5x5

There is a swap on Swap-Bot that I thought looked intriguing. It's called 5x5 and there are five prompts that each require five answers.

5 people in your life that you think of as heroes

I saw this description on Everyday Heroes that I like: "The Everyday Hero, is the person who smiles at you on an off day. It is the war veteran fighting for freedom and equality for all. As well, it's your friend, parent, or mentor sacrificing for your happiness. The Everyday Hero is within every single human being on this planet, and is expressed by simple, ordinary actions. Heroes do simple acts; of kindness, courage, and love."

1. Sophia - she can make anyone feel listened to and appreciated. She connects with strangers and can always find a compliment to give to others. She is adventuresome and courageous and is navigating living in a foreign country for four months where she does not know the native language there. 

2. Olivia - is passionate about the environment and wildlife, and has and wants to continue to make a positive difference with both. She is a motivated and hard worker, especially with these topics. She has a creative eye for photography and loves to look at things from a different perspective.  

3. Paige - has used his career in radio to inspire others in radio in different markets to help those in need, especially after disasters (natural and man-made). 

He works so hard to provide for his family and wants what is best for everyone.

  

4. Mary - became a widow in her 30s when her husband died unexpectedly the day after Christmas. She raised two sons, both who had the same medical condition that her husband did. She has persevered through so many challenges in the past 18 years, yet still maintains a positive, generous, and compassionate spirit. 

5. Jim - has raised four children on his own after his girlfriend decided that she missed out on her "party years" and wanted to go her own way. He has provided a stable and loving home, ensured that his children have worked hard in school, gave his children countless opportunities for after-school activities and lessons, and more. 

5 books you want to read

I have quite a few books on my bookshelf that I have checked out of the library. The next five that I will be reading include: 

1. Yes Man by Danny Wallace. The description from the back cover says, "Recently single, Danny Wallace was falling into loneliness and isolation. Until one day, when a stranger on a bus advised, 'Say yes more.' At that moment, Wallace vowed to say yes to every offer, invitation, challenge, and chance. For a year. Soon after resolving to be more open to what the universe had to offer, Danny wins $45,000 and becomes a television executive...and a minister. He gives spare change to anyone who asks. Invents things. Travels the globe. Nods a lot. And finds that romance isn't as complicated as it seems."

2. Hurry Spring by Sterling North. This is actually a children's book. However, as the cover insert says, "it is a book for readers of all ages...it has the thoughtful substance to intrigue the adult mind. It also has the swift excitement to entrance the young. From the first clangor of wild geese wedging northward to their Arctic nesting ground, through the arrival of red-winged blackbirds and wood ducks, this poetic and expert narrative brings you the urge and the surge of Spring."

3. The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor. I'm on page 107 out of 192 pages. The short stories are well-written, but a little on the sad side. I needed to take a break from reading them. The description on the back cover says, "In her heralded first novel, Gloria Naylor weaves together the stories of seven women living in Brewster Place, a bleak inner-city sanctuary, creating a powerful, moving portrait of the strengths, struggles, and hopes of black women in America. Vulnerable and resilient, openhanded and openhearted, these women forge their lives in a place that in turn threatens and protects - a common prison and a shared home."

4. Get the Hell out of Debt by Erin Skye Kelly. The author wrote this book "after her own struggle to become consumer-debt free. She was tired of listening to middle-aged men in suits tell her to consolidate and refinance her debt when all that seemed to happen was she'd end up in more of it while they profited from it. When Kelly figured out the two most important tools to money management - and started achieving massive results - other women wanted to join in on the debt-free journey."

5. The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margaret A. Magnusson. This book was mentioned by a pastor of a local church who highly recommended it. The book cover says, "In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called dostadning, do meaning "death" and stadning meaning "cleaning." This surprisingly invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner rather than later, before others have to do it for you." The artist encourages readers "to embrace minimalism" and suggests things to "easily get rid of (unworn clothing, unwanted presents, more plates than you'd ever use)" and which items "to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children's art projects." 

5 fragrances that remind you of happy times

1. Apple blossoms combined with freshly-mown grass - the smell of spring each year here at the farm.

  

So many memories of the girls when they were little come back...then playing in the backyard, swinging on the swings, all the animals we've had either roaming or playing in the backyard or pastures...just so many wonderful things to think about.

2. Maja soap and C.O. Bigelow Barber Elixir Blue No. 1620 - the soap is one my mom used to use when I was growing up. I remember it distinctly when she and my dad would go out for the evening. My dad wore Bigelow body spray in his 60s and 70s. I still have the container with some of the cologne in it. Maja is still being made. The only place I can find No. 1620 is on Ebay. 

3. Old Spice - my grandpa on my dad's side used to wear this cologne. He lived in Illinois, so we didn't see him as much as I would have liked to see him. Every time, though, he wore Old Spice. No other colognes. 

4. Home-baked cinnamon rolls, parker house rolls, and caramel rolls - smells that filled the house when my grandma on my mom's side came over to bake. 

She used to be a professional baker, so these rolls were ones we looked forward to having.

5. Wood fires - reminds me of campfires when camping with the girls, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows in my parents' backyard as a child and well into adulthood (early 2010s), fires in our backyard, the woodstove in our home now, and the fireplace in the home growing up.  

5 activities for a rainy day

1. Sewing or quilting. I have plenty of fabric and sewing projects to keep me busy for weeks, if not months.

  

2. Baking or cooking. It's a good excuse to try a new recipe or use some ingredients that I have on hand.

3. Cleaning the house. I might as well spend some time cleaning where I'm going to spending time while it rains.

4. Reading. There's nothing like getting under some blankets, having a hot chocolate, and reading when there's a thunderstorm or just raining heavily.

5. Getting caught up with things that I've wanted to get done indoors. I always have a long list of things I want to get done. If I have a lot of time indoors because of bad weather, I seem to be able to get at least a few things marked off my "to do" list. 

5 jobs you've had or hope to have in the future

1. (Had) Founder/Executive Director/Artist Director of a non-profit organization I founded. At our farm, we offered art and farm camps for kids, and gave them hands-on experiences to see the connection between the arts, nature, and agriculture. We had a great staff of teen camp counselors, talented artist-educators, amazing volunteers, and a restorative justice program. There was nothing like it at the time, and people drove 50+ miles one way just to bring their kids to the day camp. 

2. (Had/Have) Homeschool Educator. I have homeschooled my daughters since 2003 - when Sophia was 2 1/2 years old. Both she and Olivia have always been homeschooled, and it was the most rewarding "job" I've ever had. 

Although I was the teacher/guide, they also introduced me to interests that they had, and we learned a tremendous amount together. 

3. (Hope) Todder to 3 1/2 year old Teacher - When the girls were little, we did the Growing Together program at the Minnesota Waldorf School. They and I loved going to this program. It was calming and in a beautiful location; there were high-quality, natural toys; we enjoyed a healthy snack together; the children and adults all worked to clean up together; and there was time for outdoor play. The mothers also made natural toys and talked about parenting. 

4. (Hope) Work with animals, especially dogs. 

I would like to do something that involves rescuing dogs - whether it is from high-kill shelters or getting senior dogs out of shelters and living out the rest of their days in a type of "senior sanctuary."

5. (Hope) Working with seniors and doing a type of community center/adult daycare type program. There is nothing for seniors in my community and I would like to see some type of educational, artistic/creative, recreational, exercise, and food program for those who are 55+ years old. 

Adults with no cognitive impairment to mild- or mid-level impairment could be involved. Beyond that, it would require a whole other level of staffing, nursing, and services that I wouldn't be ready for handling. It would be out of what I would consider my scope of abilities. It would be ideal, though, to have programs that help those with mid- to late-stages of cognitive impairment.