Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Green Light Hodgepodge

Leaping in late to the Hodgepodge today. My rotator cuff is probably partially torn (from the wicked fall I took in January) and I was getting it checked out this morning and doing odds and ends in the afternoon before a much-needed nap.

I hope someone still wants to read Hodgepodges this late in the day--and leave nice comments. I give you the green light to leave one.


1. Do you have an interest in learning about your family's heritage? Why or why not? If you know a little bit about your roots, share an interesting piece of trivia or a fun fact about someone who goes way back on your family tree.

Yes, and the older I get, the more interested I become.  Way back on my family tree was my great grandfather on my dad's side who had an amazing artistic gift with scissors.  Given a sheet or paper or even a strip of tin, he could take those scissors and create a detailed cut-out of any animal. I remember seeing a large jumping stag he cut from thin tin, complete with a 10-point rack, hock bones, cloven hooves  and a small tail.

When our youngest son was about three years old, he picked up a piece of black paper and a pair of scissors. He cut out a perfectly proportioned Batman. No pencil, no picture in front of him, just the DNA that God ordained to give him.  My jaw dropped open seeing that "dye cut" that a three-year-old made just, like his great great grandfather.


 2. Branch Rickey, the baseball exec credited with signing Jackie Robinson, is quoted as saying-
"Luck is the residue of design."
Agree or disagree? Why?

It would depend on how the word "luck" were defined by Branch Rickey. I don't think Robinson was "lucky" very often in his career; he proved himself with discipline, hard work, listening to coaches, and perseverance. I'm sure there were a few hits he would label "lucky," but my guess is that his talent, dedication to his work, and a whole lot of sacrifice created the "residue" or byproduct of sweat.

I'm certain those percentages ring true with the general population.

 3. In the town where you currently reside, what's your favorite green space?

Honestly, my back yard.  The view sold me on this house. When we first looked at the house in May of 1999, the woods behind were a lush green and I didn't realize there were actually houses behind them. In the fall, it's a glorious kaleidoscope of color. In the winter, I love the graphic lines formed by 200 foot trees, and in the spring the creek at the bottom of the forest gurgles and teems with all manner of hopping, singing, flying, jumping, scampering little creatures.


 4. Who is your favorite comedian?

 My youngest son . He's off-the-cuff hilarious.

 Oh, do you mean who is my favorite professional comedian?

 I have many: Jimmy Fallon, Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan, Tim Hawkins, Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, Dmitri Martin, Ellen deGeneres.

5. March is National Nutrition Month, and almost everyone needs to improve their diet in some way.  What about you? How can you improve your nutrition on a daily basis? Will you try?

As of last week, I started tracking my intake so that I'm a "conscious eater" instead of a mindless grazer. Every little bite "here and there" ....nibble, nibble, snack, snack, drink, drink...adds up.  Since last Monday I am happy to report a 3 pound loss and more energy

My eating plan for the month of March is actually tied to a good cause that I'm keeping under wraps.  And I don't mean wraps as in tuna wraps, although that's a good choice for tomorrow's lunch.


 6. Which of these green expressions have you 'experienced' in recent weeks -green with envy, green thumb, green around the gills, or give the green light? Explain.

We gave the green light to someone who asked our opinion this past weekend about something important. That's all I can say about that.


 7. Where is one place you don't mind waiting?

In the carpool line every day after school. I know these days are short-lived and I always look forward to hearing about my son's day.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Two randoms:

First, I get to meet a fellow blogger this coming Sunday!  Her name is Preeti; I only "met" her this week on a quilting chat board, but I started following her blog, Sew Preeti Quilts,  and found out she'll be literally ten minutes from my church on Sunday, so we're meeting up for an hour or so  afterward before she has to join her Baltimore friend.

Second, please remember to come back here on Tuesday next week, the 18th, for my Pinterest party. Make something or show some way that you were inspired practically by something you "pinned."
Hope to see a lot of your happy little projects, recipes, or whatnot then!

7 comments:

April said...

How fun to meet a blogger friend! I'm sure you'll have lots to talk about! Yay...another Jimmy Fallon fan! Love him! Did you ever answer my question about how you get your photos to be so large on your blog? Sure would love to know your secret!

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Well, maybe our paths will cross one day, that would be such fun! Bet we could laugh and talk for hours!

I couldn't work the HP in this week but sure enjoyed stopping by and reading yours.

Happy rest of the week!

Unknown said...

OK, so I"ll admit I'm kinda jealous that a fellow blogger gets to meet you and it's NOT ME! harrumph... But honestly, that's really cool! I'm right there with you on #7 - the days with our little ones really are short, and time in the car is precious indeed, when they open up their hearts to us. In fact, all three of my kids asked Jesus into their hearts while we were driving in the car- talk about minivan blessings! And we totally love all the same comedians - definitely need to enjoy some of those WHEN we meet! :-)

Capri K @ No Whining Allowed said...

I forgot about Jimmy Fallon and we are Dmitri Martin fans as well. I love your story for #1. There is something in the genes. My Mother slways said the same thing about my brother. She said he was so like our father, and he had never even lived with him!

Joyce said...

Always fun to meet a blogger friend! The gene pool is a funny thing, isn't it. Does your son still have an interest in art. Seems you have that gene as well : )

Danielle said...

I'm interested in studying the family history on my mom's dad's side. Here's why. When my grandfather died, on his death certificate was a last name that my mom was unaware of. Apparently my grandfather had unofficially taken his mother's name, not his father's. We're not sure if his father and mother were ever married. Was it an affair? An out of wedlock thing? He had half brothers and sisters born after him to a different father. I would like to research into that more and find out what I can.

Cheryl said...

That's exciting to get to meet a blog friend! I'm going to try to remember your Pinterest Party next week!