Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is a childhood habit or preference you will never outgrow? The love of reading and music.

2. Did you know July is beans month? What's your favorite bean? Pinto beans 

Your favorite recipe that calls for beans? Tostada we like to use Colby-Jack cheese and sometimes we add chicken. We also make our own shells.

When it comes to chili are you team beans or team no beans? Beans 

3. Some historical figures have a tag line after their name, 

something like 'the brave' or 'the wise' or 'the mad'...what would your tag line be? Explain why? 

the Squirrel. I have ADHD. So I can be into one thing and get distracted unless I am totally into something. I can chatter with family or friends and then my mind goes off on a tangent. So many little nuts to get me distracted.

4. The way to my heart is a hug from my grandkids. 

5.  The calendar rolls into August this week, but before we go give us four adjectives that describe your July. Busy, creative, fun and challenging. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. It has been a busy July and August will be busy.

Physical therapy has helped and now it is up to me to keep it up. 

Sunday Stealing & Tuesday 4

1. What are your plans for August We have a busy August. 

August 1 Last physical therapy appointment.

August 3 Family Swim Party

August 8 Lunch with friends to celebrate out August birthdays

August 9-11 Anniversary get away for our 50th( cruise postponed until January 2025

August 12 My birthday and my granddaughter's birthday

August 13 Bible journaling, topic is peace and school starts.

August 21 Life group begins

August 28 Physical

2. Your mid year resolutions or goals Work on health and declutter.

3. Are you good at taking care of plants? I have a few I am growing in water and doing well.

My roses and plumerias are doing great.

4. What makes you feel nourished? Eating well and exercising. Getting more water. I still don't get enough sleep. Spiritual health is important too!

5. Which animals do you see most in your area? birds, cats butterflies, squirrels. and a few opossums, which are usually dead on the street. Family pets,  dogs, our Minnie, Grands dogs Rey and Coco, and other grands, rabbit named Loki.

6. Books on your summer reading list I am reading book two of Call the Midwife called Shadows of the Workhouse. I am also reading a book called The Hidden peace.

7. Projects you want to tackle this summer. Decluttering! Hubby brought the shredder in and I am currently shredding old paycheck stubs and bills.

8. Do you have weddings, graduations, summer celebrations. Just what I mentioned above.

9. Which summer snacks are you excited to enjoy again. Mostly a lot of fruit.

10. How much time do you like to take for vacations. We usually do a few days at a time.

We are taking a 7 day cruise in summer.

11. Where are your favorite picnic locations? There is a large park in the city over the county line that we like to go to. It has a lot of things to do and a lot of trees. Lots of ducks, geese and squirrels.

12. Something that would be out of character for you? Staying organized all the time.

13. Which summer movies are you excited to see? Hubby wants to see Twister. We saw Despicable me at the beginning of summer with the grands.

14. Your favorite free / cost effective ways to have fun Having a picnic at the park. Monday, I took my grands back to my friends pool. We take water, snacks and pool toys.

15. Who do you trust most to house & pet sit? My grandkids are watching our dog while we go on our weekend getaway. My daughter will be here too. Sometimes my daughter in law and kids watch Minnie too.

I have been enjoying the Olympics. I watch as much of it as I can every 4 years. Go team USA!

Well, we are on the doorstep of August. How do you like that?   A lot of Tom Sawyers adventures take place in the summer like whitewashing Aunt Polly's fence. Hannibal, Missouri has fence painting contests in July and July 4th is National Tom Sawyer day there. They have a parade, carnival, fireworks, and a general good time is had by all it seems.

So here is another set of questions for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.        I hope you enjoy them.

1. What special things happen around you in summer? If nothing, have you ever considered organizing something? Our city does several things, but we don't participate. They have Thursday night farmers market with music and food trucks. They have cover band concert too at the open mall. We don't want to be out in the heat and get bitten by mosquitos. Our younger grands have been here a lot this summer. Our older grands have been gone for a few weeks since they have been off school. Their camps start to this week, so they will be back. They all are here on Monday night.

2. Tom hated painting. But on the subject of painting, what color is your house? Your living room? Your bedroom?  Thinking of changing anything? The day after we moved into this house, I painted the master bedroom grey. The whole house was painted this weird deep yellow gold color. I hated it! painted most of the others rooms a shade of antique white. The outside needs painting and we decided to take a cruise first to celebrate our 50th.

3. Were your childhood summers carefree and did you have any adventures or chores like Tom did?

Yes, my summers as a child were fun. No school, sleeping in, riding my bike to the park, water balloon fights and getting wet in the sprinklers or slip and slide. When we got older, it was going to the beach.

4. Did you ever help paint a house or a fence or anything at all?  How did that go? I hate painting, but so does my husband. I wanted it done and he didn't care, so I did it. Any painting I am doing now is a part of my crafting. I am getting ready to paint a page in my bible with acrylic.

Friday Fave Five & Saturday 9

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes, links on the left.

Thankful for Air conditioning!

Thankful that my friend Coreen who lets us go to her pool!

Thankful Bible journaling!

Thankful for a paper shredder!

Thankful to be able to watch another Olympics!

Saturday 9: Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You) 1969

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Liza Minnelli acknowledges that she may be "taking a terrible chance." Have you done anything risky lately? We booked a cruise for January 2025. New Year's week was more expensive so we took the second week. Our grands are on winter break and will take care of our dog along with their mom. We have a neighbor that will check daily too.

2) In 1969, when Liza recorded this song, she was 23 and her career was really beginning to take off. 

She was a sought-after guest on TV talk and variety shows and received her first Oscar nomination.

Give us a quick overview of your life at 23. My husband and I bought our first home when I was 23. It was a real fixer upper, but worth it. I wish we stayed in that 1933 unique style home. That was the summer of discos. That summer my sister and I got jobs as day camp counselors for the city's parks and recreation. We worked from 9-4 each day for six weeks. We walked to the local skating rink and skated to popular sons like Good Times, Boogie Wonderland and Ring my Bell. My sister and I both had part time jobs in the evening. I worked 6-11 at the post office and my sister worked 5-10.  We were both fit and tanned! At the end of the summer, we took a week long car trip, staying at or visiting, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Viriginia City, Yosemite, San Francisco, Big Sir, San Simeon and Santa Barbara. Our husbands did all the driving. My sister and I were also in the room to see our nephew being born! I think this was us for our 5th anniversary. No children yet, but we were trying. I had 2 miscarriages at this point.

3) Also in 1969, the first Gap store was opened in San Francisco. What have you recently added to your wardrobe? If yes, where did you buy it? I bought two shirts and I bought them at Kohls. I also bought two bathing suits from JC Penney online.

4) Liza says she always has apple juice in her refrigerator. What's something you're certain to have in your frig? Bottles of water, dairy, eggs and fruit.

5) Liza's favorite card game is poker. What's yours? I don't play cards.

6) Though Liza recorded the song in 1969, "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)" was written way back in 1931. It has been recorded more than 50 times by artists as diverse as Bing Crosby, Andy Gibb and Bob Dylan. Before today, had you heard it? No

7) "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)" is credited to Bert Kalmer and his partner, Harry Ruby. Another one of their hits was "Who's Sorry Now?" Do you owe anyone an apology? No

8) Together they also wrote "Hooray for Captain Spaulding," sung onscreen by Groucho Marx 

in the movie Animal Crackers. There were five Marx Brothers in all. How many can you name? Groucho.

9) Random question: Do you believe talking to plants helps them grow? No, but helps me!

I enjoyed most of the opening ceremony of the Olympics! Glad they did not let the rain get them down. I did not like some of the performances, but I do support the athletes.

"We stand and call for peace."

Tuesday 4 & Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thanks to Annie and Joyce for the memes. Links are on the left/

The photo to the right is the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.  It is the largest cathedral outside Europe . Not only is it beautiful inside and out but has a magnificent pipe organ   It's cornerstone was laid in 1899.

As buildings go she is a masterpiece of great workmanship.

1. What are some beautiful buildings in your neck of the woods? I think the closest building would be the Mission Inn. We spent our anniversary there back in 2010 and I did this page. We like to go there at Christmas when it is all decorated with Christmas lights.

2.  What buildings of renown have you experienced or would like to experience? The Louvre? Maybe  Versailles? Things closer to home perhaps? In 2008, I went on an all day but tour of Manhattan, NY. We stopped at few places. We took the Harbor tour and go to get close to the Statue of Liberty. We also went into St. John's Cathedral. I was fascinated by the contrast of the old and new buildings in NY.  I enjoyed learning the history of many of those great buildings. We left on cruise from there. I enjoyed looking at the different churches and buildings. We enjoyed seeing the North Church in Boston and Harvard in Cambridge. We enjoyed the Maine countryside and enjoyed the different buildings there. 

St John the Divine Cathedral

Photo by Franco Folini

3. What do you think of the current trends in modern buildings? I live in mid size city and we don't have large buildings here. Not sure about buildings, but hotel rooms have changed. They use to have color schemes that were on a warm tone. Now I see a lot of black and grey tones which I don't mind.

4. If you could choose any style home you would like, what would it be? Victorian, Farm House, Craftsmen, Ranch, Georgian, Tudor, Cape Cod?  I have always loved the Craftsmen style home. There are many old ones in Riverside and some in this town, but all are expensive. We lived in a Craftsmen bult home when we first married and I loved that home. It was my parents. We moved out when we bought our first home. My parents sold it a few years later. I don't know why they didn't see it sooner and to us! This is something I would like to live in. I found this picture on the web.

1. The Olympics kick off this coming weekend. Will you be watching? If you could watch just one event in person, which one would you choose? Gymnastics!

2. Have you ever been to Paris? Is this a city you'd like to visit? What's your favorite 'French thing'? 

Not the country. But I have been to the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris in Las Vegas!  I think food would be my first choice of interest. In the picture below,  I am dressed and ready to see Phantom, of the Opera at the Venetian. I have also seen it on Broadway with my parents.

3. Macaron, creme brulee, chocolate soufle, mille feuille, or an eclair...your favorite French patisserie from the ones listed? Creme Brulee!

4. July 24th is National Cousins Day...do you have many cousins? Are you close to them? Will you see any of your cousins on July 24th? I saw my cousin Pam last week. I hope to see my cousin Joanie for her birthday in August. I have 20 cousins.

5.  Last time you went somewhere that felt like 'everyone and his cousin' was there? I would say church this past Sunday. It's nice to see so many friends there!

6. Insert your own random thought here. I spent some time visiting my old website that is still running. I had it from 2000-now. I stopped blogging there is 2000. Bloggers had a hard time with my inline frames. But I am glad I still have it. I can refer to it for pictures and memories for here. I must have over there. Here is the link to my site map- index of pages.

Friday Fave Five & Saturday 9

Saturday 9 is below Friday Five

Another week has flown by! Thanking God for a few things from the past week.

1. The visit to my sisters with my grands last Friday. We had the best time! I posted pictures on my previous post. Thankful that my sister invites us over. We will go to my other sister's home in August and we were at my brother's home for the 4th. My house does not have a pool.

2. Thankful that I do have a large spa and I have spend several days in it. I like the jets as they hit my neck and lower back.

3. Thankful that had a lot of rest this week. Physical therapy is helping. I think I figured what exercise I can't do with my elastic bands. I was feeling so good after my Monday appointment that I overused my bands and the numbness came back on my lower back. I missed my appointment Thursday because I thought I had a head cold, but it must have been my sinuses. I go back on Monday.

4. Thankful that my Bible journaling kits for August are almost done. We meet on the 13th but I will be busy the first weeks of August and wanted to be ahead of schedule. The topic with be on peace-Shalom.

This is one of the pages I did to give the ladies an idea.

5. Thankful that hubby and I can watch cruise videos on YouTube TV. We have been looking at the layout of the sheep and the dining experiences. We went to Alaska in 2006 and I went to a New England cruise with my parents in 2008. We will be celebrating my hubby's 70birthday and our 50th anniversary celebration. We don't go until January when the grands are out of school on winter break and they can watch out Minnie doxie furbaby. They will watch her in August too when we go away to the beach for a few days for our actual anniversary. We are thinking of going whale watching like we did for our 40th.

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Saturday 9: Disco Duck (1976)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Rick Dees begins by describing a party where he can't resist that disco beat. What's the last party you attended? Was there dancing? The last time I danced was at my 50th high school reunion in August 2023. It was a slow dance.

2) While this record was a massive international hit in 1976, it got off to an inauspicious start. Rick Dees said it took him less than a day to write the song, and more than three months to convince anyone to let him record it. Tell us about a time you were tempted to give up but were glad you didn't. Trying to get pregnant. I took about 4 years, and I had three miscarriages. I had to go to infertility specialist and had to stay in bed and be treated by high-risk OB group. It cost more than what my insurance would pay, but it was worth it! I was blessed with 3 kids and now 4 grandkids. Thank You Lord!

3) In the hit movie Saturday Night Fever, students are briefly seen learning to dance to "Disco Duck." Can you name another song from Saturday Night Fever? If I can't have you. More than a Woman. How Deep is your Love. Night Fever. I still have the album packed away somewhere. Here is a picture from our disco days back in the 70's before we had kids in the 80's.

4) Dees was already a top disc jockey in Memphis when "Disco Duck" was released. With the record's success, his radio career soared and he got a better job reaching a greater audience at a radio station in Los Angeles. Are there any disc jockeys you loyally listened to every day? I remember listening to Rick Dees back in the 70's. Rick Dees in the Morning show. KIIS FM

5) After more than 20 years, Rick lost his regular radio slot to Ryan Seacrest. But he still shares "the hottest music on the planet" through the Rick Dees Hit Music app (available at the Apple App Store or Google Play). What app have you recently downloaded to your phone? Princess Cruise since we are going on a cruise in January 2025.

6) He used his favorite radio format to create a cookbook called Rick Dees All-Time Top 40 Greatest Desserts. If you could finish a delicious meal with the dessert of your choice, anything at all, what would you order? Creme Brulee. I plan to order it when we are on the cruise.

7) In 1976, when "Disco Duck" was a hit, The Bionic Woman premiered on ABC. Because of her "bionic parts," Jamie Summers could run super-fast, had super-sensitive hearing, and super-human strength. If you could have one of those qualities enhanced -- speed, hearing or strength -- which would you choose? Strength- Super muscles. I have lost a lot of muscle mass and it is affecting other things. 

8) Also in 1976, like this year, the world got together for The Summer Olympics. Will you be following the international competition? I enjoy watching the Summer Olympics which starts July 26.

9) Random question: You're bone tired, exhausted, and you have an early day tomorrow. As you wash your face and brush your teeth before bed, one of the two bulbs in the bathroom fixture goes out. Do you 1) change the bulb before bed or 2) promise yourself to do it in a hurry tomorrow as you're rushing around in the morning or 3) decide you can live with one bulb for a while, go to bed, and replace the burned-out bulb when you get around it?3 or I will tell my husband the next day and he will fix it.

After listening to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on YouTube, I found songs from the 60's I enjoyed. Funny how I still know the words to those songs and now it takes a while for me to learn new songs at church. 

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes. links are on the left.

Tuesday 4 & Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you think that you handle problems well over all? Just depends on that the situation is.

I used to want to control everything, either with action, or just in my head. I try to look at the

big picture. I take things to God more instead of doing things myself.

2. What kinds of problems send you into a tizzy or downright scare you? Maybe some just exasperate you? Yes some things exasperate me. I have to remember what I can and cannot do. You can't change another person or situation just because it bothers you. Sometimes I have to let it go or take a break. Something require action. I am going to physical therapy for the numbing I was having in my arms and legs. It is helping. I can't control my genes and how it affects my physical body. I can try the best I can to eat well. I just have to stick with it and not get discourage.

3. We always have God in our corner but besides him do you have a reliable back up system to go 

to for help with car trouble, home repairs and maintenance, or any troubles that may arise for you?

I rely on my husband for most of these things. If he wasn't around, I would ask for help or learn.

4 I love the idea that a lovely cupcake can fix anything at all.  "Oh, you are sick? Just eat a dozen of these delicious cupcakes and you will be right as rain!" What foods, places, music or whatever can make a problem seem easier to handle? I guess we are talking about what brings you comfort in the way of material things. Music, Bible journaling, time with good friends, soaking in my spa. Reading and watching things that are encouraging. Food rarely comforts me. My hubby makes a good chicken soup that he makes and that is comforting, especially when I am sick.

1. What is an adult problem nobody prepared you for? 

Aging. I totally understand what my 80 year old grandma told me once. It is hard when you mind tells you that you are young, but your body tells you otherwise. It is frustrating to want to do things but you can't because you are not physically able to. I wish I would have known how important exercise and eating enough protein was important. I wish I had known that the medicines I took in my 40's and 50's would cause problems of today.

2. Without mentioning any tech, what's your most prized possession? 

The ring my mom gave me and my Journaling Bibles. I also have my grandmother's Bibles.

3. It's National Peach Ice Cream Day (July 17th). Will you be celebrating? Do you like peaches? Given a choice would you prefer peach ice cream, peach pie, peach cobbler, or just hand me a peach? Do you own anything that is peach in color? 

I like peach cobbler. Fresh peaches remind me of my Grandpa David. He would take them off his tree, hose them down and give us one. I ate some peaches last month that my son gave us from his tree. I do own a couple of shirts that have that color in them.

4. What makes a friendship successful? 

Sharing a common interest. Making time to spend time with each other both in person and through text. I have a few close friends. My sister and my cousin are my closest friends. I can tell them anything without judgement. We share the same interest. We can speak truth and feel safe and loved. We can go days without talking/texting and pick up where we left off. I think it is the same even online. If you blog and your readers respond and you respond, there is a mutual friendship made.

I once read that friendship is like playing tennis. Both parties have to hit the ball over the net. Sure, things can keep it from going across, but you pick the ball up and try again. Once that stops, the game is over. Blogging is more than making friends. It is about writing out your thoughts and being able to go back and look at them. I still refer to my original blog for lots of info I use on current memes. The blogging community I was in before Facebook was fun and caring. But life happens and I moved from my old blog to this one and made new friends!

5. Let's give our brains a rest and do a little summertime this or that...

beach or pool? ice cream or snow cone? amusement park or camping?* like both, but hubby doesn't life camping anymore) burger or hot dog? watermelon or strawberries? get up early or sleep in late? sunrise or sunset? 

I do love the beach and have only been once this summer. I may go next week.

I did have a nice time with my grands at my sisters house over the weekend.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I am thankful for the people that host the memes and encourage participation and take the time to visit your blog.

My previous post had a long story about my summer in Mexico as a teen.

Thanks to Annie and Joyce for the mems. Their links are on the left.

Saturday 9 and Sunday Stealing

Saturday 9: Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer (1963)

 Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Nat King Cole sings about enjoying "soda and pretzels and beer." Which of those three would we find in your kitchen right now?

 I think the grands have pretzels in their drawer. We don't buy sodas or beer. We have some Snapple diet peach tea that I add to water sometimes.

2) The lyrics mention a romantic movie. Which movie couple do you believe had onscreen chemistry?

Only thing that came to my mind was Gone with the Wind. Rhett Butler and Scarlet O'hara. Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh)I know there are many more, but my mind is tired after a busy couple of days with the grands.

3) He wishes "summer could always be here." How has your summer been so far? It has been nice so far. I am taking the grands swimming at my sisters today as I write this on Friday and we come back Saturday. My sister lives about 45 minutes away.

4) According to the song, a great warm weather meal includes sandwiches and wieners. Tell us about your perfect sandwich or, if you prefer, what you believe is the ideal way to dress a hot dog. 

The last sandwich I had had was made of turkey, avocado, Havarti cheese, lettuce and tomato with mayonnaise. I like my hot dog grilled and the bun slightly warmed. Mustard and ketchup. Sometimes with dill pickles.

5) Nat was a big baseball fan. Growing up in Chicago he played sandlot games and listened to Cubs games on the radio. As an adult he was a season ticket holder at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. 

Do you enjoy playing/watching baseball or softball? I have gone to a few Angel games. I watch the World series.

6) The lyrics of this week's song were written by Charlie Tobias, who wanted to create a sense of nostalgia for summers gone by. Share one of your special summer memories. In 1971 when I was 15, I went to Mexico City with my friend and her family. Her sister was getting married. The station wagon was loaded with people and the top stacked with luggage. We left early in the morning to get through the hot desert. I got to see so many places like Mazatlan, Guadalajara, and Acapulco. We stayed with family in Mexico City. The family was very nice and I learned some new customs. My Spanish was limited, but they were all so helpful. The boys were cute. One boy's name was Cuahtemoc Anderson and had the prettiest green eyes. I enjoyed sitting at the dinner table eating white rice and black beans with a particular roll. We ate red (Mexican rice and pinto beans at home with tortillas) After the wedding, they took me to Acapulco to see the Clift divers. I ate a lot of good food and fresh seafood. We stopped at a huge open air market in Guadalajara that was huge. The family was careful with what I ate and drank. I never got sick. We went a place and spent the night at a where the Olympic divers had stayed. Each hotel room had its own mini pool/hot tub. Mexico had hosted the Olympics back in 1968. I remember taking a book to read on the long stretches of driving. 1834 miles from Los Angles to Mexico City.

When I got home, my mom had decorated my room and bought me Carole King's Tapestry. I also had a nice birthday party with my friends for my 16th birthday. It was a very exciting and fun summer! Alejandro is the boy standing behind me in the white shirt.

7) In 1963, one of the best-selling books was Happiness Is a Warm Puppy by Charles Schultz. The cover showed Lucy giving Snoopy a big hug. Name another character from the Peanuts comic strip. 

Lucy, Charlie Brown, Linus and Peppermint Patty.

8) Also in 1963, men were wearing thin, solid-color ties. Later in the decade, ties would become wider, patterned and more colorful. Where do you turn to keep up with fashion trends? I tend to get what I need. I found some pants I liked at TJ Max. I got two shirts at Kohls in the Jr. section. I am more into comfort and how it fits than style. I ordered some bathing suits too.

9) Random question: Would you rather be a cowboy or a pirate? Cowboy.

1. What is the hottest temperature you've seen this summer so far? 102

2. What is your favorite summer beverage? Ice water with fruit.

3. Have you seen any fireflies/lightning bugs yet? Cicadas? no

4. What are the last 3 things you bought online? a book, charms and essential oil glass containers. 

5. Where do locals go to cool off? Pools and the beach.

6. Where did you buy your last postcard and what was on the pc? When I was in Oregon last summer.

It had a lighthouse we visited.

7. What's your favorite summertime scent? my plumerias.

8. What kind of a/c do you have - central, room, fans only, chillers, none and what temperature do you set it to?  Central

9. Do you have a summer vacation planned and if so, where are you really going??We are spending a few days at the beach four anniversary and may go whale watching. We moved our cruise to January.

10. What are your favorite summer activities? Pool, beach and family gatherings.

11.  What's your favorite summertime food? BBQ burgers and chicken.

12. Did you ever go to summer school? Yes, once in elementary school. Once in Jr high to take typing twice in high school to take drivers education and behind the wheel training and government and economics.

13. What's your favorite summertime memory? See #6 above.

14. Do you like fireworks? Not as much anymore.

15. How do you feel about the longer days of summer? I like them. I like the extended light and I can drive in the early evening.