Wednesday Hodgepodge

After reading my answers, click the button above and join in on the first official Hodgepodge of Summer 2012.

1. Summer officially rolls in with the Hodgepodge this week, for those of us in the Northern hemisphere anyway. What song says summer 2012 to you?
I don't really have one, unless its any Disney song, since we get to go to Disney world at the end of summer and I've been listening to a lot of Disney music lately.

2. What's your favorite quintessential summer food?
Fresh Tomato and Cheese (American cheese or my favorite Velveeta Cheese) Sandwiches. Watermelon is another one.

3. I've spent a lot of time traipsing up and down the NJ Turnpike in recent weeks. Did you know the rest areas on the turnpike are named after people who lived or worked in NJ? Clara Barton, Walt Whitman, J. Fennimore Cooper, Molly Pitcher, Joyce Kilmer, Thomas Edison, and Gover Clevland just to name a few. Of those I listed, who would you most like to have known and why?
Thomas Edison because he made so many things.  Lots of really good quotes attributed to him too.  Here's one I like,  “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

4. At what age did you move out of your parent's house and what prompted the move?
I was around 26 or so and I moved into an apartment with my sister.  My parents had a used furniture store at the time and it was just around the corner from where we moved.  We were always going there and getting new furniture.  It was so fun!

5. What's more satisfying to you-saving time or saving money?
Probably saving money.

6. Name something you think brings out the good in people.
What else but love of God and love by God.

7. This last question comes to you courtesy of Kathy over at Reflections...will you be taking a vacation or a staycation this summer? If so where will you go? If a staycation is on the calendar have you made any special plans to fill the time?

We'll be taking a vacation and we'll be going to Disney World as I said earlier.  

One of my most favorite signs to see.  It means we're almost there.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Lily did well with her surgery and got to come home tonight.  She had 3 tumors removed and her teeth cleaned too.  She's sleeping now.  She looks so cute because she can't stay awake.  I love this dog and am so thankful she's okay now.

Still Counting Gifts

I'm thankful for:

162.  my hubby helping me with my computer issues.
163.  a wonderful weekend with family
164.  a wonderful father who is also a wonderful grandfather
165.  a wonderful husband who is a wonderful father to our girls
166.  a wonderful father-in law who is a great father to my husband and grandpa to our girls
167.  a wonderful God in heaven who is the ultimate Father and to know He really loves me...Amazing!
168.  an opportunity to be empty nesters for about 5 days while our youngest is at camp
169.  knowing it's not time for us to be full time empty nesters (I'm not ready for my girls to be gone for good)
170.  a good supper of spaghetti with my hubby tonight
 

Weekend Wrap-up

I'm joining in with "A Defined Life" for the Weekend Wrap-up. Why not click the button and join in too.

Friday night we just stayed home and had a quiet evening.

Saturday we got up early and went to the Newport Aquarium.  Below are some pictures from the Aquarium.

These are "Upside Down Jellyfish"  Kind of weird-looking, don't you think?

The have a section called the Amazon Forest and this bird flew down real close and was watching me with the camera.  I think he was hoping I had something to eat for him.  He had the most beautiful bright colored feathers.

Isn't he beautiful?

Believe it or not, this guy was over my head.  They have these huge glass tunnels that you walk through and the fish are swimming all around you.

I petted a shark for the first time in my life.  They had a tank with these fellas in it so you could be them.  They didn't feel like I though they would.  They are kinda fuzzy feeling.  This is a leopard shark and they had pajama sharks and spotted sharks.  I petted one like this and the pajama sharks.  Kerri wanted to pet the biggest one, so she petted the spotted shark.  It took us a bit to work up our nerve, but we did it.  She wanted to so she would have a new FB status and of course, I did it so I could tell you all about it.  haha

The penquins are probably my favorites! 

Then we walked out on the levee and watched the activity on the river for a bit

Something I seldom do....show a picture of hubby and me.  We neither one like our picture taken.

Kerri posing for the camera. She always takes such good pictures!

It's almost 11:00, so we started looking for a place to eat lunch. 

We saw this girl posing.  She was so cute and did a really good job.

We ended up at Dewey's Pizza for lunch.  Tracy and I had never heard of it, but Kerri had been there with her youth group and said it was really good.  She was right!

Tracy and I shared a veggie pizza that was awesome!

Kerri had a cheese pizza.

That evening after running around and doing our Saturday chores and shopping, we went and visited with Mom and Dad and the family that was there.  We always have a good time at their house on Saturday nights.  They just sorta always have an open house on Saturday nights and us kids come and go.  It's about the only time I see some of my brothers and sisters.

Sunday was church and all the fathers received a gift.  I left my camera in the car, so I didn't get any pictures of the oldest fathers like I did the mothers.

After lunch, we went to my in-laws and had lunch and spent the afternoon looking at pictures from some of our past Disney trips.  My brother and sister-in-law and sons just returned from a trip a few weeks ago and then we'll be going in about 10 weeks and the in-laws will be meeting us there for a few days.  Can't wait.

Well, that's about all that happened on our weekend.  It was just the kind of weekend I love.  Time to rest and read, do some chores and have some fun times with family and just enjoying ourselves together.

How was your week-end?

Friday Fragments

Joining in with Friday Fragments with Mrs 4444 at her blog Half-Past Kissin' Time. Click HERE to play along.

 About a mile or so from our house there is a horse farm and they have a couple of peacocks. We stopped the car the other night and took a couple of pictures.  Unfortunately they didn't have their tales open, but they are still cool looking.

Hubby took this picture.  The Peacock was on the passenger side of the road.  Isn't he pretty?

This is the same peacock, when he started running from us.

I took this picture.  He was out in a field across the road from the other peacock.  I'm going to keep driving out that way and try to catch one with its tail open eventually.

This is another picture of the one I took.

Driving into work Thursday morning it was such a beautiful day, I decided to grab my camera and open the car window and just snap some shots without focusing or looking for that matter.  Below are a couple I took.  See I live about 2 miles or so outside of town in a rural area.  I love just snapping sometimes and seeing what I get.

Wednesday night I bought a new pair of sandals for work.  What do you think?   They are about a 2 inch heel.  I haven't worn heels in ages, but I wore them all day at work and it wasn't too bad.  I think I can get used to it...maybe.

Please ignore the white legs! haha

 Thursday was Flag Day and here's our flag flying out front.  The hanging baskets are down because I had just watered them.

Did anyone watch "Bunheads" Monday night.  It was not too bad and I think it has some potential.  I read where someone said it reminded them of "Gilmore Girls" and you know I think they are right.  Think I'll watch it again and see how it goes for a bit.

Bunheads

Our weather has been gorgeous this week.  And it's supposed to be pretty nice this weekend too, although a bit hotter.  I'm hoping we'll be able to go to the Newport Aquarium on Saturday for a bit and also spend some time out enjoying the river area. Do you have plans for the weekend?

Whatever you do, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  See you on Monday!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Click the above button to play along with the Wednesday Hodgepodge at Joyce's place.

1. In what way are you your own worst enemy?
I probably put myself down too much.  


2. Jacques Cousteau's birthday was Monday, June 11th...ever been scuba diving? Is that something you'd like to try? What's your favorite 'under the sea' creature?

No I have never been scuba diving.  Don't think I'd like to try scuba, but snorkeling, yes.  Favorite under the sea creature

Dory

Crush

Of course, if you mean real creatures, then it would probably be the dolphin.

By the way, the above pictures I got off the internet.

3. On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable are you in and around the water? (1=not at all, 10=very) Do you know how to swim and if so how and when did you learn?
Probably around a 6-7.  I learned to swim in the summer between 6th & 7th grade when my parents put in an above-ground pool.

4. What's something you do to motivate yourself to tick an item off your to-do list?
Sometimes it gets down to the last minute and I have to do it.

5. What makes a good neighbor? Are you a good neighbor?
Someone who is considerate, friendly (but not nosy), helpful when needed.  I think I'm a pretty good neighbor.

6. Who loads the dishwasher at your house? Is there a right way and a wrong way?
We don't use the dishwasher right now.  We need to replace the one we have because it doesn't clean the dishes.  But yes, there is a right and wrong way to load a dishwasher.  

7. You know it's summer when_________________________.
It stays daylight until 9:30 or later and when I see lightening bugs.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I think these questions are a little harder this week.  What do you think? (Oh and by the way Joyce, this is not a complaint, just an observation. I appreciate all the work you do to get these questions for us each week.)