Summer at the Hodgepodge

If it's Wednesday, it must be the Hodgepodge! Join the fun at Joyce's blog!


1. When did you last 'swim against the tide'? Explain.

I feel like I swim against the tide every time I go to work. But I guess if we as Christians aren't swimming against the tide, we might need to check where we are swimming. LOL

2. What's the last self-help or self-improvement book you read?

I don't generally read self-help or self-improvement books per se. But I just finished Cynthia Ruchti's wonderful new release Tattered and Mended: The Art of Healing the Wounded Soul. It was wonderful. I'll be posting my review in about ten days.

3. "Tolerance is a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness." (Sir James Goldsmith)

Agree or disagree? Discuss. With civility please, because I think we have a good thing going in our very diverse (in geography, age, religion, political persuasion, ethnicity, marital status, upbringing, and cooking abilities) neighborhood here on This Side of the Pond.

I disagree. I am weary of the word "tolerance" and think it is way over-used and misused today. Tolerance is not a virtue if you are tolerating bad behavior. Far too many parents go the tolerance route with their young children instead of the harder route of discipline. Often the ones pushing for tolerance are least likely to extend that to others.

4. What is one of your most vivid memories of the kitchen from your childhood?

My mom was making chocolate chip cookies and went outside to hang the next load on the clothesline. I was about four and decided I would "help" by stirring the batter, which was on the kitchen table. I reached for the wooden spoon and stirred and stirred and stirred. . .the glass mixing bowl right onto the floor. I saw my life flash before my eyes! However, although she was not pleased that her Sunbeam Mixmaster bowl was broken, my mom didn't punish me because she knew I was trying to be helpful rather than naughty.

5. How did/do your own children's summers compare with your summers as a child? If you're not a parent, answer as it relates to what you've observed about the current generation of children vs. your own childhood.

My kids' summers were similar to mine, by design; library reading club, lazy days, playing with friends. They did do swim team for about three years, which I had never heard of when I was growing up. I just took regular swim lessons. I think most kids today have their summers way too scheduled - too many camps. I know a lot of that is due to working parents but it makes me sad that there isn't time for them to just enjoy being at home and doing spontaneous things.

6. Tell us what body of water you would most like to be on or near today, and why?

Puget Sound. We just got back from a trip to Seattle to visit our boy, and it was wonderful! We loved riding the ferry and taking the tours on the water.

7. Share a favorite song about water, or a favorite song with the word water in it's title, or a favorite song to listen to as you sit beside the water.

When I was in high school, my favorite singer was Evie (Tornquist), and I absolutely loved her song "Part the Waters." It still has a great message and listening to it brings back great memories.



8. Insert your own random thought here.

I went to You Tube to get that song for #7 and found myself in a time warp listening to one song after another! Sweet memories!