A Flying Medley

Another Wednesday has arrived! The teachers have been back at school since last Wednesday but it's the first day of school here for the students so I want to give a first day shout out to my TeacherDaughter, all my teacher friends, and all those sweet kiddos and their parents to have a most wonderful school year!

Ok, we're back on Wednesday with the Medley! It's all about WIND today so get your aviator hats on. Join us to find out how many meddlers fly the friendly skies.  

1.  Tell us about the first airplane ride you took and do you like to fly? The first time was either to Baltimore with my dad's mother to visit her sister or to Nevada with my mother's mother to drive back to SC across the country with my Aunt Betty. I didn't mind flying then and the other 3 times I've flown but I mind it now. Those planes are tight on space and I am claustrophobic and tall so... Lula Mae and Opie have probably flown more in their short time than I have in my long time on the planet. Here's Lula Mae and Auntie TeacherDaughter on the way to Nashville in May. 

2.  Have you ever gone hang gliding and was it on the beach with boat power, or from a mountain with only the wind and your body? Hang gliding, no. But I have been up in a glider plane and that was amazing! 

3.  Have you ever gone kite flying and with whom? We used to fly kites at the beach when the girls were growing up. 

4.  Experimental aircraft is quite popular as a hobby where Terri lives.  Have you or anyone you know ever constructed a flying machine and did you ride in it? I don't know anyone who has constructed a flying machine and I don't know anyone who might construct one that I'd be willing to ride in. LOL

5.  Another big hobby around Lakeland is Radio Controlled Airplanes.  Have you ever seen them flying or tried your hand at it? I have seen them but I've never had any interest in trying it out. 

6.  Please tell us something about your week. I don't want to go off on a lecture here but I do want to say be careful when judging others. We never know what other people are going through in their lives and judging them is not helpful. What is helpful is a bit of understanding and compassion. Otherwise, just keep the mouth shut. 

In other news...LOL There's not a whole going on around here which is great for the creative process as I have moved into creating all things autumnal while pretending the temperatures aren't ridiculously oppressive. I am ready for fall, Y'all! 

At least football is back! Even if it is preseason.  

Have a wonderful rest of the week, y'all! 

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING EVERY DAY!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!

Blowing Up the Medley

We're back on Wednesday with the Medley! It's all about V-J Day today so get your history hats on. Join us to find out how many meddlers remember the stories their history books told them. 

1.  I'm sure many kids today have no idea what V-J Day is all about. If they go to school they do. Unless they forgot. Did you have a loved one who fought in WWII? Not a loved one but a couple relatives I never knew because they died during that one and I wasn't born until a loooong time after. 

2.  The iconic sculpture from the famous photograph of  "The Unconditional Surrender" has been defaced recently because of the #metoo movement. I know we can get very political about this subject, but just keeping it in the spirit for which it was created, what are your thoughts? IDK...free love in 1945? Surely if she had objections she would have fought him off? I think it was more of being caught up in the excitement of the moment as opposed to an attack. I will say he should be very glad I wasn't the one he grabbed regardless of the reason. 

3.  Terri's grandson, Tristan, loved playing a game called "Axis & Allies".  It was quite complicated, took up the entire dining room table, and was not something Terri wanted to play (Grandpa understood it and played though).  Can you name three Axis countries and five of the many Allies (okay to look it up!)? Axis: Germany, Japan, Italy. Allies: US, Great Britain, Soviet Union, and China were the main players. I think. I was a history major as an undergraduate until I had Dr. Webb. That switch to a double major in psychology and sociology happened speedy quick. LOL

4.  Terri was surprised to learn that most historians agree that WWII began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Others say it started when Japan invaded Manchuria on September 18, 1931. And some scholars suggest WWII is actually a continuation of WWI, with a break in between.  Have you ever visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii or any other WWII memorials around the world? Nope. War memorials are not my thing. 

5.  Calvin Graham was only 12 years old during WWII when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart before the Navy found out how old he was.  (God bless him.) Terri doesn't know any 12-year olds today who could qualify or get away with something like that.  Times are so very different now but (in the US) we do have ROTC in high schools.  Do you know anyone who started in ROTC and went on to enlist in one of the services? I don't. 

6.  Please tell us something about your week so far. It's the week before school starts for students so Lula Mae's school is closed until Monday which means I'm enjoying some granddaughter time. We took her to Opie's on Monday for some cousin time. 

While we were watching the birds having breakfast on the deck this morning, Lula Mae noticed my very first wildflower bloom! "It's PINK Amma!"  Yes, it is sweet love! We were so excited. Some of you know I've been waiting all summer for these things to bloom and was just about to give up hope when this happened. We are so excited about watching for others to bloom, now.

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING EVERY DAY!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!

Lighting the Medley

We're back on Wednesday with the Medley! It's all about lighthouses today. Have you ever been to one? Join us to find out how many meddlers have and what they think about lighthouses! 

1.  Let's start with a number! How many lighthouses have you visited? Only 2 or 3. There is one only 3.5 miles from my house. This one--

This is the Sullivan's Island lighthouse at Fort Moultrie.
Not a pretty lighthouse at all. 

This one is much better. It's the Morris Island lighthouse and I've been out there by boat once but you're not allowed inside. 

2.  Have you been inside a lighthouse and did you walk to the top? Yes and yes. Is it even possible to visit a lighthouse and not climb to the top? Provided they allow you to climb up there, of course. 

3.  Do you seek them out when you are traveling the coastlines or are you not that big a fan? I do not. I mean, I live at the coast so I don't travel to other coasts so... Mother LOVED lighthouses and she did travel and visit them when she was on any coast but she didn't live at the coast. I can't imagine wanting to visit another coast with the possible exception of Maine because I'm not as fond of the coast as I am the mountains. Plus, the coast is was too touristy for my taste. 

4.  Do you have a favorite scripture or another reference to share with us concerning a guiding light in your life? I do not but Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is a popular song around here lately. 

5.  If you don't collect lighthouses when you travel, is there something tangible that you tend to collect as a souvenir when you are on vacation or a road trip? When anyone in the family travels (and my close friends) they bring me back a Christmas ornament. My 4' tree is now too little to hold them I have so many! This year, I get a new tree on which to hang the treasures. I have them from all over the US, South America, Europe, some islands in the Atlantic...I LOVE my travel ornaments! AND there's even a lighthouse amongst them. 

6.  Please share something with us about your week. I started Whole30 with the Hollars (if you have time, check them out on IG- @hollarhomestead who are the son, DIL, and grandsons of @bkwrmmom) and while slicing sweet potatoes yesterday I also sliced my finger and it HURT. I'm not sure Whole30 is worth this.

I did get time with these two over the weekend, though.

They are both the very best at being goobers. LOL

Have a great rest of the week, y'all!

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!

Parks and Wednesday Medley

Welcome to another Wednesday and the Medley where we meddlers come to partake in a weekly meeting of the minds in the sharing of our week. Please feel free to join in! Just click the Medley picture below, answer the questions on your blog, and link up on Terri's blog! 

1.  Is there a National Park near where you live?  Well, we have the Francis Marion National Forest and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie are considered national parks and there are rangers who work at both forts. We have Congaree National Park in Hopkins, SC but I've never been because I didn't know about it and I have no idea where Hopkins, SC is... LOL. We also have national historic sites but as far as something stunning/gorgeous/beautiful such as Yosemite? No. 

2.  How many National Parks and which ones have you visited? Only four that I recall-  Sequoia, Grand Canyon, the Everglades, and the Great Smokey Mountains. Is there one you would really like to visit? I wouldn't say no to visiting any located in Montana, Wyoming, Maine...such beauty. I have a friend who is leaving next month for a six-week camping trip where she and her hubby will be visiting and camping in all National Parks along their way. I'm so excited for this trip and cannot wait to hear all about it in October!  

3.  The Park Rangers are protectors of the environment, of the wildlife, and visitors in the parks.  Is there someone (human) in your life who you count on as a protector or are you someone's protector? I wonder if Lula Mae and Opie consider us protectors? I'm one of those who look to self for most things and protector is filed under this category. I'm pretty sure the family would come to the aid of any of us who were in real danger, though. I hope we would, anyway. I also hope we never have to find out. 

4.  Have you ever had an up-close-and-personal experience with a wild animal that you can tell us about? Other than a deer or a bear outside the mountain cabin when I was a kid, no. People around here are complaining about deer and bobcats and coyotes but if they would stop destroying all the natural habitats around here I don't think it would be an issue. Seriously, how can people complain when they have caused the problem? Idiots.  

5.  It is certainly an honor to show value to this profession by giving them a day of remembrance.  What is another profession that you like to see honored by a "day" of their own? Teachers and firefighters! 

6.  On this last day of July, please tell us something about your week so far. I had a lovely lunch out with a friend yesterday. We went to the Mill Street Tavern where the food was good and the view lovely. The best part was having time to catch up a bit with my friend. Since it was Tuesday and a bit early for the regular lunch crowd, it was practically empty which I totally loved. This place is one I would definitely visit again but more for everything other than the food. There's one other place in town I visit for everything but the food. Not that the food is bad, but everything else about them is better. Does that even make sense? Anyway, the important thing is the time spent with a friend. And there was nothing disappointing about that. Pictures? We never stopped talking long enough for that. LOL

 

Have a wonderful rest of the week, y'all!

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!

A Family Birthday on the Medley

Hello, Meddlers! Hahaha I LOVE that Terri calls us meddlers. Anyway, here we are at Wednesday, again and we have a birthday in our family! I might have mentioned it in the Medley today. Ha! 

Terri chose two subjects from this week's National Day Calendar for this week's Medley. Family is important to all of us, I believe, so let's talk about

cousins and aunts and uncles today.  If you don't happen to have

cousins, aunts or uncles, tell us about those close to you who are like family.

1.  What can you tell us about your cousins, please, or someone who is close like a cousin? I was super close to my cousins on my dad's side growing up until I wasn't but I have always been and continue to be close to my cousins on my mom's side. They are the sweetest, funniest souls and supportive to all of us.

2.  Do you still see your cousins and will you contact them on National Cousins Day? I do see them but not today. Today is TeacherDaughter's 28th birthday so we'll be celebrating that.  

That's right. The baby of the family is 28 years old today. Twenty. Eight. All of the lovelies arrived in this world early except this one. And we all believe she would have stayed right where she was until college so, we chose her due date. She came into the world naturally with a little help from that nasty Pitocin and she's been a wild woman ever since. 

Don't let that cute little smile fool you. This child can take down a full-grown man with a tongue lashing he'll never forget. She's smart and stands tall and firm in her beliefs and, while she'll defend to the death your right to your opinion, she'll take you down if you try to change her. This is one of the things I love most about her. She's got a sense of humor that is hilarious and flies way above the heads of most but she also has a dark side to that humor which is also hilarious. And that sweet smile? Yes, she is a sweetheart. And you'll never find another friend, sister, daughter, etc. who will drop everything to help you out. And she'll do it without complaining and without expectation of return. 

Yep, she's talented. She played the drums from 4th grade through college. Her 4 years of high school were the first four consecutive years our high school took state. Softball was her sport of choice though I think she was pretty disappointed she wasn't allowed to play baseball. I'm pretty sure she would have fought it had she not lost interest when she discovered the drums. 

 

She told us she was going to be a teacher when she was in kindergarten and that's exactly what she did. She's a first-grade teacher at the elementary school the lovelies attended! We are a family of female educators and this one is continuing the tradition. I've never seen anyone love teaching as much as she does or freely give so much of her time to her students. She's smart, talented, an avid reader, loyal almost to a fault, funny, innovative, loves being an auntie, and takes no crap from anyone. Happy Birthday, TeacherDaughter! You keep doing YOU! 

3.  Terri had a favorite aunt and uncle she will tell us about.  How about you? My favorite aunt is my Aunt Betty, my mother's sister. I wrote about her HERE. She's the best and just celebrated her 90th birthday in March. 

That's Aunt Betty and ArtistDaughter with Lula Mae and Opie at Christmas 2018.

4.  Did/does your family have reunions and can you tell us about them? We do have family reunions though we don't make them every year because it's usually close to the beginning of school and Opie's birthday. 

5.  If you have children, are they enjoying relationships with their cousins, aunts, uncles? The lovelies are closest to one of their cousins who is close in age to ArtistDaughter. They are as close as they can be to my brother, David's girls but they are younger (junior and freshman in college) and live 4 hours away. Otherwise, no. 

6.  Tell us something random about your week so far. We went to watch Lula Mae's soccer practice. If you follow me on IG you already know about this so just skip on down. Three-year-olds are the best when they're learning soccer. My favorite thing is when they pick up the ball and carry it right up to the net and THEN kick it in for a goal. LOL They get so excited! Kids are the best!

She looks so much like her mommy who also sported a
blonde ponytail and played soccer. 

Also, I've started Yoga again and I sure wish I had remembered how achy I am for the first few days because then I might have chosen something different. Ha!

Have a great rest of the week, y'all!

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!

A Miscellaneous Medley

Well, y'all. It's here. The oppressive heat and humidity characteristic of a low-country summer. The last month, after the oppression of May, made for outside play and exploration with Tucker and plenty of pleasurable, lengthy morning meditations. It's over. Tucker can have it. I did make it out yesterday morning and wondered whether hot meditation is as beneficial as they say hot yoga is.

On to the Medley!   

From Terri: This will be a true Medley of questions and Calendar Day celebrations!  Terri learned a little from a couple of these!!  Hope you enjoy this week's Medley!

1.  Do you enjoy fresh peaches? I do! What is your favorite way to use them in a recipe? It's a tie between peach cobbler and homemade peach ice cream. 

2.  Have you ever gone the wrong way on a one-way street? Yes, but I was not driving. What do you think about Mr. Corrigan's story? True or False? Who am I to voice an opinion on anything related to aeronautics? Or direction for that matter as I prefer land travel and I can get lost quicker than anyone else I know. Plus, instruments back then were probably less reliable and why would he lie? I think people were way more honest then.  

3.  Tell us about your life when you were 17. High school. UGH. I spent those years in a horrid town filled with horrid people. However, 17 was the year I discovered SNL and was taking a few college classes during high school from the college I attended when high school was done. Shook the dust from my shoes when I happily left that place. Enjoyed college, though! Broader minded people and all.  

4.  Do you use emojis when you text, email, or FB message? I do! Do you have a favorite? Nah, I like most of them but I do use the one that's laughing so hard it has tears. 

5.  It has been asked many times, but do you have a tattoo? I do not. Do you want to get a tattoo? I do! I want a semi-colon on my wrist but I have such an aversion to pain that I have yet to brave it. 

6.  Last, but not least, please tell us something about your week! I started watching OUTLANDER on Netflix. I'm hooked. The intensity of the violence of the era and couple with the intensity of the intrigue of what's coming next is more than I can handle at times but, hey! That's what fast-forwarding is all about. LOL I mentioned this on IG but here it is again---the actor playing the role of Black Jack Randall is doing such a fantastic job that I shall never be able to watch him play any other character, ever. Black Jack is all evil men rolled up in one man and despicable isn't strong enough to describe him. On the other hand, I will watch the actor playing Jamie Fraser do anything, play any role, whatever. He too is playing his role quite well but he's a good guy. And easy on the eyes so...

See what I mean? 

Anyway, I'm stopping the television series to read the books and then return. I usually prefer reading the book first and after this was recommended by a friend of a friend, I'm gonna do it. 

One more thing, the professional wedding pictures are FINALLY back so I'll try to get that post finished soon.


Have a wonderful rest of the week, y'all!

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!

Red, White, and Blue Medley

Is it hot in your neck of the woods? Mother Nature turned up the heat and humidity here this week which means Tucker and I are spending a great deal of time inside. We do have an outdoor event on Saturday and I hope it doesn't do me in but there is no way I'm going to miss it because somebody is turning THREE!  

Thankfully, the Medley is an indoor activity so I don't have to give it up which is great since this seems to be the only time I take the time to blog anymore. Do you ever feel as though you've said all that needs to be said? Or maybe it's just writer's block. A very long writer's block. Anyway, grateful for the Medley!  

1.  Please share a favorite July 4th memory with us. Mostly what I remember from July 4th celebrations is BBQ, watermelon, home-churned ice cream, and my grandparents. It seems we nearly always had our July 4th celebrations with my grandparents who were my favorite people in the world. Nothing too big just good food and porch sitting. I do remember fireworks displays put on by the town but I don't recall seeing them every year for some reason. 
   

2.  How do you plan to spend tomorrow? It will probably be just like any other day. Once the kiddos grew up, July 4th ceased being a day of celebration as far as cooking out or enjoying fireworks. Ok, it does have a bit to do with the fact that IT. IS. HOT. If you are working, will you celebrate later? If I get caught up in the creative process I won't be able to stop if not, I hope to at least partake of some yummy food. 

3.  Is there a favorite food always reserved for your 4th of July celebration? BBQ is still our first choice and by BBQ I mean we put BBQ sauce on chicken and ribs and grill them. Some years we just went with burgers and dogs. But we always had a cookout.

BTW, Opie's daddy says a cookout is called a BBQ. This is not true. Here in the south if you say you are having a BBQ, there better be some BBQ not burgers and dogs. He's from Colorado, bless his heart. LOL

4.  In Florida, you can buy all kinds of fireworks, including some that fly high and burst into pretty cascades.  Are fireworks legal in your state/community and does anyone you know put on a display for your neighborhood? Fireworks are legal in SC but there are a few towns that have restrictions. Our town has no restrictions and most of us hate it. Kids in the neighborhoods start just before dark and continue into the wee hours of the morning with no regard for their neighbors, the neighborhood animals, any military neighbors, families with little kids, etc. They will continue shooting them for a day or two afterward. And they NEVER clean up after themselves leaving litter in the middle of the road and in neighbors' yards. It's becoming more and more of an issue each year. There is a HUGE display from the Yorktown each year but that doesn't seem to be enough for the middle schoolers.  

5.  Do you have a favorite movie that you always watch sometime during the 4th of July? No. It's not Christmas, y'all. Unless we call it Christmas in July and then I'll be watching Christmas movies so... LOL I'm not a fan of war or war movies. I even consulted the Google about patriotic movies and saw none that I would want to see either for the first time or the second.

6.  Share something from your week, please. If I had to sum up the week so far in one word that word would be, HOT. Hot or not the end of this week holds a special day as Lula Mae turns THREE on Sunday! THREE. How did that happen?

Have a great rest of the week, y'all! 

Please remember to visit CoasterDoodles! 

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING DURING APRIL!

Y'all can find us on Facebook and 

Instagram (@coasterdoodlessc) and

Pinterest

Use THIS LINK or the code: EMPTYNEST 

for 15% off your purchase!