A-to-Z Challenge

 

B

Beer

I sit on my porch a lot and I mean a lot!!!  A porch is a place to connect with family.  It is just not a place to pass through.  

Before hub passed away, we always would sit on the porch, sometimes even when it was a little cold. In the spring, summer, and fall we always would sit on the porch and sip a beer. Now, I like my beer in a glass with ice.  After drinking the beer, I eat the ice.

I enjoy a beer while sitting on my porch.  This brings a smile to my face.  Drinking a beer is a relaxing escape from the day and I enjoy it. Sometimes a visitor would stop by and I would offer him a beer while we solved all the world's problems.  A beer can create friendships and funny stories.

Society is much more health focused these days so there is less pressure to drink.  But enjoying a beer by yourself or with friends is fine with me.

Maybe one day if you drive to my neck of the woods, you will definitely see me on my porch sipping an ice cold beer.

A- Z Challenge....A

I feel like our world keeps going topsy turvy and I won't to get off.  The news is full of sadness.  Bad ' happen to good people and we question 'why'?

I need some uplI ifting and if I take the time to look around, I can find them.

My theme for the 2024 A-to-Z Challenge is:  THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

Some post will be short and that is okay with me. 

A

A Good Book

I enjoy reading.  Reading makes me smile.  I learn about myself and our world and far away places through reading a good book.  I think when I read a good book and other characters are facing or going through the same challenges as myself, I am able to identify with those characters.  This makes me know I am not facing or going through some challenges alone.  Sometimes I even feel better about my own life!

Reading a good book puts my brain into a pleasurable state.  Many people read to help them fall asleep but NOT ME.  Reading does not make me sleepy maybe because reading calms me down.

I do have a Kindle and I use it a lot, but I prefer to actually hold the book in my hands.  There is just something about holding a book and turning the pages that I like.

Of course, I have read some books that aren't good and I just try to finish the book thinking there has to be something good in here.  If not, I just say to myself, "Well, that was awful." 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1.What do you love about your life right now? 

I thank God everyday for giving me a new day.  I love spending time with my grandsons; there is nothing like it.  I love my job (part-time teaching), I love that I can do what I want to do! I love that it is almost getting time to plow my garden!

2. March 26th is National Spinach Day...are you a fan? If so, how do you like yours prepared/served? 

I like spinach on my salad, I like spinach dip but I have no idea how to prepare this dish!

3. In this current season would you say you need to spend more time looking inward or that you need to get out of your head? Tell us why. 

I spend more time looking inward. Looking inward is a tool I use to manage stress and helps me to understand myself better and see if I need to change. Looking inward helps me to recharge and be grateful for what I have.

But, on the other hand, I still have days when I need to get out of my head, which I need to stop.  I do have days/moments when I need to just let it go and quit trying to analyze everything!

4. Are you following the 'March Madness' madness? (That's US college basketball in case you're out of the loop) What's something that feels like actual madness to you right now? 

Yes!!  We have a friendly competition going between students and teachers in school.

What feels like actual madness?  Where do I start?  Wars, shootings, innocent babies being left alone while their mom is on vacation, hatred toward a religion, politics, etc.

I would love to wake up one morning and hear good stories happening in America!

5. How will you celebrate the Easter/Passover holiday this year? 

I will attend church service.  Later, take Easter gifts to grandsons and then just head on home.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am ready for a short spring break and the students are too!!

Wishing all a Blessed Easter!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Spring is officially upon us, no matter what the weather may be in your neck of the woods. Is there any 'spring cleaning' on your to-do list? What's your most dreaded task? 

A chilly, cloudy spring day.  Definitely 'spring cleaning' is on my to-do list!!  I dread cleaning the blinds because I have great difficulty taking them down and putting them back up.

2. What's something many people seem to love, but to you feels like 'watching the grass grow'? 

Golf!  I have really tried to like this sport but I think t is the most boring sport ever!!

3. Mint grows in abundance during the spring season. Are you a fan? What's your favorite food with a 'minty' flavor? 

I am a fan of mint.  My favorite drinks would be Mint Julep and and fresh mint tea.  In the summer a cool refreshing food I make is watermelon salad with mint so refreshing.

4. It's been said, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' Agree or disagree? Explain. 

Agree!!!  In romance and other situations, absence makes the heart grow fonder.  In romance, I think one appreciates the other partner more when not seeing each other every day.

From experience....My family moved back to Virginia after living in Baltimore, Maryland.  I missed my grandmother so much and couldn't wait to spend my summer with her.  I think one of the reasons absence make the heart grow fonder is I was never ready to leave and always wanted to come back.

5. Are there any festive spring events in your city or town? If so, will you take advantage of them? 

No, festive spring events in my town.

6. Insert  own random thought here.  

I had a visitor at school the other day.

These two leprechauns turned 4 on March 9th.

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What kind of thinker are you-doer concrete thinking) analyst (analytical and abstract thinking), orator (logical thinking) inventor (imaginative thinking) or original thinker (creative)? What makes you say so? You can try this little quiz (link here) to help with your answer. 

According to the little quiz I am a doer and an original thinker both were 50%.  I do think in practical terms and I like to try and look at ideas and problems through different perspectives. My lowest score was analyst thinker which is so true. I do not like to think in abstract terms nor do I process information through codes.

2. Do you own a crock pot, air fryer, and/or instapot? Do you leave said small appliance sitting out? How often do you use it/them? Favorite thing to make in one of these? 

I do own a crock pot and an air fryer.  I leave my air fryer sitting out. I use my air fryer the most especially with the grandkids; a quick easy way to fix something for them.  My favorite thing to make in the air fryer is bacon and fresh veggies.

3. What's something you hold a strong opinion on that matters not at all in the grand scheme of things? 

I still believe that Pluto is a planet even though science is saying otherwise.

4. Describe the view from your window. 

A heavy frost is on the ground this morning.  The grass is shining.  The sky is so blue and cloudless.  The sun is shining brightly.  There are many broken tree limbs in my yard from the harsh wind a couple of days ago, and I still see patches of brown spots, but the grass is starting to turn green.

5. Do you have a favorite brand? Explain.

When wearing jeans, I love Judy Blue Jeans.  These jeans are so comfortable. I wear a lot of leggings to school and my brand is lularoe; I won't wear anything else.

These are the only two brands that I won't budge from other than that I am pretty flexible with the other brands of clothing, shoes, and accessories.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I went on a short trip with four other girls this weekend.  First stop was Roanoke where I stayed with an ole college friend.  Four of us left from her apartment and the other friend traveled from Richmond.  We went to Luray, Virginia.  They were calling for snow and we were all so excited.

This is all the snow we saw the next morning. ugh

We went shopping, visited an art museum, ate, played games till the wee hours of the morning, and ate so much snacks and had some beverages.  It was so nice to just get a way for a few days to enjoy each other's company.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What does love mean to you? 

Love is thinking more of someone else (your partner) more than yourself.  It is supporting one another, encouraging one another, respecting one another, communicating with one another (no texting) and giving and taking.  

I know I might ruffle some feathers, but I never thought marriage was 50/50.  There were some days I needed more than 50 and other days where I needed only 10.

2. Is love blind? 

Yes, I think so.  If you truly love someone, you can look over some of that person's abnormal traits.  You can turn a blind eye to them.

3. How do you remember Valentine's Day as a kid? Do you have any special plans for the day this year? 

I remember in elementary school making my own Valentine's Day mailbox.  It was made out of a Kleenex by box and decorated with all the glitter and stickers.  Each classmate would drop a card in each other's mailbox.

My precious daddy would get me a box of candy.

This year I will be by myself so no plans.

4 Are you a fan of the movie genre known as 'rom-com'? What's your favorite (or one of your favorites)?

Some romantic comedy movies I like.  If I had to pick a favorite, it would be How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.  The humor is witty and I like Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.

5. What's something you recently put your heart into? 

Traveling to basketball games to watch my grandson, Nate (the only time I can see him).  Traveling to high school sporting events has been something I can say I have put my heart into.  Yes, my daughter played, but hub was living at the time.  There were 20 games this year, and some of the places I had never heard of.  Also, the games were mostly quad games...which started at 4 with JV girls, 5 with JV boys (the one grandson played), 6:15 with Varsity girls and 7:45 with Varsity boys.  It took a lot of planning trying to get to his games at 5.  Often I was blocked in and had to sit through the entire quad games.  Getting home at 10:30, starving, and then grading papers, and getting ready for the next school day was difficult. But I did it!! and put my heart into every game!

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Last night was the final night.  They won the Junior Varsity Championship Game!  WooHoo!!!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Something you've waited for recently? 

Honestly, can't think of anything.

2. What's something you loved to do as a child? 

I loved playing with Barbies and playing outside games such as Mother May I, Red Light/Green Light, and Red Rover.

3. Something you learned from a grandparent? 

God comes first and to make a difference in humanity.

4. The most visited cities in the world last year (according to this site) were-Bangkok, Paris, London, Dubai, and Singapore. Have you been to any of the cities mentioned? Which would you most like to see? How do you feel about international travel in general these days? 

I have not been to any of these cities.  If I had to choose one to visit, it would definitely be London.  I would love to see Shakespeare Globe Theater, Westminster Abbey, and the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.

I am a little leary about international travel.

5. February is the perfect month to ______________________.

Plan your summer trips!!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A couple of weeks ago, I broke a tooth off.  I went to the dentist this morning and now scheduled to go back FOUR times for a root canal and a crown.  GEEZ!!!  I am not going to mention the price that would be a double GEEZ!!  Anyway, I like my dentist and have going to him for years and he knows a lot about my family and stuff.  This morning he mentioned to me that I look very tired...Yep, I am.  I was gone to basketball games on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday evening till 10:00p. and at a basketball game on Saturday morning at 9.am.  Thursday, I went to my exercise class...so I am still a little drained.  Quick as I got in the car, I started looking at myself in the mirror and wondering was he trying to be nice and saying I look tired or do I look awful!!  To me, I look the same as always!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!!