Tuesday4

 

Sunday, September 27, 2026

The Cozy Pastime of Reading

 

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we give you 4 questions to think about each week.

People make reading lists for the various seasons and many mention how cozy it can be to cuddle up in a favorite spot to read.

1. Do you have a list of books you'd like to read? I do! It is quite lengthy. The Chanel Sisters, The Last Twelve Miles and other older books I find at reasonable prices.

2. Where do you get ideas for books you want to read?  What kind of books catch your interest? I read Hilary Williams story.  "Signs of Life". She is the daughter of Hank Williams Jr. and nearly died in a tragic car accident. It was hard to read but so worth it. I like autobiographical books, interesting stories, anything to do with real Country music

3. What have you read lately? I read Looking For Salvation At the Dairy Queen. Different but a good story. Also I've lived Country Music by Bobby Tomberlin. A book Called Run Rose Run written by James Patterson and Dolly Parton.

4. How do you find time to read and where do you make yourself cozy and comfy to read? I like to throw a cover over my legs when the a/c/ is on. I read in bed which is easy because we have an adjustable one. 

A quick little input. I have found amazing books for $1.50 at the Dollar Tree. An older gal who works there said a woman comes in a couple times a month and buys all these books and takes them to various nursing homes. They have libraries too!

SONday

 ISAIAH 40: 22-23

It is HE who sits above the circle of the earth,

  And it's inhabitants are like grasshoppers, 

Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain.

And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

He brings the princes to nothing.

HE makes the judges of the earth useless.

This is a favorite verse I found in the Old Testament. I love it for so many reasons. But watching the John Denver memorial service in 1997, at a Christian church in Aurora, Colorado, the home church of John Denver's mom. Many of his friends got up being very spiritual saying they felt John's presence. The senior pastor spoke after all the dancing around and he spoke this verse out loud. It has stayed in   my heart for all these many years later. I particularly love the last verse. Only GOD HIMSELF has full authority.

One day we will see JESUS return and we will all bow down to HIM. What a glorious day that will be.

I am missing in action so many times and miss this blog place. But life gets in the way and turns us upside down. Today I thought I would post something simple. Missing all of the wonderful blog friends. Thank you to anyone who stopped by here. 

Prayer Request

Always requesting prayer for sweet MaryDon. She was one of the first people to welcome me here and I miss her precious love is.... postings. We recently heard from another dear friend Tanza who let us know MD has been sent to a care facility. It is hard for me to fathom all her strong-willed ways were taken away in a flash. Mother's never tire of loving their children. It is all I will say.

My dear friend Bea had turned 96 in May 2025. She was sent to live in a care facility in another state. I heard from her at CHRISTmas  2025 and than nothing. It hurts my heart that no one could pick up a phone, write a note or simply state what happened to her. Her phone was never disconnected but when I called repeatedly, no one answered. I don't think these facilities are always the right answer to an elderly person's well being. Sad how so many can simply let go and go forward.

My best pal Karen from our infancy has been a dear friend since those days in the playpen together. We still keep in touch. She told me how her eldest sister, who had been an RN and widowed for many years being a recluse. Stuck to a certain TV news channel and spewing hatred to any and all who tried to speak to her. She had two sons, both single in their 50 plus years. They put her in a facility. Not even two days later she fell, always a convenient end to one's life. No more information was given about her or what happened. Such a sad world we live in.

Avery has had some rough weeks and months with his asthma. The pulmonologist gave him a new medication. But he did not research it very well. If he simply looked over the Cardiologists notes he would have seen that this medication would have made his symptoms worse and not better! If you can not advocate for yourself as you age, you are tossed into a world-wind of helplessness. I worked for over 35 years in the medical field from insurance companies and private practice administrative support in a surgeons office. Many years at the UCHSC with Microbiology/Immunology and those research docs were truly, sincerely interested in helping you stay healthy. Today everything seems out of order. I worked in the JFK Child Development center, the emergency room at the hospital as a secretary support staff and I can tell you, I saw, I learned and I pay attention to each and every detail I need to. I ask for prayer for myself and Avery as we continue our own journeys down many unknown roads.

Weekends for us are busy. Saturday church although with Avery's cough he does not like to sit in church and have these awful coughing spells. So we watch Hannah and Jake's pastor from Western NY on their live services. Pastor Bill is in a series right now about the end times. It is sad how many who attend church do not believe it will happen. Avery studied two years of New Testament Greek so he has studied this for several years and we study together today as well. Keep looking up, Jesus is going to return when anyone least expects Him to.

The B&B brothers play soccer ( Lil B) and flag footballs (Big Bro B). Their games are roughly an hour apart. So we try to attend most of the games.

Zach, our son-in-law had his shoulder surgery August 20 (Nick's birthday) and he seems to be recovering well. Still being a one armed man for the time, he does as much as he can with his non dominant arm. We go to Sushi with them and he currently can not use the chop sticks! It's ok, we like the old fashioned fork! Laughing out loud! He and Rebekah both go to P.T. 

Rebekah had hit from behind coming home one evening from her office. The guy had an ID but no valid drivers license. He basically demolitions their car. She has been saving for years and they went out and purchased a brand new little car. It is a beautiful bright shade of blue, which they love and seems to be a great little car. She sought the advice of an attorney, is receiving PT and trying to stay healthy. She appreciates prayers too.

Noelle has a badly sprained knee so she needs prayer too. Her job is standing and moving all day long so it has taken a toll on her poor knee!

We've been watching football on and off today and we cleaned our house and did several loads of laundry which is standard on SONday.

Jeremy and Brittany are at the Bronco game with Addy and Big Bro B! Lil B is interested in higher education and he loves learning. He plays soccer to run off some energy although he learns quick fast and always has an encouraging word for us.

I may have told everyone this already but one day he was having a serious conversation Auntie Noelle. He said, Auntie, money can buy you anything in the world, anything but LOVE, and LOVE is the greatest gift.

If you read 1 Corinthians 13 you will notice that  in verse 13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of theses is love." 

LOVE & HUGS  to everyone who stops by. May your week be filled with good things and beautiful blessings.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Since I created two posts my my blog My Tata's Cottage here I am over here creating a random post. Let me put my thinking cap on!

Rebekah will be leaving on a jet plane tomorrow to spend a week with Hannah and Jake and the boys. She will help with big brother while momma tends to the little baby boy. Dad Jake will head back to his office. Ah....the joys of children! No regrets ever for the large phamily we created!

My Rebekah Michelle with me on Mother's Day 2026. We had a lovely day. Do you think when she boards her flight she will think " I can't wait to  walk down the aisle and hear those magical words...

 this is your Captain speaking?" Say a prayer for her to have a safe flight to Buffalo!

              

My love of baseball began when I was a small child changing that TV channel for my daddy.

I learned everything I know from Dad. He was and always will be my personal hero.

My beautiful mother is in the very back row and she has the dark short haircut on your right side.  she is holding a brooom. She played ball for the National Broom Company.

A beautiful memory. 

I love baseball trivia too. Cal Ripken Jr. played his entire 21 year career with the Baltimore Orioles and and holds the record for 2,632 consecutive games played. He surpassed Lou's Gehrig's 2,130 consecutive games! He is also considered one of the best shortstops in the MLB game!

I hope you all have a terrific weekend. Take care, stay safe and sending love your way! Hope you liked my random thoughts!

CATCHING UP WITH BLOG FRIENDS

 COme visit WORDLESS WEDNESDAY  I am rarely speechless and wordless! Ha Ha Ha! I have been away from my blogs for a long while. You know how life just interrupts your plans? I am anxious to move forward and live and laugh and love seeing everyone again.

I mentioned on my My Tata's Cottage that we have a new grandson. As of May 1st. He is his grandpa's namesake. His big brother is happy to have him here. We will see them and meet the new baby later this summer or in the early Fall, God willing.

I am constantly reminded of my dad and all of his biblical knowledge. I am so grateful my folks are not here to witness phamily breakdowns. You know the expression, you can choose your friends but not your phamily. I will not go into detail, I H A T E drama! So I will only say my dad would be brokenhearted to see so many phamily members falling away from the happy life I was personally raised in. Can't speak for other folks, but I loved my childhood. Loved my siblings, my friends and my upbringing. All of it based on wonderful parents who had faith in God and raised us according to the way God intended.

Losing contact with loved ones is devastating. I am sad every time I think of my mom and dad and how much they loved their own siblings, their parents and their children.  They would be sad to see this world and all the disrespect in it.

One of my nephews contacted me. Sweet Troy. He is that wonderful middle child who makes sure everyone is accounted for. He takes good care of his precious mom Karla,  who raised him right, Sometime others go off the road that was well paved for them. Another nephew, Charles, who lives in Kentucky contacted Troy and sent him a link he found on ancestry that took Troy to my blog and a post about my childhood in Bojon Town. Troy loved the post and thanked me for it. I just can never say enough about my upbringing. It was a wonderful world that we lived in. Thanks to both of my nephews for reminding me how important phamily really is.

A prayer request in the middle of all this blogging tonight.

My great cousin Michael B has been in and out of the hospital for his heart condition. Now I know it is all medical and I pray he gets all the care he needs. But he has one of the kindest hearts. Oh my goodness, he can make me cry happy tears talking about my dad. My sweet daddy was Mike's favorite uncle..Mike and his wife Velma are grateful for the prayers. They have lots of need for prayer. Thanks to all who can pray.

My prayer list grows daily. Always keep sweet MD in your prayers. She is a former blogger and she and I shared a passion for the love is....comics. I need to post a few of those too . I want to get back to blogging and hearing about your lives and loves and likes. I really have missed you.

I said my oldest friend Karen, who is a "kick in the pants" kind of friend who comes up with things to say that makes me roll over in laughter. She is a "hoot"! We lament to each other about the cost of everything, the out of control medical costs and the ongoing merry go round of doctor appointments.

After I finish with my dentist, Dr. T. She is a real sweetheart. She is going to give me my two "golden crowns" next week. When she is working on you, she has the prettiest eyes that smile and tell you everything is going to be alright.  My fear of the dentist is slowly fading away.

If I could get my claustrophobia to go away so I can have my MRI and have my ENT find out why I have having all these issues from the Vascular surgery last year. I saw the Vascular doc last month. He is confident there are no Vascular problems. I had my ultrasound and all was well. Praying always that it stays that way.

Avery has an appointment with our Cardiology doctor. tomorrow. He is the kind of doctor who listens to what you have to say and finds a way to help you. He is a gem. A kind heart says it all.

The kids, Rebekah and Zach brought salad and sandwiches from the European Market. I wish we had snapped a picture. They have the best food and lots of interesting snacks and drinks too. 

I get to have my mammogram tomorrow. I do not mind it. I would love to go to the imaging facility close to my home but had an awful experience with the two techs who worked with me for a CT Scan of my brain. She was extremely clueless. Not once, or twice but seven times she said, "well your shunt is non-functioning!" To which I replied, my neurosurgeons, Dr. B and the head of NSS Dr. C both told me they concluded that my shunt was not failing. It was functioning properly. It was working properly and unless I feel the need to see them because I know the classic symptoms of a failing shunt, I don't have to see them! They are some of the best I have seen in years! My CT Scan, surprise, surprise, showed my shunt working and functioning properly!

The MRI tech was nice until she stuck earplugs in my ears without warning, had icy cold hands and proceeded to place a plastic mask across my face! If she looked up the definition of a claustrophobic person she might have found my horrified photo . I leapt off that table and said I could not do it. She was getting upset but the younger gal who cleared my veins for the intravenous medication they give you for the MRI, was kind and told me to stop saying I was sorry. She said if you can not do it you can not do it. Please don't feel bad. Unfortunately the other two techs soured me on using that facility in the future. I am the easiest person to get along with as long as you know my strengths and weaknesses. Listening is so important and so many people today just glide right over it.

love is...has been a favorite of mine since I met my husband in 1977. I saved hundreds of newspaper clippings and when we married in 1984 I gave him all of those I collected plus daily new ones. They use to be in the local newspaper comic section. I sure miss those days. 

Avery is my love and everyone of these little cartoon drawings can relate to our relationship. MD who use to blog and her husband Harold  had the same love of this comic love is...

" Happily ever after is not a fairy tale, it is a choice." Fawn Weaver

" Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a  real treat. " Joanne Woodward

I thought Joanne Woodward knew my husband!!!!! Laugh Out Loud! My husband Avery is a natural born comedian. I usually have one eye opened early in the morning and he is bounding out of bed with a smile and something hilarious to say. 

Finally , I need to share Maxine. That old gal cracks me up. Years ago there was a blogger from Brooklyn I believe. She would share Maxine each Saturday and I was enthralled. I have a Maxine calendar hanging in our hallway.

In honor of my mammogram tomorrow...here's Maxine!

One more time!

Good night and God Bless You !