Hodge to the Pumpkin Podge

It's Wednesday, and I'm back to blogging for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for faithfully providing us with questions each week, and hosting this little link-up. Be sure to click on the button below to visit Joyce and the others. 

Here are her questions and my answers:

1. It's October so let's get this out there first thing...have you jumped on the all-things-pumpkin bandwagon? How so?

No, and I don't even understand all the pumpkin excitement. So. much. excitement. Oh, I'll eat pumpkin cake, pumpkin muffins, or pumpkin pie, if it is served to me (it's dessert, after all), but I would not order it if there were other choices.

I did jump on the pumpkin patch bandwagon (which looked a lot like a mini van) to accompany these two pumpkins (and their mama) to the pumpkin patch.

Noah's big smile was due to a kitty cat that his mama was holding while she took the photo. :)

 2.  "We have more power than will; and it is often by way of excuse to ourselves that we fancy things are impossible." Francois Duc De la Rochefoucauld  

What's something you once thought impossible, but in hindsight see as more a matter of lack of will?

I can think of things that seem impossible: building a cathedral, running a marathon, cleaning all my closets (lol), but we know, in fact, that they can be done if one just has the will to do them. I'll hold on to the belief that with will, desire, drive, and prayer, anything is possible.

Which reminds me of one of my favorite movies of my childhood, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

"But the world is full of zanies and fools,

Who don't believe in sensible rules,

And don't believe what sensible people say,

And because these daft and dewey-eyed dopes

Keep building up impossible hopes,

Impossible, things are happening every day."

Thank goodness for all the zanies and fools in the world who dare to imagine what is possible!

And if you have time to watch the clip of the song, here it is, for your enjoyment!

3. The rose is America's National Flower, but every state also has its own (click here to see the list). Are you happy with yours? If you were in charge what would you declare your state's flower? If you're outside the U.S. what bloom would you like to see labeled as your country's national flower?

The state flower of Indiana is the peony. When I was a child, I thought they were rather ordinary. They grew on floppy bushes and were usually filled with ants, who must be attracted to the blooms.

Now, they are one of my favorites. We have two bushes in our yard, which were planted by Jim's grandmother. I like the old fashioned, rustic look to them, and the longevity of the plants themselves.

They also make beautiful wedding bouquets.                 

4. What have you lost interest in recently?

Well, I haven't been a very good blogger recently….

5. In your opinion, who's the best living musician?

So many, but I'm a country girl, so I'll choose Garth Brooks.
We saw him in concert around 1996, and he has always been a favorite of our family. We spent many hours singing along with him in the van.

Here's a good one:



And have you heard his new one, Mom? So good.

6. S'mores-love 'em or no? Ever make them indoors? Last time you sat around an outdoor fire? Are making s'mores and sitting round a fire pit on your autumn bucket list? Do you have an autumn bucket list?

I like s'mores, and mostly I like making them around the fire with friends and family. We have a fire sometimes at the lake, and usually have s'mores supplies on hand. Once, when Jim and I were there with the littles while their parents went to dinner, the kids wanted to make s'mores, so we did. Trouble was, that they all liked to make them, but none liked to eat them. Jim was eating them as fast as they could make them. :)

The last time I had s'mores was this adorable and tasty Mason jar version, made by Becky for Shylah's baby shower. Yum.

My autumn bucket list includes a weekend of leaf raking at the lake, so maybe we can work s'mores into that event. (It's probably more of a things-that-sound-impossible-but-with-enough-will {and manpower}-it-can-be-done item than a bucket list item, but maybe if I write it down here, it will actually happen.) :)

7. Your favorite small town? Why?

Ours, of course, Greensburg, Indiana. Home of the World Famous Tree on the Courthouse Tower.

That's our handsome grandson, Matthew, standing in front of it.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

As I have mentioned before, my friend Ruthann has started chemo again, and I would love to have you add her to your prayers.

Last week, Janet took her to chemo, and I rode along. We were joined by Ruthann's friend, Mel (who appears in an entertaining video concerning her son and a certain tailgate item), and their nurse navigator, Amy. Mel has the same cancer as Ruthann, and has been there as a support, and as a friend, since her diagnosis. Amy is their angel nurse, who answers questions, manages medication, eases their worries, and makes them feel as if they are her only patient. She has a big birthday coming up, and Mel brought gifts and cupcakes, and I brought along crowns.

That's Amy on the left, Ruthann in the center, and Mel on the right.

While chemo is no party, we managed to do a lot of laughing, which is always good medicine.  When I apologized to the nurses for our noise level, they assured me that they are always thankful for laughter in the infusion center.

Ruthann wrote about it on her Caring Bridge site, and called this her Chemo, Cupcakes, and Crowns Crew! If you have a chance to visit her site, you will be blessed. We are so grateful for your prayers.