Natural's All In The Music, August Rush

August Rush was born to Sharon, a Chinese Crested breeder in North Carolina. He was the second of 6 puppies. His temporary name from the breeder was "Ditto". I had him on my short list of those that I loved the look of.  I found him because of my friend Anu who lives in NC now. Anu and her dog was taking a class and this breeder, Sharon, was taking another of her dogs to the same class.  My friend talked to Sharon about me and we connected.  After the litter was born, Sharon offered me the cute little face you see here.  His ears grew, she taped them up to stay that way and finally last November we drove down to NC to pick him up.

He was so good meeting his new sister, our Friend Anu, her husband Marty with their dog Remy and of course driving back 700 miles to NH.

He slept a lot, his ears continued to grow and when he blushed, his ears turned pink.  His sister would keep her eye on him all the time and even watched him sleep. He got his first groom at work too and loves his groomer.

He started doggie day care and found a new friend to sleep with there!  His favorite toy was "Foxy" that his "Auntie" Anu got him. He learned to climb the stairs, get on the couch and on the bed. 

His hair continues to grow, I learned how to comb it out and I love that he doesn't shed!!  He and his sister hang out and she has taught him many things.  Today he is 1 year old. 

Happy Birthday Naturals All In The Music. August Rush - who most of the time acts like Augie Doggie!  Our lives have been enriched by your gift. You give us joy, laughter, and make us better people. I can not imagine our lives without you in it.  There is a steak with your name on it for dinner!  Bubbles are going to day care with you today so that all the dogs can play with bubbles.  

Wednesday Hodgepodge: End of Summer

Once again, Joyce sent out the questions for us to answer. I really do think her job is harder so please be kind and hop over to her site and join the fun.  Just click on the button above.


1. Americans will celebrate Labor Day this coming weekend. Do you know what we're actually celebrating? (without consulting your friends Google or wikipedia, ahem) What's a project you're currently 'laboring' over?
The holiday was created to celebrate the "working stiffs" in the USA. It gave the American people a day off from all their labor.  It was created at a time when most companies didn't give a lot of "vacation time" so people really needed it.  Now, some companies give  as much at 6 weeks vacation a year PLUS a lot of holidays so Labor day has lost some of it's meaning.  I am currently "Laboring Over" Christmas.  I want to have most, if not all of the shopping done by Thanksgiving and that includes mailing it out to the west coast.

2. Labor Day also signals the unofficial end of summer for most of us...what summer food will you miss the most? If you're in the southern hemisphere feel free to substitute winter for summer.
Fresh summer salads! I know, we can eat salad all year long but there is something about a garden fresh salad with hot off the grill chicken on top!

Image from Google

3. A well known proverb states, 'It's easier to seek forgiveness than ask permission.' Your thoughts?
We see this all the time now.  Husbands cheat on the wife and then apologizes later.  Workers steal from work and seek forgiveness - when caught.  Large companies waste millions of dollars on company parties just to ask for forgiveness from the people who work so hard and never receive a raise.  Our government does this - spending millions on special toilet paper, or some other stupid item and then say to the American people, "so sorry, we are broke now and have to raise your taxes to pay for it all"  No one seems to have integrity anymore and it makes me mad! Instead of seeking forgiveness after you are caught, do what is right in the first place!!!!!

4. Food critic, film critic, book critic, art critic....which hat would you most like to wear?
Can I be a film critic who eats? Then that is what I want. I'll tell you all about movie theater food!

Image from Google

5. When you were a kid, who (besides your parents) was your favorite adult?
I had an Uncle Leo who I loved!  He was the first man who I ever knew was bald and really though he was the only one in the world who was bald.  I would sit on the back of the couch behind him and rub his head. He always made me laugh and he always made me feel important.  He was a saint, with skin.

6. The astronaut, Neil Armstrong, passed away last week. He was regarded as a hero by many generations of people all around the world. Do we still have modern day heroes? What makes someone a hero?
I see police officers, firemen, 1st responders as hero's. They run into the line of fire, run into a burning building, run into whatever to save others.  I see our military and their families as hero's.  They leave the family they love to go over to a foreign land to fight for freedoms that we have taken for granted. They miss seeing their children being born, birthdays, anniversary's, parents funeral, and just being home every day playing with their families, tucking in there children at night and kissing their spouses. They are hero's and yes we do still have them.

7. I never get tired of Hanging out with Hubby.
He has been retired now for over a year and I still love having him home! This will NEVER get old.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
The Gulf Coast is getting hammered by Hurrican Isaac. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone down there. May they be safe and may they all be able to go to their homes soon.

Time is Moving on.

Yes, I'm still here. Thank you for checking on me. It's very nice of you.  I've had a few people wondering if I was OK since I've not been busy blogging.

Yes, I'm still here.

Becke, our lab has been sick. Her blood work came back from the vet all normal but she is stiff, so we suspect that a little arthritis is acting up. She is on some anti-inflammatory drugs for that.  They are helping her a bit. As for why she is not always holding down her food, well that's still up in the air as to why. We changed her food a bit and see if that helps.

August will turn one year old on Thursday! I can't believe he is going to be year old.  He will most likely get a small steak for dinner for his birthday. I'll let you know.

So what am I doing with myself?

I'm working. I'm cleaning house. I'm doing laundry. I'm playing with the grandkids. I'm exercising.
I'm enjoying the heat. I'm enjoying the summer. I'm enjoying sitting on the deck with Hubby reading in the sun.

I'm getting ready to decorate for fall and pulling out what I have, deciding if I will keep it or get something new. Because I'm a type A and fall is coming and I want to be ready.

The AC is off but still in the windows (Just in case). The windows are open, the curtains are blowing in the breeze.

The temps here in the morning have been in the low 50's and by 2pm it's up to the high 70's or even the low to mid 80's but the wonderful high 80's and the delightful 90's are gone.
Done.
Most likely not to return until next year.  I miss them. I hope we have an early and long Indian Summer! I wake up and the windows are open and it's cold in the house, so I put on my bathrobe just to walk around the house.  I turn on the heat in the car. I wear socks! The heater is on the bathroom early in the morning.

It all makes me sad.

Fall is in the air and on the ground
I will miss summer but I do look forwarded to fall.
Fall, is Hubby's favorite time of year. I love Hubby so I'm glad to see fall.
As much as I love the heat of summer, I love the colors of Fall,

the deep yellows and oranges and seeing Corn Stalks in front yards as we drive around, and lights turning on in homes and seeing their warm glow from outside. I love the smell of the ocassional fireplace smoke rising to the sky and the smell of pumpkin bread cooking in the oven. I enjoy taking out the dutch oven to cook a stew or pot roast. I like decorating with pumpkins and putting the heavy quilt back on the bed.

What I don't like about fall is digging out all the fall and winter clothers.  I have Fibromyalgia and the weight of the clothes hurt.  I need the heavy sweater to be warm but the weight of the heavy sweater hurts my skin and traps in the cold.  Having both Fibromyalgia and Reyands just means that I'm cold faster and longer.  Still, it's warm in the house. Hubby sees to it that when I'm home, I'm warm.  He loves me.

So, I am good. I am well, I am getting ready for whatever changes and challenges fall brings us.
I know that some of you live in the south so the idea of Fall and Winter have a different meaning.  To us in the Northern parts of the country, it means get ready now!! It can become very different very fast.

Have a great day!! Count your blessing!! Tell your love ones that you love them - often!!

Chicken Casserole Good Enough for Company

Most of the time, when I tell people I  live low carb they have visions of eating cheese burgers for breakfast minus the bun. Or pounds of bacon in the fridge to munch on (If Only!)

Yes I eat a lot more protein and I do have heavy cream in my coffee and yes, I do eat real butter but really I do eat veggies as well.  Hey, I even eat pasta!  Chicken casserole recipes are all over the web so why not one more right? I will be honest here and let you know of one website that I love. Your Lighter Side has a lot of recipes and if you are looking for a starting place, then I recommend you start there. There is lots of inspiration there.

  With that out of the way, here is my:

 Company Chicken Casserole

  

2 cups cooked chicken (left over chicken is fine)

1/2 box of Dreamfield Macaroni

1/2 purple onion chopped fine

1/2 bell pepper chopped fine (I used green pepper)

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup chicken broth

4 Tablespoons butter

minced garlic to taste

3 cups shredded cheese (I used a combination of Cheddar and Parmesan)

4 slices of bacon already cooked and broken into small pieces.

1 cup olives

Cook the Pasta according to directions and drain. In a microwave safe dish, mix everything together and cook covered until the cheese melts. Check every 5 minutes. I placed it under the broiler to give it a little browning. 

I made this for our church pot luck and told a few people who, like me, live a low carb lifestyle, but didn't tell most people and there was not much left over to take home.  In fact, there was just enough to bring to work for lunch today.  

Carb count 2.5 carbs per serving!  

Do you have a "Go- To" Recipe when company is coming?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Aloha! On August 21, 1959 Hawaii officially became a US state. Have you ever been? Upon arrival would you prefer an orchid or a hibiscus to tuck behind your ear?
No I have been to Hawaii but if I were to go, I really wouldn't care what flower was behind my ear, after all I'd be in Hawaii!

2. Since we're talking tropical...what's your favorite food or beverage made with pineapple?

I like smoothies made with Pineapple.

Photo from Google

3. Do you believe in soul mates? Explain.
Yes, I do believe that there is at least one person out there who completes you. I have mine, I hope you have yours. It makes this life so much more blessed. My father-in-law was able to find his soul mate twice! He was double blessed.

4. Share a memory about the house you grew up in.
I grew up in a Cape Style home. Up stairs there were 2 bedrooms and in the walls were storage spaces. One such storage space connected the two bedrooms and that was where I played a lot. It was a fort, a small apartment, an additional bedroom. It was a safe place to be and I loved the sound of rain falling on the roof.

5. Are you comfortable with silence?
Yes, sometimes I really do like the sound of silence. I try to read or pray but I find that I fall asleep a lot as well -  must need it.

6. You spot a giant spider on your bedroom wall...what's your next move? (all spiders are giant, right?)
I scream and try to run out of the room, if the giant thing hasn't blocked my way out. Hubby comes running in ready to kill who ever is attacking me to find the spider on the wall and walks out of the room laughing at me.  He does come back with a tissue to kill it however, so he has been forgiven for laughing at me.

7. My idea of fun does NOT include housework, or getting up at 3 am, or sitting in a tree stand (I guess that's standing in a tree stand), being cold, being sick . Hey, Joyce didn't say pick just one thing!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I had set a goal of 100 days of dance and I did it! It took longer than 100 days but that was not the point. The point was to move and have fun with music for 100 days and I did it!! Now for a long nap.

Thank you Joyce for the questions, You all can join in now.

Meet Ethel, Fred, Ricky and Lucy

No, not these Ethel, Fred, Ricky and Lucy. Although I spent many evenings watching them and loved when Ricky and Lucy moved to the country. I wanted to live in that house so badly!  I just loved the kitchen!! Do you remember it?  I was so sad when it stopped being on and even sadder when I discovered all the troubles that the 4 of them had.

  

But I digress, I'm not talking about these 4 ---I'm talking about these 4.

I've had fish for a long time!  I have fish because my doctor told me to get fish to help me deal with stress that I was going through at the time.  I started with Beta fish and really enjoyed them but they never seem to live very long so one day I got gold fish and I've been happy ever since.  When I got these 4 they were the same color. Then one day Ethel became white.  It didn't happen overnight but by the end of the week, sure enough one of them was white!  I had no idea why and thought that she was just getting old. You know I go gray, she went white and she doesn't have Clairol to help her out.

But she seemed to be healthy and no one else in the tank seemed to care so I just laughed it off and kept feeding and cleaning and changing out the toys and stopped thinking about it.  Then about a week ago, the same thing happened to Lucy!  It took all of 3 days and she went from the wonderful gold color just like the boys to a wonderful white like Ethel.  I guess she was jealous of all the attention Ethel was getting because she is so pretty.  

Well, now I had to Google what is going on. It seems that in Goldfish, they can change color at any time.  Water temperature, amount of sunlight, food with "color enhancers" - nothing matters. It's in their genes. They will turn the color they are suppose to be.  

The girls, Lucy is the largest of the two with the more elaborate fin tales and Ethel is the smaller one who changed first. 

The boys. When you see them up close Fred is the smaller of the two the one in back, he has the shortest body but the larger top fin.  Ricky is the one in front and he loves to play in the bubbles in the back.  He does have a bit of a sense of humor and likes to hide in the fake log we have for them.

Most days they swim around, chase each other, swim through the bubbles and eat but when our grand girls come over, they stand on the chair near by and feed them and all 4 swim to the surface and stick their little heads out of the water and eat. Our oldest grand daughter say they are smiling and are happy. Well how can a grandmother argue with that logic!

It occurred to me that they are doing just what God made them to do (swim). In the place God wants them to be in (water). Wearing whatever color they were meant to wear and we all look at them and smile.  I think there is a lesson here, if we all just meditate on it awhile.  

Where do you find your life lessons?

Wednesday Hodgepodge: Learning to do more.

Join the fun of the weekly Hodgepodge by clicking on the button or answer here!

1. I included this quote (attributed to William H. Danforth) in my blog post yesterday... "The best cure for a sluggish mind is to disturb it's routine." When was the last time you 'disturbed your routine' and how'd you do it?

When I feel sluggish, I do something for someone else.  When the focus is on someone else, the focus is NOT on me and I just feel better. So I will send a card, write a letter, call someone, spend time in prayer for someone else. Yes, all of these work to get out of the funk that I sometimes find myself in.

2. What's your favorite fried food indulgence?

WOW I don't eat a lot of fried food so this one took some thought. I guess it's fried dough from the beech. It just taste better there. No, it's not low carb but it is wonderful with sugar on top.

3. Did you have an allowance as a kid? What did you do with it? Do you give your own kids an allowance?

I didn't get an allowance per say, as in I didn't get money every week for making my bed or taking out the trash. But often if just my dad and I went out to do some running around, he would get me a gift of let me buy something for all the times I made my bed and took out the trash.  So it all worked out in the end. I would buy records (45's no less) or marbles (I'm showing my age but some of those marbles were costly) or just some extra candy.
We didn't give our kids an allowance but did have a list of things that would earn real money if the wanted it. Things like wash the car, clean out the mud room and do laundry that belonged to someone else.

4. What's something you wish you knew more about?

I wish I knew more about landscaping my home.  I would love to be able to walk outside and say; "You know what flowering bush would look great right there?" and know the answer.  Truth is, I don't.  That would be nice because our front yard needs something, but I have no idea what it needs.

5. Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore? If so, what?

Well at my age I guess hot pants and 6 inch heels are out but really, no, there I don't feel old at all. So I guess I'm good with this one!

6. What's a song you think has a great first line?

Color My World by Chicago
As time goes on, I realize
Just what you mean to me.
I've been married for over 40 years. 
I find this true EVERY DAY of my life with Hubby.

7. Who are you writing to/for when you create a blog post? In other words...as you write, who is the audience in your head?

I write for my family and close friends. I'm thankful for all the others who read this, don't get me wrong. I love that others comment and make me feel wonderful.  But our son lives in CA and I want his family (our daughter-in-law and grandsons) to know me. To be part of our lives even though they are far away. I write for our daughter and her husband and her girls (our grand daughters) to know us better with all our busy lives.  I write for friends who have moved away to keep them caught up and for them to know I still love them and remember them well.  So I write to inform others of our lives. And I love stocking following your lives as well.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
We are up to have another 3 days of rain. Not 3 solid days of rain but on and off for the next 3 days.  We had a spell of 5 days where it rained a lot off and on and most of the time it was in the evening and over night so it was all good.  Our grass is green and our well is filling so I'm happy. However, we have friends that have dogs that are afraid of storms so my heart goes out to them.

OK, now it's your turn.

Friends:

"I get by with a little help from my Friends" John Lennon

Friends. It conjures up all sorts of pictures in my mind.  I see kids playing kick ball together. I see ladies who lunch together. Ladies who shop together. I see one woman on the cell phone talking to her friend about something in the store and overhearing "So, I'm standing here and I see this really great shirt that is perfect with your hair color and it's in you size.  I can pick it up here and you can just pay me back later OK?"
Friends sew together, eat together, go for a walk together, go to a movie (girls night out) together, play sports together. Friends call each other to laugh, cry, share their lives.

"A good friend is hard to find, hard to lose, and impossible to forget..." Author Unknown

Friends do a lot for each other. They cheer you on if you are facing a test and you're scared. They take belly dancing classes with you so you will not look silly - alone at least.
Friends send you a card - snail mail - and maybe even make the card themselves.
Friends wake you up early, on your only day off, to share with you something exciting that happened to them and needed to share - with you!
Friends call you to lean on you because they know you will listen to them.
Friends will hold you accountable if they know you are on a diet - cheating with friends is not allowed.
Friends call you to tell you a joke - and then forget the punch line!! So you spend the next hour laughing about it.
Friends show up to clean your bathroom because you're too sick to do it.
Friends become family that you want to have in your life! You know you may be stuck with family, but your friends, you pick.
More importantly, friends become a witness. A witness to your life.  They have stories to tell about you - some are embarrassing, some are tender, some are funny but because they shared your life, they witness your life, they can remember all the parts of you that make you...you.

I am blessed to have such friends that have cared for me over the years. Some are still close by and others are far away but I love them all and many I am still in contact with.

I am doubly blesses to have married my best friend 40 + years ago. We are still best friends and amaze people that we still walk together, hand in hand. He loves me no matter what.

I have a friend who knows I love red in my kitchen and is part of the small group who gets together on Sunday night. One time we were studying the book of Hebrews and she made the ladies this to remind us all of our study.

"He-Brews" get it!  She has a weird and great sense of humor

Then recently she saw this pattern and thought of me and my love of dogs so she made me this one.

You might have to blow up the picture because it black with dog bones and paws against a black stove front

I really did get a call from another friend who can almost never remember the punch line of a joke and told me a joke which just made me roar. I'm not sure what was more funny, the punch line itself or the fact she remembered the punch line! We talked for hours!

I am blessed with a cousin who became a friend and she calls me early to share the remodel of her kitchen that is SO overdue.  

I also have a set of friends that have 4 feet!  They cuddle with me every day and share my hopes, dreams, and bed. They promise not to tell my secrets.

Sometime friends laugh together, sometimes they cry. Sometimes they eat together, sometime they cook together for others. No matter what, we witness each others' lives.  Tell me about your friend and what you witnessed together. 

We are all blessed.

Wednesday Hodgepodge:

Can you believe this is the 88th volume of the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  WOW Joyce, well done.  You all know the drill, join us won't you.

1. In an effort to combat obesity, the mayor of NYC has plans to ban the sale of large sugary drinks (anything over 16 oz.), initially in restaurants, movie theatres, and street carts. Corner stores would also be affected if they are defined as food service establishments. You can read more here . Your thoughts?

The mayor of NYC has it wrong!  People will buy 2 mediums instead of 1 large. People will find a way to get around this really stupid law.  What we need is LESS GOVERMENT, not more. Stop telling me what I can eat, what I can drink, where I can go.  What's next, any hamburger over 1/4 pound is now banned as well.  We need to get out and move more, not just drink less.  It's really a stupid law.

2. Art festival, music festival, food festival...which would you most like to attend?

Did I see "FOOD FESTIVAL" on that list.  Where do I sign up?

From Google

3. What are you irrational about?

I cannot drink out of the same straw as anyone else. Or for that matter, cannot drink out of the same water bottle or share a drink.  Even my husband says that is irrational because he is included in that irrational behavior. I will not share with him either and yet I have no problem kissing him passionately, if you know what I mean.

4. Do you feel confident you'll have a comfortable retirement?

Whatever money we have, is what we will live on.  We are good at making ends meet so yes, I'm comfortable. More importantly, I know WHO is in control.
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:11-13

5. What's been your favorite Olympic moment so far?
(Not ever, just in the 2012 Summer games)

Watching Gabby win! What a heart warming story.

From Google

6. What would you label as the messiest room in your house?

Hands down Hubby's office!  He has piles of piles. He has piles on top of piles You need to wear a life line to go inside so that you can find your way out. I'm sure we have the former owners still living in there!!
Now, Hubby will tell you that he can find anything he needs to find in there (and in truth he can- I have no idea how he does that). I didn't take a picture of it to spare you the shock of it all.....You're welcome.

7. Do you follow your heart or your head?

Yes! Most of the time my heart reacts first and then my head yells something like "HOLD ON JUST ONE MINUTE HERE---LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS" Then I react (or apologize) in the best way possible.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am blessed with good friends. I hope everyone has at least one good friend that will laugh with them, cry with them, hug them, cheer them on, pray with them and for them, and act silly with them!  They are truly a gift from God.  I have such friends. I love you all. I am blessed!!

Dogs days of Summer

Up here in NH we are having what is called the "Dogs Days of Summer". A friend or ours who is from Texas had no idea what that term meant. I was surprised as I thought everyone knew what it meant but no, he was not familiar with the term.

So I offer you all the meaning in case you don't know what it means either.

The Dogs Days of Summer are the hottest, most sultry days of summer, usually July and August. The name itself, comes from the belief that Sirius also called the Dog Star, is in close proximity to the sun and responsible for the hot weather.

But we all know that it called the Dogs Days of Summer because it's so hot, that even the dogs do nothing but lay down and wait for the heat to break.

So now I'm curious, do you have a term for these hot days of summer?  What is it and what is the meaning behind the term?

Weekend Review: HHH&WET

Good Morning,
Like so many in this Country,it's been hot up here. No, not as hot as some states that have had temps up to113!! Can you believe it, 113? WOW We have been in the low 90's and for the upper right hand of the good USA, that's HOT (well for most people, I'm OK with it). This week we will be in the 80's - Thank Goodness!

It's been hazy up here as well.  Some days it's hard to see driving because of the haze on the roads.
And it's been humid up here, 90% + most days. As you can image, that combo creates thunder storms that do not cool of the weather when the rain ends. And boy have we had rain!!  Thunder, lighting and downpours have created power outages, down trees, and short tempers.  Man it's been a weekend of weather.

We've not lost power for long periods of time, but we did loose it for short periods of time here, or a there. We lost cable (as well as phone and Internet) a few times for short periods of time as well.

We're blessed to have dogs that are not afraid of thunder or lighting (although August refuses to go potty when it's thundering and lighting out unless his big sister goes out with him). While on F.B. I see lots of friends who have dogs that are afraid and those dogs spend a good part of the weekend under beds, under couches, hiding in bath tubs and generally being miserable. You know the owners were miserable as well!  My heart goes out to those people. How to help a fearful dog?
One of the things that seems to work is something called "Thunder Shirt".  It's a special tight fitting coat that goes on the dog and it is known to help settle the dog down.  It acts very much like a "swaddling" a baby.  It does seem to help with lots of fears such as rain storms, fireworks, and separation issues. We have it for Becke because as she gets older (12 1/2 years) she has separation issues now when I leave the office.  Funny thing, if August is with her, she is fine!!

The biggest issue with the dogs in this HHH weather, is keeping Becke cool.  Most of the time she was like this:

We don't have central AC so parts of the house get hot for her.  The bedrooms and home office have AC so we have been keeping her in there as much as we can and her groomer took out a lot of undercoat so that she would be more comfortable. Still, with a fur coat on and temps in the high 80's/ low 90's, keeping her cool is a real challenge.

August has hair, not fur and it's soft and light and he is younger so he is doing much better. A class mate gave him a bag of bows for his hair and so he is "styling" at the moment.  Don't you agree?

So what did I do all weekend, the usual: laundry, watch the grand girls, work on Christmas gifts clean house, exercise, dance, dinner with friends (BBQ!) and stay cool!  How about you?  Ready for the week ahead of you? I sure hope so because the week is here!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thank you Joyce for the questions. Some are hard you know!!!!

1. I'm joining my daughter1 in the 101 in 1001 challenge. Essentially you create a list of 101 things you hope to do or accomplish in the next 1001 days. What's one thing you'd put on your list?

Put together a freestyle routine to do with our puppy August.  In case you don't know what freestyle is, it's dancing with your dog. I have the song too, "If I Only Had a Brain", from the Wizard of Oz.
Here is an example of a great freestyle team from the past.  They are Carolyn Scott and Rookie.

2. How many remote controls do you have in your house? What's one item in your home you wish could be operated by remote control?

OK I think it's 14 between TVs, A/C's, fans, radios, & DVD player.  If I could have anything run by remote control, it would be the vacuum cleaner.  Just set it and leave, come back to a vacuumed house!

3. What does having it all mean to you? Is it attainable?

WOW, see some of these are hard Joyce!  I feel like I have it all now. I have a God who loves me, sent his Son to save me and offers me Heaven as my next home. I have a husband who loves me  and spoils me every day. I have 2 healthy and perfect children who are grown up, married to wonderful beautiful/handsome spouses and have given us 4 best grandchildren in the world.  Is it attainable? I'll let you know in another 40 years.

4. What's your favorite movie soundtrack?

Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof and Grease all come to mind. Great music to go along with great stories.

5. Describe the best view you've seen from a rooftop.

I don't think I've ever been on a roof top. I don't like heights and do not look out the window when we are on an airplane!  I like being on the ground looking up, not the other way around.

6. What's your least favorite thing about summer?

Well, finally something easy: ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN!!!.  I love summer and all it has. The heat, the early morning sunshine, the long days, eating outside, cooking outside (well Hubby cooking outside, really). I am a southerner at heart and I really could live in a desert all year long (except I hate snakes and all those other creepy crawlers out there!)

7. Our weekly Hodgepodge falls on the first day of August. In ten words or less sum up your July.

Our Anniversary, Daughter's birthday, vacation, hot days, hot nights, WONDERFUL!!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I've not been blogging a lot but it's because I've not had a lot to say. I have been enjoying being outside, getting a head start on Christmas Shopping and knitting some gifts as well.  Since my family reads here, I can't post about that here.  But I'm fine and feeling great!! Back to getting outside because it's still SUMMER

OK, now it's your turn to answer the questions and visit others who have answered the questions and learn about them. Go! Have fun!