An inspiring Hodgepodge

1. Where do you go when you need some inspiration?
I start by reading a daily devotional, and then the Bible. I take the words with me in my heart, and look to nature. 
2. What's under your bed?

Lots of card stock. Notebooks. Stickers. I make journals. I decorate them with what is traditionally thought of as scrap booking supplies. Plus, I believe there are about 100 kitty toys. LuLu has them stashed all over the house.

But, how can I care when she gives me looks like this one?

3. Thursday, February 22nd is National Chili Day, National Margarita Day, and National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Of the three which would you most like to celebrate? Is that likely?

I have chili on the menu for the week. Thursday seems as good as day as any to make it. I might even have a margarita to go with the chili.

4. What are you 'snowed under' with right now?

You mean other than the new 4 inches of snow, right? It would be clutter. I have been pitching and sorting for a year now. I started last Lent with the 40 bags in 40 days. I did 62 bags. I have taken more bags out of this house than I have counted. However, it doesn't look like it. I have practically emptied my closet, but still have too many clothes. Got rid of shoes and purses. Donated 47 cookbooks, 78 DVDs, 208 books, tons of yarn and pattern books. I finally parted with unused kitchen gadgets, plus parts of my mom's collections. When will my house start to show the efforts of pitching and sorting? Maybe I should just bring in a bulldozer, doze everything under, and start all over with total emptiness.

5. Tell us three to five things that make you feel balanced?

My family would tell you nothing, because I am unbalanced. It's true. I am. But, in a good way. To be balanced I make a good meal for us. One I have taken extra effort with. It is pleasing to provide that. Another way I feel balance is to edit photos I have taken. For me the editing is just as important as the taking for them. I get a thrill when I see what the final photo looks like. And, what's even better is when a photo shows up that doesn't need any editing. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 More children have lost their lives,  and now we have finger pointers. Personally, I don't care where or when or by whom the mistakes were made the outcome is the same. Why can't the people who made some of the decisions that led up to this take responsibility for the stupidity that was displayed? When will elected people learn the lesson that We the People do not need to form a militia, that that is what the organized military is for. When will people figure out that the NRA is not the organization they think it is? When will We the People stop electing men and women who take money from lobbyists that only care about their own special interests. When will it become illegal for members of the government to be bought off from groups like the NRA? Because, that is what it is. People are being bought off with hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of dollar to turn a blind eye to the ramifications of their inaction and their greed? None of these things will change until We the People stop electing those legislators. It won't change until We the People start to demand changes. And, nothing will happen until We the People realize that some of the guilt of these tragedies belong with us, because of our complacency.

                                             I will end this with a shot of God's love for us.  

February Friday Foto Friends 2/16/2018

Yes, it is Friday in the middle of February. How did that happen? I guess it crept on me, because in January I was busy, and for most of February I have been in the middle of the flu-fog. I am all better now, and am ready to share a few fotos.

I haven't anywhere for most of the winter. Our house faces East, but we live in the woods. It is hard to get sunrise photos in the woods. The trees get in the way, and they will NOT move.
A few weeks ago I went to the city to visit a few days with my BF. I left my house at O'Dark:30 AM. And, yes I stopped along the highway to get these photos. Traffic be darned! 

 God certainly graced my travel that morning!

Remember just before Christmas I shared the new little girl in our lives? This is her 2 months later. My has she grown!

I woke her from her nap, and she is none too happy with me.

How do they manage to pose that just steals your heart? Her personality is just so much fun, and she is a tease! Unlike most kitties she likes hugs and kisses. When I pick her up she puts one leg around my neck so that her head can be right next to mine. How adorable can you get, I ask?

Lovin' the Hodgepodge

And, as the year moves forward it is time for a Valentine's Hodgepodge

1. When's the last time you had a heart to heart talk with someone? A change of heart? Experienced figurative 'heart failure?'

Hmmm. I try to avoid heart to heart talks. What I should say is I don't instigate them. Some people try to have them with me, but I don't know they somehow make me uncomfortable. All that raw emotion I guess.  A change of heart to me is also the softening of my heart. I felt the Lord rapping on my head not too long ago, and am trying to listen and follow his words.

Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (NIV)

Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (NIV)

I thought I had forgiven certain hurts. After much prayer, God revealed the truth to me. Now I have a new path . 

And now heart failure! Oh my word! I am a transplanted city girl. However, over the last 20 some years I've forgotten how to drive there. Those people are nuts! They either drive 45 or 90. No regard for a speed limit, either 45 or 90. A brown light  (red light + green light) means GO NOW! Last time I went to the city I was smoking 2 cigarettes at a time in hopes to stay calm. Finally, I pulled to the shoulder and called my BF. "Come get me", I said, "I can not drive another mile." The she laughed at me!! ME! Her BF of 45 years, she laughed at! As I sat crying, on the shoulder of a heavily congested freeway. Well, she talked me off the shoulder,  talked to me in soothing tones all the way to her house (just 5 more miles), and had a strong cup of tea waiting for me. But, really those people drive like they are crazy.

2. Champagne, chocolates, flowers...what's your Valentine pleasure? Any special plans for the day?

I do love champagne, and chocolates, and flowers, but around here we don't do Valentines Day. Shortly after we were married we had a huge V-Day misunderstanding. HUGE. He was sleeping on the couch, I didn't turn any lights before leaving for work, and missed all of his V-Day preparations. I was disappointed, but not angry. Just a bit sad he wasn't more romantic. I had scheduled a hair appointment for right after work (probably in hopes of dinner out afterwards), as we finished with my hair she asked if I would like to go out for a drink. With no plans in place that I knew of I agreed. After the 3rd drink I decided I better call home. Oh dear. Talk about ice filled reception . When I did get home I saw the missed things and understood the ice. Nothing was ever said, but the next V-day the card I received only said one thing all over it in bright bold letters, "I HATE VALENTINES DAY!"    End of story.

3. Are you a hopeless romantic or do you fall more in the category of practical and pragmatic? What's a gesture you find romantic?

In a book or movie I know how it absolutely MUST  end. If doesn't end that way I feel really cheated. In real life I am not sure (see above answer) . A private joke that brings a smile to each of your faces is romantic. We used to have a look we shared (we'd  squint our eyes at each other and blink) to say, "I love you".  That's romantic.  Today, I think romance for me is tenderness, patience, a kind word.
4. Do you ask a lot of questions in life or are you pretty content with what you already know?
I had a writing teacher who drummed into his students to never, ever stop, asking questions. I never have.
5. Your favorite power ballad?

There are a few. Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers,  Color My World by Chicago,  I Wanna Know What Love Is by Foreigner,  I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston  but my all time favorite  it is this one... Chris DeBurgh Lady in Red.

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6. Insert your own random thought here..

Four hours later I am finally on this question. Do you ever go somewhere online and fall into a rabbit trail? I do. I did. Today. While looking for a You Tube link for Lady in Red. I followed all of the music from that song on toward no end. Music does that does to me. I have it in my heart . In my soul. Alas, I have no talent. I do know though that any effort I make is a "joyful noise", and it I sing for the joy of it, and God in His house is at peace.

Have you been looking for an update to my de-cluttering and cleaning? The day after I posted this I went down for the count. Sick? Oh yeah. I hacked up a lung. And the colors? WOW! Who knew those colors could live in my lungs and sinuses. TMI? Sorry. Needless to say I have not started on my new journey. It takes me 2 hours to fill the dishwasher! And that is without doing any real cooking. 

I am better now, but still a long way from good. Baby steps every time I get sick. it is a long uphill climb, but so far I always make my way back. I am certain that this time I will also. Then when I do I will clean, clean , clean.