Project 365 - Week 43

Here we are at week 43.  Our host, Sara, has posted a great set of photos and I would love for you all to go and see what everyone else has been doing this week.  If you are interested.....or a wee bit curious then head over to Sara's blog and check out the photo offerings.  I have been traveling this week since it was my fall break and I hope I don't bore you with my choices...I just could not decide which ones to use.  Hope you enjoy them.

Sunday, October 16th

Today was Lay Speaker Sunday and I spoke at Rock Mills.  My scripture came from Lamentations 3:21-24.  My sermon was entitled 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness."  I sang the hymn right before I spoke.  Mrs. Beth played for me on the new piano our church just purchased.  It is lovely and sounds awesome.

Monday, October 17th

Frank's Fire Dept. did an inservice for the children at Rock Mills today.  He taught them about Stop, Drop, and Roll (when he actually showed them how to do it....they all laughed).  He and Jennifer then had a race to see who could get in their gear first.  Jennifer won because Frank's boot was not cooperating.  I took pictures of the kids trying on their gear....it was a fun morning and I was so proud of my husband.

Tuesday, October 18th

We left early this morning headed to Chuck and Susan's in Knoxville.  We met Susan at Wild Wing Cafe for lunch and then she went back to work and Frank and I headed on to her house.  I have my own key and can come and go as we want.  We waited for the two of them to get there and I thought some pictures of a few of the cool things Chuck got on one of his mission trips in Brazil would make a nice shot for the day.

Wednesday, October 19th

It was a gross day.  If it was not raining....it was really foggy.....so we changed our plans and we went shopping, had Starbucks coffee, looked at decorations, rode up to Wears Valley area, played with Mr. Aaron (Susan's new grandson), visited with Jan (Susan's daughter), and I got to meet my blogging friend, Mary, at Shoney's for dessert.  Chuck and Susan had a business meeting at church so while they were gone we rode over to the airport area and met Mary.  It was so exciting to finally meet her.    She is just as lovely as I thought she would be.  

Thursday, October 20th

We made it to Cades Cove today...it was still very foggy....but occasionally the sun would break through and I would grab a fall foliage picture, or some turkey, or the lone doe.  It was a long and tedious trip through the Cove since it is peak season and everyone else decided to go today too.  After the Cove we went to the Craftsman's Fair in Gatlinburg and headed back to Susan's.  I attended Bible Study with her tonight at her church and the guys went out for Chinese food. 

Friday, October 21st

Chuck was off today so we loaded up early, headed to Shoney's for breakfast and then headed up into the mountains.  Today we are going to do the Dragon.  It is an 11 mile stretch of road with 318 curves.  Small cars and motorcycles love this stretch of road.  The HHR did remarkable on it.  The record for this is 9 minutes.  I can't imagine anyone doing this is nine minutes.  The Tree of Shame is at Deal's Gap and it is where motorcyclist hang the parts of their motorcycles when they wreck on the run.  The leaves were gorgeous and we took advantage of several of the overlooks before and after the Dragon.  We ate supper in Pidgeon Forge, went to the Smokey Mountain Knife place and headed to the house.  It was the perfect day.....until my Alabama friend Mary called with some bad news about her health.  If you follow my blog then you probably prayed for her during the summer.  She was in the hospital from July to September....well...her cancer has metastasized to her spine.  She will see an oncologist on Monday.  What is it about me coming to the mountains during a break?  My friend Trina said I was going to have to start working through breaks.

Satuday, October 22nd

We went to an auction today just outside of Roanoke.  Before leaving town we stopped at Subway for the rest of the group to get supper....the Eagle Drug store had team logos painted on their windows and I thought they looked pretty cool.  Love that team spirit.  I spent a whopping $8.40 at the auction....and brought home many "gifts" from Marcie.  I learned last night when someone gives you a gift you can't refuse it....so I got a spotted bear lotion dispenser, a sparkly Santa Claus, a candle holder or two, and two spotted dog statues....love that Marcie.  It was loads of fun even though some of the stuff was junk....who am I kidding....most it was....but the company made the evening a success.  Can't wait for the next auction!  See you next Sunday and I hope you have a great week!

Thursday in the Mountains And Wednesday's Hodge Podge Late

Frank and I got up early this morning and headed out.  Our goal was Cades Cove and the Craftsman's Fair in Gatlinburg.  We stopped for breakfast at FlapJacks.  You just can't come up here without eating pancakes at a pancake house.....or at least I can't.  We did not know what we were going to do first....but when the sky began to clear we took the by-pass to Cades Cove and enjoyed a leisurely(what that means here is 5 mph or less) drive up to the Cove and through it.  On the way up...there was a bear sighting....a couple of turkey sightings, several deer sightings....and scenery that makes one know that we serve an Awesome God.We got home in time for me to get to go to Susan's Beth Moore Bible Study, Inheritance at her church.  The ladies take turns providing supper for the group.....we got there....and low and behold.....dinner was chili (we had it last night at Susan's), tamales, and for me a horrendous case of heart burn.  I did though, enjoy getting a taste of this study....it is one I have not done yet.  I would like to do this one.  It is only a small study....I think it takes 8 weeks.  Anyways, after the study we came home and met up with the guys.  The guys had eaten at Osaka, a Chinese restaurant.  Tomorrow we are all going to hang together....don't know what we will be doing...but it will be fun I can promise you.

I am a day late and dollar short with this.  This is week 49 and I am on vacation and was so excited about meeting my blogging friend, Mary yesterday....I forgot to do my Hodge Podge.  I hope Joyce won't mind if I am a bit late this week.  It was for a good cause.

1. How do you typically react in a sudden, extreme, pressure-filled crisis? Would we want you nearby in an emergency?

I am pretty good in an emergency as long as blood and vomit are not in the mix.  When my kids were small I would handle it....and then fall apart after it was over.  No...you probably would not want me around!

2. Caramel apple-caramel sundae-caramel corn-caramel macchiato...of the four, which caramel treat would you choose?  Yes to all of the above.  I love caramel apples, caramel sundaes, caramel corn, and caramel macchiatos.  I love caramel....period.  I could not make a choice between the above items.

3. Is there such a thing as destiny? Explain.

Yes because we're all destined to die one day but I think in any given day or moment we can change the way we live and thus alter the course of our future. We were created as complex beings with hearts and souls and brains, and while I believe God is sovereign over all things I also believe He gave us a free will to accept or reject Him, to choose what path we walk in this world....and whatever we chose is our destiny.

4. What's your favorite piece of furniture? I'm referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.  I have a coffee table that my Aunt Shirley's male friend, Claude, made for me.  It WAS an old Early American piece and he made it into a shadow box.  I love it.

5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know? Do you care? Will you be watching? Ever been to a professional baseball game? If you're not an American do you find the title 'World Series' annoying or amusing?  I did know....although I do not care.  I will be watching only because my husband will have it on in the den....and when I kiss him goodnight....I will see the game.  Will I avoid it?  Like the plague!

6. One sound that takes me back to my childhood is ____________.

the sound of an ice-cream truck coming down the road.

7. On average, once you've linked your hodgepodge post to mine how many other participant blogs do you visit? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts?

Most weeks I make an attempt to read at least ten of the HP posts.  I do visit your site several times in order to get them read.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  I am on Fall Break and enjoying the heck out of the Smokey Mtns. and our friends Chuck and Susan.  What is your favorite...quickie vacation?  Have a great rest of the week!  I know I will.