Home » What’s Up Wednesday 9/27/2023

What’s Up Wednesday 9/27/2023

I’m linking up with Shaeffer and Shay today!  They host What’s Up Wednesday every month on the last Wednesday of the month.  The format follows the same set of prompts each month, and by the end of the post, you are pretty much up to date on what’s been happening in our neck of the woods the past week or two.  Let’s begin!

What We’re Eating

Nothing very exciting.  We did eat out at Hard 8 last Saturday night, and that was nice.  Since then, though, it’s been unremarkable.  I have Greek yogurt with chopped up apple in it every day for breakfast.  Lunch has been rotisserie chicken, green beans, cottage cheese, and pickle spears.  Monday night we had hamburgers and French fries for dinner.  While Sunday and Tuesday nights, we just ate salad.  Tonight will again be salad. See?  Unremarkable.

 

What I’m Reminiscing About

I’ve been looking through Danny’s baby book and remembering that period of time in our lives so long ago.  Comparing and contrasting with some of the strides Leo, Danny’s own son, is making now.

 

It’s also fun to notice how much Leo looks like Danny did as a baby.  Certainly, there are differences, but gosh…the similarities!

 

Leo

 

Danny

 

What I’m Loving

I’m loving having the fall decor out in the house!  Especially love the scent of this new candle I got at Bath & Body Works!  It’s a White Barn candle called Leaves, and it smells SO good!

 

What We’ve Been Up To

While we were out of town for a week, there was a night at the house where we had unusually high winds.  Our neighbor texted me these pictures of one of our Bradford pear trees that had broken in the wind and fallen across our driveway.

 

A few days later, we drove 9 hours to get home and then went right to work.  Big Eagle used his chain saw to cut everything up, and I dragged pieces off the driveway.

Over the next few days, as weather permitted, Big Eagle continued using the chain saw on the trunk that was on the lawn still, and we got everything towed back to the burn pile.

All cleaned up!

 

We’ll be having one heck of a bonfire whenever we light this thing!

Last week we had someone out to remove the rest of the tree and another dying Bradford pear that was also in the front yard.  Now our front yard is pretty bare looking, and here at the end of this long, hot, dry summer it’s pretty sad looking, too.

It makes me kind of sad, especially when I think back to memories like these:

Helen helping Grandpa put Christmas lights around the tree trunk

 

Christmas lights

It’s a very dark picture, but the red and green lights are tree trunks.  I always loved the way it looked.

 

What I’m Dreading

I’m scheduled for a mammogram and bone density test next week, and I’m not looking forward to it.  Yes, it’s something I need to do, but I still dread it and will be glad when it’s over!

 

What I’m Excited About

Ordered a couple of spider lily bulbs quite a few years ago and planted them under the mimosa tree in the front yard.  At the time I had read about how they should multiply over time, but I haven’t really seen that.  But now they are!

Wow!  Despite the drought and my neglect, I have finally gone from two to six flowers!

Only one is in full bloom right now, but the others are on their way!

 

What I’m Watching/Reading

So we’re watching the newest season of Only Murders in the Building, and we’re up to date on that.  But we also watched Justified Primeval, and then we realized there were quite a few seasons of Justified that we had never seen.  So now we are working our way through those.  I think we’re in Season 1 still.  I love Timothy Olyphant!

I’m reading three books right now.  One for the online book club I’m in is called Tom Lake, and I need to hurry up and complete it, seeing as we’re already voting on next month’s read.  I’m only 50% along, so I need to focus all of my reading there right now!  The other two are Dog Gone It and Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood.

 

What I’m Listening To

All of this year I have been doing the Bible Recap.  It’s a plan of reading the Bible in one year.  You read the selection prescribed for each day and then listen to the podcast that goes along with it.  So I have been listening to this podcast every day.

The important thing is that we are about to finish up the Old Testament.  We will begin the New Testament on October 1st.  It would be a perfect time to join in if you are so inclined.  Everything you need to know to get started is on this page of their site.  Pretty much all you need to do is print out the reading plan and subscribe to their podcast.  Hope you can join in!

 

What I’m Working On

It’s been quite a while (like years) since I’ve done a seasonal bucket list.  I think this season I could use one, so I’m working on getting that put together right now, and then I will be working on accomplishing whatever ends up on the list!  Wish me luck!

 

What I’m Wearing

Ugh.  I think I could have just omitted this one.  I’m wearing workout clothes, work-around-the-house clothes, and pajamas. I think the most dressed-up I’ve gotten lately is this past Sunday when I wore my jean skirt to church!

 

What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month

Of course, I’m looking forward to cooler temperatures. 🙏 But more importantly, we plan on visiting Cara, Paul, Helen, and Edith in Louisiana for a few days!  The main attraction is that Helen is going to be in a children’s production of Sweeney Todd, so that should be interesting.  And we’re always in for whatever else happens to come up.  For me, there’s nothing better than being with my family.

 

So now you have an idea of what’s happening around here on this Wednesday.  If you’d like to respond to any of these prompts, I’d love for you to do just that in the comments!  Have a great rest of the week and rest of September!

 

9 comments

  1. Karen says:

    Bradford trees has no root system. We learn that years ago. Cleveland tree is a pear shape but don’t fall over. Our neighbor planted a row of them , he has one left . Cleveland flowers too. Those are the ones going down our driveway to old house !! .
    We been busy keeping that field mowed and weeding etc. lots of work. No bites yet on it. Praying it will sell soon. Tired of all this, Poor Steve doing this , William helps out some too plus me.
    I sure enjoyed my Zinnias seeds and flowers are beautiful. Plus all my seeds. Thank you I really enjoyed each one. I said, I’m sending you my favorite peppers seeds gypsy . I start my in plastic cups 12 oz ones. . Not paper. About in February, they take awhile to come up and grow.
    Love the pictures. Leo little face is so cute ! Danny face little smaller but adorable.
    My girlfriend in Houma in Louisiana is looking at houses where Cara lives. One house they seen it was strange to have laundry room inside the walls instead of outside walls. So they didn’t think that was safe. No idea. But love that area kind of out of hurricane alley like they are in Houma.
    We are waiting for cooler weather and weather here is 70 s all few weeks ! Love this weather.
    I read my Bible each day , Steve too. I go out on porch each morning. Steve reads at table. I don’t go in order. We listen to Steve furtick each morning at 7am. Sure enjoy him.
    Well close enjoy your post.

    • Gale Johnston says:

      Praying the perfect buyer comes soon for your house! Maybe there’s a reason it’s taking longer than you had hoped. Have not heard of Steve Furtick. Will have to look into that. So good to hear from you!

  2. Nancy says:

    I just had my dexa scan and mammogram last week. Best thing I can say about that is that it didn’t take long! Had them back to back and it took about 30 minutes for both. I don’t mind the dexa scan but the mammogram is just humiliating.
    We are just starting to use the air fryer I received as a Christmas gift two years ago. Last night was fish and it was delicious!
    Susan just recently told me about that bible podcast! I’m planning on starting it on October 1 when they start the New Testament.
    Love your blog and you!!

    • Gale Johnston says:

      So glad to read that you’re starting the Bible Recap tomorrow, Nancy! It’s how I start every day. We have done some different experimenting with our air fryer oven, but the main thing we do in it is French fries. So much faster than the big oven and crispier, too!

  3. Shazza says:

    I listened to The Bible Recap last year. This year I’m listening to Father Mike Schmitz (learning a bit about Catholicism along the way). Both podcasts are excellent.
    I need to work on our flower garden this fall. It’s just been too hot to plant anything, and we’re still in a drought, so it has to wait. That spider lily is striking!

    • Gale Johnston says:

      Interesting to hear that you did the Bible Recap last year. I read through the Bible last year, but that’s it…just straight through. This year I’m also reading all of the notations at the bottom of each page, and I’m reading a different Bible version. Both of those have helped a lot. I like the way the Bible Recap puts different chapters of the Bible that are from the same time period with each other. That also helps my understanding.
      As you can see from the pictures, I also need to do a lot of work in our flower beds! Amazing that those spider lilies have thrived all on their own!

  4. You are right, this post helped me get all caught up in your life. I love posts like this.

    Danny and Leo look very much alike. Yay you for keeping a baby book for your children. My mom did for me and I did for my girls. And they enjoy looking back at it. That Leo is one doll baby for sure. I hope they can come for a visit so a lot of time doesn’t pass before you are together again. Our babies change so quickly.

    I’m sorry for the loss of your pear trees. My brother’s street is lined with pears and they are beautiful. Especially in the spring. Maybe you can plant something in their place. We planted a coppertone(?) loquat whatever that is in our back yard in hopes that next summer it will provide enough shade to keep our grass from frying. This was a terribly hot summer for Texas, huh? But look at your flowers!! They are taking off.

    I want to make a fall bucket list, too. Maybe we could link to each other’s posts. We have really been in a rut this year, or maybe a trance with Paul’s cancer, then Covid, and now his mom is in the hospital. We need some pleasant distractions to look forward to.

    I loved Tom Lake. What do you think?

    • Gale Johnston says:

      So good to see your comment, Leslie! I liked Tom Lake a lot! The first half was somewhat slow for me, but the last third or so, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve about got my bucket list ready to post, and I’d be more than happy to link up with you! And, yes…we definitely need to looking into planting some trees on our property. I’m thinking at least three. I plan to research what would be best for our area.

  5. sologal70 says:

    Catching up on your posts. What a nice format to give a framework for writing. Nice to hear about the books you are reading & your bible study. You are sooo organized! Sorry to hear about your tree. Love you cuz! Tweety

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