Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Wednesday Hodgepodge - 07/13/16

I’m joining the fun this week…. 
Sitting on the porch and answering random questions about everything under the sun….

Joyce asks the questions.
We answer the questions.



1. Do you find yourself influencing your world, or is it more the other way around? 

Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA
Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA

At the moment it is more the other way around. Moving recently to a small mountain town from a large city has forced me to slow down and adjust to "mountain time".  Everything moves slower here...traffic, check-out lines, response to phone inquiries, service at the drive-thru, and conversation with the friendly mountain folk. I've had to adjust my thinking and practice patience in this new environment.  

2. July 14th is National Tape Measure Day...the device was patented on this date in 1868. When did you last use a tape measure? Do you always know where to find one in your house? Tell us one way in which you feel blessed 'beyond measure'. 

Last week I used one to measure the space in our reading nook so I could order a low-rise bookcase.  During my career with the Home Depot, I was a project manager working on new store construction sites. I was never without my Stanley tape measure on my hip or my pink hard hat on my head.  A tape measure is never far from reach even today, we have at least a dozen all over the house, I received many as vendor give-away gifts and in goody bags during my career. 

I've been blessed by being able to retire at an early age. I worked hard to achieve this goal.


3.The Plaza Hotel (Eloise), The Land of Oz (The Wizard of Oz), Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia), The Hundred Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh), Wonderland (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), or Never Never Land (Peter Pan)...which storybook land (on this list!) would you most like to visit and why? 

Narnia


Narnia would be my first choice. I've always imagined animals talking and what they would say in various situations.  In Narnia the animals could tell me what they think of humans and the world around them. I'm sure we could learn a lot from their perspective and instinct. 


4. Where and when do you get your best ideas?

Jewelry inspired by nature


I'm at my best in the morning sitting outside on the porch.  I get my best ideas from nature; I'm currently building my inventory for a craft show that I will be a vendor in September.

5.  So what have you been watching on TV this summer? Anything good? 



I've been watching Flea Market Flip on HGTV.  Two teams compete for $5000 by creating repurposed items from Flea Market finds. The team that sells their repurposed items with the biggest return on investment wins. I love the creativity and banter between the teams.

6. 'Don't swim for an hour after you eat', 'Dog days of summer', 'Knee high by the Fourth of July'...choose a summer saying from the list or share one of your own, then tell us what image or memory comes to mind when you hear it spoken.

Flying Pig
My Flying Pig 

"When pigs fly" was heard at family gatherings and on the family farm ...when I hear it today, I think of my Grandmother.  She had many folk art statues inside and outside the farmhouse; many were pigs (flying and dancing).  I have one flying pig in honor of Nonnie's love of pigs.

7. In a single sentence, sum up one life lesson you've learned. 

"You reap what you sow" was a sermon I heard by Dr Frank Harrington, it was a turning point in my life; if you want to have deep relationships, you need to give as much as you receive.  

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

As I said above, I'm getting ready to show/sell my jewelry at a craft fair.  I'm changing the look of my booth this season, I've ordered several display pieces (neck forms, necklace rack, hand forms...etc...).  I'm very disappointed with the quality of the items I've received; bent arms, broken pieces, parts that don't fit, and screws that are too short.  What has happened to quality control? Is pride in workmanship a thing of the past? I wouldn't be mentioning this if it was just one item, I had  an issue with everything I bought. Luckily my Sweetie is a handy guy and was able to fix everything with the exception of one item that was badly dented.  As a crafter of handmade items, I take great pride in creating quality items with the best materials I can find. I wish everyone felt the same way!  

If you are in Tennessee, stop by the show I'm participating in...

The Traveling Bazaar's Barn Sale
  

Cheers!
Lori In Blue Ridge, GA


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23 comments:

  1. Enjoyed your answers. What a nice area you live in. Have a beautiful day. smiles

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  2. Hi,
    Good luck at the market. This year is my first year selling my Fresh Cut Flowers at a Farmer Market.
    I love the first photo. Well Done!
    Carla

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    1. Good luck at the farmers market! I love purchasing flowers there, they are always fresh cut and will last a few days longer than store bought.
      Lori

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  3. I had every intention of thanking you for stopping by my blog last Wednesday, but have been limited with the time I spend on the computer since my neck surgery. I have enjoyed visiting with you and am so impressed with your handiwork. The jewelry is beautiful and I trust your craft show experience will be very rewarding.

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    1. THanks Elizabeth, I hope your neck is healing quickly, I know what a pain in the neck can do to your daily routine. Feel better!
      Cheers!
      Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

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  4. AnonymousJuly 13, 2016

    Thanks for stopping by my blog today. We were just driving through Georgia on our way to Knoxville; really pretty up there!

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    1. I love Knoxville too, have a great time!
      Lori

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  5. So happy you joined us for Hodgepodge! I see you live in Blue Ridge. My family and I are coming there in a few weeks for our family vacation. We plan to go horseback riding, white water rafting, hiking, etc...and even to Swan Drive-In. Cannot wait! Good luck with your craft fair! I'm your newest follower!

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    1. THanks for following me! I always wonder if anyone is actually reading what I post. It's been fun joining the hodgepodge group, many great folks on hodgepodge. I know you'll have a great time in B.R., drop me a line if you have any questions or need any help while you are here.
      Cheers!
      Lori in Blue Ridge, GA
      lori.dorrington@yahoo.com

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  6. Sounds like you live in a lovely place and good for you, retiring early. Now, getting to enjoy life in the slow lane. Would love to see your jewelry but don't think I can make the show. I think I've already asked if you have an Etsy shop.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by my blog again, I do have an Etsy shop:

      https://www.etsy.com/shop/LorisGlassworks?ref=si_shop

      Have a great week!
      Lori

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  7. I am in my 60's and never heard that expression about pigs flying until a few years ago. I like it. I also believe the truth about your life lesson. I think living in a small mountain town sounds lovely and I like the pic of Main St.

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    1. Hi Nonnie, thanks for stopping by my blog today, I'm really enjoying Hodgepodge, so many great bloggers. Have a good week!
      Lori

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  8. Best wishes at the show, Lori. I'm sorry the items you received were a disappointment. It seems it is a rarity these days to find people that with a pride in workmanship. After witnessing a scene between a manager and a worker at the local Walmart, I understand exactly how poor quality gets through. This particular manager was yelling at the poor boy that he wasn't paid to put the items where they belonged, he was paid to get them off the floor. In other cases, people are just too lazy and don't care. In still others, they are being rushed along and not allowed to take the time they need to do the job properly. It is unfortunate all the way around.

    I love the images of your jewelry with the flowers. Beautiful!

    I think having animals that talk would be great. I often do voices for the kitties around here, but we have actually had some of them speak before, too. Generally, it has been at the moment of them crossing over into Rainbow Bridge. On several occasions, we've had a kitty say, "Mama". I wish that they could always talk, or that we could at least understand what they're saying.

    Have a blessed day.

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    1. Hi Suzanne, thanks for stopping by blog today, and best wishes for my upcoming show, i'm really looking forward to it. We do voice overs for our cat Buddy all the time. He is a funny little cat and tries to get his point across with various meows and head butts. Life around here would be boring without our little Buddy. Have a great week!
      Lori

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  9. AnonymousJuly 13, 2016

    Hi there! First time visiting, and just wow! Loved all of your answers. The picture at the top of your blog...Main Street...bliss. I love the saying, "You reap what you sow." I see this with my high school students every day. This is a very hard lesson for them to learn. Good luck at the craft fair!

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    1. Thanks for visiting my blog today, Blue Ridge is a lovely little town, the photo captures it perfectly. We have teenage grandchildren, I know what you mean, they are a bit self centered at this age..."it's all about me" is a common theme. LOL Have a great week!
      Lori

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  10. Life in a quiet mountain town sounds nice. It is hard for me to adjust to a slower pace when I travel south. I agree quality control isn't what it used to be.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my post, I really love the hodgepodge community and look forward to future surveys.
      Lori

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  11. I hope the show goes well, Lori. Quality products are hard to find. I think we've traded quality for quantity. I like your flying pig. It's interesting what causes something to make an impression on us, especially life lessons.

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  12. Like your answer to #7. Hope your back is easier.

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  13. I'm late visiting, better late than never. My life is slower since we moved to Hooterville. I always talk to the dogs, and wish they would tell me what's really on their minds.

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