dual personalities

Tag: Weekend

January 27, 2025

And the Lord will be my portion/ In the empty wilderness*

by chuckofish

Is it still January? This month seems endless, doesn’t it? I stayed home most of last week and there was no happy hour on Friday because daughter #1 was sick (and no shampoo for Mr. Smith!) The OM and I did have a social event on Saturday night which entailed getting dressed up and driving at night, but we went and I had a very good time. We had cocktails and dinner and listened to a talk by the daughter of Vincent Price about her father who grew up in St. Louis. He was quite a character. I talked to more people and socialized more than I had all week (maybe all month).

Sunday I went to church with the boy and the twins and then we had brunch at the Sunny Side Diner, which is a favorite of ours. They had dinosaur-shaped pancakes and bacon and were ready to go to lacrosse in the afternoon, sated and full of the Holy Spirit.

I liked this article about the ministry of small things: “The ‘ministry of small things’ is consistent with how the Bible teaches us to think about God’s kingdom. In His parable of the yeast, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven starts with something as modest as a dash of leaven. Yeast is practically invisible, and you don’t see it working, yet as it slowly permeates the dough, it has a formidable impact (Matt. 13:22). Our little works, patiently and consistently done, can bring about something big.”

I sure. like to think so.

And here’s a new song I like:

Tomorrow there will be a guest post from daughter #2, so don’t miss it!

*Wendell Kimbrough & Paul Zach

4 Comments
January 20, 2025

Skies could not blue-er be

by chuckofish

Because ice was predicted on Friday night, daughter #1 decided to hold our Saturday morning DAR meeting on Zoom instead of at the country club where we usually meet. I had not experienced a Zoom meeting since retiring in 2021, but it worked just fine, I did not suffer PTSD and daughter #1 looked very glamorous indeed.

Sunday morning we went to church in the freezing cold. I was able to wear my vintage fur coat again. The twins were there with their dad and everyone kept their depravity in check. They drew in their journals with half an ear cocked to the service and the sermon on Hebrews 9:1-14. I am very proud of them. In Sunday School they are finishing up the book of Acts. We came back to our house after church for Episcopal/Calvinist Souffle and conversation. Plus, the boy and daughter #1 got my car set up with Apple Play. I tried to read the car manual but it is all Greek to me. Cars are so complicated now and I am such an old lady! Oh well, c’est la vie. I do the best I can.

Sunday night the OM and I returned to church for our annual meeting. We elected new elders and deacons and went through the annual report. I am so blessed to be a member of this church community. I thank God every day that he has led me to this place and that, although it has taken me a long time to get here, I will finish strong.

So–a typical January weekend. I watched The Court Jester (1955), a movie that I just love. Danny Kaye et al will lighten your mood, if you need it lightened. And if you are actually feeling pretty good, as am I, it will just add to your joy. I told the twins they should watch it and they did on Sunday night–according to their Dad, they were “transfixed”–of course they were! Even the credits are great:

Meanwhile daughter #1 and I are working on getting a new blog launched, so maybe this week we’ll have something to show you. Courage, dear hearts!

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January 13, 2025

Monday, Monday

by chuckofish

There was more snow on Friday than I anticipated, so no Friday happy hour, but we caught up on Saturday. Everybody was out and about. Daughter #1 and I went to our local antique mall after Mr. Smith had his shampoo, and it was hopping! Then we went to the Presbyterian re-sale shop where we stocked up on $1.50 dvd’s. I found Here Comes the Boom (2012) and embarrassed her by saying loudly, “Here comes the boom!” Sorry. Good to know I can still embarrass my non-teenage daughter in a public setting.

It was great to be back in church on Sunday after a few weeks away. We had a good sermon and an excellent adult ed class on the life and times of Francis and Edith Schaeffer. Francis Schaeffer was a leading 20th century Christian scholar and the author of How Should We Then Live?, but one with whom I was not acquainted before I became a Presbyterian. He was once actually the pastor of my church back in the 1940s. I have a lot to learn.

After church the fam came over to our house and we celebrated daughter #3’s belated birthday. We had tacos and the OM did all the cooking. Plus there was birthday cake and daughter #1 brough macaroons. I had not seen the twins since Christmas Eve and they seemed older and more mature. Funny how that works.

Now we are starting a new week and hopefully we will all get back on track after a week of working at home and snow days.

Suppose we did our work
like the snow, quietly, quietly.
leaving nothing out.

–Wendell Berry

3 Comments
December 16, 2024

Angels, from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth

by chuckofish

We’re nearing the home stretch…but it rained all day Saturday which dampened everyone’s holiday spirits. We were grateful, however, that it was rain and not ice or snow. And we got the tree up!

It was a group effort. The boy came over Thursday evening to carry the tree in from the garage and put it in the stand. The OM and I strung the lights on Saturday morning. And daughter #1 came over after her DAR luncheon to help decorate it. Ain’t it lovely?

I missed the DAR luncheon because I had to go to our Historical Society Christmas party and membership meeting. It was actually quite fun. The house looked beautiful and festive. Of course, I didn’t take any pictures. C’est la vie.

The boy and his famille were in Kansas City this weekend, so the OM and I sat alone in church. They missed a good sermon on the Mosaic Covenant, some great hymns and solos, and a fantastic adult ed class, continuing on the angels and demons theme. The teacher even referenced Hermann Bavinck (see Friday’s post). I am learning a lot. My Bible Study leader made a really good and astute comment during the class and I told her so afterwards, and she said, “It was the Holy Spirit, not me”. Once again, I am humbled and grateful to be among these people.

We watched three Christmas movies: Home Alone (1992), The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)…

and White Christmas (1954), the latter on the big screen! We enjoyed them all.

What an absolute treat to see White Christmas on the big screen! In recliners! Can’t believe it wasn’t sold out! For the 50th time, it was great. And I had to laugh thinking of little Ida watching it for the first time at home on her TV and running to get her tambourine during the “Mandy” number! Perfect!

Have a good Monday, watch an old movie, feel the joy, read some poetry:

  1. Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
    And with fear and trembling stand;
    Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
    For with blessing in His hand,
    Christ our God to earth descendeth,
    Our full homage to demand.
  2. King of kings, yet born of Mary,
    As of old on earth He stood,
    Lord of lords, in human vesture,
    In the body and the blood;
    He will give to all the faithful
    His own self for heav’nly food.
  3. Rank on rank the host of heaven
    Spreads its vanguard on the way,
    As the Light of light descendeth
    From the realms of endless day,
    That the pow’rs of hell may vanish
    As the darkness clears away.
  4. At His feet the six-winged seraph,
    Cherubim with sleepless eye,
    Veil their faces to the presence,
    As with ceaseless voice they cry:
    “Alleluia, Alleluia,
    Alleluia, Lord Most High!”

Liturgy of St. James, 5th century (adapted by Gerard Moultrie, 1864)

4 Comments
December 2, 2024

‘Tis the season

by chuckofish

How was your long weekend? Daughter #2 and famille drove home on Friday afternoon after a fun-filled two days here with us. It is so nice knowing they will back in a few weeks!

Then it snowed all day Saturday–enough to change everyone’s plans and stay home. We had started unpacking Christmas things at daughter #1’s house on Friday morning with the prairie girls…

…and then she finished up the next day with the always helpful Mr. Smith…

I started the process at my house alone on Saturday. It is a lot of work! First to put away and clean up all the Thanksgiving stuff; then to haul all the Christmas things up from the basement. But I managed to get the little tree put up in the dining room…

…and did the mantle…

The feral cat in the Florida room watched me the whole time.

Daughter #2 got a start at her house with her helpers…

At church we observed the first Sunday in Advent with Advent hymns and the first in a new sermon series on God’s covenants in the Old Testament. The new adult ed class series is on angels. Thankfully I am not helping with the children’s Sunday School, so I can attend. The twins and their dad were not there because they were at the bud’s birthday party at the Lego Mini Fig store.

Lottie’s (separate) party is next Saturday. There is too much going on for me to keep it all straight. The boy stopped by later with the bud to tend to the cat and to take the extra leaf out of the dining room table. I heard all about the party–good times!

We, of course, watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) on Thanksgiving night, but the next day after everyone had left, we watched Grumpy Old Men (1993) on Friday night. It was pretty funny–even the grumpy OM I live with thought so.

It takes place around Thanksgiving, so it was seasonally appropriate. I recommend it.

This is a really good post about remembering that God is good regardless.
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” (Psalm 4:7)

So start decorating for Christmas–it’s not too early! Feel the joy. Watch an old movie. Wave to someone. Happy December!

4 Comments
November 25, 2024

“You know I can’t cook.”*

by chuckofish

Boy, I went to the grocery store Sunday afternoon and it was a madhouse. Par for the course I guess. It was also the first time driving my new SUV there and loading up the grocery bags, etc. I had to open the back and I opened the hood instead. I hope no one was watching. Well, tant pis, if they were.

Lottie wore dangly earrings (clip-ons) to church and looked like a gyp-gyp-gypsy, but she only received positive feedback from those around us. (I may have raised my eyebrows.) As you can see the twins were not much taken with the sermon on Melchizedek. But there was a baptism, so that made up for it.

They came over with the boy after church to feed the feral cat and hang out for a bit. I had no food for them because I hadn’t been to the store yet, so they didn’t stay long. But it’s always a treat to see them, earrings and all.

Thanksgiving is upon us and I have hardly taken a breath to stop and ponder the topic of thankfulness, but, wow, I certainly am! I am thankful that DN is cooking the turkey (and assorted other things) and that he sent a Word document outlining the cooking/prep schedule. He is so organized! I’m making the cheesy potatoes, daughter #1 will do the crescent rolls, and daughter #3 is making the pies. Daughter #2 can take the Ocean Spray cranberry sauce out of the can.

Daughter #2 reported that Katie was disappointed that “the snack at the school Thanksgiving party ‘was not really party food.’ In an ironic twist, because it was a party, parents brought in the food and it was cheese and crackers (as opposed to the “treat” snacks like Cheese-Its or teddy grahams that they have every day). Katie did not approve. But she told me…that ‘I bet we’ll have treats at Thanksgiving. At Mamu’s house. Maybe donuts. Or ice cream.'” You can count on that, sweetheart!

On Sunday afternoon I went over to daughter #1’s house to walk Mr. Smith and indulge his desire for unending tummy scratches.

What can I say? I am a sucker for his big black eyes.

This is a very thoughtful piece on contentment and “Wanting what you already have.” “My children once asked me what I wanted most when I was growing up. As I sat at the dinner table looking at my wife and children looking back at me I remembered my childhood dreams for my life and the answer was suddenly obvious: ‘This. Exactly this.'” Indeed, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

And the meme world is on fire…


So be thankful for all the blessings of your life and try to relax. The world is more than we know.

Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself. Amen (Augustine of Hippo, 354-430)

*Edie McClurg in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

P.S. The video is the edited for TV version, so the kids can see it–no f-bombs!

4 Comments
November 22, 2024

Fri-yay

by chuckofish

My Bible Study group had our last meeting and luncheon yesterday. We talked about our Thanksgiving traditions and I think I shocked everyone by saying my family had been watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) for the last 30 years on Thanksgiving night. Oh well, c’est la vie. I stand by my choices.

Last night I watched Godzilla Minus One (2023) which is out on DVD and mine arrived right on time from Amazon. Seriously, that movie is the best movie I have seen in the last ten years. My hats off to Takashi Yamazaki  who wrote, directed and supervised the visual effects. It won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects but why didn’t it win the Best Foreign Film? C’mon. Here’s the thing: it’s not about the monster, it’s about the people.

Meanwhile, the guys came and dug up the stump from our giant mulberry tree which was cut down a couple of weeks ago.

It was quite a job. It was a noisy afternoon.

Never a dull moment.

So it’s the weekend–have a good one! Make good choices.

3 Comments
November 18, 2024

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!*

by chuckofish

As you know I am a creature of routine and this weekend I was a little off-kilter–mostly I blame Mr. Smith because he got his shampoo on Saturday rather than Friday. I managed to do all the same things, but slightly out of order. I guess it’s good to shake things up even a tad.

On Sunday I had my last Sunday School class and, of course, there were nine children–nearly double our usual number. Lottie was in fine spirits–volunteering for everything–and she read Acts 12: 12-15. She has no fear. I was impressed with her reading ability! We learned an important lesson on the power and necessity of prayer. I asked her if she thought anyone prayed for her. Well, I said, I pray for her every day! That angels watch over her and protect her. Insert mind blown emoji. 🤯

We had a good sermon on Hebrews 6:13-20 and the unchangeable-ness of God and we sang good hymns. I felt, as usual, the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Meanwhile the prairie girls worked in their yard…

As the Madcaps say, “Here’s to amazing days ahead.”

Have a great week!

*Robert Robinson, 1758–I love this rendition:

5 Comments
November 11, 2024

The sure and steady anchor

by chuckofish

November is here–already the 11th!

It rained all day on Saturday and after my DAR meeting in the morning I hunkered down at home. I watched Rio Bravo (1959) which was on TCM in the afternoon and then watched The Italian Job (2003) in the evening. Both good choices.

On Sunday I got up and went to church and enjoyed a 40-minute sermon on Hebrews 6:4-12, a difficult passage to be sure. Our new pastor does not mess around and I am continually impressed with this 30-year old who does not shy away from hard ideas. We also welcomed new members and had an adult (!) baptism.

In Sunday School our lesson was Acts 10 wherein Peter learns that the Good News about Jesus is for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. But as I listened to the woman who leads the big group, I was reminded of my own Sunday School days back in my old Episcopal church and how really awful my friends and I were. I recall that we made one teacher cry and that during her melt-down she harangued the class, especially the girls who went to a certain private school (mine), for our beastly behavior. We were too cool for Sunday School and laughed and giggled at everything. I am horrified now to contemplate it and am very thankful that my current charges would never act that way. They take it all (i.e. their salvation) pretty seriously, as well they should.

Well, I guess there is hope for all of us miserable offenders, even us very slow maturing types.

I went over to daughter #1’s house on Sunday afternoon and Mr. Smith went full terrier on one of her slippers…

(Yes, those are slipper parts all over the carpet.)

And the Christmas cactus is blooming–wow!

Happy Veterans Day!

Eagles on Flag Rock in Plymouth, MA

2 Comments
November 4, 2024

Let the amen sound from his people again

by chuckofish

We enjoyed a beautiful fall weekend–how about you? I was confused on Friday because it seemed like Saturday, because of Halloween, but what ho. It is the bell and it tolleth for me.

On Friday the OM and I got new phones and switched carriers. Earlier in the week we also switched from U-verse to something else. Although this was all very stressful–and it took months to figure it all out–we were proud of ourselves for doing it. Another box checked off. ✅ I celebrated with daughter #1 at our favorite local hangout.

Wine and French Fries–we know what we like, okay? After that, I watched She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) in memory of my father and my great old friend Dick (WWII Guy) who both died on October 31. I loved it as always, especially after just being there in Monument Valley last month.

Sunday morning I enjoyed that extra hour although I still woke up at my usual time–so make that 5:00 am. We sang good hymns in church and the twins controlled their depravity like good Calvinists. We read about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus in Sunday School and learned a few new words: persecution and conversion. Everyone enjoyed the wallking-to-Damascus-wearing-a-blindfold exercise. The bud called out–“It’s a conga line!”

Also, the little boy who always ushers with his dad and hands out the bulletins, said, “You look beautiful this morning!” I mean, I know his dad tells him to say that to all the old ladies, but it makes me smile nevertheless. Sometimes that’s all it takes to make your day.

‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here, in the power of Christ, I’ll stand

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