The Early Bird Gets the Hodgepodge

A little birdie told me it was time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Actually it was our friend, Joyce, who faithfully hosts this little party every week. Click on the button below to pay a visit to her cyber nest.

Here we go, with her questions and my answers.

1. My hubs (Joyce's) spent last weekend pheasant hunting. Are there hunters in your family? If so, what do they hunt? Which of the following have you tasted-pheasant, rabbit, venison, duck, goose? Which of those would you most like to taste, or be most willing to taste?

Vegetarians keep calm and Hodgepodge on.

I don't have hunters in my immediate family, but we do have some extended family members who enjoy hunting. From the above list, I have had duck and goose. (Not to be confused with duck duck goose, which is how I broke my arm in first grade.) :) I would probably have a taste of any of the rest of them.


2. What high spot have you visited that gave you a wonderful 'bird's eye view' of something below?

Last summer, Jim and I took Matthew to Chicago, and had this bird's eye view from the Skydeck Ledge in the Willis Tower. Yes, that is actually the city below us, and we are standing in a clear 'box' they call the ledge.

More recently, we had this view from the observation deck atop our hotel in New Orleans.

3.  Do you have any birds in your home? These could be either real live pets or decorative, as in bird prints, knickknacks, fabric or pottery.

I have my grandma's Blue Willow dishes, and I used them as part of the decorating theme in our kitchen. They were used every day at her house, and I remember studying the design as I cleaned my plate. The design includes several Chinese elements, as well as two birds said to represent two exiled lovers who were put to death and returned as doves.

Of course, I didn't know anything about the history of the pattern until just now when I consulted our friend Google, but I like the dishes and thought about the birds when I read the question.

It's also fun to have something in my kitchen to remind me of my Mamaw.

4. Tell about a time you 'killed two birds with one stone'?

I'm drawing a blank on this one, but it seems like 'killing two birds with one stone' is all about being efficient. And we all strive for that, right?

5. Your favorite song with a bird in it's title?

The first one that came to mind was John Denver's The Eagle and the Hawk. I know I'm dating myself here, but I was (still am) a big fan of John Denver's music. 

Come dance with the west wind and touch on the mountain tops.

Sail o'er the canyons and up to the stars.

And reach for the heavens and hope for the future

and all that we can be, and not what we are.

6. What most recently gave you goose bumps?

There were musicians outside our hotel in New Orleans, and it was most often a violinist and a guitarist. It must have been their 'spot.' They were really good, especially the violinist. They played a variety of music, including a rendition of Canon in D that started slowly and built to an exciting finish. Gave me goose bumps.
I managed to record a little bit of another popular song they played, because I thought my granddaughters would enjoy it. You can too!

And here are our own cute Anna and Elsa. Let it Go!

7. Halloween is this Friday...any plans? Did you trick or treat as a child? Carve pumpkins? Share your most memorable costume.

I did trick or treat as a child, in our neighborhood, and we always carved pumpkins. I don't know if this is my most memorable costume, but it was probably my first.

Back in the olden days, costumes often included a plastic mask. They were uncomfortable and unsafe, but that's the way it was. My grandma always called it a 'false face.' As you can see, my costume consisted of my pajamas, a hat with ears added by my mom, and the mask, which probably cost 49 cents.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I will be traveling back to Fondwa, Haiti next week, and I would love for you to pray for our group. This will be my 5th trip, and I will be glad to see my friends, and see the progress that has been made since the last time I was there. The school, which was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake, has been rebuilt and is now open for the business of educating the 500+ students who attend. Thank you for your prayers. Bondye beni ou.