Happy Friday! The last day (calendar official) day of summer – oh my! Signs of autumn are everywhere but, I suppose, it is now legit. So, in the interest of maintaining my good attitude….Happy Fall! (No y’all from me – lol!) It is actually the fourth weekend of September although it certainly feels as if we are only half-way, at best, through the month. These five weekend months always throw me off. Nevertheless, time for this month’s Share Four Somethings. At least, for me. Back in the day, SFS was always on the fourth Saturday. My blog friend, Jennifer, who now runs the link-up moved it to the last Saturday but I already had my posts so scheduled for this month. So, just call me the early bird to the party. Does not often happen so I’m going to just roll with it!
Quick question before I get started. When it comes to arriving at “the party” – or any event (not going to work, etc.) – what do you consider the appropriate time to arrive? Right on time? Fashionably late – whatever that might be. Or early? If early – I’m curious how early is the proper early? Let me know your thoughts and, yes, you may or may not be settling a family discussion. Ha! Enough of that. Let’s jump right in…..
Something loved. We loved having two sets of friends over one afternoon earlier this month. One of the couples moved away a few months ago and we have missed them. We’ve missed chatting…and playing games. Both of these friends are our game-playing friends. We don’t often play games but really enjoy doing so with these guys. We had a great afternoon. One showed up with Klondike bars (yum!) and some of the prettiest flowers. I snapped a picture just yesterday. They are still so pretty – almost two weeks later. Honestly, I just divided the bunch and put them in drinking glasses, but I have really enjoyed the touch of fall they have added to the ends of my mantel.
Something learned. Another highlight of this month has been our fall revival. At our church, we typically have our missions conference in the spring and a revival (with guest speaker, etc.) in the fall. Both are always highlights of the year. This fall’s revival was no exception. The evangelist this year was actually our pastor’s pastor when he was a teenager. He (the evangelist) was very practical, straight-forward and shared a lot of helpful, encouraging (as well as convicting) advice as well as wisdom gained through years of pastoring and preaching. I am grateful for my church, my pastor and for my church family. I am also very grateful for good preaching. (I’m also quite tired when revival is over!!)
Something read. This is something I actually “almost” read. Something I started to read but I didn’t finish so I’m not sure it qualifies are something read. (I did read half!) And I am rather disappointed about it, to tell the truth. My favorite author is Jan Karon and my most favoritest books of all time are those in the Mitford series. I’ve actually read them through twice – which is an accomplishment for a rather non-reader like myself. Imagine my surprise, and actual delight, when I discovered the Father Tim (and Dooley) saga continued. I quite inadvertently found a beautiful, new to me, Jan Karon book on the shelf at the library. I could not wait to get home, start reading and reunite with all my favorite characters. Well, they were there but, oh my, this book was so disappointing. Each night I pushed through a few more chapters and was just sure the story would soon become as real and enchanting as it had been throughout the other books. It did not. I read half the book….but eventually gave up. I was just the saddest one when I dropped this book into the book return. Oh…sigh.
Something eaten. I actually have a photo for this one. I never (as in, never) take photos of my food. Or our food. But, just for the love of blogging (and wanting to share with a friend!), I took a picture of my husband’s plate when we were out last week for our anniversary. We went to our favorite restaurant and have been trying to convince some friends to try it with us one day. It is a bit of a drive for dinner and, well, they are still needing a bit of nudging. (Photos of good food help, though!) My husband often gets the same thing every time we go. I don’t like to do that but he thoroughly enjoys sticking with a dish he knows is delicious. He did it again on our anniversary…and was not disappointed. They make the most amazing hollandaise sauce! It would make just about any dish delicious!
If you missed it, I blogged about our anniversary a bit here. We had a nice dinner and then enjoyed a southern gospel concert later that evening. Thanking the Lord for thirty-eight years!
Thanks for following along to the end. As I mentioned, the entire link-up will not go live for another week. But let me know what you have been loving this month and then be sure to check back next week and I will have the link here. Here’s to a great weekend ahead. We are finally supposed to get significant rain!! I might do a happy dance:)
Sounds like a great month- time with friends, a good revival at church and celebrating 38 years of marriage! Those flowers are a beautiful fall touch. Glad you got some rain- we have not been so lucky. I hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks friend! Hope your weekend is great as well!
Interesting question about being early or late to the party – or even on time! Well I believe you shouldn’t be early. I know that when I am hosting something I am always in a bit of a last minute panic and leave getting ready myself until just before I am expecting guests. So if you turn up early, I will not be ready for welcoming you properly! My parents in law would always arrive places early and it got to the point that if we wanted them for dinner at 1, we would say to arrive about half past. We knew they would always be there at 1! I never aim to arrive bang on time, just in case my host/ess is still having a last minute rush around so we would normally be about 10 mins ‘late’. Never more than that though!
Congratulations on your anniversary – those flowers definitely bring a touch of autumn into the home.
We have family members that we also have to “adjust” the time for….but we also tell them earlier than the expected. Otherwise, they will be pitifully late. I have to admit, I am usually early. Sometimes, too early. Glad for the reminder that the hostess may not always appreciate that. Oops.
Hello! So, I am always careful to arrive at a party or event on time. I don’t like to go early; I hate when people come early to my house! And I don’t want to arrive too late, because I don’t like walking in and everyone staring at me! LOL, I prefer to be as incognito as possible! Happy Anniversary, and have a cozy fall weekend!
Right there with you – make me as incognito as possible. Always my goal. Especially at a party/gathering!
Hi Jennifer~ My husband always says that if he is 10 minutes early, he’s late! I don’t necessarily feel like I need to be 10 minutes early, but I don’t like to be late either :0) I just love Jan Karon books! That’s so disappointing that her book wasn’t a good one. I have to say, 38 years is quite an accomplishment in this day and age! I’m glad you celebrated with some yummy food. Happy fall to you too! Hugs, Barb
While I liked the Jan Karon book you didn’t finish, the next one To Be Where You Are is better and I think you’d enjoy it! Suggest you give it a read . . .
Oooh, I am so excited to join the 4 Somethings link-up next week. Thanks for a sneak peek and the inspiration to make a post of my own. I’ll be thinking about my answers all week.
So sorry about the book. What a disappointment! My best friend’s mom loves the Mitford series, and she always tells me I would love them but I haven’t found the time for them (yet).
As for your question, I have 2 versions:
If it’s family or a very close friend, I arrive as early as possible to lend a helping hand. Sometimes I will text when I’m on my way and say, “On my way to help set up…” or something like that. Other times I just show up!
If it’s just a “normal” friend or acquaintance, the earliest I feel comfortable arriving is 10 minutes before the event starts. I try to arrive anywhere between 10 minutes early and on time. I’m a pretty punctual person (hubby is too) so we aren’t usually late.
We are always early…maybe 10 min or so? We just sit in the parking lot if its a meeting up with friends and walk in right on time.
The book sounds …sad! lol Sorry you couldn’t finish it.
Happy Fall!
hugs
Donna
Depends on the event and whatever else we have going on that day. I think on time is always good, or fashionably late. Rarely do we try to be early as you want to give your host all the time they need to get everything ready.
LOL, I got up and did my post this morning!! I thought for sure it was this weekend!! I haven’t posted it yet, but maybe I will go ahead and do it. I will be busy all next weekend, so I am likely to forget anyway! I have been very late every month recently, so it will be funny to be early for a change…speaking of early…for an event, I am never late, unless something makes it completely unavoidable. I don’t like “fashionably late.” Depending on where the party is hosted, I will arrive early 5-10ish minutes. If I feel I am too early I will sit in the car and wait for others to arrive. If people are already going in, then I will as well. I liked the Mitford series, but never finished it, I just didn’t love it. I haven’t had the desire to try anything else of Jan Karon’s. I am sorry it was such a disappointment for you!
I am always early… being on time feels late to me and I tend to stress about parties and where to park and who is going to be there so arriving early helps relieve some of that anxiety. Meeting people one at a time is much less daunting than walking into a house full of people. Those are the prettiest flowers and how sweet of them to bring you some (and some Klondike bars- YUM!). That plate of food looks yummy too. I hate when I get so excited about a book and it turns out to be a disappointment.
Good question about being late or early! If it’s a party with a lot of people, I prefer to be a little late. If it’s meeting someone for coffee or going to another person’s house, I try to be on time. I’m sorry you didn’t like “Come Rain or Come Shine.” Books are like that, aren’t they? The ones that people rave the most about are often the ones I can’t get into at all!
I definitely seem to find the hunt for the perfect harder than many! Glad you stopped by, Lois!! Happy Wednesday:)
I arrive ten minutes early to on time depending on the function. I consider late to be bad manners. I’m so glad you were able to spend time with friends this month. What a treasure! Your revival meetings sound refreshing, Jennifer. Happy 38th Anniversary! We just celebrated our 36th anniversary, so we are right behind you. 🙂
Thanks, Lisa! And congrats on your anniversary as well! I’m with you – ten minutes early seems just about right:)