Who Is This Hodgepodge?

Welcome to Wednesday, and the weekly edition of the Hodgepodge. Our friend, Joyce, asks the questions, and friends from all over the whole wide internet answer them on our blogs. Please enjoy my answers and click on the button to visit Joyce and friends. Be sure to leave some comment love!

Here are Joyce's questions and my answers:
1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Are you blooming where you're planted as we begin the month of May?

We can all do this by appreciating the place we live, spending time with the people we love, keeping a positive attitude, and giving thanks for God's blessings.

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no big deal, and 10 being full scale panic, rank your fear of spiders.

I would probably be a 5. My brother was bitten by what we learned was a brown recluse spider when he was a boy. They can be quite dangerous, and fortunately, he was okay. My mom, ever the teacher, thought it would make an interesting science fair project, so there are photos (and probably the actual poster) stored in the archives at my parents' home.

I don't get too excited about spiders, as long as they aren't touching me. I was fine to photograph this tarantula in Haiti a few years ago, as long as he/she? stayed put, waaaay up there near the roof. :)

 3. May is National Salad Month (who knew???)...besides lettuce, what are two must-have ingredients in your favorite salad?

Our favorite salad is a simple one, with romaine lettuce, Good Seasons Italian dressing, fresh parmesan cheese, and homemade croutons. So my answer to this question will be parmesan cheese and homemade croutons. The croutons are good in salad, or straight out of the oven. Yum.

They are simple to make, with only a few ingredients:

 Slice and cube a loaf of French or Italian bread.

Cover the cubes with olive oil, and sprinkle with seasonings of your choice. I use garlic, oregano, and Italian seasoning (or whatever is available).

Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times during the baking.

Remove from the oven when they are browned and slightly crispy. (We don't like them too crispy.) Enjoy on salad (after testing some from the pan). :)

4. Joyce says: I mentioned on my blog last week that my Daughter1 will be moving to Washington State after she is married. Of the following sites in the Northwest, which would you most like to see in person-Crater Lake (Oregon), Seattle (Washington), Vancouver (British Columbia), San Juan Islands (Washington),  Mt. Rainer (Washington) Oregon Coast (Oregon), Mt. St. Helens (Washington), or Olympic National Park (Washington).

I will choose Seattle, Washington, with a side trip to visit my friend Dana on Whidbey Island. (Hi, Dana!)


5. This coming weekend marks the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby...when did you last race (literally or figuratively) to cross a finish line?
Any finish line crossed by me would be figuratively speaking only. The days of getting five kids out the door for school or getting the house ready for a meeting was a race I ran for many years. And laundry? That's a race that never ends.
After I read this question, I saw this posted on Facebook:

True story. I don't run. With or without scissors. :)

6. What is something little you love?
This little guy.

And these three. But they don't stay little for long!

7. Would you say you are more of a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Elaborate.
I am more of a visual learner. I learn best by reading or watching. And you can learn anything on the internet. :)

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I saw a link on Facebook to a post written by Dan Pearce, who blogs at Single Dad Laughing. If you haven't ever paid a visit to Dan and his awesome son, Noah, you should. His posts are funny and thought-provoking, and good for a laugh. Or a cry.
Yesterday's post was the result of Dan texting the message below to 217 wrong numbers.

While most of the answers were similar to the one above, there were sweet ones, confused ones, sad ones, and happy ones. Please take a minute to read it here.
What would happen if we all sent similar messages to wrong numbers? Or to right numbers? Because everyone need to hear this. Because we are. Just sayin'.

Happy Wednesday!