A Fresh Cup of Coffee

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Everyday Images #95

Welcome to my ongoing challenge and reminder to myself to take photos somewhat regularly. I'm not a photographer, but I enjoy taking everyday photos of things I find interesting or want to remember later, and I'm more likely to notice interesting things when I'm intentionally watching for them. Having some prompts that are open to interpretation has helped me pay a little more attention to what's around me. Here's how it works: Every two weeks I have a few words and phrases to focus on, and I try to find opportunities to take pictures of these things each week. The link-up post will be here every other Thursday, sharing my photos and offering a link-up for participants to share theirs. Right below the link-up is where you'll find the next set of prompts.

August Prompts - Everyday Images #95

~~~~~

double

at home (monthly)

yellow

mistake

heart

clock

current project (quarterly)

~~~~~

double - it's almost time for hockey!

at home (monthly) - finally got around to working on the kitchen island. When I took this photo there was still stuff on top that doesn't belong there, and the rolling cart at the side needs cleaned out as well.

yellow

mistake - clumsy would probably be a better descriptor, but I definitely made a mistake in accidentally dumping this box of cotton swabs. Of course it was when I was in a hurry too!

heart - anniversary card from our son still displayed on my dresser

clock - I have to use the zoom and light of my phone camera to make the numbers on my coffeemaker big enough to see when I'm setting the clock, as I had to do after a power outage. And I accidentally snapped the photo, but it turned out to be okay for this prompt!

current project (quarterly) - the boxes contain the bedframe for the guest room, which is the next project we need to work on

And a few bonus photos:

There was definitely something going on in the neighborhood one morning, if the crows were to be believed. There were at least half a dozen arguing from rooftops across the street from each other.

We went to the Bark Bash with our son and his family, and met their new dog, Delilah.

Also visited Homestead Metro Park that day, where the butterflies and goldfinches were busy. It was really hard to capture a photo of a goldfinch, or that might have been my "yellow" choice.

I am sharing my photos every other Thursday, along with my prompts for the next two weeks. You can use all or some of the prompts for your own photo posts, or none of the prompts and just link up a post featuring your photos. Simple rules: Your posts must be family-friendly; the photos must be your own; and the post must be mostly photos. If you do share I'd appreciate a mention and link to A Fresh Cup of Coffee on your post.

The Everyday Images link-up is posted every other Thursday, and is open for two weeks.

August/September Prompts - Everyday Images #96

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sunrise/sunset

plants

reflection

Monday motivation

smoke

supplies

neighborhood spot (quarterly)

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Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Sweet Memories

A hodgepodge is a jumble or assortment of things that might not appear to belong together. Joyce at From This Side of the Pond hosts a weekly link-up called Wednesday Hodgepodge that is a little collection of questions for bloggers to answer just for fun and to get to know each other. I always look forward to chatting with friends over coffee, so pour a cup of your favorite and let's visit for a few minutes!

Here are this week's questions - and my answers - for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. How do you feel about the transition from lazy summer days to a busier fall routine?

My routine doesn't change all that much, except for Wednesdays, so my feelings are pretty neutral on it. I take a slightly different route on my morning commute to work that isn't as affected by school bus routes and school zones, but I don't have to allow much more time so that's nice. I have noticed there's definitely more traffic in the morning now that schools are open though. Our church goes back to our weekly Wednesday night activities starting today, so my Wednesdays will be busier and I'll have to consider whether it's better to go straight to church from work sometimes. I like having that weekly dinner with friends as part of my routine, but wish I didn't have to feel like I'm rushing from one thing to another so regularly, so that's why I'm on the fence as far as how I feel about a "busier" fall routine.

2. Your favorite cookie?

Favorite mass produced cookie is the Fudgee-O. I'm not aware of anything quite like it made in the US, so it's among the Canadian grocery items we always bring back. Fudgee-O and Canadian Oreos which are different and superior to American Oreos. The Mr Christie brand Maple cookies are superior to similar ones made in the US as well. Canadians do a good job with maple flavoring in general!

a Canadian grocery run from
years ago

Favorite homemade cookie is a lot harder to narrow down! Oatmeal raisin. Maybe an unpopular opinion but I love them. Shortbreads. Peppernuts. White cookies (these are hard to define because the name is really generic. It's a soft cookie similar to a Lofthouse, with a very simple white icing. My Aunt Linda was famous for baking these and peppernuts). Molasses cookies. I could go on and on. I love cookies!

Peppernuts and other Holiday Sweets and Treats on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com - A collection of some of our favorite recipes for holiday cookies and other seasonal sweet treats!

See my post Holiday Sweets and Treats at Homeschool Coffee Break for my family's Peppernuts recipe.

Holiday Sweets and Treats on Homeschool Coffee Break @ kympossibleblog.blogspot.com - A collection of some of our favorite recipes for holiday cookies and other seasonal sweet treats!

3. What's something you've learned from a culture different than your own?

Now that I've got cookies on my mind, that's the direction I'm going with this question! I've learned about bread and sweets from other cultures. I'm a picky eater so often ethnic and traditional dishes from other cultures don't strike me as appetizing. But bread, on the other hand . . . bread is pretty universal and while I definitely like some flavors and types better than others, it's a safe bet that I will like bread. So that's my starting point for trying international foods. I also like to try coffees from other cultures.

I know there are wise and good things I've learned about living well, but I can't come up with something specific enough to describe.

4. Food critic, film critic, book critic, art critic . . . which hat would you most like to wear? Tell us why.

Probably a book critic. I could read more if it was my job! Right now I'm just not finding the time to get much reading done and I'm disappointed in myself. But I do think with a little practice I could offer helpful critiques and reviews of books in a few genres, and book critic would be most in my wheelhouse of those choices. I did a lot of product reviews back in the days of my homeschool blog so I would have to revive that reviewer's mindset. I think I could do a decent job as a food critic too, but only if it was limited to the foods that I generally like anyway. My tastes aren't broad enough for me to be really comfortable in that role.

5. What's a small, random thing from your childhood that you still remember clearly?

When I was little, my Grandpa had a couple of scrapbook type albums of birds and animals. Sort of like field guides, with a little information about each bird and animal. The pictures were stickers, and I bet they were the kind that you collected at gas stations or something along that line, but I don't know where Grandpa got them. I just remember loving those two albums, especially the one with birds, and studying them whenever I visited my grandparents.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Join me in praying for comfort for our sweet hostess Joyce and her family as I just saw on the anchor post that her mother passed away earlier this week. I had already chosen the following for my random thought and it seems more meaningful now.

RIP Dolly Parton

What sweet memories are you savoring this week? Leave a comment and let me know!

I'm sharing in this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.

I host the Wednesday Quotes link-up every other Wednesday. Stop by and share a few thoughts and quotes on the current topic here: WQ - The Value of Rest. I host the Everyday Images photo link-up every other Thursday. And find the Scripture and a Snapshot link-up here every Sunday.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2026

The Flower Hour - Late Summer Blooms

Some cheerful late summer blooms spotted on the weekend.

I think these are known as tickseed, part of the Coreopsis family.

I didn't mean to intrude, but when I got home and got a closer look at the photo, I realized I had inadvertently taken a picture of a private moment between a couple of goldenrod soldier beetles. Awkward!