A Photo Finish Hodgepodge

Welcome to another week in The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there because that's what good blog neighbors do. Here we go...

1. Did you watch the Kentucky Derby this past weekend? Have you ever been to a horse race? Ever ridden a horse? Did you enjoy it? Have you ever been to Kentucky? Do you like Bourbon? 

We did watch the Derby. We had an impromptu party which I wrote about in Monday's post (Oh Hey Monday). This year's race was one of the most exciting in a long time, a literal photo finish. I think the winner was over the line by half a hoof. 

I've never been to the Derby, but I have been to a few horse races. When we lived in NJ we used to go to the race at Far Hills every year as guests of someone hubs did business with. It's held in the fall and it's a steeplechase. I always enjoyed it and wrote about it on my blog several times. Off To The Races was the first one. There's more, but is anyone going back to 2011 on my blog to read about a horse race? 

Carry on. 

I've ridden a horse, but it's been a while. I used to ride horses at summer camp. Hubs and I have also had a couple of horseback outings while traveling for some of his work trips, one in St. Lucia and one in Sedona. In St. Lucia they let us take the horses on the beach and that was especially fun. 

St. Lucia, 2002-horesback riding on the beach in my mom jeans 

I've been to Kentucky several times, twice on 'the bourbon trail'. 

I'm not a bourbon drinker but the distilleries are in some very pretty countryside and I enjoyed our visits there. 

2.  What's something you wish you'd placed in a time capsule twenty-five years ago? 

Hmmm, I knew this question sounded familiar. I asked one very similar to it just last year. Oops. The original question when I posted them yesterday said fifteen years ago, but then I switched it to twenty-five. Answer whichever time frame is easiest for you. 

Twenty-five years ago feels like it should be high school but when I do the math I come up with 1999. Can that be right? 

Remember 1999 when we were all a dither about Y2K?  I have a few packs of Pokemon cards that people started trading that year so might include those. Is Pokemon still a thing? 

Or maybe I'd include a phone because I had a big clunky phone in 1999. Or a video camera. Ours was the kind you hoisted on your shoulder which made it look like you worked for a major news network. Probably something tech because 1999 technology was a long way from where we are today. 

3. Are you adventurous? Elaborate. 

Reluctantly lol. And I guess it depends what you mean by 'adventurous'. I'm not going to hang glide, bungee jump, or skydive but I will try other sorts of things some people might find scary. I looked up the definition and Webster says, 'willing to take risks or try out new methods, ideas, or experiences'. 

I did move abroad with two teenagers in the house, traveled solo in Europe a couple of times, ate some unidentifiable something from a styrofoam cup in Taiwan, and will speak comfortably in front of large gatherings of people, so I'm that kind of adventurous

I'm also married to an adventurous person and sometimes I get talked into pulled in to the fun. 

4. Something you want to make this year? It can be a new recipe, craft, diy project, a milestone you've set for yourself...anything at all. 

I have too big goals for putting together some scrapbooks for my grandchildren this year. I've bought some supplies and printed a few pictures but I need to get crackin'.  

5. Cinco de Mayo was also celebrated this past weekend...do you like Mexican food? If so what's your favorite dish? Have you ever been to Mexico?  Margarita-yes or no?

I love Mexican food and enchiladas are probably my favorite. Unless guacamole counts and if yes then that's my favorite favorite. I've been to Mexico several times but have no desire to go there now.

Cancun with friends- 2011

Margarita? Yes please, on the rocks with salt. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Absolute sweetest post I've read in forever on my daughter1's blog Tuesday. It's not about me, but the words feel like a true happy mother's day gift. I've linked it here-Sisters and Mothers.  

Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere~

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

The Hodgepodge Is Abloom

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. What's something you 'may' do this month? 

Swim in the lake, wash the windows, hike to a waterfall...those are all on my hope to do/get done list. 

2. "All things seem possible in May"~Edwin Way Teale. Do you agree? Elaborate. If not May, then in which month if any would you say all things seem possible? 

I do love the month of May, but if I were writing this quote I'd say September. September has always felt like the start of something new, I think because I spent so many years working in a school setting. 

3. April showers bring May flowers...is this true where you live? What's your favorite color of the rainbow? Your favorite May bloom? Do you enjoy visiting gardens? What's a 'famous' garden you'd like to visit? 

The April showers part of the equation is definitely true. Our azaleas are blooming and my iris and lily of the valley are also beginning to pop. My favorite color of the rainbow in an actual rainbow is pink, but my favorite color of the rainbow in general is yellow. Favorite May bloom? Peonies, iris, lilac, poppy and camellia. 

Picking one favorite flower is like picking one favorite child. It can't be done. 

Visiting public gardens and walking through gardens in general is one of my favorite pastimes. We've visited gardens of all shapes and sizes in our travels here there and everywhere, but I've never been to what is often referred to as the most beautiful spring garden in the world-Keukenhof (Netherlands). It's definitely at the top of my must-see list. 

4. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series of films? If so how many have you seen? (I think there are 12) Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre in general, in either books or movies? What's your favorite sci-fi book or movie? 

I'm not a big fan of the sci-fi genre in either books or movies. It's okay but wouldn't be my first choice in reading or viewing. I've seen a handful of the Star Wars films, the three original as we like to call them, plus one or two of the newer ones, but eh. 

I really liked the book The Martian by Andy Weir, and also the film adaptation starring Matt Damon. 

If you haven't ever read 1984 you should read it now. An alternate title could be 2023. Yowza! 

5. Cinco de Mayo lands on Friday of this week...do you enjoy Mexican food? How often? Do you eat out or make your own? Your favorite thing to order in a Mexican restaurant? Have you ever been to Mexico? 

I like Mexican food and make some version of it at home, but we also eat Mexican out. We have something with Mexican inspired flavors at least every couple of weeks, and judge all Mexican restaurants by the quality of their margaritas and their chips and salsa. The entrees are secondary lol. What I order varies, but generally some sort of enchilada. 

I've been to Mexico a few times, but it's not high on my list of places to go right now. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I may not have been to Keukenhof, but I have been to Washington State's Skagit Valley during tulip season and she's a beauty-

This was six years, two weddings, and four grandchildren ago-

Hey girls! I have an idea...let's recreate this photo in Keukenhof, yes? 

Did you know my girls blog? Well if not, then here ya go- Sincerely Shannon and It's Elementary

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 502

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. What's something you 'may' do this month? 

2. "All things seem possible in May"~Edwin Way Teale. Do you agree? Elaborate. If not May, then in which month if any would you say all things seem possible? 

3. April showers bring May flowers...is this true where you live? What's your favorite color of the rainbow? Your favorite May bloom? Do you enjoy visiting gardens? What's a 'famous' garden you'd like to visit? 

4. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series of films? If so how many have you seen? (I think there are 12) Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre in general, in either books or movies? What's your favorite sci-fi book or movie? 

5. Cinco de Mayo lands on Friday of this week...do you enjoy Mexican food? How often? Do you eat out or make your own? Your favorite thing to order in a Mexican restaurant? Have you ever been to Mexico? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 306

Hola! Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then scoot back here tomorrow to share answers with your amigos. Here we go-

1. Can you tell I'm embracing a Cinco de Mayo theme here this week? Do you like Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? How about on the side-black beans, pinto beans, refried beans, rice? What about heat-mild, medium, hot? Will you celebrate with Mexican food and drink on May 5th aka Cinco de Mayo?

2. Ever been to Mexico? For work or holiday? Love it or no? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to visit? Can you speak Spanish?

3. What's one thing you may accomplish this month?

4. If you were mayor of your village, city, or town, what's one thing you'd like to see changed, done away with, revamped, or accomplished? Is serving in public office something you've ever seriously considered?

5. What's something that may be popular, but that you just don't get?

6. Can't let this week slip by without mentioning Thursday May 4th is Star Wars Day. As in 'May the 4th be with you' ahem. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series? Exactly how much of a fan are you? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being 'I've seen every film, own the action figures, might have dressed as Darth Vader for Halloween one year', and 1 being, 'what's a Vader?' -where do you land?

7. Scroll back through your blog posts and in three sentences or less tell us the general theme of your fourth blog post. Does it still ring true today? Is it a topic you re-visit on your blog from time to time?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Amigos

It's really hard to work up a blog entry immediately after a vacation. It seems like it should be easy, I mean I've been on vacation and there should be lots to tell. There is, but my brain is still in holiday mode and doesn't want to put two thoughts together. Last week I watched the sunrise over Mexico and I'm not quite ready to let that go-

We spent our mornings here poolside, in a lovely resort in Cancun-

The view was not too shabby-

We ate dinner overlooking the turquoise blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico-

We fought some serious surf and played water volleyball in the resort pool-

Okay, some of us played water volleyball and some of us watched from the comfort of our lounge chairs but still, water volleyball was played. Some of us also participated in water aerobics but you will not be seeing those pictures here. I'm sorry or you're welcome....you can decide.

Did I mention we were not alone? These friends-

well, we go waaaaay back... more than thirty years in fact. All the way back to the college years. These boys were fraternity brothers in 1978 and they are brothers still.

One of us may even have celebrated a milestone birthday during the week-

Who better to celebrate with than old friends? Its a very special thing to have friends who knew you when. There's no pretense, no falseness to the relationship...we've all grown up into adulthood together.

Up, not old...we are not old.

Twelve years ago we spent a week together in the Florida Keys. Twelve years doesn't seem that long ago but when I look at this picture I realize that time has most assuredly marched on.

We look like kids ourselves in this photo but here we are, twelve years later with young adult children of our own and many moves between us from sea to shining sea. We've all led busy lives but in our hearts, nothing has changed. There will always be a place reserved there for these friends.

A number of honeymooners also spent the week at our resort and we made them laugh a lot. One commented that she hoped when they were 'our age' they had friends like this. I hope so too.

Life is so much sweeter when shared with friends.