team will be playing.  So, we are getting to spend time with two of our granddaughters.  What fun!

DIL gives me so much freedom to do what I want to in her house, so I decided we needed some fall.

On the family room mantel I simply added some greenery branches that pick up other colors in the rug, furniture and wall colors.  Then added some pretty faux pumpkins and pics from Pier One.

DIL already had some deep orange pillows on the sofa on which the girls love to lay their pretty heads and the off white pillows.  Today, I found these two perfect pillows at Target and think they are just the touch she needed to tie it all together.

Then add in some candy corn and the beautiful bouquet they gave us for our anniversary, and this place is speaking Fall already.  Just in time for the temps to plummet tomorrow.