A new year, and a new blog

     I have had this blog for a while, but it was broken.  My son, and his girlfriend fixed it. My goal will be to write something everyday. There is a lot of sameness in my life, but I am fairly certain I can come up with some topic or another each day.

     I thought since this was the actual first official post I would tell you all about myself..

     I am a born and raised city girl. I love the city, and everything it about it. Shopping (of course), museums, shopping (oh I mentioned that), concerts, theater, shopping.

     I live 22 miles from town.  Really not the city. I live in the woods. Acres, and acres of woods.  We have deer who visit daily. Raccoons who are a cute, but unwanted visitor. An occasional skunk who is definitely unwanted. Last summer we had wild turkeys walk through the yard. I love living in the woods, but do miss the city. ** See above.

     I have a husband of 23 years. We met in 1986. It was like instant knowing that he was the man I was going to marry. He is quite a bit older than me. Eighteen years, He is retired, and has been for 14 years. You will come to know him as I post. 

     I have one son. He will be 30 this Spring. He is me. I am so proud of him that I could bust right out in song. Oh, wait I have. More about him too in later posts. This all takes time.

     At present time I have only 2 cats. Ozzy who is 14, and Boo who is 5. I say ONLY two cats, because there was when there were 6 in the house. More about them too. We also took care of a colony of feral cats. Their numbers have diminished over the years.  Have you seen the sticker or sign or what ever that says, " I will become the neighborhood crazy cat lady/", ? I am already know in these parts as that. I love it.

     I have hobbies. I love to crochet. I make baby things mostly. for no other reason than they are cute and fun to make. I make things to give away mostly. Finally I am making myself something after all of these years. I will do a reveal when I finish. I read. I think I would rather read than eat. Hmmm sounds drastic and maybe a bit over the top. I have a Kindle. I still prefer a physical book in my hands, but a Kindle is nice. There is something about the smell of the ink and the paper in a book. I like to take pictures. There is a new camera in my future. Not a terrible expensive Nikon, but better than my point and shoot. 

     What I want this blog to be abut is simple. I want to share me with you. I won't promise not to go off on a tear sometimes. When things really get under my skin this will be an outlet for a small rant. I won't promise not to have lots of pictures, but probably not daily. Maybe one, but not tons. I don't care for a post where  I have to hunt for the post because of all the pictures. I might on occasion even put in a work of fiction I might at some point change my mind on what I want this to be, but I will give fair warning.

     I think that is about it for now. I hope you enjoyed today's post. I hope you will continue to come and read what I have to say.

  Thank you......Trudy

Hodgepodge

1. Do you believe in miracles?

Absolutely! They  are around us daily. The sunrise, the sunset, the miracle of each snowflake being different, and most important especially at this time of year is Christ's birth, and God's love for us.

2. What's a recent fad you admit to trying?

I can't think of any fad recently that I have tried. Unless, gasp!, it is texting while driving! Shame on me. Only once or twice and it scared the **ap out of me. I pull over to the shoulder now.

3. Peppermint-are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite food or beverage containing peppermint?

Peppermint is one of my favorite flavors. Right now I am enjoying Coffee Mate Peppermint creamer in my morning coffee. I always, and I mean always have Ice Breakers peppermints with me. Andes mints a wonderful. However, I don,t like candy canes. Yeah, I know I'm weird that way.

4. Break the ice, on thin ice, as cold as ice (emotionally, not literally)...which phrase have you run into most recently? Explain.
As mentioned above I love Ice Breaker mints. Not the same thing I know. I suppose maybe break the ice. My brother was cranky the other night, and ended up wailing at me. Online it is hard to really express your anger, but he did a really very good job at it. So, I discontinued our chat. I don't take kindly to yelling, and he was yelling. So, last night he was online and I broke the ice and asked if he was over his snit. He said he thought I was in a snit, and was just giving it back. A misunderstanding that if left untouched could have seriously damaged our relationship, and we only have each other.

5. Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else's home? Still friends?

Ever? How about almost always. I have left a trail of my muddy footprints through a friends house. On the carpet, through to the hardwood floor, right into the tiled kitchen. She is my BFF , we have been friends for 40 years.

6.  'Tis the week before Christmas...are you feeling more like Buddy the Elf or theGrinch before his heart grew?

I don't know who Buddy is, but I am certainly not the Grinch. I am stressed out because I have so many thing to accomplish before company comes next week. But, I have found that no matter what everything always seems to get done. I ordered a new tree this year. On December 1st. It has not arrived yet. Just one more thing. The packages are wrapped, I have an empty space in the living room for it, and I have been assured it will be here today. We'll see.

7. Share a favorite quote relating to Christmas.

Trite, but true...It's not the receiving , although that is good too, but the giving that is the spirit of Christmas. I murdered the quote but you get the idea. I also try to remember that Christ is the reason for the season.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The snow just keeps coming. Two weeks ago we got 18-20  inches, and it hasn't really stopped since then. It seems everyday we get 1 or 2 more .inches and wake up to even more that has fallen over night. It has been a long time since we have seem snow like this. This is winter of my childhood. I liked it then, right now I am not a fan. As a child I lived in the city. I remember walking the entire length of my block on the snow mounds people had made when they shoveled the walkway. Some were taller than I was. I remember making "igloos" out of the mounds to use as snow forts. The winter we have just started is already shaping up to be that kind of winter. I wonder where I should build my fort?

Note: The tree came yesterday, but someone made a mistake somewhere along the way. It is a SILVER tree. I know I did not, would not, could not have ordered a silver tree. I am a green tree person. It will have to do for right now, but it will be returned next week or shortly thereafter. I think the whole saga of the tree is a future blog post.

I thought I would a couple of pictures of the Christmas village that gets set up each year. This year my son and his girlfriend did it, and I think they did a fine job.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. According to Oxford Dictionaries, the 2013 word of the year is 'selfie'. Your thoughts? When did you last take a selfie? Do you post them online somewhere?  Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind the lens?

I am not sure I even know what a "selfie" is. Although it seems to be a self pprtrait. No I don't take photos of myself. There are very few photos of me. I don't think I take good pictures. They scare old women and babies. I love being behind the camera.

2. Will you send out Christmas cards this year? If so, are they ready to go? If not, are you glad or sad about leaving that tradition behind?

I still send out a few to people that I won't be spending time with at Christmas. I send a few to friends I have made online. About 8 cards in all. I have not even purchased them yet. I am sad to not get cards in the mail. They always were a fun part of the decorations. I detest the form letters that so many people write now. I never know who is doing the writing, and they are so very impersonal.

3. Do you trust easily?

I trust until I am given a reason not to trust. At that point any kind of relationship ends.

4. Pine-cinnamon-peppermint-vanilla (as in sugar cookie)...of those listed, which one is your favorite December scent?

That's a tough one. I like them all. I would have to chose cinnamon though. It works in any part of the house. 

I have a set of tree ornaments that we used when I was a child. They came scented. Imagine how strong the scent was 40 years ago that I can still smell them now. And the level of scent is perfect.

5. Did you do more talking or more listening yesterday? Was that by choice or necessity?

I did more listening. A friend called in the morning in distress because one of her kids is acting inappropriately. I listened and commiserated, and prayed with her. In the afternoon my husband was all fired up about a Christmas gift he has already received...2 way radios.  So I listened and enjoyed his excitement.

6. What's the last song that got stuck in your head? Sorry if it's back there now :  )

That would be the Thanksgiving song..."Over the River." I don't know if that is the title. The first line is "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go."  It was a family favorite when I was growing up. My mom would play it on the piano. We would laugh because my grandmother lived with us.

7. Which world explorer (in the whole history of the world) would you most like to have traveled with, and why? 

If you think of Christ as an explorer, and he was of sorts then I would go with him. Because how wonderful it would be to learn at the feet of the great Teacher himself. If you don't consider him an explorer then it would be Lewis and Clark. Because I would have liked to discovered those parts of out country.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.

On Thanksgiving day my son and his girlfriend fixed the appearance of my blog. It had been broken by yours truly. I will start to post more often.Especially after the first of the year. I have many post ideas moving about in my head. I am excited to start a new journey. Again.
We are smack dab in the middle of our first Minnesota snow storm. So far we have about 12 inches and they say we could get 10-12 more today. Then it turns cold. Minus degrees cold. That's winter in Minnesota.

CHATS ON THE PORCH

I am joining Patrice on the porch today. The weather here has been so unbelievably perfect , I mean really. Daytime highs in the low 70s nighttime lows in the 50s. Low to no humidity. What could be more perfect. Excellent porch sitting weather.



Questions

1. Do you have any type of air cleaner in your home? I have a wall vent that helps to suck smells out. And windows. I think about getting an air cleaner, but it never seems to make it to the top of the priority list. 
2. What do you do with the spare change you accumulate in your car, purse, pockets, etc? I don't know about any accumulating change. Is this a new phenomenon? My change goes into the change compartment of my wallet, and then is used to make the odd change at a store register. How does one get in on this accumulating change? Is  there a web site where I sign up? Do I need to provide my own wrappers?
3. What's one chore you wish you never had to do again? Dishes! I hate doing dishes . I mean truly and fervently hat it. Even with a dishwasher I hate it. I hate all the other chores that come with dishes. Scrubbing the stove, cleaning off the counters, putting away the clean dishes.  Did I mention I hate this chore? If I could I would use throw away pots and pans, and dishes, and glasses, and silverware.  A girl can dream right? I mean I hate it.
4. Are you outgoing, quite, shy, reserved, or life of the party?  I am outgoing, but have had moments of being the life of the party.  I don't sit in a corner , and wait for life to come to me, but I don't go out of my way to draw attention to myself. Usually.
5. Have you understood your parents more as you've gotten older?  I have actually heard my mothers voice come out of my mouth.  Not just phrases she used to say, but the actual tone of her voice. And now I see her every time I look in the mirror.  I do understand my mom more now. I wish I knew then what I know now and could have helped make her life happier. 

I was fortunate to meet Wendall a few weeks ago. At first I was not sure if he was a person, dog, or cat. He could have been a fish, except who ever heard of a talking fish?

The garden experiment has been declared a huge success. There are 8 tomatoes, 2 squash, 1 pepper, 4 healthy cabbage plants. I don't know yet how the potatoes are doing, but the plants look healthy.  I am already planning next years garden.

I was in the city last week. I was supposed to be a long weekend, but turned out to be almost a full week. Car trouble. It was a relaxing good time though. We went to a yarn store, Micheal's  Jo-Ann's , out to lunch, out to dinner, spent many hours just laughing. I saw my son while I was there and had a very enjoyable evening with him and his girlfriend. It was good to get home, but I can't wait to go again. 

Chats

I am joining in on the fun at Everyday Rurality for Chats on the Porch.

As you can see my header is still broken. I need to have my son take a look at it.

QUESTIONS

1. QUESTIONS
   1. Are you looking forward to fall? I am looking toward fall, but only because it means (hopefully) cooler weather. I do like all the fall colors when the leaves change, and crisp mornings. The fall brings back memories of school days, and piles of leaves burning and hot dogs on sticks.
   2. What are the three best colors for you to wear, and the three worst? My best colors are magenta or bright pink, bright yellow, and royal blue. My worst colors are brown, black, and peach. I look like death in them.
   3. What is your favorite kind of juice? If you are not into juice, you can tell us your favorite flavor of soda, tea, coffee, Tang, mud, etc. My favorite juice used to be grapefruit juice. Now because of medications I can't drink it. I guess my second favorite would be grape juice. My BF cans her own grape juice and it is just the best.
   4. Have you ever been in the hospital (at least an overnight)? You don't need to share the ailment, but tell us what the longest time is. I was in the hospital when my son was born for 10 days. Back then (29 years) they kept you in a long time with a C-section. Six months later I was in the hospital for another 10 days for another surgery. 
   5. Do jingles, songs from ads, and TV or movie themes stick in your head?  Jingles don't stay in my head. I do sing along with the music in a store though. Does that count? Do you find yourself singing them? (This question means that I'm trying to find out if I'm the only crazy person who sings quirky stuff!) My husband is always telling me I am crazy so I doubt you are alone.

  


I am joining in the fun at Acting Balanced today for the Monday Quiz About Me. Stay for the fun.
I still have not fixed my header, and every time I talk to my son I forget. Oh well, it will get fixed eventually.

1. What is your favorite pair of shoes?
That would have to be my pink Birkenstocks. They were my first pair. I got them at a garage sale for less than a dollar in 1991. I still have them. Birkenstocks are the only thing to touch me feet. I even wear them in the winter. They make real shoes! Who knew? Not me until a few years ago.
2. Do you get embarrassed easily?
.My husband can embarrass me when we are alone. But, as a rule I don't. I talk to myself all the time, and have been caught doing it by strangers. I just smile and go on my way. I often sing along with the music in a store. Not loudly, but loud enough for me to hear. I don't have a good voice, in fact it is a rather pathetic singing voice. It makes people cringe. So when caught singing in pubic I smile then too.
3. What makes you cringe?
You mean other than nails on a chalk board right? That would be parents not taking control of their children and letting them run wild. I also cringe when a parent treats a child too roughly. There have been a few times when I have stepped into a situation.  It is amazing what the presence of a stranger will do to an unruly parent.
4. July 29th is National Lasagna day... are you celebrating?  What kind of lasagna do you prefer?

I like just plain old regular lasagna with lots of cheese. In fact, I have some in the freezer. I think I just answered the other question. We are having lasagna for dinner.

Recently, not too far from my home a young boy (2 years) was bit in the face by a rabid skunk. He was in day care, the day care provider went to help another child and the skunk appeared from nowhere and bit the child. He had to go through rabies treatments  So did his other, because she got some of the blood on her hands. The skunk was killed. This made my heart go out to these people, and made me much more aware when I go outside. I wear an emergency whistle around my neck in case of bears,  but now if might just be be case of skunks.

Chats from the Porch

I am joining for the first time Everyday Rurality for
Chats on the Farmhouse porch.
If you have been to see me before you know about my dilemma with the header/title. I still have no idea how to fix it.




QUESTIONS

1. Do you use any type of water filter (pitcher or sink mount)? We gave well water which is normally very good. But, alas we have a poor well. We have the Culligan man come once a month to change up the softener thing, and we have from Culligan under the sink reverse osmosis. This makes our water very tasty.
2. Do you have any tips for staying hydrated in the warmer weather? I always make sure to have water, and V-8 handy. V-8 is a great way to get the electrolytes back to where they need to be in case of dehydration. Popsicles work as does Pedialyte.
3. Is your hair naturally curly or straight? My hair is so straight it has been used in place of ruler to make a straight line. JK, but it is straight. My brother got all of the curls.
4. Are you on top of all the chores/work you do, or are you always running behind? I am always behind. The older I get the behinder I get. I remember when I could go from one end of the house to the other in one day and have a spotlessly clean house. It seems that the one day jobs now take 2 or 3 days. I wonder what I will be like in 10 years and shudder.
5. If you could sing a song to Wendell, what would it be? Well, for starters since this is my first time here I am not sure who Wendall is,however, if he is a cat...I would ask him what he wanted to hear. Because as all people know cats have a very large vocabulary. My experience tells me that most cats like to hear "Don't Fence Me In" or "Puff the Magic Dragon." If Wendall is some other sort of animal it is up for grabs what to sing.  If he is a human well then he probably would ask me not to sing.

This has been fun for me. I hope it has been fun for you.