Wednesday, October 11, 2017

An Unseasonable Hodgpodge

Greetings from the tropics!


Just kidding.
But if I didn't know better and someone led me outside blindfolded,
I might very well be convinced that I was in the Bahamas.
This is what it really looks like when I walk out my door...




...plenty of falling leaves and a tad of color but it feels nothing like fall right now.
Our local weather forecasters totally missed it.
Thanks to Hurricane Nate, we are experiencing this "lovely" taste of the tropics.
Now don't get me wrong, I love a tropical paradise when the surroundings match the temps...
...but this is a bit extreme.
Oh, and remember that chili I was going to make over the weekend?
Well, the hamburger meat is now in the freezer
and the other ingredients are waiting (impatiently) on the pantry shelf.
I even bought that bag of tortilla chips for my nachos...MAN!
So.....my taste buds have been put on hold.
~
I'll stop complaining about the weather now because it's time for Joyce's Hodgepodge,
and because I can't do anything about it anyway!

You know the drill...she asks the questions and we answer them on our blogs.
Here are this week's questions:
~
1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your sense of direction? 1=can't find my way out of a paper bag and 10=if I've been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.

I think I have a pretty good sense of direction and would probably rate myself at about a "7". And this all depends on if I am doing the driving or the navigating. If I am just one of several passengers, you might as well forget it if we are heading somewhere unfamiliar...I am usually too busy running my mouth rather than paying attention to the route. Normally, it just takes a couple of times to feel confident about where I am going and I rely a lot on landmarks, not necessarily the road signs since I don't see them well until I am right up on them!

When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand? (phones don't count!)

It has probably well over a year. I have only had my iPhone that long and did not have a car with a built-in navigation system until I got my CR-V earlier this year. I didn't use an atlas but I did print directions off Google maps and go by them.

Back east, down south, out west, up north...choose one of these directional expressions and tell us why you chose it.

I've never been out west and I've always lived closer to the east or the southeast. That would leave up north. There are many places much more "northern" than Ohio but that has pretty much been where most of my northern travels have been limited to.

2. Did you do more talking or listening yesterday? Talking. Is that typical? Yes, but not the rule. Describe your yesterday in one word. Positive.

3. Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity...which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting? What might you do to change that?

If I am being honest (and that is how we are to answer these questions, right?), I have to admit that I find myself wasting time more than anything, which can then become a wasted opportunity, am I right? I don't think that we need to be busy 100% of the time...we all need down time to just do nothing in particular or to do the things we like to do. This is how I see myself, anyway. I have never had anyone else tell me that I'm a time waster. Lord knows that there are many things on my to-do list...and the key word here is LIST. When I make a list, I get 'er done!



4. Did  your family take regular vacations when you were a kid? Tell us something you remember about a family roadtrip from your own childhood.

When I was growing up, a family road trip consisted of piling in the old Buick on a Sunday afternoon and heading about 20-30 miles out to the country to visit various aunts, uncles and cousins. We had a blast traveling down those back roads, especially when we convinced Dad to take that hill just a little faster (when there were no other cars coming, of course). Losing our stomachs when we reached the bottom of the hill was the high point of the day! I wrote more about the things that make me go aaahhhh over on my childhood memories blog. When you are a family with that many kids and Dad was the one and only breadwinner, an actual vacation was something we knew nothing about. But you know what? I never ever had one regret about the way I grew up and what we could and could not afford...you don't miss something you never had. I was actually about 13 or so before I left the state of Ohio. My youngest older brother took me and two of sisters on a road trip to South Carolina to visit our older brother and his family. I not only got to experience the Smokey Mountains along the way, and stepping into the Atlantic Ocean at Myrtle Beach for the first time was all it took for me to want to go back to those places as often as I could...or anywhere else for that matter.

5. If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow? Why?

Sunflowers and milkweed because they both attract butterflies...






...and because milkweed pods and those wispy seeds are among my favorite things. I'm still a little upset that the field of milkweed, the one pictured above, has gotten mowed down twice this year. 😒




6. Insert your own random thought here.

Gee, a nice warm bowl of chili sure would hit the spot. Some day.
~
So that's it for this Hodgepodge...and enjoy your break, Joyce. 
I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be some baby lovin' on your itinerary. 👶
And maybe in a couple of weeks, I'll be wearing my winter duds, who knows?

31 comments:

  1. The heat/humidity have been terrible the last few days! I especially loved reading your childhood memories. My memories of driving around with the family are much the same. When I was about 6 we did drive to FL and I remember seeing the ocean for the first time. Hope we get those cooler temps and a nice steaming bowl of chili soon!

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  2. I chuckled at the chili issue. We had chili last night, but then our day started out at 31 degrees and never did really warm up. You could send a bit of your warm weather up north if you don't mind. :-) Your memory of Sunday drives to visit the relatives was so familiar to me, Debby! After church and dinner, we'd drive to one of the several aunts and uncles in the area and spend the afternoon until time to go home for evening chores. No one made appointments, everyone just dropped in. I miss those days with so much family around. Hope your milkweed patch survives.

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  3. Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood, Debby. Enjoy your week!

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  4. I heard my favorite weather guy say the jet stream was stuck up north. I wanted to call him and tell him to get up there and 'unstick' that thing! I want to use my crock pot and I'd love to make some chili, too. It's just too hot to cook. We took those little trips to visit my country cousins, too. I loved spending time out in the country and often wished I lived out there. Of course, they wished they lived in the city so... well, in my case it was town. Nothing big enough to qualify as a city. :) Have a wonderful day!

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  5. I love getting to know you better! We always vacationed in Hot Springs, AR...about 30 miles from our house and I was a teen when I finally got to go to another state...the great state of Louisiana! heehee! It's fun to think back! Enjoy your day! Hugs!

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    1. This is funny. I'm from Louisiana and the only little vaca trip my family took was to Hot Springs. Didn't stay but a day, but I think I saw the same little motel while there a few weeks ago. Just kidding.

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  6. It's been weirdly humid here too. The lake was completely fogged in this morning, but was interesting to watch as it lifted. Road trips were a treat for us too. I still enjoy a road trip and meandering down new unknown roads. Have a great day!

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  7. Debby, I hope you get your chili soon my friend. I am a soup eater all year round and I actually made a big old pot of meat and veggie soup over the weekend. I told my family that I didn't care if it was 100 degrees and they sweated bullets while eating it I was having some soup. Now I am wanting some chili too! Matter of fact I will be making chili for our Conner Fall Family Party this month. And it will probably be 100 degrees.! LOL!

    1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your sense of direction? 1=can't find my way out of a paper bag and 10=if I've been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.

    Well my family would say I have no sense of direction! And most often that is true. I am more of your looking for landmarks kinda of gal. If I've been a few times then I can get you back there. Now telling you how to get there is another story! And...when I am the rider, I pay NO ATTENTION whatsoever! LOL!

    When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand? (phones don't count!)
    Maybe once in my life and then I didn't know what I was doing! I am such a whimp!

    Back east, down south, out west, up north...choose one of these directional expressions and tell us why you chose it.
    The first thing that came to mind was "Up North". A friend of mine used to live "Up North" and she told me just recently that she misses living there and with Florida heat she was ready to go back.

    2. Did you do more talking or listening yesterday? Listening which is a miracle! LOL! Is that typical? Well yes and no. Depends on the situation. Describe your yesterday in one word. Out of the norm but good.

    3. Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity...which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting? What might you do to change that?

    Loved your answer and I am right there with ya girl. I don't waste money as I truly do consider myself a frugal gal and I live with a frugal man. I try real hard not to waste water,power, resources though I do get in a mess at times by sneaking around when the husband ain't looking to change the thermostat for cooler temps to agree with my HOT FLASHING self. And though I am always doing something....staying busy, I think TIME is still one of those things that I could do better with and I truly miss opportunities that I wish I had not missed by allowing TIME to slip away from me.

    4. Did your family take regular vacations when you were a kid? Tell us something you remember about a family roadtrip from your own childhood.
    Not really and very, very few. We couldn't afford it for one thing and secondly, we had a farm with veggies, chicken houses with laying hens and cattle and that's how we ate and that's how we made a living so that itself took up most of our time. The few times that I actually felt I went on a vacation was with my granny to Alabama as all of her family was from there. I loved those getaways with her. We did go camping some. I didn't really know what a vacation was until I married and began having children.

    5. If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow? Why?
    I planted sunflowers and they seem to be growing good right now! My answer would be all sorts of fruit trees! I love fruit trees. I have a pear tree that every other year it produces. I have a plum tree that has never made more than 10 plums! GRR! I have some peach trees growing right now and trying to keep them alive. I also have a tiny lemon tree and orange tree and I am desperately trying to keep them alive.I just wish it was easier!

    Asking God today to help me to not miss out on what He has for me because of the busyness of life.

    Hugs and blessings dear friend.
    Cindy

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  8. I used to grow sunflowers & loved watching all the things flying to it. Nature is just so amazing.
    Its gloomy here which chili sounds perfect for.

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  9. Loved reading your response....but most of all I LOVED your photos.

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  10. I looked for milk weed plants to attract butterflys this year and "helpers" at every nursery I went to looked at me like I was crazy. I think it must be considered a weed down here.

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  11. Growing up in a large family I know all about not vacationing much. And your right...you don't miss much what you didn't have. Not sure if I have ever seen a milk weed plant?? Loved your graphic for number 3, lol. Is that true or what? Have a good rest of your week!

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  12. A good chilli would hit the spot right now, you are welcome to come over and cook for us...warming foods are what is needed here at the moment.

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  13. Debby, I would much rather look out my window and see your forest scenery than the Bahamas. It's so lovely around your neck of the woods. The leaves are just starting to fall here and getting cooler. Your sunflower and butterfly pictures are gorgeous. And I've never seen the milkweed pods before, it's interesting.

    Wishing you happy October days, Debby.

    ~Sheri

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  14. You give me a view with your word pictures! You made me smile once again...
    Come here anytime Out West and we will have a ball!
    hugs, Roxy

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  15. Fall just arrived today, though the temps will warm to the mid 70s for the weekend. Your autumn chili day is coming! Wonder why your parents didn’t enjoy Plymouth Rock.

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  16. I give myself a 2 out of 10. My husband says I'm directionally challenged.

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  17. Our temps have been warm as well. Not right for this time of year!!

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  18. The weather seems unusual everywhere. We are having warmer than normal temperatures. Some years by this time we have had a killing frost and maybe even a dusting of snow.This year my Geraniums are still blooming and during the day, it's warm enough to go outside without a sweater.

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  19. It's still very warm here as well and I'm beyond ready for fall. Your pictures are always so, so lovely and these butterfly pics are gorgeous. Happy rest of the week!

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  20. Our weather has been similar. Ugh. Such humidity!! My dad requested vegetable beef soup for his birthday celebration this weekend. I'm afraid we're all going to melt!

    Gorgeous photos!! I am especially taken with the bursting milkweed pod, although that autumnal scene warms my heart.

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  21. I'm waiting, and waiting for Fall to arrive here, Debby. We visited relatives a lot, too, because my family moved from PA to Ohio when I was young. Later, we did take family vacations, but nothing exotic.
    I'm waiting to make chili, too. Hopefully before too long. However, I'm in flip flops and shorts today, do it may be awhile.

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  22. Debby we were just in Savannah (I know farther south than you) but my goodness -- it was SO humid -- I couldn't take it. We hardly walked around -- tried to find air conditioned places haha! Then we come home to Chicago and I haven't seen the sun YET!! Crazy crazy weather!

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  23. And here I was thinking you were laying on a beach in the Bahamas!! I hope it gets cool up there soon so you can enjoy that bowl of chilli. Beautiful photos, Debby. Maps?? What are they!!

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  24. Gracious, I'm sorry to hear that your fall weather is being usurped by summer lol! Very unusual! We are having unseasonably cold temperatures here with snow on the mountains already. I enjoyed your hodgepodge memories especially those of riding down the hill in the car! I hope you get to have your chili soon!

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  25. So gray and rainy today that I put on a jacket before heading out for church and it was a balmy 68 degrees out there! And Colorado already has had snow!
    I would grow roses. Plenty so I could have vases in the house and a garden full of them. And lots of other flowers too. Hmm . . . too bad I'm not a gardener.
    Chili does sound good. Which reminds me, I need to get dinner going!
    Thought of you last week. We were in Winston-Salem for the weekend visiting our son. If I'd had more time I'd have called you up to share some good southern food and a chatty visit. xo Deborah

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  26. Hi Debby! It's unnaturally warm here too in northern Illinois (a nice place to visit if you want to go north!). But we had rain all day yesterday and so today it's chillier. What a shock to the system after enjoying the 70's.
    As a child, we would go on vacation every year, and it was really fun. I grew up in a big family, so there was always someone to talk to and enjoy the new places together. Love your comment about seeing family, and riding the backroads. No wonder family is so important to you!!
    Sunday blessings,
    Ceil

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  27. Hi Debby, I hope you've been able to have your chili! The first cool day that is what I fixed. It warmed back up again over the weekend but turned really chilly last night. Crazy weather here. I'm thinking it'll be potato soup tonight.
    I didn't know what vacations were when I was a youngster. I didn't get out of the state until I got married! I'm like you and didn't miss what I'd never had. Growing up on a farm, even though we never left it very often, was a blessing I'll always treasure.
    Enjoyed this hodgepodge and your photos! Have a nice week!

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  28. This was fun, Debby. The weather is acting a bit crazy here is well, we've had the first hints of autumn and are now treated to a heat-wave. I wish it would rain.
    Amalia
    xo

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  29. Love your header Debby.
    The weather does seem to be all over the place at the moment - guess we just have to do the best we can.

    I love October and Autumn, the trees and leaves are such wonderful colours.

    All the best Jan

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  30. You have a beautiful view outside you home. The weather has been crazy here too. Warm, cool major stores then humid and so on. It was nice to read your responses and getting to know more about you.

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Thank you for stopping by today! Your sweet comments are such an encouragement to me.