HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2020

 

Happy Halloween 2020, Nick snapped a quick photo of us.  

Ignore our footwear or lack of it, lol! I wanted to get a good shot of my ombre leggings. They have pumpkins on them. We decided on matching t shirts.

As a child in Catholic school, we wore costumes of saints on November 1st which is deemed All Saints Day. Michael Dovgan always was dressed as Michael the Archangel complete with tights and a sword and shield. But no one could ever top JoDene Chorak., as her mother dressed her as Christ the King. Let me tell you, nobody was going to upstage the "King" Himself! She wore a red velvet cloak and a beautiful crystal crown. Saint Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower) was one of the many costumes my mom's older sister, Auntie Mary made for all of us kids. It was complete with a crucifix adorned with roses. She was a Carmelite nun and passed away at the tender age of 24 from tuberculosis. Trust me, as a Catholic child, you knew all the different religious orders, Carmelite, Benedictine, Dominican are the ones I was most familiar with. You knew them by the color of habit the nuns wore. But all in all I loved dressing up for that special day because our mom let us celebrate Halloween so we were fortunate to have two costumes. Often we found things around the house and went as things like gypsies and clowns. I even had a Raggedy Ann costume once and my friend Becky Bailey was Andy. But we were older and on a bowling league. Many good memories.

Buzz Lightyear and his brother/friend Woody came to visit us today. What sweet boys they are.

This rootin tootin cowboy was having a great day too!

Addy was Alvin and two of her friends are Simon and Theodore.  I would love to see a photo of all three of them. It is fun to celebrate with your best friends.

Rebekah and Zach have some company tonight and Dan is a great guy. He brought his telescope over. After viewing the moon, I feel I have a really personal relationship with the moon. It has always been a favorite of mine. I have always loved viewing the stars and the moon and all the wonderful constellations. 

Pink Saturday

 

Since our oldest girl is visiting our youngest daughter in Western NY we did not get to snap a photo of us in our LuLaRoe Breast Cancer Awareness matching outfits. Noelle bought me the Amber and I bought us the matching leggings. Next week, God willing, I will post a photo of us together.

Going to miss the little ones who came trick or treating in past years. It is very different this year. I decided a long time ago,  my salvation is in the hands of the one who died for me. I do not have much faith in people. especially people who claim to have the answers but only after the 2020 Election year. 

I know courageous people who fought the cancer battle. Some won, some lost. Being courageous is something each one of them had. Please pray for a cure. Pink Saturday is open so stop by and say hello. 

 

Thankful Thursday Feline Friday and More

 

  

Perhaps I have shared her before, but this is my great grandmother Mary Virant Steblaj. I never knew my maternal grandfather as he passed away when my mother was just 13. This is his mother. she had three daughters and my grandfather . I really wish I knew more about all of them. My mom's cousin Frances had one daughter Pam and she thankfully posted photos as her grandmother was one of the daughters. I love researching my phamily but there was lots of sadness and I get emotional so I have to stop. I am thankful there are resources today to find information you might otherwise not know.

I am always thankful for humor. Here is a cute one. It reminded me of Halloween. One year my hubby was out with the kids and I was home alone. This would be me. HaHaHa Please visit Thankful Thursday

Humor is gets you through the tough times.

Visit Feline Friday for more fun. I am not sure our cats would enjoy wearing a Halloween costume although I did know a cat who wore a harness and went for walks. 

Ellen and Lorianne co host this fun blog hop:

Here are this week's questions which these two great gals share in making up each week:

1. I Keep __________,but__________.

2. I don't need _________but I want, ___________.

3. I would want _______________to be etched on my tombstone.

4. If I heard something go bump in the night, I would __________.

My answers:

1. I keep trying to eat less sugar, but my hubby temps me with giant Health bars. ALthough we eat only a couple small squares each night, I think we need to stop. 

2. I don't need more clothes, but I want more comfy and cozy clothing for the winter.

3. I would want something similar to my folks, (they have the 23rd Psalm) etched on my tombstone. 

4. If I Heard something go bump in the night, I would know Mister Kitty was prowling around the house, probably seeing if Daphne ate all her dinner. 

Prayers for Jenn and Zak. They really want a child but have struggled with infertility. Please pray for them. They are two of the sweetest people.

Brody has been feeling under the weather. Nothing serious but it is hard to feel poorly and  keep up with your little brother. Those sniffles are part of the weather changing.

Continue to pray, if you are a prayer warrior, for Joan and her cancer and Charlene dealing with the loss of her foot. My understanding of amputations result in feeling like your foot/leg/arm are still there. She is a very upbeat lady but this is entirely unfamiliar territory for her. Thank you.

Lots of people to pray for feeling poorly too.  This time of year has always been difficult because our weather changes and it is often simply sniffles from pollution in the air and lots of other things. I think sometime we all overdramatize things.

Stay healthy and thank you for visiting me. Remember to come join the postcard exchange. I will have some cards going out this weekend.

Wordless Wednesday and More

 I have experienced some difficulties with my blogs not posting photos. I think I Have resolved this issue but made me sad that my posts for yesterday did not post. I am posting today for two days, hoping all will be well. Happy Tuesday

Wordless Wednesday
 

A kiss? The renunciation of the heart when one is no longer alone. 

Happy Tuesday

A Halloween hotdog for Lulu. This was two years ago today. She was a cute lil dog! I am always behind on commenting so bear with me. I am hoping Angela will come back one of these days at host Tuesday Show and Tails. I know she has a following and follows many Corgi owners. 

Amen Maxine! I sure love reading her thoughts and know that Sandee does too.

God willing, if there is a next year in baseball, I pray they get back on track.   Play ball, because we have enough to deal with without your vocal opinions. Where there are opinions there is never change.

One more celebration today:

National Cat Day 

Daphne girl is a shy one. She minds her own business and is still quite skittish from her days long ago of being dumped by someone she trusted. You deserve a special day girl!

When you are royalty well, you just know it. This guy, what can I say, wakes me before dawn feigned starvation. You tell me, he is not really starving now is he?

Happy National Cat Day to Daphne and Tiger a/k/a Mister Kitty and all the cool cats everyone day and everyday!

Food for Thought

We had a cooking marathon yesterday. We  had snow all day on SONday so we cooked and cooked and cooked more!  

Sorry about the light hahaha...this Hearty Cowboy Soup is perfect on a day like today. Y U M M Y ! SO many different veggies.....it is good stuff. Thank you Tonya F. for sharing with me. 

The secret to my chicken enchiladas casserole.......well good green chili and a secret weapon lol! This one is so yummy I could eat it all day and the hubby said it was his breakfast today! 

I am opening my post card exchange and giveaway today. My blogaversary will be November 1, 2020. Ten years! If you want to participate just e mail 53strait@gmail.com your info.  I am hoping to capture all the US states and any other countries that would like to participate.  I will leave this open during the month of November and let you know ! I am sharing on Instagram and Face Book too.  This postcard is one I picked up at the store one day. I like to send these to kids on our encouragement group that need a pick-me-up too! I think knowing the states and facts about them is a fun activity. I was a master of knowing all the state capitals as a kid. I love learning something new each day and I Love learning about where others live too. Please join me if you wish!

If you stop by my second blog, My Tata's Cottage, you will find my little story about this Strawberry Sour Cream Pie. Noelle and roger were visiting Colton and phamily. Harrison and Shea's "Gram C" shared this recipe. It was her grandmothers and her sister sent it to her. It is so simple to make. We even had dessert yesterday!

A cute pup to start the week right. Finn is a lover boy. He loves belly rubs and treats and generally your company. He is a good boy. Visit Aw...Mondays and say hello.

Love is the greatest gift of all. Love is...knows that. 

I will be visiting you very soon. Thank you for stopping by. Missing Annie from McGruffy's Reader.  Always loving the great quote shares.

Feline Friday and More

 

Seven and 1/2 years coming up for this tiny terror. Except now he is big and brawny and a true scardey cat!

Ellen and Lorianne co host this fun blog hop and here are the questions this week, each of of these great ladies thinks up these questions.

1. I might _______________.

2. I want to __________before Fall is over.

3. If my house were haunted,____________.

4. __________is the scariest thing that ever happened to me. 

My answers:

1. I might have our garage cleaned by 2021!

2. I want to throw leaves up in the air before Fall is over and hopefully see more colorful trees.

3. If my house were haunted, I hope it is Casper the Friendly Ghost!

4. Seeing loved ones suffer in anyway is the scariest thing that ever happened to me. I have had not one, or two but three neurosurgeries and that wasn't the scariest thing to ever happen to me. I have a memory of seeing little Brody black out from hitting his head on the coffee table and seeing the pain in our son Jeremy's eyes. I saw the pain of loss in the yes of my loved  ones when we lost Alastor Avery last summer. I saw my husband's pain when he lost his dad and then mom and I remember my own losses. Grateful to know Jesus to help me deal with all that pain.

Hannah and Jake spent an anniversary vacation traveling through several National Parks in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. They were able to spend some time with Jake's sister and also took two of the nieces on a trip. What a fun adventure they all had.

Tomorrow, October 24th marks the first anniversary of these two and their marriage. What a blessing Jake has been to our phamily. We love our girl and have never seen her so incredibly happy. They make a sweet couple and get along so well. Wishing them a wonderful anniversary.

Hannah and Jake love Jack and Sally. In fact, Hannah, who is quite artistic painted their guest bedroom with them.

If you keep CHRIST in the center of your marriage you will overcome any obstacle. He will always love and guide you no matter the circumstances. 

Happy First Anniversary Hannah and Jake. May you be richly blessed in the coming years and celebrate many more years of love. Cherish each other always. 

THURSDAY

 Princess Sassy Pants can make you smile. Me too!

A perfect Thankful Thursday breakfast. I like the plate and tea cup and saucer and the egg in the cup reminds me of my mom. She could make any type of egg to perfection. I sure miss her, even after all these years have gone by since she left this earth.

I am not sure Mister Kitty or Daphne would be up for a tea party but this fine fellow seems to be enjoying it.

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

Wordless Wednesday