It's Fall y'all! Ok, that phrase is not one of my favorites, but this Table Topic theme is all about favorites...and not so favorites.
Tis the season in Louisville where you need to keep summer and fall clothes options readily available at all times. Last week we had two days of 50 degree weather, and then back up to the glorious 70s. But it is October and time to think about that short season of autumn that happens before we hit the cold, hard winter months.
I have to start with something that isn't my Fall favorite...Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Let the lashing begin. I adore Starbucks and I adore pumpkin, but put the two together and I'm not impressed. I've had one Pumpkin Spice Latte and it was less than enjoyable, which isn't my normal Starbucks experience. Now, I'm happy to eat a pumpkin muffin from Starbucks whilst sipping my White Mocha, but spare me the pumpkin-flavored coffee.
A Fall favorite is s'mores! Now s'mores can be made all year long, even during the summer camping seasons, but s'mores around a Fall bonfire are just yummy. I'll share my s'mores indoors recipes. First, hover a marshmallow over a fireplace and you got the makings of yummy goodness. Or, if you are desperate, over a candle. That takes much longer and may end up tasting like vanilla bean. The easiest recipe is to put your s'more together and then zap it in the microwave for 15 seconds. Voila! S'more!
Another favorite is the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin fragrance from Bath & Body Works. This is by far my favorite smell and I try and stock up for those months when they don't have it in stock, even online. There is something about this scent that makes me feel like wearing sweaters, curling up with a good book, or munching on popcorn while watching a movie in my snuggie. I stumbled upon this fragrance years ago and I'm SO thankful they haven't discontinued it. My sales alone I hope will keep it popular.
So, now it's your turn...
What are your Fall Favorites?
I'll "leaf" the discussion in your hands...
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
Monday, October 05, 2015
Reflections on Oregon
Last week, Chris Harper-Mercer, opened gunfire at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Nine victims lost their lives and it was ruled by investigators that Chris, the shooter, committed suicide after shots back and forth with police. My heart breaks when I hear of these shootings, but sadly, I feel the more I hear, the more numbness sets in as to the gravity of what happened.
Whenever a mass shooting like this occurs, the cry for gun control rings loudest. I agree that we need to control the accessibility to guns, but the issue goes so much deeper than that. What if Chris decided to build a bomb and blow up the college, with most likely even more lives lost. How do we instill "bomb control?"
I grieve for those that have lost loved ones, a pain that is difficult to reconcile. But, I also grieve for Chris' parents. His father was interviewed by CNN and he stated that his son lived with his Mom in Oregon and he hadn't seen him in two years since they moved. The very next statement in the CNN article said that they had a good father/son relationship. Whoa, what?! You haven't seen your son in two years, yet you have a good father/son relationship? My heart grieves for the destruction of the family unit. We will never know what the split of Chris' mother and father did to him, but even deeper, we will never know how that impacted Chris' mental and emotional state. God help our families to turn to You, make You the center and not take the marriage covenant so lightly.
It was reported that Chris asked each person if they were a Christian and those that weren't were shot, but not in the head. If you answered affirmatively, Chris shot you in the head. Reports said he even referenced them seeing God quickly. What a powerful testimony these victims have. Would I be that strong? I surely hope so. I don't know what sickens me most - the act of the killing of innocent people, or the pure mockery of Christianity. Lord help us.
When the news broke and my social media feeds filled with speculation and cries for gun control, the first thing I thought of was the true problem here. Sin. Chris was struggling with an unbelief in the One who created him, possibly due to a manifested feeling of being the cause of his parents' divorce. The next thing I thought of was how little we value life. The continual saga of the Planned Parenthood videos and their destruction of babies in the womb reveal our world's inability to value life in the womb. If we don't value life in the womb, why do you think we'd value it outside of the womb...those lives attending a community college?
I heard a report today that a woman who was shot said to Chris, "I'm sorry you've had the life you've had" and he shot her. This tells me he expressed his feelings on his life very openly to these people. And his outpouring of this emotion came through the killing of innocent people.
The problem isn't gun control. The problem is this world needs a Savior. Even so, Lord Jesus come quickly.
Whenever a mass shooting like this occurs, the cry for gun control rings loudest. I agree that we need to control the accessibility to guns, but the issue goes so much deeper than that. What if Chris decided to build a bomb and blow up the college, with most likely even more lives lost. How do we instill "bomb control?"
I grieve for those that have lost loved ones, a pain that is difficult to reconcile. But, I also grieve for Chris' parents. His father was interviewed by CNN and he stated that his son lived with his Mom in Oregon and he hadn't seen him in two years since they moved. The very next statement in the CNN article said that they had a good father/son relationship. Whoa, what?! You haven't seen your son in two years, yet you have a good father/son relationship? My heart grieves for the destruction of the family unit. We will never know what the split of Chris' mother and father did to him, but even deeper, we will never know how that impacted Chris' mental and emotional state. God help our families to turn to You, make You the center and not take the marriage covenant so lightly.
It was reported that Chris asked each person if they were a Christian and those that weren't were shot, but not in the head. If you answered affirmatively, Chris shot you in the head. Reports said he even referenced them seeing God quickly. What a powerful testimony these victims have. Would I be that strong? I surely hope so. I don't know what sickens me most - the act of the killing of innocent people, or the pure mockery of Christianity. Lord help us.
When the news broke and my social media feeds filled with speculation and cries for gun control, the first thing I thought of was the true problem here. Sin. Chris was struggling with an unbelief in the One who created him, possibly due to a manifested feeling of being the cause of his parents' divorce. The next thing I thought of was how little we value life. The continual saga of the Planned Parenthood videos and their destruction of babies in the womb reveal our world's inability to value life in the womb. If we don't value life in the womb, why do you think we'd value it outside of the womb...those lives attending a community college?
I heard a report today that a woman who was shot said to Chris, "I'm sorry you've had the life you've had" and he shot her. This tells me he expressed his feelings on his life very openly to these people. And his outpouring of this emotion came through the killing of innocent people.
The problem isn't gun control. The problem is this world needs a Savior. Even so, Lord Jesus come quickly.
Thursday, October 01, 2015
Time Marches On
One of the lines from my favorite movie, Steel Magnolias, is uttered by Truvy, the character played by Dolly Parton, "Time marches on, and sometimes you realize it's marching across your face."
Time does march on, and with the march come change. I'm normally very open to change and the refreshment it brings, but of late, there has been some changes that haven't been all that encouraging. Recently, they came in threes (keeping with my recent Birthday Trifecta post).
A few weeks ago, Kingfish closed their location on Blankenbaker near my home. Kingfish is a local seafood place in Louisville that used to have a location on 4th Street near the river. The Belvedere happened and Kingish closed and a new location opened across the river in Jeffersonville, Indiana. There was still a few locations around town, and one still on the Ohio River on the Kentucky side on River Road. That one still remains. Kingfish on River Road was one of my family's favorite locations to eat. My Mom loved the seafood, as did my Dad and we'd frequent that location a lot. After my Mom passed away, we moved on the East side of town. Even when my Dad remarried, they eventually moved near me. Dad found the Kingfish on Blankenbaker his new favorite. I met my Dad and Stepmom there many times for dinner or lunch. And we frequented there to celebrate birthdays and holidays. When news released of its closing, I felt like I lost a little bit more of my Dad.
This past weekend I received a flyer in the mail from the Ben Franklin Store in Middletown. I got very excited expecting this to be a sales flyer as we are entering the holiday season. Unfortunately, it was a letter stating that after 32 years of business, the family was closing the store. I was devastated. Ben Franklin is where I always bought my crochet yarn, and lots of other craft goodies. It's close to home and they also carried lots of great Christmas decorations for reasonable prices. But more than that, this was one of the places I would frequent with my Mom. My love of crafts comes from her. She was always working on a project. A day out with my Mom would be either going to the movies and trying a new restaurant, or going to a craft store and spending the day shopping and then trying a new restaurant. In fact, since my Mom passed 15 years ago, I sometimes just wander around a craft store when I'm missing her. And this is big, folks, because I loathe shopping, but a craft store or bookstore is where I could spend hours. With the news of Ben Franklin closing, I felt like I lost another part of Mom. She's been gone 15 years this year and memories fade, so losing this tangible place seemed sad.
Then, the icing on the cake. There is a Wendy's on Blankenbaker (technically Kentucky Mills Drive, but close enough) that I frequent in the mornings on the way to work. Their Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal is to die for! And, they are the only restaurant I pass on the way to work where I can get a fountain Coke Zero. (Thornton's doesn't count) I also like to swing through there to get a Tropical Green Tea when I'm feeling the need for a healthier option for a beverage. Earlier this week I did just that and as I got my Green Tea, I noticed the sign that said, "As of October 1, this location will no longer be serving breakfast. Please be sure to visit our Middletown location for your breakfast need." Really!?! I decided since I didn't pay homage on the final days of Kingfish and Ben Franklin that I would for Wendy's breakfast. Yesterday I went to Wendy's to get their amazing oatmeal and my Coke Zero and almost shed a tear as I drove out of the parking lot.
They say as you get older, change is more difficult. I really want to fight against that because I do get rather energized by change. But, when it impacts good memories (sans Wendy's), I prefer those be around until Jesus comes.
Time does march on, and with the march come change. I'm normally very open to change and the refreshment it brings, but of late, there has been some changes that haven't been all that encouraging. Recently, they came in threes (keeping with my recent Birthday Trifecta post).
A few weeks ago, Kingfish closed their location on Blankenbaker near my home. Kingfish is a local seafood place in Louisville that used to have a location on 4th Street near the river. The Belvedere happened and Kingish closed and a new location opened across the river in Jeffersonville, Indiana. There was still a few locations around town, and one still on the Ohio River on the Kentucky side on River Road. That one still remains. Kingfish on River Road was one of my family's favorite locations to eat. My Mom loved the seafood, as did my Dad and we'd frequent that location a lot. After my Mom passed away, we moved on the East side of town. Even when my Dad remarried, they eventually moved near me. Dad found the Kingfish on Blankenbaker his new favorite. I met my Dad and Stepmom there many times for dinner or lunch. And we frequented there to celebrate birthdays and holidays. When news released of its closing, I felt like I lost a little bit more of my Dad.
This past weekend I received a flyer in the mail from the Ben Franklin Store in Middletown. I got very excited expecting this to be a sales flyer as we are entering the holiday season. Unfortunately, it was a letter stating that after 32 years of business, the family was closing the store. I was devastated. Ben Franklin is where I always bought my crochet yarn, and lots of other craft goodies. It's close to home and they also carried lots of great Christmas decorations for reasonable prices. But more than that, this was one of the places I would frequent with my Mom. My love of crafts comes from her. She was always working on a project. A day out with my Mom would be either going to the movies and trying a new restaurant, or going to a craft store and spending the day shopping and then trying a new restaurant. In fact, since my Mom passed 15 years ago, I sometimes just wander around a craft store when I'm missing her. And this is big, folks, because I loathe shopping, but a craft store or bookstore is where I could spend hours. With the news of Ben Franklin closing, I felt like I lost another part of Mom. She's been gone 15 years this year and memories fade, so losing this tangible place seemed sad.
Then, the icing on the cake. There is a Wendy's on Blankenbaker (technically Kentucky Mills Drive, but close enough) that I frequent in the mornings on the way to work. Their Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal is to die for! And, they are the only restaurant I pass on the way to work where I can get a fountain Coke Zero. (Thornton's doesn't count) I also like to swing through there to get a Tropical Green Tea when I'm feeling the need for a healthier option for a beverage. Earlier this week I did just that and as I got my Green Tea, I noticed the sign that said, "As of October 1, this location will no longer be serving breakfast. Please be sure to visit our Middletown location for your breakfast need." Really!?! I decided since I didn't pay homage on the final days of Kingfish and Ben Franklin that I would for Wendy's breakfast. Yesterday I went to Wendy's to get their amazing oatmeal and my Coke Zero and almost shed a tear as I drove out of the parking lot.
They say as you get older, change is more difficult. I really want to fight against that because I do get rather energized by change. But, when it impacts good memories (sans Wendy's), I prefer those be around until Jesus comes.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Birthday Trifecta
This year marks my Golden Jubilee. When I was younger, the thought of me being 50 years old one day seemed so far away it wasn't worth thinking about. I figured I'd be married, children in high school or college and growing old with my husband. None of those things have happened, and although I'm holding out hope for some of those, my life isn't on hold waiting for it all to happen. This past year I completed my MBA, which is something else I still can't believe I did...and survived. Long ago I figured if I hadn't married by 50, I'd pursue higher education. Seems like God had better plans and I completed that education before I turned 50.
With both my parents gone and very little extended family, my friends have become my family. I'm blessed to have a lot of people around me who love me and went to amazing strides to make this milestone birthday memorable. My Mom would have loved every minute of these celebrations and I'm sure would be thrilled to know I'm so loved. My Dad would have reminded me he also had a milestone coming as he would have been 90 this upcoming October had he lived. When you turn half a century, celebrations just seem to be in order.
My celebrations came in three ways, each very special and perfect for me. The first celebration was a week before my birthday. The members of the Finer Things Club surprised me with a Day at Churchill Downs, complete with a brunch buffet and cake from Homemade Pie Kitchen. What is the Finer Things Club? It is a take off of the club from The Office, where life is focused on the finer things. We eat at nice places, do classy things, and rise above the commoners. Lest that last part sounds too snobby, it's all in fun, people, relax. It was a great day of wonderful food and fun. I'm a Kentucky girl - specifically a Louisville girl - and I love to watch the horses. In fact, I even got my picture with a horse....a costumed horse that is. He even got on one knee and proposed. I'm not sure whether to be disturbed or flattered by that. Our server even gave me a Derby and Oaks glass from the 2015 events. It was a great day!
The day before my actual birthday, my OPCs (the Louisville branch - Christie, Beth and Amy) planned a surprise event. They told me to be at church at 2pm and that was about all I knew. I showed up at my appointed time and the room was decorated in purple and gold - my favorite color and the color of my jubilee. It was simple, yet elegant. As I walked into the room, I was told there were people that had come miles to celebrate. My friend Julie from E-Town, my friend Alisa, her Mom and sister, Karen, from Lexington (though Karen is in Louisville), my friend, Toby, from Nashville, and Mark and Sharon, also from Nashville. Wow, just wow. If that wasn't enough, Julie had come up with a amazingly memorable idea to treasure the day. She had drawn a tree on a canvas and asked everyone to leave their thumbprint as a leaf and include their name to remember those that were there. Then, a love seat had been set up with a backdrop so people could come and get photos and chat with me. I'm an introvert and not someone who will flit about the room making my presence known, and my girls know that, so they accommodated. In addition, purple cards were collected where people wrote a reason they loved me. Again, wow. The dessert table was a plenty, and my cake was delicious! I was supposed to have a "Carol Cake" made by Carol (imagine that) and always oh so yummy! But, due to recent eye surgery she couldn't make the cake so Jessica came out of retirement to do my cake. Literally that was one of the best gifts ever! Ironically, she also made the cake for my 40th birthday celebration. Lots of great chats with friends, sweet cards, precious gifts and most of all the love I felt.
The final celebration of my trifecta was dinner out with my OPCs. I never tire of spending time with these sisters and I feel blessed that no matter what happens, we are always there for each other. I reflect on the times we've stood by each other at funeral homes - celebrated births of children - got loopy during road trips - laughed until we cried - provided levity and love during sicknesses and hospital visits. We ate at a very nice restaurant with lots of "fru-fru" food, as Christie called it, but if we had eaten at Waffle House, I wouldn't have been any less happy. These are the Steel Magnolias of my life. Oh there are others, but these are the ones that sacrificed so much to make my Golden Jubilee special.
As we were talking at dinner, I was told of part of the celebration that never even dawned on me during the last year. On the 28th of each month, they did something to make sure I was loved. I do remember getting gifts for no reason and wondering "what is that for?" and the date never dawned on me. Since the 28th was my birthday, that was their plan. A year of celebration. And that's why these girls are special.
I can say it a thousand times, but it never seems enough. I'm blessed beyond what I deserve. Remember that list of where I thought I'd be at 50? Yeah, I'm not there, but I am right where I need to be and oh so thankful God's Plan is better than mine.
With both my parents gone and very little extended family, my friends have become my family. I'm blessed to have a lot of people around me who love me and went to amazing strides to make this milestone birthday memorable. My Mom would have loved every minute of these celebrations and I'm sure would be thrilled to know I'm so loved. My Dad would have reminded me he also had a milestone coming as he would have been 90 this upcoming October had he lived. When you turn half a century, celebrations just seem to be in order.
My celebrations came in three ways, each very special and perfect for me. The first celebration was a week before my birthday. The members of the Finer Things Club surprised me with a Day at Churchill Downs, complete with a brunch buffet and cake from Homemade Pie Kitchen. What is the Finer Things Club? It is a take off of the club from The Office, where life is focused on the finer things. We eat at nice places, do classy things, and rise above the commoners. Lest that last part sounds too snobby, it's all in fun, people, relax. It was a great day of wonderful food and fun. I'm a Kentucky girl - specifically a Louisville girl - and I love to watch the horses. In fact, I even got my picture with a horse....a costumed horse that is. He even got on one knee and proposed. I'm not sure whether to be disturbed or flattered by that. Our server even gave me a Derby and Oaks glass from the 2015 events. It was a great day!
The day before my actual birthday, my OPCs (the Louisville branch - Christie, Beth and Amy) planned a surprise event. They told me to be at church at 2pm and that was about all I knew. I showed up at my appointed time and the room was decorated in purple and gold - my favorite color and the color of my jubilee. It was simple, yet elegant. As I walked into the room, I was told there were people that had come miles to celebrate. My friend Julie from E-Town, my friend Alisa, her Mom and sister, Karen, from Lexington (though Karen is in Louisville), my friend, Toby, from Nashville, and Mark and Sharon, also from Nashville. Wow, just wow. If that wasn't enough, Julie had come up with a amazingly memorable idea to treasure the day. She had drawn a tree on a canvas and asked everyone to leave their thumbprint as a leaf and include their name to remember those that were there. Then, a love seat had been set up with a backdrop so people could come and get photos and chat with me. I'm an introvert and not someone who will flit about the room making my presence known, and my girls know that, so they accommodated. In addition, purple cards were collected where people wrote a reason they loved me. Again, wow. The dessert table was a plenty, and my cake was delicious! I was supposed to have a "Carol Cake" made by Carol (imagine that) and always oh so yummy! But, due to recent eye surgery she couldn't make the cake so Jessica came out of retirement to do my cake. Literally that was one of the best gifts ever! Ironically, she also made the cake for my 40th birthday celebration. Lots of great chats with friends, sweet cards, precious gifts and most of all the love I felt.
The final celebration of my trifecta was dinner out with my OPCs. I never tire of spending time with these sisters and I feel blessed that no matter what happens, we are always there for each other. I reflect on the times we've stood by each other at funeral homes - celebrated births of children - got loopy during road trips - laughed until we cried - provided levity and love during sicknesses and hospital visits. We ate at a very nice restaurant with lots of "fru-fru" food, as Christie called it, but if we had eaten at Waffle House, I wouldn't have been any less happy. These are the Steel Magnolias of my life. Oh there are others, but these are the ones that sacrificed so much to make my Golden Jubilee special.
As we were talking at dinner, I was told of part of the celebration that never even dawned on me during the last year. On the 28th of each month, they did something to make sure I was loved. I do remember getting gifts for no reason and wondering "what is that for?" and the date never dawned on me. Since the 28th was my birthday, that was their plan. A year of celebration. And that's why these girls are special.
I can say it a thousand times, but it never seems enough. I'm blessed beyond what I deserve. Remember that list of where I thought I'd be at 50? Yeah, I'm not there, but I am right where I need to be and oh so thankful God's Plan is better than mine.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Friendships Are Like TV Shows
Recently I've become a return watcher of The Facts of Life now that it is appearing on many cable stations in reruns. This show about four girls in high school and college was popular when I was in high school and college and I loved it! Still do. Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie all had a friendship that stood the test of time. When I thought about this show, and some other rerun favorites, I realized that female friendships can be classified by three different shows....
The Facts of Life, as I mentioned earlier, was my high school/college picture of girlfriends. At times I envied Blair, but was really Natalie. And now that I'm older I think I've ultimately turned into Mrs. Garrett. As I recently watched the reruns, I see how life issues were dealt with in the 80s and heave a sigh that I wish that they were handled in a similar way on TV today, instead of sitcoms trying to take a stand for the latest controversial topic.
Designing Women was another of my favorites. I adored Charlene! She was who I wanted to be. That one who felt like she was born too late and wanted to marry a soldier...and she eventually did. Suzanne made me laugh and her sister, Julia, was the matriarch. This was the show in my 20s that I identified as a picture of female friendships. I think I was most like Charlene, the hopeless romantic, though some people thought I was more Mary Jo. Bernice was one of my favorites too. The episode where she wore the tree skirt as an actual skirt I remember laughing until I cried. I believe this may have been the same episode when Charlene's baby was born; a two-parter that featured Dolly Parton. (Triple Score!) Now that I'm older, I'm probably more like Julia, but I hope some day to be like Bernice!
The Golden Girls is one of those shows I never tire of. Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia living in Miami in their twilight years. It's sad to think that only Betty White is left from the cast. When this show aired - in fact it debuted 30 years ago - I was far from their age, but I still loved the show. My girlfriends and I would joke that we'd grow old and move in together in a house like Blanche's in Miami. I love Rose, and not just because of the name, but because of her happy innocence. She was always the one I'd want to be if cast in the show. As I grow older and celebrate my Golden Jubilee this year, there are episodes of this show that touch me more now than they did 30 years ago. Friendships like that are precious.
I love to watch all of these shows in light of each other, realizing that friendships last and blossom no matter what age or stage of life we're in. You take the good, you take the bad, and say, "Thank you for being a friend."
The Facts of Life, as I mentioned earlier, was my high school/college picture of girlfriends. At times I envied Blair, but was really Natalie. And now that I'm older I think I've ultimately turned into Mrs. Garrett. As I recently watched the reruns, I see how life issues were dealt with in the 80s and heave a sigh that I wish that they were handled in a similar way on TV today, instead of sitcoms trying to take a stand for the latest controversial topic.
Designing Women was another of my favorites. I adored Charlene! She was who I wanted to be. That one who felt like she was born too late and wanted to marry a soldier...and she eventually did. Suzanne made me laugh and her sister, Julia, was the matriarch. This was the show in my 20s that I identified as a picture of female friendships. I think I was most like Charlene, the hopeless romantic, though some people thought I was more Mary Jo. Bernice was one of my favorites too. The episode where she wore the tree skirt as an actual skirt I remember laughing until I cried. I believe this may have been the same episode when Charlene's baby was born; a two-parter that featured Dolly Parton. (Triple Score!) Now that I'm older, I'm probably more like Julia, but I hope some day to be like Bernice!
The Golden Girls is one of those shows I never tire of. Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia living in Miami in their twilight years. It's sad to think that only Betty White is left from the cast. When this show aired - in fact it debuted 30 years ago - I was far from their age, but I still loved the show. My girlfriends and I would joke that we'd grow old and move in together in a house like Blanche's in Miami. I love Rose, and not just because of the name, but because of her happy innocence. She was always the one I'd want to be if cast in the show. As I grow older and celebrate my Golden Jubilee this year, there are episodes of this show that touch me more now than they did 30 years ago. Friendships like that are precious.
I love to watch all of these shows in light of each other, realizing that friendships last and blossom no matter what age or stage of life we're in. You take the good, you take the bad, and say, "Thank you for being a friend."
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