Thursday, February 27, 2014

Thursday Thoughts

It is a beautiful day today even though the temperature didn't reach 40 and the wind chill is cold.
My Women's Club was invited to a soup and salad luncheon at a member's home after which we watched the movie: Marigold Hotel in home theater. How lovely it was to relax in reclining seats while watching a movie with friends. The theater holds 12 and there were 11 of us. This is not a new movie but it was one I hadn't seen. I recommend it if you've not seen it. It stars Maggie Smith and Judith Dench.

I made a stop at Hobby Lobby this morning. I was going to use their 40% off one item coupon to purchase a border punch. I thought I would just run in and buy the one item and skedaddle out of there. Silly me. I had to look at paper and embellishments and storage containers, etc. etc. There is no quick stop at a craft store for me. The sooner I learn that the better. I had not been in Hobby Lobby since Christmas and must see some of the decorations they had for Valentine's Day on sale, of course. I would have loved to look at the garden decor section but forced myself to get out of there. I must go back soon when I have plenty of time.

The author of a Blog I've been following for years lost her husband before Christmas. I just found out about it this week. She posted for the first time since the Fall. Some of what she said has stuck with me since I read it. When one has been married happily for any number of years, the two partners really do become part of a whole and when one of you is missing, the remaining one is incomplete. One needs a reason to get up out of bed in the morning. I am reminded of a scene from Sleepless in Seattle where the character Sam says to Dr Marsha Fieldstone: Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breathe in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out... and, then after a while, I won't have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while. 
I don't know what is the right thing to say to someone who has lost their partner, their other half. I can't say I understand how she feels but I can imagine it. I have posted about our Foster Daughter that we had to give up after 4 years...When she left, I didn't want to get out of bed and get dressed....I'm thankful that I had friends and family to help me through those first days, weeks, and months.....I had others in my home who felt the loss deeply too and so after a while we began to share things we remembered about our loved one and that helped us to share our grief.

It is so important to have people in our lives. I value my friendships. I value the friendships I have made through blogging. And even though we have never met in person, I thank God for you.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my thoughts.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Nurturing the Hodge Podge Volume 164


1. What is something you'll never forget about the age you are right now?
I think about my Mother at this age and how she seemed older to me than I feel......I think to myself that she felt just this way.....young in an aging body...........I signed up for Social Security and Medicare this week.......enough said.

2. What's a household chore you've never done? How have you managed that???
I can't think of one.....I'm interested to see what others say....Joyce, I read your answer.....

3. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture? Explain? 
I believe much of our personalities or natures are genetic.

4. Friday (February 28th) is 'Something on a Stick Day'...funny because Zoanna over at A Penchant for Pens recently sent me an idea for a question relating to this topic. What's your favorite food eaten on a stick? 
Toffee Ice Cream Bar or Orange Creme sickle 

5. Which of your five senses do you treasure most, and why?
I only have four since I lost the sense of smell so many years ago......I would have to say "sight" as I love reading and seeing beautiful things.

6. What's the best music, theatre, or sporting venue you've been to? What made it great?
I loved The Lion King......the costumes were awesome.....I saw it at the Orpheum in Memphis.....Aren't those old theaters lovely?

7. It's the last week of the month...in five words or less bid adieu to your February.
Farewell cold and wet February

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Oh what a tease Mother Nature has been the last week or so..with daytime temperatures in the upper 60s with much sunshine, I've been out walking and seeing early signs of Spring.....my mood was uplifted.........now it is cold again and I just want to stay inside.

Thanks, Joyce for hosting.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Funny Friday


Good Morning every beary
Wil here
That's right, Wil 
I know you thought I had run away to the wild
but I've had such a time getting
the computer away from Mama Bear
She seems to be on it whenever I look
and she always says just a minute,Wil
which turns in to hours....
I've missed Funny Fridays with my friends
See me, wearing my Christmas Sweater
it has been a cold winter and if it wasn't for
the heater in our house, I'd be hibernating
in a cave somewhere......
February is here and that means Heart 
Day isn't too far behind...
Mama Bear has her table all set with
hearts and candles and flowers...
Romance is in the air.....
Wil

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Wednesday Hodge Podge

The Games of the 16th Hodge Podge

1. Are we always responsible for our actions? Are there any exceptions?
I want to say yes but sometimes we do something that unintentionally hurts someone else.

2.  Has anyone from your home town become famous?
Not that I know of

3. January was National Slow Cooker month. Do you own a slow cooker/crock pot? Did you use it last month? What's a favorite dish you make using a slow cooker or crock pot?
Yes to both questions......I love my slow cooker and am considering buying a second, smaller one......In January, I made Chili and Chicken/Dumplings......I may do chicken and rice in it today....

4. How do you feel about private companies collecting data about you?
I think it is an invasion of privacy

5. The Games of the 2014 Winter Olympics kick off with their opening ceremony this coming Friday....will you be watching? Which Winter Olympic event would you most like to see in person? Have you ever been to Russia? Any desire to go, Olympics or otherwise?
I'm not sure I'll watch any of them.......Never been to Russia and don't desire to go

6. Share a good or bad sports related memory from your childhood or teen years.
I'm not into participating in sports myself but I enjoyed cheering my high school football team

7. What's a must have song for you on a work out play list? If you don't work out, run, swim, bike, walk, or anything else that could be construed as 'exercise', then what's a song that movtivates you to at least get up off the couch?
When I walk on the Treadmill, I like to sing along with my favorite collection of Country songs

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
see the post below

Thanks to Joyce for these questions. 

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY...Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 9:06 am

Outside my window...its wet from yesterdays rain, cloudy and windy with a temperature of 35 degrees, expected to reach 40......Doves on the porch first thing had Smokey excitedly chirping (he loves talking to them) and Squirrels were scampering around the yard trying various things in order to reach the Bird Feeder

I am thinking...that I need to get my grandson's Birthday Card in the mail as his Birthday is Sunday.....it is getting harder for me to remember Birthdays as time is moving so swiftly...

I am thankful...that I had no meetings, workshops or appointments this week until Friday so I was able to stay home, accomplish some more organizing and sorting as well as me time.

In the kitchen...Peas, hash, spinach, corn bread left over from dinner for Honey Bear's lunch......I'm considering chicken/rice with fruit salad for dinner......valentine tablescapes in the breakfast area

I am wearing...pajamas and robe

I am creating...ideas for new projects........pleasant working spaces.......a scrapbook page for our County MCHCL scrapbook....the person who was supposed to do it got called out of town, she had all the elements ready, I just need to arrange them and glue them down.

I am going...to clean the windows and blinds in my studio today....to move some furniture around

I am wondering...what it is that makes the hens lay one day and not the next....

I am reading...nothing right now as I finished one this morning and haven't begun a new one yet

I am hoping...to jump start my weight loss program and exercise more when the weather changes....hard to get motivated on days like this

I am looking forward to...Spring

I am learning...about the new carpet/floor sweeper I bought....so far, I'm liking it for quick pick ups before a full vacuum...

Around the house...there is still room for improvement

A favorite quote for today..."Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us." Martin Luther.......I saw this over at Stray Thoughts 

One of my favorite things...Bird watching

A few plans for the rest of the week: Book Club on Friday....Celebration Day at Grille 21 on Saturday

A peek into my day...
Wil is excited that February is here.....

Monday, February 3, 2014

Monday, Monday

Monday Quiz About Me is hosted by Heather and Wayne at Acting Balanced.
Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered!

1. Happy February!  It's Canned Food Month... who knew?  Do you can your own foods? Do you eat canned foods?
Yes, I do can foods...this year we canned Pickled Beets, Relish, Vegetable Soup, and Apples..........We do eat canned foods.

2. February 3rd is also the day the music died - Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash in 1959. -what other great musicians would you like to honor today?
I don't get this question......Are we honoring other musicians who died on this date or just musicians in general.....
3. Do you listen to the radio?  Internet radio?
I listen to Pandora sometimes.........and occasionally, I listen to radio but not so much lately....
4. Both Wiarton Willie (Canada) and Punxsutawney Phil (US) saw their shadows and predict six more weeks of winter - do you agree?
Yes, since it is actually 7 weeks until the first day of Spring......do they ever predict anything else?

5. My Question: February is Heart Month......How do you celebrate Valentine's Day and what do you do for your Heart to keep it healthy?

We had an uneventful weekend....and no, I didn't watch the Super Bowl.......Our cable provider is switching to all digital soon and has said we all must have an adapter for all our televisions.....so we order them, install them and followed the steps to activate them, then nothing, no signal........after several frustrating hours of trying to figure out if we did something wrong, we called our provider and they tried to activate them and finally said that something was wrong with the adapters and they would send someone out to hook us up......next Saturday...
We had a nice rain yesterday and today is a bright cloudy day.......have you seen any Daffodils peeking up? I don't usually look forward to Spring so much because Summer follows quickly behind, too quickly....this year I'll definitely be happy when winter is over because of the cold temperatures we've had.