I’m joining the fun this week….
Sitting on the porch and answering random questions about everything under the sun….
Joyce asks the questions.
We answer the questions.
1. Let's all think happy thoughts...share one of yours here.
If plan "A" doesn't work, no worries, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet. My mantra as a project manager. 😊
2. There's a Chinese proverb that says, "If you want happiness for an hour take a nap, if you want happiness for a day-go fishing...." What say you? If you want happiness for a day GO CAMPING.
I discovered my happy place (camping) late in life. My family did not camp when I was growing up and I traveled extensively for my job after college. When I returned from a business trip, I just wanted to spend time at home, not on the road. I was in my mid 30's when I was invited to join a camping trip to the Great Smoky Mountains...I loved it! I've been car camping ever since. I find it relaxing and a great way to recharge. These days we "glamp" (short for glamorous camping), we bring every convenience available to make our campsite comfortable and my Sweetie is a gourmet campfire chef. No hot dogs on a stick for us! I love camping!
3. Where do you go to decompress from the world around you?
Same answer as #2...Camping! Some of my favorite places to camp: Cumberland Island, GA; Cloudland Canyon, GA; Big Creek, Great Smoky Mountains, TN; and Kings Canyon, CA.
4. What song never fails to make you happy?
A new favorite - Can't Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake - I was introduced to this song on a previous Hodgepodge! Just try to sit still when you hear this tune; I bet you can't. I'm humming it in my head right now - "I can't stop the feeling, so just dance, dance, dance" - fun!
5. Wednesday is National Fast Food Day. Should that be a thing? Apparently it is, so tell us what's the last 'fast food' you consumed? If you were putting together your own version of a 'happy meal' what would you include?
I have to ask...just what are we celebrating or honoring? I'm puzzled on this one. The last fast food I had was a Dairy Queen chocolate dipped cone...I went through the drive-thru so it was "fast food". My happy meal is a meat and cheese board with complimentary fruits, spreads, warm crusty bread, and a nice bottle of red wine.
6. In a few sentences tell us why you blog.
I started blogging to promote my little Etsy jewelry business, but found that I enjoyed writing about life and the world around me much more than I enjoyed marketing my wares. I don't think I'm a very good writer, but I do enjoy it. I also really enjoy reading blogs; I could spend the entire day following links and hopping from one blog to the next.
7. List seven things you're feeling especially grateful for today.
- That God gave me another day here on earth with the one I love.
- That I have a brave cat (Buddy) to hunt down that pesky little mouse in the basement (we live in the mountains, cold weather brings them in)
- That my Sweetie loves to grocery shop (I don't) and he stocked the cabinets prior to his road trip tomorrow.
- That a small family of deer has moved into our yard to wait out the fire. They have been here for several days.
- That my creative juices were flowing today, I completed several handmade ornaments for the Christmas Market.
- That I opened another moving box and found family photos that I hadn't seen in many, many, years...priceless!
- And most of all...that I have so many friends and family praying for our safety from the wildfire.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
The wildfire in the Cohutta Wilderness (Rough Ridge, GA) is steadily moving toward our home. The fire is now 5 miles away and has been burning for just under a month. Overall it has consumed 20,000+ acres of the National Forest; 200+ firefighters from across the country have arrived to fight this monster fire. There is no end in sight, the winds and drought are fueling the fire which is only 20% contained as of day. We really need a long
drenching rain ( or even snow ) to stop this monster. Please pray with us or if you are not religious, please keep us in your thoughts. We need a lot of rain, protection for the forest creatures that have been driven out of their sanctuary, and a halt to the fire's advancement. On a personal note, we need prayers to save our home. Thank You for your help with this; here is a photo of our favorite day trip road in the wilderness...so sad...it breaks my heart...
Best Regards,
Lori in Blue Ridge, GA
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Oh, Lori, how scary and upsetting. I am praying for your house to be safe, for the fires to be extinguished and for all of you, including the critters, to be safe. {{{Hugs}}}
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you found the photos! Do you have a fireproof, waterproof container that you can put them in until those fires are gone?
I bet the deer are scared to death. I am glad that they found your yard. It is fun to watch the deer. There's a place a little ways from here that has tons of them wandering around first thing in the morning. :)
Have a blessed day!
Hi Suzanne, thanks for adding us to your prayer list, we need 'backup' to fight this monster wildfire. Just thinking about saving our things gives me chills, I pray that it won't come to that. The deer are a blessing and I hope they know something about the fire direction that we don't by choosing our yard as their safe haven. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting.
DeleteLori
Thanks for visiting my HP today! I enjoyed reading your answers! I will sure keep you in my prayers, as are several others for whom those fires are creeping much too close! Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteTHanks Terri, we sure do appreciate your prayers. I believe that even though we are not physically together... "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew18:20
DeleteWe used to cook steak in aluminum foil. Get a piece of steak, any cut will do. Cut up potatoes, carrots, onions, bell pepper, and steak with a little butter or margarine and seal it very well in two layers of aluminum foil. Place the foil packs in the hot coals. Leave them there for about an hour and check in about an hour.
ReplyDeleteI love foil pack dinners at the campfire; so easy to prepare and no pot or pan cleanup...perfection! THanks for visiting today.
DeleteLori
We enjoy camping is our little RV as opposed to tent camping. I like being off the ground at my age. We still do the campfire cooking and such. We are planning a trip to New England next fall.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog today! We have outgrown the tent in the photo and now have a tent lovingly called the Taj Mahal. It's large enough to have two rooms, one room has a queen size bed up off the ground and a night stand, I can not tolerate sleeping on the ground anymore either. The other room is large enough for a small table, two chairs, and all our gear. We definitely don't camp light. We are "Glampers" to the max. Our SUV looks like something right out of the Beverly Hillbillies when we arrive at the campground...picture things tied on the roof and an exterior shelf on the back of the car piled high with stuff....I'm sure we have every convenience to provide comfort known to man. LOL We do love camping!
DeleteLori
So sorry that the fire is heading your way. Praying right now for some rain and that the fire fighters can get the fire under control. I really like your mantra!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers, we really need backup right now.
DeleteLori
I'd heard about those fires, but didn't realize they were in your area. I'll definitely add you to my prayer list! All of those poor homeless animals, too...
ReplyDeleteI used to LOVE camping, too. These days...not so much. We had a pull behind camper, until 1994, when we sold it. We bought another camper after our children were grown, but, for us, the magic was gone, so we sold it, too.
Best wishes,
Kathy (Reflections)
Thank You for adding us to your prayers, we really appreciate your help in this. So much forest has been lost to the fires, I know it will bounce back, but it is so sad.
DeleteLori
Thankfully my husband likes to grocery shop too :) I haven't been camping in years but like your style. I hadn't heard about the wildfires (been trying to stay away from the news). Praying you and your home stays safe.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers, we appreciate your help in this. So much forest has been lost to the fires, I know it will bounce back, but it is so sad.
DeleteLori
Lori, as I read your post, I voiced a prayer for the safety of all in the path of this fire and for a quick end to its progress. Praising Him for your protection and that of the fire fighters and animals. We used to camp, but it didn't take me long to realize my favorite place to spend the night away from home is the comfort of a hotel. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers, your help in this is greatly appreciated. So much forest and wildlife habitat has been lost to the fires, I know it will bounce back, but it is so sad.
DeleteLori
I've been praying for RAIN! And for the fires to be contained away from folk's homes....they're not threatening us but they're close enough that the right wind smokes up our valley. This weather pattern has got to break...soon...
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my hodgepodge and praying for our safety and a end to this monster wildfire.
DeleteLori
Yes, I would have to agree with Libby, a Marriott Courtyard are something comparable is my idea of camping. :o)) I am so sorry about the fires, it's just hard to imagine fires of this magnitude. Praying for the protection of your home. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers, your help in this is greatly appreciated. So much forest and wildlife habitat has been lost to the fires, I know it will bounce back, but it is so sad to see the devastation to our beautiful national forest.
DeleteLori
So sorry to hear about your present situation. I hope the fire changes direction or they are able to get it under control so you don't have to evacuate or risk losing your home. It must be really worrying but I'm sure your faith will give you strength. Will pray for you.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your mantra about "Plan A, etc." I hope that the wildfire gets brought under control soon. We are in drought conditions in NH and some moron started a campfire that lit up the White Mountains National Forest. So our firefighters are trying to get that under control. It's not as big as Georgia's but we're a small state. I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.
ReplyDeletePrayers for your safety -- and that of the sweet deer!
ReplyDeleteThis 'city girl' is, frankly, terrified of sleeping with only a thin tarp between me and that which might go bump-in-the-night. :) 'Have to admit, 'glamping' sounds intriguing. A little - ha!