It’s Friday and despite wanting to have something profound to say about this week, about my experiences in said, my goals accomplished, my relationships strengthened, et cetera, et cetera— I got nothing.
It’s been a long *blah* week for me. I have a sore throat with post nasal drip that won’t go away, but other than that I’m the picture of health so I shall be grateful.
And not at all cranky.
Not muttering about a thing here.
I’ve started about a gazillion and one blog posts this week but ended up deleting each one. Sometimes the words came to me and looked all pretty on the page, but the import of the words meant nothing worth talking about, or talking about kindly, so I deleted what I wrote.
Other times, like this one, I kept what I wrote and have decided to publish it [obviously] because I feel that for me there’s value in showing up, even if what I have to say ain’t all that and a bag of chips.
Or to re-phrase, all that and a bowl of orange fruit. While my saying doesn’t have the same timeless ring as the original saying, it does fit the photo so I’m going with it.
And that might be the real message of this blog post, a clue into how I think. Sometimes you gotta go with what you’ve got, knowing that you’ve done better… you’ve done worse… but right now, today, this is what you have to work with.
So do it, Ms. Bean.
~ ~ • ~ ~
HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE.
MAY YOU BE PROFOUNDLY HAPPY DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU’LL BE DOING.
~ ~ • ~ ~
[Spoiler Alert: The answer to the question posed in title is in the comments below.]
What you’re seeing is two apricots on top of many oranges in a white bowl that is sitting on the kitchen counter. Did you notice the apricots? Hmmm…?
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I noticed the apricots, ran them through a line up in my mind, and even id’d them as apricots. Hope they were sweet and juicy!
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Nancy, they were delicious. Good job knowing your orange fruits. Now there’s a skill to add to your resume!
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My nose got itchy looking at your bowl of oranges, and now that I know there are two apricots as well, my nose started running. (It didn’t get too far, though). Yes, I’m “allergic” to most fruit. Sad, huh? But I show “them” (those who say I’m allergic and should avoid). I love oranges and eat them. Just a few sniffles mostly, although my tongue burns like it’s on fire. But apricots? Now that can get dangerous….
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Pam, I’ve never known anyone who is allergic to fruit. I know it can happen, but you’re the first to ‘fess up to it. That makes me sad, but you have to do what you have to do to stay healthy. I’ve never ever thought of an apricot as dangerous, which oddly enough makes me smile here. Stay safe.
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Peaches, apples, plums, etc., all make my tongue extremely sore (and as I’ve gotten older, my sinuses congested). More a pain than a danger, but the more exposed, the danger gets higher. So… I eat my fruits selectively. No apple pie, even…. ;-0
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No kidding? Oh. my. goodness. My sinuses get congested from wine sometimes, but not from fruit per se. No apple pie… or peach pie…? My condolences, but at least you know how to handle the situation which is important.
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Apricots? I would’ve sworn they were peaches. Silly me.
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Janet, they look like peaches, but I promise you they’re apricots. And that they were tasty.
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Yes, I did !
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drjurisharma, good job!
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Thank you 😊
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I didn’t know it was an apricot, but saw there was other fruit
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LA, funny what people will see when you show them something– or tell them who you are. Thanks for playing along.
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It was fun! Can we play another?
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Only if you happen to have a photo in which things look alike but really aren’t alike. This all I’ve got…
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It reminded of Highlights from the pediatricians office…
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It is like that, isn’t it? No higher praise…
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😉
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I thought they were peaches, but same concept. Some days I write my blog and then delete it, but I don’t see it as a waste of time. It was an opportunity to get thoughts on paper. To think through something that was racking my brain even if it wasn’t worth sharing with the blog-o-sphere.
hope you start to feel better soon. Sit back and watch some brainless tv with a mug of tea (lemon tea with honey is great for a sore throat).
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teacherturnedmommy, I agree with you. I wrote about all sorts of issues that were bugging me, but in the end decided I didn’t want to be negative or whiny here, so I didn’t publish what I wrote. Still, there was value in it for me.
Thanks for the TV and tea with honey idea. You’re onto something there. Will try that today.
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I like that you “decided [you] didn’t want to be negative or whiny here.” That said, if you ever NEED to vent, let loose the STEAM!
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Nancy, I’m hardly a Pollyanna, but on this blog I do attempt to be more light than negative. Or at least when I am negative I do so in small doses.
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The first thing I noticed was the apricots, lol! Sounds like you’ve been having the same kind of week as I have…must be something in the air!
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MELewis, good catch noticing the apricots. The sore throat might be because of the weather we’re having here. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s snowing, it’s melting. No consistency and my head is feeling the worst for it.
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Saw them! The dull appearance tipped me off, as did the blush pink.
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Deb, gotta laugh at your description of the apricots. Dull, you say? The poor things, forced to share a bowl with all those shiny orange showoffs. 😉
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I’m in an office building with no power, so I see nothing! 🥴 It’s been one of those weeks. Happy Friday!
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Jill, your excuse for not seeing anything is valid and because of that you get a pass on answering this question. Hope the power gets working soon where you are.
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Yup! Love apricots. Oranges ain’t bad either, usually.
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Deb, I like them both, too. Didn’t put them in the same bowl in order to have a photo shoot, but there they be… waiting for me to eat them.
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I thought they were peaches too, you got some big apricots (or small oranges?)!
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Dorothy, the oranges are small ones; Cuties is the brand name. They photograph well with apricots, but that’s not why I buy them. They taste good.
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And they don’t have seeds, and they’re easy to peel. Big pluses, in my book! I saw the apricots, but couldn’t figure out what they were. I thought peaches, but that didn’t seem quite right. I never buy apricots, because I have yet to get a yummy one anywhere: not at the grocery, and not at the farmers’ markets. I love apricot jam and such, but fresh has yet to make the grade — at least, for me.
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shoreacres, you’ve explained why I like the Cuties, too. Plus the price is usually right for them. I know what you mean about buying fresh apricots. Sometimes they are delicious, but many times they’re tasteless and mushy. Fortunately these looked edible and turned out to be yummy.
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I just read that orange is a happy, playful color. Orange you glad about that?
With has been a blah week for me too: sinus infection with drips and sputtering coughs. I’ll be grateful ‘cuz I could be worse.
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Marian, I like knowing that orange is considered a happy playful color. I agree. Sorry that you’re feeling blah, too. I can’t seem to shake this sore throat, but like you said it could be worse… so not complaining about it… too much.
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I get days where what I write seems trite or prattle. Definitely uninteresting. Yet I, too, feel that it’s best to show up. When your muse is out shopping, I keep it short until she comes home with bags of goodies to write about. Nope, did not see the apricots until I looked a second time.
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Kate, YES, that’s it exactly! What I was thinking about and writing about was trite and whiny. Not worth talking about here, but I wanted to be here with something… so this is it. After I put the orange fruit in the bowl I was surprised by how the colors blended. I don’t know if I’d have noticed the differences between the two fruits at first if I hadn’t put them there to begin with.
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Didn’t notice a thing – but in my defense, I have not had my coffee yet!! Have a great weekend!
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pam, oh, I hear you. Without my morning coffee nothing is clear to me. Must. Be. Caffeinated.
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You are a peach. And I’m sticking with that even though they are apricots because ya can’t fight the city hall of clichés.
Hope the cold goes away quickly!
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Maggie, I like that cliché and applaud your use of it. All orange fruit is welcome in my world, but sore throats– not so much.
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Ally, lots of Vitamin C in those orange fruits which should help your cold/sore throat! So eat up!
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Joni, excellent advice. I didn’t even think of that when I put this post together. The mind, she be slipping here.
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It’s the medical me observing the Vitamin C!
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And it’s the wordsmith you, making your sentence rhyme.
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Sometimes we have to remember that all we’ve got an any given time is enough if we just show up and let others know it’s okay not to be perfect once in awhile. Feel better soon.
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Jean, what a wonderfully sweet way to look at things. I agree, having given up on the idea of being perfect a very long time ago. We does what we can. I’m working on feeling better btw; hot tea is my new BFF.
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I thought they were peaches, too. So are they oranges or clementines? I found out last year that I can eat clementines though I can’t eat regular oranges. Makes me happy. I hope that your vitamin C giving fruit is helping.
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Zazzy, I don’t have a definitive answer to your question. I consider them to be oranges, but I don’t need to be aware of the differences between oranges and clementines so… here is an article that explains what Cuties are: Are Cuties Good for You?
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Yup. Cuties, clementines, mandarins…. all the same to me. Baby oranges! Easy to peel and digest and full of good healthy stuff.
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Yay Vitamin C!
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Pretty bowl of orange fruit! I ,too, thought the two different ones were peaches. But enjoy eating them! So sorry you have the YUCK! I’ve always hated January and February because of the dull, blah days. And everyone seems to get sick. Just take it easy, sit back and relax. At least you don’t have little grands to run after, LOL! Get better.
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Beth, I’d be just as happy if the apricots were peaches. I like both. I’m not grooving on this sore throat. I shouldn’t be surprised because like you said this is the time of year when such annoyances happen. Lots of hot tea for me, that’s my health plan.
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Glad I’m not the only one sees 2 peaches – all others who see only oranges must have the same infection as you Ally Bean. Prognosis? When the peaches are seen it will be a sign that you are on the mend; all others too 😀 have a great weekend – remember the 3 R’s: Rest rest and rest –
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Susan, oh I like how you think! Yes, I’ll keep an eye on the orange fruits, knowing that they’ll predict when I’m recovered. I also like your 3 Rs and will do my very best to make them happen this weekend.
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Yes to noticing the ‘cots, but I also wondered if you were tricking us with hidden clementines among the oranges as well. 🙂 Hope ingesting those beauties will help speed along your full recovery. And btw, yay for showing up – your posts are always worth a bag of chips in my book.
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Deborah, no intentional tricks with this photo. I only realized how much the apricots looked like the oranges after I took the pic. Happy to know that my posts are worth a bag of chips to you. I’m flattered.
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All that and more Ally Bean.
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You’re sweet. Thank you.
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I confess I saw all oranges and what I thought was an orange going bad. LOL But… I showed up to comment. Happy Friday, Ally. Feel better.
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Elen, thank you for showing up to comment. I appreciate that. I find your interpretation of the orange fruit to be unique, but I get it. We all see what we see, eh?
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We do. 🙂
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… and this is where I would have to admit I’ve never had a fresh apricot, but now Maggie’s comment has me craving peaches. Maybe I shouldn’t have read this post while I was still feeling hungry from lunch. Hate it when that happens.
… yep, I’ve got nuthin’ too.
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Joanne, fresh apricots are delicious. That being said, fresh peaches are delicious, too. And therein I’ll live the topic, hoping you’ve found yourself a post-lunch snack so that you aren’t hungry anymore.
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With the reddish hue on one of those apricots, I assumed they were peaches. Either way, enjoy your fresh fruit, Ally B.
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Betsy, many commenters have thought those were peaches, an orange fruit as delightful as apricots. Of course neither fruit is as exciting as Chex Mix… 😁
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Haha! Nice one. Still, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an apricot with red on it. Who knew! Well, you did, obvs. 🙂
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Maybe the color of the skin depends on where an apricot is grown? Different regions/countries, different colors? A guess.
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Probably a good guess. I have no idea.
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Me neither. And I don’t care enough to research it. I can live with the mystery.
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Ha. Same! 🙂
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Sorry to hear you’re not feeling peachy.
( I couldn’t help myself! )
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Rivergirl, nicely said. And orange you glad you said it?
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You’re one in a melon Ally!
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Thank you.
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I really like the colors – citrusy fruit always makes me feel lighter for some reason. Gotta say I noticed the different color oranges (THAT sentence looks weird) but didn’t invest a lot of brainpower into deciphering fruit types. 😆
And yes, sometimes what you’ve got is what you’ve got. Happy Friday!
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Laura, I agree about citrus fruit. Pretty colors and a healthy vibe. Got to love them.
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Go with what you’ve got. Love the one you’re with. Want what you have.
This sage advice all makes sense to me — and is definitely worth the reminder!
Besides, who doesn’t love orange fruit?!
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Donna, good references. I like them and agree with them. I also agree about orange fruit. It’s cheerful to look at, healthy to eat, and photographs beautifully.
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I can see I’m not the only one who thought they were peaches but at least I did notice some different fruits. We love cuties in this house too, but I haven’t eaten much fruit lately since it has too much sugar. Thanks for showing up. We miss you when you’re not around, no matter what you have to drivel on about. 🙂
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Janet, peaches, apricots– they all photograph well and come to find out look a lot like oranges. Cuties are how I get my Vitamin C many days. I’m sorry that you aren’t eating them often. I appreciate your kind words. Nice to know you enjoy checking in here. I enjoy getting your comments.
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Now that you point it out, I can see them. Is that also symbolic? Do we not notice what’s right in front of us because we make assumptions? Then the reality becomes so clear when another person remarks upon what we’re seeing.
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Margaret, I think you nailed it. We make assumptions then when reality comes along, we either accept it or deny it. In this case it’s no big deal to not see what is in front of you, but in other situations… not so good.
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You are right, Ally. There is value in showing up. I think the quote was something like ‘90% of success is in showing up.’ I looked at the bowl as containing an assortment of fruit. Wasn’t there an issue with a gold or green dress depending on who was looking at it?
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Erica/Erika, I’d forgotten about that quote, but there’s a truth to it that’s programmed into me. I remember a dress that was perceived as different colors depending on something about you. I don’t remember much more about it but it goes to show that we see what we see, I guess.
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We’re about to have the SoCal Citrus Tsunami happening with our lemon and orange trees.
It’s one of the great perils of living in the Los Angeles area. Yet we press on.
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AutumnAshbough, your tsunami would be delightful. Nothing like that here. Enjoy your bounty as you press on.
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Thank you! And we will press on, indeed–to orange juice!
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Good one! Clever girl you are.
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And what a lovely bowl of orange fruit it is, Ally! I, too, have been stagnated this week. My heart yearns to jump into the impeachment fray, but because I work for a federal agency, that kind of blog post would be critical of the very man who is, ostensibly. my boss. So I sit quietly on the sidelines, hoping that it all works out for the best because there is a lot, a terrible lot at stake, not just for the U.S., but for the world at large. My people look beyond their ideologies and personal interests to the greater good of the world.
My that fruit sure is orange! ;0)
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p.s. And I think we all struggle with knowing what we’re seeing. Have a great day!
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YES! Well said, considering…
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Pam, yes, I feel the same was as you do about the impeachment mess. We, the good people, cannot get rid of the old buffoon fast enough, yet the process now looks like a joke. Not pleased about that, but I carry on here on the blog intentionally not focusing on politics… hence my post about orange fruits. That I can assure you are, indeed, two different fruits in that bowl.
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I love the diversity of fruits, Ally!
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Thanks, Pam. Got keep it varied!
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I did know what I was seeing. 🙂 I think you might be right about there being value in showing up. I find it difficult to do (hence, my erratic posting at Ye Olde Blogge). Sounds like a good practice, to show up.
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Robin, congratulations of knowing your orange fruits. Woo-hoo! I’ve found that I need to be firm with myself and show up here regardless of my doubts. I only write this blog for fun, but I’m enough of a slacker that I could easily *forget* to be here. Thus, I tell myself to get with it, choosing to post at least once a week [unless I’m on an announced hiatus, of course].
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As an avid clementine and minneola consumer, you could have fooled me that they were not oranges, but were apricots. My mom loved apricots and we used to always have them around – I’ll bet I have not enjoyed an apricot since she’s been gone. I never think to stop at that produce area. Now I want to have some. No wonder you are not feeling so great – the weather changes every day, and though they say you do not get sick from the weather, I don’t think it promotes good health either with this warm/cold/rainy/snow weather.
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Linda, I only stumbled over the apricots at the grocery. I wasn’t looking for them, but they were fresh so I bought a couple. I sense that they are the kind of food that you either like or not. No in-between.
I agree with you about how the weather may not be directly to blame for my sore throat, but I wonder too about its influence on me, my thoughts, my reluctance to go outside. 🤷♀️
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Yes Ally, the apricots are a little on the dry side as I recall – they are not like having a fresh Georgia peach mid-Summer which you bite into and juice goes all over your chin ,
This weather is too fitful for me – a few days ago it was a windchill of 10 above zero and by the end of the day it was in the mid-30s where it is today with the second full day of drizzle.
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We’ve got the same drizzle here today. Not grooving on it, but I’m feeling better so it’s not annoying me today. Your memory of apricots is correct. I like them even if they aren’t juicy.
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Yay! I missed your posts…hello, hello!
Yes, I caught the apricot addition immediately – my don’t I have a sly eye?
😎
But I’ll add more to your cranky side (I’ve been a crank too lately!!!!)
What rhymes with orange? Hmmmm – not much…just sayin’!
Have a hopeful weekend, MS Bean.
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Laura, you do have a sly eye. It’s funny/delightful how much those two orange fruits blend in color. It may be the weather, or it may be the holiday letdown, but I’ve been feeling snarly all week and the sore throat doesn’t help. I shall, however, remain hopeful like you suggest. Happy weekend to you, too.
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Oops, I thought I saw a peach. Just shows my ignorance of orange fruit other than oranges. I have quite a few posts sitting it out as drafts right now. I don’t like to delete just in case, but I admit some of them are quite covered in dust 😏
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Marie, I delete drafts willy nilly, but I keep a list of ideas in case I find a better way to write about it. Sometimes I do.
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Eh, I wish I did that … I always mean to and I might jot down a couple of ideas one day and the next day forget where they are. I’m not very organized.
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Oh I get that! I have a desk drawer in which I put all my jottings, just toss them in. Then a couple times of year I go through the mess to see what I can see. Half the time I have no idea what I meant by what I wrote down.
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And I hope you feel better soon!
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Thanks. I feel better today so I’m getting there.
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Orange you glad a post came around for some fun?
It’s been so grey/rainy and dreary here that the oranges are the perfect bright spot. (I bought some more today – hoping the orange’s vitamin C will stave off whatever sneezes and sinus drip is going around now. About to get over the last annoyance)
Apricots were always a “luxury” item to my mom and we only got canned ones rarely – Hmmm will have to look for some fresh ones at the store.
Love the picture – and the wandering thoughts that are on target
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philmouse, I like to see oranges on dreary days, too. They are so naturally cheerful. I didn’t think about what I was doing when I plopped the apricots on top of them. Apricots are pricey around here and the canned ones are impossible to find so if I see some fresh ones that look decent I’ll spring for them. Tasty little devils, I tell you– and a good prompt for blog posts.
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I wondered which – peaches, nectarines — hadn’t thought apricots, they seem big for apricots. Who’s the lucky big apricot winner? Ally Bean 🙂 Bakin a pie or tarts, by chance?
Mentor was getting a sick Monday, had a bad cough and wheeze by Tuesday, and on Thursday, she was back to where she was on Monday. Given the sound of her cough on Tuesday, I thought surely she’d be out sick by Thursday or Friday and I asked her what she did differently and she told me she took the Zicam from the office medicine chest. Armed with this knowledge, I will use it to fight any cold that attacks me. (I was surprised to find the gummies’ active ingredients are zinc and zinc, and wondered if because I take zinc for other things, if that’s why I seldom get a cold?) That being said, I hope you’re feeling better already.
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joey, these particular apricots were larger than most. I don’t know where they came from but they were tasty and we ate them out of hand, so I didn’t make a tart with them.
I’ve heard of zinc being a good way to stave off a cold. There’s zinc in my daily multiple vitamin, but this sore throat found me anyhow. I feel much better today having consumed enough hot tea in the last 48 hours to keep HRH’s Navy afloat. Tea seems to be my cure-all for any ailment anymore.
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*nods* The tea is magical.
Good for you with the big apricot find. I shall look while I’m out today, just in cases.
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Well by just showing up you gave a bit of insight into your process, and that is interesting. Hope your weekend is well and throat feels better.
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Thanks, Lacey. My throat feels much better today so I’ll be less cranky next week. Probably.
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I know what you mean about being unhappy with what you are trying to write. I spent two weeks dancing around my first post on the SE Asia trip because I knew I had nothing much to say about it other than, “We saw this. We went here.” And sure enough, when I finally sat down to write it that’s pretty much how it came out. I worked on it all week but just couldn’t find any voice. Finally, my self-imposed Friday publication deadline was looming so I just said, “To heck with it” and scheduled it to publish. I try to comfort myself by reminding myself that even one of my favorite authors, Bill Bryson, has some books that don’t hold a candle to his other books. Indeed, I just finished I’m a Stranger Here Myself, and while the book as a whole was great, there were definitely some chapters where I thought, “Not your best work, Bill.” So if it can happen to him, it’s ok if it happens to little ol’ me (and you). 🙂
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I did not notice the apricots…. but then again, an apricot could bite me in the behind, and I wouldn’t recognize it from a turnip. This admission probably shouldn’t surprise you after all these years…
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evilsquirrel13, so you don’t know your apricots from your turnips? One walk around Mecca’s fresh produce dept would give you the opportunity to see which is which. Should you wish to learn a little something about healthy foods such as ye olde fruits and vegetables. ☺️
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