Daring Adventures

 

us on one of our adventures

Today I am using Joyce's Hodgepodge questions as the springboard for this post. (click on the link if you want to answer her questions on your own blog)

She starts us off on the topic of adventure. My yellowed copy of Roget's College Thesaurus gives the following words that could be used in place of adventure: enterprise, undertaking, happening, event, risk, hazard, venture. Also chance, embark upon, and dare. (see DANGER)

1. What does adventure mean to you? I'm thinking it means something out of the ordinary, a little mysterious, perhaps with some measure of danger and/or unpredictability. It can be planned as a departure from the usual way of doing things, or it can be a surprise, either pleasant, or not. 

From the beginning of my association with Gary, that led to our marriage, we have had adventure. Others who have traveled the world might think it's an exaggeration of the word to describe it so, but for the two of us at this stage in our lives, yes, it's been an adventure. 

Shutterstock image

I suspect (and frankly, rather hope) that our days on a zip line are over, in spite of the fact that it was fun and certainly something out of the norm for me. (note: I had to insert a graphic from the Internet because when on a zip line, that's no time to be fiddling with a camera -- at least not for me!)

us on the Rainbow River

Gently gliding down lazy rivers in a kayak and a canoe may (or may not) be the last for us (there are alligators hiding in the grasses along the bank). I wouldn't mind more air boat rides (we've done two).  

10-foot gator in the Florida Everglades
from the air boat

Then there was the time where I pulled out all the stops and pinned Gary's ears to the sides of his head as we swirled around at break-neck speed on a large lake in a two-seater catamaran boat -- now that I'd do again! Gary had to hold on for dear life after he insisted I take the helm and off we went!!! THAT's adventure to me!

photo taken by our tour guide
before I cut loose on the throttle

2. What are your thoughts on tipping? What businesses or service providers do you regularly tip? Do you resent being asked if you'd like to add a tip? What about when a suggested amount is presented?

The summer after I graduated from high school, I was a waitress in a coffee shop. The tips at the end of a shift were heavy in my uniform pockets and what's not to love about that?!! At a sit-down restaurant I do tip and if a suggested amount is on the check, I take that as a help to not have to do the math in my head. I do rather resent being asked if I want to add a tip -- seems kinda cheeky to me, and especially if all they did was to punch in some numbers to place my order. It's not like they also had to keep tabs on when my food was ready and then had to carry a heavy tray of plates to my table.

Simply Dipped Drumstick
(ice cream cone from Publix)

3. I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream... do we? Is ice cream a favorite treat at your house? What's your favorite flavor? Regular, soft serve, gelato, sherbet, or some sort of non-dairy version of ice cream... what's your pleasure?

Vanilla is my favorite, but also mint and just about any other flavor will do. Sherbet is a favorite with me, too, as well as raspberry sorbet. Lactose-free vanilla ice cream is also very good.

front gate to the farm house

4. What's your 'back in my day, we _______' story or saying?

I will begin my reply to this question with some snapshots taken this week from our visit to the Dudley Farm National Historic Landmark. Taking another glimpse into "old Florida," as they like to say around here, we thoroughly enjoyed walking freely through the farm house and many out buildings on this large family farm. We had a printed brochure as our guide and since it was on a Thursday morning, there were no other guests around. We greatly enjoyed the quiet freedom to browse where, and for as long as, we wanted. 

Visitor's Center

A very interesting visitor's center was the starting point that had a video documenting the family's history and many artifacts from daily and farm life. On that video the youngest of the 12 children in the Dudley family (all now deceased) gave a brief overview of the farm and the changes they made over the years as the passage of time required.

Now to get back to the question above (#4) regarding "back in my day ..." my fellow sojourner demonstrated to me how the laundry was done on that farm. He grew up watching his mother use an electric ringer washer, but he knew how this one worked, too. 

He also explained the particulars of an outhouse, complete with the usage of corn cobs. This one, by the way, is a 3-holer (can you imagine???)

Having grown up with outhouses, Gary had this experience to share: "It was Halloween night when I was in high school (1959). I was out with a group of thugs (friends) and as a Halloween prank, we decided to tip over the outhouse of Zack, the shoe repairman. When we tipped it over, we found out he was inside because he started cussin'!! We have no idea how he got out because it had tipped over onto the door!"

inside the farm house

5. Somehow this is our last Hodgepodge in the month of June. Next week's Hodgepodge lands in July. Sum up your June using three adjectives. 

I don't know how to use just 3 adjectives to describe my month of June. I'll just say, I tried to be grateful and rational every day, and prayed more than usual for our government.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower.

The righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10

Until next time, grace and peace.