Wednesday HodgePodge

I'm playing along with the Wednesday Hodgepodge because I liked this week's questions again! You can join in by heading to this blog. 

1. Are you feeling more reset, restart, or full speed ahead as we move into May? Tell us why. 

Full speed ahead.  The hiking season promises to be a good one, and we have many fun events other than hiking planned, not just with my hiking group, but with my immediate family and close friends. Spring has sprung and May is a beautiful time of year here in eastern New York State. 

2. Painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, cinema, theatre, music...what's your favorite form of art? Elaborate.  

Personally, to do, I prefer classical piano.   I practice often and majored in piano for my undergrad Music Education degree. I also prefer going to a good symphony orchestra concert vs any other type of concert. We are fortunate that for just $25 a concert, we can get lawn tickets every August to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra which does its summer residency at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. My youngest daughter and I also splurge on NYCBallet tickets every July when the ballet company does their summer residency here. 

But I also love to watch: 

Ballet.  (why was Dance left off this list??! 😂 Did you know classical ballet is considered an art form as well as a sport?)  Our youngest daughter is labeled "gifted" in classical ballet/pointe. (by 3 different instructors/professors).  She has been dancing since age 3 and minored in ballet at UNH.  She also auditioned each year  for the UNH Ballet Company and got in each year. Although she also studied tap and jazz as an elementary child, she flourished in classical ballet and then began lyrical ballet at age 12 performing in many musicals at church as well as for the dance studio. Lyrical is beautiful to watch, but I definitely preferred seeing her on pointe. Once she's fully established in her career as an optician, she may try to join a ballet company for fun. 

3. What time is dinner at your house? How do you feel about leftovers? 

Dinner at our home is typically between 6:15-6:45.  If we go out, it's usually between 6:30-7:30 unless we are having a late lunch/early dinner but that's rare. 

As for leftovers: now that both girls are on their own, I have had to learn to cook for just the 2 of us. We rarely have leftovers unless I've made a slow cooker meal such as  the Stuffed Pepper Soup we like (it makes 8-10 servings!) so we then use the leftovers for lunches the rest of the week or one of the girls will dash over to get some leftovers.  

4.What's the last thing you fell down a rabbit hole investigating? 

Finding  the "perfect" Air BnB for an Adirondack excursion with my oldest daughter this summer. Still looking.....now wondering which village we're going to end up in because that "rabbit hole" led to some cute little cottages throughout the Adirondack mountains! 

5. And now for a question from the book Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me...

At what are you 'self-taught?' 

I'm naturally left handed but taught myself to print my name with my right hand, play tennis/softball/ping pong, etc with my right hand and I've always cut with my right hand as well as iron with my right hand. My oldest daughter is actually ambidextrous so maybe I am too but I like to think I taught my self to print right handed. 😏

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

our front yard

It's odd that our cherry trees have bloomed in full about 2 weeks early this year, seeing as how we had a LONG, cold winter here in NYS! 

But I'm thrilled that the blossoms have opened and the scent is heavenly. 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!