I am going to try and finish this before Bible study. It’s the last session on THE CASE FOR HEAVEN.

After breakfast I went through and cleaned the house, as is typical for Wednesday. BUT — then I packed up everything I could in the kitchen into tubs and boxes, etc, and moved it all into the bedrooms and living room. So when Nate comes in the morning to prep it will mostly be out of his way. I didn’t move any furniture except the chairs…

So the newly cleaned living and bedroom is now a dusty clutter! Looks like by the weekend I’ll have to re-clean!

And that took up the whole day – other than finishing up the book I was reading. It was an unknown author (to ME) and it was pretty good. Some interesting twists! I’ll look for a few other books of hers to read. CHRISTMAS AT SNOWDROP COTTAGE was very cute. Set in England, in the Cotswold’s near Cheltenham. Kelly was in Cheltenham; fun!

Fun thing to do in Alaska:

Quote from GONE WITH THE WIND:

Peanuts Post:

# 1 song in January 1953

TOMORROW January 12th is:

Kiss a Ginger Day; National Curried Chicken Day; National Marzipan Day; National Pharmacist Day.

Tomorrow will be paint the kitchen day at my house. It’s a good thing I don’t have to do any painting. If that happened I just might as well take a hose and spray paint the whole room! Thanks to Nate that won’t have to happen. Have a happy day — God bless…

The sunrise this morning was beautiful. My friend Tom posted one, too. I’ll share them both. Reminds me of Mom’s favorite scripture.

I worked both stores then stopped at Mike’s. Then Gabes. They still don’t have St. Patrick’s Day blankets! Bummer.

But speaking of blankets, just before I sat down here I took all of my blankets from every season and occasion and sorted them on the floor. Then I organized them and put them away systematically. Now I know that everything is put in the right place. I also have the sheets and blankets that the kids use when they stay over all tucked in their own bin. I just can’t buy any more. Yea, right…

Nate is going to come and paint the kitchen on Thursday and Friday, so I buzzed out this afternoon and got paint and supplies. It will be the same color. Just needs touched up. There are so many scratches and chips. It will be a lot of work – especially taping off and the prep; and clearing it out! – but it’s the last room that needs done!

I was cleaning out a closet shelf and found the extra treadmill key. If my buyer txts me I’ll send it to her. It’s very light!

My friend Lee Tobin McClain’s new book was released today – if you get a chance check it out. I can’t wait to read it! She’s a terrific writer with faith-based content.

In the meantime, I’m hungry, so I’m going to finish this and get something to eat! Probably potato soup! I had a slider for lunch.

Fun thing to do in Alaska:

Quote from Gone with the Wind:

Peanuts Post:

Best song in 1952: Happy Trails to You by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

TOMORROW January 11th is:

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day; National Arkansas Day; Heritage Treasures Day; National Milk Day; National Step in a puddle and Splash your Friends Day.

EVERYONE should be aware of human trafficking and do everything possible to put an end to those atrocities. I have nothing for or against Arkansas but I LOVE heritage treasures! And Kelly will certainly celebrate National Milk Day. Not sure if I will be doing any splashing. But lots to do tomorrow to prep for Thursday’s paint project. Excited! God bless…

I slept better last night – and I got a txt from Jami saying that she loves the treadmill. It’s a real upgrade from the one she had that broke! So glad she’s happy and it all happened safely.

Work was light but something to do in both stores. I stopped for a few items on the way home as I am having a friend for supper on Thursday. She likes stuffed pepper soup so that will be on the menu. At least it’s a change from Cream of Potato! I also got a pack of 3×5 cards. I like variety so I sorted them out so instead of all the colors being together they were all shuffled so no two of the same colors were together. It’s the little things…

I saw online that baking soda is good oven cleaning tool, along with vinegar. So after lunch I cleaned the oven. It was easy and turned out better than I though – and it’s shiny clean.

Even with all the Christmas decorations put away the kitchen looks cozy. I have little lights that I keep out all year. It’s always good to keep light alive.

And I’m still listening to Christmas music. I do that all year long. I’m taking Ebenezer Scrooge at his word: I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. But I’m not buying anymore gifts so don’t hold your breath… (Two CD’s out of about 40, plus vinyl…)

Scripture of the day – about light:

Fun thing to do in Alaska:

Quote from Gone with the Wind:

Peanuts post:

Number #1 song – January 9 1951 Cold, Cold Heart – Hank Williams

TOMORROW January 10th is:

National Shop for Travel Day; National Bittersweet Chocolate Day; National Oysters Rockefeller Day; Save the Eagles Day; National Houseplant Appreciation Day; National Cut your Energy Costs Day.

It’s too early to shop for our April trip, and I don’t have any houseplants. I’ll go for the Chocolate. Have a happy Tuesday and God bless…

I could NOT sleep last night! The girl was coming today to pick up the treadmill and I was concerned that we would hit another snag. That, and the fact that I had put the fleece sheets on my bed. Felt like I was sleeping on a cactus.

Todd’s message was about worry today and I needed it. Some of his key points: Worry kills joy. Today’s decisions effect tomorrow. Worry weighs you down and that’s not healthy. FEELINGS are unreliable. Worry is sin when we take God out of the equation. SO I had to own up to the fact that my concerns were senseless and that I needed to let go and let God!

In Sunday School, Mary and I changed the bulletin board from Christmas to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. I will post a picture next week when the board is totally done. We are studying ‘kindness’.

I was trying to print out my Bible verse and the kids’ names but the printer quit. I knew it needed attention. Ken said he’d look at it for me, so I disconnected it and hopefully he will have an answer for me – repair or replace!!

The family did come to get the treadmill, and I came inside to get fruit snacks for the kids that came. When I went back out it was loaded in the van and all was well! Amazing. God is good. I hope it serves her well for many years.

And to celebrate I went for a walk this afternoon. I needed fresh air to stay awake and it was bright and sunny – though it was nippy.

In the meantime, I came back inside and the heater had the room toasty and comfy!

Fun thing to do in Alaska:

Quote from Gone with the Wind:

Peanuts Post:

Number one song on January 8, 1950, was ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ by Gene Autrey.

TOMORROW January 9th is:

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day; National Apricot Day; National Static Electricity Day; National Clean off your Desk Day; National Choreographers Day; National Balloon Ascension Day.

Mom and Kelly went up in a hot air balloon once. It was tethered but they loved it. Nate and I kept our feet on the ground. My desk is already clean and I don’t like Apricots. Watch WHITE CHRISTMAS and you will appreciate Choreographers. And we really should all appreciate Law Enforcement personnel every day! Have a wonderful week. God bless…

I took my time with my morning routine but still got everything done and had breakfast in good time. I organized a few financial chores that can’t be done until Monday. I need receipts from both of my dentists to submit reimbursement forms to Aetna. I also need to call Colonial Williamsburg to check on my donor card designation. Those offices are not open on the weekend.

I can, however, balance my checkbook later. I printed out the statement and the reconciliation form. I also decided to treat myself to a walk through L&L Fleatique – – after I put gas in the car and picked up potatoes and milk at the store.

There were several interesting items at L&L – but I only spent fifty cents on two small wooden spoons. There were a few things of interest. I did make note of the fact that one booth was selling rice bags for $10 each. I missed my calling…

When I got home I made my third batch of cream of potato soup, this one for me. I had a bowl for lunch and will probably have one later for supper.

Still hoping Nate will make it over to analyze the treadmill situation. Today is the first anniversary of their closing on their new house! I’m still as proud and excited for them as I was a year ago!

The Peanuts post and the scripture are combined today!

Fun thing to do in Pennsylvania: Gettysburg

Anne of Green Gables quote:

TOMORROW January 8th is:

National Sunday Supper Day; World Typing Day; Earth’s Rotation Day; National Winter Skin Relief Day; National Argyle Day; National Joygerm Day; National Bubble Bath Day; National English Toffee Day.

No questions. HANDS DOWN I will celebrate World Typing Day. I love to type! It’s one of my best strengths. I’ve been typing since grade school, and writing stories and poems before that. Have a wonderful day, and type something! God bless…

Friday’s are my day off – so I’m lovin’ Fridays! I always have something on my schedule, and always have a list. I still had a casserole in the freezer left from my surgery meals, so I took it out for defrosting. Not sure it’ll be thawed by supper time but there’s always tomorrow.

I worked on my Sunday School lesson and visual aids – the theme for the next 4 weeks is kindness, and tomorrow’s lesson is the Woman at the Well. The emphasis is that we can have different choices and opinions but still be kind to each other – to others in general. What a great lesson for today’s world!

I did laundry and tired to install my soap pump in the kitchen — but my arms are too short to hold the top piece and reach under to attach the bottom. So I need another arm. Maybe one will drop by later. Nate & Dave are supposed to stop and help me move the treadmill so maybe they can help with the dispenser too.

Before lunch I zipped down to Irwin to the Dollar Tree – looking for something specific that – of course – they didn’t have. The young couple with a baby (and she was pregnant!) at the front of the line didn’t have enough money to pay for their order. I was just digging in my purse when the cashier covered them. She said she had been there. It’s so sad to think how many people struggle with just the basic purchases and choices. Some else to pray for. But I did get a little set of 3 trays to organize my dresser drawer.

After lunch I made a new cover for my cherry pit heating bag. The old one was made of light flannel material and it just wasn’t holding up. So I made the new one of out cotton material – Christmas mittens and snowflakes! That should wear much better.

So now I have some ironing to do, and some emails and writing. And maybe Nate will get done with work in time to stop in – if not then maybe tomorrow or Sunday. Crazy big treadmill!

Fun thing to do in Pennsylvania: We spent COUNTLESS hours at both Presque Isle and Raccoon Park! And Mom always went along!

Quote from Anne of Green Gables:

Peanuts Post:

TOMORROW January 7th is:

National Play Outside Day; National Bobblehead Day; National Tempura Day.

I have no idea what is going on tomorrow. SO I’ll just make something fun to do. Hoping it involves being outside. God bless…

It was a crazy work morning. We just found out that a deal sent to PENNDOT in January 2022 was never processed. The dealer never knows; it’s up to the customer to alert the dealer that they did not receive their document. So now, it’s Mystery 101, and starting over. Ugh. In Greensburg I had a nice stack to process and managed that with no issues. But it was after 1pm when I got home. That’s fine – so schedule for the rest of the day. Except that after lunch I made Chrissy’s cream of potato soup. Second batch in 48 hours. She was very excited when I took it down to her!

The afternoon sky was bright and blue and beautiful. And the temperatures were comfortable. It was a really nice day.

Tomorrow is a full moon but it looked full tonight. The clouds around the moon were beautiful!

I’ve always loved looking at the sky – just for the beauty of it.

Fun thing to do in Pennsylvania: Sight & Sound Theater in Ronks, PA. I’ve seen about 5 or 6 productions and they don’t disappoint! So far my favorite was Noah, and then the Christmas story.

Quote from Anne of Green Gables:

Peanuts:

TOMORROW January 6th is:

Epiphany, National Technology Day, National Bean Day, National Cuddle Up Day, National Shortbread Day.

Celebrate the full moon, and the Epiphany! And celebrate all the blessings God gives you daily. YOU are one of mine! God bless…

I spent the morning sprucing up the house, doing a load of towels, making a dessert for the Christmas party tonight. Pineapple/Cherry dump cake. When I left tonight the sky was a strange combination of white and pink and dark blue. It was beautiful.

I had someone come look at the treadmill. She really wanted it. But there’s a catch. We are now trying to work out the logistics of getting it out of my family room and into the garage! Always something. I was sort of discouraged by that.

Wayne & Shelagh’s home is very different than Kathy’s. The rooms are different configurations and accessed differently. She still had her decorations up and it was very festive and fun. There was so much food. We just all had our own little pockets of conversation until everyone was done eating. Then we went around and shared how we initially came to be associated with the Hempfield Church. It was interesting to hear everyone’s stories. I really appreciate this very devoted but eclectic group! There were close to 20 of us there.

Another fun thing to do in Pennsylvania:

Another quote from Anne of Green Gables:

Snoopy says:

TOMORROW January 5th is:

National Screenwriter’s Day; National Bird Day; National Whipped Cream Day; National Keto Day.

Tomorrow I plan to make another batch of potato soup. Who knows what else I’ll get into! Have a great day! God bless…

It’s been cloudy, dark, and rainy all day. Thunderstorms were predicted but none yet. I have the lights on early just for fun and it’s only 5pm.

I got the nicest card from my step-daughter Nancy – the cat on the front was cute but the hand-written message was heart-felt and sweet. I need to send her a note back. She’s missing her sister who died in the fall.

I finally got one batch of cream of potato soup made, and Aumtn and Noah came over and got it. She was very excited. I gave her the rest of the candy cane cookies too. We were talking about our crocus tattoos (which her, Chrissy and I are supposed to get in honor of the Crocus Tea!) and Autmn asked about my favorite Bible verse. I have several, but probably go with I Corinthians 2:9

I had several deals to do in Jeannette, but my CVR system kept blocking my attempts to process. I was on hold with the help line for over 40 minutes! But James, the tech who helped me, go it fixed and I was able to get all three done and copied and filed. Greensburg had two titles to flip. I was glad to be able to come home and work on the soup and do the ironing.

Peanuts post:

Quote of the day:

Another fun thing to do in Pennsylvania: Altoona

TOMORROW January 4 is:

National Trivia Day; National Missouri Day; World Braille Day; World Hypnotism Day; National Spaghetti Day.

I keep hearing ads for hypnotism sessions that help with weight loss and to stop smoking. Wonder how that works. I’ll stick with Spaghetti! But tomorrow is our Bible Study Christmas party that was postponed from December so that will be fun! Have a happy day! God bless…

First day of 2023 work. I had a duplicate title to apply for in Jeannette, and an out of state title to flip in Greensburg. There will be three deals in Jeannette tomorrow, and Joe had a customer in Greensburg when I left. Hoping business is picking up!

On the way home I got groceries, as I went through a lot of supplies in the last week. Everything was so expensive! And so many shelves were bare. I couldn’t find grape jelly, unless it was a super size. Jelly lasts me YEARS so I wanted a small jar. I promised Autmn and Chrissy both Cream of Potato soup so I’ll make a batch tomorrow. Beth was posting old pictures of our parents that she was going through. One of Mom and John on the slide. Do you think they actually went down it, or just posed? Hmmm. Also trying to figure out Beef Day….

I put a mini-heater under my desk and it helped considerably. And it doesn’t throw the circuit with both heaters running since this one is so tiny.

There was a bag hanging on my front door when I got home – it was a gift from my friends Don & Sharon. I was sorry I missed seeing him – but it was a lovely surprise! Don worked at Smail’s even before I started there. So it’s a very long friendship!

Also, at Walmart I ran into a former co-worker from Smail’s – Ralph – who had some health issues and was just recovering. It was so nice to see him, and hear about his 3 young dogs and their antics! One of them ate one of his ear buds! That dog is walking on thin ice…

Even though I didn’t get all my receipts and documents yet, I went through last year’s records and pulled out what I’ll need for taxes. I needed to empty my filing basket so it’s ready for January 2023.

Another fun thing to do in Pennsylvania: (I’m still trying to figure out what all to post. Just stumbling my way through for a while!) Phipps Conservancy in Pittsburgh at Christmas.

TOMORROW January 3rd is:

National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day; National Drinking Straw Day.

Mom loved chocolate covered cherries. Someone always got her a box at Christmas. I like straws…. Have a happy Tuesday! God bless.