Friday Fill-Ins #96

Janet hosts Friday Fill-ins here. Drop by and see what others have to say. Join in if you'd like.

The Book Giveaway Carnival runs from November 3-8. Don't miss it!

1. My favorite food seasoning is the "trinity": celery, garlic, and onion.

2. A baby's laughter is music to my ears.

3. Lucky is how I feel.

4. My love of family is something I take very seriously.

5. Many people are voting early in my state of Florida.

6. A new light for my microwave was the last thing I bought at the store.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a relaxing evening with my husband, tomorrow my plans include blogging, reading my novel, and going to my church and Sunday, I want to go to small group, blog, read my novel, and maybe, just maybe read the newspaper!

Check my sidebar for my book giveaways.

Booking Through Thursday - Conditioning

Mariel suggested this week’s question.

Are you a spine breaker? Or a dog-earrer? Do you expect to keep your books in pristine condition even after you have read them? Does watching other readers bend the cover all the way round make you flinch or squeal in pain?

My Response:
In all honesty, I would have to answer: yes, yes, yes, yes, but I've changed. In fact, I've flip-flopped. When I was a child, I handled books as if they were precious keepsakes. They are.

When I got older, I used to break the spine by bending the book in half so that I could more easily hold it in one hand while I read. I'd press my fingers down the inside spine to force the book to lay flat while open. I'd think nothing of folding down those pages to keep my place. After all, bookmarks fall out! I confess that I've further messed up books by making notes in them, underling and highlighting lines in them. But no longer.

Now, my books are kept in pristine condition; it's difficult to tell by looking at a book whether or not I've read it. In fact, I hesitate to fully open a book too wide. This means I gently turn the pages as I read. Instead of dog-earring a page, I use a Post-it to keep my place. What changed me? I began to sell my books on eBay!

How do you read a book?

Pumpkin

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What's it like to be a Christian?"

The coworker replied, "It's like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Look What Came in the Mail!

Jill at At Home in the Country in Hickory Hollow held a "Celebrate the Seasons with Hickory Hollow" giveaway, and I won! The mail came today with bills, catalogs and a package. Look at the cute heart next to my name.



Inside the package, I found a towel. I love the fall colors of the towel: maroon, gold, and two colors of green. To fancy it up even more, a pumpkin cookie cutter is attached with colorful yarn and green satin ribbon! A recipe for Autumn Pumpkin Sugar Cookies is sewn right on to the towel! I heard a rattle, and in the bottom of the envelope, there were three hickory nuts from Hickory Hollow!

Jill is much better than I am at photography, so I swiped this from her blog so that I could share the recipe with you.


Jill made the nicest card too. It says:

"Life's blessings are abundant when each and every one is not only counted, but cherished."

I'm going to stick it in a frame and keep it as a fall decoration for years to come."

You know, some people just have a knack about making a person feel good. Jill has that knack. Thank you, Jill for thinking of me.

I've been Boo-ed. Shimmy Mom gave these instructions: "here is how the Blogging Boo will go. Go to as many friends as you want and tell them they've been "B00-ED." Have them link back to your blog to pick up their Halloween Treat (picture) and tell them to Boo their friends. (Then put the picture in your side bar so everyone knows that you've already been "boo-ed and to send the picture to someone else.) Have a great Halloween everyone."

Blue Monday - My Blue Dish

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Drag the Blue Monday button from this post, and place it on your blog. Place another one on your sidebar.

3. Return here after midnight when Mr. Linky will be up, and leave your name and your URL. Do NOT link in until after your post is up. Please remember to leave a comment for me.

4. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment.

5. Check back later to make certain you visit all the Blue participants.
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I've literally had this piece of pretty on my bedroom dresser top for decades. I enjoy its color and the free form design. It stands about 4" high. It wasn't expensive when I bought it, and I don't think it's worth much today. There are no markings on the bottom. I just call it my blue dish.



Here's another shot to show you the free form design.


Happy Blue Monday!

Have you ever seen a blue panther?

Next Monday begins the Giant Book Giveaway Carnival (November 3-8th).


Blue Monday Participants

1. Anne Fannie 2. ellen b 3. Mojo 4. An Enchanted Cottage 5. Kathy b 6. Rechelle 7. Kim:mom-musing 8. Liz 9. coloradolady 10. Kady 11. Leena 12. Linnea 13. Gemma

14. Elizabeth-EO 15. Heidi Jo the Artist 16. Kim 17. Beverly 18. Sweetie 19. Judi 20. Knitty 21. Baba\'s blog 22. PlantBuddy 23. Shelia 24. Lana G! 25. Susan M. Hickam 26. Theresa

27. Sherrie 28. Linda\'s Blue Gate 29. charli and me 30. bj 31. Dark Oak Woman 32. Backyard Neighbor 33. Tracy-Lynne 34. jsprik 35. Ruthie 36. Robyn 37. sharonanne

Learn more about Blue Monday here.
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To see other participants, click here.

See you tomorrow for Blue Monday!

Pink Saturday - It's Time for Pink Laughs

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Stop by her place to see the many other pink items people are sharing.








This is the Family Circus offering for pink October.










I thought that today would be a good time to laugh. I hope you got a smile or two. Happy Pink Saturday!

Please come back for Blue Monday!

Friday Fill-Ins #95

Janet hosts Friday Fill-ins here. If you'd like to play along, check it out.



1. Right now, I'm feeling pretty content.

2. Right here, in my home is where I want to be.

3. How does one stretch 24 hours?

4. My husband keeps me on track.

5. Please don't eat the daisies! (It's the title of a book that was made into a movie.)

6. Blogging fills me with joy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a relaxing evening reading, tomorrow my plans include Pink Saturday blogging, a bit of reading, and church and Sunday, I want to watch Amazing Race, Desperate Houswives, and read my new novel!


Watch for it! The Book Giveaway Carnival is November 3-8.


Please come back to participate in Blue Monday.

Booking Through Thursday - Coupling

Monica suggested this one: Got this idea from Literary Feline during her recent contest: “Name a favorite literary couple and tell me why they are a favorite. If you cannot choose just one, that is okay too. Name as many as you like–sometimes narrowing down a list can be extremely difficult and painful. Or maybe that’s just me.”

My Response:
I point to William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for my favorite couple of literature. From the time Romeo Montague spots Juliet Capulet at the party, his heart is hers. Once they talk, she is equally entranced. This timeless tale of star-crossed lovers who determine to be together--no matter what their families dictate, and even to the point of death--is my choice for this answer.

Who do you choose for your favorite couple in literature?

Amazing Awards

Darlene at Darlene's Days shared this award with me. I must admit I snatched it before she could change her mind. I felt quite deserving with my beautiful South Florida fall header.



Carol at Charli and Me awarded me with this lovely one. In the past, when I have received an award that I'd already received, I simply included the giver's name on my sidebar. This is a repeat, but it has occurred to me that not to show my appreciation is thoughtless.




Shelia at Note Songs presented me with this award.

A new friend , Joyful Sister, just presented me with the following two awards! How exciting!





Awards are wonderful to give and to receive. An award is a bit of Blogger love, and who doesn't need/want more love? So, if you're reading this and making a comment, I offer my love and these awards to you too.