Thawing Out

 

Pelicans in one of our golf course community lakes

January is gone. Finally. For the most part (in my world, anyway) it was a very long month with a lot of unusually cold weather. As a result, we didn't ride our bikes nearly as much and we did a lot of quiet reading of our library books on the lanai with the space heater nearby. 

We turned the calendar page on the pantry door to February and then had to face this guy.....

from Facebook

I think nearly everybody in the continental USA groaned in unison upon hearing his prediction. But then this gal added her two-cents' worth, and maybe some of us began to feel a little better.

from Facebook

But with all of that said, our recent days became warmer. It was time for my feet to consider wearing sandals again (i.e. time for a pedicure).

choosing a nail polish

I chose 075 Tiramisu Slice, which is a definite change from the many shades of pink I usually select. I pay extra for gel nail polish because it's just so pretty, and more durable. At my age there is no need to spend much $$ for myself. When we are careful as to where we "throw our money," we can afford to spend a little more on the niceties. 😉

pedi in progress
(TMI?)

When I got home and showed Gary my toes, he exclaimed, "Brown?! Why did you get brown? What happened to pink?!!"

This polish is more of a dark purple ....  I suppose one could say it looks like chocolate but I like it. Anyway....

Opening ceremony of the Olympics

Of course the next big thing in the first week of February was the start of the Olympics. I need to backtrack for a moment here. In my last post I gave a rather low rating when asked for my attention to the Olympics. I have since realized my real opinion is that I enjoy the winter games more than the summer version. Part of the reasoning for that is the participants wear more clothing for winter sports (yeah, I'm kind of a prude when it comes to modesty, but I don't apologize for that). 

opening ceremony

The Italians really do have a strong bent for art, don't they? (what an understatement that is!!) I was entranced with those huge tubes suspended above the center stage, especially when the "paint" began to flow out of them. How clever was that?!!

On Saturday the weather was warming up enough that I convinced Gary to take me outside -- the Olympics will be on TV for the next [however many] number of days. After so much cold weather and cloudiness (with next-to-no rain!!), I wanted to be out in the sunshine. 

We drove to a county north of here to walk through another car show. Yes, we do that a lot, but most of these shows are free, the atmosphere is casual, and there is usually 50s and 60s rock'n roll music blaring out of speakers and a lot of people from our generation. It's a pleasant and convenient pastime.

purple flower in a succulent

I had been to that general area before, although Gary had not. I kinda like it, so after the car show, I wanted to share the town with him. 

When we reached the antique district, Gary was not impressed. It was too rustic for him. Not everybody defines "charm" in the same way..... 🙄 😉 Fortunately for me, one of Gary's mantras is, "If Mama ain't happy, nobody's happy!" 

one of two outdoor dining venues

I was successful in getting him to park the car so we could find some ice cream before heading for home. (One of my mantras is, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach!") 

The ice cream (we both got Coffee flavor) was over-priced (but what isn't these days??). We were able to enjoy it in 70-degree sunshine in the dappled shade of huge, moss-laden oak trees. So for me, all that was a definite win and Gary cooperated nicely.

historical marker

Near our truck was a historical marker that we both found interesting. Then we avoided the interstate to make our way west and then south....

CR234 in Alachua County

"Country roads

take me home

To the place I belong...."

(John Denver)

the Super Bowl

On Sunday morning we did our usual church routine (the sermon was on bitterness and forgiveness). Gary served his usual offering of hot chocolate with a gigantic marshmallow floating on top. That afternoon Gary's son, who lives in Minneso-cold, called to catch us up on family doin's up there. Then of course, we watched the Super Bowl. We cheered for the Sea Hawks since we both hail from western states-- and as we all now know, that turned out to be a winning choice!

Turning Point USA half-time show

We have known all along that Bad Bunny would NOT be our half time entertainment. 

About 20 minutes of the alternative half time show produced by Turning Point USA held our attention. It was well-done with lighting and sound effects, and so forth, but clearly Gary and I are past knowing the music we saw and it just wasn't "us," so we watched America's Funniest Home Videos and then switched back to the football game in plenty of time to enjoy the last quarter (and more). 

(I'm sorry if our choice disappoints some of my readers, but it was more of a generation-gap type of thing.)

While reporting on the events and highlights of this first week in February, there has also been unpleasant news, including the apparent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, and Lindsey Vonn's skiing accident at the Olympics. But keeping true to my personal blogging standards, I will not say much about those things. 

I like the clever way my friend Nancy W. of Jacksonville recently described her social media posts, "I prefer to keep my Facebook wall free of politics and hardships ... posting just rainbows and unicorns." 

Admittedly, I get more serious than that with my frequent inclusion of scripture; but in our culture, people have to be wary and so wise when spouting off their opinions lest they somehow have to pay for them in some very ugly ways. It's just the world we live in right now now. We must be praying about current events and choose our words to the public with genuine prudence.

from Marcus Stanley on Facebook

I close today's post with this observation from the great theologian, Charlie Brown: 

from Facebook

Until next time, grace and peace. 

Barbara

P.S. Visit the blog, The Christian Lounge, where a devotional thought by yours truly is currently featured at this link:

http://thechristianlounge4u.blogspot.com/2026/02/continue-to-expect.html

The Features of February

Internet photo

I say nothing you don't already know (if you're in the USA) when reporting it's been colder (and more dangerous) than usual this winter. Here in Florida has been no exception with uncommon weather for our sub-tropical climate. There have been predictions of snow flurries even as far south as Disney World and the several other theme parks, although brief and barely visible.

We have covered a lot of our bushes with a breathable fabric secured with clothes pins to the lower branches and just to be extra cautious, covered pipes in the garage with towels. Just before dawn on Sunday morning we lost power for exactly 2 hours due to the surge of people waking up and jacking up their electricity to stay warm. 

Although we both have lived in Florida for more than several years, we are seasoned when it comes to dealing with ice, snow, and power outages. We don't miss any of that but our bodies have acclimated and thus we join in whining with the natives that it's COLD!

❄️   ❄️   ❄️   ❄️   ❄️

This week's Hodgepodge questions focus on February themes. To link up with your blog, click here.

 1. The Winter Olympics kick off on Friday, February 6th...on a scale of 1-10 how excited are you? (1= eh and 10=watching every event all day every day). What's your favorite Winter Olympic sporting event? 

My interest in the Olympics is a 2 (maybe a 3). The winter version holds my attention more than the summer events. (Ice skating, especially pairs, in the winter and gymnastics in the summer) The bobsled competitions are interesting.

getty images
from the Internet

And the skiing from high mountain slopes is good, too.

I am mildly interested in the opening ceremony, although the last Olympics that included the irreverent portrayal of the Last Supper was an obscenity. 

Internet photos

The 2012 Olympics opening ceremony in London where Agent 007 met up with Queen Elizabeth -- that was clever and certainly entertaining.

Mostly we are bummed that some of our favorite TV shows will have to move over for Olympic coverage.

2. In other sporting news, the Superbowl (American football's championship game) will be played on Sunday, February 8th. So tell us...what's your superpower?

First of all, I'm sorry my Denver Broncos did not win the AFC playoff game against the Patriots.

my new hearing aids in their 
charging station

As for my superpower: I'm a pretty good listener. With age and hurtful experiences, I've come to appreciate the value of keeping my mouth shut more so I can focus on what others are saying. People want/need/crave to be heard. People need to know they are being heard, which validates them, gives them needed respect, and in turn, encourages them. 

Sadly, there is not enough listening in most conversations. Too many are so busy trying to be heard that they forget to listen.

3. Are you a romantic? 

❤️ Us ❤️

Yes. (how can I not with the wonderful man to whom I'm married?!!!)

4. Blue cheese-yay or nay? How about feta? If you said yes to one or both, what's a dish you like that calls for one of these? 

Feta is my preference over Blue cheese. (as former Cheers actor, Ted Danson, would say in his cell phone commercials, Blue cheese "is an acquired taste.") 🤮 

I like Feta cheese in a salad of mixed greens with dried cranberries, pecans or walnuts, and a sweet-sour vinaigrette dressing.

5. What's more important-doing what you love or loving what you do? 

Mary Englebreit

Being more practical than a 'heart on my sleeve' type of personality, I think it's more important to love what you need to do. 

If we all did nothing but what we love, the practicalities of life would be neglected and all of us would suffer. If we focus on appreciating the necessary activities and giving them our best efforts, we can eventually genuinely enjoy them and "love" the satisfaction of a job well-done.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

An instructive scripture verse that can be applied to sports, competition, and our work ethic:

Therefore, since we are surrounded 

by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders 

and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance

the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Until next time, grace and peace.

Barbara

P.S. Join me in reading the articles at The Christian Lounge. This is a non-denominational Christian website where we learn about each other in our faith with written articles, art, and music (no politics). 

If you have an article to submit, visit the website for instructions. 

https://thechristianlounge4u.blogspot.com/

Cabbage, Cars and Climate

from a recent car show

 Harsh weather has dominated nearly everybody's mind of late. At a recent car show I captured this fun decoration celebrating our climate. But even the Sunshine State has not been exempt from winter's blast. 

I'll take you to that car show, but first, here are some thoughts regarding this time of year, as I respond to Joyce's writing prompts from The Hodgepodge. If you want to link up, click here.

1. (Joyce speaking) I live in the south so we're pretty much only talking about the weather right now. Give us a weather report from where you live. Does the kind of weather you're having today affect your mood in some way? 

Here in North Central Florida (that means we're north of the Mouse and south of the University of Florida Gators), today we have sunshine and clouds, heading for a high in the mid-50s with frigid cold nearly every night, expecting to shiver into next week, 

How does this weather affect me? I'm thankful for the many years I lived in beautiful snow country and also thankful that part of my life appears to be over. I like an occasional cloudy day, but my years of living with a lot of overcast days and rain in the Pacific Northwest taught me I'm one of those personalities who needs sunshine to keep my mood happy and positive. 

Seattle's Space Needle with 
Mount Rainier to the South
(Internet photo -- on a sunny day)

2.  Avocados, kale, cauliflower and cottage cheese have all had their time to shine. 2026 brings us the year of the cabbage. Is this a vegetable you like? If so, what are some of your favorite dishes that call for cabbage?  

I enjoy all of these foods, probably cabbage the most in the form of cole slaw. A ground beef, tomato-rich, stuffed cabbage roll is good, too. 

3. Was a Cabbage Patch Doll a part of your childhood? Or maybe your children's childhood? What's a toy trend from your childhood you remember wanting for your own? 

Cabbage Patch dolls came in vogue when my 3 children were in elementary school. We couldn't afford to buy the dolls at that time, so I made them with purchased patterns for both the doll body and the clothes. I bought the plastic Cabbage Patch doll heads and hands at the craft store. 

Internet photo

My mother, Sister, and I have always enjoyed dolls. Those of my readers who have followed me since I first began blogging will remember my posts from 2009 - 2020 included the imaginative adventures of my doll "staff" who assisted me at my imaginary bed and breakfast in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Grammy's Place B&B. My staff took care of the upkeep of the B&B while I sequestered myself to write the Great American Novel.

my "Staff," pictured from top row, left to right:
Lily (my research assistant), Mandy Sue (my Gal Friday and troublemaker),
(middle row) Mary Engelbreit doll, Mrs Berniece Mertz (our cook)
(front row) Rowdy (the neighbor kid) and Spud (the handyman)
There were several others in the story line as well but this photo will suffice.

The whimsical antics of my fictitious friends ended in 2020. While that had been a very fun part of my life, the time came to move on to responsibilities that allowed no time for such time-consuming devotion to whimsey. My "staff" has been replaced by Gary, who makes me laugh every day.

Us, from Personalization Mall (click)
(a great Valentine gift!)

4. Something you've spent a lot of time doing lately? 

Not much out of the ordinary for us. We take a lot of comfort in our routines and maintaining good habits. 

There is always something

for which to be thankful.

5. Somehow it's the last week of January...sum up your month in just three sentences. 

1) Unusual and prolonged cold temperatures have required the covering of outdoor vulnerable plants.

2) I got new hearing aids. (yay!)

3) Inspirational reading (books and websites) and cooking comfort foods have been satisfying.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Regarding the car show in Williston that I promised earlier, Gary is interested primarily in the vehicles. I enjoy these shows as something pleasant to do with my fella and to gather blog fodder. This time my phone camera captured cars, license plates, slogans, and people.

1950 Ford coupe

Chevy truck

Gary inspects a Pontiac GTO

Volkswagen bus

taxi cab

me beside a Chevy El Camino.
*T-birds are my fav but too many people standing by the one T-bird
at this show were not going to make for a good snapshot.

These are the trophies for the winners of the different categories of the show: (we did not watch the awards)

Here is one more thought regarding the extreme weather:

Until next time, grace and peace.

Barbara

P.S. Join me in reading the articles at The Christian Lounge: https://thechristianlounge4u.blogspot.com/2026/01/wonderful-counsellor.html This is a non-denominational Christian website where we learn about each other in our faith with written articles, art, and music (no politics). 

If you have an article to submit, visit the website for instructions.