Sumo Mandarin

Last week, a few Sumo Mandarins ended up in my basket.  Holy Cow!  Where have they been all my life?  I have enjoyed one for lunch the past few days.  Yum!  They are only available through April.  I'm gonna add them to my weekly grocery list and take advantage of their sweetness while I can.

To find out more info, check out Sumo Citrus. You won't be disappointed!

Memphis 901FC

We went to the inaugural Memphis 901FC game on Saturday.  We are thrilled to welcome soccer to the area.  They are sharing AutoZone Park, the Redbirds baseball stadium.

 After a day of torrential rains and high winds, the evening was lovely.

Memphis lost to Tampa by one.  Even so, it was a fun time!

Dear Bob and Sue

Over the last few weeks, I've enjoyed the Dear Bob and Sue audiobook by Matt & Karen Smith.  The book follows this couples journey to the 59 National US Parks.  They have a quirky sense of humor with most of the ribbing directed at each other.  The structure of the book was perfect for my commute.  At each national park, my geography was tested.  They don't tell you what state they are in when they get to a park.  It challenged me to dig back in the crevices of my brain and associate a park with an area of the country.  I have only been to about a dozen national parks.  This inspired me to get out there and see the country...

One of the last parks they visited was Death Valley National Park.  There is an area called The Racetrack.  Silly me.  I thought it was where they did some sort of car racing time trials in the dessert.    In actuality, rocks move across the playa.  I can only imagine what it would be like to see in person.  On more than one occasion at many of the parks, the comment is made that the camera pictures did not capture the magnificence and beauty.  Again, that plug to get out there and see the beauty.

From their visit to Lake Clark, Alaska, I was so intrigued by Richard Proennekes and his life in the wilderness of the Aleutian Peninsula.  I want to watch the documentary, Alone in the Wilderness.

Besides all the park highlights, Matt & Karen were inspirational.  They grabbed life by the horns, quit their jobs and set out to visit the national parks.  They did not wait until retirement.  They seized the day and checked the parks off their bucket list while they had they chance.  We are working through the book, The New Retirementality by Mitch Anthony.  The book gets you thinking.  The Big Guy and I don't have our plan yet.  After reading Dear Bob and Sue, it was rewarding to know folks do live out their dreams!

Ash Wednesday

As I left the soup kitchen, I decided to go to an old church downtown for Ash Wednesday.  Loved the message.  Putting it in action is the challenge.  The journey over the next 40 days begins today...

Look at the grey hairs creeping in.  It's been over 13 months.  This is my real color.  At the advice of my boys, I am trying to embrace it.

The Death and Life of The Great Lakes

As a family, we've spent two summer vacations enjoying two different Great Lakes, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.  After each trip, we've walked away wowed by the water.  These wonderful, large bodies of fresh water are amazing!  This book is so informative.  The lakes are bodies of water that need to be cherished.  The history of the lakes, the fixes put in place to "help" the lakes over the years and the future of the lakes is so interesting.  I would love to spend a few more vacations on the lakes. This book covers it all and provides hope that the beauty of the lakes will continue...

I listened to this book as an audiobook.  The format was perfect for my morning commutes.  More than once, I pulled out a map to get a better understanding of the areas discussed.  The eco balance is such science.  Mother Nature amazes me.  Mankind tries to help.  In some areas were are successful.  In others, not so much.  My appreciation for the lakes and all that goes with it intensified.

Tuesday Tidbits

This made my night last night.  Caught a cutter on the Panama Canal webcam!  Pretty sure that is the cutter carrying a piece of my heart.  Get home already!

In person, the cutter looks big.  Next to that other freighter, it looks miniscule.

I stopped in a grocery store near the soup kitchen.  About three folks stopped me claiming I was the woman that serves the food.  It's these heartfelt comments that make it all worth while!

We had pancakes for dinner.  The recipe called for a can of creamed corn.  They were yummy!

The Big Guy ended the night with glass of Fireball.  What was he thinking??  He loves it straight up from the freezer.  It makes us all smile as he calls it his Powerball!  Gotta love that man!

Eagles

Reelfoot Lake State Park is in the NW corner of the state of TN.  It is very close to KY and just across the Mississippi River from Missouri.  In January and February, there are eagles nesting.  We learned today all the eagles are local to this area.  There are some that do migrate through the area, but they are already north of us.  It was a wonderful adventure.  We took lots of back roads as there was no direct route.  We've been inundated with rain.  Water was everywhere.  Fortunately, the water did not close the roads.

Is was great to see the beautiful blue sky.

Reelfoot Lake was created in the early 1800s after an earthquake.  Today, it was overflowing its boundaries.

We took a shuttle bus tour of the area.  It took us up on the levee of the Mississippi River.  Our two state rangers were full of information.

We saw 30 eagles today.  The guides were thrilled.  When the eagles are soaring, their wings are straight out.  It is incredible.  The eagle nests look similar to squirrel nests.  But, they are bigger.  They can be 6ft by 6ft and weigh 2 tons!  Sometimes, the nest will topple the tree.  The eagles do re-use their nests from year to year.

 There was an eagle sitting on the nest.  It flew away just as we left.

That is the overflowing Mississippi River behind us.

 What a treat!  We got to see a group of eagles going to town eating.  The juvenile eagles don't get their white until 4-6 years of age.

 Grateful for the sun, the eagles, the blue sky and the opportunity to see the world close to us!

Snuggles

This puppy dog is so affectionate.  There are times of the day where she just wants to snuggle.

Knitting!

Peanut's gf is learning how to knit.  She took to it like a duck does to water.  Look at the cute and hat and the cute boy!

Spectating Is Boring

Indoor track meets are so much more fun when you can participate!  Go away Planter Fasciitis.

Fingers crossed all is good for outdoor!

Two More

I've now read more books in 2019 than I did in 2018.  Sad to say but it is the truth.  I am excited to keep up the reading!

A Serial Killer's Daughter by Kerri Rawson is disturbing.  I just kept wondering how her dad could be a dad and still kill.  This book made me think more about the killer's family.  He not only destroyed the families of those he killed, he destroyed his own family.  The families of criminals do not ask for the suffering.  It is a struggle all the way around.

The book is an easy read.  Kudos to Kerri for persevering and overcoming.  I'm sure everyday there is still some sort of hate to overcome.

We attended a function for the local Indian society.  They handed out the namesake to all the guests.   I enjoyed this novel.  It is filled with all that is involved in moving to a "new" country and building a life.  The family story in this new country is told and I was captivated.  I related to the empty nest and all the emotions felt.  (How did I get to this empty nest?) This book is about love.  The love that grows from a prearranged marriage and love that may or may not persist in "normal" relationship.  It's opened my eyes to cultural differences and the strength of familial bonds.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Years ago, I made up a dozen or so easy bags.  I kept three for myself filling them with different knitting projects.  Peanut associates knitting with me schlepping around one of my bags.  On every trip, there was always a bag at my feet in the car.

Fast forward...his gf wants to learn how to knit.  She got yarn and needles to start making a hat.  Peanut promptly texted me asking if I had another knitting bag.  Wow!  I haven't sewed in years.  I took this opportunity to dig through my limited stash and come up with something.

I was hoping for some fun mix of fabric but did not have enough yardage.  However, it is fitting to use this fabric.  I bought it years ago to make up a bag for my mom.  She was a dedicated tea drinker.  It turns out the gf likes tea too.  As I cut the pieces, I was smiling thinking of my mom.  I did not have my preferred interfacing either.  I ended up punting with what I had.

The end result is by no means perfect, but it will be the perfect bag for the beginning knitter.  I'm glad Peanut requested a bag.  It got my creative juices flowing...I just might have to get my sewing machine tuned up!

The Middle Dog

Who knew when we rescued Jude, she'd become "my" dog.  In the evenings, after dinner, she needs her snuggling time.  She is not happy until she squeezes up on me.  It is very endearing but she weighs 55 pounds!

Last night was no different.  The Big Guy put his head in my lap.  Jude hopped right up and snuggled in.   She was just making sure she was in the middle!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Growing up, we made a few trips across Pennsylvania from Ohio.  There was a restaurant near where we got on the PA Turnpike.  It was a favorite of my dad's.  In their bakery case, they had round smiley face sugar cookies.  Back then, I don't remember ever buying the cookies.  But, after my dad passed away, the cookies always made us smile and think of him.  Over the years, the cookies established a following.  There are some for each holiday.  For Valentine's Day this year, we ordered 200 smiley heart Cookies.  Each guest at the soup kitchen got a heart on their tray.  I sure hope they enjoyed them.  I smiled all day knowing my dad was with us in spirit serving.  It doesn't hurt that the cookies are yummy.  The amount of icing is just right, not too sweet.  Love them and love spreading the love today!

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

One of my goals for 2019 is to read more!  I started off the year listening to the audio book, The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas.  My commute to work is about 40 minutes one way.  It dawned on me. I can experience lots of books driving to/fro the soup kitchen.

Anyway, this book is a bestseller.  One reviewer declared that it was heartbreakingly human.  I could not agree more.  It puts race issues right in your face.  It made me think beyond my comfort zone.  It made me think.  This is a book everyone should read.  It is a young adult but deals with very adult issues.

A few days ago, I realized the book is currently a movie.  I'm going to add it to our must see movie list.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library

We spent the afternoon on Sunday at The William J. Clinton Presidential Library.  It was a miserably wet day.  We were glad to be inside.  The library is lovely.  It makes me wanna go visit the other presidential libaries.  Great places to learn.

 The area by the library looks wonderful.  We hope to go back in the spring and explore with our bikes.  The drive from home to Little Rock is a flat one with lots of trucks.

 One of the exhibits shows President Clinton's daily schedules throughout his presidency.  Had to find out what he was doing when Peanut was born.

 It looks like The President was in Hawaii when Pumpkin was born!

 We need to do more of this - taking advantage of what's close by.  The day of exploration was just what we needed, even if it was raining!