Monday, March 9, 2026

#AtoZChallenge - Theme Reveal

 AtoZChallenge theme reveal 2026 March 9 to 14

It's that time of year! 

I'm feeling very confident with my A to Z this year - I already have topics for each letter and drafts made with the badges for each post.  Now I'll just have to get on the ball with commenting & visiting! 

If you don't know what the A to Z Challenge is, here's the official post about it, but the Cliffnotes version is - you write a post each day (except Sunday) in April.  April 1, your topic would be something that starts with A.  April 2 starts with B, April 3 - C etc, etc.  

The first time I did the challenge was back in 2012 - and I jumped right in with 3 blogs!  Crazy, I know.  I slowly whittled it down to just this one.  

2015 was my absolute favorite theme - it was all stories from the time I was in the Navy. 

2018 was a close second with all about exploring Detroit. 

Btw - I really like the graphics this year!  

Purty!

Anyhoooo......

My theme for this year is random stuff in my life that I'm grateful for.

It's a pretty broad & varied theme, and one that required a little bit of thought for each letter. 

Ready to get going! 

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Skywatch Friday 03/05/26

 Today is a cemetery edition!   I stopped on my way to the store and also on the way home to get the sky from the other direction.  

This was the night before the lunar eclipse (which I missed since it never fails that it's cloudy here in SE Michigan) but the sunset was pretty! 


Linking up with Yogi and everyone over at 

Roaring into the HodgePodge

This is the extent of the St. Pat's decorating I do at home.  
And ever since I got these guys, I've questioned if they're leprechauns or elves....?   
I have plenty of Christmas blowmolds, so they can identify as leprechauns. 

I'm late for the HodgePodge again this week!  


1. As the saying goes, 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.' Did your March come in roaring or like some other animal? Every month carries with it certain feelings, which is why some people love and anticipate December and others dread it. How do you feel about the month of March?

March definitely came into SE Michigan like a lamb, even if this was my commute yesterday morning. 
We've got spotty rain today but it's been a sun/cloud mix all week and not terribly cold. 

I feel my mood is starting to improve since on my way home yesterday, I saw 3 (very rotund) robins, which is a traditional sign of spring and I heard a red-winged blackbird making noise as I came into work this morning.  Another sign!  

Before I met the Spouse, I rented a house where the entire side yard there was planted with crocus blubs (which I didn't know until spring!)  It was so pretty!  I planted some at my current house, but I think the critters are digging them up since I'm getting fewer & fewer every year.  I'll have to plant some more - they make me happy! 

2. Where in your life are you a lion?  I had to peek at other answers and general consensus was when it came to protecting family.  I agree.  Or cussing at people while driving.  Where are you a lamb?  Umm.  Also with the grandkids & pets.  

3. The Hodgepodge lands on National Pound Cake day. Do you like pound cake? If so do you have a favorite flavor?   Vanilla or chocolate. 

Let's play this or that-
pound cake or layer cake?  PC - it really depends on the frosting of the layer cake.  Some are just yucky. 
pound cake or cheesecake?  Cheesecake! 
pound cake or angel food cake?  I could go either way - especially if strawberries are involved. 
pound cake or brownie? Brownie with ice cream! 
pound cake or pie?  Again, either way but I'm leaning toward the poundcake. 

4. What makes you feel childlike wonder right now?  

The typical signs of spring - birds / flowers / baby critters

5. What's one thing you need to add to your wardrobe to get ready for spring? If you're in the southern hemisphere, then answer for fall?

Holiday earrings!  My office is always cold, so I wear jeans & a hoodie year-round.  But I love funky earrings!  I'm currently wearing shamrocks, but I have rainbows with a pot of gold and also leprechauns.  I just got some neat Easter eggs ones that I can't wait to wear.  And I wear my Halloween ones year round.  I had skeletons on earlier this week.   

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last night at my Weight Watchers Workshop, we were talking about macros, which led to what else do we track - which led to fitness trackers  (they just re-started weeknight workshops fairly recently so there's not many of us going yet - so the coach can wander off topic if we want!)  

I used to have a basic Fitbit that just tracked steps and was linked up with my WW app.  Of course it went obsolete, so I've been without one for several years.   I was looking at them last night and it seems like 99.98% of fitness trackers are watches - I don't usually wear a watch unless I'm doing something with search & rescue, since it's easier to glance at my wrist to log radio traffic instead of tapping my phone....  And then none of them are basic anymore!  They all want to track heart rate & sleep & how many times you poop, etc..  So of course they're $$$, too. 

Maybe I'm just too set in my ways and as the Spouse has pointed out to me in the past - I'm practical and basic in the "I don't need fancy stuff" way.  Sigh.   


Linking up with Joyce & everyone at

I feel eyes.......