A couple years ago we had a hanging plant with a variety of petunias and all of a sudden this year these popped up on the ground under the spot where the plant was hanging. Fun.
Some real late comers popped up this past week, too, on plants we thought were done producing blooms.
We’ve had crisp Fall weather in the morning and summer temps in the afternoon.
Looks like we’ll have nice weather for the Cider Festival tomorrow.
Hope all is well in your corner of the world.
Thursday October 2nd
On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!
The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!
Matthew 13:24-30
“He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
From Dianna:
“The fear of man brings a snare: but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.”
Proverbs 29:25 NASB
From Vera:
“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.”
Exodus 15:2-3 ESV
From Karen:
Isaiah 40:29
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
From Maristella:
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
John 20:29
Speaking of Southern Charm and September…
The Rhett House Inn, Beaufort S.C.
Hello October Hodgepodge. Thank you, Joyce!
1. What’s your favorite fall scent?
Vanilla with just a hint of cinnamon.
Would we find this in or around your home right now?
No
2. October is Country Music Month…are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville?
I enjoy country music but I do not have a favorite artist and I’ve never been to Nashville.
In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse?
I was raised and lived the city mouse lifestyle for 67 out of my 74 years but I’m adjusting to the country mouse lifestyle. We moved to the country in 2018 and we are enjoying the country life. I have bonded with Wal-Mart. 🙂
3. How about ‘country cooking’? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)?
Fried Green Tomatoes were delicious at a restaurant called Wren in South Carolina. Katie and I were in South Carolina in 2010 staying in Beaufort to attend Andrew’s graduation from Marine Boot Camp at Parris Island.
chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-‘barbecue’-gumbo-banana pudding
Which of the foods listed is your favorite?
I would say that barbecue, deviled eggs, cornbread, biscuits and gravy are favorites.
Any on the list you haven’t tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered?
I would be fine with eating any of the items on the list once in a while.
4. What’s something that always has a positive impact on your mood?
Good Christian Worship Music and Hymns. Music speaks to my heart.
“May I be singing when the evening comes.”
5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you.
September had some fun travel and joyful events but the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk hit me hard. His Memorial service reaffirmed my great hope in God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
noun: assassination ~~verb: travel ~~adjective: horrific
6. Insert your own random thought here.
September of 2010 was a memorable one in our family.
The photo above is from the Parish Church of St. Helena in Beaufort, S.C.
This wonderful old church and graveyard were around the corner from our lodgings in Beaufort. (Photo at the top of this post) I took several photos here of the grounds and of the fresh in love couple!
Beaufort is a city on Port Royal Island, one of South Carolina’s coastal Sea Islands. It’s known for its antebellum mansions, especially in the downtown historic district.
Being at Parris Island and experiencing all the ceremonies involved with Andrew officially becoming a Marine were amazing and unforgettable.
Katie and I stayed in Beaufort while we attended Andrew’s graduation from Parris Island Marine Bootcamp in September of 2010. Later that month on September 29, 2010, Katie said yes to Andrew’s proposal of marriage. The photo below was taken on that evening.
We are looking forward to some special times in October starting this Saturday with Marcus Cider Fest! It was fun to turn the calendar page this morning.
Caramel Pecan Cookies
These might seem a little involved to make, but they are worth it.
Basic Butter Cookies for Crust:
Caramel pecan topping:
To make topping while crust cools:
After church and lunch out we decided to take a drive north from our home towards where the fires had been burning.
We only stayed on the main roads and we did not drive onto smaller roads up into the fire areas. We could see some of the trees that were scorched. It was a nice drive and we were encouraged that it wasn’t smoky.
Meanwhile in the state of Texas!
Josh had business in Dallas and extended his time there to spend time with his uncles, aunts, cousins, and childhood friend. Laura flew in after Joshua’s conference was over to join him for the ‘family’ time. An early round of golf happened on Saturday with his uncles and cousin.
Later on Saturday my sister, Lana and her hubby Steve, arranged for this get together, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and friends!
Laura with cousin, Hope (who is in her senior year of high school!). Josh with Nikki, my best friend’s daughter who lives in Texas now with her family. My brother and sister, the twins, who both live in the Dallas area. Nikki and her brother grew up with our kids in southern California. Nikki’s mom, me, Lana and Leonard were all part of the Russian Baptist church in L.A. growing up and into our college years.
Before Josh and Laura flew home on Sunday Steve and Lana treated them to a trip to the Dallas Arboretum.
It’s Fall y’all!
Thank you to Josh and Laura for sharing their time in Dallas with us through their photos! Thank you, to my sister and hubby, who opened up their home to them!
Hope y’all had a good Fall weekend, too.
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.
Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!
By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.
Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!
Words: John Newton, Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779).
The sky is blue and our ornamental grasses are golden. The Goldenrod is in it’s prime.
I’m patting myself on the back for being able to tackle a cart load of weeds.
We are so grateful to be able to see the layers of our mountains again and blue skies. The smoke has cleared and we are breathing easy.
Hope all is well where you live these last few days of September.
I’m at our Women’s retreat today. I won’t be getting around to blogland until Monday. Cheers!
On Thursday, reading along through the Bible using Paul Tripp’s, Everyday Gospel, A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life, we came to Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. This year the Bible that I’m using for my daily morning reading is the Church History Study Bible, Voices from the Past ~ Wisdom for the Present.
Unlike in other study Bibles, the notes in the ESV Church History Study Bible have not been written by editors. Instead, the notes have been compiled by a team of biblical scholars and church historians. The actual contributors of the notes are a varied group, stretching back from the first and second centuries and reaching forward to the twentieth century. These are theologians, pastors, poets, laity, all offering their perspective on God’s Word. In the ESV Church History Bible we escape the tyranny of the present to see the wisdom from the past.
In the introduction to Malachi this prayer by John Calvin (1509-1564) from his conclusion to his final lecture on Malachi was printed:
Grant, Almighty God, to help us onward in the course of faith, that we may strive to profit more from the helps that you have provided for us, so that the Law, the prophets, the voice of John the Baptist, and especially the doctrine of your only-begotten Son may more fully awaken us, that we may not hasten to him but also proceed constantly in our course and persevere in it until we shall at length obtain the victory and the crown of our calling, as you have promised us an eternal inheritance in heaven to all who faint not but wait for the coming of the great Redeemer. Amen.
I wanted to mark this significant day of completing the Old Testament and moving forward into the New Testament with Calvin’s meaningful prayer and another quote by R.C. Sproul.
Have you read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation? It is a good journey to take.
After posting, we heard of Voddie Baucham being called up to heaven yesterday. Another heralder of the truth is absent from our midst. Absent from earth but present with Our LORD.
Have a great Friday and last weekend of September!
Thursday September 25th
On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!
The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!
Habakkuk 2:18-20
“What profit is an idol
when its maker has shaped it,
a metal image, a teacher of lies?
For its maker trusts in his own creation
when he makes speechless idols!
Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;
to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
and there is no breath at all in it.
But the Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him.”
From Vera:
“He said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
2 Samuel 22:2-4 ESV
From Karen:
Colossians 3:23-24
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve the Lord Christ.
It’s Fall y’all and Joyce has a fresh batch of questions for Wednesday Hodgepodge.
1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)…what’s your favorite thing about fall?
All the things! I like the weather, the changing colors, our local Corn Maze, Cider Fest, Thanksgiving, Flannel and the end of mosquito season.
2. What’s one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list?
New England or Prince Edward Island would be nice to visit during the Autumn months.
3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared?
A Thanksgiving dinner favorite is sweet potatoes/yams baked in buttery brown sugar and marshmallows on top golden and delightful, a favorite of kids young and old.
A good butternut squash soup with a little spice is delicious!
Any on the list you don’t eat?
I can eat any of those things.
Which one have you had most recently?
I might have had dried cranberries in a nut mix the most recently.
4. ‘Fall is proof that change is beautiful’ is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate.
I am a fan of Fall so I could describe it as beautiful. I also like the changes that occur from summer to fall. Not all change is beautiful and not all the changes from Summer to Fall are beautiful. This isn’t a sentiment that would come out of my mouth. That’s a little nitpicky but I’d share another sentiment for Fall like “Fall is the season for cozy hugs and warm mugs.”
5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color?
Around our parts you can see the Larches/Tamaracks in some nice groves that have taken on their golden hue.
Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping…of those listed which would you most like to visit?
Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas
We are closest to the Columbia River Gorge and that would be a nice Fall road trip.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
We were thrilled to hear on Tuesday that all evacuation levels were suspended for the Crown Fire which is the closest fire to us. We are so thankful for all the fire fighters that have been battling these fires. Thank you, LORD, for them and for the rain we received on Sunday!
Happy Autumn/Fall to all hodgepodgers and visitors here!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 