Banana Fanna Hodgepodge

 

1. What's a skill you think everyone should have? 

Learning to read. It's like the magic key that unlocks a whole world of information and opportunities for everyone. Whether it's books, articles, or even just signs on the street, being able to read gives us the power to understand and learn from the world around us.

2. Do you have a special place or organizational system for gift wrapping? Do you still buy 'real' cards to send for birthdays, anniversaries, get-well wishes, etc.? 

I don't enjoy gift wrapping, so I prefer using gift bags instead. I no longer support the big greeting card corporations, as I find it to be a bit of a racket. Too expensive.  Instead, I like using small note cards and writing a sincere message inside, scripture or a poem. I believe that those types of cards are the most endearing.

3. It's National Banana Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite thing to make with bananas or, if you're not a cook, your favorite thing to eat that contains banana? 

I like bananas. Banana nut bread and banana pudding.

 And no, I won't be celebrating. lol

 

 

4. Do you believe in second chances? Elaborate. 

Do I believe child rapists and pedophiles deserve a second chance? Most of them would believe they do. 

What was the offense? A career criminal? A mass murderer? A teenager who robbed an elderly person? A child who stole candy from the store? The husband who cheated on his wife? 

God is the God of second chances, isn't He? Repentance is the answer. Without repentance, there is no second chance. 

 

5. What is your idea of fun? 

Anything that is fun to me. 

My fun may not be your fun...

 

 and vice versa!

Dancing in the Rain by Emma Smith

Raindrops falling from the sky,
A symphony upon my face,
I skip and twirl, laughter unfurl,
In nature's sweet embrace.

Splashing through puddles, wild and free,
With every step, I feel alive,
The raindrops dance, and so do I,
Through joy, my spirit thrives.

In life's downpour, I'll never cower,
I'll dance with all my might,
For in these moments, pure and bright,
I find my purest delight.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The book I ordered can't be found anywhere but Barnes and Noble. Amazon does not have it, or I would have ordered it from them. It's a specialty book, and there is not a lot of demand for it. Barnes and Noble have reached out to me, and I hope they will resolve the issue. 

I have one or two more BSF classes. I will miss them, but I'm looking forward to that extra morning to finish some things. I like projects, and I haven't done any so far this year. I want to have one more morning to just sit in the sun and do some gardening. I have some painting that needs done. We want to fix up our front yard, but we have yet to sit down and draw up what we want.

It does seem like this year has flown by. 

The "Quiet" of the Morning.

Here you go Sheri. 

This morning I sat in the yard - turn up your volume and listen to my birds. I had to stay behind the fence because they're shy so you can't see them as well as I would have wanted. You sure can hear them! 

Recognize any specific bird sounds? 

In the late afternoon, around dinner time, that bird feeder is the place to be if you are a feathered friend. For the most part we have kingfishers, jays, nuthatches, mountain chickadees, robins, rock doves, finches along with hummingbirds, ravens, and woodpeckers. The other evening, I saw a pure white dove. I noticed it out of the corner of my eye due to its graceful fluttery landing on the bird feeder. It was so pretty. Yesterday morning, I saw a red wing black bird. Beautiful. Of course I was without my phone but I doubt if I could have taken it's picture. 

That's just the back yard - we have feeders and birds in the front as well. 

Roses are budding. 

I haven't planted anything yet but I plan to soon. I'm a morning "gardening person" Soon BSF will be over and that will give me an extra day. I do my grocery shopping on Friday mornings. 

I didn't know I had white Irises

I've been a bit perturbed. I ordered a research book on Scott County and its role in the Civil War. It mentions many people in my family, so I was excited about getting it. I ordered through Barnes and Noble online - they shipped it to UPS, and then UPS shipped it to USPS. 

No one knows where it is. UPS and USPS say it's not them. Barnes and Noble told me to talk to the carriers. Everyone passes the buck. Meanwhile, I don't have my book. 

When I track it, it says,

It's On It's Way!

Call me anxious, but I think I am going to order the book again—this time, skip the free delivery and pay for it. It will come faster. Then, I will either report the first one as missing or get a refund for the first one. 

I WANT THAT BOOK, BAD! 

More of the blue/purple are coming in...

I guess Foodie is leaving for his backpacking snowshoeing trip this Friday. The weather in the mountains where he is going will be clear - down to the mid 40's at night and mid 60's in the day. 

Time to grill some burgers!

Have a great evening

 

It's not time yet but their back!

These car enthusiasts can't wait for Kool April Nites to start on the 19th, and their cars are revving to go. 

There is excitement in the air. Show-and-Shine events are everywhere in town and just outside town. Any place there is a parking lot, there is a Show-and-Shine event. You go shopping - there are classic cars in the lots. 

Some of the colors of these cars are so pretty. I like the one on the left - 

my kitchen cabinets are that color! 

Did you ever own a 66 Mustang? 

I was a Chevy gal - probably because my dad was a Chevy Man. But I did like the Mustangs. 

I call these cars - Clown Cars. So adorable. 

My husband loves the RED cars. I'm partial to the retro blues and greens. 

I came home and finally canceled our pet insurance. Our pets' combined insurance premium was $668.10 per month. 

That's $8,017.20 a year! 

I added up the vet bills and insurance paid last year and it is no longer viable for us. We probably should have canceled Susie's a couple of years ago. 

They're not spoiled - just well-loved!

We decided that it would be better to open up a savings account and put half of the insurance premium amount in it for their medical and prescriptions bills. That will be more than enough.   I had been telling my husband for some time that the insurance was becoming too expensive - Thank God he finally, agreed. 

Our homeowners went up - $300 more for this year.

I stopped into the Salvation Army and bought 2 summer tops for $8- 

Last night, for dinner, I made potato soup, and I did something my son suggested - I caramelized my onions and then threw them in the soup. Oh my my my...the soup was restaurant quality! When I was sautéing the onions though, I was thinking of a big fat juicy steak! I love caramelized onions and mushrooms on a nicely grilled steak. 

The husband is clamoring for dinner. 

More car photos coming up in the next few days. 

 

 

Sunday at Home

 

My son texted me his photo of Castle Crags - 

he was camping, and he said it snowed! He's back home and at work now. A friend asked me if I worried about him. He's 43 years old and very experienced. I trust him when he is out there. He is no longer reckless like he was 15 years ago! 

Those years after Michael passed away, I made myself a wreck by worrying about the 2 remaining sons that I have. Thankfully, through much intervention from God and other sources - I work hard to give my worries about them to God. He loves them more than I do. 

Am I free from worry? I'm free from its compulsiveness. I prefer to label it "concern."  It sounds healthier. Worry is fruitless and causes mental anguish. There is nothing good in worry, and after all, Jesus told us not to worry. 

• Anxiety weighs down the heart,
  but a kind word cheers it up.
  Proverbs 12:25

Here in Redding, we've had rain! 

Poor Liberty - and you thought you had a bad day? 

I love the way she shelters her little ones. 

“As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings…”  Deuteronomy 32:11

There has been quite a commotion over at the nests. Firstly, Guardian brought in a live Coot and proceeded to do what Eagles do: "prepare" their food for the babies. It was gross, and you can't help but feel bad for the coot. It did fight and, at one point, escaped, but as Eagle couples do, Liberty was right there to snare the coot, and the rest is...food for the baby eagles. You never know what you will see when you watch the live feed. 

Some of their offspring have been pestering them and their nest. There are so many juvenile eagles in this area of Turtle Bay. Experts seem to believe most of them are their offspring. 

Yeah, this is me at age 70. Ugh!

It really is all downhill from here! When I found out about the eclipse in 2045, I realized I would be 91 years old, and for the FIRST TIME in my life, I wondered,

  "gosh, will I still be alive?" 

So that was a FIRST for me - a real eye-opener. 

If I don't either way, I will win. 

I'll see it either here or up in Heaven. 

I found out a next-door neighbor/friend of mine growing up in Pacifica passed away on February 7 -  she was 71. I haven't seen Anna for years, so I don't know how she passed. It does seem awfully young. Nevertheless, it does bother me when it is one of my contemporaries.  We're all starting to die off. I guess I will eventually get used to it - 

The husband has been gone this weekend during the day hours (8-5) taking a CCW class to be certified to conceal carry.  Instruction one day and today was shooting at the range. I don't have an issue with it - I just don't feel like I want to "carry". I don't know how it is where you all live, but more than half the people here carry. Just knowing that I feel like I don't need to. 

 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains. 

Matthew 24:6-13

I hope this Sunday finds you all rested and looking forward to the new week ahead. Now that I don't work, I always look forward to Mondays. 

Do you like Mondays?