Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat. She is in the middle of the 
backlash from the hurricane. Cold and lots of rain. I hope Wendell stays in the barn.

When I talked to my brother last night, they were expecting some heavy snow but they are further down than Patrice. 

Questions

1. Are you planning on doing most of your Christmas shopping in stores, or online? Daughter and I do a big shopping trip.
2. Have you ever been to a bonfire? Lots of times - I'm a country girl.
3. What would "simplifying life" mean to you? A cabin in the woods with a big garden out back, chickens and maybe a few other critters hanging around.
4. Tell me about one blog you really enjoy reading. There are many blogs that I enjoy reading. I'm not sure I could pick just one.
5. Have you ever had someone who isn't in your family, but felt just like family? My BF is more like a sister than a friend. Since I have no family around here, hers kindof adopted me.

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: Who inspires you.

I'm going to have to say that my hero and the one who inspired me was my dad. I am the person that I am because of him. He instilled a very strong work ethic in me. He taught me that this world does not owe me a living. He taught me to always have a plan b - just in case. He was the one that I could always go to if I needed help. I could count on having to listen to a lecture first, but then he would help me. There were only a couple of times in my life when I had to go to him for financial help and I am proud to say that both times, every penny was paid back. Dad has been gone since 2004. I still miss him.

Monday Quiz About Me

Based on the original Meet Me on Monday hosted by Java at Never Growing Old, Heather over at Acting Balanced  posts 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers! Since Java is back , Heather has changed the name of her hop to "Monday Quiz About Me."

This weeks Questions:

1. What is your favorite thing about November? Thanksgiving dinner of course.

2. What was the last thing that you bought that you regretted soon afterwards? The shrimp I bought on Friday - I picked up popcorn shrimp by mistake.

3. What is your go to snack food? Usually popcorn

4. Do you believe that newspapers should charge for their online content? Not sure - the ones around here usually have parts that are free - I've never paid for a subscription online.

For my 5th question this week:

Dressing or stuffing?

 

Follow Friday Four Fill-InFun

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 Beckey from really, really, real housewives  - she came up with the last two statements.

 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. Growing up in a small town had both advantages and disadvantage.
2. Wouldn’t having the whole family together for Christmas be wonderful?
3. If I hadn’t had kids, then I never would have known the joys and sorrows of being a mother - and probably wouldn't be as strong of a person as I am today.
4. When I get up in the morning, I like to head straight to the coffee pot.

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:              Devastation or displacement

I can only imagine what those people are going through. I have been through one tornado that left lots of destruction in it's wake. I was just a child but I remember it vividly. Thankfully, the house we were living in at the time was spared but many others were not so lucky. I remember my dad taking us out to see the damage and thinking that there was no way to clean it all up. It took months. There have been many tornadoes since then - I do live in Illinois - but none that severe. It's something you don't forget. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who must now face rebuilding their homes and lives.