Lovin' the Hodgepodge

Where does the time go? I completely forgot to answer the questions on Tuesday, so here I am, early Wednesday morning, typing away! Luckily the questions weren't too difficult so I didn't have to think too much to answer them.

1. Something little you are loving right now? 

The Bible in a Year Podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. You don't have to be Catholic to enjoy this! He reads a chapter or 2 from 2 different books of the Bible, as well as a chapter or verse from Proverbs or Psalms, says a prayer, and gives a reflection on what he read. And all of that in around 20 minutes or less! The podcast started out as #1 on the Apple Podcast list (regardless of genre) and stayed there for 17 weeks.

2. Red roses or pink peonies? Red wine or pink lemonade? Red lipstick or pink polish? A cotton candy colored sky or a fiery red sunset? A book-movie-song you love with the word red or pink in it's title? 

Pink peonies; red wine; pink polish; both (how can you make a choice when God is showing his artwork?). I can't think of a book-movie-song, but I do really like Pink, the singer. She has spunk! 

3. What's something you currently have your heart set on doing-going-seeing-or experiencing?

More of Europe. I want to experience the German Christmas Markets, Oktoberfest, and see Rome as well as other parts of Italy.

4. Who would you most like to have a heart to heart with right now? Is that possible? 

My mom or my dad. It's not possible, so I have to pull up my big girl panties and be an adult!

5. Write an acrostic for the word L-O-V-E. 

I just finished my quiet time with Jesus, so all I can think of is the acronym I use for my journaling. This is from Sonja Corbitt, and it helps me focus on scripture and apply it to my life:

Listen, Observe, Verbalize, Entrust

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Valentine's Day: UGH. What a waste of a perfectly good day. I've never been much of a fan. When I was in 3rd grade, we didn't get to have our party because there was a riot at the Small Town High School. (Read more about that here.) I always felt like there was a lot of pressure on VD, whether or not I had a boyfriend. I know some people go all out and really enjoy the day, but I'd rather just skip it! 

What are your feelings on Valentine's Day?

Summery Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joyce comes up with a few questions almost every Wednesday for us to answer...kind of like a virtual meet & greet! 

1. The first day of summer rolls in later this week. What are ten things you'd put on your list of  quintessential summer activities? Will you try to manage all ten this summer?
10???? Are you kidding me??? I just want to get through this kitchen renovation before I go back to work on July 24th! I can't think about what I'd rather be doing; I just want this to be over so I can start enjoying my new beautiful kitchen.

2. Do you collect seashells when you're at the beach? What do you do with them once you get them home? What's your favorite place to comb for seashells? How many of these 'best beaches for hunting seashells' have you visited? Which one would you most like to visit?

Calvert Cliffs State Park (Maryland), Jeffrey's Bay (South Africa), Sanibel Island (Florida), Shipwreck Beach (Lanai Hawaii), Ocracoke Island (North Carolina), Galveston Island (Texas) and The Bahamas
I'm not much for collecting or searching for seashells, because of the clean up after to make sure they don't smell. I do enjoy looking at them while walking the seashore, but that's about it.  When we were at the Outer Banks last year, I did keep a look out for sea glass but had no luck.
I went to Ocracoke last summer, and I went a crappy band trip to The Bahamas my senior year. I don't think I've ever been to Galveston Island; if I have it was when I was really little & I obviously don't remember it. There are so many other places I'd rather go than the ones listed.

3. At a snail's pace, shell out money, come out of your shell, go back into your shell, drop a bombshell, happy as a clam, clam up...which 'shell' phrase could most recently be applied to some event or circumstance in your life? Explain.
Wow. This renovation seemed to be moving right along, but now it's at a snail's pace and I foresee that I'll have to shell out some money. CH is causing me to come out of my shell to get what I want when I'm happy as a clam to clam up and let him drop the bombshell. I just want to go back into my shell and come out when it's over.

4. What summer activity do you dislike? Why?
The Small Town's "FreedomFest". For starters, they're having it this Saturday, which is over a full week before the 4th of July. The fireworks have Laika hiding behind CH's chair, shaking like a leaf. 

5. What's something you see as quickly becoming obsolete? Does that bother you?
Trick or Treat. It's sad that this country has become such a place where the kids can't have the memories or fun that we had when we were growing up. Or, that Halloween is seen as "the devil". People need to lighten up.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
Look at this sweet girl:

We have a year-long house guest

Looks like she'll be staying with her grams for a year until MS gets through with Law School.  We're having an adjustment period, but she's settling in, and Laika and Pepper are learning to tolerate. It was pitiful when MS left on Sunday: Girl Dog kept running to the living room window, looking out and watching each car as it went by. Hopefully this year will go by quickly and they will be reunited.

{Friday Foto Friends} Flowers, Convention, and Some Chickens

Here's a quick recap of my week via pictures. Deb is back this week, so I'm linking up with her at Breathing in Grace.
Last weekend was the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (CCW) Convention. It was held at my parish, which was nice because I came home both nights to sleep in my own bed! We had a wonderful speaker from Picture Christians  Project. The purpose of this is to bring international Christian persecution to the forefront. Jeff Gardner is the founder; if you ever have the chance to hear him speak, do it! He has had some very interesting experiences. 

Jeff Gardner from Picture Christians Project

Friday afternoon was a "Presidents' Reception"; we had an honored guest:

I've held the office of secretary for the parish CCW for the past 2 years; the current officers' reign will be over in 1 month. It's been a blast working with these ladies (and Father) over the past couple of years:

Our reign is almost over!

Friday night, we were treated to a concert by Audrey Assad. If you don't know her music, you should check her out. She has a beautiful voice, as well as touching songs.

Audrey Assad

I'll have a separate post on more of the convention later, so check back if you're interested!

The tables were just lovely!

While I was down at my parents' house the other day, I snapped some pictures around their yard:

Clematis 

A couple of roses in the backyard

Rhododendron on the side of the house

This is at 1 of my schools. I think I caught the blooms just in time; they're almost spent!

Just in time!

I mentioned in a previous post that the Small Town is going through some changes. Here's a picture of some major clearing that's going on. I'm not sure if this is where "downtown" will be, or if this is clearing for a bypass:

The arrow points out the new high school, which you couldn't see from the road before the clearing. There is a better view of the mountains...for now.

I made mango salsa for dinner the other night, and we put it over grilled chicken. (The leftover salsa is also good for dipping tortilla chips!)

Last picture. We had a little storm this morning as I wrote this post. 

Laika isn't a big fan of storms.

I hope everyone has a marvelous weekend!

{Friday Foto Friends} Changes, Flowers, and a Tune Up

I was planning on linking up with Deb at Breathing in Grace, but she's having some technical difficulties. I'm on my own for a recap of the week in pictures.

I don't know if I'll ever get used to seeing this logo on the tower. I thought I had a picture of the Aluminum Company Of America's logo on it, but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, this is a definite sign that the Small Town is changing.

Yes, I know these are weeds, but look how pretty those dainty little flowers are! So, they're staying in my little flower bed. 😁

I was sitting on my couch the other night, and I looked out of the window and thought how pretty the mountains are. Then I thought, "Wait a minute...I can't see the mountains from my living room window!" Those are actually clouds.

And here they are when I stepped out on the porch to snap a picture with my big girl camera. They do look like mountains, don't they?

I saw this little guy on the bird feeder when I took the girls out for a bathroom break. 

Lastly, here's "Eloise" getting tuned up. I had my first piano lesson Wednesday, and I loved it! I can't wait to be halfway proficient!

Hope everyone had a good week. Don't forget to go to Deb's to link up, or just see everyone else's pictures.

Foto Friday {5}

Not so many pictures this week. Hope you enjoy, anyway!

I had just gone to bed Sat. night when I heard some fireworks going off. I had no idea the Small Town's "Freedom Fest" was going on that day. If someone can figure out why they have to a week before the 4th, let me know. I still haven't figured that out. I took these pictures from my back porch.

One day, Laika was barking (which she doesn't do very often) at the back door. When I looked out, I saw why she was barking:

Here's Laika looking very intently at the bunnies:

Just because I was bored while I waited for a hummingbird (who never came):

I caught this little guy foraging for a snack:

Lastly, I spent an hour of my week washing our trailer:

The back of the trailer with stickers from places we've been so far (along with a few other stickers that CH felt compelled to put on):

I can't believe it's already July...that means summer is halfway over for me. Every year it gets harder & harder to go back. Yep, summer will be over before you know it!

Friday's Fave Five: Better Late than Never

I’m posting a little late today; we’ve been exceptionally busy the past couple of days! Better late than never, right? Joining Susanne at Living to Tell the Story with my FFF.

1.      My favorite text is from MS. I told him I was planning on meeting an SLP that I know out in the cyberworld, and here is his response:

2.      I ran across what is becoming my favorite quote yet again. This time, it was in an Etsy shop.

3.      Favorite search. MS & I had a discussion about some foods, and being able to eat alligator on Fridays during Lent came into question. I inserted it into Google and got a response.

4. Funniest thing I saw on Facebook this week:

5.   Favorite moment:

I ran into a high school friend & his wife on Sunday night. CH & I were eating at our usual Sunday night Mexican Restaurant. He came up to me, said my name, and said, “You don’t know who I am, do you?” It took me about half of a minute before I realized who it was. I don’t think I’ve seen him since I graduated from high school, and I had never met his wife. They sat down and chatted until our food came, and it we talked like we had known each other forever. We (the high school friend & I) lived away and came back to the Small Town after 20+ years.

Another Friday Frags

 WOW! I'm on a roll: 2 Friday Frags in a row! (Although last week I completely forgot to link up!)

 Nothing much happened this week, just the usual. The Small Town had their Christmas Tree Lighting in the park on Tues. It was originally scheduled for last week, but we had a lot of rain at the beginning of the week so it was rescheduled. They really do a good job with it; they have luminaries lighting the sidewalks & 1 of the roads is blocked for the "train rides". I wanted to take some pictures, but Tues. was a Holy Day of Obligation so I went to Mass. Maybe next year. 

 I don't know how  you people who live in warm weather get in the Christmas Spirit. Our temps are supposed to be in the 70's this weekend, and it just doesn't feel like Christmas. Our family get-together is this weekend, so the windows will be open and the little ones will be playing outside.

 Wed. we had our quarterly SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) meeting, followed by our Christmas party at a local restaurant. Our Speech Coordinator printed out Christmas rhymes and taped the answers on the ornaments that we brought in for the ornament swap. It was a great idea! I ended up getting the ornament that the person sitting beside me brought, and she got the one I brought, AND the same ornament as another SLP!

These are my "Speech Besties" (at least the one on the right is 1...after she knows I included this picture she may disown me!):

I told the one on the right to "elongate her neck" (which is what I tell myself these days when I'm in a picture!) and this is what happened! The lady in the middle is my "presenting buddy": we've presented a poster at the national convention and spoke at the state convention in Oct. These are amazing ladies & SLPs!

 Lastly...an impromptu selfie with CH:

 If you've participated in Friday Frags with Mrs. 4444, link up with Traci at A Star in my Own Universe. She's picked up the torch and is trying to get this thing back up off the ground!

Has anything exciting happened in your neck of the woods this week?

Weekend Wrap-up

Wow. I really haven't been doing well with keeping up with this blog!
I took Daddy to Mass on Thanksgiving morning. I was surprised at the number of people who were there. The current priest started a tradition of blessing bread.

 We had a good little crowd at Daddy's for Thanksgiving...there were around 30 of us. Luckily, it was warm enough that some of us ate on the deck and hung out there.  We had way too much food...I ended up coming home with almost all of my mashed potato & squash casseroles. OS came in, but it was a little too far for MS. He'll be home in a couple of weeks, though. YS  & his girlfriend were also there.

The Small Town's football team is headed back to the State Championship next week. I kept up with the score through the internet, and when the other team was up 2-0, I didn't have a good feeling. The final score was 42-2. The team they are playing on Friday is the team that beat them in the Championships last year...which is the first time the Small Town lost in the Championships (that I know of, anyway).
My plan was to clean on Friday while CH was gone camping, but I got a little distracted on the computer. The teacher site  that is like ETSY is having a huge sale today & tomorrow, so I was busy getting things ready for it. We'll see how I do. I started my "store" without any huge expectations of making a lot of money, so I'm a bit surprised that I actually have made a little bit. Not a lot, but a little.
CH ended up coming home Friday night because he couldn't find the people he was planning on camping with, so I ended up cleaning on Saturday. I like to have my house clean before I start decorating for Christmas.
I asked permission from one of my brothers to post this picture. Does it get any better than this? He has his own personal "Elf on a Shelf"!

3 more weeks until Christmas Break! I have my activities planned for the next 3 weeks at work, so I'm all geared up, ready to go!