2023 SYW – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

2023 SYW: Special Share your World — Christmas Edition

1. What will you be eating today?

What did I eat for Christmas dinner? I’m going to answer this in two parts. Part One, entails what we ate for Supper on Christmas Eve; that included Baked Chicken with Knorr Chicken flavored Rice with Pillsbury Biscuits. We have all been sick with a bacterial respiratory infection so, needless to say, I did not feel up to cooking a major dinner. My daughter did have her daughter with her for a few hours, but she could not stay long enough to eat with us.

Next is Part Two, I was feeling a little better but still under the weather. I managed to fix our supper mid-day (and yes, I do 99% of the overall cooking fir the household.) I fixed homemade ground turkey enchiladas with black olives and diced chili peppers. My grandson (at this time) will not eat anything that has a slight kick to it (even making it super mild is too much for him). Therefore, I cooked him some veggie chicken dinosaurs.

2. What was your favourite gift?

I do not have a favorite gift from this year. For several years now, I have only received a Christmas gift if I bought something and gave it to myself. My most favorite gift I have ever given myself is my Canon EOS Rebel T3I camera.

3. What is the worst bit, if any, about celebrating (Christmas or otherwise)?

The worst bit of any celebration is having family that chooses not to celebrate with you. It is also feeling alone whether or not you are physically alone. I have not been surrounded by much of my family for any special occasion (except my daughter) in an extremely long time. It is also a time when I reflect on past times with my dad and wish he could have lived longer.

4. Do your pets get to join in with the fun?

Growing up my mom always got our dog a Christmas gift and placed it under the tree. As an adult most of the places I have lived have not allowed pets, so it was no issue as to whether or not to buy a gift for a pet.

Gratitude:

I am grateful for the opportunity to write whatever I want, upload photos I’ve taken, and participate in blog post challenges here on WordPress. I am grateful for all of you who follow, like, and or comment on my posts. I am grateful for the friendships I have made over the years. I am grateful for my family and the times we do share.

Share Your World – Christmas Special Edition

God Bless. Thank you for sharing in my world. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2023 SYW: Week of December 18

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Do you enjoy or get frustrated with the run up to the festive holidays?

The older I get the holiday festivities are not important. I do not do a lot of extensive shopping or engage in any festivities anymore. My family no longer congregates together for holidays. I wish it was different, but it’s not, so no point in getting frustrated over it.

2. Do you like family gatherings on a regular basis?

When I was growing up family gatherings happened often with extended family, however, that seemed to end after my maternal grandfather passed. Nowadays, each part of the family unit tends to do their own thing and are not interested in gathering for large family get togethers. I miss them, but I don’t stress over them.

3. What is your favourite family memory?

I’m not sure I have a favorite family memory. I treasure the memories I spent with my dad, sharing a common interest in stamp collecting and photography. We took a class through adult education on the local high school in photography where we learned how to develop 35mm film. The time we spent together was what was memorable.

4. Do you prefer to be a host or visitor for a special occasions?

I would have to select visitor. I have never had a suitable place to host a special occasion.

Gratitude :

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYW: Week of 11.27

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Do you watch and enjoy reality TV shows?

No, I do not watch or enjoy reality TV shows. Years ago, I would watch American Idol, but lost interest over the years.

2. If you had the power, where would you send anyone you didn’t like?

Timbuktu. A place often referred to in the heat of the moment when one wants to be far away from someone regardless of whether there is a dislike of the person or just infuriated with them currently. Most times I would not want to send someone away permanently, maybe I might distance myself for a time, but would be better to just show kindness and ask the Lord to help you to understand and show love towards others.

3. Do you enjoy your own company and what do you do with your ‘Me Time’?

I do enjoy my own company and I think I always have. When I have “me time,” which is rare lately, I read and work on blog posts. I used to go on walks or hikes by myself, however, that is currently impossible as am the primary caretaker of my grandson. The only “me time” I get is when I can finally get him to sleep for the night which means I am awake very late into the early morning doing what I love to do, read and write.

4. If you wanted to change anything about your partner/pet/family what would it be?

If I could change anything about my family, I would change some of their habits like vaping, but I know I cannot do that, that can of habitual behavior change had to come from within themselves. I would instead change, if it were possible, our current living environment. I would live in a completely different and separate dwelling and possibly different environment than now. I would prefer, not financially possible currently, to live in a camper van and travel continuously across America visiting relatives and seeing parts of this vast great country I have never seen before.

Gratitude:

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time in a portion of my world and for sharing your thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2023 SYW: Week of 11.13

Here are this week’s questions:

1. If you can, how often do you exercise every week?

When I am able I exercise in the form of walking and/or hiking two to three days per week. I would hike out in nature more when the weather is warmer if I had my own transportation.

2. Do you belong, or have you ever belonged, to a gym?

I belong to the Gastonia County Warlick Family YMCA. With my Medicare advantage plan the membership for myself is included. It is not free for my grandson, however, so we mostly hike on the YMCA hiking trails whenever we go. He is also allowed to play in the outdoor playground if YKids (Paid membership after school program) are not using the facilities at the time.

3. Do you prefer to exercise alone or in a group (ie. aerobics)

Since 2020’s pandemic and the ongoing global occurrences of COVID, I only rarely hike (exercise) in a group. The majority of the time I am not alone during my hiking adventures as my grandson is always with me whenever I go hiking out in nature.

4. Do you enjoy it or feel it’s something you ought to do?

If I were to do regular work-out exercises I would feel it to be a chore and not something enjoyable to do. When we hike, wherever we hike, it is always a joyful experience.

Gratitude:

Gratitude empowers us. It makes joy and love possible. It rearranges the way we see and experience what is all around us.
Gratitude makes all things new. It transforms how we understand what is broken and gives us the ability to act more joyfully and with hope.
— Diana Butler Bass,
Grateful: The Transformative Power
of Giving Thanks

Share Your World-Week of November 13

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYW: Week of October 30th

Here are this week’s questions (which are nothing to do with Halloween):

Do you have carpets, rugs, laminating flooring, tiles, or wooden floors (or something else) in your property? Considering the property I live in is a rental townhome, the main areas are all carpeted, the kitchen & bathrooms have laminate flooring. If I had my preference, the entire home would have wood flooring with absolutely no carpeted whatsoever.
Do you have a bathtub and separate shower, or a combination of the two? The master bathroom has a shower only, the other main bathroom has a combination of bathtub and shower. We installed our own shower-heads as we prefer to have adjustable settings to use at our convenience. There is also a downstairs bathroom without a bathtub or shower facilities.
What is your favourite room of the house, and why? I am inclined to say that my favourite room in the house is my bedroom even the the majority of my time is spent in the living downstairs taking care of my grandson. The reason my bedroom is my favorite room is because it is the place of peace and tranquility for me. It is a place where I can relax, think, read and write without distractions or interruptions.
How many televisions do you have? There are three televisions in our home. One in the living room, one in the master bedroom, and one in my room. Although I rarely watch television in my room. I prefer to read or write my thoughts down sometimes on paper and other times through my blogging. I like to upload my photography and share them with y’all.

Gratitude

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2023 SYW: Week of October 23

Here are this week’s questions about shopping habits:

1. When food shopping, do you prefer to shop online or in person?

Since 2020 I do most of my shopping online and have my items delivered including groceries. I rarely into any kind of store anymore and when I do it’s because I need something sooner than I could possibly have it delivered.

2. Do you take/stick to a shopping list?

Considering I do the majority of my shopping on line, I go through the pantry and refrigerator/freezer and order those items I truly need and not want I might desire.

3. Do you shop around or are you store loyal for convenience?

I order mostly from my local Harris Teeter (Grocery Store) and from Walmart. I shop what is on sale at Harris Teeter and other items, which may be cheaper, I order from Walmart. There are a few cleaning supplies I order online from Home Depot and have the delivered the same day.

4. Roughly how long does it take you to do a weekly shop?

When ordering online, it takes me less than an hour. However, if you count when I periodically add items to my shopping cart before ordering it could vary dramatically.

Gratitude:

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
~ John F. Kennedy

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts and allowing me to share a piece of my world with y’all. I appreciate y’all very much.

2023 SYW: Week of October 9

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Do you prefer a duvet, quilt or sheets and blankets on your bed?

I prefer to use sheets, blankets, and Quilts on my bed. The Quilts I use were lovingly sewn and stitched together by the skilled and talented hands of my beloved maternal grandmother.

2. Do you sleep with one or two pillows?

The only time I ever used only one or two pillows was as a child in my parents home. Now I use at least four pillows on my bed. I currently have six pillows on my bed.

3. Do you prefer a single, double, or kingsize bed?

I have never had a king size bed, not even when my spouse & I shared a bed. I have slept in a twin as an adult ( my husband was an over-the-road truck driver and hardly ever home). So upon moving, I slept in a twin and saved money for a larger bed. I have also had full-size (double) beds and queen size beds. The Queen size was nice, but since it is only me now, a queen would be more room than I really need. Therefore, I currently sleep in a full-size bed with my six pillows, top & bottom sheets, four blankets and one quilt covering me each and every night.

4. In the winter, do you have a hot water bottle or an electric blanket?

Many a winter I have used an electric blanket to keep me warm at night. Even while living in campgrounds for six months out of a year, I had an electric blanket over me while I slept on an air mattress in a tent through 30° winter weather. I mostly used it to keep my feet warm throughout the cold winter nights.

5. Fun question: have you ever slept in a hammock?

I have never slept in a hammock. Slept on the ground or on an air mattress in a sleeping bag, but never in a hammock.

Gratitude:

Share Your World-Week of October 9

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYW: Week of September 11

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Do you like change?

No, I do not care for change. Change of seasons is expected, however, I would prefer to have spring or fall weather year-round. But then I would need to move to even come close to that happening. As far as other types of changes I would prefer not to have change, but if change was necessary then I would plan ahead and prepare myself accordingly for the upcoming change.

2. Can you remember the last time you had to use an operator service?

No, I cannot remember the last time I had to use an operator service. Now if you are referring to an automated customer service, then that is a different story. I hate automated customer service lines when you do not get the opportunity to speak with an actual person or have to go through a tremendous number of loops before the automation will transfer you to a live person. In that case, it would have been last month.

3. What is the best and worst ‘hold’ music you have had to listen to?

I would not know what the best or worst ‘hold’ music I had to listen to would have been. I tend to not listen to any ‘hold’ music.

4. Do you find numerous ‘options’ annoying when connected to an automated service?

Definitely. As stated previously, I abhor automated service regardless of whether it is automated customer service or any other kind. I would prefer to speak with a person whenever I had a problem or circumstance which needed attention immediately in order to be resolved.

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYD: 15 September

On My Laptop:

On My Phone:

Share Your Desktop – September

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYW: Week of 6 September

Here are this week’s questions:

How do you get on with your in-laws/partner’s family? Unfortunately, they are no longer around, and neither is my spouse. when were we first married, we got along well with one another but after we moved to a different state we drifted apart.
What is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you? I am not sure what the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. While I was working, I was always told I was dependable. Since I’ve been retired no one says much at all except for What’s for supper? Even so, I think the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me was “I love you!”
What was your favourite ride/stall at a fun fair? It has been an extremely long time since I attended a fun fair. In fact, I do not think I have visited one since I was in my late teens. In the 1960’s my dad entered his model cars for display. He had some first-place ribbons for his model car displays. I do not ever remember going on any of the rides, only going through the exhibition halls looking over all the many various exhibits.
Would you like to be a child growing up in today’s world? No, I would not like to be a child growing up in today’s world. Growing up without technology, being free to roam the neighborhoods without fear of violence was a wonderful time period in my life. It was a life of enjoying the outdoors and not glued to a phone, a computer, or anything. Loved riding my bike of handmade skateboard outside (No helmet necessary back then).

Gratitude:

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYW: Week of August 28

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Do you have a favourite time of year?

My favorite time of year is Springtime. I love to watch everything come back to life; the flowers beginning to bloom, the leaves 🍃 appearing all green and glowing, the birds returning singing their beautiful songs, the bees 🐝 feasting on flowers everywhere (except I don’t like them on me, I’m allergic to them). Autumn isn’t bad with all the fall colors as the leaves are turning red, orange and yellow. The fall colors make for beautiful landscape begging to be photographed.

2. What is your happiest memory?

I have many happy memories; not sure which memory I would select to be my happiest memory. I have happy memories of family vacations, visiting my dad’s family in the Carolinas (We lived in San Diego and would travel by car every three to five years to visit them.) Fun times at church summer camps; spending time at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park (It is now called San Diego Zoo Safari Park). Giving birth to my children; the list could go on and on. How can I choose just one to be my happiest memory? I am sorry, I just cannot.

3. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

If I could change something about myself; what’s the point I know I could never change anything about myself. Not really, only the Lord Jesus Christ can change me from within. He has the power to make be a more compassionate, understanding, and loving person from within allowing His spirit to shine through me.

4. Are you a tidy person (ie. everything in its place), or do you prefer a bit of clutter?

I would not consider myself to prefer clutter, but then again everything isn’t spotless and super neat. I know where everything is, and everything is in its rightful place (at least according to me).

Gratitude:

This week let’s focus on the kindness skill of gratitude. I am grateful to be able to share kindness with you. I am grateful.
Claudia Hall Christian; Everyday Kindness

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYW: Week of August 21

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Have you ever been fishing? (not just for the guys as I have!)

I have been fishing. Not very often and hardly ever hit more than a few.

2. Do you prefer to watch football, rugby, tennis or hockey on TV?

None of the above. I typically do not watch any kind of sports on TV.

3. Have you ever ice skated?

I have ice skated in my youth, however, I was never very good at it.

4. Did you enjoy sports at school?

I enjoyed watching my high school football team play. Go Cardinals! I also loved to play Tennis 🎾.

Gratitude: Nature’s Beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude.

Share Your World

2023 SYW: Week of August 14

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Do you use a feather duster for cleaning?

I think I have a swifter feather duster somewhere, but with the last move in February I’m not sure where it is. Therefore, I just use a soft cloth for now.

2. Do you use a washing liquid, ‘ball’ thingie or washing powder?

I use a powder laundry detergent. In my opinion, it works better and lasts longer than liquid laundry detergent. I don’t care for laundry pods or anything similar. I have used a laundry bar soap previously especially for hand washing.

3. Do you own anything that has to be hand washed?

I currently do not own anything that requires hand washing. When my children were little and in diapers I would hand wash the cloth diapers I used and hang them out to dry on a clothesline.

4. Do you use, or have you ever used, a laundry service?

I currently do not use a laundry, however, I have taken clothes to a dry cleaners previously. When my daughter was in high school I took her ROTC uniform to the dry cleaners & also her prom/ROTC Ball gowns to be cleaned.

Gratitude:

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” –
~ Henry Ward Beecher

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts and for visiting my world 🌎. I appreciate y’all.

2023 SYW: Week of July 31

Here are this week’s questions:

1. Expensive or sentimental, what is priceless to you? For me, what is priceless is the memories made with family and friends. Memories of trips we’ve taken, activities we shared, and the love we had/have for each other.

Now if you’re interested in objects, it is not the expensive but rather the sentimental value of an object that makes it priceless to me. For example, I have a shelf unit that, for me, it irreplaceable. Why is it irreplaceable? It is because of the sentimental value attached to it. Why is it sentimental? It is sentimental since my dad made it for me, out of love, with his own two hands.

2. What do you consider to be ‘a quiet night in’? A “quiet night in” would, for me, require complete quiet. A quiet evening for me to read, blog, or just chill. Most often I alternate between reading and blogging and completing my thoughts so I am better able to communicate what’s on my mind and heart.

3. Do you believe in Soul Mates? I’m sure many people believe in soul mates, however, if they exist I do not think I’ve ever truly found mine. I had someone whom I thought was a life partner but it didn’t turn out to be a reality for me.

4. Can you dance? (for example: old time, disco, jive) Dancing is something I have not done too much of and not at all such my husband and I split years ago. I grew up in a church that did not approve of dancing, thinking it inappropriate behavior. After I moved out of the family home in my early twenties, I did go to places where dancing took place a few times. The type of dancing I used to do was the country two-step. I can still remember dancing with my husband and how it made me feel.

Gratitude:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
~ John F. Kennedy

Share Your World

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts and for visiting my world 🌎. I appreciate y’all.

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