Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What's your earliest memory?

The first thought was having birthday parties at my house.  Nothing was very elaborate (like today) , but playing games in the backyard and having cake while all sang is my earliest memory. 

2. What's something about you today that the old you would find surprising? 

I speak up for myself by saying , "No."  The old me, very rarely said this word when it came to being asked to do something.  

3. Do you like to fish? Are you a fish eater? Favorite fish (to eat)? Favorite way to prepare fish? 

I do not like to fish; it is too boring for me.  I am a fish eater, and I love most fish especially grouper and tilapia.  Hub use to grill tilapia and grouper on the grill.

4. What's your biggest first world problem? 

Not being able to speak to a person!!!  I despise talking to an answering machine when I need to talk to a representative.  I am the person yelling into the phone..."I would like to speak to a representative!"

5. What one word would you use to describe your year thus far? 

I have to use two words:

Productive:  I was able to get some much needy stuff done around the house.

Chaos:  The remainder of the year will be like this.  I will explain more in my random thought.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My daughter and her hub put their lake house up for sale August 1st.  They have bought another piece of property and have met with a contractor to start building.  Their house sold quickly and had to be completely moved out on August 20th!!!.

I went from living by myself (for 5 years) to five extra people and two dogs!!  Her oldest son just started kindergarten and is attending the same school he registered in (45 min away).  They have been looking for a place to rent, but most places are extremely high when you have pets.  They are all living with me!!  Blake, their oldest son, said, "Mamaw it will be for 180 days."  

180 days of love, adventure, and chaos!!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's something bizarre you've seen or heard recently? 

The news about Carly Russell, who was missing, but what happened seems unreal.  Was there a toddler in the road, was she kidnapped, how did she showed back up...This to me is bizarre.

2. July 18th is National Sour Candy Day. Who knew? Do you like sour candies or other foods with 'sour' flavors? Kimchi, rhubarb, gooseberries, tamarind, dill pickles, sour cherries, sauerkraut, cranberries, and  grapefruit...of the sour foods listed which is your favorite? 

I don't like sour candy.  I do like grapefruit and sauerkraut.

3. Share a favorite memory of an aunt or uncle. 

I would go to Baltimore in the summer (from 4th grade till 7th grade) and stay with my grandmother and aunt.  My aunt was so special to me.  My aunt would take me shopping and sometimes I was able to go to work with her (she worked as a secretary at the VA Hospital). Even when my aunt got married (I was her flower girl in her wedding), I was still special to her.  We just shared a special bond.  I  remember she curled her hair every night with those bristle curlers and she always wore dresses and panty hose to work.  She always had time to listen to me.  Even as I got older, married, and had children, we talked on the phone for hours.  Sadly, she passed away six years ago and I miss her terribly.

4. How would you describe your ability to manage stress? 

I manage stress pretty good as long as there is food.  I am a stress eater so having food helps me manage stress tremendously.

5. What do you think about when you let your mind wander? 

How fast time goes by.  Sometimes I find it hard to wrap by brain around this.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

My veggies are really starting to come in.  All at once, I might add.  I have given much away and that is okay because no way can I eat it all.  I am being named, "The Veggie Lady!"

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life.

• Note To Hodgepodgers
• Think Fast! It's The Hodgepodge
• Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 461
• Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 484

you might also enjoy...

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Is your life simple? Elaborate. 

I feel like my life is pretty simple, right now. (school starts in about three weeks).  I get up when I want to, eat what I want, and go places that I want to go.  There isn't a dead line that needs meeting or a certain place that I need to go to.  Pretty simple, but yet, sometimes lonely and boring.

2. What simple pleasure are you are currently enjoying?  

I am enjoying harvesting my garden!  It is a lot of work, but therapeutic for me.  My cucumbers are running over, squash is plenty, and my beans are ready for picking!  

I also have been taking the grandsons to the library on Thursdays.  They have been enjoying the programs and checking out their books (I limit them to one book each, if not then I have loads and loads of books!

3. Travel by plane or go on a cruise? walk or ride a bike? swim or ski? ocean or mountains? 

Yesterday, daughter and I were talking about taking a cruise.  I have never been on a cruise. so this is something I would like to do.  Definitely walk...riding a bike would be too much work!  I love to ski especially cross country skiing.  In the summer the ocean, but in the fall the mountains with the gorgeous color.

4. What's the last thing you bought online that you really loved? 

18 month Reminder Binder.  I love it.  It contains the month plus daily dates AND it has stickers...birthday, anniversary, forget me not, etc.  I love putting stickers on my daily dates.

5. What’s your 'back in my day we__________' story? 

'Back in my day we completed our chores (without much complaining or else), played outside till it was dark, and helped our neighbors.  

Like I have mentioned, I planted a garden this year.  There is so much...way too much for me.  I have an elderly neighbor and yesterday I took her some onions, squash, cucumbers, and potatoes.  You would have thought I had given her the moon!  She was so appreciative. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I celebrated a birthday a couple of weeks ago.  I was almost a firecracker baby!

I am not much of a cake person.  Em said the boys said "No cake for Mamaw."  So I had a cookie cake.

The country boil was delicious!

Celebrating my birthday with these little men...made me so happy.

Daughter lives on the lake and it is so gratifying!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What's one thing you're excited about in the coming month? 

I will celebrate my birthday next month.  I am not too excited about my birthday, but I am thankful I have made another trip around the sun.

2. What was your life like when you were ten years old? 

The year I turned 10 I went to spend the summer with my grandmother.In the summer, I would go to Baltimore and stay with my grandmother;we use to live in Baltimore when I was younger.  I loved staying with my grandmother.  My friends and I would stay out late and I loved going crabbing.  I miss celebrating the Fourth of July in Baltimore.  My uncle had a huge celebration at his house, and I think the entire neighborhood came!  

My grandmother had a black and white television and I remember watching Armstrong walking on the moon with her.  Life seemed so carefree.

3. What's something from your childhood you still enjoy today? 

The first thing that came to mind was reading.  I still enjoy reading novels today.

4. What state (that you haven't been to) do you most want to visit? Tell us why. 

Vermont.  I have always wanted to go to Vermont (hub and I had planned this trip before his cancer returned).  I wanted to see the beautiful fall foliage and taste the mouth watering maple syrup.

5. Do you like to drive? Tell us how you learned to drive. 

I don't like to drive much.  I am more of a sight seer and you can't do that when you drive.

My daddy taught me to drive.  On Sunday evenings, he would take me on all of these back roads, they were so curvy, and I would drive.  I learned to drive changing gears and using a clutch.  Gosh!  I don't think they even make cars with a clutch anymore.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

After a rainy, dreary week last week, the sun is shining!!

Happy Fourth of July!!  Celebrate our Freedom!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Hello Summer! In the northern hemisphere anyway. What's something on your summer bucket list? Do you have an actual summer bucket list? If not, use your hypothetical list.

A trip has had to be cancelled for a few reasons but that is okay.  So many things happen (with our age) that we have no control over.  I have no summer bucket list but I love to travel to new places.  Anywhere I haven't been I would love to travel to.

2. What for you is the defining scent of summer?

After a hot day, the smell of rain.

3. What's a (music, food, wine, or flower) festival happening in your part of the country that you would like to attend if tickets/travel/timing was no object? 

The Beach Boys are coming to Doswell, Virginia in September!  I would like to attend the Sunflower Festival in July...this is close to Washington, D.C.

4. Apparently a military whistle blower claims the US has a UFO retrieval program. What say you? Do you believe aliens are out there? 

Nope, don't believe in aliens.

5. Besides your wedding day and the birthdays of any children you may have, what are three of your top experiences in life? 

1.  The birth of my grandchildren

2.  Road trips with my girls' gang

3.  Learning I can do things I thought I would never have to do without hub...making important decisions

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Yesterday, June 20th, if hub would have lived ,we would have celebrated 42 years together.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What does productivity look like to you? 

 

Getting my most priority goals accomplished correctly first.

2. What was your fondest (or one of your fondest) memory of High School? 

My fondest memories were my senior trip to Washington D.C.  I can remember this like it was yesterday.  It was a grueling five days.  We were up by 6am and on the bus by 7am and didn't return back to our rooms till 1am.  There was so much packed in that week.  No one care who sat with who only that we could lay on that person's shoulder and take a quick nap.

The other memory was prom.  Prom was a big deal but not like it is now.  We all did our own hair, make-up, and nails.  All danced and no one left the prom earlier (which isn't the case now) , but we all danced till 12pm.

3. What did you do the summer after High School? 

I did not work after high school, however, I did help out on the farm and chores around the house.  Most of my time was spent hanging out with friends and getting all things ready for University.

4. June 14th is National Strawberry Shortcake Day...are you a fan, and if so will you celebrate? How do you make yours? Have you been strawberry picking? If so what do you do with all those berries? 

I am a fan of Strawberry Shortcake but won't celebrate.  My family used to grow strawberries on our farm.  Let me tell ya, it is hard work.  Some evenings I would be so tired and silly, I would start a strawberry fight knowing I would get in trouble afterwards.  My family sold strawberries for a few summers.

5. What's something you always splurge on? 

Things for the grandkids.  That's why they are called GRAND!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have been deep cleaning my house...windows, blinds, etc.  I have four rooms complete and I have officially clocked out for the rest of the week.  SHEW!!

Tomorrow I have inservice (which I know I will be dead tired.  Is it just mean but sitting in meetings all day long wears me out!) 

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Tell me something you remember (or if you're not there yet, something you look forward to) about being 35.

When getting ready to turn 35, I remember the famous Bronco Chase and O.J. Simpson's ex-wife being murdered.  Both my daughters were still very young.  One daughter was beginning 2nd grade and the other daughter was beginning Kindergarten.  Also, I had a lot more energy than I do now!

w. Last time you 'burned the candle at both ends'? 

Probably last month trying to tie up the loose ends of the school year.

3. Are you someone with the 'gift of gab'? Elaborate (which shouldn't be a problem if you answered yes teehee).  

No, not really.  I like to get right to the point without beating around the bush.  

4. Do you request a special meal on your birthday, and if so tell us what that meal is? Do you want the same kind of cake year after year or will any flavor work? Do you want cake at all? Growing up were birthdays a big deal in your house? Are they a big deal now? 

My birthday is coming up next month!  I don't request a special meal anymore.  I am lucky if I get a cake, now!  My birthday isn't a big deal; I consider myself very lucky to have made another trip around the sun!

Growing up my birthday was always celebrated with the fourth of July even though this wasn't my birthday (July 3rd) .  There was always a huge cookout and a cake.  

5. 'Age is just a number.'..agree or disagree? Tell us why.

I believe you are never too old to try new things and learn new things.  At least this is what my brain tells me but some days my body tells me different!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My daughter and her boys were with me all last week.  A storm blew through and a tree fall which resulted in their deck being demolished, chimney demolished, and their boat!  Because the chimney was demolished a critter or two (squirrels) got stuck inside the chimney.  They left Sunday evening to head back home.  Emily texted me Sunday night and said when the boys said their prayers they prayed they could come back to my house on Monday! 

We are having Vacation Bible School this week, and I am teaching the Pre-K group.