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A to Z Challenge: “I”nterspecies coexistence or how cats and dogs get along!
My husband and I have several cats (they were mine and he adopted them). We’d been married 10 years when I attended a Plants and Pets in the Park fundraiser for the Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society, to pick up a few spring plants. I found a few along with an 8-pound puppy that I couldn’t live without. A few weeks later, we adopted “Hershey” who they predicted would be about 45 pounds when full-grown. He is now 70+ pounds of pure love (it could be all the Cheez-Its and Twizzlers that my husband shares with him). A year after we adopted Hershey, my friend Sandy and I rescued a two-pound…
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A to Z Challenge: “H”orsing around
Horses are amazing creatures! I’ve ridden horses when I was younger in Colorado, while I was at Girl Scout camp or up in Estes Park with my aunt and cousins. I’ve mainly ridden them on trails in the mountains, which is a beautiful experience and very fulfilling, at least until the horse senses that he’s almost home and it’s feeding time. Then I usually lose all control and end up galloping to the barn, feeling lucky to stay atop said amazing creature! My fellow riding partners would be impressed with my equine prowess if it weren’t for the scared look on my face as I dismount. You may have heard…
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A to Z Challenge: “G”ood, good Father
Continuing a bit with yesterday’s post of “encouragement”, I had to share one of my favorite songs. I can be in the car, streaming WBGL at work or home and this song begins to play at the appropriate time. It warms my heart and soul. Chris Tomlin sings the version that I know but the song has a neat history behind it with its original writers. The song was written by Pat Barrett and Tony Brown. Tony grew up without a dad so the only person he’s ever called father is God. I had a very loving, warm, hard-working father who had an awesome sense of humor. He loved photography…
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A to Z Challenge: “F”orsythia
O forsythia, forsythia, wherefore art thou Forsythia? (I don’t know why but this plant’s name just seems to lend itself to Shakespeare!) Why are all the springtime blooms bright and cheery? I’d like to believe it’s to remind us that winter is on its way out, and that summer is coming! I talked about the daffodil in all its glory! Another bright yellow flowering shrub to quickly shake off the winter chill is the forsythia plant. Its slightly bell-shaped blooms can range from buttery yellow to warm gold. Did you know it’s part of the olive family? I had no idea. They were named after English horticulturist William Forsyth (1737-1804).…
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A to Z Challenge: “B”log has a new look
I haven’t written much on my blog since last year so I thought the Blogging A to Z Challenge was the perfect way to 1) begin blogging again and 2) redesign my blog and get feedback. I enjoy writing. Most of what I do is for a nonprofit that I work for, so while it can be creative, it’s mostly informative. My blog enables me to have a more personal voice. And, I’m comfortable with photography and enjoy it as well. Since those were the two elements that I wanted to highlight, I chose a WordPress theme (by Sculpture Qode) that was more visually appealing. I even have a slider…
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“M”ail
This mailbox belongs to a good friend of mine, and her cat Galley, of course. I think he’s waiting for the Petsmart circular. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner My dad was a mailman. He actually delivered mail come rain, snow, sleet or sun. It was during the days when you knew your mailman by first name and he received Christmas presents during the holidays, like baked goods, fruit baskets and of course money. As kids we preferred the baked goods! During the summer my mom would take us to visit him on his route. We’d deliver a cold Pepsi to him or eat lunch with him. He was one of…
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“K”ir
I first discovered the Kir, a French cocktail, while traveling with a friend. It’s a simple yet tasty drink made by combining dry white wine with a splash of blackcurrant liqueur and served in a wine glass or champagne flute. By Stuart Webster from Southampton, England (Kir) via Wikimedia Commons Chambord is used when available but for the less extravagant, Hiram Walker makes a Crème de Cassis for about $12. It can also be served with champagne in place of the wine, and would be called a Kir Royal. The drink became popular after WWII, when Félix Kir (1876-1968) who was mayor of Dijon in Burgundy, served it at receptions…
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“J”icama
Photo of jicama. By Eric in SF (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Have you ever eaten at a ritzy ditzy restaurant that served jicama, aka Pachyrhizus erosus? At first glance, it’s nothing special. It’s usually cut into thin strips or small pieces and is white. It’s actually a large, tuberous root from South America and Mexico and is a relative of the potato. (The rest of the plant is actually poisonous.) It can be eaten raw or cooked and has a sweet, crunch, nutty flavor that’s a cross between an apple and a water chestnut. I’ve also experienced it at up-scale salad bars. It adds a nice sweet…
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“I”nspiration and jigsaw puzzles
Early morning sun peaking through a wooded area in Terre Haute, near Deming Park. © 2012 by Diane Weidenbenner Inspiration is one of those things that you simply can’t define, explain or control. It’s intangible. Yet, when you have inspiration, whether you are a writer, painter or other type of artist, it’s the most wonderful experience in the world. That’s what photography is like for me. When I take my camera along, I have no set expectations of what I might see or photograph. It depends on available light, the time of year, whether I have a telephoto or regular lens on the camera, and whether I’m paying attention to…
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“Z”eal
Today marks the end of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. This has been one of the best writing experiences that I’ve had in the last 10 years. I honestly have had a certain zeal to finish it. Honestly, I did back-date a few posts but I was determined to finish on time (and under budget – ha!) The dictionary describes zeal as “excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end.” Check! “A feeling of strong eagerness.” Check! “Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; ardent and active interest; engagedness, enthusiasm.” Yes on all accounts. Check! I’ve been extremely busy this month with work and I’ve also worked…
