Hanging out with the Hodgepodge

1. What's the last thing you did that could be described as 'taxing'?

My taxes? They felt much more taxing than in previous years but I now feel that they are aptly named :)

2. If you could plant a garden of anything, what would be in it?
Ready made lunches for every weekday. I hate getting my lunch ready and if I could just pick it out of my garden I'd be a happy camper! And come to think of it- I would also describe making my lunch as taxing as well!

3. April 10-16 is National Library Week...will you celebrate with a visit to your nearest library? When did you last make a trip to the library? What are you reading right now? What's one title on your want-to-read list?

I haven't been to the local library in a while- and probably won't go this week either. I'm more of a bookstore person than a library. Although my students visit our school library every week does that count? I'm currently reading "Looking for Lovely" by Annie Downs and I can't say enough good things about it or about her as a writer! Once I'm into summer and have more time for pleasure reading I'd like to read "The Girl on the Train"- I heard it was a good one!

                      

4. Share a saying or an old wives tale you heard while growing up, you believed to be true or that you paid attention to 'just in case'?

Not sure if this is considered an old wives tale- but every Christmas my family hides an ornament that is a pickle and my sister and I go look for it- whoever finds it is supposed to have good luck that year. It is supposed to be hidden on the tree but as we grew up it moved from the tree to all around the house. I used to take that pretty seriously- and who am I kidding, I still really hope I find it each year, even as an adult.

5. Are you a fan of onions? Garlic? Ginger? What's a dish you love that contains one, two or all three items listed?

All of the above! The smell of onions cooking in butter is one of my favorites. I recently made a salad that had ginger in the dressing and it was delicious! Check back later in the week for the recipe!

6.  Where does nurturing end and indulging begin? What are some skills or qualities you think a person needs to possess in order to be viewed as mature?

I'm not sure if this really fits with this question but a friend and I were speaking recently about students who cry to get what they want, when they don't get it right away. She has a little boy and said she even works hard to help him, even as a toddler understand that crying is not how we get what we want. My opinion is once a person (or a child) understands general right/wrong principals, giving in to crying is more indulging than nurturing. Of course that is just one aspect of this question I guess. I think in order to be viewed as mature a very important quality needed is to be willing to accept responsibility for your own actions. I tend to view people who make excuses or try to pass blame as more immature.

7. What leading figure in any field would you like to hear speak, and why?

I'm not sure if she counts as a leading figure in her field and I have heard her speak once before but it would be the author I mentioned above Annie Downs. I only got to hear her for a short speech and after reading 2 of her books and in the middle of the third I am dying to hear more. I feel like I connect with her so well and her words resonate deep in my soul. That is the kind of person I want to hear speak.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Have you tried the Peach Green Tea Lemonade from Starbucks? It is the most refreshing, delicious treat and I highly recommend them on lazy Saturdays as pictured below or a busy afternoon or anytime at all!