Duke's Mixture 02.2026: A Little of This-n-That

Hey friends, welcome or welcome back.  It occurs to be that I might need to (re)introduce myself since I was away from blogging for a bit.  Maybe that will be a post for next week.  And I need to write a mid-season update for my winter goals and bucket list.  You can find my original post, here.

But today, it is time for another Duke's Mixture, which is a kind of smorgasbord.  A Golden Corral buffet, if you will.  Sharing my responses to this week's "HodgePodge" with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  Joining up with my pals for this month's edition of Where Bloggers Live, too.  

1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'? 

Not gonna lie.  The last few weeks have been tough.  In fact, 2026 isn't exactly impressing me yet.  Still hopeful.  But the year has started out kind of turbulently.  So, what has tickled me pink lately?  That is an expression I use quite often but not in recent days.  I know!!  Was tickled pink at the opportunity to help out in a special education classroom for a few minutes when I was subbing last week.  When I walked in the door, one of the little girls embraced me saying she remembered when I had been her art teacher (long-term sub) 3 years ago.  She even remembered my name.  It was very heartwarming to be remembered and to be remembered by a very special little girl named Peyton.  I was tickled pink.

2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way? 

I saved this question to answer after I had written the rest of the post.  We are struggling, my friends, so life isn't a bed of roses right now, nor is everything coming up roses.  Certainly unable to see things through rose-colored glasses at the moment.  And LIFE kind of feels more like thorns than blossoms.  But I can report that I have been stopping to smell the roses more this year.  Which kind of goes with my WOTY flow.  However, I haven't exactly been able to float along without letting things get to me.  Glad to have this reminder to start focusing on flowing again.

3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated? 

Kind words, hugs, smiles and quality time spent with those I feel closest.  Years ago, when I first took the 5 Love Languages quiz, I discovered that my language was physical touch.  In my 'old age,' I have moved away from that in some ways.  Although, I would still argue that nothing beats a heartfelt hug in my books.  Words of affirmation also speak to me.  My parents, like most of their generation, were not inclined to throw about compliments and affirmations.  Nobody had time for that floweriness. So maybe that left me craving compliments and reassurance.

4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day? 

May I have an inexpensive spring bouquet?  I don't need long-stemmed red roses.  But some daisies in a cute little arrangement that I can put in one of the vases I have at home already.  Something like this, maybe?

And yes, why yes, we do have Valentine's Day plans, thank you very much.  We are attending a special evening hosted by Margin Notes Bookbar complete with wine, a charcuterie board and a painting activity for 2!! 

5. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love. 

I read this somewhere in the last week.  

 

Build a life of little actions of love.

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I hope that if I am remembered for anything, I am remembered for little actions of love.

Where Bloggers Live

The “Where Bloggers Live” series was created by Bettye at Fashion Schlub to be something like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…with bloggers! Bettye recognized how most of us enjoy peeking behind the scenes and looking inside people’s homes, interests, and lives.  So "Where Bloggers Live" was born.  Every month these blogging buddies share their lives and their thoughts in posts based on specific prompts. 

These gals have been so patient with my sporadic blogging.  When I told them I might try to reconnect with them for their first 2026 post of the series, they welcomed me back.  I am not yet sure I'm dependable enough to say I will contribute every month but I always so enjoyed the monthly themes for "Where Bloggers Live."  So, here I am, joining them for the second time this year.

Daenel @ Living Outside the Stacks

Bettye @ Fashion Schlub

Jody @ Jody's Touch of Style

Em @ Dust and Dog Hair

Sally @ Within a World of My Own

Hope you will pop 'round to say hi to each of them!!

$100,000 Charitable Donation

Bettye invites the WBL bloggers to brainstorm ideas for upcoming monthly prompts.  Last year I suggested we write to the prompt:  if I could donate $100,000 to any charity, which one and why? Fast forward to today and here we are responding to that question.

Funny thing, though, I cannot remember what charity I might have been considering for my make believe donation when I came up with that prompt.  But as LIFE would have it, we wrote to a very similar scenario at writing group this week.  So, I have been thinking along these lines for several days.

St. Jude Children's Hospital

My go-to charity has always been St. Jude Children's Hospital for their important work in the treatment of cancer and research for finding a cure.  My father was a cancer research scientist at St. Jude for years and to honor his hard work and memory, I think my $100,000 would have to go this children's hospital.

For about 2 years, I have been following the cancer recovery journey of a young man named Mighty Miller.  My BFF Sharon first told me about Miller as they are from the same Oklahoma City suburb.  St. Jude has been his home for most of the last 2 years or more.  I follow Miller, here, on Facebook.  

Right now, 15 year-old Miller is fighting for his life at Texas Children's Hospital where he is currently being evaluated for a lung transplant.  While Miller is thankfully in remission, he is now battling a rare lung disease called Bronchiolitis  Obliterans.  My heart breaks knowing the tremendous struggles this child faces.  He can use ALL of the PRAYERS he can get, so I invite you to join me in praying for his comfort, peace and health.  

This photo was taken early this past fall when Miller enjoyed a few, very rare weeks at home in Oklahoma before his health became more precarious and he had to return to St. Jude.

His mother wrote on Facebook tonight that Miller told her that today was the worst day of his life.  And that is saying something considering all he has been through.  He is experiencing intense anxiety and panic attacks.  God bless him.  He should be at home, going to school, hanging out with friends, crushing on 15-year-old girls, and building the Lego WWII kits he loves so much.  Heartbreaking.  

You Can Help

If you are so inclined, the Miller family could sure use your help.  Prayers, first and foremost.  But they have an Amazon wish list mostly consisting of gift cards to various restaurants as at Texas Children's, the family is responsible for their own meals and accommodations.  You can find that wish list, here.  

Miller has a YouTube channel, too, and is always happy to have new subscribers.  There he describes himself this way:

I am a 15-year-old kid with a passion for World War II Legos.  I am a 2-time AML leukemia cancer survivor and I hope what I do on my channel brightens up your day at least a little bit.

Please pop into visit Miller on YouTube, here, at Mighty Bricks. 

One More Favor

I know that I said St. Jude would be my charity of choice for this fictitious  $100,000, but I would like to ask that Miller and the Hines family be considered an unofficial charity.  And that maybe I could gift them the $100,000 directly as they could really, really use the help.  

Would that be okay?

Your Turn

Do you have a single charity that is near and dear to your heart?  What has made that charity so special to you?  

We are looking forward to rain in our forecast for tomorrow.  Had a 75* afternoon today and we spent a little time fishing (Paul) and walking (me) at the lake.  We needed that time in the sunshine.

Wishing you a restful weekend.  Hope you are beginning to see warmer weather where you are.  Thank you for stopping by to visit!!

Hugs and kisses,