Hodgepodge Wednesday in August
I feel like it's been forever since I joined Joyce for one of her Hodgepodge Wednesdays! She always shares the questions Tuesday and everyone answers/ links up on Wednesdays.
1.What was the best (or one of the best) summers of your life? Tell us why.
Oh boy-- that is like picking my favorite child! Gosh... it's so hard to pick just one. But since I already shared 10 of my favorite summer memories (from before we had kids) in this post I decided to share a memory from when we already had kids. Since we homeschooled our summers were more low-key and we'd vacation in Sept./ Oct. once everyone else went back to school. For today I'm focusing on summer of 2017-- we had lots of local fun and yet my boys were old enough to mostly be self- sufficient so I had lots of time to read and rest too in between all the fun. It was also the summer/year we were trying to reach 100 days of art so we had lots of creative fun too.
Things like ice cube tie dying
Enjoyed nature with rainbows and sunsets and hikes and picking fresh fruits.
It's actually a pretty typical summer living on the lake!
This was also the summer my husband and I took off for a 4 day weekend to Charleston, S.C. It was so hot but we didn't care.
2. When you have a trip coming up do you make a list and check it twice to ensure you don't forget anything? Or are you a 'throw whatever you can think of into the suitcase at the last minute' kind of packer? When returning from a trip do you unpack immediately or leave the suitcase right where it lands?
I am definitely a list maker and I always unpack immediately.
3. What's your favorite food or beverage made with lemons? Is that a flavor you enjoy?
I'm not a huge fan of lemons but I will drink lemonade (preferably one with other fruit added like blueberry lemonade or raspberry lemonade) and since lemons are my mom's favorite we often make lemon desserts for her birthday. This year's lemon tiramisu was DELICIOUS!
5. Did you like school growing up? Why or why not?
Again, I just shared 10 Likes and Dislikes from when I was in school (here), but overall I did enjoy school. I liked learning and I liked my teachers and had some really sweet friends in each and every grade/stage but I did suffer from social anxiety so actually getting to school could be a real struggle and then if anything unexpected changed about our routine or we had a sub. or something out of the ordinary happened it would up my anxiety so I also have lots of memories of feeling sick to my stomach ALL the TIME! I must have liked it enough though because I knew I wanted to be a teacher myself and got my master's/ teaching degree.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I have been having lots and lots of fun playing with ink and paint this week but I realized the other day that I am making up all these cards "just to play" and have no real need for any of them. I'm trying to keep them somewhat generic but know myself well enough to know that for an actual event I'm probably going to end up making more personalized cards specifically with the receiver in mind... Do you keep excess cards on hand just in case?
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| 1/2 way through... you'll have to come back later in the month to see the finished creations! All the rainbow/blended areas are different inks I was playing with. |
Linking up with:
It helps me to read about your anxiety so I can be more sensitive to students today that experience that.
ReplyDeleteThose ages during summer were so fun for us, too. I am seeing late elementary/early middle school from your pics? I loved it all, really. My boys were hilarious and always making funny comments.
Yeah... 7 years ago they would have been... 9, 11, & 13.
DeleteI loved reading your answers and seeing the pictures from the summer of 2017! Those were the days, right? That's how I feel about my sons and all the fun memories we shared over the course of their childhoods. We have so much in common! This post about that particular summer could have been one I'd written about my own summer with my boys. We made the best of local opportunities that we had and though we did travel, it wasn't anything fancy. We camped in the fall and spring, sometimes we'd take a weekend trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, or we'd spend a week in Branson, Missouri. Still, those were the most fun times! We made such wonderful memories together.
ReplyDeleteWe almost always flew to Florida or went to see family in North Carolina. It's like I was chasing that summer weather.
DeleteThose cards are gorgeous! I would love to make art like this in my art journals. What kind of inks do you use? The memories from that special summer look and sound wonderful!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.kathrineeldridge.com
The 3 cards with the black leaf overlay are vellum sheets that I colored with alcohol ink brush pens and then I dotted 91% rubbing alcohol onto; the alcohol lifts up the inks and they sort of smear and blend together to look like watercolors. The 3 florally-looking cards in the front row use watercolor paper with water based ink pads. I applied the ink using a blender tool and then spritzing with a misting spray bottle. Again the water will lift some of the ink and give it a speckled effect this time.
DeleteI do keep (non-homemade, lol) cards on hand. That way if I suddenly remember that I forgot a birthday or occasion, I don´t have to go to the store to get one. Enjoyed reading your answers and seeing pictures from summer´s past!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI commented the same thing on Sara's post but seriously? Weren't the summers, when the kids were little, the best? I miss them sometimes and think about all of the fun little things we did and I find that the little things bring back the best memories :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I mean I enjoy summers with my teens but I so often feel like they don't want to do anything anymore. It's not true but I do have to be the one to ask and plan and cajole whereas our days used to just fly by when they were small.
DeleteWhat a fun summer that was! Newport is a great place for a field trip :)
ReplyDeleteIt sure is! We used to go up to Newport at least once every single summer.
DeleteMy mind went right back to childhood in terms of a favorite. As an adult I think the summer of 2007 was memorable as we were living overseas and had so many fun family trips that year. Summers on the lake are the best! Your cards are so pretty. I do keep cards on hand for things that pop up like illness. or a birthday I didn't remember. For family I always get personalized though. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteOh I bet that was very memorable!
DeleteThe summer of 2017 sounds so much fun! Trips to museums and libraries and a few art projects were always on our list of summer holiday activities. Nothing fancy but so many great memories. My boys are all grown up now but they still remember our nature walks, painting pet rocks and other crafty things we did. It's the simple things!
ReplyDeleteRuth@playworkeatrepeat
It really is! I love knowing my boys have all these happy, wonderful memories to look back on... even if I'm not always sure they remember them.
DeleteWhat a nice summer - love the pictures!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI keep meaning to join in with Hodgepodge Wednesdays but I never get around to it, one week I will.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great summer 2017 was for you! I loved the photos. I liked the age where my girls were mostly self sufficient but still wanted to do fun things.
It's hard for me to remember too since I tend to try and have my blog posts ready at least a week in advance!
DeleteYour #1 got me think about 2017 and that was a pretty good year for my kids too: they were 10, 7, and 4, respectively, and we got up to lots of fun that summer!
ReplyDeleteOh I bet!
DeleteAs always, your cards are soooo creative! I LOVE them! And yes, summers got so much better once the kids were a little more independent and we could do more fun things together, as opposed to me feeling like a cruise director!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you so much!
DeleteThose cards are beautiful. You summer of art, etc looks like so much fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteOh, gosh, when my girls were little...sigh. I miss those days. This was a lovely post, Joanne. ❤️
ReplyDeleteI sometimes miss those days but most days I'm content with the ages they are.
DeleteThat sounds like a wonderful summer so full of fun! We visited Charleston once and I really want to go back so badly!!
ReplyDeleteI should really try a Lemon Tiramisu recipe, I love the traditional Tiramisu but also love all things lemon so I think I would love it.
Fun card projects you are working on. I have a huge stash (stashes!!) of cards from design team work, I used to sell them but now I just keep most for future use. But the funny thing is, when I do need to send a card to someone, I usually have a specific idea in my mind so I make a new card. Maybe I should start up my etsy business again!!
I'd love to go back and really explore Charleston. I don't feel like we really did the area any justice as it was so darn hot and muggy that we hardly left the hotel a/c & pool!
DeleteOh summers are the best, with it without kids. We spend a lot of time with friends in summer.
ReplyDeleteYeah I am a summer girl at heart! That and fall are my two favorite seasons.
DeleteMarble House! My favorite of the Newport Mansions. I really miss living in Rhode Island.
ReplyDeleteIt's got a lot packed in it for such a small state!
DeleteFirst, I applaud you for Homeschooling! Bravo! Oh, and those wonderful summers with your children - it doesn't get much better than that! Lovely photos of joyous childhood.
ReplyDeleteI like your cards - you do good work. Very creative!
Aw, thank you!
DeleteWe had a similar issue with our garage door when the power went out recently. I enjoyed reading your answers. Summer holds so many great memories for me too.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThat really looked like a great summer. You are very creative. I do keep cards on hand. I used to mail many more cards than I do now. There is always creative thinking going on when a power outage hits. Sorry about how hard that door was to open!! An airconditioned shopping trip was a great alternative. Happy Hodgepodge to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat fun memories from one of your favorite summers, Joanne. And that lemon tiramisu looked heavenly. I love lemon desserts.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks!
DeleteI am just impressed with all the throwback pictures! I like a strawberry lemonade too.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI can see how your blog has helped you remember precious moments from your past. What a wonderful way to have had that happen. Isn't Charleston the best?
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
OH yes, the blog comes in so handy with helping me remember when things happened.
DeleteLoved all your "best summer" memories and photos! I think we did a great job of having awesome summers every year when we were homeschooling our kids too, and I had a hard time picking out anything as the "best". Two of my kids have anxiety issues, but honestly because we homeschooled, we didn't actually figure that out until they were in their late teens. Thankfully they have both learned some good coping skills, but I felt bad that I didn't realize what the problem was earlier. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThank you! They probably didn't have much anxiety while homeschooling; 2 of boys have a bit of anxiety but it so rarely crops up because they are so comfortable at home.
DeleteIt was such fun to read about so many of the fun summer activities you shared with your boys when they were growing up! Such great ideas!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteJust look at those images...and memories. Lovely to read and view Joanne! Denyse #TeamWWWhimsy
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks!
DeleteSome wonderful photographs and memories Joanne! Thank you for linking up with #WWWhimsy - best wishes for a wonderful weekend! xo
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThe pictures of your summer made me smile - I know those are sweet memories!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteAw all these happy times!! What great memories! I need to look up ice cube tie dyeing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! That ice cube tie dying was a lot of fun!
DeleteEnjoyed your answers. we homeschooeld and always vacationed in the off seasons..until they started playing HS soccer and then that was harder because girls play in the fall. I enjoyed your photos. The water balloon art looks fun.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI don't know how on earth anyone could ever pack for a trip without a list! I'd forget half of the stuff I needed without my list! Ha!
ReplyDeleteRight?! I live by my lists.
DeleteLove all of the summer pics. The cards are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHi Jo - you always have soooo many comments on your posts! Loved all your summer pics and the cards at the end are really pretty. My favourite lemon thing is lemon meringue pie - tangy and sweet and so delicious!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! I've never had lemon meringue pie...
DeleteThose summer activities look amazing! We had some really great summers in the past too. This summer? Not so much but also not the worst :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like our summer was boring but not bad.. I'll taking boring over a truly bad summer any day.
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