Swallow and the Hodge Podge

Sunday, since it was a gorgeous day outside,  Hubs and I went for a walk through Douglas-Hart Nature Center. One trail led up to an area preserved to look like the prairie did when settlers first moved here.

 I took this picture and then saw a bird land on the bird house. 

The swallow perched there, looking around, waiting long enough for me to take a couple of shots.

He wasquite a distance away, but you get the idea.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday


Moving on to today's Hodge Podge questions...

1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Are you blooming where you're planted as we begin the month of May?

The most prolific blooms here are from the dandelions. I drove past a field Sunday that was about 50% yellow. I don't have any flowers blooming in the yard yet, but there are blossoms on the flowering trees. 

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no big deal, and 10 being full scale panic, rank your fear of spiders.

10! I once saw a spider about as large as my fist (or so it seemed at the time) crawling across the floor toward my son's bedroom. It was late at night and I was home alone. I was afraid to stomp on it or hit it with something for fear it would jump on me. I ran into the kitchen and searched through a cabinet for some kind of bug or spider killer...nothing! I grabbed a can of oven cleaner and ran back to the spider. I sprayed most of the can on him. He was covered in foam and still crawling. As I watched I saw he was slowing down... slower...slower...and then came to a full stop. His legs gradually curled up under him, signaling his demise. I went outside to get the shovel, scooped him up and deposited him outside in the edge of the woods. I now know it was a harmless Wolf Spider, but at the time I had no idea. In my mind he was a tarantulla and I was afraid it was going to eat my prescious little boy. 

3. May is National Salad Month (who knew???)...besides lettuce, what are two must-have ingredients in your favorite salad?

In the winter - cucumbers and celery. In the summer - fresh garden tomatoes and cucumbers.

4. I mentioned on my blog last week that my Daughter1 will be moving to Washington State after she is married. Of the following sites in the Northwest, which would you most like to see in person-Crater Lake (Oregon), Seattle (Washington), Vancouver (British Columbia), San Juan Islands (Washington),  Mt. Rainer (Washington) Oregon Coast (Oregon), Mt. St. Helens (Washington), or Olympic National Park (Washington)

This is one of the areas I've never visited. I once flew in to Seattle for a job interview, but only saw the area from the ariport to downtown. I didn't take the job. I decided it was too far away from my family. So, I would pick Seattle to explore first and then head out to each of the other areas mentioned. Because if I go that far and spend that much money on air fare, may as well get my money's worth.

5. This coming weekend marks the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby...when did you last race (literally or figuratively) to cross a finish line?

High school track. I like to catch trains when driving down a road beside a railroad track, but there isn't a finish line.

6. What is something little you love?

I have a pocket watch that belonged to my paternal grandmother. My grandfather gave it to her as a wedding gift. It doesn't work, but it is beautiful and the sentimental value is way up in the millions.

7. Would you say you are more of a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Elaborate.

Kinesthetic. I can watch someone else do something or be told how to do it, but it will not stay with me unless I do it myself and then practice. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about retirement lately. Some of my friends are retiring or have retired.  I've pretty much decided I'm against it. It sounds nice in theory, but I think I would miss the daily routine. It isn't a decision I have to make today. Perhaps by the time I arrive at that magical age I will be ready.


Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge