Kathiey's World

  I am always looking for fun things to do in the area.  I thought I would take it a bit further and see what events are occurring in North Carolina in a specific month.  Let's take a look at just a few things happening in Sept. 2024 in NC that you may enjoy. I live in the Raleigh/Durham area, so I looked for exciting events to attend in September that are within driving distance.  I would love to attend them all! The Links to Each Event... (Be sure and verify event times and locations before attending.   You may need a ticket depending on the event) Things to do in September 2024  in the Triangle Area September 7-8th is NC Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival in Raleigh NC September 14th is BugFest in Raleigh NC September 19th is Candle Light Tribute to Taylor Swift at The Barn in Wake Forest NC September 21st is Whiskey Wine and Fire in Cary NC September 28-29th is The Parade of Homes in the Triangle NC A Few Things to do In NC that are not so local to th...

I love to read, but I have been in a reading slump for the last several months.  I tend to listen to audible books rather than sit down and read a physical book.  I used to read 5 physical books a month but not lately.  I have decided to try to read at least one physical book each month.  I have been a member of Book of the Month for years, so I decided to order their August book.  They have 5 books to choose from each month.  Here are the books they had selected for us, and you will see which one I picked at the end of this post.   The book choices From Book Of The Month for August 2024 The Pairing by Casey McQuiston Genre: Romance, LGBTQ, Fiction, Adult Stars by Goodreads-4.01 Overview... #1 New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston's latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over each other—except they're definitely not. ...

 Journal Prompt... The question is, do you believe in ghosts, and have you ever had an otherworldly experience?  The answer to that question is maybe and maybe.   I remember growing up and hearing other's experiences and I too wanted to experience something beyond the norm.  My dad had a near-death experience that included finding himself swept into a tunnel and seeing a very bright light beckoning him.  This was before we even knew about the tunnel and light at the end being a thing.  He also saw an apparition, a mist at the foot of his bed one night.  The mist hovered and then floated over to my brother, and hovered over him, and then disappeared.  My dad said this experience brought him comfort. My mom had an experience right after her mother died.  My mom was sleeping in my grandmother's bed a few days after her funeral.  In the middle of the night, my mom felt the bed depress right beside her as though someone was sitting on the bed...

 I was searching for places to go for lunch or dinner in Apex, and I discovered a place I really enjoyed. It is called Tap Station , on the corner of Salem Street and Highway 55. They are open every day except Monday, and they open each day at 11am. (times may change, so be sure and check the website before your visit) This is a new venue in Apex. They opened in 2022, and they have Apex's first rooftop bar, a very nice feature. They have an extensive beer menu, and they also have bourbon. I know very little about bourbon. I did not know that bourbon is whiskey. Here is a quote I found on Southern Living..."All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon." OK, now I am even more confused:-) But we do now know that "all bourbon is whiskey":-). Sadly I am not a beer drinker, and I have tried. I do find that I like hard cider, but my kids tell me that it is not beer. I like wine, and lucky for me, they have a small wine list. I am always happy when a brewery ...

 I experienced a new type of wine recently, Honeysuckle wine, and I loved it.  The question is, "What the Heck is Honeysuckle Wine? I don't know about you, but as I kid, I remember walking in the woods and seeing the honeysuckle bush in the distance.  I swear I could often smell the amazing aroma before I even saw the lovely flowers.  I would rush up to the plant, pick a flower, and pinch and gently pull the little green tip at the base of the flower.  I remember you had to pull it gently in order to get that one drop, if you were lucky, of that delicious nectar. Fun times!  Imagine my surprise when I came across a honeysuckle wine.  I could not wait to try it. First off, what is honeysuckle? Honeysuckle is an invasive plant with some of the most lovely, ephemeral flowers -  their heavenly aroma lends itself nicely to this wine. Pixiepocket.com According to Southern Living, " Honeysuckle has long, tubular blooms that give off a sweet scent and com...

Need Stress Relief?  Try Decluttering Your Space. I had read about how decluttering can decrease chaos not only physically but emotionally. I just moved to a new location, and in the process of the move and downsizing, I found that my new place is not yet organized, and this disorder made me feel stressed. I decided to remedy the situation. My dining room Day 1… So why does clutter make us stressed, and a clean environment makes us more peaceful? Let’s find out. Why clutter can be stressful... Clutter can lead to fatigue and even depression. Clutter can lead to decreased focus, confusion, and tension. Clutter can make you feel you have lost control. Clutter can lead to stress. Clutter can make you feel overwhelmed Reasons why decluttering can make you more content and less stressed… Less clutter helps you to focus. A clean environment can help you relax because there are fewer distractions. Decluttering can help you sleep better because of the relaxing environment. When you come h...

 Amazon Shopping Let's Find Some Sneakers With Arch Support I love taking classes at my local health club.  I enjoy dance classes, Zumba, and Spin.  Many times in the dance classes, you need to do some jumping and fast foot movements.  I can do the moves, but in the heat of this type of workout, the arches in my feet begin to ache.  I don't want to get hurt working out, so I decided to look for a pair of workout shoes with arch support. I started my search on Google and found an article titled "Best Arch Support Sneakers."  After looking at the recommendations, I decided to head over to Amazon to see the prices and the reviews.  (I am an Amazon Affiliate, if you buy anything at all on Amazon using my link I get a percentage of the sale with no added cost to you.  Thanks!:-) Orthofeet Women's Orthopedic Knit Coral Sneakers - I love the coral color.  They are a bit pricey at $99 on sale but worth it if they prevent injury. Brooks Women's Adrena...

   Hi, and welcome to my reading wrap-up for July 2024.   📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚 The Circus Train by Amita Parikh This was a Book of the Month book.  It took me some time to get through it.   Genre is Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII Overview from Goodreads At the World of Wonders, Europe's most magnificent travelling circus, every moment is full of magic, and nothing is as it seems--especially for the people who put on the show Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the circus, even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Theo. Brilliant and curious, Lena yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, despite her father's overprotection and the limits her world places on her because she is disabled. Her unconventional life takes an exciting turn when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with his own secrets and a mysterious past. Over several years, as their friendship flourishes and Alexandre trains as the illusionis...

Travel North Carolina Our Visit to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach NC Erica and her babies Jane are 16 months old, Riley is 3 months old, and I took a two-day trip to the coast.  One place we decided to visit was the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Here is a description on their site... "Make connections with the natural world at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Feel the smooth skin of a gliding stingray. Spot eels and sharks swimming in the depths. Look an albino alligator in the eye. Wonder at baby sea turtles. Delight in a family of otters playing in a waterfall. See why visitors vote the Aquarium a top regional and national attraction each year".   The Otter enclosure is very nice.  Here is what they say about it...... "Meet a fascinating furry family of Asian small-clawed otters at home in a new, expansive habitat in the Aquarium's conservatory. These curious creatures explore their surroundings, swim in their pool...

Does God answer all of our prayers?  I think he does, but we may not always get the answer we want.  I believe sometimes He says "yes" to our request, sometimes "no," and at other times, the answer may be "not today." I like this quote by CS Lewis... "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us;  we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." The list of entirely reasonable requests sent up to God has no limit.  We may be asking for a soulmate; we may be praying for a positive outcome for our friends and family; we may be looking for the perfect job for financial security.  Why wouldn't God say yes to all of these requests?  After all, we have given our lives to Him. We have put our trust in His love for us.  Why would He say no to something that would make everyone's life easier and better? The Silent Treatment There are many ways to react when God, our Father, says "no."  I will use Maggie as ...

I love to read, but I have been in a reading slump for the last several months.  I tend to listen to audible books rather than sit down and read a physical book.  I used to read 5 physical books a month.  I have decided to try to read at least one physical book each month.  I have been a member of Book of the Month for years, so I decided to order their July book.  They have 5 books to choose from each month.  Here are the books they had selected for us, and you will see which one I picked at the end of this post.   The book choices From Book Of The Month for July 2024 House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction Stars by Goodreads-4.09 Overview... On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside, they built the perfect lie. A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the fa...