Tuesday 4 Spring Has Sprung

 

Spring has Sprung

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4/ Hosted by Annie!

Spring has sprung as they say and sights and sounds of winter have given way to those of springtime. With each season even the feel of the sun and wind changes and people may also have a change of attitude or a change oe heart.

1/ Many of my neighbors have chickens.  Have you ever raised them for fresh eggs or is the grocer your go to for them? Also.. would the sound of a neighbor having them bother you? Chickens bring back sweet memories of  visits to  my  grandparents on their dairy farm  in the 50's.  I loved to gather the eggs until I saw a snake in the hen house.    But I think it would be glorious to  be able to gather my own eggs .  The sounds  would  just charm me!!!

2.  How does the change in seasons affect you personally? Are you happier in some seasons , do allergies get to you, do you perk up or down due to weather?  I love spring, but I am  dreadfully  allergic to pollen.  I  have learned to just  prepare the best I can with meds and  enjoy the season!

3.   This week our youngest family member is in France.  She will see Paris, Provence, the Riviera, all very exciting for a young teen.    Most of us don't ever do anything that big...but even the smallest things can have a big effect on  us.  What experience  do you think stands out  most for you in your memory?  Well,  going to meet my husband who was serving  in the military  in Frankfurt  and living  in Germany for a year  was  quite the event for  me..  an essentially country gal! But that bit of  travel  put the yen for travel in me.  I  have  enjoyed  the Netherlands,  Ireland   and Scotland and I'd be hard pressed to name the most awesome of those three. I suppose  it is  most terrific because according  to  Ancestry.com  I hail from  all of these countries!  I suppose I am a mixed up  mess!

4.  What do you look forward to in each of the year's seasons?  I love the new birth of spring .. seeing everything come back alive and the colors are  heavenly!  Summer  is  beautiful  with the  dark green of  the shade trees and the active birds  and summer  flowers.  I love  my hydrangeas in summer. Autumn is  so glorious with the  russets and golds,  the  breezes and    cloudy skies  that  bring  winter   in  by surprise..   and I may not enjoy  the outside   in winter,  but I love the  fireside,  woolly blankets, and hot cocoa  and a really  haunting mystery book..  Every season  has its own charms!

Tuesday 4 Home Sweet Home

 

Tuesday 4  Home Sweet Home  Hosted by Annie!

Be it ever so humble there is no place like home . Let's talk about homes okay?

1.  In some places people name their homes or properties. What would you name your home and why? I would name it St Giles in The Fields,  Cottage,  as that is where my earliest known  maternal ancestor  was  from in Middlesex, England. Our home is very cottage like inside!.

If you would not name it, why wouldn't you?

2.  Are you more of a romantic or a pragmatist when it comes to your home or apartment's decor and color?I am much more a romantic...  I  love cottage core design!

3.   Do you have enough room in your home?  Yes,  and if we continued to  purge  more every week,  we would have  very ample room! Storage space, kitchen cabinets?  Now since it is just the two of us,    all fits together very well!  What would you add or subtract from your home?We love it just as it is!

4.  Is your place really home sweet home ? It is home sweet home. Would it be hard to leave it ? At our age  we know  moving is  in the cards for us,.. The yard is just too much  for Hubs!   Are you firmly rooted in your abode or would you move if a better opportunity came your way?  The price of homes has sky rocketed so much  we wonder if we can afford to move.  If we do move it would be a a condo  with a nice  terrace  and  lots of light! 

We are actually  looking at something like this...

Tuesday 4, Food!

Foody Questions

Hosted by Annie!

Welcome to Toni's Tuesday 4..

Can we talk about food ?

1. what was your favorite suppertime meal when you were a kid or a teen?  How about fav breakfast and lunch while you're at it.

My momma grew up on  a farm and she was a fabulous cook. I always looked forward to fried chicken,   mashed taters,  her  canned green beans, and biscuits.  For breakfast  her  sausage gravy and biscuits were   wonderful.. and for lunch we often had homemade  vegetable soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. Yum!

2. How about now? What is your favorite dinnertime meal?  For dinner we crab cakes,  home fries and slaw.And for breakfast,  for breakfast  I love to scramble eggs with parmesan cheese, served with toasted  English muffins with butter and orange marmalade, and lunchtime?  Lunch is usually, something like  celery with pimiento cheese, soup,  and  half a sandwich.

3. How has your taste in food changed over the years.Well,  it seems food  has lost a lot  of goodness.,.   when momma was cooking the food was fresh,,  from the garden or the farm. It tasted  awesomely good. Today,  our food has been so  adulterated  and  we have no means of  farm food, so we  try  to  eat  healthy and  I do  like to  bake    items from scratch to help make up the difference!

4.  What's for supper at your house tonight?   Homemade spaghetti and a tossed salad. 

Tuesday 4 Dreaming!

Dream.. Dream.. Dream

 

Welcome to Toni's Tuesday 4 friends!  

It's up early due to a busy weekend.

Dream, when you're feeling blue
Dream, that's the thing to do
Just watch the smoke rings rise in the air
You'll find your share of memories there

So dream, when the day is through
Dream, and they might come true
Things never are as bad as they seem
So dream, dream, dream
                           ........by Johnny Mercer

1. As evenings are long, temperatures drop and we have more time to dream and ponder, are you pondering or dreaming of anything right now?I hate to wish my life away, but I do long for the   spring and sunny,  warmer weather..  I long for  bulbs  bursting  up  from the ground and buds popping out on the trees!

2.  Day dreaming , singing, humming even, can lift your mood and change the entire state of your health.   Do you daydream or sing during the day ? Now that you know it can improve health will you try it?Now that you know it can improve health will you try it?  I do love to listen to music that  inspires   dreaming..  I have several  cd's of Dan Gibson, whose music is quite dreamy!  Click the link below to see  many of  Dan's  compositions and  listings..  

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWLaUoe6IkBZ0kClCcbEs6z6ijZIDFU8r

3. Fess  up friends!   When you window gaze is it because you are nosy or because it's just so lovely outside?  We will still love you no matter what the answer.I  can  day dream  to distraction..  I guess many like my mom would say I've wasted a good amount of time  window gazing.  I think I was even scolded in elementary class  for the same! But I am  a  pretty creative person  and  I loved to write stories as a young lady,  so  I think it is probably reasonable that I spent  a good amount of time within myself  dreaming  of what could be! I still do, as a matter of fact!

4.Daydreams can become reality if they stir us to action.    Were there any times in your life when dreams came true?  As I consider this question the first thing that  came to mind was the fact that  God in His  majesty and good gifts   provided many opportunities for my life that I never even  considered  in my dreams..  I dreamed of adventures,   but never dreamed  I would actually live  a year in a foreign country  before I ever  began my life's work. It was a land of  castles and  marvelous  tales of  fantasy  from my youth,  and I got to  visit and  be a part of  them before I was 23..

That is just one way God worked in my life  offering me  the   reality of many such dreams I am sure I  visited as a youth!

We actually lived  right beside this  mountain range  called the Odenwald  which   was  the  area  where the  Brothers' Grimm lived and got so many ideas for their stories!  We could see this ruin from our  living room window!

  This is Frankenstein's Castle which Mary Shelley visited  and was so taken by the   horror story of the actual man who lived here  was compelled to write  her  own story  about the  site!  We arrived  at this castle  right at dusk and saw it    in it's most ghoulish setting..  We were the only ones  there at the time..   It was rather chilling as we had just read the true story of Dr. Frankenstein!

Tuesday 4

Weathering the Storm...

Tuesday 4, hosted by Annie!

Weathering the Storm

 Hello .. This is Toni's Tuesday  4 where we strive to get you thinking and blogging and connecting with others.

 The saying used to be on my blog as a description: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

This was important to me when my spine went south on me.  I was born disabled  and became a dancer.  Now I am disabled again. Que sera, sera, whatever will be will be.   But we keep on going. and turn the lemons to lemonade...or we should I think.

Let's talk about it because we have all been there, done that.

1. What/who is your rock through the storms of life?My dear husband  is my rock.  Actually, I do not think I could get by without him  at this stage of life.. I am in my mid u0'[s and   my health is  hanging in there,  but my body is   weak and  pretty painful.  I cannot negotiate steps well. I certainly can not carry  items with me  so    there it is.    

What beliefs do you have to stand on? OH, I absolutely depend on  my lord and savior  Jesus Christ, and   God  for the air  I breathe and  every   moment that I live! Prayer is  very important in my life!

2.  Do you take precautions for bad storms? What precautions do you take? Well, we do not have tornadoes,    hurricanes, and floods  per se   

right here  where we live.  We may have   downpours that  supersede our  drains  and must  eat,ch    how things are  going  as  our back door is flush with the sidewalk outside! IfWe live on the side of a hill and sometime   the rainwater  flows downtime hill at such a degree  we    can take measures to  divert the water  flowing down our  driveway toward the house.  But that is  about  all we do  in the wake of storms.

3. The Sheep are caroling in the snow... do you sing during the tough times? I sometimes, do actually.  certain hymns bring me solace..   Because God is so faithful.. I  sing Great is Thy Faithfulness:

                                          “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

                               There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

                                   Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

                         As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

 

                             “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy             faithfulness!”

                         Morning by morning new mercies I see;

                      All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

                 “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

          2

                                 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

                    Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

                     Join with all nature in manifold witness

                To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3

                                Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

                Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

                       Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

                    Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

    What things, what activities pull you through?  I  certainly pray..  talking to God is a great  solace!  I  may just write  in my  journal and listen to  christian music!

4. Whatever we do, we should be there for others in the difficult times.

What advice can you give to those who are going through a difficult time now?  Phone calls,  notes, and visits are  one  thing.. Sometimes I take a meal and a visit.

Tuesday 4

 

Friendly Chat

Hosted by Annie!

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  With just four questions each week we hope to change the world!  

Well, okay, we can't change the world  but we do hope to help you have something to blog about, think about and talk about.        I hope everyone in Florida is okay  with the storm Debby! Be safe friends.

So, let's take our tea or coffee and sit down together and  have a friendly chat about life........

"So Dora.. how's life lately?"

1.  If you were or are married, did or do you enjoy being married?  If you are not married are you content and happy in that life?I have been married to my sweetheart fore 52 years.  We are very content.  He comforted me by staying with me at my Moh’s surgery appt this mornin.  No one else had a significant other with them!  

2. What are the best parts of your life today?  What were the best things about your life in the past? The best part of today was as I said having Lynn with me  and only having to cut to the clear margins once. Thank you, Lord, In my part life I so enjoyed my parents growing up, the many trips we took to be with extended families on both sides! We were so blessed to adopt Amanda  and her family   ( husband and children) complete our family beautifully. )  

3.  What more could you add to your life to make it better, or conversely, what could you remove to make it better for you? As much as I love our beautiful home of 48 years, at my age now, I would love to be living on one floor.. a patio home would be lovely, but I cannot convince hubby!

4. If you work... are you really pleased in your job or would you like something better?  If you are retired is it all you hoped it would be and how could it be better for you?  I taught school for thirty years and really enjoyed it. That said I was thrilled to retire at age 53. I loved having our home to myself for 9 years before hubby retired.  But now I love being home together.  We enjoy taking day trips ever so often. 

Tuesday 4

Great Architiecture

 Hosted by Annie!

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. She would be delighted you are here to join in and so am I.

The photo to the right is the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.  It is the largest cathedral outside Europe . Not only is it beautiful inside and out but has a magnificent pipe organ   It's cornerstone was laid in 1899.

As  buildings go she is a masterpiece of great workmanship.

1. What are some beautiful buildings in your neck of the woods?

Our most iconic building is the Hotel Roanoke!

Originally built in 1882 it has been updated  numerous time and is a beautiful hotel  tucked on the edge of the city  surrounded by the beautiful  Blue Ridge Mountains!  Currently run by Hilton as a 4 star accommodation and dining experience!

We, also, have  many  beautiful churches  in our  fair city!!!  Our three older churches!

 2.   What buildings of renown have you experienced or would like to experience? The Louvre? Maybe  Versailles? Things closer to home perhaps?  The National Cathedral in Washington, 

As well as,  all of the national  buildings in DC. 

Historical buildings in Philadelphia, and the fabulous historical /science museum, The Franklin Institute!  Independence Hall,   Williamsburg, Jamestown, to name a few here, but, also, Stirling Castle, Inverary Castle, Glamis Castle in Scotland, and St Patrick’s  Cathedral  and Cabra Castle in Ireland.

3. What do you think of the current trends in modern buildings?  I much prefer the grandeur and complexity of older construction. 

4. If you could choose any style home you would like, what would it be? Victorian, Farm House, Craftsmen, Ranch, Georgian, Tudor, Cape Cod. I live  in a Tudor home and I love the special architecture that was incorporated in our 1930’s home. Because I love English Cottage decor our

actually home inspires me!

Tuesday 4

 

Trouble Right here in River City

Hosted by Annie!
 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 where we strive to interest you with 4 questions each week.

"ya got trouble my friend, right here I say trouble right here in River City..." the music man

Problems come to us all and you don't even need to live in River City!

Some you can solve, some you can't. Some scare you.    For instance, on Facebook I lost a lot of people from my friends list and I have no idea why. It was enough people to make me think it was a glitch but then I was too shy to ask people if they had gotten rid of me because they just don't like me....so I did nothing.    What about your problems?

1. Do you think that you handle problems well over all?  I suppose that 30 years in the classroom taught a lot about all kinds of problems… believe me, all kinds of problems,  and comparatively, now  I can just pass through life letting most problems just bounce off me. Praise God. I really try to just ignore anything unless it is something of great import that must be addressed! 

2. What kinds of problems send you into a tizzy or downright scare you? Maybe some just exasperate you? Oh, I used to be consumed with any problem that had the appearance of degrading my public opinion.  Teachers at our school worked very hard to be exemplary. We all worked multiple hours after school everyday to be beyond reproach in all areas. Our leadership expected nothing less, actually!  So whenever something happened to shed a bad light on me as a professional was very upsetting to me and I worked so very hard to do whatever it took to regain my standing.  I believe it was the same for everyone in the school. I find this is a lost trait in elementary school today. At least in the school my grands attend,  as they just fall back on their union.

3. We always have God in our corner but besides him do you have a reliable back up system to go to for help with car trouble, home repairs and maintenance, or any troubles that may arise for you?  Well, my first line of defense , praise God , is my dear husband who tries hard to take care of these issues. We also have a list of plumbers, painters, electricians, and we are hoping to find a good mason.  We have some stone and brick work that needs attention.

4 I love the idea that a lovely cupcake can fix anything at all.  "Oh, you are sick? Just eat a dozen of these delicious cupcakes and you will be right as rain!"      What foods, places, music or whatever can make a problem  seem easier to handle?    I guess we are talking about what brings you comfort in the way of material things.Music is a great comfort to me.  Of course, softly played hymns have a wonderful healing affect, but I also play Hauser on cello, and Dan Gibson instrumental music. 

Summertime Tuesday 4

Summertime

Hosted by Annie!

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4  July is here and summer is underway.  

Let's talk about what July will bring for you.

1. What are you doing for the  4th of July holiday? If you don't celebrate what plans do you have that day? Oh, we went to a fabulous  patriotic musical  at a nearby church Sunday evening that was  absolutely glorious! And it was wonderful to run into several long time dear friends and have lengthy chats! At our age,   we  do not  really have anything planned. I would love to  go out to find a place to park  where we could enjoy the fireworks!  We used to every year.  But    that is iffy this year.  But  I did a bit of decorating around the house for the holiday, and we are flying the flag and have the bunting around our porch!  HAHAH we usually will sit out on our porch and  light a couple of sparklers if the kids didn't use them all up, last year!!!

2. Are you planning a holiday , get away or just day trips  this summer? Where will you go?  What will you do?  My birthday is this month  and we plan to go  to a B and B to celebrate. The place is phenomenal! We were there years ago with a senior group just to check and see how marvelous it was! I have wanted to stay there ever since! It is in the mountain area of Virginia  and  the town itself is full of great restaurants and run venues!! I will share some photos following our   short stay! 

3. Do you  like to go out for ice cream in summer or do you just eat it at home? What flavor and what brand gets your endorsement? I love to go out for ice cream... Much more  fun than eating it here! I love soft serve and if it is dipped, all the better!

4. What activities are most enjoyable for you in the summertime? travel?  reading? movies? gardening? beach time?   I love travel and reading,  but  as neither of us love the heat anymore.  we mostly enjoy short travel.. exploring new areas around   the state. We will do a bit of that on my birthday jaunt! 

If you are reading, do you have some books chosen?Yes, I am really into cosy mysteries these days... so I have some  on order. I have a couple to help get me started!!  I love  books by Carlene O'Connor  whose mysteries occur in Scotland and Ireland!

Tuesday 4 Wild lIfe

Wild Life 

 Hosted by Annie!!

Tuesday 4 is here once again. 

I was thinking about wild life that is all around us.  Summer brings us out of the house and we spend more time outdoors, weather permitting,  and have an opportunity to see animals and birds that live around us.

1. Do you see many animals where you live? Is your answer a good or bad thing?

I do see wildlife.  It is partly a good thing and partly not so good!!!

2. What kind of animals and birds are around your area?

  I see  birds, mainly   all throughout the day!   In  the late afternoon  we do  have  deer  wander into our yard as they leave the nearby woods and go foraging.  Unfortunately.,  we do have to  fence off our    gardens to keep  the deer from  eating all of my roses,,and    other precious  flowers we work pretty hard to   cultivate!  And I live in the city.  but  the deer population keeps growing  year after year.  The city takes no    interest in lessening the population.  

3. What kind of animals and birds could you do without and what kind would you love to see more  often?  We used to see chipmunks  all over the place  but  this year they are absent.  We always enjoyed seeing them.  I love the birds and we do try to attract them!   We   keep water for them.  I  really  do not like the deer..  they re pretty  but    that is  all the  good I have to say about them!

4. Do you feed wild birds or animals ?  We unintentionally feed the deer who  rampage  the  gardens   on their own ... we do feed the birds   except in the summer.  I would like to  but hubs  says they   can find their own food.  We do feed them throughout the rest of the year!

Tuesday 4

 

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Your Kitchen

Hosted by Annie!

Howdy friends and welcome back for another of Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

 I need renovations throughout my home and that includes the kitchen. So, I've been collecting pictures with ideas on painting my cabinets, replacing my 1957 kitchen window, my cracked tile floors and my rusty sink and damaged counter tops.   Could we talk about kitchens for a bit?

1.  Is this kitchen in the photo one that you would enjoy working in?    Did you have one of those step stools in your home  growing up? I think it is a charming kitchen.. very homey! But no, I didn’t have a step stool like that.  

2. What appliances are absolute necessities in your kitchen and what can you do without. Well, of course , we must have a fridge, stove, and preferably a dishwasher, although, we rarely use ours since it is just the two of us now.  But when it comes to small appliances, we have too many.. blender, food processor, stand mixer, air fryer, toaster, electric can opener, to name a few. 

3. What items are always in your pantry? Well, I cannot say we are prepares, but I do try to keep the pantry full just in case…you know what 

I mean, we have about 4 cans each of bean, soup, canned  tomato products, tuna, canned chicken, corn, peas, and  beets.

Oatmeal,, baking supplies,  snacks items, crackers, pretzels, pickles, spices, etc.

4. How about your counter tops... filled with things or empty? Our counter tops are limited so we try to keep them as clear as we can. But we do have important things kept on the counters.

Tuesday 4

Hosted by Annie

Rainy Days and Mondays

 My computer has been going up and down since Sunday so this is a bit late but I do hope you will join in anyway.

Welcome back. Toni Taddeo began this Tuesday 4 question and answer postings and I am continuing it in her honor.. 

It's been a bit rainy and stormy across the USA this spring and I have seen so many negative sentiments about Mondays.   Karen Carpenter sang about rainy days and Mondays always getting her down.   Can we discuss it?

1. How do you feel about rainy days? Do they make you happy or sad? Do they always get you down? Absolutely not.  I have always enjoyed a rainy day.. even when they come and over stay their welcome.  One of my temperament personalities is melancholy which  makes a rainy day right up my alley!

2. How about Monday. Do they get you down or do you think that just might be a habit of negative thinking? Well, to be honest when I was teaching, it truly did seem that Mondays came too quickly!I sometimes longed for one more day on weekends.   Of course, being retired, except for Sunday, one day is much the same as the next!

3. Did you play in puddles as a kid? Or were you not the kind that liked getting wet and muddy? Oh,my goodness, yes.  I am so blessed to have grown up with galoshes, and puddles, even slight gullies drew me ever to them! 

4.  Are there foods/meals that you find especially comforting on stormy days?  Nosy people want to know!! So Lynn has been working outside on  repointing the mortar joints in our brick sidewalk.  It has taken a couple of days so far.. but he just came in to say a stray storm had just popped up. Now I had already prepared our delicious chicken salad and shucked the corn for supper tonight, so I’m not compelled to do any more.  But I  understand that we will have the next two days very stormy and bleak!  (Goody). So I will probably cook up something substantial like a pot of lentil beans with ham, or a yummy veggie soup. There is something about a dreary day that calls me to the kitchen!

Tuesday 4 .. I'll Have a Taco Please!

 

Taco Tuesday

Hosted by Annie!

 Hey there... Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

I hope your week went well.  

Taco Tuesday was coined by a Taco John's owner back in 1980 when he needed to jack up sales for Tuesday the slowest day of the week.   His franchise began offering 2 tacos for 99¢.  It was a huge hit and Taco Tuesday became a big hit in America.  But it's original name was Taco Twos Day.

Could we look at Tuesday a bit?

1. Do you take part in this nationwide ritual and have tacos on Tuesday or do you like them any old time?  I  like them  anytime,  but  funny to say,  Im meeting friends at a restaurant tomorrow, Tuesday,  and  as I  perused the online menu yesterday I decided on tacos  for tomorrow.  Almostt spooky,  but I will really enjoy them even more now!

2. This particular Taco John's was in Wyoming.  Does your state have a favorite fast food place and do you like eating there?  I would have to say  I do not think  we do  have a particular fast food joint  particular to  our state  just the same ole ones  we see everywhere.   But I do have my favorites like  Firehouse Subs..   fresh yummy subs with out  the greasy   additives!

3. Taco Tuesday was trademarked in 1989 in 49 states except New Jersey where the Gregory Hotel owns that trademark.  Taco Bell wants to sue over the use of the term.  What do you think about that?  Ridiculous,  what if   all  fast food  places with  a food item in the name did that.  So   dumb!  

4. How do you like your tacos? Soft or hard shell? Hot, medium or mild salsa? Cheese? Sour cream? I prefer soft  with a medium to mild salsa,  bring on the cheese   and a dollop of sour cream.  A  bit  of fresh  salad   and tomato on top, please!  YUM!!!!