Chats on the Farmhouse Porch 21: #14

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This week's questions:

Questions

1.Where is your favorite place to think, reflect, or pray?

To be totally honest, my favorite peaceful place is a cemetery. I could sit there for hours, but rarely have had the opportunity to nor would it be safe these days to go there alone.

2.Did you believe in Santa as a kid?

Yes! I also didn't particularly believe my mama when she explained "reality" to me. I remember waiting up, watching for Santa, just to see if she was telling me the truth or not. I also remember climbing around in that mile-high closet looking for presents. Sometimes, in a moment of wishful thinking, I still listen for him. :) This whole belief in Santa backfired for my husband and I. All of the other kids had a relatively calm reaction when the "facts" were shared with them. Not my baby girl. Even at sixteen, she's still mad because we had her believing there was a Santa when there wasn't. What's a parent to do? I do believe in being honest, but isn't believing in Santa a normal part of childhood?

3.What's your favorite kind of Christmas cookie? You can add a recipe if you have time.

I like sugar cookies, but I don't like them to be frosted. Sprinkles are okay but the frosting is usually too sweet.

4.Did you grow up around any of your grandparents?

Oh yes! I was blessed to grow up around all of my grandparents. We all lived in the same county and most of us in the same town. I spent time with all of them quite a bit throughout my childhood. I knew all of my paternal papa's siblings and my maternal grandma's older sister. I knew her middle sister's name, but can't recall ever going to see her. I only knew my maternal grandpa's sister. I think that his brothers were dead already by the time I came along. I knew the names of some of my paternal granny's siblings, but only remember going to the house of one of them on one occasion. One of her brothers I only knew through her. He died when he was just a little boy. He died of pneumonia when he was about two years old and my poor Granny was eaten up with guilt over his death. She had been playing outside with him under the porch and it had started to rain. I guess he got sick from getting wet and cold and then he got pneumonia. She felt like it was her fault for not taking him inside sooner. His name was Bobby.

5.What's your favorite winter sport-skiing, skating,sledding, other(?) ? If you are in a warm place, what is your favorite winter sport to watch when the Winter Olympics are televised?

I live on the Texas Gulf Coast which has to be one of the hottest places on the planet (well, it seems like it!). I love to watch figure skating. I wish that I could do that! Instead of looking graceful, though, I would be smacking the floor with my face and behind more often than not. :)