Wednesday Hodgepodge - August 30, 2017

From this Side of the Pond

1. Can you believe we're rolling in to the Labor Day weekend? What's a project you'll labor over this fall?

Labor Day always seems to arrive quickly. The summer goes by so fast. 

This Fall, I am focusing on going through my home office and getting it back to a workable space. It became a "holding spot" for a lot of my parents' items when we sold their home after they died.

Cluttered with a lot of projects and work that

needs to be addressed. The piles on my desk are all things

I need to go through and do.

I want the space under my desk back again 

so I can sit there.

Part of the process is crafting since my Mom left many projects unfinished - quilts that had squares cut, but never sewn together; or quilts that were partially done.

Two of the quilts that I want to work on are

between the file cabinet and desk.

They are completed, but need mending and

other repairs (e.g., new batting). 

She had patterns for soft toys (e.g., stuffed dog, Humpty Dumpty) that I remember from my childhood that I'd like to try my hand at this Fall.

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?

When I worked for Spirit Square Center for the Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina, I was in a creative environment every day. There were artists-in-residence who had studios at the Center, so I could go down on a lunch break and see them at work. There were artist-educators who taught the arts to children from the local schools.

The multiple art galleries were filled with a variety of artwork. There was one in which we could participate one year. The walls were covered with a special photograph paint that was then covered with dark plastic.

We could bring in a photograph to have included in the exhibit. The artist would turn off the lights and remove a section of the plastic. The photograph was projected onto the wall that had the special  paint. Somehow it created the image onto the wall.

This was the photo I had the artist put on the wall.

It's a picture of my Mom as a little girl with her doll.

One-by-one, the sections of the wall were covered with photographs. It was an amazing historical collage of meaningful images to people who participated in the project.

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to South Carolina? Any desire to go?

When I lived in North Carolina, I went to South Carolina a couple of times for vacation.

According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina...

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville's charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys. 

Which is most appealing to you today? If you're a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?

I've been to Charleston and Myrtle Beach. We drove there, so we went through many town to get there...I don't remember what ones, though.

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short...your favorite kind of rib? 

Ummm....I guess I never really noticed a difference or have had ribs that much to know the difference between all the types mentioned. To me, it's the barbecue sauce and the quality of meat that makes good ribs. 

What's a dish you enjoy that really "sticks to your ribs?"

Scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, chopped vegetables (peppers or onions), and a bit of meat (ham or crumbled bacon) is a meal that is quite filling.

These are not the typical eggs I make. 

Back in April 2011, when we were doing a unit study on Mexico, 

we made Mexican scrambled eggs. 

The recipe called for more vegetables than eggs. 

The scrambled eggs I make typically have more eggs than fillings.

Oatmeal with raisins is another meal that fills me up in the morning.

5. What's one important skill you think every person should have? Why?

Every person should know how to prepare simple meal for themselves - breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Sophia made a beverage with fresh fruit.

This one had dragon fruit - a new fruit we hadn't tried.

It's the white one with black seeds on top of the oranges.

In the back are 20 quarts of pickles that we canned last week.

They need to be labeled and put away still.

There is no reason to go out for every meal because one doesn't know how to make their own food.

I made beef with vegetables and cashews stir-fry

that was served over rice for dinner on Monday.

It's healthier to eat at home, saves money, and creates a sense of togetherness for families to eat meals together.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

National Dog Day was last week. People were posting pictures on Facebook. I didn't get them uploaded in time. So, here's a photo of our dogs with Sophia. It's rare that all four are sitting so nicely together.

Can't forget about Eenie. He's sitting with Olivia as she was reading on her bed.

There's Meenie, too. She's Eenie's sister.

Also, am so excited that the African violets are blooming.

I have three plants on the east windowsill in the kitchen that are doing well and have lots of blooms. 

Two of the plants have never bloomed before - so it's a real treat to see them with flowers.

They were ones that the girls and I grew from an individual leaf that we bought at an African violet show several years ago.