Wednesday, July 24, 2013

A Royal Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! So glad you joined the fun today...add your link at the end of my post and let's get this party started-

1. July 24th is Amelia Earhart Day.  Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.  What's something you've recently accomplished solo?

My husband travels a lot so I do many things solo that I'd gladly have him do if he were home. I recently had to kill a ginormous insect. I don't even know what it was, but I'm pretty sure it was something alien. Shudder.

2. What's a product you use that never ever fails?

Sharpie permanent markers, Dramamine, and Clinique quickliner.

3. Have you found your place in this world?  Where is it?

I think so. It's in a land called contentment. I think when we're young we try to imagine how our life will go, and then we live it and it's rarely exactly as we had planned.  I know mine has been full of surprises and unexpected turns...experiences that went beyond my wildest dreams. 

One thing moving around a lot has reinforced for me, is the fact that this earth is not my home. I think the key to finding my place here has been in learning to embrace where I am and the people and opportunities God has brought into my life.  I don't always succeed, and of course there are still things I hope to accomplish, but I do believe contentment with where you are and what you have now, even if it is not what you wanted or planned, is the secret of life.  

4. Worst movie you ever saw?

I'm sure there are a few, but one that popped into my head right off the bat is Broken Arrow.  The film was released in the mid-90's, and while I do like John Travolta and Christian Slater, the writing and acting in this one were truly awful.  At one point a character in the movie actually shouts at a person intent on world destruction, 'Halt! I'm a Park Ranger!'.  Occasionally, when the mood in our house needs lightening, hubs and I have been known to throw that line out there and it always makes us laugh.  I guess the movie wasn't a total bust.

5. What's the last fun thing you did?

Picked crabs while sitting beside the water in Annapolis.  
I wrote about it on my blog here.

6. The month of July is named for Roman emperor Julius Caesar...ever been to Rome?  What's your favorite Italian dish?

Rome is one of my favorite cities in the world. I will refrain from blabbing on and on again about Italy, except to say I would not be opposed to a trip back there one day soon.

My favorite Italian dish? Oh mio! How in the world do I choose just one? Pizza margherita, chicken piccata, veal saltimbocca, gelato, and limoncello to name a few. 

7. What is one piece of advice you'd give new mom Kate Middleton?

Trust your instincts.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I am in love with the hydrangea bush beside my front walkway.


It has every shade of blue, pink, and purple in it, sometimes all in the same flower.


It is absolutely gorgeous this year!



44 comments:

  1. I really loved your answer to #3. I think that contentment comes with age and maturity...for most of us, anyhow.

    Can I also say that I'm a bit jelly of your picture of Italy? I would so love to visit. I'm a history buff and, combined with my love of reading (hello, Mark of the Lion series), I want to see, with my own eyes, the places I've only been able to read about.

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  2. Mmm. Gelato. No one does ice cream like the Italians!

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  3. hi! I hope you're having a great week so far! I used to love Clinique but unfortunately it always dried up my skin, i usually now use nuetrogena moisterizer, foundation & sometimes Mac for eye shadow and blush.

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  4. Ha! ha!.. I have not seen Broken Arrow yet, but I think I'll remember not to bother now!.. HOWEVER, in the meantime, you may have very well talked me into trying limoncello! (0; Thanks for hosting, Joyce!.. And have a great week! ~tina

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  5. Ewwwwww, I'm sure I would NOT LIKE that alien bug. Around Texas there are large cockroaches...I swear, the saying "Everything's Bigger In Texas" is true. Some I've seen you could put a collar and leash on them and walk them in the park they're that big. ;o)

    Love your motherly advice!

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  6. Your Hydrangras are beautiful! Mine are big but haven't bloomed yet. Too much rain, or heat.Now that Hubby is home a lot, there is very litle that I do alone.

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  7. Your hydrangea bush is beautiful! I want one. :) Thanks for hosting, and have a great Wednesday.

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  8. Your answer to Number 3 is spot on! I often sing that hymn during times I'm annoyed at the government, I'm going through some trial or when I'm thinking of Heaven.

    I kinda enjoyed Broken Arrow. Definitely not Oscar material but a fun romp through the southwest.

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  9. Being content is the best place in the world to be, don't you think?

    Your hydrangeas are lovely. I've tried to grow them in my yard in past years, without much success. After we moved from our old home place, next-door, the small hydrangea I left behind suddenly began to grow and flourish! Today, it looks similar to yours. Go figure!

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  10. I love hydrangeas too Joyce, they are beautiful. I have heard that the colour of the bloom depends on the acidity/alkalinity of the soil. If you put a couple of iron nails in the soil near the roots then it will change the colour. Not sure whether that makes them more blue or more pink but it would be fun to try!

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  11. I love hydrangeas however we don't have the right soil to grow them. Thank you for sharing yours.

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  12. Love your comment about contentment. I'm there too. It's the best!

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  13. I love Sharpies too! I love your answer on contentment- so true.
    Thanks for another great week of hodgepodge :)

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  14. Good answer to #3 an that hydrangea is beautiful!

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  15. I enjoyed your answers and love your hydrangea bush. Beautiful!

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  16. Sharpies are one of the best inventions EVER! Pretty Hydrangeas!

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  17. Your hydrangea is gorgeous! Unfortunately I'm still waiting for ours to bloom.

    I love your answer to #3. Even though I'm not in the physical location where I'd like to be, I'm with my hubby, near my daughter and grands, and oh so very content right here.

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  18. Oh, I missed participating this week, but I have cousins here this week from Virginia and am busy showing them some good ole Southern Hospitality. But, I should be back in full force next week. Happy day to you!

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  19. Bravo to you for killing an alien insect! I think I would have been tempted to shut off that part of the house 'til hubby got home. : )

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  20. I tend to think MOST John Travolta movies of the 90's on are all horrible :)

    Sharpies are the best!!! In every color :)

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  21. Love your answer to #3 on contentment. Great advice to Kate too! Your Hydrangea is beautiful.

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  22. Trust your instincts is a good one for Kate. And being in a state of contentment - a great place to be. sandie

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  23. Love everything you have written as always, but especially number 3. It is just soo true. I am not much of a traveler, but I have always wanted to see Rome. The hydrangea bush is gorgeous. I am particularly partial to it right now as it was mom's favorite, and I have two in my front planter right now that were hers. Enjoy your day!

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  24. Your hydrangea is gorgeous! We have a white one, someone told me to feed it coffee grounds to make it colorful because they turn white if the soil is lacking certain things. Do you do anything special to care for yours?

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  25. The hydrangea is gorgeous. I have two in front of my house...One is blue...one is deep purple. They were both blue when they were planted. I love sharpies. I cannot imagine life without them. The questions were tough this week...way to make me think.

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  26. "Halt! I'm a Park Ranger!" Oh, my, Joyce, I almost spit my coffee on the computer screen. Never saw the movie but now I want to, just to hear that classic line;) My hubby always orders veal saltimbocca and every time, without fail, he says, "I'm gonna learn to make this." He's never tried. Your hydrangea bush is certainly gorgeous. Mine bloomed in late May and was gone in a few weeks. Sniff, sniff.Have a lovely Wednesday, contented per norm.

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  27. I totally missed answering #3.

    Great title! :-)

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  28. I have a hydrangea in the yard that I love too. They remind me of my grandmothers--both of them! Did I tell you that I think of you every time we discuss Birdie's upcoming wedding? Why? Because they've decided to get married in---LONDON! That's why! LOL

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  29. Beautiful flower, and since the color is determined by the acidity of the soil, it is amazing you got that variation from one bush.
    Thanks for continuing with Hodge Podge.
    Mama Bear

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  30. The line in that movie is hilarious! I don't remember even the name of that movie. I must not have seen it or maybe it was just so insignificant to me? Probably just that I don't remember it as I have a lot of brain fog these days. Perimenopause, you know. ;-) Your hydrangeas are beautiful!! I love the colors.

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  31. I agreed with the statement about the world not being our home. We've moved around some and I don't truly feel that any one place is home. I think the Lord gave me that sense so I would remember that no place on earth is home.
    I am jealous of your hydrangea bush. We had 17-year cicadas plague us for several weeks and they nearly destroyed my beloved bush, but not quite. I have high hopes it will have a resurgence next year. Mine is a gorgeous dark purple, but I'd love to have one just like yours too.

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  32. I love your answer to number 3! Great, great answer. Those hydrangeas are gorgeous. My neighbors across the street have some I am able to enjoy, but nothing like your pics. Beautiful!
    Thanks for the questions. It's fun. Now you have reminded me of another stupid movie. I don't remember the name of it, but one of the lines I have never forgotten was "slap me around and call me Susan."

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  33. We both like Clinque! =)
    I love your hydrangea bush. I've a had one for quite a few years and this year is the first for blooms.

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  34. Sounds like our 'places' are one in the same. Which does not surprise me. :) I've never seen that movie but I laughed out loud at the "Halt! I'm a park ranger.! LOL
    I was JUST saying I wanted to plant some Hydrangeas!

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  35. Those hydrangeas are absolutely beautiful!!

    Today was my first day participating in the linkup, and I had so much fun! Thanks for hosting!

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  36. My hydrangea is blooming also right now. Its pink. I snipped off one and put it in a vase in the kitchen. I also have a husband that travels a lot and killed a centipede last night with his sneaker. I then leave the sneaker on top of it and vacuum it up in the morning! Nice to see you today.

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  37. I am solo at times too and recently I had to get a Lizard out of the bathroom. Being a midwestern girl all my life,well,I was not use to Lizards and it was rather large and a healthy one. I was a bit freaked but so proud that I managed to safely remove it to the backyard :)

    Lucy from Lucy's Reality

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  38. Your hydrangea bush is gorgeous! I hadn't thought about killing things that need killing when hubby's not home. I've had to do that a few times and if you videotaped me killing a spider you'd offer me a role as a heroine in a slasher movie. really!

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  39. Gorgeous photo! I have boring white hydrangeas.

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  40. New follower, new to the hop and I too love your hydrangeas! :D

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  41. haha it seems like i am always visiting on you question days--fun! 1.have to think about this one 2.wow these are hard--cleaning wipes 3.not sure kinda of 4.hands down--now it's an old one mind you--"benji the hunted" 5.hmmm maybe shopping--i like your crab answer :) 6.no and any pasta with tomatoes and basil 7.enjoy it! 8.love those flowers when they do that---hope you are having a wonderful summer--always enjoy your posts and insights :)

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  42. "I" am in love with your hydrangea bush!!!

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