Springing Into the Hodgepodge

Welcome to the first day of Spring and the wonderful Wednesday Hodgepodge.  We had about four inches of snow on Monday that continued into Tuesday, so schools were delayed, and my Tuesday morning Bible Study had to be cancelled.  Hello Spring?

No worries though...there's lots of spring in this week's questions so add your link after you've read my answers.  Here we go~

1. March 20th is the first day of spring...is she a lion or a lamb in your part of the world?

Oh she's a lion.  We've had more snowfalls in March than January and February combined.  Actually, I just made that up, but it sure feels like it so it must be close to true.  Don't tell anyone I said this, but I think spring snow is so pretty.  The air feels different, and it seems to be more of the big fluffy flake variety...best of all it doesn't stick around too long.  

2. What's the most dreaded task on your spring clean to-do list.  Do you have a 'plan of attack'?

I need to clean all my window treatments, including the Plantation Shutters which is a slat by slat sort of job.  

My plan of attack? 

It's rather old fashioned...a bucket, a sponge, and Scrubbing Bubbles.  The people who installed our shutters told me bathroom cleaner works well on them, and they were right.

3. Peas...love 'em or hate 'em?  What's a favorite dish you make using peas?

I do like peas. In the UK they serve something known as mushy peas which look and taste a little bit like baby food, but I like them too.  

My mom used to make a dish called peas and pasta and we all love that. I haven't made it in quite a while, because pasta is on the list of banned substances in our house, but my girls make it every now and then.  It's shell pasta, peas, onion, garlic...yum!  

I make a lovely green salad (recipe courtesy of Nigella) that contains peas. I'll probably make this salad for Easter because it's simple to do, so pretty and spring like, and very tasty. 

Look-three paragraphs on the pea. Welcome to This Side of the Pond.  

4. Do you feel under appreciated?

The answer to that depends on the answer to this...by whom? 

I guess there have been times I've felt under appreciated, but thankfully they've been few.

5. Have you been using Google Reader? If so, what are you switching to now that GR has announced retirement?  If not, how do you read your favorite blogs?

I liked Google Reader and followed quite a few blogs there. I don't always add blogs to my blogroll after just one visit.  I like to read several posts to know if the blog is one I want to follow, so I'd put them in my reader and visit at my leisure before deciding. In Google Reader, when a blogger updates their blog (aka adds a new post) a number appears beside their name and you know to check it out. I don't follow blogs through my email because I already get a lot of email, and prefer to keep the two separate.  

I joined Bloglovin yesterday and it was easy peasy.  They ask if you want to import your blog list from Google Reader and with one click of the button it was there. Plus, they have a mobile app that makes reading blogs on my phone or Ipad easy...so far so good.  

If you were following me in Google reader you'll find the Bloglovin link on my sidebar. Click there to add me to your list.    

6. Anne Bradstreet is credited with the following quote-

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant;  if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

Agree or disagree?  Why?

I hear a deep question and a not so deep question...first the not so deep-

I live in a part of the country that experiences all four seasons. I look forward to each one and the changing color, landscape, temperature, and even precipitation. Spring could definitely make its entrance a little earlier, but I think I appreciate it more because by the time it actually gets here I've grown tired of winter.  

Now the deep-I'm not sure we need adversity to appreciate prosperity. Oh sure, sometimes we take things for granted, but I do think it's possible to appreciate the good without experiencing the bad.  

That being said, I think when prosperity comes on the heels of adversity it's more deliberately noted and definitely appreciated.  

7.  When did you last 'spring' for something?  What was it?

Pottery Barn had all their pillows 40% off last week so I sprung for four. I do love a pretty pillow, but they're outrageous aren't they? I'm really happy with my purchase, and they add just the splash of color I was hoping for.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Yesterday I trekked down to the curb to collect the rubbish bin and noticed our sad little fox trekking up the hill to her den on the opposite side of the yard.  Forgive the photo quality-it was taken with my phone and the skies were gray.  

A couple of weeks ago she stalked a groundhog (unsuccessfully) in our rock wall. When I showed hubs the pictures that night he said she looked too thin and I could see the wheels were starting to turn. I'm an animal lover too, but I draw the line at feeding the neighborhood wildlife.  We had to take our bird feeder down because Gentle Ben needed to make a closer inspection of the seed from time to time.  

Today I texted hubs this picture and I know the wheels are spinning again. I have to admit she's rather pathetic looking at the moment, but still...NO.  How do I know Gentle Ben won't decide to come a-knockin' when he hears we've got grub?  Plus, we're already feeding the deer-

Not technically...they just help themselves to whatever they can find.  Normally they snack on the back hillside which is wild and not landscaped, but last weekend they had Sunday lunch right outside our sunroom window.  In the words of George Harrison...'it's been a long cold lonely winter'.