A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Hodge Podge Wednesday


1. Since you weren't Hodgepodging last Wednesday, how did you pass the time?

This is only the third time I've done Wednesday HodgePodge and so I spent my time in the usual, ordinary ways — putzing about the house and taking care of the grandsons after school.


2. What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? Yes, one word. 

Oh, I played Apples to Apples recently so I know this one: tricky.

3. Summer officially arrives in the Northern hemisphere later this week. Does it feel like summer where you live? Describe your idea of the perfect summer day.

On good days, it feels like summer. On rainy days, it feels like mid-spring. A perfect summer day for me right now would be hopping in the car with a picnic and finding a lovely spot to enjoy it. Hopefully, John would join me.  

4. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."(Sam Keen) Is laziness ever respectable? Do you have a lazy summer planned, or something semi-ambitious?

Lazy is not a term I'm comfortable with so I'll insert relaxing instead. I plan a relaxing summer. Oh and I do feel that relaxation can be respectable. Laziness? Not so much and not in any season. That said, it's important to know when to rest and when to work and to know the difference between relaxation and laziness. 

5. Past or present, who's your favorite television dad? Why is he a favorite? Is he anything like your own dad?

Hmmm...this feels familiar...let me check and see.

Well, I loved Father Knows Best best because of the kindly father that Robert Young played.

No, the character Jim Anderson and my father are not very similar at all. 

6. June 18th is International Picnic Day...share a favorite picnic memory.

A favorite picnic memory is one where we packed sandwiches, a thermos of hot cocoa, crackers and cheese, and all sorts of yummy things and went to a ridge overlooking Sebago Lake and the White Mountains (NH) for an evening picnic. My grandmother, my niece, my husband, and I were the participants. It was a good evening and a great picnic.




7. The travel site Trip Advisor lists the top five islands in the world for 2014 as-Ambergris Caye in Belize CayesProvidenciales in Turks and CaicosBora Bora in French PolynesiaMarco Island Florida, and Lewis and Harris in The Outer Hebrides (Scotland). Have you been to any of these? Of those listed (and if price were not a factor) which would you most like to book for a holiday?

I want to be a rebel and say none of the above; however, I will play along and check them out. I think that I would prefer to visit Lewis and Harris, but I must check. (No, I've not visited any of these places.) 

Ah ha! It was just as I suspected. Since I am not a "beach" person and since I do not enjoy a lot of heat, I would best enjoy visiting Lewis and Harris. Besides, John's mother was Scottish; he hails from a long, distinguished line. ☺ He says he's going back to claim this place if only they'd fix the stairs. 

(I know I really want to visit Prince Edward Island, but that's my inner brat coming out.)


~PEI~photo by my sis and used by permission~

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

This is way off topic, but I am fighting the dreaded Lily Beetle and it is definitely no picnic. My information said that I should pluck them off into soapy water once a day. Really? Because my lilies would be lace if I did that. I am out there every hour or two and now I am almost to the place where insecticide must be used. These things make me nervous for the rest of the garden.

Now I have a question for you, have you ever joined Joyce from This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodge Podge? It's so much fun!

36 comments:

  1. Good miorning! Love the hodgepodge..it does get you thinking doesn't it? And I agree with the definition of being lazy. I guess I just assumed that they were going for more of a definition of relaxed, as let's face it, laziness CAN'T be good, lol. Everyone seems to be picking the dad from Father knows best...don't know how I forgot him. Oh and btw, I'd pick Prince Edwards Island for sure, haha. Enjoy your day!

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  2. It was fun reading your answers! Guess what? I lived on Marco Island, Florida for a while as well as worked for the Marco Island Eagle (newspaper).

    No, I have not played this game yet.

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  3. Tricky, yes! Good word for marriage:) I have an inner brat, too, but I do like the beach so picking an island was easy (Bora Bora). Sorry to hear about the lily troubles. How sad. My favorite flower is the stargazer.

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  4. Castle Stalker eh? We have Huntly Castle in Scotland to claim. LOL I smiled at a lot of your answers Vee. I enjoy this Hodge Podge but have never joined it. Yet. Fun post. It's pouring rain here this morning. Thankful for no tornados though.

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  5. Marriage = happy, perfect summer day= mid 70's and outside relaxing with the family, laziness? Can't abide it, but I do sometimes wish I could relax and just do nothing. It seems to be impossible for me. I do not have a favorite tv dad. The islands, mmmm either Belize or the one in Scotland. If Belize is too hot definitely Scotland. I've always, always wanted to go there:>)

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  6. I haven't joined Joyce for this Hodgepodge. I liked reading yours though. I think we should have a meet up in Lewis and Harris! I'm not much for the tropics, but I do love Scotland.

    Deanna

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  7. Well this was interesting! And you had to do some research too!

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  8. Well, you know that I first chose Lewis and Harris, but when I saw how very far it was from everything else...! But then, with money being no object, I guess a helicopter could take us to Edinburgh and then down to London, with a stopover at Durham Cathedral and York Minster. Okay, I'm with you on the L&H. lol

    Was this a fall picnic, or why the hot chocolate?

    Have a wonderful Wednesday, Vee. It's raining here and I plan to be respectably lazy. lol

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  9. Very busy....the weather has been real nice here...Father knows best comes to mind for me too..also Make Room for Daddy with Danny Thomas was nice....I loved picnics when I was a girl...my dad always made the old fashioned bbq and it lasted into the night toasting marshmallows and making coffee on the fire. It was fun. Blessings dear. Catherine

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  10. I haven't done the Hodgepodge yet, but I've seen many of them and enjoy reading them. I enjoyed reading yours! I like your word for marriage...tricky. Yes, that one is good. I'm not a beach person either, but I'd love to see Scotland.

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  11. I do, indeed, believe in being SUMMER LAZY....it makes my heart sing...the most wonderful feeling in the world. :) I so love the lazy days of summer.
    I've never played in this fun-sounding party but hope to do so next Wed. I'll take her button and put it on my sidebar so as not to forget.
    Loved reading all your hodgepodge ....and Charles Ingalls from Little House would be my choice....:)

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  12. Vee, I loved this post! I haven't participated, but thinking it might be fun. BoraBora would be my choice as I've always wanted to visit Polynesia, but I can vouch for PEI- it's pretty nice too. I really think you and John should put it on your list this summer, and stop and visit Pam and I on your way through..
    Please continue your vigilant battle with the Lily Beetle as they are spreading rapidly and those who just give up on them are making it worse for everyone. They WILL destroy all your lilies (ask me how I know) and then continue to damage other plants as well. Not only do you have to destroy the little devils themselves, but also watch for their egg masses/larvae which are usually found on the underside of the leaves. The eggs themselves are orangey-red, but are quickly covered in excrement so they look like little clumps of dark poo. Keep an eye out (frequently!) for these dark yuchy masses, especially on the lower leaves and if you find them, scrape or wipe them off into a bucket of soapy water. Personally I've been battling these nasty beetles for too long and I have no qualms about using an insecticide like Sevin.... I have lost most of my 25-30 Oriental and Asiatic lilies....

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  13. I'm from Florida and have visited Marco Island. It's nice but my goodness don't do it in the summer time. WAY too hot! I would prefer Scotland, Ireland, England anytime. That's my ancestry anyway (with "one" in the wood pile ... ). No, I don't do these question thingys anymore. I'm afraid I would scare off or bore a lot of my readers. ~:)

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  14. Certainly was a hodge podge of topics this morning. PEI is very nice and I'd love to go back some day, put it on your bucket list!
    When I got to the point where you are with the lilies - I pulled them. No plant is worth that much effort with a persistent pest that makes you want to pull your hair out. In Ontario, we cannot use any pesticides so we decide how much time we want to expend on one species.

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  15. Very interesting today! I might just have to participate in this one soon! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  16. Thanks Vee..you are such a rebel (giggles). Yes, I like Joyce's HP. I enjoyed your answers. Blessings

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  17. I've not participated in HodgePodge Wednesday but I've certainly enjoyed reading this post. You rebel, you. Guess what? Tim just told me that he has to go to a conference in Charlottetown next June. We're thinking of paying my way out and taking a couple of weeks for a vacation. I looked up your address to see how far it would be. We'd explore Nova Scotia, too.
    Good luck with the lily beetles. Sounds dreadful.

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  18. I have not participated but enjoy reading the podge. PEI is on my bucket list, too. And...I'm with you on preferring cooler climes so the Scottish islands would be my choice from that list. I spent all day on an Island yesterday right here in Washington state. Perhaps you should put Whidbey Island on your list, too. It's cool on most days.

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  19. Well that was fun to read. I have been to Marco Island in Florida and would go back in a minute.
    Also, anyplace in the UK would suit my fancy.
    My did was similar to Archie Bunker so I can't really pick a favorite. My perspective is totally twisted.

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  20. Those were great questions and answers. When Jim and I fought the dreaded insect on our garden and flowers Jim would use a sprayer with dish washing liquid and spray them. Our garden was all organic.

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  21. I started to frame the question as 'what's your favorite island?' and PEI would rate right up there on my list. Also England and Manhattan which a lot of people don't really associate with the word 'island'. Tricky-ha! Yes, for anyone who has been married a long time we know that's true : )

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  22. Your hodge podge made for interesting reading. I've not participated, but may have to consider it in the future.
    Your lily beetles sound a lot like our Japanese beetles. I have tried the soapy water routine before. It seems like a losing battle. I wish you luck in the battle.

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    Replies
    1. Every bit as maddening. Lucky us! We have both!

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  23. This is such a fun way to share lots of things that are going on....all at the same time! Like my life! lol Enjoy your week and I hope you figure out a way to combat the beetles! Hugs to you and John both tonight! Your buddy, Diane

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  24. Those beetles sound dreadful. I'm with you re PEI, always wanted to go there.

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  25. I enjoyed reading your hodge podge post. Like John's Castle. : )
    No, I've never participated.

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  26. I have never participated in a Wednesay Hodgepodge post, although I enjoy reading them. I always learn new things about the participants.

    Prince Edward Island sounds like the perfect island to visit!

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  27. PS. Maybe I should be grateful that my beautiful burgandy lilies winter killed. Saves having to pick beetles. Remind me again why we don't want to use insecticides? We're not planning on eating the flowers, right? Or is there a concern for pets? I'm not being facetious.

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    1. It's the bees we don't want to harm, but I will never spray a flower...only the foliage.

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  28. This hodge podge is such fun! Ambergris Caye was our very first exotic southern trip and I would LOVE to go back - we have the most wonderful memories of this amazing place - a snorkelling paradise!!! You had some wonderful answers - so interesting! Sorry about your lily problems.

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  29. You are battling beetles and I am chasing rabbits, Vee. The rabbits are out in force with their baby bunnies and eating almost anything they can in my backyard, including lilies!

    I'd love to join in on Hodgepodge Wednesday someday! She asks interesting and fun questions. Perhaps when life slows down a little --so much going on these days!

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  30. Yes, relaxation can be respectable, and when you relax you get to see and learn many new things. Things that you "don't have time" to see.

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  31. Sorry about the beetles. I loved the memory of your picnic. I will never forget the time my college girlfriend went with my family on a picnic to the very lake we now live close to. It was super windy and my dad's sandwich blew into the potato chip bag. He always thought we silly girls did it!!!!!

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  32. I don't think I'm familiar with the dreaded lily beetle, but that's because I'm unfamiliar with all bugs and beetles and let the man of the place battle such things. That's not because I'm lazy about it... or maybe it is? Ours is just pretty much an inside out marriage. I do the inside; he does the outside.

    I loved what you said about the difference between laziness and relaxation. Spot on.
    I also loved Father Knows Best... but Jim Anderson was no match for Steve Douglas on My Three Sons. Just sayin'.

    And I agree about the vacation destination, right on down to the bratty little desire to visit Prince Edward Island. I blame Anne, of course.

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  33. I am so glad that you shared your answers to the hodgepodge questions. I don't know what my favorite island would be, at least the name of it. Maybe someone knows of a secluded one with all of that creature comforts of home. That would be my dream! Have you tried insecticidal soap on the lilies?

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  34. Looks and sounds a great picnic and do hope you have your relaxing summer.

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