Hi everyone,
I hope your weekend was wonderful… ours was! We had a birthday celebration for our Pastor and our previous Pastor came down for a visit. There were lots of people celebrating and too many people to get around to talk to! It was fun but a busy weekend.
We had a very nice service at church this morning with the Indian students (from India) singing in their native language. Then we had the African/Caribbean group singing in their language. It was fun to try and sing along with them. I told you I would share some of the International students in their native outfits and I have some to show you. I just took a few pictures when I saw someone whose outfit looked colorful on them… :o)
This is Nnaemeka (Nuh-mecca) from Africa.
Here is Kudzai (Kood-zi) from Zimbabwe.
This is Dana, a neighbor of ours that lives through the woods from us! He helps all over but a lot at the dorms!
I can’t remember her name, but she had on a pretty dress today… so she let me take her picture.
This is Anna and Joy… Americans, but who help with the students any way they can. Joy helps with the students who come through the University and want to learn English as a second language.
This is Ashriel, from Singapore, (and her mom is Sylvia, who helps me with my Chinese cooking!) :o) Ashriel is also the church secretary!
Next is Sayaka from Japan. She’s been here for 25 years and is one of our pastors but is leaving to go back to Japan to work with students there and be closer to her family. She is a treasure and will be greatly missed!
Next is Ed, who is the manager of one of the dorms we own… He is a worship leader at times.
This Fabi, from Peru and she is one of our pastors too. Sweetest thing ever and a real heart for the nations.
This is Avisi and Jan… Avisi is from England and has the most glorious accent. Jan is my sweet friend and her dress is the one that needed fixing. The sides had to be altered… The skirt was fine.
Here is another picture of Jan in her dress. It was made for her on a trip to Africa and just needed a few tweaks.
When I went outside, I saw this group and asked if I could take their picture…
The guy in the green shirt in the back row is from Swaziland (Southern Africa) and Nathanial, in the front is from Africa too. The girls…???
We had a blessed day and went out to a Mexican restaurant and came home and took a nap! How’s that for exciting!
I almost forgot… Suemae told me Susette’s Estate Sale happened again this past weekend and she said the sales were good Saturday, but it was slower Sunday…
She still has Susette’s Moose and wanted to know if WE wanted it… EEK! She asked me if could show it on here and see if anyone was interested in it. He is 39″ x 41″ and they are asking $299 + $200 for shipping if anyone is interested. She said it the shipping was less she would refund the difference! She said the antlers could use some touch ups!
Here are a few pictures of Mr. Moose!
Well, I was going to show some pictures of my sewing room, but I’ll save those for tomorrow, maybe!
See you then,
Have a great day,
Blessings, Jeanne
It was so much fun to see pictures of people in their native dress. I noticed one of the men was from Swaziland, which is where I went on our previous church’s short-term mission project in 1999!!
I hope that moose finds an owner who will appreciate him! He’s such a great animal, and needs a worthy display space.
I had a lovely Easter. Daniel had spent the night, and helped me with things this morning. We met his girlfriend Angie, her brother Levi and her daughter Zada at the church (they brought me a corsage!) and they attended the breakfast and then worship services with me today, which was really nice. Zada came over and sat by me during the sermon, very interested in looking up all the references the pastor gave during the course of it. She asked about getting a Bible, and the pastor gave her one–I said if he didn’t, I would make sure she got one. Angie later told me that Levi LOVED it at our church (Levi has Down syndrome), and they would definitely be back.
Afterwards we went to the cemetery and Daniel helped me with flowers for both Ron’s and my folks’ graves (Sat. was my dad’s birthday, too). After they went home, I took a nap!
I hope everyone else had a nice day.
Oh, Charlotte, how wonderful that they went to church with you and that Zada got a bible and Levi loved going to the church. When you said you got a corsage it brought such a lovely memory to me. My dad would give a little corsages to my mom and me every Easter. Thank you for that sweet memory.
How wonderful that everyone went to church with you yesterday and Zada got a Bible and Levi loved the church. What a beautiful day for you having Daniel share the day and bring you a corsage. David used to get me an Orchid every year but hasn’t in a while. Since I usually have a choir robe on at Easter, I guess I haven’t missed it.
What an amazing display of outfits from all over the world to see, and how colorful too! It must have been warmer in Carbondale than St. Louis, because I see no one with coats on , and I wore my winter coat to church! Of course the timing might be the difference, because it was definitely warmer when we walked out of church than when we went in.
I especially loved Jan’s outfit, and to tell you the truth, she looks a lot like Jill Biden on those pictures!
Oh, the moose! I have no idea why Susette bought that, but it certainly does need the right place for it……..somewhere! I hope somebody does eventually get it.
Our Easter Day was wonderful! After church we were home a bit, then went over to our daughter’s for a delicious ham dinner. Our son-in-law does most of the cooking over there!
I hope everyone had as nice of an Easter as you could have!
We went to the church breakfast before we had to go practice our music. It was such fun to see all the Easter eggs all over the grounds. We never get to see the kids getting them because we have to go to practice. It was so beautiful to see the church filled with people all dressed in their Easter finery, and so many singing the lovely Easter music with us. It was my turn to read the lessons and I was a bit shaky from the long night before, the Easter Vigil. It started at 8:00 and we didn’t get home until after 10:00. We both took naps when we got home from church! I do love Easter morning and Christmas night. The music is so lovely to sing. I hope each of you had a blessed Easter.
I do love all the Easter music and we sang most of it yesterday, all verses. Unfortunately it involved a lot of standing which is not working well for me these days. My orthopedic appointment is still almost a month away and hopefully things will get better then. Being in the choir we had to sing an offertory anthem and several pieces during Communion so I was getting pretty worn out. But I was determined to enjoy myself as best I could and I’m glad I stuck it out. Lately I have had to take my cane to the Communion rail and, of course, I managed to drop it while trying to kneel. My priest said for me to just stand if that would work better for me. I stood Maundy Thursday but did kneel yesterday. The choir goes first for Communion and then we wait for him to bless us and dismiss us rather than the usual way where people come and go. It was taking too long yesterday and I guess I gave him a pleading look so he didn’t make us stay too long.
Barbara, I do hope you can get some orthopedic help soon. You are so brave to keep going the way you did for Holy week. Your church sounds similar to ours and you can really get tired, especially when you are in the choir, how well I know!
Barbara, when my dad was Pastor, he encouraged people to just stand at the altar rail if kneeling was difficult. I hope you will continue to do just that for the time being.
Happy Monday, Easter Monday dear ones.
Everyone’s Easter attire is beautiful! I especially love the womens beautiful dresses, all so very festive designs. The group in the parking lot is very beautiful, and Nnaemeka’s combo is very fancy. well, all of the guys look super festive.
This looks like a nice church, so many lovely dressers for sure.
Hubbs and I watched the virtual service of our church on tv… why? because it was pouring buckets here for three hours. Even the church looked pretty sparse! I recall snow on Easters, but manageable travel conditions. Sunday was unbelievable. We heard quite a few sirens of sorts just from our house, probably traffic tie ups on Loudoun County Parkway. So yeah, that was a mighty fine Easter. We were very fortunate to have our church streaming the service.
So, I did not wear my pretty dress. Oh well.
The moose. Someone local for Suemae, or local to the moose, needs to sell that on Facebook market place. It will sell in a jiffy. She will not get $200 for it, but she might get $150.
This week-end flew by. Friday and Saturday hubbs and I went to the old house and repacked many boxes. You know, I always feel like, yeah, this is easy lets just go and finish, but once we get there, the piles are enormous. We have plenty of boxes, so I think today we are going to assemble boxes and start packing and labeling the boxes for the charity, clothes, window treatments, kitchen etc etc. Then we can finally call that place for pick up.
I did a lot of sewing. I am making quilt blocks from two jelly rolls (a fabric collection of all of their fabrics cut 2.5″ selvage to selvage) of a pretty fabric collection. Okay, there have been and are pretty fabrics all the time. This collection made me happy. I have made 20 huge blocks and still have fabric left over, Perhaps I could make a cozy to cover my entire house (just being silly) I might have to make two quilts, or a lot of table runners. I do not know.
I will send photos of the blocks. Each one is different.
I also made a gosling. It is a very cute little goose.
I hope all of you are enjoying sunshine. It is quite a bit colder today but not bad.
I hope all of you are feeling spiff!
What a day! What a fun blog with pictures ☺️
Thanks Jeanne for sharing all of the famous folks and the amazing outfits from their native countries. Loved seeing all of the smiling faces. Everything was so upbeat.
As to Mr. Moose, I really wanted him, but when I showed him/her to other person, I got a big “NO!” It would look great by the fireplace. Can’t you just see a group of dolls sitting on his back? So fun, but I was turned down even though I tried everything to interest other person. I hope the moose goes to a very good home.
Here, we drove down to daughters and enjoyed some great company and delicious food. The egg hunt was the best with the oldests now 15 and 13. So many eggs including the treasured goldens! Youngest grand had twisted his ankle and was hopping around with crutches for the hunt, but cousins shared their eggs with him so everyone had the same amount. Fun was had by all.
Then, drove home, checked the other house, and came home to two cats, both very hungry. One at the front door and one at the back. Both fed, I still had a little time to gather my tools and head out in the back to finish off a section of weeds. No naps here. I will finish this at some point, but it is tougher day by day as the soil dries out. It does look like we may get a few sprinkles later this week though which will definitely help. We’re hearing talk of a lot of water restrictions coming up soon. Need to get our tomatoes into the ground soon.
good update Joy.
Hubbs and I are preparing to zip out soon and get a zillion chores done at the old place. Yesterday evening he went to the old house in the PM to put out the yard cans and trash cans. well, our kooky neighbor came over and yacked his ear off, and Hubbs said she asked if she could have the very green plant in the crepe myrtle bed in front. I thought “HUH?” and realized she was wanting the massive growth of daffodils that come up every year and rarely bloom. So funny. haha like really? daffodils? haha okay
Have a great day fighting with the weeds
Well, that seems a little nervy to me. I mean, maybe a few bulbs, but not all for sure. And I don’t think you’re supposed to transplant them until July or when they dry out.
Heading out now for weed duty.
Yes, I think she is getting a bit kooky. She and her hubbs are real estate agents. They did ask twice now about hiring them. (I said we already had an agent) anyway, I think the last time I spoke with her when she was walking her dog (?) she sounded a bit “off”.
I do not know, I sensed a bit of mental failing… ? yes, usually the ones losing their wits are a bit nervy at times.
Perhaps she does not know anything about gardens or plants? There are people out there like that!!! I looked at that garden today and looked at the “plant” that hubbs told me she wanted. I verified it was the clump of daffodils that just grow a bunch of leaves and only have one bloom 😂. I do not think she knows they are daffodils.
Many years ago when David and I were younger, we went to a church that had a wonderful choir director so we had a good-size choir and we sang a lot. Christmas Eve the church had three services, we sang at all of them and then went home after midnight, put the kids to bed and played Santa while drinking eggnog. At Easter we sang for three services again and after church was the egg hunt and then lunch. I had the energy back then to do all this. Yesterday we had to be at church at 9 a.m. for choir rehearsal and then there was one service (absolutely beautiful) and then we went to lunch and home. I was exhausted and took a nap until 6 p.m. My how the times have changed.
I totally enjoyed seeing the pictures of Jeanne’s congregation all dressed in traditional clothing. So very colorful. Our church looked a little like Jeanne’s yesterday but ours was Nigerian. I love the way the men dress and sometimes the whole family is dressed in the same fabric with the men and boys in the pants and tunics and the women and girls in pretty dresses. We did not have much of that yesterday because the little girls were all dressed in pretty, frilly dresses and the women in more traditional dresses, but the men and boys did wear their traditional pants and tunics. Some really pretty fabrics there.
As for the moose. Ah, no! Hope it goes to someone who really appreciates it. It probably should go to someone who can take it home rather than have it shipped. Looks like it would be a great prop for a photographer..
Jeanne, your church group are the most fun outfits, absolutely so happy and bright! Thank you so much for showing them to us, please tell them how much we enjoying seeing them! I suppose there are other schools and churches some where but yours are really fun to see. What a great group! Jan’s dress looked lovely on her, I know she was thrilled for your help.
What fun to see everyone in the native dress. All the colors and styles are so interesting.
No, to the moose. I do agree with Rosemary that Suemae has to sell this local, No one is going to pay that much for shipping. I also don’t think she will get $200 for it. She’s going to have to be willing to take that highest offer. I think if it were a deer it would sell better.
Good morning all
I think I’ll pass on the moose lol. I would have to take out a mortgage to pay for shipping even if I had somewhere to put it.
Jeanne it is lovely to see all the colourful outfits. NZ has a large Pacific Island population and they traditionally all wear white to church, even the men.
Your friend looks great in her dress, you did a good job between you.
Joy, your garden is like the Forth Bridge, when they paint it as soon as they finish they start again! At least that used to be the joke but maybe they have better paint these days! I am not sure you will ever finish the weeding!
I didn’t decide on an oven. I wanted an induction but Kai and Asher didn’t like the small marking on the hob to turn the burners on and off, and I didn’t like the way it was completely flat at the back (Kai is quite a good cook but a very messy one, I could imagine all the food splatters that would end up behind and the vents were flat too so I could imagine all the food ending up inside the vents!) We looked at a normal electric hob but when I got home I thought about it and remembered all the things I dislike about regular electric hobs and why I went to gas in the first place (easier cleaning was high on the list) so I decided if I couldn’t have an induction then I would prefer gas (which the girls both prefer anyway). So, Sam and I are going out again today, It’s Tuesday so coffee morning first. As a senior citizen with no extra income WINZ (Work and Income NZ) will pay for it and I pay them back at about $10 a week. I have an appointment on Thursday so need the quotes before then. I did think it might be worth getting it fixed but it is 15 years old so probably not worth it. I would have preferred a gas oven as well, but they are twice the price. (Like the hob, easier to clean).
Have a lovely day everyone
Yes, those weeds are like your bridge. Here the Golden Gate in SF, does the same. They finish painting one side then do the other and then paint again. The salt air causes corrosion that needs repainting as often as they can.
I too prefer gas as did my mother. She said if we lost power she could still make a meal. I like when I turn off my burners and the stove cools. My current countertop stove has a grid on it that I didn’t think I’d like but it turns out I love it. It’s like a giant trivet so I can set things on it when I take them out of the oven. My oven is electric since when we remodeled the kitchen we would have had to run a gas line to that area. The one for my stove top was already there for the old gas range.
I was once invited to a Nigerian fashion show. I really don’t see why everyone, men and women, don’t adopt Nigerian men’s 3 piece suits — narrow pants, loose shirt, and a wide, airy, floating jacket, usually all one color, usually light, to reflect the sun. Beautiful and comfortable. I was given a woman’s dress — a long wrapped skirt (I use wide elastic to hold it in place — a Nigerian would just adjust it, tucking an edge in when it loosens) and a long top that can be pulled up on one side so that the skirt shows the embroidered bottom edge. There’s a nearly full sized peacock embroidered in blue and silver on the back. The base fabric is a green-gold cotton brocade. I wear it for Halloween over a black turtleneck to emphasize the colors. It’s perfect on a cold day.
For dachshund fans, here’s a friend’s tribute to his favorite companion.
https://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2026/Items/Apr03-6.html
Z, the human involved, recently lost one of his two dogs. They were born about a week apart, and losing them about a month apart has been difficult. My favorite story about them, not repeated here, is about Z’s efforts to calm them on a 4th of July. He was driving around and around the neighborhood, with the radio turned up loud to distract them while they barked insanely in the back seat. One place he passed was Kamala Harris’s home. After 3 or 4 circuits, he was stopped by the Secret Service and spent several minutes convincing them that no sensible assassin would be planning an attack without weapons while accompanied by 2 small but very loud dogs.
What a great story, Marilyn. Tks for sharing.
I’m posting early and on today’s blog as I don’t know if I’ll be able to post later tonight. I have no landline service at the moment, and thus no wifi either! Arrrgg!! So I’m at the library, emailing those I regularly email, just to let them know they might not hear from me for a couple of days, but all is well. They did try to reboot the little box remotely, but thus far it hasn’t connected. I tried using the reset button, too, and no go.
There will be someone coming Wed. morning to work on it. Tuesday is out for me–I have a hair appt. (cut, perm, set) and although my hairdresser is good, she is very slow (and also, BTW, older than I am!), so I just plan to be “busy” the entire day of my appt. I made the appt. about 5-6 weeks ago (yes, she has many regulars, and is always busy!), so I don’t want to chance having to wait another month or so! I am getting SO shaggy!!
Anyway, if I can get back to the library tomorrow I will try to check in then; otherwise, just no that I’m fine, it’s my phone line that is out of commission.
A late check here. Sure hope that your internet is restored soon. So bothersome.