Who am I? A wife for almost 40 years. A mom for over 36 years. A sister and a friend, of course. Each of these help describe me. But, even more, I have been a Christian since accepting Him as my Savior when I was 12 years old and, this truth defines each area of my life. I have enjoyed some mountain top experiences but have been through some very deep valleys as well. Valleys of incredible grief and even pits of depression. However, most of my days are ordinary, routine kind of days. But in every one of my days, God has been faithful. He has walked with me whatever the day. He strengthens, comforts, encourages and blesses me with life "most abundant."

A favorite life verse: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Why do I write? Though not quite as private as my dad, I am definitely my father's daughter. I find it difficult to share. And to let others in. But I do love to write. I love to put words into sentences and sentences in paragraphs that help express my thoughts. I hope my words help me share my heart. Share the life that God has given me and all that He has done for me and through me. I write with the hope of giving Him at least a bit of the glory He is due.

A verse to guide my writing: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:7

The Perfect Summer Combination and A Major Aggravation

Posted on By jennifer

Happy Hump Day!!  And here we are at the middle of July!  The middle of summer – wow!  It is supposed to be another scorcher today.  Summer is in full swing…and this is my happy season:)  So much to soak in and so little time!  Time for some Hodge Podge today and we are starting with a summer question.

1. “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.”    Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January?  I don’t like to sit still (or be too lazy) in summer.   In my opinon, summer is energetic and full of life.  I don’t want to waste that energy too long.  Of course, I like to take advantage of summer’s long days and the evenings are usually reserved for summer lazin’.  January is much more suited for hunkering down inside.  For extra (lazy) time under a quilt and/or in front of the fire.  And I don’t feel one bit guilty about doing so in the winter:)  Lazy is much more respectable in the winter.  In my humble (summer lovin’) opinion.

2. What’s a telltale sign you’re upset? I usually become taciturn.  Stop talking and then, if I am able, I retreat.  Go to my room, for instance, and close the door.  I like to be alone when I am upset.  Obviously that is not always possible but I can always (99% of the time) go quiet.

3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative? I know this will make me sound old but, when it comes to AI, not only am I a skeptic but I’m simply not a fan.  Have I used it?  A few times but really just for the novelty of it.  It worries me that there will soon be a generation that knows only AI.  Will be spoon fed information.  The wizard behind the AI curtain is not unbiased or impartial.  And the threat of jobs being eliminated, deepfakes becoming more common, security breaches and tracking are all legitimate concerns.

4. You’re invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing? I usually put my name under the dessert category.  They are easy and they are so many to choose from.  Right now, I would probably choose something with fresh fruit.  Blueberry and lemon is a favorite combination.  I think it is perfect for summer and it sounds very refreshing right about now!

5. It wouldn’t be summer without soft-serve ice cream.  I have to admit, our ice cream runs have not been as frequent as they normally are but we aren’t doing without, to be sure.  I really don’t enjoy ice cream any other time except during the summer months and when eaten outside.  Summer humidity just kicks it up a notch:)

6. Insert your own random thought here.  We have mice.  Or, a mouse.  Ugh.  In the summer!?!  Several years ago (in the fall), we had a terrible mice problem.  We got rid of the mice and thought we had thoroughly posted “no vacancy” warnings for all the little rodents.  We’ve not seen a mouse, or evidence of one, in years.  Until yesterday.  Why??  Tomorrow we are calling in the professionals.  And what is it about such a tiny critter that is so unnerving?  I do not like mice.  Especially in my basement!!  Here’s hoping for a quick resolution…..

Hodge Podge

Comments (27)

  1. I am. not a fan of mice on the loose indoors either. I hope the professionals find the solution. They can get in to the tiniest of spaces. I agree with your thoughts on AI. The fact that it’s often wrong and when called out on said error simply replies with ‘oops you’re right’ is truly concerning. It is most definitely not unbiased. Have a great day! I hope there’s ice cream on the menu : )

    1. Exactly. I second your comments. Of mice on the loose, goofy AI and let’s have ice cream today!! Thanks for the Hodge Podge today!!

  2. We haven’t had mice in the house, but they have gotten into the detached garage and the shed. What a mess! Not a fan of AI because it takes away from one’s developing of thinking skills and lots of fakes and/or imitations out there from it. I eat ice cream year-round, but I truly enjoy it during the dog days of summer. Happy Wednesday, Jennifer!

  3. I’m definitely with you, Friend, when it comes to AI and for the same reasons as you listed.
    I’m sorry to hear about the mice problem. That happened to us a couple of summers ago. It’s definitely not fun!
    Hope you survive this heatwave. Air conditioning is a wonderful invention.! xx

  4. Mice! Oh yes, we had that problem a few years ago. Mind you we have a cat. The mouse was eating the cats food!! Ha! Our cat did nothing about it.
    I appreciate how you answered #3. Agree!!

  5. I am the same when I am upset. When I go quiet people know to give me space.
    Deepfakes, that is the word I was looking for when I was writing about AI. It is a worry that it knows too much!
    Eek to the mice! I hope you can get rid of them soon.

  6. We have never had mice in our house but I did see ONE in our garage one time. I hope you get your problem sorted out. We had them a lot in our drafty farm house growing up and I can still hear their scampering footsteps. YUCK! Agree with everything you said about AI. I did find it legitimately useful for when I had to teach math and needed guidance on how to do explain the steps. Other than that, it’s all been novelty use for me. I can make a case for “lazy” in the summer or winter (or maybe it’s because I love to read so much and I have to justify laziness in order to justify how much reading I do, lol). Have a great day!

    1. Doing math? Even teaching it? Bless you. I definitely think I would be willing to turn to AI for that!! Have a good day friend!

  7. Ugh, mice! They can be such a nuisance! We have them in our shop and they are hard to get rid of. I could relate to your answers especially about the lazy question and AI . I’m clueless but have found answers to that question helpful. Hope you have a beautiful day and that you will be free from mice soon!

  8. I can’t stand mice in my home or yard. Last year, we had giant field rats take over our yard, and I was freaked out. These beasts were massive, feasting on all the birdseed like it was their personal buffet. We had to call in the big guns because our “humane” approach just convinced them we were pushovers, and they responded by inviting the whole extended family over for dinner. Now we live in peace.
    Enjoyed your answers as always!

    1. Yes, we are calling in some professional help. The big guns:) I’m glad your yard is rat free. That would be awful!! So glad you stopped by, Debby!!

  9. I am so with you on soft serve ice cream!! I also agree with your points about AI. Fun answers to this week’s Hodgepodged! Happy hump day!

  10. I share your feelings with AI. It may have some benefit but it’s getting scary and taking away our ability to use our brains. My kids can’t believe I lived in a time where there was no internet, so I can agree that one day there will be a generation who won’t know how to live without AI. Oh, we have mice too! When we get rid of one there’s another one and they are only staying in the kitchen. It’s driving my dog crazy. I hope the professionals are able to help you get rid of the problem. It may soon come to that for us.

  11. Oh yuck, I hate when I see evidence of a mouse anywhere in the house– garage, basement, etc. it doesn’t matter where they are I don’t want them here. I hope you get them taken care of soon. I was just thinking the other day that we haven’t had any soft serve ice cream yet this year. We have a place out near us that makes incredible soft serve sundaes with the longest list of toppings and mix ins that you can imagine and I just LOVE going there. But we haven’t made a trip there yet.

  12. Hey Jennifer, I’m loving these lazy days of summer. They balance out all the travel and excitement. Roll all the days together and I’ll look back and think this was the best summer EVER!

    Enjoying ice cream with you, friend.

  13. I was all set to comment until I reached mice. Oh the horrid monsters. I wish most of my issues were mice, but in Florida we get rats. Mice are just too small. I even hate any Christmas decoration featuring the horrible creatures. My daughter’s house completed flooded a few years back because one got in and ate through the water line going to the dishwasher. We seem to get them in the winter. We have new poison boxes all around the house that we got from the pest control. The dogs and good animals can’t get to the poison; the mice/rats.
    Now, your answer to #1 I could have written. I try to make a list of things to do in winter to keep me awake at night. Last year I did a lot of scanning in photos every evening. I am a summer girl to the max. I found a recipe in Southern Living way back in the 80’s called Fire and Ice Tomatoes. It is a vinegary sauce with a little red pepper action that goes over tomatoes and cucumbers. I hate it because I don’t like vinegar, but I take it to all summertime events and everyone loves it. I am also the dessert girl.

  14. No fun with the mice. We’re having bat issues. Not fun. I enjoyed your answers. Ice cream in the summer is needed.

  15. We have had mice but thankfully not now.
    It wouldn’t be summer without lighting bug watching on the porch.
    I have more energy in the summer.
    Cathy

  16. I have always found Mid July to be a lazy time for me. It begins to be way too hot in my area. We actually are advised most years to avoid being outdoors from 8:30-7:30 lol in my area. I laugh because that is impossible for most. I do tend to get up early knock things out and be more “lazy/relaxed” in the afternoon and then I will get moving again around 4 to 4:30. So, it is custom to be more chill in the afternoons here in my area in July and first of August. But with school now going to year-round and starting in July it has changed the pace. Actually, the kids don’t even go outside for recess in July and most of August due to heat. So, weird! I do also think of January the same way.

  17. I haven’t had a mouse in the house since my student days. I lived on the first floor and it still found a way in. Not a good memory.
    Neither haveI had as much ice cream this year. I want to lose some pounds but the very hot weather has made me relent some days.
    Summerpot luck would have to be dessert but something citrus and refreshing I think.
    I can see that there are benefits to AI but I am very wary that it is open to abuse and not always 100% reliable. I would not use it as my first or only source of information.
    Have a lovely weekend whether it is a lazy one or not. 😊

  18. Nope, mice are no bueno. At least not in our homes. Hope you have gotten some help by now.
    I totally agree about AI. I think we are in big trouble with this. It is incredible to me how pictures/videos can be created or altered to look like anything. Just crazy. Creepy. And so misleading, so deceitful. Are we going to have a generation of people who can’t write a complete sentence without AI input? Then there’s the Meta data center being built in my backyard to accommodate AI. Heaven help us.

    Leslie at https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafteragain.blogspot.com/

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