Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 10th, and 2013 is the year of the snake. When did you last see a snake? Are you okay around snakes or do they give you the shivers?

I do not like snakes.  The last time I saw one in person was on my back porch last June.  Our son had gone outside to scare away some birds that were making noise in the backyard.  Then all of a sudden he was running into the front door of the house, and I could not understand what he was saying.  I got "snake" out of it, and we looked at the back porch and this snake was there.  It was laying on the metal track of the sliding glass door and then started slithering down the porch steps.  It still gives me the shivers to see it. (My pictures didn't upload correctly but you get the idea of how large this snake was!) My husband went out immediately and killed it.  I was so glad because I did not want Caleb to be scared to go in the backyard so seeing it dead was important.  He had bad dreams and stuff for a long time after that.  We were going on vacation after that which turned out to be a good thing to not be at home for a while.  I was  watching every step I took for a long time too.  Apparently when he'd gone outside he'd stepped over it in the metal track and he turned around to come back in and saw it. 

 

Another snake story is that my Peepaw used to make things with rattlesnake skins.  I remember going to his house and how he'd have a pit of rattlesnakes.  He made hats, belt buckles, purses, etc. with them.  I have a coin purse that I use now that he made.     

2. The color red in Chinese culture usually means good luck. Do you believe in luck?

No

3. sledding-ice skating-building a snowman...if given a choice, which activity would you choose? Which of the three have you done most recently?

I have never been sledding and would like to try that, although I'm sure I'd squeal and be scared before I did!  The one I've done most recently is build a snowman.  That was a couple years back when we got a lot of snow. 

4. Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited as saying, "The years teach much which the days never knew." Where have you seen this quote played out in your own life?What came to mind was what I've seen as a Mom and previously as a teacher.  You don't always realize the day to day that what you are doing has an impact, but you can see it years later when you look back.
 

5. When was the last time you ate a cupcake?

Tuesday...I saw in the grocery store ad that a dozen were on sale for $5 so I called the bakery and ordered a dozen chocolate with buttercream frosting for a little mailbox treat (see #8 below).  Caleb's school has a rule that treats brought for parties must be store bought so I guess that is why I first bought them and tasted them.  They were so good so now I get them sometimes when I see them.  

6. What's something you can't say no to?

Dessert or ice cream

7. Are you a doodler?

Yes!  I always have been when I am taking notes.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We are counting down the days to Valentine's Day.  All three of us decorated mailboxes last year.  Caleb thought it was silly when we were doing it, but he ended up liking it and was excited to start again this year.  Each day February 1-14 we leave little surprises for each other in the mailboxes and raise the flag to show that there is mail.  I will have to do a post on some of the sweet and fun surprises we've had this year.  Caleb has been creative in coupons he's left for us.  :) 

Also, I am doing a book giveaway on my other blog.  It is for a children's book (for preschool age or so) called Bible Stories That End With a Hug! so click over to that blog if you would like to enter. 

Have a day of blessings!