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

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