Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Hodgepodge Right on Time!


1. Do you find yourself influencing your world, or is it more the other way around?

I like to think I am a good influence.  Working with children in school; teaching a class at Bible Club in church; being a deaconess in the same church; working with kids at Bible camp each summer affords me the godly privilege to change our world, one child/one woman at a time.  

2. July 14th is National Tape Measure Day...the device was patented on this date in 1868. When did you last use a tape measure? Do you always know where to find one in your house? Tell us one way in which you feel blessed 'beyond measure'.

We have several tape measures, from huge ones in the kitchen and hidden somewhere by my husband out in the garage, to a little one rolled up in my sewing basket.  They never seem to be where they belong when I want one!  The last time I used a tape measure was to measure a window that needs a window box. It was not my tape measure, but a friend's. She keeps one in her pocket book. Smart girl!

I am SO blessed beyond measure, I could never choose just one way.  From my marriage to parenthood, grandparenthood, teacher, fellowship of other Christians...   God is so good!  

Luke 6:38 - (ESV) Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.  For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."


3.The Plaza Hotel (Eloise), The Land of Oz (The Wizard of Oz), Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia), The Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh), Wonderland (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), or Never Never Land (Peter Pan)...which storybook land (on this list!) would you most like to visit and why?

Narnia!  I want to view the movie, aerially. Except for the beginning as they climb through the wardrobe. Then I have to be able to be in two places at the same time: in the room with the wardrobe and standing at the lamppost in Narnia :-)

4. Where and when do you get your best ideas?

Usually at home after a long nap. Not kidding! 

5.  So what have you been watching on TV this summer? Anything good?

Not much time for TV... occasional re re-runs of:  The Middle.  The Waltons.  Little House on the Prairie. 

6. 'Don't swim for an hour after you eat', 'Dog days of summer', 'Knee high by the Fourth of July'...choose a summer saying from the list or share one of your own, then tell us what image or memory comes to mind when you hear it spoken.

Just used "Knee high by the Fourth of July" to describe my corn... well, actually, what I said was:  "My corn is thigh high by the Fourth of July, the weeds are knee high... SIGH!"   The "Don't swim...."  adage we have changed to about 15 minutes. Haven't lost anyone, yet!  "Dog days of summer" reminds me of my growing up years near the Green County NY Catskill Mountains.  You would think it would be cooler there... but those mountains would hold in the heat and humidity like nobody's business!  Now, that said, I found out a few years ago that "Dog days of summer" actually refer to those days in July and August, usually hot and humid, when Sirius the Dog Star rises along with the sun.

7. In a single sentence, sum up one life lesson you've learned.

Let others speak first. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

He flew right into my field of vision as I was trying to zoom in on some flowers...  So glad for auto focus!


Friday, July 8, 2016

Whoa! Back up! Back up! Hodgepodge



1.  How did you welcome the month of July, and tell us one fun thing you did to celebrate the 4th. (or the weekend for any non-USA residents playing along today) 

July just slipped right in after June.  We celebrated my birthday and our anniversary at the end of June and Arts and Crafts started  up immediately for me at our local Christian camp so it was hectic.  No fireworks, or picnics or anything of that sort.  We were simply to tired or too busy!  But we prayed for America as a nation; remembering our forefathers who signed their names... risking arrest for treason and death. Remembering the Continental Army who fought til we won our independence. Our prayer, now, is that politicians (any and all) don't throw that freedom away... 

2. Right now..what's your favorite red thing? white thing? blue thing?

Red: Strawberries.  White: Whipped Cream.  Blue: The summer sky.  I didn't have to think long at all!

3. Wave the white flag, raise a red flag, fly your freak flag...which 'flag' have you flown most recently? Explain.

I don't know what a freak flag is. No red flags in our present or even on the horizon. White flag? Well, I did surrender to my diet and eat ice cream twice in one week....  I suppose that could now be considered a red flag warning...HAHA! 

4. According to Cond Nast Traveler these are the seven best places to visit in July-

a boat safari in Botswanna's Okavango Delta, Riviera Maya Mexico (it's whale shark season and apparently you can swim with them), Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, Pamploma Spain, St. Petersburg Russia, the Fuji Rock Festival at Mount Naeba Japan, the Salzburg Festival in Salzburg Austria

If time and money weren't factors would you want to see any/all of these? Which would you most like to see and why?

Oh, I could go for the Salzburg Festival in Austria!  A little closer to home would be Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  However, we went to Maine in June  and enjoyed the shoreline from York Harbor and York Beach, to Freeport and Camden all the way up to Bar Harbor in Acadia National Park. We can't afford to go anywhere in July or August!  However, in September, we may head back to York Beach for a few days... The ocean will be warmer, then! 

5. Grilled cheese, pimento cheese, or mac and cheese...your favorite from the cheesy treats listed?

 Ooooh.. Grilled swiss cheese and cheddar mac and cheese. Can't choose!

6. What makes you sweat?

Summertime.  Hot flashes. Speaking in public.

7. Your favorite movie with a 'patriotic' theme of some sort?

Hands down. A made for TV movie called, "Goodbye Miss Fourth of July."  I think I've mentioned it before.  I never see it advertised anymore.  It may have been put out by Disney. I think I saw it on the Disney Channel about 20 years ago. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Putting this up as my Facebook status, too.  Eleven police officers were shot, early this AM and at least 5 of them have died.  Why? Because some people have it in their heads that police lives don't matter. Now, children are without fathers, wives without husbands, mothers and fathers without sons.  What a tragedy. Police officers maintaining order so others could have a peaceful demonstration...   Know what the problem is?  Not guns. Not color. Not police. But SIN. Plain and simple.  We are, by nature, sinful (says so in the Bible) and until we as individuals and corporately as a nation, get our selfish minds off of what we want/deserve and put it on what God wants/deserves and ask for forgiveness as individuals and as a nation, we are going to have this type of behavior.  I haven't a clue how to fix this national/world problem; I can only account for myself.  Dear Lord, please draw near to you, the families that have been affected by this (and other recent tragedies.)  Expose this evil for exactly what it is and help bring justice back to our nation.  If you could slap some politicians up the side of the  head, I'd appreciate that, too. I'm so discouraged, but the verse I'm holding to this week is from Galatians 6:7  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows that will he also reap.  Amen.