Joining The 100th Hodgepodge

I tip my hat to our host this week, 

not only for reaching 100 weeks of Hodgepodge Fun, 

but for posting this weeks questions 

while preparing for and dealing with "Sandy" and her havoc. 

Joyce, you are one dedicated host!!

Here are this weeks questions along with my answers.

1.     What creeps you out?

Praying Mantis. There is just something about them, gives me chills just thinking about them. I do not want to be near them at all. I had one on my car one day. I would not get in the car, finally I got up enough nerve to knock it off the car with a broom. If it had gotten on me I would probably have had a heart attack.

 

2.     What's your least favorite candy?

         Anything with coconut in it. No Mounds or Almond Joy for me!

3.     Are you a fan of scary movies? What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?

         I am not a scary movie fan, though I have seen quite a few of them. My daughter loves them and used to rent them a lot.  I think the ones that have disturbed me the most have been the Omen movies.   

4.     What part of life confuses you the most?

         Wow, this is a tough one. So many things in life are confusing. But, I think people are what confuse me the most. While most people are decent and react and interact with each other in a courteous and decent way. While I know we all do or say things at times that are foolish, it is the ones that act or react in a senseless manner that really puzzle me. The people that have no consideration for how their senseless actions effect others. 

5.     Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy...what's your favorite seed?

         Of the four listed above I think I would have to say that I would choose sesame seeds. I tend to like them cooked in dishes as opposed to eating them raw. 

6.     Imagine your life ten years from today...what's changed?

          Everything! Change is the only thing in life that you can count on. No matter how hard you try, you can't stop it, change is inevitable. 

7.     What do you a) love the most and b) like the least about the Hodgepodge? 

         I love reading everyone's answers to the questions. Many times seeing that though we may be from different places we lead similar lives. While some of the questions are quite easy to answer, some of them make you think deeply or look inside yourself to answer.

The only thing I don't like about Hodgepodge is that most of the time I am not able to read each and every person's responses. 

8.     Insert your own random thought here.

We live in a rural area with many small to mid-size farms and distance between most houses. Our street is a dead end street with only 15 houses, but another 6 or so are along the main road at our street's entrance. The elementary school is also across from our street. Many parents park at the school and walk with their children out our street and to the houses along the main road that are within walking distance. There is also another road with about 20 houses that circles around the main road and  comes out a short distance from our street. Locals use their 4 wheelers and rangers to attached to wagons to drive along both roads. So we generally have a steady flow of Trick or Treaters. I have bought 30 bags of candy. I hope it is enough!!

          HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Linked with:

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Around My House

Just beyond the edge of our property is a trail into the woods. I am not sure exactly why it is there but it is a great place to take a walk and enjoy the scenery of the woods. 

Last weekend I ventured down the path to see if I could spot a bird or two. 









On this particular day I wasn't able to capture any birds, but did enjoy the colors of the woods.

With all the heat of this past summer, and some of the leaves beginning to dry up before Summer came to an end,  I was afraid that the trees would not be very colorful. But I believe they are more beautiful than last year.

Even the weeds along the pond's edge are pretty.

I stopped to take a few photos of the trees along highway on my way home a few days ago.   

The school near our house has a beautiful grouping of brightly colored trees.
I wanted to capture them before the leaves are all gone. 










The leaves are falling at a fast rate now and soon the trees will be bare.

Friday afternoon when I took the dog out I noticed this spider on the side of the house.
I don't know what kind of spider it was, but it was sure a creepy looking one.

As I began snapping photos of it I noticed the shadow on the bricks of the house. Perfect for Shadow Shot Sunday 2.










This morning standing at my kitchen window I saw this Bluebird sitting on the wires.  

My little pal, Chip, was enjoying a few bird seeds on the patio wall.
Chip visits often looking for seeds. I have started leaving him some on the patio wall.
I watched as he gather a mouth full of seeds and scurried off.







I knew he would return in a few minutes, so I opened the laundry room door, which is the closest view of the patio wall, and waited for him to return.When he did, I managed to capture this shot. I love his full checks, so cute!

Linked With:

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Straight Out of The Camera

Your Sunday Best

The Bird D'Pot

Hodgepodge Time

Haven't had much of a chance to blog for a few days. But, I am happy to be able to join in with this week's Hodgepodge. Here are Joyce's questions and my answers.

1. So, do you like beer? 

NO, I have never liked beer. I could never get past the smell of it and on the rare occasions that I have tasted it, did not like it. I am not a drinker, but on the rare occasion that I do partake in an alcoholic beverage, I prefer a fruity drink. 

 2. What's your least favorite repetitive task?

Folding the basket of towels after doing the laundry.  I guess all those years working at Target and having to help "zone" fold towels in the domestics department are to blame. I think I can fold towels in my sleep along with shirts and jeans.  

3. When was the last time you rode a bus? Where was it headed?

This past June, for 11 glorious days, my kids, my sister and her family and I rode the buses all around the Disney World properties. 



Other bus trips I have taken have been two "school bus" rides to the Smokey Mountains with my daughter's school chorus. I don't recommend this. The seats are not comfortable and kids get restless when on a bus for four and a half hours, not counting time stuck in traffic on the interstate. Amazing that I did this two years in a row. 

I have also gone to the Smokies, with my daughter, via Greyhound. (actually to Knoxville and then via taxi to Pigeon Forge)  She and I spent four nights in Pigeon Forge, just the two of us. The bus ride wasn't bad, except for the lay over at one of the bus stops. 






4. What song from your childhood or from your own children's childhood could make a parent's nerves stand on end? 

The A Is for Apple (Phonics Song). My daughter drove us absolutely nuts with this song. We took a trip to Florida on a school break when she was learning this song. All the way there she sang this song. [a a apple, ba ba ball, ca ca cat and da da doll ... and if she made a mistake she would have to start all over again].
My niece learned a very similar song when she was in Kindergarten.

5. The US Presidential election cycle is drawing to a close (can I get an AMEN??), and the third and final debate was held last night...what was the last thing you 'debated about'?

I live and work with an Attorney, every case is a debate in this house. Especially when a "legal loop hole" comes in to play. 

6. Can a person make too much money? How much is too much?

While I don't think a person should be limited in the amount of money he or she should be able to make, I do believe that too much of anything, money included, can cause problems. How much is too much? I guess that would depend on the person. Like most things, people deal with things in different ways. 

7. Pop-soda-coke-something else...what's it called where you live?

Everything is a Coke here.  

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 We have been enjoying the wonderful weather and colors of Fall these past few weeks. I ventured out with my camera a few days ago and intended to post the photos that I shot on my blog on Saturday, but my daughter came over and stayed until around 1 am.  I didn't get the photos on the computer until Sunday and haven't had a chance to post any of them until now. 

Linked with:

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Down Home Hodgepodge

Joyce has put together another group of wonderful questions for us to answer this week.
Here are the questions along with my answers to them. 

1.     Noah Webster was born this week back in 1758....besides the online version, do you own a dictionary? Do you ever use the hardback copy or is your hunt for a definition strictly online these days?
        I do indeed own a dictionary, actually a few of them at home and at the office. My husband uses them quite often, saying it is easier to look up a word in the dictionary than to find it online, especially if you are having trouble spelling the word. I, on the other hand, use the computer most of the time.

2.    Should public schools ban Halloween celebrations? What about other holiday celebrations currently under fire?



NO!!! Children love and enjoy these things why on earth would anyone want to take them away. Besides kids need some time to interact with each other and have something to look forward to. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!

(My Son & My Daughter)



    
3.     What's your favorite 'dog' movie?

         Well this one is a hard one because I have seen several movies about or with dogs in them.  Lady and the Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, The Fox and the Hound, Homeward Bound and Marley and Me are all Great "dog" movies that I have seen several times and enjoyed but I think my favorite dog movie would have to be "Where The Red Fern Grows"!!

4.     When were you last somewhere you'd describe as 'too quiet'?

         I can't say that I have been anywhere that has been quiet. 

5.     Are you a neat cook or a messy cook? In other words do you clean as you go or make a big mess and then deal with it later?

        Oh I am most definitely a Neat cook!! I clean as I go along and try to have the pots and pans washed before I sit down to eat. My husband is a messy cook he cleans nothing before or after he cooks. He would leave dishes sitting with food in them for weeks and not be bothered by it at all. DRIVES ME INSANE!!! This is a very touchy subject in my house!

6.     Did you hear about Felix Baumgartner, the skydiver who broke the sound barrier via parachute? Was your first thought COOL! or was your first thought CRAZY! Are you adventurous?

        I did hear about it and my first thought was CRAZY!!  As my kids tell me all the time, I am a worrier and worry about all the possibilities of something going wrong. I am not very adventurous. I will leave that to my Daughter, she is the adventurous one, I have the gray hair to prove it too! (Well under the hair color that is)  

7.     What's not a word but should be?

        Growing up in a small country community, I can think of several words that we used whether they are actual words or not. For instance:

modockin - moving at a fast pace, especially while driving. 
He was modockin down the road in that car. 

gom - big mess.
Don't be in my kitchen making a gom. 

dreckly - soon
We will be going to the store dreckly so don't get your clothes dirty. 

swanee - swear
Well I swanee that baby has grown two foot since I've seen him. 
(foot used deliberately instead of feet for this sentence)

8.     Insert your own random thought here.

Well answering number 7 has brought back a lot of wonderful memories from my youth and early adulthood. At the same time it has made me realize just how much my life has changed and how different my childhood was from that of my husband's. 
(My Dad, Mom, Brother and Me)

Linked With:

Wednesday Hodgepodge 

October Humming Birds

The trees are turning and the temperatures are falling. We have even had a couple of nights with light frost.

But the humming birds are still around. 

I thought that after we began to have night time temperatures in the mid 30s that the little hummers would start their trek southward.

My neighbor tells me that I should take the feeder down so that they will move on. Normally I don't remove it until I no longer see the birds at the feeder.
So I did a Google search, visited a couple of the sites and learned that the little birds are cued to migrate by the sun. As the days become shorter they begin their move south.





I have tried all summer long to capture the little birds up close, but haven't had much success. Until a few days ago.
As I was filling my other feeders with fresh seed two hummers kept flying around and lighting in the trees.






So I went inside and grabbed my camera. They would sit on the tree branch and allow me to walk up close to them as long as I moved slowly.
I loved how I was able to capture the shadow of its beak on the bird itself.








As the cameras shutter snapped the bird would turn as if it was trying to find the sound. 









I was surprised at how long the little bird stayed in the tree. 

Finally as I stepped a little closer it flew off. I was thrilled with the shots I was able to capture. I am not sure how much longer the Humming Birds will stay around, but I will enjoy them as long as they are here and will keep the feeder up as well.

Linked with:

The Bird D'Pot

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Straight Out of The Camera

Your Sunday Best

When I Get Where I'm Going

Performed By: Brad Paisley

Featuring: Dolly Parton

Written By: George Teren and Rivers Rutherford 

Album: Time Well Wasted (2005)

When I get where I'm going,
On the far side of the sky,
The first thing I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly.

I'm gonna land beside a lion,
And run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what its like,
To ride a drop of rain

(Chorus)
Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
There'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
Don't cry for me down here.

I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy parents
And he'll they'll match me step for step.
And I'll tell him them how I missed him them,
Every minute since he they left,
Then I'll hug his their neck.

(Repeat chorus)

Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
There'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
Don't cry for me down here.

So much pain and so much darkness,
In this world we stumble through.
All these questions I can't answer,
And so much work to do.

But when I get where I'm goin,
And I see my maker's face,
I'll stand forever in the light,
Of his Amazing Grace.

Yeah when I get where I'm goin'

When I get where I'm goin'
There'll be only happy tears.

Hallelujah,
I will love and have no fear.

When I get where I'm Goin'...

My song choice is a tribute to a dear friend of mine who tragically lost her son yesterday.

He was only 28 years old.

My heart aches for my friend and her family.

Linked to:

Hootin' Anni's

Thursday Theme Song

Indulging In Hodgepodge

Joyce's questions for the week along with my answers.

1.      In what ways do you indulge yourself?

         I guess I indulge myself with long baths, certain foods, and my computer time.       

2.      Have you ever taken a cooking class? Any interest? What type of class
          would you most like to try?

         I have never taken a cooking class and have never really thought about doing so. I have been cooking meals since I was 13 years old. My Mom took a job so I was responsible for the evening meal and watching my little sister. I even did the grocery shopping on most Saturdays too. If Mom was working, Dad would drop me off at the grocery, he would run errands and then come back to pick me up.  I made the decision about what to buy to prepare for the coming week. 

If I did take a class, I guess I would want to learn how to prepare something foreign.

3.      What does it mean to be a good citizen?

         I believe that being a good citizen means abiding by the rules and laws that society has set for us, support our community as well as our country, express ourselves in a positive way especially in front of children and treat others as we would want to be treated.   

4.      'Tis the season of the political advert...do these ads influence your vote?

          No, while these ads do capture our attention, they should not be the only factor in our decision. I actually do not like the bashing political ads and usually know who I am going to vote for in spite of all the pre-vote hoopla.


5.      What's something you see today that makes you wish you were a kid
          again?


Kids today do have a lot of neat toys and technology at their fingertips and they are pretty fun to play with. But I can't think of anything in particular that makes me want to be a kid again. 

Besides I can always visit Disney World and be a kid for a while.







6.      What's your least favorite cliche?

          I can't think of one in particular that I do not like. I must admit that I have become much like my Mother in that I recite sayings and cliches quite often...drives my daughter nuts.

7.      What percentage of your Christmas shopping has been completed? 
          How does that make you feel?

I have bought two gifts so far. I am still in the planning stages of gift buying. I like to get started early with my gift buying and stretch it out over a couple of months instead of having it all to do in December. Sometimes I buy mall gift cards, the ones that can be used throughout the mall, and then use them to buy particular gifts closer to Christmas.

I wish I had more of the shopping done already, but this year has been a tough one and money is tight. Santa is thinking on a much smaller scale this year.






8.      Insert your own random thought here.

         My husband is a well educated very intelligent man, but it amazes me how the simplest things escape him.  For instance, making sure the car's air conditioner is off before turning the heat on. Just turning the temperature knob does not make the heat come on. We go through this every year. And, don't get me started on email, copy machines or phones. 

Linked with:

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Lots of thought provoking questions this week:

1.             It's a brand new month...share one thing you're looking forward to in October.

Pumpkin Fest at Jackson’s Orchard! They have wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, the goat ranch, pony rides, a corn maze, a big slide (The Cider Slider), the tire yard, the straw castle, moon walk, face painting sand art and wood crafts. As well as hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, ice cream, apple cider, apple cider slushies and the best fried apple pies you will ever taste. A big bag of Granny Smiths will be coming home with us as well as a pumpkin or two and a few fried pies.

2.            Is chivalry dead?  Explain.

I don’t think that chivalry is dead. Men want to save the damsel in distress and while women have become more independent, I believe that most women still want a man to be chivalrous.

After my divorce from my first husband I found that every man that I dated as well as a few that were just friends or co-workers wanted to fix things or help with manly chores around my house. Men painted, put together furniture, laid my kitchen floor, repaired my car, my dishwasher, my refrigerator, and a whole in my wall. (Gee, why did I get re-married now I get nothing but messes to clean up).

3.             On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts comic strip made its debut.  Which character is your favorite?  Which character is most like you?  (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Shroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock, or Pig Pen) 

           Of all the Peanuts characters I guess Snoopy would be my favorite. He is adventurous,    
           daring and always Cool.

           As for the character I am most like, I suppose I would have to say Charlie Brown, full 
           of hope but always second guessing myself. I am the one who will trust you to hold the 
           football so that I can kick it even though you have pulled it out from under me a 
           hundred times.

4.            What's something you're competitive about? 

Words With Friends and Song Pop. I don’t have a smart phone so I play them on Face Book. My daughter gets so annoyed with me because I take too long to make a word. I take my time and look for a word that will get me the most points, especially when I play against one of my Aunts. She is really good and I Really try my absolute best when playing her. We usually have at least two games going at all times and I have gotten to where I can hold my own with her and have actually beaten her a few times. I have learned several new words from playing Words With Friends. Song Pop is just fun and I enjoy music and I have a few friends that are awesome at the game and I strive to beat them. If you have never played either of these games, I highly recommend them!

5.            October is National Popcorn Popping Month...are you a fan?  How do you like your popcorn?

            I love popcorn, ANY kind of popcorn. The air popped kind like you can get at a
            ballgame is the best!

6.            When did you first realize the world is small? 

I guess as a young adult when I realized that no matter where you go people are generally the same. They have many of the same problems and feelings.

7.            In terms of architecture, what's the most beautiful building you've seen up close and in person?

While I am not a world traveler, for me there are three places that I have personally seen that I was in awe of, the details in each of these buildings is amazing. They would be;

  

1) The Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina. Built between 1889 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II. A Châteauesque-styled mansion and the largest privately owned home in the United States with 175,000 square feet and 250 rooms.

2) West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick, Indiana. Built
in 1902 and advertised as the eighth wonder of the world. Known for its vast domed atrium and its healing mineral springs. It had the largest free spanning dome in the world from 1902 t0 1913 and in the United States until 1955. It is now part of the French Lick Resort.

 

3) Flager College, in St. Augustine, Florida. Built in 1888 by Henry Morrison Flager as a luxury hotel (The Ponce De Leon Hotel)

8.            Insert your own random thought here.

Much discussion in our house lately has been about homework assignments and at what age a child should have the total responsibility for these assignments.

I feel that when a child is in middle school and high school that they are old enough to be
responsible for their assignments. Sure, if they need help with an assignment I am there for them and there are consequences if they just blow them off and let their grades fall behind. All this can be monitored with the schools website and parent night conferences. But, how are they going to learn responsibility if they are never responsible for anything?

Linked with: Wednesday Hodgepodge