Wednesday Hodgepodge... on Sunday (oops!)

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

I made some venison stew; took a walk up on our hill; did bare minimum housework and read a book during spring break. 

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 have 3 half brothers and 1 half sister. 2 of my 1/2 brothers were much older than me so our relationship was a distant one for the most part, simply because of time and well, distance :-)  They were my father's sons and have both passed from this earth to heaven. My mom's son was 8 years older than me, but we were as close as a big brother and baby sister could get. We are separated by distance, now, but keep in touch. My mom's daughter is my 1/2 sister and she was much older than me. However, we were pretty close in that we did lots of fun things together and even argued as we got older!  My sister's children are my age, so my niece and nephew were more like a brother and sister to me.  People have asked me if that felt strange and my answer is always, "Not at all. We all had a great time growing up together and I didn't know any other way!"  My sister has since passed, but I am still in touch with my niece and occasionally my nephew. 

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. 

I look for quality. If I have a choice between 2 products that are of equal value, I'll choose American made every time...if the quality is there.

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

Probably the first book to impact me as a very young woman (other than the Bible) would be  The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom (also her book, Tramp for the Lord.)  In more recent history, I have been inspired by the writings of Patsy Clairmont ... one book being, "God Uses Cracked Pots"  .. I also remember a book titled, "Change Points" by Joyce Landorf that had an impact on me over 25 years ago as I was working my way through motherhood with 3 boys ... probably still a good read!

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?

The first rainy day of spring or late winter is awesome! I love to hear it hit the windows and watch the droplets run down our window panes.  If those skies stay gray and drippy for a 2nd day, though, I become antsy... especially in the springtime!  In the fall, a rainy day is fine ... again, as long as there are not too many of them! A cold rain in November reminds me that snow will be coming ...maybe any minute! 

I was caught in a real "gully washer" one summer; no umbrella; had to wade through ankle deep water and then made it to the neighboring business' car port to wait for my husband to pick me up.  There was lots of thunder and lightning and NO WAY was I waiting in our little mini golf clubhouse with all those big pine trees towering over head! I was soaked and scared!

Although it is spring here in upstate NY, we have nothing blooming, yet, this year. Last year the crocuses and even some dandelions were already blooming with daffodils and tulips just ready to burst! This year? Crocuses little green shoots just broke through the ground.

6. What's your favorite yellow food?

Hands down, Butter and Sugar variety of corn on the cob and the butter to go with it!



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

I'm a bit nostalgic about poetry. Certain ones stick and always for a reason. I write my own, but often find myself  "hearing" my mom's voice as she had memorized "The Children's Hour" by Henry Wadsowrth Longfellow  and "The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers" by Dorothea Hemans.  In her late 70's, my mom started writing her own about life on the farm and when dementia set in, she would recite them over and over and over and over ... my sister, niece and I all agreed that we could just about not stand it any longer BUT would one day miss hearing her voice and those very same poems. We were right. 
8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Long shadows at sunset on the beach...ahhhhh!