Wednesday Hodgepodge - May 31, 2017

From this Side of the Pond

1. What makes you feel accomplished? Explain.

When I was working at various non-profits, I would feel a sense of accomplishment if the proposal I sent to a foundation or corporation was funded; and the organization would receive a needed grant to do a project.

As a mother, it is seeing both Sophia and Olivia happy, laughing, and bringing joy to others. I love seeing them in awe of nature and the world around them.

Olivia and Sophia watching a monarch butterfly

that they raised fly away.

(Taken on August 23, 2008.)

Sometimes, feeling accomplished is doing simple things that I can see are completed: mowing the lawn, planting more perennials, or cleaning the house.

One of the blueflag irises growing by the pond in the pasture.

(Iris versicolor aka Harlequin Blueflag)

2. If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? Tell us why.

For some reason, I find this question challenging. The people who I truly want to talk with are ones who have died - my parents and grandparents. It's the questions that are left unasked and unanswered; or to hear their perspective and insight on different issues that I'd rather talk about.

My parents with Sophia and Olivia in Pella, Iowa.

(Taken on April 29, 2009.)

That being said, if I did have a talk show, my guests wouldn't be world leaders, celebrities, or athletes. Rather, they would be everyday people who have a story to share - something inspiring that no one would know about just  looking at the person; perhaps a lesson they learned and want to impart to others; or people who are content with their lives and want to talk about how they have created that inner happiness and sense of fulfillment.

3. Do you have a great burger recipe? What's in it? What do you like on a hamburger and where is your favorite spot to order one out?

Burgers aren't anything fancy here: just some salt and pepper. Sometimes I'll add garlic and onion powder; and/or ketchup and mustard. Beyond that - if I start monkeying around with adding too many ingredients - I'll have some family members who won't be interested in eating dinner.

If I'm eating a hamburger, I like to have ketchup, mustard, lots of pepper, pickle slices, and onion slices on it.

I don't have a favorite spot to order one out. I like hamburgers well-done with no pink in the middle. Often times, burgers in restaurants don't get their meat done to that level and I can't stomach eating raw meat.

4. What's the biggest anxiety producing thing you do on a regular basis?

Get involved in doing something that takes a lot of my time and interest; and then not allow enough time to get things done that should get done. It's a time management issue.

Doing something I enjoy - like needlework - is a good way for me

to lose track of time.

5. This is the last Hodgepodge of May. Tell us about your summer plans.

I read an article online about how parents only have 18 summers with their children and to make the most of them....to not let them slip by without creating memories to draw upon when the children no longer are living at home.

Making dinner over a campfire at

Lake Shetek State Park.

(Taken on June 9, 2012.)

Also, when going through my homeschooling files and getting rid of things I no longer needed, I came across an article about doing an A to Z Summer as a family. The magazine (a local one) listed specific places to go for each letter of the alphabet. Essentially, it was 26 different activities to do during the summer: about 9 per month (June, July, and August).

I created a list of ideas for an A to Z Summer that we'll be doing starting tomorrow. There are many things that we have never done as a family, and I'm looking forward to doing them.

In addition to these things, we will be doing some other activities as well: homeschooling, 4-H Camp in June, going to Arizona (Sophia won a trip to a leadership camp and Olivia wants to see the Grand Canyon), competing in two county fairs (one for 4-H and one for open class), and competing in the Minnesota State Fair.

Sophia and Olivia  competing at the Minnesota State Fair in August 2016.

They were representing the 4-H club for the Community Pride project.

They earned a blue ribbon. 

Sophia also will be preparing for starting PSEO classes by attending an information day at the college where she will be taking classes through, doing a two-week online college course, and starting two PSEO courses in mid-August.

She will be playing her harp at the Farmers Market and at a local church during the summer.

She will finish work on her harp CD that will be available in about three weeks. With that comes the development of a website and blog.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Tomorrow is the last 4-H club meeting of the year. I'm not sure what the upcoming year is going to look like for 4-H as both the girls are going to be in high school; and are at a different place in their educational and social needs than many of the youth who are in the club.

Olivia making a presentation about Greece

during our 4-H club's second annual

Festival of Nations in May 2017.

We started the club in Fall 2014 with the hopes that there would be more older youth than what we have. Currently, Sophia and Olivia are the oldest ones in the club. About half of the club is children who are 7 years old and younger. The other half are between the ages of 8-13 years old (the bulk of whom are 8-11 years old).

Sophia (in purple jacket on the right) leading a parachute game

in April 2017 at a 4-H meeting.

We are putting together the digital scrapbook for the club and - although there are a lot of activities that we did during the past year that were fun and educational - they also aren't all consistent with the girls' curriculum. They both enjoy getting together with other homeschooled youth to learn and play - it's just a major time commitment for our family.

I'm not sure, at this point, what to do.