7 QT Random Things Edition (Vol 3)

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Happy Friday!  Look!  I'm actually on time joining up with Jen and others over at Conversion Diary!  I can't believe we're less than a week away from Thanksgiving!  I also cannot believe that Texas is actually having worse weather than we are here in Maine! Go figure.  So...praying for traveling mercies for all of those going by plane, train, and automobile to spend time with friends and/or family.  

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We tried something new today and loved it!  Based on strong recommendations from my sweet sister and one of her sons, Tom & I tried a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch today and it was wonderful!  First we had Vietnamese coffee:

It takes about 4 1/2 minutes for the coffee to drip through and then you remove the cup and stir the sweetened cream in the coffee.  So, so good.

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Next, we had Pho soup.  Oh my goodness, there was so much to this!  All I'm going to tell you though, is it was delicious.  Our waiter was so kind and patiently explained how to eat this. (Oh, what, were you thinking hey, it's just a bowl of soup so grab your spoon and tuck in?  Not even close...) Let me just say, it involved a spoon, fork, and chop sticks. 

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Let's talk about light, shall we?  I realize this is nothing compared to what our friends in Alaska encounter...however...it's getting dark at 4:00 here!  I don't remember experiencing such early sunsets before.  And one of my friends here has told me that on the winter solstice, it will actually be dark by 3:30!  We are coping with this by going all lightastic here at Chez Wallace.  We have put up little white lights around the windows in our living room, white lights around the front porch, and snowflake lights in our little coffee nook room.  These are being turned on around 3:30.  Along with all of the lamps in our living room.  Because this girl has gotta have some light.  

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I have been making lists for next week, because in addition to being a girl who likes light, I am also a girl who likes the illusion of organization!  And that requires multiple lists.  A list for cleaning.  Several lists for shopping. A list of menus for the week.  A list for the actual day of Thanksgiving.  When to do what.  Oh how I love a good list.  

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I'm so excited about Advent! Another blog I really like mentioned doing the St. Andrew Christmas Novena which begins on November 30th.  Tom & I prayed this novena several years ago and it was wonderful.  One of our best Advents ever.  I think we're going to pray this Novena again this year.
http://www.suscipio4women.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/St-Andrew-Novena.jpg

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Anyone else watching Paradise on PBS?  Oh my gosh, it's good!  I just love Masterpiece Theatre.  And cannot wait for Downton Abbey in January.  And Call the Midwife.  And Upstairs Downstairs.  Oh, I am a girl who loves the English programs.  So, anyway, Paradise.  When we watched the last episode?  We were like No!  You can't be over! You can't stop there!!!  What does it all mean?!  Sigh.  Addiction.  Boy, those writers know how to hook me.  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/paradise/
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Hope to see you back here for Advent!

For more Quick Takes, for goodness sakes, go visit Conversion Diary!

7QT The Thankful Edition (Vol II)

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Hello everyone!  Joining up with Jen and the others at Conversion Diary once again.  As we approach Thanksgiving, I've been thinking of so many things for which I am thankful.  And so to begin, this week I am so very thankful that someone in my family who faced a serious medical issue this past week and was in ICU at the hospital, is now healing and recovering at home.  She is such a prayer warrior and an amazing young woman and I am beyond grateful that God heard our cries and she is back on the mend.  

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I am thankful to have a beautiful place to walk every day. It's good for my soul.

 

 

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I'm thankful for the Chickadees feeding outside my kitchen window.  They just make me smile every time I see them!

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I'm thankful for not one, but two beautiful churches nearby where my spirit is fed and I can find my peace. 

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I'm thankful for this blog and to have a place where I can organize my thoughts and document a few highlights of this new life of mine.  As well, I'm thankful for any of you who take your time to read this blog!

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I'm so very thankful for my family and friends.  I know I am beyond blessed by the people who love me, and that gift reminds me to offer prayers for those who are alone in this world. 

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And finally, I am thankful for good books, hot tea, a cozy chair by the fire to read, the change of seasons, and the promise of spending time with the people I love.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes: Autumn Edition (Vol 1)

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Hello there!  Trying something new and linking up this week with one of my favorite bloggers, Jennifer Fulwiler!  So...to get things started...there was a bear sighting in our neighborhood recently!  A neighbor spotted a black bear ambling along (across our property as well!), likely scarfing down the last of the acorns before denning up for the winter.  

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We have snow in our forecast!  And...we actually saw a few flakes today while we were at the farmer's market.  (Last Farmer's Market for the season -  so sad!) It's really starting to feel like the holidays are just around the corner!  Although we would not have been surprised to see some snow as early as October, I'm thankful we've had a mild fall and it's only gradually been getting colder with milder days interspersed. 

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And speaking of fall... you may recall our beautiful Sugar Maple in the front yard (we call him Golden Boy - what else).  Well... this

 

became this

and (you probably see where this is going) became this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Okay this counts as two takes!  That's right.  35, 39 gallon bags.  And that was only from Golden Boy and then a smaller maple tree outside our living room window.  I'm afraid the rest of the leaves will just have to be mulched with the mower, because , good grief Golden Boy!  That's a whole lotta rakin' goin' on!

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And of course, fall makes me think of, what else, pumpkin recipes!  Mary (another of my most favorite bloggers!) at http://passionateperseverance.blogspot.com made some Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls this past week that look amazing!  I am definitely trying out her recipe.  Oh my goodness, those look wonderful.   Check them out!  And she is just an amazing woman. 

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We have family coming in for Thanksgiving and I couldn't be more excited!  It's time to start planning the Thanksgiving Menu!  I just love this time of year! I've already been burning my balsam fir candle and (okay I'll admit it) playing my Christmas playlist! 

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Contentment.  I've been thinking about that lately.  What a gift it is.  Through prayer, God has given me contentment when I needed it and for many years at a stretch.  Then blessed me with enough desire for change to persevere and follow my dreams even when the road was scary and difficult and exhausting.  And then, out of that,  the blessing of contentment once again.  I am at that place.  It's been a little over two crazy, whirlwind months since we made this move, and I look around at the beauty around me, holding the hand of my best friend, and I am filled with gratitude that our good God would bless me so. 
Have a great weekend everyone and...

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!