Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Sunshine and Summertime in the Wednesday Hodgepodge-Vol 32

Summer and Hodgepodge on the same day! How lucky is that? Welcome to the weekly nonsense...link your answer post at the end of mine, grab your sunscreen, and have fun reading today. Here are my answers~


1. Summer's here-whoohoo! What's your favorite sight, sound, AND smell associated with summer?

Sight-sunlight on the ocean
Sound-gulls overhead and waves lapping the shore
Smell-Coppertone

2. Fireflies or lightning bugs...what are they called in your neck of the woods?

As a kid I called them lightning bugs but I think I use both words these days. I love the Faith Hill song called Fireflies and always think of Daughter2 when I hear it play.


3. What is something in the past week that reminded you of your childhood?

I went strawberry picking on Monday (here's the recap) and was reminded of doing that with my mom when I was a young girl. Then she'd make jam and I'd get to help. The older I get the more I recognize all the many talents my mom had in the homemaking department...she made things like sewing, gardening and cooking look so easy. I sometimes think the message I'm sending my girls is to laugh when things don't go as planned. I guess that's good too.

4. Define 'the good life'.

Such a hard question for the first day of summer, isn't it? We don't want our brains to stagnate while on holiday though, right?

Perspective is everything...contentment with what I have and not a constant longing for something more. And what do I have? Good health, enough food to eat, a roof over my head, people to love and who love me back and a God who knows every hair on my head.

5. Tell us what we'd see if you took a snapshot of your desk/workspace.

Raise your hand if you quickly tidied up your desk/ workspace. Ha. Mine is not bad except for one stack of miscellaneous 'needs- to -be- filed- but- where- do- I- file- it' piles. Truthfully I need to clean out the file cabinet and make room for a few things which might be a task on my summer to-do list. Or autumn. Or maybe winter, I haven't quite decided. Notice I did not ask what the inside of your desk looks like. You're welcome.


Besides my trusty computer you'd see:

~a figurine that looks exactly like our pup which is really difficult to find because the breed is not common

~an England Starbucks mug that holds pens
...it makes me smile and remember afternoons spent with my girls sitting beside a window on the second level of Starbucks in a town near ours...a lot of teenage life was figured out in that Starbucks across the sea

~and, a picture of my girlies because I can never get enough of those faces

Oh, and some dust.
Always plenty of that around here.

6. Peaches or watermelon? Yes, you have to choose.

I love them both but I'd choose watermelon. Watermelon would make the list of my top three favorite foods.

7. Ever been skinny dippin'? Is that too much for the Wednesday Hodgepodge? Rest assured we won't need details...unless of course you feel you must but keep in mind this is a family friendly blog so keep it G rated please.

Isn't this fun?

Have I skinny dipped?
Ever?
Yes.
Recently?
No.

Would I again?
On a second honeymoon somewhere like Bora Bora?
Certainly.
At the Jersey shore?
No way.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I mentioned here on Monday that we purchased a love seat and comfy chair on Saturday to sit in front of the patio fire pit. I know you've been on pins and needles waiting for the photo and here it is-


I love it. The furniture is the material that looks like wicker but can be left outdoors even in bad weather. The cushions can also be left out but we plan to put them away if we know a storm is coming.


Now, pass the marshmallows and the Hershey bars please.

31 comments:

  1. I love "Fireflies" too! One of my favorite Faith Hill songs ever.

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  2. Oh my word, but that fire pit and seating arrangement do look inviting! I hope you won't mind if I visit...along with my knitting needles!! Sigh...bliss...

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  3. The patio furniture is beautiful. And the patio, again--wonderful. Cozy and homey.

    My mom made homemaking seem easy, too. I think her love for being home had a good effect on me.

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  4. The patio chairs look comfy... I can see myself (yes MYSELF...) falling asleep out there in front of the fire.

    Your workspace looks pretty tidy, but then you did tidy it up first didn't you?
    ;-)

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  5. I love your answer to #4!

    Thanks again for hosting our Wednesday Hodgepodge! It's so much fun!

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  6. I read your post about strawberry picking yesterday and it made my mouth water!! Lucky for me, my Dad has just harvested some from his garden and I had a sneak preview/taste at teatime yesterday. Yummy!!

    Thank you once again for a great set of questions Joyce. You really know how to get the brain firing each week! Hope your summer is starting well :)

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  7. Your patio area turned out really nice! Coppertone does bring back the summers of youth, doesn't it? :D

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  8. Your patio turned out beautiful I think I would live out there all summer, except on the really hot humid days! Love it!

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  9. I love your patio furniture. Hubby wants a fire pit, but we haven't done it yet. I'll have to show him your pictures.

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  10. Nice patio - I'll be right over! I love Strawberry jam, It's been ages since I've made some too.

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  11. Love the patio furniture; it is beautiful! I could sit there for hours and just read!!!! Totally agree with answer #4. Have a great day!

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  12. Oh your patio furniture looks so comfy! I bet you sit out there alot. I think rain is coming our way. I like your definition of the good life! I couldn't agree more.

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  13. I'm jumping in this week!!! I love, LOVE your backyard and patio!!! So inviting!

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  14. I commented once but forgot I had to wait around to type in the fake word..

    I love the love seat! The whole patio turned out great and looks so inviting!

    I didn't clean my desk area for a picture...if I clean it up, I won't be able to find anything!

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  15. Simply love your patio! And I haven't smelled Coppertone for years, until I read your post! LOL

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  16. I love your fire pit!!! I want one. It looks so inviting. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, SusanD

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  17. These were some great questions! I love your definition of "good life", I agree. I also love your new patio furniture. If I were you, I know where most evenings would find me! Joyce, your desk is just too neat, did you clean it up before that photo was taken??? LOL

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  18. You have my dream patio I love those big chairs.. I want some.. I hope to have them someday.. This was a fun one to answers.. Thanks for hosting.. Have a great day..

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  19. "Amy" (the commenter before me) said it first, but you have a dream patio! GAH! Get me up there!

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  20. Love your new furniture.

    The peaches vs. watermelon question has me stumped. Raw, I'd take watermelon every time but then I have to factor in peach pie and cobbler and jam and . . .

    It's a conundrum.

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  21. Hi Joyce,
    Love your new outside furniture. Looks comfy. Have a great day!

    Sherrie
    Food for Thought
    http://100sweets.blogspot.com/2011/06/wednesday-hodgepodge_22.html

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  22. LOVE the outdoor furniture! So comfy.
    Good definition of the good life. We are blessed.

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  23. Enjoyed your answers! Strawberry pickin does bring back memories! I think we ate as many as we picked. lol. Your patio is to die for, it definitely could be on one of those shows on TV. Love it! All you need now is a hot tub...lol. Thanks for sharing the Faith Hill song. I had never heard that one!
    until next time... nel

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  24. Wow!! Love your sitting area! I can just imagine sitting in the dark with a fire - of course we would be roasting marshmallows ;-)

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  25. Smores?? OOOO...I'll come!!! Smiles and thanks for hosting this each week!!

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  26. Love your patio set and fire pit. Looks great :)

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  27. Looks like a wonderfully cozy retreat! And I LOVED this weeks questions!

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  28. Love the patio furniture! I try to get the cushions covered before the rain comes but don't always beat it, good thing they are water repellent.

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  29. I forgot about Coppertone! I have Yankee Candle's Sun and Sand air freshener hanging in my van. I love the suntan lotion smell! I even hang it in my van in the middle of winter...aromotherapy!

    The furniture is beautiful!

    When you're this way for a visit, if you'd love to meet, I know many of the local Starbucks. :)

    Thanks for hosting!

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  30. Love the patio furniture. Thank you for hosting the hop.

    Blessings
    Rainbow

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  31. Awesome questions this week Joyce! And your patio makes me want to curl up in one of those chairs with a glass of wine and chat with you into the wee hours! What a wonderfully inviting spot you have created! :-)

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