Galsies, linking up with Anne in Residence for Currently 07.2020 and with Trista at The Classy Chaos for her 20 Questions post. I enjoy putting together posts like this with prompts to respond to or questions to answer. Speaking of which… would love to have you join me for July’s 10 on the 10th link-up. In case you are new to the 10 on the 10th link up, please click here to learn more. This month, on 07.10.2020, we will be answering 10 questions about patriotism.
For today’s Currently 07.2020 we are posting about what we’re cooking, photographing, sharing, trying, and wondering. And they came straight from Anne already in ABC order!! You know how I like my alphabetical order.
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Currently 07.2020
Cooking:
Hawaiian macaroni salad. As in this Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe I found on Pinterest. With ham, pasta, pineapple, carrots and green onions all splashed with this tangy dressing, I am pretty sure all the food groups are represented. Paired it with brats on the grill and baked beans.
Photographing:
The mound. On one of our recent walks into the desert near our house, we came across this 6-7′ long and 2′ high dirt mound. There was a cross made of weathered pieces of wood wired together with a clothes hanger on one end of the mound. And an arrow attached to the cross. Seemed very strange.
Two weeks ago, we walked back out to see if the mound was still there, and still as we remembered it. We found it to be pretty much the same except the recent rain had washed away some of the dirt in the middle. I had forgotten but PC remembered that there were shovels about 3 feet from the mound and they were still there. We decided to call the police.
The police (2 EPPD and 2 school district police cars because it was behind a middle school), took a look and a…sniff…and determined that it wasn’t a grave. Or if it was, maybe it was for an animal (small brontosaurus?). And that the shovels had been in the desert for awhile (maybe the grave had been too?). The police dismissed it and we were on our way.
Sharing:
Our pool. Or we were, until Lauren and Cami got sick. The kids have come over to swim 2 or 3 times so far this swimming season. But then Lauren and Cami came down with this ‘bug.’ Had hoped to be able to have them over for the 4th of July. Not sure that will happen now. How cute is this little mermaid?
Trying:
Hello, Fresh. Lauren has started subscribing to Hello, Fresh meals in hopes of uncomplicating one area of their very full lives. They had a ‘backlog’ of meals so she offered me one. I chose these gouda vibes burgers. Oh, girls! Not only were they positively delicious. But also fun to make. We had a glass of wine and did the cooking together – between phone calls from my mom who was having a bad evening. The package contained everything we needed to make the burgers and wedge potatoes: ground beef, check; potatoes, check; but also onions, tomatoes, mayo, sour cream, even paprika.
Wondering:
How school is going to look next year. Even though I am retired, I am interested in what my former district is planning for the fall. Would like to return to subbing some but only under the right circumstances. And I have a vested interest because Lucia could begin kinder in August.
I still receive emails from the El Paso branch of the American Federation of Teachers and participated in a survey they sent out about my preferences for back to school plans. The results of the survey were released recently. The response to this question about social distancing spells things out pretty well.
Survey
Is social distancing a realistic expectation of your students?
1. Again, clear results – 4:1 No:Yes ratio. Kids are going to be kids, regardless of age.
2. Basic leadership tenet Districts are going to have to address at all levels, “Never give an order you can’t or won’t enforce.”
3. From classroom (you) all the way up to Superintendent, the leaders of the District are going to be faced with this challenge.
4. A great comment/truth from Elsa Luna, the EP AFT Elementary VP, “Little ones won’t understand the importance of constant washing of hands, keeping masks on. Parents send kids to school, even when sick, because we’re also daycare. These little ones don’t understand staying apart from others, especially from teachers. Even 5th graders reach out for hugs from their teacher!”
With our cases going up close to 200 a day, I am not certain I will be too anxious to begin substitute teaching right away. Will have to see how the germs settle.
20 Questions
I recently began following Trista’s blog at The Classy Chaos. She says that her blog allows her to share life’s experiences and her thoughts as she strives to retain a little bit of class while juggling the chaos of life. Me, too, Trista!! Except I have given up on class and just hoping to maintain a wee bit of sanity.
When I came across these questions on Trista’s blog I decided to take her up on the invitation to join her link-up featuring my responses.
First 10
10 – Morning person or night owl? Generally a morning person. But have been having trouble getting up as early as I would like.
Second 10
So there you have it, my answers to Trista’s 20 questions. But inquiring minds want to know…what would your answers look like?
Your Turn
In a comment below or your own blog post, won’t you join Anne for Currently 07.2020 and Trista for 20 Questions. Let me know what you are currently cooking, photographing, sharing, trying, and wondering. Then copy and paste these questions with your good answers.
Lauren Buendia
How fun!
Cooking: Just made bulgogi meatballs from a Hello Fresh recipe.
Photographing: My babies.
Sharing: Hello Fresh with you!
Trying: To not get Covid
Wondering:. If I have Covid
1 – Introvert or extrovert?
Introvert
2 – Favorite movie?
That’s really hard. No clue. I really like Midnight in Paris (but Woody Allen seems like a really horrible person). I think Dan in Real Life and the Secret Life of Walter Mitty are up there. I also really like Interstellar and The Martian.
3 – Arrive early or late?
Late. Always.
4 – Last book you read?
I’m jumping around, but right now I’m rereading Pride and Prejudice.
5 – Favorite holiday?
I like Halloween.
6 – Pet peeve?
Same answer as you. Not doing things correctly.
7 – Food you refuse to eat?
Seafood.
8 – Favorite fast food chain?
I really like 1 thing at Long John’s, but there aren’t any anywhere nowadays… McDonald’s, I guess.
9 – How do you keep fit?
Ugh. That’s hard. I do an elliptical and Fit Body by Anna Victoria.
10 – Morning person or night owl?
Night owl for sure.
11 – Favorite drink?
I really like strawberry daiquiris or margaritas, but they’re so caloric.
12 – Irrational fear?
Aliens or ghosts.
13 – Go-to snack?
Lately, it’s been popcorn.
14 – Strongest sense?
Smell
15 – Fictional place you’d like to visit?
I like your answer. Also, maybe Hobbiton or Pandora.
16 – Kindle or actual book?
Nook. I do a lot of my reading at night.
17 – Last movie you went to see?
Ford v. Ferrari, I think. It’s been so long.
18 – Favorite season?
I love Fall, too!!!
19 – Beach or mountains?
Beach doing the summer. Mountains during the winter.
20 – Favorite cereal?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay!!! So glad you played along. I have a 10 on the 10th post that will be interactive, too. So mark your calendar. Wish you would do a post on Curls and Cardigans with your babies. Like a mommy and me post.
Great fictional places to visit. And love your movie choices. You need to rethink that food you won’t eat. What’s not to love about seafood??
I hate that so much of our lives right now revolves around Covid, worrying about Covid, avoiding Covid, wearing masks for Covid, not hugging because of Covid. Will we ever know normal again? I love you, baby!!
Trista
I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch too!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Mmmm.
Joanne
I too can force myself to be quite social but I typically need to regroup after a party or event or fear myself up to face one. My favorite season is also fall and my favorite holiday is definitely Thanksgiving. Hope the girls are feeling better by the 4th so you can see them.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I have a theory that most bloggers are introverted. This is a comfortable social outlet. We can be friendly and social while keeping our distances!!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Oh I love the 20 questions! Going to join in on this with you all!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay!!!!
Trista
Leslie – thank you so much for joining in and sharing! I loved reading your answers. Tomatoes are a favorite of mine but I’m the only one in my family that will eat them. And I didn’t even think about hot chocolate because it’s currently so hot but I could get a Tim Horton’s HC every morning on my way to the office just about in the fall and winter. And very valid point on actual books for children’s books. And by the way, I too wonder how this school years going to go. Trusting God is in control! For sure.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Amen, trusting in God to show us the best way for our babies to return to school. And for us to retain our sanity until things return to some semblance of normal.
Gale
What a fun post, Leslie! Loved reading your answers to the 20 questions. And even though it turned out to be nothing, I’m so glad you called the police about “the mound”. Hope your daughter and granddaughter are well again soon!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Gale. I was glad we called the police about the mound, too. Have wanted to go back out there to see if perhaps they returned once we left to be doubly sure it wasn’t a body.
Karen
I have ham in the freezer along with some of the other ingredients that would be good to make the Hawaiian salad. Sounds delicious!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Karen, try the Hawaiian salad. It was filling enough to make it a meal with a crusty roll and a glass of white wine.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Hawaiian macaroni salad sounds so good right now, esp with a little BBQ!! My son JUST started cross country at their small private school of maybe 400 students and some have already gotten Covid and the school is shut down for 2 weeks now. Not sure how regular school is going to go (which I had such high hopes for, but not feeling so hopeful now). So ready for all of this to be over! Hope your girls get to come swim on the 4th
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Good grief!! I am so sorry the cross country running had to en for Nathan because of dumb Covid. Hasn’t this been just awful? Hate for him to start high school going on line rather than on campus. I worry about Cady because she tends to be a loner and an introvert and I think this is just making things so much worse.
Dara
I’m posting my 20 answers tomorrow! I know the social distancing in the classroom is not possible. I really hope my kids can have real school this year though!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I think we are all so torn between our kids needing (and wanting) to return to school and worry over their health. It looks like we will offer kids either online school or part online and part face to face. No one will return to school all day five days a week.
Kimberly F Malkiewicz
It’s fun to see what you’ve been up to. Those burgers have my mouth watering! I’m sorry your little grands are doing well.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh those gouda vibes burgers were soooo good. We are all feeling better again. Thank goodness. Covid stay away!
Em
Just boiled my pasta for the salad of the day…so many yummy choices!
The school convo is ever present here as well. My daughter moved out because she runs a summer camp at her school. They are on day 4…and the school is keeping a watchful eye on procedures to guide them for the fall. One thing is certain: social distancing IS a challenge…especially for the littles.
Sorry to hear YOUR littles aren’t feeling well. I know how much joy they bring you.
Feeling “meh” these days. Still a pretty strict regimen around here, mostly self imposed…but I look outside our window and life seems normal for other people. Glad for them, but 🤷🏻♀️
Xoxo
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Things are certainly not normal here for most of El Paso. We are all wearing masks now and people are scared. They are complying out of fear. And fear of the fine for not wearing a mask. Our number of cases just keeps climbing. My brother tries to comfort me saying the hospitalizations are not rising at the same rate but STILL!!!
Jennifer Smith
Oh – I hope you are able to get those cuties back in the pool soon! What fun – and, yes, she is an adorable mermaid:) I am also wondering what school is going to look like. I’m past all that in my house…but I have so many friends with not only students but jobs (lives) dependent on what happens etc. The 20 questions look like fun. I had almost forgotten about it (I think I saw it on IG). I think I will post my answers tomorrow:) Thanks!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
This week we have been following along what school districts in our area and across the state of Texas are planning for the coming year. My sister is
an elementary school librarian and apparently, as of this afternoon anyway, she will return to campus on 08.05. Which is almost upon us. I worry for
the teachers and the children. Just praying for all concerned.
Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life
I have made the decision to homeschool my kiddo in the fall. He was supposed to start kindergarten but he has special needs and I just don’t see it being the best circumstances for him. It makes me sad that he is going to miss that milestone – I guess we will celebrate 1st grade instead!
And that mound!! How crazy! I would have thought the same thing!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Erin, thank you for finding my blog. I am following you on Bloglovin’ and appreciate your great eye for photography.
My oldest granddaughter has some struggles in school. I am very concerned about her education because she will be entering fifth
grade after attending almost half of 4th grade online at home. Her parents are divorced so they shared in the homeschooling/online
instruction responsibilities but that also complicated things because one parent didn’t know what the other parent was doing. Ugh,
this Covid.
Anne
Well, how about a mystery to make your walk more interesting! (Especially one that doesn’t have a nefarious end…). I’ve done Hello Fresh and Blue Apron only very occasionally in the past, but in the Covid-times have done Blue Apron boxes more often – it really is nice to have a more “special” meal with all of the fixings and instructions when you’re home all of the time. That one sounds delicious!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
We need to check out Blue Apron and then compare it with Hello Fresh. I really enjoyed putting that Hello Fresh meal together with my PC. Took some of the work out of fixing dinner. Just think we would probably have to win the lottery to be able to subscribe to either service for long.
Laura Bambrick
Those burgers look divine! I’d love to do Hello Fresh or something similar, but I think my controlling side has kept me from it! Haha! I like to figure out our meals and go shopping for the things. And it’s a little more expensive than I am used to paying. I’m sure we will give in one day!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I feel the same way about Hello Fresh. I really like picking out my own ingredients and putting together our meals – most days!! This was such a treat, though. And I think I could enjoy having one Hello Fresh meal a week. If I was made of money!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
I like Chick-fil-A, too. Never had Mexican hot chocolate, although I do like hot chocolate. My sense of smell is good as well. Yes, beach always!! I enjoyed participating in this with my own post and have my post written for your 10 questions about patriotism.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Heading over to read your answers to these questions and the patriotism questions for 10 on the 10th. I highly recommend Mexican hot chocolate – but in the winter!!
ShootingStarsMag
I would be so worried about going back to school, and I really feel for the teachers of younger kids, because they won’t understand staying distant and wearing masks/washing hands. Even if they do get it on some level, it’s easy to forget and I’m sure the teachers are all a bit worried about their health and the health of their families, etc. It’s tough decision making time though.
My irrational fear is outer space. Also, I have Beach Read and hope to read it soon. Glad you loved it.
-Lauren
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hope you like Beach Read as much as I did. My daughter Lauren, who is closer to your age, just started it and likes it, too!
This whole Covid thing is just exhausting me. I can’t wrap my head around how the schools are going to open but I know it is best for the
education of the children if they do.
Joanne Tracey
Okay, here we go
1 – Introvert or extrovert? Introvert
2 – Favorite movie? Notting Hill
3 – Arrive early or late? Early
4 – Last book you read? Can’t Buy Ne Love, Janet Elizabeth Henderson
5 – Favorite holiday? Christmas
6 – Pet peeve? “-ist” people and social media trolls
7 – Food you refuse to eat? Okra
8 – Favorite fast food chain? I don’t eat fast food
9 – How do you keep fit? Walking
10 – Morning person or night owl? Morning
11 – Favorite drink? wine
12 – Irrational fear? driving on bridges
13 – Go-to snack? a cruskit (crispbread) with tahini and tomato
14 – Strongest sense? hearing
15 – Fictional place you’d like to visit? Hogwarts
16 – Kindle or actual book? Both
17 – Last movie you went to see? The Greatest Showman (I rarely go to the cinema)
18 – Favorite season? winter here in Queensland is gorgeous
19 – Beach or mountains? Beach
20 – Favorite cereal? traditional oats – I have porridge most days
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, yay! How fun to have you play along. We saw The Greatest Showman and liked it…especially the music. I am not familiar with tahini…looking it up. Not big on tomatoes , though. Interesting the your hearing is your strongest sense. I am getting to where I struggle to hear even the alarm clock until it is hitting me on the head with a frying pan. Thanks so much for playing!!