Goofing Off Wednesday

We are back on the Hodgepodge after Joyce, our host took a break to enjoy her daughters and precious grandkids.  I so enjoyed seeing all her pictures and reading about their fun time.

1.  Did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in some way?  If so tell us how.  Are you a fan of corned beef?  Cabbage?  The color green?

DID NOT CELEBRATE & NOT REALLY a fan of the rest.

2.  March 22nd is National Goof Off Day...will you celebrate?  Your favorite way to goof off?  Last time you had a whole day to spend 'goofing off'?

When you are retired, you have your option of how many days to goof off, not necessarily just which one.

3.  Something on your to-do list that has been there more than a month?  Will this be the month you finally cross it off?

This was my March To-Do List, which also closely resembles my February one.  Nothing to carry over to April.

4.  In your opinion, what emotion is the most beneficial?  Which one is the least useful?

These happy faces say it all!  The least useful is my look of disappointment at missing an opportunity to see my family.

5.  What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?  Elaborate.

When I wasn't being a tom boy climbing trees and building hide-outs in the woods, or riding my bike, I loved to play 'dress-up'.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

We took an enjoyable Sunday afternoon road trip with friends and these are a few of the most interesting, typical North Central Texas scenes for your enjoyment.  I'm planning to do a blog post including other scenes later this week.

A lazy burro taking a Sunday afternoon nap

Work never stops on a ranch

Texas is known for it's beautiful longhorns

A Wordless Walk in the Park

It is such a gorgeous day here that I decided to venture down the street to the nearby Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.  Sunshine and 56 degrees is almost perfect weather for an outing.  And a lot of other folks thought so too.

I got off the concrete path and took the dirt trails along the Spring Creek.  I hope you enjoy being outdoors with me on this quiet walk.

Breaking Out on the Hodgepodge

Sharing Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce, From This Side of the Pond

1.  We're in to a season students call 'spring break'.  Did you/your family travel over spring breaks when you were growing up?  Tell us something about a 'spring break' you remember (from childhood or adulthood, either one).

The most memorable was a trip to Las Vegas in 2015.  Our son happened to have a medical convention there that coincided with his girl's spring break and we were invited to join them.  These pictures capture only some of the highlights.

Attended an Elton John concert at Caesar's Palace

Went to the Grand Canyon

Helicoptered over the canyon and took a boat ride down the river.

Hoover Dam

Even celebrated early our 50th wedding anniversary on our last night.

We didn't get get spring breaks when I was in school, but we did get a whole week out for Easter week.

2.  Last thing you broke?  Was it a big deal?

I dropped a glass storage container that was thankfully empty.  It was only a big deal because it shattered into a million pieces of shredded and chunked glass that had to be found and cleaned up.

3.  March 7th is National Cereal Day...are you a fan?  What's your favorite?  If not cereal what's your favorite breakfast?  Your typical breakfast?

I rarely eat cereal but when I do, it is Almond Flakes.  My favorite breakfast is also our typical breakfast - baked eggs with bacon or another meat.  If you're curious about how I bake the eggs:  spray a pan, break 2-4 eggs in each corner; season then sprinkle onion powder and cheese; bake in 350 degree oven until done to your liking.  I also bake my bacon before and during the cooking of the eggs.  Presto, you've got a meal in about 10-15 mins.

4.  Break ground, break of dawn, break down, break the bank, break one's stride, break the ice, break a law, break a habit, break bread...choose one of the idioms listed and tell us how it applies to your life currently.

Break of dawn best fits, but it actually begins well before.  I have started a new workout routine at the nearby retirement center that adjoins our village property and is within walking distance of our house.  I start about 5:45 and finish up just as the sun is beginning to rise an hour later.

5.  Where do you go to connect with friends and family?  What do you like to do most when you're home alone?

Sunday mornings at church is where we most often see our daughter and her family and are delighted to be able to sit with them during the worship service.  This is also where we meet and connect with friends we may or may not see other times during the week.  Our social life pretty much revolves around church activities and friends we've made there.

We stay connected with our Indiana family through Snap Chat.  Daughter-in-law is so good about sending pictures and videos of our baby Jax almost every day and John is faithful about calling.  Distance isn't so distant when you stay in touch.

When I'm home alone, which is only for short spurts of time, I will either be on my laptop or watching a TV show that Dick isn't into.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Guess who got another month older on the 6th.  Yes, both our great grandboys turned another month old and both added new teeth.

Welcome to March in the South

Welcome to the first of March and the Wednesday Hodgepodge, hosted by

Joyce From This Side of the Pond

1.  Hello March!  Is it coming in like a lion where you live?

With temperatures in the upper 80's and not a cloud in the sky, March is entering more like a happy kitten.

How do you feel when it rains?  Like this happy kitten.  I love bad weather.

2.  What's something you'd like to do differently this week than the last?  Explain.

Last week I concentrated heavily on completing the HOA newsletter that was emailed to all residents today (Tuesday).  This morning I joined the Premier Club at a very nice assisted living facility adjoining our property where I will be able to do water and varied fitness workouts regardless of the weather.  I plan to hit the warm pool early Thursday morning.

3.  March 1st is National Sunkist Citrus Day...do you drink orange juice?  Orange, lemon, line, tangerine, grapefruit...what's your favorite citrus fruit?  A dish you love with a citrus fruit as one of it's key ingredients?

I do not do citrus because of reflux issues but I would gladly share a slice of lemon ice box pie with you.  Most often though, you will find a citrus flavor coming from my diffuser.

4.  What do you consider to be your culture.  Elaborate.

DNA results show that my ethnicity is 59% Scottish; however, all my emigrating ancestors came from England and Wales, ending up in the south and primarily in North Louisiana where land and water were plentiful.  Based on this and where I grew up, South Central Louisiana, I would be considered culturally a Bible-Belt Christian with a smidge of Cajun.  Throw in now some Texas experiences and I think that adds up to be pretty well balanced.

5.  Sum up your February in fifteen words or less.

In with a roar; out with a purr

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Today, Feb. 28 is our only grandson's 28th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Let's Party Hodgepodge

My friends and I don't have time to get bored!

Welcome back to this Wednesday Hodgepodge and thank you Joyce for these fun questions.

1.  What do you find is the most boring part of your life at the moment?

I do not have a problem with boredom.  In fact, I never think about using that word.  But to play, I suppose trying to figure out what to eat on a daily bases at this point in our life can be tiring.  But, we're both easy to please in the department, so it's never a big deal.

2.  February 22nd is George Washington's birthday.  You'll find his face on the US $1 bill.  What's the last thing you bought for roughly $1.00?

An egg?  I seriously can't think of anything that even costs $1.00.

3.  Is it ever okay to tell a 'little white lie'?  Explain.

Is it a lie to not say what one believes to be true in order to save another's feelings?  This is an age old question.

We have just finished watching the first season of "Extraordinary Woo Young Woo."  The main character is a lawyer who happens to be autistic.  For her, there is no distinction between true and false, and as a result there can be conflict.  We know lying is wrong; however, for the sake of preserving relationships, etc. I may not say exactly what I think or believe to be true if it will be unkind, harmful or cruel.

4.  What's the last thing you 'chopped'?

Mushrooms

Cherry pie, chocolate covered cherries, a bowl of cherries, cherry vanilla ice cream, maraschino cherries, a cherry lifesaver...your favorite cherry flavored something?

Does anyone remember the Cherry Coke of yesteryear?

I can't tell you the last time I even drank a coke, but have wonderful memories of sitting in a drugstore booth sipping on a refreshing cherry coke as a teenager.

5.  Describe yourself with three words using your first, middle, and last initials.

E - encourager; C - cautious; D - devoted

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Today, when it reached 88 degrees here in Plano, TX, I couldn't help but remember what exactly two years ago looked like in Northern Indiana.

My granddaughter and I took a road trip into Michigan to see the snowy sights.  I'm glad she was a good driver.

This was the sight she wanted me to see.  I was not disappointed.

To me, there is nothing more beautiful than a snow-covered vista with the sun creating snow crystals.

But, this is perhaps our best news this past week.

We had a FaceTime gender reveal on Saturday and great grandson #3 will be here in August.  Our daughter and son-in-law are thrilled after a household of four girls.