Fall Is A State of Mind

It is good to be back home after our two week trip to northern Indiana and also to be back with

Joyce and the Hodgepodge this week.

1. What have you 'fallen for' recently?

My DIL introduced me to this product and I love not only the way it makes my hands feel, but the scent of Basil.  I also got the Basil Dish Detergent.  Smells divine!  There are quite a variety of fragrances and I also like the Lavender, which I have in my bathroom. 

2. What's something you're 'squirreling away' for later?

I can't think of anything I'm squirreling away right now.

3. How do you like your apples? Sweet? Tart? Crisp? Cooked? Apples are one of the superfoods for fall...how often do you eat an apple either plain or as part of a favorite recipe? What's your favorite variety?

We bought some beautiful, large Honey Crisp apples while in Shipshawana, IN last week.  I like my apples sweet and these are delicious with just enough crispness to be a joy to chew.  We don't normally eat a lot of apples, but when we do, they are usually fresh.  I also enjoy a baked apple with caramel sauce.  Perfect for fall!

4. According to Fodor's the ten best fall foliage trips in the US of A are-Aspen Colorado, The Catskills New York, The Berkshires Massachusetts, Columbia River Gorge Oregon, Green Mountain Byway Vermont, Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway New Mexico, Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, Upper Peninsula Michigan, Lake of the Ozarks Missouri, and Glacier National Park Montana. Which would you most like to visit this fall and why?

Green Mountain Byway Vermont, only because I have always wanted to visit that area and what better time than the fall.

5. The topic of legalizing marijuana was raised in the most recent televised political debate so let's wade in too. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Four states have legalize marijuana for recreational use. Your thoughts?

I thought Gov. Chris Christy's comments were good.  Marijuana is a gateway drug and should not be legalized for that very reason.  I was once the Drug Awareness Coordinator at a technical college and education of the affects of drug use was a large part of my job; therefore, I invited a lot of different speakers to address the students.  Without exception, both educators and former users were adamant that marijuana is a very dangerous drug and should never be legalized.  I had students who were dealing with the heartbreak of addicted babies and children with various handicaps attributed to marijuana use by one or both parents at the time of conception.  I also knew of people who started with marijuana and once they could no longer get the "highs" they easily moved to other hard, illegal drugs.  Drug addiction is never a pretty picture or story.  The strength of the drug today is so much stronger and more addictive than it was when Jeb Bush and Clinton used it.  It should never be legalized for any reason!

6. Are you okay to watch a movie already in progress or do you need to always see it from the beginning? How about jumping into a TV series somewhere in the middle? Is that okay?

I much prefer to start a movie at the beginning.  We have started a few TV series in the middle and then look forward to watching the reruns from the beginning.  This is not my preference though.

7. Thursday (September 24) is National Punctuation Day. What rule of punctuation trips you up most often? What rule of punctuation, when broken by someone else, bugs you the most?

How to properly use the simi-colon. ;;;;;;;!
Too few or too many commas, really bugs me, and I'm afraid, I may be guilty, of this myself, at times.  LOL!!,,,

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

These are just a few of the picture highlights from our visit with our son and his family these past two weeks.
 Soccer games with Savannah
Watching Jackson start for the first time at Center.

 Spending time with pretty Mary-Elizabeth

Getting to meet and have lunch with our new friend, Kaoma.

Making our regular visit to Amish country, Shipshawana.

We have such a good time with this sweet, loving family.  Time just passes too quickly.

 

On Friday, I hope to share our 50th Anniversary party with you.