Summertime Hodgepodge

 

Another Wednesday Hodgepodge hot off the press. Thank you, Joyce!

1. “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Sam Keen

Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.
No, but I would much rather sweat in January than in July. There is less for me to do in January. July is filled with mowing, weeding, watering which makes me sweat. Even if I weeded everyday there would still be more weeding to do. I generally do not feel guilty for relaxing.
Found this welcoming gate on a beach walk way back in 2009!
2. What’s a telltale sign you’re upset?
I stop smiling…

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?

I haven’t given AI deep thoughts. I probably use it mostly in my google searches for information. I ignore the prompts that ask if I’d like help writing, etc. False information connected to people or misrepresenting images are worrisome.

4. You’re invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?

Dessert is the easiest thing for me to sign up for. Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookies or Peanut Butter Rice Krispie bars with Chocolate/Butterscotch Topping are what I’d probably bring.

5. It wouldn’t be summer without___________________.

It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the beach…

…and Ice Cream.

We’ve had many enjoyable last minute adventures in the summertime.

Lavender Festival in Sequim, 2012. It always happens the third weekend in July. We enjoyed them very much in past summers. BTW: you pronounce Sequim -squim.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Update from last Wednesday’s Hodgepodge; I did manage to bake some blueberry muffins. I used this recipe. I left off the topping because I stay away from cinnamon these days, our grandson is allergic to it. I enjoyed them even more without the topping because the result was delicious muffin tops with just a bit of crispy edges.

I also liked the fact that this recipe makes 8 muffins, not a dozen.

Update on our A/C: A technician came out on Tuesday afternoon and within 20 minutes our unit was repaired and ready to cool us again. So thankful! Doubly thankful, as we are supposed to hit the 100’s next week!

Turning Poor Planning into an Opportunity…

This was a guest post on 4 Reluctant Entertainers earlier in August. I’m having computer issues which I hope won’t be on going or fatal and since this post was ready to go with a good recipe to link to I decided to re-post it on my blog now.

I was thrilled to be a guest poster for Sandy at 4 Reluctant Entertainers a week or so ago. I think I started reading Sandy’s blog before I even had a blog. I was raised by a mom who modeled hospitality. The fresh ideas I learn from 4 Reluctant Entertainers blog are an inspiration to me. Sandy and I live in neighboring states when I’m in California at the condo or in Washington at my home. Someday I’m hoping to meet Sandy face to face if not on this earth then in our mansion in heaven.

I have a Blueberry Bush at my home in Washington and I picked some fresh blueberries and decided to make muffins. I got all the dry ingredients together, then I got the wet ingredients ready only to realize we were all out of eggs. The oven was preheated the trays were ready so what to do? I trekked over to my neighbors in my slippers and comfies and asked to please borrow an egg. She was very gracious and invited me in and gave me an egg. I got to meet her 16 month old granddaughter who she was caring for, also.

After the muffins were baked and out of the oven. I picked out two and trekked over to my neighbors again and offered her the 2 muffins. She was delighted and said I could borrow an egg anytime. I was happy to receive from my neighbor and bless her in return. My poor planning turned into an opportunity to keep connected with my neighbor.

The recipe I used for these Blueberry Muffins can be found here.