An Ode to Summer Hodgepodge

Jumping in with Joyce, our hostess with the mostest, over at From This Side of the Pond for the Wednesday Hodgepodge!

1. It's National Waffle Day (August 24th)...what decision are you currently 'waffling over'? (or share one you've recently 'waffled over')  I can't really think of anything I'm waffling on or have waffled on recently.

2. It's the middle of August, but I'm already seeing lots of autumn-related posts. Do you think we rush the seasons? Yes, I do.  I blame the retail chains. If so, does that bother you? It does, except for autumn, which is my favorite time of year, so I'm always ready for it to come and sad to see it go.  I saw (here) an end of summer bucket list that included-

make s'mores, read a new (or favorite) book in the park, eat something delicious and bad for you at a state fair, be a tourist for the day, have a pot luck picnic, book a last minute summer getaway, relax by or in the pool, take a hike to watch the sunset, have a day on the lake, try a new summer recipe

Which activities on the list might you squeeze in before summer officially comes to a close? Well, school starts on Monday so I will be going back to work.  That doesn't leave me much time. (Yes, I know it isn't officially fall until late September, but Labor Day has always drawn the line for me.)  I guess of those, trying a new summer recipe has the best chance of happening in the next couple of days.

3. Your favorite summertime 'art' found in nature?  Oh my....so many things of beauty in the world!

4. Stephen R. Covey is quoted as saying 'We judge ourselves by our intentions, and others by their actions.' Agree or no? Sort of.  I agree that we tend to judge ourselves by our best intentions, but I don't think we always wait for the actions of others to make up our minds about them. I think we are quick to jump on what we think we know about them.  That's why this country is being so divided by this election.  People are making broad, sweeping assumptions about entire groups of people often times with little more than emotion to base it on.  Not all groups are pure good or pure evil.  There are always going to be exceptions to the rule.  Do you define yourself based on your intentions, your actions, or something else?  Probably a mix of both. 

5. Are you useful in a crisis? Elaborate.  I think so.  I had some search and rescue training years ago when I was in Civil Air Patrol.  Combined with my ability to keep calm in the midst of a crisis (I internalize the stress), I can do what I have to do and fall apart later if it comes to that.

6. What's been your go-to dish this summer? Is it something you'll continue making as the seasons change?  My husband is hooked on the broiled zucchini slices I've been making.  I can't blame him....they are as addictive as crack!  You can find the recipe here.  Yes, I will keep making it.

7. Adult coloring books are a thing now. Have you jumped on the bandwagon? If not is this something you think you might enjoy?  I have several but I really only like one of them. It has simpler pictures.  Some of the adult books have designs that are so intricate I actually find them stressing rather than relaxing.  I recently discovered the Inspire Bible, a journaling Bible that already has designs for you to color on half the pages. I really want to get it.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. This summer's never-ending-saga of the truck may finally be at an end.  After having it at his garage for a week, a cousin of mine is sure he has found the problem.  At first he thought it was the part we had just paid $8000 to replace in April, but did a LOT more diagnostics and narrowed it down to a fuel injection rod (or something close to that).  So....rather than thousands of dollars, we are looking at hundreds.  Now the question is whether the part will arrive in time to be installed so I can have my car to go to work on Monday.  If not, Mom has said I can use her car, but man, I hate to have to do that.  We sure are praying this is it and that the truck will then last until we can pay off the loan and trade it in.