Friday Fave Five & Saturday 9

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the questions, links on the right.

1. Thankful to be able to see my granddaughter perform at her Color Guard competition. Her division had 10 schools and they won first place! We took her and her mom out to Olive Garden afterwards. She has practice 10 hours a week and even had practice during spring break. I had no idea they used multiple flags and the wooden rifle. I know she has lost a lot of weight since last summer. I thought they were more into marching styles. But there is gymnastics and ballet in it too! She does this and is several honors classes too. She also tutors grade school kids at the library. She does not like to take pictures.

2. Thankful for my being able to be in a few groups through my church. I took tuna salad to share . We take turns brining goodies. Many of the women is this group are also in my Bible journaling group.

3. Thankful for the beautiful weather this week. Sunny and in the high 70's.  Rain is coming in on the weekend, but that is okay, the rain makes everything green. The roses are looking really good and the plumerias are budding too. Lots of flowers on our Meyers lemon tree too! I also enjoy sitting out and watching the birds chirping away. Now of the mosquitoes would just stay away, that would be great!

4. Thankful that I could watch my grandson play on his Volleyball team.  He is really good too. I know I sound like the biased Mema, but I could hear the people around me say how good # 8 was.

5. Thankful for being able to read the Left Behind Series again and she how they used Bible prophesy to see what will happen in the future. I am on book 8 now and that doesn't count the 3 prequals I also read. I also have my two books I am reading for my classes. I am also thankful for being able to order my new glasses so I can see better! I am spending less time on the computer now that I am reading more.

6. Since it was National Pet Day on the 11th, I will say I am thankful for my dog!

Saturday 9: She'd Rather Be with Me (1967)

                                               Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this week's song we learn that this particular girl would rather be spending time with her lover. Instead of answering these 9 questions, what would you rather be doing? 

Enjoying a day at the beach.

2) Lead singer Howard Kaylan was a very good student. First he won a Bank of America Fine Arts Award, then he was the valedictorian of his graduating class, and was awarded a scholarship to UCLA. 

Tell us about something that distinguished your high school career. I was happy when I made the senior teams in competitive athletics. When I won the Betty Crocker Award for my school. When I made VP of Girls League and getting accepted to UC Irvine.

3) Howard Kaylan formed this week's group, The Turtles, with Mark Volman. They met while performing in their high school choir and continued working together for 55 years. Are you still in touch with old friends from high school?  

Yes I am. I also went to my 50-year class reunion last summer.

4) First Daughter Tricia Nixon was a big Turtles fan and brought them to the White House to perform for a private party. They almost didn't go. When the engraved invitation came, tied with ribbon, the boys thought it was an elaborate practical joke. Have you ever successfully pulled off a practical joke? 

No, I am not a joker.

5) The Turtles' bass player was Chip Douglas. He left the band in 1967 to produce The Monkees. It's Chip that Davy Jones refers to at the beginning of "Daydream Believer" ("What number is this Chip?" "7A!"). What's your favorite Monkees song?  I'm a Believer. I was in 7th grade in 1967.

 You can hear their album here.

6) The Turtles broke up in 1970. Pressure from their record label to do more and do it cheaper was just too much of a hassle. But Howard and Mark continued to work together, renaming themselves Flo and Eddie. They sang backup on records by Frank Zappa, Alice Cooper and Bruce Springsteen and on children's TV shows like The Care Bears. Backup work provided less money but more fun. Given the choice, would you rather do a job that paid well that you didn't enjoy, or a job you liked that earned you a smaller paycheck? My job for the Postal service was that job.

7) In 1967, when this song was popular, the RMS Queen Mary was retired after 31 years of service. Now docked in Long Beach, the ship has been refurbished with state-of-the-art wifi, satellite hookups, and projection screens and is a popular choice for conventions and annual business meetings. When were you most recently on a boat or ship?

I took a cruise in 2006 Alaska & 2008 New England. I have been on the Queen Mary for a Sunday brunch as it was great! We also spent the night on the Queen Mary in 1992. They had a Queen Tribute concert going on the night we were there. 

8) Also in 1967, Elvis married Priscilla. You don't need last names to know who we're talking about, do you? Can you think of another couple with whom the world is on a first-name basis? Sonny and Cher.

9) Random question: If your phone were to ring right now, who do you think would be calling?

 My granddaughter Audrina. There is a video of her singing in the previous post.

 

Blogging

Blogging

 1.  How often do you blog? What helps you blog.. what hinders you? I blog 2-3 times a week. Years ago when I was in the country web home/blog community, I blogged daily. 2002-2019 blog post are at my website. my Bible journaling and crafting keeps me busy. My grands too!

 
2.  What benefits do you get from blogging? Are there any? I think blogging helps me express some of my thoughts. It has allowed me to meet new people. Meme really help too!
 
3.  Have you ever changed your blog theme? My web home is called Susan's Garden of Friendship. There are probably over 300 pages. My blog there is the same here. Susan's Sayings. I changed the graphics out seasonally. 

4. Where do you get your ideas for blog posts? Mostly Memes now. My family and activities are my main focus. Then my Bible journaling and crafting.

My dog Minnie has been sick and I am asking for prayers. She has some type of intestinal infection with blood.

Saturday 9: Cry (1952)

Unfamiliar with this song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Johnnie Ray assures us we'll feel better if we cry. Do you agree? Sometimes it helps.

2) He also mentions waking from a dream, believing it was real. Has that ever happened to you? Yes that has happened a couple of times.

3) Because this record was such a massive hit, Johnnie Ray was nicknamed "The Prince of Wails." Without looking it up, do you know who is currently the Prince of Wales? Prince Charles?

4) To cash in on the success of this single, 20th Century Fox cast Johnnie Ray in a big-budget musical, There's No Business Like Show Business. Today it's best remembered as a Marilyn Monroe movie. Have you seen many of Marilyn's films? A couple.

5) After graduating from high school, Johnnie worked at low-paying jobs, including bus boy and soda jerk. He found he made better tips when he began playing piano in restaurants. Have you ever worked for tips? Nope.

6) In 1969, Johnnie was in the news a lot again because he performed with Judy Garland during her European tour and was best man at her wedding to Mickey Deans. Tell us what you wore to the most recent wedding you attended. The last wedding I attended was my son's in 2016 on Long Beach, next to the Queen Mary.

7) In 1952, when this song was a hit, Mr. Potato Head made his debut. It was the first toy advertised on television. What TV commercial have you seen recently?  Hallmark Channel, When Comes the Heart, Season 8 starts Sunday night!

8) Also in 1952, chlorophyll was all the rage for banishing bad breath. Colgate led the way by adding it to their toothpaste. Do you use gum, mints, mouthwash, or breath strips? I use a special treatment for my gums.

9) Random question -- Congratulations! You won a free three night/two day weekend for two in Las Vegas! The weather is predicted to be sunny and 65º each day you're there. It's 12:00 noon on your first day. Are we most likely to find you: a) gambling in the casino or b) having breakfast in bed or c) outside, enjoying the sun and the sights? Probably at a Casino  at one of the lunch buffets. We have a time share with our son. We usually eat breakfast and dinner at the suite and lunch out. One year we went to a matinee showing of the Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian.

Today is National Love Your Pet Day.

1. Something little you are loving right now? 

I love my mini Doxie Minnie.

2. Red roses or pink peonies? Red wine or pink lemonade? Red lipstick or pink polish? A cotton candy colored sky or a fiery red sunset? How about this sunset in Hawaii with my grands.

A book-movie-song you love with the word red or pink in it's title?  Red roses, pink lemonade, pink nail polish,  The Woman in Red by Stevie Wonder and this book.

3. What's something you currently have your heart set on doing-going-seeing-or experiencing? I want to go to Downtown Disney and get some beignets. My crafty group is going to New Orleans and since it is almost Mardi Gras, I want to try some. I don't celebrate it, but love the beignets!

4. Who would you most like to have a heart to heart with right now? Is that possible? I would love to be able to have a chance to talk to my parents but that will have to wait until I get to heaven.  

5. Write an acrostic for the word L-O-V-E. 

L  Love

O  Outstanding

V  Validating

E  Empathy

6. Insert your own random thought here. Hubby and I are going to get our Covid Vaccines on Saturday. We gave a lot of thought to it and decided it is what we feel is best for us. My daughter works for St Joseph's Hospital and she got us both in since we are 65 and  66. Several of our friends have had their vaccines with no problems. I know that there are many people that don't do vaccines.  One of our friends lost her husband and her mom in the same week. Another friend was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks. Everyone has to do what is best for you. I will keep you posted on how we do. Our daughter is taking us and then we are treating her to lunch afterwards. We hope to stop at Downtown Disney afterwards. 

Sunday Stealing...

1. What did you do for Thanksgiving when you were a kid? When we were young, we would get together with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. As the family grew, we didn't get to do it as often. My dad is in the white shirt and my mom is in the blue dress. This must have been around 1968 at my aunt's home. Can you find me?

2.What’s your favorite family tradition?  My  mom always set a beautiful table. She would use nice dishes and there would be candles and fresh flowers. She was very detailed as I am. Last year I used the fine china. This year I found really nice paper plates. Only my daughter's family will be here. My son's are spending this year with their in laws. We decorate for Christmas the week before Thanksgiving, but keep the kitchen decorated for fall. We usually take pictures with the grands on Thanksgiving for the Christmas cards, but not this year. We will use the pictures we took when we went to the Apple Farm last weekend.
Besides making the turkey, my parents would order a Honey Baked Ham. Hubby can't eat ham and daughter won't eat it. But they are bringing a small ham for the rest of us.

3. What’s your favorite way to give back and help others? I like to take flowers or little gifts to my friends, but things are different this year. Our church collects gift cards to pass out to families at Thanksgiving and Christmas and we contribute to that. 

4. Name one person who can make you laugh, even months later. Why? My cousin Joanie. We can always pick up where we left off. It has been a rough year for her because her mom has had breast cancer and because of Covid, we can't get together.. So I miss our times together.

5. What is the funniest thing you remember about a Thanksgiving past? I don't remember anything funny. We did not have Thanksgiving dinner in 2018. We went out for breakfast instead. We spent the rest of the day packing because we had to be at the Los Angeles airport by 8am the next morning. We were going to Hawaii!

Thanksgiving 1973 was special. My mom invited the grandparents and my then fiance's parents along with a few aunts and uncles. I remember they had it in the garage because there were a lot of guest. My dad made a toast and then announced our engagement to everyone.

6. Do you have any unusual traditions, rituals or habits around Thanksgiving? I use to pass out ornaments to all my kids. Now I pass them out to the grandkids. Last Thanksgiving, I went with my DIL and daughter to shop at a few stores to get gifts. I waited in the Target line while the girls hit Best Buy. Then they joined me. We got in, got what we wanted and then went back home. We had desert and watched National Lampoon's Christmas. I am glad there will be no rushing out to the stores this year.

7. What time do you eat your Thanksgiving meal? At 4 PM this year but last year we ate at 3.

8. Name one ancestor that you think about on Thanksgiving and tell us why. My mom, she taught me how to make the favorite sides.

9. Is there a family heirloom at the Thanksgiving table? What its story? No favorite heirloom unless you want to count the recipes. Oh wait, yes there is. There is a serving fork  I have that belonged to my parents that has to be at least 60 years old.

10. What is your favorite part about Thanksgiving Day? Everyone says something they are thankful for. Then we prayer before the meal. 

11. What is something that was done for you this year that makes you grateful this Thanksgiving? Having a friend tell me how much I mean to her.

12. What foods do you usually have for Thanksgiving? Turkey, ham, mash potatoes, green bean casserole, Chicken liver stuffing, carrots, candied sweet potatoes, salad, rolls, sparking cider and pumpkin pie. This year Renee's man will be making home made macaroni and cheese. Every few years I make a raspberry jello salad.

13. How has the celebration of Thanksgiving today changed from when you were little? It is pretty much the same. It is a special day where we dress up a little better and remember how blessed we are. We won't all be together his year, but we do have a lot to be thankful for. None of my kids were out of work, all essential workers. My eldest got Covid and missed 5 weeks of work but is well now and no one else sick. Thank you Lord!

14. If you could share Thanksgiving dinner today with one person in history who would it be? Why? (Note: it can be a relative) My parents.

15. What is one wish you have for the next generation as they begin to establish their own Thanksgiving traditions. For them to keep it special. This year I plan to teach my oldest grand daughter how to make the candies yams. I also plan to print out the recipes and pass them out to our kids. You can find the recipes here.

 

 

Happy 4th Birthday Minnie Mouse!

 

Around the House 1. Do you have pets ? What kind of pets do you have? Photos? I have a black and tan long haired mini dachshund. Her name is Minnie.

Minnie is on the left and her mama Rei is on the right.

2. Do you have a weekly menu you plan out? Would you share it with us, or perhaps a short list of meals you make often? It gives other people ideas !
My husband and I are retired and we don't cook everyday. We buy a chicken at Sam's Club and we make several meals from that chicken. We like to cook fresh veggies like broccoli, zuchinni, and cauliflower. We cook brown rice or quiona in the rice cooker. We have a lot of salads and when it is cold we like soups.

3.Where do you do your grocery shopping? Do you like that store or do you go to others to fill in the gaps?
I like to shop at the closest store called Sprouts. They have a lot of healthy food. I also shop at a few other stores depending on sales and what I need. When we are near the gym, we go to Aldi's

4. What kind of house do you live in or is it an apartment. Describe it. What changes would you make to it if you could?
After we retired we sold our larger 2 story home and moved to a single store 4 bedroom, 2 bath home, 1000 square feet smaller. It was an adjustment for sure, but we had to make sure we would be comfortable as we got older. We are closer to the places we need to get to. This house does have 4 bedrooms so there is plenty of room for the grandkids. Our old house had a formal living room, dining room , family room and breakfast nook off the kitchen. This house has a family room and the kitchen is combined with the eating area. But over all, we are comfortable and it takes less time for cleaning. When we bought this house, we added a fireplace mantle. We have painted most of the rooms and fixed up the front and back yard. We bought a large spa that the kids love and also great for achy muscles. In the future I want to paint the kitchen cabinets white. Hubby wants to get the exterior house painted.