Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Green Hillsides, Wednesday Hodgepodge, and Google+

 Grass Seed
Reseeding a major part of our yard

Mr. Cranberry got a huge part of our yard reseeded this spring, just before we started getting these nice rains. It's perfect weather for growing grass. After our way-too-long winter, we're finally getting 70s and 80s with rain. I guess that means that pretty soon we'll be whining about how hot and muggy it is. But for now, I'm just so thankful to see that bare yard turning green once again.


Join Joyce and the rest of us
for


1. What news story are you following right now?

 Meriam Ibrahim & Husband
telegraph.co.uk

I'm following the story of Meriam Ibrahim, a Sudanese Christian woman sentenced to 100 lashes and execution for refusing to recant her Christian faith.  Read the story HERE, finally carried by CBS news, at least online. (I still haven't heard anything on NBC, CBS, ABC on TV, have you?)

At the end of the article, "The U.S. State Department has only said it's "deeply disturbed" by the sentence and has called on Sudan to respect freedom of religion."  That's pathetic.

From the Independent Catholic News, " Faith leaders across the UK have called for the death sentence on a Christian woman in Sudan to be dropped."  You can read the story here. 

From Christianity Today:   "Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Gives Birth in Sudan Prison as 1 Million Protest Christian Mother's Death Penalty." You can read it here.

I also wrote about this situation in last Wednesday's Hodgepodge. It is truly hard to wrap our minds around this, but it IS happening, now. Please pray for this woman and her family.

2. What's the last thing you wanted but didn't get?

I honestly can't think of a thing right now.

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...when did you last have a hamburger? Other than your own kitchen or BBQ grill, where is your favorite place to go for a hamburger? And for all you non-meat eaters out there...when you're invited to a cookout what is the one side dish you hope is on the menu?

I can't even remember the last time I ate a hamburger with bun and all the trimmings. I have no favorite place to get a burger. If I'm at a cookout or potluck dinner, I'll get the burger right off the grill, before it's put into a bun, and I'm hoping there's a huge green salad without dressing. Once at a potluck dinner, I spied a huge green salad someone had brought. Here was one thing, besides what I brought, that I could eat... until I saw her take the lid off a bottle of poison dressing and pour it all over the salad. Eating anywhere other than home is definitely not a treat for me.

4. How have your priorities changed over time?

Not that I don't still get caught up occasionally in the trivial, but I do think that over the years it's become easier to distinguish the trivial from what really matters.

5. What's a favorite memory with your grandparents?

Donuts come to mind. My maternal grandma made the most fantastic cake donuts from scratch. She was a sweet and kind and very talented woman. My paternal grandma made the most fantastic raised donuts. She was clever and sarcastic with a droll sense of humor. I loved them both.

6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being fantastic!), how good are you at multitasking? Share an example.

I would say close to a 10. After all, I can drink my coffee in the morning, watch the first 5 minutes of the TV news (to see if there's a rare chance that they're actually carrying any real news at all, instead of just celebrity gossip), read the crawler, listen to Laura Ingraham, be totally in tune with what my dogs are doing, be thinking about my garden plants that need to get into the soil, be aware of the fact that the mailman comes at 11 and I have two packages that need to get out, compose my grocery list, AND write a blog post  - all at the same time. That's kinda multitasking, isn't it?

7. How would you summarize your highs and lows for the month of May?

Highs? Well, our youngest son's graduation from WITC at the top of his class in the residential carpentry and cabinet making program.



Our youngest son
photo taken by Courtney, his better half


Seeing the Minnesota grandkids.
Our daughter and husband spent two weeks in Italy and sent back fantastic photos! (and they returned safely)
Getting news that our other daughter and family are most likely moving to Wisconsin this summer! That would mean they'd be only 2 1/2 hours away, instead of the current 9 hours! How great that would be!
Our alfalfa field turned GREEN.


Lows? When Kevin handed me my cellphone and it looked like this:


After we got home from Joe's graduation in the dark of night, I got out of the car and tried to close the door. Something was in the way. The seat belt? Oh well... Well, it seems that even an Otter box can't protect my cellphone from either a) slamming the car door on it or b) stepping on it. Kevin thinks I stepped on it. I think I slammed the car door on it. We'll never know. But it definitely killed my phone. Right now a guy in Chetek is trying to replace the display and see if it can be revived. Then maybe I can retrieve my gazillion photos stored in it. Maybe. We'll see.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

 Wildflowers on the hillside

We've made the decision to let the hillside go to weeds, grasses, and wildflowers, at least for this year. For years, it's been mowed and looked so pretty in the summertime. This summer is just too busy and I suggested (quite honestly and brilliantly, I might add) that we get a few Yorkshire/Scottish Blackface sheep and fence in the hillside. I wasn't kidding. Well, at least it was a try. I would love even three sheep grazing on the hillside. Kevin didn't like that idea. Pfffft. He reminded me of how expensive fencing would be for that area.  Okay, fine. My next idea was that we simply let it grow up to native grasses and flowers. I think he's okay with that for now.


 Maybe I should try for a different approach.
I'd love to see three of these sheep on our hillside.
I can easily picture this, can't you?

 ***


A word about Google+

For those of you Google+ bloggers out there who have left comments on my blog, please know that I'm not ignoring you. Google+ will not let me leave a comment on your blog because I am not a member of Google+. This is an extremely annoying trait of Google+, making me more determined than ever not to join. (Actually, I've never joined because Google+ simply told me to join, but never gave me even one good reason why I should.) But I am sorry that I am unable to contact you. Also, I will not be able to answer comments or questions from No-Reply bloggers unless I leave it within a comment on your blog post. If you're okay with that, I guess I am too.  Still, I hope you will consider enabling your email on your profile. It certainly allows for a more personal response.
 


***


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29 comments:

Denise said...

Nice post.

Hootin Anni said...

I don't like Google+ either. But I can comment on some. Others I can't even find their post. It's annoying to say the least.

Ya, I could see the sheep on the green hillside with the sun setting and such a peaceful landscape. [my sister and her husband have let their land go 'wild' also. And it's BEAUTIFUL year 'round.

And, btw...your grandson is VERY handsome.

Marla said...

I love that you got a goat. I"m guessing you have a rural setting. Most "suburban neighborhoods" would not allow sheep to graze. lol Congrats on your son's graduation!

Joyce said...

I am not at all a fan of Google+. I don't get it. It's often hard to find the actual post there too. Congratulations to your grandson!

Mary said...

I LOVE sheep! When I was in Sylt, Germany last year, I was fascinated that the sheep were "free-roaming"...no fences anywhere! I thought that was the coolest thing. Congrats to your son's graduation! Sounds like he picked a good career to get in to.
I made sure I didn't have Google+ turned on in my blog; it's an easy fix for everyone to turn it off in their blog settings.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I have been following the Sudanese Christian story as well.

I think I saw it on Fox...

Anonymous said...

I too have been following the story of Meriam Ibrahim, and it makes my blood boil. What an incredibly brave woman she is though for sticking to her Christian beliefs.
I know what you mean about Google+ I keep wondering about transferring away from Google completely.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Congratulations to your son! He must be very talented. I bet your wild grassy area will be gorgeous! I thought I was the last holdout on Google plus. I feel the same. Why on earth?

Capri K @ No Whining Allowed said...

I can see why you would want that cute sheep!
Congratulations on all of your axciting May news!

Cheryl said...

Of course, I am all for you getting some sheep to care for that hillside. Why do men say "posh" to our brilliant ideas? ;)

(Perhaps that could be your answer to #2.)

Your multitasking skills are amazing!

TexWisGirl said...

good luck with the natural hillside! congrats to your son!

i have a g+ account so i can comment on places that use that comment form (although i HATE it). but i don't post to google+, rarely even go out there, and won't use that profile for my blog, sticking to the old blogger profile. sadly, those that use g+ profile, even if they enabled their emails to be public, g+ takes it back off. that drives me crazy.

Romi said...

Thank you for your comment in my blog.

When I lived in a house with a large backyard, I also wished I had a goat or a sheep that would eat all the grass.

I use Google+, and I usually leave a link in my comment like this:

Romi @ In the Way Everlasting

Bossy Betty said...

Thanks for clearing up why I can't comment on some Google Plus Accounts! Handsome youngest son. Congrats to all. Sorry about the phone. Ouch.

Vee said...

Let me echo the bit about G00gle+. Such an annoyance all the way around. Simply too many hoops to jump through for me.

I had not known that the young woman had given birth. I can not get over how spineless the alphabet networks are for not reporting so many things. I have not learned of any of the horrors going on from them. And where are the Women's Rights groups? Crickets.

Oh now, three sheep would look fine on the hillside...two sheep even. Lambs next?

Congrats to your handsome son on his achievement! It's always such a good feeling to know the kids are doing well. We are only as happy as our saddest child.

Still thinking about my rotten and moldy meme with yet another rainy day going here.

MadSnapper said...

on nooooo on your cell phone, hope they can retrieve your pics.
your grad son is super handsome and congratulations to him..
my list of things i did not get that i wanted could fill your blog for a year.. LOL
i love burgers and have one every other week. wendy's is my main place but burger king or five guys will do or anywhere that sells them.. burgers are my favorite food at home or away. i don't eat meat except for burgers.
there is a setting on google plus that will allow us non memebers to comment, but since i am not a member i don't know where it is. i do know that most of plus members i can comment on, but there are several i can't

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed catching up with what's been going on with you!

I agree, mowing a lot of grass can be time-consuming. Sometimes we mow,but sometimes we let our field grow up, too. I'd thought about getting some goats, but fencing is expensive and goats can be troublesome.

Congrats to your son on his fine accomplishment!

Debbie said...

I have been following that story too! Soo horrible and frustrating that the others refuse to report on it! Congratulations to your handsome son on his achievement! And only 2 and half hours away is WONDERFUL, it's practically around the corner. Oh, and I personally LOVE the sheep idea! lol Enjoy your day!

Paulette said...

Congrats to your son on the occasion of his graduation! I wish I had been as smart as your husband and seeded my yard, little circle of dead patches pepper my front lawn.

Paulette said...

I meant to write grandson :0

Heide at ApronHistory said...

We just planted grass seed too. And re-did the front flower beds. I feel like we wait and wait for spring and then all of the sudden it is the middle of summer!

Can't wait to see how your meadow goes, do share pictures!

The Cranky said...

I've been following that story as well; I am appalled.
What a handsome son you have there!

Terri D said...

I think I am a "member" of Google+ but I ignore it. I hope our communications haven't been compromised (?). I enjoyed your answers to today's Hodgepodge! Congrats to your son! I really think those sheep are worth the cost of a fence! :)

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Yes I usually eat my burgers without a bun and enjoy a lettuce wrapped one if available. That is a SWEET memory of your grandmother's. Congratulations on your sons graduation! Sorry about your phone.

NanaDiana said...

Wow- Lots going on here today, Judy. I love reading all your answers to the the questions. It is always fun to see how you think/react to those questions.

You have a goat? I LOVE goats and have always wanted one.

Here's hoping you had an awesome/wonderful day. xo Diana

Amy, a redeemed sheep said...

I dreamt the other night that I got a pet sheep. Hmmm...Maybe someday!!! Ha!

Google+ is such a pain. I feel so badly when I can't reply to comments. =(

Jhona O. said...

I am not a fan of Google+ either. I like simple. Oh, those sheep are gorgeous and so is that hillside! I am sure it's going to look so beautiful will the wildflowers growing. Congrats to your accomplished grandson!!

Donna Sexton said...

Sorry about your cell phone and really hope you can get your pictures back. My husband had his stolen in about 3 minutes when he left it in a store dressing room and lost all his photos from baseball trips. It's really easy to set up Dropbox to automatically backup all your photos.

Chatty Crone said...

Congrats to your grandson.
I am a multi-tasker too.
And I am praying for the situation in #1 - hard to believe it is even happening....

J_on_tour said...

So much that I could comment on here. Sorry to hear about your phone, hope you can get the retrieved data.
Google + ... I've been thinking about this for the last few weeks and I have to say after a few tempting thoughts, I agree with your comment all the way. If they are trying to separate people into different groups that aren't compatible, I'm sticking with what I know.

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