Morning all, though it is almost 5pm here.
Looking forward to sitting around a campfire this evening to celebrate a friend’s birthday. I’m hoping that we can sing hymns.
It is cold, damp and dreary in Greensboro.
Saturday, so no traffic outside.
Everyone in Greensboro has pulled the cover over their heads and gone back to sleep.
“Unavailable” has never called me this early before.
So? I was sitting in the front room when the phone rang. I dashed in here to answer. I almost had it up when the answering machine said that Unavailable” was calling.
Morning!
The smell of smoke is thick in the air this morning but we are high enough that we still get to see the sun shining. I hear down in the Springs the air is as thick as fog…ugh…makes it tough on those with breathing issues. They advise folk stay indoors…that won’t happen.
I get “scam likely” calls all the time. If I don’t recognize a number I don’t answer.
Time for that second cup of coffee….I drank my first outside as I surveyed the damage done by mama deer at 1:35 in the morning…she gobbled up my knock out roses…I watched her on the camera…she didn’t know she was being recorded!!
Ah, the scenic views! I just got back from another wonderful tour of Publix.
Grocery stores truly are amazing places to give thanks for. Consider how many people in how many places have their work efforts mingled together within the walls of a grocery store.
I need to remember to pray in the grocery store for each worker who has a part in the store products to know Christ.
Today at the check out counter the lady bagging up grocery item appeared to be a young Asian, and she was really checking out my bag of dried lentils like it was something new to her. I wonder if she will try some.
We still have the smoke and drought. Storms predicted for today and tomorrow. Hopefully we will get some rain without lightening that could start fires.
We worked the pro-life booth yesterday at the fair for a couple of hours. Many folks laughed and commented about us being right next to the Democrat booth. We have never had that happen before. We got lots of nice comments and people signing a petition against taxpayer money going for abortions.
The people who were after us were late in coming to the booth. During that time we had a man stop and question getting rid of Roe vs. Wade since people will have abortions anyway. I agreed hearts have to be changed ultimately. He said he was against abortion and a Christian. We had quite the discussion about that, but that is not for this thread. The people who came after us were a bit concerned about having to discuss anything or answer questions, so perhaps that is why they were held up in traffic. I would have been intimidated years ago by this man, but was not now. I thanked him for a good discussion, even though neither of us were changed in our view points. I hope I did give him some food for thought. This blog has helped me hone some discussion skills. So thank you, AJ and all you commentators.
The biggest draw at the booth are figures showing the size of the fetus at different stages, including some twins. It was Kids Day at the fair and they are always fascinated with them. Some parents try to distract them, but many come and talk about them when they were in the womb or siblings etc. Those are well worth the money spent on them.
I too have learned a lot from this blog. How to agree to disagree. Some of the many differences in Christianity that are not enough to divide us, but could if people get too possessive of their takes. I see that in various churches in town as well. There is a lot of unity of believers, but a bit of, “we are just a bit higher in the holiness category because we believe…..” and because they are all just a bit holier for their various positions, they all come out equal again! God is amazing.
The news and politics thread has been eye opening as well. I never really understood people’s blindness to the other side. But it has become clearer. Quite simply, where we get our info matters. As well as what we want to believe.
The little model babies are a big deal at our local pregnancy center as well. The children are amazed at the heft of the little ones, not to mention the detail. As are the adults!
Yes, Mumsee, I have not understood the blindness to the other side, either. I can’t help but see the views of the other side since they are all around me, and I get a daily dose II I talk with my liberal friends. That is one reason I have enjoyed this blog so much, a place that did not offer only the one side that I have been bombarded with for years. If I have seemed bothered by those that have tried to show the other side in thinking I don’t get it, I apologize. I hope for understanding that my level of saturation in it feels like drowning already. I so much appreciate that phrase, “Agree to disagree.”
Amen. It amazes me sometimes at how loving pro-life Believers can be in the face of awful hostility. It’s all about grace.
I had significant inner healing at the conference a week ago when it was my turn for prayer. I had no idea what to ask them to pray about, but my little group told me to close my eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal something.
As soon as I closed my eyes and put my face into my hand to pray, there it was–the baby I miscarried so very many years ago. I started crying so very hard.
They began to pray and ask me questions about the hurt and the loss, then asked the significant question. When was the earliest time I felt this way about birth.
Inner Healing ministry asks us to go back to the earliest event associated with whatever the hurt/trauma was.
And there it really was.
Maybe 8 months before that miscarriage, the Black woman who lived with us (her name was Grace and she was a total God-send to me, particularly that year when my husband was out to see 75% of the time).
Grace came downstairs, troubled, one afternoon. She’d been on the phone with a Black friend who had decided to abort her pregnancy by a white guy. This was long before my training with crisis pregnancy centers (indeed, this was the catalyst to get me involved 18 months later, I saw last weekend).
I asked, “why doesn’t she give the baby up for adoption?”
“She’s afraid no one will adopt a mixed-race baby and it will live in foster care.”
I didn’t even hesitate. “I’ll take the baby.”
“You will?”
I opened my mouth to say, “of course,” when I realized R wasn’t here to consult. Some of you will remember the early 1980s when Christian women were taught our husbands were our heads and we needed to go to them. (Still excellent advice/truth that I do).
I stared at Grace open-mouthed, before finally sputtering, “It’s not the color, it’s my marriage. Can I “sign up” R to be the father of a child without his say? Can she wait until I ask him?”
(Only this week do I see that is the same question many people face with a surprise pregnancy).
Grace didn’t think so. The woman aborted the child that day.
When R came home and I told him the situation, his only question: “Why didn’t you take the baby?”
Until last week, I didn’t realize I had carried that grief and lie all these years–that I was responsible for the death of a baby in the womb.
(I wrote a novel years ago in which I rewrote that story to the positive, BTW. Never published, not ready–it’s full of grief).
So, those three blessed people prayed me through forgiveness, and release. I can’t believe how much lighter I feel.
And I had never put that together in all these years. Thanks be to God that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Creator forgive, release, and give us freedom.
We too have a smoky haze against the mountains. We are so thankful for the verdant shades of green everywhere. We have become so accustomed to brown. Just another 4 weeks and the track will be over. I am looking forward to some time off, but have enjoyed the extra money.
Sunshine coming through the clouds. I am so very glad that I carried my son and gave him life. He now has two children and is a doctor. Still praying for him to come to know the Lord.
I recently joined my granddaughter in having Nutella toast with strawberries for breakfast. I hadn’t had it for a few years. I do like it, but wouldn’t eat it regularly. I do tease them about having dessert for breakfast since sugar cereal is big in that house as well. Not what I did as a mom. As a grandmother it is not my call when at their home. It was yummy.
I recently made some mint brownies with ganache frosting. Way too good. Something to make for a special occasion, as they were very rich.
Nutella seems like something I would like more. For my taste buds, from what I recall, it was too sweet, and the flavors were so blended that they lost their ‘pow’ factor. I really like bold flavors. I love the look and concept of Nutella and probably would like brownies made with it if they also had semisweet chocolate chips in them.
The Songs of Jesus, a devotional for a year in the Psalms, by Timothy and Cathy Keller, is on sale for Kindle for $1.99. I use this to read in each week to start off our Friday prayer call. It is wonderful. I can highly recommend it.
I recently learned I have cousins who attended the Keller church and later named their son Keller.
Does anyone remember, back in the early 70s, a flavored peanut butter with the brand name of Koogle? Koogle peanut butter came in banana, chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon flavors.
The only one that I remember my mom buying was the banana flavor. (Although on thinking a bit more, I think we did try the chocolate one a time or two.) One time, out of curiosity, I taste-tested it against real bananas and plain peanut butter. Compared to a banana, it tasted more like peanut butter, and compared to peanut butter, it tasted more like banana. 🙂
I barely remember that brand, Kizzie. We had few sweets since my brother had diabetes. We never had it, but I must have seen ads or had a friend who are it.
Recently, I have gotten in the habit of having sugar-free root beer on the weekends, with an occasional glass during the week. I generally only have one glass each weekend day, only occasionally having two. At first, Nightingale bought one brand that was good enough, but then she brought home the classic A&W brand of sugar-free root beer. Wow, what a difference! Delicious!
This last time, she bought Barq’s sugar-free root beer. I knew that Barq’s is also a good brand name, so I didn’t mind. But I was really surprised at how it has a different flavor to it, that I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m not complaining, though, just saying that it does have a different flavor than A&W. But again, there is something kinda different about the flavor.
If asked, I would prefer A&W, for its more classic root beer taste, but I do like the Barq’s as well, so that’s fine, too, if it’s cheaper at the store. They are both very good, although with slightly different tastes.
To be clear, Nightingale does not buy everything that Boy asks her to. She’s pretty strict about what she allows him to have. But now and then, she will allow him to pick out something as a treat.
It’s the strange food thread today I see. I had scrambled eggs for breakfast.
I’m revisiting Pandemic Past today with online church (the delta variant is spreading enthusiastically through out church right now; we still offer live worship but other things, including a BBQ today and the men’s breakfast, have been canceled).
The session was meeting this afternoon to discuss how, exactly, to proceed.
A couple folks who were vaccinated still tested positive and, though they have mild symptoms, are to quarantine for 10 days — the issue is that it can still be spread to others who may be more vulnerable to a much more serious reaction. We have a number of people in the congregation who are being treated for serious issues, including cancer; I did notice the woman who’d had a liver transplant last year was double-masked. But most people in our congregation — we’re in a big room but it’s very crowded — don’t wear masks as it’s being left to our discretion.
I’ve been attending church, have intermingled with a number of folks more personally, but have no symptoms and don’t feel the need to be tested. Still, the better part of wisdom says it’s a time to be more careful again.
We hope this is all short-lived.
But interesting to see how contagious this particular variant is up close.
I am afraid I have not kept up much on how things are going, just stay in my own little corner, visiting those who come by.
Yesterday was a couple who already had covid, he was hospitalized, but not getting vaccinated. So many choices people are making. They get tested and donate their blood for the antibodies. But they have had a plethora of surgeries, including partial knee replacement for her next week after back surgery last year, and other knee. And back and neck and knees and shoulders for him.
But those who are vaccinated ought to be free to participate, if the vaccines work.
Those who have not been vaccinated ought to be free to participate as well.
Seems everybody ought to know not to go out when sick (and those of us who know people will anyway, can opt to stay home)
Everybody ought to know to wash their hands, not cough on people, wear a mask if they feel threatened or that they are a threat. Common sense ought to kick in if it hasn’t. Even with asymptomatic carriers out there.
I was under the impression most people in the vulnerable category are staying home out of caution. Obviously, my husband is not. And I certainly do not want to make somebody else sick. All very confusing when you get into it.
The vaccines are doing what they were meant to do — protect, in the vast majority of cases, against serious illness, hospitalization and death.
But anyone who is infected, including those who are vaccinated via breakthrough incidents, can — it’s believed — spread the disease to others, including those who aren’t vaccinated.
~ The rapid rise of the Delta variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 has caused many people to reassess the risks of going about their lives. The highly contagious variant infects people more easily than earlier strains, and infected people carry higher levels of virus, research indicates.
Vaccines still provide strong protection against severe illness and death; unvaccinated people account for the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations and deaths. Yet the possibility of a breakthrough infection—and potentially transmitting it onward—is stirring apprehension among many who are vaccinated.
Part of the trepidation is the uncertainty: Scientists are still learning about Delta, including how much of a threat it poses to vaccinated adults as well as young children not yet eligible for shots. So we asked a group of doctors—all vaccinated—how they are recalculating risk in their own families and daily activities.
All said they are wearing masks again in crowded indoor public places. They mostly wear N95s in higher-risk settings, like with patients or on planes, and double up with cloth and surgical masks in less risky situations. Most have stopped dining indoors. They are still largely comfortable taking off masks in groups of friends and family when they are sure everyone present is vaccinated, depending on the size of the group.
Most said they are limiting or curtailing travel. Dr. Wachter won’t take “elective” trips, but he will go see his parents in Florida next month; his father is in hospice care. Once on the airplane, he will remove his N95 mask only long enough “to gobble down” some food, and only then if all passengers around him have their masks on, he says.
Trey Dunbar, president of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health in Baton Rouge, La., visited his son in Atlanta before Delta cases surged. Those cases now fill his emergency room, which is seeing a five- to sixfold increase in children with respiratory viruses, about one-third to half of which are Covid, he says.
He has postponed plans to visit his parents and adult daughter in North Carolina. He acknowledges that he’s being conservative, given that all are vaccinated. Even a mild bout of the illness would keep him off the front lines in treating the surge, he says. “What I do is important to me,” Dr. Dunbar says. “Everybody has a threshold and I fall on the cautious side.” ~
An outspoken against vaccination gentleman in this area, came out in support of vaccines this week after a family get together ended with seven of the eleven infected. One in ICU. He (in his seventies) did not get it. He thinks it is the Delta variation and thinks it changes the whole game.
I am also concerned that this vaccination only seems to be good for six months or so. That means all those vaccinated early on should be going back for a booster by now.
Son made the long drive from Waco to Charleston with an overnight stop in West Monroe, Louisiana and overnight here last night. I fixed dinner for the guys (Art, Brother, and Wesley) and we had a good visit. Grateful to God for traveling mercies.
I had planned to make salmon patties last night but forgot to buy the salmon. We had cauliflower mixed with carrots, cole slaw, biscuits plain or with apple jelly, and honeydew melon. It really was a delicious meal. Wesley had eaten chicken nuggets twice yesterday so he did not need more protein. I still felt badly not having protein, but we filled up on all the other fresh summer food.
RNA technology goes after the spike protein in the virus–that’s why all three vaccines work against the variations.
In China, they used the old-fashioned version of vaccine design and it only works against one type of virus. China, right now, has lost control of COVID, Delta variation, and they are desperately shutting down the entire country.
If you have had the vaccine, you may get the Delta variation, but it should not put you in the hospital–thus, your case will not be as life-threatening as those who are not vaccinated.
This is also why they recommend those who have come through COVID also get the vaccination–their antibodies will not fight the Delta variation or any others that come along after the virus mutates again.
Mr. COVID has been explaining this ad nauseum for almost two weeks.
I may have mentioned I felt a lot better about the mRNA vaccine after I read Isaacson’s “The Codebreakers,” which is about how the mRNA and CRSPR technology were developed over the last 20 years. It’s not been used as a vaccine before, but this is not a technology that was developed in 2020.
Yes, the ports in LA and neighboring Long Beach here are closely watching what is happening in China right now as their ports and factories begin to be affected again and shipments get delayed.
Science is a process, with lots of twists and turns. This has all been confusing for all of us. But much of the changing information is no one’s “fault,” it’s just the result of learning more as we have more data.
That’s why the saying, “The science is settled” is so silly.
Janice it is so good to hear you have been blessed to spend some more time with Wesley. Just the thought of it brings a smile….praying he gets settled well in his new location and that there will be more frequent visits with Mom and Dad!
Church was sweet and after attending the Ladies tea yesterday it was a blessing to now know some of the ladies to engage in conversation. I will be starting a book study with some of the ladies in Sept…and it will be at a home just 6 minutes from our home. A true blessing that one of the families at the church lives just a hop skip and a jump from us! 😊
Kizzie, did you know Barq’s contains caffeine? At least the regular kind does – I’ve never tried the sugar-free.
I grew up with Hires root beer. My family’s New Year’s Eve tradition (when we were old enough to stay up until midnight) was to ring in the new year with root beer floats, always made with Hires. Sadly it’s hard to find now, at least around here.
Our interim pastor began today to get us ready for the upcoming process of hiring a new pastor, and the changes that may come with that. One of his points was that we should honor relationship over our own personal preferences, citing Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians 8:13.
(“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”)
It will be interesting to see who comes to “apply for the job”, and who we will finally choose to be our new pastor. There is always a change in the atmosphere, so to speak, of the church, and too often, some people will leave because they liked how the former pastor did things, and don’t want change. (So, they change churches. Where’s the logic in that?)
Kevin – I checked it out online when Nightingale bought it, and found that the sugar-free does not have caffeine. But I’m going to check again to make sure.
Yeah, I do like A&W better. It has more of the classic root beer taste to me. I wish I could figure out what it is about Barq’s taste that seems so different.
Just started to look online again, and saw that the slogan for Barq’s root beer is that is “has bite”. Good description of that taste I can’t nail down.
It’s been years since I had a root beer. I always liked it.
My family made sassafras tea when I was young. That might be where that special flavoring comes from. At some point we heard that sassafras was carcinogenic and stopped making that tea. I still remember its wonderful flavor. And I wondered if that might be what is in Dr. Pepper.
I never had cream soda until I was an adult. I got quite a surprise the first time I drank that. I liked it, too, but only occasionally.
Morning, Chas. Enjoy your day. Monday was quite long here with lots to do in Kinder. Tomorrow will be easier as we have both music and computer. Are you having sunshine or rain today?
Wandering Views 
Morning all, though it is almost 5pm here.
Looking forward to sitting around a campfire this evening to celebrate a friend’s birthday. I’m hoping that we can sing hymns.
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Good evening Jo.
Good morning everyone else.
It is dreary, cloudy here. It has rained,but not now.
Off to some breakfast and coffee.
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Sun should be shining in my window about now.
It is so dark outside, seems like nighttime.
Weird.
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It is cold, damp and dreary in Greensboro.
Saturday, so no traffic outside.
Everyone in Greensboro has pulled the cover over their heads and gone back to sleep.
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“Unavailable” has never called me this early before.
So? I was sitting in the front room when the phone rang. I dashed in here to answer. I almost had it up when the answering machine said that Unavailable” was calling.
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We get a lot of those calls. If we don’t recognize the number we let it go to voicemail, then delete the message if it’s not a personal call.
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Morning!
The smell of smoke is thick in the air this morning but we are high enough that we still get to see the sun shining. I hear down in the Springs the air is as thick as fog…ugh…makes it tough on those with breathing issues. They advise folk stay indoors…that won’t happen.
I get “scam likely” calls all the time. If I don’t recognize a number I don’t answer.
Time for that second cup of coffee….I drank my first outside as I surveyed the damage done by mama deer at 1:35 in the morning…she gobbled up my knock out roses…I watched her on the camera…she didn’t know she was being recorded!!
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Good morning. Beautiful day in the neighborhood. I can see the hills and even the mountains. The smoke is not gone, but not anywhere near as thick.
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Ah, the scenic views! I just got back from another wonderful tour of Publix.
Grocery stores truly are amazing places to give thanks for. Consider how many people in how many places have their work efforts mingled together within the walls of a grocery store.
I need to remember to pray in the grocery store for each worker who has a part in the store products to know Christ.
Today at the check out counter the lady bagging up grocery item appeared to be a young Asian, and she was really checking out my bag of dried lentils like it was something new to her. I wonder if she will try some.
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It’s gonna be a scorcher here today. It was already steamy at a little after 9 a.m.
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We still have the smoke and drought. Storms predicted for today and tomorrow. Hopefully we will get some rain without lightening that could start fires.
We worked the pro-life booth yesterday at the fair for a couple of hours. Many folks laughed and commented about us being right next to the Democrat booth. We have never had that happen before. We got lots of nice comments and people signing a petition against taxpayer money going for abortions.
The people who were after us were late in coming to the booth. During that time we had a man stop and question getting rid of Roe vs. Wade since people will have abortions anyway. I agreed hearts have to be changed ultimately. He said he was against abortion and a Christian. We had quite the discussion about that, but that is not for this thread. The people who came after us were a bit concerned about having to discuss anything or answer questions, so perhaps that is why they were held up in traffic. I would have been intimidated years ago by this man, but was not now. I thanked him for a good discussion, even though neither of us were changed in our view points. I hope I did give him some food for thought. This blog has helped me hone some discussion skills. So thank you, AJ and all you commentators.
The biggest draw at the booth are figures showing the size of the fetus at different stages, including some twins. It was Kids Day at the fair and they are always fascinated with them. Some parents try to distract them, but many come and talk about them when they were in the womb or siblings etc. Those are well worth the money spent on them.
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I too have learned a lot from this blog. How to agree to disagree. Some of the many differences in Christianity that are not enough to divide us, but could if people get too possessive of their takes. I see that in various churches in town as well. There is a lot of unity of believers, but a bit of, “we are just a bit higher in the holiness category because we believe…..” and because they are all just a bit holier for their various positions, they all come out equal again! God is amazing.
The news and politics thread has been eye opening as well. I never really understood people’s blindness to the other side. But it has become clearer. Quite simply, where we get our info matters. As well as what we want to believe.
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The little model babies are a big deal at our local pregnancy center as well. The children are amazed at the heft of the little ones, not to mention the detail. As are the adults!
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Yes, Mumsee, I have not understood the blindness to the other side, either. I can’t help but see the views of the other side since they are all around me, and I get a daily dose II I talk with my liberal friends. That is one reason I have enjoyed this blog so much, a place that did not offer only the one side that I have been bombarded with for years. If I have seemed bothered by those that have tried to show the other side in thinking I don’t get it, I apologize. I hope for understanding that my level of saturation in it feels like drowning already. I so much appreciate that phrase, “Agree to disagree.”
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Amen. It amazes me sometimes at how loving pro-life Believers can be in the face of awful hostility. It’s all about grace.
I had significant inner healing at the conference a week ago when it was my turn for prayer. I had no idea what to ask them to pray about, but my little group told me to close my eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal something.
As soon as I closed my eyes and put my face into my hand to pray, there it was–the baby I miscarried so very many years ago. I started crying so very hard.
They began to pray and ask me questions about the hurt and the loss, then asked the significant question. When was the earliest time I felt this way about birth.
Inner Healing ministry asks us to go back to the earliest event associated with whatever the hurt/trauma was.
And there it really was.
Maybe 8 months before that miscarriage, the Black woman who lived with us (her name was Grace and she was a total God-send to me, particularly that year when my husband was out to see 75% of the time).
Grace came downstairs, troubled, one afternoon. She’d been on the phone with a Black friend who had decided to abort her pregnancy by a white guy. This was long before my training with crisis pregnancy centers (indeed, this was the catalyst to get me involved 18 months later, I saw last weekend).
I asked, “why doesn’t she give the baby up for adoption?”
“She’s afraid no one will adopt a mixed-race baby and it will live in foster care.”
I didn’t even hesitate. “I’ll take the baby.”
“You will?”
I opened my mouth to say, “of course,” when I realized R wasn’t here to consult. Some of you will remember the early 1980s when Christian women were taught our husbands were our heads and we needed to go to them. (Still excellent advice/truth that I do).
I stared at Grace open-mouthed, before finally sputtering, “It’s not the color, it’s my marriage. Can I “sign up” R to be the father of a child without his say? Can she wait until I ask him?”
(Only this week do I see that is the same question many people face with a surprise pregnancy).
Grace didn’t think so. The woman aborted the child that day.
When R came home and I told him the situation, his only question: “Why didn’t you take the baby?”
Until last week, I didn’t realize I had carried that grief and lie all these years–that I was responsible for the death of a baby in the womb.
(I wrote a novel years ago in which I rewrote that story to the positive, BTW. Never published, not ready–it’s full of grief).
So, those three blessed people prayed me through forgiveness, and release. I can’t believe how much lighter I feel.
And I had never put that together in all these years. Thanks be to God that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Creator forgive, release, and give us freedom.
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So thankful that our God knows and understands and forgives.
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We too have a smoky haze against the mountains. We are so thankful for the verdant shades of green everywhere. We have become so accustomed to brown. Just another 4 weeks and the track will be over. I am looking forward to some time off, but have enjoyed the extra money.
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Wow, M8chelle, what a heartache to carry♡ Glad you know the boundless forgiveness of Christ.
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Desperately dealing with email. I’m under 40 now!
Here’s a post about our Hill in Sicily, whom I’ve asked you to pray for many times.
https://gocommunitas.org/stories/why-go-the-lord-leads-the-way/#more-7541
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Sorry Michelle. That was too much for 91 year old eyes.
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I love Nutella, but never ever buy it or ask for it. It does show up about once a year and I eat it all. Now I shall have to try Nutella brownies.
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Sunshine coming through the clouds. I am so very glad that I carried my son and gave him life. He now has two children and is a doctor. Still praying for him to come to know the Lord.
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Wow, Michelle. Quite a sad memory. I look forward to the novel after reading the backstory.
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I recently joined my granddaughter in having Nutella toast with strawberries for breakfast. I hadn’t had it for a few years. I do like it, but wouldn’t eat it regularly. I do tease them about having dessert for breakfast since sugar cereal is big in that house as well. Not what I did as a mom. As a grandmother it is not my call when at their home. It was yummy.
I recently made some mint brownies with ganache frosting. Way too good. Something to make for a special occasion, as they were very rich.
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Nutella seems like something I would like more. For my taste buds, from what I recall, it was too sweet, and the flavors were so blended that they lost their ‘pow’ factor. I really like bold flavors. I love the look and concept of Nutella and probably would like brownies made with it if they also had semisweet chocolate chips in them.
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Mint brownies sound wonderful. I’ve made chocolate cookies with crushed peppermint sticks in them. Yum!
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Well of course you’d like it Janice. 🙂
Everything tastes better when you put semisweet chocolate chips in them. 🙂
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Like pancakes….
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The Songs of Jesus, a devotional for a year in the Psalms, by Timothy and Cathy Keller, is on sale for Kindle for $1.99. I use this to read in each week to start off our Friday prayer call. It is wonderful. I can highly recommend it.
I recently learned I have cousins who attended the Keller church and later named their son Keller.
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Does anyone remember, back in the early 70s, a flavored peanut butter with the brand name of Koogle? Koogle peanut butter came in banana, chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon flavors.
The only one that I remember my mom buying was the banana flavor. (Although on thinking a bit more, I think we did try the chocolate one a time or two.) One time, out of curiosity, I taste-tested it against real bananas and plain peanut butter. Compared to a banana, it tasted more like peanut butter, and compared to peanut butter, it tasted more like banana. 🙂
But the brand did not stick around too long.
https://nothingbutnostalgia.com/koogle/
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I barely remember that brand, Kizzie. We had few sweets since my brother had diabetes. We never had it, but I must have seen ads or had a friend who are it.
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This is new.
I never knew you could get different flavors in peanut butter.
Still seems illogical. Peanut buter is peanut butter. That’s it.
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I agree, Chas.
Cloudy with fog resting on the hills here.
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Chas – That’s probably why the brand didn’t last long. 🙂
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Do they still make the peanut butter jelly stuff?
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Goober grape.
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Recently, I have gotten in the habit of having sugar-free root beer on the weekends, with an occasional glass during the week. I generally only have one glass each weekend day, only occasionally having two. At first, Nightingale bought one brand that was good enough, but then she brought home the classic A&W brand of sugar-free root beer. Wow, what a difference! Delicious!
This last time, she bought Barq’s sugar-free root beer. I knew that Barq’s is also a good brand name, so I didn’t mind. But I was really surprised at how it has a different flavor to it, that I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m not complaining, though, just saying that it does have a different flavor than A&W. But again, there is something kinda different about the flavor.
If asked, I would prefer A&W, for its more classic root beer taste, but I do like the Barq’s as well, so that’s fine, too, if it’s cheaper at the store. They are both very good, although with slightly different tastes.
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Yes, they do.
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Mumsee – I’m not sure, but I think so. I think Nightingale bought that one time a couple years ago because Boy was curious about it.
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Oh. You answered your own question while I was answering. 🙂
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To be clear, Nightingale does not buy everything that Boy asks her to. She’s pretty strict about what she allows him to have. But now and then, she will allow him to pick out something as a treat.
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It’s the strange food thread today I see. I had scrambled eggs for breakfast.
I’m revisiting Pandemic Past today with online church (the delta variant is spreading enthusiastically through out church right now; we still offer live worship but other things, including a BBQ today and the men’s breakfast, have been canceled).
The session was meeting this afternoon to discuss how, exactly, to proceed.
None of this is easy for anyone.
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Trying to figure all of this stuff out:
DJ, if you are vaccinated, what is the problem with going in person?
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A couple folks who were vaccinated still tested positive and, though they have mild symptoms, are to quarantine for 10 days — the issue is that it can still be spread to others who may be more vulnerable to a much more serious reaction. We have a number of people in the congregation who are being treated for serious issues, including cancer; I did notice the woman who’d had a liver transplant last year was double-masked. But most people in our congregation — we’re in a big room but it’s very crowded — don’t wear masks as it’s being left to our discretion.
I’ve been attending church, have intermingled with a number of folks more personally, but have no symptoms and don’t feel the need to be tested. Still, the better part of wisdom says it’s a time to be more careful again.
We hope this is all short-lived.
But interesting to see how contagious this particular variant is up close.
Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom.
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I am afraid I have not kept up much on how things are going, just stay in my own little corner, visiting those who come by.
Yesterday was a couple who already had covid, he was hospitalized, but not getting vaccinated. So many choices people are making. They get tested and donate their blood for the antibodies. But they have had a plethora of surgeries, including partial knee replacement for her next week after back surgery last year, and other knee. And back and neck and knees and shoulders for him.
But those who are vaccinated ought to be free to participate, if the vaccines work.
Those who have not been vaccinated ought to be free to participate as well.
Seems everybody ought to know not to go out when sick (and those of us who know people will anyway, can opt to stay home)
Everybody ought to know to wash their hands, not cough on people, wear a mask if they feel threatened or that they are a threat. Common sense ought to kick in if it hasn’t. Even with asymptomatic carriers out there.
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I was under the impression most people in the vulnerable category are staying home out of caution. Obviously, my husband is not. And I certainly do not want to make somebody else sick. All very confusing when you get into it.
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Mumsee, the problem is that no one knows what to do.
Even the experts.
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The vaccines are doing what they were meant to do — protect, in the vast majority of cases, against serious illness, hospitalization and death.
But anyone who is infected, including those who are vaccinated via breakthrough incidents, can — it’s believed — spread the disease to others, including those who aren’t vaccinated.
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https://www.wsj.com/articles/should-the-delta-variant-change-your-decisions-heres-what-doctors-are-doing-11628254802?st=qoqmsiwqpjxdswk&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
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It appears that Donna is the only one who understands this.
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From the above WSJ link:
~ The rapid rise of the Delta variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 has caused many people to reassess the risks of going about their lives. The highly contagious variant infects people more easily than earlier strains, and infected people carry higher levels of virus, research indicates.
Vaccines still provide strong protection against severe illness and death; unvaccinated people account for the overwhelming majority of hospitalizations and deaths. Yet the possibility of a breakthrough infection—and potentially transmitting it onward—is stirring apprehension among many who are vaccinated.
Part of the trepidation is the uncertainty: Scientists are still learning about Delta, including how much of a threat it poses to vaccinated adults as well as young children not yet eligible for shots. So we asked a group of doctors—all vaccinated—how they are recalculating risk in their own families and daily activities.
All said they are wearing masks again in crowded indoor public places. They mostly wear N95s in higher-risk settings, like with patients or on planes, and double up with cloth and surgical masks in less risky situations. Most have stopped dining indoors. They are still largely comfortable taking off masks in groups of friends and family when they are sure everyone present is vaccinated, depending on the size of the group.
Most said they are limiting or curtailing travel. Dr. Wachter won’t take “elective” trips, but he will go see his parents in Florida next month; his father is in hospice care. Once on the airplane, he will remove his N95 mask only long enough “to gobble down” some food, and only then if all passengers around him have their masks on, he says.
Trey Dunbar, president of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health in Baton Rouge, La., visited his son in Atlanta before Delta cases surged. Those cases now fill his emergency room, which is seeing a five- to sixfold increase in children with respiratory viruses, about one-third to half of which are Covid, he says.
He has postponed plans to visit his parents and adult daughter in North Carolina. He acknowledges that he’s being conservative, given that all are vaccinated. Even a mild bout of the illness would keep him off the front lines in treating the surge, he says. “What I do is important to me,” Dr. Dunbar says. “Everybody has a threshold and I fall on the cautious side.” ~
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That seems reasonable.
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An outspoken against vaccination gentleman in this area, came out in support of vaccines this week after a family get together ended with seven of the eleven infected. One in ICU. He (in his seventies) did not get it. He thinks it is the Delta variation and thinks it changes the whole game.
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I am also concerned that this vaccination only seems to be good for six months or so. That means all those vaccinated early on should be going back for a booster by now.
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Son made the long drive from Waco to Charleston with an overnight stop in West Monroe, Louisiana and overnight here last night. I fixed dinner for the guys (Art, Brother, and Wesley) and we had a good visit. Grateful to God for traveling mercies.
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I had planned to make salmon patties last night but forgot to buy the salmon. We had cauliflower mixed with carrots, cole slaw, biscuits plain or with apple jelly, and honeydew melon. It really was a delicious meal. Wesley had eaten chicken nuggets twice yesterday so he did not need more protein. I still felt badly not having protein, but we filled up on all the other fresh summer food.
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RNA technology goes after the spike protein in the virus–that’s why all three vaccines work against the variations.
In China, they used the old-fashioned version of vaccine design and it only works against one type of virus. China, right now, has lost control of COVID, Delta variation, and they are desperately shutting down the entire country.
If you have had the vaccine, you may get the Delta variation, but it should not put you in the hospital–thus, your case will not be as life-threatening as those who are not vaccinated.
This is also why they recommend those who have come through COVID also get the vaccination–their antibodies will not fight the Delta variation or any others that come along after the virus mutates again.
Mr. COVID has been explaining this ad nauseum for almost two weeks.
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I may have mentioned I felt a lot better about the mRNA vaccine after I read Isaacson’s “The Codebreakers,” which is about how the mRNA and CRSPR technology were developed over the last 20 years. It’s not been used as a vaccine before, but this is not a technology that was developed in 2020.
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I did not know that. Or that.
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Good info, Michelle.
Yes, the ports in LA and neighboring Long Beach here are closely watching what is happening in China right now as their ports and factories begin to be affected again and shipments get delayed.
Science is a process, with lots of twists and turns. This has all been confusing for all of us. But much of the changing information is no one’s “fault,” it’s just the result of learning more as we have more data.
That’s why the saying, “The science is settled” is so silly.
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I bought some salmon ‘steaks’ — cooked and seasoned — at Sprouts today. They’re an addiction, they are so good.
Healthy, too.
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Janice it is so good to hear you have been blessed to spend some more time with Wesley. Just the thought of it brings a smile….praying he gets settled well in his new location and that there will be more frequent visits with Mom and Dad!
Church was sweet and after attending the Ladies tea yesterday it was a blessing to now know some of the ladies to engage in conversation. I will be starting a book study with some of the ladies in Sept…and it will be at a home just 6 minutes from our home. A true blessing that one of the families at the church lives just a hop skip and a jump from us! 😊
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Kizzie, did you know Barq’s contains caffeine? At least the regular kind does – I’ve never tried the sugar-free.
I grew up with Hires root beer. My family’s New Year’s Eve tradition (when we were old enough to stay up until midnight) was to ring in the new year with root beer floats, always made with Hires. Sadly it’s hard to find now, at least around here.
Barq’s is okay, but I still like A&W better.
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Our interim pastor began today to get us ready for the upcoming process of hiring a new pastor, and the changes that may come with that. One of his points was that we should honor relationship over our own personal preferences, citing Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians 8:13.
(“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”)
It will be interesting to see who comes to “apply for the job”, and who we will finally choose to be our new pastor. There is always a change in the atmosphere, so to speak, of the church, and too often, some people will leave because they liked how the former pastor did things, and don’t want change. (So, they change churches. Where’s the logic in that?)
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Kevin – I checked it out online when Nightingale bought it, and found that the sugar-free does not have caffeine. But I’m going to check again to make sure.
Yeah, I do like A&W better. It has more of the classic root beer taste to me. I wish I could figure out what it is about Barq’s taste that seems so different.
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Just started to look online again, and saw that the slogan for Barq’s root beer is that is “has bite”. Good description of that taste I can’t nail down.
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Okay, good. No caffeine in the diet Barq’s root beer.
But I saw that their slogan is actually, “Drink Barq’s. It’s good.” But elsewhere on the site, I saw the “has bite” as if that was the slogan.
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We made root beer many years ago. It was good. Seems like it involved dry ice.
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It’s been years since I had a root beer. I always liked it.
My family made sassafras tea when I was young. That might be where that special flavoring comes from. At some point we heard that sassafras was carcinogenic and stopped making that tea. I still remember its wonderful flavor. And I wondered if that might be what is in Dr. Pepper.
I never had cream soda until I was an adult. I got quite a surprise the first time I drank that. I liked it, too, but only occasionally.
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Now I am wanting cream soda, root beer, and Dr. Pepper but not all together.😀
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It surely is a long way down here on Monday mornings.
Good night Jo.
God Monday morning everyone else.
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Morning, Chas. Enjoy your day. Monday was quite long here with lots to do in Kinder. Tomorrow will be easier as we have both music and computer. Are you having sunshine or rain today?
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