Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What do you think makes a good dad?

To me a good dad is always ready to listen to his children. Loves working and playing with them. Is a good provider. He is a great example to them and is never too tired to help them out. Loves their mother.

2.  What's something you learned from your own father?

I learned that it's possible to treat people with kindness even when they don't seem to deserve it. Being a bit of a perfectionist he taught us to do our best in everything, but also showed us that it is okay when things don't always turn out the way you had hoped they would.

3. It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having?

Definitely chocolate.
 

4. When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons?

Going with our gut has proved to be much more successful than the whole reason it out business.

5. June is National Dairy Month. What's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item?

My favorite dairy item is cheese, and also happens to be the item purchased most often. Almost everything is better if there is cheese involved.

6. Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910....what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore?

On one of our evening walks I discovered some flowers I had never seen before. They're beautiful and I now I want to know what they are called.

7. Are you typical of your generation?

This is a little harder to answer. It's questions like this that remind how much I'm caught between two different worlds. Not being Amish any longer I don't qualify as typical for that generation, but because I still have Amish-ness stuck in me I also don't qualify as typical for the generation main stream America is experiencing.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Those minty cookies found a home when a friend spent the afternoon at our house and tasted one and thought it was delicious. Yay! That means our no sugar diet is already over.

Not All Can be a Keeper

I love trying new recipes, and have a keeper file when ever we try a new one that we know we want to enjoy again someday it gets tucked in there. It's the only way that I know I'll be able to find it when I want it again. With hundreds of recipe books the last thing I want to do is have to look through all of them for a certain recipe.

Pinterest has added to that collection. I have pinned a ridiculous amount of things I want to try someday and one thing that I kept seeing in my journeys through the land of Pinterest were cookies and brownies using Andes Crème de Menthe. I have always loved Andes as well as any other peppermint candy. So last week when we went on our weekly grocery run and I happened to see Andes baking chips I knew the time had come to finally try one of those recipes.

 

We decided to make the recipe for the cookies on the back of the package. Turns out this is a recipe that will stay far away from my keeper file. And I'll also be deleting all the pins I have for Andes recipes.

 

We're stuck with a cookie jar filled with cookies that taste like I imagine cookies would taste if you used toothpaste to make them. None of us like them and yet I hate simply tossing them. If we wait to do more baking until those cookies have been eaten I think it's safe to say the Kinsingers will all be on a no sugar diet for quite a while.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Have you learned more from success or failure? Explain.

I have learned from both; however, unfortunately, I think I have learned more from failures. At least I am more aware of what I have learned from them.

2.  What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents? If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

We used to call our grandparents Dawdy and Mommie and our children call both sets of their grandparents the same. I suppose it's an Amish thing. However when ever we wrote letters to them we addressed them as Grandpa and Grandma.

3.  You're invited to a luau.  In keeping with that theme, what dish will you bring to share?

Hawaiian Rolls and a Pineapple Upside Down Cake

4. Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know about?

I think everyone should know the life story of Corrie ten Boom.


5. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or Disagree? Why?

Agree. I don't want to get irritated and agitated at all the little stuff. And if I do get irritated I don't want to dwell on it. Life is too short to allow small things to rob me of the happiness I could have.

6.  June is National Rivers Month. When were you last on a river? What's the prettiest river you've ever seen? What's a river you'd like to see?

I had a ride on The Maid of the Mist on the Niagara eleven years ago. The prettiest river I have ever seen is probably the Niagara with the Ohiopyle coming in second. I'm not a water person, but I do think it would be fun to see the Jordan River.

7.  Speaking of rivers- paddling, fishing, swimming, or bird watching safely from the shore? Which activity would you choose? Yes-you have to choose.

I would choose bird watching safely from the shore. It's bad enough when I have to cross a bridge so paddling and swimming are definitely out. I'm not a fan of fishing either. Casting a line and reeling it in is okay, but baiting a hook and removing any fish that happen to get caught is not my thing.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Keeping with the river theme. The prettiest start of a river I have ever seen is Big Spring.

Blooming

 

After several late frosts killed our lilacs and most of the bleeding hearts, I was thrilled to see that one sprig of bleeding hearts managed to bloom.

 

 

The air is humming with bumblebees as they bumble their way in and out of the blossoms on our huge rhododendron bush.

I love all the blooming-ness that we get to enjoy this time of year. It's almost enough to make me rethink having winter as my favorite season.

Plain Buggies ~ Winner

June has started off with beautiful sunshine, balmy breezes, and blooming flowers. The perfect type of weather to enjoy some leisurely driving on some back roads to enjoy the scenery and all the beauties of nature.

Gas prices have helped make us more of the arm chair traveling type, thankfully books have a way of transporting me so I won't complain.

On that note today is also the day to choose a winner for the copy of Plain Buggies that I'm giving away. And the winner is....

Comment # 3

Rozy Lass said .......

When I was six my parents had a VW Bug; I remember riding in the little space behind the back seat. Of course this was in the "olden days" before seat belts and car seats. I was the fourth child so the three big kids got to sit on the seat and I was in the very back. I thought it was fun and felt cozy and safe back there.

Congratulations! Please send me an email with your address and I will get the book mailed to you.