Share Your World | Buzzing Along Like A Bee

/ Ally Bean

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Once a week Cee asks the questions on her blog, and I answer them here on my blog.

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• What goal are you working on now? Your goal can be something fun or extremely serious.  Have fun with this question.

When have I not been working on a goal? However, here’s the thing: I have plenty of goals, but rarely share them because I’ve found that the minute I say that I’m going to do something the Universe laughs in my face. *bwha-ha-ha* So, if it’s all the same to you, my gentle readers, I think I’ll not answer this question with specifics.

• What is one thing you’re glad you tried but would never do again?

I will never sponge paint a wall again. I tried to do it, made a complete mess of the pattern, smudged the colors together– and ended up with an ugly muddle that needed to be painted over with a proper paint roller using one sensible color. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But really, what was I thinking?

• Did you choose your profession or did it choose you?

I’ll let you know when my profession and I are formally introduced.

• Have you ever gotten lost?

Yes, I have– in just about every possible way: physical, emotional, spiritual. Often, in fact, without any idea of how to get un-lost. But I guess that I must have found my way, because here I am now writing a blog post.

• Optional Bonus Question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

Last week’s gratitude award goes to cold brew coffee. I finally determined the proper proportion of coffee grounds to water to brew time to filtering system so that we both like what I made. And considering how hot it’s been around here, having some coffee concentrate in the refrigerator has led to some delicious iced coffee in the afternoon.

This week’s looking forward to something goes to the upcoming four-day 4th of July weekend. Pretty 🌻, pretty 🇺🇸, pretty 🎆. My kind of holiday. Not much to do but sit back and enjoy.

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This post is part of Cee’s Share Your World Weekly Writing Challenge.

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55 thoughts on “Share Your World | Buzzing Along Like A Bee”

  2. I used to do a lot of sponge painting on walls. It takes a soft touch and can be beautiful. A friend had a large room with a cathedral ceiling done in a beautiful coral color only to not like it. She had to have it professionally redone. Cha-ching.

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  3. I sponge painted several walls in homes we’ve lived in. I also painted a mural on a master bath wall that came out pretty good. I’ve painted nearly every wall in every house we’ve lived in, so when we moved here, we hired professionals to paint all the walls before we moved in!
    I try to set goals each week. Sometimes they get done, sometimes they don’t. Oh well!
    Glad you got the iced coffee right. I drink a lot of iced tea in the summer with just a splash of lemonade.

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    • Beth, I like the look of sponge painted walls… when they’re done right! But my attempt was pathetic. Just ask Zen-Den!

      I have goals, small and large– but I’ll be doggone if I’m going to share them with the world. I know how things go for me…

      I like iced tea, too. But in the really hot parts of the summer there’s nothing quite like a good iced coffee. Especially when both spouses agree on how good it tastes.

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        • Zen-Den, obviously time has faded your memory of this debacle. As I recall, you were not thrilled with my idea to begin with– and were rather vocal about how stupid it was for me to try to do something like sponge painting.

          Not that you were wrong, of course.

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  4. I wish I liked cold coffee. I love hot coffee, but iced coffee to me is just wrong. I can’t get over the aversion to it.

    Like you, I don’t share my goals. I hate to fail. But once I accomplish them, I love to gloat (even if it is just to myself). It’s like having a To Do list and checking things off: that’s a terrific feeling, too.

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    • nance, my mother loved hot coffee but thought that cold coffee was an abomination. I understand your aversion.

      I hadn’t thought of goals in the context of a To Do List, but you’re right. I don’t mind failing, I’m pretty good at it, but I don’t like setting my goals out there because the minute I do, someone comes along to thwart my goal. And I end up taking it much too personally. Like it was premeditated and intentional.

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  5. Call me cautious, but I haven’t ventured into sponge painted walls, or even cold brewed coffee. I am glad that you got ‘unlost’ and found your way to this blog. I look forward to reading it each week!

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    • Donna, the sponge-painted walls idea was way outside my comfort zone, but I gave it a try. It’s only paint, I said– forgetting how messy it can be to have three different paint colors going on at the same time.

      The cold brew coffee is a breeze if you like iced coffee. You just have to reach an agreement amongst spouses regarding the strength of the coffee, lest there be bickering. 🙂

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  6. I like iced coffee on hot days, but I can’t get over the knowledge (when purchased from one of those over-priced retailers) that all the ice in my drink is taking the place of real coffee. Even more cha-ching for them. I did see someone order a regular coffee and then ask for a cup of ice. I thought that was pretty clever.

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    • Janis, I hear ‘ya. I rarely buy an iced coffee out because there’s something Cheaty McCheaterton about it. But at home it’s easy and cost effective to make the cold brew. Of course, you are somewhat committed to drinking lots of iced coffee once you make the concentrate!

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  7. I’ve sponge painted walls more than once – sometimes it works for me, sometimes not so much. As to iced coffee, it’s like iced tea – I don’t like either. I do liked iced chai latte, however.

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    • Carol, I’m convinced that sponge painters are able to see the pattern before it appears. Me? I was a clueless goof trying to do it.

      I’ve never had an iced chai latte, but I’m thinking that I’d like one. Good idea.

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    • Sarah, you make a good point about accountability. I seem to get enough things done that so far I haven’t needed to make my goals public. As for your Dog Walk Challenge, I’m glad that it’s on your blog, regardless of the reason why it’s there. It’s fun.

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  9. Cold brew coffee YUM! I wonder why it took so long to catch on? Patience, maybe?
    I’m good at paintery things, sponges included. It’s good to try new things, even if it’s only to find out it doesn’t work for you. Spray paint fumes, for instance 😦
    I’m with you on the 4th of July. It’s my favorite holiday. I don’t think we get a long weekend, pretty sure The Mister and I both work the 3rd and have the 4th off, but I’m gonna love it still.
    Have a GREAT week, Ally Bean! 😀

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    • joey, I don’t know why people who like coffee don’t try cold brew. Just glad I discovered.

      I think that you either have the ability to sponge paint OR NOT! I’m not sorry that I tried to do it, but I did make a mess. I’m better with one color applied in the usual way.

      I like the 4th, too. It’s easy to decorate around the house, easy to make food for, and that’s all there is to it. Lovely of our founding fathers to pick mid-summer to get all riled up about the monarchy!

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  10. Sponge painting, good answer. I had sooo forgotten about that fad and for good reason. My results were just as disappointing. We’ll leave that one in the past where it belongs 😆

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  12. “I’ll let you know when my profession and I are formally introduced.”–LOL!
    My goodness, cold brew coffee sounds wonderful! I’m so grateful to have been recently introduced to making Country Peach Passion tea iced. When you want to drink tea or coffee in this heat, it’s tough, but iced or cold versions are magical!

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    • Betsy, what is this Country Peach Passion tea of which you speak? Sounds delicious to me. Cold brew coffee is our summer go-to afternoon beverage for about 2 months, then we forget about it until the next summer. But while it’s hot outside, iced coffee is good for what ails ‘ya.

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      • Check your grocery store tea aisle. The brand is Celestial Seasonings (aptly named) in an orange box. I hope it’s not just a local thing. I don’t normally like fruit teas, but this one is the exception, hot or cold. I hope you find some!

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  13. Ha ha! Sponge painting walls? Painting any wall? Not on my life or yours – a recipe for disaster! Now iced coffee with cream and all – like an iced coffee milkshake? – that appeals – bought from the cafe that really knows the recipe … thanks Ally Bean for the laugh 🙂

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    • Susan, I was much younger and ambitious when I attempted the sponge painting. I have learned much since then & would never try it again. Iced coffee can be the best, when it’s hot outside. Fortunately husband and I NOW agree on how strong the coffee should be. There have been– shall we say– concerns along the way.

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  14. HAHA enjoyed the responses
    (Hint: toddlers will sponge paint walls for cookies…along with everything else…We should have thought about all the money to be made with al the different types of sponges/wall painting implements…and then hire out as rescuers with one color on a roller? )

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    • philmouse, there would have been dollars in a business that “professionally” undid any of those decorative paint techniques that we all longed for back in the 90s. People who could do sponge painting well, made it look so easy…

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  15. Don’t Sponge Paint. A Wall. Sponge Paint A Wall. Sponge Paint.
    (of course, to the tune of SpongeBob Squarepants)

    Is Snark a profession? Perhaps we should both make it so…. 🙂

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  16. Of all the holidays I pull the cover over my head for, the Fourth may be the one I’m the most Scroogey about. Loud 🎆, Annoying 🎆, Dangerous 🎆, Neverending 🎆…… just stop it already!

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    • evil, I get what you’re saying about the noise. I think how noisy it gets depends on where you live. I’ve lived in apartment complexes and condos where the 4th is a constant barrage of drunks and firecrackers and gunfire.

      But where we live now in suburbia the 4th is more about decorating and cookouts and cutesy little sparklers. That stuff is fun.

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      • I am somewhere between “cutesy” and “war zone”… but there’s definitely plenty of the latter. Where I used to live, I nearly got taken out by a bottle rocket while mowing the grass shot off by some kids in the alley. Now it’s more of an annoyance while I’m trying to sleep and hoping the neighbors don’t take over the street again like they did last year so I can actually get to work…

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    • Akilah, I suspect that if I even mentioned trying to sponge paint the remodeled bathroom, Z-D would have me shipped off to the funny farm. He was so NOT into that look! Oh well…

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  19. Yours is the second share your world blog post I’ve read this week Ally – I think the universe is telling me I should participate too! I thought I’d pop over and say hi after seeing your comment on my post on Donna’s blog. Loved reading your take on Cee’s questions 🙂
    Leanne | cresting the hill

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    • Leanne, happy to meet you! When I can, I like doing the Share Your World challenge because I don’t have to dream up what to write about. Cee’s questions are great. Plus lots of nice people take part in Share Your World so you never know who might turn up in your comments.

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  20. I have little patience at painting anything; I would rather hire it done. 🙂 My goal is to get work/repair done on the house and organize some nasty closets/places in my house. Right now I’m definitely in Lazy Mode though!

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    • Margaret, I won’t paint anymore. It’s too much physical effort and it’s stressful because I worry about spilling paint now. Z-D likes to paint walls, but doesn’t have the time to do so. Ain’t it always something?

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