tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3145575170121728192024-03-13T02:13:08.683-04:00Directed Path - Lord, please guide me through.
Proverbs 3:5-6
...and He will direct your path.Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-28713870705702200422021-12-01T10:42:00.000-05:002021-12-01T10:42:48.316-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #6e698f; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPNTPJSqvRnCGNwiVv-ct5raZS4WUSVsUAbQjdTS0aYQJW-mFy6K9H_FCKWcV6EV7FGKEtdpNTi9SDvm9bTNvj6uVlZx0tPGoL238O3NKu49t9QWiD7jMTf5JNrBt1PhbNZLDkVsIPg/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-image: none !important; background-origin: initial !important; background-position: initial !important; background-repeat: initial !important; background-size: initial !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: transparent 0px 0px 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;" width="273" /></a></div><p>Wednesday's Hodgepodge</p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. When it comes to gift giving are you more of a 'create something from scratch' or a 'buy something in a shop' kind of giver? Tell about a favorite homemade gift you've given or one you've received. </span><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">I fancy myself as a creative gift giver, however it has been years since I have done anything like that! I enjoy gift stores and places like Hobby Lobby however I am more inclined these days to find out what gift my friend or family member would like. My favorite, all time, gift is a darling "Grammy Doll" created by my niece (who is old enough to be my sister) out of a large dishwasher detergent bottle, stuffing clothing, embroidered eyes, tiny brass wire "glasses", carrying a basket of tiny wrapped presents and a teeny tiny sewn and stuffed felt teddy bear... about 2 inches long! NO ONE can top that homemade gift!<br /></span></span><div><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. Do you have the 'gift of gab'? Is that a blessing or a curse? </p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">People say I have the gift of gab, and perhaps it is true, but I seldom start the conversation. I'm shy but no one believes me because I'm not quiet, evidently! </p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3. What's something you have going on that you need/want to 'wrap up' this month? <br /><br />Organizing my bedroom. End of story. </p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. A food you love that is 'wrapped' in some way?</p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Ooooh! Let me think ... scallops wrapped in bacon! </p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. December is upon us...share something here <i>(quote, verse, poem, song lyric, your own thoughts) </i>related to the word hope. </p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">There are so many Bible verses with 'hope'. This one came to mind, first: Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. </p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">The view from my kitchen window in late December.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGtSI8TE4jA/YaeWgfEbHkI/AAAAAAAALBs/_mRbvlrdb0kCK5G6G0b4iqOs05xEB3RFACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200208_102111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGtSI8TE4jA/YaeWgfEbHkI/AAAAAAAALBs/_mRbvlrdb0kCK5G6G0b4iqOs05xEB3RFACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200208_102111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></p></div></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-352826184594889092021-09-20T21:54:00.004-04:002021-09-20T22:33:38.076-04:00Hodge Podge! Where have I been???? Just Busy! <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W-Oro5M3slg/YUlEbF2o_tI/AAAAAAAALAU/v_9RtUL9M-EeNXeWSmdYt-P1yUhLg_fKwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="273" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W-Oro5M3slg/YUlEbF2o_tI/AAAAAAAALAU/v_9RtUL9M-EeNXeWSmdYt-P1yUhLg_fKwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="262" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. How would you define 'old'? At what age is someone old? </span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6409942818292768842" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 646.023px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Old. Not me. Not yet. Hopefully, never. "Old" is a state of mind, really... a beloved 90+ year old woman who thought "young" and loved a new outfit on occasion, loved to bake cookies, loved visits from kids and grown ups alike, died at 97 because of cancer. She still was not old; just very ill. :-( </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6409942818292768842" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 646.023px;"><p style="color: #666666;"></p><p style="color: #666666;">2. A place you've been that's old? Tell us something about your visit there. </p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Savannah, GA. What a beautiful old southern city! Architecture was awesome... beautiful gardens with old trees were just a few blocks from each other. I would love to go back! Great restaurants, too! </span></p><p style="color: #666666;">3. Something you miss about the 'good old days'? When were they anyway? </p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The good old days were when we all were little. We didn't have to shop, cook, clean (except our room) and school was fun for the most part. Vacations were looked forward to and so was the first day of the school term! Every season was celebrated - Spring brought out the bicycles, jump ropes and wild flower contest in Miss Spalding's 4th grade; summer brought out the baseballs, handballs, beach balls and trips to the creek or community pool; fall brought out the sweaters and walks down the lane through the leaves to hear them crunch, smell them burning at the edge of the road, wondering when Mom was going to make her "crullers" (doughnuts) and when were we going to stop at Bud Duncan's Farm Stand for some cider? Winter brought the excitement of the first snowflakes, Santa coming, the Christmas program at church, sledding on the hill by our house and ice skating on the pond if Mr. Hoovler thought it was safe enough (he would plow it off and then we knew!) Ah, yes! The good old days! </span></p><p style="color: #666666;">4. In what way are you a 'chip off the old block'? Or if you'd rather, in what way is your child a 'chip off the old block'? </p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I look like my mom. I'm shaped like my mom. I sound like my mom. But that's about it. She loved to cook... I only "like" it. She could sew and crochet and made some pretty cool stuff for my friends and me. Me? Eh... She loved to write poetry when she got older. I wrote poetry when I was younger. She loved her family, though, just like me and loved the Lord, too... just like me. I loved her very much and miss her still...</span></p><p style="color: #666666;">5. Old fashioned, Old Testament, old timer, same old same old, old glory, good old boy, old wives tale...choose an 'old' phrase that relates to something in your life or the wider world currently and explain. </p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Old... so many to choose from! I love the Psalms from the Old Testament; Old Glory waves from my front porch; some people think I'm old fashioned but I'm really just practicing to be an "old timer!" How about an interesting expression but not exactly an "old wives' tale" ... My husband and I often chuckle and comment when we see this in the sky: The sun will be shining through some clouds and the rays will be directed toward earth... but my mom would insist that "the sun is drawing water." Now, why the sun would need water is beyond me... or perhaps it was drawing it up to be placed back into the clouds, but we never understood her expression and simply had to accept her idea . No clue where she got it from, except that it was passed down to her as she grew up on her family farm in NJ.</span></p><p><span style="color: #666666;">6. Insert your own random thought here. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Back to masks in public places. Winter is coming. I sure hope next fall and winter, this pandemic is over. I don't know the answer but it sure doesn't seem to be vaccinations with endless booster shots, since those of us vaccinated can pass the different variants of this virus on and not even know we are carrying it. Sometimes the best laid plans of men are not effective. Praying that God will show mercy on us and help heal our lands... in more ways than one. </span><br /><br /></p><div style="clear: both; color: #666666;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #eeeeee; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 10.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;"></div>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-48560686242581261312020-04-22T22:34:00.000-04:002020-04-22T22:34:54.806-04:00Hodgepodge Together <div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;">
<a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #6e698f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPNTPJSqvRnCGNwiVv-ct5raZS4WUSVsUAbQjdTS0aYQJW-mFy6K9H_FCKWcV6EV7FGKEtdpNTi9SDvm9bTNvj6uVlZx0tPGoL238O3NKu49t9QWiD7jMTf5JNrBt1PhbNZLDkVsIPg/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" style="background: none !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: transparent 0px 0px 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;" width="273" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. What's something you resolved to do this year? Have you done it?</span><br />
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I decided years ago not to make any resolutions. Still not doing it!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. Where do you go to find quietude?</span><br />
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Being empty nesters and retired, it's not hard to find quietude. When I was a kid, I used to climb my apple tree and spend time with a comic book or just daydreaming. There was also a long grassy, scooped out section of an old sand pit that I could "recline" in and do the same. When the kids were little, I used to spend more time in the bathroom with a good book; sometimes THE Good Book. But now, I just curl up on my side of the sofa (it's very comfy!) and read or write or think!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3. A friend asked this question on her Facebook page and said I could borrow it for the Hodgepodge...you're only allowed to buy 5 things at the grocery store, and all must start with the first letter of your first name. Whatcha' buying?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Potatoes, Pork Chops, Peanut Butter, Pasta and Pudding</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. The television show Survivor, the Gloria Gaynor song 'I Will Survive', survival mode, survival of the fittest...pick one and discuss.</span><br />
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<b>Survival Mode: </b> This pandemic has put me in one. I've stocked the freezer with meat, breads and veggies I have prepared. I've also made "extra" and frozen them as leftovers for another day. I bought groceries ahead so I only have to do BIG shopping once a month. I don't sew well and my machine is broken so our masks are made of old T shirt fronts and backs (the size of a bandanna) and folded as seen in a video so that rubber bands hold it on over our ears. My hands are dry and somewhat chapped from all the washing and sanitizing... I hope this is over sooner rather than later. I don't like survival mode.<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. Share a favorite quote or saying about strength.</span><br />
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Why do I do these things at night? ... "There's strength in numbers." but we can't gather so let's pretend I didn't use that one. OK, "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow!" (Great is Thy Faithfulness)<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">6. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />
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God's got this pandemic and I was reminded just Monday that he is always with me and that includes the cookie aisle at Aldi's. By the way, I have lost 10 pounds...and we'll give God the Glory! Hope all of our Hodgepodge Friends are keeping well.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-78460225072532222382020-04-07T12:39:00.002-04:002020-04-13T14:13:24.771-04:00Wednesday Hodgepodge on the Bunny Trail!<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #6e698f; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPNTPJSqvRnCGNwiVv-ct5raZS4WUSVsUAbQjdTS0aYQJW-mFy6K9H_FCKWcV6EV7FGKEtdpNTi9SDvm9bTNvj6uVlZx0tPGoL238O3NKu49t9QWiD7jMTf5JNrBt1PhbNZLDkVsIPg/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" style="background: none !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: transparent 0px 0px 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;" width="273" /></a></span></div>
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<br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>1. How will you celebrate Easter this year?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have been having "church" from "The Pastor's Study" here at home and uploaded to the internet in various ways, BUT have been able to plan a unique church service for Easter! A conversation with the health dept and a suggestion from them has lead to our hearts rejoicing in that we will be able to have a "Drive In Service" this Sunday! Strict adherence to social distancing will be followed. Not even access to rest rooms will be granted. Everyone must stay in their vehicle. We miss our time together, and lament that we will not be able to have Sunday School and a time of coffee/food after worship, but just being able to see faces and hear their voices in real time will be AWESOME! Pastor Bill (my husband) is very encouraged about this. Later Bill, our family (3 of us until this self isolation is lifted) will enjoy a venison roast with potatoes and peas for dinner. Perhaps some home-made bread if I can find where I put that last packet of yeast. There may even be "Easter Pie" for breakfast! We don't do the Easter bunny thing, but we DO do candy, but the Easter M&Ms I purchased weeks ago are gone. They were put into cookies. Very GOOD cookies... </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. Is it easier for you to receive grace offered or extend grace to another? Explain.</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've never actually thought about that... I have had to think over situations in the past. I believe it is harder for me to accept that I may have hurt someone's feelings or that I have done something wrong, except burn dinner... We seem to think more about what BIG things "deserve" grace but sitting here, I realize that it is the little things in life that everyday grace gets put to good use. Forgetting to call someone, getting the dishes or lawn-work done ... extending grace to the ones who can't seem to pick up their dirty socks and put them in the laundry basket is sometimes harder than dealing with the teenager who refuses to do his work and is satisfied with a D on their report card!! Holding someone accountable and showing grace at the same time is not that difficult and very necessary. The Lord has been gracious AND merciful to me, so who am I to not extend grace to others in return?! But to receive grace, graciously is hard. We often think we don't deserve it, and of course we DON'T but it is still offered. It is probably the one thing that holds many people back from really trusting Christ as their Savior, because they simply can't believe that God can do this... be gracious. I am reminded of part of the liturgy from a service in a former church; liturgy that I took very seriously as a kid when I trusted the Lord as my savior: "Be gracious and merciful, to me; a sinner." And God was, and is and always will be!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>3. Do you say grace before meals? If so do you have a standard dinnertime grace or is it more 'off the cuff' ? Do you say grace when dining out? Do you have a favorite grace? Any special memory associated with 'saying grace'?</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oooh! Lots of questions here. I have a tendency to not answer them all. Let's see how I do this time! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, we say grace before meals but it is not a standard one. Usually my husband asks the blessing on our meal and includes an event or personal request that has come up; often asking for extended blessings or grace for others in our extended family and friendship circle. I have no "favorite grace" but have to share a special/favorite memory: Since we do ask the blessing when we dine out, it does not seem odd for us or our children and it is expected. Well, once while on vacation, we were dining at the hotel restaurant and it was taking an exceptionally long time for dinner to arrive. Our children were 11, 8 and not almost 20 months and were patiently waiting (so proud of them!) My husband and I looked over at our baby in the high chair, who had his little fists over his eyes and his head bowed. He was mumbling. He looked up, looked around at the table; then returned to his position of head down, mumbling, eyes closed and fists covering his eyes. He did this several more times when we realized what he was doing... You see, at home, when we pray, the food is already on the table and we begin to eat. He was "praying" his way, and then looking for the food.. not here, yet? We'll just "pray again... and again... and again... About the 4th time he prayed, the waiter brought our food. We were struggling to keep from laughing out loud! The other children saw him by this point, and we had to try to hush their giggles!" Lesson learned: Prayer not answered, yet? Keep praying. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>4. What are some challenges you think the next generation will face? (Generation Alpha-born between 2011 and 2025)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm afraid there will be a major disconnect with God among people whose parents walked with Him. Now, that's not saying God can't search the hearts of this generation and call them to Him just as he did with "our" generation, whichever one you're in, but I have seen this trend over the years. Fewer and fewer "kids" taking the things of the Lord, seriously, especially a saving relationship with Him. That said, I do see where the hand of God has lead some young couples back to worship, so maybe I'm just sensitive to what I see in the children and teens around me. I DO know there is a major disconnect in parenting. We have way too many children in school with disciplinary problems. They are disrupting classrooms and parents are just throwing up their hands saying things like, "He is like this at home, too." Really? Who is the parent here? Get your children under control. Set boundaries and stick to them. Make them accountable! Principals need to make parents accountable for their children's actions. All the elementary school counselors and psychologists in the world are not going "fix" these kids! Parent against Parent ...divorce is hard; you may risk "losing" your child's perceived love if you are strict, but divorce is a choice many people have made and it is truly hurting many Generation Alpha kids. :-( </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>5. Share a favorite quote or lyric featuring the word faith.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OK, the first one that popped into my head because there are so many! "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things unseen." Hebrews 11:1</span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>6. Insert your own random thought here.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif;"><span style="color: magenta;">A young girl from a family I met online died this week. She had been critically injured in a car accident that left her father with serious injuries and her older sister bruised and badly shaken. Her parents and siblings are suffering the grief of no longer having her home with them. Her mother stayed with her last week as she lay in an induced coma, hoping and praying for her brain to stop swelling. It didn't. Her Daddy was in another hospital with only his pastor for comfort as no family was allowed in, due to the COVID 19 virus. This sweet girl, with congenital brain damage, adopted from the Ukraine and 6 1/2 years old when she could finally come home; non verbal except for a very occasional word; able to understand but not speak required special love from all members of the family who gave unselfishly (most of the time ... kids are kids, after all) and she was able to flourish under their love. Using her communication board and listening to everyone she learned the English language and even responded in her way to hearing some Ukranian women at the grocery store after she was here in the states for a good while! Though still not able to speak, she made sounds and demands that were heard loud and clear, but being able to practically and politely communicate was so often the exception. However, she had her thoughts, talents and wishes and learned to read and write! She learned to draw and color, showing amazing detail and a wonderful array of color! She loved purple. She was asked at school what was one thing she knew and she communicated to them, "God loves me and so do the angels." .. her parents had told her that God loved her and shared with her his plan of salvation BUT have no clue where she learned about angels loving her... She learned to play piano and went from simply playing the required notes to actually listening to her music teacher sing with her. You could see it in her expression as she sat at the piano. She had her personal battles and those she fought with gusto. Her parents were always looking for ways to distract her, entertain her, teach her, make good use of her free time. They showered her with the tender love and protection she was denied at the over-crowded orphanage. Her lingering bad memories of that place were probably the biggest obstacle she had to overcome... daily... until the Lord took her home. She is free, now! Free from the jangled way in which her brain worked; free to sing praises to the Lord, probably in two languages! We are praying for the family and praising God for them, and her and the fact that he loves us so much, he was willing to take our punishment for sin and leave it at the cross. We serve a risen Savior! My sweet friend knew this and it is my belief that her short life may very well serve as a springboard for others to come to know Him as well. That is my prayer and my random thought for today. </span></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-2534333733606775062020-04-03T15:36:00.002-04:002020-04-03T15:36:24.266-04:00<br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020</span></h2>
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HODGE PODGE, again. Thank you, Joyce! </h3>
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(link is broken to her page: www.fromthisideofthepond.com)</h3>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. Has spring sprung in your part of the world? How can you tell? Did March come in like a lion where you live? Going out like a lamb or something more ferocious?</span><br />
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Spring almost sprung... then we had some snow, wind, now rain and cooler temps but it is still March...for JUST A FEW MORE HOURS!!! I'm expecting big changes for April! I did find green shoots of crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths peeking out of the ground. March came in mostly like a lamb, though it did get windy. I'm expecting it to go out like a lamb as well... and a bit windy. Eh!<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. The last thing that caused you to spring to your feet? </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>Sadly, it was a stomach ache and I had been sleeping soundly... until 2:30 AM. But all is well and it was several weeks ago. (Obviously I have no children or pets living at home!)<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3. Do you have a spring clean to-do list? What's one chore on the list you've already managed to accomplish? What spring clean chore do you most dread?</span><br />
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Ugh. I have a mental list. It never changes year to year. I managed to put many of my "deep winter" clothing away. You know; the bulky sweaters and fleeces and things that have snowflakes and cardinals on them :-) The chore I dread the most is probably taking down the curtains and putting up my spring and summer ones. I'm short.<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. Tell us something you've learned about yourself or the wider world as a result of social distancing/the virus crisis.</span><br />
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I've learned that most people are kind and considerate. Most are following the guidelines and staying home. Most did not hoard anything, but desperately wanted to make sure their families were supplied with what they needed for the long haul. First they said 2 weeks but many people did not believe that. And they were correct. We are now going into another 4 weeks of no school or church and social distancing with groups no larger than 10 but preferred no larger than 2. Early hours at the grocery store for age 60 and over make it a little less challenging to shop.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. Something you love that's the color pink?</span><br />
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Sunsets and roses. And tulips and peonies. Bleeding hearts and bubble gum.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">6. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">At least it isn't snow! We will dry out, eventually...</span><br />
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Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-23458605368914349202020-03-31T22:31:00.001-04:002020-04-01T01:15:02.638-04:00Howdy Back at Ya! <br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">Hodge Podge - "From This Side of the Pond" ... link is broken :-( </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. Howdy Hodgepodgers. It's kind of fun to be back, isn't it? Last time we met was September, 2018. Tell me something big-important-happy-or sad that's happened in your life since that date. Just one thing. We don't know how long this current isolation situation is going to last and we might need to dole out our news bit by bit.</span><br />
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One year ago we were just getting back from a wonderfully warm vacation to Hilton Head Island. We try to find a warm place every spring :-) and coax it back to New York State. It doesn't always work; in fact it seldom does, but our friends are hopeful. This year, we are missing the warmth but keeping well at home, and THAT is good news!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. Might as well get this out of the way early on...COVID-19. On a scale of 1-5 how serious are you about keeping your distance? Explain. fyi-I didn't create the scale but have seen it several places online. Also fyi-we won't </span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">only</i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> have virus related questions each week, but for this first one it feels right.</span><br />
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1-Not at all, living normally</div>
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2-Cautious but still going out</div>
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3-Going out as needed, mostly home or working from home, still seeing friends/family</div>
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4-Extremely limited, only going out when unavoidable, minimal contact with people</div>
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5-Full lockdown, no one in or out</div>
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Definitely a 4. I saw this coming and got groceries for more than 2 weeks, but then they said a month would be better, so we shopped, again. We're good for at least 6 weeks for most things. We do drive to a favorite deli for take-out on Thursday nights. If we need groceries, we will take advantage of the early hours for people over 60. My husband wears his tactical gloves for pushing the cart and getting gas. We also now have our granddaughter here from college. She had an extended spring break, spent at the home of her boyfriend's parents, but when the school closed they both had to drive the 6 hours back to school and collect their belongings and head for their respective homes. Her parents live out of state, another 6 hours away, and since she changed her address to our house we get to keep her!!!!<br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3. Raise your hand if you think you might run out of steam in the cooking department before it's all said and done? What's something delcious you've cooked or eaten in your own kitchen in the past week?</span><br />
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Nah! I'm good! I made a potato and corn chowder from last years corn, potatoes we have in abundance and a container of chicken broth (no meat) I found in the freezer. Thickened it with milk and flour. Added onions, salt and pepper. OH MY GOODNESS! It's gone, now...<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. What's a television show or movie you've seen recently (it could be an oldie) that you really liked?</span><br />
I watched Janette Oke's LOVE series ...3 of them on TV this past week.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. Share something funny you've seen or heard this week.</span><br />
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There have been some pretty funny memes going around this week regarding parents who suddenly find themselves ''homeschooling." "If you see my kids locked out of the house, it's OK. We're having a FIREDRILL." LOL!!!!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">Youth Group bonfire and hide'n seek in the dark (with glow sticks) just before the virus regulations went into effect 2 weeks ago. All present, here, are still fine...even the boy who jumped through a raspberry bush...that was off limits and now he knows why! We bandaged his bare arms up real good! </span></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-88660562548791707572019-11-27T09:38:00.000-05:002019-11-27T09:38:18.410-05:00Thankful Giving<span id="docs-internal-guid-b9a957b8-7fff-dc78-c3f1-f26563646aad"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was the fall of 1985 and we were living on Staten Island where our third son had been born only a few weeks earlier. We had a few unexpected expenses the past year and financially, we were just holding our heads above water. A small group discussion at the grocery store made me realize that culturally, we were poor. The end went something like this: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Well, I can feed my family on $40 a week.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complete Stranger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Then you must not be feeding them very well!!” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Me:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (almost speechless but not quite) “Why? Because I don’t buy soda, junk food, ice cream or take my kids to McDonald's all the time?” Complete Stranger turned her nose up at me and walked away. I was a bit angry more than hurt. How dare she judge my ability to care for my family? I prayed, forgave her and continued my careful shopping all the while very conscious of what I put in the cart. I was a good Christian wife and mother; carefully looking after my family and praying for wisdom each month as I worked on our budget and made out the checks to pay the bills. It hadn’t been easy living in NYC but God was faithful. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were planning to have Thanksgiving at our house for the first time, ever, since the grandparents had always requested our presence at their tables for the holiday. I was pretty excited, at first, but soon realized that there did not appear to be enough left in the budget for a November feast. I prayed. Who was not going to get paid that month? I checked and rechecked the budget. There were months we stretched our “grace periods” to the max but that wasn’t going to help this time. I was tempted to use some of our tithing money which would cover the cost of dinner but that didn’t seem quite fair since I was supposed to be trusting the Lord, who is always faithful! So I prayed some more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not quite two weeks before Thanksgiving, a dear lady came up to me after church with an envelope in her hand. She said, “Someone handed this to me and asked me to give it to you.” I opened it and found a lovely, unsigned Thanksgiving card along with a $20 bill. I was shocked! Dumbfounded, unable to speak, I turned to the woman and started to cry. She quickly put her arms around me. When I was able to speak, I whispered, “Who? Who knew we needed this?” Then I cried some more. “Stop crying!” She whispered back. “They want to be anonymous.” Tears were still flowing, and now </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">adrenaline</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was kicking in so I started to shake. “But how did they know?” The poor woman was now beside herself, also in tears. We hugged for a long time. You see, it was she and her husband who had made this generous offer! He had handed her the envelope… They did this every year as a Thanksgiving tradition, prayerfully choosing a young family for no special reason. It was simply our turn. God was faithful! I was able to shop for our Thanksgiving dinner, providing everything but the pies which were traveling down with the grandparents! There was even some money left over to be put away for a trip to Dunkin Donuts! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My story is not over. Another family in our church had the tradition of anonymously leaving turkeys on the doorsteps of unsuspecting families, unannounced, unseen very early in the morning. One yearly recipient of a Thanksgiving turkey was a struggling little family with three boys who were always trying to make ends meet; trying to get the best help for their special needs child; the husband trying to find better employment… But this year, they had been blessed in several ways and were, in my friend’s words, “FINALLY” not needing the generous donation of a turkey and would I like to have it, since she knew our family was coming down! I thanked her profusely as I pictured New Year’s dinner and soup in the freezer to follow! God is faithful! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fast forward 30+ years: Not without struggles, heartaches and hardships, but that sweet lady from our church has thrived and no doubt countless other families have been blessed by their generosity! The anonymous family who donated turkeys, no longer anonymous, but still being faithful with what God has given them have blessed countless families, not just with turkeys and have been blessed, themselves! The young family with the special needs child has been blessed and is now a blessing to others! And our family, with children long grown and grandchildren doing the same has never forgotten and we, too, in sharing, have blessings in abundance! No one is famous, some may be “well to do,“ but by far the riches we have are not monetary. I am reminded of Psalm 100, shared with us at church this past Sunday: A Psalm for giving thanks. [1] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! [2] Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! [3] Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! [5] For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (ESV)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy Thanksgiving! </span></span></div>
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Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-79052535225897825462017-11-01T23:38:00.002-04:002017-11-01T23:46:10.928-04:00Hodgepodging into November <div class="widget-content" style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia, utopia, "palatino linotype", palatino, serif; font-size: 12px;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. What does/did Halloween look like at your house this year? Did you decorate? Pick pumpkins? Carve pumpkins? Expect trick or treaters? Wear a costume to a party or event? Make a costume? Feel glad you didn't have to come up with a costume? Cook a Halloween themed treat? Eat all the leftover candy?</span><br />
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I'm not big on Halloween. It's origin, as I understand it, is anything but Christian so we keep it simple. I do participate in Trunk or Treat by decorating my trunk this year with a "Frozen" theme. Not the Disney movie, but my own called, "Not Quite Frozen" with snowshoes, skis, and a cooler with pretend snowballs that kids have to dig through to find candy. I've done this for 3 years. We also hand out tracts for kids from our church. It is a nice way to interact with the kids in the church's neighborhood. We have no kids in our neighborhood at home. None. The "just in case" candy disappears over the following week...<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. What are you waiting for? Elaborate.</span><br />
Waiting for... Snow. It'll come. It always does; some years more so than others. ;-)<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3. Do you wish you were friendlier, braver, more creative, more athletic, or something else? Explain.</span><br />
Hmmm... maybe more creative. I can "do" things but I have to follow someone else's lead. I also wish I was thinner. Let's stop there, since the leftover candy is sitting on the coffee table...<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. When it comes time to paint are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone? What was the last paint job completed at your house? What room most needs painting now? How do you feel about wallpaper?</span><br />
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We hate painting. I didn't mind wallpaper but it' is so limiting when it comes to decorating. But then, I don't decorate on my own and can't afford to hire someone, so ... *sigh* The last paint job completed here was when we had to rebuild because of burst pipes. It all needs to be repainted as it has been over 10 years.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. What is one specific thing you felt gratitude for in the month of October?</span><br />
We love being retired (semi) and are able to travel when we want. October is our month to spend time with our Game Warden friends from all over the country. For years my husband corresponded with them and now we get to go to the once a year encampment! We love doing this. We pray for each other, have devotions together, cook and eat together. There's target shooting and several of the men who craft their own rifles with beautiful stock work get to share their work. . <br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px;">6. Insert your own random thought here.</span><img height="266" src="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000078545602/media/112404469450/medium/1482519810/enhance" width="400" /><br />
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Something else I am grateful for during the month of October!Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-23512996714966542372017-07-24T11:00:00.003-04:002017-07-24T11:00:52.605-04:00Only a Few Days Late Hodgepodge<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. Growing up, were you close to your grandparents? Tell us one or two specific things you remember about them.</span><br />
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Both sets of grandparents died long before I was born. I "adopted" other kids' grandparents and one in particular stands out. Nana and Poppie. Nana and Poppie lived up our country road a few miles, where Poppie and his son owned a small salvage yard, did car repairs and such. They were a well known and well liked family. Poppie and Nana both had jobs outside of the garage; Nana was the head cook at our K - 12 school and Poppie drove the small school "limo" that picked up some kids who lived across the creek so too far to walk, but not near the other bus routes. We're talking country. Nana always seemed to loved having us kids come visit. There was always a cookie or two waiting. She had paper dolls and just 'stuff' that was cool for little girls to play with. I don't remember Poppie talking that much, but he always seemed to be laughing. Chuckling, may be a better term! I'm smiling as I type this. We girls were always given permission to play in the old cars and sometimes we would find money! 15 cents was like a treasure! Even thought we would find money, Poppie wold always give us a nickel for the candy machine :-) When Nana retired, she took up woodworking... building all kinds of things. I had moved away by then and never had the privilege to see any of her work. There was no internet back then. I'm still friends with their granddaughter. Nana and Poppie have been gone quite a while, now, but the memories linger... just like Poppies chuckle! <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. What's an item you were attached to as a child? What happened to it?</span><br />
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My brown Teddy. I didn't call him anything but Teddy; differentiating between the 4 or 5 I had was easy... this one was the one that I slept with and he was soft, warm and cuddly. My cousin, Kenny, decided Teddy needed a bath while we were visiting my Aunt and Uncle (his grandparents.) It was extremely humid and Teddy did not dry for days. I was quite the upset 5 year old, I can tell YOU! Though he eventually dried out, his fur never felt the same, but he was still warm and cuddly till one night I dreamed of a black bear at my window who said, "Little Girl, if you cry I'll eat you up!" I didn't cry; I let out a blood curdling SCREAM. When I woke up, Teddy was underneath me, his little plastic paw poking me in the back. He was relegated to the shelf on my bed from then on. I kept him until he began to disintegrate when my oldest was a baby... just couldn't save him. Such a good bear. Mostly. <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3. When you look out your window, do you see the forest or the trees (literally </span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">and</i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> figuratively)? Explain.</span><br />Today, I see the forest. I'm fighting a summer cold that really has me down. Like there's no way out... Ugh. Normally I see the trees. Literally and figuratively. A nice expanse of lawn in front and a meadow with Christmas trees for sale in the back separates me from the actual forest. <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. Do you like sour candies? Which of the 'sour' foods listed below would you say is your favorite?</span><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br />
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<i>grapefruit, Greek yogurt, tart cherries, lemons, limes, sauerkraut, buttermilk, or kumquats </i></div>
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Have you ever eaten a kumquat? What's your favorite dish containing one of the sour foods on the list?</div>
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No to sour candies. Sour Patch Kids (orange) were the only ones I'd try. I like buttermilk pancakes and lemon in my ice water but that's about it. </div>
<br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. July 1st marked the mid point of 2017. In fifteen words or less, tell us how it's going so far. </span><br />Going quickly. Weird weather. Grandchildren growing. Pool's delightful WHEN sun shines. God is good, always.<br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">6. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">When planning crafts for boys, always be sure to have enough for "do overs"... they are worse than GIRLS! LOL! - Arts and Crafts Lady from </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"> </span><a href="http://www.sacandagabibleconference.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank">Sacandaga Bible Conference</a><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-70259481153110262192017-07-15T23:57:00.001-04:002017-07-15T23:57:37.404-04:00Hodge Podge Kind of Summer<div class="widget-content" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 12px;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">1. When was the last time you chatted with a neighbor? About what? (</span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">sharing that last bit is optional</i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">)</span><br />
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I think it was two days ago. We were comparing (complaining) about our inground pools... I may like mine later this summer, but being a salt water pool, keeping the salt number where it belongs has been a pain. They replaced the board in the computer... it was new... it's better but not right. <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. River, lake, ocean, or waterfall...which one are you most like and why?</span><br />I'm definitely an ocean. Deep in thought and a wide expanse... never mind. <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3. July 13 is National Delaware Day. Ever been to Delaware? Delaware is called 'the first state' because it was the first to declare independence from the British. What's your state's nickname and does that moniker make sense to you? If you were in charge, what nickname would you give your home state?</span><br />Delaware is nice...love the ocean. Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island (I think is another area... great food.) I'm from the Empire State of NY. It makes sense. I wouldn't change it. <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. What dish did you contribute to the last pot luck meal you attended? Do you have a go-to recipe for pot luck suppers?</span><br />I can't remember... I think it was in the spring. It was probably a chicken dish, or maybe Rice Krispie Treats... hahaha!!! That's a joke for some of you readers... <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. What is your number one tip for a brand new parent?</span><br />Never wake a sleeping baby. If they're asleep, you should be, too! <br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><br style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">6. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />Usually I insert a picture but I'm so late this time around...about 6 months late... I think I'll go with a thought: I'm thinking.... some advice, maybe... Here goes: <br /><br />Always leave 2 eggs in the refrigerator! Instruct your family to NEVER take the last 2 eggs... someone may desperately need them for baking ... cookies, for instance! IF you find only 2 eggs in the refrigerator, go to the store and buy more or at least tell the one who does the shopping!Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-4287959085413213432017-04-01T15:08:00.002-04:002017-04-01T15:08:44.310-04:00You Better Not be Fooling Me!"You better not be fooling me!" she said into the telephone at 3AM one Sunday morning. Really! "Mom, I don't play April Fool jokes at 3AM!" This was part of an early morning conversation I had with my Mom 38 years ago. I had just delivered my baby boy (#2) and just couldn't wait to call her! It's what daughters do :-) Actually, I was surprised she was awake enough to even realize it was April Fool's Day!<br />
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It was an exceptional time. Just a few days earlier, Thursday, in fact, we were battling a frozen water line under the driveway that separated our home from my in-laws. It had been 6 weeks! Everything else had thawed, but that plastic line was stubborn. We left the faucets in the "on" position, why I don't know. The drain in the kitchen somehow managed to plug itself but the water line managed to thaw while we were away for a few hours, and we came home to 2 inches of water on our floors! That was ok, though ...it was a mobile home and there were no carpets from the kitchen, down the hall and to the back bedroom. There was a slight tilt to the back, anyway, so it was just a matter of soaking it up and wringing it out. What a mess, though ... just what a 9 months prego woman does NOT need! <br />
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Our home put back to order, and water running freely again, I caught up on 'almost' all of the laundry. Priority was given to baby clothes, of course! We were all set to have a baby, most likely by C-section according to the Dr. but, I was ok with that if it meant a safe delivery this time around. Cleaned house on Friday. Grocery shopped on Saturday...<br />
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Saturday was a beautiful, early spring day and my husband did not have to work! He took me grocery shopping at Shoprite in Hudson so we could stock up on some frozen dinners. That way I would have quick meals for our 3 year old and myself while he was working. Now, we had been given orders days earlier by Bill's parents, "Do NOT go into labor on Saturday! We have tickets to hear Victor Borge down in Rhinebeck!" Sure, no problem! They were getting a rare chance to have some fun out of town with our neighbors. I didn't have the heart to tell them Saturday morning that I felt 'funny'. I had a pretty good idea while we were shopping and by the time we got home and they left for the concert. I was sure! Just before they left, some friends stopped by their house to ask about puppies for sale, who looked at me and said, "Oh, when are you due?" ... I just smiled and looked at my watch to which my mother-in-law cried, "That's not very funny!" I laughed. She had no idea.<br />
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Just as soon as they left, we called Bill's cousin to make sure she was available that evening, 'just in case'. She wasn't home. We called again an hour later, and left a message with her parents to call us when she got in. They were going to be out of town that night as well... By 9:00 o'clock, we were frantic... the neighbor who went with Bill's parents had a daughter who baby sat for us, but she was spending the night with friends; the neighbor on the north side of us was not home. Dear friends from church were not home ... we were about to pack up our 3 year old and take him with us, when our cousin called and came over as quickly as she could! We headed out for the hospital which was about 35 minutes away arriving at 11:30... just enough time for Bill to scrub, don a gown, and hear the nurse on the phone with the doctor, saying, "We just checked her and we don't think she needs a pelvimetry (xray). She needs her doctor to deliver her baby!" .. since I was the only one in labor... I suddenly realized there would be no C-section!<br />
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Our darling boy was born at 1:16 AM and in my arms until I shook so badly they had to give him to his Daddy! Actually, they didn't need to "give" him to Daddy, 'cause I heard him say, "Here, I'll take him and you can take care of her!" My honey scooped his son up into his big, strong hands and settled into a chair right where I could see them both and it's a memory that I pray never fades; Daddy and son bonding time! They left us alone in that birthing room with our baby, who settled down to sweet sleep. Bill went home at 3AM and I lay awake, unable to sleep ... but that was OK. The recovery ward for moms had only me and eventually one other girl. Things were different back then, and when the nurse came in to give me a bath in bed ... I was kind of stunned! She laughed and promised she would be quick and that when it was over, I would be clean and comfortable. She was quick and she was right! She ended my 'bed bath' by putting first one foot in her basin of water and then the other. She laughed when I said "Ahhhhhh!" and said, "That's what all the girls say when their feet hit the warm water!" Then, I slept. <br />
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<br />Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-88470999175831715272017-01-04T15:56:00.001-05:002017-01-04T15:56:28.051-05:00Wild and Windy Hodgepodge<div style="background-color: white;">
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1. Share one favorite moment/memory from your Christmas holiday. </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Watching the faces of the children in the youth choir at church on Christmas Eve. They had so much fun! </span></div>
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2. What was the best thing you ate over the holidays? Was it homemade or store bought? If it was homemade did you make it?</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;">The best? Tough one! So much was good... I'm sure it was a homemade cookie... not made by me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">3. What was one of the most beautiful things you </span><i style="color: #333333;">saw</i><span style="color: #333333;"> over the holidays?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">A whole bunch of little angels all in costume, waiting patiently for the program to start. All colors, all races. Love my church!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">4. What does fresh start mean to you?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">Waking up each morning. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;">5. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being very positive and 1 being not so great) how would you rate 2016 in terms of personal achievement and well being? Explain. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">Actually, a 10. We had some tough days, but God is always faithful and even though patience is not one of my traits, He knows how to deal with me. 2016 ended quietly and on a positive note. </span></div>
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6. Every January 1st since 1976 <a href="http://www.lssu.edu/banished/" style="color: #310e6a; text-decoration: none;">Lake Superior University </a>has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse, or just general uselessness. Go <a href="http://www.lssu.edu/banished/" style="color: #310e6a; text-decoration: none;">here</a> to read more about how the words were chosen or, if you're like me, to find out what in the world the word or phrase even means or the context in which it's used. There were quite a few on this year's list I'd never heard before.</div>
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Here's the 2017 list of banished words-</div>
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<i>You, Sir-focus-Bete Noire-Town Hall Meeting-Post Truth-guesstimate-831-historic-manicured-echo chamber-on fleek-bigly-ghost-Dadbod-listicle-get your dander up-selfie drone-frankenfruit-disruption</i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Which word on the list would you most like to see banished in 2017? What word or phrase would you add to the list?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">To keep in what appears to be a bit of humor, I would say "bigly" should be banished and never should have showed up to begin with! I would add "enjoy" as in when we are seated for dinner and the waiter/waitress bring our entre', saying simply, "Enjoy." What? Can't you complete the sentence? "Enjoy your dinner." and this ties with the phrase: "Have a good one." One? Do you mean, "Day?" "Experience with what I just purchased? OK, I know I'm getting carried away, but it's my blog. HAHA! And you read it this far... :-)</span></div>
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7. Large or small, light or deep, share with us one goal you have for the new year. </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">I haven't really made any new ones. Keeping some old ones, like losing weight, slowly. Eating a bit healthier, but not too much. Reading my Bible a little more regularly and studying, too. Finishing books I've started. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #333333;">8. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #38761d;">The campaign for US President is over. One candidate lost, the other won. We need to be praying (if you pray) for our country, our new president and his family and the choices that are made for his cabinet... just like we prayed 4 years ago, 4 years before that, etc. Just because some of you/us did not get our way does not give license to be disrespectful to the office he will be holding. There is too much at stake to be whine babies over something that has already been decided. Let's get on with living and learning. And this is the LAST political speech I make! </span></span></div>
Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-52930857186250317912016-12-26T18:38:00.000-05:002016-12-26T18:38:32.155-05:00Poem (re-post) #1 ... cheating, I know!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbtY4-UAnUc/TUmbZPKNV9I/AAAAAAAAAhM/JVjeZUu84_Y/s1600/101_3220.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569153272088713170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbtY4-UAnUc/TUmbZPKNV9I/AAAAAAAAAhM/JVjeZUu84_Y/s320/101_3220.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #339999;">Mittens or gloves is the question</span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999;">the answer to which I am certain</span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999;">lies on the inside</span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999;">where fingers and thumbs cry</span></div>
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<span style="color: #339999;">for comfort, warmth and protection!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Working in the school district full time for over 20 years has allowed me the opportunity to view first hand how parents dress their children. Now, why would parents send their kids to school in the wintertime, knowing there is outside play at recess, with no snowpants, no boots, no hat (or hood on their jacket)and only stretchy gloves, if any, for hand protection? Poor kids have to borrow mittens/gloves and hats from the teacher or nurse's office and then stand where it is plowed and just watch the other kids play. What great memories those kids have ... NOT! The rest of the kids are building snowmen, playing King of the Hill on the snowbanks and making forts. They aren't allowed to throw snowballs at each other but in the past we've managed to find a way to play "snowbaseball", where I pitched and they batted (using their arms,)</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbtY4-UAnUc/TUmbZbM8rEI/AAAAAAAAAhU/u7HbDW1482Q/s1600/IMAG0311-1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569153275321429058" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IbtY4-UAnUc/TUmbZbM8rEI/AAAAAAAAAhU/u7HbDW1482Q/s320/IMAG0311-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 213px;" /></a><br />
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So, parents, dress your kids (and yourselves) for the weather. It's winter! My final words go back to my poem: Mittens are always warmer than gloves since your fingers get to hang out together and share body heat. I even slip my thumbs out of their little home to be curled up inside my hand and sometimes I even drive the car that way! Just sayin' .. .around our house, mittens makes the difference between happy hands or a miserable grandmommy!</div>
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Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-10007599162347206012016-08-17T11:32:00.000-04:002016-12-26T18:04:46.586-05:00One Month Later... Wednesday Hodgepodge, again!<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">1. I <a href="http://frame.bloglovin.com/?post=5064069171&blog=13951725&frame_type=none" style="text-decoration: none;">read here</a> four creative activities to try this month. They were-<i>calligraphy, make your own cookbook, dance or learn a new type of dance, and letter writing</i>. Which activity on the list appeals to you most? Will you add it to your August? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>There is no room in my August for anything creative, sadly. I'd be happy if I could finish reading a book. There is a letter or two I could write, if I turned off the computer. HA! There's my problem!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">2. Bertrand Russell is quoted as saying, '<i>To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.</i>' Agree or disagree? Explain. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">There is SOME truth to that. Desiring something in a good way and not in a jealous way and not knowing if you will ever get it, gives a person nice thoughts and something to dream about or look forward to. You can't take for granted the things you do not have. However, I'm thinking that I really wanted more grandchildren... not that I don't love the two I have or am not fulfilled by my role as their grandmother, but I always envisioned myself as the Grammy whose kitchen always had cookies baking and a parade of children coming through. I know it is not my place to whine or complain, so I don't. Our children have fulfilling lives of their own and are secure, successful and content within their own families. I think true happiness is dependent upon your relationship with the Creator. I often go back to a song I learned years ago. </span></b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2bIsboZz0g" style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" target="_blank"><b>YEARS AGO!</b></a></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3. August 17th is National Thriftshop Day...are you a 'thrifter'? If so, tell us about one of your best or favorite finds. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><b style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Oooh! I love a good bargain! I'm always looking for clothing and have a hard time finding my size in thrift shops; HOWEVER I have found several items in the "Reuzit" shops of Pennsylvania! Friendly, clean and very well organized, their proceeds benefit Mennonite mission work. A blue short sleeved sweater is my all time favorite. I also have a couple of long sleeved fleeces that get rave reviews every time I wear them. </b></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">4. On a scale of 1-10 (with 1= almost none and 10=loads) how would you rate your sense of wanderlust? What kicks your wanderlust into high gear? </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Actually, I'm more of a homebody. So, maybe a 5, but every once in a while, I just want to get away with my husband to someplace warm, or fun, or exciting... We've done mission work in Central America. Love visiting things historical; Vacationed along the east coast beaches (incl Gulf of Mexico;) Taken the kids camping when they were little; Love exploring the country side of PA; Love driving through the mountains of NY, PA, WV, VA, NC, KY and TN ... sounds like I never stay home! But it's only a few times a year and we drive to each location, except Central America; but in Costa Rica we rented a car and drove to the coast. There's no one thing that kicks "wanderlust" into gear... but just a sense of wanting to explore new and old places. Well.... maybe the month of January does. Yeah... January here in the Northeast.... </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">5. Has life felt more like a marathon or sprint so far this month? How so?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">This month started out like a marathon but has ended more like a sprint. I can't believe it's half over! Doing arts and crafts with kids at a local <a href="https://sacandagabibleconference.com/" target="_blank">Christian Camp</a> each summer has me whirling around and around looking for materials and counting and re-counting how many kids I'll have... it changes each week and I absolutely never know before Sunday! It's exciting, rewarding and this is my last week for the year. I'll miss these kids but will see them again in 45 weeks!</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">6. What do you need to get a jump on before fall officially arrives? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Housework. Definitely, housework. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af;">7. What's the last thing you did with friends or family where you lost track of time?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79;">HAHAHAHA!!!!!!! *wipes tears* </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here. </span></div>
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Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-2860975101831912672016-07-12T22:52:00.002-04:002016-07-12T22:52:36.011-04:00Hodgepodge Right on Time!<div style="background-color: white;">
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1. Do you find yourself influencing your world, or is it more the other way around?<br />
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I like to think I am a good influence. Working with children in school; teaching a class at Bible Club in church; being a deaconess in the same church; working with kids at Bible camp each summer affords me the godly privilege to change our world, one child/one woman at a time. </div>
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2. July 14th is National Tape Measure Day...the device was patented on this date in 1868. When did you last use a tape measure? Do you always know where to find one in your house? Tell us one way in which you feel blessed 'beyond measure'.<br /><br />We have several tape measures, from huge ones in the kitchen and hidden somewhere by my husband out in the garage, to a little one rolled up in my sewing basket. They never seem to be where they belong when I want one! The last time I used a tape measure was to measure a window that needs a window box. It was not my tape measure, but a friend's. She keeps one in her pocket book. Smart girl! <br />
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I am SO blessed beyond measure, I could never choose just one way. From my marriage to parenthood, grandparenthood, teacher, fellowship of other Christians... God is so good! <br /><br />Luke 6:38 - (ESV) Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."<br />
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3.<i>The Plaza Hotel (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eloise_(books)" style="color: #310e6a; text-decoration: none;">Eloise</a>), The Land of Oz (The Wizard of Oz), Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia), The Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh), Wonderland </i><i>(Alice's Adventures in Wonderland),</i> or <i>Never Never Land (Peter Pan)</i>...which storybook land (on <i><b>this</b></i> list!) would you most like to visit and why? <br />
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Narnia! I want to view the movie, aerially. Except for the beginning as they climb through the wardrobe. Then I have to be able to be in two places at the same time: in the room with the wardrobe and standing at the lamppost in Narnia :-)</div>
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4. Where and when do you get your best ideas?<br /><br />Usually at home after a long nap. Not kidding! </div>
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5. So what have you been watching on TV this summer? Anything good?<br /><br />Not much time for TV... occasional re re-runs of: The Middle. The Waltons. Little House on the Prairie. </div>
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6. <i>'Don't swim for an hour after you eat', 'Dog days of summer', 'Knee high by the Fourth of July'...</i>choose a summer saying from the list or share one of your own, then tell us what image or memory comes to mind when you hear it spoken.<br /><br />Just used "Knee high by the Fourth of July" to describe my corn... well, actually, what I said was: "My corn is thigh high by the Fourth of July, the weeds are knee high... SIGH!" The "Don't swim...." adage we have changed to about 15 minutes. Haven't lost anyone, yet! "Dog days of summer" reminds me of my growing up years near the Green County NY Catskill Mountains. You would think it would be cooler there... but those mountains would hold in the heat and humidity like nobody's business! Now, that said, I found out a few years ago that "Dog days of summer" actually refer to those days in July and August, usually hot and humid, when Sirius the Dog Star rises along with the sun.<br />
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7. In a single sentence, sum up one life lesson you've learned.<br />
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Let others speak first. </div>
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8. Insert your own random thought here.<br />
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He flew right into my field of vision as I was trying to zoom in on some flowers... So glad for auto focus!<br />
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Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-33427016783807618212016-07-08T15:33:00.002-04:002016-07-12T21:43:19.880-04:00Whoa! Back up! Back up! Hodgepodge<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. How did you welcome the month of July, and tell us one fun thing you did to celebrate the 4th. (or the weekend for any non-USA residents playing along today) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">July just slipped right in after June. We celebrated my birthday and our anniversary at the end of June and Arts and Crafts started up immediately for me at our local Christian camp so it was hectic. No fireworks, or picnics or anything of that sort. We were simply to tired or too busy! But we prayed for America as a nation; remembering our forefathers who signed their names... risking arrest for treason and death. Remembering the Continental Army who fought til we won our independence. Our prayer, now, is that politicians (any and all) don't throw that freedom away... </span><br />
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2. Right now..what's your favorite red thing? white thing? blue thing?<br />
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Red: Strawberries. White: Whipped Cream. Blue: The summer sky. I didn't have to think long at all!</div>
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3. Wave the white flag, raise a red flag, fly your freak flag...which 'flag' have you flown most recently? Explain.<br />
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I don't know what a freak flag is. No red flags in our present or even on the horizon. White flag? Well, I did surrender to my diet and eat ice cream twice in one week.... I suppose that could now be considered a red flag warning...HAHA! </div>
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4. According to <a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2016-06-29/the-best-places-to-visit-in-july?mbid=social_twitter" style="color: #310e6a; text-decoration: none;">Cond Nast Traveler</a> these are the seven best places to visit in July-</div>
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<i>a boat safari in Botswanna's Okavango Delta, Riviera Maya Mexico (it's whale shark season and apparently you can swim with them), Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, Pamploma Spain, St. Petersburg Russia, the Fuji Rock Festival at Mount Naeba Japan, the Salzburg Festival in Salzburg Austria</i></div>
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If time and money weren't factors would you want to see any/all of these? Which would you most like to see and why?<br />
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Oh, I could go for the Salzburg Festival in Austria! A little closer to home would be Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. However, we went to Maine in June and enjoyed the shoreline from York Harbor and York Beach, to Freeport and Camden all the way up to Bar Harbor in Acadia National Park. We can't afford to go anywhere in July or August! However, in September, we may head back to York Beach for a few days... The ocean will be warmer, then! </div>
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5. Grilled cheese, pimento cheese, or mac and cheese...your favorite from the cheesy treats listed?<br />
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Ooooh.. Grilled swiss cheese and cheddar mac and cheese. Can't choose!</div>
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6. What makes you sweat?<br />
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Summertime. Hot flashes. Speaking in public.</div>
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7. Your favorite movie with a 'patriotic' theme of some sort?<br />
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Hands down. A made for TV movie called, "Goodbye Miss Fourth of July." I think I've mentioned it before. I never see it advertised anymore. It may have been put out by Disney. I think I saw it on the Disney Channel about 20 years ago. </div>
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8. Insert your own random thought here.<br />
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Putting this up as my Facebook status, too. Eleven police officers were shot, early this AM and at least 5 of them have died. Why? Because some people have it in their heads that police lives don't matter. Now, children are without fathers, wives without husbands, mothers and fathers without sons. What a tragedy. Police officers maintaining order so others could have a peaceful demonstration... Know what the problem is? Not guns. Not color. Not police. But SIN. Plain and simple. We are, by nature, sinful (says so in the Bible) and until we as individuals and corporately as a nation, get our selfish minds off of what we want/deserve and put it on what God wants/deserves and ask for forgiveness as individuals and as a nation, we are going to have this type of behavior. I haven't a clue how to fix this national/world problem; I can only account for myself. Dear Lord, please draw near to you, the families that have been affected by this (and other recent tragedies.) Expose this evil for exactly what it is and help bring justice back to our nation. If you could slap some politicians up the side of the head, I'd appreciate that, too. I'm so discouraged, but the verse I'm holding to this week is from Galatians 6:7 <b>Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows that will he also reap. </b>Amen.</div>
Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-52493022086228020982016-04-06T23:27:00.000-04:002016-04-06T23:27:05.863-04:00Back to Winter Wednesday<a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. What does retirement mean to you? Are you planning for it, not thinking about it, looking forward to it, or dreading it?</span><br />Retirement means I have the time to do the things I want to do, mostly when I want to do them; like substitute teaching so I can afford to volunteer... and take those beach vacations! <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. It's International Guitar Month...do you play? Does anyone in your family play? What's a song you especially like to hear played on the guitar or a favorite song featuring the guitar?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br />I don't play but my husband does as does our youngest son and his wife. Wow... so many songs. I love to hear my husband play... any and all love songs!<br />
<br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3. What's your comfort food?</span><br />I have several. In the winter, I LOVE pancakes with real maple syrup. Any time of year, I love rice with butter, salt and pepper. I crave cinnamon toast, too. But probably to curl up on the couch with a bowl of buttered (real) and salted popcorn fresh from the popper would be "it." <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. What's one activity or area of your life where you absolutely never procrastinate?</span><br />Never procrastinate? I always procrastinate to some degree! I suppose going to the bathroom first thing in the morning... I know, TMI.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? Does your local store bag the groceries for you or is it a do-it-yourself kind of place? Do you like someone packing your groceries? </span><br />Mostly, I do the shopping. I go to two different stores on a regular basis. One bags, the other doesn't. I don't care who bags my groceries as long as I can get in, find what I'm looking for and get out. I dislike standing in line. <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. What's the coolest thing you've seen in nature?</span><br />Wow... I never have my camera when I need it. Having parrots fly past my head while on a mission trip to Venezuela years ago was pretty cool! Colorful, too. Double rainbows always fascinate me. A monkey monkeying around in a tree outside our room while in Costa Rica was amusing - had the camera, but it was not close enough for a picture :-( However, I think the birth of our kittens tops them all! <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. Share a favorite quote about home.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">A little long and I know it's really a song, but it does belong to Steve Green and so, I quote him: "Here we are at the start; committed to each other by His Word and from our hearts. We will be a family in a house that will be a <b>HOME</b>; and with faith, we'll build it strong. We'll build a household of faith, that together we canl make and when the strong winds blow it won't fall down. As one in Him we'll grow, and the whole world will know we are a household of faith." </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">From 4 years ago: It rained every day on our trip to Costa Rica but we had a wonderful time both at the conference and at a beach resort! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span><br />
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<br /><br /><br />Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-58448713152672796212016-04-01T01:45:00.003-04:002016-04-01T01:45:53.006-04:00Wow! Wednesday!<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. What are two or three expectations you have of yourself? </span><br />Losing weight; Staying young at heart; Keeping fit. Two out of three isn't too bad! I must keep plugging along...<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. In what way does your outdoor space need sprucing up this spring?</span><br />
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Decks need to be repaired. Flower beds need some TLC. I have the time but not the patience. We are getting an inground pool so I must get my act together and start being a little fussy! The local Amish produce auction will have some plants, trees pretty soon and that should rev me up! <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3. According to this site (</span><a href="https://roadtrippers.com/stories/6-best-waterfalls-in-the-us?lat=40.80972&lng=-96.67528&z=5" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Roadtrippers)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, six of North America's most wondrous waterfalls are-</span><a href="http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/canada-websters-falls.html" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Webster's Falls in Ontario</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </span><a href="http://www.romanticasheville.com/whitewater_falls.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina,</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> </span><a href="http://grandcanyon.com/planning/south-rim-planning-planning/havasupai-falls-arizona/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </span><a href="http://www.oregon.com/attractions/multnomah_falls" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Multnomah Falls in Oregon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </span><a href="http://yellowstone.net/waterfalls/yellowstones-waterfalls/lower-falls/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">The Lower Yellowstone Falls</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, and </span><a href="http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Niagara</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">. Have you seen any on the list? Which one on the list would you most like to visit? Prettiest waterfall not on the list that you've seen in person?</span><br />
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We've been to Niagara... whoa!!!! In the winter, they are frozen over and the mist freezes 6-10 inches thick on the railings of the fence! There's a small but wide waterfall on a back road near where I grew up. They didn't have a name for it... I wish I could lay my hands on the picture! A friend just visited Yosemite Falls and her pics and video were amazing!<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. Looking back, what's something you wish you'd done as a teenager?</span><br />Studied harder so I could have had better grades. <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. Ham...yes please or no thank you? If you said yes please which of the following do you like best-baked ham with all the trimmings, a ham and cheese sandwich, prosciutto with melon, a ham biscuit, a bowl of split pea and ham soup, or a slice of pizza topped with ham and pineapple?</span><br />I love all of the above except the pizza...it was ruined with pineapple :-( <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. Are you typical of your generation? How so?</span><br />
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Probably not. I never tried drugs. Not even marijuana. I'm guessing that 1/2 of my graduation class smoked a joint at least once. I had no desire. My desire was to love the Lord my God and be someone people younger than me could look up to. I wanted to serve God more than serve myself. I wasn't always successful, but He understood... and never gave up on my desire to serve. I can look back and see where he was leading and at the time, I thought I was wandering! HAHA! Hey... This scenario has repeated itself many times... There is always grace, hope, love and forgiveness when there is repentance.<br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. April rolls in at the end of the week, and in keeping with that theme...'act the fool', 'nobody's fool', 'a fool's errand', 'could have fooled me'...which foolish idiom most recently applies to you? Explain.</span><br />Tough one. April 1st is our 2nd son's birthday. Called my mom at 3AM that morning, over 30 years ago and she thought I was fooling! Yeah, Mom! I waited up til 3AM to play a joke... She said, "I mean about you having another boy!" More laughter!! Not fooling about that, either! <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Here he is about 34 years ago:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /><br /></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-6136996201417465362016-03-25T22:19:00.004-04:002016-03-25T22:29:38.054-04:00It's Almost Really Spring Hodgepodge!<a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. Has spring sprung in your little corner of the world? Other than the calendar how would I know? What's your favorite thing about spring?</span><br />
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Well, we thought it had, but then it got colder, then it got warmer, then it snowed but it melted by noon, today was cooler than expected... but the robins are singing and other birdies are doing what birdies do this time of year, so I guess it is spring! My favorite part? Hmmmm ... warmer temps and more daylight!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. Besides the weather, what's put a spring in your step recently?</span><br />
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Vacation. Vacation always puts a spring in my step! We took a teeny, tiny one to Pennsylvania and then a longer one to Virginia Beach. Ahhhh! 2 warm days on the beach!<br />
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Easter, or Resurrection Sunday as I like to call it, is probably the highlight of holidays in my Christian life. To think that Jesus stayed on the cross on my behalf; bearing the consequence of all sin for all time... the mind can not really wrap around that sacrifice...but then he didn't stay dead! The sins he took to the grave, he left there... rising triumphantly over death AND sin, he promises those who believe, a place in heaven for all eternity...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. I saw this somewhere on Facebook and thought it would make a fun Hodgepodge question. Which of the following would you find most disappointing...</span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">a just stuffed taco shell breaking open and spilling out before you take the first bite? </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">dropping a just-purchased Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts coffee? </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">opening the peanut butter jar and finding it empty? </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">upending onto the sidewalk a just-purchased ice cream cone? </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">a burnt bagel popping up in your toaster when you're rushing breakfast? or cutting into an avocado and finding out it's rotten? </i><br />
Definitely, a just purchased ice cream cone hitting the sidewalk.<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. What's something held together with tape at your house? Or a paper clip? Or a wing and a prayer?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I can't think of anything held together with tape... but possibly the railing on our back steps is being held together by God's grace. There's no other explanation. That would be very similar to "a wing and a prayer." </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. Do you feel underappreciated? In what way?</span><br />
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No. My family appreciates all that I do or even attempt to do! Once at work, I was treated in a way that made me feel underappreciated, but co-workers rallied to my side and their encouragement showed just how much they appreciated me, even if the administration did not! <br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. What's something you'd build if you knew how?</span><br />
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A greenhouse! I would love to be able to start vegetables and flowers in March. Like, today for instance!<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Here we go with my pictures! "Just who owns this breakfast of "fresh" fish, anyway?"</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6HMB06ls9s/VvXrtgktVxI/AAAAAAAAKP0/eA1oymxSdm0KT7EPLzJF20Y3L0dfQZRQw/s1600/DSC_0615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6HMB06ls9s/VvXrtgktVxI/AAAAAAAAKP0/eA1oymxSdm0KT7EPLzJF20Y3L0dfQZRQw/s640/DSC_0615.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-34337825158110542152016-02-10T13:37:00.000-05:002016-02-10T13:37:35.775-05:00Wild About Wednesday Hodgepodge <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. Create an acrostic using the word LOVE. If you're unsure what an acrostic is click </span><a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/acrostic/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">here. </a><br />
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Loyal<br />
and Over the top<br />
in loVe with me<br />
forEver<br />
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That's my Bill !<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. Does love really conquer all? Why or why not? </span><br />
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God's love conquers all. It just doesn't get any better than having Him provide a way for our sinful selves to be forgiven. (That's the short version)<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3. Tell us about a time recently, where you really put your heart into something.</span><br />
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When I work with kids, I always put my heart into it. Sometimes I spend too much time planning. Really. But when the end result is happy kids and crafts they can take home and KEEP rather than have their parents throw away, I know my heart is in the right place!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. What's your favorite fictional love story?</span><br />
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Only one favorite? *sigh* OK, Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe :-)<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. Do you generally wear your heart on your sleeve, or keep your cards close to the vest?</span><br />
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I'm sort of a middle of the road person, actually....<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. What food says love to you? Why?</span><br />
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Chocolate always says love to me. So does pumpkin pie with whipped cream. ... and a milkshake. Lobster, too. I suppose I should stop, now.<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. When were you last 'tickled pink' over something? Explain. </span><br />
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When I found out that my nephew and his wife; and my niece and her husband were all expecting babies within months of each other! (One down and one to go!)<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Less than 5 months till I can pour my heart into my kids at Sacandaga Bible Conference!</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Efqp9dwJfc/VrrTbbVWXfI/AAAAAAAAKPM/3bwco7xY3aY/s1600/DSC_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Efqp9dwJfc/VrrTbbVWXfI/AAAAAAAAKPM/3bwco7xY3aY/s320/DSC_0341.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">waiting for spring ... then SUMMER!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKIMy-fi8Po/VrrRR3jENUI/AAAAAAAAKOo/CpyXCpomXa4/s1600/IMAG8949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKIMy-fi8Po/VrrRR3jENUI/AAAAAAAAKOo/CpyXCpomXa4/s320/IMAG8949.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">boys after the baking soda/vingear/balloon experiment</span><div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZa6ld64u_U/VrrRWXDyiJI/AAAAAAAAKOs/AGPP8iQIbNo/s1600/IMAG9023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZa6ld64u_U/VrrRWXDyiJI/AAAAAAAAKOs/AGPP8iQIbNo/s320/IMAG9023.jpg" width="320" /></a>a lot of little girls at one time</div>
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the "weaving" about killed the boys<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UE3wD5-BtTE/VrrRah1pRWI/AAAAAAAAKO4/GkHDIhnfWEs/s1600/IMAG9133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UE3wD5-BtTE/VrrRah1pRWI/AAAAAAAAKO4/GkHDIhnfWEs/s320/IMAG9133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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spiders hung up to dry...and one butterfly<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8Oxy7oQiEM/VrrRZPstiWI/AAAAAAAAKO0/KnNkRLNmm3c/s1600/IMAG9116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W8Oxy7oQiEM/VrrRZPstiWI/AAAAAAAAKO0/KnNkRLNmm3c/s320/IMAG9116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10505536_10153404101971826_6539289270286856389_n.jpg?oh=08c2b29aaaf8ad1b134f28ce189efd1f&oe=57714168" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10505536_10153404101971826_6539289270286856389_n.jpg?oh=08c2b29aaaf8ad1b134f28ce189efd1f&oe=57714168" width="239" /></a>woven paper plates, the girls loved</div>
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<a href="https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5cf24b3127cceeade8b03438000000030O08CZNmrRq4bg9vPhQ/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00007854560220151105194121718.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5cf24b3127cceeade8b03438000000030O08CZNmrRq4bg9vPhQ/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00007854560220151105194121718.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/" width="400" /></a> bottle caps turn into stampers</div>
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Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-15331659023023664952016-01-13T23:38:00.000-05:002016-01-13T23:38:29.395-05:00Right on Time!<a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a><br />
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. Share one thing that really makes your day.</span><br />
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One thing... ? Hmmm... I'm thinking it changes from day to day, season to season. Honestly, I love waking up to a snow storm :-) <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. Lots of these kinds of lists out there, but one found </span><a href="http://thesundaychapter.com/2016/01/15-most-colorful-places-in-the-world/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> says the fifteen most colorful places on earth are:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">V</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">ernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy~Burano, Italy~Havana, Cuba~Rio de Janiero, Brazil~Chefchaouen, Morocco~Balat, Istanbul, Turkey~Menton, France~Jodhpur, India~La Baca, Buenos Aires, Argentina~Guanajuato, Mexico~Capetown, South Africa~Valparaiso, Chile~Wroclaw, Poland~San Francisco, California~and Pelourhino, Salvador, Brazil. </i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Of those listed which would you most like to see up close and in person? Of all the places you've seen or traveled in your own life, what would you say was one of the most colorful?</span><br />
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I guess, maybe Buenos Aires, Argentina. I speak a little Spanish and would want to mix with the the locals a little bit. I'm not the "tourist" type. Autumn anywhere where trees change color. Home may be the best of all!<br /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3.</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">"Everything you want is on the other side of fear." Jack Canfield </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">In general, would you agree or disagree with that statement? Why?</span><br />
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Perhaps I don't understand what he means. Fear can mean "being afraid" or "respect."<br />I'm actually afraid of very little: spiders, stinging insects, lightning, bad wind storms, speeding vehicles of all kinds, and pain. So, what IS on the other side of spiders? I'm clueless. <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. Imagine you're stranded on a desert island and dessert appears...what do you hope it is? Do you ever struggle to remember which spelling is desert and which is dessert?</span><br />I have not had trouble spelling dessert or desert since I was in junior high school when someone said, "Think of the two "s's" as something to eat... so, In the desert, you WISH had two desserts." So, if I was on a desert island (as in "deserted") I would like chocolate with no coconut ... or pineapple...<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. What song almost always makes you cry?</span><br />There are a few hymns that move me to tears. An old one is: "Because He Lives." <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. January is National Soup Month. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Everything from soup to nuts</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">in the soup</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">,</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">thick as pea soup</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">souped up</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">...which saying most recently applies to your life in some way? Explain.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br />Oh, I don't know... you mentioned soup and I immediately thought of .. .SOUP! Thick as pea soup could describe the fog we had here several days running. We're supposed to be having snow!<br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. Write a two word note to your younger self. What does it say? </span><br />
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"Smaller portions."<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here. <br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I love inserting pictures here. Today is no exception! This is our New Year's Dinner with the whole family; a rare event!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_66kQW9c4c/Vpck-tm9cjI/AAAAAAAAKN4/RwZR61CCuvs/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_66kQW9c4c/Vpck-tm9cjI/AAAAAAAAKN4/RwZR61CCuvs/s320/DSC_0223.JPG" width="320" /></a></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-8999504438718681952016-01-07T16:28:00.002-05:002016-01-07T16:28:49.079-05:00Wednesday Hodgepodge on Thursday...it's allowed. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. Are you ready for new? Is 2016 likely to be very different than 2015? Do you want it to be?</span><br />
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<b>I kind of liked 2015 so if 2016 is similar, that would be fine with me. We're hoping to get an in-ground swimming pool this spring. Looking forward to that!</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. January 6th is National Technology Day. Currently, what is your single biggest struggle or frustration when it comes to technology?</span><br />
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<b>I have a roaming dead spot on the screen of my Droid. I'll be swiping, typing, opening, closing and it randomly shows up for days at a time... then moves. We won't even discuss my lap top! </b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3. It's that time again...time for </span><a href="http://www.lssu.edu/banished/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Lake Superior University</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> to present a list of words (or phrases) they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness) in 2016. You can read more about the decision making process </span><a href="http://www.lssu.edu/banished/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, but this year's top vote getters are-</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">So (at the start of every single sentence), conversation (as in hotly debated topics where we're invited to 'join the conversation'), problematic, stakeholder, price point, secret sauce, break the Internet, walk it back, presser, manspreading (common in larger cities where some men take up the entire bus or train seat by sitting wide), vape, giving me life (refers to anything that may excite a person or make them laugh), </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">and</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> physicality</i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?</span><br /><b>These phrases don't bother me, but "Give it up for..." annoys me. We can't create a sentence without words containing more than 4 letters? and "Have a good one," as I leave a store or restaurant. What happened to the words, "day", "life", "hour", "vacation",. When did the word, "one" become all inclusive? Just bugs me. </b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. Share one of your current health related goals.</span><br />
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<b>I really need to get more exercise but I'm too short to use Bill's equipment; the highway has too much high speed traffic for safe walking; the tree farm lane is too short and in and out of the rows is a bit monotonous. However, I am going to try to eat better. That's a start!</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. Let's talk fifty shades of gray. As in the color. Gray is currently a popular color in home decor, paint, wardrobes, hair, wedding party attire, and more. Are you a fan? Do you have the color in some variation in your home or wardrobe? </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Gray hair, the old gray mare, gray matter, gray area</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">...which gray idiom can you most relate to right now?</span><br /><b>I don't really like gray. I have a gray skirt I seldom wear and I vaguely remember a gray sweater but just now realized I haven't seen it in years. I must have given it away. I have a short-sleeved gray top trimmed in blue and green that looks nice when worn with something other than that gray skirt. My gray hair is exactly that color... gray; not silver, not white, but mouse gray. I tried letting it go this past summer. September came and the gray left. I don't like it at all and and returned to using a nice light golden brown to hide it. I'll do it til the day I die if that gray hair doesn't begin to sparkle or remind me of snow. </b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. Certain foods are considered 'lucky' if eaten on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Cooked greens to bring economic fortune, black-eyed peas or lentils also symbolize money, pork which symbolizes progress, fish for good luck, and if you're in Spain 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. Did you eat any lucky foods on the first day of the year? Is that a tradition in your home? Of the foods listed, which most appeals to you?</span><br />
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<b>I don't believe in luck and never heard of that tradition. I like pork and fish. We're pretty stuck on turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas but New Year's demands something different. This year we had roast beef, baked potatoes that were slightly sliced open, pickled beets and from the splendor of my summer garden we ate butternut squash, carrots cooked with maple syrup and peas.</b></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. What's the single biggest time waster in your life and what, if anything, will you do about it this year?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><b><br />Probably Facebook. I've cut back a lot, usually just checking notifications and messages first thing in the morning, but not responding or changing my own status until evening. Now that I have "messenger" on my cell phone, I may begin checking that in the AM and let the notification go til evening. As far as my cell phone, it stays on vibrate all day and ONLY phone calls make it vibrate...no messages, notifications, emails. NO WAY!</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here.<br /><b><br />Once upon a time, January would have me dreaming of re-opening Grandview Mini Golf. I would already be plotting a few changes; perhaps new flags, new golf balls in varying colors; watching sale papers for sales on beverages; perusing online wholesale candy and ice cream selections for the stand and freezer. No more! Now, I'm plotting vacations! I love being mostly retired! </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vEDfecNgaSc/Vo7XzbQ-DkI/AAAAAAAAKNY/D6CrdhfcVJg/s1600/20150624_055657.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vEDfecNgaSc/Vo7XzbQ-DkI/AAAAAAAAKNY/D6CrdhfcVJg/s320/20150624_055657.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-73098036262202744592015-11-22T23:13:00.000-05:002015-11-24T11:58:28.732-05:00A Time to Eat Turkey<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">There will be
another Hodgepodge before Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure I'll remember to post.
After all, it has taken me 3 days for this one! ... I have fixed the font size
about 10 times... I'm so sorry if the print is too small. No clue! </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1. What's surprised you most about your life,
or about life in general?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">How quickly
it seems to go! One day I was dating and the next day I was married and the
mother of 3 and grandmother of 2... How'd that happen, anyway?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2. Among others, these </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.buzzbeagle.com/trending/15-words-added-to-the-dictionary/15" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: white; color: #310e6a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ten
words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary</span></a> </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">this<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>year...<b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">awesomesauce</i></b>, <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">beer
o'clock</i></b>, <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">brain
fart</i></b>, <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">buttdial</i></b>, <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">cat
cafe</i></b>(apparently this is a real<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>thing), <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">fatberg</i></b> (gross-</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.buzzbeagle.com/trending/15-words-added-to-the-dictionary/15" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: white; color: #310e6a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">read
the definition here)</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">, <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">fat
shame</i></b>, <b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><i>hangry</i></b>, <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Mx</i></b> (gender
neutral), and <b><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">skippable. </i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you
find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out
loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sadly, I
have used the term "buttdial" but think there must be a better
one...I've switched it to "pocket dial." Two words, though.
I don't like any of these. I suppose "skippable" is ok
but I'd rather use a phrase instead. We seem to be becoming a generation
of one word conversations...</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it
comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety?
Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red
eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the
list is your favorite?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">LOVE gravy!
Make my own. I eat it on whatever I want. Bread and gravy was a must when I was
little. It didn't matter what kind. I love it on mashed potatoes,
stuffing, meat, biscuits, pancakes (hamburger gravy.)</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall
into a trillion pieces? Explain.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<b>Perhaps I have too many plans at the moment. I have a ton of housework to do
as we have ordered some new furniture... it's about time! It better not
fall into a trillion pieces, either! I don't think I've ever had a plan
fall apart. Our plans are always simple and flexible. However, now that
we are older (and Bill's parents even older - 92 and 96), I'm always a bit
concerned when we make vacation plans...</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
5. November 19 is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-play-monopoly-day-november-19/" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: white; color: #310e6a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">National
Play Monopoly Day</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">. Do you own the original or
some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it
you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City?
Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you
took a chance on?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">I think our
oldest took the Monopoly game with him when he got married. It was given to him
when he was a kid. It's a regular one. I liked playing but my husband did not!
We didn't play on November 19th. It has probably been 20 years since I have
played. I have been to Atlantic City to the beach. I have been on a
train, once to NYC and back with my mom and brother when I was 4, again with my
pre-schooler (25 years ago) and his classmates, and a couple of steam
locomotives Straasburg and Black River and Western. Oh, and subways in Brooklyn
and NYC plus the Staten Island Rapid Transit. How could I forget those?! Parking
is free in town. Last thing I took a chance on? Traveling 3 days on the
road with my husband when I was running a fever, hoping I'd be better in time
for visiting friends... I was! Whew!</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the
title, lyrics, or meaning? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"Come Ye Thankful People, Come" comes to mind,
first. Then “Thank You Lord (for saving
my soul)” , and the other “Thank You, Lord” by Sandi Patti, “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.” OK, I’ll stop, now! </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something
you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're
grateful for? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lots of
things: Fresh air, clean water, warm house, good food and the stores where I
shop, the love of family, etc...</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">8. Insert your own random thought here.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<b>It's almost time! We are open for business the Saturday after
Thanksgiving.</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-63586424210826260072015-11-07T21:13:00.002-05:002015-11-07T21:13:32.472-05:00First Week of November and No Snow :-)<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a><br /><br />There have been Novembers that had more snow than December, but apparently this is not one of them and that is fine with me! I'd like some snow flurries, though and maybe a 'snow squall.' While we were on vacation in TN, there was some snow that stuck to the ground here at home, but.. October? NO.. No thank you! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?</span><br />Oh, did I mention 'snow squalls?' Can't quite put them on the calendar, though. So, on my calendar, I'd have to say my 3 days of substitute teaching in Pre Kindergarten!<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?</span><br />Auntie Babs for giving us peanuts from Virginia. She's awesome like that! <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br />Yikes! Sourdough and cinnamon. I could never choose between the two!<br />
<br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?</span><br />
<br />
In abundance that is a good thing?... Well, that narrows it down! Let's see. Carrots. Lots of carrots from my garden that will go on the table this winter in stews, soups and just plain cooked (in water with a teaspoon of maple syrup.)<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?</span><br />Until I had children, there seemed to be a rule in my family that if a brunette married a blond, they would have at least 1 red headed kid. My cousin Millie had 3 out of 4 with red hair! My cousin Barb had 1 out of 3. I had none. BUT one of them has a red beard :-) There are too many to call a favorite... <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. The travel website </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/most-instagrammed-location-in-every-state-2015-9" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Busbud </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/most-instagrammed-location-in-every-state-2015-9" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">here </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.</span><br />
<br />
In NY it is the Empire State Building. I'm ok with that. I lived in the city for a few years and even took a picture of the front of the building. My husband worked in the World Trade Center (back in the 80's) and I have pics of that as well. I think the Empire State Building was more photogenic with all the other sky scrapers clustered around it. I would think that Niagara Falls (photographed from the Canadian side) would be a close 2nd. Also, <a href="http://nysparks.com/parks/79/details.aspx" target="_blank">Letchworth State Park</a> would make a great #3.<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question-</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?</span><br />
<br />
At 63, I'm not finding many things about myself that I don't already know... I have figured out the "trigger points" that make me dizzy (positional vertigo) and manage to avoid them when it strikes. Seems to come every fall but now that I know how to manage it, I'm doing really well. Years ago, the meds the doctor gave me to "help" made it worse! I'm very grateful for being able to manage it on my own as others I know are much worse off. <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I'm thinking that soon our Christmas Tree Farm will be alive with families tagging, cutting and just having fun: </span><br />
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Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314557517012172819.post-32957102777564471372015-09-24T00:42:00.000-04:002015-09-24T00:52:57.360-04:00"'15 Minutes Late, means... I'm Early' Hodgpodge"<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a border="0" href="http://joyce-fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab305/SincerelyShannon-designs/Blog%20Buttons/Hodgepodgebutton.jpg" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">1. What have you '</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">fallen for'</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> recently?</span><br />
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Old jokes. I listen attentively and laugh... but they are SO OLD! Kindergarteners ... gotta love em!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">2. What's something you're '</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">squirreling away</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">' for later?</span><br />
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Books. Liz Curtis Higgs will rescue me this winter and so will Suzanne Woods Fisher<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">3. How do you like your apples? Sweet? Tart? Crisp? Cooked? Apples are one of the superfoods for fall...how often do you eat an apple either plain or as part of a favorite recipe? What's your favorite variety?</span><br />
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I like my apples cold, crisp and sweet/tart. I'll eat them daily if my digestive tract would allow... whole, sliced, cinnamon sugared, peanut buttered, cidered, baked into a pie, cobbler, crisp or 'pudding.' Favorite? Oooooo.h... Mom's Apple Crisp. so simple. Slice a bunch of them (at least 4 big ones), add dots of butter, cinnamon, sugar and 1 C water. Topping is 1/4 C hard butter, 1 C flour 1/2 C white sugar all cut up together and sprinkled on top. Bake for about 45 min to an hour at 350. Change the proportions as you wish but don't use too much butter....<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">4. According to </span><a href="http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/10-best-fall-foliage-trips-in-the-us#!1-intro" style="background-color: white; color: #310e6a; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">Fodor's </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">the ten best fall foliage trips in the US of A are-</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Aspen Colorado</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">The Catskills New York, The Berkshires Massachusetts, Columbia River Gorge Oregon, Green Mountain Byway Vermont, Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway New Mexico, Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, Upper Peninsula Michigan, Lake of the Ozarks Missouri, and Glacier National Park Montana.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> Which would you most like to visit this fall and why?</span><br />
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I grew up in the Catskills. My husband grew up near the Berkshires. We went to Vermont by motorcycle a few years ago. We've been to the Great Smoky Mts in October. I guess this makes me privileged! I'd like to do them all gain and add Glacier National Park in Montana!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">5. The topic of legalizing marijuana was raised in the most recent televised political debate so let's wade in too. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Four states have legalize marijuana for recreational use. Your thoughts?</span><br />
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Let the pharmaceutical companies market it as medicine and have it prescribed by doctors. Recreational? NO WAY! We have enough problems with it as an illegal drug. More people will fee it is their choice to drive while under the influence just like they do know with alcohol. At least for the moment, most people don't want to risk getting caught driving while high...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">6. Are you okay to watch a movie already in progress or do you need to always see it from the beginning? How about jumping into a TV series somewhere in the middle? Is that okay?</span><br />
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Ehhhh... Some movies are easier to get into than others but lately, I haven't seen any that I'd care to watch. Middle of a series... maybe... if there hasn't been too much elapsed time. Middle might be too far for me.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">7. Thursday (September 24) is National Punctuation Day. What rule of punctuation trips you up most often? What rule of punctuation, when broken by someone else, bugs you the most? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Too many exclamation points in one paragraph! HAHA! It bugs me when people misuse the apostrophe in possessives or in plurals when that is simply not appropriate to begin with! Ooops! Sorry! (Gosh, I did it again!) </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">8. Insert your own random thought here.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">How I hate covering the pool for winter... I wish I could keep it open all year; but then we would need ice skates :-( HOWEVER, next year, we are getting an in-ground pool so I will put on a happy face and be content to wait 7 long months... </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"><br /></span>Peggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08312481804665424463noreply@blogger.com0