Summertime and the Hodgepodgin' is Easy

Welcome to the Hodgepodge Hodgepodgers! Glad you've joined the party today...don't forget to add your link at the end of my post. Here we go-

1. Since you weren't Hodgepodging last Wednesday, how did you pass the time?

I was gallivanting around Portugal. 

I wrote about it in great detail (don't I always???) starting with the post found here.

2. What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? Yes, one word.

forever

3. Summer officially arrives in the Northern hemisphere this week. Does it feel like summer where you live? Describe your idea of the perfect summer day.

Today yes (it's Tuesday), but check back with me tomorrow because that's kind of how the year has gone weather wise. Ka-razy! We endured a relentless winter, followed by a really wet spring. In fact I don't feel like we had much of a spring this year, there were so many cold-damp-gray days. On the bright side, our water bill should be way down this month.  

My idea of a perfect summer day would be my toes in the sand at the edge of the water, a good book in my hand, hubs and my girls in beach chairs beside me. Add in a beautiful sunset and fresh seafood for dinner and yeah, I think you can call it perfect.  
4. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."(Sam Keen) Is laziness ever respectable? Do you have a lazy summer planned or something semi-ambitious?

I don't think summertime laziness fits the strictest definition of the word. Laziness to me is doing nothing when you should be doing something. Summertime laziness is different. We all need time to slow down, breathe deep, and find rest for our world weary souls. Summer is often the perfect time to do just that. 

We have a few things on our calendar, but nothing too ambitious. Mostly enjoying friends, family, and evenings around the firepit in our own backyard.  

5. Past or present, who's your favorite television dad? Why is he a favorite? Is he anything like your dad?

Well I've always loved Andy Taylor (The Andy Griffith Show). He had integrity, was calm, fair and a protector of his family and community.  My dad was a man of great integrity and always made his family feel safe, so in that sense they were similar. He could not however, play the gi-tar or sing. Nor was he a sherrif, although he did maintain the law in our household. 

In newer programming I like Phil Dunphy from Modern Family. He's funny, cares about his family, and his optimism is refreshing. 

6. June 18 is International Picnic Day...share a favorite picnic memory.

I haven't been on an honest to goodness picnic in quite a while. Some of my favorite picnic memories are from my own childhood. My parents best friends also had four children of similar ages, and we'd often load up the station wagons for a picnic someplace. Sometimes my mom would fry chicken and sometimes we'd bring a little Hibachi grill with us and cook hamburgers. 

We always played games too, wiffle ball, baby in the air, and one I especially loved called Kitty in The Corner. One person was dubbed 'the kitty' and everyone else spread out and took a 'corner'. The object was for two players to switch places without the 'kitty' beating you to the spot. Does anyone else remember that game? 

7. The travel site Trip Advisor lists the top five islands in the world for 2014 as-Ambergris Caye in Belize Cayes, Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Marco Island Florida, and Lewis and Harris in The Outer Hebrides (Scotland).  Have you been to any of these? Of the ones listed (and if price were not a factor) which would you most like to book for a holiday?

When it comes to island holidays I'll pretty much go anywhere.  The only one on the list I've been to is Marco Island. It's my family's favorite vacation spot in the world so I'd never turn down a trip there.  

Best sunsets in the world are found there too, just fyi. 

Of the islands listed I'm going with Bora Bora. I've never been and it's on my list. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I do believe planning a wedding is a lot more fun since the advent of Pinterest.  Just sayin'.