The Wednesday HOPS Baby!

The first HOP is from Patrice, at Everyday Ruralty, who hosts Wednesday Words of Weight Loss every Wednesday!  It's a fun HOP that offers encouragement and company on the issue of weight.  It's never too late to join!  Come on, this is your week to join in the FUN! 

Questions:1. What's your favorite day of the week? Why?  During the school year it's Wednesday because that's the day that the college lovelies come over for supper.  When school is out, I don't have a favorite.  And then, during football season, it's Sunday.

2. What was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a child?  Go to the swimming pool with my cousins.  Their mom took us and dropped us off every week day during the summer.  I still love swimming but wouldn't be caught dead in a bathing suit anymore!

3. Are you reading this on a laptop or desk top computer?  A laptop. 

 

4. Do you enjoy going to thrift shops/consignment shops or do you only purchase things new?  I usually purchase things new.  Not because I'm against thrift shops (consignment shops around here charge so much you might as well buy the stuff brand new) they just don't usually have things in elephant sizes. 

5.When was the last time you listened to a songbird singing?  Tucker and I listen every morning to the birds singing in the backyard.  And every morning I remember the times I spent the night with my grandmother and we would listen to the birds singing and she would tell me what they were singing about. 

Second is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   

1. What is something about living in this country that you value? 'This country' is whatever country you call home.  The Constitution because everything good and fair about our country is due to our founders and the ideals they incorporated into the constitution like basic human rights, justice and equality.  (and John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, the political philosophers from whom our founders drew their inspiration).  For example, women's rights.  What better country to live in and be female?  I love how the women in this country fought every step of the way for our equality without backing down regardless of the harsh (that's putting it mildly) obstacles that tried to stop them.  I have proudly taught my daughters the importance of this legacy.
Of course, my absolute favorite is the 14th amendment.

2. What is a favorite something you own that is red, white, and/or blue?  Everything that I have that is red is something I consider a favorite because RED is my favorite color.  I have a RED Kitchen-Aid mixer; a RED toaster; RED clothes; RED shoes; RED flowers in the garden...I just love RED! 

3. Do you fly a flag at your house on patriotic holidays?  Hubs does. My brother flies one every day.  I just don't think about it.  I do put up decorative flags for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter...

4. What ingredients do you think should be included in a great picnic basket?  Fried chicken, deviled eggs, potato salad, and cookies/cake/pie!  All the stuff that I am no longer eating.  Which is why we won't be having a picnic this weekend!  HOWEVER, a romantic picnic for two is an entirely different story- for this I usually go with fresh berries, a French loaf, some cheese, a bottle of wine, some passion...  Maybe we'll be having a picnic this weekend after all! 

5. What is one interesting piece of trivia you know? Interesting is of course a relative term.  This is local trivia.  There is a HUGE painting hanging in city hall on the four corners of law in downtown Charleston of George Washington and a horse.  The artist, John Trumbull, who was commissioned to paint the piece in 1791 was insulted by the powers that be of the time because they rejected his first painting.  Trumbull painted another portrait containing Washington in his full stature of 6' 3" on the banks of Haddrell's Point with the skyline of Charleston behind him and surrounded by local flora and fauna.  The commission was paid and Trumbull agreed to send the portrait after making a few touch-ups.  Trumbull actually added a horse to the portrait but it is out of proportion to Washington.  AND the horse's rear end positioned facing the viewer with HIS TAIL RAISED.  And just under the raised tail of the horse is a boat of Charleston dignitaries.  The portrait is known as Trumbull's Revenge.  The story goes that, when the portrait was unveiled in July 1792, the gallery immediately and in unison replied in a manner so very true to Charleston--they all gasped, "Oh my."  The Smithsonian has been trying for decades to acquire the painting but Charleston has never given it up.  I guess the lesson is- don't piss off the artist.  This is one of my favorite stories about Charleston!

Oh, and did you know that the place called The Slave Market was NOT where slaves were sold?  This particular injustice occurred at the customs house.   

6. Wednesday, May 24th is National Escargot day...have you ever tried them? Eww or ooh? That's a real big EWW!  All of my girls and Hubs have had them and they like them.  I am NOT going to try those things no matter what.  Ewww!  YUCK!  GROSS!

7. What is one thing you know for sure?  Things change and it's not always for the best. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.  It is HOT here and that means I might have an attitude problem.  My saving grace is the wonderfully delightful ocean breeze that blows every day.  Tucker and I were out at 7:00 am this morning for our walk and it was already hot!  If anybody in this town who complains about winter temperatures says one word about how hot it is...I might punch them.