96 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 11-6-21

  1. Friday, post-work, definitely qualifies as the weekend.

    Long work day. Long work week.

    I just got in from a Petco run to get some food for Annie that’s OTC and supposed to be a substitute for her prescription food which now has been delayed until Sunday for delivery.

    Luckily, she seems to like it OK.

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  2. It is very late in Idaho. But I am still up. Mixed up some cookie dough for tomorrow. It seems like a good time to make chocolate ginger molasses cookies.

    By the way, I drove by Winchester twice today. Lovely area.

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  3. Good morning. I saw empty shelves at Publix for the canned cat food section. I am still buying only the dry.

    Last night I finished writing another personal story to submit to the Guideposts compilation. I got Art to read it to make sure it met his approval since it is about when he quit smoking. He said it was fine. The deadline is tomorrow. I’d prefer for my critique partners to look at it, but we don’t meet until next week. I have to be brave to send it on its way. It will be critiqued after the submission. If rejrcted, I can revise and resubmit elsewhere.

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  4. I am under the impression that when missionaries go into countries where it is illegal to speak of God or Jesus, that they receive specific instructions as to what they can’t and can do about reaching out with the gospel message. We are in that situation here in my vicinity. I understand that we need to build relationships with people first before mentioning our faith under such circumstances. Events sponsered by my church on county property can’t mention God or Jesus. The encouragement cards I write each week to football players on the county team can’t mention God or Jesus. I write, “Blessings on you,” but can’t give the name of the blessing giver. This is one aspect that has been very hard for me. My former church had the biggest outreach event to the community as a drive through Nativity that was well received and a tradition many looked forward to in and out of the church. People who were not members volunteered to be in the scenes. Everyone in the church participated because it was well planned out to involve everyone in the various scenes portrayed. That got nixed with this new church. Now our budget has a bare minimum alloted to Christmas. Easter and Fall Festival receive the greater funding. But if we do those in the county park . . .
    I want my time to be used effectively for God and not to be forced to omit Jesus from my words. That is just one of many things that has made me sad for several years now.

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  5. Cheerio from Idaho as well. Waiting for the pot of oats to finish before serving it up to the young folk. Son commented that it is really dark out. I reminded him that is why we postpone the chores until eight now but things will change tomorrow. Now he is playing the piano for me. Nice start to the day!

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  6. Reading this morning was in Exodus on the design for the Tabernacle. Neat to see how God wanted the people to be using the skills He had gifted them with to do the work. His gifts are to be put to use. Thinking of Janice and her challenge of trying to encourage without naming the Source of the encouragement. Sounds like something is amiss there, Janice and you are right to feel uncomfortable with it.

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  7. Mumsee, I have faithfully been writing these cards each week. The season is ending soon. I have to pray to God for forgiveness for on one card I wrote about the blessings earned for their hard work. We have heard that the parents are very appreciative of our cards and that they discuss them with their sons. They do know the cards are from church people. But is this God’s best use of my time and abilities to get His word into hearts of needy people? This is the team that had their trailer stolen and our church replaced it for them ($12,000). They all came to church for one Sunday to receive the gift. I have not heard of one of them returning.

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  8. Morning! It is a beautiful sun shiny day in this forest and the air is crispy fresh!
    Husband fixed my washer and is now creating a platform for the dryer to sit on above the washer. It has been wobbling and disconnecting the vent tubing. This laundry room was designed without practicality in mind!
    Janice I pray the Lord will direct you in the way He would have you to reach out to those with whom you have contact. I find myself asking Him many times “which way do I go Lord”?…
    I struggle with “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime”….our hearts and motives are to help and reach them unto salvation. But many times the hearts of others seem to want only to take and take. Unto Him we give….

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  9. Janice, did your church go through a denominational — or just a leadership — change to bring about some of (what I take are?) changes more recently?

    As for government restriction on facilities, I’m not sure what the situation is here — I take it these are outward restrictions by the government, and not voluntary self-restrictions your church feels it should abide by just because it is a government property?

    ______________________

    I stayed up way too late last night again, I find I’m doing that when i’ve had a super-long and intense work day. I finally got my story turned in at 6 p.m. but later remembered a photo I didn’t add, so had to do that, as well as answer a couple questions from the editor. I think our last e-exchange came at around 8 p.m.

    Too bad we couldn’t have had just a straight forward “infrastructure” bill — which is needed — without all the social programs thrown in, but sounds like some of those were whittled down or even left out in some cases with this “cheaper” bill.

    A number of the far-left Democrats didn’t vote for it because of that.

    Still, I’m guessing there were a lot extras in there along with the needed road and bridge improvements.

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  10. At a certain stage in life, you use unusual wisdom.
    I steppped ont on the rear deck briefly. It suddenly occurred to me that If I should fall, or some such, nobody would be around to help for hours.
    That isn’t so important when it’s summmertime. jBut when it is 40 degrees outside, you need to be careful.
    I just turned around and came back in.
    A warmer day, maybe.

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  11. Chas, my brother got my dad a medical alert button. It is set up that if he falls, it will ask him if he needs help. If he does not answer, it will call my in town brother and me and the brother in Boise. And then it will call emergency services if needed.

    You could have one for your walks to the mailbox or out on the deck, or even in the house. It would call Chuck or Linda if you need help. Linda can find it for you.

    My dad refuses to use his as he does not want to tempt fate. He is stubborn. You know the King and are ready to go home but we don’t want you lying around in the cold.

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  12. (referring to the infrastructure bill at 3:11)

    Chas, probably 25 years ago now one of our copy editors retired — she was in her mid or late 60s I’d guess. While cell phones were around, they weren’t the constant companions that were attached to us at all times like they are now.

    Anyway, she took a step out on her back porch one day, fell and was stuck for a couple hours. She laughed about it later, saying she was calling out “Help. Help,” feeling like that commercial where the woman cries out that she’s “fallen and can’t get up.” I think a neighbor finally heard her.

    She lived with one of her daughters but she was an RN and at work all day — turned out one of her legs just shattered so it was a long rehabilitation but she got through it. Still, it definitely put a crimp in her retirement (which was somewhat forced and came too soon for her liking, unfortunately — the paper we worked at was shut down unexpectedly).

    But she recovered; she and her daughter later moved up to Alaska where her daughter took a nursing position at one of the hospitals.

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  13. Mumsee brings up a good suggestion about the life-alert buttons that have become much more pervasive now. I think they have them to wear around your neck but also on your wrist with your watch?

    A good extra-security aid.

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  14. And then there is the woman in the choir with me who wears a Life Alert.

    We were singing away, and suddenly realized some urgent voice from her pocket was saying, “Elaine? Elaine are you there?”

    The alert had gone off, the operator heard a hymn being sung, and worried Elaine was actually in heaven!

    We laughed and laughed.

    She wasn’t. She was in California.

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  15. That’s an excellent idea for you from the ladies Chas.

    It’s easy to do and I’m sure Chuck and Linda would be happy to help. It will provide both you and them some reassurance and peace of mind.

    Us too. 🙂

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  16. This laundry room thing has become a project that has a life of it’s own! I have been painting the wall behind where the washer/dryer will be. But first I had to clean the floor, floor boards, walls, sand down where precious owner painted over an edge on the wall….I hadn’t planned on doing this today!! (It’s embarrassing the dirt and gunk that has built up under that washer!!) Waiting now for husband to fix the shelf in place then I can paint that before setting the dryer on top…oy’!
    Chas my dear friend has a watch she wears that will alert her husband if she has fallen. She has Parkinson’s and has fallen a couple times while he was at work. It is a peace of mind technology for all concerned… 😉

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  17. I have thought of that, AJ.
    I do carry my cell phone around is a “watch pocket” in most of m clothse. I usually have it with me.
    It has often occurred to me that should I fall on the backside, no one would know for hours.

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  18. DJ, this is not a denominational thing. This is specific to this church and its location and the direction being pursued to reach the lost in this area. Maybe in time God can use it, but not sure He will give us enough time to zip our lips, build caring relationships by giving away assets, and eventually get around to sharing the gospel. This is an area where many are here for a few years and then gone. I don’t know of a solution. In two years who will even know where that trailer we donated to the football team came ftom?

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  19. I am a numbers person by former occupation and things don’t look good. I am very conservative in that area and respect what we have been blessed with from God and from the ones who came before. I don’t want to see it squandered on less than what God deserves. All this I am talking about does not even get into what made me leave the Direction Team. That I won’t get into.

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  20. Reminds me a little bit of the debate that was part of the founding of our more conservative Presbyterian branch of the denomination back in the early 1900s.

    Along with the primary issues of orthodoxy regarding Scripture, part of the discussion centered around what should be the order of priority/importance for missionaries — to provide material help or to share the gospel.

    The mainline denomination determined it was to provide material help. (If sharing the gospel came later, fine, but the priority was the former.)

    Anyway, the rest was history as conservatives began to move toward a breakaway movement that launched the more conservative Presbyterian branches.

    “Christianity and Liberalism” — J Grisham Machen 1923

    In Christianity and Liberalism (1923) Machen wrote,

    The missionary of liberalism seeks to spread the blessings of Christian civilization (whatever that may be), and is not particularly interested in leading individuals to relinquish their pagan beliefs. The Christian missionary, on the other hand, regards satisfaction with a mere influence of Christian civilization as a hindrance rather than a help; his chief business, he believes, is the saving of souls, and souls are saved not by the mere ethical principles of Jesus but by His redemptive work. The Christian missionary, in other words, and the Christian worker at home as well as abroad, unlike the apostle of liberalism, says to all men everywhere: “Human goodness will avail nothing for lost souls; ye must be born again.”

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  21. It’s a good book, btw. I read it some time ago and have wanted to pick it up again. Very relevant to what Christians face (and have long faced, now) with regard to the direction the mainline churches have taken.

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  22. I most certainly think there is a need for human connection and relationships, showing the kindness of Christ to others. But his point about never forgetting the true and overriding “mission” of the Great Commission — to make disciples — can’t be given 2nd place or short shrift. It must always be kept in the forefront.

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  23. I keep thinking — OK, it’s 3:40 here … but “really” it’s only 2:40. 🙂

    Saturday’s being longer isn’t a bad thing. And I tend to naturally wake up a little earlier with the earlier sunrise, for a while anyway.

    I like the hibernation aspect, though. Time to curl up, pull up the covers, wear your wool socks again, get to bed a little earlier

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  24. As far as Winchester and the infrastructure money, I don’t see them getting any or wanting any. Pretty free spirited there.

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  25. We’ll be dry through December, long-range forecast is telling us.

    Does Winchester have paved roads? Does Winchester want paved roads? Maybe not.

    I’ve been trying to fill my tires for a week now — their a few pounds low each and the prompt on the dash has been on for what seems like ages. I tried 2 gas stations this past week, both said their air gizmo was out of service.

    Today I was going to head back to the one but someone else was there using it (at least it’s back in service). I’ll try them again another time.

    Remember “full-service” gas stations?

    I don’t mind pumping m own gas, but filling the tires is a real pain sometimes.

    See? Winchester would have to cater to my needs. Prima donna, they’d call me.

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  26. Ok, yes. Looks like highway 95 has a business loop through town and it is paved. At least, it has a yellow line down the middle.

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  27. This time change is way easier for me and my natural time clock than the other one that has you getting up at the crack of dawn.

    A friend from church emailed me a little while ago that this was tomorrow was his “favorite day all year” — he can stay in bed a whole hour longer.

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  28. I like the early darkness – it makes it feel cozy inside. Or like DJ said, it has the hibernation aspect to it.

    DJ – I chuckled a bit about a California girl wearing wool socks. 🙂

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  29. DJ, that exactly addresses the problem I am experiencing with this. It was a big part of why I became a Southern Baptist. I came out of two denominations, both mainline, which provided service but without the reason for doing. I was so glad to leave it behind. But now it’s like double down on that manner of doing things, but without much planning and with the idea to offer freebies that make it appear God is like a Santa Claus always providing a party to attend.

    I have been listening to Dr. David Jeremiah’s service on Saturday evenings. I really like the music and the service.

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  30. Nightingale was not feeling well when she got home from work, so she took a shower and got ready for bed right away. That threw me for a loop, because all of a sudden I realized that I had to come up with something to feed Boy. Although I’m not feeling great myself (I have a cold) I jumped to it to make a quick dinner for Boy and myself – egg sandwiches with cheese, with grapes on the side, and instant pudding for dessert.

    He is staying up while his mom is sleeping, doing his own thing upstairs. I told him that at 10:00 we need to take Janie out to go potty so she won’t wake them up too early in the morning. I don’t think he would think to do that on his own.

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  31. We have our “woolen” nights.

    Annie Oakley just came thundering through the living room from the backyard/kitchen — with Tess tearing in right behind her.

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  32. My dad had one of the neck alert things. When I saw it hanging off a high shelf one day, I did remark that it wouldn’t do him much good if he was on the floor and it was up there. He just looked a bit guilty and laughed.

    A guy in an assisted living place was very expressive telling me how much he loved the music when an aide came over and hit the button on his alert necklace button. Apparently, he has set it off more than once from what she said to him.

    It would be nice to be free to spend a bit of time outdoors or walk a bit without worrying about falling and not being noticed.

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  33. I’ll take a crack, though, at why this time change might be hard for some folks.

    Take our friend Kim, who is, by her own frequent admission, through and through a summer girl.

    Sunshine, beaches, warmth and daylight. And no heavy winter clothes.

    So this time change probably represents the plunge into that completely contrary season, the opposite of what she loves — cool (even for the “sunny south,” dreary, short days; less sun; long nights.

    Jackets and wool socks, not pretty summer dresses and sandals.

    Am I close?

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  34. The shorter, colder, grayer days contribute to as many as 20% of Americans reporting “winter blues” every year. Between 4% and 6% of Americans develop symptoms that rise to the level of seasonal affective disorder — or, appropriately enough, SAD.

    “We are no different than flowers and plants,” said Erin Raftery Ryan, the executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Westside Los Angeles. “If we don’t get enough vitamin D, oftentimes we too will wilt.”

    … This year’s time change lands its blow amid another pandemic winter and all the psychological symptoms and traumas we’ve endured in the last two years.

    … blues-beating strategies: Commit to a lunchtime stroll a few times a week. You get the benefit of exercise plus a dose of natural sunlight. Raftery Ryan said to aim for about three hours of sunshine per week to alleviate SAD symptoms. (And yes, you still have to wear sunscreen: Studies show preventing skin cancer probably does not negate vitamin D absorption.)

    Other strategies recommended by experts include:

    Brighten up your living space. Go through your home and workspace and see if there are ways to let in more of the season’s limited light. Can you move your desk or kitchen table closer to a sunnier spot? Can you move sunlight-blocking furniture out of the windows? What if you swapped out heavy curtains for sheer ones?

    Exercise. Physical movement can be a boon to mental health. Don’t worry about maxing out your heart rate or committing to intense sweat sessions. Gentle movement can be as beneficial to your brain as a more intense activity.

    “Whether it’s yoga, whether it’s walking, whether it’s stretching — movement in general will help to get in the body and start to open up the parts of us that may start to feel stagnant,” Simon said. It’s about “keeping that energy moving through the body, keeping our blood flowing.”

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  35. So, being a kinder teacher I am up, down, and walking around all day. It is an outdoor walk to the office, etc, but we have covered walkways. Then in the evening I go out and do one more mile, just to get myself going.

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  36. DJ that is a very close and accurate assessment. I have worked most of my life where I have had a commute. Driving home from work in the dark, especially in the rain is stressful. It will be dark here around 5pm. I would rather have some daylight at the end of my day to go outside for some fresh air and exercise. I always feel so rushed in the mornings to get dressed and get to work. I don’t want to hibernate and snuggle in. Winter clothes are constricting and itchy. The only good thing I can think of about Winter and the darkness is Christmas Also now that I am married to a Yankee he keeps it cold in the house and tells me to put in more clothes if I am cold 🥶🙄.
    I keep telling everyone the sun makes me happy. I guess I will have to up my Vitamin D.

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  37. DK, I beg to differ,

    “We are no different than flowers and plants.”

    We are image bearers made in the image of God. We are temples of the Holy Spirit. Both make us quite different from flowers and plants. I will concede that we are in need of pruning and watering and feeding and sunshine. All good suggestions.

    Get the vitamin D and try to get a day time walk. Remember that this season will pass if Christ tarries. He made it so.

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  38. I see a couple of women from Pendleton Oregon went on a trip to Utah but ended up lost in a National Forest in northern Idaho where their car broke down. The mom left to find help, the mentally disabled daughter stayed with the car. Mom was found by a hunter, dead of exposure. Follow up search found the daughter in the car, alive. It is believed they followed their GPS. Northern Idaho is a bit out of the way going Oregon to Utah. I do not like GPS. One time I have used one, when the salesman set the GPS for my home at the dealership. The GPS and I fought the whole way home. She rerouted a lot. I did not.

    The women’s ages were not given in the article but they appeared maybe seventies and fifties. It is hard.

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  39. mumsee (9:48) — not my words, of course, it was a quote from a secular publication. 🙂

    I take a Vitamin D3 every day, too, just one gel pill, though.

    We have late deadlines so we’re “off the clock” fairly late, too. When I was communting, there would be a little more daylight going home, but not all that much; I rarely was home to enjoy much of it (typically got home around 7 or even later most nights).

    Now that I work from home, everything’s so much easier, of course.

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  40. I take four vitamin D a day. The last time I had blood work done, I asked the doctor if it was too much. She looked at the numbers and told me that was fine.

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  41. mumsee, taking the 5th.

    My doctor a few years ago said my Vitamin D levels were really good. “Are you taking a supplement?”

    I just got bloodwork done with my new GP — and gave them a list of all the vitamins and supplements I’m taking (maybe they can tell me to lose one or two and save money, who knows).

    Home from church where the outdoor service was rather chilly today. Cloudy/foggy. Glad I wore my lined jean jacket but could have used another layer underneath.

    And now I’m really sleepy for some reason, even with that extra hour of sleep. I may grab a nap this afternoon.

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  42. Coveting: I bought some food from someone this weekend. They asked us to bring containers and I did. But… I saw them give someone ahead of me a brand new gallon ziplock. The store doesn’t have any. I gave away my last box to some translators, though I did find some that I had bought at school. I wanted that ziplock. So.. I did not mention the containers hiding in my bag, and asked for a bag. Wow I got one.
    Now I am realizing that it was coveting and i was dishonest. God cares about the little things and we have a holy standard.

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  43. Chas, I don’t have anyone to fix breakfast for me either so cold cereal is always a good go-to choice.

    For me it’s usually yogurt with some honey but sometimes oatmeal, eggs (more often), toaster waffles, or Cheerios. Depends on how ambitious and hungry I am.

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  44. I am a person of strict routine.
    I can tell you what I’ll have for breakfast two months from now.I
    I like veriety when it comes to dinner, etc. But I fix breakfast for bulk and convenience. Cheerios does it.
    Did I say it is dark outside? It is dark.
    Not dusk, dark.

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  45. It has been a wonderfully relaxing reading kind of day around here! I pulled on a sweater, turned the Morris chair up to the fireplace and read our local newspaper…in paper form! Even though it was 70 in the house I was cold!
    It is 4 in the afternoon and the sun is going down over the mountain….I needed that extra hour this morning! Church was good and challenging…we are studying I Peter.
    I do not like summer or summer clothes. I like jeans, sweaters, wool socks and boots…good thing I live here where winter occupies most of our year ❄️

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  46. I got out just before dusk and swept and raked leaves from the carport and driveway to the little side yard to cover the roots of the Birthday Tree. The multi-colored leaves look so pretty there. I also got busy and trimmed out a tangle of ageratum or blue mist blooming by the front walk. I decided it best to remove those before they reseeded. I looked toward the carport entrance to the house and there sat Miss Bosley watching me work. She tried to sneak to the back of the carport when I acted like the trimmers were after her but then she thought better and headed back inside.

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  47. Several of the neighbors seem to be having friends or family over this evening. It’s times like this that I feel very alone, but of course, Miss Bosley is piled up in my lap so I am not really alone. But with things like they are at church I am feeling rather sad.

    I enjoyed the ladies in Sunday school. I carried Florence so it’s her long time class and friends. I know most of the ladies because they were in the former church. We did not stay for the service. Some others in this group do the same.

    Art should be home in less than two hours. I will figure out something for dinner.

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  48. Nancyjill, I’m with your on the boots, jeans and sweaters.

    We continued our journey through the book of Revelation, we were up to Chapter 6 today but the sermon only covered the first half of it.

    It’s overcast and foggy, very cool out as we move into the late afternoon. Sunset should come in about 2 hours, and I need to go out for some dog poop pickup rounds (and I should water a few of the potted plants out there).

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  49. See you for bicoastal Cheerios in the morning, Chas.

    Another busy week ahead for me, I’m afraid. I need to figure out some time off, this is the time of year I usually take most of it.

    I contacted the landscaping company to see about that replacement pine tree, what the options and costs might be. But I also need new glasses & the garage electricity fixed.

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  50. bicoastal Cheerios, now that is a new one. What a creative blog.
    I haven’t seen any cheerios in our store or I might join you just for the novelty of it.

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