1.April 22nd is Earth Day…what’s the most ‘out of this world’ place on earth you’ve ever visited? Tell us something about it.

OK so obviously this could mean “far out!” like, so cool or “out of this world” indicating not like earth. So if we’re going in that vein, I’m picking the painted dessert/petrified forest. We saw about 4 different landscapes in one area and they all looked so surreal, like they didn’t belong here.

2.A favorite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it?

The first thing that came to mind was “Earth Angel” and I love the version from Back to the Future!

3.What’s the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion?

The use of ‘everyday’ as one word when it doesn’t need to be. The organization, Paralyzed Veterans of America has a billboard that says, “Making Heroes Everday” and it should be “every day”. Let it be known, I did email them. LOL.

4. What’s your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What’s the last thing you made using that tool?

Probably either the blender or air fryer, if not the primary spatula. I made eggs for Isaac last night but I know for sure one kid used the air fryer yesterday and Dakota made a smoothie while we walked. With three kids who can mostly fend for themselves, everything is getting used often!

5. Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me a great book of 3000 questions, and I’m going to try to use one in our Hodgepodge every week. Here is today’s – 

What is your greatest extravagance? 

That’s tough for me to answer because I cannot just spend willy-nilly. I have this thing in my brain that stops excessive…anything. I suppose some people might say we overspend on beer, but only because we seek out individual cans and these days, those are expensive! Used to be something like 2-4 dollars a piece but you’ve got some out there now ranging from 7-11 dollars – for one can! Aside from that, I look at getting a pedicure as an extravagance but to be honest, I only do it every 2 or so months. And when it only costs about 45 bucks, that’s a small price to pay. I guess we just aren’t very extravagant people.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Time is moving at both fast and slow paces and I cannot explain it. We have about 3.5 weeks of actual instruction time left in this school year. The week after is all finals and then we get one long weekend and three days of in-service. I am so busy that I have a long list of things to get done once I am in the clear. Though, fair to say, we’ll be on vacation a lot of June. So as soon as I am on break, i.e. May 29th, I have to start working. I’ll whittle down the list, I am sure of it. I just have to be organized.

It’s funny; this week didn’t seem like we had a lot going on and then… we did. I made dinner after running yesterday then took my daughter to Target and then got some cleaning done in the house. Tonight we have to fill 12 bottles with beer for an upcoming competition. Tomorrow is the NFL draft so, as per usual, we’ll have people over. We always do and you know, I don’t mind hosting, even if it is during the week. I am planning to make my amazing sausage balls (people go nuts for them and they’re just about the simplest thing) and I am also going to attempt a street corn dip. Anyone have a recipe they really like? I found a couple on Pinterest but figured I’d ask. Anyway, time to teach!