Springing Into Action Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1. It's officially spring in the northern hemisphere. Does it feel like spring in your part of the world? If you're in the southern hemisphere it's officially autumn where you live. Does the weather say autumn? Which do you prefer-spring or autumn? Why? 

Some days it feels like we went straight to summer, but then we'll have a winter day. Spring and Fall both have their good/bad points. I like both equally.

2. What's your favorite thing about spring? 

The birds singing, being able to sit on my back porch all.day.long. Even though I live on a busy road, I like opening up all of the windows and letting the house air out.

3. Spring into action, spring in your step, spring to life, spring to one's feet...which spring idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain.  

Spring to life. I've been super busy this Lent, doing exactly what I thought I'd be doing when I pictured life after CH's passing. It's taken 2 years and 3 Lents to get my act in gear!

4. Which spring food from this list is your favorite? What's a dish you like that includes your favorite spring ingredient? 

asparagus, strawberries, salad greens like mesclun, artichokes, spinach, eggs, peas, spring onions

Definitely strawberries. I don't need them in a recipe! If I had to say one, though, I'd say strawberry shortcake.

5. What's one task on your spring cleaning list? Do you actually have a list? 

A spring cleaning list?  (LOL!) No, I don't have one, but I do need to clean the windows. Ugh.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I published the first post of my Greece trip. I'm breaking it up into the land portion and the cruise portion; the land portion is on Flyin' the Coop.

Friday Fotos 2026 #5

Photo by Designecologist: https://www.pexels.com/photo/image-of-river-on-smartphone-1398339/

Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life. 

I love how, in the midst of trees that haven't woken up yet, the red buds start to bloom

The red buds are all over the park, painting splashes of purple where it's least expected

The starflowers (AKA Star-of-Bethlehem) are popping up in the most random places

Wildflowers are blooming all over the fields in the park

And then this happened on Monday

I made an Irish Cream Pie for dessert for St. Patrick's Day...it was yummy! I cheated and didn't make the crust; it made no difference and saved me a step.

I didn't take a picture of the sunrise on Wednesday, but it was one of the prettiest I've ever seen. There were multiple pale colors as the sun came up over snowy mountains. Gorgeous!

Thanks for taking the time to see what I saw beauty in this week!

Green Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1. St. Patrick's Day lands on March 17th. Do you believe in luck? Are there things you do thinking they'll  bring good luck or  things you avoid because they're considered bad luck? 

I don't believe in luck, just as I don't believe there are coincidences. I don't do anything for luck or avoid things for bad luck.

2. Forest-lime-sage-mint-olive-emerald...what's your favorite shade of green? 

This is actually a harder question than I initially thought! I like the darker shades: forest, olive, as well as sage

3. In Ireland the meal on this day is often a hearty beef or lamb stew served with colcannon (mashed potato mixed with cabbage and leeks). In the US corned beef and cabbage is the more typical St. Patty's Day meal. Will you/did you mark the day with one of these dishes? Baked-fried-roasted-mashed...what's your favorite way to eat a potato?

I made potato soup and Brown Bread for supper, as well as an Irish Cream Pie for dessert. I do like a good potato, no matter how it's cooked.

4. What color of the rainbow best represents your personality/mood today? Tell us why. 

Yellow: bright & cheerful

5. Which 'lucky' quote resonates with you. Elaborate. 

 'Luck is not something you can mention in the presence of self-made men.' E.B. White 

'Diligence is the mother of good luck." Benjamin Franklin 

'Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.' Seneca 

'Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.' Ralph Waldo Emerson 

I'm going with Seneca's quote. Or Emerson's. Cause/effect, opportunity/preparation. It all boils down to taking opportunities that arise and using your God-given talent as intended.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

4 years ago, CH & I celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. We were at a campground in Clifden, and the owners suggested that we not stay out after 9:00 pm. We went into town for dinner and then a drink. I think we were back by 7:00; things were getting pretty rowdy, even for that little town!

Our St. Patrick's Day Breakfast from Sullivan's in Oughterard, County Galway. Seriously, if you're in that area, it's worth a stop for pastries and amazing coffee!

St. Patrick's Day, 2022, Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravan Park 

Clifden, County Galway, St. Patrick's Day, 2022 (Who knew that 3 years later I would go back to Clifden?)