Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When does time pass slowly for you? When does time past quickly for you? 

I really don't think time is passing slowly for me now. Time only passes slowly when I am at my hairdresser coloring my hair or at a doctor's appointment waiting.

Time is passing too quickly for me. My summer vacation is over this week.  Teachers start back to school July 29 and students come August 7th.  But time is passing the quickest in watching my grandsons grow up!  It just seems like they were born yesterday.

2. Do you have a favorite beach? What's your favorite 'beach' activity? Tell us what we'd find in your beach bag.

I didn't have a favorite beach till this year.  My favorite beach is Xanadu Beach.  The water is absolutely gorgeous and there isn't much wind.

I enjoy putting my beach chair at the beginning of the ocean and just sitting with me feet in the water.

Sunglasses, book, beach towels, hat, sunscreen, water bottle, my phone, a cover up, and a couple packs of crackers in case I get hungry would be in my beach bag.

3. Your favorite book or movie with a beach setting? 

The Summer I Turned Pretty is my favorite.  Mama Mia  comes in second. 

People We Met on Vacation by Emily Henry is a great book.  Her characters are charming and this is set in a beach town.

4. What's a food you love, but find it's a pain to eat? Is it worth it? 

Maryland Steamed Crabs.  They are a pain to eat, but well worth it.  AND an hour or two later I am hungry no matter if I had just eaten two dozen! A funny...many years ago I was at the beach with some college friends.  One of the girls mentioned steamed crabs and I piped up to go and get some.  We were the only ones in our group who liked steamed crabs.  We ordered them and drove back to our hotel.  Then we realized we had nothing to crack them open up.  We tried a beverage can and no luck.  We were able to crack them with high heel shoes.  When my friend and I are together we still talk about how the high heels were able to crack open the steam crabs on the balcony of our hotel room.

5.  Do you like roller coasters? What's the best (or worst) roller coaster you've been on? 

I use to LOVE riding roller coasters.  Now, that I am older, I kinda get woozy after riding.  The last time I rode a roller coaster, was two years ago in Disney.  The grand loved it and this one didn't bother me.  Maybe because it was a young adult roller coaster!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Praise for the much needed rain we have had the past couple of days!  

I am trying to get back in the swing of things because I start back to school next Wednesday.  

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepdge

1. What's a characteristic you admire in others? Elaborate. 

A characteristic I admire in others is integrity.  A person with integrity is honest, trustworthy, consistent, and they stay strong and hold on to their moral and ethnic principles.  People with integrity serve others as role models. Sadly, this is a trait I don't often find in many people. 

2. Do you have a favorite mug? Let's see it. Why is this one your favorite? 

This one says, "All I Need Today is A Little Coffee and a Whole lotta Jesus"   I just love this because it is so true in my life.

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This one was given to me by friends.  "We are only as Strong as the girlfriends we have".  Which is also true.  I do not know what I would have done without my girlfriends when going through rough times.  We all have friends, but there are a few friends who I have a special bond with.

3. July 15th is/was National Give Something Away Day...will you (or did you, depending on what day you answer these questions) give something away? If so what? Do you regularly give away or do you tend to  'accumulate'? 

I didn't give anything material wise  away.  However, I did give some tomatoes (yellow ones) to a friend and I gave my time to help a friend who was out of town with something.

I regularly give away clothes (I didn't use to because I thought one day I could fit back into them.  Then I realized that ship sailed a long time ago!).  I really need to go through the grandsons toys, and give the ones they no longer play with away.

4. You're planning a trip. Do you prefer exploring big cities or smaller, more off the grid towns? World Atlas lists these 12 'off the grid' towns to see in 2025. How many on the list have you seen? Of those listed which one would you most like to visit? Tell us why? 

Boothbay Harbor Maine, Middlebury Vermont, New Hope Pennsylvania, Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Brevard North Carolina, Saugatuck Michigan, Medora North Dakota, Ouray Colorado, Lamoille Nevada, Neah Bay Washington, Hood River Oregon, or Cambria California

I like exploring big cities because I have always lived in small, rural areas.

I have not been to any of these places.  But if I get to choose, I choose Saugatuck, Michigan. I enjoy going to the beaches, but what is more fascinating to me would be the thrilling dune ride!

*You can read more about each destination by clicking the link above. 

5. Have you ever...ridden a motorcycle? been to a Disney park? met a celebrity? won a contest? Tell us something about whatever you answered yes to on this list. 

I have ridden on a motorcycle.  I love it!!  When it is hot outside and riding a motorcycle on a winding mountain road is so cool.  I get a thrill riding up and down hills and around curves.  I will not ride a motorcycle on the interstate!!  That would really bother me with all the traffic and drivers who don't really pay attention. 

I have been to a Disney park one too many times!!  However, I will say taking high school students is much easier than taking small children!!  With high school students, you can find a place to sit and the students will find you.

I have never met a celebrity.

I have won a contest.  Years ago, I was in a dance contest (twist dance) and won.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Shew!!!  This dark cloud keeps hanging over my friends and I.  Back in March a friend was diagnosed with brain cancer.  Yesterday morning a friend's husband passed away unexpectedly. I will be traveling this weekend to attend his services in Roanoke.  And early this morning around 2am, a friend's DIL, who had a baby last Wednesday, was rushed to the hospital because she had a stroke.  I am really ready for this dark cloud to pass.  "This to shall pass".

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's an adult problem nobody prepared you for? 

Being an adult is hard!  I keep remembering when I was younger that I keep wishing to be older! 

No one prepared me for the curve balls life throws at us!  Death of a spouse, death  of a child, watching a love one suffer (divorce or death) and just the everyday juggle acts that life requires of us. 

No one prepared me for the bodily changes....the hot flashes, the aches of joints when getting older, the challenges one face as she gets older.

2. How tuned in are you to all the recent food related health news? Have you gotten rid of your scratched cookware? Did you pay attention to food additives before they made the news? What's one healthy eating/cooking/food shopping habit you need to adopt? 

I must admit, I am completely unaware of the food related to health news.  Since I rarely cook, my cookware probably looks brand new!  I have been somewhat aware of all the additives in food before this made the news.

I made a healthy choice on Sunday.  I need to get more protein in my diet, so I went grocery shopping!  I bought a rotisserie chicken, tuna (whichI  I love, but just never bought), and cottage cheese.  I have always been a junk food junkie and now being alone, I am worse than ever.  I have started meal prepping so when I come inside, I won't grab a cookie or a bag of chips.  Wish me luck this is going to be a process for me. 

3. What's getting worse and worse as you get older? How about better and better? 

What is getting worse and worse in regards to the world is the disrespect of people (not all people), very little empathy, and the food prices !

In regards to me what is getting worse is more joint pain and not being able to do what my mind says I can but my body says the opposite. 

I would have to say, the older I get the easier it is to navigate trips.  I do enjoy my GPS!  I can still remember hubs and I using a paper map to map out directions and places to stop for the girls to see.  Now, my GPS does it all from finding my destination, to places to stop and use the bathroom, to finding places to eat, etc.

4. Are you more of an indoor person or an outdoor person? Elaborate. 

Most definitely an outdoor person.  I love the longer days  Being outside ve puts me in a better mood.  Being able to work in my garden (I think I like playing in dirt) relieves my stress and creates a feeling of happiness for me even though gardening is hard work.  I do like getting up early and enjoying my coffee when it is so nice and cool before the blazing sun shows itself. In the evening people will find me on my porch reading a book.  

Even in the winter, I have to talk a short walk, either around my house or a short walk down the road.  I just have to be outside.

Also, being outside provides Vitamin D!!

5. If you had an expert personal assistant today, what would you have them do? 

Household maintenance!!!  Leaking faucets, hard time reaching the light fixtures to change the lightbulb.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We are having Bible School this week.  Maybe it is me, but it seems every year, we have less and less children.

I put down 31 bags of larvae rock yesterday, and these joints were feeling it!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What does freedom mean to you? 

Freedom allows me to make my own choices, pursue my goals/dreams, and live my life based on my own beliefs and morals.

Freedom of speech: isn't what it use to be.  Now, if an individual exercises their freedom of speech, I think consequences occur.  Today, we live in a scary world, where if a person speaks their mind political, economical, etc. then that person is fearful of retaliation; I think our world has gotten to this point.  My wish is: I wish we could all agree to disagree and let it go at that.

I am glad I live in the USA in my little town where I can go to church and not worry about being hunted down because of my religious beliefs.

2. How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you live outside the USA answer this question as it relates to your own country's patriotic holiday, wherever that may land on the calendar. 

I have been invited to attend a Fourth of July party in Tennessee.  I haven't made up my mind yet about going. Sometimes it is hard being a 'third wheel'.

3. This or that...red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Watermelon, home made ice cream, or blueberry pie? How do you feel about fireworks?  

Red, stripes, watermelon.

I love watching fireworks, especially when the fireworks are over the water. I know fireworks bother some dogs, but not mine, and I feel sorry for the precious animals.

4. What have you purchased recently that made you excited? 

Nothing!!!   But I did help my daughter and SIL purchase a swimming pool!

5. I'm thankful to live in America (or fill in whatever country you call home) because____________.

compared to other countries, America has ample resources.  We have clean drinking water, options on food choices, reliable electricity, and modern infrastructure.  During times of hardships, Americans are willing to help those in need.  When Helene hit my little community, so many people from different areas came to help.  

America has many beautiful places to visit.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Time is a thief!  These two cuties start Kindergarten in August!  They were born March 9, 2020 and Virginia's Governor shut the state down on March 13, 2020.  They are ready for school, but this Mamaw's heart isn't!  They went school shopping yesterday and were so excited!

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

BTW---tomorrow is my birthday!!!