Category: Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. April 15th is the deadline for Americans to file their state and federal income tax returns. What’s a job you do on a regular basis that could be described as ‘taxing’?

Cleaning the house. Especially vacuuming. You see, the dackels hate the vacuum and they bark, and chase me and it is a pain!

2. I’m participating in the April A-Z blog challenge, and the Hodgepodge happens to fall on Day O this week. In keeping with that theme…olives, onions, oysters, okra…of the foods mentioned, what’s your favorite O food?

Onion Rings! Oh, I just love good onion rings!

3. What is something memorable you experienced as a child that your own children (or future children/nieces/nephews) will not get to experience?

Playing outside free and wild, on our street. No one watching, climbing trees and playing in the dirt until I heard my Mom ring the dinner bell. You simply cannot do that these days. There too many sick people out there that will, for no good reason, hurt children.

4. Term limits for our elected officials…your thoughts?

Yes, yes, and yes! I think we as a country would be better off if we got rid of career politicians.

5. On April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere made his famous ‘midnight ride’…when did you last make a midnight ride? Perhaps the fate of a nation wasn’t hanging in the balance, but tell us where you were headed anyway.

You know, I’m such an old fart now, that I don’t go out after dark too often. Certainly by midnight, I am in bed sound asleep.

6. What would freak you out more…a mouse running across your floor or a big fat hairy spider?

Mouse. Here is a true story from when Hubby and I were first married. I moved in to his old farm house and we had an indoor shed where we kept the trash until trash day to avoid the bears. I walked out in my bathrobe and slippers to bring out the trash and I stepped on something that went crunch! I jumped back, saw a mouse and screamed! A friend of Hubby’s and our old white shepherd, Rex came running and when they surveyed the situation, they both looked at me as if I was a total moron. But alive or dead, I hate mice!!!

7. I love it when people ask me if I am Hubby’s daughter! It doesn’t happen as often as it did when we were first married, but I always loved that. He, of course, did not!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am just sick about what happened at the Boston Marathon. There are to words to describe how I feel. I hope they catch the people who did this quickly.

1. Share one fun thing you did last week, while the Hodgepodge was on ‘spring break’.

I went through a bunch of old pictures and I made an anniversary montage for our 25th wedding anniversary, which was yesterday! Go back one post and you can watch it, if you missed it yesterday.

2. April 10th is National Sibling Day…do you have siblings, and if so are you close? Share a favorite story featuring one or all of your siblings. If you don’t have siblings, did you ever wish you did?

I had two sinlings. My brother passed away in 1977, but I am lucky to still have my sister. It is so hard to recall just one favorite story. I have so many of her. Here is one. We shared a room when I was about 11 years old. It was the summer and my cousin, Janet was visiting and as we all were lying in our beds, Mel was telling us a story. I was so tired I drifted off to sleep and when I woke, not realizing I had slept I remember calling out, “aren’t you going to finish the story?” and no one answered with words, just loud snores!

I could also tell you about all the stories she told me when we would stand doing the dishes, and I would tell her not to start the story with “Once upon a time”, and she would promise me that she wouldn’t, and then she began…”Once upon a time” and we both would break out in laughter!

3. Is it important to you to ‘buy American’? Why or why not? How much of an effort do you make to ‘buy American’? If you’re not American, insert your own country in the blank.

It is very important. Both Hubby and I try to buy American or locally made. It gets harder all the time.

4. Besides The Bible, what book has impacted your spirituality in some way?

The Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer. I still read the services from time to time.

5. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Do you find rainy days calming or depressing? When were you last caught in a rainstorm? What’s blooming in your neck of the woods today?

I love the rain. It is so much easier on my eyes. What’s blooming…okay this is actually funny. Two years ago I planted tulips and crocuses in my yard. They never came up! I was so upset. So last fall, I did not plant anything! Well, guess what? They all came up this year! Isn’t that strange?

6. What’s your favorite yellow food?

Corn on the cob!!!

7. April is National Poetry Month…what’s a poem that holds special meaning for you, and why is it special?

Four-Feet

By Rudyard Kipling

I have done mostly what most men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through
Wherever my road inclined
Four-feet said, “I am coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

Now I must go by some other round,
Which I shall never find
Somewhere that does not carry the sound Of Four-Feet trotting behind.

Me with my first dackel, Shubi.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am going to my niece’s wedding on Friday. I was nervous about going due to my horribly disfigured face. However, I have been going out and seeing people, and so far no one has run off screaming with freight, or fainted! So I gave myself a talking to and I am ready to face the world! (No pun intended!)

1. Do you play games of luck/chance for money? Have you ever played bingo for money? Visited a casino? Placed a bet on a horse? Bought a lottery ticket?

No, I do not gamble at all. I have seen families ruined when someone literally gambled their entire life away.

2. Will you be preparing and/or dining on the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage meal this St. Patrick’s Day? Mashed-baked-hash browned-french fried…your favorite way to have potatoes?

I will be making the traditional corned beef and cabbage. Love it! (Once a year!) My favorite way to have potatoes are french fries. However, I try not to have them. When I am being true to my diet I eat baked potatoes most of the time.

3. What’s the last thing you felt ‘green with envy’ over?

I cannot think of any. I have always tried not to want what others have, and to be happy for them when they have good things in their lives.

4. What’s at the end of your rainbow?

Mandy and Savannah Rose! I am just over the moon with love for my daughter and granddaughter! (Hubby too, of course!)

5. March 12th marks the anniversary of the death of Anne Frank (June 12, 1929-March, 1945). Anne’s diary detailing her time spent hiding from the Nazi’s during the war ranks as one of the best selling books of all time. Besides your blog, do you keep any sort of diary or journal? Was this a habit you developed as a child or is journaling something new for you?

My blog is my diary. Honestly, when I need dates and to identify happenings, I look back into my blog archives.

6. What’s an item in your home or closet that contains every color of the rainbow?

A Mexican blanket that we got years and years ago. Literally, it has all the colors of the world.

7. Write a limerick with you as the subject. You can do it!! Just remember this is a family friendly blog…don’t make me get out my wooden spoon.

There once was a girl named MB
who cooked so much that it seemed
that the pots in her house were all full
with soups, stews and cheesy fondue
And MB smiled broadly for all!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Tuesday is election day here in my little town. It’s a crucial election, as we have some people who would like to raise our taxes considerably. The other candidates would like to use some funds to repair roads, town buildings, but not heap onto that new taxes to build newer buildings. Right now, our little town of 6000 people cannot handle more taxes. We shall see how it all shakes out.

1. When were you last facing an ocean? Using just ONE word, describe how you felt as you faced that ocean.

Two years ago when I returned to Cape Cod for my High School Reunion.

One word: Home!

2. What are three sounds you hate to hear?

Sirens from a police or firetruck, an unexplained noise that says something fell, someone choking.

3. This question comes to you courtesy of some real life friends. Hi real life friends! When you shop for yourself, do you try everything on in the store before buying or do you buy, try on at home, and then return what you don’t like or what doesn’t fit?

I try everything on. I usually plan to do this and so I wear easy on easy off clothing.

4. February 26th is National Pistachio Day…are you a fan of the little green nut? Do you use them in cooking and baking or prefer to eat them right out of the shell?

Love pistachios! Any way at all!

5. When did you last have to compromise with someone? Were you happy to reach the compromise or slightly irritated it was necessary?

It’s the TV remote, you see. I love to watch HGTV and Hubby doesn’t. Last night I had to relinquish control and so I brought out my MP3 player and listened to music while he watched a news program.

6. Have you ever written a letter to an elected official? Did you get a response?

No and no. I have gone to meet a few politicians and that’s about as close as I have come to being a fan. (So to speak.)

7. We ‘March’ into a new month at the end of this week…what’s something on your March calendar guaranteed to make you smile?

My niece’s Bridal Shower, my appointment with the surgeon, and

Greta’s birthday.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m hoping that after I see the surgeon in the 6th of March, my surgery will be scheduled quickly. I get so nervous and I do not wait well.

1. When were you last ‘on a mountaintop’? You may answer in the literal or figurative sense.

Last winter. I skied on Gunstock Mountain. It was very pretty.

2. Do you establish and maintain a strict budget in your household? What is one piece of financial advice you would offer someone just starting out on their own?

I always keep in my mind not to spend anything that I cannot pay off at the end of the month. You see I use plastic for almost all my bills and purchases. Then I get points. However, as I said, I always pay off my credit cards at the end of the month!

3. Cherries-yay or nay? Cherry pie, cherry cola, black forest cake, or a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s Cherries Garcia…pick one.

Cherries? Yay! We have three cherry trees in the yard and I love cherry season (early July!). I make Cherry Jelly and it is just the best!

4. Should you ever discuss religion or politics with people you don’t know?

I learned the hard way just not to discuss it at all. You see I did and the person I had the exchange with cut me out of their life completely, which has been hurtful, for reasons I can’t really discuss. I was labeled a bad person, which is odd because I never thought of myself like that. My advice, don’t discuss politics. You will make your greatest enemies and at times will lose people you care about.

5. When you take a road trip do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger? Where were you headed on your last road trip?

I prefer not to drive. However, I do drive when I must. My last road trip was down to see my Savannah Rose!

6. If we peeked inside your closet, what color would we say is most prevalent?

Probably blue. I have a lot of blue clothing, sweaters, etc. The other big color is black.

7. Who’s your favorite senior citizen and why are they special?

Well, Hubby. Officially he is a Senior Citizen, and I simply cannot imagine my world without him in it! He is the first person I want to speak with in the morning and the last person I want to talk to at night.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I got my stitches out on Tuesday. I got to really see where they had been. She took the biopsies on either side of the scar, sort of away from where the last cancer had been. I think the doctor probably thinks that the cancer cells have spread somewhat. So now I am thinking they will have to do some extensive removal and then I will have some reconstructive surgery. I’ve decided either I want my daughter’s cute little nose or perhaps Audrey Hepburn?

1. This week marks the beginning of Lent…will you be giving something up or adding anything to your life during this season of the year?

I’m going to give up bread at lunch for Lent. I will have it at breakfast only. And at dinner only natural carbs like potatoes.

2. The day before Lent is Shrove Tuesday… tradition states you eat pancakes on this day. In some parts of the world Shrove Tuesday is actually known as ‘pancake day’. How do you like your pancakes? Or don’t you?

Love pancakes! Tonight I plan to make pancakes for dinner with sausages.

3. I’m sure there are many, but what’s one love song you really love?

Well, we had the song “You light up my Life” sung at our wedding,

I also love The Carpenter’s song “Only Yesterday”. There is such a longing in it!

but it isn’t my favorite. I think my favorite love song is “Something” by the Beatles.

4. What are some things you do to let others know you love them?

I think it is a lot of little things. A kiss, a soft touch, a hot meal, or perhaps a cup of tea with some treats. Being able to listen, and to really hear.

5. Roses…red, pink, or do you prefer another color?  Yellow!!! Can you recall the last time someone gave you flowers? Usually it’s on Mother’s Day or Valentine’s day. As much as I love them, it is not really important. Given your choice would you like to open the door and see a dozen red roses, a dozen purple tulips, or a dozen pink peonies? The roses. But you know, my favorite flowers are gardenias!

6. President’s Day will be celebrated in America next Monday. Does US Presidential history and trivia interest you? Some. Many Presidential homes are open to the public and offer guided tours…Monticello (Jefferson’s home), Mount Vernon (Washington’s home), Montpelier (James Madison’s home), Hyde Park (FD Roosevelt’s home) and The White House (home to the sitting President) to name just a few. Of those listed which would you be most interested in touring? Why?

I’ve been to all but Hyde Park and Montpelier. I enjoy stepping back in time at the older historical sights.

7. Are you good at keeping secrets?

Yes. If one of my family asks, I shut up. I know they are counting on me.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I needed to get the dogs their yearly licenses. I usually have a file with their rabies certificates in them, all neatly filed in my dog bag, but it wasn’t there. I had to retrace all my steps, back a year to remember what I had done with it. It took me a bit (half the day) but I finally remembered and Hubby and I were able to license the dogs. Yay! Now the file has been placed back in my dog information bag until next year!

1. Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 10th, and 2013 is the year of the snake. When did you last see a snake?

Easter 2010

The Easter Snake from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Are you okay around snakes or do they give you the shivers?

I do not like snakes!

2. The color red in Chinese culture usually means good luck. Do you believe in luck?

Some. Mostly I believe you make your own luck!

3. sledding-ice skating-building a snowman…if given a choice, which activity would you choose? Which of the three have you done most recently?

I loved to ice skate as a child, now I think sledding is the way to go!

4. Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited as saying, “The years teach much which the days never knew.” Where have you seen this quote played out in your own life?

After my car accident I literally lost it for a long time. It took many years, and a lot of work to find myself again.

5. When was the last time you ate a cupcake?

I’m not a big cupcake eater. So, I can’t honestly tell you. Perhaps last Easter. I think my cousin made some.

6. What’s something you can’t say no to?

7. Are you a doodler?

Nope.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I saw my doctor on Thursday about my skin cancer problems. Time for the referral to a Dermatologist who specializes in Cancer. I’m not too worried. The skin cancer I have had before is easily removed, and I am far past the stage in life when I dream of creamy clear skin.