My Name

Blog Prompt: Who chose your name? Were you named after someone else?

My parents chose my name. I’m not really sure why they chose my name other than at the last minute, they liked the name Patricia. I heard the story about how my name was supposed to be Gail but then it was changed. Patricia means noble and I like the thought of being noble. My middle name is Ruth and Ruth was my grandmother’s name. Growing up, I thought Ruth was an old fashioned name but now I like it. I like the thought of it being in the bible and that it seems like a strong name. My sister has been telling me some stories about my grandmother that I never knew and it makes me wish that I had known my grandmother better before she passed away. The stories are good though and I feel closer to her just from hearing about her.

Original image: 'red velvet cupcake madness!'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35468136000@N01/99894244 by: Klara

Dreaming

Blog Prompt: At what age are you too old to pursue your dreams? Or are you ever to old?

I think you are never too old to dream. Dreaming is part of living. I love having dreams and having them come true. Then I pursue new dreams. This pursuit is what makes life interesting. Sometimes it takes longer to make some dreams come true than others but I’m learning that it is fun to work at it. Sometimes the pursuit is almost as much fun as the dreaming. I wish I had known this when I was younger. I wish someone had told me this when I was younger. But then again, maybe someone did and I didn’t listen. But now I know and I’m making a list of things I want to learn or do and slowly, I’m marking the dreams off as they come true. I hope I continue to dream and pursue my dreams until the day I die.

Original image: 'A young boy dreams big dreams of what lies beyond'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10271343@N00/2628104710 by: Ken Bosma

Old Stuff

Blog Prompt: Today is "Old Stuff Day." How can you expound on this?

I love old stuff (which you could tell if you ever came to visit my house!). Beside my hubby and me which qualifies as old stuff now that both of us are over 50 years old, we have tons of old stuff in our house. Our playroom is decorated with lots of “old stuff” that we find at yard sales, flea markets, and antique stores. “Old stuff” fascinates me! Sometimes I like to look at these things and wonder what they could say if they could talk. What kind of history have they experienced? What were times like when they were “new stuff?” “Old stuff” symbolizes wisdom, experience, and memories of good times. Even when times were hard, there were good times that can be remembered. “Old Stuff” should be saved and honored and remembered.

Original image: 'Mizener's Flea Market (Formerly Circle M) / Waterdown / Flamborough, Ontario / July, 2007'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/3036736172 by: Bill Barber

The Prayer Shawl

For about a year, I have been knitting and donating prayer shawls to our Loving Threads group at church. I’ve really enjoyed knitting these and many people have even donated yarn to me for this project. Some of the yarn has been pretty bright and colorful so my shawls have been bright and colorful.

When I was a teenager, I remember having a ski jacket that was purple, pink, orange and yellow. It was so bright that it always put me in a good mood. I don’t know why but I suddenly had this urge to make a shawl with these bright colors. I usually go through my yarn stash and wait for certain color combinations to jump out at me and urge me to make into a shawl. For some reason, as much as I tried not to pick these colors, they kept standing out among the others. Even though people looked at me with raised eyebrows, I just felt compelled to make this shawl. In fact, at times, I even wondered if this shawl wasn’t just a little too bright but I continued until it was complete. My husband told me that we could only hope that maybe someone with cataracts got it and it wouldn’t be too overwhelming.

When I turned it in, everyone agreed that it was pretty bright. I didn’t find out until later that our group leader was a little worried about who would want this bright shawl.

This past Sunday when we met again, the leader told me the story about the shawl. Apparently a woman came and asked for a prayer shawl to give to a young girl just diagnosed with cancer. They went to the box where the shawls are and there on the top was my bright shawl. Immediately the woman saw it and said that was the perfect one. That was the shawl that would brighten this young girl’s life.

Maybe sometimes we need to trust that there is a reason in life for us doing certain things. Maybe that is how God sends messages to us. I see now that God knew this girl would need this shawl and knew that I was the one who needed to make it. I hope it brings her hope and comfort as well as brightness in her life.

And the next time, this feeling hits me, I hope that I have the courage to stick with it, no matter what others say! Someone may need what I need to make.

Jeans

Blog Prompt - Today is Levi Strauss' birthday. Do you wear jeans a lot or do you have a hard time finding that perfect pair of jeans. If you have found the perfect jeans, pass on the brand name!!

Since I retired, I live in my jeans. I love blue jeans because they are so comfortable. I can wear them with my heels, clogs, tennis shoes, sandals, or flip flops. I can tuck my shirts in or wear them outside. I can put on a sweater or blazer with them. They are so versatile that I can’t imagine wearing much else. I don’t wear a brand name because they are usually more than I want to pay for a pair of jeans and they don’t usually fit me like I want. Many of them are too long or too tight or too ugly on my body. But the best ones I’ve found have been the ones I get at Wal-Mart. They are the right price and the right size for me so I’m happy.

Original image: 'the blues'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71815015@N00/2824472748 by: Susanne Koch

Carnivals

Blog Prompt - Today is Carnival Day. Do you love or hate to go to carnivals?

I love carnivals! Of course I didn’t go to them until after I was married and had children. I am fascinated by all the lights and the excitement in the air. I love the smells of all the different foods as their aromas drift by my nose. I love the laughter in the air from all the children who are also thrilled with all the sights and sounds. I love to hear the booth operators calling to people passing by in order to entice them to visit their booths. I love the sound of the bell as young men hit a spot with a hammer to show how strong they are. I love to watch young couples as they walk with hearts in their eyes. I love to taste the hot dogs and the cotton candy and the popcorn. I love to observe the ride handlers and see how they dress and what they look like. I try to imagine what life is like traveling with a carnival. Yes, as you can tell, I love carnivals!

Original image: 'Dusk'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600090482@N01/42095586 by: Julie Falk

Ravelympics

I finished my Selbu Modern Hat which was a free pattern on Ravelry. It was my first fair isle project and I’m so proud of the way it turned out. In fact, I did a better job than I expected to do. It really gave me confidence for doing more things like this in the future.

I knitted the hat to enter into the Ravelympics which means casting on when the Olympics started and finish before the Olympics ended. Since I did I earned my medal and here it is!

Currency Day

Blog Prompt - Today is Currency Day. It was introduced to the US in 1862 by President Lincoln. Do you carry much cash around with you or do you prefer to use a credit or debit card?

I hate to carry cash and I love my credit card. My husband is always fussing at me because I don’t carry cash with me so I have a stash of emergency cash that I hide but I never use. Then when he asks me if I have cash with me, I am able to tell him that I do. It is so much easier for me to pull out my credit card and use it. Then once a month I pay off the entire balance so we don’t pay any interest. I use my card for everything including gas and groceries so I know how much to set aside in our budget to pay the bill. We don’t buy many extra things so our budget amount is usually the same each month. By using my credit card, I don’t have to worry about loose change or digging out cash. On the opposite side, my husband never uses his credit card and only uses cash.

Original image: 'Dreams...'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68422830@N00/120499365 by: Noah Coffey

Dog Treats

Blog Prompt - Today is International Dog Biscuit Day. If you have a dog, do you give them treats and if so, what kind?

I don’t have a dog now because we travel so much but I used to have a dog. His name was Caesar and he was a chow. Boy, did he love to chew things. When he was a puppy, I used to worry that I would wake up and find all the wood furniture in the house chewed up into toothpicks. We would give him big dog biscuits and he loved them. He would also eat table scraps without any problems. But what he really loved were pig’s ears that we would get at the pet store. They wouldn’t last long but he loved them Original

image: 'HomeMade ♥ Cream Cheese & Honey Biscuits ♥ For Dog'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39171970@N00/491449642 by: Tamisa S..

Be Humble

Blog Prompt - Today is Be Humble Day. What is most humbling in your life.

This was a great prompt because it has me thinking pretty hard. I’m not sure that there is just one thing in my life that humbles me but there are many things that make up my life that truly humbles me. When I think about the many good things in my life, I wonder why I deserve all these things. My life is filled with love and laughter. All this love and laughter comes from my family and friends (real and online) who surround me with this warmth. Without this, I would become cold, bitter, and die like a piece of dried up fruit. When times get rough, I remind myself that I am loved and I will get through the tough times. When times are great, I remind myself to give thanks for these moments. I guess the most humbling thing in my life is actually my life and I’m truly thankful that I am alive.

Original image: 'Venustas'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81036698@N00/2819149938 by: Andrew Beebe

Toothpicks

Blog Prompt - The toothpick was patented in 1872. Besides the obvious use of the toothpick, is there something else you use this invention for?

I have used toothpicks for:

· Testing baked items to see if they are done

· Serving appetizers

· Wedges when fixing something

· Cleaning out small places

· Holder for string when I was beading something

· Applying glue to small places

· Manipulatives to teach math skill

· Science projects

Original image: 'Mondadientes / Escarbadientes / Palillos'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17513020@N00/392671743 by: Julián Rodriguez Orihuela

Random Act of Kindness Day

Blog Prompt - Today is Random Act of Kindness Day. Did you do something kind for someone today?

Since it is too early for just today, I will tell you something I did the other day. I had made a snowflake headband in a class and I really liked it. Then I met with some friends and I decided to give it to one of them. This friend is always doing for other people and is such a caring and giving person that I wanted to do something for her. She is always complimenting me on the prayer shawls that I knit and I thought it would be special to give her something that I had made. She was surprised and really seemed to like it too.

As I go about today, I will look for opportunities to be kind to someone. I really like to practice random acts of kindness whenever I can and not just today.

Original image: 'Random Acts'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8628862@N05/2300235407 by: John

Fleece

Blog Prompt - Today is the day Nylon was patented in 1937. Is there a material that you love and could never live without or hate and wish it was never invented?

I love fleece! I have two fleece lap blankets. One of them I take with me camping so I can wrap in it at night around the fire. I have a couple of fleece jackets that are warm and soft. I even have a pair of fleece pants that I wear around the house or at night when we are camping. I just love the feel of fleece and how it keeps me warm!

Original image: 'Check out the paw ...'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92949075@N00/3170837522 by: Alison

A Day Off From Work

Blog Prompt - Today is Presidents Day and a holiday for most. Tell me what you would do on a day off from work.

Since I am retired, every day is a day off from work. Yet, I have certain routines that I have developed for specific days of the week. I do a certain household chore on a certain day instead of trying to do them all at one time. This has really worked for me. I also like to go weekly grocery shopping on Monday mornings since I have the menu for the week planned out. In the mornings I like to walk on the treadmill for an hour and then spend a couple of hours reading the blogs in my Google Reader and responding to emails. I also have certain days where I work on blog posts for my Successful Teaching blog. When the weather clears up and gets warmer, I plan to spend a couple of hours in the morning working in my gardens. It feels like I am busier now that I’ve retired than when I worked!

So, if I had a day off from “work”, I would visit with friends and knit during our visit. Of course, the visit would involve lots of food too!

Original image: 'Whilst Most Daleks Are Out Conquering The Universe, Someone Has To Stay Behind To Do The Housework'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95492938@N00/360684955
by: Alan

Year of the Tiger

Happy Chinese New Years!

Inventors Day

Blog Prompt - Today is Inventors Day. Is there an invention out there that you know you could sell?

I would invent a machine that would exercise my muscles while I sleep that would burn off enough calories so that I could lose weight. I could plug in the amount of weight I want to lose and while I sleep, my muscles would be working away. Yet, I would wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, not sore, and energized. I think if I invented that, I would have no trouble getting people to buy it!

On a different note, I went to a knitting workshop last weekend and learned how to do fair isle. This is my first attempt and I think the snowflake headband came out pretty good. I will be working on a hat for myself tomorrow for the Ravelympics on Ravelry.

Original image: 'I lose water weight during the week and gain back over the weekend'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10856561@N00/1921693664 by: Victoria

Umbrellas

Blog Prompt - Today is Umbrella Day. Do you have that special umbrella that you would like to tell us about?

I think umbrellas are beautiful but I hate using umbrellas. Let’s just say that I’m umbrella-challenged. All of the umbrellas I’ve ever had usually end up broken. If I decide it is raining hard enough to use one, by the time I get it out and open it up, I’m usually soaked anyway. A strong wind will inevitably turn it inside out and breaks it. If it isn’t broken, when I put it in the car, it gets everything wet. So, needless to say, I don’t have a special umbrella. In fact, I think most umbrellas quake in their covers when I get near them.

Original image: 'rain man'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23749336@N03/2322435576 by: enrico

Living with the Ingalls

Blog Prompt - Laura Ingalls Wilder's was born on this day in 1867. Do you think you would've enjoyed living in that era of time?

I know without a shadow of a doubt that I would not enjoy living during those times. I love to travel and can’t imagine traveling the country in that covered wagon. I also love my washing machine, dryer, refrigerator, computer, treadmill, and hot tub which didn’t exist during that era. I also think the quality of life was very hard in those days and people died at a much earlier age than now. Teachers had a hard life too and had to heat up and clean up the one room school house. Now that I write this, it makes me even more thankful that I live in today’s world.

Original image: 'Rodeo Trail Ride 2008'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16057786@N00/2304140183 by: Gary Hunt

Computer Clean Up

Blog Prompt - Today is clean out your computer day. Do you need to clean out some files and straighten up a bit?

I have lots of scrapbooking files that are taking lots of room on my computer. I don’t like to move it to the external hard drive until I have tagged them in Picasa. Unfortunately these files have piled up and it is so overwhelming when I look at it and then I just move on. I keep telling myself that I will come back to it later. I keep my picture files pretty well organized and moved to the external hard drive. Other than those files, the rest of my computer files are pretty neat.

Original image: 'Literary cat'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37996600126@N01/32454407 by: Suzi Duke

Buddy Holly

Blog Prompt - Today the Music Died - On this day in 1959, the plane crash claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson and the pilot, Roger Peterson. Do you know their music and if so, what song would you sing right now?

My two favorite Buddy Holly songs are Peggy Sue and That’ll Be the Day. Even though the plane crash happened before I was born, I grew up hearing these songs. I also love listening to oldies radio stations and these are usually played on them. Now I’ll be singing them all day long!

Original image: 'Recordz'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35377857@N07/4275862715 by: David GALLARD

Winter

Blog Prompt - Today is Ground Hog Day. How has the weather treated you lately and are you ready for 6 more weeks of it?

It has been really cold here this year. Last year it wasn’t this cold. The other day there was a snow/ice storm and in the upper part of the county had snow while my area had lots of ice. I would rather have snow than ice. Thank goodness, it only took two days for most of the ice to melt.

Bird Feeding

Blog Prompt - February is National Bird Feeding Month. Do you feed the birds and if so, tell us about it.

I love to feed the birds in my back yard. I have several bird feeders and bird baths. It is so relaxing to watch the birds come to my water garden to eat the bugs and drink the water. I remember when my girls were little and we would go to Furman University’s lake to feed the swans. As young girl in Girl Scouts, we coated pine cones with peanut butter and bird seed to feed the birds.

Original Image by Pat Hensley

Puzzles

Blog Prompt: Today is National Puzzle Day. Do you like to solve puzzles? Why or why not?

I like puzzles and feel it very satisfying when I can solve it. I love jigsaw puzzles and putting them together because it brings back lots of great memories of my mother. I remember living at home and helping her work on them. I also like word searches and crossword puzzles because when I’m done, it makes me feel like I accomplished something. I haven’t done well with Sudoku puzzles though but I try them every once in awhile.

If I ever run into a challenge in my own life, I try to imagine it just as a giant puzzle and approach it with the same strategies. It helps me look at the situation differently and more objectively. Again, when it is solved, it makes me feel really good.

Original image: 'Puzzle'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85763206@N00/2944362379 by: Liza

Garbage

Blog Prompt: What would people think if they went through your garbage?

They would think that we eat a lot of junk food! We don’t have a lot of cooked food waste because I have a worm bin for most of the food and I also have been learning to cook in smaller portions so we eat most of what I cook. Any paper I have usually gets shredded and put in the worm bin also. Only meat scraps and containers go in the garbage. I have finally been going through a lot of my teacher stuff from when I retired two years ago and throwing a lot of old materials. It is almost a relief to finally sort through all of that.

Original image: 'bar sixty two'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91256982@N00/3034518506 by: Jes

Alice in Wonderland

Blog Prompt: Today is Lewis Carroll’s birthday. Have you ever felt like Alice in Wonderland when everything seemed very strange to you? Describe your experience.

Whenever I go to something new, whether it is to learn something new or meet people I have never met before, I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Before it happens I am so excited and I don’t think twice about signing up or planning to go. Then when I arrive, I am surrounded by people I don’t know and I don’t have anyone to talk to so it is scary. My mind is screaming at me and asking why I am even there. I ask myself why I do this to myself when I know this happens every time. In fact, I am so busy having a conversation with myself that I usually stand off to myself. Once I convince myself that since I’m already there and I won’t leave, I find someone else who is alone (and probably asking themselves the same questions). As I start up a conversation with others, I usually relax and things come back into focus. By the end of the event, I am usually glad that I went to it.

Original Photo by Pat Hensley taken on the Carnival Miracle

Australia

Blog Prompt: Today is Australia Day. Have you been to Australia? Do you live in Australia? If so, tell us why you went there or live there. If not, tell why you would or would not want to go there.

For me, Australia is a magical far off place that I hope to visit someday. When I hear or read something about Australia, it makes me really want to go there. When I see pictures or movies about it, I can picture me there. I think people who live there are so lucky and I love to see my online friend’s pictures of their home. I think part of the magic is that animals are there that we don’t see here. When I go there, I really want to see kangaroos, wallabies, koala bears, and cockatoos. It is hard for me to imagine these animals roam wild when I only see them in the zoo here.

Original image: 'Koala'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74693095@N00/384868930 by: Tim Williams

Rainy Days

Blog Prompt: It has been rainy here this week. Tell what you like to do on rainy days.

I don’t like cold rainy days and try not to go anywhere outside my house unless I have to. When it is rainy, I love to start the day with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate. Then I cover up with a blanket and read a good book. After awhile, I get tired of doing that so I will play on my computer. When it is time to shift to something different, I will knit and watch a movie on TV. During all of these activities, I usually have some kind of junk food by my side. If I get really cold, I like to get in the hot tub and relax. The heat envelopes me and keeps me warm usually for the rest of the day.

Original image: 'yellow umbrella'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7185311@N03/1084349065 by: Michael Backhaus

A Cat’s Questions

Blog Prompt: Today is Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day? What kind of questions would a cat have if it could ask?

1. Why are you so grumpy?

2. Why do women need makeup?

3. Why don’t you just lie around and enjoy the feel of the sun on your body?

4. Why don’t people hug each other more?

5. Why don’t people purr when they are content?

6. Why don’t you spend more time playing with the little things instead of worrying about the big stuff?

7. Why do you eat so much?

8. Why don’t you spend more time with me?

9. Why do you work so hard?

10. Can’t you give me something tastier to eat than that yucky canned food?

Original image: 'kitten'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76016463@N00/2473548737 by: Art Siegel

Lupus Foundation

Blog Prompt: Tell about our favorite charity and why you support it.

I love to use this prompt because I get to tell about my favorite charity. It is the Lupus Foundation of America. My oldest sister died from Lupus, my mother had it when she died, and my middle sister has had it for many years. So my hope is one day that a cure will be found for it. Every year, my sister participates in a fundraising walk and I donate to the foundation. If you are ever looking for a good charity to support, I hope you check out this one.

Cheese

Blog Prompt: Today is Cheese Day. What is your favorite cheese and why?

I love cheese but cheese doesn’t always love me. As I mentioned before, Asians have trouble digesting dairy products so we never had much cheese in our house when I was growing up. As a college student, I worked for Hickory Farms and learned a lot about cheese. I love havarti cheese but it is more expensive than I am willing to pay. I keep a lot of extra sharp cheddar and Monterrey jack cheese in my refrigerator. I eat a little bit when I’m craving cheese.

Original image: '"Hanging Cheese" - this is a category of cheese?'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035767928@N01/66237447 by: Brett L.

Popcorn

Blog Prompt: Today is Popcorn Day. Do you like popcorn? Why or why not? If you do, how do you like it cooked?

I love popcorn! When I need a snack in the evening, I love to pop a bag in the microwave. I remember when I was in college; we put oil in a pot and just added the popcorn. Then we popped it on the stove. Popping it in the microwave is much easier and faster. I also love to put lots of salt on it too. When we go to the movies, I love getting popcorn. A couple of weeks ago, we went to see Avatar 3D and since it was so expensive, we decided against the popcorn. But when I bought my ticket, I had enough bonus points on my movie rewards card to get popcorn for $1 so we splurged!

Original image: 'Everything you need to know about microwave popcorn'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34361916@N00/421067966 by: Jimmy McDonald

Tigger

Blog Prompt: Today is Winnie the Pooh Day. Which character in the Winnie the Pooh stories is your favorite and why?

I always loved Tigger. He was bouncy and outgoing. He was what I always wished I could be. Outside of the computer, if I met you face to face, I would be kind of quiet and cautious until I got to know you. Yet, Tigger, in any situation seems to fit right in. He is never shy and seems to adapt to any situation. He always sees the positive and is always smiling. I would love to always see the world in rose colored glasses!

Original image: 'Tigger'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66578088@N00/923914236 by: Dylan Ashe

Dreams Come True

Blog Prompt: Today is Make Your Dreams Come True Day. What is a dream that you wish would come true?

I wish they could find a cure for Lupus. My older sister has lupus and it makes me sad to hear about all the medicines that she has to take. I think she has other health problems which are caused by all the medicines she has to take. She calls me and tells me about all the doctor’s appointments she has to go to and I wonder how much of her life she spends at these doctor’s offices. I wish that one day she would wake up and feel the best she ever had in her life and then she finds out that she no longer has lupus. That is my dream that I wish would come true.

Organize Your Home Day

Blog Prompt: Today is Organize Your Home Day. What could you do today that would help organize your home. How will you organize this stuff?

I have a plan. If you read my post the other day, you know that I want to work hard on decluttering my house. Once I get rid of a lot of the “stuff” that I don’t need, I will have room to put stuff I want to keep. I will also make piles of my teacher stuff that I will give away to teacher friends who want them. I don’t expect there to be anything left over because all of the stuff is pretty good. I will also get rid of a lot of clothes that no longer fit me or are so worn that I won’t wear them and I will donate the good stuff to Goodwill. I think once I do all of these things (which may take years at my rate of one hour a day), I think my home will be organized.

Original image: 'Kitchen Cupboard Make-Over: After'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49488259@N00/3350514337 by: Pieter Pieterse

Top 10 Products

Blog Prompt: List the Top 10 products you use.

1. Sony TV

2. Toshiba laptop

3. Olympus Digital Camera

4. Treadmill

5. Toyota Prius

6. Knit Picks Zephyr knitting needles

7. Crest toothpaste

8. Listerine Mouthwash

9. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion

10. Dawn dishwashing soap

Original image: 'Crest in America'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48355243@N00/821112991 by: Adam Lederer

Work Harder Day

Blog Prompt: Today is Work Harder Day. What is something you would like to work harder at and why?

I would like to work harder at decluttering my house. My dining room is still full of teaching stuff from two, now going on three years ago. My office is full of stuff. I need to go through lots of it and get rid of probably most of it. But I am always making excuses.

I’m too tired. I’m too cold. I will do it tomorrow. I will do this weekend. We are getting ready to go away and I can’t deal with that right now. I just don’t feel like it. I’ll do it tonight. I’ll do it in the morning. I’ll do it when it warms up. It’s too hot. It’s too dark. It’s too boring…I guess you get the picture.

My plan is to take an hour of every day and do what I can. I will do a little bit every day and eventually I’ll look up and there won’t be anything to do…I hope. Maybe one day. But I will work harder at it.

Original image: 'Disqueuse'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11130401@N03/1589421250

Milk

Blog Prompt: Today is Milk Day? Do you like milk? Why or why not? If you do, do you like it plain or with added flavors?

Milk is my least favorite beverage. Part of this comes from being allergic to cow’s milk as a baby and I had to drink alternate stuff like goat’s milk and powdered milk. Then I had to take calcium pills as a child. Now I will use milk in cereal but I eat the cereal and leave the milk. I also use milk in recipes but I don’t drink straight milk. Growing up and researching milk, I have found out that many Asians lack an enzyme to digest milk so milk is not a major item in their daily diet.

Original image: 'just milk'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56044438@N00/2464619281 by: Pedro Moura Pinheiro

Elvis Songs

Blog Prompt: Today is Elvis’s birthday. What is your favorite Elvis song and what memories does it bring back?

My favorite Elvis song is Can’t Help Falling in Love from the movie Blue Hawaii. I love that movie too. I remember watching this with my older sister before she passed away. I think it was her favorite movie too.

Original image: 'Elvis Cupcakes'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84697363@N00/3201810176 by: Terri Goodwin

Bubble Bath

Blog Prompt: Tomorrow is Bubble Bath Day. Do you like bubble baths? If so, what is your favorite kind. If not, why?

I love the thought of bubble baths but I don’t like them because I’m allergic to them. Usually the bubble baths have fragrance in them which I’m highly allergic to and sometimes the soap used irritates my skin. I always liked the movies that showed the romance involving bubble baths and wished that I could have one. I like the scene in the movie Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts where she is taking a bubble bath. Oh well, I’ll just have to keep on dreaming.

Original image: 'Bathing Tyler'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65846543@N00/302339292 by: Jason O'Halloran

My Favorite Soup

Blog Prompt: January is National Soup Month. What is your favorite soup and why?

My favorite soup is Won Ton Soup. When I was young girl and would get sick, my father would bring home soup from work for me. He would wake me up when he got home in the wee hours of the morning and sit with me while I ate some soup. I really think it had healing powers because the next day I would be fine. When I was a teenager and didn’t feel well, I would call him up at work and ask him to bring home some soup. Now that I’m married, I still like to have this soup when I don’t feel well. Of course I like to eat it when I’m healthy too.

Original image: 'Wonton soup and xiao long bao (fotomóvil)'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7394371@N06/2933332775

Birds

Blog Prompt: Today is National Bird Day. What native wild birds are flying around your area and which ones are your favorites?

We have Blue Jays, Doves, Carolina Wrens, Finches, Bluebirds and Cardinals. I’m sure we have others but I just don’t know how to identify them. When I go hiking with some friends who are bird watchers, they can give you lots of names that I have never heard of. My favorite bird is the cardinal because I love how the bright red stands out. I also like to watch them drink from my water garden right outside my window.

Original image: 'The Red Bird'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11510574@N02/3507508823 by: S Pisharam

Trivia Day

Blog Prompt: Today is Trivia Day. Please share a tidbit of trivia that you think no one else knows.

The first product to have a bar code scanned was Wrigley’s gum.

Original image: 'Born on date'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30663385@N00/108466211 by: Austin King

New Year Traditions

Blog Prompt: What traditions do you follow for the new year? Do you eat special things or do special activities?

Every new year we eat collard greens and black eyed peas. This year I decided to cook them from scratch instead of buying the cans. I was really surprised how good they turned out and they are much better than the canned ones so I will probably do this again.

I try to clean the house as much as possible so we start the New Year with a clean house.

On New Year’s Day, my husband goes outside and walks back in. I was always told that the first one to enter the house should be a man for good luck.

We do not argue or say anything bad to each other. We hope to begin the year as we plan on spending the rest of the year.

New Year Aspirations

Blog Prompt: What are your aspirations for the New Year?

Here is a list of things I hope to do:

1. Lose some weight.

2. Get better at knitting.

3. Spruce up my flower beds this spring and summer.

4. Clean out all of my teaching stuff from my dining room.

5. Declutter my office.

6. Exercise more.

7. Scrapbook more of my travels.

8. Continue with my 3 blogs (The Life of Loonyhiker, Successful Teaching, and Photo of the Day)

9. Continue with my Photo a Day project.

10. Enjoying life with my husband wherever we may be!

Original image: 'Fountain of Color'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53139634@N00/494866647

A Promise to Myself

Blog Prompt: Has anyone ever made a mistake that you promised yourself to never make? Did you keep your promise to yourself?

I have seen my mother not take very good care of herself. She let herself gain a lot of weight and really didn’t care about her appearance. I promised myself that as I got older, I would exercise and take care about how I looked. I have really tried to exercise on a regular basis and eat the right foods. Sometimes I think I’m keeping my promise but at other times when I look in the mirror after gaining weight from cruising, I wonder if I have let myself go. Well, it is time to go and exercise!

Original image: 'Stretch'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17106526@N00/1578514678 by: Glen Scott

Childhood Songs and My Greatest Challenge

Mon 12/28 Blog Prompt: What songs did you sing as a child? Where did you sing them?

I remember going to music as a related arts class when I was in elementary school and we learned lots of folk songs. I talk to teens today and they have never heard of them. I think this is such a shame because a lot of our history is from these songs. I learned about John Henry building the railroad, and the Erie Canal being built. I learned the basic songs like She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain, Shenandoah, Oh Susannah, Oh My Darling Clementine, and songs like this. I learned about the Happy Wanderer that a bunch of us sing while we are hiking along the trail. I have such great memories of learning these songs and I think we are really doing a disservice to our young people by not teaching them these traditional folk songs.

Tue 12/29 Blog Prompt: What was the greatest challenge you faced?

My greatest challenge was getting into the university that I wanted. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to college and wanted me to go to a local college that I might be able to pay for. They also were old fashioned and felt that I needed to live at home. Instead I applied to Furman University and could only afford one application fee so this was the only place I applied to attend. I figured that if I got accepted, then I could worry about financing. Through loans, scholarships, and work study, I was able to attend all four years and paid for it myself. My parents were very unhappy that I was going to be 800 miles away from home but I was determined. As the baby of the family, I was pretty sheltered and had never been away from my parents before. I was also younger than most people who went to college because I was only 17. Yet, this was a major dream in my life and I would do anything to get this. I knew if I could accomplish this goal, I could do anything in my life.

Original image: 'Chorus line'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37718498@N00/4141214476 by: Anna M