Sunday Stealing...

 Thanks to Bev for today's stolen questions!  You can join in HERE!

Animals

  

 

 

 From ESL Conversations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.   What is your favorite animal and why?  I love all animals but am partial to cats.

2.   Are people animals? What separates humans from animals?  Humans are animals but our opposing thumb 

and our more evolved brains separate us from most other animals.  (I know, it is debatable!)

3.   Which animal is the most dangerous?  Wild animals are dangerous, including bears and big cats...

4.   What should you do if a bear approaches you?  Stand still and not make eye contact.... pray!!

5.   Do you like dogs? Why do people call the dog, man’s best friend?  I love dogs and because they tend to be 

protective of their owners and stay close, they are considered man's best friend.

6.   Do you enjoy going to the zoo? Some people consider zoos to be cruel environments for animals. What do you 

think?  I'm not a zoo goer just because we don't go to zoos.  Some are not good but these days, most are humane 

and are involved in helping to preserve species, especially some that are endangered.

7.   Where is the best place to see animals in your country? In the world? I really don't have a clue.

8.   Are you a vegetarian? What makes some people give up eating meat?  I am not a vegetarian. Since I eat meat, I

 don't know why some people do not eat meat. You will need to ask the vegetarian..

9.   Which animal is most helpful to humans?  Most service animals are dogs.

10  If you could be any animal (besides a human), which animal would you like to be?  A cat in my house. They 

have it made!

11.  Who would win in a fight between a tiger and a lion?  I have no idea.

12.  What do you think about hunting animals? Would you like to try it?  My dad was a hunter and we ate the meat 

he brought home. I don't care for the "sport" of hunting and loathe that some people kill 'big game' just for sport.

13.   Books like “Watership Down” and “Animal Farm” give animals human characteristics like human thoughts or

 language. Is this how you think animals really are? Or are those really just stories about people?  Analogies... 

really about people.

14.  Some animals are endangered due to illegal poaching. How do you feel about this issue?  See my #12.

15.  If we can bring an extinct animal from the past back with genetic engineering, should we do it? Which animals 

should we bring back?  There are so many extinct animals. I can't think of one, in particular, to bring back. I think 

messing with genes is dangerous and is messing with things we should leave alone.

Peace & hugs!

Wow... January is over.  

Jesus loves you!!

Saturday 9 with Bette Midler...

 Thanks to Sam Winters for today's questions! You can join in HERE.

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Welcome to Saturday 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every
Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants' posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (1973)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) Bette Midler sings that the bugle boy wakes up Company B every morning by playing reveille. What awakened you this morning (phone, alarm clock, sunrise, etc.)? Or did you wake up on your own?  I usually wake up on my own, ahead of the alarm clock.

2) This single was produced by Bette's arranger/piano player, who went on to have a successful singing career of his own. Do you have a favorite Barry Manilow song?  I liked Barry Manilow okay. I thought of Mandy first, then Looks Like We Made It.  Can't say they are favorites though.

3) Bette was named after Bette Davis. Her sisters, Susan and Judy, were named for Susan Hayward and Judy Garland. So now we know who Mother Midler's favorite actresses were. Who are yours?  I honestly don't have favorite actors/actresses because I have a problem with most Hollywooders. I like Helen Mirren's and Sandra Bullock's movies. 

4) Bette has been married since 1984 to artist Martin von Haselberg. She was 39 years old, already a star, and had never married before. Yet within six weeks of meeting him, she was so sure Martin was "the one" that they tied the knot. Have you found that love takes time, or, like Bette, have you fallen in love quickly?  Joe and I fell pretty quick. We met in August 1983 and were talking about marriage in October 1983. We didn't marry until May 1985.

5) When their daughter Sophie was growing up, it was Martin who taught her to cook. What was the last thing you prepared in your kitchen? Did you use the microwave, stovetop, convection oven, blender, coffee maker ...? Coffee in the Keurig, eggs on the stove, bacon in the microwave. Yesterday's breakfast.  We went out for dinner.

 

6) Bette says that listening and compromise have been the key to their happy marriage but adds, "Compromise is hardest of all." On what have you compromised recently? Is it a compromise when you just let him have his own way with the TV remote? We usually watch what Joe wants to watch and fortunately I usually like what he likes (even hockey & football).

7) Bette and Martin have a farmhouse in upstate New York. She enjoys feeding the chickens (whom she has jokingly named The Kardashians) and puttering in her garden. Do you have a green thumb? No, I don't. You want it to die, give it to me. I either ignore it and it dies or I fuss too much and it dies. 

8) In 1973, the year this song was popular, actor Neil Patrick-Harris was born. He's best known as Barney on How I Met Your Mother, which ran from 2005-2014. Were you a fan?  I have never seen even one episode of that show.

9) Random question -- How often do you put crackers in your soup: Always, often, seldom, or never?  Often.

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you!!

Friday Fotos...

 

We didn't go to the ranch/Joe's client this week.  They had other plans so no animal pictures to share.  I will have to take extra carrots next week.  Not many new photos to share and some were on FB so they won't be new to all of you... I may even have posted the berries here, earlier.

Strawberry season... worth posting again. 

Shortcake... I actually used biscuits. Yummy

Yesterday we took Helen to her lab appointment

and then out for a late breakfast.  I took her by surprise

with this picture. She ate a pancake that was as big as the plate,

two pieces of bacon, and TWO cups of coffee. 

I love it when she eats well.

Helen will be 93 in March. God bless her.

We got our first COVID vaccinations yesterday.

They made us wait for 15 minutes after the injection before

we could leave.  Our second shot will be at the end of February.

She was bored and Joe was looking at his phone.

Everyone perked up when our 15 minutes were up!

It all went smoothly and all the people were great.

Joe and I are going out with Jim & Elaine tonight for some fish.  I've mentioned Mr. Fish on here before. It is a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant just across the street from the museum where I worked for 20 years.  It is all fried and it is all good.  We will top the evening off with a game or two. Happy Friday!!  By the way, it is 'cold' here again. A couple of days in the 80s and now our highs are in the 60s.  Welcome to winter in Florida!

Peace & hugs!!  Jesus loves you!!

Whimsical Fashion Fun 2021...

 

There isn't a linky and there aren't any rules.

Check out the gown and help pick the right shoes for the dress.

Have some fun. It's just a whimsical thing!

(Photos always from The Storybook of Dreams & Beauty.)

She chose this vintage-look Gunne Sax wedding dress and
she will need the appropriate shoes to compliment the dress.
Count down from the top... 1-2-3 and tell us which you choose!

My Thoughts:  I love vintage and this gown is so lovely.  I would/could wear it.  All three pairs of shoes would work with the gown. The third pair would probably be the most comfortable but I really like pair #1 best for the dress.  What do you think?  Have fun. It's only dress-up.

Peace & hugs!  Jesus Loves You!!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge...

 Joyce keeps us Hodgepodgers on our toes with her questions each week!  Join in right HERE!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 405

1. Have you done more binge-watching this past year than in 'normal' years?  Oh my goodness, yes!!  Any plans to break that habit in 2021?  Not so far.  Tell us one or two shows you binged last year that you really liked.  Heartland, New Tricks, Last Tango in Halifax... the list is long!

2. January 26th is Australia Day. Have you ever visited or lived in Australia?  No. Have you ever tasted Vegemite, and if so what did you think?  Never heard of it.   Is a trip down under on your bucket list?  No.  We answered a question about travel three months ago (the October 21st Hodgepodge), but let's revisit now...where are you when it comes to planning or even imagining travel this year?  We are not planning a trip so far.  Just hoping to get the vaccine shots and get the numbers down a bit.

(I looked up vegemite and decided they can keep it in Australia. Looks and sounds just awful!)

3. Something that zaps your energy?  Drama.  Bad news.  Cleaning the house.  Something that energizes you?  Having a clean house!! LOL  Having someplace to go that is fun.  Having my dear friend right next door, motivating me to get out and walk.  

4. On a scale of 1-10 what are your eating habits like these days?  We both snack too much at night but our habits haven't really changed with the pandemic.  We try to eat balanced meals so I'll say a 6.5.  We don't juice!! LOL   (1=all junk food all the time and 10= juicing every green thing in the frig) Healthiest meal you've eaten in the last week or so?   We had t-bone steak, a baked potato, and cucumber and onion salad last night for dinner. That was maybe not the healthiest but it was balanced... at least until the strawberry shortcake for dessert.

5. What's your most often 'Back in my day....' thing to say?  Back in my day kids had to learn about how the government worked, had respect for the flag, and knew the history of our country and of our state.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.   We are waiting and waiting for the health department to call us with an appointment for the vaccine. Two weeks ago they said it would probably be this week.   Our county got a new shipment on Monday that was supposedly more than the previous week.  Many of our friends here in our community have had their first shot so hopefully, our names are rising on the list.  We are also responsible for Helen, who is 92 (almost 93). Sigh. Keeping my phone close at ALL times!!  If you don't answer when they call, you get bumped to the next week.

Peace & hugs!  Jesus Loves You!!

 Thanks to Annie for continuing the Tuesday 4.  You can join in by clicking the Tuesday4 below...

Tuesday 4

Rejoice!!

 Hello and welcome to Tuesday 4 dedicated to the memory of Toni Taddeo, the founder.

Let's rejoice today!

1. What makes you rejoice the most?  Loved ones; a beautiful day; a prayer answered; a baby's smile; my cats' purrs; my husband; my friends who care about me; and knowing that our Lord gave His only Son for me and that Jesus loves me in spite of my sinful ways...

2. What song makes you feel joyful or happy?  Hallelujah... all the versions.

and also this one... I Can Only Imagine

3. Do sounds of nature give you a joyous feeling?  A soft breeze; birds singing; the waves breaking on the beach... peaceful and joyful. Yes.

4. How about holidays? Do you really rejoice or just kind of show up?  I do rejoice in the holidays, especially when they bring family and friends together!! I don't usually just show up because I am usually cooking and cleaning and decorating and getting ready for all the fun!

Peace & hugs!! Jesus loves you!!

Monday's Weekend Recap...

Friday was a fun day for us!  We went down to Ft. Meade to the Alafia River Rendezvous which is an annual event down there that usually finds 1,500 participants in a week-long 1840s camp reenactment.  This year, they told us there were about 500 fewer participants because of COVID, so some of the vendors were missing and it wasn't as populated as in previous years. Our friends Randy and Teena have been participating for about 25-30 years.  Teena is our barber, incase you recognized her name.  A couple from our church, Linda & Bob, who are also in our small group from church, also participate.  We looked them all up and had good visits with them as we walked through the campers and enjoyed a sunshiney day out in the fresh air!!  Here are some of the photos I took:

 

Linda and Bob, from our church.  Linda is in the Praise Team, playing the piano.  

She also teaches Latin in the school system.  Special friends.

Me (with my wind-blown hair!!) and Teena.  

I didn't get a picture of her hubby this year.

This is Teena & Randy's campsite. They have a real bed and
other furniture to make it more comfortable, including
a wood-burning stove for heat. The open space is the common
area where they eat and share space with friends.

This is across the 'street' from Teena's camp. The middle building is a blacksmith shop.

Joe and Elaine sitting by the firepit at Teena's camp. 

That is Jim in the background talking with Teena.

Of course, I had to snap a picture of this sign!! 

These folks were demonstrating spinning cotton.  Very interesting.

And these two ladies were playing some great music for us!

This man is a mounted policeman in real life and was also working as 'security' in the camp.

I got to love on his beautiful horse.  The horse is BIG.

People were demonstrating skills from the 1840s throughout the camp, all designated by signage.

Not a Conestoga Wagon, which was in the 1860s, so we were told, but this one is more

like a chuck wagon of the 1840s.

There is that huge, beautiful horse again!

Teena took our picture by the wagon. Jim, Elaine, me, and Joe.

More views from the camp...

Indians were also in the camp and these two were telling history with songs and dances.

I'm glad they had good weather for the event this year. There have been very rainy weeks and also very cold weeks but they always muddle through.  You really have to like that kind of thing to stay primitive like that for 7-8 days.  There are porta-potties scattered around behind fencing and there is a shower shack... but still.  Not for me. I'm happy to just visit on the public day.  We enjoyed it.

Back in Lakeland, we went to dinner with Jim & Elaine, at Glory Days Grill for their Friday Fish Fry. It was yummy!

Elaine and I continue to walk, by the way. We get out most days for the one-mile walk around Mas Verde. It only takes us about 20-30 minutes, depending on whether we stop to talk or peek at the pool, or pick up our mail, etc.

Saturday evening, we went next door for a yummy dessert made by Elaine and we played Back Alley Bridge.  Sunday, Joe and I streamed church then went to the grocery for a few things.  He was working in his office so Elaine and I did our walk. We are going to the pool today!!

Still waiting for a call from the Health Dept. with news of our vaccine appointments. 

Peace & hugs!!

Sunday Stealing...

 Bev Sykes is our hostess for Sunday Stealing.  Thanks, Bev!  You can join in HERE.

Misc. Questions

  

 

Hi! I'm your host Bev 2 Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This 3 feature 

originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal 4 all types of questions from every corner 

of the blogosphere. Our promise 5 to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and 6 

intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

 
 

 

 

 

Misc questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Which is more romantic: an expensive, glittering bouquet OR flowers that were hand-picked 

as they grew beside the parkway?  Hand-picked, but please, no flowers for me!!

2.Do you know yourself well enough to understand why you feel the way you do? Usually.

3.Which do you do more often: let movies, songs, and books put your feelings into words 

for you or put your feelings into words by yourself?  I speak for myself.

4.Do you believe celebrities when they are endorsing a product? Absolutely not. 

5.What kind of movies do you wish were made more often?  Fred & Ginger, please!

6.Does fashion matter to you?  Not even a little bit.

7.Should politicians be held to the same legal standards as everyone else?  Absolutely.

8. If you became president, whom would you invite to sing at your inauguration? Not happening,

and I have no idea. I am not that 'into' music these days. Is Ricky Scaggs still pickin'?

9. Do you try to write/say what you are feeling in a true and simple way?  Yes.
 

10.What is your worst daily habit?  Hard to say in this day of COVID.  I probably watch too

much TV.

11.If you had your choice which one TV show would you have canceled?  The View. Any MSM.

12.Do you like the taste of sweet or salt?  I tend to crave salty more than sweet.

13.Are you very precise about what words you use to describe your feelings and thoughts? 

Of course, I try to be precise in everything I do and say.  It doesn't always happen, but I try.

14.What do you feel the most guilty about?  I don't feel guilty about anything that I can think

of.  I try to not have regrets and I always try to right wrongs when I can.

15.Do you meditate?  I don't meditate but I do pray and I pray often during the day.

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you!!

Saturday 9...

 Thanks to Sam for today's questions! You can find her and the questions HERE!

Why Did I Choose You?

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants' posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!

Saturday 9: Why Did I Choose You? (1965)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Barbra Streisand reassures her lover that, if she had it all to do again, she would still choose him. Tell us about a decision you've made that you never, ever regretted.  I always say I have no regrets and that holds true here too.  I own my choices/decisions and they got me here, where I am happy and content.

 

2) The music was composed by Michael Leonard, who studied classical music at Julliard and the Handel Conservatory of Music in Munich. Do you often listen to classical music?  No, not very often at all but I don't listen to any music often, no matter the genre.  

3) The lyrics were written by Herbert Martin. He taught music in the NYC public school system and during the summer worked in summer stock. That's how he met and began collaborating with Michael Leonard. Tell us how you met someone important in your life.  I met Joe at a restaurant/bar on a Monday night where I was with my girlfriend, Lynne, after work, helping her get over the loss of her boyfriend/break-up. Joe & I started talking and haven't stopped since that fateful August 1, 1983.  Lynne found a guy to talk with but went home before I did. She was one of my bride's maids when Joe & I got married in May 1985.

 

4) Ms. Streisand was a very good student, graduating fourth in her class at Erasmus Hall High School when she was only 16. One of Barbra's classmates was Neil Diamond. Do you have a favorite Neil Diamond song?  I have always liked Neil Diamond's music... and his very blue eyes!! A favorite would be Love on the Rocks and Holly Holy and Sweet Caroline and five or six more.

5) While she didn't go on to college, she continued her education by attending two different acting schools simultaneously. Did you enjoy being a student?  I did. School was always fun and pretty easy for me, grade school through college.

 

6) Barbra and her first husband, Elliott Gould, shared a New York apartment over a 5th Avenue restaurant called Oscar's Salt of the Sea. Elliott originated the role of Trapper John in the movie M*A*S*H. On TV, the role of Trapper was played by Wayne Rogers. Can you think of another role that's been played by more than one actor?  Most of us more mature people will probably think of James Bond first.

7) Oscar's Salt of the Sea has ties to Sesame Street. Jim Henson loved their food and was amused by how inhospitable the owner, Oscar, could be. That's how Oscar the Grouch got his name. Which is your favorite Muppet?  The Muppets were not on my radar and I can't say that I have a favorite. Cookie Monster is really the only one I know for sure what he looks like.

8) Back to Barbra ... She is a successful recording artist (nominated for 45 Grammy awards, winning 8) and an Oscar-winning actress, but she's suffered career disappointments, too. In 2010, she read the book Hidden Figures and tried to buy the rights so she could direct the film version. She lost out to fellow Brooklynite, director Theodore Melfi. In 2016, his movie of Hidden Figures was released. Did you see the movie or read the book?  I have seen the movie about three times, I think. It is so well done and is about a subject that needs to be seen and heard.

9) Random question: Your best friend takes up painting and proudly presents her first framed work to you. You think it's atrocious. Would you hang it in your home anyway?  I would hang it proudly.  I have two of my mom's paintings and one of mine that aren't the best, but they are hanging on the wall.

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you!!