The Hodgepodge is back!

Our hodgepodge host took a week off for Easter, and she is back now with a new set of questions.  Thank you Joyce!  Below are the questions and my answers.  Feel free to respond and play along! 

1.  Share one fun thing you did last week, while Hodgepodge was on 'Spring Break'.

The weather is finally 'springy' here, and warming up, so we took our boat out on the rivers this past Sunday afternoon.  I always enjoy the time spent out in nature, going to spots only enjoyed by boat.  It's such a beautiful world out there! We saw a few ospreys coming back to their nests and preparing them.  Here's a little fact for you:  ospreys use the same nest year after year.  They come back to them when Spring arrives, and fix them up with some new twigs to prepare for their eggs.   I love to watch all the action out on the waters.  Soon the fish will literally be jumping (for joy) again...  and the alligators will be sunning themselves in the mud.

2. April 10th is National Sibling Day...do you have siblings, and if so are you close? Share a favorite story featuring one of your siblings.

Who knew?  Well, happy National Siblings Day to my two siblings Sue and Mark!   I think we have remained as close as we can considering we live apart geographically.   I am not a telephone person so we don't talk often...but we manage to know what's going on in each other's lives thanks to Facebook, etc.   We see each other at least twice each year:  at Thankgiving - and then for a week together at  Lakeside, Ohio.  I think our annual vacation week at Lakeside has definitely kept us close as a family.   A favorite story?   We did a lot of camping as kids with our mom and dad.  When I think back to childhood I think of those times together. Adventures, good & bad, on trips - with 3 kids and a dog sharing the back seat.   I am the youngest, so I know I was the annoying little sister - especially to my sister who is 5 years older than me (I like to remind her that she's older even now!! lol)  

3.  Is it important to you to 'buy American'?  Why or why not?  How much of an effort do you make to 'buy American'?

I do not spend extra time looking for a purchase made in America vs. coming from another country.  And to tell you the truth, we live in such a global economy now that I think it's too fuzzy to separate.  I mean I just got a new Honda, but they have a huge production factory in Ohio.  BMW is here in South Carolina.  Clothing is often an American company, but made in Asian countries.  I think you can drive yourself crazy trying to find a true American-only product.   And, then there is the price to consider...      so, no, I do not make an effort to 'buy American.'

4.  Besides The Bible, what book has impacted you spirituality in some way?

I look forward to reading other bloggers' responses to this question because I think it will give me a nice 'reading list'.    For me, I have been impacted in recent years by the authors who have experienced death and have come back.   There have been a few of them.  Two good ones:  "Proof of Heaven" by Eben Alexander, and "Heaven is for Real" by Todd & Colton Burpo.

5.  April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes.  Do you find rainy days calming or depressing?  When were you last caught in a rainstorm?  What's blooming in your neck of the woods?

I find a thundershower calming... when they quickly come in - and go out.  But, a whole day of rain, and the greyness that goes with it, is pretty depressing.  I am an outside person.  So, I don't handle being stuck indoors for very long.   The last time I was caught in a rainstorm was probably a year or so ago out on the golf course.  I was playing with my hubby, my cousin, and her friend. We had to drive our golf carts and take cover under a grove of trees and wait it out.  

We have lots of things blooming here.  Thankfully, South Carolina has an early spring.  The spring bulb flowers are up:  daffadils, tulips, and hyacinths.  The beautiful azaleas are in full bloom right now (as you will see when you watch the Masters this coming weekend.)  Dogwoods are flowering. And, I love the wisteria, and princess Anne roses blooming.  We have had camellia blossoms all winter long - and they are still producing blooms.   It's VERY pretty here this time of year!

6.  What's your favorite yellow food?

Cheese!  Sometimes I make a meal out of cheese & crackers - and wine!   I love mac and cheese, and I love feta cheese on salads (guess it's really white).   I love all kinds of cheese!

7.  April is National Poetry Month... what's a poem that holds special meaning for you, and why is it special?

I had to think about this for a bit.  Psalms are poems - as are music lyrics.  So, I think I'd have to say that they are the type of poetry that I love. 

8. My random thought.

I played in my second concert last night with our local community band.  We played all kinds of show tune medleys and a few marches.  The band geek in me loves it all! I'm certainly not the best flutist in our group, but that's okay. I'm learning, practicing more, and enjoying the people and music.   You are never to old to do something you love!