A Fresh Cup of Coffee

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Everyday Images #96

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/September Prompts - Everyday Images #96

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sunrise/sunset

plants

reflection

Monday motivation

smoke

supplies

neighborhood spot (quarterly)

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sunrise/sunset - neither of these are exactly sunrise/sunset but close. First is the the early morning sun peeking through clouds and trees as seen from my driveway. Second is the clouds lit up at sunset over Zanesville.

plants - for some reason I was unaware that cana lilies grow in the water, but apparently that's what these are.

reflection - not very clear since it was dark, but there are reflections in the water at Carroll Creek

Monday motivation - I love Mondays because it is chorus rehearsal day and that's pretty motivational! Two weeks ago at rehearsal we were challenged to get selfies with two or three other chorus members that we don't usually get to talk with much, so I'm using a couple of the photos I got for this prompt.

smoke - thought I was going to have to give up on this one, but our power was out for awhile on Wednesday night and it occurred to me that once the power came on, I could get a photo of the smoke when I blew out candles.

supplies - some groceries out on the counter that I needed to put away

neighborhood spot (quarterly)

And a few bonus photos:

We got to see the lunar eclipse two weeks ago and got a couple of low quality photos.

Kitchen all tidied up and ready for us to have company!

We went to Maryland for the long weekend and got to spend a little bit of time with family.

Walked along Carroll Creek one evening with three of the kids. Aren't water lilies cool? The crisp cake pan shape of these lily pads fascinates me.

Was treated to this spectacular rainbow (you can barely see the double but it's there) after a downpour just as I was leaving the grocery store a couple nights ago.

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.

September Prompts - Everyday Images #97

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steps

from underneath

morning light

at home (monthly)

beautiful

landmark

chair

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This post is shared at the You Name It! link party hosted by Life Captured

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Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Wednesday Hodgepodge Kickoff

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. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? On a scale of 1-10 how much of a fan are you? (10 is never miss a game and 1 is I'm just here for the snacks) Who's your team? If you're playing along today, but live outside the US feel free to sub your feelings about futbol for the the more American sport of football.

I guess I'm ready for some football. I'm not a huge fan as you might be able to tell. If we're talking NFL I'm a solid 1. I pay no attention to it at all other than the Superbowl game, and usually I don't even know who's playing until a couple days before, and I don't have a team at all. If we're talking CFL, I'm a 3. I used to follow it closely and was a big fan, but it's just not as convenient to stay up on the news when I'm so far removed. My team is the Calgary Stampeders. And if we're talking about college football, I'm probably a 2 or 3 there as well. We're surrounded by folks who are all in for The Ohio State Buckeyes and we really enjoy going to watch parties for the games. I enjoy watching the game, and know it well enough to appreciate good plays and understand what's happening, but I don't have any personal connection to a school, so I'm mostly there for the food and fellowship, but I do enjoy the game. By default I'm a Buckeyes fan. How's that for a mixed-up answer? LOL

Calgary Stampeders

here we are, just trying to fit in! LOL

2. What's something you currently have a game plan for managing?

I'm still working out details, but I do have a game plan for getting the guest room set up, and generally getting ready for house guests. First the office needs to be cleared and organized so the sofa has room there. Once the sofa is moved out of the guest room, there are some things in that room that don't belong there. We'll move those and then set up the bed. And fingers crossed that the mattresses I need to buy will be in stock soon! I have to focus on executing the plan, because we're about one month out from the "big game"!

3. Do you like chicken wings? Hot, mild, or some other flavor? What's a must have food for you on a tailgate menu? I know tailgating isn't as big of a thing outside the US of A as it is inside of the US of A, but can also answer the question this way - what's a must have food for you at a sporting event viewing party?

I do like chicken wings, my usual choice is barbecue, although I like most flavors. We don't tailgate, technically - more of a watch party. I think buffalo chicken dip is probably the must-have on the menu. But there are so many good party foods I enjoy!

4. Teams typically have strict playbooks they follow. What is one unwritten rule or piece of advice in your 'life playbook' you think everyone should know?

This is hard. I'm having a real time thinking of something! My style is mostly easygoing, so maybe my playbook would include things like 'find something to laugh about - even if it's yourself' and not to take everything super-seriously.

5. This is the week we remember and mourn all that was lost and changed on September 11, 2001. I always include a spot for bloggers to share anything they'd like to share about 9/11. Share as much or as little as you like.

Sharing a little from a previous year about that day from my perspective:

We lived in a sort of rural area in Maryland in 2001, and I was home with my infant daughter and three young boys. I just held my baby and cried, staring in disbelief at the TV, and I didn't know what to tell my boys. We lived very close to Camp David, and so we usually noticed when there was air traffic headed to and from there, as the jets went right over our house. I remember thinking later that day that it was eerie how quiet it was when the regular air traffic wasn't flying over. I'd always thought we lived in a really quiet spot, but when all flights were grounded it hit me that I was just so used to the planes that I hardly noticed. Everything was truly quiet out there for a couple days. I also remember how strange it was to look up at the incredibly beautiful clear blue sky and think that not so many miles away were horrific scenes of tragedy. It seemed impossible and incomprehensible.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We made a visit back to Maryland on the long weekend and even had the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends. I'm so glad we live close enough that we can do these long weekend trips, but I sure wish we lived close to all our kids so we could spend time with all of them regularly. I especially miss this little one.

What are you kicking off 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 - Worthwhile Mistakes. 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, September 8, 2026

The Flower Hour - Carroll Creek Lilies

Lilies at Carroll Creek in Frederick, Maryland

This post is shared at Second Wind Leisure Perspectives for #TheFlowerHour Photo Challenge.

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Sunday, September 6, 2026

Scripture and a Snapshot - Establish the Work

Teach us to number our days carefully

so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.

LORD ― how long?

Turn and have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love

so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.

Make us rejoice for as many days as you have humbled us,

for as many years as we have seen adversity.

Let your work be seen by your servants,

and your splendor by their children.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;

establish for us the work of our hands ―

establish the work of our hands!

~Psalm 90:12-17~

Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

I also link up at the Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up Party hosted by Grace-Filled Moments

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Friday, September 4, 2026

Currently . . . September 4, 2026

The "Currently" link-up at the beginning of each month is now hosted at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa. Our hostess Amy posts a set of action verb prompts for the month and writers respond. So, without further ado, here are this month's prompts and what's happening currently . . .

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Adjusting to - the morning traffic patterns during my commute. I've had a couple of days since school started up that went very smoothly and I got to work on time or a little bit early. And I've had a couple of days when the traffic was just snarled up everywhere and I wound up late. So I'm trying to determine if those were just weird days with roadwork or accidents or something slowing everything down, or if that's the traffic pattern I can expect most days and the other days were lucky. Related adjustment is how to drive directly into the sunrise without going blind. Fortunately I only drive east to get out of the neighborhood so it's only a few blocks worth. My husband has to drive for long stretches directly into the morning sun, and I assume there will probably be a season that he'll drive directly into the setting sun for a bit too.

Baking/Cooking - I try to make quick meals on weeknights so they are usually pretty simple. I made country fried steak last night which was a little more work but didn't actually take very long, all things considered. I'm trying to bake bread more often, especially as we get into fall. I'm planning to invite friends to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with us, and even though that's a month away, I'm thinking ahead about the menu so I won't wind up feeling rushed. That's the plan anyway!

Decorating - my house, I hope! I still haven't put anything up on the walls or added much in the way of decor. I have a large wall hanging at the Maryland house that I'm bringing back after the weekend and it will go in the living room here. That should kickstart me a little bit!

Balancing - the budget. Trying to stay on top of that, anyway!

Learning - a few updates to music and choreography and making sure I get it all right because International is less than two months away!

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Here's a short Coffee Break Reading List . . .

I'm currently reading . . .

Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K White

I've been on a break from reading this summer. That's the only fair way to describe it. I'm almost finished the above book, and since we're going away for the weekend, I'll take one or both of these ones along and see if I can get back to more regular reading and start checking books off my list again. A new book I'd pre-ordered just arrived in the mail yesterday, and I'd all but forgotten that I'd ordered it, so now I have that to get to as well!

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Paper Wife by Laila Ibrahim