April Hodgepodge

Joyce is back this week with questions for us on this last Wednesday of April! It's fun and you can join in right here with your own answers!

1. This is the last Hodgepodge in April. Share something you learned this month. 

I learned things about aneurysms, surgeries and memory loss I didn't really ever think I would need to know. 

2.  It's National Poetry Month, and we all know you can't escape an April Hodgepodge without a little poetry. Keeping the first line as is, change the rest of the wording in this familiar rhyme to make it your own - 'Hickory Dickory Dock...

Hickory dickory dock

I think I'd like a new frock.

But wouldn't you know,

The checkbook is low,

And that's why I'm gonna balk. 

3. What were one or two rules in the home you grew up in? 

No dating until you are 16. 

Growing up, did you feel your parents were strict?  Yes.

Looking back do you still see it that way? 

In some ways, yes, I think they were over-protective, which caused me to break some of the rules and do a few things I shouldn't have. However, the boundaries were clear and I am very thankful now that my parents were strict and I am able to understand their reasons as well as their fears much more. 

4. Tell us about a kitchen or cooking disaster or mishap you've experienced. Do you have many from which to choose? 

Having invited friends at the last minute to come share a chicken pot pie with us, of course, there was a mishap with the deep dish frozen pie crust. It turned out to be way too small for the filling and having put all ingredients in and already pouring the sauce, I had an overflow going. Not pouring in all the sauce would have produced a very dry pie. So, I quickly pulled out two refrigerated crusts and rolled them thin to fit a 10 inch pie plate and discovered how to make a much nicer and bigger pie with that recipe. The mishap turned out great! 

The funnier one though was the time I turned my back on a skillet with vegetable oil. As I peeled potatoes, I heard a noise and turned around and saw flames coming up. Not wanting to mess up my kitchen by throwing flour on it, I grabbed a cookie sheet to smother the fire. While all this was going on, my husband was upstairs and I was yelling help. He didn't come! When he finally did come and I asked him if he heard me yelling help, he said no. When I told him about what happened, his response (as a fireman) was you never yell help - always yell "Fire"!!! Thanks a lot!

5. Plant a kiss, plant doubt, plant a tree, plant yourself somewhere...which on the list have you most recently planted? 

A kiss on my DH today, as is my habit!

But also a happy birthday kiss was planted this past weekend on this sweet boy's cheek. 

6. What's your most worn item of clothing this time of year? 

Black slacks. 

Are you tired of it? 

Yes. But black pants are a staple and until summer is here and I wear capris more, the black pants will remain the most worn. 

7. I'm wrapping up the A-Z Blog Challenge this month and our Hodgepodge lands on letter W. What's one word beginning with W that describes you in some way? 

At this time, it would have to be waiting. I am waiting for answers, waiting to hear from certain people, waiting to see what will be happening in the next few weeks. 

These days we do have a little something 

with which to occupy ourselves while we wait!!!! 

How about a word to describe your home, also beginning with W?

Wet, but wonderful. This time of year the yard is at its best and I love the view out the window of the green, green grass, the bright red roses, the flower pots with blooming plants, the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and enjoying the rains. 

 Morning sky

Peonies blooming

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Another descriptive W word for me right now would be the word wistful. Question number 3 has triggered that wistful feeling and wishing there could have been better communication between my parents and me. Ahhh ... Mom and Dad. They probably wished for the same thing. Sigh.