So here are Joyce's questions and my answers. Join in on the fun and answer these as well, then visit others to see if their answers match yours.

1. Share one way you think the world has changed for the better since you were a kid?
SKYPE.  When I was a kid there was no such thing and so once family and friends moved away, they were gone!  Oh sure, there were letters and photos in the mail, but that usually didn't last long and after a few months, the letters and mail would stop and maybe you would get a card on your birthday or Christmas but the closeness was gone.  Now wilth Skype, you can talk, share, laugh, cry and share your life at any moment in time.  With Face Time on your phone, you can even shop together while being in 2 different places.  That is so cool!!

2. How 'bout one way it's changed for the worse?
No one is safe anymore.  When I was a kid we played outside all day and I do mean ALL DAY, from sun up to sunset.  No one knew where I was and frankly no one was worried about me.  I was safe.  I could ride my bike all over the city and come home when the street lights came on, eat dinner, take a bath and climb into bed.  Now, all of that is gone.  We have to not only know where our kids are, we have to be there as well to make sure they stay safe.  Safety is gone. That is so sad. 

3. Starlight, starfish, starling, Starbucks...your favorite 'star'?
Starlight, hands down. I love sitting on the deck and looking up!  All those stars up there just for us to look and wonder about? What an amazing God we have.

4. Name a song that's overplayed, but you love it anyway.
I really don't listen to the radio much unless it's talk radio or Pandora where I can pick the songs that I want.  So since I'm picking the songs, it's anything by the Beach Boys.

5. When did you last have home made ice cream? Your latest favorite flavor?
I can't remember the last time I had home made ice cream but  my newest favorite flavor is Cake Batter.

6. What do you think is the best way to inspire or motivate people?
Praise works for me so I guess it would work for others, don't you?

7. When was the last time you were without power?
Maybe back in April?  The transformer at the end of the driveway blew the "Thingamagig" and we were in the dark for a few hours.  We called the power company  and a repair crew came right out.  They were very nice and thankfully the weather was nice and they had a "Thingamagig" in the truck so it was all good.  We lose our power in the winter at least once almost every winter.  Then we can be out for days!! Living off the generator and getting showers over at my brother-in-laws house gets to be tedious.  The generator keeps us warm and the food cold but it doesn't do the water.  There has to be a way to hook that up????

8. Insert your own random thought here.
The big news up here is that a local food chain is closing 6 of it's stores.  More jobs lost, more people struggling.  It's all so sad.  We don't shop at the store because it's far more expensive than where we do shop but still, it's jobs lost --- again.
Also, I did have chemo and so we are officially at 5!!!  I never would have thought that I would be happy to HAVE chemo.  Oh the things I've learned.

Now it's your turn, how would you answer the above questions?

Weekend Review - Finally!!

These are a few of the bird houses that we have in our gardens.  I love bird houses and having them peeking out among the flowers reminds me of our weekend. With so much going on around us,  I did just well enough to peek out and get back to the living.

I want to thank each and every one of you who contacted me here, on Caringbridge, through email and phone calls and lifted my spirits.  It meant so very much to me.  I was really sick and didn't realizes it until I started to get better and wanted to do something other than lay on the couch and watch TV.  I don't just lay around and do nothing.  I'm pretty busy, well most of the time.

I'm on a very strong antibiotic and it is working.  I sleep well at night and take naps in the afternoon. I even taught my classes this past Thursday, although my voice gave out during the 2nd class and my assistant took over teaching. I'm blessed to have a great assistant and an apprentice.   Heck, I even wrote my weekend review this time and it feels good to blog again.

The weather finally stopped being either way too hot with high humidity or pouring rain and we got some decent dry weather for a few days.  So on Saturday, we went shopping and I went to a local fabric store to pick up a little material.

                                     

A friend and class mate gave August a fall coat and I liked the style so I made another one for him for the fall. I haven't sewn in months so it felt good to dig out the material and get to creating something. As you can see from the photos, he was not happy modeling the fall coat while it was 88 degrees outside and a bit muggy.

I also cleaned up the family room as it doubles as our guest room and we are going to have a guest next weekend.

Sunday, we went to worship, got to visit with some old friends there, took a nap, had small group in the evening and in between I worked on the above coat for August, and watched "Firefly".

So that was my weekend, a little sewing, a little cleaning, a lot of pill taking and a whole lot of sleeping. No, it wasn't very exciting, but I was moving and I was talking and I even got to type about it. Baby steps, people!! Baby steps!!

I'm praying that come Tuesday, the doctor will let me have Chemo and we can get back on track. I really want to move on with my life.

How about your weekend?

It's Too Hot to Think Hodgepodge!

Thank you Joyce for the questions, I have the answers so lets play.

1. July 24th is Amelia Earhart Day.  Earhart was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.  What's something you've recently accomplished solo? 

WOW - My mind is a complete blank on this one.  I guess I will have to read other answers and then say "Oh yes, I forgot about that!"  But for now, I'll have to pass.

2.  What's one product you use that never ever fails?

When I get a cold, I grab our Mucinex-DM and it works.  Now the box says it will last up to 12 hours and I've never had that happen, but I will get 10 hours of relief from it. It works for me. I'm glad about that.

3. Have you found your place in the world? Where is it?

My place in the world is wherever God put me and wherever Hubby is. 

4.  Worst movie you ever saw?

Cowboys and Aliens. Good thing it was on TV and I didn't pay for it.  I could change the channel. I didn't, I kept hoping it would get better, it didn't.

5. What's the last fun thing you did?

Back during the 4th of July weekend, Hubby and I and the dogs went to Maine to let the dogs walk in the ocean.  It was a fun day with great company.  We stopped for Fried dough (which turned out terrible) and that was fun as well. Trying new places, great company, a great car ride, lovely day all = fun thing that I did.

6. The month of July is named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar...ever been to Rome? What's your favorite Italian dish?

I've never been to Rome. I like most Italian dish's so they are all good. The one I eat the most is Spaghetti with meatballs.  

7. What is one piece of advice you'd offer new mom Kate Middleton?

Slow down and enjoy your little one, he will grow up way too fast and you will miss way too much.  You can never get any of that time back.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

This past week was to be Chemo week, leaving us with only 5 weeks to go.  It never happened - I'm too sick for Chemo.  So I went back to the primary care doctor and I was told that I have a double ear infection and a sinus infection.  I'm on antibiotics for the next 10 days and it's up to the oncologist as to whether or not we get to continue with chemo next week.  One more "Little bump in the road".  I'm getting really tired of all these "Little bumps in the road".  I guess I needed to learn patience.  Too bad I can't learn it FAST.

So now it's your turn, how would you answer these questions?

A Hodgepodge of a Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thank you Joyce once again, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be blogging at all. You keep me on line.

1. Picture postcards were first printed back in the mid-1800's and deltiology is the official name for postcard collecting. When did you last send a postcard?  Receive one? Do you save postcards sent to you? Do you collect and/or send postcards when you travel?
I do not collect postcards but when we travel, we may pick up some to add to the photo album that we will at some point create. I do send something called a Postagram that comes off my cell phone and create a post card that is then sent to someone on the "Contacts" list.  I love technology!  I sent one a few weeks back to our friend in FL.

2. What treat do you most like to indulge in while on vacation?
A nice meal out with Hubby. I love sharing a meal with him. It's always a fun evening.

3. Are you good at hiding your feelings?
NO! it's one of my faults! I wear my feelings on my sleeves and everyone can see how I feel. 

4. Does your town/city/county still deliver telephone books to your home? Do you check the yellow pages when searching for a local business number or has the internet replaced the phone book in your home?
Yes they do but I never use it.  I look up whatever I need on my cell phone and call or get driving directions from there.

5. Would you rather be first or last?
Well I guess that depends on what the reason is.  If I'm playing a game, I would love to be picked first.  Being last makes me feel like I'm not really wanted or really very good but they (the picker's) ran our of options.  For showing up someplace or where to sit, or being given a task to complete, last is fine as I know that I am not the most important person at the event so let me just slip in someplace quietly and do what I can.

6. July is National Park and Recreation Month (in America, but everyone can still play along)...where and when were you last in a park?  Did you participate in any recreational activities while you were there?
A few years ago Hubby and I flew out to California and we went to Yosemite National Park with our son, our daughter in law and our two grandsons. Our daughter in law's family was also there. It's an annual ritual with their family and we were allowed to tag along that year. During our visit my son and I went horseback riding. This was a milestone for me because I was always afraid of horses. It was a guided trek, but I enjoyed myself alot. It was a special time being with my son!

7.  What was one of your worst ideas?
When I change out ingredients in a recipe I will often add or change combinations and the results go right into the trash!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
We are in another heat wave up here where it's in the 90's, hazey and humid. Cooling centers are up all over the state and warnings to check on family and keep pets inside are all over the news.  Most are hovering over their AC's and pools.  We don't have a pool (well the dogs do have a kiddie pool but nothing for us), so it's the AC for us.  Except, I don't like the cold air and love the heat. So I keep going out onto the deck to warm up and relax into the heat.  August has sweat glands and so he is OK out there with me for a bit, Becke doesn't have sweat glands and HATES it out there but loves me so she will go out for a bit and then I send her back inside to hang our with daddy who sweats and gets clammy  in under 1 minute when he goes out.  I don't sweat until it hits at least 100 with +70% humidity and we have had none of those temps. 

OK now it's your turn.

SUMMERTIME HODGEPODGE

Thank you so much Joyce for the questions. You do an amazing job! Click on the button and join us.

1. What's something people might ask you for help with?

Since I work with dogs, I get a fair amount of questions about dogs and why they do what they do and how to make it stop.
I also get questions about how they can have the type of husband that I have.  I have a Godly man who takes his vows seriously and was trained well by his parents and grandparents.  I love that man.

2. What's something you might ask someone else for help with?

When I'm thinking of making a large purchase I will ask for recommendations.  I will ask for help finding something on the Internet as well.

3.  Did your family take summer vacations when you were a child? If so, where did you go? If you're a parent, did/do you plan summer vacations with your own family? Did/do they resemble those you took as a child?

We did take day trips as a kid so we would go to the beach or something.  We didn't go anyplace where we would spend the night in a hotel or travel out of state.  My parents didn't have that kind of money.
When the kids were small we did go to Canada for a week which was so much fun and we have traveled out of state for a week or more.  So our vacations do not resemble those I had as a kid.

4.   Pool-lake-ocean...which one is most appealing to you on a hot summer day?

Lake or pool.  The ocean water up here is very cold still, even on these hot days and it's too crowded.  I like that the lake is less crowded.  A pool would be nice as well.

5.  Have you ever justified using the expression, 'you gotta be cruel to be kind'?  Was it really necessary or were you rationalizing?

No I have never used that expression.

6.  The Journal of Psychology recently mentioned the results of a survey identifying the ten most hated foods as-liver, lima beans, mayonnaise, mushrooms, eggs, okra, beets, brussel sprouts, tuna, and gelatin.  Of those foods, how many do you actually hate? Anything you'd add to the list? 

I do not like liver or okra but the rest is fine. I really like brussel sprouts!  I would add to the list Tripe - my dad would cook it and eat it and the smell alone is just vile!  I would also add Haggis, I may be Scottish but I don't like ALL things Scottish.

7. What's your favorite book or movie set in a beach or lake town?

"Gidget" comes to mind because it's a cute movie and so is "Splash" for the same reason.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I've been away from blogging for a while and I really want/need to get back to it as soon as I have the energy. I'm beginning to feel better and I'm trying to help Hubby with all the stuff he has been in charge of for so long.  He has done a fantastic job, even hunting the cobwebs down and cleaning them away.  He has taken over so much and does so much that as soon as I have energy, I try to help out and do something. Sometimes I will start laundary and he will finish it.  Or I'll do the dishes after dinner but he will clean off the counters and take care of the trash.  Anyhow, I'm trying to take back some of the chores so I'm slow at doing them and then I'm tired so I need a short nap.  I am really finding out just how much of a fight Cancer really is.  So I'll be back as my energy increases folk, really I will.

Weekend Review: A few random blessings

We have an "Easy Up" canopy over the deck which has come in handy this past week.

We didn't water the garden all week!  Not because we are lazy, but because it rained all week and weekend.  No, not the all day every day kind of rain but downpours off and on every day  and weekend. So no sooner were we outside, we had to come in because it was pouring.  Thunder and lightning followed by downpours!  I'm so grateful that neither dogs are afraid of thunder and lightning. So 2 blessings, one - didn't have to water and two- dogs who are not afraid of thunder and lightning.

Both dogs refused to go out and decided they could hold it until it stopped.  I disagreed and won that argument.  They went out!  It's amazing how fast 2 dogs can "go" when its pouring out there!  They would run down the stairs and "go" under the deck, then run back into the house.

Hubby has been on cleaning duty for 9 weeks now and he is absolutely wonderful. He was even caught chasing down cob webs and dusting ceiling fans. I love how he took the ceiling fan brush and adapted it to reach the ceilings as well.  I cannot take credit for his cleaning skills. His mom and grandmother get that credit.  He was raised in a home where everyone cleaned, no matter what gender they were.  Thank you to both women. I am blessed by all the training you gave him, and blessed that he is so willing to do it all!!

Becke, is almost 13-1/2 years old.  We are blessed to have her with us every day.  She suffers when the air gets thick with humidity and the temps climb to the mid 80's and above.  She has given up jumping up on the bed and she is not light to lift, nor does she like to be lifted, so she was very glad to get a new orthopedic bed big enough for her.  It sits at the foot of our bed, where she gets a nice cross breeze from the ceiling fan blowing down and the air from the window A/C unit coming across.  She gets right on it and gets her self comfy and falls fast asleep. What a blessing to still have her every day.

August has been doing Agility with his Auntie Paula and he loves agility and Paula so much. He makes me smile every time I see his funny face.  He is getting fast too!  

I don't know why but sometimes when I post a YouTube video, it shows up on my computer but not on others.  So you can also see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R88eiyYLHpk

Our weekend was spent mostly doing some shopping (inside because of the rain), watching the rain reports, and watching the TV shows that I missed during the week. We had a great worship service and again just relaxed.  I am blessed to have these restful weekends because this week is a busy week for doctor appointments. 

Most importantly, today, July 1st is our 41st Wedding anniversary.  We were high schools sweethearts and married right out of high school. Little did we know what life would toss at us.  Little did we understand just how much we would grow as a couple in our struggles. Little did we understand just how much we needed God or just how much we would become "ONE".  My life is made richer because of the man that I married.  I am so blessed to have Hubby in my life. He really does complete me. We often think the same thing, or finish each other's sentences.  Every day we realize  just how much we love and need each other.  My life is better because of Hubby.  Happy Anniversary to the love of my life.   We plan to eat out at a very nice restaurant and exchange cards. I'm hoping the rain lets up and we can drive up the coast and let the dogs run along the ocean.  We'll see.