Wednesday Hodgepodge

How Joyce travels for two weeks and still gets questions out on Wednesday, I'll never understand, but so admire her effort and determination to  give us something to think about for the Hodgepodge.

So, click HERE to either answer the questions yourself, or read how others have answered them.

1. What's surprised you most about your life or life in general?
 

That I got old!  That wasn't supposed to happen this early.  Seriously, I don't think of myself as old, but I am experiencing changes that have come as a result of turning 70 that I hadn't anticipated.  But, in general, my life is better than I could have imagined.

2.  Sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, a baked sweet potato, a bowl of butternut squash soup, a caramel apple or a slice of pumpkin pie...you have to order one thing on this list right now. Which one do you go for?

Sweet potato casserole hands down.  Copeland's Restaurant has the 2nd best; it should be on the dessert list.  Mine would be #1!

3. What's a famous book set in your home state? Have you read it? On a scale of 1-5 (5 is fantastic) how many stars does it rate?

Louisiana and especially New Orleans are very ripe subjects for both books and movies, many of which I would not necessarily recommended.  This link will give a whole list of Louisiana True Crime Bibliographies, if you like that kind of reading.  If you prefer light, wholesome, sweet love stories, then "The Cane River" series by Mary Jane Hathaway might be for you.  They all take place in the beautiful, historic town of Natchitoches, only an hour down the road from my house.

"Dead Man Walking" (1993), written by Sister Helen Prejean, a Roman Catholic nun may be one of the most famous. It is a  non-fiction account that takes place near New Orleans, based on her work as a spiritual adviser to two convicted murderers on Death Row at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola), and the story behind the movie, "Dead Man Walking."

However, if you want the true account of the story behind this book, then you must read, "Forgiving the Dead Man Walking" by Debbie Morris.  She was a friend of my Daughter-in-Law while living in Mandeville, LA, who at age 16, actually lived the story.  I highly recommend reading it.



It can be found at Amazon HERE.   There is also an interesting article on her and the book in "The Christian Woman".

4. There are 60 days until Christmas...have you started your shopping? How do you stay organized for the holidays?

Yes, I have started but its a very small start.  I don't really buy a lot of gifts but instead give money to the grandchildren.  But, I do try to give something to the adult children.

As we leave mid December to spend Christmas in Indiana, organization is required mostly for the process of leaving and being gone from home that long.  It's really not a big deal any longer; it all gets done.

5. October 26th is National Tennessee Day. Have you ever lived or spent any time in Tennessee? Is this a state you'd like to visit one day? The top rated tourist attractions in Tennessee are-

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Gatlinburg area), Elvis's Graceland (Memphis), Birth of the Music Biz (Memphis and Nashville), Dollywood (Pigeon Forge), Tennessee's Military Heritage (many battlefields), The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home), The Parthenon (Nashville), Oak Ridge American Museum of Science and Energy, Chattagnooa and the Tennessee Valley Railroad, Downtown Knoxville, Lookout Mountain, The Titanic Museum (Pigeon Forge), The Museum of Appalachia (Clinton), and The Lost Sea Adventure (Sweetwater)

How many on this list have you seen? Which one on the list would you most like to see?

We love traveling in Tennessee and could spend days just riding through the GSM National Park.  We have seen seven (7) from the list.  One thing we haven't seen is  The Parthenon in Nashville.  I think this would be interesting since we actually saw the real Parthenon in Athens many years ago during our skinny gangster days.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

We leave this morning for a well anticipated trip to Northern Indiana where we will spend time with our son and his family.  On Friday night we will go across town to South Bend to watch our grandson and his Western Michigan University (WMU) Rugby team take on the Irish of Notre Dame.  By the way, his team beat Northern Illinois 143 - 0 last weekend.  Geaux Broncos!

Then we will be traveling up into Michigan to watch our granddaughter who plays soccer for Trine University in Indiana, play their final two games on Saturday and Monday.  She is playing some super soccer and pity the girl who gets in her way.

But we are mostly looking forward to just being there with the family.  They are good folks and a joy to be with.

So, there will not be any blogging until I get back.  Then, hold on to your chair because there will be lots to tell you.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Fall is coming, I do have faith.  In fact, I think we are to have a slight cool front next week.  That simply means temps in the mid eighties instead of the high eighties.  I am so ready!

I did put a fall wreath on the front door and an arrangement on the dining table.  We will be hosting our Sunday School class for a hamburger get-together later this month, so am waiting until closer to time to do much outside decorating.

Joyce gave us an interesting variety of questions on the Hodgepodge today, so I hope you will enjoy reading my answers and will join the others to see how they answered.

Wednesday Hodgepodge Link up

1.  Have you ever spent time on a farm? Tell us a little bit about it. 

 

While attending college, I lived on a dairy farm for about a year.  I was not involved in the day-to-day goings on at all, but I do remember the sounds and the smells.   I also recall that their day began before I knew it was a new day.  There is one specific memory from that time, and it was the cream that would settle on top of the fresh milk after sitting in the frig for a day or two.  I would secretly put some in my milk and on my cereal.  It was so rich and delicious.

Have you ever grown your own pumpkin?  No

Been on a hayride? Oh yes.  Rural La. Saturday night entertainment and chaperoned make-out time during the 50's.

Driven a tractor?  No

Milked a cow?  Attempted

 

2. What's something younger you would like about you now? 

 

That I am a confident, happy adult; have amazing kids who have amazing kids; stayed married to the same wonderful, very patient man; had a successful career; stayed out of jail.

3. What are three things you'd like to do more often?

Take spontaneous road trips; see my kids and grand kids; eat a big bowl of ice cream covered in chocolate (I never do this, but it sounds enticing)

Three things you'd like to do less often?

Clean bathrooms, dust, fret about not being as agile and strong as I used to be

4. What's on your nachos?

I hardly ever eat nachos but when I do it would only be melted cheese

5. What's the most random thing in your purse or wallet? Does it need to stay there?

I really don't have anything random in my purse.  I keep only essentials there because I don't like purses.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Two of our grands are actively involved in College sports.  Jackson, our only grandson and a senior at Western Michigan University used his four year eligibility playing on the record breaking football team there.  Now, in his fifth and final year, he has returned to his favorite sport, Rugby.  It is such a brutal sport, but he loves it.  They beat their chief rival 91-5 last week and he made two tries (touchdowns).

His younger sister is a Freshman and plays soccer at Trine University, in Indiana.  She has started and finished every game so far.  She plays defense and is a force to be reckoned with on the field, even though she is the smallest on the team.  Mom and Dad say she is playing at a level they've never seen her play before.

I will let these pictures speak for themselves as to how seriously they both take their sport.

 

 He's the big guy in black carrying the ball

I have to laugh at this picture because I wonder if those little guys know he manhandled some of the biggest defensive players in the MAC conference last year.

 This facial expression says it all!

I can imagine #21 thinking "Oh heaven's this bull is about to crush my ribs."

And the guy on right shouting, "But Coach, I told him nicely to stop and he keeps coming!" or "TIME OUT! I need to change my pants!"

Savannah was featured on the cover of last weeks game.

 Trine isn't having a winning season so far, but it's not because our girl isn't doing her best.

And guess who is going north in a few weeks to see her play in her final game and watch WMU in the Rugby play-offs?  That would be us!!!