Pillow Talk

I love to travel...and visit new places...and it's always fun to have a little something as a reminder of the places I have visited. And since I'm not much of a knick-knick girl...I usually bring home something useful...or a piece of jewelry. I have a ulu knife from Alaska...a Mayan hieroglyphic necklace...a hand blown glass vase from Finland...an authentic cow bell from Switzerland...you get the picture. When we were in Iowa a few years back...and I brought home some wonderful Amish feather pillows as my keepsake.

Last summer we camped in the Lily Capital of Canada...a wonderful little prairie town called Neepawa...in Manitoba. One would think that I would bring back lily bulbs as a souvenir (and I should have). Instead...I came home from vacation with a supply of pillow slips.


I checked out the local thrift shop...and found a huge bag of pillows...each covered in Battenburg lace...some edged with hand crocheted edging. I left the actual pillows behind...and brought home a lovely pile of antique linens for a few dollars. After a good laundering...a little spray starch...and some new stuffing...they have a new life!

There is a 'parade of pillows' happening over at Kari and Kijsa's blog today....so I thought I'd join in the fun. And next time you are looking for a treasure to bring home with you...think soft...think pillows!

Bingo

As you all know...bingo is a game for grannies...and smokers. I know that grannies like it...since the only time I've ever played bingo is with my grandmother...at the kitchen table...when I was a kid. She had a few favorite games...bingo and dominoes...and monopoly. We never played for prizes...we just played for the thrill of being the first to have bingo.

Since those long ago days...I have actually poked my head into a bingo hall on occasion...and noticed that these people really take their game seriously...with signs all over reminding patrons to be quiet (no talking...or laughing). Now that doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me.

So we decided to have a bingo night with our own rules....and threw all bingo etiquette out the window. Talking and laughing were encouraged...smoking was not an option...and eating was mandatory.

We collected prizes from businesses in our area...and had a wonderful prize table. And here's the best part...we played for free.

Every few months, we plan a social activity of some sort for the 'empty-nester' crowd at church. This time it was a Bingo night...in a community hall with a nice low ceiling. I borrowed the authentic bingo spinner from a fellow blogger...found printable cards on-line...and we were good to go. We played until the prizes were all gone...with rules that we made up as we went along...and a good time was had by all.

* * * * *

My weekend was by no means all about fun and games. My dad was admitted to the hospital on Friday after not doing so well for the past few weeks. We now know that he has pneumonia...and are hoping the antibiotics will have him on the mend before long. For a long time we have been planning a family cruise...my five siblings and all the spouses...my dad...and some of my nieces and nephews. That cruise is booked for the end of the month (that would be next week)...leaving from the port of Galveston, Texas. So we are still hoping that dad has a speedy recovery...and will be up to making the trip with us. That is the little 'roadblock' to which I referred yesterday...and over which I have no control. But we will leave it in God's hands...and hope that when we meet in Texas next week...he will be with us.

Have a wonderful Monday...

roadblock...

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NLT

Our schedules do not always go as planned...things get in the way. I was one block away from my appointment...and right on schedule...and found myself stuck in a line-up with a train blocking the road. There was not a whole lot I could do...but wait! It's really easy to become irritated when we hit a roadblock....whether in the everyday appointments or in the grander scheme of things.

We all face roadblocks in life every so often. I'm dealing with a bit of one right now. But I am so thankful to have a personal tour guide...and I know He will direct me along the way. Ultimately, it is God who determines our steps.