Hodgepodge

So another holiday is behind us and the summer is just rolling right along.
I trust everyone enjoyed their weekend celebrations!
~
I'm joining Joyce's Hodgepodge this week...
...where she asks the questions and we write the answers.
So let's get on with it, shall we?

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 1st was the beginning of a long weekend for me. Our clinic is not open on Fridays so we love having holidays that fall on Mondays...three-day weekends are great but four-day weekends are even better! This was the hubs' weekend to work so it was basically a quiet weekend starting off. Yesterday (the 4th) we had a great time of food and fellowship at church and although he was working, Jim was able to bring all of the individuals and workers from his group home, along with those in another home. Oh, they had the best time filling their tummies full and a few even joined in for some volleyball! But the icing on MY cake was that our son was there...enjoying the festivities and he even helped the pastor grill the meat. Having him there, actually enjoying his sobriety had this mama's heart bursting with joy! This was his facebook post from a couple of days ago:

I almost cried when I read this on his page...praise God! And speaking of bursting, later on there were fireworks bursting all around me but I did not go out to see any. I sure heard them loud and clear...and so did my pups :(

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

Red geraniums blooming profusely, white Dannon Greek Toasted Coconut Vanilla Yogurt (mmm) and the blue sky returning after a rainy weekend.

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

I flew the red flag bright and early this morning as our little Tasha bolted after a cat the in the yard and ripped herself right out of her harness! We've only had her a few months and she's never been off on her own. Needless to say, I was petrified that our little girl was gone. There is a busy road right through our woods in the back (in the general direction which she was headed) and my fear was that she would just keep running, right out into the road. I ran in the house, changed from my night gown (yes, that old holy one) into some clothes, jumped in the Jeep to see if I could locate her...no luck. My neighbor behind me was kind enough to keep an eye out while I was getting ready for work and call me if she saw her. About 20 minutes later, I heard Oscar barking and sure enough, there she was on the back deck, looking in. I was so glad to see her, to put it mildly. I'll be checking out the problem with that harness, no doubt!

She looks so innocent, doesn't she?

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?

Living in the Eastern US all my life, I've always had a desire to see the other side of the continent so Yellowstone and the Tetons would be my pick. Now if Ireland, was one of the choices, that would be a different story. Why? I love the color green :)

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

I like them all but there is nothing like a great grilled cheese sandwich, made with a coarse, seedy bread that gets really crunchy when it's cooked to a golden brown. Yum!

6. What makes you sweat?

Would you believe me if I told you that I rarely do? I know that probably sounds like I think I'm some sort of princess or something, doesn't it? All I can say is that's just the way the Lord made me. I guess if I was going to sweat, it might be on days like we have been having currently...hot and HUMID. The humidity is so thick right now, you can practically cut it with a knife. Now, if I chose to be out in it for very long (without being near a body of water) I can pretty much guarantee you that I might sweat... at least a drop or two :)

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

I really can't name one specifically at the moment but anything that has to do with Civil War era sparks my interest. If it gets too bloody or graphic, I have to look away.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I for one, will certainly be glad when all of this election stuff is over. And that's all I'm sayin' about that :)

God Bless America!
(please?)