A Foodie, Wintry Wednesday Medley

It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.


NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY – January 30

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY - January 30

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY

In the United States, National Croissant Day is observed each year on January 30th. Croissants are a buttery, crescent-shaped rolls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  
The key to a perfect croissant is laminating the dough. Laminating the dough is a process by which butter is folded into the mixture creating multiple thin layers of butter and dough. The result is a mouth-watering flaky crust and airy body.
Legend surrounds this pastry, as is often the case with a popular, worldly treat. What is known, is that crescent-shaped breads have been found around the world for ages. One of these was the Kipferl which originated in Austria as far back as the 13th century. This nonlaminated bread is more like a roll.
Credit for the croissant we know today is given to an Austrian military officer, August Zang. In 1939 he opened a Viennese bakery in Paris introducing France to Viennese baking techniques.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Stop by the bakery for a fresh, warm croissant or try making your own using this recipe: Croissants recipe.
1.  Well, I do love croissants when they are fresh, but day-old croissants need to be turned into a donut.  I happen to really like the croissants that have a donut-like glaze on them!  Sugar overload but so good.  So... do you like croissants?  What is your favorite way to eat them?
WHAAAT? Croissants made into donuts??? Seriously??? I've obviously never had them that way, but I do like to eat one as a chicken salad sandwich.
2.  Speaking of food... How do you handle stress?
Yep, you guessed it: by eating. As I've gotten older I've learned to hand a lot of it over to God...and to be more organized. A lot of my stress comes from not being organized during different times of the year.
3.  Out of the negative emotions of greed, anger, jealousy, and hate, which one would you say affects you the most?
It's a toss-up between anger and jealousy. Jealousy has decreased a lot over the past year, but I definitely need to work on the anger flare-ups!
4.  Out of the positive emotions of compassion, positivity, enthusiasm, and initiative, which one is your biggest strength?
Compassion. Hands down. I don't even have to think about that one!
5.  What do you get every time you go grocery shopping, other than the staples such as bread, milk, butter, flour, sugar...
I'm becoming a coffee hoarder. I almost always go by the coffee when I'm at the grocery store or Target or WalMart...even though I have plenty in the cupboard.
6.  Please tell us something random about your week so far.
This happened Tuesday morning:

The dogs loved it...at first:
School was called off Monday night for Tuesday, and then Tuesday night for today. Looking at the temperatures, I'm guessing tomorrow will be at least a 2 hour delay (if not another day off depending how the roads are in the mountains) and there's a wintry mix forecasted for Friday morning so there's a chance this week will just need to be crossed off!
Thanks again, Terri, for hosting! Want to get in on the Wednesday Medley? Check her blog Your Friend from Florida on Tuesdays to get the questions, then don't forget to link up on Wednesdays!

When There's a Four Letter Word in the Forecast

Snow scene with "That 4-Letter Word" centered
It's a funny thing to consider how people all of the United States react when there's a four letter word that begins with "S" in the forecast. When you consider it, some of the actions will have you scratching your head or laughing out loud.

I live in the South. There's not much snow here, but since I work in the schools, we live for the hope of snow in the winter. It doesn't matter how much, and it doesn't matter where it is as long as it's in the county where I work. A lot of us keep an eye on the forecast and tend to get our hopes up when we see that sweet little symbol on our phones.❆ We also feel a lot of disappointment when we wake up and nothing looks different outside. We grumble that we stayed up too late the night before because the meteorologist said it was a sure thing. Sometimes it is a sure thing, but just north of us.
I've never bought into the whole "let's run to the store and make sure we have plenty of bread and milk", but the times I have had to run and get some milk because we're out have been frustrating. I mean, it's not like we're going to be stuck inside for days. It's very rare when the snow hasn't all melted by mid-afternoon.

I have a friend who lives in New Hampshire. When it snows they go about their everyday life. Sure, they have snow days and ice days, but those crazy Northerners choose to stand outside in the snow and watch cross country ski races! My friend has a generator so they still have some semblance of modern life when the power goes out. They're the ones who need to stock up on their food, not southerners who think an inch of snow is Armageddon.

Let me just say: snow on the weekends is a waste. Sure I still get a little excited to see the white stuff floating down, but unless it happens on a Sunday when there's not a holiday on Monday, it's a waste. That is unless there's enough of it that the melting remnants stay on the roads enough to ice over.  Then, we'll take a delayed start, which is almost as good as a day off. On those days the Kindergarten classes have breakfast and lunch within the span of an hour. Crazy, huh?

There's so much excitement when I see ❆ on the forecast map. It's easy to get my hopes up. CH doesn't understand the excitement, but that four letter word in the forecast is like a Christmas present, especially in the South.
snow scene with the blog title on the bottom

Cooking Up the Wednesday Medley

It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.
National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd. (Not to be confused with March 14 which is PI Ï€ Day.) 
National Pie Day was created simply to celebrate the pie.  It is a day for all to bake or cook their favorite pies.  Even more importantly, it is a day set aside for all to enjoy eating pies!
The first pies appeared around 9500 BC in the Egyptian Neolithic period or New Stone Age.

1.  Okay, fess up.  Tell us your top three favorite pies, please.  Will you have some pie today?
Pecan, Coconut, and Key Lime. We're having Chicken Pot Pie for dinner, so...
2.  While we are talking about food... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try almost any new food?  What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?
I'm not too picky of an eater, as long as it's not cooked veggies. Especially if I'm traveling, I'll try it. I'm drawing a blank as to the worst thing I've ever eaten. CH says the worst thing he's ever eaten is King's Pie at the Tower of London. 
3.  Baking could be considered an art as could cooking.  How do you define art?
Something that is beautiful. It's definitely in the eyes of the beholder!
4.  Tell us a really stupid joke that made you laugh, please.
Wanna go to Booger King? (push tip of nose up while saying the next part) Hop right in! :) 
5.  January 23rd is also National Handwriting Day. Do you have nice handwriting? Did cursive writing come naturally or did you practice in those double-lined practice books until your fingers hurt?



If I take my time, I think I have decent handwriting. I must have practiced, but I don't remember how much. 
6.  Tell us something random about your week.
A podcast that someone recommended to me is doing a book study on The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The first episode was Monday, and it was excellent. The hosts are 3 women that includes 1 nun who are friends. I love their comradery and their insight. Just look up Abiding Together on Google Play, iTunes, or your favorite pod player. You won't be disappointed!

A Do Nothing Wednesday Medley

It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.

Wednesday, January 16th, is National Do Nothing Day!! National Nothing Day was proposed in 1972 by columnist Harold Pullman Coffin. This day has been observed annually since 1973. Of course, the way to celebrate it is to do nothing! 

1.  To commemorate Do Nothing Day in SOME way, tell us something about your life (or the life of someone close to you) in 1973!! 

Wow. 1973: I was 9 years old & I have no idea what was going on! At that time, I suppose my 2 oldest sisters had moved out so that left 8 of us living in the house, plus my parents. Other than that, I have no idea what was happening! 

2.  Now that we are thinking back, please tell us what your favorite past time was as a child.

Summers were spent going to the community swimming pool and playing outdoor games (hide & seek, rolly bats, fruit basket turn-over, etc) with the neighborhood kids at night. 

3.  What is the best way to cheer you up on a bad day? 

Honestly? Just leave me alone. Definitely, don't keep asking me what's wrong! 

4.  How old were you when you first started dating? Do you remember your first date?

I went on my first date at 15. My parents had 16 as the age to date, but they allowed me to go out with this one guy because his niece went with us. At least she started out the date with us, then went home after a while. I didn't date a whole lot, but in high school I dated a couple of pretty terrific guys. 
I need to clarify the whole "niece" thing: the guy I went out with was a year older than I; his niece was a year younger. We actually met at band camp; he went to a different school & his niece introduced us and set us up. It was a "one and done" kind of thing, which was a good thing because I think he could be considered a "bad boy". 

5.  Today is also National Fig Newton day.  Do you like figs/Fig Newtons?

Here is my weirdness shining through: I like fig newtons the best when they're a little crunchy on the outside. I do like fig newtons, but that's my favorite way to eat them!

6.  Tell us something random about your week.

There's not much going on around here. OS completed a Wilderness Emergency Medical Response Course last week, so he was gone & we watched the granddog for him. He is such a sweet dog. 

I'm looking forward to a long weekend of doing nothing in celebration of "Do Nothing Day"!

Thanks again, Terri, for hosting! Want to get in on the Wednesday Medley? Check her blog Your Friend from Florida on Tuesdays to get the questions, then don't forget to link up on Wednesdays!

A Shocking Wednesday Medley

It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.
1.  It may be a little shocking, but National Static Electricity Day is January 9!!  Do you often get shocked often when you touch metal?  Here are some things to avoid!



How to Avoid the Shock of Static Electricity
  • The drier air of winter months is a better insulator than the more humid air of summer.  To help prevent static electricity, use a humidifier to put moister back into the air in your home during the winter months.
  • Our skin is drier in the winter months, too.  Putting on moisturizer before getting dressed is recommended.
  • Synthetic fabrics are better insulators than natural fibers. Wearing materials made from natural fibers such as cotton will help reduce the amount of static electricity that’s stirred up.
  • While walking around the house, at work or shopping, holding a key or a metal pen in your hand will help discharge the build-up of static electricity painlessly.
  • Switching to leather soled shoes versus rubber-soled shoes will help reduce the amount of static that is built up.
I don't get shocked very often. Another tip is to touch wood before touching metal.

2.  There are actually two "National" days worthy of mention! It is also National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.  Our men and women working in many areas of law enforcement put their lives on the line for us daily.  Do you know someone working in law enforcement who you can thank today?


I work in the schools, so we have SROs (School Resource Officers). I also have a friend whose husband is a police officer, and a friend who is one for the small town.

3.  At our house right now it is all about football.  Joe's Philadelphia Eagles barely won their game on Sunday to move forward in the playoffs and another chance to play in the Super Bowl this year.  Do you have a favorite team in the playoffs or does football make you yawn?  Is there a Super Bowl party in your future, no matter the teams playing?

I used to really like football but that's tapered off in past years. I went to bed at the beginning of the 2nd quarter of the College National Championship Game on Monday night; I felt I needed the rest more than watching the game.
I am not a big pro football fan at all. I'll watch the beginning of the Super Bowl and maybe half-time; otherwise, I'm just not interested.

4.  Speaking of parties, there is always lots of food at parties I attend.  Tell us a weird food combination that you really enjoy (or have enjoyed).  It doesn't have to be party food.

I can't think of any at all. I'm just party pooper.

5.  Since we are on games and parties, what game have you spent the most hours playing?

Candy crush...maybe. I've spent a lot of hours playing tennis throughout my life although those days are long gone!

6.  Tell us something random about your week so far.

CH & I went to the movies on Sunday. I can't tell you the last time we actually went to the movies! Instant Family is a must-see, but take your tissues. It is a definite tear-jerker!

Thanks again, Terri, for hosting! Want to get in on the Wednesday Medley? Check her blog Your Friend from Florida on Tuesdays to get the questions, then don't forget to link up on Wednesdays!

A Bust of a Vacation


For the past few years, CH & I have taken a vacation between Christmas & New Year's. This one was a real bust of a vacation.

This year for our annual Christmas-New Year’s getaway, we decided to try something different and go somewhere we’ve never been. Last year’s vacation to St. Andrews State Park (Fl.) was cold and rainy, so we decided to go a little further south. That turned out to be a good plan because St. Andrews was hit hard by Hurricane Michael and is, for all purposes, non-existent at the moment. One of the volunteers we met either last year or the year before mentioned Manatee Springs State Park so that was our choice for this year.
We arrived about 3 ½ hours later than we expected because…Atlanta. Going through Atlanta was fine, the problem was just south where we ran into traffic being at a standstill. Google was a champ, re-routing us around the traffic a couple of times.
I called the campground that morning since I already knew we would be arriving after sundown when the gate is locked. I was told that the code was not given out until after 4:00, so I called again that afternoon and received the number to get into the campground. When we arrived at our site (#75) we were greeted by a couple of deer who were bedding down just behind our site. They ended up moving as we quickly set up the camper so we could crawl into bed after our 8.5 hour turned 12 hour trip.
Campsite #75 ended up being a good choice; 74 has a trail leading to the springs right behind it so people were intermittently walking to get to the springs to see the manatees. Unfortunately, the area had quite a bit of rain; swimming was not allowed due to “brown-out” conditions of the spring. We were able to see the manatee coming up when they took breaths, but the water was too murky to see them otherwise. I heard people commenting that usually the water is crystal clear. The springs feed into the Suwannee River, so when Georgia has a lot of rain the water backs up into the spring.
The first morning there we saw a family of manatees, at least we saw the family come up for breaths. That afternoon I saw a mama and her baby, along with a couple of other manatees. There was also an egret hanging around as well as some cormorants.  Vultures were roosting around the springs and there were a lot of them! I heard an owl and some woodpeckers, and the little gray squirrels were all over the place. Then there was the water moccasin I saw laying on top of a bush in the water.

Mama coming up for air
Baby coming up for air

The park is next to the small town of Chiefland. Not a big town, but there is a Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie, and the ever needed Dollar General. There are also plenty of places to eat.
OS surprised us by coming home on Christmas Eve; when I got home from Midnight Mass his car was in the driveway. For some reason I had a sneaky suspicion he was coming home. He also brought the flu with him, so he spent most of Christmas Day sleeping. He offered to stay and take care of the dogs while we were gone, so that saved us from the hassle of taking them to the vet.
CH ended up with the yuckies while we were gone, so I spent the day just relaxing and reading. That was fine, because there’s not much to do around Chiefland anyway. We decided to cut our vacation short and come home that Saturday. The plan was to drive until CH felt he couldn't drive any longer, then we would get a hotel room and drive the rest of the way in the next morning. CH ended up able to drive the whole way. There were some snags around Atlanta, but we just listened to Google Maps and managed to miss most of it. It was rather nice to be at home for New Year's, especially since I had to be at work on Wed.
We aren't sure what we're doing for next year. The couple who was next to us gave us the names of some parks they were going to so I may check those out online and see what's up with those. I really missed being in The Keys this year, but we'll see what we end up doing!
It's hard to believe this was 5 years ago in The Keys!

Ringing in the New Year with the Wednesday Medley


It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.

Today is  NATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION DAY

National Science Fiction Day is celebrated annually on January 2nd by millions of science fiction fans across the United States.  The date of January 2 was chosen for National Science Fiction Day as it corresponds with the birth date of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.   National Science Fiction Day is recognized by the Hallmark Channel and the Scholastic Corporation. 
HOW TO OBSERVE
Watch some classic science fiction t.v. shows or movies.  Start reading a science fiction novel. Use #ScienceFictionDay to post on social media.

1.  Will you observe National Science Fiction Day as recommended above?  Do you even like science fiction?
I'm not a fan of science fiction so I won't be observing it. I'm going to tuck this piece of information away for next year & do a week's worth of lessons on Isaac Asimov, though!
2.  Have you chosen a "word" for 2019?  Many people do. THIS QUIZ might help you find your word!!
For the past few years, I have used the Saint's Name Generator to choose a saint. 2019 Saint: 
 There was also a link for a Word of the Year so I did it...just out of curiosity:
3.  Did you stay up to see the new year in?  Are you happy or sad to see 2018 go?
I was in bed around 9:30 and yet the new year still came in without me being awake!
Eh, I'm pretty indifferent about seeing 2018 go. Thank goodness it was a pretty uneventful year. We brought in 2018 in windy, cold Panama City, Fl. and sent it out at home.
4.  I really enjoy the Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day but rarely get to sit and enjoy the entire parade because I am cooking.  Did you watch the parade?  Did you cook/eat the traditional foods (pork, black-eyed peas, kraut, greens...) to begin the new year?
No parade watching for me. The networks don't do parades like they used to...too much talking, not enough band coverage. 
We are going to have pork and a recipe for Hoppin' John that I found. No collard greens for this girl (she says with a shudder) and my black-eyed peas have to be in a recipe...not a stand-alone dish. 
5.  I have to ask... Resolutions.  Did you make any or set some new goals for 2019?  Or do you even think about it?
I don't even think about it. 
6.  Tell us something random about your week.
OS surprised us by coming home on Christmas Eve and he brought a guest...it was either the flu or some nasty virus. We didn't see him much on Christmas Day, but it was really nice to have all 3 boys at home. I wanted a picture but it took a while for CH to get his phone set up and OS thought he was going to get sick, so I said to just skip it. I did get this one though:
Our traditional picture following the opening of the Christmas Crackers & donning of the crowns.
I was awarded with "the most annoying toy to come out of the Crackers":

We left the day after Christmas for our annual New Year's trip. This year's destination was Manatee Springs State Park, Fl. and it was a bust. We ended up coming home on the 29th. Look for a post in the next couple of days all about it.
Thanks again, Terri, for hosting! Want to get in on the Wednesday Medley? Check her blog Your Friend from Florida on Tuesdays to get the questions, then don't forget to link up on Wednesdays!

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