Not Just Friday Favorites

I've been out of town all week spending time with my daughter2 and her very busy, very chatty littles. They wake up and it's game on. My son-in-law was working out of town all week and having some extra hands in the house is a blessing. 

I'm linking today's post with Erika and Andrea for their Friday Favorites hop. 

I was supposed to drive over to TN on Monday morning, but that flat tire we had on Sunday ended up with me needing a brand new tire. My tires are only a year old, so super aggravating, and getting said tire took the whole ding dong day. I know I sound whiny but I truly am so thankful the flat happened Sunday and not on my drive over the mountains. 

They finally had the car ready at 4 PM so I got a very late start. It's a little over three hours drive time, but since the sun doesn't set until 8 PM right now I knew I could make it before dark. I guess I'm old. I don't like driving curvy mountain roads in the dark. 

I travel a back way to my daughter's house which is great because I bypass Atlanta traffic completely, plus it's beautiful, but it is very curvy and you have to really pay attention. As my hubs says whenever we make this drive together, 'you have to drive every inch of the miles'.  fyi-hubs was at home with the little brown dog so it was just us girls which is what we had planned. 

You never outgrow the need for mother-daughter time. 

I made it to TN just in time to jump on a Zoom call with my siblings. Literally I pulled in at 7:35 and the call was set up for 7:45 so it was a little crazy but it worked. Arriving right at bedtime is never ideal, but it couldn't be helped. 

That would be the kids bedtime, not mine just in case that wasn't clear-ha! 

Once my call ended D2 and I settled in to start our Great British Bak Off binge watch. We only watch one episode a night because actually our bedtime is not that much later than the kids. We're just now watching the most recent season which I think aired in the fall. 

The next season (not sure when it comes out) is going to have a new judge. Prue Leith is leaving and Nigella Lawson will take her place. We love listening to Nigella talk and I told my daughter we need a bingo card to mark her use of words like pungent, luscious, and unctuous. We like Prue, but we're really excited for Nigella. 

This was what we did every evening I was in town, once the kids were in bed. We settled in to watch the baking challenge together. We love it and it definitely makes us want to bake. 

Tuesday morning the little guy had preschool, so once we dropped him off we went to a nearby coffee shop that is new to me. They make their own pastries and they are decadent. We shared a cheese danish and a sausage and egg bagel, and Sugar thoroughly enjoyed every last drop of her cold hot chocolate. 

After breakfast we went out to the Carter's outlet to look for an Easter dress for Sugar, but they didn't have one we loved. I did buy her a cute set of overall shorts and a tee to go underneath, so not a wasted trip. 

Have granddaughters so you can buy all the cute clothes. 

We came home and while Sugar napped we watched more baking. We're trying to squeeze the whole season, or most of it anyway, into four days and we did a good job of it too. We picked up little man from school, played outside, walked the dog, and then had a nice dinner at home. 

Wednesday my daughter had arranged for a babysitter. We've not done this before but she wanted us to have lunch out and do a little bit of shopping sans kids. It was such a nice day. We love the babies, but shopping with your girl without having to keep up with little ones is a real treat. 

We went to the absolute loveliest home/gift shop where I could have bought a hundred things but settled for just a couple, and then to our favorite children's boutique in that same shopping center, where I did find a sweet Easter dress and also a coordinating shirt for brother. Can't go wrong with Beaufort Bonnet-

We had lunch at CAVA which is a chain, but I'd never eaten there before. It was so good. We both had bowls with rice and salad greens, grilled chicken, tzatzki, eggplant, and whipped feta. It was filling and neither of us needed dinner that evening.  

After lunch we moved on to several more stores including the J Crew Outlet which is almost as good as the actual store here, but half the price. We got back to the house about 2 and once Sugar was up from her nap we drove out to a nearby farm that also grew tulips this year. 

This is the last week to come pick and quite a few are bloomed out, but still plenty to choose from. 

 

We cut a dozen to bring home and the kids had fun feeding the cows. 

You could buy a small sack of feed so the cows were friendly. 

Thursday was another school day for sweet baby J and another coffee and breakfast out for us girls. From there we went to Wal Mart and picked up some Easter goodies, plus I impulsively bought some seeds and will see what happens. My girls both have raised beds and I got swept up in all their gardening-growing excitement. 

It was a beautiful spring day so after the school pick up we decided to check out the local Farmer's Market. It sits behind a plant nursery so walked through and browsed their huge selection of plants, garden fountains and accessories too.   

I was sitting on the couch watching my daughter finish up the dinner prep Thursday evening, when I felt a wave of tenderness and nostalgia wash over me. Not that long ago (okay, more than a decade) she was my college student, home on spring break. And now here she is married, running a home, helping her two little ones grow and thrive, greeting her husband after work with a kiss and a 'how was your trip'. 

In this season we create our own version of 'spring break'.  Now I’m the one who drives to her, and we fill our days with playtime, little outings, doling out snacks (so many snacks!), books, baths, and all the small and steady things that make children feel safe and loved. 

It's not a sunny beach in Florida with twenty of your closest friends, but it's still a pretty wonderful spring break. 

Monthly Musings -March

Hello friends. It's the last Thursday of the month if you can believe it, which means it's time for our Monthly Musings hosted by Patty (Good Better Best blog). This month we're talking all things spring, which overlaps a bit with this week's Hodgepodge questions, but I'm playing along anyway. 

I'm with my daughter2 this week and I had her answer the questions too. Who remembers when my girls used to blog? It was a fun season and I loved reading their thoughts on so many things. They're busy with little ones and more these days and of course that's fun too, but I miss reading their words. 

I wrote my answers first, then asked my daughter the questions...here's our answers-

1. Does it feel like spring where you are? 

Me: yes and I'm loving the warmer temps, all the blooming things, grass turning green, and the sun setting at 8 PM. 

D2-some days, mostly yes, with some cool temperatures and some warmer which I guess is spring

2. What spring holidays do you celebrate?

Me-I guess we're going by what the calendar calls spring and not what feels like spring to me. June 21st is when the calendar turns, but in my mind Memorial Day is the first day of summer.  

If we're going by the calendar then my springtime celebrations will be Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Daughter1's birthday, and sweet baby J's birthday (grandson #3). Plus, using this timeline our anniversary technically lands in the spring, but just barely. I've always said we had a 'summer wedding' as the day was a scorcher, and schools weren't in session, plus June brides are summer brides, right? 

D2-based on when spring actually ends I celebrate Easter, Mother's Day, Father's day and my son's birthday...oh and Memorial Day which I think of as the start of summer. 

3. Any spring trips planned?

Me-No spring travel planned, but I'm hoping we can manage an overnight somewhere to mark our anniversary. I'm working on it. 

D2-a trip to the beach 

4. Favorite foods to eat and share for spring holidays? 

Me-  pineapple stuffing is always on the Easter menu here, plus I love deviled eggs and they're another dish on the menu. I like to make Nigella's pea, mint, and avocado salad in the spring because it's so green and fresh. I go easy on the mint though as I think a little goes a long way. Nigella loves her some mint. I also like to make my sister's carrot soup recipe in the spring. 

D2-deviled eggs 100%, M & M cookies made with pastel M & M's, pineapple stuffing which I pretty much only make at Easter 

5. Are there any spring festivals in your area?

Me-Not really, at least not right in tiny town. The weekly live music in the heart of downtown starts back up in April and that's a lot of fun. They close the streets and there's a band,  food, and friends gathered. 

D2-I discovered we have a pickle festival on May 17th and we'll be checking that out for sure. There's a tulip festival happening now, and a strawberry festival in May we like to go to every year. 

6. Best spring allergy relief tip?

Me-I take allergy meds this time of year and I won't spend a lot of time outdoors when pollen is peak. 

D2-I don't have horrible spring allergies. My husband says I sneeze more than the average person year round so... flonase for the sneezing and eat local honey

7. What makes you think, 'ok, now it's finally spring'?

Me-the daffodils popping up as you come down the drive

D2-no more snowflakes on the weather app 

8. Spring rain...love or dislike?

Me-I won't say I love it, but regular spring rain helps bring the pollen down and I do love that. We need some rain right now as we're experiencing drought conditions in our area. 

D2-I dislike it. I don't like to be stuck inside. 

9. Special spring holiday dessert or treat? 

Me-I don't have any special spring treats, but I do like to find something delicious to make for Easter. I'm not always in charge of dessert but I like something light, citrus-y or made with berries for spring. Strawberry shortcake is a favorite of mine and strawberry season in my state is April-June so I'll for sure make a shortcake or two every spring. 

D2-I like to bake and I like to find a new recipe every season. When I hear this I think what will I make for Easter dessert. This year I found a recipe for carrot cake whoopie pies and think I might try that. 

10. Favorite spring cocktail or mocktail? 

Me- cheating a little with my answer, but when I think spring beverage I think sweet tea. I don't make iced tea in the winter but come spring it's a staple here. I'll have a pitcher in the frig from now until November. Homemade with plenty of lemon. 

D2-I'm going to say a French 75...I think the lemon twist makes it look and feel springy. 

Spring Fever In The Hodgepodge

Welcome to a springtime edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. It's officially spring in the northern hemisphere. Does it feel like spring in your part of the world? If you're in the southern hemisphere it's officially autumn where you live. Does the weather say autumn? Which do you prefer-spring or autumn? Why? 

It definitely feels like spring where I live. I will do my best not to go on and on (and on and on) about the pollen but it's here and it's a sure sign of spring. Temps are in the 70's for the most part, some days we've been up in the 80's, and things are blooming. 

Autumn is my favorite season of the year, but I'm always happy to see spring springing too. 

2. What's your favorite thing about spring? 

Easter. 

 So much sweetness in a single photograph. 

3. Spring into action, spring in your step, spring to life, spring to one's feet...which spring idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain.  

All of the above. I'm hanging with these two little cuties this week and they definitely put a spring in my step. There's also a lot of springing into action and springing to your feet with the three and under set. They're quick! 

4. Which spring food from this list is your favorite? What's a dish you like that includes your favorite spring ingredient? 

asparagus, strawberries, salad greens like mesclun, artichokes, spinach, eggs, peas, spring onions

There isn't anything on this list I don't love so it's tough to pick a favorite. I'd probably say eggs because that's the one I'd miss the most if it were taken away. Deviled eggs are a favorite this time of year especially. 

5. What's one task on your spring cleaning list? Do you actually have a list? 

I don't have a written list, although I might make one just so I can have the satisfaction of crossing off completed chores. One task on the list? Baseboards, wipe down all the kitchen cabinets, and wash windows which we might farm out to a professional. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Several people have asked me how we played the Bingo game on my mother-in-law's birthday. My sister-in-law did all the work, but it looked like this-

Every square had some saying, event, or phrase relating to my m-i-l. When the square was called you marked it off just like you do with a regular bingo board (We used dot markers). Then everyone told a story or shared a memory relating to whatever the square said. 

The cards were made using myfreebingocards.com. and my sister-in-law printed them out for us on paper.  Everyone's card was arranged differently but had some of the same topics, so there was a winner. We didn't have prizes, just lots of fun and laughs. 

Looking Back And Springing Forward

With spring officially on the calendar it's time to re-visit my winter list, then come up with something fresh for spring. I know I don't have to make a list, but it helps

Especially if you look at it once in a while, which I need to be better about. I'll put that on my list teehee. Here's what my winter list looked like-

Read the first quarter of Grudem's Systematic Theology-Ive read not quite a quarter. The book is meaty and I don't want to rush. I've given myself the entire year to get through it which means reading approximately 89 pages each month. I'm enjoying it, savoring it really, and feel good about my progress even though I am not on page 267. Yet! 

Try a new recipe ✅...more than one actually and they were keepers. 

Try a new restaurant ✅ 

Celebrate Sugar's 2nd birthday ✅

Visit my mama ✅

Celebrate Valentine's Day ✅

Book hotel and details for wedding travel this summer ✅ so happy to have this one settled and off my brain. We're tying wedding travel in with a few days at the beach and now that it's all booked we can get excited. 

organize laundry room cabinets, bedding, and linens-question for you...how many times can you put something on a to-do list, then not do it, then move it to a new to-do list, but still not get to it ? Asking for a friend. 

shop for new bedding-I've been looking but haven't purchased 

clean out vanity, nightstand, and kitchen drawer (I know the one)-giving myself a C on this one as I did clean out my vanity, but still haven't tackled that kitchen drawer. 

hike a trail new to us ✅

see/hear live music ✅

Now to spring forward. There are some fun things to celebrate this spring and I've kept my list simple which is how I like it. No pressure. 

Except for maybe that attic and laundry room. Feeling some pressure not to add those to my summer list too. 

Do you have a seasonal-monthly-yearly-lifetime bucket list? What's something on your to-do or your want to-do list in these next three months? 

Linking today with Joanne for Talking About It Tuesdays 

Springing In To Monday

Hello friends and happy Spring! It's official and the pollen falling here confirms that. We have our outdoor rugs rolled up and furniture covered in a weak attempt to keep it at bay and minimize clean up. It helps, but she's a force y'all. 

I feel like pollen is a she. 

Anyhoo, the weekend...let's discuss. And link with Holly (Pink Lady blog) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) like we do every Monday. 

Friday morning hubs and I ventured out for a mostly easy hike. It was cool when we got started but warmed up as the day went on. We followed what's known as the Oconee Bell Trail at a nearby state park and were rewarded with some blooms. 

For those not in the know, the Oconee Bell is a rare flower of the southern Appalachians, found only in a few locations in the mountains of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. The bells grow along slopes beside streams and rivers and have a short bloom time (just a couple of weeks) which is now. 

Saturday this particular park was having an Oconee Bell festival, but we wanted to beat the crowds so did the hike on Friday. We pretty much had the trail to ourselves which is how we like it. 

This trail marker is very 'me'. 

The trail is a mess. 

Well, the trail is passable, but that recent ice storm did some serious damage and the woods around the trail look like a war zone. 

That blue sky makes it all okay. 

This particular park sits on the lake just above ours and it's spectacular. There are very, very few homes on this lake, maybe 50 or so, and it's just beautiful. It's popular with fisherman, kayakers, and waterfall chasers and the view from the ranger station parking lot is stunning. 

I snapped this picture from one of the docks where the water is about 15 feet deep, and you can see the bottom. Our lake is crystal clear, but this one is a step above that. 

We came home and had lunch and then hubs took my car to have the tires rotated and I took a nap. I'm overly tired from all the recent comings and goings and more and a nap helped. We watched basketball and hubs says I'm a little too invested in my brackets but I what can I say? I like winning-ha! I'm not but I'm tracking my teams anyway. 

Hubs grilled salmon for dinner and I made spinach and brown rice to go with, which made the eating on Friday feel mostly healthy. 

Saturday morning we had breakfast out then went furniture shopping. Without getting too deep into the weeds here, my mom, who currently lives with my younger sister, is going to be moving south, and we need furniture for this new space. Honestly it's hard. We're doing what we think is the right thing at the right time and I'm praying all goes smoothly in this big transition. 

The 9th decade of life comes at you hard. 

I was charged with finding some furniture and hubs went along for moral support and common sense. We had a very pleasant experience with the salesman and it was all pretty straightforward, so hopefully when the time comes delivery will be the same. 

It was 84 degrees here on Saturday and you won't hear me complain. I worked on some odds and ends paperwork that needed attention, and we watched more basketball because we love us some March Madness. I also read, worked on my blog, and did all the laundry that was in the hamper which feels like it should be celebrated. 

Hubs grilled burgers for dinner and I made a marinated cucumber salad (recipe here) that will be on repeat this summer.

It stormed just as we were getting ready to eat and we were rewarded with a rainbow-

Sunday morning started on a high note, with a beautiful sunrise. I snapped a picture from the covered deck and the reflection of the trees in the lake was so pretty and peaceful. 

We left for church as we normally do, but encountered a hiccup en route and almost missed it. 

Remember how I said we had the tires on my car rotated on Friday? Well we had a flat on the way to church Sunday morning. It's been a long time since I've had a flat tire, but I'm glad it happened close to home and not this morning when I would be winding my way along the sparsely traveled twisty-turny route to my daughter's house in Tennessee.  

Thankfully we were only a couple of miles from our house and about a mile from a gas station. A gas station who's air was out of order, which was a bummer. We phoned our roadside assistance and explained we probably didn't need a tow, just enough air to get us back home and they sent someone our way. He was friendly, quick, and tried spraying some foam on the tires to see if he could spot a nail, but nothing. Doesn't mean there isn't one, but from our various awkward angles we couldn't see it. 

Once the tire was inflated we drove just a few miles more to the tire center where the car had been on Friday. My daughter was already at church but said my son-in-law could pop out of the service and pick us up.  Conveniently the tire center was exactly 900 feet from the church building so said we'd walk over and they could give us a ride home. 

We left the key in the key drop and hopefully it's a simple fix because I'm going to spend a few days with daughter2 this week, and my plan was to leave first thing Monday morning. We shall see. 

We made it to church just in time for the message and then rode home with the 'kids'. As soon as they dropped us at home we climbed into hubs truck and took ourselves out to lunch. It was 88 degrees and sunny and we shared an order of fish and chips and a salad with a view. 

As we drove home there was a breeze, and if you're not familiar with the south this time of year you should know that breeze was a literal cloud of yellow dust. 

I put a chicken dish in the crock pot once we were home, one of our favorites that I make pretty often. It's called a mediterranean chicken (linked here). The recipe calls for you to brown the chicken first, but I skip that step and it's still delicious. I always make this lemon-cucumber couscous salad to go with and it's really good too. 

This has nothing to do with anything, but our amaryllis is blooming...

...and she's a beauty. Happy Monday everyone! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 646

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (March 25th) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. It's officially spring in the northern hemisphere. Does it feel like spring in your part of the world? If you're in the southern hemisphere it's officially autumn where you live. Does the weather say autumn? Which do you prefer-spring or autumn? Why? 

2. What's your favorite thing about spring? 

3. Spring into action, spring in your step, spring to life, spring to one's feet...which spring idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain.  

4. Which spring food from this list is your favorite? What's a dish you like that includes your favorite spring ingredient? 

asparagus, strawberries, salad greens like mesclun, artichokes, spinach, eggs, peas, spring onions

5. What's one task on your spring cleaning list? Do you actually have a list? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Luck Of The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, and be sure to leave a comment for the blogger there before you. Here we go-

1. St. Patrick's Day lands on March 17th. Do you believe in luck? Are there things you do thinking they'll  bring good luck or things you avoid because they're considered bad luck? 

I'm not superstitious in the least so can't say there are things I do to avoid having bad luck, or vice versa. Some would call being in the right place at the right time lucky, but I believe God orders my steps and has a purpose for all the circumstances of my life. I might say 'good luck' to someone, but what I'm really saying is I'm praying God's best for you. 

2. Forest-lime-sage-mint-olive-emerald...what's your favorite shade of green? 

Green is one of my favorite colors and my favorite shade would depend on what we're talking about. If forced to randomly choose I'd say sage or emerald. 

3. In Ireland the meal on this day is often a hearty beef or lamb stew served with colcannon (mashed potato mixed with cabbage and leeks). In the US corned beef and cabbage is the more typical St. Patty's Day meal. Will you/did you mark the day with one of these dishes? Baked-fried-roasted-mashed...what's your favorite way to eat a potato?

Corned beef and cabbage is a meal we love and it's a once a year thing here so I try not to miss. I put cabbage, carrots and red potatoes in the pot with mine. 

My favorite potato is baked with salted skin and plenty of butter once it's opened. 

4. What color of the rainbow best represents your personality/mood today? Tell us why. 

Do you remember the colors of the rainbow by recalling the ROY G BIV acronym you might have learned as a child? It helps. I went down a rabbit hole reading about how color affects mood and found most thoughts ran along these lines-

red (love and strength), orange (joy and energy), yellow (happiness), green (growth), blue (sorrow), indigo (deep thoughts and imagination), violet (calm and peaceful) 

I'm going with yellow. I'm answering this question on Tuesday morning and my daughter1 and my 3-year old granddaughter are stopping by today so happy it is. 

5. Which 'lucky' quote resonates with you. Elaborate. 

 'Luck is not something you can mention in the presence of self-made men.' E.B. White 

'Diligence is the mother of good luck." Benjamin Franklin 

'Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.' Seneca 

'Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.' Ralph Waldo Emerson 

I'm inclined to go with the Seneca quote. I think opportunities come our way, but if we're ill prepared to meet them luck won't matter. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Not only did my daughter stop by but she brought these festive donuts to mark the day-

Our corned beef and cabbage meal was also delicious-

Happy Wednesday everyone!