Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Hodgepodging Life's Challenges

 Bill's Barn and the plum tree
The month is May is my favorite!

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 She writes the questions;
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1. What would you say is your biggest day to day challenge?

Finding a day that is sunny and warm and not windy, so that I can get in that much-coveted walk. Also, probably, doing enough actual physical work during the day so that I feel productive, but not so much that I actually accomplish anything.

 Tommy, joining me for breakfast on the porch

2. May 16th is National Biographers Day. What's a biography you really enjoyed reading? Is this a genre you read regularly?

I've been enjoying G. K. Chesterton's autobiography, which begins,
"Bowing down in blind credulity, as is my custom, before mere authority and the tradition of the elders, superstitiously swallowing a story I could not test at the time by experiment of private judgment, I am firmly of opinion that I was born on the 29th of May, 1874, on Campden Hill, Kensington; and baptised according to the formularies of the Church of England in the little church of St. George opposite the large Waterworks Tower that dominated that ridge. I do not allege any significance in the relation of the two buildings; and I indignantly deny that the church was chosen because it needed the whole water-power of West London to turn me into a Christian."
How can anyone not like Chesterton.

Red barn near Wausau, WI

3. How important is keeping a clean house? Do you need to de-clutter your life?

I see those as two separate things. And I would say that my house generally falls into a third category, 'Acceptably Tidy.' It's usually acceptably tidy, for it's not antiseptically clean and certainly, well, let's just skip the whole discussion about de-cluttering if I'm going to stay in a good mood and not become mentally exhausted just thinking about it.

 Green is everywhere!

4. You're the 8th dwarf. What's your name?

Goldie, with a silent 'G.'

 Smokey is always glad when Dad is home.


5. What's surprised you the most about your life or life in general?

To quote the Dowager Countess, 'the on-ness and on-ness of it.'  And actually, a nice surprise: that I don't feel as old as I look. At least I think that's a good thing.

 Church of the Resurrection, Wausau, WI
This is perhaps Mr. C.'s favorite


6. Insert your own random thought here. 
I got a great coupon from Shutterfly for a jigsaw puzzle, so I uploaded my favorite photo of Canterbury Cathedral. I was so pleased that it came in a good, sturdy box and it looks like it turned out great. I'll let you know after I put it together.

 Canterbury Cathedral

***

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Judy

27 comments:

maddie/cadesmimi said...

I'm so glad to see that spring has found its way to you! Your photos are lovely.
I, too, got a couple of free puzzles from Shutterfly. I used photos of the grandkids, and they enjoyed putting together a picture of themselves.
Enjoy your day,
Kathy (Reflections)

Arlene G said...

I wish I could read Chesterton but I have tried and tried. We do not get along. lol He is just so wordy. I even have trouble with the Father Brown mysteries. I like your acceptably tidy description. It fits my house as well.

Theresa said...

Gorgeous pictures! Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Tommy and Smokey are cuties. Spring was slow to arrive here too. Acceptably tidy is fine with me, I would say my home is the same. I love the photo of the red barn, very pretty. Enjoy your day and week ahead!

Anonymous said...

I have never been here before! I'm so glad the hodgepodge brought me here! And I love your photos... AND my daughter, who loves puzzles, would LOVE that. I'm going to have to do that for her birthday!

Maribeth said...

I so need help getting my house back in shape. I was so ill last year with a Staph infection, and then my husband was also in the hospital and things in this house just got put off. I need a good month of deep cleaning to get it all together. But I just do not know where to start!

A Joyful Chaos said...

Your dwarf name gave me a fun little chuckle this morning.

You just reminded me that I have some Shutterfly gift cards that I need to use before they expire. Free photo books, here I come.

Empty Nester said...

Goldie with a silent G...LOL My house was acceptably tidy until Marcy started crawling then it became antiseptically clean. Well, the floors did. I'll stop all that nonsense once Roland is up on his feet. :)

MadSnapper said...

i had a thought while reading your answers. the thought is, it amazes me that i feel like i am friends with people whom i have never met and that being so different we can still be friends. i have never read a biography and nearly passed out just reading the paragraph of the one you dearly love, YET i still love YOU and you Me even though we are different. my faovirite photos are always barns and Tommy and Smokey. you never fail to please me with those. I have also never put together a whole puzzle. i have started only a few before giving up... my house is not sparkly clean but always clutter free. no need to declutter because it is not here. but i do have lots of dust that needs to GO

Vee said...

I like G.K. And I like your photography. I like Tommy and Smokey. And I like breakfast on the porch and I always like reading your thoughts.

Cathy said...

How cool is that to have a puzzle of one of your own pictures. Love it.

Goldie with a silent G. Great answer! lol

Joyce said...

I love the puzzle. I'm going to check that out on Shutterfly as my daughter loves to work puzzles and it might be fun to make her one for her upcoming birthday. We worked one while she was visiting-a map of the US. It was tougher than it looked : ) I love your dwarf name!

20 North Ora said...

The puzzle looks complicated!! Pretty photos.

Judy

Terri D said...

Acceptably Tidy... love that!! It doesn't need to get any better than that! Shutterfly is the best place for personalized gifts from your own photos. I love it.

Pamela said...

Do I spy an Emma Bridgewater mug? I love her mugs! I'll have to check out the puzzle offer on Shutterfly. That would be so much fun to design a puzzle.

Debby Ray said...

I'm with you on your answer to #3 and had to giggle at answer #4. That is going to be one interesting puzzle to put together...good luck! Enjoy the rest of your week, Judy!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I admit to being sporadic as to visiting here ( and many blogs lately ) but when I do visit I know that I am always in for a treat and a smile :)

Michelle said...

Acceptably tidy is perfect for me. So many other wonderful things to be doing besides cleaning all the time.

Chatty Crone said...

I love your photos and your kitty. You have quite the sense of humor - Goldie with a silent G. 'Acceptably Tidy' - that is exactly how I would describe my house too.
Love, sandie

Cindy said...

I love your dwarf name! I really did lol! And that puzzle... that's amazing! That would make a great gift idea... hmmm.

Creations By Cindy said...

Such wonderful pictures as always. I just love that red barn! Wish it was sitting in my yard. LOL! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Judy, your description of "enough physical work" sounds like something a cat would say!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I keep myself busy each day but I never seem to accomplish the big things I need to do. I like your answer for #3, pretty much how I feel. Cute photo of Smokey. I love the puzzle and I enjoy Shutterfly too! Enjoy the Royal Wedding....

Lynne said...

The puzzle idea is a great idea . . .
Another vote for dwarf #eight . . .

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

That is very interesting about getting a puzzle from a photo! I might check that out to use as a gift for family / kids! :)

podso said...

It's nice to hear the Shutterfly puzzle is a good one. I do love their coupons and freebies! Now I'm thinking I need to look into reading Chesterton's autobiography. What a way with words!

Mary said...

Oh, my goodness...that picture is AMAZING! I really need to read Chesterton. "Acceptable tidy"...I like that phrase!

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