Hello

Is anyone still active out there? I have to admit I do miss my blogging days. Just wondering if anyone is still out there.

I'm Back!

I haven't used this blog since 2013, although I did move to Wordpress before I stopped blogging completely.But now, I need to reopen this for a class I'm taking. So, Dr. West, here I am.

Coffee Chats

Let's go to Les's from Timeout for Mom  and chat - don't forget to get your coffee before heading over!

 Random Thoughts.  Now is your chance to just say whatever is on your mind.   

Random thoughts - am I the only one having trouble with all these annoying anonymous commenters? Truly, lately I have had to turn on comment moderation - which I hate having to do. It has gotten to the point that I am considering shutting down my blog. I don't want to do that since I think of a lot of you as friends. Any ideas/suggestions welcome.

Porch Chats

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

1. Are you a heavy sleep, light sleeper, or somewhere in between? I'd say somewhere in between.
2. Are you currently reading anything interesting? I'm currently reading a free Kindle book called "Chasing Charlie." It's about a man dying from cancer and the struggles of his last days. I've had a hard time getting through it - there seem to be a lot of errors, but the gist of the story is good.
3. Do you like to enter contests? Not really.
4. Are you good about taking time to do things you enjoy? Not very, unless it's something like crochet. I can get lost in a project pretty easily.
5. What's your favorite food to cook on the grill, or enjoy at a BBQ? Plain old hamburgers - nothing better!

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 Pickles from Purrfectly Pickles who came up with the last two statements! I

This week’s statements:
1. I can really use more coffee right now.
2. I like to eat my  peanut butter with a spoon right from the jar.
3. The color of the sky right now is blue and sunny for a change!
4. I get annoyed  often because of people who think they know everything!

Pondering With a Purpose

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. 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:  

Leash

When I think of the word leash, I immediately get a picture of my dog, Kimmy in my head. I pick up the leash and she turns into a "puppy." She prances, she dances, she can't wait to get to the door! I'm not real good at walking her during the winter months but I try to when it's warm out. It doesn't take long for her to expect to go for a walk every night. Normally  she's a dog who comes in every night, demands her treat (a hot dog), takes it and goes right back outside. Not once she thinks there may be a walk coming. She comes in the garage door and heads straight for the kitchen door. I reach for the leash and she starts prancing.

I've seen people "leash" their kids and I'm just not sure how I feel about that. I understand the thought behind it but somehow it just seems wrong to me.

Sometimes I have to put a leash on my mouth or get a leash on my anger - but I don't think of the word that way very often. In fact, I had to consult wikipedia this morning to see some more meanings and here are some that I didn't know:

Among hunters, a collection of three hares ("a brace and a half" or tierce) or three creatures of any kind, especially greyhounds, foxes, and deer, is called "a leash".  

Key leashes and lanyards are used to keep the keys attached to handbags.

So there you have it - I learned something today!

Coffee Chat

Let's go to Les's from Timeout for Mom  and chat - don't forget to get your coffee before heading over!

 What is the most joyous thing about being a mother?   What is the hardest?   Feel free to give a shout out for your own dear mama.


The most joyous thing - I'm going to have to say that would be seeing them become adults that I am proud of. Strong adults who have good ethics and are willing to work for the things they want. Adults who don't expect anyone else to provide for them. Loving adults who care for their spouses and their own children. That would be the most joyous thing.


The hardest - raising a girl from the ages of 13-17 when I was the "bad guy." She gave me more than just a few gray hairs. But somehow, she quickly turned around once she hit 17 and figured out that I did know a thing or two.  The boy - he also worried me as a teenager but in a different way. Boys and cars and fast driving - and standing in a court room while a judge reemed him as he stood there shaking. Yes, he gave me a few gray hairs but the girl - OMG, I feel for Les since she has two girls who will undoubtedly reach those troublesome years! Just remember that it won't last forever and it's worth every one of those grays!

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. What did you do for Mother's Day? I worked my garden up and got it ready to plant. I also went to town to buy my plants.

2. What was the best advice your mother (or a mother figure) gave you?  Don't know. My mother was not big on advice. She was more of a dictator.

3. Are you gardening this year?  What have you/will you plant Yes obviously, if you read #1. I will be putting in tomatoes, peppers (green and jalapeno), zucchini, summer squash,cucumbers, green beans, turnips, beets, spinach, white radishes and peas.

4. What is the first song that comes to mind today? The Air Force song - the ring tone for my son. Love hearing the phone go off with that song!

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

My 5th question:  Tell me about your pets. Do you have any and if so, what kind and tell me about them.

Pondering

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. 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:  

Skirt

I absolutely LOVE skirts and wear them all the time. I especially enjoy pairing them with boots. Something like this. 

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Or this

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Then there's Christmas tree skirts - like this one that I just finished.

 

All pictures from Pinterest!

 

 

 

Then, there's "skirting the issue." I try not to do that. I'm more of a "tackle it head on" type of person.

Porch Chats

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat.
QUESTIONS 1. How many load of laundry do you do each week (about)? About 4 - soooo many less now that the kids are gone! I used to do one or two a night. 2. Where do your household pets sleep? If you have no pets, please skip to the next question. In bed - on top of me. Pandora (the Queen of the house) seems to think that I might float away if she doesn't hold me down. 3. What is your favorite thing to listen to while you drive? When I was younger, I would turn the radio up loud to some country song. Now I like the quiet. 4. Do you have to do a big clean-up when you have company, or are you always ready for guests? I try to do a little extra dusting and cleaning of the corners that don't always get cleaned, but for the most part it's pretty much clean all the time - not spotless by any means - but clean. 5. What's your favorite breakfast food? Sausage.

Coffee Chat

Let's go to Les's from Timeout for Mom  and chat - don't forget to get your coffee before heading over!

  It's Les's Birthday!! (May 13th):  What to get her?

Well, she mentioned flowers and dirt. I can do that - but knowing me, I'll probably throw in more veggies than flowers! 

Now she also mentioned time - If it were possible, I would take charge of the three kiddos for the whole day! She could spend it doing whatever she wanted - even if that happened to be nothing at all!

And the coffee - you KNOW I could help with that one! 

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. Sometimes I wonder why I'm not completely gray yet.
2. I try not to but I get frustrated  very often when I have to speak in public.
3. Today I promise that I will never stop learning until I die.
4. In my dreams I often am looking for something I have lost and sometimes I find whatever it is and  actually remember it when I wake up.

Pondering With a Purpose

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. 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:  

Handle

Handle - How do you handle all the things in life that need to be handled? Sometimes I think there is just too much - can't handle it - but I always do. I really don't want to give up control of most of the things that I handle, like the finances although a little help would certainly be appreciated. I willingly turn over the handling of the lawn mower to Biz. He can handle that. He can also handle the grill - I'll handle the dishes.

Now the other kind of handle - the door handle. I like the handles that look like this:

google of course

I have these on all the doors of my house. Trouble is - I  tend to get caught on them. Somehow the strap of my purse ends up around the handle and I end up being jerked back. Truly - it happens at least once a day! But I do like the way they look so I guess I can handle it.

 

Coffee Chat

Let's go to Les's from Timeout for Mom  and chat - don't forget to get your coffee before heading over!

  Skipping Out!

 

This is the time of year which brings back fond memories of when I might not be found sitting in class during school hours:  for various reasons.  If you could "skip" a day -- what would you do?

 I would love to have a skip day! I'd stay at home and finish some projects. I have crochet projects that have not been completed, a quilt that's not been done, not to mention the little projects around the house. Oh, and I have a paper that is coming due and I haven't even started it yet! Can I have more than one day?

Porch Chat

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

1. When it's time to cut the grass (mow the lawn), who does it? Biz is the lawn mower at my house.
2. If someone gave you $500 dollars and you could not spend it on yourself, who would you spend it on? My grandkids of course.
3. Have you ever taken a blogging break or considered one? Considering it more and more each day - having a hard time keeping up with everything.
4. Are you bothered by spring allergies or hay fever? If not spring, any other time of the year? Nope
5. What's new with you? New job, new furnace, a few new gray hairs......

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. Do spelling and grammar mistakes annoy you? Yes they do. I'm sure I make mistakes myself but it really annoys me when students turn in papers riddled with errors.

2. If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be? So many to choose from - Christ rising from the tomb - the Gettysburg Address - the Boston Tea Party - too many to choose from. 

3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher.

4. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? Not to worry about what others think - be yourself.

My 5th Question - Spring has finally sprung. Mowed the yard for the first time this weekend. Do you love the smell of fresh cut grass or does it aggravate allergies for you?

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 JANICE from TICK TOCK MY CLOCK– She came up with the last two statements!

This week’s statements:
The color green reminds me of the mountains in VA.
Lately all I get done is going to work and running around after work so  I haven't had much time for anything like crocheting, reading, or blogging!
Does the sound of breaking glass make you wince?
When I wander  through an antique store with Biz I  know that there is going to be another something in my house that I have to dust.

Pondering - switches

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. 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:  

Switch

 My first thought is a "Hickory switch" - the kind my grandmother would make you go cut and bring back to her so she could switch you. And it had better be a good one too. The going and getting was actually worse than the switching!

There's a light switch. There's the automotive switches that used to be made in the company I used to work at. There's the switch of jobs that I just made. And the switch from daylight savings time and back. There's the countless switches in directions that my life has taken over the years. 

Last night I had to "switch" off my desire to drive to daughter's house and grab my new grandson out of her arms! He was crying the entire time I was on the phone with her and I could just hear the frustration in her voice. BUT, I asked three times if she needed any help and she said no. I swore I would not meddle and make her feel like she didn't know what she was doing - but it was really hard not to get in the car and go. I remember those times with crying babies and how hard it is. I also remember my mil making me feel "inadequate." Won't do that to my daughter. If she needs me she knows all she has to do is ask.

Sorry for the sideline - That's all the switches I can think of right now. I'm sure there's probably more.  

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! 

1. April showers bring May flowers...what have you been showered with this month? Showered? Well first there was daughter's baby shower which went pretty well. Then there was the DOWNPOUR of rain that washed out roads and flooded basements - mine included. I lost my furnace and my dryer.

2. What is the nature of compassion?  Is it learned or innate?  Can compassion be learned?  If you're a parent is this something you've purposely sought to instill in your children, and if so how? I think most parents try to teach their kids to have compassion but I also believe that it comes more naturally for some. With my own kids it seemed to be instilled in them from the beginning. I clearly remember them both, running to the aid of the other after a fall, or after being scolded. I can hear my daughter's little voice saying "it be ok" as she patted her brother on the shoulder. Did she learn this from me? Maybe, but it's also quite possible that she's just naturally soft hearted.

3. Do you prefer to watch romantic comedy or romantic drama...or are you rolling your eyes saying bring on the action flicks? I tend to gravitate to the romantic comedies.

4.  It's April which means baseball season is officially upon us here in the US of A. Humphrey Bogart is quoted as saying "A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." Agree or Disagree? So not into sports here - but seeing that I don't care for "fine dining" either, I'm going to stay neutral on this one.

5. What's something in your community or city that needs fixing or improving? I live in a very small town. In fact it is actually classified as a village. There is one very large home that looks like it was once a mansion but is now in a very sad state of disrepair. I would love to see that house brought back to life.

6. Share a song you enjoy that mentions flowers or a specific flower in its title. The Yellow Rose of Texas - love that song.

7. April 22nd is Earth Day...do you believe there's life on other planets?  That wasn't the question you were expecting was it? I believe that this Earth was created by God. I also believe that it is possible that this is not his only creation.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.Last weekend was spent cleaning out the basement from the flooding. I had a lot of Christmas stuff stored down there and had to throw a lot of it out. On the bright side, things are much more organized than they were.

Porch Chats

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

1. Do you prefer to drive or be driven? I prefer to drive - something about being in control - other people tend to scare me.
2. What's your favorite kind of jam, jelly, or preserve? Blackberry jam
3. Do you have any special plans for this spring or summer? Nothing really special - just my pool and my garden, lots of canning and hopefully some more remodeling.
4. Lots of folks are becoming aware of issues with food. There are many articles, books, and movies on topics like allergies, GMO, pesticide use, bad or no labeling, over processed foods, foods from other countries that may not have high standards, and many more topics. What concerns you the most? If nothing concerns you, have a cookie and skip to the next question. I prefer to can my own vegetables. Sadly the bottom two shelves of my canned goods were under water in the basement last week so I'm going to have to dump them. I know they are sealed and would probably be ok but I would think of it every time I opened one. Glad it's almost garden season so I can re-stock. I also buy my beef and pork  in bulk from a farmer that I know personally. I also buy my eggs from the same farmer. Then I have deer every year from hunting season. I like knowing where my food comes from. I do buy chicken but I don't know anyone who raises them for butchering.
5. Do you use nail polish often? Finger nails, piggies, or both? Both - and always, and they always match. I am by no means a "girly girl" but I like my nails painted.