Author: Dackel Princess

1. Summer officially rolls in with the Hodgepodge this week, for those of us in the Northern hemisphere anyway. What song says summer 2012 to you?

I love this song from back in the day! I have it on CD so I can get in my car and turn up the volume and sing!

2. What’s your favorite quintessential summer food?

Corn on the cob! Strawberries. Eggplant from my garden.

3. I’ve spent a lot of time traipsing up and down the NJ Turnpike in recent weeks. Did you know the rest areas on the turnpike are named after people who lived or worked in NJ? Clara Barton, Walt Whitman, James Fenimore Cooper, Molly Pitcher, Joyce Kilmer, Thomas Edison, and Gover Clevland just to name a few. Of those I listed, who would you most like to have known and why?

Walt Whitman. I love his poetry and would love to hear how he got his inspiration

I Hear America Singing

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics–each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother–or of the young wife at work–or of the girl sewing or washing, each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day–at night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.. .

4. At what age did you move out of your parent’s house and what prompted the move?

Seventeen. I got married and we moved into a small studio apartment.

5. What’s more satisfying to you-saving time or saving money?

Both.

6. Name something you think brings out the good in people.

Babies!

7. This last question comes to you courtesy of Kathy over at Reflections…will you be taking a vacation or a staycation this summer? If so where will you go? If a staycation is on the calendar have you made any special plans to fill the time?

Staycation. And we will be making day trips down to see Mandy and Savannah.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am learning to use my new camera. I love the camera. It is light weight, holds nicely in my hand and with 16 MP gives me the ability to really pull an image closer. I love Canon. Since I bought my first Canon camera some years back, I have never regretted it.

Well, here we are, June 19th and my car is still in the shop! She’s been there for almost 20 days, while they work to fix her. What is causing the back-up and all the problems?

The car’s on-board computer!

People who praise these contraptions only do so because they have never had a glitch with theirs. A glitch that can keep my car from passing my states inspection! So no driving my car until all the lights on the dash board go out, and the computer tells the mechanics computer that life is hunky dory.

I don’t mind driving Hubby’s car or the winter time Jeep. It’s just that I love my car and I miss being able to drive it during the time of the year when I can. You see, in the winter, we put it up and do not drive it in the bad weather, and thus have the salt on the roads ruin it.I tried to light a candle under my mechanic today when I mentioned my trip to see Mandy and Savannah on Thursday. I told him I can drive Hubby’s car, but that I like my own better.

He was very understanding.

So please, keep your fingers crossed that when they run the test on my car tomorrow, she passes all her tests!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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Our weekend was a busy one, with my cousin and his girl friend coming up for bike week, and then once they had departed, Hubby and I worked on laundry, cleaning, for me, cooking.

Yes, it’s Father’s Day this past Sunday, and I have been trying to spoil Hubby. I made him a Belgium waffle for his breakfast, spaghetti for lunch and tonight is the ultimate spoil him meal…barbecue baby back ribs with home made potato salad.

He’s been waiting all day for the golf to come on, then I imagine he will be lost to me, but that’s okay, as I have books on my kindle to read.

I have to mention that we have been having outstanding weather the last week. Robins egg blue skies, and perfect 75-78 degree (f) days.

My garden is still rather sad, but at least the potted plants are thriving.

My new camera arrived and I’m enjoying all the new things it can do. And with 16 MP, I am able to really zoom in!

Cherry tomatoes.

Tomato plant flowers

My eggplant plant flowers!

I think I will have a really good time with this little camera. Especially since I’m going to see Miss Savannah on Thursday!

I wish you all a great new week! Enjoy!

Okay, on Saturday I decided to kick back and relax a little. Instead I thought of far too many things to do and got caught up in doing them.

Laundry, dishes, cooking, etc. So I decided to make an easy dinner. Cheese ravioli and my own spaghetti sauce. I thought it was good, but Hubby complained and said he would rather have spaghetti. Okay, next time that’s what he gets, while I have the ravioli!

I’m pretty tired tonight, so the plan is to get to bed early and to get a long night, full of sleep!

Doesn’t that sound terrific?

BTW…questions last week were courtesy of my cousin! I was in such a hurry to get the post up I forgot to thank her properly, so thanks, dear cuz. And…here we go!

1. It’s always nice when things work out better than you could ever hope!
2. I like to hear the sound of a sweet baby as she sighs softly in her sleep.
3. Positive feelings should always outweigh; negative thoughts.
4. This is the best thing in the world. A healthy and happy daughter and granddaughter.
5. What I heard the baby cry for the first time, when she was born, my heart filled with love.
6. Often, I search for the right things to do and say.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to maybe watching a movie, tomorrow my plans include the weekly laundry and Sunday, I want to barbecue ribs in the grill! Summertime is here!!!!

1. Busy day today.
2. It started with rain and a cup of coffee.
3. Then we started to clean, preparing for guests.
4. My vacuum broke.
5. But Hubby fixed it!
6. The mechanic called.
7. The news was not good.
8. My car needs extensive & expensive work!
9. Depression was setting in.
10. An email arrived advertizing a new camera.
11. I showed it to Hubby, who knows more about cameras than I do.
12. He told me to go ahead and order.
13. In about a week my Canon PowerShot A1300 IS 16.0 MP Digital Camera will arrive!