Flying the Hodgepodge Flag

A little girl was visiting my porch last week.




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1. The Hodgepodge lands on June 14th this week, Flag Day in the US of A. Do you fly your country's flag at home? Sometimes, often, or every single day? Have you ever visited the city of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)? Did you make a point of seeing The Betsy Ross House? Have you ever made a trip to Baltimore? If so, was Fort McHenry on your itinerary? (where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner)

We don't fly the flag on the outside of our house, but especially because we now that we have a front porch to mount it on, that might be a good idea.

I've been to Philadelphia and have seen the liberty bell and to Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed, etc. I've not been to Baltimore, or if I have, it didn't make a very strong impression on me. Maybe I was asleep.

We had quite a wind which threw a ton of maple seeds onto the yard.

I really should have swept the brick before taking this photo.

2. Red flag or white flag? Which have you encountered most recently? Explain.

I see a red flag in someone else's path, but it's always difficult to know whether or not to tell them. I've lived long enough to realize that most people don't want advice, no matter how it's given.

 A daughter, a son, and two of the grandkids

Kids always love to play in the pond with sticks.

3. Are you a stay in the car listen to the end of a song kind of person? What kind of person is that?

I'm a stay in the car and listen to the end of the news story kind of person (Talk of the Nation, On Point, All Things Considered, Science Friday, Laura Ingraham, Rush). The other kind of person is more of a romantic, I think.

4. What are some of the traits or qualities you think a good dad possesses? In other words, what makes a good dad? What's an expression you associate with your father?

My dad was practically perfect in every way, because he obviously loved Jesus, he was firm but kind  (I was totally secure in his love for me), he had a great sense of humor, forgave easily (good thing) and was my number one fan (his best quality). He loved C-Span and chocolate covered donuts. I can't think of an expression he used a lot, unless it was related to finding work for us to do if we complained about being bored.

 Both with the Lord now,

wonderful parents

(so much better than I deserved)
I know I've shown this photo before, but it's my favorite.

5. What's one rule you always disagreed with while growing up? Is that rule somehow still part of your adult life? Is that a good or bad thing?

I cannot remember having rules in our home, although one unspoken rule was not to sass my mom, and that, unfortunately, was a rule often broken when I was a teen. Mom didn't forgive quite as easily as my dad did. But I don't remember sassing my dad. What is it about fathers/daughters and mothers/daughters anyway??!!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last week when the grandkids were here, I got out the old croquet set so they could have fun with it. At first they were quite frustrated with it, but after a while, when they let me set up the wickets? more along the lines of how they should be, instead of all in a 10' row, I think they had a better time.

Grandkids struggling to have fun. :-)

And in the screen room,

Grandma got her toenails painted.
(Another good reason to have daughters)

 Tommy & Smokey

Lounging in 'the Pool Area' (as Lucy calls it) 

That evening, Carla from The River Flowing blog and Little Garden That Could (floral subscriptions - check out her BEAUTIFUL website!) and her family spent the evening with us and I tried to set up the croquet (pitch, patch, diamond, court, field???) a little better, and we played it in the backyard, where the hilly terrain gave us some fun and laughs. I wish I'd taken a photo of the beautiful full moon that evening.  You can download and print out Susan Branch's 2017 Full Moon Schedule to put on your refrigerator, so you don't miss those full moon walks!  (I lost mine that Carla had given me, putting it in a really safe place so I wouldn't lose it!), but I managed to download another. This one is already on my refrigerator.

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See you next time,