Return to Hodge Podge

I am returning to Hodge Podge (yay!) after a get away vacation to the States & catching up on the crazy schedule that was awaiting me here.    I am very grateful to my amazing husband who let me hit the pause button for two weeks and spend time with my family.  It was amazing but it is good to be back home with my boys.  Thanks for stopping by and after you read my answers hop over to Joyce's great blog, From This Side of the Pond to join in!  You won't regret it :)

1. How many students were in your high school graduating class? Did you know most, if not all of them?

There were 64 students I believe in my graduating class.... maybe 65.  Yes I knew each of them as well as most every other student in the school.  Sometimes it was really nice to be from some place so small & other times not so much.


2. What was the last thing you photographed?


The last thing I photographed was a giant room of chairs at an antique warehouse.  It was insane how many chairs they had.  The picture really doesn't do it justice.  

3. Pickles-love 'em or loathe 'em? If it's love what's something you eat that needs a pickle?


I do like pickles.  I grew up loving sweet gerkins.  I love sweet relish on hot dogs and I love dill pickles on hamburgers.


4. What's a stereotype you perpetuate without meaning to?

Tough one.  I really am not sure.  Probably something about not being on time to things.  Maybe if you have small children you will never be on time.  It is a struggle to get us out the door in prompt fashion which makes my military husband nuts.  Poor man.  He is 15 min early to everything and 

then there is us :)

5. Ever been horseback riding? If so, is it something you enjoy? If not, do you have any interest? Did you watch the Kentucky Derby? Will you be watching the last leg of the Triple Crown this weekend?


I use to own a horse and my Grandmother started the American Bashkir Curly Horse Registration so I grew up around them.  I miss riding.  I did not watch the Derby and I will probably miss the Triple Crown but I really hope to attend some horse events here in England next year.

6. What's your favorite wedding movie?

Favorite wedding movie.  There are lots of great movies but one of my current faves is The Proposal.  Not your standard movie I know but great :)

7. What is one 'tourist attraction' in the USA you'd like to see in person?


I have three areas :)    1)New York and the Statue of  Liberty, Time Square, etc.  2) Washington D.C  the White House & all the great stuff there, 3) Zions National Park in Utah


8. Insert your own random thought here.

We went and saw Elton John in concert last night and it was so much fun to get out with other adults and just have fun.  The concert was very good & the 
people watching amazing :)

Two Post Hodge Podge

Welcome to Wednesday Hodge Podge.  Read along and then go to Joyce's page at From This Side of the Pond so you can play along!  

1. Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated on April 23rd...when did you last read Shakespeare? What's your favorite Shakespeare play?

Well I probably last read Shakespear in college.  I am not sure of a favorite.... hmm....I really enjoy Midsummer's Nights Dream... maybe because it was one I acted in.

2. What food(s) would you recommend a foreign visitor try when they visit your home country?

Food recommendation.   Another tough one.  Something that was very popular in Idaho was ice cream that looked like a baked potato.   I adore ice cream and I thought it was funny that it resembled something so different.   I would recommend you try all kinds of things :)

{Here is a link if you want to see a pic of potato ice cream}

Also speaking of potato ice cream, lol, in Japan there was a ice cream that was made from purple sweet potatoes and it was SO good!  If you ever go you must try it.  Ube is the name I believe.

3. What's a lie you often tell yourself?


That I won't drink anymore soda even though I know how bad it is for me.


4. What's something you're good at that might surprise us? Remember this is a family friendly blog!


Well maybe a leader.  In my own life I am quite disorganized, I procrastinate, indecisive at times, etc. but when I am working or in charge of a project I am generally a go getter and am able to get everyone to work well together and create something great.

5. Who is your favorite animal character from a book?

Well right now some of our favorite books are by Mo Williams and involve a Pig and Elephant.  They a pretty funny & they make my kids laugh big belly laughs which is the best.



7. Speaking of rainy days, which one of the following activities would you most want to spend time doing on a rainy day-

sort photos and create albums

bake cookies

read a good book

hold an all-day movie marathon

clean and organize closets, cupboards, or bookshelves

try a new recipe

fix something that needs fixing

Well I would have to pick more than one because I don 't like to do anything for an entire day.  I get restless easily.  I would start with making some cookies so I would have a yummy snack for later, I would then work on a scrapbook, then read for a bit and eat some cookies, then finish off with a movie :)  

6. April showers bring May flowers...do you have a green thumb?


Well I am out of practice we have not had a garden or too many live plants in a bit but are working on getting more plants into the house again (now that I don't have crawling babies that might eat them) and we want to start a garden.  I use to have a green thumb and help my Grandmother when I was younger... she could grow anything.




8. Insert your own random thought here.


I am intrigued by your friends link party for May involving Pinterest because I have loads of pins and have made one thing from it.  I need to get going :)  

Also the date is drawing close for a trip of my own and I am really excited yet nervous.   I cannot wait to eat at Panda Express, Olive Garden and all those yummy places and to shop.  It will be great!  I will try to take some smashing pictures so I can blog about it in a non crappy boring way :)  I might be too busy eating and shopping though to really document :)

Belated It's Okay Tuesday

Well once again I am a day late and a dollar short.  Okay really I could use more than a single dollar if someone was handing out money but I digress.  We really have not had much happening here that is blog worthy... just lots of running back and forth back and forth and back and forth.  I do really enjoy my rant/vent that I do on Tuesday though so I am still doing it and you can't stop me.  {Insert maniacal laughter here}


It's okay that my son took soooooooooooo long in the bathroom yesterday that we missed the bus and I had to drive him to school.... 25 min away... and spent 50 min in the car that I did not have


It's okay that I took my dog to the vet yesterday for an appointment my husband had scheduled and when they asked why I had brought him in I told them I had no idea.... 


It's okay that they asked even though they already KNEW why I was bringing him....apparently my husband told them on the phone and it was in his chart.  I don't think it was necessary they asked but it is okay that they did.


It's okay that for over a month now I have listed Crock Pot Orange Chicken on my weekly menu for Tuesday and have not cooked it yet.


It's okay that we had sandwiches for dinner last night because I had not started anything in the morning (again) and it was late when we got home from baseball.  Tuesdays blow.


It's okay that I gave my sister a list of 7 places that I want to go eat when I go visit them soon.  Eating is my priority on this trip which is pretty funny since prior to this trip my goal is eating little and healthy so I can lose weight and buy new clothes while I am gone.


It's okay that I look forward to that quiet plane ride by myself.


It's okay that I am only 20% done with my book for book club tonight but I plan on spending some quality time with my kindle today and hopefully hitting 100% by 6pm tonight.


It's okay that the more I talk about being a writer the less I am writing.  This too shall pass.  


It's okay that I am trying to wait until I get to the states to get my hair done & my eyebrows waxed yet I am vain enough that I don't want to walk around looking awful for the next few weeks here. Frugality vs looking good.  It's a conundrum.  


Alright enough blabber I got a book to read :)  Have a fab week!

Wet Wednesday Hodge Podge V 74

Apparently even the weather is frustrated with my lack of blogging these days... it must be...what other reason would we be having rain for 10 straight days?  Mother Nature is forcing me indoors to deal with my housework and sad blog.  Jokes on you Mother Nature I have been avoiding BOTH.  

Alright enough witty repartee, let's move on to the weekly Hodge Podge which is my saving grace every Wednesday.  After reading my answers head over to the fab Joyce's page at

From This Side of the Pond to read hers, others and join in!

1. Spring is in the air (at least in my neck of the woods) and the birds are singing...what's your favorite bird?


Well I know next to nothing about birds so I can't really tell you the name of one, nor do I really have a "fave" but there is a white/black and blue one that frequents my yard that I think has very pretty coloring :)


2. Speaking of birds...do you tweet? If you do share your screen name and we'll come flocking to your twitter site. Even if you don't let's all pretend here that we do-in 140 characters or less, sum up your week so far.

I don't tweet.  I find it interesting but it is just one more time suck and I have enough of those already.

My week so far if I were tweeting:

tiring, rewarding, exasperating, busy and full of laughter... would be better without the bathroom mishaps of my three boys that have been occurring but overall good :)

3. It's been reported recently that employers are not only viewing the facebook pages of potential hires but they're also requesting your facebook password to have a look at what you've kept from public view. What say you?


I say that they are welcome to view whatever is public but to ask for you password... I think that is over the line.

4. It's April and you know what that means-Major League Baseball is back in action. What's your favorite baseball themed movie? If that's too hard what's your favorite sports themed movie?

Hmmm favorite baseball themed.  Maybe A League of Their Own.  "Crying... there's no crying in baseball. " Classic.

5. Something else this season brings-asparagus. Yes please or no thanks? If it's yes please what's your favorite way to have it prepared?


I do enjoy asparagus which does not thrill my family as they do not.  I am looking forward to grilling it or trying a new recipe for it I found on Pinterest that involves Parmesan cheese and broiling it.


6. What drives you? (Don't you love how I sandwiched that one in between asparagus and jugglers?)


My family.

7. April 18th is International Jugglers Day...can you juggle?

No but it is random thing that I think would come in very handy and I wish I could.


8. Insert your own random thought here.


We are considering moving to a different house here and I am VERY VERY torn about it.  I was hoping making a pro's vs cons list it would help but I still am unsure of what to do.  I am trying to ask myself if I am doing what is best for my family as a whole or what would be easier for me.    Any tips and tricks in making a touch decision?


In other randomness my blog is nuts because no matter what I do the spacing and font is all wonky and it is making me nuts!  I am about to scrap this blog and start a whole other one... okay... I am done ranting about that ... for now.