1. Candy corn: Your thoughts?

Bleah. Not a fan. Don’t like the taste. If I am going to ingest calories of sugar, it needs to have chocolate.

2. Briefly, what was the first conversation you ever had with your spouse? (or best friend, if you’re not married.) (Or someone significant, like your librarian.)

“Hello, my name is Barbara…” We both worked in the library and introduced ourselves. Pretty basic, but at that time in my life I didn’t initiate conversations often, and I was surprised at myself that I did this time.

3. Could you ever become a vegetarian?

Nope. I love meat. And with low blood sugar, I need the protein. I suppose if it were medically necessary I’d have to see what I could do, but I can’t see myself ever becoming one by choice.

4. Have you ever dressed up your pet in a costume?

No!!!!!

5. Name something about childhood that you miss (like Clark Bars, Teaberry Gum, Malibu Barbie, cracking fake eggs on people’s heads with your fist and “It’s the Great Pumpkin” airing only once a year).

This question is the one that I have let sit here for hours without coming up with a definite answer. Probably half a dozen things will come to mind in the next day or so. Though there are many things that make me feel nostalgic about my childhood, I can’t think of a particular item that I miss. I do miss the carefreeness of childhood — even though there were some rough patches, overall I have more fond memories than bad ones. And I miss the family togetherness. Since we’ve all left home we don’t keep in touch as much, especially since my mom passed away. And of course, my mom would be the person I miss the most, with my grandfather and grandmother as well.

6. Have you ever won a trophy? If not, what do you deserve a trophy for?

No, I haven’t, and I can’t think any trophy-worthy accomplishments.

7. When do you think is the appropriate time to begin playing Christmas music each year?

Dec. 1.

8. What’s your favorite board game?

Scrabble, though I like Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan a lot, too.

9. How do you feel about surprises (receiving, not giving)?

I don’t mind them but they make me a little antsy because I’m so particular about what I like that often a surprise gift is not something I would have chosen. While I appreciate the thought and the effort and the care, it’s a little frustrating to know I’ll just tuck it away til the next yard sale. But when a surprise really hits the mark — well, I love that. And when surprise things are done — when someone unexpectedly fills up the gas tank or cleans something they’ve not been specifically asked to or offers to make dinner — well, I love that.

10. Is it easy for you to say, “I’m sorry?”

I think so.

11. What is your favorite candle scent?

Most candle scents give me a headache, so I don’t have them except for decoration. I even have to give candle stores in the mall a wide berth when walking by them. I thought I’d make a quick dash into one once to get a gift for my sister, but after a few seconds felt like I couldn’t breathe and had to leave.

12. October is traditionally “open house” time in public schools. If you had a literal open house in your home (like a reception) what light snacks would you serve visitors and what would you show them (as in art projects, graded papers) that would uniquely represent you?

Light snacks would probably include veggie pizza squares and pudding chip cookies. I don’t think I would have an open house to show people things that represent me — though in a sense our homes do that in themselves — but hypothetically speaking, like a school-type open house, I suppose I’d show the few articles I’ve had published, maybe print-outs of a few favorite blog posts, a few craft things I’ve made, family photos. My heart collection would be pretty obvious.

You can find more entries or join in the fun at Linda‘s.

If “language is the dress of thoughts” ( Johnson), then idioms must the wardrobe.

Jientje at Heaven Is In Belgium hosts A  Thousand Words In Idioms on Wednesdays wherein she asks participants to illustrate an idiom or two with a photo. This is the very last one, so if you’ve been thinking about joining in, this is the time!

Staying on track.

If you’re staying on track, you’re keeping in line with your goals or you’re keeping within the parameters of your goals, e.g., “If I want to lose weight, I need to stay on track with my diet and exercise.” (I just finished watching The Biggest Loser, so weight is on the mind. 🙂 )

Making tracks.

This usually means leaving one place to go someplace else. I’ve also heard it used to mean that one needs to go fast: “If I’m going to make it to the store before it closes, I need to make tracks.”

The top picture was taken by Jeremy, my oldest son, and the bottom one by my husband a few years ago, but they are all in our archives together as family pictures, so I hope it is okay I am not using photos I took myself.

No idiom to go with this one, but I just wanted to show what Jason made with his tracks:

Awww! I could have used that one for warm fuzzies even though it was a cold day.

You can see more at Jientje‘s on Wednesday.

If “language is the dress of thoughts” ( Johnson), then idioms must the wardrobe.

Jientje at Heaven Is In Belgium hosts A  Thousand Words In Idioms on Wednesdays wherein she asks participants to illustrate an idiom or two with a photo. This is the next-to-last opportunity to participate as the challenge will end after next Wednesday.

Into each life some rain must fall.

This means that every life will have its bad days…or weeks, or seasons. But just as the rain serves its purpose in the earth, so do those less-than-bright days in our lives, if we’ll let them.

Come rain or shine.

This means that plans will go on no matter what happens.

Stop by Jientje‘s for more idiom illiustrations.

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story hosts a “Friday Fave Five” in which we share our five favorite things from the past week. Click on the button to read more of the details, and you can visit Susanne to see the list of others’ favorites or to join in.

This is going to be short (which some would say is an improvement. 🙂 ) but hopefully sweet as I have a lot to get done today.

1. Cooler temperatures.

2. Good reports from doctor visits  and lab work. Nothing wrong besides the usual issues — just catching up on check-ups.

3. The Lord lifting up and encouraging when I was down and frustrated and providing grace and strength and guidance for things I needed to do.

4. This cracked me up:

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

5. And this touched my heart — one of the neatest things I have ever seen:

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Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

If “language is the dress of thoughts” ( Johnson), then idioms must the wardrobe.

Jientje at Heaven Is In Belgium hosts A  Thousand Words In Idioms on Wednesdays wherein she asks participants to illustrate an idiom or two with a photo.

Cold, hard cash.

If you pay for something on cold, hard cash, you are using actual bills and coins rather than a check or credit card.

Stopping on a dime.

If you stop  on a dime, that means you have very little space or room to stop. An alternate is to “turn on a dime,” meaning it was an extremely sharp turn or there was little space in which to turn.

You can visit Jientje’s on Wednesdays for more creatively illustrated idioms. It’s fun to see what people come up with, plus every now and then I learn one I had never heard of before.

If “language is the dress of thoughts” ( Johnson), then idioms must the wardrobe.

Jientje at Heaven Is In Belgium hosts A  Thousand Words In Idioms on Wednesdays wherein she asks participants to illustrate an idiom or two with a photo.

By the book.

If someone goes “by the book,” they are going exactly by the rules or established procedures, or sometimes literally by what a book says to do. I illustrated that with a list of “How to” books because if someone is looking for a book about how to do something, they are wanting to go to some extent by the book.

An open book.

If someone’s life is an open book, they have no secrets, no skeletons in the closet; they’re open to scrutiny without fear of what anyone will find. A variation is “his or her face is an open book,” meaning they don’t or can’t hide their feelings. You can pretty much tell their reaction or what they’re thinking by looking at them.

I know we’re only supposed to do two — but of the three I have I can’t decide between just two. So I hope you’ll forgive me for including one more.

The Good Book.

Sometimes people refer to the Bible as the Good Book. It is that — but it is so much more than just that.

Hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

1. Which is worse: a long, boring meeting or standing in a return/exchange line after Christmas?

Standing in line to return something. I’d rather sit than stand, for one thing, and I am always a bit nervous they’re going to give me a hard time about my return, though that doesn’t usually happen.

2. Except for maybe Rosie O’Donnell or Ann Coulter, nobody likes confrontation, yet we all have to deal with it. When you feel cornered and defensive, do you “bite back” or become passive aggressive?

I usually just try to get away, and then stew about it inwardly for a long time (not healthy, I know).

3. Do you know anything about your genealogical background? (What country, culture, ties to prominent historical figures, or other stuff.)

We’re a hodgepodge — English, German, I think some Scottish or Irish, and supposedly a little bit of Cherokee. I don’t know much of anything beyond my grandfather’s parents on my mom’s side, and just back to my grandparents on all the other sides.

4. What is the quickest way a person can endear him/herself to you?

Unexpectedly doing something thoughtful or kind or jumping in to help.

5. Cake, pie, cookies, or ice cream? (Note there is no “all of the above” option. You must choose one. Feel free to elaborate on flavor or memories tied to this dessert.) If you’d like, you can share a recipe, but you certainly don’t have to.

Cookies. I can’t eat ice cream (I do know about stuff you can take for lactose intolerance and I do use it with other things, but I am afraid to with straight milk or ice cream, as those affected me the worst). Love pies, but they’re a bit more trouble to make with all the rolling of pie crusts and peeling of fruit (hence I never thought the term “easy as pie” made sense). Love cake, but we just don’t have it much except for birthdays. So cookies are what I crave and have most often. Mt favorite brands are Oreos with chocolate cream in the middle and Chunky Chips Ahoy. My favorite cookies to make are Pudding Chip and Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.

6. Females: Do you regularly change your handbag to coordinate with your outfit?

Yes. I had a whole post, quiz, and meme about purses around this time last year.

7. Are you task-oriented or relationship-oriented?

Task-oriented, I’m afraid. I have to frequently remind myself that however urgent the task is, people are more important.

8. IHOP, Bob Evans or Cracker Barrel?

Cracker Barrel, hands down. I’ve never been to a Bob Evans — would love to find and try one some day.

9. Have you ever left a movie in progress in a theater? Why?

It’s been…let me think….35 or so years since I’ve been in a movie theater, and I really don’t remember ever doing so, though I may have.

10. What is one area of life in which you would like to develop more discipline or organization?

One area? What area would I not like to develop more discipline and organization?

11. Was middle school fun or painful?

Very painful.

12. What is your favorite Fall beverage?

I don’t drink much of anything in the fall that I don’t drink during the rest of the year except the occasional cup of apple cider if someone is serving it at their home or event. And I do start drinking more coffee when the weather turns cooler.

If “language is the dress of thoughts” ( Johnson), then idioms must the wardrobe.

Jientje at Heaven Is In Belgium hosts A  Thousand Words In Idioms on Wednesdays wherein she asks participants to illustrate an idiom or two with a photo.

If you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas.

Sorry that picture isn’t clearer — it’s an old one, maybe even from an old cell phone, I don’t remember. But the saying means basically if you associate with the wrong kind of people, you’ll pick up some of their bad habits or flaws.

Dirty dog.

This is a phrase used for a low-down, sneaky, cheating person. Thankfully Suzie can be transformed from a dirty dog to a clean one, though she’s not happy about the process. I just love her pitiful expression there. Poor baby!

And though we’re supposed to keep it to two idioms, I did want to show Suzie on a happier note:

Every dog has his (or her) day.

This means everyone has some good portion to his life, some chance for success.