Earth Day and a Hodgepodge

                         

It's Earth Day and a Hodgepodge

Joyce Asks the Questions..

We Answer the Questions...

Here

 1. April 22nd is Earth Day…what’s the most “out of this world” place you’ve ever visited? Tell us something about it.

One of the most “out of this world” places I’ve experienced was in Alaska....I have traveled to many places, but I totally enjoyed our trip to Alaska..  My favorites were the train rides...Train ride from Anchorage to Seward...AMAZING.  I could take this train ride over and over again... And then...our train ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.  So much beauty and I find train rides to be very relaxing.  

2. A favorite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it?

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” – Psalm 24:1

That verse always centers me. It’s a reminder that this world isn’t ours to control, but to care for, appreciate, and walk through with gratitude.

3. What’s the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion? 

On my list would be people standing in front of the coffee dispenser (say at a hotel or public place) adding their cream and sugar and stirring and stirring.  My strong opinion... get your coffee, get your sugar and creamer, and move to a table to mix and stir..  Also... People coming in and filling up a huge thermos with coffee while emptying the pot.  all of this is trivial, but very annoying.  

One more thing..  the lack of reverence shown by many (not only young people but more and more older folks as well) such as wearing caps in the sanctuary.  shorts, tops that need more material etc etc.  Saddens me that the reverence is slowly fading.  

4. What’s your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What’s the last thing you made using that tool?

My most-used kitchen tool is probably my good old wooden spoon. A wooden spoon—feels like home. The last thing I made with it was a big pot of chili.  This one wooden spoon has probably stirred more memories than meals in my house. Not only has it been used for my cooking, but the grand-kids (when they were younger) used it to play drums with when beating on the pots and pans. ❤️❤️

5. What is your greatest extravagance?

My greatest extravagance.... Hmmm... I'm guessing it might be our pool.  It wasn't something we had to have, but it was something that we wanted.  Our family enjoys the pool and especially during the summer holidays and Birthdays....when we have big cookouts.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Bless My Heart

 Y'all...  apparently I've reached that stage in life where my brain says, "I came up with a really great idea," and reality says, "Oh honey...no, you didn't."

For the past week, I've been patiently waiting on a delivery from Amazon.  I ordered these bright, cheerful flowers that I've been so excited about.  Every day I'd think, "they should be here any day now."

I've been checking the front porch, and even wondering if we might have a porch thief in our area.  

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON...(because my past two weeks have been FULL)...I decided to check my orders. 

Y'all...Y'all...Y'all 😀😂

I NEVER even pressed the ORDER BUTTON.

Not once..not at all. 

So, I sat there staring at my computer, wondering if maybe the batteries in my brain slipped out and rolled under the couch.  How does this happen? How do you search and add to your cart but fail to press the order button?

Let's talk about why I wanted these flowers in the first place.  I had this brilliant idea (and I use that term loosely)...I was going to mix these colorful little blooms in with my foxtail ferns that are scattered around the pool.  My thinking?  All that gorgeous color with absolutely ZER0 watering.  

This seemed like a win-win situation to me.  

Low maintenance..High beauty...No hose required.  NO HIGH WATER BILL. Sounds like a great idea doesn't it? 

Can you imagine had I ordered them and placed them in the pots around the pool...Pure beauty!  But just yesterday after I realized I had not placed the order, it came to me, What would the hummingbirds have thought?

Those sweet things would be out there zooming in, doing their usual inspection, hovering over so delicately....only to find out they've been completely fooled.

No nectar, no reward.  Just a whole lot of disappointment.  

Now, I'm sitting here wondering which is worse....forgetting to place the order, or actually placing it and becoming the neighborhood hummingbird trickster. 

Oh the problems we create when we think we've come up with something so clever.  And what was I thinking when I thought this clever idea would work?  Did I forget that my foxtail ferns still would need to be watered? 

Bless my heart!  

Shug...

Always grateful for each of you!!

A Stare from the Supervisor

 I have to share this little fellow with you....a sweet snapshot borrowed from a friend who caught him right in the middle of his day. 

I'm not a huge fan of squirrels, but if this face doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will.  My reason for not being a fan?  The little boogers like to eat the wires on my hanging lights in the back yard.  Plus..they are a rodent of sort.  

I mean… look at him.

That is not just a squirrel.

He is a supervisor.

He’s sitting there like,

"Are you going to take that picture, or are you just going to stand there?”

Spring has officially arrived when the squirrels come out acting like they own everything—and honestly, they kind of do. They’ve been cooped up all winter, and now they’re back with a plan… or at least a whole lot of energy and absolutely no fear.

They run across fences like Olympic athletes, leap from tree to tree like they’ve got something to prove, and then suddenly stop—right in the middle of everything—to eat a snack like they’ve earned it.

And you know what? Maybe they have.

This one in particular looks like he’s been very busy…

• Reorganizing his acorn inventory
• Supervising the neighborhood
• Judging everyone who walks by

And let’s not ignore the way he’s holding that nut—like it’s a five-star meal.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are out here juggling schedules, making lists, and trying to remember why we walked into a room… and he’s just living his best life on the side of a tree.

No stress.

No deadlines.

Just snacks and attitude.

Spring does that though—it brings everything back to life… including a little bit of personality we didn’t know we needed. Even if that personality comes in the form of a slightly judgmental squirrel with great balance.

So today, I’m taking a page out of his book…

Handle your business.

Take your snack breaks seriously.

And if necessary… sit still and stare at people like you’re in charge.

Apparently, this is the secret to life.

💛

Shug....

Mylee's Prom. 2026

 Senior Prom 2026...one of those nights you wish you could bottle up and keep forever.  

Every single one of the girls looked absolutely beautiful, each dress telling its own little story of excitement and anticipation....

Mylee... (is it okay to have a favorite?).....Mylee was simply stunning.  Her red dress was perfection on her...elegant and bold all at once, and she wore it with such confidence and grace. ❤️

This group of friends made the sweetest decision to celebrate prom together, and you could feel the joy from the very beginning.  Laughter, pictures, and memories made in every moment.  

And the weather....oh, we watched the skies all day, but the rain stopped long enough for them to capture pictures. 

From there, it was off to a fancy dinner, all dressed up and glowing, followed by a night full of music, dancing, and celebration at the prom. A fairy tale night for sure. 

These are truly the best times...the ones filled with friendship and a bit of magic....

Mylee and her best friend, Kennedy

love these girls...

and I love Kennedy's gorgeous Pink dress...

Prom 2026..

Shug...❤️