Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wednesday HodgePodge

No lie....Time for Wednesday Hodgepodge #35
1. How has your hometown changed since you were a kid? What has changed most about the neighborhood you grew up in? This is a hard question for me because we moved back there when our children were little and stayed 15 years. At that time, there were lots of changes and more during our time there. The one that I noticed most was the roads. Although we were only 5 miles from the nearest business district, we were still in a very rural area. Most of the roads were unpaved when I was a child and when they later paved them, some were rerouted or straightened so that the landscape and familiar landmarks were changed. When I was a child, we didn't have street signs, when one gave directions, one used landmarks such as churches, stores, houses, etc. to tell where to turn or stop.
There has been some land development in the area but it has largely remained the same. There isn't as much crop farming going on as when I was a child. There are more poultry farms. When we moved into the community, I was 10 years old. The high school was still a wooden building. They tore that down the next year and built a brick, two story building that connected to the elementary school by a hallway. Sometime around 2009, that building was replaced with a new school. Back when I was a child, almost every community had its own elementary school, small grocery store and gas station. We didn't go to "town" very often. Most of our groceries were still "homegrown" and we picked up the few items we bought at the small grocery store. Few families owned more than one automobile. Most mothers stayed home and raised their families while the fathers worked. Stores and businesses were closed on Sundays. There wasn't much travel except to church and visiting relatives. Bridges over creeks on rural roads were wooden, small and narrow. Two cars could not cross at the same time and the creeks often flooded over the bridge when we had heavy rains. Now those bridges are concrete. Some roads were rerouted over the creeks to higher ground to prevent flooding. There were no veterinary offices where you carried your small animals. Veterinarians came to your farm to "doctor" the animals. People still shopped at the locally owned businesses in town. Now most of those are closed and the larger chains are located on a state or federal highway on the outskirts of town.
2. What song makes you laugh? Are you familiar with the Ray Stevens songs? The Streak? My daughter used to sing "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" and it would crack me up. Lots of songs make me cry or smile but few make me laugh.
3. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Read all the books? Seen any/all of the movies? Will you be standing in line somewhere close to midnight later this week? For those of you playing along who live outside the US or UK is Harry Potter a phenomenon in your part of the world?Let's See, I think I read the first two books but they were written for juveniles and I think that came through in the writing. The movies were better...Some of the churches in our area were concerned with the witchcraft and magic and warned parents so Honey Bear and I went to see the second movie just to see what all the hoopla was about. Then, I guess I've watched the first two several times on DVD. I own them all but I wait until they come out on DVD to see them so no, I won't be standing in line to see the latest.
4. If the truth hurts will you tell a lie? Are we better off as a society in a world that allows no form of deception whatsoever? If I'm asked a question outright, I tell the truth....In the case of my opinion about a personal issue such as fashion and food, and not wanting to hurt someones feelings, I try to find a way to answer which isn't a lie but doesn't seem as harsh as the truth; if that makes sense. 
In Joyce's example, when the hostess asked if she enjoyed the meal(which she didn't), perhaps she could have answered that question truthfully if she had enjoyed some part of it or even if the company and conversation, while part of the meal, was enjoyable, then saying yes wouldn't be a lie, would it?
I think, if you don't want the truth in these situations, then you probably shouldn't ask. Whenever I ask my husband questions like that and he tells the truth, I wish I hadn't asked.
5. What is your favorite 'sauteed in garlic and butter' food ? Or garlic and olive oil if that makes you feel better.Sauteed mushrooms are wonderful. I seldom do any of these types of foods. I do love garlic in recipes like Scallopini and Amazing Pork Tenderloin though.
6. Attending any reunions this summer/year? High school/class? Family? Other? Do these events stir up excitement or dread?I haven't been to a High School reunion since our 20th. I don't think they've held one. Recently, there was some query about one but not much interest. We used to attend more family reunions than we do now, but distance and time for travel has cut out most. My Mother's side of the family get together several times a year as I've posted about here. The annual one is in September at a park and we will be attending. I always look forward to them. My brother and sisters do not all get together very often now that our parents have gone home and I don't see my nieces and nephews often so it is an opportunity for that if they all would come.
7. lilacs, hydrangea, peony...pick one. If I were going to plant one of the three, I'd pick peony. I like the way they look. I enjoy seeing hydrangea in someone else's yard. I don't think lilacs grow well in our climate.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
*I recently purchased a new swimsuit and have been meaning to post about that experience. Anyone else done this?
*Also, I've been meaning to ask about advertising on blogs. How do you feel about it. If you're doing it, how is the experience and do you have any tips.
I'm joining Joyce for this blog hop.


Yesterday, my plans for the day just flew out the window when I had to gather some information and drive to a store to fax it to the mortgage people concerning Daughter's house purchase(by the way, please pray that this will happen Friday..if we have another delay, I'm not sure the sellers will agree to it)....then the princess and I ate lunch and watched 'A Christmas Carol' on the DVD player. Nothing much got accomplished at all after that.
It got cloudy in the late afternoon and we had some thunder but no rain. Its cloudy again this morning. Hopefully, it won't be as hot.

14 comments:

  1. I recently purchased a swimsuit. I've pretty much blocked the whole thing from my mind : )

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  2. Not long ago I drove through my hometown and although the streets are the same, there are so many more houses built where there were empty lots and the trees are now huge. It always saddens me, though, when modern progress is brought into a small town, it just changes the whole atmosphere and doesn't seem as welcoming as it use to be.

    Oh yes, I certainly do remember the song "The Streak", how I laugh whenever I hear it yet:-) Ethelllll...you get your clothes on! hehe

    I've always said "if you don't want to hear the truth, then don't ask"!! I hate hurting anyone's feelings but if they want the truth, then I'll tell it. Then I feel badly! lol

    Buying a bathing suit at our age is quite the experience, isn't it! LOL xoxo

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  3. Haven't heard of that song. I've only seen 2 Harry Potter movies. Definitely mushrooms! I don't enjoy buying swimsuits. Love all your bears and thanks for stopping over.

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  4. Haven't bought a bathing suit in AGES - don't see that happening in the near future either ;-)

    I don't know how I feel about advertising on blogs - on the one hand, I think there's already enough advertising in the world - but on the other hand I know there are folks out there that are doing it out of necessity and in that case - more power to them. I guess it boils down to I would probably never do it but I don't have a problem with others that do...

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  5. Are you kidding me?! Y'all watch Christmas movies during the summer?! ME TOO!!! I love them year round and so do the lovelies!

    Oh, enjoyed you answers to the HOP questions! But got caught up in the fact that y'all watched a Christmas movie! LOL

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  6. So nice to learn more about you. I LOVE sauteed mushroom - what a treat. My hometown had the most gorgeous trees and when you entered it was like driving through a canopy. Then they stupidly widen the road and cut them all down. Lordy it looks ugly!

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  7. You are busy! I bought a new swimsuit last year and two days later they closed the community pool near us. I hope to see your prayer shawl soon!

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  8. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comments! i will hold your son in my prayers as he serves... our men put so much on the line! Loved your answers - and the reminder that I should probably watch some Christmas movies out-of-season while my darling hubby is not here to mock me! :-)

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  9. Just mentioning the word "swimsuit" makes me feel sick to my stomach :/

    I'm with you on the mushrooms. YUM!

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  10. I loved all the questions and all the answers but I think the one that stood out to me was the first one...... It took me back to my home town and all the wonderful memories... but today it is nothing like it was. It breaks my heart when I go back and drive through.... it is just a place that I do not want to be...... I leave and close my eyes and keep my memories.....
    Hope things go well with the house for your daughter...... I pray that she is letting the Lord continue to heal her heart..... HE is ever present in her life... and yours for sure my friend!

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  11. I heartily agree with that one response you added...if you're wanting the truth about something and can't handle it, don't ask. I haven't had a swimsuit since Colorado days. LOL Can't wait to read about it. And your day being hectic with nothing getting done but watching the Christmas Carol...hey, that sounds good to me. I like those kinds of days. Oh, and the "Potter" movies? Not me. I don't like 'em = we saw the first one at the theater and as you say...too 'teenage'.


    My Thursday Themesong Post: Mem'ries Hope you're having a glorious day.

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  12. I bought a swim suit before we went to Florida. I bought one with a skirt. It is cute but you will not see any bathing suit pics!!!!! lol

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  13. I haven't been back to the town I grew up in in ages. It was a city on the TX coastline.

    I agree about telling the truth -- why do people ask if they don't really want to know? But as you said, it can be done without being blunt as well.

    My blog host (WordPress) doesn't allow advertising for the free blogs they host. I don't mind discreet ads off to the side, but I don't like flashy ones with movement and I really dislike posts that are ads.

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  14. I actually bought a new swim suit this summer for the first time in a few years. I've read all the Harry Potter books and loved them. Of course, I love to read most things. My hometown has grown and it's doing well :)
    www.rebeccabany.com

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