A Novel Creation www.WatersWords.com

My Daughter and Son-in-Law Celebrating an Anniversary...Not so good. I see a number of negative comments on social media concerning the way things are being done differently in light of COVID-19. I’m noticing, however, that different isn’t always bad.  In fact, for those creative minds,  different  is seen as an opportunity to improve. I’ve seen many churches scrambling to hold services via YouTube, Zoom, or by streaming live. Some are adhering to the way they’ve always done things. Some follow the same order of worship and so forth. That is probably comforting for church members missing the routine. But at least one church in Cincinnati has pursued a different route. Crossroads, one of Cincinnati’s mega churches has already made the decision to not re-enter their physical sites until next year. They view this time as an  opportunity  to reach more people. Here’s a quote from a recent letter: “God is using us, and He’s doing so  withou...

I set out to write my blog this week about how I sort of standardize my Christmas list. You know, everyone gets a craft, everyone gets something musical, everyone gets something collectable, and everyone gets a book. It was prompted by a Facebook event for authors called  Christmas in July . But when I started crafting the post I bumped into this shopping memory : “The smell of fresh crayons, the stacks of lined paper, and the array of colorful folders stacked on the shelves at my local store. School supplies always seemed to emerge shortly after Independence Day. There would be a flurry of activity in my house; energy bubbling with the thought a new school year of possibilities.” Yes, that’s what it was like for my children this time of year. Then came COVID-19. There appears to be a divide about whether or not schools should open. Regardless of the resiliency of the young, many factors come into play. I don’t have the answers, but having spent more than thirty-fi...

Last week I shared a picture of my dinner on social media. I made Impossible Taco Pie, a longtime family favorite. The recipe will serve six to eight people. Good thing I like it. I ate it for a week! I had a few conversations after that post. Some people asked for the recipe. Most lamented over the fact they aren’t yet comfortable going out to eat. Several people I spoke with said they are tired of cooking the same things over and over. Bringing me to today’s post. I decided to offer a couple of my favorite “quarantine recipes” in hopes you’ll feel free to share your favorites with me and my readers. First up: Chicken Fettuccine with Pesto Sauce I’m offering this because is it is delicious, fun, and so-o-o-o EASY. 8 oz. fettuccine noodles 1 Knorr Pesto Sauce Mix (.5oz package) ¼ C. olive oil Chicken (I usually boil or grill a couple of chicken breasts and cut them up, but I’ve also used canned chunked chicken…your call)  Favorite cheese (It’s great wit...

Last week I set out to mow my lawn. I have a rather large lawn so even though I had gas in the mower, I knew I would likely need more. Rather than start the project and run out in the middle of the yard, I headed to the gas station with my five-gallon can, my mask, and gloves. I usually put a few dollars worth of gas in the can. Two or three gallons.  This is silly. I can save myself a trip by filling the can today.  The can was on the ground in front of the gas pump. I smile at my cleverness and pump the can full.  Brilliant! Brilliant until I try to lift the gas can and put it back in the trunk of my car. Do you know how heavy five gallons of liquid feels on a hot summer day? We’re talking around thirty-plus pounds. It may not sound like much to you, but for me?  I manage to put it back in the trunk then sort of pat myself on the back for not being wimpy. I start the drive home when I begin to realize picking it up is one thing…picking it up ...

Today’s post is a before and after sort of story. A story of transformation. When I bought my house, the basement was unfinished. A contractor finished the bulk of it. There was plumbing available for a kitchenette, but adding one at the time was cost prohibitive.  Before: Unfinished Space I checked out the base cabinet, countertop, sink, and hardware at my local big box stores. I priced the backsplash materials and other construction needs. Adding the lights I wanted and allowing for labor to do everything, I was looking at more than a basement kitchen should cost.  I knew I could likely cut the cost if I could find the cabinet base at our local ReStore. ReStore is connected to  Habitat for Humanity , a cause I support. I found an entire set of cabinets at ReStore for less than one cabinet at the big box store. And…the hardware was included! The man at the store loaded the pieces in my van. My daughter and grandson helped me unload them into my g...