Category: Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Elizabeth Lawrence is quoted as saying, ‘Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.” So have you done just that? And what did you leave undone in order to do so?

So far nothing. I even made a list day by day, of all that I need to do over the next month in order to get ready for our trip!

2. Since we’re talking turning…what’s one thing you feel you’re doing ‘every time you turn around’?

Walking a dog! LOL! It seems that after dinner I walk them all, and as soon as my fanny hits the chair, one of them decides they need to go out again! Wait! Actually this happens all day long!

3. How hard is it for you to ‘turn the other cheek?’

It was not something I came to easily, and yet, in order to live a happy life, I have had to. When I reach that point, I give it all to God.

4. When did you last turn a drawer, your car, a room, or your entire house upside down looking for something? Did you find it?

Just the other day. I was looking for a pair of slacks that needed a button. I thought they were on the shelf in my closet. But no. I looked at my Good Will pile. Not there either. A few days later, I brought my step stool into the closet, and they had fallen in back of a basket! Now to sew the button.

5. ‘One good turn deserves another’…were you most recently on the giving or receiving end of that sentiment?

I think receiving. I had a problem recently with an erroneous charge on my credit card. A wonderful clerk fixed the problem right up. I am so grateful.

6. Red, yellow, and orange are the colors of fall. Also the colors of fruit. If you were permitted only one color of fruit in your diet, which would you choose? This question isn’t as easy as it sounds, at least not for me.

Yellow. (Actually yellow and pink) This is for the colors of our peaches. This year they were amazing! Red, for our apples. I had the yummiest Macoun.

7. The Hunt for Red October, October Sky, Halloween…which ‘October’ film is your favorite?

The Hunt For Red October!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I made Julia Child’s BOEUF BOURGUIGNON for dinner tonight! Oh my goodness it tasted great! It did, however, take me all day to make. Still worth it.  Best tasting meal for a cool Autumn night!

1. What’s your favorite time of day? Why?

9:30 at night. When I get my nightie on, and settle in with the dackels for the night. It is quiet and sweet and relaxing.

2. Waffle iron, toaster, coffee maker, mixer, blender…which small appliance would you say most needs replacing in your house?

If one more thing dies I will have a fit! Currently we have the new stove/oven, new dishwasher, new fawcet in the kitchen and new fawcet in the bath. Oh yes, and add to that new innards in our toilet tank.

3. It’s National Grouch Day (October 15)…what’s something that makes you feel grouchy?

Well back before Lili was on her medication and each day started with horrible diarrhea for my baby, with it all over her and her room. Well, that sure made me grouchy!

4. Ever been to Canada? Is that a country you’d like to visit? According to Trip Advisor, the top ten best destinations in Canada are-Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Victoria, Calgary, Niagara on the Lake, Niagara Falls, Whistler, and Halifax. Which city would you most like to see?

Much of Hubby’s family are Canadian. In fact both of Jack’s parents were from Canada. Hubby has cousins far and wide across the country. Luckily, we have traveled a lot and seen so much of it. I love Amhert Shore Nova Scotia. Hubby’s Aunt had a cottage there, that I could have lived in forever.

5. What was your favorite food (or one of your favorites) when you were a child? Is that still a favorite?

Dairy Queen, Soft Serve Ice Cream! And yes, still a favorite!

6. Do you cry easily?

Yes. It does not take much to choke me and and have me crying. I can even be reading to Hubby and break down in choked tears.

7. Have you started your (gasp!) Christmas shopping? If so when, and how much? If not, when will you even begin thinking about it?

Yes. I have purchased to gifts. I want to do some more before we leave on our trip.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Our house sitters came by tonight for dinner. I made a lasagna. I wasn’t thrilled with the results. I just don’t make it often enough. And I know why. My old tummy just doesn’t do tomatoes any more, very well.

1. Do you manage your own money or do you have a financial planner who helps in some way? Do those kinds of conversations stress you out? A lot or a little?

Stress. Hubby has a degree in Economics, so we have always handled our money. The one time we put it with someone, we lost money!

2. The second week of October is Pet Peeve Week. Off the top of your head, share TWO of your current pet peeves.

People who cut you off in traffic…and people who speed off to cut you off, when you are trying to pull out in traffic.

3. What is one thing you’d like to learn right now, this very week if you could?

I would love to learn how to fix and program computers.

4. How concerned are you about the recent health related news concerning Ebola? How about Enterovirus D68?

Very. I do not think our government or health officials are handling this very well!

5. Garfield, Nemo, or Tigger-your favorite orange cartoon character?

Garfield!

6. I’m going to see Gone Girl with my neighborhood book club this week. So often books made into film are disappointing. What’s a book turned film you thought was well done, in that the casting was ‘like you pictured’ when you read the book, and the film plot remained mostly true to the book plot?

Be ready for a lot of sex, bordering on rape. Also graphic violence! I saw the movie and I did not like it.

7. What is one story your family always tells about you?

When I was three years old I was in The King and I at our community playhouse. One night we were just slightly off mark while sitting on the stage in front of the king. I was the smallest and right on the end of a row. The curtain closed and I was shut out of back stage and was sitting there in front of the audience! I simply stood up, bowed and walked into the wings!

There I am in the first row. My friend, Nancy was sitting next to me looking at the audience.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This is the best apple crop we have ever had! I am making tons of apple sauce! I hope also to make a pie! I love the Autumn!

1. Are the leaves turning color where you live? Have they begun to fall? Will you have to rake when it’s all said and done? Is that a chore you love or loathe?

Yes, they are turning color. I love Autumn. It’s so beautiful. But no big raking because the trees line the edges of our property and tend to blow into the next yard.

2. When did you last shake like a leaf?

Last 103 fever that I had. My whole body shook and shook.

3. After 20 seasons with the NY Yankees, Derek Jeter played his last official game Sunday afternoon. Jeter has been described even by opponents as a ‘class act’, both on and off the field. The NFL is back in action this month too, with several players in that sport also making headlines. What are your thoughts on athletes as role models? Should a professional athlete be expected to act as role model or is that going beyond their job description? What responsibility do the organizations these athletes work for have when it comes to dealing with off the field behavior? Discuss.

I would like it if our athletes behaved so that we could hold them up and admire them. Unfortunately many of today’s athletes act like total morons. Sadly!

4. What season of the year is toughest for you in terms of your health? Why?

Winter. I tend to get sick easily them.

5. The top six healthy food trends of 2014 according to Eating Well are-

clean eating (more veg, less meat, less sodium, limit alcohol and processed foods) trash fish (you know those fish that get caught in fishermen nets and are thrown back? It seems chefs are finding creative ways to make them more appetizing)cauliflower (this year’s IT vegetable, kaniwa (essentially baby quinoa, so like quinoa only smaller) fermentation (think pickling except with twists on flavor we’re not accustomed to) community supported food (farms operating with community support/membership). Okay-so how many of the hot healthy food trends for 2014 have you experienced, encountered, enjoyed? Any you’ve tried and said ewwww? Any on the list you’d like to try before year’s end?

I do not follow trends, although I did finally try Quinoa. It was okay, but not a big fan!

6. In seven words or less, bid September adieu.

Lili is better, hope it continues!

7. What’s something on your October calendar that makes you happy just thinking about it?

Spending time with Savannah!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Getting along!

1. It’s fall. Y’all. My favorite season of the year! What’s something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel it’s officially fall? And unrelated to that, do you ever say-‘y’all’?

I do say Y’all! LOL! I think the thing I do every year that makes me feel like it is officiaally fall is bake an apple pie. The smell, the taste! Oh my, apple pie!

2. When did you last have a falling out with someone? Has it been resolved?

Quite recently. And yes, I guess it is resolved, in that I do not with to pursue the situation further.

3. A song you love with the word ‘fall’ in it’s title?

4. What’s something you’ve recently let ‘fall by the wayside?’

Quite a bit actually. A new puppy tends to take up a lot of your time. A sick puppy, even more.

5. When did you last attend an event, read a book, watch a movie, try a new recipe, or visit a shop-town-tourist attraction that fell short of your expectations? In what way?

I was so excited to watch “Saving Mr. Banks” on HBO. It was all about the author who wrote Mary Poppins. The movie was okay, but when I looked up PL Travers I discovered she was actually quite an awful person who hurt many people in her life. I love Mary Poppins, but it’s too bad that her creator was such a crabby apple!

6. Describe a time you said or thought, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

So often when I see my granddaughter with her mother. Savannah is so much like Mandy. It’s quite wonderful!

7. Was today better than yesterday? Why or why not?

For me personally. Not really. Had a migraine. In the grand sceme of things, yes. I’m a grandmother and it doesn’t get any better than this!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I think that I will be making my first apple pie of the season. I love the way they smell and the way they taste. Mmmmmmm!

1. I’m celebrating a birthday this week so a question relating to aging feels appropriate. Douglas MacArthur is quoted as saying, ‘You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.” Would you agree? If not why not?

Actually that’s a pretty wise statement when you think about it. Especially the last segment. As young as your hope, as old as your despair. You see, I believe hope keeps us feeling young.

2. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily in your birth-year, just the same date/same month.

1558 – Elizabeth I ascends English throne upon death of her half sister Mary “Bloody Mary”, Queen of England (1553-58), aged 42.

1928 – Boston Garden officially opens

1980 – John Lennon releases “Double Fantasy” album in UK.

3. Describe a time or circumstance where you wanted to ‘have your cake and eat it too.’

If I could have had the cancer removed from my face with no scars at all.

4. What’s something you do that makes you feel young? Something that makes you feel old?

Young? Going on vacation. When we cruise I do two things that bring me delight. The first is afternoon tea in the formal dining-room, where the waiters are dressed in crisp white shirts, black trousers and vests. Tea and goodies are served, just like when my grandma was alive. The other thing, is sitting on deck, or my balcony and reading.

Old? Every time I get up in the morning. I creak and groan and another day begins!

5. When did you last do something that was ‘a piece of cake’?

Last night. Hubby got home late and I whipped up a meal of tacos. He was so happy. And the fixing up part was a piece of cake.

6. Beef, wine, and cheese all improve with age. What’s something else you’d add to that list? (not necessarily food or beverage)

A good dog. I definitely appreciate a calmed down, older dog. Even though Lili is doing well on her special food and medication, I will so be glad when her puppiness is over.

7. If I were to have a giveaway when we hit Volume 200, what should I give away? By my calculations we’ll hit Volume 200 on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, which means whoever wins would have whatever it is in time for Christmas.

Something that says “Joyce”. Not the name, but something that whenever one looked at it, we would think of you.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have had a piece of popcorn stuck in my front tooth since last Friday. At least I think that is what it is. I go today at 3 o’clock to see my dentist. I just want him to make it go away!

1. On Thursday we pause to remember a dark day in history-9/11. Will you mark it in some special way?

I think I mark it each and every day, when I pray for the members of the military, those who have lost their lives to the militant Islamists, and all others. It seems since 9/11 my prayer time has gotten longer.

2. Do you ever/still…listen to an actual radio? Watch a videotape (VCR)? Look up a number in a phonebook? Refer to a paper map while traveling? Set an alarm on an alarm clock as opposed to your phone?

Radio? Yes. VCR? Yes, but I notice that they are not as good to watch as a DVD. Phone book? Still use them all the time. Paper map? Oh yes. One road trip we thought we’d just use the GPS. Well we got as far as Connecticut and stopped to get maps for the trip to DC. And yes, I do use an alarm, when I have to.

3. Is it ever a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don’t know?

No. I made this mistake once and a friend defriended me. I appologized for offending them, but to no avail.

4. What’s a dish you haven’t eaten all summer, but come September find yourself craving? Have you made it yet this month?

Beef stew. I love it, but not in the summer.

5. What’s something you know nothing about?

Science. But I am learning more each and every day, as Lili’s medical problems force me to.

6. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like classical music? If so, what’s your favorite piece?

Not a big fan, but I do love Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganin.

7. What’s the oldest thing you own?

Several items from my grandmother and grandfather. But probably my Noah’s Ark. Papa brought it from Germany and we were only allowed to play with it on Sundays.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I will do more of a post on our upcoming vacation later. I am just so happy we are going on this trip!

1. What’s something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to actually doing?

Going to the local Fairs. Actually there is one more close by and I will go. Either by myself or with someone.

2. Share a favorite memory of your own back -to-school days as a child.

New clothes, new shoes and braided hair.

3. What’s one chore or daily task you prefer doing ‘old-school’ ?

I know this will sound funny, but scrub the toilet. So many people use the drop in the tank stuff, but I prefer the cleaner, scrub brush and scour. Oh yes, and done with old fashioned gloves

4. Share something you’ve learned in life through the ‘school of hard knocks’.

Enjoy today.  Love the ones you love, never let a day go by when you do not tell them or show them. You never know when their last day, or your last day will come.

5. As a child, did you mostly bring or buy your lunch for school? What was your favorite thing to find in your lunchbox?

In the early years I bought my lunch. I loved Friday Fish Sticks and mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables and a fruit cup. Of course that came with a carton of milk. Later, my Dad made our lunches. It was the same every day. An American Cheese  Sandwich, Apple and I would buy a carton of milk.

6. Football season is upon us which has me wondering… how big of a sports fan are you (not just football) ? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being ‘I scream at the players through my television screen’ and 1 being ‘is knitting a sport?’ where do you fall in fandom?

I am not a big football fan, but I do watch (kinda, sorta, ya know?) But I love tennis! I also love figure skating, and skiing, and gymnastics.

7. Share a favorite quote you think might inspire students of all ages at the start of a new school year.

“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” – Harvey Fierstein

1. As August draws to a close, share what’s been your favorite weekend of the entire summer?

When my cousin, Larry married his longtime soulmate, Cindy.

Great wedding, and wonderful reception. It was fun to watch them start their life together.

2. Labor Day is marked in the US of A on Monday, September 1st. What paying job have you held that you’ve loved the most? Liked the least?

Loved the most? Non-paying job. Being a Mom. Least favorite job? Selling shoes.

3. Does the new school year start before or after Labor Day where you live? When do you think it should begin? There is much discussion now about older students having later start times to their school day…your thoughts?

Before and it just seems weird to me!

4. What’s something you’ve worked at recently that could be deemed a ‘labor of love’?

Hubby fell the other day and ripped up the side of his leg. He bled terribly, all over his dressy slacks! I brought them to the laundry room and was thrilled to see they were actually washable. I worked long and hard and got the blood out!

5.Which of the following work idioms can you most relate to right now…’A woman’s work is never done.’, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ ‘Many hands make light work.’

A woman’s work is never done. Between canning season, Lili and just plain cooking and cleaning up regular meals, the only time I am not on my feet are when I am in bed!

6. Crab or lobster or thanks, but no thanks? Favorite way to have your choice prepared?

I love both. But being a New England girl, a freshly steamed lobster, with steamers (clams) corn on the cob and either boiled potatoes or potato salad.

7. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, ‘Three rules of work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.’ Which of the three do you consider to be the most important? Share one of your own ‘rules of work’.

From discord, find harmony. It’s what I really need to do.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Yesterday I sanitized all my wood floors. Today I need to bring the dackels in for a nice shower, and I seriously want to wash our braided rug. I feel like all I can smell are dogs and it is driving me insane!

1. The best part of waking up is

Coffee, coffee, coffee!!!

2. Given a choice, which animal interaction would you most like to experience (or for those non-adventurers…which would you dislike the least?)- Swim with the dolphins at one of several locations in the Florida Keys, a lion encounter ten minutes from Victoria Falls (Africa), or a day at a remote base camp high in the Big Sur wilderness via the Ventana Wildlife Society helping track California condors?

Swim with the dolphins.

I actually did this a few years ago and it was so wonderful that I tell my family that if I get really unhappy, I will run off and become a dolphin trainer!

3. What is something you fear about ‘old age’? What is something you look forward to?

About the only thing I fear is poor health. It was hard to watch my Mom die a painful death from cancer. Look forward to? All of Savannah’s life!

4. Hot sauce…are you a fan? If you answered yes, what’s something you make/eat that must have hot sauce? On a scale of 1-10 how hot is too hot?

Nothing. I destest hot sauce, period!

5. It’s been said that children learn what they live. What do you think children learn at your house?

I love to cook and for a while when the neighbor children came by I used to teach them to cook.

6. What’s your favorite movie with a number in it’s title?

The Sixth Sense

7. Saturday (August 16th) is National Tell a Joke Day…share one here.

What’s the difference between a lawyer and an algae eater? One is a scum sucking bottom dweller and the other is a fish! (I love most lawyers so no offence!)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

There are no words to express the sadness we all are feeling at the loss of Robin Williams. He made us laugh, he made us cry, he warmed our hearts. I wonder if he knew how greatly he was loved. Rest in Peace, Robin.