Spring HodgePodge

1. April is Lawn and Garden Month. On a scale of 1-10 what's the current state of your lawn and/or garden. (10=a showpiece, 1=send in the professionals). Tell us about any lawn or garden plans you have for this month,
Send in the professionals, we have a half acre of green growth that we have to
have mowed. This year we are going to invest in a riding mower and I plan to fix up the area that would be considered the front yard.

2. "Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there."~Thomas Fuller  What does this quote mean to you? It could mean weeds or wildflowers.
We don't necessarily reap what we sow.

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God?
Love. I am not not into organized religion, nor am I particularly spiritual, but I respect those who are. I believe in the creative power of a loving and forgiving God.

4. If we were chatting in person, how would I know if you were nervous.
I would probably shift from side to side swaying.

5. Do you like the color yellow? Would I find any in your home or wardrobe? Daffodils, tulips, roses, sunflowers, day lily, black-eyed Susan...which yellow bloom on this list is your favorite? Yellow is not a favorite color I don't wear it and don't have it on my walls. Yellow daffodils and tulips and other colors, are planted in my yard.
 
6. Flip flops or bare feet? Bare feet and sandals, but never rubber flip flops.
 
7. Tell us about any Easter plans, celebrations, or traditions you'll carry out this month. I was hoping to be in California for Easter.  I have some thing that are being shipped to the boys instead.
 
8.  Insert your own random thought here. Spring brought better health for Mr BC. I am having cataract surgery on my other eye tomorrow, finally. So we are hoping to get out to see the grandsons in May.

 

Friday Fragments

Mr BC has switched over to a dialysis cycler, from manual dialysis.  It has made our days available to us again, because he sleeps through the night while it works its magic instead of doing it several time in 4 hour chunks..  Yesterday, we ran errands and had lunch out, at Panera, for the first time. I liked it.  I had a Thai chicken salad.

Spring is here, there are still blossoms on the redbud but the forsythia is leafed out green. Did you know redbud blossoms grow directly out of the bark of the tree?  I didn't.  I still have some bulbs that will blossom, though most have come and gone.  I was worried about a dry spring, but there are more storms to come on the weekend and next week.

Gwennie is afraid of thunderstorms, and spends the duration in the shower,  She can get quite wet if the shower has been in recent use.  I got a good sized teak bathmat?? to keep her up off the floor of the shower and less damp.  She seems to think the shower is more secure, than under the bed where she is most of the time.

We are preparing the RV for our trip to CA.  Have an appointment for servicing on Friday.  When we had some work done last time....at a provider, not to be mentioned. We paid quite a lot and the electrical...when switched to DC....quit working, and that made it hard to refrigerate while driving.
The guy told Mr BC to try something, that might work, but we still have a drip from the air conditioner and the servicing to be done.

I think I mentioned before we are getting a park, not far from where we live.  The entrance will be right on old Route 66 and we right down the street about 3 blocks.

Caшa has gone to Belgrade with his Daddy on his yearly spring trip to the University of Belgrade.  Лука is now in school and this does not coincide with his daddy's trip, so now it is the little one's chance to travel with daddy to Serbia and visit with family.  He is having a good time with his daddy, family and their kids. We get pictures almost every day.  The both boys were there for Orthodox Christmas in Jan.  Лука is having a great time too....Mama took him to the USS Iowa in San Pedro, for a day's adventure. 

He is a Lefty.....good try!

Spring Hodgepodge

1. In honor of the date...when were you last sent on a fool's errand?
I thought it was going to be fruitless to find a cute water resistant light weight jacket so late in the spring season and I walked the mall.  (I knew I could probably find something online, but I don't like to buy clothes online.) Finally the last store on the mall...Macys....I use to shop there successfully, when I worked....I found it! On sale even! I should and will go to Macys first. 

2. Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, The Energizer Bunny, The Easter Bunny, Rabbit (Pooh's friend), White Rabbit (of Wonderland fame), or the Trix Rabbit...which of these famous rabbits, can you best relate to right now? 
I actually looked up each bunny personality characteristics and really didn't relate to most of them. Mr BC is most like Pooh's friend, Rabbit, who insists on doing things his way and is obsessed with rules, planning and order. I don't think right now I am the Energizer Bunny, as I have had a tooth ache over the weekend and I don't have much energy. I go to the dentist today. But I think most of the time I am enduring.

3. When did you last find yourself scrambling to get something done? Explain.  
Before I retired, I use to scramble all the time to get things done, both at work and home, at the end of my career...I was exhausted and a little burned out and when I set a date for retirement....it was quite like waiting for vacation, I thought it would never come.  Once I retired, I would go to bed at night thinking I still need to finish something.  I has lessened as time goes on. 

4. Last time you were up at the literal crack of dawn? Why? Last time you stayed up all night? Why?  
I am up at the crack of dawn almost every morning....just because, I wake up then.  Probably because I am asleep by 9:30 or 10 every night.  I can't remember the last time I stayed up all night....probably with a headache.  

5. Crack a book, crack a bottle, crack a joke, crack an egg...which have you done most recently? 
Well I eat eggs out of a carton and Mr BC says I am not funny...actually, I can't remember jokes to repeat them....so I guess crack a book.  Actually I read off a Kindle and I don't want to crack it.

See....not Funny!

6. What's your favorite part of a typical weekend? Tell us why that's so. When one is retired weekends are not really that important.  I like Sunday nights because of Masterpiece Theater.  I am looking forward to Wolf Hall this Sunday night with Call the Midwife just before.... A Good Sunday night on PBS.

7. What's something I'd find on a bookshelf in your home? Other than a book I mean! 
I look at book shelves as another flat surface, so anywhere there is no books there is going to be something other than a book.  I took this picture this morning.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 
We are having a thunderstorm this morning and all the dogs are in hiding. Spring is finally here and now I have to worry about a tornado. We don't have a storm shelter, so we rally in the closet under the stairs and hope that will work for us.  I need to take all the winter jackets and boots and shoes out, so we can get in easier.  I have not had to use it thank goodness, but it is always ready just in case.   I know we should put some real thought in a shelter.

Time to join Joyce from This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodgepodge, I always enjoy her questions.  Click on the button to see other hodgepodge and join the fun.

Busy Weekend-Friday Fragments

Joining Mrs 4444 for Friday Fragments

I haven't done Friday Fragments for a few weeks, mainly because I have not been doing too much to post about.  Winter has kept us indoors so much more than usual.  Today is the first day of Spring and we are starting to have a little hope of Spring in the weather forecast.  

We celebrated a birthday today at our daily walk in the mall.  After walking we usually spend an hour or so in the food court drinking coffee and chatting.  I have met a lovely lady, who walks everyday and visits with us, unless, she is delivering meals on wheels to seniors that day.  She turned 91 today and we celebrated with Maggie's (of Maggie and Jiggs) homemade cinnamon rolls. Ninety-one and she walks 6 days a week then delivers meals to other seniors, This lady is amazing and I want to be just like her when I grow up.

On Saturday we are going to the monthly meeting of The Greater Ozark British Motoring Club.  We haven't gone this winter because the weather has been bad on the meeting dates. I have to remember to bring the check book to pay the dues for this year.  They meet at a garage for an early morning technical meeting at 9:30 and we usually meet up with them at lunch at Logan's Roadhouse.  Mr BC wants to go to all the meeting and since Springfield MO is about an hour away,  I am going to have him drop me off at Battlefield Mall early....for a little walking and shopping and then he can pick me up for lunch. Going out for lunch, it has been so long.

Had a nice visit with DD2 on Wednesday.  I usually see her when she comes here to dry her clothes every other Wednesday....she has a washer but no dryer.  She was here most of the afternoon finishing up her laundry and I also drove her to pick up her car which was in the shop.  Just a nice visit!

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Candy is Dandy-Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word 'spring'? Which phrase best describes the season of spring where you live right now (today)-sprung! almost there, or still waiting?
Winter recovered quickly this week, and it was in the 70's yesterday and will be today. Showers tomorrow then a beautiful weekend.  I would say Spring is just around the corner.....Thank the stars. When I think of Spring I think of all the tulips my MIL planted and I discovered the first spring we lived here.

2. Bed, couch, stapler, garage door, computer mouse, recliner, flashlight, door knob...which household item containing springs most needs replacing in your home? Speaking of springs...did you ever own a Slinky? 
I think the springs in our house are doing well...most of the living room furniture is new.  I always had slinkies on the table in my training room for people to fiddle with during lecture and discussion. It helped with fiddling and focus.


3. March is Women's History Month. Share a favorite quote by a woman.

4. What's a question that looms large in your mind right now? 
Should I lay down wood floors in my living room when I am doing the dining room.....or do I want to keep carpeting there?  I am leaning toward new carpet after the winter we had. 

5. Are you a sugar freak? By that I mean how much do you love sugar? With all the bad press sugar gets these days, have you made any efforts to reduce the amount of sugar you consume? I don't think I am a sugar freak...I am more of a candy freak.  I have to cut back on candy.  For other sweets, I only have a small box of sugar on my shelf. I am always looking for low to sugar free. We use Splenda here.

6. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you enjoy doing? Now that I am retired, I am able to keep up with the work I don't like to do and if I could decide what is work I enjoy doing....I have time for that too. I don't consider things I like to do as WORK!

7. Ever been to Texas? Of the top ten Texas tourist attractions which would you most like to see-The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk, The State Capital, Dallas World Aquarium, Padre Island National Seashore, Houston Space Center, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas,  Moody Gardens, or Galveston Island? 
I want to go to see the Alamo and do the San Antonio River Walk.  I have only driven through Texas, I have never stopped to see anything.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
Even baby rhinoceroses are darling!  I love all baby animals. The full video is here.

Peep into Spring Chat

http://www.everydayruralty.com/

1.  What are you doing for Easter? We enjoy a non-secular spring celebration this time of year.  I did leave some goodies for my grandsons baskets with their mom, but we will just be enjoying the Spring that has finally come to Missouri.

2.  How many spring flowers have you noticed the last week or so? I flew back from Santa Barbara yesterday, and the forsythia have the last of the yellow blooms and my redbud trees are in full bloom.  My daffodils are gone....and the tulips have not come into bloom yet, so I can look forward to that. One of joys of my first spring in this house, (2 years ago) was all the bulbs my MIL had planted.  We had never been here in the spring before, when she was living in this house. It was a big surprise.

3.  What was your favorite thing in an Easter basket, or as dessert at Easter dinner? I am still a lover of jelly beans and Peeps.

Click to Biggify

4.  If you were a dog, what kind would you be? A Welsh Corgi, she gets a lot of attention when I walk her and she is cute as a button.  

5.  What are your favorite pizza toppings? I always get a vegetarian pizza, because all the traditional meat toppings give me heartburn anymore.  We just had a yummy one delivered last night since Mr BC had not done any real shopping for the whole time I was gone (3 weeks). When he ran out of the things I had left for him, he started eating things he didn't have to cook. There wasn't a box of cereal left on the shelf.

Daylight Savings Time-For a Chat

1. If you are in the US, does the time change mess you up? The Spring forward aspect is a little harder than gaining an hour in November.
2. Do you usually drink a beverage with you meals?  Yes, water or iced tea
3. How often do you iron clothes?  I don't buy clothes that need to be ironed.  If my shirt gets wrinkled from sitting in the dryer,  I tumble it again with something damp.
4. When was the last time you took an enjoyable walk? Monday morning.  We took the dogs to the park to see the Canadian geese.  
5. Tell  me whatever you'd like to share with us.  We have been hearing song birds for about a week now and yesterday I saw where my daffodils have sprouted by the porch.  Spring is out there somewhere.

http://www.everydayruralty.com/

Chatting on the Porch-129

http://www.everydayruralty.com/

1.  Do you like avocados? I love avocados and especially guacamole, I love it in salads. I don't eat them much, because when I buy them, I tend to forget about it and they go bad on me.  

2.  Have you ever gone on a roller coaster?  I don't care for them at all. They were pretty scary to me and now I am sure I would just get sick.

3.  Do you do cross stitch, needlepoint, crewel work, or needle punch? I use to do needlepoint and knitting, but it became hard on my eyes.  

4.  Do you cook with gas or electric? This house has a glass top electric stove and it has been hard learning to use it.  If it ever goes out on me I will replace with gas.  

5.  Tell me something good, pleasant, or uplifting. Please. 

The promise of spring's arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter!” 

― Jen Selinsky

Maggie and Jiggs just called to go out to lunch on this snowy day, so I will be back around to visit all you chatters on the porch later this afternoon.

Utterly Obsessed.... With Nothing at All

http://mlkshk.com/

My current obsession are games.  I have been a bad blogger, Usually when I can't write I at least do my rounds and comment. But I mostly Lurk.  I have been seriously hooked on games.  I have been mindlessly playing at Nick Mom, Yahoo, and Facebook.  I use to play a few word games every morning first thing to get the mind warmed up, but lately it has moved more toward obsession.  We started turning the TV off at 9am, but now I think I have to turn the computer off as well.

We have had rain for over a week, with lots of storms that have been very scary, Think Moore OK, those storms went moved on to MO and while we suffered no damage they had potential.  Mr BC follows the weather on his laptop during the storms and I wring my hands.

This is Mr BC's high school reunion weekend.  We went to a dinner last night and it was a very small crowd for an all school reunion, There was a bigger crowd at the picnic.  I got to meet some more of the guys and gals Mr BC has talked about, lo these many years.  Mostly I was a little bored because Maggie and Jiggs weren't there.  We came home, and after a weekend of not taking the dogs with us when we went out, we took them for a walk in the park. They were so happy!

Mama Told Me.....Saturday 9

1) This song is about a lad who didn't take his mother's advice and attended the wild party anyway (hear it here). When you were young, did your parents approve of your friends? If you're a parent yourself, how have you handled it when your kids start hanging around with friends you're not crazy about?
There were a couple of guys, my mom was not happy about, but for the most part she liked all of my friends.  I have since found out there were a few of DD1 friends I should have checked out.  At the time it seemed that all of her friends were fine.

I Survived....Many Things

I talked about how I was feeling about this challenge here. If I do this again, I believe I will have a theme and I have another year to think about it.  I appreciate my new followers.  I have 70 now,  Woo Hoo! I have also found some new blogs to add to my reading list and now that I am back I am catching up and commenting.  It is not as daunting a task to read and comment because not all of my new reads are posting every day.  Life is getting back to normal.

Saturday in Santa Barbara

I arrived Friday night to a welcome greeting from Лука and Mr Bankerchick, and they both had a wonderful week together.  DD1 and SIL are well and had a good visit with Mr BC too. Mr. Bankerchick left Saturday morning to get back to his dogs and DD2, for a well deserved rest. I am now on the second shift.  I can't wait to hear how much weight he lost as he looked thinner.  DD1 cooks great and real healthy, and he was always on the go.  Dr Boozer, (I love that name) will be very happy.

Saturday we went for a walk on State Street and Grandma picked up some sand toys for the park this week.  We had a bit of a cry, trying to leave the toy store, because they had a train layout and Лука played there for at least 40 minutes, so we promised to get his trains setup when we got home.  At 2 years old that is not a great compromise so we went to get something to drink. Tata (SIL-daddy in Serbian) came thru on his promise and in true engineering style made a great train layout.

 It is amazing how well Лука speaks two languages.  He speaks Serbian with his Tata, English and Serbian with his Mama and easily speaks English to Grandma and Grandpa. Truly you have to get them while they are young.  DD1 has got a good grip on Serbian too and they all talk to Baba and Deda in Serbia on Skype.  It is a Wonderful world in Santa Barbara!

Wordless Wednesday #7

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Wordless Wednesday #5