Wednesday Medley

    Since today is National Cousins Day and Friday is National Aunts and Uncles Day, Terri from Your Friend in Florida has created a set of questions based on that, for us to answer.

1. What can you tell us about your cousins, please, or someone who is close like a cousin?

I had/have a lot of cousins. The oldest is twelve years older than me, and the youngest didn't come along until after I already had three children of my own. Given the age difference I don't even know most of my cousins, and certainly can't name them all. (And this is only first cousins ... forget about even thinking of branching out further than that.)

The cousin I was the closest to, was only a few months younger than I was. For a number of years we lived in the same community and attended the same school until her family moved to a different state. We still remained best of friends and wrote letters regularly between their twice a year visits.

2. Do you still see your cousins and will you contact them on National Cousins Day?

I hardly ever see any of my cousins, or have any contact with them. Our lives turned out so differently which keep the ones I was the closest to from being able to stay in contact. (The repercussions of leaving the Amish run deep.) Other than saying a few words to each other at my brother's funeral last fall, it has been years since we had seen or heard from each other.

I will not be contacting them on National Cousins Day.

3. Do you have a favorite aunt or uncle you can tell us about?

Uncle Eli and Aunt Mattie were very special to me. They never had children. Instead, they doted on their nieces and nephews. They were the happiest people, and simply being around them made me feel happy.

Aunt Vernie had Downs Syndrome. She was a favorite aunt. Her joy of life, her laughter, her compassion, and really everything about her made her a favorite!

I could write a lot about many of my aunts and uncles and what made them special to me. Each of them made an impact on my life and gave me memories I'll always treasure.

4. Did/does your family have reunions and can you tell us about them?

The community I grew up in didn't allow people to attend family reunions. However, one year we all traveled to Michigan to my Mom's oldest sister's house. All her siblings and their children were there as well as my grandparents. We simply called it a family gathering, which made it okay.

5. If you have children, are they enjoying relationships with their cousins, aunts, and uncles?

Sadly, our children don't get to see most of their cousins often enough to establish a relationship with them. They always enjoy getting to see them when they have the opportunity.

6. Tell us something random about your week so far.

We started our new year of school on Monday. It's nice getting back into books and learning. I had been expecting our schedule to feel a little bumpy at first until we get used to it, but it's been surprisingly smooth.

Wednesday Medley

1.  Today, Wednesday, February 6th, is Frozen Yogurt Day!  A cold dessert on what must be a very cold day for most of you reading this today!  Do you enjoy frozen yogurt?  Does it matter what the weather is?  Share with us your favorite flavor and/or topping, please!!

I've had frozen yogurt a few times, but it certainly doesn't make it to the top of the list when it comes to frozen treats I enjoy.

As long as I'm feeling warm, it doesn't matter what the weather is doing, I can still enjoy ice cream. Maybe that's because growing up, winter was the time for ice cream. We always got excited when it snowed, because it Mom would cook up the base for the ice cream while we went outside to fill up several five-gallon pails with snow. After filling the canister of ice cream freezer with the pudding we would take turns cranking the freezer, until it was frozen. Such a delightful treat!

My favorite flavor is still vanilla, a chocolate fudge topping is delightful though.

2.  What food do you know you shouldn't eat but can't help yourself?

I can't think of anything at the moment. I guess it wouldn't hurt to cut out desserts completely, but with only a few bites a day I'm not feeling guilty about it.

3.  If your life was a meal, what kind of meal would it be?

If my life were a meal it would be an overflowing buffet. Such a wide variety of things. Most of it good, some great, and the occasional bad thing you wish you could have avoided.

4.  Do you like spicy food?  Why or why not?  What is the spiciest food you have ever eaten?

I like spices as far as flavors, but when it comes to heat I prefer to keep it on the milder side so that I can still taste my food.

The spiciest/hottest food I've ever eaten was when I was a teenager and some friends from the deep south came to visit and insisted on cooking a meal for us. The added a handful of jalapenos and some other peppers, seeds and all into their pot of chili. We tried our best to eat it, but our entire family was reduced to a coughing, gasping mess.

5.   What food do you eat or crave when you have a bad cold?

I usually don't crave any kind of food when I'm having a bad cold, but force myself to have some broth or chicken noodle soup.

6.  Please tell us something random about your week (and maybe it will involve food).

I've heard of Meyer lemons quite a bit already, but this week was the first time we have ever tried them. Love them! The ones we got provided almost double the amount of juice as regular lemons do.

Wednesday Medley

1. National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd. (Not to be confused with March 14 which is PI π Day.) Okay, fess up. Tell us your top three favorite pies, please. Will you have some pie today?

My top three favorite pies are cherry, pumpkin, and pecan with actual pecans or switched out for rice krispies which is still fabulous, but those with nut allergies can enjoy it as well.

I will most likely have pie today. I cleaned and organized our freezer yesterday and decided it's time to use the berries we picked last summer. That means time to bake some pie.

Pie is probably my favorite dessert, but only if they are homemade.

2. While we are talking about food ... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try almost any new food? What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?

I'm not a picky eater, though there are a few items on the food list that I won't touch. For example ... black eggs, caviar, balut, and I'm sure a few other things as well. In the realm of actual food I'm open to try almost anything.

Oatmeal though ... I just can't. I grew up having it for breakfast every single morning. I didn't enjoy it then, but my aversion to it only intensifies the older I get.

The worst thing I ever tried eating was octopus. It was very similar to trying to eat a spicy rubber band. I'm guessing that had something to do with preparation though, and I would be willing to give it another chance.

3. Baking could be considered an art, as could cooking. How do you define art?

The possibilities when it comes to art are nearly endless. To me it can be anything someone enjoyed creating.

4. Tell us a really stupid joke that made you laugh, please.

I dreamed I was a muffler last night. I woke up exhausted.

5. January 23rd is also National Handwriting Day. Do you have nice handwriting? Did cursive writing come naturally or did you practice in those double lined practice books until your fingers hurt?

I've been told I have nice handwriting, but I want to get better at it.

I was introduced to cursive in second grade and we used to have to practice it as our first thing every morning in school. In seventh and eighth grade I had a teacher who demanded perfection in penmanship. Her red pen marked up my handwriting every single day, though I did my best. At the time she annoyed me, but it was during that time I made the most improvement in my handwriting.

We used the double lined paper in first and second grade, but switched to this green lined paper from third grade to graduation.

6. Tell us something random about your week.

I've been limping when ever I walk ever since I got up this morning, because the ankle I broke 20+ years ago is hurting a LOT! I'm guessing there's some interesting weather on its way.

Wednesday Medley

For a number of years I used to participate in what was known as The Wednesday Hodgepodge, where its creator, Joyce, would provide a list of questions for us to answer. Sadly, she retired from that last fall, but happily a fellow hodgepodger has resurrected it on her blog. The name has been changed to Wednesday Medley, and I'm happy to participate once again.

1. Wednesday, January 16th, is National Do Nothing Day!! National Nothing Day was proposed in 1972 by columnist Harold Pullman Coffin. This day has been observed annually since 1973. Of course, the way to celebrate it is to do nothing!   To commemorate Do Nothing Day in SOME way, tell us something about your life (or the life of someone close to you) in 1973!! 

I wasn't alive in 1973, and my parents were only young teenagers. 1973 happened to be somewhat monumental for them though since that is the year they met.

My Dad used to love sharing the story of how they met. He and his family had just moved hundreds of miles to a new community several months prior. On this particular Sunday one of his friends had convinced him and one of  his sisters to visit one the neighboring Amish churches. After lunch he had wanted to talk to his sister about their plans for the afternoon, and he rounded the corner of the house just as my Mom stepped out on the porch to throw the dishwater away. He was left dripping from head to toe while she was absolutely horrified at what had just happened. Once he wiped the water from his eyes he saw her. He always liked to say it was love at first splash.

2.  Now that we are thinking back, please tell us what your favorite past time was as a child.

One of my favorite things to do as a child was losing myself in a good book. I would read when ever I had a chance, and at times when I should have been doing other things. 

3.  What is the best way to cheer you up on a bad day? 

The best way to lift my spirits is to start singing.

4.  How old were you when you first started dating? Do you remember your first date?

I had my first official date when I was seventeen, and yes I still remember it clearly. I ended up marrying him several years later.

5.  Today is also National Fig Newton day.  Do you like figs/Fig Newtons?

Yes, I like Fig Newtons. I hardly ever have them, but I enjoy them when ever we do. I love figs. Dried figs are delicious, fig jam is always a treat. So far I've never met a fig I didn't like.

6.  Tell us something random about your week.

Steven remembered this set of wooden shapes we have, and went searching for them. He's spent quite a bit of time creating various patterns with them.

I love technology free activities!