• “Because most issues are life issues, if you think about it.”  This is your site’s tag line. What does it mean to you?

Before I was a blogger, I was a columnist for the local Catholic newspaper.  Because I was the chair of the Diocesan Respect Life Committee at the time, the topic of my column was life issues.  So I wrote about abortion, the death penalty, birth control, assisted reproductive technology, war–basically anything that could fit under the umbrella of respecting life “from the womb to the tomb.”  When I started blogging, I took the name of my column for my blog, and I was excited to have a platform to write about basically everything.  I figure if it’s in my life, it’s pretty much a life issue, right?  I like the title because I think it reflects the broad and eclectic nature of my blog.  I’m not a niche blogger.  You are never going to know what to expect when you come here.  Maybe one day I will be writing about politics and the next I’m reviewing my latest nature hike.  One day I’m sharing pictures and history of a local graveyard and the next I’m explaining my parenting philosophy.  You might even spot a recipe or two.

•  What is your favorite childhood memory?

I have many happy memories of my childhood.  As the weather gets warmer I like to remember my daddy grilling out on the deck, after rigging the speakers from the stereo to play out of the open windows so we could listen to Rod Stewart and Carly Simon while we ate in the backyard.  A lot of my happiest memories have to do with being outside, and a certain aroma or song or breath of fresh air will bring those feelings flooding back.

•  If you could take a trip anywhere without care to cost where would you go?

Europe, absolutely, and specifically Rome.  I was fortunate to have traveled in France with my grandmother as a teenager, but that was my only trip abroad.  It makes me sad sometimes to think of all the wonderful sights all over the world that I will probably never see.

•  If you had to present yourself as a 3 course meal (appetizer, entree, dessert) what would the dishes be?

This is the hardest question!  I don’t even know how I am supposed to answer that?  By presenting character qualities as the dishes?  Or by thinking of foods that I am like somehow?  I’m going to go with a sort of combination of those ideas.  So for an appetizer, I would serve something fairly conventional and non-threatening, like wine and cheese.  And then the main course would be a familiar and filling item like a good steak, perhaps, but with some kind of completely unexpected seasoning and side dishes you have probably never heard of before.  Then dessert would be something sweet and filling, like a homemade pie with real whipped cream.  Make of that whatever you will. 🙂

•  What’s your favorite season of the year?

Spring!  I cannot stop smiling at this time of year.  I love everything about it–the weather, the flowering trees and bulbs bursting through the earth, the longer days, the sweet-smelling breezes, the chirping frogs.  I always forget, though, that it isn’t REALLY Spring until mid-April, no matter how many warm days we have.  It’s going back into the 20s this weekend!

•  What is the last thing you watched on TV?

Star Trek “Shore Leave.” We are about halfway through the first season, watching one or two episodes every night.  Before that, we watched the entire seven years of The Next Generation, and prior to that we watched nine years of The X-Files plus both movies.  I don’t watch broadcast t.v. but I am having a great time introducing these shows to William and sharing this time with whichever big kids are around and want to join us each evening.

•  If you could recommend a Must Read book what would it be?

I recommend books on this blog quite often as I have always been a voracious reader.  It’s hard to recommend just one book, though, because it depends on the person you are offering it to.  My favorite book is Pat Conroy’s The Lords of Discipline.

•  What’s your favorite color?

Yellow.  I love it because it is bright and sunny and happy.  When I was a little girl my bedroom had three yellow walls, one wall papered with yellow roses, and spring-green carpet.  I thought it looked like springtime in there and it made me happy.

•  Do you prefer outdoor or indoor activities? What are a few of your favorites?

Outdoor.  I love hiking and blog about that a lot!  I also love gardening, and walking around old graveyards, and going on picnics in the mountains.  Having said all that, I spend 95% of my life in the house in front of the computer, it seems.

•  Are you a coffee tea or other drinker?

Coffee, no contest at all!  I love my sweet tea like any Southern girl, but I drink three cups (big ones) of coffee most days.  The caffeine doesn’t even register with me.  I can drink it right before bed.  One of my greatest accomplishments (not even kidding a little bit) was weaning myself away from sugar in my coffee last year.  Maybe this year I can get rid of the cream so I can achieve my goal of drinking it ALL DAY LONG with no added calories!
That was fun!  Check out the rest of the linkup to meet some new and interesting bloggers!