Autumn bucket list.... or flooding buckets!?

Welcome to the weekly Hodgepodge.  As many of the regular Hodgepodge readers know, I live in South Carolina.  We have had quite the week - with epic record-breaking rains and flooding rivers. It's not over yet. The sun is to come out today which is wonderful but the rivers are still rising and some bridges are unsafe, and roads are still a mess.  We have a dock on a river and it's already under water.  The coming days will be interesting.

But, thankfully this Hodgpodger has been dry and safe... and I am praying for those not so fortunate. 

To get life back to normal, let's continue with the Hodgepodge questions and my answers.

1.  It's October so let's get this out here first thing...  have you jumped on the all-things-pumpkin bandwagon?  How so? 

No, I have not.  When I drink my coffee I don't like adding any kind of flavors.  I am not big into lots of foods that are now pumpkin-tasting.  I like pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and that's about it.   Sorry.  Just not a fan.

2.  "We have more power than will; and it is often by way of excuse to ourselves that we fancy things are impossible."   Francouis Duc De la Roshefoucauld

What's something you once thought impossible, but in hindsight see as more a matter of lack of will?

Wow.  I have to ponder this question.   If I understand the quote than I think it says that sometimes we really CAN do something, but we just don't have the drive, or the desire, or energy... and therefore we think it's impossible.  Am I on target?  Close?

There are certainly political issues that I think fall into this category.  Often (most times!!) it is too hard to get a collective agreement to go forward and make a change.  Oh Congress!!!   It seems impossible for that reason. 

I also think personally I have times when I don't feel I have either the intelligence, or the physical power to accomplish something - so I don't try.  Maybe if I'd try anyway I might succeed.  Maybe not. But I will never know if I don't try.   It's my will vs. my power.   I suppose I could do more manual labor around the house...  but I don't have the will! 

3.   The rose is America's National Flower, but every state also has it's own.  Are you happy with yours?  If you were in charge, what would you declare your state's flower? 

The South Carolina state flower is the Yellow Jessamine.  It's really a vine that blooms, and it is found in springtime around the state.   I don't have an issue with this choice.  I could think of some other flowers to qualify also... like Lady Banks Roses (beautifully little yellow tea roses on a vine), or the hibiscus that bloom so beautifully here along the coast.   Also, honeysuckle.  It's so fragrant!   I am fortunate to live in an area that has some beautiful flowers much of the year.

4.   What have you lost interest in lately?  

Well,  I have written this before but I often lose interest in most TV drama shows.   I have lost interest in going out to movies since 1) I am more selective in my viewing choices, and 2) I can watch movies at home so easily.  It is not an "event" like it used to be.   I have lost interest in travel.  Not that I was a big traveler before, but I used to enjoy it...now I like being home because I love my surroundings.  I don't crave travel, and I don't like the hassles that go with it.

5.  In your opinion, who's the best living musician? 

Oh my!!!  What a question!!   And, it's a very difficult one to answer!  I admire SO many musicians.  I am so in awe of their talent,  their dedication and passion.  Hmmm.  I think to qualify as "best" the musician must write AND perform music well.  So, being a songwriter is important along with being a wonderful artist with an instrument.  

You know I love country music, and part of the reason I do is that I love how a musician can write, play, sing, interpret, emote their own music.  To do it all!  What a skill!  What a gift!   In the country music world I put Keith Urban into that category.   The man lives music.

I am not as familiar with names from other genres.  I know Justin Timberlake fits in terms of being an amazing writer, singer, musical instrument performer.  Even dancer (although I put dancing into a different category.)

I will be very interested to read who my Hodgepodge friends name as the best musician.

6.  S'mores - love 'em or no?  Ever make them indoors?  Last time you sat around an open fire?  Are making s'mores and sitting around a fire pit on your autumn bucket list?  Do you have an autumn bucket list? 

S'mores - I can leave them. I'm not a big fan of the marshmallow mess.  But, saying that, we keep s'more makings at our "riva cabin" all the time for others to enjoy.  We have a large fire pit there and usually at night when a group is hanging around it the s'more makings come out.   The last time?  It was probably just a month or so ago - over Labor Day weekend.

I do not have an autumn bucket list - and really, s'mores are made at our fire pit year round! 

7.  Your favorite small town?  Why? 

I think of a small town as being somewhere off on it's own, and "charming."  It is attractive because people come to sight-see.  So merchants decorate, and the town has a "back in time" feel.  The last one I visited like that was Beaufort, SC.   We were there about a year ago and the downtown was closed for a community children's Halloween parade. It was SO adorable!   The town sits right on the intercoastal waterway so it gets visitors. We were there for the day and a night, and we enjoyed walking the old neighborhoods, and we enjoyed a restaurant along the water.  

8. My random thought. 

I guess I will end like I started this week.   Many places in the US get hit with natural disasters, be it tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, or flooding.   This is our state's time to come together and help each other through the next weeks as we recover from the devastation left from the "thousand year" rain and floods.   Some lives were lost, and many people lost property.   It's so very sad.  But, we will rally... and help each other.   Just say a prayer for those who need it right now.

Take care - and stay safe everyone!