Coffee, Me, and Thee

Maybe it's just me.

Maybe I'm just "old-school".

The coupling of coffee and church,

latte and the Lord,

is starting to trouble me.

"We have the coffee, now we just need you

#midweek in the house!!! Tonight @  7 pm"

read a recent announcement..

Okaaaaaaaaaaaay?!?

The Perk,

Higher Grounds,

Common Ground,
HeBrews,
Connection Cafe,

you name it.

Personally, it leaves me cold.

And I like my coffee hot.

Sigh.

"Get with the program," I tell myself.

The Business of Marriage

Coffee and conversation shared in front of this fireplace at a coffee house recently...

Recently, I was reading a post about how couples who run a business together protect their relationships in the middle of their busy lives.  A simple idea of Matt and Lentil Purbrick  regarding their working lives intrigued me.

As well as separate work spaces, Matt and Lentil make sure they have clearly defined roles, and a scheduled weekly meeting to go through everything they’ve been working on individually. "Throughout the week, we write things on a notepad that we might want to talk about, and then we meet once a week over coffee to talk through it all’ Lentil explained.  

To maximize efficiency and minimize frustration, Matt and Lentil will write things they need the other to do on a blackboard throughout the day. "Then you can each look at it when you’re ready, instead of interrupting each other all day!"

Though we (Gary and I) don't run a business-business together, our daily lives ARE definitely a partnership--a marriage-business.  Sometimes our schedules overlap.  Other times, we have separate appointments, and responsibilities take us in two different directions.  Our lives are not so busy that we don't informally connect throughout the day, but sometimes "things" slip my mind (or his).  So the notepad idea appeals to me--maybe for review even more frequently than weekly!

We have synced our calendars on our cell phones.  This is a huge help.  Quiet minutes shared every morning before we jump into our day provide time to review the plans for the day.  We also enjoy day trips or late afternoon walks together.  Adding intentional conversations about dreams, goals, and mutual and individual projects to these outings pays off BIG time.

Seasons in married life come and go.  

This is where we find ourselves currently when it comes to the business of marriage.

What do YOU do to keep communication and cooperation flowing well?

Hours Well Spent

 Only the number of signs and maturity of trees and plantings

 gave away the fact that we hadn't visited the Quiet Corners Tea and Coffee Room

 in quite awhile.

 After a simply fine lunch including variously pumpkin curry soup,

 ham and spinach quiche, crab coleslaw and ham salad sandwich in fresh homemade bread,

 the three of us strolled the leaf-lined paths.

The slow, scenic ride home was filled with soft ballads (a CD)
 composed & sung by one of the owners--all of which 

were gentle and clear invitations to choose the peace that comes

from knowing Jesus as one's Lord and Savior.

 Truly hours well spent......

Spontaneity

 A good-sized crowd gathered,

 the Little Big Band played,

 the Cupbearer Cafe served thirsty customers,

 and we were SO glad we yielded to an urge to spontaneity!

 As I told the keyboardist later, "There's NO music like LIVE music"!

Don't you LOVE the line at the top of the menu?

"Be God's"

"Keep reading," he urged from the driver's seat.

"I CAN'T!"  I choked out.  My tears were making it impossible to see.
I'd been reading the introduction to the book.  Out loud.

We were on our way to a morning out.  

I to a thrift store and then a coffee shop where I'd continue reading.  

He to a golf course to play 9 holes.

I was reading the introduction to this book out loud --
a book I've wanted to read for at least thirteen years.

Maybe longer.

One of the walls at Joanna's Dealicious Treats coffee shop, Kendallville IN

 After the purchase of 2 knit tops at the thrift store,

I headed to Joanna's Delicious Treats.

I ordered a cappuccino and freshly baked chocolate chip cookie

 and settled in to read.

Slowly, of course, because I was furiously copying down quotes in my little purse-sized notebook.

When I wasn't writing, I was photographing larger quotes like this one...

At the rate I'm going, it will take me a while to finish this book.

One of the things I learned about Rich Mullins is that when he signed autographs,

he added these words: "Be God's".

"It's not what you did, and not what you say you're going to do, it's what you do today."

(One of the lines I copied into my notebook.) 

Quiet Corner

Yesterday, our Lady Bugs (Red-Hattters-No-Longer) group met 

at Quiet Corner Tea and Coffee Room for lunch.

As soon as I turned into the lane and began the winding route up to the tea room,

I was inwardly quieted...

Above, a sign in a window...

Below, a sign on the path to the Tea Room.

A new feature since I was there last was this little farm stand.

I bought a couple yellow summer squash and two tomatoes.

 

I wish this place was just a little bit closer to our house.

I would spend more time in the rocking chairs

on the porch watching the birds at the feeders

and calmed by the Quiet of this special Corner.

I brought home a few souveniers....Yes, they're buckeyes.

Do YOU have a favorite Quiet Place?

What are its best features?

Mostly I'm Okay With It

Yesterday afternoon we reluctantly headed for Barnes and Noble...reluctantly, because our favorite local bookstore, Borders, officially closed its coffee shop while we were on vacation.  I was happy to find some new issues of favorite magazines AND a few new-to-me ones as well!  The tables are smaller at B&N. There was hardly room for all the magazines I'd gathered, but I settled in to enjoy some "eye candy".

 I found this simple & clever way to hold a recipe.
I think I'll look for some bottles and try it this week!

It would make a sweet gift, too, wouldn't it?

At the back of the spring issue of Where Women Create,
this picture caught my eye. It reads,  

"She wanders around wondering about this, that and then the other thing 
finding she knows nothing at all.   
And mostly she is okay with it."

We may not be making so many trips to the bookstore until gas prices fall a bit.  We were well on the way to town before we saw the current price is $3.85/gallon!  At the very least, we will be combining our trips into town.

Have YOU begun to incorporate some gas-saving practices in your life yet?

As I sit here with my cup of coffee, rain is pounding on our window.  It is our first official "April Shower"...complete with lightening and thunder.  

Monday morning.  I wandering and wondering and realize
the older I get, the less I know!

Mostly I'm okay with it because I'm...

♪ TRUSTING JESUS ♪

Simply trusting ev'ry day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
  Trusting Jesus, that is all. 

(Chorus) Trusting as the moments fly,

Trusting as the days go by,

Trusting Him what'er befall,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

A Sad Day

 A sign composed and posted behind the Seattle Best Cafe counter....
"The Seattle Best Cafe...will be closing March 23.
Thank you for your love and support
over the years..."

Sitting here at Cork and Bean, we can't help feeling sad as we remember that our FAVORITE coffee place at home is closing.  Today is the last day for the Seattle Best Cafe at Borders.  (Our local Borders bookstore will be closing soon.)  We especially will be missing our favorite baristas and wish them well in their job searches.

Hubby reading a book while I blog...

On the docket today...a few thrift stores & hiking to a waterfall with my brother and sister-in-law. We're enjoying beautiful weather, amazing scenery, and quiet evenings of conversation and reading.

Adventures in Maryland

 Black Rock Golf Course

After dropping Hubby off at the golf course (close enough to Camp David that a former president is supposed to have played here), I went a few miles down to road to Funkstown, where the Battle of Funkstown took place on July 10, 1863 during the Gettysburg Campaign as Lee's Army of Northern Virginia retreated toward Virginia in the week following the Battle of Gettysburg.

 

 There were supposed to be several unique shops here, but I have a feeling the economy has shut several down.  The shop above was just across the street from the shop below.  (Unfortunately the Hudson House Antique Shoppe was only open by appointment on Tuesdays.  I decided not to make an appointment.)

 Note the beautiful shuttered window with the candle feature below it (now electrified).

I'm blogging now from The Coffee Station--opened only 3 days ago!  Hubby just texted me that he's only on the 4th hole, so I'm going to check internet to see where the thrift stores are located in Hagerstown.  I have a few hours to "spend", and I can't think of a better way.

If I run out of thrift stores, I'll sit in the sunshine and read the magazines I've brought along--all old Christmas issues which I hold onto when I dispose of the other 11 months' worth.

• It feels good to have no responsibilities or chores to tend to.  
• I like the adventure of exploring new territories. 
• I'm enjoying our first official day of vacation.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Actually, I just needed to get the picture of the meat off my radar.  In spite of the good buy earlier this week (see previous post),  I'm not a meat lover.  I use it sparingly in meals.  And the picture of raw meat was getting to me!

This is the menu board at the Higher Grounds Coffee House where I'll be meeting a friend this evening.  AND this morning I'm meeting another friend at another Higher Grounds location (unless the 2-hour school delay interferes with our plan).

For today at least, Coffee Houses will be my "home away from home".

"Let us consider how to STIR UP one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near"  HeBREWS 10:24-25 (ESV).

Coffee and Thrift Store Shopping

This morning I met a friend for coffee. She treated me since she had a buy one/get one free coupon! Then we went to two of my favorite thrift stores. These are just three of several bargains I found this morning. The price was definitely right!

A beautiful tin to add to my collection...

...a simple oil painting on canvas

...the satin side of a pillow case

Coffee after Noon = Sleepless Nights

We stopped at Meijer around 2:30 p.m..  There was the Starbucks rep. offering a free cup of coffee if we would take the "taste test" (could we detect which of the two was their new instant product).  We took the test.  I drank the free 12 oz. cup of coffee. 

I am one of those people that coffee affects with sleeplessness.  I should have known better than to drink the coffee after 12:00 noon.

I woke up during the night and couldn't get back to sleep, so I turn on the radio.  Maybe I was SUPPOSED to be awake to hear these two unrelated (but applicable to me) statements which I remembered this morning.

"Be well to do good."  (This is the best motive to take care of our bodies - not for vanity or self fulfillment, but to DO good!)

The second statement was something about being between "that's over and what's next".  (Now WHY was that so profound - and WHY can't I remember the exact words?  It certainly kept me awake vacillating between "I should get up and write it down" and "No.  I will remember that.")

The bottom line:  Rebecca, you KNOW you shouldn't drink coffee after noon!

Quiet Corner - A Place to Refresh and Reflect

I shared a lovely day Tuesday with a friend. We drove several miles to a favorite spot of mine - Quiet Corner Tea and Coffee Room outside of Churubusco, IN. Inside is just as charming as outside. Nature is highlighted; the Creator praised. After a simple and delicious lunch, we strolled the trails and spent time sitting on the deck watching birds at the feeders and enjoying the fine afternoon weather.

More Coffee Shops

Franklin, NC and Cookesville, TN