Three Cheers for the HodgePodge

Happy July!!
What's funny is that I took this pic of daisies in Sis1's yard and a few minutes later, she got a text with the same pic... from Sis2!

Moving on to this week's HodgePodge, hosted by Miss Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond....

btw - Sorry about my link on the sign up!  I usually post while I'm at work so all my info is saved - I'm at home right now and clearly didn't fill out the linky correctly!

1. What do you love most about your country?

The variety. Have you seen the 2 British guys, Josh & Jase, who visited Michigan last winter? They documented their travels on Facebook. Seeing the state that I live in thru someone else's eyes, especially a non-American, really makes you appreciate what you got.


Going in a different direction - going back to 1992 when I enlisted in the Navy.... there was a moment standing in the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) in front of that flag, holding up my right and swearing to defend the Constitution of the US against all enemies -

it was the first time the enormity of what I was doing hit me.
Like a pang shot thru my heart as I realized that I just might have to give up my life for my country. That's a pretty deep thought for an 18 year old kid!

2. Your favorite patriotic song?

Courtesy of the Red White & Blue
of course!

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a US flag with some combination of those colors or decorations as part of its design?

Blue is my favorite color. Stars. And I have multiple pairs of patriotic earrings.

I almost forgot!  Next week is mine & the Spouse's 20th anniversary.  Our wedding colors were red, white & blue!  We had Michigan & Arkansas flags hanging behind the head table and we had little bowls of RWB M&Ms on the table. 

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate.

I'd like rest and/or quiet, but with the Spawn & grandkids in my house... that ain't happening. So let's go with fun & adventure.

5. What was your ultimate, go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid?

I went into a lot of detail in the last Hodge Podge. We spent summers "up north" and basically were only in the house to eat & sleep.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Hockey + Metallica + National Anthem
'Murica.

Also - since there's also been a lot of "Summerween" coming out in the stores, Tractor Supply (cursed be thy name, since they're getting WAY too much of my money again this year) has a bald eagle skeleton!!!!

I grabbed this off their website. I have already ordered & received one, but it came with 2 right wings. So I'm waiting to hear back from them what to do about this situation.
😠

But they also have a turkey skeleton!!
Placing order #2...

Summertime HodgePodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge on Thursday.  Thanks to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for this week's edition. 

It's officially summer!!!

1. Summer's here! In the northern hemisphere anyway. If you're in the southern hemisphere substitute winter for the word summer. What do you love most about summer? 

The long days.  Sitting outside, listening to critters.  

What's your biggest summer pet peeve?

Most bugs.  And humidity.   

2. What song always reminds you of summer?

Just about anything from Kenny Chesney.  Get Along is my current favorite. 

 
3. What's something you remember about your childhood summers? 

I don't know if other places do this, but in Michigan, we go "Up North".  A lot of people I know have a second house or property that they go to for vacations, hunting, fishing, camping, etc.   Growing up, my parents had "the Farm" which was 120 acres of mostly forest and an 1890s farmhouse and orchard about 140 miles away.  So, we spent most weekends and summers up there.   We spent all day outside.  Dad would stand on the porch and whistle when it was mealtime.  We had a tv, but it was ancient even by 1970/80s standards, so it has very seldom turned on.   Seemed like there was always a Detroit Tigers game on the radio.  Once I hit my teens, the other siblings were out of the house already, I'd take the neighbor's horse out and the only way my parents would have any idea where I was is to follow hoofprints. 

Do kids get to enjoy summer the way I did as a child?

Definitely no.  Dad worked and Mom was a SAHM so they didn't have to worry about daycare or anything.   Looking at my grandkids now - the Spawn works at a daycare, so the granddaughter (4) goes with her, while the grandson (6) has already spent a week at summer camp and is currently attending summer school.  

4. We celebrate Fathers Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad. Or your husband as a dad. Or a son/son-in-law as a dad. Or your grandpa.

I am the youngest of my siblings, I was Daddy's girl.  He worked with his hands so I learned early all of his tools and how to use them.  By 10 years old, I knew how to make "matroonis" aka a vodka martini, extra dry with 14 olives since that was his favorite adult beverage.  He was also extremely patient, since I'm sure when he got home from work, he just wanted to float around the pool and relax, but I was right there in his bubble, hanging on him.  He also had a bit of an ego, he liked to stop and admire himself in the mirror whenever he passed by one.  That trait has definitely been passed on thru the generations.  

Sadly, Dad passed in 2009.  When we (all us siblings) went to the cemetery to approve the location (he's in a niche - the file cabinet type thing) the director showed us the section on the wall marked in tape - I started to laugh and the director looked horrified!  Dad always said he would not be put in the ground, so nobody could pee on his grave and he's in the 4th level, so we always have to look up to him!  Once I explained, everyone laughed.  

I could go on & on.  

5. Let's wrap up with a summer this or that-

flip flops or sandals ~ flipflops for hanging around home, sandals for work. 
beach or pool ~ pool.  I don't like sand getting where sand shouldn't be. 
watermelon or peaches ~ watermelon
shorts or sundress ~ shorts
iced coffee or ice cold lemonade ~ neither - iced tea!
amusement park or water park ~ either/or  I like them both but I don't like crowds! 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Because I'm weird - I really like to explore cemeteries.  I follow several cemetery exploring pages on FaceBook and Instagram, etc.  I'd seen pictures of this angel before and thought it would be so cool to see it, but I never researched it - I thought it was in Europe somewhere.  Nope!  It's in OHIO!  Specifically Cleveland!  

Haserot Angel

"The Angel of Death Victorious"

Cleveland just happens to be where we usually stop for lunch when we go visit Bro2!    So a couple weeks ago, we stopped and drove thru Lake View Cemetery and occasionally hopped out of the car to see certain stones closer.   It's a huge place with spectacular monuments, but it doesn't give off the solemn vibe that most cemeteries do.  They hold music events there, both guided & unguided tours, 5k runs, etc, etc.  

While we were there, we also visited ...

Alan Freed, the disc jockey who coined the phrase "rock & roll"

20th President James Garfield

Eliot Ness, the FBI agent who brought gangster Al Capone to justice (did you ever see the Untouchables movie with Kevin Costner?)

John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil (the guy with lots of $$$$)

Harvey Pekar, comic book author of "American Splendor" -

I didn't know who this was but had to research him after seeing all the pens stuck in the ground!

We missed seeing the Collinwood School Fire Memorial - it would have been sad & emotional. 

It's been a while since I posted other than Hodge Podge posts, better get on that!

A Rosy HodgePodge

Happy Wednesday!    Ugh - we're having heat advisories today & tomorrow with crazy high humidity.  This chubby girl doesn't like the heat!  

Thanks again to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for this weeks' edition of the HodgePodge! 

1. How would you define 'the good life'?

Spending time with loved ones.  Watching the sun set while listening to the frogs (simple things like that).  Having enough $ to be comfortable and enough left to play with.  Our health. 

2. What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)?

Without looking it up, it's between Facebook & Instagram.  I technically have 3 accounts for each.  On FB, I have my personal account and my Halloween-y one, then I maintain the account for my VFW post.   On IG, I have my personal account, my Halloween-y one and one for my skeleton, Chuck.

I don't feel I spend a whole lot of time on them, so I guess it's nothing to be ashamed of. 

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain.

Everything is coming up roses.  The Spawn finally took the grandson into the doctor and got him started *today* on some ADHD meds.  Hopefully this helps him to settle down. 

4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)? 

 I've only tried hibiscus tea and it's definitely an acquired taste.  

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?  

What would life would have been like if I had chosen a different path at sometime or another in my past.  But then I make myself stop, since parts of my life I would not want to change.  If I'd stayed in the Navy - I wouldn't have met the Spouse - and I'm glad I didn't miss out on that!  If I didn't have the Spawn, I wouldn't now have the grandkids.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of the grandkids - both have had graduations in the past week.  

 

Goodbye Pre-K!

The granddaughter will be starting kindergarten in the fall. I didn't get many pics of her ceremony since she decided to cry all thru the songs and refused to cross the stage to get her "diploma" because she didn't like that they used her first / last name instead of first / middle.  

I think the Spawn would have preferred her to go into Young 5s.  She's got the brains for kindergarten but is still pretty immature.  She's eligible for both Young 5s and Kindergarten, but they don't have that program at our local elementary school and Bean would probably freak out being in a different school all alone, knowing that Mom or brother weren't close by. 

The grandson will be starting 1st grade in the fall. 

The picture above shows the before & after of him seeing us. 

He "crossed the bridge" into first grade and stopped to get a pic with his teacher.

I guess it's a thing in the past couple years where schools take the song "Don't Stop Believing" and change the words slightly to apply to kids.  

Just a little girl, living with her mom & dad, she took the yellow bus to school one day. 

Just a little boy, born & raised in North Detroit (since that's where we are), he took the yellow bus to school one day.....

a teacher in a spotless room, the smell of paint & Elmers Glue

for a day that seems to go on & on & on & on & on......

it's just so stinking cute!!!!! 

The future's so bright, they gotta wear shades!

A post called HodgePodge

I'm late to the party this week!    Thanks again to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond - it's amazing how you come up with all these unique questions each week!!

1. Do you like your name? Are you named after someone (grandparent, etc)? If you have children, how did you choose their names?

I'm pretty neutral about my name.  It's interesting that even given how short my name is - there are several guys at work who call me "Leese".  

There's a lot of family connection in all of my siblings (and younger) names.  I don't usually use their actual names in posts, but it applies for this one.  

Us girls are Laura Lee, Linda Bea and Lisa Marie.  The L-a's are supposedly a coincidence as well as the middle names rhyming.  Laura & Linda's middle names are the same as Dad's parents' and mine is a variation of Mary, which is Mom's name.  

Dad was James Curtis.  I had a half brother named Curtis James.  My brothers are John James and Terry Curtis.  Then there are nephews named James Richard & Alexander Curtis.  Even my grandson is Adam James.  Oh, and the niece named Lisa Beth (after me & her mom)

For the Spawn... as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I had picked out Brandon James.  Then the doc said there was a 70% chance I was having a girl, but she had her legs crossed so they couldn't tell for sure.  So since the Ex was a wanna-be bullrider from Texas (he wasn't very good) I suggested Angela then he could have his Copenhagen Angel (is a song by Chris LeDoux).  So there's that. 

2. A piece of red velvet cake, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a slice of blueberry pie? You can only have one...which will you choose? If you could pick any red, white, or blue dessert other than those listed here, what would you choose?

The red velvet cake!   But I also make a simple, fairly healthy but tasty red, white & blue trifle made with layers of angel food cake, whipped topping, strawberries & blueberries.  

3. What's a job you'd like to try for just one day?

The first thing that popped into my head was a fighter pilot - GO FAST!!!! And shoot guns / missiles!   I'm trying to hold down my practical side, since I don't think my chubby, out of shape body could handle the amount of Gs I'd want to do and my lousy vision is against me.  But one can daydream!   

4. Any patriotic decor in your home currently or coming up this summer?

Ugh - I didn't get any pictures yet, but I have 2 of these blowmolds out on each side of my front door.  And that's pretty much it!    I'll probably put them away for a while, then bring them back out of the 4th of July.    I didn't decorate my office at work for Memorial Day, but will for the 4th. 

5. It's the end of May, so let's exercise our brains. Sum up your month with an acrostic using the word MAY. We can do it!!

I had to look this up!  I never knew the name for this activity. 

M - making plans with the Spouse for our upcoming 20th anniversary!

A - all the plants at the greenhouse - I want them! 

Y  - yay for the random neighbor who stopped by last Friday morning and offered to mow the lawn before the long weekend at a very reasonable price!  And also, for the Spouse having that exact amount of $ in his pocket to pay him!  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last night we swore in (or "installed") the all the new 2026-2027 officers at the VFW - and since I'm the social media / website / newsletter peep - of course I took pictures.  

Honestly - I 'm ashamed that it took me so long to embrace ChatGPT - you'd never know that I used it to remove several people out of this picture!  

Remember & Honor

Remember what your three day weekend is actually for. 

from Great Lakes National Cemetery

Today, at my VFW.

#AtoZChallenge Reflections & Catching Up

I totally missed the sign up for the A to Z Challenge reflections but oh well!  I'll just kind of gloss over it.  

Woohoo!  I made it through!

As usual, I dropped the ball with visiting other blogs. 

I already joined the Road Trip, at least I can remedy that somewhat. 

Some thoughts from the Reflections post linked above....

I like the Theme Reveal posts.  It's neat to see ahead of time what people are writing about and to poke around their blogs to see what they're about. 

Yes, at least one of the hosts did visit.  That's got to be a tough job - kudos to them for visiting everyone!   Some of the blogs have topics that I'm not interested in so I think it would be hard to make any meaningful comments on it!

I'm pretty sure my blog's comments are open to everyone - I do have a time frame set where any comments after a certain time need to be moderated, but that's to weed out the weirdos.  

I don't like the blogs that are hard to navigate, and I've even seen some where there wasn't a way to comment - at least that I could find.  I always wonder if they actually look at their blog?  

oooo and I really like they already listed the sign up dates for 2027!  That theme is really pretty, too. 

*****************************************

Catching up.....

Who needs Mother's Day flowers when you can stop the ice cream truck!

So my search & rescue team is now an "associate" member of the SE Michigan Dive Group, along with a whole lotta law enforcement / fire agencies.  We had our first training with the county dive team last week.  Since we're all "professionally trained volunteers" we will never actually dive, but we can assist & support the actual divers. 

We met at the sheriff's department & got our made up scenario, then made a convoy to the lake. 

There were 4 of us from my team, plus one K9 who is certified in water searching. 

We were told 2 guys collided out on the lake, their boats sank (there really are 2 boats at the bottom of the lake we went to), they swam to shore and fought, shots were fired, etc.  So, we had to go into the woods and look for the firearm. 

I may have said "gimme gimme" when the guy in charge of the training offered up one of the police dept's 800 MHz radios for us to use.

I was warned several times NOT to touch the orange button (is the emergency button) but when it came time to actually USE the radio?  I hesitated since I was listening to real police traffic the whole time we were in the woods!  

Found this pretty little guy out there, too

Fun fact - there is only one poisonous snake in Michigan, the Mississauga Rattlesnake, but it tends to be much further north than I am and is very timid, so bites are rare.  This is a harmless garter snake. 

Afterward, we got to go out in the boats and see how they use sonar.  I've watched videos on YouTube with guys looking for cars in lakes, but it's different in real life! 

It was a super cool training.  Luckily, it's only once a month since it was during the day on a Tuesday, so I could easily just adjust my work hours.  

Everyone in my house is finally getting over the plague.  Over the course of 2 weeks, 4/5 of us were sick.  First, it was the Spouse.  He was down for the count for 2 days, shortness of breath, coughing, etc.  His cough is still hanging on!  Pretty sure he had bronchitis but he, being such a guy, didn't go get checked out.  Then I started getting a sore throat, congestion & coughing.  Then the next week, the granddaughter came down with hand, foot & mouth.  Then the grandson got it.   The kids finally went back to school yesterday.  The togetherness was getting to be too much.  They were constantly fighting & tormenting each other.     

I went out to breakfast with my sisters Sunday and when I came home, the Spawn was by herself in the back yard.  The neighbor behind us invited the kids over to help him pull weeds in his garden - she said he was probably tired of hearing them screaming and her yelling at them!    

The tulips & hyacinths are done blooming, but the irises are out! 

These used to be purple years ago, not sure why they turned white.

We also just had the VFW's Day of Service - somehow we got involved with the caretakers of a local cemetery, so a whole bunch of us gathered there and cleaned up the cemetery and put out flags for Memorial Day.  Since I'm the VFW's post historian and website admin, I'd like to find out more about HOW we got involved with them and write a little piece for the website.  Everyone I asked pointed fingers at Mike, but Mike doesn't remember how he met them!  I'm hoping the caretaker's wife knows something since her family took care of the cemetery before they did. 

Signing off for now!

The Uncomplicated HodgePodge

I'm back off my blogging break!  I didn't even do my A to Z Reflections post - oops!   Maybe I'll still do it even tho I missed the sign ups.  

Thanks as always to Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for today's HodgePodge. 

1. What do you make more complicated than it needs to be?

Most likely some processes at work.  Next month is my (gasp!) 26th anniversary there and of course over the years some tasks have somehow oozed onto my desk, and I don't always get proper (or any) training.  

2. What impresses you?

Talent.  Some of the kids the Spawn used to dance with were incredible.  Artists, too.  (edited to add) Public Speaking!  I'm impressed every year when I have to help judge the entries for the VFWs Voice of Democracy program.  It's high school kids writing & presenting a speech on a given topic.  They're always amazing.  

 And what made me say "WOW!" just recently was seeing a picture of Admiral Brad Cooper, the Commander of the US Central Command. 

(pic snagged from navy.mil)

A civilian might not understand, but all those ribbons on the left chest/shoulder stand for awards, recognitions, commendations, honors, etc.  That's an insane amount. 

In comparison, I did 8 years in the Navy and came out with 6 ribbons. However, looking at all the gold stripes on his sleeves (each one means 4 years of service) he's done at least 20....

I bet he's got some stories. 

3. On a scale of 1-10 how picky of an eater are you? (1=extremely and 10=not at all) If you had to eat a meal made entirely of one color what color would you choose?

A solid 9.  I won't eat red onions - but white/yellow is ok. Tofu. Green peppers. Otherwise, I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to food.  I've eaten - and enjoyed -rattlesnake (takes like chicken/turkey) and escargot and buffalo.  I currently have a pound of ground elk and some venison steaks in my freezer, thanks to the Spawn's male friend.  When the Spouse & I went on Carnival Cruises back in 2005 / 2007 we made a point of eating something we'd never had before every night at dinner. 

I'm going to steal 99% of Joyce's answer for the color - red.  No red onions, of course.  I'd burp them up for days. But I wouldn't have thought of red meat!  And I will eat red peppers (and orange & yellow if I have to) but those green ones ...

😖

4. What does balance in life mean to you? Does your life currently feel 'balanced'?

Being able to separate home / work / volunteering / continuing education.  It's tough to do sometimes since I need to get in the correct frame of mind for whatever hat I am wearing at the moment.  So no, life is not balanced, but not for lack of trying! 

5. If you could travel the world for a year what would be your first destination?

Australia, since I didn't get to go there back in 1995 when I was on my WestPac cruise in the Navy.   I still want to try Vegemite handed to me by a real Aussie.  

I also want to visit all 50 states. Like real visit, not just drive thru. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I made the mistake of leaving my phone unattended last Sunday and I ended up with 50 or so photos of these 2 little faces.  And 3 videos.  This is a screenshot from one of the videos (they didn't know it was a video!!)

Some dialogue...

Grandson - "OMG my head is so giant, take a picture of me now"

Also Grandson - "oh please please please let my head be giant!"

Granddaughter - "random beeping noises"

Grandson - aghast - "what is happening???"

May HodgePodge

 I did the same thing Joyce did (From the Other Side of the Pond) - the A to Z Challenge ended and I just needed a blogging break!  Actually I took a break here, but I have several posts written & scheduled over at my Halloween-y blog for Cemetery Appreciation Month.  

That sort of ties in with the HodgePodge question we had recently about going down into a rabbit hole.  I like to explore old cemeteries, take headstone pics and then post about them.  The website Find A Grave is a font of information for genealogists and just looking at a random person's memorial can take you down said rabbit holes! 

1. What's something you may do this month?

I may go insane!  Of course that's a good possibility every month.  The Spouse is currently in bed for the second day due to a Man Cold - it actually sounds like bronchitis but being a typical man - he won't go to the doctor.  I just hope he doesn't give it to me!  Surprisingly - he did NOT get it from the grandkids, since they haven't been sick lately!

2. Hola! Hodgepodge Day lands just after Cinco de Mayo... how do you feel about Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? Do you make it at home or is it a strictly dine out option?

I enjoy it very much!  I can make a good enchilada (learned from the Texan former sister-in-law) and tacos of course, but they're never as good at home.   The Spouse & I like to go to this little podunk Mexican restaurant by our house - it's SOO GOOD.  I get a combo plate so I can have more things!  My favorite includes a chicken burrito, beef tostada and a cheese-onion enchilada.   And a margarita, of course. 

3. When the children of today grow up what do you think they'll say about this time period? What do you most hope they remember?

Thinking of my 4 1/2-year-old & 6 1/2-year-old grandkids - probably Minecraft and 6 7 and Paw Patrol.  But really, I hope they remember how much Gramma & Papa love them!  

Baseball season has begun! 

I never had a relationship with any of my grandparents.  I can't even remember having a conversation with any of them!  I'm not even sure they knew my name or whose kid I was.  When Mom's Mom passed away, Bro1 called me and his exact words were "Goldie kicked".   Dad's Dad passed away within a week of Sis1's first horse (who I'd basically grown up with) and guess who I cried for?  Yup. Nibbs. 

4. What advice would you give a new mother?

Document memories!  Keep a notebook or create a document on the computer, whatever!  Just write down what your kid does or says.  It'll be sweet / hilarious to read back when they're older.   

5. What's a phrase your mother often said to you? If you're a mom, do you say it to your own children?

Hmm.  I think I say more of Dad's phrases than Mom's!   Oh wait - Mom (she's coming up on 92 years old) likes to use her age to get away with things.  It started when the Spawn & the niece had dance recitals and she'd always sneak water into the auditoriums because she just gets DRY.  The funny part is how she says it, so now we imitate her.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last weekend, a few of us from the search & rescue team went to give a presentation to an area fire department (they want to learn what to do when someone goes missing and we're not available) and we showed the FD what the different K9s can do, among other things. 

 

I was the "lost child" and for Daisy - the border collie - she's a "scent specific" trailing dog.  The handler went into my car and wiped a gauze on my steering wheel to get my scent.   Her thing when she found me was to sit next to me.  Then she got to play with a frisbee for a reward. 

Glory - the golden - is an area search dog.  She runs loose and has a cowbell and a GPS on her collar.  She just looks for a person, so she might or might not find the correct person.  Her thing was to stand next to me and bark at her handler.  At first, he wasn't in sight, so she ran to him and barked.  He told her to "show me" and she ran back & forth between him & me, barking.  Then she got to play with a ball on a rope.  

We have our monthly meeting tomorrow and also our annual "pack test" where we hike 1 1/2 miles carrying a pack (that identifies as) weighing 25 lbs. 😉 I'm not in the best of shape, but I can handle this! 

#AtoZChallenge - Zen

Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge for 2026!

My theme this year is simply things that I’m grateful for.

It’s a broad and varied theme but was surprisingly easy to fill in each letter!

Zen

Calming sounds are sometimes just what's needed!

Waves on Lake Michigan

Wednesday HodgePodge

Happy Wednesday!  Let's jump into the Wednesday HodgePodge!

Linking up over at From This Side of the Pond...   

1. Are you feeling more reset, restart, or full speed ahead as we move into May? Tell us why.

Ugh - I just looked at my calendar and apparently, it's Full Speed Ahead!  

There are several events or "demonstrations" with the search & rescue team - I'll have to ask - I might not have to go to those.  I'm sure they want to show off the K9s. We are considered "associate members" of the SE Michigan Dive team so we start having training with the divers as support.  I WILL go to that.  We also have our annual pack test where we hike 1 1/2 miles while carrying a 25lb pack. 

There's a district event at my VFW post this month.  The Day of Service where we go clean up a cemetery and put the flags out before Memorial Day.  Then 2 different Memorial Day events.  

OK, maybe my calendar isn't too bad.  I have an appointment noted, several birthdays and the Spouse will be gone for a couple days so there's a lot of little dots for the month. 

2. Painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, cinema, theatre, music...what's your favorite form of art? Elaborate.

Sculpture - mainly what I see when exploring cemeteries. 

Architecture - I love cool old buildings

Music - altho it's odd to think of 80s hair metal / rock as "art".  But so be it!

3. What time is dinner at your house? How do you feel about leftovers?

The dinner situation is a major bone of contention in my house.  The Spouse is perfectly happy to eat whatever I put in front of him.  But then there's the other 3 inhabitants, aka the Spawn & the grandkids, aka the RiffRaff.  She, in particular, is VERY picky.  The grandkids are slightly less so.  And since I'm not a short-order cook, it makes trying to eat healthy very difficult.  

Dinner is usually 7-ish and the Spouse & I will have leftovers for lunch the next day.     

4.What's the last thing you fell down a rabbit hole investigating?  

Medal of Honor Recipients. 

3552 have been awards and 110 are from Michigan!  I was reading their citations.

5. And now for a question from the book Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me...At what are you 'self-taught?'

Gosh.  Blogging?  I've kind of figured that on my own.  Cooking? Meh.  I definitely can't call myself a 5-star chef by any means.  There are a few things that I can make, and everyone is happy with. But sometimes for other things I'll follow a recipe exactly how it says and my food won't turn out.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I mowed the lawn for the first time this year yesterday.  This is a chore that I DESPISE but has to be done.  We have a double lot and it takes about 2 hours to mow, if I were to go non-stop.  It's slightly not as bad now that we got the new mower last year, one that actually starts on the first pull instead of having to practically dislocate my arm.  And why doesn't the Spouse mow the lawn, you might ask?  It's because he's in worse shape that I am and I really don't want him having a heart attack.   So I suck it up. 

Looking at the positive side - I saw an empty robin's eggshell in the grass - which means babies!  And for the first time...

a morel mushroom!  

I sure wish I knew how to cook those! 

Our crabapple tree is in full bloom and smells so good!  

The granddaughter wanted me to go with her to look at it so I pulled a branch a branch down so she could smell it and that reminded me of something....

granddaughter, aged 4 1/2, left

Spawn in 2003, aged 5 1/2, right

same tree!