Just for Fun

Journaling for Sunday 11/9/2025(No Artificial Intelligence here in words or photographs - naturally it's just me.) Autumn colors have finally arrived in Flower Mound, Texas. I began to see subtle changes on Thursday. Now the colors are artistically beauteous! Photos were taken on Saturday, 11/8. There are still butterflies, bees, and songbirds too.  Autumn shades are in abundance. The butterfly in the photograph is unlike any others I have ever seen. In looking up common butterflies in Texas, it bears a striking resemblance to the Mangrove Buckeye - Junonia.   Autumn colors awaken my senses. Because it is a short season, I encourage everyone not to take any plant or butterfly for granted. For this reason, I walked the trails slowly. I did not want to miss a single leaf.  The trees just ... 11/09/2025

 Flamingo Gardens Sanctuary and Grok aiWhat a tedious time I spent with Grok this morning.  A simple photo to give it motion.  I must have provided such a rich prompt that was evidently too complex for Grok as I reached my limit.  Later on, I decided to sign in to X to achieve the desire outcome.Not certain but the link should open to flamingo movement.  It does when I cut and paste the line.https://grok.com/imagine/post/2f4412ba-3fe0-4712-9223-b9be0130c5aeNot certain how to make it show as a photo - so cut and paste people!Welcome to Flamingo Gardens - 98 years young Preserving an orange grove and a 1927 home in the heart of Davie, FLSpending a day in nature, meeting fellow Realtors from metro Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and St Lucie FL and learning!This is one of the oldest botanical ... 11/08/2025

Book Recommendation: Home at Night by Paula MunierHome at Night (2023, Minotaur Books) is volume number five of the Mercy Carr Mystery series by Paula Munier. I recommend this novel and this series for your reading list. And, I suggest reading this series in order of publication. Click on the link to reach the website to learn more about the author and her books.Beware the blackbirds…It’s Halloween in Vermont, winter is coming, and five humans, two dogs, and a cat are a crowd in Mercy Carr’s small cabin. She needs more room―and she knows just the Grackle Tree Farm, with thirty acres of woods and wetlands and a Victorian manor to die for. They say it’s haunted by the ghosts of missing children and lost poets and a murderer or two, but Mercy loves it anyway. Even when Elvis finds a dead b... 11/11/2025

Trivia questions for Sunday November 9, 20251. A statue of Lady Godiva is in the centre of what town? Coventry2. Scientists believe human fingers get wrinkly when wet for what reason?    To better grip objects when wet3. A phytotoxin is a poison produced from what? Plants4. What is Ethiopia's most commercial crop? CoffeeTrivia questions for Monday November 10, 20251. Who is Bugs Bunny's archenemy?2. What is the world's fastest growing plant?3. What did the "itsy bitsy spider" climb up?4. A group of sharks is called what?  Enjoy your day! 11/10/2025

Trivia question answers for Saturday November 8, 20251. What author wrote 1984 and Animal Farm? George Orwell2. What number is represented by "L" in Roman numerals? 503. Whose chest contained the "Treasure Island " map? Billy Bones4. Which US President was nicknamed "His Rotundity"? John AdamsTrivia questions for Sunday November 9, 20251. A statue of Lady Godiva is in the centre of what English town?2. Scientists believe human fingers get wrinkly when wet for what reason?3. A phytotoxin is a poison produced from what?4. What is Ethiopia's most commercial crop? Enjoy your day! 11/09/2025

Hot Crab and Swiss Dip for the super bowl.   This is a take off of one of my other Hot Crab Dip. Prep time is 10 minutes and cook time is 10 minutes. 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/4 cup chopped green onions 1 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted 1/2 (160z) pkg. imitation crab, chopped 1/2 cup condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted 1 cup shredded Swiss Cheese 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes Pita bread, toasted and cut into triangles Chopped fresh parsley 1.  Cook bell pepper and green onions in butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until tender 2.  Stir in imitation crab, soup, cheese and red pepper flakes.  Reduce heat to low, cook 5 to 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. 3.  Serve on toasted pita bread, garnished with fresh parsley, if desired. Serves... 11/09/2025

Vegetable PizzaSomething lite to eat on a warm day.Ingredients:1 tube of crescent rolls1 8oz cream cheeseRanch dressing1 cup broccoli florets1 cup cauliflower¼ cup shredded carrots2 cups mozzarella cheese Unroll can of crescent rolls on a baking sheet, do not break apart but form a crust and bake at 375 for 11 minutes.   Cool, keep on baking sheet.Beat together wet ranch dressing about ¾ cup and cream cheese. Cut broccoli and cauliflower into small pieces.  Shredded carrotsSpread dressing mix on crustTop with veggies and  cover with mozzarella cheese.DO NOT BAKECut into squares and serve.I also have done this recipe with Romaine lettuce cut up and Roma Tomatoes then mozzarella cheese and bacon bits. 11/09/2025

Such a cool story to share today. bill GILBERT ARIZONA HOMES FOR SALE, Bill Salvatore, AZVHV /Helping Arizona Heroes, New-Construction Advantage, Realtor,sell my house, 2025 Market, Chandler Uncovering the Fun Story Behind One of Sports and Celebration’s Favorite Gestures   Summary   The high five is a celebrated gesture with roots traced back to sports in the 1970s, though its exact origin remains debated. It symbolizes connection, success, and fun, making it a timeless part of human interaction.   Introduction What Exactly Is a High Five?   Ever wonder where that iconic slap of hands came from? The high five is more than just a fun way to celebrate success. It’s a universal gesture that’s instantly recognizable. Whether it’s after a home run, a winning goal, or just a good day, the hi... 11/08/2025

Trivia question answers for Friday November 7, 20251. What is missing from a navel orange? Seeds2. Who is the Roman goddess of love? Venus3. What are the two main ingredients in mayonnaise? Oil & egg yolk4. What element is most commonly found in Earth's atmosphere? Nitrogen Trivia questions for Saturday November 8, 20251. What author wrote 1984 and Animal Farm?2. What number is represented by "L" in Roman numerals?3. Whose chest contained the "Treasure Island " map?4. Which US President was nicknamed "His Rotundity"?Enjoy your day! 11/08/2025

Journaling and Storytelling with Microsoft Copilot  Good morning! For this blog post, I am using Microsoft Copilot to create vivid imagery by using creative prompts that tells a story through images. The prompt is what I ask for to create an image. What I like is it is free, the quality, and the image comes out the way I asked. Let's face it, I don't want to spend any more money than I have to. As for true storytelling, I have no desire to use ai to write my stories. My words are my words, and I don't need them to be manipulated. This is actually a practice session using prompts to create images and share them both today.Prompt: This is what I want you to create for me a river with waterfalls deep in the forest of the tall, towering pine trees then let me see one owl and one bird to ima... 11/08/2025

Every year on November 7th, and this year on Friday November 7, 2025 we celebrate National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day.There is no record indicating origin of the Happy National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day started.We can observe the National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day share or invite friends to get creative with fallowing chocolate recipes in the kitchen.Top your oatmeal with some chopped bittersweet chocolate and almonds. It will add crunch and flavor.Make up some granola for a mid-afternoon snack using chocolate and almonds.Roll up some delicious energy bites with these two amazing ingredients and put them in the freezer for a quick and easy craving quencher.I want to wish to everyone at Active Rain community a Happy National Bittersweet Chocolate wit... 11/07/2025

This Week…Mediterranean or Latin Style? One of my goals this year was to try different recipes, either ones I’d never made or had not made in years. Thanks to our Anna "Banana" Kruchten, and her inspiration for Weekend Fun in BananaTUDES recipes, I have even more motivation to try and share recipes. This is a Martha Stewart recipe I tried many years ago. Larry and I don’t eat as much of anything anymore, and that includes meat, but sometimes you want a good steak of some kind. This recipe uses a flank steak, which is cooked quickly over high heat.  There are two styles of marinades…one Mediterranean in style and the other, a Latin marinade.  You’ll want to marinate the steak 4-24 hours in the fridge, flipping occasionally. NOTE: If you marinate the meat in a ziplock bag, get as much air... 11/08/2025

Colorado Ski Resort Projected Opening Dates   When will ski resorts in Colorado open for the ski season? The 2025/26 Colorado Ski season starts from 2025/10/26. See this list of projected opening dates for Colorado mountains. Important Note: Not all dates listed here are official and final, as resort opening dates are projected and subject to change. Check back for updates on when the lifts are set to start spinning at Colorado, and don't miss opening day at your favorite resort!     Loveland Ski Area November 08, 2025 Lodging Eldora Mountain Resort November 14, 2025 Lodging Vail November 14, 2025 Lodging Wolf Creek Ski Area November 14, 2025 Lodging Monarch Mountain November 21, 2025 Lodging Powderhorn November 21, 2025 Lodging Purgatory November 22, 2025 Lodging Steamboat November 22... 11/07/2025

 https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DuHXcC/  TESTING-WILL DELETE SHORTLY! 11/07/2025

B-A-N-A-N-A Squash Soup: It's Bananas! This growing season, we pulled all squash, cucumber and tomato plants off the ground, suspending them from the trellis's my husband aka Mr. Green Jeans installed. His garden vision turned out to be beautiful in multiple ways. In the feature photo, the Banana Squash hang from the vines. As the banana squash began to mature, we placed them each in nylon hose, tying them off to the metal bars to prevent them breaking off and falling to the ground. Prior to harvest, I searched for a simple, hearty soup recipeto enjoy on those cooler evenings. This one is so simple, yet flavorful. We usually eat it with toasted sourdough bread, slathered with butter from the local bakery.  BANANA SQUASH SOUP by JazminaReady In: 1hr 15minsIngredients: 8Serves: 6 INGREDIE... 11/07/2025

Fall is one of the best times to explore Greenville SC farmers markets. The air is crisp, the leaves are putting on their autumn show, and the community comes alive with the sights and smells of local produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts. Whether you’re hunting for fresh ingredients for your next cozy dinner or simply want to soak in the local charm, Greenville’s markets have something for everyone. Here’s your local guide to the best fall farmers markets in Greenville County that you can still enjoy this fall season. 1. TD Saturday Market (Downtown Greenville)Location: Main Street, Downtown GreenvilleIf there’s one market that defines the heart of Greenville, it’s the TD Saturday Market. This bustling downtown staple is where locals and visitors alike gather on Saturday mornings t... 11/07/2025

Book Recommendation: The Hiding Place by Paula MunierThe Hiding Place (2021, Minotaur Press) is volume number three of the Mercy Carr Mystery series by Paula Munier. I enjoyed this novel and recommend this series for your reading list. Click on the link to reach the website to learn more about the author and her books.Mercy and Elvis are back in The Hiding Place, the most enthralling entry yet in USA Today bestselling Paula Munier's award-winning Mercy Carr mystery series. When the man who killed her grandfather breaks out of prison and comes after her grandmother, Mercy must unearth the long-buried scandals that threaten to tear her family apart. And she may have to do it without her beloved canine partner Elvis, if his former handler has his way….Some people take their secrets with th... 11/10/2025

Reset, Refresh, and Reconnect: A Weekend Cruise on Utopia of the Seas to Coco Cay & NassauLet’s be honest, being in real estate isn’t exactly a “take it easy” kind of career. Between client calls, showings, contracts, and the constant balancing act of business and life, sometimes you hit a point where even coffee can’t fix it. That’s when it’s time to close your laptop, grab a few friends, and sail away for a weekend.This weekend, I’m doing exactly that by hopping aboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas for a 3-night, 4-day cruise to Coco Cay and Nassau. It’s a quick escape that’s long enough to reset my brain, recharge my energy, and come back ready to tackle my next listing with a genuine smile.When you work in a business built around people, pressure, and constant communication, ... 11/07/2025

Trivia question answers for Thursday November 6, 20251. How many layers make up the earth's atmosphere? 52. What modern day country is the Lighthouse of Alexandria located in? Egypt3. What was the first food to be intentionally microwaved? Popcorn4. How's many months did it take the Mayflower to cross the Atlantic Ocean? 2Trivia questions for Friday November 7, 20251. What is missing from a navel orange?2. Who is the Roman goddess of love?3. What are the two main ingredients in mayonnaise?4. What element is most commonly found in Earth's atmosphere?Enjoy your day! 11/07/2025

 Grant me the power and courage I need to embrace the path I must follow.  Grant me healing and wholeness, creativity and joy in the face of adversity.Bless me with light and love.  Bless all those around me with light and love. 11/06/2025