Yet to be done

The Friday Five at RevGalBlogPals last Friday asked this question:

Tell us five things you need to accomplish before Christmas Eve.

At the risk of depressing myself, here goes:

• Finish shopping for Christmas presents. I know we're not finished shopping, although I'm not sure yet what we need to pick up. I think a list needs to be written.
• Wrap. Sure would be nice to finish this before the 11pm Christmas Eve service so that we can go to bed when we get home at midnight, rather than staying up to wrap.
• Hang ornaments on the tree. Yes, JtM and MT, the tree is actually up, although it doesn't have ornaments. Just lights. But that is a step in the right direction. Of course, it is a pre-lit tree!
• Finish cleaning the living room, clean the kitchen, bathroom and hallway. Shut the doors to the other rooms.
• Shop for groceries for Christmas Eve dinner.

Don't wreck my day and tell me it can't all be done. Christmas is coming, and it will have to be done. So there.

Image: In the front of the altar at church.

Third Blogiversary

Today is Sandpiper's Thoughts third anniversary. Over the last three years, there have been 1198 posts and 33,272 hits (as of 8:35am).

There have been four guest sandbloggers for a total of 16 posts. Add to that images from three other photographers -- G, Steve and JtM.

For a little history:

• First Post
• First set of poems -- I think this is what got me started blogging daily.
• First published poem -- in WVUM
• Second published (and only other) poem -- on Annual Conference bulletin for Children's Sabbath
• First Blogiversary post
• Second Blogiversary Post

All of the images, in lieu of a "three candle" clipart, are images of three from our Disney trip.

Reflections

Couple of reflection images for you from today. The first one is of a nearby golf course, but once I saw the picture -- look at that reflection -- I thought the fact that it is a golf course was immaterial. I like the reflection.

The second image is from Epcot. More reflections -- these at night.

Disney World

We're at Disney World in Florida for Thanksgiving. Pictures are of the sunset at Downtown Disney, an interesting (?) statue at the hotel and the fireworks as we walked back to the room.

Friday Five

For a change of pace, here's the Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals:

1. Your work day is done and the brain is fried, what do you do? Most days when my work day is done, my evening is just beginning. There aren't many days when I can just come home, cook dinner with Steve and sit down to watch TV. Most days I come home and then move onto the next thing. This week, I had a Lay Leadership meeting on Monday, a Church Committee Structure meeting and then an Emmaus meeting on Tuesday, I worked on Wednesday evening, and a bible study on Thursday. Tonight we're going to dinner with friends, and then tomorrow we'll have dinner with Steve's brother's family and then go see G in a band competition and working on a church luncheon during the day. Sunday is church and the luncheon, followed by a short meeting. When I do get home, I sit down, work on the computer, blog, talk to Steve and the boys, and watch TV. What can I say? I'm busy.
2. Your work week is done and the brain is fried (for some Friday, others Sunday afternoon), what do you do? Each weekend, we try to find an evening meet another couple for dinner -- our "friend" time is worth carving out space for. The rest of the time is up for grabs.
3. Like most of us, I often keep myself busy even while programs are on the TV. I stop to watch The Office and 30 Rock on Thursday nights. Do you have 'stop everything' TV programming or books or events or projects that are totally 'for you' moments? I don't have as many "must see" TV shows as I used to. I really like Bones. I'll try to find House, Numb3rs, and Gray's Anatomy, if I can. We recently hooked a DVR machine to the TV so that we can set our own schedule.
4. When was the last time you laughed, really laughed? What was so funny? It's hard to say. My life is full of laughter. I'm sure it was the last time we were out with M and J -- we laugh all the time. It's one of the joys of the friendship. What was so funny? It's hard to tell. Unfunny things can become funny when shared with friends.
5. What is a fairly common item that some people are willing to go cheap on, but you are not. I don't know. Body wash instead of soap.
   

Render unto Caesar questions

Revgalblogpals Friday Five:

1) When was the last time you flipped a coin or even saw one flipped in person? Superbowl? Although I wasn't there in person....
2) Do you have any foreign coins in your house? If so, where are they from? We might have a few from when Mom went to Europe and brought the boys back some coins. We might also have a few from Portugal.
3) A penny saved is a penny earned, they say. But let's get serious. Is there a special place in heaven for pennies, or do you think they'll find a special place in, well, the other place? Um...I don't understand this question. Pennies are useful little engines....
4) How much did you get from the tooth fairy when you were a child? and if you have children of your own, do they get coins, or paper money? (I hear there may be some inflation.) I'm too old. I don't remember how much I got from the tooth fairy. The boys would be a dollar coin for each tooth.
5) Did anyone in your household collect the state quarters? And did anyone in your household manage to sustain the interest required to stick with it? We did at the beginning. We don't anymore.

Unremarkable Things

A meme -- six unremarkable things about me. I would link to this, but I've seen it three times, so suffice it to say that it's an Internet questionnaire.

1. I had a French class in kindergarten -- not that I can speak French, but they did teach it to us.
2. The second toe on my foot (well, both feet) is longer than the first.
3. I thought about being a physics major in school, but that path required 20 hours of calculus (no, thank you).
4. I love to go to the movies -- with other people or by myself.
5. I love to play with color; I wish I could paint or draw.
6. My first car was a red VW Rabbit. It was a standard. When I was first learning to drive it, it would hop down the road, so I named it Thumper. Since that car, no other car of mine has had name, although they have all had gender.
   

Oddities

We drove into northeastern West Virginia today, and I thought rather than tackling a serious topic this evening, I would tell you about some of the funny things we saw.

• How about that cow on the roof?
• A whole yard full of road signs. Of all kinds. Plants all throughout the backyard of the house.
• A garage door spray painted with the words, "What you stold isn't worth dying for."
• "Rusty Nail" antique store. Does that inspire confidence?Moose. That's all the building said. And there was an outline of the animal on the side of the building. I'm sure it's where Moose meet, but wouldn't the word "lodge" make it a little more clear?
• A field full full full of rusty steam engines. And tractors. Why?
• Honeymooners' Gun Shop
• Getz's Mart -- a convenience store. Go back and read that again.

Fun drive.

Signs

I take pictures. I mainly take pictures of sky, flowers, nature -- whatever I see that is beautiful or artistic to me. I've told people that I see God, and I take a picture.

These pictures probably aren't of God, but maybe they prove that God has a sense of humor, and we are made in his image.

1. "Long term wife insurance" -- Seen on a jewelry store in Charlestons. Not really funny to me, but it does win the most "chauvinistic" award for the day.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. "No Dumping" -- I guess there is a time and place for everything, and the parking lot probably isn't it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. "Loo may be slippery..." -- Well, ick.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. "Butter only, no ball" -- Is this descriptive of the person ordering, or is it a preference for dinner?
   
   

Dates

A Friday Five from RevBlogGalPals:

Here are five things to ponder about dates.

• Datebooks--how do you keep track of your appointments? Electronically? On paper? Month at a glance? Week at a glance? I keep a "Month on Two Pages" kind of calendar. I use it for work, for church and for home -- all on one calendar. I've tried the same thing on separate calendars, but I read somewhere that it was best to have just one, and whoever said that was right. I also put some of the dates on my Outlook calendar at work so that the computer can remind me.
• When was the last time you forgot an important date? Well, I can't remember, although I'm sure that I have. Maybe I just blocked it out!
• When was the last time you went OUT on a date? Steve and I try to make this a habit. We do it often enough that I couldn't name the last time.
• Name one accessory or item of clothing you love even though it is dated. I have a leather coat that is probably out of date, but it is so comfortable that I love to wear it anyway.
• Dates--the fruit--can't live with 'em? Or can't live without 'em? Oh, I can definately live without them!
  

Fall Changes

Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals:

For this Friday's Five, share with us five transformations that the coming fall will bring your way.

1. Coming soon -- at the end of the month, I'll switch to a fall purse. This is a big deal for me; I really only change purses twice a year -- sometimes I switch to a small one to avoid carrying the heavy, big one.
2. Kids go back to school -- that's a transformation for our household.
3. G plans to take his learner's test soon. Talk about transformation!
4. We have two new pastors at our church.
5. I've lost almost 20 pounds.
   

Sign of the Times?

No time to post yesterday, so you get a post-dated picture.

This sign just struck me as funny. Are they hiring liquor?

Friday Five -- Hot Summer

The Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals. Yes, I know it's Monday, but I just read it tonight....

The five questions are called "The God Days of Summer."

1. What is your sweetest summer memory from childhood? Did it involve watermelon or hand cranked ice cream? Or perhaps a teen summer romance. Which stands out for you? I don't remember liking watermelon until I was an adult (although Mom says I used to just dig into it when it was in the fridge, eating handfuls.). We never hand-cranked ice cream, and I don't remember a teen romance. So those are out. I remember going to Jekyll Island, Georgia in 1972. It's a beautiful beach, with old oak trees and dripping moss. I remember Mike, a boy my age, and having a crush. I remember playing on the beach. Innocence.

2. Describe your all time favorite piece of summer clothing. The one thing you could put on in the summer that would seem to insure a cooler, more excellent day. I don't know. There is something about white shirts in the summer that is cool and refreshing. Skirts with no hose. Shoes with no socks (sandals, I mean).

3. What summer food fills your mouth with delight and whose flavor stays happily with you long after eaten? Chocolate covered strawberries. Ice cream eaten at Baskin Robbins, maybe outside. Beach food. The perfect hushpuppies at Coleman's in Calabash. Dinner on the deck at Damon's in Myrtle Beach.

4. Tell us about the summer vacation or holiday that holds your dearest memory. Honeymoon at Seabrook Island. Walking on the beach the year before we had our first son.

5. Have you had any experience(s) this summer that has drawn you closer to God or perhaps shown you His wonder in a new way? I've started working for the church (in a broad sense) doing work which I never would have thought I would be doing. There is joy and delight in doing it, in learning new things, and in doing something I feel called to do, that I never would have imagined doing.

Bonus question: When it is really hot, humid and uncomfortable, what do you do to refresh and renew body and spirit? I am renewed and refreshed in time spent with friends. Laughing, having fun, enjoying time with my husband and our dear friends is joy.

Fill in the blanks

I found this MEME at a blog called Grace and Peace, written by a United Methodist Pastor, Rev. Sonja.

It's a fill in the blanks list:

I THINK -- too much about some things.
I KNOW--I am loved, and that is a great feeling.
I HAVE-- family and friends -- great people in my life.
I WISH-- I were at the beach!
I HATE-- pro wrestling.
I MISS-- Jim Ray
I FEAR-- that I will fail in my most important job -- raising my children.
I FEEL-- joy.
I HEAR-- Bones on TV.
I SMELL-- nothing special right now.
I CRAVE-- chocolate. Always
I SEARCH-- with google.
I WONDER-- what my kids will grow up to be.
I REGRET-- um -- nothing that I can think of. Change one thing; change everything.
I LOVE-- my husband, my children, my family and my friends. I love to love.
I ACHE-- when I get a migraine, about once a month.
I AM NOT-- athletically coordinated. Never have been; never will be.
I BELIEVE-- in God, Christ and the presence of the Holy spirit in my life.
I DANCE-- in the kitchen, with radio volume high up, when no one else is around.
I SING-- in the car, with the radio, when no none else can hear.
I CRY-- when I find that I am close to God.
I DON'T ALWAYS-- do what I want to do.
I FIGHT-- with other people in my head, but not in person.
I WRITE-- daily; as a daily discipline.
I WIN-- every once and a while, but not very often
I NEVER-- remember how to spell penicilian. penicillian. pen.... Whatever. (two of my guys are allergic to it -- Steve and G.)
I ALWAYS-- itch to take a picture when I don't have my camera.
I LISTEN-- less carefully than I should, sometimes.
I CAN USUALLY BE FOUND-- near a computer.
I AM SCARED-- of bees, wasps, hornets.
I NEED-- to feel that I am doing a good job.
I AM HAPPY ABOUT-- the camera I bought last year...the fact that I don't work with lab animals anymore...my new job.
I IMAGINE-- what heaven will be like

Blogging Names

Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals. Yes, I know it's Sunday.

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog? My CB radio "handle" when I was a kid was Sandpiper. I've always thought the birds were great, the way they dart in and out of the water. When I set up my knitting blog (which is Sandpiper Knits), I decided to use that name again. When I started this blog several months later, I adapted the Knitting blog name to this one. Ultimately, I like it because it reminds me of the beach, which I love.
2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there? There are G and J, which refer to my two sons. JtM is Jeff the Methodist. Jeff goes to my church (I work with him now). I wrote a post one day, referring to Jeff the Baptist (a blogger) and his opinion on the ordination of women. Jeff, the United Methodist, put in his two cents worth (supporting the ordination of women) and stating that he was NOT Jeff the Baptist. Whenever he commented after that, he called himself Jeff the Methodist. I think that's a lot to type, so I shortened it to JtM. That's really the only "code names" on the blog.
3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun? Um, hmm. There are many clever ones out there, but nothing is jumping to mind.
4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals blog of course! Yarn Harlot (the only knitting blog that I still read). The blogs in my Bloglines account are listed to the right, under "Other People's Thoughts."
5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why? No particular person introduced me to blogging. When I started knitting a few years ago, I started reading knitting blogs, and decided to start one. I no longer post on that blog, but I started this one over two years ago.

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks? No particularly interesting stories here. I know Carol of Smallest Angel and Jim of WabiSabi. I wish Linda would post to her blog, Pearls of Wisdom. On the first day of Annual Conference this year, we were looking for Tom Burger (the now retired Director of Communications). We didn't find him right away, but I met Laura Allen, our new Director of Communications. She was just starting Living Stones, so I got to see its birth. That was cool.

Anniversary #21

Tomorrow is our anniverary -- 21 years.

We're celebrating tonight with dinner at Stonewall Resort's restaurant, Stillwaters.

We walked around a little after dinner. The image to the left is the two of us in the library, reflected in the glass of the window. You can see the bookshelves and the lake in the same picture.

He's tall. Yes, he is. He's been that tall since I met him.

Thank you, friends, for the flowers. They are beautiful. What a great gift to find in the room.

Happy Fourth

Happy Fourth of July! I recommend the Questing Parson's blog for an interesting viewpoint -- "America Bless God." (Kind of the antithesis of God Bless America). Our task is not to seek a blessing, but to be a blessing.

Vacation Thoughts

A Friday Five from RevGalBlogPal: It is a holiday weekend here in the UK, and the weather forecast for much of the country is not good!!! But we can still dream and so with that in mind I bring you this Friday Five.

1. Getting ready for summer, do you use the gradual tanning moisturisers ( yes gentlemen you too can answer this!!!), or are you happy to show your winter skin to the world? Not to be wishy/washy -- Whatever I feel like. The great thing about getting older is that I please myself in issues such as this. I will if I want to; I won't if I don't. I also don't wear shoes that hurt my feet, clothes that aren't comfortable or read books just because they are "good for me."
2. Beach, mountains or chilling by the pool, what/ where is your favourite getaway? I love to go to the beach. Chilling by the pool has the potential of getting boring (although I have had great experiences chilling by the pool ).
3. Are you a summer lover or does the long break become wearing? Since I am no longer in school, and don't get to take the summer off like students do, there isn't that much difference between summer and the rest of the year. Except that summer is hot -- I'm not crazy about hot! I like summer at the beginning because I don't have to bug the kids about their homework. As it comes to an end, I'm kind of ready for them to go back to school. Vacation is a nice part of summer, but I would probably do it in September or May if the kids weren't in school, just to avoid the really really hot summer months.
4. Active holidays; hiking swimming, sailing, or lazy days? Well, not hiking, swimming or sailing. I like some activity on vacation -- sight seeing is good; I don't mind driving; shopping is good. I've been known to take a weekend with friends when we just sit, talk and go to meals. That's fun.
5. Now to the important subject of food, if you are abroad do you try the local cuisine, or do you prefer to play it safe? I'm more adventurous as I get older, but I'm not extremely wild when it comes to food. I'm not so much into "local flavor."

A mix of Music and Thoughts

Something a little different today. I ran across several YouTube type videos this afternoon that I thought I would pass on for your attention:

Neighbors -- Take a look at this great story. Isn't it wonderfull when someone puts the other person first?

How Firm a Foundation -- This is a video of someone playing this hymn on a different kind of instrument (I'm sure someone reading this will be able to tell me what KIND of instrument that it is.) It sounds very West Virginian to me.

Down to the River -- I visited a church today to do a short presentation. During the service a sweet baby named Rachel was baptized. On the way to our church for a goodbye luncheon for our pastors, I played this song on the iPod.

Summer in the City -- How about this video of this song from the 60's? Do I have the decade wrong?

Friday Five -- From RevGalBlogPals...the Friday Five.

Think summer......are you there? Below you will find five words or phrases. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem, a memory, a recipe, or a story. You get the idea:

1. rooftop -- For some reason, rooftop gardens came to mind. They sound very romantic and fun, but I imagine if we had one, I would not be spending much time in the garden. I hate to be hot!
2. gritty -- Beach, but I love it anyway.
3. hot town (yeah, I know, it's two words) -- New Orleans. Talk about a hot town. Steve and I visited several years ago in June. Hot.
4. night -- Fireflies. It's a cool thing, to be able to sit outside on a summer evening and watch the fireflies blinking on and off.
5. dance

I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain

Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
But they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
They came to me and the dance went on.

Refrain

I danced on the sabbath when I cured the lame,
The holy people said it was a shame;
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high;
And they left me there on a cross to die.

Refrain

I danced on a Friday and the sky turned black;
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back;
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance and I still go on.

Refrain

They cut me down and I leapt up high,
I am the life that’ll never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.

Refrain

Summer Meme

I found this meme at St. Casserole, and I kind of liked the questions. She says, "Toby Brown at Classical Presbyterian created a Start of Summer meme ..."

1. What first tells you that Summer is here? For me, that would be the heat. I love love love the perfect days of spring, when the temperature is that perfect 70-ish level, the breeze is blowing, and the sky is perfect blue. The hot, sticky weather that follows is summer.
2. Name your five of your favorite distinctively Summer habits or customs? We've been grilling out, whichi s a summer custom to me. Other summer habits would include vacation, not taking the kids to school, not worrying about homework, and carrying a summer purse. (Just as a sidenote, a summer purse has room for a paperback book inside.
3. What is your favorite smell of Summer? Grilled steak. Beach. Garden grown herbs. Roses.
4. What is your favorite taste of Summer? Watermelon.
5. Favorite Summer memory? When you go through childbirth classes, they teach you to have a focus image to think about when you are breathing through contractions. My focus image for childbirth, and what I think about when I think of the beach was a sunset walk at the beach -- perfect weather, perfect lighting. Great memory.
6. Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why? Hah! Hah Hah Hah! If you know me at all, you know the answer to this question. I would always choose cold over hot. I hate to be hot.
7. What books do you plan to read for the season? I told my Emmaus reunion group that I was going to pick up a book to read that dealt with God and faith. I was standing at a bookstore that day, looking at the books, when I realized I was buying a book because I thought I SHOULD. I did eventually buy one, but I kind of let go of the idea that I NEEDED to be reading what I thought of as a book for spiritualn growth. Maybe that's not where God wants me to be right now. I did pick up Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea, which I'm going to start reading, I think. I may also read some of my son's summer reading books.
8. How does the Summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally? I'm not really sure how to answer that. If I'm hot, I can't concentrate, so I imagine if anything, the heat of summer is a hindrance.