Springing into the Hodgepodge

 

1. It's officially spring in the northern hemisphere. Does it feel like spring in your part of the world? If you're in the southern hemisphere it's officially autumn where you live. Does the weather say autumn? Which do you prefer-spring or autumn? Why? Yes! It is definitely spring in Alabama! On Monday, March 16 . . .it snowed. On Saturday, March 21 . . .it was 85 degrees! Everything is blooming. I even saw some Dogwood blossoms this morning! Pollen is everywhere. My black Lincoln Nautilus is yellow - seriously! Just this morning Mark and I were talking about spring . . . actually because it was in the low 40's this morning - fickle weather! Anyway . . .I love spring, but I have to spend most of it indoors even though I take two allergy shots per week, a Zyrtec everyday, a Singulair every day, and use a full blown saline wash twice a day. I have severe allergies. Spring and Fall are both beautiful in Alabama!

2. What's your favorite thing about spring? I love seeing all of the new growth - it is like seeing HOPE personified. The tiny leaves are on the trees and they are all shades of green and the flowers are bursting forth daily. Literally! When we drove to our daughter's home on Friday, the Wisteria was not blooming in our neighborhood. When we drove home on Saturday, it was blooming!

3. Spring into action, spring in your step, spring to life, spring to one's feet...which spring idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain. I feel like I have a little more spring in my step. Since late July 2025, I've been tracking every bite of food that has entered my mouth. I'm actually about four pounds from my goal weight. I started this journey in 2017 and did really well, but all of the sickness and deaths in our family threw me for a loop. Thank goodness, I didn't gain it all back. I just had to lose some plus a little more!

4. Which spring food from this list is your favorite? What's a dish you like that includes your favorite spring ingredient? 

asparagus, strawberries, salad greens like mesclun, artichokes, spinach, eggs, peas, spring onions - I love fresh Alabama strawberries - they taste like little sugar bombs on your tongue! I like to eat them sliced in a bowl or on top of a bowl of oatmeal or mixed with some fat free Greek yogurt. Mark's favorite recipe would be strawberry shortcake. It would need to be homemade shortcake using his momma's recipe haha!

5. What's one task on your spring cleaning list? Do you actually have a list? I always have a running list of things I need to do. I do not specifically have a spring cleaning list. I need to clean out our laundry room before Saturday night! We are getting a new dryer on Friday so maybe I can do it after they deliver!

6. Insert your own random thought here. Speaking of spring cleaning, I just cleaned my office. It took two days. My office is the repository for everyone's crap. Excuse me, I meant to say everyone's lovely things! I filled a giant trashcan yesterday. Seriously, I borrowed one from the custodial staff!! I had to wear a mask due to the dust. Our offices don't get cleaned unless we clean them. I told my co-worker that using a windex wipe on your desk should not make mud puddles haha! We have a guest pastor flying in from London on Thursday night. He will preach on Palm Sunday (in three services) and then he will preach the Holy Week noon services next week (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday). I hated for anyone to see my office so I tried to make it more presentable!