A Midsomer Hodgepodge

Welcome to August and this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've 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. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

A clear bright blue sky, although a few puffy non-threatening clouds are okay too...coffee on the porch, a book on a float on the lake, an outdoor shower, friends dropping by, hubs grilling a steak to perfection, music under the starry night sky...that would be one formula for a perfect summer day. 

We've had a few. 

That being said there are may ways to have a perfect summer day. Case in point-

2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

There's a lot of pressure in high school, both socially and academically. Lots of big feelings you're trying to manage. These can be, and often are, wonderful years, but you're still learning who you are and who you want to be. These are not the best years of your life. 

3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

The way the dishwasher is loaded. Ridiculous I know, but there is a right way lol. 

4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy?

Matcha

What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated?  

sushi, oysters 

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? 

Stylist for sure

dance like nobody's watching or sing like nobody's listening? 

hmmm...I've been known to do both, but probably singing

unlimited tacos or free pizza?

free pizza

bookshelf organization-by size or by genre? 

by genre, but then within genres by size

ten minutes late or ten minutes early? 

early of course

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Vitamin Sea...

...for when life feels a little too salty. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 614

Here are the questions to our regular mid-week Hodgepodge. Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (August 6th) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated? 

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? 
dance like nobody's watching or sing like nobody's listening? 
unlimited tacos or free pizza? 

bookshelf organization-by size or by genre? 
ten minutes late or ten minutes early? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Roadtripping Through The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for the person linking before you. Or leave a comment for everyone if you've got the time.

As a reminder-I'm declaring next week Fall Break in the Hodgepodge so no Wednesday Hodgepodge on October 18th. The Hodgepodge will return the following week, October 25th. Thanks for understanding.

1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your sense of direction? 1=can't find my way out of a paper bag and 10=if I've been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.

When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand? (phones don't count!) 

back east, down south, out west, up north

Choose one of these directional expressions and tell us why you chose it.

I will rate myself a 5, but that might be generous. Hubs will say it is most definitely very generous. Oh well, it's my blog. We're going to be doing some driving out west and I ordered paper maps because I like to see the big picture. Also, I've read some travel forums that say cell service is spotty in places so having a map is a good idea. I love a map, but rely on GPS to get me anywhere. 

I'm from back east, live down south, am headed out west, and can't wait to see my favorite tiny human up north later this month. 

2. Did you do more talking or listening yesterday? Is that typical? Describe your yesterday in one word.

Yesterday was probably 50/50. Is that typical? Typically I think I lean more to the talking side of things, but I'm working on that. 

Yesterday (Monday) in one word? Productive

3. Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity...which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting? What might you do to change that?

It's a toss up between time and opportunity. I think we're all guilty of wasting time now and then, but missed opportunity bugs me more. How often have I missed an opportunity because I'm wasting time? I've recently set some reasonable personal goals for myself in one area in particular that I'm hoping to improve. 

4. Did  your family take regular vacations when you were a kid? Tell us something you remember about a family roadtrip from your own childhood.

Not regular no. We always had a day or two at the shore in the summer, and we belonged to the swim club which is where my sister and I spent most afternoons. We always had a week or more at camp and that was a lot of fun. Some years we traveled out west as a family to visit grandparents in Colorado and New Mexico, and that felt like a vacation to us East Coasters. 

One road trip I remember from my childhood was taking my sister to college. We drove from NJ to TN and visited some other colleges along the way so my brother could tour and see if he might be interested in attending one of those. It might not sound like fun, but we had fun. The best part was I don't think my parents booked hotels ahead of time. We'd drive and decide where to stop and look for a hotel that way. And the criteria was always the same for us kids-what's the pool look like? 

5. If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow? Why?

Peonies. Because I love them. My next door neighbor in the UK grew peonies and had some very rare varieties. A stroll through his garden was such a treat. 

Actually I'd like a big English garden with peonies, lilacs, and other blooming things in shades of red, pink, peach, and purple. My English garden still ranks right up there as one of my favorite places on earth. I didn't plant it...just watched it grow and bloom and change and make me feel a whole lot of things that are hard to put into words. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

For anyone who relates to my answer in question #3 you might like a book I'm currently reading called Finish.  It's written by Jon Acuff and below the title is the tag line 'Give Yourself the Gift of Done' 

I'm about halfway through, and find myself nodding my head in agreement on nearly every page. He says the biggest obstacle to meeting a goal is not laziness, but perfectionism and boy do I understand that. This book is for chronic starters who want to become consistent finishers (anybody else raising their hand here?) and is full of strategies and practical advice, including specific actions to take listed at the end of each chapter. And he's funny too! 

A Perfectly Perfect Hodgepodge

Welcome to the 300th running of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Can you believe we've reached the 300 mark? Can you believe it's March???

In case you missed it yesterday, I'm declaring next week Spring Break in the Hodgepodge, so no Wednesday Hodgepodge on March 15th. Technically that's not spring, but it's close enough, and since Daughter1 will be visiting from the west coast the time is right.  The Hodgepodge will be back in action the following week, March 22nd.

If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure you leave a comment for the blogger linking before you because we didn't hit Edition 300 without the friendly encouragement of our neighbors here on From This Side of the Pond.

1. What is one area of your life where you're a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

I kind of 'obsess' and want all the details to be perfect when I'm hosting an event. I think it's good to aim high, have a plan B and sometimes a C, and in the end to enjoy what I've planned, perfect or not. 

2. What's something you find perfectly ridiculous?

Denying we have a new President, the endless outrage and protesting over every single solitary thing, and this season of The Bachelor to name just a few. 

3. What's a skill you've developed by way of that old fashioned saying, 'practice makes perfect?

Quite a few things I guess, but cooking would be one where this phrase certainly applies. I find if I don't cook regularly my skills in the kitchen get rusty. The more I cook the better I manage timing and technique. 

4. What's your idea of a perfect breakfast?

This is a tough one (the food questions always are) because my answer depends on my mood. A Saturday morning omelette cooked (and cleaned up) by the hubs is usually pretty close to perfect. 

5. What's a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you've taken that you'd rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

This question is even harder for me to answer than the food question, because we've experienced a lot of 10s in our travels. One that popped into my head immediately was a ski vacation we took in 2005 to the  fairy tale village of Seefeld Austria. 

Stunning scenery, wonderful food, lots of time spent out of doors, and my favorite-family togetherness. 

 It was as close to perfect as a vacation can be. 


6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can't do perfect, how about one that comes close?

'Collect moments, not things'

7. How would you spend $300 today?

I'd likely spend it on something for the house or quite possibly my grandbaby coming this summer. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My mom arrived today to spend a few days here at the lake with me, and also to attend a baby shower honoring her very first great grandchild. I've had so much fun planning the shower and look forward to sharing some of the fun details soon. 

Hodgpodge Questions-Volume 300

300? Say what??? It's true! We've reached the 300th edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge, so go us! And to celebrate we've got a brand new Hodgepodge button. You can grab the code from my sidebar to include in your post, and a big thanks to my girl for making it so pretty.

One item of business-I'm declaring next week Spring Break in the Hodgepodge, so no Wednesday Hodgepodge on March 15th. I know it's technically not quite spring, but my Daughter1 will be visiting from the west coast and I'll need all my minutes to spend in real life. Thanks for understanding! The Hodgepodge will be back in action the following week, March 22nd.

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

1. What is one area of your life where you're a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

2. What's something you find perfectly ridiculous?

3. What's a skill you've developed by way of that old fashioned saying, 'practice makes perfect?

4. What's your idea of a perfect breakfast?

5. What's a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you've taken that you'd rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can't do perfect, how about one that comes close?

7. How would you spend $300 today?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.