Tuesday 4~ Traditions (& More!)

 (Posted on August 31!)  Oh yes! It's September 1st, and even though fall is not officially here for a few more weeks, September always makes us think fall from day one, even though we still haven't had Labor Day, which is usually the last summer event and then I begin my fall decorations after that. However, since Labor Day seems a little bit "late" this year, some rules may be broken. So here's the Tuesday 4 post for this week, but I've added a few extras that I usually do on the first of the month...i.e....the Calendar Roll Call.

So grab a cup of hot pumpkin spice tea or coffee and sit back and enjoy the "show". 

Tradition

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.
Tradition is an important part of any family or community and so important that people will fight to be sure they are not neglected or done away with.
From the first day of Autumn, to Halloween, All Saints Day, and Thanksgiving autumn brings many different traditions from all around the world.
School kids cut out paper leaves, pumpkins,etc. Homemakers change decor to reflect the new season.
Sweaters come out of storage... the weather is changing.


1. Why is tradition important to you?

I think traditions help us to mark special occasions and holidays and make them more memorable for our families. Many traditions have been handed down from generation to generation, and some traditions may be new and exclusive to our own current generation. Either way, I love traditions and doing things with my family that we all look forward to.  As I said above, I may be adding some other current events into this post, and here's one of our family traditions...the Birthday Cake/candle blowout. 

Yesterday we celebrated our son's birthday (which was actually Friday) here at home with our immediate family. No matter how old we are, we all enjoy having a birthday cake and candles and hearing people sing Happy Birthday to us. Here's the video of us singing to our son yesterday and him blowing out his "55" candles. LOL.

Now, here is the first try "blooper" video...we started to sing, and my hubby was doing something silly and we got to laughing so hard we had to stop singing and start over. It was worth sharing, I think.

2. Have family traditions helped to shape who you are?

Yes, I definitely think so. My parents were really big into traditions for Christmas and Easter and birthdays. We have carried on many of those traditions with our own children throughout the years, and we still do things like setting up a train set under the Christmas tree and hunting for Easter Baskets even now when our kids are all grown. It's the fun side of the holidays that our family always looks forward to, and it helps connect our family together.

3. Do you believe that tradition helps a community or shapes the unity of family and community?
Most definitely.  I love it when towns have annual traditions of things like a Christmas Parade or a Fall Festival or  4th of July fireworks or other special events that are special to that community. It helps identify their community and builds communal strength when people  come together and enjoy the fun times as well as the other times, when people need to be there for each other.

4. Are there any traditions you would like to bring back and why?

Not sure of any at the moment that we don't already do.  And every community/church/school is different in the kinds of things they like to do traditionally. That's why I love living in a smaller town and attending a small church where people do like to get together and do special events.

Now here is one of MY traditions for the first of every month...the Calendar Roll Call! Are you ready? Let's go!

I love this Thomas Kinkade painting for September...It's entitled "Morning Pledge", and if you notice the kids are gathered around the flagpole in front of the school house.  I love the old classic cars in this picture too.  I know some schools do still have the "See You At The Pole" day, where they say the pledge and also pray for their school. It's voluntary, but such a great way to start the school year. This year's SYATP event is scheduled for September 23, 2026. You can learn more about that in the link above.

And this verse is a great way to put things in order in our lives:

I love the little cabin on my Cabin Calendar for September...What a peaceful setting. The only thing this cabin needs is a big front porch!

This recipe for a Cranberry Apple Crisp is on the Susan Branch calendar for September. It sounds really good. I may have to try it!!!

Apples always seem to go well with September!!

Interesting thought to ponder:

This is the Billy Graham quotes calendar for September...

and a very good thought also to ponder...

And this verse goes along with that thought...

Here's the Teapot Calendar for September...a very unusual looking tea set, I must say...

Here's some information about it... I don't think it's exactly my idea of what a teapot should look like,  but it is interesting for sure.

I don't know if I am THIS fond of tea, but I do love it... LOL:

And last but not least, the John Sloane Country Seasons calendar for September shows this farmwife peeling apples for an apple pie...which goes along with my idea of September just fine. 

My birthday is later this month, and talk about tradtions, my mother used to bake an apple for me for my birthday instead of a cake (at my request). I do miss her wonderful pies so much, but now my sister usually does that for me, or she picks up one from Costco, which is pretty good. Here'a picture of a couple of my sister's pies on my birthday several years ago... (I think she baked two because we had a large group there, and I notice there was also a cake, brought by my sister in law! What a blessing!)

I think I was listening to them sing Happy Birthday to me! LOL.

Another September tradition is decorating the house for the autumn days and weeks...I normally wait until after Labor Day to begin my fall decorating, but the "kids" helped me get a head start yesterday with this little gift that they created:

Aren't they cute?  Especially the black cat!!  Now that I have my own black cat, I find myself drawn to all kinds of fun decor with black cats!

Oh, here's Blackie now,slieeping with one of his "toys".  Actually that toy belongs to our grandpups, but Blackie decided it was now his.  

Well, friends, that's all for this post. I am posting it early tonight because we have to go back up the road an hour + tomorrow morning to see the Eye Surgeon again. Hubby's eye is still not really doing as well as it should be since his cataract surgery, and so we are going to get it checked out.  This will be a busy rest of the week...I have a dental appointment on Wednesday, then on Thursday there's the Memorial Service for the man in our church who passed away last week..  On Friday hubby has a Dr. appointment over in Gainesville, which is another hour's drive in a different direction.  Somewhere during this week we need to fit in some hair cuts because we are looking like shaggy dogs.  So I may not be around much here in Blogland, but I will try to pop in as I am able.

Have a blessed and wonderful week everyone.

Happy 250th Birthday, America!

I started writing this post yesterday, on the 3rd of July.  I didn't get very far before our internet went down. We've been having issues with it all week, and yesterday it was up and down like a yo-yo. So I never did get back to finishing this post, and now it's Saturday, July 4th.  But I will go ahead and try to pick up where I left off yesterday, so bear with me, and Happy 4th of July!

Written on July 3, 2026:

Today is the day before the 4th of July, and I'm still getting myself in a more festive spirit. This tray/sign below was created by my son a few years ago, and it puts things in proper perspective: 

Always put GOD first, and then your family and loved ones, and then your country, and life will run more smoothly.

This is one of my favorite verses on this subject:

Joshua 24:15 NIV

15 "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. 

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Our blogging friend Chrissy T at One Season to the Next  has given a Photo Challenge for the month of July.  I'm just getting around to participating. I think I already did some outdoors photos and flower photos previously this week HERE,

 So we will pick up with the photo challenge of food for July 3:..see below...

We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast yesterday morning, made with our very own home grown blueberries!! It just doesn't get any better than that!

And for today, July 4th, something that "sparkles", well, this wreath did sparkle in the sunshine:

And so did this, but you can't tell it in the picture...so just take my word for it, okay? It sparkles! And maybe later tonight (4th), I will get some pictures of the fireworks when they "sparkle".

Sadly, our family isn't going to be getting together today to celebrate like we have in the past, but Lily Grace and her dog Bailey are ready for a  4th of July picnic:

And so are her friends...

And Lily Grace says HERE is a link to some special memories from the 4th of July in 2021, shared from her blog, The Adventures of Lily Grace.

And inside that blog is another link HERE, with pictures from some very special family times in the past on the 4th of July.  I love to look back at those special times and remember them, especially when we can't all be together again as in the past. Several of those family members are now celebrating every day in heaven...thanks to Jesus giving us the biggest gift of freedom ever...we are set free from our sins through faith in Him...

John 8:31-36
31 "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Oh, I wanted to share some pictures of what was going on in our yard yesterday morning...it was definitely a morning for "the birds"...

So, here's the story...You really can't see him too well in this picture, but there is a big Hawk sitting on the branch of that pine tree. There is also a hummingbird on the feeder...

Good Morning Mr. Hawk! How are you today???

He says, "I'm fine and dandy. Just don't bother me right now. I am watching for something to eat for breakfast out there.."

And then he flew away out over the pond, but then I realized there was ANOTHER Hawk sitting on a different branch of the same tree!

And Mr. Bluebird also sees him...and he is keeping a close watch on him because there are new baby bluebirds in the birdhouse, and we definitely don't want anything to happen to them like last time, when a big old crow came and snatched one out of the nest...

So you can bet that Mr. Bluebird is being very protective and watchful, but it seems that the two hawks had other prey on their minds out on the other side of the pond, because he soon flew away to join his mate or brother or whatever...

Mr. Blue bird is telling Mrs. Blue bird to watch out for them...

All the while, Blackie was sitting on the porch and watching all of the activities out there. Thankfully, he knew to stay quiet and still and didn't interfere in the activity of the Bluebirds or the Hawks.

Isn't Mr. Bluebird beautiful? They have been quite active lately, as I think the babies are getting bigger every day and they are busily finding juicy grasshoppers and other insects to feed them all day long...

Here's Mama Bluebird, watching for Daddy Bluebird to come back with more food:

They are both quite busy bringing food to the nest. Notice the blue of blur at the top of the pole...that's the Daddy taking off to find more food while Mama feed the babies with whatever she has found:

Now Daddy watches for the Mama to come back:

There she is...

And there's Daddy, with food in his mouth, waiting his turn to go into the house to feed the babies.

Mama keeps a watchful eye on things...

Daddy says "We are thankful that the Hawks went away and didn't disturb our nest, and now we can continue to feed our babies and hopefully watch them fly to freedom one of these days soon!"

All in all it was a lovely morning for bird watching. And I am VERY thankful to the Lord for all of these blessings...and especially for our freedom to enjoy them.

John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

So today, in the midst of all the hoopla and celebration, fireworks and barbeques and ice cream and watermelon...Let us pause and remember to thank GOD for our freedom...our freedom to enjoy this day without fear of our enemies coming to stop us...and freedom to enjoy this day, knowing that we are ultimately free from our sins when we have faith in Christ...and one day we will be set free from this earthly body to enjoy our eternal life, free from sickness and sorrow and the fear of death.  Praise God!

Have a blessed and beautiful and happy 4th of July!

UPDATE: Our "kids" came over around 4:00 p.m, after Rose got off work, and we made homemade pizza. It was good, and a nice way to celebrate the day!

 

 

Easter Monday Recap: Hallelujah! Christ Arose!

 Golly! Here it is Easter Monday already! I never got around to writing yesterday on Easter Sunday, because it was just such a busy day from morning 'til night! But it was all SO good!! What a  joyous day it was!!  Let's start at the very beginning and journey through the day together, shall we?  

The first thing I noticed was that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb!  And all of "nature" was in awe of the great event that had taken place there...the tomb was empty!!!

And so I rushed outside to see...and even the cross had been changed...and I thought I could hear the angels singing..."Alleluia! Jesus Lives!!!"...for after all..."With God, all things are possible!"...

What a glorious morning! We rejoiced to say, "Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!"

So then we got ready to go to church...and here is the "message" for the day...our choir sang the cantata "I Will Embrace the Cross".  If you wish to listen to the whole thing, I think you'll enjoy it. This prerecorded last week at our rehearsal.  If you go all the way to 26:26, you will find a bit of a surprise as I sing a solo. The only thing I will say is that I give God the glory and thanks for getting me through this. My voice was about gone that night. But thankfully Sunday morning God refreshed me and my voice and I believe it sounded a lot better...at least my hubby said so. LOL.  I am just thankful to be able to sing for the glory of God  and I pray that the message of the whole cantata was a blessing to those who listened and participated.

After church we came home and the family gathered here for dinner. Thankfully Rose had baked the ham and made the deviled eggs. I did the scalloped potatoes, but I will confess they were the quickie variety from a box...but I added extra cheese to make them extra good.  Yes, I  much would prefer to have my homemade scalloped potatoes, but on Easter Sunday morning with all the other stuff I had going on this weekend, there was just no time for slicing potatoes, etc.  Anyway, they were very good. We also had "Amish Fruit Salad", and broccoli, and a tossed salad and Hawaiian Rolls.  All in all it was a feast.

I thought my new "Dollar Tree" plates for spring looked really pretty, don't you? They are so inexpensive, and it was fun to have something different to use.

After dinner we all had to hunt for our Easter Baskets...yes, that's a family tradition...and this year our "Easter Bunny Kids" brought baskets for hubby and me  and hid them when we weren't looking, so we had to hunt for ours too!!   I found mine!

John found his! (we wrap them in grocery bags so that no little critters or cats or dogs might find them first).

Scott found his!

Rose found hers:

And Benton was the last one to find his! He was perturbed because he had been so close to it several times and didn't see it! LOL. It's always a fun time and a happy tradition that our big kids look forward to even at their great ages! LOL.

Then we posed for a family portrait, and Sugar and Spice wanted to be in the picture too:

(of course we couldn't bring Blackie inside to join us, or there would've been a turf war between the dogs and the cat!)

Oh, but Lily Grace and Bailey joined in the fun, and there was even a new little puppy in a basket for them to play with and enjoy!

Oh, and Lily was so excited to discover this flower had the same name as she did!

However, I was reminded by a few people that Easter Lilies are highly toxic to cats, and so last night we took it outside and put it in a wooded area of our fenced lot where Blackie never goes, so that hopefully he will not come in contact with it.  It was pretty while it lasted in the house, I but we didn't want to take any chances on the pollen dust falling on Blackie and making him sick!

So all in all, it was a wonderful Easter Day, and we rejoice in knowing that because Christ arose from the dead, we too shall live!!

I was SO happy that our church sang this wonderful old hymn yesterday. "Christ Arose". No, this isn't our church, but maybe you'll want to sing along with this church from  FBC Atlanta.

Low in the grave He lay—

Jesus my Savior!

Waiting the coming day—

Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2

Vainly they watch His bed—

Jesus, my Savior!

Vainly they seal the dead—

Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

3

Death cannot keep his prey—

Jesus, my Savior!

He tore the bars away—

Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

He Arose! Hallelujah! Christ Arose!!!!!!