243 / 365 The Things We Find

I never know what I’m going to find when I arrive at the office each morning, especially when it comes to “anonymous donations” to the church.  I think that most items left for us are given with good intentions, but it can certainly be a challenge determining what to do with them.  Today we discovered a humongous watermelon in the kitchen refrigerator with no identification on it, so we served it at our Wednesday night dinner.  I hope it wasn’t meant for someone else’s table.

242 / 365 Summer Dining

On warm summer evenings like this one, H and I will often enjoy an outdoor meal at one of our local restaurants.  We enjoy the sunlight even more when we realize that it will be considerably cooler – and pitch black – at dinnertime a couple of months from now.

241 / 365 A Sign of Things to Come

For many years our youth group at Mt. Zion UMC has sponsored a pumpkin-patch fundraiser to support its various activities.  At the beginning of October, a huge semi-trailer filled with pumpkins arrives from New Mexico, and the kids (along with parent volunteers) unload thousands of the big orange globes into the designated field behind the church.  A second truck arrives a couple of weeks later with a new batch and the process happens all over again.  By Halloween all the pumpkins are gone.

This afternoon as I was leaving work, I looked out at the empty field and noticed a lone clump of vines with something orange poking through.  Upon further investigation, I realized that a seed from last year had germinated on its own and that a single pumpkin was growing in the patch, ready and waiting for the season to begin. 

240 / 365 Otherworldly

H and I spent a most pleasant afternoon at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville.  We arrived in time to see the Planetarium Thrill Rides show, described as an adventure through the solar system on roller coasters and thrill rides.  The images were digitally projected on a dome above our heads, and while the seats didn’t gyrate there was a convincing sense of motion.  In addition to being impressed by the other exhibits we saw, we were happy to have an opportunity to give our feet – and minds – some exercise.

239 / 365 Higher Ground

H and I have been following the updates on Hurricane Irene throughout the weekend, but H’s mom (who lived on Staten Island, New York before moving in with us six years ago) has been glued to the TV.  While watching CNN she was amazed to see a report on the evacuation of the hospital where she had worked for twenty-six years (and which is located just a short walk from her old home).  If she were still living there, she would have been evacuated as well (since she lived in one of the red zones on the map)… which makes her even happier to be with us.

238 / 365 Top of My Head

My great-aunt W grew up in a time when the women wore hats; I have no doubt that she had one for every occasion. When W died, my sister inherited quite a few of them. Whenever I see her collection I try to imagine just what kind of outfit I would have worn to match the hat.  As you can see, each style is so different…and some are quite dramatic.  What a different time that was.

237 / 365 Berry Good

While we’re on the topic of meringues… H and I had this soft and chewy meringue topped with whipped cream and fruit compote while in Dublin.  It was heavenly!