1. August 19th is National Aviation Day. Do you like to fly? Last time you were on an airplane? The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk or Dayton, Ohio? I don’t’ mind flying but I would not say I enjoy it. I used to enjoy it much more but TSA and/or government regulations have sucked all the fun out of flying. Huge sigh. I flew last year (a couple of times) and will fly again in 16 days! Yes, I’m counting:) I have never been to Kitty Hawk or to Dayton. Cannot say that either one is on my bucket list.
2. In what area of your life do you tend to ‘wing it’? Is this an area you should be winging? I don’t think I wing it too often. That typcially requires spontaneity, creativity and the ability to be flexible. I’m rather short on all three of those. I suppose I would say I often (ok, just about always) wing it at the grocery and with meal planning. And I’m totally okay with that. I used to plan, and overplan, our meals. And the grocery lists to go with it. It was time-consuming but it was helpful when my kiddos were young. It could also lead to friction. I wasn’t exactly flexible with dinner plans either. If “winging it” means I’ve become much more accomodating, then I will take it. Side note: I asked my family where I and/or we tend to wing it. They looked at me confused. “We are Smiths. We do not wing it.” I guess I’m in good company:)
3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way? I’m terrible with titles but I’ll Fly Away quickly comes to mind as does the USAF’s theme, Wild Blue Yonder. No real reason for either one of them…and two completely different genres, etc., but I’ll stick with both as my answer.
4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream…what’s your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge? I would like to say gelato but since I never, ever get gelato, I will go with old fashioned ice cream. There was a time when soft serve was my pleasure but, these days, I enjoy “regular” ice cream. Although we have had very little ice cream this summer. Hard to believe. But if we were to go for ice cream, I like any flavor with plenty of nuts and/or other add-ins. Rocky road. Moose tracks. Or even just cookie dough or cookies and cream. Clearly, I’m not too picky!
5. I never get tired of…..summer!! Honestly, I would like for that to be my answer. And it is the first thing that popped into my mind. However, if I’m honest with myself, I am just about ready for a change. I really would look forward to fall – if it did not bring winter! I will not go there, but I do think I will be ready for a little change in seasons. When it gets here, but let’s not rush it. That said, I might also say that I never get tired of…
![]()
![]()
![]()
photographing trees in bloom – I have soooo many of these types of pictures on my phone!

![]()
![]()
the morning sunlight when it streaks the house with light, or


views of the lake…any lake:) These are from our recent trip to the lake. The title photo above was the view from our balcony while on vacation several years ago. (I was in Heaven!!) I have plenty more lake photos, if you would like.
6. Insert your own random thought here. Apparently, I’m not a quick thinker on my feet. It takes me awhile to digest/meditate on a question before I have a good answer. A thorough answer. Or just an answer. This happens with the Hodge Podge. While writing my posts, I read the questions and often I simply cannot think of anything that resembles an answer. However, three days later or even a week later, answers fitting the question are coming to mind right and left. (Surely this has nothing to do with the age of my brain.) For example, recently we were thinking of things we would do or try if we were not scared. I way overthought that question (there is a clue to the problem) and could not think of anything. Just in the last week, I have thought to myself, on multiple occassions, “I would try that…if I weren’t so scared.” I would go back to school and learn a foreign language. I would finish my ASL classes. I would color my hair a different color. I might (MIGHT) even consider doing something about these huge frown lines around my mouth. And I would love to rent electric scooters and zoom around DC. Oh my…huge sigh. Not sure any of those will ever happen. I’m a bigger scaredy-cat than I realized!!
I’m glad you popped in today. Not sure I will make too many blog visits this week while I am out of town. And no post for Friday. I will look forward to catching up next week! Have a blessed finish to your week!!