Wednesday, August 19, 2026

A High-Flying Hodgepodge

Hello Hodgepodgers. Come on in. I've got the a.c. running on high. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go...

From this Side of the Pond
1. August 19th is National Aviation Day...do you like to fly? Last time you were on an airplane? The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina? The city of Dayton in Ohio (their birthplace)

I don't love to fly, but it is often the best way to get from point A to point B so I deal. The last time I was on an airplane was back in February when I flew from South Carolina to Philadelphia to spend time with my mama. She lives just a car ride away now which makes visiting much easier. 

I've never been to Dayton, but I have been to Kitty Hawk. We spent some of our summer holidays in the Outer Banks when my girls were growing up, and we stayed in Kill Devil Hills one time which is right beside Kitty Hawk. 

The first flight actually took place in Kill Devil Hills but Kitty Hawk was the nearest post office so got the claim to fame. We saw the monument there on one of our trips, but mostly spent our time on the beach, in the water, climbing the dunes, and checking out the little shops. We love the area but getting in and out is always a bit of a nightmare in terms of traffic. 

2. In what area of your life do you tend to 'wing it'? Is this an area you should be winging? 

Lately it's been dinner, or maybe cooking in general. There's been a lot of 'let's see what I can make with what's on hand, is low labor, and won't heat up the kitchen to excess'. Honestly it's been working out okay but come fall I need to get back to better meal planning. 

3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way?   

Book-The Huntress by Kate Quinn. The novel follows three storylines across WW2 and into 1950. Nina the Soviet pilot, Ian the war correspondent turned Nazi hunter, and Jordan a Boston teen and aspiring photographer whose father marries a soft spoken German woman Jordan suspects is a Nazi murderess. I like Kate Quinn's writing and this was a good read. 

Song-Watching Airplanes by Gary Allan. He's a country artist I think is underrated. He's had some great songs and I like his voice. We saw him as the opening act for Brooks and Dunn many many years ago and he played without breaks. Really good, and this particular song is one of my favorites of his. 

Movie-Fly Away Home This one is about geese in flight, but also the young girl who helped them 'fly away home'. If you've never seen this film its a really good one, and is based on a true story. 

4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream...what's your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge? 

My answer would depend on my mood. I'm not big on frozen yogurt because I feel like it sometimes has a bitterness to it, and the texture is a little bit off for me. I love soft serve and gelato and would say those are my favorite. 

It's hard to choose a favorite flavor but if we're talking ice cream I love strawberry, rocky road, and coconut. If we're having gelato I love the stracciatella, which is a sweet milk or vanilla base with shards of dark chocolate throughout. 

I do like to go out for ice cream, but I never just sit down with a bowl of ice cream at home. 

I eat ice cream very rarely. Hubs on the other hand.... 

5. I never get tired of______________________. 

Seeing our flag flying against a bright blue sky...

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm in the very early planning stages for a trip out west. Has anyone been to the Little Bighorn Battlefield? How about the new Roosevelt library in North Dakota? The Tetons? If so send your travel tips my way. Thanks! 


29 comments:

  1. "Kitty Hawk" sounds less evocative of violence than Kill Devil Hills (though if anyone is deserving of meeting a violent end, it's the Devil) so maybe it's a good thing about the whole post office thing? It's actually quite interesting to know that. I've been to NC a few times but never on the coast. I've never been to the places you mentioned in your random thought. I forgot about The Huntress. Kate Quinn is a good author- it seems like I almost have one her books on hold at the library... Your flag picture is really good!

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  2. I enjoyed reading your answers today! I know that you're glad your mom is only a car ride away now. I am sure you treasure time with her! I've never been to the areas you listed, but the Tetons were always my dad's favorite place to visit. He also always said to never skip a presidential library if given the opportunity to see one! Thanks for hosting us today, friend. Much love!

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  3. The only frozen yogurt I like is plain ole vanilla, I don't like the texture of the other flavors. A beautiful picture of the flag against that bright blue sky!!

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  4. I love that flavor of gelato and I get either that or birthday cake, which I'm sure is not authentic. That area of North Carolina is so pretty. I haven't been to much of the Outer Banks area but would love to see more.
    I went to the Tetons but I was 17 so I didn't do the planning. How fun!
    Thanks for the fun hodgepodge today; I went in hard on the aviation question.

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  5. We did a trip out to Utah 2 years ago. When the kids were little, we visited Yellowstone, Little Bighorn, Roosevelt National Park, the Tetons, Mt, Rushmore(amazing), Badlands, etc. We spent almost 3 weeks out there. The Black Hills are beautiful. We're doing a few home repairs here too... a new roof and a new rock wall for the flowerbeds. It never ends!

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  6. Yeah, I don't like flying either but it is usually the quickest way to get from point A to B. I really enjoy all of Kate Quinn's books.

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  7. I've been to the Tetons outside of Yellowstone. Your trip sounds good!

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  8. I enjoyed your answers and I have not been to those places you mentioned. I took Amtrak once from Minneapolis to Montana, so I did travel through and see North Dakota. It was pretty to see a new area of the country and one I haven't seen since I did that 28 years ago. How fun to explore new areas of our country though!

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  9. I am not a fan of flying and have never been on a plane. How lovely your mom lives just a car ride away now.
    I do well with meal planning but don't always stick to it but at least there's a plan. lol
    Aww! I had forgotten all about the movie Fly Away Home. It is so sweet but I didn't realise it was based on a true story.
    The picture of the flag is beautiful and planning for your trip sounds exciting!

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  10. Oh how I love to plan a trip. That library looks unique and in the middle of nowhere. The descriptions sound cool. I've heard that the Tetons are amazing. We were in Yellowstone but didn't go south to see the Tetons. From Yellowstone we drove east and spent a night or two in Cody and bought a pair of boots for Greg. I'd love to go to Jackson and the Tetons. I'm already looking forward to you taking this trip. :)

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  11. That sounds like an interesting trip you are planning. Thanks for the questions!

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  12. It's nice that your Mom only lives a car ride away now. Those beach days sound like fun times. Glad your meals have been working out. I'll have to check out your answers for #3. Soft serve ice cream can be so good and your flavors for ice cream sound yummy. Beautiful answer for #5. God Bless America....
    I will have to ask Mark but the Tetons sound familiar. Hope you have a beautiful day.

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  13. I read The Huntress and I liked it, it stuck with me for a few days!!
    I love the photo of the flag. :-)
    Our military son has friends stationed in Kuwait and Iraq right now, they should be arriving back on Wisconsin soil in late August. Keep that flag flying. :-)

    South Dakota and North Dakota are beautiful, if you can make it to the Badlands it is a treasure.
    xo

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  14. What brand is your flag? We got ours at Costco and it has majorly faded! I have been winging dinner as well. Some nights I am motivated and make something nice and others, I tell the kids we are doing leftover or choose your own adventure.

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    1. I'll see if I can find the brand. We have to replace it every so many years as I think they all fade. We bring the dock flag inside in the winter which I'm sure helps it last longer.

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  15. I also " wing it" in the kitchen but like you, I need to get back to meal planning. I've made some tasty meals and some major flops by winging it.
    I've been to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone several times - and fished. Never made it to the Black Hills or Rushmore. We used to spend time in these areas backpacking in my younger years.

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  16. I tend to be less organized in planning my days in summer, especially meals. I enjoy fall and look forward to the changes our menus bring.
    We are going to the Roosevelt Library and Museum in early September, driving up and back from Colorado. We’ll spend a couple of days visiting the Badlands. It’s been years since I’ve been to the Tetons/Yellowstone area.

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    1. Would love to hear how you like the Roosevelt Library and the Badlands both. My hubs has read a lot about Teddy Roosevelt and would like to see it I think.

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  17. Hi Joyce, I take a lot of flag pictures too! I am sure you will have a great time on your vacation! I have been to the Richard Nixon and Ronald Regan libraries here in California. Have a great week!

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  18. I have several posts about my airline adventures - one just from last month! Let's just say I haven't had good luck attempting to fly lately. I haven't heard any Gary Allen songs in a while, altho "The One" was mine & the Spouse's first dance at our wedding. Good luck on your trip planning - sounds like a great trip!

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  19. I forgot about The Huntress! I love all Kate Quinn novels -- they are so good!

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  20. What does it say about me that I don't recognize any of your flight related favorites? Neither could I think of a book or movie on the subject. Not very exposed or a short memory perhaps? Regarding my post mention of Dearborn: I find it extremely sad that one of the most highly acclaimed museums and village replicas that represents some of the most treasured eras and items of our country's history is surrounded by an ideology that's whole aim is to destroy its significance. I have no desire to go back, but am glad we saw Henry Ford's wonderful contribution to our history when we did. Enjoy the rest of your week.

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  21. I love that one Lisa is following the other Lisa in the comments section!! Your picture of the flag is beautiful!

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  22. I didn't think about winging dinner but like you we've been digging things out of the freezer and trying to avoid full on cooking making extra heat. Thankfully we had some rain overnight and it's cooler today. Playing catch up here as usual. Loved your last post with all the photos.

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  23. Thanks for another fun Hodgepodge, Joyce! Joe's favorite gelato was stracciatella. He often said that ice cream was his favorite food group! I've only been west of the Mississippi once, and that was for business in Boulder with no time for sightseeing. It sounds like you have a fun trip ahead! xo

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  24. I live an hour from Kitty Hawk. My son (aka "Sky King") flew a little plane from Richmond to Kitty Hawk. Pretty cool.

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  25. I have definitely been winging it with dinners all summer. Now that we are 3 instead of 2, I'm planning ahead a little more. I haven't been to ND, but we had a wonderful trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone a few years ago. You can see the first post about it here: https://txtanya.blogspot.com/2021/06/grand-teton-day-1.html Thanks for the fun link party!

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