Sunday Stealing
1. What did you do last year that you had not done before?
A. I submitted poetry to a magazine. I haven't yet heard about acceptance.
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions/goals for the year and will you make/set more for next year? What are they? What are your new ones?
A. I didn't make any resolutions. I am not sure if I will make any for the upcoming year, either.
3. Did anyone you know give birth? Or become pregnant? Or adopt?
A. No.
4. Did anyone you know die? Or have a serious illness/injury?
A. Lots of people died.
5. What places have you visited?
A. Nowhere that wasn't local. We did not go on vacation this past year.
6. Any new pets? Lost a pet?
A. No.
7. What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year (doesn't have to be a physical thing i.e. love, job security, peace of mind, etc.)?
A. Better health.
8. What date from last year will remain etched in your memory and why?
A. August 5, 2018, was the day I woke up to find the dishwasher had flooded the kitchen and thus began our saga with the insurance company and the flooring company.
9. What was your biggest achievement last year?
A. I learned how to use my cell phone.
10. Did you get sick or injured?
A. No, but I didn't get better, either.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A. New underwear.
12. Where did most of your disposable income go (money leftover after you pay for food, medical care, basic clothing, transportation and shelter)?
A. Eating out.
13. What song will always remind you of last year? Doesn't have to be a song released last year.
A. I can't think of one. Oh wait. Uptown Funk. I dance to it every morning now; it's part of my new "be healthy" routine.
14. What do you wish you would have done more of?
A. I wish I had dieted more and wrote more.
15. What do you wish you would have done less of?
A. Eat.
16. What was your favorite new TV program? Movie? Album/Songs? Or if you didn't pick up any new ones, what are you still watching/listening to? Any recommendations?
A. Murphy Brown was my new favorite TV program. No new movies or songs. I still watch The Lord of the Rings and listen to Sheryl Crowe and Melissa Etheridge.
17. What was the best book you read this year? How many did you read?
A. I read 20 books, which is a low for me. The best one was The Hunger Games, by Susan Collins.
18. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? Did you feel differently?
A. I didn't do much of anything. I turned 55. I do not feel differently than I did at 54.
19. What political or social issue stirred you the most?
A. Anything Trumpian.
20. Who was the most interesting new person you met?
A. I don't think I met anyone new.
21. What changed at your job?
A. No job.
22. What changed in your home?
A. We have tile in the kitchen now instead of hardwood flooring.
23. Describe how a relationship changed.
A. No.
24. Do you think you are still the same person that you were at the beginning of the year? How so?
A. More or less. I'm still overweight, still not working, still beating myself up for every little thing.
25. Summarize the year in three words or less. Bonus points for doing it in one word. Explain.
A. Bogus. It felt like a fake year.
26. How have people around you changed?
A. We all grew older.
27. What have you learned throughout the year? (Other than crafts)
A. That reality is fluid. Douglas Adams is right: the answer to everything really is 42.
28. What was your favorite outfit for warm weather? Cooler weather?
A. I don't have favorite outfits.
29. Did you learn any new crafts or techniques? What was your favorite thing you made?
A. Nada.
30. What changed about your physical appearance? (Hair? Wrinkles? New makeup style? Etc)
A. My hair looks like crap at the moment because my hairdresser retired and I went into a walk-in salon for a cut.
31. What are your hopes and dreams for the new year? (Some suggestions-family, travel, work, lifestyle, hobbies, pets, appearance)
A. Lose weight, blah blah blah.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Saturday 9: Happy Holidays!
Saturday 9: Happy Holidays! (from the archives)
1. Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?
A. I cried when I was little, I think, but I got over it. I am not sure my brother ever felt comfortable with the jolly ol' elf, though.
2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?
A. I am, as always, on the "holy sh*t, what is she up to now?" list. I stay on said list by being unpredictable, disingenuous, disconcerting, and too smart for my own good.
3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?
A. Amazon shipped presents for me to Texas and to England.
4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?
A. I bought myself a leather pocketbook because I really needed a new one and Wilson's Leather was having a great Black Friday sale. Unfortunately, I don't really like the pocketbook. It's a bit small for my needs and the front pockets are not front pockets, they are actually a wallet, which I don't like because I don't think it is a safe place to put credit cards. Some things are hard to purchase from a photo.
5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? Have you seen it yet this year?
A. Apparently these days my favorite-themed holiday movies are the ones where girl (or boy) goes back home, meets old flame, they get together, are torn apart, she decides never to go back to the big city because of love. (Yes, Hallmark movies.) But I do like It's A Wonderful Life and certain versions of A Christmas Carol. I have seen neither of those, however.
6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?
A. I don't think the theaters are open here on Christmas Day. But no, I never have.
7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?
A. No, but one year during a "Bad Santa" swap game, instead of the proffered prizes to pick out, I went over to the bar and picked up a bottle of wine and said, "this is what I want." The boss nodded yes, and after that the wine bottle became the coveted prize. I did not win it, of course, but it was quite brazen of me to do that.
8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?
A. Hot chocolate, of course.
9. Share a memory from last Christmas.
A. Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you threw it away. No wait, that's a song. Last year my brother gave me these lovely statues of three Greek goddesses. I was very impressed with them. You can read about them here, at last year's blog entry.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
1. Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?
A. I cried when I was little, I think, but I got over it. I am not sure my brother ever felt comfortable with the jolly ol' elf, though.
2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?
A. I am, as always, on the "holy sh*t, what is she up to now?" list. I stay on said list by being unpredictable, disingenuous, disconcerting, and too smart for my own good.
3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?
A. Amazon shipped presents for me to Texas and to England.
4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?
A. I bought myself a leather pocketbook because I really needed a new one and Wilson's Leather was having a great Black Friday sale. Unfortunately, I don't really like the pocketbook. It's a bit small for my needs and the front pockets are not front pockets, they are actually a wallet, which I don't like because I don't think it is a safe place to put credit cards. Some things are hard to purchase from a photo.
5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? Have you seen it yet this year?
A. Apparently these days my favorite-themed holiday movies are the ones where girl (or boy) goes back home, meets old flame, they get together, are torn apart, she decides never to go back to the big city because of love. (Yes, Hallmark movies.) But I do like It's A Wonderful Life and certain versions of A Christmas Carol. I have seen neither of those, however.
6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?
A. I don't think the theaters are open here on Christmas Day. But no, I never have.
7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?
A. No, but one year during a "Bad Santa" swap game, instead of the proffered prizes to pick out, I went over to the bar and picked up a bottle of wine and said, "this is what I want." The boss nodded yes, and after that the wine bottle became the coveted prize. I did not win it, of course, but it was quite brazen of me to do that.
8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?
A. Hot chocolate, of course.
9. Share a memory from last Christmas.
A. Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you threw it away. No wait, that's a song. Last year my brother gave me these lovely statues of three Greek goddesses. I was very impressed with them. You can read about them here, at last year's blog entry.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, December 21, 2018
End of an Era (?)
Today is the day that the editor of The Fincastle Herald, Ed McCoy, steps down from his 34-year journey as the news guide for the county. He began working for The Herald in August, 1984, and I started freelancing for him in October, 1984.
So we have known each other a very long time, and over the years I like to think we have become friends. He's grown a bit more libertarian in his thinking as he's aged and I've grown a bit more liberal, so sometimes our political discussions can be entertaining, but they were always thought-provoking.
My first article for Ed was about making apple butter. His criticism of the story was this: it's great writing, but there isn't any "you" in the story. None of my personality came through.
I learned to deal with that by coming up with entertaining ledes to articles (that's the opening sentence to non-newspaper folks) and then going on mostly with "just the facts." I tend to be a just-the-facts kind of writer but Ed did bring out the best in my work. He was a good editor and I learned how to give a story life under his tutelage. He taught me as much as any of my professors at Hollins. Maybe more.
Stories that I remember best include one about two sisters who played basketball, which I started out with, "It must be the Tootsie Rolls," because the two girls ate the candies before games, going up in a hot air balloon, a series I wrote in Craig County about the state of the community over there and what would happen if a county went bankrupt (something that looked very likely at that time), a story I wrote about the Social Services Angel Tree that ultimately brought in $15,000 in donations, a story about the possibility of Nestle' bringing a water bottling facility to the area, and oh gosh, I wrote so many I can't possibly remember them all or pick out a best one. There were literally thousands of them.
Ed challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone, sending me on stories I'd have preferred not to write. (I never did like to write stories that tore at my heart, the ones about sick people or people fighting the tough fight against an illness or whatever.) I wrote them anyway and always did a good job with them, usually better than I ever thought I would, because I had Ed to talk it over with before I started the article. Once I had the slant, which in the early days I often needed help finding, I could move forward and create a moving piece.
As I aged and felt more comfortable with my talent and work, I turned down stories occasionally, mostly those that involved children at the schools because I became ill every time I entered a classroom. Finally, I settled into what seemed to be my forte', government writing. That suited my "just the facts" style and allowed me to feel like I was contributing something to the community by educating them about what is going on in their county.
My editor and I had many long discussions about what was going on in Botetourt. We argued with the county over Freedom of Information Act issues, and we discussed in detail how and what we should write. We profiled person after person and multiple businesses - you can find copies of the article I wrote and he edited and published hanging on the walls of many businesses in Botetourt. Just last week someone I'd written a story about told me they had the article hanging on the wall of their home. I'm sure there are just as many with his byline hanging on the walls of businesses and homes, too.
Ed and I both love history and I wrote many pieces about the multitude of historic legacies Botetourt County has to offer, as did he and other writers. Ed actually turned a series of stories about the Civil War into a magazine/book and he gave me kudos in his preface for my help over the years, which I greatly appreciated.
When I was 10 years old I said I wanted to be the editor of The Fincastle Herald. That apparently was not to be - health issues kept me from applying for his position this time, and previous opportunities never came about when I could manage it - the last one being shortly after my mother passed away in 2000. After that the newspaper, like so many others, fell upon difficult times and I was lucky to freelance for the paper for as long as I did (I stopped in 2016, although this past September I filled in for a week while Ed took a 10-day vacation.).
However, Ed gave me the opportunity to cover the county, and the chance to fill the paper with my byline, and I will always be grateful to him for that. Because he believed I could do it, I can call myself a professional writer.
Thanks for allowing me to be a freelancer for The Fincastle Herald, Ed. May your retirement be filled with lots of hunting and good times.
So we have known each other a very long time, and over the years I like to think we have become friends. He's grown a bit more libertarian in his thinking as he's aged and I've grown a bit more liberal, so sometimes our political discussions can be entertaining, but they were always thought-provoking.
My first article for Ed was about making apple butter. His criticism of the story was this: it's great writing, but there isn't any "you" in the story. None of my personality came through.
I learned to deal with that by coming up with entertaining ledes to articles (that's the opening sentence to non-newspaper folks) and then going on mostly with "just the facts." I tend to be a just-the-facts kind of writer but Ed did bring out the best in my work. He was a good editor and I learned how to give a story life under his tutelage. He taught me as much as any of my professors at Hollins. Maybe more.
Stories that I remember best include one about two sisters who played basketball, which I started out with, "It must be the Tootsie Rolls," because the two girls ate the candies before games, going up in a hot air balloon, a series I wrote in Craig County about the state of the community over there and what would happen if a county went bankrupt (something that looked very likely at that time), a story I wrote about the Social Services Angel Tree that ultimately brought in $15,000 in donations, a story about the possibility of Nestle' bringing a water bottling facility to the area, and oh gosh, I wrote so many I can't possibly remember them all or pick out a best one. There were literally thousands of them.
Ed challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone, sending me on stories I'd have preferred not to write. (I never did like to write stories that tore at my heart, the ones about sick people or people fighting the tough fight against an illness or whatever.) I wrote them anyway and always did a good job with them, usually better than I ever thought I would, because I had Ed to talk it over with before I started the article. Once I had the slant, which in the early days I often needed help finding, I could move forward and create a moving piece.
As I aged and felt more comfortable with my talent and work, I turned down stories occasionally, mostly those that involved children at the schools because I became ill every time I entered a classroom. Finally, I settled into what seemed to be my forte', government writing. That suited my "just the facts" style and allowed me to feel like I was contributing something to the community by educating them about what is going on in their county.
My editor and I had many long discussions about what was going on in Botetourt. We argued with the county over Freedom of Information Act issues, and we discussed in detail how and what we should write. We profiled person after person and multiple businesses - you can find copies of the article I wrote and he edited and published hanging on the walls of many businesses in Botetourt. Just last week someone I'd written a story about told me they had the article hanging on the wall of their home. I'm sure there are just as many with his byline hanging on the walls of businesses and homes, too.
Ed and I both love history and I wrote many pieces about the multitude of historic legacies Botetourt County has to offer, as did he and other writers. Ed actually turned a series of stories about the Civil War into a magazine/book and he gave me kudos in his preface for my help over the years, which I greatly appreciated.
When I was 10 years old I said I wanted to be the editor of The Fincastle Herald. That apparently was not to be - health issues kept me from applying for his position this time, and previous opportunities never came about when I could manage it - the last one being shortly after my mother passed away in 2000. After that the newspaper, like so many others, fell upon difficult times and I was lucky to freelance for the paper for as long as I did (I stopped in 2016, although this past September I filled in for a week while Ed took a 10-day vacation.).
However, Ed gave me the opportunity to cover the county, and the chance to fill the paper with my byline, and I will always be grateful to him for that. Because he believed I could do it, I can call myself a professional writer.
Thanks for allowing me to be a freelancer for The Fincastle Herald, Ed. May your retirement be filled with lots of hunting and good times.
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| Ed with his camera (2016) |
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| Ed received a proclamation from the Board of Supervisors for his long service to the community on 12/20/2018. Pictured from left: Steve Clinton, Mac Scothorn, Ed McCoy, Billy Martin, Ray Sloan. |
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| Ed with Supervisor Mac Scothorn. Ed called Botetourt County a great place to work, full of beautiful lands and wonderful people. |
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| I had to laugh because even though today (12/21) is technically Ed's last day of work, yesterday he was still taking notes like a good reporter at a meeting. (I confess I do the same.) |
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Thursday Thirteen
Christmas lights near me:
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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 583rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
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| This is a house off of Country Club Road. |
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| They have thousands and thousands of lights. |
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| Lots of cool miniature scenes to look at. |
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| Like this. |
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| Here it is from a distance. |
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| This is what happens when you're taking pictures and your husband suddenly moves the car! |
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| This display has been on Country Club Road for as long as I can remember. The deer in front used to have a red nose, or so I thought. Different lighting set-up this year. |
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| The lights on Main Street in Fincastle. |
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| A big red wreath on one of the administration buildings in Fincastle. |
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| That's an over-exposed moon on top, not a Christmas light. |
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| Lights down looking north down Roanoke Street. |
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| Lights looking south down Roanoke Street. |
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| I can't remember which direction these were. |
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| Another from the house on Country Club. |
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| And this is my tree! |
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 583rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
This is definitely not my thing, but here goes nuttin' -
1. What season has your favorite looks?
A. Fall and spring.
2. Formal or casual?
A. Casual
3. Thrift store, boutique, or online?
A. J.C. Pennys. That's a department store and not in the list.
4. What’s your favorite decade for fashion?
A. I don't pay attention to fashion enough to know.
5. Do you like to accessorize?
A. I wear my wedding band, earrings, and a necklace. That's it.
6. What does your basic outfit look like?
A. Dressed up basic: black pants, nice cotton shirt, pearl necklace, silver earrings, wedding band. Basic slob: sweats or jeans and a t-shirt.
7. What piece of clothing do you spend your money on the most?
A. Generally pants.
8. Do you wear hats?
A. Not any more.
9. What is your opinion on wearing socks and sandals together?
A. I don't like sandals and don't wear them ever, but if that's your thing, go for it, baby.
10. What colors do you like to wear?
A. Black, blue, purple.
11. What are some of the strangest outfits you have seen?
A. Just watch a celebrity nominee show and you'll see strange.
12. What fashions do you dislike?
A. Expensive ones.
13. What are you favorite styles?
A. Casual. Is that a style?
14. What do you think of body piercing?
A. I have my ears pierced but that's it. But if that's your thing, go for it, baby.
15. Do you like dyed hair?
A. I don't dye my hair because I allergic to the dyes. What other people do with their hair is none of my business.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
This is definitely not my thing, but here goes nuttin' -
1. What season has your favorite looks?
A. Fall and spring.
2. Formal or casual?
A. Casual
3. Thrift store, boutique, or online?
A. J.C. Pennys. That's a department store and not in the list.
4. What’s your favorite decade for fashion?
A. I don't pay attention to fashion enough to know.
5. Do you like to accessorize?
A. I wear my wedding band, earrings, and a necklace. That's it.
6. What does your basic outfit look like?
A. Dressed up basic: black pants, nice cotton shirt, pearl necklace, silver earrings, wedding band. Basic slob: sweats or jeans and a t-shirt.
7. What piece of clothing do you spend your money on the most?
A. Generally pants.
8. Do you wear hats?
A. Not any more.
9. What is your opinion on wearing socks and sandals together?
A. I don't like sandals and don't wear them ever, but if that's your thing, go for it, baby.
10. What colors do you like to wear?
A. Black, blue, purple.
11. What are some of the strangest outfits you have seen?
A. Just watch a celebrity nominee show and you'll see strange.
12. What fashions do you dislike?
A. Expensive ones.
13. What are you favorite styles?
A. Casual. Is that a style?
14. What do you think of body piercing?
A. I have my ears pierced but that's it. But if that's your thing, go for it, baby.
15. Do you like dyed hair?
A. I don't dye my hair because I allergic to the dyes. What other people do with their hair is none of my business.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Saturday 9: We Need a Little Christmas
Saturday 9: We Need a Little Christmas (2006)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) At the beginning of this recording, Daffy says he hopes all his friends remember his size, style and favorite color. What piece of clothing would you like to add to your wardrobe?
A. Actually my entire wardrobe needs to be replaced. I have a difficult time finding clothes that fit. It's too bad I don't like to sew.
2) His friends are late for Daffy's holiday soiree. Think about the last get together you attended. Were you early, late or right on time?
A. I'm almost always on time. I haven't been late for anything in years.
3) It hasn't a snowed a single flurry where Daffy is. Have you had to shovel yet?
A. We had 15" of snow last weekend. It is still on the ground.
4) Daffy sings that he's looking forward to fruitcake. How about you? Are you a fruitcake fan?
A. My husband loves Claxton fruit cake. I usually have a tiny slice but if he didn't eat it I would not eat it.
5) Daffy is an American Black Duck. Their usual diet doesn't generally include fruitcake. These ducks more commonly dine on seeds, foliage and bugs. What was your most recent meal?
A. I had a Boost for breakfast.
6) The only Christmas card Sam has received so far this year is from her insurance agent. She never sees her agent socially. In fact, she doesn't think she's seen him at all in 2018. Have you received many cards this year? If so, were they from people you feel close to?
A. I have received 5 cards and none from anyone close to me. I sent out 60 cards. I love to mail out cards and send cherry hellos to people but apparently Christmas cards are going the way of the 8-track tape player.
7) When do you start holiday shopping: Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Halloween?
A. Actually I start right after Christmas if I see something I think someone would like. I have a little space where I put presents I purchase year-round. It's easier on the budget to, if you buy throughout the year.
8) Sam was recently driven crazy by kids running through store aisles wearing elf hats with bells. Do you have any apparel that makes noise?
A. I do not and do not plan to own any.
9) This time of year is big for charitable fundraising. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you.
A. I'll go with the local Good Neighbors Fund. The Roanoke Times’ Good Neighbors Fund supports the Emergency Financial Assistance Program administered by Roanoke Area Ministries. It helps families who need emergency money for utility bills, medicine, rent or transportation, regardless of race or religion. The newspaper usually runs stories about people who have received assistance from the fund.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) At the beginning of this recording, Daffy says he hopes all his friends remember his size, style and favorite color. What piece of clothing would you like to add to your wardrobe?
A. Actually my entire wardrobe needs to be replaced. I have a difficult time finding clothes that fit. It's too bad I don't like to sew.
2) His friends are late for Daffy's holiday soiree. Think about the last get together you attended. Were you early, late or right on time?
A. I'm almost always on time. I haven't been late for anything in years.
3) It hasn't a snowed a single flurry where Daffy is. Have you had to shovel yet?
A. We had 15" of snow last weekend. It is still on the ground.
4) Daffy sings that he's looking forward to fruitcake. How about you? Are you a fruitcake fan?
A. My husband loves Claxton fruit cake. I usually have a tiny slice but if he didn't eat it I would not eat it.
5) Daffy is an American Black Duck. Their usual diet doesn't generally include fruitcake. These ducks more commonly dine on seeds, foliage and bugs. What was your most recent meal?
A. I had a Boost for breakfast.
6) The only Christmas card Sam has received so far this year is from her insurance agent. She never sees her agent socially. In fact, she doesn't think she's seen him at all in 2018. Have you received many cards this year? If so, were they from people you feel close to?
A. I have received 5 cards and none from anyone close to me. I sent out 60 cards. I love to mail out cards and send cherry hellos to people but apparently Christmas cards are going the way of the 8-track tape player.
7) When do you start holiday shopping: Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Halloween?
A. Actually I start right after Christmas if I see something I think someone would like. I have a little space where I put presents I purchase year-round. It's easier on the budget to, if you buy throughout the year.
8) Sam was recently driven crazy by kids running through store aisles wearing elf hats with bells. Do you have any apparel that makes noise?
A. I do not and do not plan to own any.
9) This time of year is big for charitable fundraising. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you.
A. I'll go with the local Good Neighbors Fund. The Roanoke Times’ Good Neighbors Fund supports the Emergency Financial Assistance Program administered by Roanoke Area Ministries. It helps families who need emergency money for utility bills, medicine, rent or transportation, regardless of race or religion. The newspaper usually runs stories about people who have received assistance from the fund.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen silly little things.
1. My first job was a babysitter, but I lived on a farm so I also collected chicken eggs, helped my father with the haying, and had many other chores. I worked as a secretary/file clerk for my father's office in the summer. My first "real job" was at a machine shop, where I sold parts for things like Coates tire changers.
2. My dream job was to be a writer, though. I had always wanted to write, but my mother and father were not supportive of the idea. My mother was constantly saying, "That's fine, but you better take secretarial courses so you can support yourself." Fortunately I was able to write for the local newspaper for 30 years. It wasn't the best-paying work, but I loved it.
3. I like to wear sneakers. I dislike sandals of any kind and do not like going barefoot. I also like mocassins if they are soft-soled (as in, no sole and leather on the bottom).
4. My favorite food is not a food. I'm a chocoholic. I confess. I would eat chocolate every day if I could get away with it. From the looks of me you'd think I do that anyway, but I don't.
5. When I was about 12 years old, I stopped eating ice cream because I realized it made me wheeze. My favorite ice cream dish was a hot fudge sundae from High's Ice Cream. That was the local ice cream chain when I was growing up and it was magical to go in there and order up a sundae. Eating a hot fudge sundae is actually an item on my bucket list.
6. My house is silent but not really. We run two air purifiers constantly to clean the air, so there is always a whir. Why do we do this? Because we live a few miles as the crow flies from the cement plant, which is one of the worst polluters in the county. They have cleaned up their waste in the last 15 years and it's not as bad as it used to be, but their smoke stacks still belch out black stuff every now and then.
7. My favorite movie, to no one's surprise, is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But I also like these movies: Dirty Dancing, Under the Tuscan Sun, Star Wars, ET, Mamma Mia!, Secretariat, The Blind Side, and many others.
8. My current favorite TV show is Supergirl, which comes on the CW. It is flawed but I favor strong heroines in my shows. It is also packed with commercials. If it didn't have so many commercials it would probably run about 35 minutes. But Supergirl is a lovely moral character who believes in the goodness of people, even if she does have to kick butt sometimes.
9. My favorite flower is a purple iris.
10. I am not much on cooking. My brother loves to cook and finds it theraputic but I am not a fan. I like to bake okay, and I also enjoy making fudge or candies during this time of the year (there is a pile of fudge-making items on the kitchen counter right now), but putting together a meal is not my favorite activity.
11. My favorite color is blue, and it always has been, as far as I know. I do like purple, though. Sometimes.
12. I like to eat vegetables but not all vegetables. Brussel sprouts are okay but not my choice. I like peas and green beans the best, though I need to eat more spinich so I can be strong like Popeye. (How many people remember Popeye?)
13. I wear glasses, and can't see much without them. Over the past year, my eyesight has worsened. I can tell because I cannot read the dial on the clock in the bedroom anymore without my specs. Fortunately, now I can simply ask Alexa what time it is and decide if I want to go back to sleep or not.
----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 582nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
1. My first job was a babysitter, but I lived on a farm so I also collected chicken eggs, helped my father with the haying, and had many other chores. I worked as a secretary/file clerk for my father's office in the summer. My first "real job" was at a machine shop, where I sold parts for things like Coates tire changers.
2. My dream job was to be a writer, though. I had always wanted to write, but my mother and father were not supportive of the idea. My mother was constantly saying, "That's fine, but you better take secretarial courses so you can support yourself." Fortunately I was able to write for the local newspaper for 30 years. It wasn't the best-paying work, but I loved it.
3. I like to wear sneakers. I dislike sandals of any kind and do not like going barefoot. I also like mocassins if they are soft-soled (as in, no sole and leather on the bottom).
4. My favorite food is not a food. I'm a chocoholic. I confess. I would eat chocolate every day if I could get away with it. From the looks of me you'd think I do that anyway, but I don't.
5. When I was about 12 years old, I stopped eating ice cream because I realized it made me wheeze. My favorite ice cream dish was a hot fudge sundae from High's Ice Cream. That was the local ice cream chain when I was growing up and it was magical to go in there and order up a sundae. Eating a hot fudge sundae is actually an item on my bucket list.
6. My house is silent but not really. We run two air purifiers constantly to clean the air, so there is always a whir. Why do we do this? Because we live a few miles as the crow flies from the cement plant, which is one of the worst polluters in the county. They have cleaned up their waste in the last 15 years and it's not as bad as it used to be, but their smoke stacks still belch out black stuff every now and then.
7. My favorite movie, to no one's surprise, is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But I also like these movies: Dirty Dancing, Under the Tuscan Sun, Star Wars, ET, Mamma Mia!, Secretariat, The Blind Side, and many others.
8. My current favorite TV show is Supergirl, which comes on the CW. It is flawed but I favor strong heroines in my shows. It is also packed with commercials. If it didn't have so many commercials it would probably run about 35 minutes. But Supergirl is a lovely moral character who believes in the goodness of people, even if she does have to kick butt sometimes.
9. My favorite flower is a purple iris.
10. I am not much on cooking. My brother loves to cook and finds it theraputic but I am not a fan. I like to bake okay, and I also enjoy making fudge or candies during this time of the year (there is a pile of fudge-making items on the kitchen counter right now), but putting together a meal is not my favorite activity.
11. My favorite color is blue, and it always has been, as far as I know. I do like purple, though. Sometimes.
12. I like to eat vegetables but not all vegetables. Brussel sprouts are okay but not my choice. I like peas and green beans the best, though I need to eat more spinich so I can be strong like Popeye. (How many people remember Popeye?)
13. I wear glasses, and can't see much without them. Over the past year, my eyesight has worsened. I can tell because I cannot read the dial on the clock in the bedroom anymore without my specs. Fortunately, now I can simply ask Alexa what time it is and decide if I want to go back to sleep or not.
----------------------------
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 582nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Fincastle Marketplace
For the last decade or so, Historic Fincastle, Inc., has put on a home tour and a Fincastle Marketplace (craft show) in early December. This year it was Saturday, before the snow.
Here are pictures of the craft show and some of the crafters who offered up quite a variety of goods for folks to purchase.
The amount of talent out there is amazing. When I go to these shows I am always thrilled at the creativity of people around me. So cool.
Here are pictures of the craft show and some of the crafters who offered up quite a variety of goods for folks to purchase.
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| Donna Henderson (left) with her baked goods, cookbooks, and other items. |
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| Dorothy Etzler Barnett with her wood-burned ornaments. (She's my cousin.) |
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| Teresa Reed, hiding behind a tree. (She's my friend.) |
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| Some of Teresa's work. Santas painted on pelt boards. |
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| Teresa's big Santa. |
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| Some items for sale. |
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| More cool stuff for sale. |
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| Pottery by Karen Wright, my friend! |
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| Work by Allie Hogan, The Rustic Wagon. Very pretty decorations. |
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| Karen Wright with some of her pottery. I purchased a butter dish. |
Monday, December 10, 2018
Sunday, December 09, 2018
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. Favorite novel and author?
A. I don't really have a favorite. I read a great deal and looking at my reading list, I don't often stick with one author. That said, mystery series authors like Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich are frequent reads.
2. Favorite perfume/scent?
A. I prefer unscented everything as far as perfume goes. I love the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking.
3. Coffee or tea?
A. Tea
3. Are you a cat or dog person?
A. I've always had dogs when I had a pet. But I do not have a pet anymore.
4. Which mythical creature would you transform into if you could?
A. A Valkyrie.
5. Favorite time period?
A. This one.
6. Name 3 films that have changed your life and have shaped you into the person you are today.
A. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Also all eight Harry Potter movies, Star Wars (the first three originals), Dirty Dancing, Under the Tuscan Sun, and The Rose.
7. Diamonds or pearls?
A. Pearls.
8. What’s your biggest dream?
A. I don't have one.
9. Dream destination?
A. I wouldn't mind going to New Zealand. Or Ireland. Or Scotland.
10. Favorite fictional character?
A. Eowyn from Lord of the Rings.
11. share a quote or passage that means something to you.
A. Not all those who wander are lost. - J. R. R. Tolkien
12. What’s your favorite plant/flower?
A. Iris.
13. Do you prefer the forest or the ocean? Why?
A. I prefer the forest. It gives life. The ocean takes life and you can't even drink the water.
14. What do you value most in people?
A. Kindness.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
1. Favorite novel and author?
A. I don't really have a favorite. I read a great deal and looking at my reading list, I don't often stick with one author. That said, mystery series authors like Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich are frequent reads.
2. Favorite perfume/scent?
A. I prefer unscented everything as far as perfume goes. I love the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking.
3. Coffee or tea?
A. Tea
3. Are you a cat or dog person?
A. I've always had dogs when I had a pet. But I do not have a pet anymore.
4. Which mythical creature would you transform into if you could?
A. A Valkyrie.
5. Favorite time period?
A. This one.
6. Name 3 films that have changed your life and have shaped you into the person you are today.
A. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Also all eight Harry Potter movies, Star Wars (the first three originals), Dirty Dancing, Under the Tuscan Sun, and The Rose.
7. Diamonds or pearls?
A. Pearls.
8. What’s your biggest dream?
A. I don't have one.
9. Dream destination?
A. I wouldn't mind going to New Zealand. Or Ireland. Or Scotland.
10. Favorite fictional character?
A. Eowyn from Lord of the Rings.
11. share a quote or passage that means something to you.
A. Not all those who wander are lost. - J. R. R. Tolkien
12. What’s your favorite plant/flower?
A. Iris.
13. Do you prefer the forest or the ocean? Why?
A. I prefer the forest. It gives life. The ocean takes life and you can't even drink the water.
14. What do you value most in people?
A. Kindness.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
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