Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Hello August. What's one thing you're looking forward to this month? 

Our August appears to be packed to the brim. There are some short trips, a wedding, and more which makes it hard to narrow my choice down to only one thing, but I'm going with one of the short trips.

2. What are you doing to beat the heat right now? If you live in the southern hemisphere are you enjoying cooler temps or counting the days until summer? 

It's only 69º at our house at the moment. A bit on the chilly side for August, but I'll take it. I prefer cooler temperatures.

We do have a window air conditioning unit installed that we put to use earlier. 

3. How do you see the world? 

The world can look scary sometimes, okay a lot of the time ... but ... since most of it is beyond my control I try to focus on my own little corner of the world and make it a sweeter place. 

4. What's food product do you think is better store bought than home made? How about something you refuse to buy because it is so much better homemade? 

So far I have not found anything that comes close to being as good as brownies made from a box mix. I'm on a quest to find a recipe that is as good or better, but so far all have failed to match the perfection of those I buy at the store.

On the opposite side of the coin, I think homemade cake is so much better than a box mix or the pre-baked grocery store cake.

5. Are you easy to get along with? 

Yes, I would say so.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

This past weekend we spent time in New York. While there we visited Watkins Glen State Park. It was gorgeous as ever and I was glad the children finally got to experience it.


We also drove by my childhood home. The buildings, especially the barn and shop/garage surprised me. Somehow they appear to have shrunk quite a bit over the years. I know they didn't. but my little girl memories had them both much bigger than what they are.

11 comments:

  1. The park looks beautiful!

    Yes, the buildings shrink. 😊

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  2. MY favorite box brownies are the double chocolate chip by Ghirardelli.

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  3. What a stunning park! Where do you live in the States that the temps are that cool? I'd give about anything for our temps to drop here in GA, but that won't happen any time soon.
    Blessings!

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  4. Watkins Glen is gorgeous. People tend to think of the city when they hear NY, but the upstate is so pretty. Enjoy all your August happenings. I love a wedding !

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  5. Looks like a beautiful place to visit. and how fun to drive by your childhood home. Great answer about the store bought brownies in a box. So true. Happy August to you.

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  6. Boxed brownies to save time, but I have tried a Taste of Home recipe...not sure if it is this one, but it was wonderful!
    We drove through Watkins Glen years ago. It was very pretty even though it was not summertime. I agree with Sandi, above. Buildings shrink! So do the sledding hills we used as children! You have put me to shame posting on your blog AND here on Hodge Podge! I have been so busy the last few years that blogging has taken a back seat... in fact, blogging is now residing in the trunk! Perhaps this fall...

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  7. Watkins Glen has been on our list of parks we'd like to visit sometime, but I don't know when that will happen. Loved your photo from there to remind me that I want to go!

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  8. Do you have a favorite cake recipe? I don’t really like cake as much as other desserts but I would say it is also something that is better from a box compared to the recipes I have tried to make. I am curious which recipe you use.

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  9. Enjoyed your answers. Brownies from a box are good...

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  10. Dear Mary Ann,

    I am not a blogger and couldn’t figure out how to make my comment show up as not-anonymous tonight.

    I just wanted to thank you for all of the good reading over the past couple of months. I have laughed with you, cried with you, rejoiced with you, mourned with you, related to you, and most of all admired your grace.

    I found your blog on a whim and went back to the beginning and read them all. Thank you for sharing all of the wonderful family moments. I feel like I just read a great novel, and I am looking forward to the sequel.

    Blessings to you and yours,
    Monica in Pittsburgh

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  11. Hello! I wanted to let you know you won a prize on my giveaway! Please email or message me and I will email it back to you! Congratulations! BillieJo

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.