Welcome to Life Through Bifocals

Life is not always clear and easy to figure out. So grab a cup of coffee and your bifocals and let's see what we can see.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Value of Pets: What They Do For Us!

We have been told that pets do us good, but how?  Here is a list of some of the things pets do for us. If you have pets, you are saying DUH!!! If you don't have pets, you may want to think if your life could use some of these benefits.


* Lower blood pressure. A SUNY study discovered that merely owning a pet reduced blood pressure in a group of stock brokers with hypertension.

* Lower cholesterol. A study in Australia found that pet owners had lower cholesterol levels as well as lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of developing heart disease. Since dogs need to be walked, owners got more exercise so cholesterol and blood pressure went down.

* Higher survival rates after illness. Pet owners are more likely than non-pet owners to live following major medical procedures or health problems. Having a loving pet to take care of can inspire people to fight to go on living.

* Owning a pet reduces loneliness. This one is as obvious as it is beneficial. Not only do people living alone report less loneliness when there's a happy pet waiting for them at home, but they also report that pets serve as an excellent catalyst for conversation with other people. Walking the dog can be a magnet for converstions.

* Owning a pet also reduces depression. For the reasons listed above, pet owners report lower levels of depression than similar non-pet owners. I got our first fish when I was in a bout of depression and the doctor told me I didn't need drugs I needed to spend 30 minutes each day watching fish swim. It worked and we have had fish ever since.

* Owning a pet can help your children develop. Children with pets at home consistently rate higher on evaluations of empathy and cognitive abilities, and tend to have higher self esteem. Who doesn't look back fondly on their childhood pet?

* Owning a pet can help childred develop a imunity against allergies.  Ever wonder why fewer children who life on farms have pet allergies? There imunity systems have been built up.

* Owning a pet can make a family happier. Families with pets report that they believe their pets have a positive influence on their family dynamic. And why wouldn't they, with the lower stress rates and happier children that result from homes with pets?

* Owning a pet is not restriced to cats and dogs. guinnie pigs, farrets, mice, turtles and hampsters all count.

* Owning a pet teaches us all to care for others, to look outward instead of inward and that is just plain a good thing to do so we don't become conceted. 

* Pets are entertaining. Watch a puppy or kitten chase a toy or chew one and you find yourself laughing out loud.  There personalits can fill us with joy and we see the world as a better place.  I have a great memory of our turtle playing with her water filter in her tank. She loved that thing and it was funny to watch.

And she Loved to play Peek-A-Boo


So what pets have you had the prvalidege to share your life with? How have they added value your life?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wednesday Hodgepodge: April Fools

 


Joyce over at From This Side Of The Pond comes up with these questions every week for all of us to enjoy and there is usually question that makes you think really hard so have a cup of coffee first before you answer so that your brain is awake for the hard work.  Thank you Joyce.


1. April rolls in at the end of this week and in celebration of that infamous date (April 1st) answer this question-What is something foolish you've done?
See I told you she comes up with at least one hard question and sure enough, she did right off the bat.I'm not the type to do something foolish purposely so I really can not think of anything. Now I have don fun things, I took a Belly Dancing Class with a friend once and I looked pretty foolish because I'm not graceful at all, does that count?

2. With April comes Easter and that classic edible treat known as Peeps...so tell me...what's your favorite way to fix/eat chicken? That wasn't what you were expecting, was it? I 'fooled' you. teehee.
I LOVE Peeps when you take off the wrapper and let them go hard and crunchy!  Doesn't everyone eat them that way? Real Chicken - grilled all the way!

3. What's the best museum you've ever visited? Or your favorite? Or the one you'd most like to visit?
We have gone to the Museum of Science in Boston MA and it was wonderful. I would love to go to the Smithsonian Museum one day.

4. You know what they say about April showers...what's your preference-a shower or a bath?
Bath all the way. Fill it with bubbles, turn on the jets, hit the on button on the radio and light candles. I'll be out in a few hours and so very relaxed!!

5. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"...fact or fiction? Why?
It all depends on how long the absence takes place.  If for a short time (a few weeks or even a month) fine, longer than that and you may have a problem with the "wondering eye".  So it's very important to stay in touch. That is why Skype is so very important for the relationship of our service men and women to stay strong.

6. What's your favorite product made/grown in your home state/province?
NH is known for it's Maple Syrup and Maple Candy. YUM.
Photo from Fuller Sugar House Website

7. What is going on in the world today that affects you the most?
Oh My! 2 really hard questions this week Joyce?  There is so much going on out there. I am still watching what is going on in Japan.

8. Insert your own random thought here.



I put 3 snowmen in the yard last winter, I wonder where the 3rd one is?  I guess I need to get out the shovel to find it!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Value of Pets: One Special Little Dog


                                                          
For those of us who have pets, we know what a commitment it is to care for them. Depending on the pet, yearly health check up vet bills, vaccines, and monthly pills can be costly.
Add to that obedience training, toys, food, litter pans, scooper's, collars, leashes and such and you can easily spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each year. My fish are much cheaper to care for but with the cost of electricity going up they may soon fit into this category as well. So what kind of pets have I had?  I'll leave you hanging until another post. I want to tell you about the very special little dog pictured above.
                                                      
One of my good friends who moved away to warmer weather just had her heart broken with the passing of her “White Tornado” recently. I knew this little 20 pound wonder who's name was Pukak (Pronounced Poo-ka) for several years and have watched while both the dog and mom/owner, Anu (pronounced Ah-noo) become a great Pet Therapy Team, a Dancing Team, A Rally Obedience Team and Best Friends. Even though she was a small girl, I know that my friend’s house feels 4 times larger with her gone. I know that my friend is putting together meals for her and part way through realizes that her best girl is not there to feed. I know that tears fall from her eyes as she picks up the food and water dish and puts away the grooming supplies. I know the pain of walking down the streets alone where once she walked her "White Tornado". My heart goes out to her as she struggles to wake up and get on with her day without her little companion.

It is all so hard and many people will never understand and may say to her “She was just a dog, go to the shelter and get another one.” Yes, she was a dog, No, she was not JUST a dog. She was a member of the family who never complained about the long hours that they worked, or if dinner was late (OK she would let you know if you were waiting too long before feeding her but not in a mean way). She would not complain if the bed was not made. She loved without question and gave 110% of her love and attention to her parents. My friend worked hard to socialize – train – take care – and make this little one the special little girl that she was. I have several cute and funny memories of her sitting by the front door with Becke looking through the screen at us in the front yard doing something that I didn’t want either dog into so they were safely watching from a distance. Look at the smile on the faces of both dogs in the photo above. Pukak enjoyed her time here and was a joy to all.
Pukak (on the left) with our dog Becke 

I have this picture of her and our cat, Luckie, sitting on the couch together (something that didn’t happen at all before. Luckie needed to give her permission to anyone with 4 legs wanting to share the couch). My favorite memory of her is when she had to go out to “do her business" she would give that “Harry Eyeball Look” which really meant “Hey lady, get a clue and open the back door or you will be sorry!”.


Pukak had a job, she was part of a wonderful Therapy Team. Her body would magically change when she got to the hospital where she was a therapy dog. She stopped barking, walked taller, brought joy to the people she visited and was able to get up on the hospital beds and really get close to visit. She didn't stop at visiting the people in beds - no not the little white tornado, she visited the staff as well!  Her love had no bounds, she gave it all and when she was done for the day, everyones life had been touched by her small frame.

Pukak doing what she did best - warming hearts with her cold nose.
We value our time with our pets and the time is never enough.  I know my friend is waiting to be reunited with her little " White Tornado". R.I.P. Pukak whose full name was August’s First Snow CGC, PTD.   Pukak. Run, Play, Chase, Bark and get on the couch; we will see you soon.  Say hello to Falcore, Shadow, and Luckie for me!

For those who have pets, you understand the connection between them and us and you fully understand how my friend feels right now. For those who have never had pets, I’m sorry, you may never understand how much having a pet can enrich your life.

"Until one has loved an animal as part of their life, one's soul remains unawakened."

Anatole France

Monday, March 28, 2011

Weekend Review: And the 400 Mile Challenge.


Hubby got me a Zero Gravity Chair for my birthday to put on the back deck this summer but since it was 27 degrees out, it stayed in the living room and I sat there writing this blog entry.  It is very nice and comfy and I really love it.
Saturday we went to the birthday party for our grand daughter.  She had her cousins to play with and it was so much fun to see her enjoy the balloons and hats scattered over the kitchen. She quit unwrapping at one point to go play leaving our daughter to open the gifts with the help of one of the cousins.  It was cute to watch!  Watching, the kids play while the women talked and younger men stayed outside in 30 degrees grilling and the older men talked about the days current events made for a fun day.
Sunday after a great morning worship service we went out to eat lunch and then relaxed for a bit before going off to our small group where a small cake was waiting for me. In all I didn't cook Friday - Saturday and Sunday.  I did eat some carbs but with all I've been doing towards the 400/800 mile challenge, I'm not worried about it.




Speaking of the challenge - how is everyone doing?  I had a good week and again the bike is my best friend (or until it warms up and I can walk in the sunshine). I can do over 4 miles in 15 minutes now.  I'm breathing pretty hard so I'm thinking of slowing down and shooting for a 30 minute ride. My weekly total 46.14 was and my yearly total to date is 512.01  Click on the button and see how the others are doing.  Tell me here too, how is your personal challenge doing? Do Tell!!!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wednesday Hodgepodge: Spring has Sprung!

Photo from iStockphoto.com

Today, our oldest Grand Daughter and Third Grand Child is 2 fingers old!! Happy Birthday to the best little girl ever. Happy Birthday E, you have brought everyone who meets you so much joy! You are the best and we love you. Pepere and Grannie.



Joyce created these wonderful questions so that we can get to know each other. To join, click on her button above and please leave comments, we all love and appreciate comments. 

1. Sunday was the first day of spring. So they say. Ahem.
What is your favorite outdoor springtime activity?


Sitting in the sun and making Vitamin D because you know I've been trapped resting up inside looking outside for WAY to long and I'm already taking 3000 IU of Vitamin D.  

2. Who would you want to come into your kitchen to cook dinner for you?
It's been a really long time but I have a friend, Sharon G. and boy can she cook!  I would feel really blessed to have her cook. I would not even mind doing the dishes!

3. When did you last fly a kite?
From Clip Art

NEVER :-( Don't you feel sad for me!

4. What topic puts you to sleep faster than anything?
Any time the conversation becomes technical  as in Hubby trying to explain how the furnace man had to take off the thing-a-ma-jig to put on the what-cha-ma-callit so that the doo-blotchy would work right.  Yeah, sound asleep in no time. 

5. Which flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?
 Sunflowers are my favorite because they reach towards Heaven and are huge. I like that.

6. What significant historical events took place during your elementary school days?

President J.F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was in grade school and the nun came into the class room crying and told us all school was canceled and to all go home.  This was in the day when moms were home and houses were unlocked all the time and you could walk the streets until dark and you were safe. No calls were needed, we just went home. We all stayed glued to the TV and there was no school until a day after the funeral. 

7. Do you swear? Do you pseudo-swear? (You know crap, shoot, friggin'?)
Holy Moly and Oh My Stars are as crude as I get. I think women who swear sound really cheep!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I am enjoying Spring and so see #1!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Reaching Towards Heaven in 2011: Thinking Back to the Beginning

Photo from Clip Art

A few Sunday's ago our Preacher did a great job as usual on a topic about being rich. Not in money but in Godly Blessings.  At one point he asked us to think about the person who taught us about God.  For me there was more than just one (guess I was a hard nut to crack) it took a few people to plant the seeds, water and get me ready to be harvested into the work of God. I decided to tell you about them.

Cedric Parsons was the Preacher at  Fakenham Baptist Church in Fakenham, England. Hubby was in the Air Force and we were stationed over seas at RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk, England.   One time we had Cedric and his wife (who's name I cannot remember) over for dinner. She was VERY pregnant and our son had just learned about babies. He took one look at her, pointed at him and yelled "I know WHAT you did!"  Cedric continued to teach us about God anyway. He was truly a good godly man who loved us.

After England we were shipped to Alexandria, LA. We lived off base as did several other military families. We had a couple who lived behind us, Bob & Cindy Woodward. They invited us to their church several times.  It was at this church, the Jackson Street Church of Christ, where we met our next preacher, John Brasseaux. He brought us closer to God by his love, patience and example. John Brasseaux at one time was studying to become a priest but he was concerned that for all the schooling he was getting he had yet to read the Bible.  When he did read the Bible he became disenchanted with the Catholic church and became a preacher for the Church of Christ in Alexandria. John completed the job that Cedric had started. John's wife's name was Laura.

All new Christians need help to grow and this is where the most Godly woman who has ever walked the earth, Edna Johnson, came into our lives.  Edna J. embodied Titus 2:3,4 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children..." She has about 6 children of her own but she was very willing to take me and Hubby under wing to show us what a Christian family did on a daily basis.  She was truly a blessing.

These people where brought into our lives for a time. Each one to teach us, to be an example to us, to help us grow, and to allow us to make mistakes and to laugh at them with us.  They have all been a blessing to us and I do not know now where we would have been without all them in our lives.  When I think of how I became a Christian, these people come to mind and I have a grateful heart because of them.   I thank them all.  How did your journey play out so that you could become a Christian? How many people do you need to thank and be grateful to God for?  Are you on anyone else's list of people they would thank?

Monday, March 21, 2011

Weekend Review: And the 400 Mile Challenge.

Winter is over and Spring is here!  Insert happy Dance here!!!

The world already feels warmer and brighter!  I took Becke for walks both days this weekend and she was so happy to be out splashing in puddles left by the melting snow.  I have 2 patches of ground! One is over the septic tank (it's the first place we see ground and so we know it's still working :-) 





 Remember this photo from a few weeks back?



Well it's now looking like this


And the other spot is now a brown rock garden.

It has signs on life in it.



I ended Winter on Saturday with a winter meal - Cream of Pumpkin Soup and French Toasted Grilled Cheese
I get 0 Carb bread on line so I can enjoy a grilled cheese as well
I began Spring with Grilled Chicken on Salad Greens and Ice Cream with Strawberries. 


Low Carb Ice Cream makes this possible
 Yum! I hear that we are suppose to get rain/snow mix this week but hay - it will be a SPRING MIX so it's all good.


I am well on my way to the new 800 mile goal. I am still riding the stationary bike and can now go 4 miles in 15 minutes! My grand total for the week was 50.7 miles with my new total at 465.87! A little more than 20 miles was just on the stationary bike alone!  I feel great!  To see how the others on the challenge are doing, just click on the button above and join in. 

How was your weekend and did you celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of Spring?  How?

Friday, March 18, 2011

Quick Tip Friday: Quick Low Carb Snack


This is a great Low Carb Snack that I really like to munch on while watching a movie, or needing an after work snack that will not ruin my dinner. All total it has 2.5 Net Carbs and it's very filling.

1 oz. Reduced Fat Cream Cheese
2 TBLS Almond Butter
Pork Rinds

Mix the Cream Cheese and Almond Butter together and Microwave for about 10 seconds and then mix it again.  Dip your Pork Rinds in and enjoy.  The Almond Butter has 2 net carbs for 2 TBLS and the cream cheese has less than 1 while the pork rinds has 0 so have as many of them as you want.  All total this was 2.5 (I counted .5 for the cream cheese since it has less than 1 per servings but not 0 per serving.)

Have a great weekend and remember that this Sunday is the first day of Spring.  How are you celebrating? Are you celebrating? Lord Willing, I'll see you here Monday.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Wednesday Hodgepodge: The Spring Edition

   


This week's Hodgepodge is all Spring and I am loving that!! After all Spring starts on Sunday! Thank you Joyce once more.  If you click on the button you can join in the fun.


1. What would you do if you found a pot of gold? Let's pretend this pot of gold is worth exactly $1500 (which would actually be more like a cup of gold at current values). Anyway, let's also pretend you have to spend it as opposed to making a donation someplace. Now tell me what you would do with that cup pot of gold?
OK Joyce said I have to spend it so following those rules, I would rip up the carpet and replace it with hard wood floors. I would then do some major landscaping so that our grand daughters (I love saying that) have a play yard, and finally I would enclose our deck so we can use it longer in the year.

2. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form?
Green tea, green coffee, green clothes. When the kids were little, green milk, green pancakes for breakfast!  Good think my family loves me. 

3. Have you been bitten by the Spring Cleaning bug? What spring cleaning job most needs doing at your house? What spring cleaning job are you most dreading?
I really do like to Spring Clean. I like to move the furniture around and get behind it and clean. I like to open the windows and let in the fresh air and get rid of the bad air. We repainted the living room with new colors and moved the furniture to give the room a new look.

Pesto Green walls just look bright and clean.

The job I am most dreading? We have to take our kitchen cabinets down because something is wrong and they are sagging and so I dread what we will find up there.
No blood yet - a good sign.
4. lime-shamrock-sage-forest...your favorite shade of green?
See # 3 - Pesto is the new shade but I like all greens. After all the white of winter snow, I am really looking for green.

5. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." So...do you believe in luck or do you believe we make our own luck?
Oh Joyce! I thought that we would all get a week on fun questions, and here you go tossing in one of the questions that makes me think!  I don't believe in luck, I believe that in all things God works either for us or through us and maybe others see that as luck but I believe it's God.

6. Monday (3/14) was Pi Day. Get it? Pi =3.14. Those math types are so clever aren't they? Since I'm not one of them tell me what's your favorite piE (the edible kind).
Is there a bad pie?  In winter I like a warm apple pie, in the Summer Chocolate Silk pie puts a smile on my face. Fall brings out the Pumpkin Pie in me and Spring is Key Lime for me.  Pie! It's all good, right?

7. That same date (3/14) happens to be the birthdate of the late physicist Albert Einstein. I bet he knew the value of Pi. So...what do you think is more important and or valuable in life... intelligence or common sense?
Our Son had a friend when he was little that was very smart but not one ounce of common sense.  I loved that boy who is now a fine wonderful man who has learned but OH MY when he was young I worried for his life. He had no common sense and it was sort of like having Sheldon from Big Bang Theory around all the time. Never sure if you wanted to shoot him or just laugh at him.

Photo from Google Search
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I get up in the morning from my warm bed and walk down the warm hall and get into a hot shower.  I blow dry my hair, brush my teeth, put on clean clean clothes and put on my makeup. I pour a cup of hot fresh coffee and turn on my TV for the morning news. I am struck with how my normal morning is so much more than what is happening in Japan. How any of those people would love to have a warm house, warm bed, hot shower, tooth paste and brush, electricity, clean clothes, make up, hot coffee, and a life very different from there  current reality.

Photo from Google Search

 We complain about our seasons, our jobs, our lives and then I watch the news and pray to God for his blessings to reach out to them. Makes our problems look very small.  God Bless them and Keep them and may His Angels bring comfort to them all. 

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

New Award: 7 Facts


Thank you Ellie from Books. Fitness & Other Stuff  for my new award and since I LOVE Sunflowers, this just made me smile.  To accept the award I need to tell you 7 Facts about me and then give the award to 7 others:

Here are the 7 Facts about me:
1. I was born in New England but I still have a hard time getting use to winter. I don't like cold!
2. I love cleaning house.
3. I grew up afraid of dogs and now love them.
4. Of all 4 Seasons, Summer is my favorite. I love the heat!
5. I was fortunate to marry my best friend.
6. I love being a Grannie of 4 and if either of our children want to, they can give me a 5th (Hint, hint).
7. I am afraid of flying.

And here are the people who I am sending the award off to.  Stop by and visit them if you haven't been in the past.

1. Life SPW
2. Diamonds in the Rough
3. My Heart is Always Home
4. Country Girl at Home
5. Mimis Mini Tales
6. Life in a Small Town
7. Empty Nest But Full Heart

Please continue to pray for everyone in Japan, I can not image what life is like for these people. God be with them all.
Enjoy your day and the last week of Winter - Spring Starts Sunday!!! Can you tell I'm a bit excited!!!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Weekend Review: And the 400 Mile Challenge.

Friday was a good day! Not only was it the end of the workweek but it was the completion of the 400 Mile Challenge.  Now--- the object is to work out for a total of 400 miles in 2011 so I am going to keep going and work in increments of 400 miles until 2011 is done and see how far I get.  How about joining me?  So the new ticker is set for 400/800 miles!  You can go over to Ellie's for the rules and log in with her for 400 miles or if you want, post your miles here. I ended my week with a week total of 48.17 and a new sub total of 415.17. I managed to get my first 4.06 miles riding the stationary bike in 15 minutes!  Boy did that feel good!  Click on the Ellie's button above and see how everyone else is doing.  While you are there encourage them - we all some encouragement after all it's been a long cold sick winter for many of these Challenge buddies.

The snow is melting and the creak is flowing! All good signs.
We got rain, not snow this past weekend and temps got up to the high 40's and low 50's :)  So the creak that runs in our yard is moving.  Can I tell you how happy I have been!!! Picture the happy dance on the back deck, in the front yard and in every room in the house!  Good thing our neighbors can't see me because they are too away and we are surrounded by trees.  This is our last week of Winter - I hope the sky opens up and the sun shines and the temps rise every day as we get closer to Sunday - which is when Spring shows up. In the meantime I saw my first bit of ground in our front yard and saw these Hens looking back at me. What a great sight!!!


And right next to a bunch of snow peeking out at me was this! Yes Spring is showing up here in the North.

I was so excited that I started some Baby's Breath and Blue Fescue seeds to move into the side yard when I find it under the snow.  


Had a great Sunday morning Service with a great message. I'll tell you about it later this week. 
Have a great day and tell me, what did you do this past weekend?

Friday, March 11, 2011

Quick tip Friday: Daylight Savings Time and Something Green.



Just a quick reminder to Spring forwarded this Saturday 1 hour or you will be late for Worship Sunday Morning.  Can you believe it - Do you have Daylight Savings Time where you live? I know that not all states "Spring Forward" and then "Fall Back" in the fall.

Something peeked out at us when Hubby shoveled the front walk. So nice to see something green!

Have a great weekend, Lord willing I'll see you Monday.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Spring Cleaning: Living Room

Pesto Green and Hot Chocolate Brown

I don't usually paint every room in the house for Spring Cleaning, but I do like to freshen things up for the new season. do you paint or move things and clean like mad?  Our living room was 2 tone brown as you can see from this photo taken over the Christmas season last year. It also had a wall paper border that I no longer liked.  So it all got taken down. 


Since we have a small house, I wanted to use a color that both I liked and also a color that was already in our house.   The solution was Pesto Green. It's very simular to what I have in my office that I redid in the fall of 2010.  Here is a picture of the new office color.


I had to go buy more paint and frankly couldn't remember the color exactly but this sure does match it. 




The fireplace wall was brown to begin with but a fresh coat of paint and a white trim over the doors and mantle made the fireplace look clean, fresh and inviting.  


Now to scrub the brick - what do you use to clean brick?
Moving pictures from one wall to another also made everything fresh and clean. The fish got moved as well.  And with Spring getting closer everyday, I will be able to spend more time outside and less inside cleaning.


How about you? Do you Spring Clean? Do you move the furniture around for a fresh look and really clean behind everything?  

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Wednesday Hodgepodge: Mardi Gras Style



Joyce, once again came up with the questions - this time dealing with Mardi Gras. Click her button and join us or put your answers here.  We are having our own Mini Mardi Gras right here.


1. The season of Lent begins on March 9th this year...do you participate and if so, in what way?

Not really. I do meditate on what the season means and spend more time in thankful prayer but I don't give up anything and since I'm not Catholic, I don't go to Mass.

2. Traditionally pancakes are eaten on the day known as Shrove Tuesday which is the last day before Lent (March 8th this year). So....butter and syrup? Blueberry? Chocolate chip? ewww, no thanks!! What's your pleasure when it comes to eating pancakes?

Since I live a low carb lifestyle, I don't do pancakes but I will make French Toast with 0 Carb bread and top them with walnuts and 0 Carb Maple Syrup.  Works for me!

3. Spring is coming. (It is coming, right?) What's your favorite springtime flower and do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Two questions I know, but they're lightweights.

Officially, spring is in a mere 11 days, but because I live in NH it will most likely show up the end of April. Still, I plan on celebrating by starting some seeds in cups indoors.  I do suffer from allergies and they have been acting up so I know that Spring is in the air (even if snow is still on the ground).

Tulips are my favorite Spring Flower

4. "Our opinion of people depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in ourselves." Author unknown. Agree or Disagree? Why?

I don't usually even pay attention to people if I don't see something in them that shows me they are people of integrity so I disagree.  I do form opinions of others on what I see in them and how they behave.


5. Since it's "March" and also the season of Mardi Gras....have you ever been in a parade? What's the best parade you've seen?

Yes, When I was younger I was part of a Square Dance Club and every year we had a float where we danced while it moved down the street. It was a blast and I really enjoyed dancing.

6. You would jump up and down and shout for joy right now if someone told you___________?

"We are expecting another child" or a grand child for us!!!  The more the merrier right?

7. How clean is your car on the outside? Inside? Is there junk in your trunk?


Not very


8. Insert your own random thought here.

Waiting