Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Hodgepodging Through Cobblestone Alleyways

This post probably contains the last of this year's lilacs. While the lighter-purple ones are already done, the deeper purple lilacs are still clinging tight.

Join Joyce and the Gang
for

 She writes the questions;
we write the answers.
Plug them into your own blog
and join in!


1. How should success be measured? Using that as your standard, who is the most successful person you know? (Or one of the most successful?) 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27). That would pretty much sum it up.  There are many throughout history who have done just that, who quietly and faithfully go about their business unnoticed, not looking for reward. Watching or reading the news, you'd think that's a pretty foreign concept in today's society, but it's just that the most successful people are not going to make the headlines. 



Alleyway in London

2. Have you ever been to a hot air balloon launch/fest/party? Ever taken a ride in a hot air balloon? Is that on your bucket list? According to Frommers the ten best hot air balloon adventures in the world are-

Loire Valley (France), the Serengeti (Tanzania), Napa Valley (California), Lake Champlain (Vermont), Cappadocia (Turkey), Istria (Croatia), Gstaad (Switzerland), Yarra Valley (Australia), Muelle (Costa Rica), and Albuquerque (New Mexico). 

Which one on the list would you most like to experience?

I've never been to a hot air balloon fest. It's not on my bucket list, and although I'd like to visit France and wouldn't mind visiting Turkey and Croatia, I'd prefer to stay on the ground and wander through cobblestone alleyways, looking for good coffee, an irresistible pastry or lunch, and good photo opportunities.

 Grilled Cheese with Tomato and Basil Pesto
You can find the recipe for TWO great grilled cheese sandwiches

3. May 25th is National Brown-Bag It Day. Did you/will you pack a lunch today? When did you last pack a lunch for someone and what are your go-to ingredients for a brown bag lunch?

I won't be packing a lunch, but if I were to do so, there would be a chicken sandwich (with onion and lots of celery) on gluten-free bread, an orange, and one of my gluten-free chocolate chip cookies that I made yesterday and hid in the freezer because somehow, believe it or not, that seems to be a bit of a deterrent. Usually.

4. What's one of your favorite dance scenes from a movie or television show? 

This is easy, for there are only two. From the movie White Christmas, Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen And that's probably because it's Lucy's favorite. I love watching her little two-year-old self, in pink tutu and wings, dancing to 'The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing' :-) My all-time favorite movie dance scene (besides watching Lucy) is Anne Reinking from Annie, 'We've Got Annie.' She is fabulous!  The links will take you to YouTube clips.

 Vera Ellen in her younger years.

5. John F. Kennedy made famous the line, '...Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." So what can you do for your country?

Pray, Vote, and See answer to #1. Imagine how different our country (and world) would be if we all did that, huh.


 Beautiful Rice Lake, WI

6. Weekends are made for __________________________________.

Rest, worship, and getting Mr. C. away from work.

 St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church
Wausau, WI

7. On this last Wednesday of the month, bid farewell to the month of May in seven words or less.

'You make Wisconsin worth the winters...almost.'

 During the rain
8. Insert your own random thought here.

There are so many who are struggling - personally, financially, health-wise, on my radar screen right now. We need to be faithful pray-ers who will uphold these people before God. We are all on this fallen planet together, and we need to pray for each other, especially when others, for whatever reason, just can't.

 Those would be maple seeds. They're everywhere!

***

Check out my natural, handcrafted vegan soap!
Buy any 5 or more, Get 1 FREE

Oatmeal Almond
Natural Vegan Soap


...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at
 
HomemadeSoapNSuch


and at


Our ETSY Shop
Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Have a great Wednesday, everyone!
Judy

24 comments:

Linda said...

Enjoyed your Hodgepodge and totally agree with number 1...smiles

Theresa said...

Love your answer to #1. Is that your porch? It looks beautiful. Wish I could stop by and sit on it with a cup of coffee and your gluten free chocolate chip cookies :) I have trouble finding gluten free bread since most of them have eggs, which I am supposed to avoid. I've been eating my hamburgers without a bun but sure am craving a hot dog, especially with Memorial Day weekend here. Have a great weekend :)

Joyce said...

Your lilacs are beautiful and I've told hubs I want a tree in my new garden. White Christmas! How could I forget that one. When I started thinking about it there were a lot to choose from. Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Your sack lunch sounds delicious. I would love to sit and chat on your porch with coffee and pastry! lol
Hope you and the family enjoy the upcoming weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Good morning, great answers. You answer to #1 was so true! I would love that grilled cheese, yum! My lilacs look like they are going to bloom and then nothing, I am disappointed. Your lilacs are gorgeous. Enjoy your day and week ahead!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I read some of your answers aloud to my hubby over breakfast. We thought of the John Adams series that we've watched on DVD. So many of our founding Fathers just wanted to go about their own business but sacrificed to lead our country. And yes...hubby and I are pray-ers! Hugs, Diane

MadSnapper said...

i liked all of your answers and agree.. i would rather do the cobblestones to than the baloons, but i would like to take photos of the balloons.. that sandwich looks wonderful and if i were to pack a bag lunch it would have peanut butter and banana sandwich on white bread. i took that to work for many years.. no fridge needed. just the brown bag. we took those to the beach also.

Sandi said...

Beautiful lilacs...and wise words!

"Watching or reading the news, you'd think that's a pretty foreign concept in today's society, but it's just that the most successful people are not going to make the headlines."

I think what we see on the news is a very small part of the picture. We've been duped. Greater are those with you, than those against you. I think it's true.

April said...

Those flowers...WOW! Just beautiful, Judy! Loved your random thought and I'm in complete agreement with you. You have a lovely church. I'm sure it has a lot of history.

Lowcarb team member said...

Super hodgepodge and fantastic lilacs, they are truly a beautiful sight.

All the best Jan

Chatty Crone said...

I love your comments and your photos. And I have to say I agree with you 100% on SUCCESS and everything you said about it.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Our lilacs are just starting to open and I will definitely be checking out the grilled cheese options - why haven't I thought to add pesto. Yum!
You better hope the cookie monsters at your place don't read this post and find THE hiding place.

carrie@northwoods scrapbook said...

I always love these posts so much from you Judy - the photos and the answers. ;) I especially loved your answer to #7 this time. Lol

I LOVE seeing your lilacs - ours haven't even come out yet up here - but I think soon.
Blessings my Friend. xoxo

Michelle said...

Making wish I had some Lilacs!

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Judy, your lilacs are the most lush I've ever seen. Just beautiful! I so agree that we must pray for our world and for our country. The view from your porch is so peaceful looking. I can imagine you there with a book. I hope you were able to do that today. xo ♥

genie said...

Your lilac pictures are out of this world. So many dainty little taverner/purple blooms. I have never seen so many in one place before. Beautiful.

Unknown said...

Lilacs, dancing and prayers, so true.
You have me singing the song from White Christmas, love, love that movie. Have it and I still watch it on tv.
Prayers for my mom, her family is from Colby, Wisconsin. All over the state and a few in Illinois.
Kathleen in Az

Cheryl said...

Of course, I wholeheartedly agree with your answer to #1. The most successful people are those who never make the headlines.

I have never wished to go to a hot air balloon festival, but a friend of mine attended one in New Mexico several years ago, and her photographs were stunning!! Now, if I had the opportunity, I'd go. (NOT up in a balloon, mind you. I'd enjoy it all from the ground!)

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Judy! Good morning and greetings from Minneapolis! I just saw my blog and saw that you came by! Thank you! It's lovely to see you from this corner of social media!

Oh the lilacs, weren't they just splendid this year? And the poppies are now out and are making me swoon. I also need to get going on photographing the peonies now, but the pink ones are still a tight fist. Soon, however!

I love your post. So many positive and great perspectives from your point of view. I do believe that many of the successful people out there go unnoticed, for it seems that our culture wants sensationalism. I want to celebrate the average person who does extraordinary, every day things!

Peace to you my friend! Anita

Wendy said...

Great answers :)

podso said...

I think I agree with all of your answers except maybe the dance scenes as I don't think I ever saw Annie, not having girls. Maybe one to watch with the grand girls. Hope you have a good weekend!

Jenny Woolf said...

What a sweet picture of Vera Ellen!

And I was surprised to see your photo of the alley leading to the Kings Head in Southwark, which I know well! :)

JazminRuizPoetry said...

Hello, I really love flowers, and I also like chicken sandwiches and cookies. I enjoyed reading your post.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I love your dance choice. A favorite movie of mine and I watch it every Christmas Eve! Great answer on what we can do for our country.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails