Here we go with the questions:
Are you utterly minimalistic in your lifestyle, an absolute clutterer hoarder, or just messy?
I am a clutter bug who knows exactly where everything is on most occasions. Organization is IMHO its own artform but NOT for me. If I know where things are I have little interest in the time it takes to be, or maintain being, organized.
I’ve had to reduce the kinds of clutter since I retired from day care in order to add new kinds. Playpens, tons of markers and crayons, and paperwork from those days are mostly gone. The likelihood of homeschooling my granddaughter again (I’m thrilled about that.) keeps me clinging to maps and articles for use in that purpose though.
The day care kids, and I, created parade costumes and handmade gifts for years by recycling household paper waste. That too is gone. But the clutter continues with my new projects and interests.
According to many psychologists, people who have a tendency to be ‘messy’ are more creative and likely have higher “outside of the box” levels of intelligence. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it! LOL
For any other ‘untidy’ person who needs a defense, here’s an article about messy people.
https://www.rd.com/list/messy-people/
Do you prefer to sit on a chair, cushion, bench, floor or something else for comfort and which?
It would depend upon for how long. The older I get the more padding I like my sitting spot to have. But I will sit awkwardly contorted on occasion to avoid disturbing the dog’s life of luxury. 😀
What is the most challenging part of your writing process?
Trying not to be too political. My mind gravitates toward the pressing problems of today and since every single topic (purposely) has an element of politicization, it is hard to avoid. Speaking about it helps me come to terms with it. Those who feel assaulted by contrary opinions IMHO have made conclusions. I need to put more thought into my opinions since I’m cautiously unsure if there is a correct answer. But since my blog is almost entirely for my granddaughters’ benefit, I don’t feel any pressure not to express my opinion on topics I deem important and feel strongly about. I enjoy the following and friends I’ve made here. The ultra-sensitive types have courteously culled themselves for the most part. Seems only the ‘grown-ups’ are left, and I like that.
BUT we are all individuals who have hearts and minds for other more fanciful topics, and I want that to be a part of my blog too.
Do you think you are an addictive or non-addictive personality?
My propensity to get distracted [LOOK a squirrel! LOL] seems to indicate that I don’t dwell or get hyper-focused on anything. I even stopped blogging for two years awhile back.
Do you feel in any way, shape or form threatened by the arrival of AI [Artificial Intelligence] opportunities or welcome the progression into your life with ease?
There’s a lot of buzz about it and I’ve lived through the Y2K and Covid-19 hysteria, so I don’t know what to think. I DO know I don’t have any influence on what will happen. As all human inventions have a good use and a bad use, I’m sure it will present an interesting new era for mankind. Trusting anything we see or hear on electronic devices will be the dangerous part. Perhaps, word of mouth and real-life observations will return to their pre-computer status?
More than ever, our children need to be taught to think critically for their own survival.
As for dangers arising, mankind has always innovated counter moves when presented with danger. We have the capacity to handle evil practices as they arise, but the scarier question is “Will we have the freedom to innovate and solve them?”
Maintaining FREEDOM is essential to our future. It’s slipping through our fingers in the guise of a Global Utopian Reset and I hope we correct that course very soon!
What subjects or topics inspire you to create the most concerning your writing?
Children are always my focus whether it’s observing their innocence or protecting their futures, they are what’s most important to me.
When was the last time you walked through a graveyard?
Frequently. My whole backyard has a cemetery property that adjoins it. The children and I have roamed through it taking note of the stories there. Many soldiers and young children from the 1800s are buried there. Tragic tales of whole young families succumbing to illness are there. The perspective of seeing the difficult times that preceded us, makes us grateful to be alive today. All of these “scares” about people’s feelings being assaulted don’t carry as much weight and seriousness when you get a glimpse of true dangerous and difficult times when life itself was the daily struggle.
What are your top five favourite flowers?
White wild phlox are my personal favorites. They remind me of my grandmother’s house in the summer.
Seasonal ones like lilacs, wild azaleas (known as swamp pinks), and peonies come next. Their appearance marks the progression of Spring.
And Chrysanthemums that explode and persevere at the onset and into the Autumn season with colors that define that time of year.
What would you say would be your writing quirk?
It seems that writing with pure honesty is a modern day ‘quirk’. Not trying to please, or align with, anyone in particular is easier than it appears when you’re confident about your own values and intentions.
Sillyfrog's Blog 
Lovely post Susan. I can certainly identify with being uncomfortable so as not to disturb the dog!
Hubby and I walked through a graveyard that was adjacent to the camp site we were staying on and we found a gravestone that not only showed a husband, but his first, second and third wives!
Many instances of that in our cemetery. Seems like being a woman back in the day was dangerous. Thanks!
Some wonderfully insightful answers Susan.
I agree with so many of them, the people’s heightened oversensitivities is extremely valid. I was saying to Suze the other day that people should consider themselves lucky in comparison to some other countries or times when their feelings either were kicked off or would have had them laughed at or worse. I am not saying life has got soft, but some people’s expectations of what life apparently owes them certainly needs examining.
Haha, oh yes l too remember the discomfort of sharing the couch with a dog determined that you were sharing their seat!
Graveyards are interresting places for a long stroll.
Thanks, Rory. Cemeteries hold so many stories. I agree.
And when people speak of troubles and poverty, it should always be weighed as relative to what?
I don’t think most Americans realize that abject poverty is a human norm in the world. That is a humbling perspective. 😉
Very much, l don’t think most people realise what people in other countries are putting up with that counts as the normal day to them and what they might consider as a luxury – like say running water from taps or even a flushing toilet, a hot meal, a roof, silence from no bombs dropping, waking up the next day …….. alive.
Humbling indeed.