Wednesday, April 29, 2015

No Hodge Podge

Hello all,
There is no Wednesday Hodge Podge this week because of Spring Break where Joyce lives....Our Spring break here in Huntsville was a few weeks ago, in March actually....

Had a bunch of unwanted programs crop up on my new computer and yesterday it seemed every time I tried to do any thing I got a new website which I didn't ask for....I even had some ad links show up on my blog post, which hopefully I've corrected....I got very discouraged but kept checking and uninstalling programs until I think I might be alright. I can't believe how easy it is for these viruses and unwanted programs to jump on our computers even when we have a virus protection program....so just be diligent.

I wanted to do a post today even without the prompts of HP so you wouldn't think I fell off the earth...we're supposed to pick up trash today in downtown Madison, our adopt-a-mile as part of the ACWW Women Walk the World program.....it is a fund raiser and we do it every year on this date unless it falls on the weekend, then we choose a date as close as possible....we were afraid rain would keep us from walking but it looks like the rain is gone except for a few scattered showers, I think we will be fine to walk before lunch although and trash will be water logged....lunch is supposed to follow. There are 23 members in our club and half are meeting which is a good number for any activity.

The Grosbeak was back this morning and Honey Bear got to see them. I did manage to get a picture and will share it soon....These birds are not common in our area so it is rare to see them.

As my friend Fiona would say: Righto, Gotta Go.
Mama Bear

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

A Simple Woman's Daybook



For Today... 
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Outside my window...
60 degrees and partly cloudy
I can see the flowers I planted yesterday,
 a Mocking Bird, A red breasted Grosbeak 
and a Hairy Woodpecker 
are visiting the feeders
A Bible verse I'm sharing...
" Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work
you have been given, and then sink yourself
into that. Don't be impressed with yourself,
 Don't compare yourself to others. 
Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative
best you can with your own life." Galatians 6:4,5
I am thinking...
about the problems I'm having
with my new computer...it is
larger than the one I'm used to and
the keyboard is wider so I end up 
putting my hands in the wrong position...
and it does things I don't ask it to do...
I am thankful...
for days when I can stay home...although
if I could stay home all the time, I would soon
become depressed and need to be around
other people....that we are financially
secure in our retirement....for honey Bear, our 
love and marriage has been blessed...
that we are both healthy..
I am wearing...
 a pink top and pants, socks
I am creating...
tidy draws and shelves
prepped blocks for appliqueing

April's Blocks
I am going...
to stay home today and get some
projects finished
I am wondering...
why it seems that every time I spot
an unusual bird in the yard and 
go to get my camera, the bird is 
gone by the time I return...
I am reading...

Product Details
I really enjoy this author's books
I am hoping...
for sunshine tomorrow...my club is
picking up trash on our adopted section of town
I am learning...
about this new computer
In my garden...
I'm ashamed to say that I've not been
out to the vegetable garden to see what's growing
I know that Honey Bear has planted 
most everything already including Okra
which he is doing this week...we still have Spinach
and it will be too hot for it soon so he will
need to pick it again...
I planted marigolds, Gerber Daisies, Caladiums
and Geraniums yesterday in pots near
the porch and at the pond...
A song that stays on my mind...
Zac Brown songs I uploaded
yesterday
In my kitchen...
Plenty of food in the refrigerator and pantry
A favorite quote for today...
"So is Life: the very problems you must
overcome also support you and make you stronger in
overcoming them"....George Yeoman Pocock
from Boys in the Boat
a few plans for the week...
Wednesday: plans were to pick up trash, then
have lunch...with rain in the forecast we may just have
lunch....Thursday: Luncheon at church, Friday: Book Club
From my photo album...


One of my favorite things...
Having door open to hear the birds and
chimes


Please link back to The Simple Woman for other day books.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Wednesday Hodge Podge #217


1. Speaking of April 15th...what's the most 'taxing' thing you've done recently?
Okay, if we're talking about sapping our strength: Last Friday, Honey Bear hung out in the guest room while I had my Book Club meeting here....He was painting so it wasn't such an imposition...while he was there, he noticed the ceiling fan hanging out of the ceiling by one screw.......later that day, he tried to get it down all on his lonesome, trying various props to keep it still while he unscrewed the other one.....the fan just kept pivoting away from him.....enter me to see how its going...and I decide to help hold the fan up while he unscrewed which didn't help much until I took the screw driver and together we held it up and I unscrewed until we finally had it off......By then my arms were way past tired, and were shaking......the good news is, he went online and learned how to put it back up so I didn't have to help with that........needless to say, my arms were achy the next day.

2. When did you last take a taxi somewhere and where was that somewhere?
March 2011 when we went to Charleston the last time....I used taxis a lot when we lived in Pennsylvania as we were both doing lots of traveling but that was back in the 90s. 

3. What's something you can do today that you couldn't do a year ago?
make a bank deposit from my phone

4. How often is chicken (in some form or fashion) on your menu at home? less than once a week
Which of the following would you most like to see on your table tonight...a chicken salad sandwich, your mom's fried chicken, a Chick-fil-A meal, Cracker Barrel's chicken n' dumplings, a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings, or 'hold the chicken, I'm a vegetarian'...? a roast chicken without the trimmings but if I had my choice, it would be none of those but a grill chicken Caesar


5. What was your favorite television program when you were a kid? What characters do you remember the most?
I think it was probably Bonanza....Wow, wasn't Little Joe a dream boat?

6. What was the last piece of 'art' you made?
Just last night, I put together a 6 point star from fabric to applique to a block as part of my Nature's Journey quilt.

7. What frustrates you most about the Internet?
The ads you have to watch before you can click them off and get to 
the real subject............but then again, what would we do without 
the Internet

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Good News: I got a flash drive Monday and downloaded my documents and photos.....Bad News: After my blog post yesterday, when I tried to do anything on the computer later in the day, the screen wouldn't stay open long enough to get to a web page.......so, last night I had to watch my 'show' on my Kindle......will have to go look at computers very soon...

Please join us by visiting Joyce, from this side of the pond.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

A Simple Woman's Daybook



For Today... 
Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 10:40 am
Outside my window...
Everything is green, and wet after the rain,
more in the forecast and the skies are
overcast...it is 69 degrees and may 
reach 80 today...the nights have been
cool, I've turned the heat off,
  I see a female Cardinal, a Robin,
and the Chickadee... the
bees have been busy at the blooms on 
the ground cover...
Yesterday, Honey Bear brought home
3 baby chicks, he put them in a box 
inside a plastic tub with a light for warmth
and a cover over part of the top....all
of this was inside the garden shed....
This morning they were all gone but
nothing else was disturbed...I can't imagine
what kind of animal could do that
without causing some disturbance.
A Bible verse I'm sharing...
"You  made all the delicate, inner parts of
my body and knit me together in my 
mother's womb. Thank you for making me so
wonderfully complex!" Psalm 139:13,14
I love the entire chapter....this is 
where the sermon was taken from on
Sunday...we should never compare 
ourselves to others because we are
made unique in God's eyes..no one else is
like us...we are the work of the Master's hands.
I am thinking...
about all of the work waiting for me in
the bedroom...I pulled everything from the
floor of Honey Bear's closet this morning
and shampooed the carpet...I have to
clean everything before I put it 
back but I also need to sort the clothes
and discard some...
He has a shelving unit with baskets for the
small clothes, his luggage and hamper...
I need to wipe these down with soap and water.
I am thankful...
that I still have the energy to do these tasks..
that we live in such a wonderful 
area...that God answers prayers..
I am wearing...
a pink top with knit pants
I am creating...
paper pieced diamonds for one 
of the blocks for SAL
I am going...
to stay home all day today....
I am reading...
Don't Let me Go by Catherine
Ryan Hyde

I really like her books
I am hoping...
that the sun which just appeared outside
my window means the rain is gone for
today
In my garden...
the Iris are blooming
A song that stays on my mind...

In my kitchen...
leftover spinach, slaw, cornbread and fruit
I need to go in and put some beans
and corn on for Honey Bear's lunch and 
dinner
A favorite quote for today...
"Friendships formed between women are some of the
most magical on earth"....Mollie Moran
From my photo album...
the lighthouse on St. Simons Island
One of my favorite things...
spending time with the Princess

Please link back to The Simple Woman for other day books.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Growing Up Hodge Podge #216


1. Besides left over Easter goodies, what's something currently kept in a basket at your house?
Bears.....trash.....sewing.....bananas

2. 'The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.' ~Michelangelo Buonarroti 
So which one are you...the one who aims too high, or the one who aims too low? Have you ever seen The Sistine Chapel? Did you know Michelangelo's surname prior to answering this question?
Probably too low....No didn't know his surname and haven't visited.

3. April 7th is National Beer Day. Hmmm...wonder how that's celebrated? Do you like beer? Have a favorite? If you're not a beer drinker do you have any recipes you enjoy cooking that call for beer?
Well, I am not a Beer drinker....I will occasionally have a little of a brown ale such as Newcastle when we're out and it is very hot but Honey Bear ends up finishing mine because it goes to my head really fast....I settle for a couple of swallow of his most of the times.
I've had Beer Bread but never made it.....

4. When did you last travel somewhere new? Tell us where? How'd it go?
Recently after a movie with friends, we tried the new Italian restaurant: Bravo! Cucina Italiana. I thought it was okay but nothing super..

5. The value of _Reality Shows___is greatly overrated.

6. What's a pet peeve of yours when it comes to restaurant dining?
Well, I have a couple....1. amount of background music/TV...I have a problem with that in other places also..what is wrong with silence....2. The acoustics: most restaurants are wide open with nothing to absorb the noise.
Recently, I went with Daughter to have her BP checked at her GYN...it had been running high and the Dr wanted to keep a check on it for a few weeks....they took it and then asked her to go sit in the lobby and try to relax and then they would take it again....of course the TV was on and it was annoying not relaxing...I asked if we could turn it off and they were surprised that I would ask and said she could go sit in an exam room if she needed quiet....we were the only ones in the waiting room.
7. It's Poetry Month...share a favorite poem, either the title, a few lines you find meaningful, or the whole kit and caboodle.
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep..........................Robert Frost
8. Insert your own random thought here.
And I have lots to do before I rest
And I have lots to do before I rest...

Thanks go to Joyce for hosting this weekly question and answer series.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

A Simple Woman's Daybook



For Today... 
Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 9:04 AM
Outside my window...
The apple trees are blooming, the grass is green,
the Robins are searching for worms...
Its cloudy and 65 degrees...storms are predicted
this afternoon...its going to be a rainy week.
A Bible verse I'm sharing...
For the LORD God is a sun and shield. The LORD gives grace and glory; He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.
Psalm 84:11 Holman Christian Standard
I am thinking...
about my to-do list and what to tackle next...
about why my post I post dated for Sunday didn't print...
I am thankful...
I can stay home today until time to
pick up the Princess after school...
I am wearing...
pink and white pajamas and robe
I am creating...
Journal entries....
agendas for my WMU meeting
food trackers
print outs of embroidery patterns
blocks for Nature's Journey
I am going...
to wait about shampooing the carpet
I am wondering...
what my Daughter accomplished yesterday
I am reading...
Heartland by Davis Bunn
I've read books by this author in the past,
written as T Davis Bunn, he is a christian writer
I downloaded this book free to my Kindle  from
my local library...it is a loan for 2 weeks
I am hoping...
my plans for the week do not go awry...
In my garden...
it is a little early still to plant flowers...
I cleaned off the porch on Saturday and
Honey Bear bleached the concrete...
I was hoping to get a pot of Tulips to 
set out there..Kroger's were past blooming
I'll look at Lowe's on Thursday...
I have to plan for my planters and get those
purchased before it is too late...our Garden's 
plant sale is next weekend...
The Spinach needs gathering again...
A song that stays on my mind...
My Redeemer Lives


In my kitchen...
not many leftovers in the fridge, maybe 
Honey Bear will finish them up at lunch...
then I'll have to think about dinner....
maybe Chicken Sandwiches...
A favorite quote for today...
"When I hear someone sigh, "Life is hard,"
I am always tempted to ask, "Compared
to what?"   ....S. Harris
From my photo album...

One of my favorite things...
Looking back through one of 
my journals....yesterday the dentist
asked me when I had my implants done...
I thought it was around 2006 but decided
to check back in my journals for 
more accuracy...time passes so swiftly, 
sometimes it is hard to remember events exactly
anyway, that got me into 2006 and I kept reading
Smokey was a rescue from the animal
shelter and we got him in January of
that year so I was reading about his
first months afterward...once I got 
started I couldn't stop reading...reminiscing
A few plans for the rest of the week.....
Choir practice Thursday morning...
RMH meeting Thursday night
 (I'm carrying Twinkies Trifle)
Friday: I'm hosting Book Club
(making Ham/Spinach Quiche and 
Blueberry muffins for this to serve with fruit)
WMU meeting Monday
Please link back to The Simple Woman for other day books!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Wednesday Hodgepodge #215, 2 days late


1. In honor of the date...when were you last sent on a 'fool's errand'?
I'm going to copy Joyce on this and say: Christmas time when I was putting my lights up on the porch and bushes, I have a lot of timers but can never find them when I start decorating because I've put them with the decorations and I don't know which box they're in. (this last year I put them with my electrical stuff in the garage). Anyway, so I went off to Wally World to buy 3 timers that operate by time and not the dawn/dusk type. I took one off the display and it looked okay so I took two more from the same display.....When I got home and opened the first package I realized that the timers I bought were for vacations and  wouldn't work. I never took these back to the store and eventually they found their way into stuff going to the thrift store. I did manage to put timers on all of the lights, though.


2. Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, The Energizer Bunny, The Easter Bunny, Rabbit (Pooh's friend), White Rabbit (of Wonderland fame), or the Trix Rabbit...which of these 'famous' rabbits can you best relate to right now?
I looked up all the definitions for these Rabbits and I don't believe I can relate to any of them..

3. When did you last find yourself scrambling to get something done? Explain.
This one is easy: I borrow books from my library via my kindle and had recently borrowed a Craig Parshall book but didn't start it because I needed to finish up a couple of others first...so the first 2 weeks went by and I had to renew the book before I even began to read it....well it was kind of slow catching my interest and before I knew it I was reminded the book was expiring in 3 days, I couldn't renew again so I am frantically trying to finish because by that time, I'd gotten very interested and wanted to see how it ended....I made it with about 12 hours to spare.
4. Last time you were up at the literal crack of dawn? Why? Last time you stayed up all night? Why?
I don't remember the date exactly but sometime in the past year, I got up at about 4:00 because I couldn't sleep.....I also got up before dawn the morning we left on our recent trip so I'd have plenty of time before we needed to meet the bus.
5. Crack a book, crack a bottle, crack a joke, crack an egg...which have you done most recently?
Crack an egg

6. What's your favorite part of a typical weekend? Tell us why that's so.
I'd love to say it is Sunday because that is when I attend church but it really is Friday....for many years when Honey Bear was still working for big companies Friday night was date night......it was a night when he was home from business trips, didn't have to be up and at 'em the next morning and all day long I looked forward to that time when he was home and we could have what we call 'happy hour' together......we try to sit outside if the weather is not too drastic and just talk to each other, have quality time away from distractions...we use the fire pit in the cooler months and sometimes have fans going on the porch in the warmer months.....in one house we had a screened porch which we both loved......we never plan to be away from each other on Friday evenings if we can help it.
7. What's something I'd find on a bookshelf in your home? Other than a book I mean!
photos
8. Insert your own random thought here

Mr Raccoon made a visit last night.....we found the lid off the metal can where we keep our birdseed and chicken feed (guess he won't be hungry for awhile). And there was evidence he had gone fishing, not sure he caught anything yet.....we're looking for solutions to his night time visits....

Stop by From this side of the Pond  and check out this weekly Meme and also Joyce's posts for the A to Z challenge, they are very interesting.