Celebrations and Cooling Off Faves

 

 

I can't believe we are more than half-way through the calendar year and that we are now heading into completing the first full month of summer! We've had a good, but busy week, here at our house and I'm sharing FIVE of the many blessings God brought to the week.  Join in with us by heading over to Susanne's blog where other bloggers share their fave blessings. 

Tyler and Courtney 
on her birthday

• BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Last  Friday was our oldest daughter's 32nd birthday.  Her bf took her out for dinner when she got out of work at this place and she posted this pic for us to see. Then on Sunday after choir rehearsal, they came over for dinner and our youngest daughter also came and we had what Courtney had requested: grilled bbq chicken; vegan potato salad; steamed broccoli, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and pink sprinkles. Then we gave her a gift. Claire got her a themed gift as did Dave and I!  Her bf bought her the lego Roses Bouquet set.  She collects various lego sets. I'm so thankful we could all get together. and the next day (the 12th) I celebrated quietly, my 50th spiritual birthday!  I am now 50 yrs old as a Christ follower and although I strayed for a couple of years after college, I'm so thankful I can do life with God. I can't imagine my life with out my church, the community of Believers I know and do life with, and leaning on God in good and hard times. 

Milkshake themed gift
We also gave her colored sprinkles, Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate sauce
and a gift card to the local grocery store so she can choose her own oat milk, oat milk ice cream and whipped cream. 

a Pride and Prejudice themed gift with the record album
still to come...from the movie ....Courtney loves Jane Austen and the book contains
hand written letters like in the book and written in the handwriting of that time period. 

• FRESH BASIL!  My basil has really grown well so far this summer. I've been pinching off the bigger leaves and using them in stir fries, in a Bison stew, on tomato and lettuce sandwiches, tucked into pita bread with hummus and veggies....there's nothing like snipping off some fresh basil for dinner! I'm thankful it's doing well. 

growing since May!

• EARLY MORNING AND LATE EVENING WALKS:  We are on week 2 of high temperatures with high levels of humidity. I'm tired of it. I want to open my house windows, get fresh air blowing through and stop sweating as soon as I step onto the deck. Is that too much too ask?? This is eastern NY for cryin' out loud...not the Deep South!  I am not liking temps above 86 every day and humidity levels higher than 70%.  But at least I can still walk...although at a much slower pace...and this past week the blessing was running into a fellow church member (older woman) who heads up an organization I've been volunteering with.  Carol invited me to sit on her porch for a few minutes and I'm so thankful I did. She is the mom of our oldest daughter's fave Shaker High Creative writing teacher.  Courtney also took Film Critique with her and I was sad to hear that she is battling cancer. But Carol says she's doing pretty well and I got to know her (Carol) a bit more. There's a lot we can learn from talking with older Christians. I'm thankful for that time and I'm also thankful I have some pretty plants doing well in my backyard. I snapped a few pics one morning after my walk. 

my hanging plant in the pear tree
NO idea what these flowers are called

These are supposed to be morning glories but I don't think
I'll see blooms this summer.....I used to have them for years here and during the pandemic..for some strange reason, they just stopped growing. Every year I had gorgeous blue morning glories going up the trellis. So I bought seeds and sadly the month of May was so gloomy and rainy that I'm not sure what will happen.  But for now, the green growth is gorgeous. 

• BRUNCH!  On Wednesday, mid-morning to early afternoon, my friend Diane from church, hosted a few of us from the class we took 2nd semester at church, for a brunch and pool party.  There were 9 of us total and we had such a great time of fellowship. We all brought a dish to pass. One of the women took a lot of photos and sent them to us.  I'll share a few of my faves. I'm so thankful we had some nice fellowship, food and fun! It was great to see everyone again. 

Diane and Scott's pool 

I'm swimming the width of the deep end with Becca on the left and Diane on the right.  Becca is a good friend of Courtney's and getting her PhD in Ed Psych.  She
had Wednesday mornings off from school so was able to join us for the class. 

I contributed a fruit salad of Santa Claus Melon, blueberries and raspberries

Hanging out before we eat
l-r: a young high school girl and her mom. Mom is a visiting scholar professor 
at the University of Albany and must return to China in November.
Daughter will be staying in a boarding house for international students while attending a private Christian high school in our area. 
Then there's me, and then classmate Lori. 

my friend and hiking buddy Meg and I enjoying some delicious zucchini dish she made
and then me just hanging out in the pool with Kathy, Becca, Diane  and Meg (not shown). 

• SPONTANEOUS DINNER OUT:  Dave was super tired Wednesday night, and because I had been away most of the day, I didn't eat lunch until about 2:30.  By 6, he was asking me what was for dinner. I told him I was just gonna make a salad and wasn't really hungry yet. So he suggested we  I take a night off from cooking and just go out.  We chose P*nera as I just wanted a fresh salad.  It was nice to be out and have time to just chat together.  I really enjoyed our spontaneous dinner out and I'm thankful my husband suggested it. 

Asian Chicken Salad from P*nera

That wraps up some special blessings from the past week. 

Cooler, drier air is supposed to move in today. I sure hope that happens!

have a wonderful Summer weekend!!! 

UPDATE AS OF 7:45 AM!!  YAY!  I opened all windows at 2 AM when I was up getting a drink of water and noticed that the central air wasn't running. FINALLY!!  this is my fave weather! Currently  as I type this at 7:47 AM EST the temp here in my town is 66 F and the dew point is only 56! I'm very thankful!!

2025 Book Review #34: Horse

 

Wow. I had seen this author's books on the town library shelves in the past but had never read one until I took this one out a couple of weeks ago. She is a Pulitzer Prize winner, too.  This was fantastic. It's going to stay with me for a while....in my mind.....to reflect on...it's a powerful read and based on historical events and a real historic horse named Lexington. 

 STORY SUMMARY

It's 1850 in Kentucky. Jarret, is an enslaved groom for a brand new foal named Darley aka Lexington. They have a special bond and seem to understand each other which will carry them to record-setting victories across the South. When the nation begins the Civil War, an itinerant artist named Thomas Scott who has made his name known for his paintings of the racehorse, takes up arms for the Union. One perilous night, he reunites with the stallion and Jarret, and they are very far from the glamour of the racetrack. 

It is New York City, 1954.  There is a gallery owner named Martha Jackson (based on the real person) who is celebrated for taking huge risks on contemporary painters, such as Jackson Pollack.  She becomes obsessed with a 19th century painting:  an oil painting of a horse with mysterious origins. 

It is Washington, D.C, 2019.   A Smithsonian scientist (Jess) from Australia and a Nigerian-American named Theo (art historian) find themselves connected through their shared interest in the horse.  Jess is studying the horse's bones for clues as to his speed and endurance.  Theo is uncovering, for his doctoral thesis, the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to the horse's racing success. 

How do these three different eras connect?  And who really was Lexington?? 

How do the very real historical figures connect to Lexington, America's most famous stallion who sired 16 times? Their names: 

Robert Alexander, 1819-1867

Richard Ten Broeck born in Albany NY 1812 and died in CA 1892

Cassius Clay, 1810-1903

MaryJane Warfield Clay, 1815-1900

Mary Barr Clay, 1839-1924

William Johnson, 1809-1851 known as "the barber of Natchez, Louisiana"

Harry Lewis, born in 1805

John Pryor, 1812-1890

Thomas J Scott, painter 1831-1888

Edward Troye, famous Swiss artist, 1808-1874

Willa Viley, captain in the War of 1812, 1788-1865 (first president of the Lexington Racing Association)

Elisha Warfield, Jr 1781-1859, Founder of the Lexington Jockey Club and who delivered Mary Todd Lincoln. He was a leader in Kentucky racing and breeding, a professor of surgery and obstetrics, and a medical practitioner. 

To find out how these people connect to Lexington the Horse, read this book! 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a treasure of a story. I had seen Lexington the painting in an art book or maybe a print in a museum but I knew nothing about this horse, other than he was a famous Kentucky stallion. 

The author, at the end of the book, has a good summary on each of the main historical figures mentioned in this story.  She also said that although these figures were real people as was Lexington, she took liberty with her imagination to make this a fantastic historical fiction. It's truly a book worth reading. 

I loved the character development as well as the setting. I'm determined to someday see Kentucky and the racetrack. Kentucky has been on my bucket list ever since my oldest daughter began equestrian sports. 

The author is an excellant writer and really brings the past alive for the reader. 

The main themes in this book are: the enduring impact of racism here in America throughout the ages; how slavery has shaped us as a nation and the legacy it has left; friendship between slave and owner; between humans and animal; and the power of art along with the power of science.   

There is a developing love story of sorts in this book between Jess and Theo but the ending is not one I expected. It's a very powerful look at implicit bias and Blacks vs our police force. 

I love how the author tied in the start of Covid into this story as well....it left me with goosebumps...I don't want to reveal too much as I don't want to ruin this for you. 

I can't say enough good things about this book. 

One major quote left me haunted:

"...want to be free? Course I do. But a soldier ain't free....I respect the men who joined your army, I do. But I've been taking orders all my life, and now I'm giving them. I good as run this place, Mr Scott. And I get paid to do it....Mr. Alexander commenced to pay us wages right after the president's proclamation.  What makes you think I'd give that up to take orders from some White officer, a stranger, who don't care if I live or if I die? Just another masa, is all I see.  We suffered enough on account of slavery already.  I don't planon laying my life down to end it. You folk who made this mess, I reckon you owe us to clean it up."  pg 336, Horse by Geraldine Brooks, c.2022

I couldn't agree more, Jarret!! 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10. 

Grab a Mug HodgePodge Wednesday

It's Wednesday. I'm waiting for someone to call me back so thought I'd use the time and play along with today's Hodgepodge questions. 

Head over here to join in! 

1. What's a characteristic you admire in others? Elaborate. 

I admire many things in other people but one that I really admire is compassion.  True compassion.  For example: I have Christian  extended family members who claim to be Christ followers, and say they follow Biblical principles/commands, etc yet they have no compassion at all for other people, specifically people who are different from them. This is so anti-Christ. I cannot stand it. Jesus was all about compassion and told us to love others as we would want to be loved. You don't have to agree with someone else's thoughts/opinions/ideals/mores/sexual orientation/religion or lack thereof, but you do need to be compassionate. If everyone in the world showed more compassion, it truly would be a bit more peaceful, wouldn't it? 

2. Do you have a favorite mug? Let's see it. Why is this one your favorite? 

Well....since you asked.

my current fave mug for this  summer
a Xmas gift from oldest girl
made by a local pottery artist

I collect mugs.  I've been collecting them since about 1987. I buy one new mug for every new place I travel to or vacation in. Here is what my dining room looks like with mugs on the wall.  The ones that are missing are in the dishwasher. The above mug gets washed by hand as do several others unless the art is literally sketched in. And yes, I have given away some to thrift stores (maybe 8 in the last 10 years). 

Vermont, Acadia National Park, Freedom Cafe (NH)
and Saratoga (National Dance Museum) are all clustered to the left
the empty spot is a mug from Lake Winnipausake (NH)
The right side cluster: 3 plain blue mugs that we received from my parents years ago
and the bottom one is a large latte mug from the Catskills 

The 2nd grouping (on the right of pic) are 4 white pedestal mugs we received as a wedding gift (top one is in dishwasher); then in the middle:  Museum of Fine Art, Boston; Red Sox Boston; then top one is from Rome, Italy and bottom one is a "geek mug" to my husband from my sister Joy that contains all kinds of science and math trivia;  in between those two is a "Wake up and smell the Coffee" mug that Dave bought on Cape Cod years ago.   This grouping gets switched out from time to time. 

These mugs in the dining room are all gifts we received from special people in our lives:
top row: butterfly mug is from a student/parents; top middle is a Star Trek mug from my sister to my husband; one next to it on the end is a locally made pottery one from the very first speech therapist who worked on my classroom team; 
middle row: Dave received a company mug (LTI); then a mug with a fave scripture from my friend Carla who moved away; "Do not Disturb" mug is next and from the mom of one of my more difficult students when I retired; last one in that row is "Dear Coffee I love you that's all" from my dear friend Anita G
bottom row:  Claire gave me a huge UNH mug for xmas in her last year of college, the middle one is a Gordon College mug that Courtney gave me for xmas her last year of college, and the one on the end is a dragonfly mug from my sister in law Kathy as a "because I like you" gift. 

these mugs are in the above the fridge cupboard
and are holiday specific 
(St Patricks' day, Valentines, Christmas, Harvest)

These are in my corner armoire in the dining room and are
extra fave mugs:  In the front there is Michigan with the word Michigan on the back side; Montreal, Von Trapp Family museum in Stowe, Vermont and behind those, some random mugs that were gifts from a couple of friends and my mom. 

more random mugs from friends
and 2 teacups (one from my mom and one from hubby from Guatamala)

These are the mugs I'm displaying this Summer on the kitchen counter
in our coffee area:  Front one is from Ogunquit Maine, bottom left is Albuquerque NM
above that "I hike like a girl, try to keep up" a gift from my sister Joy
and behind that my loon mug from Long Lake (Adirondacks).  In the dishwasher is a colorful dragonflies mug (dragonflies all over it) and the bottom dark blue one is  a gift "The Mountains are Calling and I must Go" mug from my blogger friend Deb from this blog. 

PLUS:  I have some very old treasures in the basement in a bin that I don't want to part with yet.  Two were made by my daughters in art class when they were in 2nd grade and 2 that they made in 4th grade are hanging near my stove. Our school district had art projects where for a small price the kids' art work was turned into mugs. They're adorable. I also have a mug depicting the 20th anniversary of the first special ed preschool agency I taught at after grad school until 1995. that one is very precious to me. 

Well.....do you see why I can't just choose one??? 

3. July 15th is/was National Give Something Away Day...will you (or did you, depending on what day you answer these questions) give something away? If so what? Do you regularly give away or do you 'accumulate'? 

I haven't given anything away today but I have a very large bag of clothing, towels and sheets I am bringing to a local church tomorrow for their drive. They collect gently used items and give them to missionaries who help the homeless. I typically go through our clothing, books and dishes and if it hasn't been worn, used, or needed in the last year, we give away to not for profits or thrift shops/Salvation Army/Goodwill, etc. 

4. You're planning a trip. Do you prefer exploring big cities or smaller, more off the grid towns? World Atlas lists these 12 'off the grid' towns to see in 2025: 

Boothbay Harbor Maine, Middlebury Vermont, New Hope Pennsylvania, Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Brevard North Carolina, Saugatuck Michigan, Medora North Dakota, Ouray Colorado, Lamoille Nevada, Neah Bay Washington, Hood River Oregon, or Cambria California

How many on the list have you seen? Of those listed which one would you most like to visit? Tell us why? 

I've seen from this list:Boothbay Harbor Maine and Middlebury Vermont. We like exploring big cities like in Europe (we have done Paris, Rome, and Florence; Montreal and Toronto; San Franciso; Albuquerque; Pittsburgh; Kansas City, MO).  We also love small mountain towns or out of the way places. 

Which one from this list would I most like to visit?? Probably Ouray, CO because 1. I like to hike 2. I wanna see the Million Dollar Highway and 3. I've always wanted to go to Colorado. 

5. Have you ever...ridden a motorcycle? been to a Disney park? met a celebrity? won a contest? Tell us something about whatever you answered yes to on this list. 

yes, I dated a guy after college who had a motorcycle and we rode it all over Rochester/Buffalo/Niagara Falls NY. I hated it. 

No we have never had a desire to go to a Disney park. 

yes, I've met Lisa Genova, the much loved author, when we were in Chatham on Cape Cod. I loved every minute of our conversation. To me, she is a celebrity. I've read all of her books except her last 2 but they're on my list to find at the library! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have a lot of mugs. Maybe I should give some more away. 

2025 Goals Check Up

We are well into Summer now....it's the 2nd full week of July and we are almost into one full month of the Summer season.  I thought, since we are now more than half-way through the calendar year, I should do my goals check-up. 

PERSONAL/SOCIAL: 

• Continue to do "brisk walking/power walking" workouts daily after stretching/yoga/fitness ball routine.  This goal is met. This is now habitual for me. If I don't walk outdoors, I do a cardio workout via You Tube for the super humid days. 

• Visit some relatives I haven't seen in awhile: my Uncle Cliff, my cousin Kenny, my cousin Trisha.  This goal is almost met!  I visited my Uncle Cliff back in the mid-Spring, my cousin Kenny at the beginning of Summer, and my cousin Trisha and I have plans to do lunch together at the end of August.

• Have monthly coffee/dinner/lunch dates with my 2 daughters

This goal is met.  Both daughters came over for dinner twice and at the same time in the last month, and i've had coffee dates, and a dinner date with each one.  Since both of them live in the Capital Region, with one only about 4 miles away, it's pretty easy to find time to get together. We will continue this, of course. 

• Continue to have "date night" with my husband 

yes, this has now become a habit. I can say we have had some wonderful date nights this past Spring and so far this Summer we've had several. We celebrated our Anniversary a week early by spending the third week of June in Maine. It was heavenly. 

• Practice piano at least twice a week for 30 min. (my classical, baroque, or romantic era music)  This goal is on-going. 

• No cocktails or wine the month of January! Cutting back on foods with added sugar. Eat more fruit and no baked goods.   This goal was met!  It was hard...but made easier since I stopped baking. 

• Have one game night for friends/other couples once this winter  Well, we tried. One couple ended up getting ill, and so we are putting this off until autumn. This goal is not met. 

• SPRING FLING:  plan and host a "Spring Fling" with our couple friends, both young and old, here on our deck/backyard with a bonfire going all afternoon. Due to major rainstorms for every.single.weekend. in May, and then a trip to NM and a trip to Maine, this goal did not happen. Now, we are hoping to get it organized for Autumn. 

• Paint the entire deck before June!  Well, This goal is met!  It took me longer to do this project as lots of sanding had to happen first, but I did finish it before we left for Albuquerque!! 

• Hike one new to me High Peaks trail by end of Summer:  this is on the August hiking list so hopefully it will get accomplished!

SPIRITUAL:

• Continue my focused study/meditate on Psalm 119.  Try to be done by the end of June  This goal is met. I thoroughly enjoyed really digging into Psalm 119. 

• Begin a small group study with Priscilla Shirer's book He Speaks to Me and be done hosting this by the middle of June  This goal was met by the end of April!  I am so blessed to have the women report to me that they thoroughly enjoyed the study. 

• Attend all choir rehearsals at church January-June  Dave and I met this goal!  And....now we are having rehearsals again, every Sunday afternoon from now until mid-September gearing up for a campus wide Worship night where our church site is hosting the other 2 sites for an entire evening of praise and worship. We are so excited about this and that our oldest daughter and her boyfriend are also in choir. 

• Continue the SoulSteps Walking Group once a month for Friday/Saturday groups beginning in Feb-June. This goal was met and the group is now ended.  Instead, I have a SoulSteps Hiking group that has 48 members and is now in its second year. 

• Continue to Volunteer with HomeBound and visit at least 2 clients per month.  I am still a volunteer with HomeBound, and this spring, the two clients I had been seeing regularly are no longer having visits or I hadn't been able to go due to conflicts. I am now praying about whether I'm going to continue seeing clients. I am definitely staying on the card sending team and I might be leading a workshop in how to put together blessing bags in September. I have one client visit next week.  And after that, I will most likely be taking a step down to focus on another volunteer organization in my community. 

BUCKET LIST ITEMS to try to complete in 2025

1. Finish the ADK 102 Challenge:  I have 11 villages left that my daughter and I hope to finish up in August!
2. Hike to Blueberry Falls in the high peaks wilderness region: hoping to do that in a couple of weeks! 
3. Hike up Jay Mountain again: this has been scheduled for the end of August. 
4. Explore Albuquerque and do one desert hike: this has been met in May!  We loved it! And we hiked FOUR desert hikes! It was loads of fun. 
5. Take the boat cruise on Blue Mountain Lake- not sure this will happen this year
6. Swim in Loon Lake:  I'm actually heading there Thursday or Saturday, we are not sure yet. 
7. Swim in Lake Champlain : this is happening at the end of the month. 
8. Attend the Maple Fest in Thurman NY (eastern Adirondacks) it was pouring rain the weekend this event took place, so I'm planning on going in 2026. 
9. Hike the entire Hoffman Notch Trail I have 3 hiking friends who want to do this 7 miles one way trail with me, so we are trying to find a date we are all free at the end of August. It won't be open to my SoulSteps members
10. meet my college friends Paul and Kim for drinks/lunch with Dave:  we were going to do this on Saturday, but now they have something they need to stay in Rochester for, so we are trying to find another date. 
11. Go on a Hot Air Balloon ride: if my sister in law Katharine can come up in Sept when this is happening in the eastern ADK, this will get scheduled for that time. Other wise, we will need to put it off. 
12. Explore the entire Tahawus/"ghosttown of the Adirondacks" area by Autumn: this is actually going on the SoulSteps September hiking list. I already know a couple people who want to sign up for it. 
13. Find the start of the Hudson River/hike to it: this is happening the end of August. 
14. Hike in to Henderson Lake and possibly Hanging Spear Falls: this is happening the middle of September. 

I think I'm doing pretty well with these 2025 goals! 

My new personal spiritual goal is to thoroughly study the book of Deuteronomy. 

Do you have any yearly goals?  How are you doing with them?