A Non-Adventurous Hodgepodge…

 

Folks, can you believe it’s Wednesday, again?  Me either!  I’m struggling to get these questions answered, while watching for the stray salamander who’s playing peek-a-boo from under my couch!  I really hate those things, and have no idea how he got into the house.  If Ed doesn’t catch him, soon, I may hurt myself!  In the meantime, on with the Hodgepodge… and thanks to Joyce for hosting!

1. What pets did you have while growing up? Tell us a little something about them.

We had three dogs and a cat, that I can remember.  I’m partial to cats over dogs, so of course, I was most attached to the cat.  She was a crazy Siamese, that my older brother jokingly dubbed as “Cleopatra Fontane”, but we just called her “Cleo”.  We never knew where “Cleo” came from.  She just showed up one day, and never left.

2. What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?

I absolutely must get my hair trimmed, this morning, then I must cook supper for our Wednesday night Bible Study group, this afternoon, or we’ll all be hungry!  Chili and hot dogs are on tonight’s menu–and I’m looking forward to that haircut, by the way!

3. Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?

Ten years ago, we were still living in our former house, next door, while trying to finish building the house we currently live in, now.  We were about a month away from being able to move in, so I was probably taking stuff to the consignment shop, on a regular basis.  It’s hard to believe we’ve been living in this new home almost ten years.

4. September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate?  No, I didn’t celebrate.

Apple dumpling, xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi…which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice?  I’m going to go with chicken and dumplings because I’ve never tried any of the others.

Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?  No, it’s too easy to use the pre-made, frozen brands, which actually taste pretty good, too!

5. ‘There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don’t.’ William Trogdon

So which kind are you?  I’d be one of those who go secretly hoping I didn’t find an adventure.  I’m not an adventurous person!

Random:

Oh, so many random thoughts, so little time… 

For some strange reason, the Hodgepodge ‘linky’ suddenly disappears from my computer, sometime after lunch.  This makes it hard to visit because I can’t see who’s linked up anymore.  I hope this glitch clears up, soon.

Three doctor visits and two bottles of eye drops, and I’m still dealing with the chalazion on my eyelid.  It has gotten smaller, so the doctor says give it three more weeks to see if it will completely go away (it’s already been 8 weeks).  I’m growing a bit weary of hot compresses, eye drops, and $100 doctor visits.

My toe is still sore from last week’s incident when I stubbed it and fell onto the bed.  I even had to wear flip-flops to church, on Sunday.  I’m hoping to be able to wear actual shoes, this Sunday.

“Trouble”, the cat, is hanging in there.  Ed lets her outside, all day, but puts her back in the freezer room at night.  She’s eating and getting around okay, but seems to have lost bladder control.  At night she wets her blanket.  Hopefully, this issue will clear up.

As I prepare to end this post, we’re still playing hide-and-seek with that darn salamander!  He’s a sly one, and has now moved all around the living room without being captured. Life is never dull in our neck of the woods 🙂

Falling Into Another Hodgepodge…

 

It’s been over a week since “Irma” blew through, and we’re still not finished cleaning up her mess!  I think one more day should finish that up.  There is no easy way to clean up leaves, limbs, and debris, especially from three different places!  We’re keeping a watchful eye on “Marie”, and praying hard for the folks who are getting hit again.

On a more pleasant note, it’s time for The Wednesday Hodgepodge!  Many thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for providing the questions and a place to link up.  If you’d like to join in, click on the button at the top of this post.

1. What’s something you’d rate a 10/10?  Tell us why.

It doesn’t get any better than stretching out on my bed at the end of a long, tiring day, soaking in a tub filled with hot water, or stretching out in a lawn chair under my favorite oak tree on St. Simon’s Island! All of these things rate a 10/10 in my book.  The reason should be obvious–all are a great way to relax!

Speaking of St. Simon’s Island, it suffered damage from hurricane Irma. Among other things, the beautiful brick walkway that runs beside the ocean has been destroyed–a victim of the storm surge.

2. What job would you be terrible at?  I think I’d make a terrible nurse.

What makes you think so?  Watching anyone have medical procedures makes me squirm– iv’s, injections, stitches, staples all give me the creeps.  I squirm just listening to Ed and Jennifer (our daughter-in-law) talk about certain medical procedures!  I feel ‘sympathetic pain’ for the patient, even if I’m just watching the procedure on television!

3. When did you last take a fall?  Actually, I stubbed my toe on the door facing of my bedroom, on Monday afternoon.  This threw me off-balance and I began falling toward a glass doll case in my bedroom.  Fortunately, I was able to shift my weight over, so I landed on the side of the bed instead of falling into the display case!  My little toe is black & blue and very sore, but it could have been much worse if I’d hit that glass display case!  I still have bruises from the fall into the bathtub, two weeks ago, and I’m beginning to think I need a padded bodysuit!

What’s something your falling for (in a good way) these days?  We haven’t had many of them, yet, but I’m ‘falling for’ the cooler, crisp mornings of September.

4. According to the Travel Channel here are some of America’s best fall festivals-

National Apple Harvest Festival (near Arendtsville PA, close to Gettysburg), Harvest on the Harbor (Portland Maine), German Village Festival (Columbus Ohio), Wellfleet Oyster Fest (Cape Cod), and Wine and Chile Fiesta (Santa Fe NM)

Have you ever been to any of the festivals listed?  No.

Which one appeals to you most?  I like the sound of Harvest on the Harbor.

Does your hometown have any sort of fall celebration, and if so will you make it a point to attend?

Our hometown doesn’t have any kind of fall celebrations.  However, neighboring towns will have a “Wiregrass Festival”, a “Pumpkin Patch” and a county fair, but we have no plans to attend.

5. What is your goodbye message to summer?

“Please don’t forget to take the gnats, mosquitoes, and love bugs with you when you leave.”

Random:  An update on “Trouble”, the cat, and the man with the can.

“Trouble”, in her younger years

Many of you know the story of “Trouble”, the sixteen-year-old cat, and how she’s lived at Ed’s parents’ house, alone, even after the house became unoccupied. This saga has been on-going for well over five years!

A couple of months ago, “Trouble” finally migrated down to our son’s house and began staying there, but Ed continued to feed her every day, as usual.  Occasionally, “Trouble” would go back to Ed’s parents’ home for a day or two, but Ed would track her down.

Unfortunately, “Trouble” has developed a bad habit of sleeping underneath parked vehicles.  Now that she’s older, her hearing isn’t good, and this has created a problem–which finally caught up with her.

On Labor Day, our son, not knowing “Trouble” was under the car, was backing up when he accidentally ran over “Trouble”.  She was able to get up and run off, but we couldn’t find her for almost three days.  I thought she was dead.

By the time “Trouble” showed up at our son’s house, hurricane Irma was upon us, and we were in full-blown hurricane preparation mode.  Our son and family were planning to evacuate.  “Trouble” had a broken hind leg.  She wouldn’t eat, but would drink  small amounts of milk. Ed took her to his parents’ house, left her some milk, food, and water, and put her in the freezer room to ride out the storm, comfortably.

After about a week, “Trouble” began eating any food again.  In the meantime, she’d drink small amounts of milk.  (I think she used up another of her nine lives.)  While she isn’t getting around as well as before,  she’s now able to go where she wants to go.  She’s as cantankerous and independent as ever, and is more than ready to be free of that freezer room!  Ed’s been letting her outside for two hours a day, under his supervision, and she keeps trying to sneak off!  Ed plans to let her go, today.  We wonder where she will go.  Back to our son’s  house?  To the woods?  Or maybe just stay at Ed’s parents’ house?  The saga continues…

 

 

 

 

An After The Storm Kind Of Hodgepodge…

1. Is a picture worth a thousand words? Elaborate.

Yes, I believe a picture is worth a thousand words, at least for me it is.    I think these pictures describe the way our yard looked [after tropical storm Irma] much better than my words can.

 

2. Have you ever driven any part of the Pacific Coast Highway?  No.  I’ve never been to that part of the country.

If not, is this sort of trip on your bucket list?  I know we’ll never do it, but I’m sure it would be a memorable trip!

3. How do the changing seasons affect you?  Spring makes me hopeful, happy, and filled with more energy!  I love the sight of tiny new buds on the trees and the first blooms of the spring flowers.  It’s a season of new beginnings.

I enjoy the cooler temperatures of fall, but I tend to get a bit sad watching the trees shed their leaves, and the flowers growing straggly as their growing season ends.  It’s a season of endings.

I don’t really care for summer because of the pesky gnats and mosquitoes, plus the intense sun/heat/humidity where we live. I only go outside when I have to.

Winter is special to me because of Christmas, but after that, winter tends to make me depressed.  Everything outside looks dead.  Blah.  Here we only get rain, none of that beautiful snow.

As the seasons change do you find yourself looking more forward or backward?  Spring causes me look forward, fall tends to make me more reflective.

Which season-season transition bothers you most?  I think summer to fall bothers me most.   Why do you suppose that is?  I don’t enjoy seeing everything die or go into a dormant state.

4. It’s your birthday and you get to pick the dinner menu. What are we having?  I’m not really picky. Food is food to me.  This year we had grilled hot dogs on my birthday, and that was fine with me.  Do you ever lie about your age?  No.  I lied about my age once, when I was a young teen, but not since then.

5. What’s a life lesson you’ve learned recently?  I didn’t just learn this, but it was recently reiterated to me:  “Be prepared.”

A few years ago, Ed and I decided we needed to be more prepared, in case of emergencies.  Since 2012 we always make sure we have plenty of canned goods, bottled water, fuel, medications, cash, etc., in case of hard times.  The one area we didn’t have covered was an emergency power source, but we’ve got that covered, now, too.  Thanks to our son Brad’s diligence and a tip from a lady at church, we now have two generators!  Thankfully, we were very blessed and didn’t need either one of them.

Random:

Sunday and Monday were stressful days here in southeastern Georgia!  Some of our little family gathered at our house, and we kept a watchful eye on hurricane Irma.  We tried to get ready for her visit, the best we knew how.  We have family and friends in Florida, which further added to the stress of the situation.

Thankfully, by the time Irma reached us she had been down-graded to a tropical storm, but she still packed a good punch!  I can’t even begin to imagine the wallop the Florida Keys, Naples, and other places must have felt!

When all was said and done, we were very, very fortunate.  We only lost tree limbs, not entire trees. (Neighbors weren’t so fortunate.)  A few of our trees now have a new ‘sway’, but they’re still standing–even if they are a bit crooked.  We received about nine inches of rain, so we’re a bit soggy, but we’ll dry out.  We were blessed not to lose power, while some in our area are still without power.

As for our family in Florida, my brother and his family are fine, praise the Lord!  However, like much of the state, they don’t have electricity. Fortunately, they have generators and know how to use them!  They tell me the gas shortage is causing some problems, but I hope that will soon be resolved.  I pray they get their power restored sooner than later, too!

After seeing the footage of so many other places, who were hit hard by Irma, I feel SO blessed.  Thank you, Lord, for protecting our family.  I will definitely be praying for those who have lost so much.

Here’s one last “after the storm” picture:

Almost every pear blew off our trees, but at least the trees are still standing!  Our pecan trees look pretty much the same.  Nuts will be in short supply for holiday baking…

Wednesday Hodgepodge #320…

Hello again!  I hope this first Wednesday of September finds you doing well, and ready for another Hodgepodge.  As always, thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for this mid-week bit of fun!

1. When you think about your future what do you fear most?

When I think about the future I think about getting older, and how life is eventually going to change from the way Ed and I know it now.  In fact, at ages 65 and 68, the change is already well into motion.  I fear  us growing older, weaker, and one of us having to say goodbye to the other, eventually.  Most of all, I fear being the one left alone.  What depressing thoughts… Let’s change the subject, shall we?

Hope for the most?

I hope to have the longest, healthiest life possible, with Ed and the rest of the family by my side.  I hope to see our grandchildren grow into adults, and maybe even see them have children of their own.  I hope to always have joy in my heart, in spite of growing older and the changes it will bring.

2. September is National Chicken Month. How often is chicken on the menu at your house?

Chicken is on the menu at least twice a week, but don’t tell any of “my girls”, they wouldn’t like that!

“Dixie Chick”

What’s a favorite dish made with chicken?

Fried chicken is my favorite dish made with chicken, but we try not to have that very often.  My next favorite dish is chicken casserole or barbequed chicken.

What’s something you’re a ‘chicken’ about doing or trying?

Flying in an airplane.

3. What are three things you don’t own but wish you did?

At the moment, the only thing that’s crossing my mind is a generator!  We swore we were going to buy one after hurricane Matthew, but we never did.  Now we’re watching hurricane Irma, and wondering where she is going to go (we live in southeastern GA).  I also wouldn’t mind having a condo at the beach–but not during hurricane season!  Other than that, I’m good.

4. Would you rather be a jack of all trades or a master of one? Elaborate. If you answered one, which one?

I’d rather be a jack of all trades, like my husband, Ed.  He can do a little of everything, which has come in very handy over the years!  He’s saved us a ton of money on repairs and building projects.  Me?  Not so much.

5. Ketchup or mustard? On what?

I prefer ketchup over mustard.  I like ketchup on chicken tenders, hamburgers, fries, and steak, among other things.  I like mustard on hot dogs (along with ketchup), and that’s about it.

Random:

Ed, lighting the candles on my cake

I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday, last week, with cards, gifts, flowers, cake/ice cream, and cupcakes…right up until Friday night’s family celebration…when I tripped on a cord and fell head first into our bathtub!  It’s a long story, but I was walking through the bathroom, headed for the laundry room.  I had a dutch oven (pot) in one hand and a large plastic tub in the other.  My foot got caught up in a cord dangling on the floor and down I went!  My right cheek hit the side of the pot, which landed in the bathtub first.  The front of my face and glasses then hit the back end of the bathtub, while my right thigh hit the side of the tub as I fell.  Thankfully, nothing was broken, (not even my glasses, although they got bent as they pressed hard into my nose) but I’ve been very sore and bruised for the past few days.  The dutch oven (pot) went from being round  to being oval, after I did my face plant on it, but I feel very blessed not to have been hurt worse than I was.  I guess you could say…my 63rd year has started with a bang!