A to Z challenge A is for Apple tree

This is my third year or participating in The A-Z Blogging Challenge and I’ll be writing a blog post a day each day of the month except Sunday for the month of April.

This year I’ll be doing a theme which I’ve decided to call ‘My views of the south’. 

I will show you my south as I see it with my camera….. and I will tell you from my perspective as a former New Yorker what I find to be unique about this place that I now call home.  Follow along as I share with you what I consider the South’s ordinary even extraordinary beauty one letter at a time.

Enjoy!

I was trying   to be good this year and pre-wrote a  number of my posts, so this morning I went to publish my A post and realized  I never did an A post!!  Sorry I’m late folks!! Not the greatest start for this challenge but here goes…

We have a large piece of property; it would be safe to say it is a farm although we don’t have farm animals nor do we grow large amounts of crops. Regardless of that, taking care of our land can be burdensome; there mowing, weeding raking leaves and generally making sure that it looks as neat and tidy as possible. There are acres and acres of woods so that is a huge difference from the 100 x 80 parcel that we lived on in New York.

One of my favorite things about living here in the south is the abundance of fruit trees. We have peaches, plums, pears and apples right out the back door. There is nothing better than picking a fresh apple off the tree and eating it in the shade of that very tree.

I have made apple sauce to serve with dinner with freshly picked apples and of course apple pies and cakes.  Mmm….apple pie is wonderful and one of my favorite deserts!

What’s your favorite apple desert?

Do you have an apple tree?

A-Z 2013 the letter "A"

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If you’re married  or in a relationship then I’m sure you are familiar with the word I have chosen to kick off my A-Z challenge for 2013.

My "A" word is “argument" I think we can probably all agree without argument that the divorce rates are through the roof in our society. It's not easy being married. I consider arguing a healthy part of a relationship. BUT...Do it badly and it will kill a relationship.

I don’t know about you, but when I meet couples who say they don’t argue I have to wonder whether they’re really all that truthful. 

Every couple argues. After thirty plus years of marriage I can vouch for that fact.

I also believe there is a right and a wrong way to argue. 

This is the wrong way...

General disrespect, name calling, foul language. physical violence, arguing in the presence of the children or  “winning the argument attitude” are not the right way.

The reality of life is that...

Not all couples are on the same page in all matters. There the kids, money, sex, and extended family, friends, work schedules, the kids’ activities and friends; it goes on and on. With the hectic pace of family life and the complexities of our human relationships there is bound to be differences of opinions and arguments.

That’s why it is so important to argue the right way;  temper your arguments with understanding, love and respect.

How you ask?

Mainly it entails listening to your spouse, really listening without interruption. Refute if you must when you give your side of the argument but keep in mind his /her point of view is just as important to him/her if it wasn't you wouldn't be arguing.  Establish the difference or disagreement and remember it is not a contest.  

Winning above all else should not be the goal of any argument, it garners resentment and in the end you will both lose. 

So my dear readers and visitors from A-Z do tell....

Do you do or say or do something especially effective when you argue that you'd like to share that helps you through your arguments?

Or is there something your significant other or ex does/did that just drives you mad when you argue?

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Achoo, pardon me while I sneeze

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It starts with the first little buds of the trees and shrubs and my eyes will start to itch and feel dry. Allergies. Then before you know it the view from my front window is a sea of yellow pollen that covers all the surfaces of the deck, the lawn furniture, my car and our pickup truck. The offenders are Juniper, Elm and Poplar the predominant pollen's for this time of the year and the cause my allergies.

Sneeze, sniffle, cough ugh! I've used boxes and boxes of tissues and  I'm not even going to go into the awful congestion and yuck running down the back of my throat.*throat clear* Both OTC and prescription medication do tend to keep me up at night and I find no appreciable difference in how they work. But when all is said and done I'd rather be able to breathe; I can deal with some minor sleep disturbances.


This years been a particularly bad year in Virginia and I have the allergies to prove it.

How have you been doing? Allergies have you running for the tissue box?