Laboring Over The Hodgepodge…

The weeks are rolling right along, aren’t  they?  It’s Wednesday, again, which means it’s time for another Hodgepodge.  As always, thanks to our hostess, Joyce, who keeps the Hodgepodge rolling right along with us…  Speaking of time rolling by, today, I’m celebrating another birthday!

Here are today’s questions:

1. Can you believe we’re rolling in to the Labor Day weekend?  No, I can’t believe it!  I think this was the quickest summer ever.

What’s a project you’ll labor over this fall?  I’m not really sure…  We still need to do some painting on our porches, and the house needs scrubbing down, but Ed will probably take care of that. I’ll probably just be content with decorating the yard and house for fall.

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?  Whenever I worked for the school system, I enjoyed having the summers off, plus lots of holidays throughout the school year.  We worked a 190 days per year, and our pay was pro-rated so we received a paycheck year-round.

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to SC?  Yes, I’ve been there a few times–to Hilton Head Island, Isle of Palms, and to Charleston.

Any desire to go (back)?  Yes, I’d love to go back to South Carolina again.

According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina…

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville’s charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys.

Which is most appealing to you today? I’d love to visit Myrtle Beach, and I wouldn’t mind visiting Charleston again, either.

If you’re a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?  I don’t know.

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short…your favorite kind of rib? What’s a dish you enjoy that really ‘sticks to your ribs’?  My favorite is barbecued pork spareribs.  A simple baked potato really ‘sticks to my ribs’, and we often have them with our barbecued ribs.

5. What’s one important skill you think every person should have? Why?  I think everyone needs to know how to drive a car and have a driver’s license.  I say this because I was a 3rd generation ‘non-driver’ for the first 26 years of my life.  My maternal grandmother and my mother had to depend on someone to give them a ride, everywhere they went, their entire lives.  I, too, depended on someone else for twenty-six years.  I can’t begin to tell you how WONDERFUL it felt when I was finally able to jump in a car and drive wherever I wanted or needed to go!!!  Yes, I know you’re probably scratching your heads and wondering what the heck?  Chalk it up to a manual transmission (in the floor, no less!), and my lack of confidence.  However, better late than never!!! On the day I FINALLY got my license, I remarked, “I’m ten years late, but I’ve finally got a driver’s license!” (By then we had a car with an automatic transmission, too!)

Random #1:

Thank you to all who prayed for me, last week, concerning my eye.  When I saw the doctor, he decided not to bother the chalazion, at this time.  He told me to continue using the eye drops I’d been prescribed, to continue using warm, moist compresses, and to also massage my eyelid three times a day.  I’ll go back in two more weeks for a recheck.  Please continue to remember me in your prayers.  The chalazion is smaller, but it’s still there.

Random#2:

Since it’s my birthday, I can’t resist sharing another look at the first 58 years of my life.  This video is a bit outdated–by about 5 years.  I’ll let you do the math 🙂

An ‘Eclipsing’ Hodgepodge…

1. Did you watch the solar eclipse?  

We had to settle for watching the eclipse via the television–on antenna television, no less, because the rain we were getting during the time of the eclipse knocked out Dish network!

Your thoughts?

Our personal eclipse experience was somewhat disappointing since it was cloudy and raining where we live.  We couldn’t see a thing, and it didn’t get as dark as I’d expected either.  I thought our hens might go to roost, but they totally ignored the whole thing!

Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, a Blue Moon beer, a Sunkist orange, or a Milky Way candy bar…what’s your favorite eclipse related snack on this list?

I like Moon Pies best, especially with an ice-cold bottle of coke or an old-fashioned RC Cola.  Does anybody else remember those days?

2. What are you ‘over the moon’ about these days?

I can’t think of a thing that I’m ‘over the moon’ about, but I’m always grateful for each new day I get to spend with Ed.

What’s something you enjoy doing every ‘once in a blue moon’?

Every ‘once in a blue moon’ I enjoy getting together with our long-time friends from high school, Herman and Diane.  We always have a great time when we all get together.

Earlier in the summer we all got together to celebrate Diane’s birthday, and we had a great time.  We spent some time on the beach at Tybee Island, then we all stopped at one of our favorite restaurants [on the way home] to eat.  Diane didn’t have anything to wear except her bathing suit and a cover up, so I loaned her the sundress I happened to have with me. This was hilarious because Diane probably wears an extra-small, while I wear an extra-large!  You can imagine what we all looked like after a day on the beach, as well.  The waitress sat us at a corner table, and Herman joked with her that she must be trying to hide us 🙂  Fun times!

Diane, wearing my dress

3. Tell us about something in the realm of science that interests you. How do you feed that interest?

I enjoy watching the tadpoles in our fishpond morph into frogs.  I also enjoy feeding and watching our hummingbirds.  The past several years we’ve only had a couple of hummingbirds, but, this year, we have a lot more.  They’ve kept us quite busy keeping our two feeders filled!

4. What are a few things you remember about going back to school as a child?

I remember getting new shoes and having to break them in, usually some kind of loafer or a pair of saddle oxfords.  I also remember being nervous about my new teacher and who was in my class.  I’m not a fan of change, so the beginning of each new school year was always hard for me.

5. I’ve seen several versions of this around the net so let’s make one of our own…share with us five words that touch your soul and briefly tell us why.

Let me begin by saying…this was hard!  I wasn’t quite sure what to do and it was hard to pick just five words, but I tried.

LOVE- because my life would not have been nearly as awesome as it has been, without the love of the good man I married, or the three children I gave birth to!  I am a blessed woman.

MARRIAGE- because God blessed me with such an awesome partner, our marriage has been the best part of my life.  45 years and counting…

FAMILY-because there comes a time, in most marriages, when it begins to feel a bit like something (or someone) might be missing…  So thankful God blessed us with three babies to make our family complete.

FAITH-because I’m saved by grace through faith.  I’m a believer!

PRAYER-because it’s the life-line to my heavenly Father.  He’s a great listener, and he’s always available.  He hears and answers my prayers.

Random:

I may not get around to making many visits today.

Unfortunately, another stye came on my eye, three weeks ago, and it’s turned into another chalazion cyst.  I’ve been using eye drops and hot compresses, but it still persists.

I’ll be seeing my ophthalmologist, today, about having it removed.  I can’t believe I just had a chalazion removed [on the other eye] in February, and now I have another one!  I was put to sleep for the first removal, but he may want to remove this one in the office.  Your prayers would be appreciated.

 

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge # 317…

Hello again!  It’s time for The Wednesday Hodgepodge.  As always, thank you to our gracious hostess, Joyce, for keeping this fun meme going.  This is edition 317, and that’s a lot of Hodgepodge!  Here are this week’s questions:

1. Do your actions match your words? Elaborate.

Yes, I think they do, for the most part.  I think everyone, at one time or another, has said they’d do something that just didn’t pan out for some reason, but I always give it my best shot.

2. Sick as a dog, go to the dogs, dog days of summer, dog tired, it’s a dog’s life, every dog has it’s day, can’t teach an old dog new tricks…now doggone it which saying could most recently be applied to your life?

I’m going to say “dog days of summer”!  It’s dreadfully hot and humid here, plus there’s an over-abundance of mosquitoes and gnats making it nearly impossible to spend any time outside.  It’s miserable, and the ground is so wet my shepherd’s hooks keep falling over, leaving my hanging baskets on the ground!

3. Your favorite book featuring a dog in the storyline? What makes it a favorite?

Marley & Me.  Actually, I’m cheating a bit, because I own the book, but haven’t actually read it, yet.  However, I’ve seen the movie twice, and loved it–except for the ending.  It’s a classic tale of a young married couple who adopt a puppy to be their “first child”.

4. What’s something you hope to one day have the confidence to do?

Maybe I’ll fly in a helicopter or an airplane, who knows?  There’s always parasailing, too, but I’ll still die a happy woman if I never do any of these things.

5. August 16th is National Tell a Joke Day. So tell us a joke.

A child psychologist had twin boys—one was an optimist; the other, a pessimist. Just to see what would happen, on Christmas Day he loaded the pessimist’s room with toys and games. In the optimist’s room, he dumped a pile of horse droppings.

That night, the father found the pessimist surrounded by his gifts, crying.

“What’s wrong?” the father asked.

“I have a ton of game manuals to read … I need batteries … and my toys will all eventually get broken!” sobbed the pessimist.

Passing the optimist’s room, the father found him dancing for joy around the pile of manure. “Why are you so happy?” he asked.

The optimist shouted, “There’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!”

Random:

Last week, I forgot to post about our little grandson’s  recent mishap.

Chase fell off the end of a basketball arcade game, and broke his left arm–on the Friday of weekend church camp.  He broke both of the bones in the lower arm.

Thankfully, Chase has had very little pain with his broken arm.  He even managed to attend camp for a few hours, on Saturday, and, thanks to some plastic bags, was even able to get into the pool a little bit.

The following Tuesday, Chase was also able to get a  neon cast, in the colors of his favorite wrestler, The Ultimate Warrior!  Just look at that smile!

Chase even managed to get his awesome cast autographed by one of our area newsmen, Dal Cannady, last Friday, while taking a tour of “The Storm Chaser” (weather lab on wheels).

All’s well that ends well, right?  Five more weeks and Chase’s arm should be as good as new!

**all photos belong to Chase’s mom

Welcoming August With A Hodgepodge…

After a week off, it feels good to be back joining The Wednesday Hodgepodge again!  Many thanks to brand new “Nana”, Joyce, for taking the time to host this fun meme.  If not for Joyce, I’d probably have stopped blogging altogether, by now!  She keeps me disciplined–at least on Wednesdays 🙂

1. Do you try to set rules for yourself about how you use your time? Explain.

No rules!  I’m retired, remember?  I try to keep a schedule for eating and sleeping, but that’s about it.

2. Monday was National Lighthouse Day. Have you ever visited a lighthouse?

Yes, I’ve visited the lighthouse on St. Simon’s Island. (imagine that!)  The climb up was torturous (I had to stop and rest more than once), but the view from the top was awesome!  Let me also add, enjoying the view was a bit scary, since I’m afraid of heights, and I’ll never climb another lighthouse!

St. Simon’s Island Lighthouse

If not, do you have any desire to see one up close? Of the 10 Most Beautiful that made this list which would you most like to see in person-

Lindau Lighthouse (Germany), Fanad Lighthouse (Ireland), Portland Head Light (Maine), Yaquina Bay Light (Oregon) The St. Augustine Light (Florida), Peggys Point Lighthouse (Canada), Start Point Lighthouse (England), Tower of Hercules (Spain), Bass Harbor Head Station (Maine), and White Shoal Light (Michigan)

I’d most likely visit The St. Augustine Light since it’s the closest  lighthouse to me, but Bass Harbor Head Station in Maine sounds interesting, too.

When you’ve been away, what’s your ‘lighthouse’ telling you you’re on the right road home?

It’s the little green road signs that say “Gooseneck Community”, about a mile or two from our home.  There are two of them, one south of us, and another to the north.

3. What have you unintentionally stopped doing?

Blogging on a regular basis.

Is this something you need to pick back up and begin again, or is it something you need to let go of for now (or even permanently)?

I’d like to get back to blogging on a more regular schedule, but I’m not sure when that’s going to happen.

4. We’ve had a full week of August. Share a GRAND moment from your month so far.

Ed and I had the privilege of helping out with our church’s weekend youth camp, August 4-6.  It was a ‘first’ for both of us and we enjoyed it very much.

5. Tell us one song you love with the word ‘baby’ in the title.

I’m going to show my age by saying this:  “Baby Love”.  That song sure brings back some old memories!!!

Random:

I’ve never been able to bake a decent pound cake.  I’ve tried and tried.  Most  of my pound cakes found their way into the trash can, hardly touched.  All that changed a couple of weeks ago when I made a “Whipping Cream Pound Cake”!

I found the recipe on the back of the Swans Down Cake Flour box, and it’s a winner!  If I can make it turn out good, anybody can make it!

Interesting note:  I found a similar recipe, on-line, listed as Elvis Presley’s Favorite Pound Cake.  All I know is Elvis had great taste in cake 🙂

Here’s the link for the recipe if  anyone is interested: http://www.swansdown.com/recipes?id=246

A Simple Woman’s Daybook…

For Today…

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Looking out my window…

I’m looking at the ‘chicken planter’ on the walkway, which is now holding sunflowers for the month of August.  (I change the flowers every month or two)  I’m also noticing “the girls” (our hens) who are walking around in the yard.  I can hear the hum of Ed’s tractor outside, as well.

I am thinking…

this year is going by really fast!  In about four more weeks, I’ll have another birthday.  How is it possible that I’m almost 63 years old?!  My birthday will quickly be followed by Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  Before I know it, 2017 will be history–and so will I, eventually.

I am thankful…

for the many blessings God has given me in my lifetime!  Forty-five years of marriage to a wonderful man, three grown children who make us proud, the three loving spouses of those grown children, four precious grandchildren (who are growing up too quickly!) a home that’s paid for, comfortable & reliable transportation, plenty of food to eat, enough money to meet our needs, and, last, but not least, a new church family.  God is good!

One of my favorite things…

is enjoying the quietness and freshness of an early morning.  It’s my favorite part of the day, even though it involves cleaning out the chicken coops!

I am creating…
some crafts to do with the children at church.  I’ve been helping some with the Wednesday night children’s class.  It’s been many years since I’ve done anything like that!  So far we’ve done sand art and made a ‘colors of faith’ key chain.

I am wearing…

a blue flowered ‘house dress’.  I prefer wearing comfortable dresses when I’m relaxing at home.  I suppose that makes me ‘officially’ an old woman, but who cares?

I am reading…

Charles Stanley’s Life Principles Daily Bible and Twelve Challenges Churches Face by Mark Dever.  I highly recommend the Life Principles Daily Bible.  I’ve learned so much through reading this bible and Dr. Stanley’s commentaries.

Watching…

Big Brother, Outdaughtered, Counting On, Bull, and Fixer Upper on television. Last night we watched an old movie, Problem Child, starring John Ritter.  They don’t make movies like that anymore.  I laughed until my sides hurt.

Listening to…

a couple of new cds by a local Christian artist named John Wingate.  John sang at our church on Sunday night, and he’s quite talented!

I am hoping…

to spend another day at St. Simon’s Island before too long.  We haven’t spent much time there this summer.

I am learning…

how to make a pound cake!  In about three weeks our church will be selling bar-b-que dinners, and the ladies of the church will be asked to make pound cakes (among other things) for this event.

In my kitchen…
I’ve been baking pound cakes!  I’ve never been able to make a good pound cake.  I’ve tried several recipes, and the cake always tasted bland or the texture wasn’t right.  Recently, I stumbled upon a recipe for Whipping Cream Pound Cake on the back of a Swans Down cake flour box.  The first time I used the recipe I had instant success!  A few days later, I baked a second cake, and it turned out great, too.  If you’re looking for a good pound cake recipe, try this one!   I recently learned how to make ham & cheese sliders, as well.

In the school room…
the grandchildren will be gearing up to start home-school in about 3 more weeks.  Public school is already beginning in some places.

In my garden…
we have  peanuts, some sweet potatoes, one row of butter beans, and three rows of peas growing for a fall harvest.

Post Script…

This has been the year of the rattlesnake, which bothers me because we are surrounded by woods on three sides.  Almost every week somebody in our area is killing a snake  Take a look at what our neighbor killed a couple of weeks ago:

photo via Facebook

Shared Quote…
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Psalms 3: 5-6

A moment from my day…

Last weekend our youngest son rented a giant water slide, and put it in our yard.  All four of the grandchildren had a blast playing on that thing.  If only I had the energy to climb and slide as many times as they did…  Oh to be young again!

Thanks to Peggy Hostetler for hosting this fun meme @ The Simple Woman’s Daybook