Thoughts of Spring {Blog Party} ~ Spring On In

Well it's Tuesday, March 1st, and I can't wait to read everyone's answers to the Thoughts of Spring {Blog Party}, getting-to-know-you questions.  I'm linking up with dancing barefoot on weathered ground for a springtime blog party.

There's a spring in my step because I'm certain this going to be a Spring-tacular time!


Welcome to my blog, I'm so happy you stopped by.  I'm Michelle, an almost 40 stay-at-home-mom, who's learning how to navigate the blog-osphere.


I've been married to my husband, Petey McPete-ster {The. Love. Of. My. Life.} for 18 years now.  

We have two boys, Zachary and Christopher, ages 16 and 13.

Our house is chaotic, disFUNctional {key word FUN}, a bit disorderly at times and full of love.  My primary jobs are wife, mom and homemaker.


As a mom, life with teenagers can be an arduous journey; and an adventure for the senses.  Especially for this mom and her teenage boys.  It is one senses-ational adventure.


The sight of their bedrooms often leaves much to be desired; and most days, my eyes behold messes in every room they set foot in.
My hearing doesn't need to be perfect, to know when they bickering.  The sound of their constant arguments carries, quite well, throughout the house.
Other things my ears are keen too are, slamming doors and sarcasm; and let me be the first to say, I'm NO fan of sarcasm.  Yet, I married a VERY sarcastic man and birthed two sarcastic children.  Go figure!
Between making messes and arguing I'm not sure which they enjoy the most.  Probably both equally, as I'm pretty sure those are their favorite pass times.
Just kidding, but it can feel that way.  I feel like a referee most days.  I wonder if I'd look good in that referee outfit . . . hmmm . . . nah, not at my size!
Sometimes the way they spout back at me--standing their ground and testing the waters--leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  No doubt caused by the stretching of their wings, as they gradually transform from adolescents into adults.
Then you have the odor issues.  (Be forewarned, I repeat, Be forewarned.  This is NOT for the faint of heart.)  With teenage boys, there are always smells in the air.
{i.e.  Sports induced body odor, cologne to impress the lady friends; and someone always letting one fly, if ya catch my whiff. . . I mean, drift.  No matter how many times I tell them that it's bad manners, it still occurs.}
Even though they bicker and fight, talk back, leave messes throughout the house and an occasional lingering odor.  No one can deny, their hearts are made of gold.
If any one of us is hurting or upset, you can be sure they'll be the first to touch you with a hug, a kiss or a kind word of encouragement.
Aside from that, folks, I'm the only touch of feminine in this house.
Yes, it's true.  I'm out numbered 4 to 1, even the blasted cat is a boy!  With all this "boyness" going on I had to do something just for me.
So in 2009, I decided to start a blog.  A place where I could be as feminine as I wanted, as gushy and mushy as I liked and get my daily dose of "girlyness."
Now on to Lynette's Blog Party Questions:
My favorite color, green, and literary character, Anne with an 'e', inspired my question answers color.

• How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use one word.)  Compassionate or Happy.  I've been told by my friends that I am Compassionate and happy.  Everyone says my smile is proof of it.

This is me.

• Are they right?  Well, I hope so.  Striving to be compassionate is a really good thing.  They are definitely, right on the money with the Happiness.  I am very happy.

• What celebrity/celebrities would create a "star-struck" feeling if you saw them in real life?  That would have to be any of them really.  But my favorites would be:  Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Megan Follows, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, John Cusack, John Travolta, Sandra Bullock . . . I'll stop, because the list goes on and on. 

• Who is your favorite blogger and why?  I don't have a favorite blog.  I really enjoy reading them all, equally.  I think we all have interesting things to say, in our own special way.

• What is your favorite comfort food/drink?  Oh that's an easy one.  Me and food are bestest buddies.  I love steak, shrimp, french fries, honey crisp apples and frozen cokes.  Not healthy but my favs!

• Be brave - tell us something very random and weird about yourself.  When I go shopping I like to fill the cart full of the things I would love to buy, but can't afford to buy, and push them around in the cart.  Then I put them all back, aisle by aisle.  It's my little dream shopping trip and it satisfies me.  Why?  I have no idea, but it does.  Weird I know, random even.  But, yep, that's me!

• Do you have a strong desire to do something you've never done?  What is it?  I would really like to learn to paint with watercolors, go to a pottery class, take a photograph class and learn to knit.

• Movies:  What are your favorite genres?  Romance, Drama, Films based on Jane Austen books (is that a category?  If not, it should be), Comedies, Documentaries and Disney animated films.  Movies I Love:  Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Serendipity, You've Got Mail, Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea, The Wilderness Family, Friendly Persuaision, Spencer's Mountain, On Golden Pond, Sleepless In Seattle. . . there are more, but I'll stop.

• Books:  What are your favorite types of reading materials?  I love fiction, non-fiction, children's stories, poetry and devotionals.

• Music:  What are your favorite types?  Christian, Folk, Alternative, Bluegrass, Classical, Pop, Crooners, Rock-n-Roll, Techno. . . I pretty much like all kinds of music EXCEPT: rap and heavy metal.

• If you inherited a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with your money?  I'd pay my taxes, tithe my 10%, make a donation to my top charities, pay off debt, help my family and friends and invest the rest, while we continued to work.

• Name 1 weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).  I have terrible self-control and will power when it comes to the discipline of eating healthy and exercising.  I have been trying to lose weight my entire life.  I'm a chronic yo-yo dieter. ~ Another thing, I'm anything but brief.  I write way too much information!

• If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?  Anywhere in the country where there are wide open spaces, beautiful landscapes and seascapes and life moves at a slower pace.

• Strange Talent?  Nope, none. . . well, I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.

• What is something you consider yourself good at?  (Don't worry it's not bragging, it's acknowledging a God given gift.)  People tell me I cook good, write well and sing pretty.  I just think they're bias and being nice.  I've never had a good self-esteem or thought very highly of myself.  I've tried to reverse my thinking, but it's really hard to break an old habit.

• What is one of your favorite things to "catch a whiff" of?  Lilacs, roses and anything baking in the oven.  Oh and carnival foods. . . caramel corn . . . yep, flowers and food.

• When you leave a social gathering do you wish:  You would have talked more or You would have talked less?  It just depends on the day.  If I am in an extremely talkative mood, I may wish I didn't talk so much.  If I am in a particularly shy mood, I may wish I would have been a little bit more social.  My moods really play a big part in this one.

• If money were no option, what stores would you shop in?  All the same stores I shop in now, except when I fill that shopping cart up with the things I want, I'll ACTUALLY be able to buy them all.  Instead of putting them all back on the shelves.  My favorite stores are Antique shops, thrift shops, Goodwills and garage sales.

• What is your greatest fear?  How to answer this?  I'm a very fearful person.  I'm secure in my salvation, but I definitely don't want to die a horrible death.  In no particular order I'm afraid of:  bears, heights, flying, being abducted or murdered and something bad happening to any of my family.

• What is your greatest accomplishment?  I have two.  Their names are Zachary and Christopher, my sons.

• What are your favorite animals?  Cats, dogs, any animal that lives on a farm and elephants.

• Are you a hopeless romantic?  Most ardently! 100%, without a doubt.  I am a hopeless romantic through and through.

• What movie or book character can you most relate too?  Elizabeth Bennet, from Pride and Prejudice; Elinor Dashwood, from Sense and Sensibility; and Anne with an 'e', from Anne of Green Gables.

I love this video and audio remix of some of my favorite scenes from a beloved movie, The Secret Garden.


It's of spring's awakening.  I hope you enjoy it, as much as I do.  Spring is not far now!

Thank you, ever so much, for visiting my blog.  I hope you come back again, real soon!