Hodgepodge September 27, 2017

Joining the Hodge Podge this week. Great fun for all!

1. What pets did you have while growing up? Tell us a little something about them.

There were always pets. We had those little tiny turtles that could be purchased from Woolworth's. They always managed to get out of their bowl. Somehow. We had cats and dogs and gerbils and hamsters. Mostly cats and dogs though. I brought them home. My brother brought them home. Even my mom brought then home. We always joked that it was a good thing we didn't live in the country or we would be bringing home chickens, cows, and horses.

Me and Ginger. She liked to have her kittens on my mom's bed.

 Me and Teddy.  Teddy would jump up onto the piano bench, and press on the keys. His treats were on top of the piano.

2. What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?

I MUST wash a load of towels. How can a household of 2 people run out of clean towels? I have tons of towels. However, it seems that they are all dirty. I used a face cloth to dry my hands this morning.
3. Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?

I was probably right where I am today. Wondering how in the world 2 people have run out of clean towels. Not much changes here.
4. September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate? Apple dumpling, xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi...which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice? Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?

If apple dumplings are baked I would enjoy making them. If they are fried I wouldn't even try. I don't fry things because of the mess frying creates. Occasionally in the winter for lunch I will make some matzo ball soup. It fills our tummies and tastes oh so good. Every once in a while I do make chicken and dumplings.  I have a new recipe that takes almost all the work out of the dumplings. I make it more often now.
5. 'There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don't.' William Trogdon

So which kind are you?

I am hoping for adventure. Even a trip to the corner gas station could provide me with an adventure. Seeing people, talking to people, learning something new. All adventures. Especially new places can give adventure. Oh, and being lost somewhere isn't so bad if you think of it as a grand adventure.
6. Insert your own random thought here.

The rain goes on and on and on. For days now. I should say nights. It rains at night and leaves the gloom behind for the daytime. I need some sun! I have things outside that need attending to, but it is just too wet to even try. 

Mr. Toad is contemplating the world conditions. Everything. Crazy people in charge of countries, why there is so much rain here, why we ALL need health insurance, why it is OK to quietly protest, while a crazy man can't keep his mouth shut and his nose out of what isn't his business. Why doesn't he just do what he said he was going to do?  

Ok, so Toad decided on a couple of things. Crazy men in charge of countries because too many people have gone away from God. This is the result. Too much rain? For whatever reason God says we need it. Health insurance? Because we all get sick once in a while. Sometimes seriously so.  A loud mouth opinionated person not doing his job? Because he is a fake.

Have a good week everyone! 

What is your hometown known for? In other words, what makes it special?

I think Robbinsdale is known for it's small town quality while being right next door to a large city. There is a business on the "main street" that has been there since I was a kid. A fresh meat butcher shop. It is family run with generations of the same family running it. On a corner there is still a bakery from my childhood. That bakery has changed hands over the years, but it has always been a bakery. The hardware store of my childhood is still there, but under a different franchise. Things don't change too very much, and that is a good thing.

 Does your hometown experience all four seasons? If not, which ones does it skip over?

Oh my yes. In Minnesota you better believe there are 4 seasons. 

Spring is my favorite. Everything is new and fresh. The birds come back to nest for the next few months. The trees begin greening up. The ice is out of the lakes to allow us to see the beautiful water.

Winter can be harsh here. I remember as a kid not knowing that the winter was bad or difficult. Why would I ? All I cared about is if the snow was sticky enough to build a snowman or snowballs. Or to go sledding. Or to build a snow fort. I would stay outside til my fingers and toes were numb from the cold. I would go into the house to warm up, put on dry mittens and socks and head back out.

Today? Winter and I don't get along. The first year out of the city on October 31 we had the blizzard of the century. The snow started about 1 PM, and by the time it stopped we had 37 inches of snow! The next day we were physically on our roof shoveling it off. Our neighbor always plowed for us, but it took him 2 days just to get from his house to ours 1/4 miles away. It was quite the deal.

I like all 4 seasons, and would miss then if I lived somewhere that didn't have them. However, there are parts of each one that don't thrill me at all.

Are you ever homesick for your hometown?

I think what I miss most about the hometown is the way of life. I was younger and things moved more slowly. Now it seems everyday just whizzes by, and I never have accomplished anything. Most of the people I knew when I lived there have moved on so that would not be the reason I missed it. I do miss the feeling of small town living. You'd think that living where I do now I would get the small town vibe, but I don't. I have been here 20+ years and still feel like an outsider. I guess maybe I do miss my hometown.

How's that for a clear and concise thought? Clear as mud.

 Does your hometown have a website? Please share the link.

I didn't know if Robbinsdale had a website or not. I found it, and enjoyed watching the videos provided, and learning some new things about my town.

Watching the videos brought back so many memories. 

http://robbinsdalemn.com/home

It's Friday and time for Foto Friends. 

I know I post a lot of photos of the St. Croix, but I love the beauty of this piece of water. Being a river it is constantly moving, constantly changing. Everyday it looks different to me. Especially with the seasons about to change.

This one here reminded me of a shark.

A couple of late photos of the fairy garden. This little guy better hurry and catch his limit or he will be ice fishing.

The bunnies, hedgehogs, and kitty are all deciding where to go for the winter. I think the little Master of the Garden wants them all live with him.

Mr. Toad is contemplating the heat index on this the first day of fall.

. The view up the road from Wisconsin. I live at the top of that hill and to the left. The hill is steep and long.

I'm a bit under the weather this week, and I am a day behind on Where I Come From. I am catching up today.

Were there any flowers growing in your yard back home? What kind? Were you or your parents good gardeners?

My mom didn't do any gardening, but people in her family must have.

 There was a huge area that had once been a garden plot. In fact, we referred to it as the garden. 

In front of this space along the entire front were pink, white, and red peonies. Along the side that made up the backyard were these really big bushes. I am not sure what they were. I remember calling them snowball flowers. That's what they looked like...big ol' snowballs.

 Along the alleyway the back was bordered with lilac bushes. These were the deep purple, the white, and the light lilac colors. These bushes were HUGE! As kids we climbed in them from one to another. We played house underneath them. Once we were digging holes ...very deep holes we found a piece of Indian pottery. A bowl!

 Along the side of the house (why can't I find the photos?) were Lilies of the Valley, and a grapevine that was attached to the house. 

The front of the house had Lily of the Valley, and Jack in the Pulpit. When your mother tells you NOT to eat the berries of this plant be sure to mind her. If you don't you mouth will feel like it is on fire. I have first had experience with this.

So, even though we didn't do any gardening we were graced with lots of beautiful flowers.

 Did you have chores when you were a kid? What were they? What did you think about having chores? What was your least favorite chore? Is it still?

I did have chores as a kid. When I was younger than 5 it was my job to dust the lower parts of the Venetian blinds, and the rungs of all the chairs. Once a week.

 I didn't mind doing this.  I knew once my mom and I were done with these weekly chores we would sit at the piano. She would play from old song books and we would both sing along. Songs like Clementine, Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair, Bicycle Built for Two. We would spend hours at it. It is one of my favorite memories

As I grew older I was required to help with dishes. I hated this part. I had to dry and my mom washed. She always finished before me, and I considered this highly unfair! Once my brother became old enough he had to dry and I washed. HA!

Doing dishes is on my hate list right next to spiders and mice.

It was my son's job to do dishes. When he became a junior in high school I told my husband that he had 2 years to figure out how the dishes were going to be done once William went away to college. I was not going to spend the rest of my life doing dishes. A dishwasher so appeared in the kitchen.

I do believe kids should have chores. They need to be age appropriate, but even at a young age they can be given something to do. At age 7 my son had to bring the waste basket from the bathroom and empty into the kitchen trash basket, and he had to keep his room clean. As he grew his responsibilities grew. He was taught how to cook, and to clean a house, and to do laundry.

We went to the laundromat to do laundry. At first his job was to fold the wash clothes and match the socks. Eventually, he was responsible for sorting and putting his own clothes in washers and dryers. And folding and then putting them all away. When he went away to college he called home once with a funny story. He was doing his laundry in the dorm's laundry area and a guy asked him how to do it. So William showed him. Pretty soon others came with questions. Even girls had questions. He started to charge 50 cents for each question. LOL, and enterprising young man. 

Kids need to know how to do household things. If they don't learn at home when or where will they learn? William even had to teach a girlfriend how to use a vacuum cleaner! I taught some basic cooking skills. A child needs to become self sufficient in order to survive on his/her own. As parents it is our job to teach them these necessary jobs. 

As we are teaching them the daily living jobs of cooking, cleaning, and etc we also can't forget to teach them about kindness, compassion, and love.

Time for another hodgepodge. I don't know how Joyce comes up with new and interesting questions each week. But, I am very glad she does. Thanks Joyce!

1. What's something you'd rate a 10/10? Tell us why.

10/10 is perfection. I can only think of 1 thing that means perfection. God. His love is never ending. His forgiveness is a given. The beauty he makes is awe inspiring. The patience he shows us is a wonderment. Without him I would be nothing.

2. What job would you be terrible at? What makes you think so?

Wow there are so many jobs I would not be good at.

A private in the Army, because I'm not so good at taking orders.

A nurse or PCA. I don't have the patience.

A math teacher, because I just don't get it.

A lifeguard, because I don't know how to swim.
3. When did you last take a fall? What's something you're falling for (in a good way) these days?

I am the only person I know who can fall down while standing still. I fell out of bed last week does that count? I do fall down a lot, but right now I can't think of the last time I actually fell.

Falling for something in a good way....hmmm.

The beautiful new yarn I have discovered?

 Learning how to do a C2C crochet stitch? 

The anticipation of a trip to AZ?

 Knowing what I am getting everyone for Christmas?

Spotify Prime?

4. According to the Travel Channel here are some of America's best fall festivals-

National Apple Harvest Festival (near Arendtsville PA, close to Gettysburg), Harvest on the Harbor (Portland Maine), German Village Festival (Columbus Ohio), Wellfleet Oyster Fest (Cape Cod), and Wine and Chile Fiesta (Santa Fe NM)

I have never been to any of these festivals. I would want to go to the Harvest on the Harbor in Portland Maine. Maine is on my list of places to go and things to do.

Have you ever been to any of the festivals listed? Which one appeals to you most? Does your hometown have any sort of fall celebration, and if so will you make it a point to attend?

Most towns here have summer celebrations. There is a town just north of me that has a fall celebration. They call it Rutabaga Days. Yes, rutabagas are the theme of the celebration. There is a contest for the largest grown. I have never been to it, but I do know it is very popular. 

In the city there is the Renaissance Festival. This is great fun! The people dress up in period costumes. There are jousting matches that are exciting to watch. One weekend is called "The Highland Fling" with matches to show off these skills. King Henry and his court stroll the grounds, as do Puke and Snot. King Henry will maybe involve someone in conversation, but Puke and Snot will get you involved in a hilarious skit. There are several different events that involve the commoners. Fortune tellers for the fun of it (nothing real). There are vendors selling hand made goods. Oh!, and food and drink. The best is the turkey legs. You get one of these, walk a few steps over to the salt bag, bang it on the bag and the entire leg is covered in salt. Be prepared to walk. There are places to sit and people watch, but it is much more fun to keep on the move. I haven't been in years, but now after writing about it I am feeling a need to attend. Maybe next year.

5. What is your goodbye message to summer?

So long, farewell! You were not too bad this year. I will miss your longer days filled with sunlight. I will miss the colors you bring with the wild flowers you make possible. I will not miss your heat and humidity.  Good-bye until next year.

P.S.  Could you maybe come earlier next year to make winter just a bit shorter?

6. Insert your own random thought here.

A few photos from my friends garden.

Did you have a neighborhood park/playground?  Did you play there?

There were parks close to my home. Several in fact. I did go to them. As a group we would decide what we wanted to do, and this would determine which park we went to. 

If it were summer we would go to the park with the wading pool. Winter found us by the grade school with it's big hills for sledding. Two of the parks had warming house and skating rinks in the winter.

I remember that all the parks had merry-go-rounds, monkey bars, jungle gyms, and tall tall slides.  I think I liked the merry-go-rounds the best, because I liked the feeling of being dizzy. 

If we were going to go to the park that was 6 blocks away instead of 3 we would pack a lunch. LOL. Peanut butter sandwiches and Kool Aid and potato chips.

The parks were a place for great fun.

Did you have any pets in your childhood home? If so, please tell me about them. If you have a photograph of any of your childhood pets, please share.

We always had a pet or two. I seemed to drag home strays. My mom being softhearted mostly let them stay. 

We had cats and dogs. My brother and I often had those miniature turtles you could buy at Woolworth's. I don't know how it happened but it seemed like they would always escape their dishes and end up dead somewhere in the house. 

My brother had gerbils for a while. I am not sure why he liked them. I usually ended up cleaning their cage, which I hated doing. Hmmm, maybe that's why he like them...to torment me.

This is Teddy. He is the first pet I remember. He was a cocker spaniel. He used to jump up on the piano bench, would push on the keys. He was asking for his treats that were kept on top of the piano. I was 5 in the photo. Not a great photo, but it is 56 years old after all.

This is Ginger. One of the strays I mentioned. I was 10 in the photo, making it 1965. We had her until 1975. She escaped many times only to return home with surprises for us in a few short weeks.  One time she had the surprises in the middle of the night. On my mom's bed!We were always able to find homes for her surprises. One boy we did keep. We named him Sylvester. I can't find a photo of him. Ginger was a bright orange stripe. A rare color for a female cat most are males. Just like most calico cats are female.

 

I brought home a black lab one time. I was about 16 then. Poor doggy was being abused and neglected by his owner (a friends parents).  The parents would once in a while give him water but like as not it might be beer in his water dish. I kind of stole him. Well, not kind of. I did steal him. I couldn't stand seeing him tied up all the time with no attention. I was about the only one to play with him. Labs are the smartest sweetest dogs of any breed . So, I took him home one day when no one was at home there. I renamed him Sabbath. It was the 70s and Black Sabbath was THE band in my world then. And of course he was a black lab. Oh, how I loved him! We had him until we moved from that house 7 years later. I gave him to a cousin. Poor Sabbath ran away from that home, ended up in the pound and my cousin refused to get him out. I didn't find out about this until it was too late to do anything.

We had a Siamese kitty for a while. My mom brought her home. We named her Baby. She was a sweet little thing. She got a fish hook caught in her mouth, and the vet couldn't get it out. We lost her that day. 

My mom brought home another stray one time. She named him Buster. He was a German Shepard mixed with a Pomeranian. The poor mommy of Buster was the Pomeranian. He was wild thing, and was not to be tamed. He had to be chained when he went outside other wise he would run the neighborhood. Sometimes he would get loose and show up at my school. The nuns would have me take him home. Sometimes more than once a week.  I only lived 4 blocks from school.

We had a Chihuahua dog. She was a tiny little thing. Her name was Chi-Chi. We got her when she was already quite old. She had bed eyes and couldn't hardly hear. She would sneak out sometimes. We knew she had gotten out when we would hear a car horn honking. Chi-Chi like to lay in the sun, unfortunately her favorite place was in the middle of the street.

Those are the pets I remember the most. I am sure I missed some. It is a good thing we didn't live out in the country. I might have brought home horses.

 Did you like your childhood home? What did you like or not like about it?

I'm not sure how to answer this question. The home as in the building itself? Or the home as in the place and people? I'll try both ways.

Drat! I wish I could find the photos of the outside of the house. The outside did not convey the inside at all. The main floor had 4 rooms. Living room. dining room, bedroom, and kitchen.

The living room had the heater in it. It was probably 4 x 4 feet and was in the floor. It was the only heat source for the house. It got mighty hot in the winter. We used to put our scarves and mittens on it to dry when we came in from outdoors. And you certainly didn't want to step on in with only stocking feet.  I guess you could say it was a cozy room. It was filled with antiques. A wonderful piano. Old, old wall paper. Eventually my uncle put in a carpet for that room. Why, I don't know.

The dining room was my favorite room. It had hard wood floors. Antiques galore that even at a young age I appreciated their beauty and the sentimental value of them. This room had almost floor to ceiling windows on 2 sides. There was a big old oak cupboard in the dining room. I believed it to come over with my grandfather when he came from Germany. That and a couple of other pieces that matched the carving. I don't know if it is true or not, but I like the story. There were so many wonderful treasures in this cupboard. Things that fed my young imagination.  Besides holding my mom's china and crystal  it kept her S & P collection safe. Once in a very great while I was allowed to take these out of their safe place and ohh and awe them. In the bottom of the cupboard were books and mugs and music sheets. It was a treasure trove for my mind.

The kitchen and bedroom were just that. The bedroom belonged to my mom. It had a few antiques also. 

Sounds like a pretty good house. Except...the toilet was in the basement. There wasn't a shower or a tub. The basement had all kinds of scary spiders. In the summertime wood was placed over the floor drain and a garden hose was used for a shower. It was too cold down there for a shower in the winter, and in the spring it flooded with water. I remember wading through water over my ankles to use the toilet. I think that is why today my bathroom is the cleanest room in the house.

My brother's and my bedrooms were on the 2nd story. My room was above the living room. The floor was warm in the winter, but that was all. I remember frost on the walls in the morning. Luckily my grandmother had made lots of quilts. Piles and piles of quilts. And I sure got out of bed quickly in the morning and downstairs.

So I don't know if I liked the house or not. Maybe parts of it.

This is a long post. Maybe it is best not to answer the other part of the question as I saw it. It would lead me into all sorts of bad memories that I am not up to for today. Maybe another time.

Was your hometown an economically advantaged or disadvantaged area?

By the time I was growing up my hometown was advantaged. I am pretty sure everyone who wanted to or could did work.

Before I was born the town was probably a bit of both. It was still pretty much country then. Meaning the farms might not have been right in town, but I think it was a farming town. I remember hearing stories of some of the hardships families went through.

Before me my mom worked as the secretary for the president a manufacturing company. When he transferred to the Illinois office my mom went with. She came home and then worked as a secretary for a wig at the Pillsbury company. After my brother came along she stayed home until he started school then she went to work for the county. She stayed there until she retired. 

My town wasn't affluent by any means. We were right down the middle.

I was all caught up a few days ago. However, that same day Google froze my account and deleted my blog. They said I had broken the Terms and Conditions. Which I had not. This led to quite a few emails being fired back and forth between us. Eventually, they saw my side of things and gave me my account and blog back. Today I play catch up once again.

Do you tan easily or do you burn instead?

I only burn. ONLY. I have scars on my legs from a sunburn. While I was living in NC we went to the ocean.  That was the worst burn I ever got. I had sun something the next day. I passed out and bounced of the hallway walls before I fell to the floor. My dear friends picked me up, put me on the couch, and covered me with a WOOL Army blanket. This burn eventually turned my legs purple and orange. Once it blistered the skin came off in sheets. If I had been living at home instead of in a state not friendly to Yankees ( I had an experience or 2 to that effect) I would have gone to the doctor. That was a scary burn. I am very cautious now. Always wear a hat, and always wear sun screen.

When did your family get their first color television set? Do you remember the first show that you watched on it?

It was December 1974. I remember because I gave it to my mom for Christmas. I had my first job and splurged on everyone for Christmas that year.

I know it was a Thursday evening, that I remember. I gave it to my mom as an early gift. I am pretty sure we watched "The Waltons" in color that night.

Was your hometown a “backwards” place or do you feel that it was progressive?

I think that in any town there are backwards people and progressive people.  My mom was progressive. She was a social worker for the county welfare department. She had to be progressive. She taught me in those ways. My best friend of the time had parents who were backwards. Especially her father. Oh my, that man scared me!  I remember neighbors who were scandalized with the behavior of my brother and me. The school where I attended high school? I don't know I think there again it was a bit of both. It came down to individual teachers. I had some of both in classes.

Back Where I come From September 7, 2917

I have been in the city for the last few days. I am going to get all caught  up today. This may be a long post. I can be wordy.

Did you ever participate in creating graffiti or any type of artwork that would have been confrontational?

When I was in high school we were still in Viet Nam. STILL. I participated in several anti-war demonstrations. I don't think our picket signs were graffiti but they were controversial and very confrontational.

How old were you when you took your first drink of alcohol, if you ever have? What were the circumstances surrounding that moment?

In my family at Christmas celebrations the adults would have a glass of sweet Mogan David Concord grape wine. Us kids had the same only ours was maybe 90% lemon lime soda and just enough wine to give it color. But we felt oh so grown up. My uncle and grandmother used to "share" their beer with me. I got about an 1/8  of an inch in my glass and I remember I felt so special.

Do you plan to move back to your hometown area in your older years? Why or why not?

How do you feel about the place that you came from?

I just drove through my hometown the other day. I felt nostalgic. That day it was mid-afternoon. The town was bustling. People driving, people walking, people stopping to talk to neighbors. I wanted to be part of it. I don't know if I will ever actually live in Robbinsdale again, but I will eventually move back into the city. Robbinsdale does have everything within walking distance for shopping and it does have several 55 and older apartment complexes so maybe Robbinsdsale will be my choice. 

Were there a lot of churches in your hometown? What about where you live now?

I know we had at least one church for each recognized denomination.  Where I live now there are many, many churches. A surprisingly large number. Even almost as far out from town as I am there are a couple of churches.  Nice.

On the opposite side of the fence, did you know of anyone engaged in an illegal activity? (In the song, they mention moonshine.)

Illegal activity? As in against the law? Remember in high school going into a rest room that had a funny smell? I was the cause of the funny happy smell. And in other places also. In cars  I don't know how we managed to see out of because of the smoke. I remember doing the  Chinese fire drill while at a stop light. I remember streaking. I remember shop.lifting. Once. I got caught and was so scared I never tried it again. I never did anything really bad at least by today's standards. My mother was eternally grateful.

What color were the eyes of your first date?

I believe they were blue. You know tall, blonde, blue eyed and dreamy?

That's it. I am caught up. This is great fun. A good trip down memory lane.

Hodgepodge Fun 9/13/2017

1. Is a picture worth a thousand words? Elaborate.

I think that sometimes the picture is a thousand words. For example  - Home Alone - Machaulay Culkin - Hands to face , open mouth, a scream trying to come out.  A baby's first anything. Sunset/rise. Sometimes words just can't do the job to describe something God has created.

2. Have you ever driven any part of the Pacific Coast Highway? If so, what was your favorite stop? If not is this sort of trip on your bucket list?

I have not driven anywhere in California. I don't think the PCH was the highway we were on going North from San Francisco airport. I think I would love to take that drive someday. 

3. How do the changing seasons affect you? As the seasons change do you find yourself looking more forward or backward? Which season-season transition bothers you most? Why do you suppose that is? 

I really and truly like the change from winter into spring. Ppring is when everything is brand new. Spring has warmer temperatures, but not hot like our summers. I like the change from summer into fall, because of the cooler temps and beautiful colors. I DO NOT like the change from fall to winter. I don't like to be hot, but I really don't like the weather dictating to me if I can go somewhere. Living 22 miles from town  weather is always a consideration in the winter. I have to make sure I can get where I am going but also make sure any weather coming holds off until I get home. I don't like winter. It stays dark too long. Feels like it is dark until after 8 AM and dark again by 4 PM. I keep the vitamin D3 people happy.

4. It's your birthday and you get to pick the dinner menu. What are we having? Do you ever lie about your age?

Hmmm. I would have: deep fried green beans served with a mayo/sriracha sauce for dipping, a smooth  chicken consumme', a crisp salad made with bid lettuce, thinly sliced cucumber, finely chopped egg,  strawberry quarters, crumbled feta cheese and Balsamic dressing. Lobster with drawn butter for the main course. With seconds and thirds available of the lobster.  Dessert hands down would be Chocolate Cheesecake. Or lemon. I only lied about my age when I was younger than 18 or younger than 21. I am proud to have reached my age.
5. What's a life lesson you've learned recently?

I think I probably knew this, but it kind of snuck up and hit me upside the head the other day. Children are the most precious gift. I am "Grandma Trudy" to my BF grandchildren. Sometimes I even am called "Great Grandma Trudy".  The 2 children are ages 5 and 7 are a joy to be around. Everything to them is a delight, fun, wonderful, magical, beautiful. They run out to greet me when they see my car pull up. They give the BEST hugs ever.  They are having a difficult time right now, but it has not dampened their love for everyone and everything. And it is a love we must never ever take for granted.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I was in Minneapolis the last 7 days and came home yesterday. I am very thankful for the time away. My BF allowed me to just rest and shop, and eat, and enjoy. She calls it my respite time. Her dad was visiting from Arizona. We had a party on Saturday for all of the summer birthdays of which there were 8. Her dad is a special person in my life. He was there through my most difficult time. I am thankful for all of them being in my life. Even though they sent me home with a cold.

And because this wouldn't be a post from me if it didn't include a photo:

My favorite spot in California.

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Back Where I come From September 6, 2017

Did your town have a river running through or near it? What was its name?

There is a river running close by my hometown. The Great Mississippi. It meanders between Minneapolis and St. Paul on it's way down South. 

This isn't my photo. I got it from the Mississippi Headwaters web site. I like to say that I walked across the Mississippi

This is the web site link for Itasca State Park where the head waters are located..

 http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/index.html

If I knew how to get rid of the bullet points I would do that. However, I don't know how so we're stuck with them.

September Challenge September 5, 2017

 

I am still on track for this September challenge with Suzanne at P.S. Annie

Where did all the kids “hang” in your hometown?

Well, let's see. It all depends on the ages of the kids. I think this calls for a list. I love lists.

My house for kickball. We had the largest yard on the block

There was a local park only 3 blocks from my house. It had all of the regular park things. In the summer there was also a wading pool. I didn't have a fear of water back then, and spent many hours there.

After a certain age the park and my yard just didn't do it for us anymore. There was a fast food place called The Red Barn where we would hang out.  I don't know why we were never kicked out of there. We could get very loud and very boisterous. Normal teenage things.

In the summer we would walk to the lake. It wasn't much of a swimming lake, but us girls could work on our tans.

We had a bowling alley. I almost forgot about it!  Not that any of us bowled, but we hung out there. If they made us leave the inside we hung around outside. Especially once some of us starting driving.

When it was winter we would go skating. The park I mentioned above turned the ball field into an ice rink. The park building became a warming house.

Back Where I Come From - Day 4

1. What were your hobbies as you were growing up?

It depends on what age we are talking about.  As a girl aged 6 - 10, I played with dolls. I had baby dolls, a doll that came with her own beauty chair and hair dryer. My all time favorite doll was called Thumbalina. She was made by Ideal Toys. She had a knob on her back that when turned she would move her legs and head. I also had all the Barbie dolls. Barbie, Ken, Midge, Skipper. At the time I was the only girl niece and granddaughter.

The house of my childhood was on one lot and we owned the lot right next to it. We had a huge yard. It became the place to play kick ball. I know we had teams, but I don't remember us ever keeping score. I think we played until  most of the kids were called home for something. 

Once the alley was paved (cemented) we would play 4-square. On the sidewalk in front of my house there was always a hopscotch diagram written in chalk. 

On days when we couldn't be outside and in the evening I read. Everything. If I didn't have a book in front of me my mom knew something was wrong. I read the yellow covered Nancy Drew books. My mom made me read most of the American classics,too.

When I got a bit older I would draw a woman's face on paper. I would color in her make-up and her hair style. I could spend hours doing that. Sometimes she was quite glamorous, other times she looked experimental. I remember I wished there was a job doing make-up. Little did I know that there was! 

Up to this point is was a fairly uneventful childhood.

Speaking of Thumbalina...I am looking to buy one. She is no longer made. The few I have have seen for sale are on Ebay, and prohibitively expensive. If any one come across one for a reasonable price please let me know.