The Wednesday Hodgepodge # 270…

I’m sitting here, trying to concentrate, while several men attempt to remove and replace about one-half of the roof of our home.  This situation is difficult, and very real!  There’s just something about hearing a tin roof being ripped apart…  Up to this point, Ed’s done most of the work building and repairing our house.  Unfortunately, as Ed grows older, those days are becoming a part of our past.  We both hate hiring work to be done, but I sort of insisted (to keep Ed off the roof), and so here we are!  

Ah, Hodgepodge, take me away…. (and thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for this weekly distraction)

1. If you could sit beside and/or jump in any lake in the whole wide world today, which lake would you choose and why?

I don’t have a preference.  If I could, I’d jump in ANY lake today!  Our temperatures have been reaching 100 degrees, lately, and if you’re familiar with the south Georgia heat, you know that it is MISERABLE.

2. What’s your favorite ‘fruity’ drink?

I don’t know if I really have a favorite, but I’m going to say orange juice.

3. I read a list here of thirteen things to do right now to simplify your life. They were-

clean as you go, re-evaluate your relationships (cut toxic ties), unsubscribe (too many blogs and websites), de-clutter, write down your daily goals, reply to emails right away, forget multitasking, create a morning routine, re-evaluate your commitments (which hobbies and responsibilities are most important to you), say no, clean up your computer, and plan your day ahead

Which of the tasks listed do you currently find most helpful in keeping life simple? Which item on the list should you adopt in order to simplify your life this month?

I think planning my day ahead helps me keep things simple, as well as having a morning routine.  Lately, I’ve had to take a ‘leave of absence’ from the computer in order to get all of my tasks done, concerning the garden.  Seriously, gardening doesn’t leave much time for anything else!

4. What did you do the summer after you graduated from high school?

Three weeks after graduating, I married Ed and we moved to the city.  I spent the summer getting to know my husband again, and learning how to be a homemaker.  FYI:  Ed and I had spent the previous 21 months before our marriage, apart, while he served [in the army] in Okinawa.  

5. Are you a fan of podcasts? If so what’s a favorite?

I don’t know if I’m a fan of podcasts, or not, because I’ve never listened to one.

6. Do you think today’s fathers have it harder, easier, or just different from fathers in the past?

That’s a good question!  If I compare Ed’s life to that of his father, I’d say Ed had it easier than his dad did. However, if I compare our sons lives to Ed’s, then I’d have to say our sons have it harder.  I think today’s economy, social issues, and declining morality make parenting a lot more difficult than it used to be!

7. Tell us one way you’re like your father? Or not at all like your father if that’s easier?

My father enjoyed eating desserts of all kinds!  Unfortunately, I seem to have inherited his love of cakes, pies, and all things sweet.  It’s a constant struggle for me, since I have to limit my sugar intake.

Random:

I have not been able to see the Linky for “The Hodgepodge” in several weeks.  Since I can’t see the Linky, I can’t tell who is actually playing along, so I can visit them.  I have to depend on Joyce’s comments to find participants to visit, and for Joyce to add me to the list of participants, when she has time.  Why must life be so difficult???

In other news, life here in our neck of the woods has been quite busy.  During our small break from gardening (in between part “A” and part “B”, we helped our youngest son and his family get moved into their new home, last week.  I couldn’t move boxes, so my job fell under the heading of “baby sitter”, which was the most fun, of course!

I also managed to make a few more batches of blackberry jelly, which now total 7, in all. I remembered to snap a picture of one of the batches:

We have just a few short days left until our peas/beans/corn/tomatoes will be ready to harvest and can.  It could be as early as this weekend, which will also be our 44th wedding anniversary!  I took this picture of “Part B” of the garden, last week:

The deer and rabbits are getting  braver!  They’ve been nibbling our sweet potatoes and watermelon plants.  We’ve added another scarecrow, and are hoping to discourage the deer for just a while longer.  Deer just love peas, and can wipe out a crop in one evening.

Update: The men on top of our house are currently in the process of fastening the new tin down on top of our  house, now.  I can’t tell you how annoying the sound of that power drill is…over and over.  I think I may need some tension headache relief before this day is over!