Back to School Hodgepodge

 

It is Wednesday! 

It is Back to School!

 And soon it will be Christmas.. Gosh, that calendar will not slow down. 

It is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions. 

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

1. August is National Golf month...do you play? Do you enjoy following golf? Have you ever been to a professional tournament? 

I played golf once with my friend A. Her mom let me use her golf clubs. It was a hoot of a time. We played golf and drove around in the golf cart just having a good old time. It was a carefree golf day.

My husband works for a company that makes turf equipment for golf courses all over the world. It is fun to learn what courses use the machines that he helps design and create. 

No, I have not been to a professional tournament.

 2. Astronaut Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 fame passed away this past Thursday. Are you interested in outer space and what's happening today in terms of space exploration? I am not all that interested, but I keep up with a bit of it because our oldest son is interested in it and I like to be able to chat with him on topics he likes. If space travel became common in your lifetime would you go? Only if I had to go visit a family member who might be living on Mars. How do you personally relate to the idea of exploring something vast and mysterious...does the idea excite you, intimidate you, or something else? I do not mind going off to explore, but I DO NOT want to have to wear a special suit to keep me alive. I like earth.

 3. Describe your communication style in three words. 

Listen

Share

Digest

 4. Do you have a favorite cookbook? A favorite celebrity chef? Do you watch any cooking shows on TV? 

My favorite cookbooks change through out the year, right now I am enjoying many recipes from  ...

 The Prairie Homestead Cookbook

A favorite celebrity chef? Do you watch any cooking shows on TV?

Julia Child

I enjoy watching Julia Child cooking shows, I have learned a lot from Julia.

 

 5. As a child did you have any back to school traditions? If so, did you carry on those same traditions with your own children? Do you have any back to school traditions you've started on your own? 

 We would go back to school shopping. It was fun to pick out a new trapper keeper, folders, notebooks, pens, pencils and more. My mom took a photo of our first day of school. I carried on with that tradition.

 Do you have any back to school traditions you've started on your own?

We had our boys write out .. what are your goals for this school year. And then at the end of the school year, we would have our boys write out... what goals shifted during the school year, what goals did you accomplish and what are you looking forward to for the next school year.

  6. Insert your own random thought here. 

School seems to start earlier and earlier.. actually I do not think it ever ends in my neck of the woods. I walk past the Middle and High School of our local district and kids have been at the school all summer. 

 

Dog Days

 

Ernie, chilling on my mom's chair.

 

Hello Friends, do I have a story for you. Two weeks ago our neighbor stopped me to have me meet their new puppy, Lucy. I noticed Lucy had band-aids  on her sweet puppy face.

Lucy was attacked the day before by a pit-bull that lives down the street from us. I did not even know a pit-bull lived at that house.  The pit-bull got out of his fenced backyard and traveled down Arlington Avenue. Lucy the puppy was out with her 7 year old owner, when all heck broke loose. The pit-bull attacked Lucy the puppy, threw her up in the air. In the meantime, Stella our other neighbors dog sensed trouble, she got in between the pit-bull and the little girl. All the commotion brought all the adults out. They were able to get the pit-bull and called the police. 

The pit-bull was taken back to the home that it belongs and told to keep that dog in its fenced yard. 

YIKES!

This week I was out for my evening walk with Ernie. A white dog started to follow us from behind down the sidewalk as we did our usual walk around our neighborhood. A father out playing with his three children saw the dog and tried to catch it. This gave me time to get a move on and hightail it home.

YIKES!!

And for my final dog days story. The evening of Thursday of last week,  my husband and I set out for our evening walk. We see a women with a dog ahead, she does not have the dog on a leash. As we get closer, we are walking faster than she is, she says, "No worries, my dog is friendly." As the dog proceeds to run full speed, barking and  foaming at the mouth towards us. It happens all so fast!! That dog is after our Ernie, who is on a leash. I cannot pick Ernie up because the foaming at the mouth dog is pushing into me. My husband is trying to grab the dog. The women yells at us, "I will handle this." She turns on her shocker that she has in her hand to full blast, the dog begins to yelp in pain and is paralyzed.

We once again, hightail it home.

YIKES!!! 

We look over Ernie, he is fine. We look at each other and shake our heads. 

"What in the blue moon is going on with people!"

Summer Days and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Our favorite Northern Wisconsin lake to paddle and fish.

 

Hello Friends, Happy August and let us soak in the last days of summer.

It is Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

Yes, I have a few perfect summer days. 

In June, I went to a baseball game with my family. It was a beautiful summer afternoon for a baseball game.

The first weekend of August I spent with my family.

We fished on our favorite Northern Wisconsin lake. It was a bottle up summer day.

My dad commented, "it was perfect out on the lake." 

And it was. 

2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

When I was a freshman in high school, the senior class had some MEAN girls. I was lucky that my neighbor girl and friend,  was a junior and she was a tough cookie. As long as I had Paulette as my friend, those senior girls left me along. Not so for my friend Tracy. Those girls got her one day after class. 

I wish I would have known how mean some girls could be... this group was down right nasty, pull your hair, dump your books out of your arms and more. 

Me with my fishing gear. The only nasty thing while fishing was the mean old flies. Do you spy the big one on my pant leg.

 

3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

The way I make our bed. I like it just so. 

4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated? 

I do not know what food is overrated right now. All my blog friends will have to fill me in on this question. If we are talking about cottage cheese, I do enjoy cottage cheese. My husband and I love a bowl of cottage cheese with fruit, peaches are one of our favorites to mix in our cottage cheese. 

 

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? personal stylist
dance like nobody's watching or sing like nobody's listening? sing like nobody's listening
unlimited tacos or free pizza? pizza

bookshelf organization-by size or by genre? genre
ten minutes late or ten minutes early? ten minutes early

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A few more photos of a perfect summer's day... 

Joy List Monday

 

Joy List Monday

♥ a weekly ritual  ♥

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day

 ♥ sun-tea ... and a flower petal landing on the lid of the jar

 ♥ late summer bug song

 ♥ fresh tomatoes from the garden

 ♥ sunsets

 ♥ watching the moon rise

Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile.

 ♥

Carla

Goodbye July and it is the Hodgepodge

 

 

Goodbye July and it is the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. On July 29th 1957 The Tonite Show premiered with Jack Parr as it's host. This marked the beginning of the modern day talk show. Do you watch any daytime or late night talk shows today? Do you have any thoughts on the hubbub surrounding the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or are you more in the camp of 'who is Stephen Colbert? 

Last week I had to share with the world that I have never been on a roller coaster. This week I will share with the world I have no idea who Stephen Colbert is. 

No daytime or late night talk shows for me.

 2. What's the best part of your day?

 I love going for our daily walk. My husband and I walk together, we try to do this daily. We talk about current events, family, friends, weather and dreams we plan to reach for.

 3. What's something your generation does that you actually dislike? 

I do not know... hopefully I will learn something reading others answers.

 4. When you cook do you clean as you go, or clean it all up once you're finished cooking? What's the last thing you cooked/baked in your own kitchen?

 

 I clean up all at once. 

I made fresh coleslaw, with vegetables from our garden.

 

5. Sum up your July in ten words or less. 

 

Home Improvements

Home improvements the theme for our July 2025.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Our son Sam purchased his first home. 

We helped on moving day.

We helped with home improvements the weeks after moving in.

The house is located in a great neighborhood.  

I know many happy memories will be made here.

 

 

A July Prayer

 

 

This prayer is written by Farrell Mason, it has become my July prayer and I wanted to share it with you.

 

Dear God,

The River of Life is a winding mystery, shimmering with possibility. With your help, I will keep angling for grace, increasing goodness on my side of the bank, searching for silver linings in the pain, waiting faithfully for joy to tip the balance of sorrow, holding on to hope in the dark, and making sacrifices for the Good.  The story of the river is one of love. May my life be meaningful in your beautiful tale. Let me live to cast my line for another day.

Amen

 

It is a Blue Hawaii Hodgepodge

 

Footprints on the beach

Hello Everyone, it is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 

 1. When does time pass slowly for you? When does time past quickly for you? 

 

When I do not feel good time will pass slowly for me.

When I have time to spend with our kids, the time goes too fast.

 

 2. Do you have a favorite beach? What's your favorite 'beach' activity? Tell us what we'd find in your beach bag.

 

Wisconsin Point,  Lake Superior is my favorite beach.

I love to walk the beach looking for treasures.

In my beach bag you will find..

two beach towels, a bag for keeping treasures, water bottle, snacks and my camera.

 

 3. Your favorite book or movie with a beach setting? 

 

Blue Hawaii with Elvis Presley

I watched this movie the first time with my grandparents, my grandpa would sing along, it was great fun and fantastic memories.

 

 4. What's a food you love, but find it's a pain to eat? Is it worth it? 

 

Crab legs ... oh yes it is worth it. 

 

 5.  Do you like roller coasters? What's the best (or worst) roller coaster you've been on? 

 

I do not like roller coasters, I have never been on a roller coaster.

I know, how can I say I do not like roller coasters if I have never been on one. LOL!

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

When two people love each other, they don't look at each other, 

they look in the same direction.

Ginger Rogers

 

Joy List Monday

 Joy List Monday

♥ a weekly ritual ♥

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day

 

Millions and millions of maple seeds fell this spring, I am still finding them and pulling them up. It is weird I know to put this on my joy list.. but here is why..

that little maple seedling

 ♥ is determined

 ♥ shows me the power of nature.. that little seed will find a way to sprout.. reminding me that I too just need to keep on trying

 

 

I will not blow this photo up.. gross enough.. why on my joy list?

♥ it is healing

I had a terrible reaction to a bug bite. 

 

HELP... we are in a traffic jam and we are on the way to a special wedding.

Why on the joy list?

 ♥ we made it

 

 

My garden is doing so well this season.

And you know the answer to this one, why on my joy list?

 ♥ she loves her garden

 

 

 ♥ Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile.

 ♥

Carla

 

Raffle Tickets and the Hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

1. What's a characteristic you admire in others? Elaborate. 

I have three  friends that are going through some very difficult situations. I admire the resilience they demonstrate.

 2. Do you have a favorite mug? Let's see it. Why is this one your favorite? 

I have several favorite mugs. I will share one that my mom gifted me a few years ago. I bring the mug out after Thanksgiving and I drink my morning coffee in it during the holiday season. I like it because it has the vintage scene on it and it is from my mom.

 

 3. July 15th is/was National Give Something Away Day...will you (or did you, depending on what day you answer these questions) give something away? If so what? Do you regularly give away or do you tend to  'accumulate'?

This past weekend my husband and I cleaned a section of our basement. We took a load to Goodwill on July, 12. The load had a lot of seasonal outdoor decor that we no longer put out on display.

 I try not to 'accumulate'.

 

4. You're planning a trip. Do you prefer exploring big cities or smaller, more off the grid towns? World Atlas lists these 12 'off the grid' towns to see in 2025. How many on the list have you seen? Of those listed which one would you most like to visit? Tell us why? 

Boothbay Harbor Maine, Middlebury Vermont, New Hope Pennsylvania, Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Brevard North Carolina, Saugatuck Michigan, Medora North Dakota, Ouray Colorado, Lamoille Nevada, Neah Bay Washington, Hood River Oregon, or Cambria California

*You can read more about each destination by clicking the link above. 

We would enjoy exploring the smaller towns.

I have been to Medora, North Dakota.

I would enjoy visiting Boothbay Harbor, Maine. We would enjoy the history and taking the sailing excursion to see the whales, seals, puffins and more. 

5. Have you ever...ridden a motorcycle? been to a Disney park? met a celebrity? won a contest? Tell us something about whatever you answered yes to on this list. 

I have not ridden a motorcycle.

I have not been to a Disney park.

I have not met a celebrity.

I have won a contest.

A little side story regarding raffle tickets. There is a fella in our local area that is considered the Raffle King. He sells raffle tickets, lots of raffle tickets. I became friends with him years ago while I was working for the Cameron Community Center.

After I left that position, we reminded friends and I would purchase raffle tickets from him when I saw him around town. He had a health event that caused him not to be able to get out as often, but no worries, he would mail me raffle tickets with a sweet letter. He always was sure I had some #12 tickets, because he knows #12 is my favorite number.

 

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon ~ who could not be happy.

Oscar Wilde

 

Little Plants and Big Plants

 

 

Hello Friends, we will go for a walk around the garden. 

 

Cucumbers, they are my very favorite and I cannot wait to eat the first one of the season.

 

 

I planted a succulent into a dish that is used to hold a scrubby. I like how it is growing. 

 

My cabbage continues to grow. 

 

I am loving this combo.

 

 

Some of my little plants.

 

 

Make today so awesome, yesterday gets jealous.

Avani Sharma

 

Time Management and it is The Hodgepodge

 

Be sure to bring some bug spray!

 

It is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

1. What's an adult problem nobody prepared you for? 

Time management.. where do the days go? 

Actually my grandpa warned me about it, he would say "the older you get the faster the day goes" he just forgot to prepare me for it.

 2. How tuned in are you to all the recent food related health news? Have you gotten rid of your scratched cookware? Did you pay attention to food additives before they made the news? What's one healthy eating/cooking/food shopping habit you need to adopt? 

I am somewhat tuned in. We do not have any scratched cookware that I am aware of? We have used cast iron for years and years.

Yes, we did pay attention to the food additives before they made the news... but now I know way more.

Seed oils are an area that I need to look at more during my shopping.

 3. What's getting worse and worse as you get older? How about better and better? 

My eye sight is getting worse and worse. I wear progressive glasses, it is a complicated relationship that we have.

Better, I have gotten better at saying, No, to things I do not enjoy doing. And that has taken a long, long time to get better at. 

4. Are you more of an indoor person or an outdoor person? Elaborate. 

I am an outdoor person.

You can find me..

in the garden

paddling on the water

hiking in the woods

snowshoeing

 skiing 

or 

sitting on the porch with a good book.

 

  5. If you had an expert personal assistant today, what would you have them do? 

I have a stack of clothes to be ironed. I do not like to iron... so personal assistant where are you?? 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

We need the tonic of wildness..

We can never have enough of nature.

Henry David Thoreau

 

 

Independence Day Playlist

 

♪♫♫♫♪ A few years ago my husband created our Independence Day playlist, we have added to the list each year. Here are some of the songs we have on our Independence Day playlist. ♪♫♫♫♪

 

The Star-Spangled Banner

Lee Greenwood - God Bless the USA

Centerfield - John Fogerty

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie

Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

Song of the South - Alabama

Fishing in the Dark - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Little Bitty - Alan Jackson

 Highwayman - The Highwaymen

On The Road Again - Willie Nelson

Jackson - Johnny Cash and June Carter

Hello Mary Lou - The Statler Brothers

American Made - The Oak Ridge Boys

The Gambler - Kenny Rogers

Faithfully - Journey

Your Love - The Outfield

Born in the U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen

Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp

 

 

♪♫♫♫♪ That is just a few of the songs we have on our Independence Day playlist, it is over 6  hours long. What would you add? ♪♫♫♫♪

We also have several polka's on our playlist..

Beer Barrel Polka - Roll Out the Barrel  

♥

Carla

 

 

Happy Birthday America and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Happy Birthday America

and it is the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 

 1. What does freedom mean to you? 

This is a difficult question for me to answer, because I could take it in so many directions. I have decided to take it regarding food.

Freedom to me means you have the right to decided what is best for you and your family. 

I will share an example of how I look at freedom...

If you want to drink raw milk, you should be able to drink raw milk. 

I already know what some people will say to me, "Carla, drinking raw milk has risks. People can get sick." 

My answer to this is, "How can you have freedom without risks."

I was raised on drinking raw milk. 

2. How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you live outside the USA answer this question as it relates to your own country's patriotic holiday, wherever that may land on the calendar.

We will be celebrating America's birthday as a family in August. This Independence Day our family is going in different directions.

3. This or that...red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Watermelon, home made ice cream, or blueberry pie? How do you feel about fireworks? 

I love blue!! It is my favorite color.

Stars!!

Home made ice cream!!

I like fireworks. 

 

4. What have you purchased recently that made you excited?

A gift for my husband, it will be here this week. I am excited to give it to him.

5. I'm thankful to live in America (or fill in whatever country you call home) because____________.

 I am proud to live in America, because I am proud of the freedoms we have as a nation. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

"Common sense is seeing things as they are and doing things as they ought to be."

Harriet Beecher Stowe

 

 

New Blooms and Growth

 

Hello Friends,

The garden is busting. Each day it changes, new blooms and new growth.

I will give you a little tour. 

Above are our onions, I am concerned I planted the onions too deep?

Let us move on to the flowers... 

 

The front garden. I have worked on this garden to have never ending blooms from early spring to late autumn. I am so pleased with how it is looking this season.

 

Looking at the below photo you will see this gardeners feet and her prize cabbage. Oh how excited I am to make fresh from the garden coleslaw, one of my favorite summer harvest treats.

 

We have been eating fresh strawberries daily, picking some to add to our morning breakfast or to add into our drinks.

Our roses are having a fantastic season, as you walk past our climbing rose you can hear, buzz, buzz, buzz, it is loaded with bees. 

 

"Hours fly

flowers die

new days

new ways pass by

love stays"