Thursday, October 17, 2013

My World this Week

The country road by my house... not a lot of color near the road.
Thank you for your prayers for my surgery tomorrow (Friday).  I'm having it sooner than anticipated because... due to Obamacare, I lose my subsidized insurance at the end of December.  They lowered the income level so low that I no longer qualify and wrote me that I had to apply for Obamacare (by its' official name, of course) to be covered.

Yeah, someone on Social Security makes $12,000 too much a year to qualify for my old insurance.  Christopher has a friend whose job is to help people apply for Obamacare.  She is helping me in a couple of weeks.  But even she is not certain I will be covered for my eye specialist.

Anyway, I probably won't be back for a few days.  It's rather difficult to blog when one can't see clearly.  ;)

Now to much more pleasant thoughts...

Reading
I bought this book on the Kindle with Amazon Credit (THANK YOU!).  It had been featured and recommended on John Piper's website.  I enjoyed this very much, from this week on I want to breath more Narnia air.  :)

This is an interesting study on the Chronicles of Narnia in relation to the Culture of England when it was written and surprisingly how it relates to our Culture now.  It is fascinating reading for anyone who loves this series.

Info on Amazon... here.  It's a rather small book and a quick read although a tad on the theological side.  But not so theological that it made my brain hurt.  It gives you a lot to think about.

Watching
Heartland Table is a new cooking show on The Food Network.  She was a New York chef who decided to return to her roots in Minnesota with her husband and small son.  I love this show, very down to earth but also this ummm... mature?... cook has learned a lot.

Frankly, I don't watch The Food Network much these days.  But I love The Pioneer Woman and Trisha Yearwood and this program comes on the Saturday morning schedule with them.  I would so enjoy spending time in the kitchen in Minnesota!

Hubby's paternal grandparents settled in northern Minnesota from Norway.  I hear it gets really cold.

Baking
Pumpkin bars, a sign of Autumn here.  As I type, Christopher is in the Family Room chatting with his dad.  He drove over on his lunch hour to pick up half the pumpkin bars I made yesterday.

These are the same pumpkin bars which I gave a link to on last Saturday's Pantry Post.

Free
Some of the farmers at the local Farmer's Market take their unsold produce to a local church for distribution after the Market closes.  Hubby stopped by for the first time this season on Saturday.  Before then we had veggies up the wazoo (thank you, Lord!) but it was nice to have these available recently.

The rosemary is from my garden.  I had just washed it so I tucked it among the other washed produce.  Have you ever smelled the aroma of warm water on rosemary? Heavenly...

Souvenir
I took $20.00 to the Feast as spending money.  After purchasing my very favorite Noodables and Christopher bought me hot apple cider... I decided to spend my remaining food money on this adorable little basket made of Sweet Annie.

It's not very big but it, too, smelled Heavenly.  It is now sitting on the stack of vintage picnic baskets.  The Sweet Annie will turn browner but it will still be attractive, and a pretty reminder of one of my favorite events each year.

Her Fluffiness
She has been sitting in the open window quite often these days, watching the outside world prepare for cold weather.  She would love to "help" the squirrels.

Scenes of Autumn
A musician from the Feast...
I forgot I had the potpourri with tiny pumpkins...
Last of the summer nasturtiums before they were blended with butter...
Simple beauty...
The Friendly Village dishes are a certain sign that summer is behind us...

Thank you for stopping by, see you soon.

16 comments:

Vee said...

Lovely post...take it easy...very intrigued by the book!

Terra said...

Prayers for excellent results for your surgery Friday. I am sorry to hear about the negative Obamacare results, lots of people are telling me similar things.
The book is intriguing, I sure like C.S. Lewis and that food event looks like fun.

Anonymous said...

Thank-you for sharing your world! Always enjoy hearing what you're currently reading and watching, as well as seeing what Miss Victoria is up to. Praying for a successful surgery and speedy recovery!
Hugs & Blessings,
Laura C. from WA

Marge said...

I will pray that your surgery goes well tomorrow, and that you recover quickly and completely. And when you do, please tell me where your husband's grandparents lived in Northern Minnesota! My husband is from "Up North." I too enjoy the new cooking show from the Minnesota gal, and of course The Pioneer Woman, too. God bless!

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Dear Brenda, I'm am another praying for a successful surgery and a quick and complete recovery. So much to think about in this post! May you be well and may your health insurance problems be resolved! It makes me so sad that you are having this difficulty.

suzanne, october lover said...

God bless you and keep you these next days! I am selfishly going to miss your blog. This last post was so pretty and peaceful and I may have to go back and look at the country road and Her Fluffiness for a smile. God is bigger than government, don't forget that!

Nana said...

Hi Brenda;
Great post today! I enjoyed it, love the pictures. Miss Victoria is sooo cute!
I know your having your eye surgery tomorrow, I will be thinking and praying for you! Hoping also for a speedy and complete recovery! Love, Hugs and Prayers Nana.

mdoe37 said...

Oh good, I'm glad you have someone to help you weed through our new healthcare system. Bleh.

And you had to show another plate....you know you've given the pretty dish bug, don't you?

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

I enjoyed your photographs today Brenda. I'm sorry to hear about your health insurance worries. It's such a huge problem in our country. I'll remember you in prayer tomorrow. ♥

Anonymous said...

Best wishes for a safe surgery and a speedy recovery! I love the dishes....you've given me an idea...to look for some fall plates.....

Coleen

Anonymous said...

Prayers for successful surgery and speedy recovery.
That's such a pretty arrangement with the sweet annie.

Judy said...

Praying your surgery goes well - Narnia on audio, if you or your library have it, would make for good listening while you recover.

hopeinbrazil said...

Trusting that your surgery goes well. Please take it easy and don't feel obligated to blog for a while. We'll miss your lovely posts, but want you to get well quickly. So rest A LOT. Blessings, Hope

lynneinMN said...

as a Northern Minnesotan, I can assure you, that yes, it does get cold here :-), and...I would welcome you in our kitchen anytime!
May God grant you and your doctors a successful surgery, and may you be sharing your life with us again soon. in His Peace, Lynne

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Praying, praying, praying!

That books caught my attention - we are all Narnia lovers here. Do you think it would be a good read aloud?

I will check out that new chef - wonder if I can see her show on hulu?

Deanna

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Praying, praying, praying!

That books caught my attention - we are all Narnia lovers here. Do you think it would be a good read aloud?

I will check out that new chef - wonder if I can see her show on hulu?

Deanna