Over the Backyard Fence

Joyce provides us with questions for this fun post each Wednesday. Here’s the link to join in! 

1. August 19th is National Aviation Day...do you like to fly? Last time you were on an airplane? The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina? The city of Dayton in Ohio (their birthplace)

I do not like to fly. I don’t have a fear of flying, it’s just that I find the whole experience quite exhausting these days. In addition to that, my slightly over 6-foot frame doesn’t fit well in most airline seats, so I tolerate flying but don’t enjoy it. I can’t even remember the last time I was on a plane. I think it was fall of 2024? 

I’ve been to Dayton, but not for the Wright Brothers. Years ago, I took a road trip with my youngest two kids and we stopped in Dayton to visit the National Museum for the United States Air Force. There are hundreds of planes and we spent half a day wandering through. Here’s a photo of Luke and Emily in front of the C124 Globemaster. My dad was a crew member on this aircraft in the 50s. I wrote about the experience in a post linked here.

I ‘wing it’ most days. I start out with a list, but tend to hop around a lot, unless it’s a scheduled appointment. I set a plan for dinner (most days), and have a general idea of what I want to accomplish.

3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way?  

Some of my favorite books are the diaries and letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, author and aviator. She accompanied her husband Charles Lindbergh, as his radio operator and navigator, on many exploratory flights all over the world. Favorite song: Jason Aldean’s Flyover States.

4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream...what's your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge? 

Ice cream, please! Frozen yogurt is an okay substitute. Vanilla is my favorite flavor, sometimes with toppings, and often just by itself in a cake cone. We always have ice cream in our freezer, so I’ll let you figure out how often I indulge ;)

5. I never get tired of______________________. 

Searching through bookstores, fresh flowers, seeing a text from one of my kids, my husband’s hand holding mine. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Totally random: Yesterday I bought a magazine with fall recipes and a new bundt pan (to replace the old, scratched one - the only piece of kitchen equipment my husband brought to our marriage 42 years ago).

I thought I’d switch things up and join in The Wednesday Hodgepodge this week. Joyce provides some questions, and we share our answers here.

1. What's something on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer. 

Lots to look foward to! I’m looking foward to getting the water tank on our camper replaced so we can go camping. We’re going to miss the first half of a 10-day trip that we’ve planned, but fingers crossed we’ll make it to the second part. 

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls? 

I’ve never had oysters. Well, maybe smoked oysters from a tin, which are quite tasty. I love pearls! My favorite jewelry is a pair of pearl earrings my husband gave me on our first Valentine’s Day together. I also have a pearl bracelet he gave me for a wedding anniversary.

3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'. 

In the early years of marriage when our kids were little. It was all I wanted in the world, to have those babies and be a stay-at-home mom. I’ve since learned that life is a gift, no matter what stage. But I loved the innocence of those days and the anticipation of what lie ahead.

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why? 

Catalina Island California~Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii

I’ve been to Martha’s Vineyard and Kauai. I would love to go back to Kauai. With this guy ❤

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following- 

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."

Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month? 

Totally disagree. August is when the summer really begins to get lazy. We no longer have kids in school (which beings mid-August here), so it’s a great time to still experience what summer has to offer without the crowds. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A couple of ‘pearls of wisdom’ I’ve come across this week:

Being blessed is a privilege. Becoming a blessing is the Purpose.

Maybe the amount of beautiful things that happen in your life depends on how much you notice them.

Joyce,  from This Side of the Pond, is the hostess for Wednesday’s Hodgepodge.

1.  As the saying goes, 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.' Did your March come in roaring or like some other animal? Every month carries with it certain feelings, which is why some people love and anticipate December and others dread it. How do you feel about the month of March? 

March came in like a lamb on Sunday. In fact, I spent an hour outside on the back deck, reading and sipping coffee.Chickadees, finches, flickers, goldfinches, juncos, sparrows, red-breasted nuthatches were enjoying the beautiful weather. Typically, I’m ambivalent about March. But it has been so springlike this year, that I’m enjoying it and feel a burst of energy to accomplish projects in the house. I’m also a bit leery of March, because it can turn on a dime. 

2. Where in your life are you a lion? Where are you a lamb? 

Oh, my goodness. Reading about lions and their personalities, I learn that they are fierce, decisive, assertive, confident, and protective. There have been times in my life when it seemed necessary to be the lioness. However, these days, I’m taking on the habits and lifestyle of the lamb. Stereotypically,  they are described as passive, not very smart and easily led. However, apparently research has shown that they are actually quite complex. They are social beings, but with their own personalities. What some may see as timidity, I prefer to see as observant and thoughtful. These days I am trying to be a better listener and curb my usual chatter.

3. The Hodgepodge lands on National Pound Cake day. Do you like pound cake? If so do you have a favorite flavor? Let's play this or that-

I do like pound cake. Toasted pound cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate syrup was one of our favorite desserts growing up. 

4. What makes you feel childlike wonder right now? 

The abundance of birds that will soon be migrating through our area. Already, mountain bluebirds are here, and I love watching them flitting about in a meadow, like bits of bright blue paper catching the sun.

5. What's one thing you need to add to your wardrobe to get ready for spring? If you're in the southern hemisphere, then answer for fall? 

Sandals for trail walks and camping.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I can’t seem to read enough books these days. I finish one and I’m off to find another. I usually like to let a day or two pass before starting another, giving the last read some time to ‘steep’ and just mull it over for a while, particularly if it’s been a good read that’s taken me someplace that I’m not quite ready to leave, or I’m not ready to let the characters go. Perhaps it’s the state of the world right now, where I can’t bear to watch the news and listen to the political  heads rambling on. So, instead, I go other places, other times. Most recently the Colorado prairie in 1913. Before that, to a lovely garden in England, seeing it through the eyes of three different generations. Currently, my grandson and I are visiting a small town where a housepainter and his wife have suddenly become the guardians for a family of penguins! 

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What's one place in America you think everyone should see? If you're not American what's one place in the US you'd like to see? 

Other than Charleston, I’ve been to all of the cities listed. I enjoyed them all, even though I’m not a huge fan of cities. Our state (Colorado, the “Centennial State”) is celebrating its 150th birthday this year, so there will be plenty of celebration here.

I’m probably biased, but my favorite place to visit is the western US, exploring the mountains and especially the prairie.

2. Three sounds you love to hear? 

My husband’s footsteps coming in the door, the sound of my children’s voices when they call instead of text, my house when it’s quiet.

3. Three sounds you hate to hear? 

Howling wind, people on phones in public places, heavy metal music.

4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips? 

I don’t consider myself a big fan, until they are put in front of me. Then I can’t stop eating them, especially if they are warm and fresh.

5. We March into March with next week's Hodgepodge...what's one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile? 

We’ll be spending a week with our son and his family later this month! It’s been far too long, and there will be much catching up to do with Luke and Miranda and our five grands!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We haven’t had much of a winter, however I am still longing for spring. I picked up some tulips at the grocery store yesterday. The crocus and hyacinths are already sprouting up in our yard. I imagine Old Man Winter is snoozing away in his den somewhere. I just hope he doesn’t awaken and come out with a vengeance!

I'm a day late, but I thought I would join in with a blog meme call Holdgepodge Wednesday. I enjoy reading other bloggers' posts on this, which is sponsored by a lovely blog called From This Side of the Pond.

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday which signals the beginning of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? If so tell us more. Did you grow up 'celebrating' Lent? Is attending church part of your weekly routine? Are churches open for in-person worship where you live? 

I did grow up celebrating Lent, although our family weren't super strict Catholics and I always appreciated that our Lenten observance was kept quiet. We each decided what we would give up, and then it was up to us to do our best. My children all went to Catholic school, and we observed the Church calendar. The past few years, I've chosen a book to study, and this year a couple of friends and I are reading one together - The Last Week by John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg. Church is no longer part of my weekly Sunday routine, but I do drop in at morning mass during the week.