Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Words with double meanings -Close

Running late this morning so I'm going to keep it short and sweet.

Close brings up ideas like closing the door to the past. Sometimes we tend to close ourselves off to avoid being hurt - I've done that a lot. But I prefer to think of the word close as in being close to my children and giving them a close-knit family, the kind I never had.

Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Be sure to add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post and then go visit the neighbors. After all, that's part of the fun! 

This week's questions:  This week's questions are all about sports and since I'm not, in any way, a sports fan - I don't think my answers to them would be of any interest to anyone. Going to sit this one out. I'll be back next week!

Coffee Chat

Time for the Coffee Chat! If you'd like to join, head over to Leslie's at Time out for Mom.

The topic is: "What makes you lose track of time? "
The answer to that would be lots of things! 

Like blogging - and visiting everyone else's blogs - that can take forever. 

Trying to clean out the inbox - another task that usually requires a couple of hours at least. 

Reading - I can get lost in a book very easily. 

And then there's crocheting - definitely one of my biggest time hogs. 

Of course, I have to list online browsing (notice I say browsing instead of shopping). There's lots of things I would love to have out there cyber space and I hate to admit that I will sometimes spend hours just "dream shopping." 

Skyping! Love that.

Gardening - and I am sooooooooo ready to spend hours and hours in my garden! 

Many, many things make me lose track of time. Just looking at this list makes me wonder how I ever find time for anything else.
 

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat. Welcome to the new participants in the chat!

Questions 

1. Have you ever been on a boat? (Motor boat, sail boat, cruise ship, ark, or Good Ship Lollipop) Yes, many boats, many times - all motor boats.
2. Do you need an alarm to wake up in the morning, or do you wake up naturally? If you have an alarm, tell us what type. I set an alarm every night, just a little clock alarm but I'm always awake before it goes off.
3. Have you ever had a yard sale? Yes I have but I find that they are a lot more trouble than they're worth - I'd rather go to someone else's.
4. Do you like kitchen gadgets? What are some of your favorite? I love my kitchen gadgets and have lots of them. My favorite is a little chopper that I bought from the thrift store for $4. I've definitely gotten my money out of that one. I also bought an expresso maker at another thrift store ($5) and I love that thing too.
5. Do you read labels at the grocery store? Depends on how much of a hurry I'm in.

Monday Quiz About Me

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me - hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic. They post 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers! 

Here are the Questions:

1. On a long road trip do you prefer to be the driver or a passenger? Or do you prefer to travel a different way all together? I prefer driving, guess I like being "in control" when I'm in a car. Other people scare me.
2. Do you use a slow cooker? Favorite thing to make? Not very often.
3. Which type of festival would you rather go to... Wine and Food, Music or Sports? Of the three, I'd have to choose music.
4. What is your favorite fallacy? It can't get any worse.

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

Lets see: I went to have my hair "trimmed" and told them to take 2 inches off. They took at least 7. I was not happy to say the least. My question is: How do you react when someone you are paying for a service does not do what you asked but rather what they want?

Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun

Welcome to the weekly Follow Friday Four Fill-in Fun Blog Hop!

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Each week, Hilary over at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.  This week’s co-host is Beth Ann from It’s Just Life she came up with the last two statements!
This week’s statements:
1. Making fudge is easy.
2. I get flustered easily
3. The number of emails in my inbox is all cleaned up right now and I wish I could keep it that way but I know that it will be all filled up again this morning.
4. Traveling by plane makes me a little nervous but excited at the same time.
Please add the Follow Friday button to your post, or your blog.
Please follow Hilary. Since Google Friend connect is gone, please follow through networked blogs, Facebook fan page or by email….If there is a co-host, please follow them as well. Leave a comment! She will follow back!
Please link your Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun post to the linky below. PLEASE grab the linky and post on your blog…
If you tweet, please use #F5-bloghop so she can find you…

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Balance

Do I have balance in my life? My best answer to this is "sometimes." Do I do anything besides work? Rarely. When is the last time I did something for me? I can't remember. Even my vacation last fall got turned into the vacation my daughter wanted - but I'm not complaining - I did enjoy it. But the choices were not mine - we did what she wanted to do and I was kind of just along for the ride.

I got my diploma in the mail last night and just looked at it for a while. There really wasn't any sense of accomplishment. I don't really believe that it's going to do anything for me. The job audit I was promised still has not happened and truthfully, I'm not real confident that it ever will.

But I'm not going to stop - can't. I may not have the perfect life but it's not that bad either. I had a conversation with a friend this morning that made me realize that. Things are not going so well for her right now. She's working two minimum wage jobs, husband hasn't worked for two years and refuses to look for work, she's close to divorcing, her son is "in trouble", and her house needs major repairs. Compared to that - my life is great.

There are some major differences between me and this friend. We both lost our jobs due to a company closing three years ago.

I went back to school and kept trying until I got on here. She refused to go to school (this was free due to the company closing).

She got married. Said she'd found a man that would take care of her (see how that worked out). I take care of myself.

She likes to complain about how hard things are. I listen.

I don't want to sound like I have no compassion because I do. I really wish there was some way I could help her. I tried to talk her into taking the school option three years ago and she wouldn't do it. This morning I told her to come and take the Civil Service tests to try to get a job. I don't think she will. I wish her life was more balanced.

Sorry about the rant but sometimes it frustrates me when people won't do anything to help themselves. Back to the question - No my life is not really balanced but it's what I have and I intend to keep on striving to make it better.

Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Be sure to add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post and then go visit the neighbors. After all, that's part of the fun! 

This week's questions: 

1. The popular saying, 'All is fair in love and war' is originally credited to English writer John Lyly.  Is he right? No - all is not fair. I don't care how much you "love" someone - if they are married or even in a committed relationship - it's HANDS OFF!

2. Are you a cereal eater?  What's your favorite kind? Rarely, but when I do I like things like Cheerios or Shredded Wheat.

3. A five year old in Pennsylvania was recently given a ten day school suspension for talking with a friend about shooting one another with a Hello Kitty Bubble gun (the gun blows bubbles).  She did not have the gun with her at school.

A psychological evaluation was also ordered and the incident was recorded on her permanent record.  The suspension was later reduced to two days and her parents are suing to have the incident removed from her file. Your thoughts?  (If you missed the story click here for details). That's ridiculous! Suspending a child for playing - I think that's definitely going too far.

4. Whatever happened to_letting kids be kids____________________________?

5.  January 23rd is National Handwriting Day, billed as a day to reacquaint yourself with a pen and pencil.  Do you like your handwriting? Do you prefer to print or write in cursive?  This date was chosen because its the birth date of John Hancock. What's the last thing you signed your name to? I sign my name quite a bit for things at work and my handwriting is ok as long as I'm not in a real hurry.

6. Speaking of John Hancock...ever been to Philadelphia? Do you have any desire to visit the city of Brotherly Love?  No - and no.

7.  Share something funny you've heard a child say.  Drawing a blank here. The only thing I can think of is my son when he was really little and couldn't pronounce "truck" - it was humorous but sometimes a little embarrassing.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. I'm working on planning daughters baby shower and I don't quite know what to do. I haven't been to a baby shower in years. Help!

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat. Welcome to the new participants in the chat!

Questions 

1. Do you eat eggs? What is your favorite way to serve them? I do and my favorite way to serve them is just plain scrambled, maybe with a little cheese melted on top.
2. Do you have a favorite item that you really like having around? (a pillow, a chair, a sweater, a teddy bear, etc.) I have one of those body pillows and I can't sleep without it!
3. Is most of the furniture in your home dark wood, light wood, painted, lacquered, or distressed? Light wood except for the floors which aren't really dark but they're not light either.
4. Please fill in the rest of this sentence. "I could write a book about__crocheting__________."
5. If money and calendar/family obligations weren't an issue, would you prefer to spend next weekend at a Bed and Breakfast, a posh hotel, a cabin in the woods, or on a sailboat on a calm body of water? I guess the last thing, the sailboat, would have to be someplace warm. :) (It's 30+ degrees here.) A cabin in the woods would always be my first choice.

Coffee Chat

Time for the Coffee Chat! If you'd like to join, head over to Leslie's at Time out for Mom.

The topic is: Have you ever won an award?

I've received quite a few awards in my life - most of them have been for some sort of academic achievement. It does make you feel good to get an award and having some sort of competition has always helped me to focus on the task and try to do my best. I like winning - I like getting a better "grade" than someone else - I like "ruining the curve" - is that wrong?

Monday Quiz About Me

Heather over at Acting Balanced  posts 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers! 

Here are the Questions:

1. What was your favorite lunch this past week?I don't normally eat lunch so I can't say that I have a favorite.
2. Do you shop online? More than I would like. I like the idea of shopping locally but sometimes it's just so much easier to  do it online.
3. Do you get the "Winter Blues"? A little - I get the "itch" to be able to go outside and plant my garden and it seems to take forever for spring to get here.
4. Slippers, Socks, Shoes or Bare Feet? Bare feet - I used to be able to run across gravel in my bare feet because I never wore shoes and my feet were so "tough" but I'm not quite that bad anymore.

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

 

5. Because you just reminded me of gardening - Are you a gardener? I am!

Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun

Welcome to the weekly Follow Friday Four Fill-in Fun Blog Hop!

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Each week, Hilary over at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.  This week’s co-host is Wayne from Touristic – he came up with the last two statements!
This week's statements:
1. I am a caffeine addict - but I guess there are worse things I could be addicted to.
2. Sometimes I don’t know when to stop and just relax.
1. My two favorite words lately are day and off (when put together)
2. I would like to travel if bills didn’t happen

Please add the Follow Friday button to your post, or your blog.
Please follow Hilary. Since Google Friend connect is gone, please follow through networked blogs, Facebook fan page or by email….If there is a co-host, please follow them as well. Leave a comment! She will follow back!
Please link your Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun post to the linky below. PLEASE grab the linky and post on your blog…
If you tweet, please use #F5-bloghop so she can find you…

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Love thyself  - Do you love yourself?

This is a tough question. I tend to be my own worst critic.I'm not much of an "outgoing" person - definitely not an "extrovert" but not completely "introverted" either, although I used to be. To clarify - I used to sit quietly, never saying a word, stayed to myself and let people use me and then run over me once they were finished. I'm proud to say I no longer do that. I've grown a lot but it's still an inner battle to stand up for myself. I think it goes back to my childhood. Let's just say that I had no feelings of self-worth back then. I was ridiculed and preached at and NEVER achieved as much as I should have according to my mother. How can a child do better than straight A's on a report card? Never could figure that one out.

But I've come a long way. I don't listen to it anymore. I listen to those who realize what I HAVE accomplished and those who believe in what I can still accomplish. 

But do I love myself? I try. I like myself but it's a struggle, a battle I'm still fighting.

Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Be sure to add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post and then go visit the neighbors. After all, that's part of the fun! 

This week's questions: 


1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013-

fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (an acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen.Superfood - I don't go for all the hype - just give me plain old food - guess I'm just a country girl when it comes to food.

2.  When was the last time you rode a train?  Where did you go? I can honestly say that I have never been on a train.

3. Bagels-yay or nay?  Favorite 'flavor'?  Favorite topping? Bagels are ok once in a while - with cream cheese.

4.  'Tis the season of awards shows...if you could star in a movie already made which one would you choose? Not that much of a movie buff so I really have no idea about any new ones but Gone With the Wind would be a great movie to be in.

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months....what say you?  Do you think kids perform better if seperated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination?  If you're a parent, is this something you'd support in regard to your own children? That sounds like segregation to me - can't see any reason why to separate kids.

6. What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel? Having someone else clean.

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013?  What's the story behind your choice? Maybe accomplishment - because I hope to accomplish a lot this year.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.I'm off to the doctor today. Insurance changed providers so I had to choose a new primary care provider. I don't do doctors often and even though I have the flu right now, today's visit will just be the initial "hi, here's my information" visit.

Coffee Chat

Time for the Coffee Chat! If you'd like to join, head over to Leslie's at Time out for Mom.

The topic is:  "At the end of the day, my favorite thing to do is......"

This is an easy one for me. I like to relax with a crochet project. I'm currently working on a couple of them at the same time. I like to see what I'm working on grow - it gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

I've been trying to crochet today but it hasn't been going well. I came down with Biz's flu bug so I stayed home from work today. I actually didn't get out of bed till 10:30. That is VERY unusual for me. Anyway - that's why this is so short and sweet today - not feeling like doing anything.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat. Wendel has deserted us today in order to do some plotting - he's trying to get Patrice to get him his own iPod - complete with earbuds. Come on Patrice - he's worth it.

Questions 

1. What was your favorite game as a child? Tip-It! Haven't thought about that forever!
2. Have you ever had your own business? (home business, a shop, Etsy, lemon-aid stand, etc) I've done some craft shows if that counts.
3. How's your spelling? Usually pretty good.
4. How are you about going to the dentist? Every six months - religiously.
5. Do you enjoy board games? I used to but haven't played any in a long time.

Monday Quiz About Me

Heather over at Acting Balanced  posts 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers! 

Here are the Questions:

1. What is your favorite animal? It's a tie between cats and dogs.

2. What is your favorite quote? "If you don't like the way things are going, get off your *** and do something to change it."(my dad)

3. What is the one trait that you have that definitely comes from one of your parents? Trait? My little fingers on both hands are crooked - just like my dad's.

4. If you had a choice between going to a tropical island or a ski resort which would you choose and why? Right now I'm going to go with the tropics. It's cold here.

Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun

Welcome to the weekly Follow Friday Four Fill-in Fun Blog Hop!

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Each week, Hilary over at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.  This week’s co-host is Leslie from Time out for Mom – she came up with the last statement!


This week’s statements:
1. When I __ I ___
2. It is pretty funny that ____
3. It may be strange but ___
4. How ______ made me ______.

My Answers:
1. When I travel I like people watch
2. It is pretty funny that I'm still "in school" at my age.
3. I t may be strange but my hands hurt when I don't crochet - not when I do.
4. How I had to leave work early yesterday to go get the Biz and take him home because he was so sick made me wonder why men don't just admit they're sick and stay home in the first place.

Please add the Follow Friday button to your post, or your blog.
Please follow Hilary. Since Google Friend connect is gone, please follow through networked blogs, Facebook fan page or by email….If there is a co-host, please follow them as well. Leave a comment! She will follow back!
Please link your Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun post to the linky below. PLEASE grab the linky and post on your blog…
If you tweet, please use #F5-bloghop so she can find you…

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt: Involvement

Brenda has heard the following quote:   "Your children are off on their own with their own lives now, you need to be less involved with them every day." Her question this week is whether or not we agree with that statement.

I wholeheartedly disagree. I will never be "less involved" with my children. They are my main achievement in life - what I have given to make this world a better place. Now, I don't poke my nose in their business every day and I don't try to run their lives. I don't even talk to them every day. But that does not mean that I am not involved. I will always be involved. They know they can call me at any time for advice and I can call them when I just need to hear their voices.

On the other hand, I never had that kind of relationship with my own mother. I do speak to her, usually she calls about once a week. But I don't tell her anything. It is always a very generic conversation - to her disdain. But I know that whatever I were to tell her, she would have to say that I was doing something wrong - no matter what the subject was.  I think that's why my relationship with my children has always been so important to me and why I have strived to make that relationship a good one.

Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Be sure to add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post and then go visit the neighbors. After all, that's part of the fun! 

This week's questions: 


1. What is ONE thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close?  Do you  have a plan to make it happen? My kitchen and yes, I always have a plan.

2. What's the worst uniform you've ever had to wear for a job? A nurses aide uniform back in the day before scrubs were allowed.

3. What was your last kitchen 'mishap'?  This question comes to you courtesy of Betty who blogs over at A Glimpse Into Midlife...everyone go say hi to Betty! A chicken dish the I over spiced - and I mean WAY over spiced.

4. How do you protect yourself from other people's negativity? I try to avoid negative people.

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)? If you have children, who do people say they favor? Do you agree? I look like a cross between my parents. With my children, daughter looks like me, son looks like his father.

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day...will you be celebrating? No - I haven't taken a bubble bath in ages.

7.  Some of the 'world's best winter festivals' are - Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah),  Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnival (Italy) and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China).  Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why? I've always wanted to see Mardi Gras - just to see all the mayhem.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.I'm teaching a friend to crochet on my lunch hours so I don't have much time today - I need to finish an example before I go to work.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat. Wendel has deserted us today in order to do some plotting - he's trying to get Patrice to get him his own iPod - complete with earbuds. Come on Patrice - he's worth it.

Questions 

1. What's your favorite thing to have in hot cocoa/ hot chocolate? Whipped cream is good.
2. Did you have a white Christmas? Have you had snow since then? Yes and yes - a little too much of the stuff here.
3. Have you been looking over seed catalogs? If this doesn't apply, what kind of catalogs do you like to leaf through? Of course! I'm ready to plant.
4. Gas stove or electric? Gas - I do a lot of canning and it's so much easier to regulate a pressure canner with a gas stove.
5. What's new or interesting? Not much new here.

Coffee Chats

Time for the Coffee Chat! If you'd like to join, head over to Leslie's at Time out for Mom.

The topic is: 2013 Matters

In the coming year I want to do lots of things. I'll be starting on my Masters program this coming summer. I'm taking a semister off due to the coming birth of my second grandson.

I want to get lots of little projects done around the house the first being finishing my kitchen. I'll be buying drywall this Friday for that. Then I have lots of little outside projects like painting both porch floors and replacing two window casings.

I have been thinking of crocheting new Christmas stockings for everyone - only making each person's from a different pattern. I have actually found all the patterns I want to use, although I'll be changing many of them to suit myself.

When nice weather gets here it will be time for my garden! I've already started planning what to plant in what areas.

I have already implemented my "England Trip Plan" although it may not actually happen till 2014.

So I have lots to keep me busy during the year! 

Monday Quiz About Me

Heather over at Acting Balanced  posts 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers! 

Here are the Questions:

1. What do you think the biggest downside to being rich and famous would be? Not having any privacy.

2. What is the most interesting news article you read or heard about last week? sci-fi coming true

3. Who kissed you for the first time? Lance - on the ferris wheel

4. How much do you typically tip at a decent sit down restaurant? 20%

My 5th Question - What are your thoughts on the government limiting the size and types of food you can purchase? I know we have a problem with obesity in this country but I feel that what I eat should be my choice. I rarely do fast food myself, but still - it's the thought of it that annoys me.

Six word Saturday - Grandson pictures

To participate all you need to do is describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, go to Show My Face. and Cate will explain it. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing.





Haven't posted many pictures of grandson

Isn't he an adorable little guy


 His first time in the grocery cart

Thought he was a big boy










Love this picture, love that smile

and those eyes - his mom's eyes

he looks just like my son

except for those cute little eyes

Here he is with great dane

Samson is his very best friend

doggy kisses - cute but somewhat yucky

he doesn't seem to mind them

Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun

Welcome to the weekly Follow Friday Four Fill-in Fun Blog Hop!

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Each week, Hilary over at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs.  This week’s co-host is Ali from the daughter-in-law diaries – she came up with the last statement!

Hilary really needs co-hosts, so please email me some statements! She would LOVE it if you could please help her spread the word about this hop…. So, please tweet, FaceBook share, and add the linky to your post…
This week’s statements:
1. Every time I see a ____ I oh an ah…
2. I don’t have a ___ bone in my body
3. I like ___ on my burgers
4. If I had one more hour in the day I would _________
My Answers:
1. Every time I see a baby I oh an ah…
2. I don’t have a lazy bone in my body - really, I have a hard time being idle.
3. I like mayo on my burgers
4. If I had one more hour in the day I would do more blogging.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:               time
Oh, if I could only slow time down! I've written about it before - the fact that time has just crept up on me. How did I get to be this old? How can my daughter be 29? Doesn't seem possible - didn't I just have her yesterday? That sweet little bundle in my arms....and now she's expecting. Where did it go, this TIME? And why don't I feel OLD? Why don't I act like my grandmother? Do I act like my grandmother? It feels like I should be 20 or so.

My grandson is 10 months old -  how is that possible? I don't know. It sure feels like it's flying by.

Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Be sure to add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post and then go visit the neighbors. After all, that's part of the fun! 

This week's questions: 


1.  How did you ring in the new year? In my bed, watching TV.

2.  What is one thing you are looking forward to in 2013? Meeting both of my grandsons - one who will be a year old and one who should arrive in April.

3.  Steven Spielberg is quoted as saying, "All of us every single year, we're a different person.  I don't think we're the same person all our lives."  What say you? I agree, somewhat. We all grow and change throughout our lives but usually our basic values remain the same.

4. The Pantone color of the year for 2013 is emerald green. Like or dislike? Do you already own something this color?  Will you add something in this shade to your home or wardrobe in 2013?  Green is my favorite color so yes, I like but I don't think I have anything emerald green in my wardrobe - maybe I will add something.

5.  Speaking of emerald...what's your favorite gemstone? Peridot - green again - and my birthstone.

6. Share a favorite book or movie from 2012. Our fellow blogger,  Brenda's book, Skewered Halo was very good - I'm looking forward to the next one.

7.  What is something you want to tell yourself at the start of this brand new year? Just to keep on keeping on - taking one day at a time.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.Administrative leave is over- it's back to work tomorrow for me. We get 11 days off at Christmas which turned into 12.5 days off this year because of the big storm. With all that time off, you'd think that I could tell you lots of things I accomplished but sadly, I didn't really do much. I did finish a baby blanket and  rearranged the spare bedroom. That's about it.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat.

Questions  

1. Do you make New Years resolutions?
2. What do you hope to accomplish this year?
3. Tell me about your favorite place to think, create, or just relax.
4. Are you a fan of old movies? (Like the ones that were originally black and white.)
5. Tell me something that made you happy since our last porch visit. If you're new to the chats, tell me something good that has happened to you lately.

My answers:

1.  No
2. Lots of little projects around the house - new grandson and a visit with my first grandson.
3. The mountains have always been "my place" -whenever I get really down or stressed, I find myself wanting to go home.
4. Yes, and I like them in black and white - for me they tend to lose some of their charm when they are colorized.
5. A long conversation with my son.