Pet of the week

 Gracie is the pet of the week. She is a Labradoodle and lives across the street. Gracie is quick to bark at dogs that walk past her backyard.  I think she is saying, “come and play.”  She literally  bounces to the edge of their yard and goes no further. The invisible fence allows her to play safely in her backyard.

We have endured a summer of record high temperatures. As result, Gracie is spending most of her days inside. As the temperature begin to cool, we hope to see her outside this fall.

Wow, she is sitting  quietly.

A birthday with a twist

Georgia's Kitchen is a wonderful restaurant in Lexington. 

It is a perfect place to browse or shop before dinner.

A birthday with a twist... The birthday girl, she gives gifts to her friends. I like this!

Our friend is strong, sweet, kind and generous.  

Hospitality

"If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative  potential it is the concept of hospitality." Henri Nouwen

The entrance of this home speaks to me, it says, "Welcome, please come in."  

 Our neighbors have the same beauty on the inside of their home 

Dedicated to God

On Sunday, we traveled to Dayton to attend church services.  Our day was filled with joyful celebrations, preaching, baptisms,  communion, and a baby dedication.  Including travel time, we were in the car for almost five hours. Yes, it was a full day.
As part of the baby dedication, the minister shared scriptures and offered a responsive reading. This ceremony reminded me of the dedication for our children.  The service was also a beautiful reminder of the responsibilities to be members of the Body of Christ. I love that John and Sharon are committed to raising their daughter in a Christian home.

 I remember attending their Wonderful Wedding in Nashville on October of 2010.

Family and friends enjoyed a meal after service. 

We were able to take a picture before heading back to Lexington.
What a joy to pray for friends and family .

Reading

"Reading is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you." 

Harold Bloom

 Which is better, solitude or group discussion? Book discussions provide opportunities for deeper insight and reflection when we gather together.  This is especially true when we talk about books that have had significant impact in our society. Rebecca Skloot's book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a book worthy of deep discussion.

We rarely stay on topic during our meetings.  Today, we covered several issues. Before going home, Tina shared pictures, songs, and videos from her mission trip to Haiti. She is even recruiting us to travel with her next year. We will see.

Tina sharing some items from her trip to Haiti.

Pet of the week

Sitting in the sun

Maggie Mae is the pet of the week. Mary Beth is the owner of  this sweet Golden Retriever. Intelligence and disposition make this breed  an excellent  choice for therapy dogs. Some owners  allow their dogs complete training to help in various health settings. I think this is called pet therapy. Maggie Mae is currently completing her  re -certification.
Mary Beth and I will attend our 40th high school reunion next month.  Woo Hoo! 

Riding in a car

Here, she is taking a dip in the pool.
Maggie Mae lives a wonderful life in Indiana. 

Memories and advice

Thirty four years ago, Jerry and I were in New Orleans on our honeymoon.   We enjoyed breakfast at Brennan's Restaurant, walked in the French Quarter, listened to jazz,  and took tours of the city. We tasted New Orleans cuisine. I sipped a hurricane.  Hurricane is the name of a drink.

Jerry and I remember with fondness our martial counsel and advice. Whether it is from your pastor or a family member, be thoughtful in the advice you follow.

We were so young. Today we are older and wiser.

 New Orleans 1978

"Marriage is an adventure, like going to war."
G.K. Chesterton
I like the first part of the quote, the second part... no way! Marriage is an adventure

Croquet anyone?

     I  savor Sundays! I am grateful to be a member of a vibrant church community. Worship services equip me for the my daily life. In the afternoon, I relax.

     Sometimes, I want to do something different.

      Last Sunday afternoon, I was looking forward to an  afternoon of playing croquet.  I invited several family members and friends to join me at Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate. Alas, no one was interested in joining the fun.  The event was a fundraiser for Ashland.  The weather was perfect.  I stopped by to take a few pictures.

     While I missed participating in this event. I think I will bring a croquet set to our family reunion in Illinois.  I wonder, who can I recruit to play.

The corporate sponsor for the event. 

Happily Ever After

Anniversary flowers

According to a Wall Street article published on March 12, 2012  titled, The Gray Divorce, the divorce rate for individuals over fifty has doubled in the past decade.  In addition, an  AARP article has found that majority of couples who are seeking divorce, women are the ones who file. One paper from Bowling Green State University describes the phenomenon as the, “Grey Divorce Revolution. Sadly, “Happily Ever After” was not their experience.  

Several years ago, my husband and I decided to intentionally work on our marriage. We attended marriage retreats, scheduled date nights, planned weekend trips, and went on inexpensive adventures.  At each retreat, we gained valuable insights. Effective communication was key in equipping us to live well. Today, we are in a better place.

On Sunday, we celebrated our 34 wedding anniversary. We enjoyed a quiet dinner.  We have committed to help each other grow in every area of our life. In the midst of daily life,  there can be real joy in the journey.

Saturday dinner at the Boone Tavern in Berea, Ky

Pet of the week

Hans is the distinguished pet of the week.  Hans lives a life of adventure. He is currently recovering from an injury after a recent escapade. Wilma  is the owner of this week’s pet. She is always quick to share a bit concerning his life. 

When it comes to telling stories, Wilma does it naturally. In her book, Horse Farms and Horse Tales of the Bluegrass, she shares the unique history and tales of the Horse Capital of the World.  In addition, she and Mary Newton Davis co authored Bluegrass Treasures: A Guide to Extraordinary Lodging, Dining, and Entertaining. Both books are available in Amazon. Bluegrass Treasures is only available via Kindle.

Wilma and I became friends through Operation Read. She is the Testing Coordinator for Operation Read at Bluegrass Community Technical College. I am one of the ESL tutors/teachers. Would you like to volunteer with ESL or GED students?  Discover more here Operation Read... once you are at this site.... work your way to Operation Read! 

Hans...
All pets are distinguished.. Hans just happens to have the most distinguished name.  

There is an 

There is an Eye that never sleeps,

beneath the wind of night.

There is an ear that never shuts,

When sinks the beams of light.

There is an Arm that never tires,

When human strength gives way.

There is a Love that never fails

When earthly loves decay.

George Matheson

 t

Tomato Festival

Arboretum Building

Have you ever enjoyed a tomato smoothie? Have you tasted a heirloom tomato this summer? On Sunday, I attended a Tomato Festival. At the festival, I enjoyed tasting  tomato appetizers.  In honor of Julia Child's 100 Birthday, I am posting a recipe I discovered at a wonderful site by Susan J. Sohn. 
If you like, take a minute to visit her site here: Real Life where family and community connect

Two chefs from Azur... We were treated to some amazing tomato recipes

Below is a recipe to honor Julia Child's 100th Birthday
The recipe below is from Real Life with Susan J. Sohn
Where Family and Community Connect

"Bruschetta the Julia Child Way
Ingredients:
1 loaf of quality rustic bread, sliced into one inch slices
1 clove garlic cut in half
Olive Oil to coat your frying pan, or as much oil as you like!
An assortment of ripe tomatoes, cut into smallish chunks (I used ripe Roma tomatoes and small grape yellow and orange. When cutting the tomatoes I deseeded and took the flesh out of half and left half)
Fresh basil leaves, torn or cut into pieces
Olive oil to dress the tomatoes
Salt and Pepper to taste (the amount of salt will determine the level of liquid that comes out of the tomatoes)
Grated Parmesan cheese – optional but strongly suggested

Method:
Mix the tomatoes and basil. Drizzle on olive oil and toss gently; then salt and pepper the tomatoes. The more salt you use, the most juice will be released. Let this marinate while you prepare the bread.
In a skillet, brown the bread slices in the olive oil on both sides, until it’s a nice golden color.Remove the bread from the pan. Cut off one end of the garlic clove, and rub carefully over the hot bread slices. The garlic “melts” into the bread by using this method (this adds that extra YUM to the dish). If you prefer, you could saute the garlic in the oil before browning the bread, but you need to be careful to remove the garlic before adding the bread, or the garlic will burn and become very bitter (that sounds too complicated for me, rubbing was much easier).

Place the toasted bread on a great plate or nice cutting board,  pile the tomatoes onto the bread, sprinkle with Parmesan, and enjoy the juice running down your chin! This recipe is DIVINE. I’ll be making it again soon." Susan J. Sohn

Chefs... doing what they do...

Trusting God

What is needed for happy effectual service is simply to put your work into the Lord's hand, and leave it there. Do not take it to Him in prayer, saying, "Lord, guide me, Lord, give me wisdom, Lord, arrange for me," and then arise from your knees, and take the burden all back, and try to guide and arrange for yourself. Leave it with the Lord, and remember that what you trust to Him you must not worry over nor feel anxious about. Trust and worry cannot go together. 
Hannah Whitall Smith

Pet of the week

Reggie is pet of the week. Jan shares a bit about her sweet cat. "My mother calls him The Dynamo. Reggie helps me feed the fish in the pond in my backyard. He sips the water while they are feeding in order to get a close look at them. So far he hasn't tried to jump in, although he fell in once. Maybe that cured him of feeling like he could swim."

close....

closer...

Raise the roof concert

The Bats, Please visit their web site here:  Wild Women

Last evening, I joined Altursans and community members for the Raise the Roof concert  to support Lexington's Habitat for Humanity. 
"Lexington Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian ministry partnering with volunteers and donors to eliminate substandard housing in Lexington, Kentucky. Families in need achieve home ownership by purchasing simple, decent, affordable homes they help build with community partners. Lexington Habitat’s ReStore and Deconstruction programs play a vital role in helping achieve this mission."click here 
Last year, I purchased a ticket for the event, but I did not stay for the performance. This year, I was on the front row!  It was a joy to listen to the new Habitat Homeowner share her gratitude for her new home. 

Altursa members

Church conversations...

My friend touched me, “Do you see how much weight he has lost?”  I nod, yes.   Sitting a few pews in front of us, he seems almost gaunt.  During the course of the church service, I notice how he would touch his son and daughter. Before communion, his wife began to weep.  He slips his arm around her back.  I return my focus to our pastor. He is reading scriptures.

It is difficult to see the pain of families as they endure struggles. While we do not know the specifics of the situation, we have the opportunity to pray for one another.

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.  2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV version)

Saturday Night Music

Do you know this man? If you grew up in the sixties you might be familiar with the Ed Sullivan  variety show.  Each weekend, viewers were given the opportunity to see a variety of performers. In a small way, I think this show made a contribution to my eclectic appreciation of music. Name it, I like it...classical, country, jazz, Motown, opera, blues...

I think this quote by Duke Ellington sums it up when he described music, "There are two kinds of music. Good music and the other kind." Tonight, I was fortunate to listen to good music. Kirk Whalum has been awarded six Grammy Awards. 

Friends who attended tonight's concert. 

While I appreciate different types of music, jazz is a favorite. Tonight's Smooth Jazz Fest at Transylvania University was a treat. Kirk Whalum was featured at this 5th anniversary event. 

I wonder why variety shows lost their appeal?

Tonight's concert on the lawn in front of Morrison Hall at Transylvania University

Pet of the week

The pet of the week is Georgia.

Dory writes, “Georgia is a happy and very energetic little Shih tzu; she turned one year on May 21, 2012.  She’s a real party girl, always looking for a good time a new friend! She loves taking early morning and late evening walks AND especially chewing on her brother’s shoes!”

 When you meet my friend Dory, you will think … she is so cute! She is enthusiastic about her family, her work and her faith in God.  Soon, Dory will join many teachers in our area for another school year. Students will be blessed to have such a caring teacher. 

Real joy

 I enjoy the feeling I have after exercising for  30 or 40 minutes. I savor the moments when I laugh so hard I have tears sliding down my cheeks. Few things give me more joy than spending an entire day with my family. The place where I feel most alive... is worship services in church.  Worship services in church transcend any other experience. Studying God's word also offers me  precious time with God.  It is not possible to be explained, it must be experienced.   At other times, it is being with a group of friends. It is the collective community of believers... I think that is what John Stott was describing when this question was posed to him, "When do you most feel alive?'.  I suggest you visit 
Y tube and put John Stott in the search. The video is very short. I think it is less that five minutes. It will be worth your time. 
Visiting with friends Monday evening offered a special time of "real joy. We delight in sharing what God is doing in our lives. 

My friend on the right... her pet will be on tomorrow's post. 

Do you need a life coach? Lori is a member of the  iBloom  team.
On Monday evening, everyone  received a copy of the book,
iChoose2 Love My Life: a one-year journey toward living a life you love  

After the restaurant closed, we took our conversation outside.  Sweet! 

Auf Wierdersehen

I cherish relationships. I like to arrange time to visit with people who are important in my life. Even casual relationships are significant.  Who knows when an acquaintance will become a friend.  One of my Mah Jongg friends is moving back to Germany. Last Friday, we met for tea.  I am grateful that we were able to share a cup of tea  before she  returned home.

"There is meaning in every journey that is unknown to the traveler" Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Tea at Georgia's Kitchen