Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. "Summer is like childhood. It's full of warm memories and gone too soon."~Kellie Elmore  Agree or disagree? Share something you loved about the summers of your childhood.

Summer is okay, I guess, though my least favorite of the four seasons.

As a child, summers were spent waiting to be able to go back to school. We had a lot of fun playing outside, but there was also a ton of work taking care of the garden and doing all the canning.

2. Are you a fan of auto racing-NASCAR, Indy, Stock, Grand Prix, etc? Ever been to a race in person? Any desire to do this?  Do you know a lot about cars? Do you notice particular makes and models when you're out and about?

I am not a fan of auto racing, never been to a race in person and so far have not been struck with the desire to do so. I'm not that interested in cars and pay no attention to the makes and models I see when I'm out and about.

3. What's something you think is too serious to be joked about? Or do you think anything and everything is fair game?

I really dislike jokes about death, St. Peter, and life after death. Actually I cringe when hearing almost any type of joke that involves the faith I hold dear.

4. July 29th is National Lasagna Day. Are you a fan? Do you have a great recipe, and if so where did it come from? If given a choice would you choose a plate of lasagna or a plate of spaghetti?

I love lasagna! I have several great recipes, a vegetable lasagna from Taste of Home, meat lasagna from a source I don't remember, and a few other lasagna that I found on Pinterest. If given a choice between spaghetti and lasagna I will always choose lasagna!

5. What's a simple pleasure you'd miss if it were not a regular part of your life?

That time every evening when LV and I simply chat about our day.

6. If you could be the CEO of any company, which would you choose?

Hershey's.  I'm hoping the job would come with plenty of free chocolate.

7. August is just around the bend...bid farewell to July in exactly seven words.

A hard month, glad it's finally over.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm busy wrapping up the final preparations for a new school year that we're planning to begin on Monday. We're all looking forward to it.

Savor the Moments

"I need a box to pack my doll away," Sunbeam informed me quite cheerfully yesterday. I didn't feel as cheerful as I helped her select a nice box from the pile of empty boxes in the attic, the doll was wrapped in her favorite blanket and carefully tucked into the box and placed in the attic with the rest of the things that are no longer used, but we don't want to get rid of.

It had been quite a while since she had played with her doll, but I wasn't ready for this day. It's a little thing, but it reminded me how important it is to savor the little moments. Had I realized the last time she played with her doll would be the last time I would have watched her and cherished the moment.

Cleaning out a drawer in the bathroom vanity I found a few baubles the girls used to love wearing in their hair, another last had occurred without me being aware it was happening. Had I realized it was the last time I brushed and braided their long hair I would have slowed down and enjoyed it more.

They're growing up so fast, and trading in their dolls for sewing machines, and their little tea sets to baking delectable treats in the kitchen. It's bittersweet, but I don't want to become wrapped up in what used to be, that I miss out on all the great things of the present. So day by day, I want to savor the moments, because I never know when I'm enjoying a moment for the last time.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When I look at the sky I feel________________________________________.

In awe. At night looking at all the stars and knowing that God has a name for every one of them. The lovely sunrises and sunsets, lazy summer clouds drifting by, and towering thunderheads all make me pause to drink in the beauty, and rainbows of-course always remind me of God's promises. So yes, mostly I feel in awe of our Creator when I look at the sky.

2. If you had to run for political office, which one would you run for? Do you have any real desire to actually do this?

If I had to run for political office I might as well go for president. I have zero desire to be in any type of political office though so you don't have to worry about me going and changing almost everything about the way things are being done.

3. What scent makes you think of home?

I wish I knew, unfortunately I have no idea what home smelled/smells like.

4. How often do you take a step back to think about where you're headed in life? Do you need more or less self-reflection?

Quite often. I so want to live my life so that once I'm old and feeble I won't be looking back with regret at the things I could have or should have done. The children seem to be growing up way too fast and I really want to treasure and savor this time of life.

5. July is National Ice Cream Month...besides a cone, what's your favorite food item to top with ice cream?

A slightly warm blueberry cobbler is always delicious when topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

6. What might your autobiography be called?

I have no idea. Funny thing, in the publishing world the author isn't necessarily the one choosing the title of a book.

7. Your least favorite mode of transportation? Why?

I really don't like any kind of public transportation. The schedule isn't my own, constantly being surrounded by other people, trying to keep track of luggage, and let's not even mention security. I don't care how far it is I would much rather drive than take a bus, plane, or train.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

God answers prayers.

The thing that was growing in my throat is gone, I firmly believe it was healed because of prayer.

On Being Truthful

We had some friends stop in, and during the course of conversation the mother turned to Sunbeam and asked her what grade she is in.

I could almost see the wheels churning in her head as she paused for a moment before saying "4th grade." Later Sunbeam and I were talking and she was telling me how she dislikes when people ask her what grade she is in during the summer, because she's between two grades and she feels like she isn't being honest whether she says the grade she finished or the one she is ready for.

I can certainly understand how she feels, because I used to feel the same way when I was a little girl. There were numerous times when I was accused of lying, when people simply didn't stop to hear how I came to my answer.

One instance in particular that stands out in my memory as the perfect example was when I was in first grade and while we were eating lunch at school everyone was sharing what they had for supper the previous evening. When it was my turn I happily told them we had potatoes, meat, and fresh sweetcorn.

"Was the corn from your garden?" the teacher asked.

I cheerfully told them it was. I had helped get the corn ready for canning and knew all the corn we had, had come from our garden.

What followed was not pretty, the teacher sought out a fitting punishment for the lie I had just told. My cousin went home and told her mother what a liar I was, because it was the middle of the winter and there was no way to have fresh corn. Her mother of-course was very concerned with the amount of "lies" I was telling and informed my Mom what a naughty little girl she had, which in turn brought me to a dreaded talk.

To me the corn was fresh, we had opened a new can that night. Leftovers were no longer fresh and would be served the next day often fried in little fritters or in a casserole. To this day I still don't think I told a lie that day, there was simply a misunderstanding.

I try to keep this in mind with my own children and truly understand what they are trying to say before accusing them of telling lies.

Checking In

Sitting and looking at a blinking cursor when I know I have only a matter of minutes to be online seems like such a waste of precious time. There are blog posts ruminating in the back of my mind, but those will simply have to wait until some later date.

Buddy is feeling especially miserable the past few days since he somehow picked up the chicken pox. He wants to be held 95% of the time and the other five I'm busy trying to keep him from scratching and picking at his spots.  I'm sure the smattering of spots on his feet adds to the reason he wants to be held so much, he was trying to tiptoe, but even that seemed to be too much. I'm hoping the worst is over and he can start feeling better soon.

It's not fun when children are sick!

Gardening

Every spring I used to look forward to the day when it was time to plant our hot bed, a simple little construction that looked like a giant toolbox. The cover consisted of six windows, three on each side. After the ground was spaded it was time to plant the seeds of things that needed a longer growing time than what could be expected if we were to plant directly into the garden. Tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, kohlrabi, broccoli, and cauliflower. Often we would also sow a little lettuce and parsley simply to have an earlier spring time treat. This little hotbed was quite different from the garden, we allowed no space between anything, the windows were closed to keep heat inside and we had to water daily.

By late May and the last threat of a killing frost was gone it would be time to transplant the things from the hotbed into the garden.  A lot of Amish transplanted their things earlier and covered the plants with plastic jugs that had the bottoms cut out to protect them from getting too cold. We never did that, thinking we have enough to keep us busy without that extra chore of babying the plants along.

We never had any problem with deer getting into our garden, though starlings and robins were quite another story. We discovered long strips of cloth that resembled snakes finally got rid of the problem we had with the starlings coming to snip off baby bean plants. Little rocks painted red and scattered among the strawberries before the actual berries ripened tended to discourage the robins from coming to snack on the strawberries once they began ripening.

Laundry water used to be saved and poured over cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower to keep it from getting wormy.

Ashes from the wood stove helped the squash and cucumbers from getting blight.

A tablespoon of Epsom salt placed at the bottom of the hole and then a little dirt to cover it when we transplanted tomatoes helped them grow bigger and healthier, we tried adding a quarter cup of sugar to each tomato plant one year after having been recommended to do so to get sweeter tomatoes, but it didn't seem to work. In fact we didn't think they did as well that year and never tried it again.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. July is National Anti-Boredom Month. When was the last time you were bored? What's your go-to cure for boredom?

I can't remember the last time I was bored. There are so very many things I enjoy doing, and not nearly enough time to get everything done, that I really have no time to get bored.

2. What's the last thing you made a reservation for?

A Valentine's Day dinner several years ago.

3. What's one thing on your summer 'bucket list'? Any plans to make it happen?

Going to the beach. Not sure that will be happening this year since we are suddenly back to being a one vehicle family.

4. What's your favorite summertime sip?

Pink lemonade is my favorite drink other than water.

5. What do you find is the best way to handle another person's hostility and hopefully ease the tension?

This can be hard, but I have found that simply not responding, or somehow tactfully changing the subject especially if it is something the person has an interest in or enjoys can help ease the tension.

Proverbs was right........ A slow answer turneth away wrath .........

6. Your favorite film set in summer?

We hardly watch any movies,  and I really can't think of one that is set in summer.

7. What word are you using too much lately?

Hmmm........ trying to think. Nothing comes to mind, but then I suppose with not being allowed to talk above a whisper greatly reduces the amount of words used unnecessarily.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Yesterday was a day I don't want to repeat. Crazy storms, and crazy deer. Trees are down, roads are blocked, and a less than intelligent deer committed suicide by jumping in front of our mini van rendering  both itself and the van dead.

Happy 4th!

Checking in to my blog for a few minutes of wish you all a very enjoyable holiday weekend.

We are in the middle of enjoying a visit from family, one of my brothers and his family are here for a few days.

I'll be back to my regular schedule next week.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joyce has faithfully been creating the Wednesday Hodgepodge questions for several years, in fact today marks the 180th volume. Quite an achievement!

1.  Speaking of 180...when was the last time you 'did a 180' on something?

As in huge and life changing. The day we became born again.
As in changing my mind about something. Deciding to leave a group that met once a week, it was simply to much.
As in literally. Turning the van around and driving the opposite direction.

2. It's Independence Week in the US of A! What's your favorite thing about America right this very minute? Favorites only! Let's hear what you love about America.

I love the mountains, the deserts, and all the other beautiful places it offers.

3. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Watermelon, homemade vanilla ice cream, or blueberry pie?

Stars. Blue. Watermelon.

4. When did you last see stars, figuratively speaking?

It's been a little while since I last bonked my head hard enough to see stars. I had bent down to pick something up and when I wanted to stand up my head met the big mirror on our F-350. I thought I was going to be sick right there in the parking lot.

5.  'Clear as a bell', 'with bells on',  'lots of bells and whistles', 'saved by the bell'...which phrase 'rings' truest for you lately?  Have you ever seen The Liberty Bell?

I wish I could say clear as a bell, but unfortunately things haven't been looking the clearest lately.

I have never seen the Liberty Bell, but would love to someday.

6. Are you caught up in World Cup fever? Have you watched a lot or a little or none at all?

I have not watched a single second of the World Cup. Soccer has never interested me.

7. Bid farewell to June in 10 words or less.

I wish you could have stayed longer. (July too warm!)

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Today is day seven of not using my voice. It's a challenge, but worth it since I can already feel a difference in the size of the thing in my throat. I'm hoping by the end of the 4-6 week period it will be gone.