Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Hodgepodge

 Y'all - I'm so embarrassed. The last couple of times I have forgotten to thank Joyce for her Hodgepodge questions and I've forgotten to link up. I did the same thing for Sunday Stealing PLUS I thought I scheduled my Sunday Stealing for 2:00 a.m. on Sunday but I scheduled it for 2:00 a.m. A WHOLE WEEK EARLIER. How do you make those kinds of mistakes???

Here we go - thank you to Joyce for the wonderful questions each week. Please feel free to copy the questions and answer on your own blog (or you can answer in the comments!) and link back up with everyone over at Joyce's blog.

 

1. It's been said the best things in life are free...are they? What are some of those things? 

This question has me perplexed. Is anything really free? If you are in a store and see "free gift with purchase" . . . just know that the gift is not really free! Are hugs free? I'm not normally a huge hugger but since the pandemic, I tend to hug much more! The air we breathe and the flowers that bloom were a gift of God for us to enjoy but are they free? I'm looking forward to reading other answers for this question!

2. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Apple pie or home made ice cream? Do you like hotdogs? If so, what do you like on yours? 

Stars

new star pillows on the porch

Blue . . .or maybe red!

Homemade ice cream

Love a good hotdog! - A good Sneaky Pete's Chili Cheese dog (no onions) is hard to beat! At home, I usually put mustard, ketchup, and kraut on a hot dog. My sister loves Sneaky Pete's so much that she always has to eat at least one of their dogs while she is in town.

photo is from the Sneaky Pete's website

3. One thing on your summer bucket list? Any plans to make it happen soon? 

I plan to be a "rider" on the church van one day in July. In the UMC, we have safe sanctuary so there always has to be two non-related adults with children. There will be a driver and I will be a rider headed to Camp Sumatanga. I really want to do a zip line but they don't have that BUT they do have this big swing thing (Alpine Tower) from the trees . . .and I'm thinking about doing that while we are at camp! I hope they will let me do it without doing all of the other stuff!

4. What's your summer anthem? Yes, you need to have one. 

I don't have one but since you said I must . . .how about, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" - hahahaha!

5. What's something you love about America? If you live outside of America, tell us something you love about the place you call home. 

I love our freedom. I love the beauty of our country. I typed a really long answer to this question and then deleted it. I think it will be interesting to read the answers of others.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Have you ever seen a berry bowl? My sister-in-law gave this to me for my birthday last month and I've used it almost every day for blueberries and strawberries!! It is so awesome!

Pinky Hodgepodge

 

1. What's something that reminds you of your grandmother? Tell us why. 

When I was a kid, my paternal granny loved to watch a "story" (soap opera) every afternoon. If we were there, we had to be quiet during her story! Anytime I see an article about a soap opera, I think of her. I think her "story" was As the World Turns. I have a child size quilt made by my Granny George (maternal). Anytime I see an animal bobble head, I think of her. One time when I was maybe six years old, she mailed a dachshund bobble head to me!

this is a picture of Granny 
George

2. Is your life currently more 'moonlight and roses' or a little more 'every rose has it's thorn'? Elaborate. 

We are empty nesters so as we are driving around the neighborhood right at dusk, life seems to be moonlight and roses. Just like most of you, life is sometimes full of thorns, too.

3. June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink? I have a pink dress that I really love! I wish I had realized that today was pink day!

This is me in that pink dress I love -
my eyes are almost closed -
I had a big smile under the mask

Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink? I love both peonies and roses and cute bunny noses. The nose is pink, right? Our oldest granddaughter LOVES pink, too!

Your favorite pink food or beverage? a drink with an umbrella in it!

Your favorite shade of pink? The shade of my dress above is my favorite!

4. Last thing that had you 'tickled pink'? I was "tickled pink" when I remembered that bobble head weiner dog and actually had to google it and see if I could find any that looked like the one I remember. I didn't.

5. What are two or three words that describe your style. 

Comfortable, easy, colorful

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm behind on blogging. We went to the beach for a week with our kids and grandkids and I just can't get caught up! I would love to do a post about our beach trip.

Also, we have been doing a few fun things - we were gifted several restaurant gift cards right before Covid hit and we used the first one Saturday night. I need to write about that, too!

Sunday Stealing

   1. Do you like or dislike surprises? Why or why not?

I like good surprises :-). I hate when someone surprises you with something not pleasant - like, "Oh I forgot to tell you that you have to clean the bathrooms." I totally made up that example but you get my drift.

   2. In the evening, would you rather play a game, visit a relative, watch a movie, or read?

I love to read morning, noon, and night! Mark and I usually watch one or two episodes each night of whatever series we are streaming. There have been a few series where I can't watch an episode right before bed because I can't sleep!!

   3. Would you rather vacation in Hawaii or Alaska, and why?

We've been talking about Alaska a lot lately. My husband's twin brother, wife, and daughter just spent 10 days in Alaska. We've been to Hawaii many years ago and I do love the beach but I would like to go to Alaska, too.

   4. Would you rather win the lottery or work at the perfect job? And why?

May I do both? I've always thought it would be fun to win the lottery but we don't have the lottery in Alabama so I only get to buy a ticket when we travel. I have a pretty perfect job right now and I do love it so I can't imagine not working at all. I've always said I would love to be a philanthropist . . .but you have to be rich so maybe I could win the lottery and be a philanthropist!

   5. If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?

I don't think I want to go back in time. There have been events in almost every year that I would love to relive but I can't think of a year I would prefer over the present. I'm not saying the world is perfect - it is far from it but I love life and count each day as a blessing.

   6. Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?

diet pepsi - seriously. Also, I would not want to go a day without laughter and love and friends and family and faith.

   7. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

I'm not a "shoe" person though my husband would tell you otherwise. I maybe have 20 or 30 pair but more than half of them are either flip flops or tennis shoes. I actually hate dress shoes and only wear them when I have to do so.

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   8. What would you do if you won the lottery?

Cool! See the answer above - I would be a philanthropist. I would also want to travel to each country in the world and see how everyone else lives!

   9. What form of public transportation do you prefer? (air, boat, train, bus, car, etc.)

Our "public transportation system" in the area where I live is not good so I won't be riding a bus! I much prefer driving myself because I get car sick. I would love to take a journey on a train. I've never been on a subway before. I have been on Marta in the Atlanta area. I have been on the monorail at Disney :-). I fly when I need to get somewhere but I'm not sure if I actually enjoy it. I've been on one cruise in my life and it was fun but I did take a lot of Dramamine and I wore a patch! I've ridden on a boat on the Sea of Galilee and I'm glad I don't have to commute each day on a boat.

choppy seas!

on the boat!

   10. What's your favorite zoo animal?

I love most all of them but I love to watch the monkeys because they make me laugh. I love the big cats, too. I do not like the reptile house!

   11. If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be?

I think I would go back and try to undo the times where I have hurt someone's feelings. I would also like to go back and right any wrongs I might have done.

   12. How many pillows do you sleep with?

I actually have 3 on my side of the bed but most nights sleep on only one pillow. I actually drag my pillow with me wherever I travel.

   13. What's the longest you've gone without sleep (and why)? 

I remember going cosmic bowling one time when I was a young adult and getting home when the sun came up. When we fly long distances on trips, I catnap but don't sleep. Back in February of 2020 it took us a million hours to get home and my bed never felt so good.

   14. What's the tallest building you've been to the top in?

I can't think of a really tall building - I've never been to New York nor Chicago. When I worked for South Central Bell, I worked on the 20th floor of a building and had to take the express elevator to my floor which passed the first 19 floors. I actually had to take Dramamine the first two weeks I worked there! I can't remember how many more floors there were in that building but I do know I had to go to the top once or twice.

   15.  What are your hobbies?

I love to read. I blog. I walk and ride the bike everyday. I love to cook. I was a scrapbooker but I don't have time for that anymore and I can't decide if people still scrapbook or if they just make a snapfish book.

Cuter Than a June Bug Hodgepodge

It is Wednesday so it is time for HodgePodge!! Here are the questions for this week. Answer on your own blog or in the comments below. If you want to join us, head on over to Joyce's blog!

1. Something you've seen recently that's 'cuter than a June bug'? 

We've been at the beach with our family and have spent several days with our granddaughters. They are both cuter than a June bug!!

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren't born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008. 

Mark and I had been married for 4 years and we had twins - boy/girl who were 19 months old. I actually think we took a beach trip because Mark had a continuing ed class in Gulf Shores. I remember going back and forth to the pool and beach and lugging everything with me. I was just telling Mark about that memory and he and I remembered all sorts of things. What was I thinking? We had two port a cribs in a hotel room and they went to bed at 7:00 and then we were trapped in the room. We couldn't even go on the tiny deck because a port a crib was in front of the door. One day after his class was over, we had the kids out in the waves. A wave knocked me down and I lost my glasses. I had contacts but had gotten a grain of sand in my eye so couldn't put them in. I called around (before cell phones!) and found an eye doctor who could see me. I told the receptionist that I had 19 month old twins with me and she said, "drive through McDonald's and pick up lunch and I'll watch them while you have your eyes examined." They put a rush on the glasses and I got them the next day. Oh my goodness -- what a trip! I don't think I have a single picture from that trip!!

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'? 

We love our big Pottery Barn chairs on our front porch and our back screen porch - they are so comfy!

this is from last year - 
we have a fun lamp now to replace
the one above

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day? What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits. A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg? How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I love fruits and veggies! I do get my 4-5 servings in almost every single day. I love chicken, steak, or shrimp kebobs on the grill with squash/peppers/onions/lemons in between the meat.  I'm counting the lemons as the fruit and the squash and zucchini as the veggies! My husband LOVES LOVES LOVES blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. I also love fried okra. We do it in the air fryer now rather than frying it in actual oil. 

It can be really hot here in Alabama in July, August, and even September so I try not to cook using the oven more often that I have to do so. Sometimes I use the crockpot or electric skillet and the grill and air fryer.

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

I'm reading the first Harry Potter book right now! I've always been a reader and my sister (the middle one) and I always joined the summer reading club at our local library. I always try to read even more in the summer. I'm going to read Bob Goff's newest book, Dream Big. I love a good mystery or thriller and look forward to reading more this summer!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We've enjoyed great food at the beach - I've eaten my weight in steamed shrimp. Not really but I have eaten it 3 times in 5 days. We've also had some yummy fried fish!

shrimp and grits at Luna

Mark had Mahi Mahi

fried fish in the condo

Wedding Bells Ring

 A few weeks ago we drove to Oxford, MS to attend the wedding of one of our Tuesday night group. She was marrying a man she met at the Wesley Foundation while in college so they were getting married at the UMC there in the pretty town of Oxford, MS. The church was lovely. It was interesting because this was the first event we attended where very few, and I truly mean one or two, were the only ones wearing masks. It has been so interesting to move back toward a more normal life.

The bride was not only lovely but the whole service was filled with love of family and friends and most importantly the love of God. The groom has recently graduated from seminary and has taken a position at a local UMC here in town.

The reception was held at a fun venue in the downtown area of Oxford. It was perfect because it was within walking distance of the church. I remembered to throw comfortable shoes into the car when we left the hotel and changed shoes for the walk. Game changer - really!

Here we are with some of our Tuesday night group. The young man standing beside me is Billy. Billy attended our group and about the time that he was moving back to Mississippi, Kate was moving to Birmingham. Billy invited Kate to the group. We always kid that Billy got a replacement when he moved on. So Eliz was coming to the group and Kate was coming to the group and they didn't know each other before the group yet ended up roommates. I love the wonderful connections that are made on Tuesday nights.

The reception venue was really cool. The number of people attending the wedding and the reception was smaller than pre-pandemic weddings and I have to admit that I have loved these smaller weddings. They seem so much more intimate.

We stayed in a hotel right on the edge of campus and as we were heading home on Sunday, we drove around through the campus. I've always heard of "The Grove" but had never seen it. It is indeed beautiful. I wonder if all of the leaves change colors just in time for football and tailgating. 

There was also a beautiful bell tower at the chapel and I failed to get a picture of it but I found this image on Pinterest.

It was a fun and quick get-a-way to a place we had never been before. We ate some great reception food (really good shrimp and grits among other things), had a glass of wine (beer for Mark), spent the night in a hotel, and experienced friendship and fellowship - all in all, that is a good weekend, isn't it?

All Around the House - Dining Room

 

Let me tell you about our dining room. Yes, I know that many houses don't have dining rooms today for one reason or another but one of my non-negotiables was a large dining room. We love to entertain and we have a large table and I wanted to use it! I also know that our dining room is not painted a "popular" color. Once again, sometimes you get to pick what makes you happy . . .not what is most popular. I actually had a guest who, after several drinks said, "I remember when different colored walls were in style." 

As I've blogged about the different rooms, I keep seeing the places I need more art or more accessories. I could certainly use something on that wall by the window!!

Our dining room hasn't been used much over the last year but in the 7 years we have lived in this house, it has been used a lot!

The blue checked cloth above is from tableclothsfactory.com and it is a "use it" and "throw it in the washer and dryer" tablecloth. I have quite a few of those to use on Tuesday nights when we host the young professionals for dinner.

The two pictures above are from my mother-in-law's 90th birthday party several years ago. The theme was "a few of her favorite things." She loves books and flowers and caramel cake and nuts and we even had a life size cardboard cut out of Colin Firth.

This picture is from a baby shower - Vroom! Vroom!

Someone's birthday?

This was from a bridal tea for one
of our closest friends.

This was another view from the
bridal shower - lots of lemons
and lots of yellow.

This was a table in process for another baby boy
shower. I used all sorts of paper mustaches for this
baby bow shower!

Mardi Gras - probably a Fat Tuesday pancake
dinner for the young adults!

As you can see, we truly use our dining room. Does your house have a dining room or do you just have a large eat in space in your kitchen/family room? If you have a dining room, do you use it?

June 1 Hodgepodge

 

Joyce at From This Side of the Pond graciously writes the questions each week and we answer and meet up on her blog. Feel free to answer the questions in the comments or join here with us!

1. Besides the flag, tell us about something red, something white and something blue from your weekend. 

This is a pitiful answer -- Red is for BBQ sauce! White is for mashed potatoes! Blue is for hydrangeas in our yard!

2. June is here and it's National Give A Bunch of Balloons Month. Who would you give a bunch to if you could? Tell us why. I actually bought balloons on my way to work this morning for my friend and co-worker who will be celebrating her 40th birthday this weekend.

3. What are three adjectives you associate with the month of June? Something you're looking forward to this month? 1) bright . . .love love love that the sun is almost up when I get up at 5:00 a.m. and doesn't go away until 8:00 p.m.  2) yellow . . .love love love the sun. 3) beautiful, blue, and white -- the gulf coast is magnificent at this time of year -- the water is blue; our sand is powder white. If you've never seen Alabama beaches or the panhandle of Florida beaches, put them on your list of places to visit. Our coast is truly beautiful.

4. Tell us about a time (besides the obvious Corona answer) when you felt stuck in second gear. I'm sort of stuck with my weight loss. I've mentioned this before. I'm maintaining the loss from a couple of years ago, but I can't seem to move into the next gear to get the last 20 off.

5. Sum up your May in fifteen words or less. Life is beginning to return to a new normal and it is wonderful to hug a friend! I don't have to count "a" and "and" . . .right?

6. Insert your own random thought here. Granddaughter #1 had her dance recital over the weekend. It was nice because we only had to sit through 5 little groups of dancers and their dances were probably about 3 minutes tops. Two teenagers also danced - one at the beginning and one at the end. Of course, we think our girl was the cutest one and the most talented one there :-). 

our girl with Gran and Pops

Gran knows that our girl loves
pink and I was able to get
pink gerber daisies

Our girl with Grandma & Donna

our girl with her mommy & daddy

At the end of the recital, the girls
who had danced for 3 years were
given a little trophy and they
had to say their name. She did
a wonderful job of stating her name
and telling everyone how old
she is!

I have a picture with her of everyone who attended except "uncle" Wynn. He was last and I jumped in to grab a shot . . and everyone moved. She is a much loved little girl!!