Thinking Spring and Wednesday Hodgepodge

Today I am thinking SPRING!

The "snow" that we received a couple of days ago was a disappointing, ugly mess...

...so I'm done!

I'm setting my sites on spring!

Just for fun, I'm throwing in some shots from a few springs ago to decorate...

...these first few photos were on my very first blog post.

These little beauties grow along the roadsides everywhere you look in the springtime.

~ 

Are you allergic to clover?

Today I'm also linking up with Joyce at

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

If you want to play too, go to her blog, copy and paste her questions,

 and answer them on your blog!

 

 

1. February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. It lands on the calendar one day after National Do Something for a Grouch Day (February 16) which somehow feels related. Perhaps the 16th inspired the 17th?

 

Tell about a time you performed a random act of kindness or were the recipient of one. Will you make an effort to perform a random act of kindness on the 17th? Share details if you're so inclined, and if you have something specific in mind.

I wonder who sits and thinks up these National...Whatever Days. I do like the idea of both of these days though, particularly the "grouch" one. It would definitely be harder to do something kind for a grouch—but oh what the outcome just might be! Not an easy thing to do for most of us me but I do remember a time when I was in a store at the check out counter and the clerk was very short with me and on the verge of being rude. It was my first impulse to ask her what her problem was but I didn't. Instead I just smiled and told her to have a blessed day. She evidently was not used to someone speaking kindly to her, as she looked at me in a somewhat puzzled expression. Not only did I feel sorry for her but also thankful that I did not "act" on my first instincts. I realized that maybe those were the only kind words she might hear that day. I will do my best to seek out an opportunity to bless someone today...and who knows, it might even be a "grouch" from yesterday. {smile}

 

2. What's the most uplifting or encouraging thing you see happening in the world right now? You may have to dig deep for this one.

 

Wow, that is a tough one...right now? Right this very minute? I just don't know...but in a world that seems so full of angry, hateful and just plain mean spirited people, it does my heart good to see people from every walk of life pull together and come to the aid of others during various disasters when they happen...and it seems they happen all the time. It is too bad that too often it takes devastation to bring it about.

 

 

3. Black olives, black currants, black grapes, black beans, blackberries, Oreos...your favorite food the color of night? Your least favorite on the list?

Least favorite would be black grapes, unless they were seedless. Favorite would be blackberries, hands down. The others fall somewhere in between although I can't say I've ever tasted black currants (I think they might be pretty close to the blackberries... OR maybe not!)
 

 

4. A while back I read (here) a list of twelve things you should do before you turn 50. They were - travel when you have the chance, take care of your skin, learn a foreign language, make exercise a habit, leave a toxic situation, stop caring what others think about you, stop worrying, volunteer, spend time with your grandparents, pledge to work less, learn to cook an amazing dish, and seize an opportunity as it arises

 

What do you think of the list? What would you add or remove and why? If you're over 50, have you done all 12? If you're not yet 50, have you done any at all? What's on the list that you haven't done, but would like to do?

 

Being well over 50, I guess have accomplished several of these things and have considered others. I love to travel anywhere and any time I can but in all reality, will probably never get to Ireland...that's where I want to go. I do take care of my skin, I have no desire to learn a foreign tongue, I NEED to make exercise a habit, the Lord is taking care of that toxic (literally) situation, praise His Name! I don't think it's possible for me to stop caring what others think of me...that's just who I am and I don't think it's possible for me to stop worrying completely, although I am doing SO much better (thank you, Jesus). Whenever I volunteer at the homeless shelter serving meals it is always more of a blessing to me than maybe it is to them...and I would like to have time to do more. I have no memories of my grandparents, sorry to say. I do pledge to work less when I retire in who knows how many years that will be but I never have to worry about that...I am NOT an over achiever. I do like to cook and it depends on what you call amazing :) And last but not least, sometimes, I do and sometimes I don't...it depends on what the opportunity is! I guess whether or not I was supposed to list the things I've/not done I did anyway! If I had to leave something off the list, it would the importance of learning another language. I realize it can be very important to some.

 

5. Besides the classic Christmas flicks, what's your favorite film where winter plays a part in the setting?  

For someone who isn't a real movie buff, this is not so easy to answer. My first thought was "The Shining".......there, I said it. Not really a favorite but the only one I could think of :)

 

 

 

6.When did you last feel helpless, and what did you do about it?

 

This one is easy...last summer when I locked myself out of the house...alone, except for Oscar in the house, it was already dark and getting ready to storm. I used a hammer from the detached garage on my door latch because all of the windows were locked too....and literally cried out to God to help me. You can read about it here.

 

7. Share a favorite proverb.
 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

8. Insert your own random thought here:

This was my first time posting to Wednesday Hodgepodge and it was not as easy as I thought! You really have to do some thinking... but it was fun! Great questions, Joyce.