Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 349

It's that time again. Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. They say you learn something new every day. What did you learn yesterday?

2. Have you ever had a now or never moment? Elaborate.

3.  April 25th is National Telephone Day. Do you still have a land line or have you gone mobile only? When you receive a text message do you respond immediately? Last time you turned your phone off?  In two or three sentences share with us a story/memory/incident from your childhood (or something current if that's too hard) where the telephone is featured.

4. Close call, at someone's beck and call, call the shots, call a meeting, call it quits, call in sick, call on the carpet, wake up call...which call have you 'heard' recently? Explain.

5. What subject do you wish you'd paid more attention to in school?

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It's Her Turn

I had every intention of blogging on this rainy Monday morning but instead spent hours (read: painful hours) on the phone with the very helpful gentleman at ATT trying to figure out why our smart TV is no longer smart. I had to reconfigure the settings on the TV while this patient soul walked me through all the screens and boxes and dealt with all my 'wait wait wait I hit the wrong box' and 'wait wait the screen is gone! Where did it go???" and 'wait I hit the wrong box again'. I think you get the idea.

Also Jason deserves a medal.

I'm not intuitive about these sorts of things which is why I like hubs to handle anything technology related. And he was except as luck? would have it a plumbing thing was happening at the very same minute, so he was forced to hand me the phone while he dealt with the plumber. Can't we just hang up and call back when you're finished???

Y'all I reconfigured that TV like a boss. I think I need to use my brain more. It feels good.

Let's talk about something more fun-

This little peanut is getting married.

I don't care if you've married off one daughter or six, each time is like the only time and your heart feels a little tug at the letting go. It's a happy mushy tug, but a tug all the same.

It's been a little over three years since we were knee deep in wedding planning here, and while I know we moms have no real say in the timing, I'm grateful for the space between our two events. Daughter2 and her fiance (how fun it is to write that word!) are planning a spring wedding so we're busy pinning down the date and venues now.

When Daughter1 got married I wrote about it. A lot. I wrote ten posts after the event and several leading up to the day so like I said-a lot. Besides sharing all the nuts and bolts of the best day ever I also wrote quite a bit about how it feels to see your first born baby girl get married. To watch your daughter become a wife, leave home for real, and join her heart and soul to the boy who has stolen her heart.

And now it's Daughter2's turn. And it's the same only different. My girls are like two peas in a pod in the sense they've been best buds since the day Daughter2 was born. They have loved one another well all their lives, and as grown women now it's even more lovely to see. Daughter1 worked in design and had a very clear picture as to how her wedding day would look. She could drill down on some graphics y'all. Whew! But in the end it was perfectly perfect and a wonderful reflection of her personal style and taste.

Daughter2 has her own sense of style and her day will reflect that too. She's always loved sparkle and I suspect there will be more bling in her day than her gypsy souled sister had and I'm good with that. If anyone could wear a tiara on their wedding day it's this girl. She's not having it, but I like to keep throwing that option out there anyway. As we visit reception venues and think about a color palatte and peruse menu options I'm very much aware of my Daughter2's desire to make her day her own.

As every bride should.

In the age of the Internet, social media, and wedding marketing hype there's almost too much out there for brides. It's easy to get caught up in a million little things and lose sight of who you are and what's important to you on your day.

Here's what I tell my girls about a wedding. The most important thing is to pick the right groom.  If at the end of your wedding day you are married to the right groom then I will truthfully declare it the best day ever. Because your wedding is one very important beautiful day in your life and marriage is all the days after, forever and ever amen.

When Daughter1 was planning her wedding I was living in NJ. She was living in D.C., the groom was already on the west coast, and the wedding was in SC sooooo....yeah. A few crazy logistics, but we made it happen. Daughter2 lives in the town where she'll get married and that town is just a hop, skip, and a jump from the lake so whoohoo! I look forward to a more leisurely planning process this time around although I think every wedding comes with a little bit of crazy. Sorry hubs, it really can't be helped.

And I'm going to share all the nuts and bolts here because it's my blog and she's my girl. And she's so much like me only better in all the ways that count, and I want her to know that her best day ever is going to be her best day ever.
SaveSave

Slithering Into The Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Then leave a comment for your neighbor on the list because that's what good blog neighbors do. Here we go-

1. Three things on your spring bucket list? If you don't have an actual list that's fine, pretend you do.

Sort out new furniture for the screened porch, give my closet the once over, and reserve the church and reception venue for daughter2's wedding happening in 2019. 

You can't believe how early people book these venues. The planner at one of the venues I saw today told me she had someone reserve a date and they're not even officially engaged yet. Whaaaat??? You have to pay deposits when you reserve these sites and I can't imagine doing that without a ring on your finger. People are sometimes a little bit crazy! 

2. Where do you find rest? What restores your soul? When was the last time you did whatever it was you answered here?

I find rest in the early morning quiet, in nature, and sleeping in my own bed particularly after a lot of travel. Reading my Bible, journaling, blogging, hiking, a swim or a long walk, a hot bath with the lights down low, and a good nap are all things that restore my soul. These are all activities that quiet the noise in my head which is a necessary pre-requisite for rest. 

I had a nap on Sunday afternoon because I'm pretty sure that's the way God intended it. I try to ease into my weekdays with a cup of coffee and my Bible and that generally makes me feel balanced, less stressed, and ready to take on the day.

3. April is National Celery Month. Who knew? Do you like celery? What's your favorite dish made with celery? On a veggie and dip platter which would you reach for first-carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumbers or cherry tomatoes?

I do like celery. Hubs has a thing about the smell for some reason, but he likes the taste okay. My favorite dish made with celery would be my mama's cornbread dressing. I also love celery in my chicken salad, but cornbread dressing is a rare treat so I'll go with that. On a veggie and dip platter I go for the cucumbers every time. 

4. I read here eight things to do before 8 am to make your day less hectic-Start one load of laundry, drink water, empty the dishwasher, read your Bible, know what you're having for dinner, get dressed, brain dump (two lists-one what you're thankful for and one what's weighing on your mind), and after the brain dump make your to-list for the day

How many of these are you currently doing? Which one do you think would help the most if you added it to your early morning routine?

I actually do most of these tasks, although not always before 8 am. I mean we're retired so what's the rush? That being said I do like to have my day organized from the get go and I agree tackling the items on this list helps. I rarely start laundry before 8 am and I'm not always dressed by 8 am either but the rest of them I can say I do regularly. I love me a good list! 

5. Describe the view from your window.

I see a dogwood in bloom, a squirrel at play and the lake looking still and lovely. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

So this not so little guy showed up on our driveway Monday afternoon. Hubs likes snakes and I do not. He likes to get a closer look and I like to go in the house and watch from the window ready to call 911 should the snake get feisty. 

Hubs informed me this was one of the 'good guys so I shouldn't kill it'. 

Um. Okay. 

Like I'd kill a snake-ha! 

He was about five feet long and looked like he was still digesting whatever critter(s) he'd recently consumed. Shudder!!! 

Where do you stand when it comes to snakes? Do you want a closer look or do you head for the hills?




SaveSave

Hodgpodge Questions-Volume 348

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

1. Three things on your spring bucket list? If you don't have an actual list that's fine, pretend you do.

2. Where do you find rest? What restores your soul? When was the last time you did whatever it was you answered here?

3. April is National Celery Month. Who knew? Do you like celery? What's your favorite dish made with celery? On a veggie and dip platter which would you reach for first-carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumbers or cherry tomatoes?

4. I read here eight things to do before 8 am to make your day less hectic-Start one load of laundry, drink water, empty the dishwasher, read your Bible, know what you're having for dinner, get dressed, brain dump (two lists-one what you're thankful for and one what's weighing on your mind), and after the brain dump make your to-list for the day

How many of these are you currently doing? Which one do you think would help the most if you added it to your early morning routine?

5. Describe the view from your window.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
SaveSave

Blogging Letterman Style

I got home late last night from a trip to see my daughter in the PNW. My son-in-law was on an out of town work trip so I flew west to keep my daughter company. Also to spend time with my grandson which is always a treat, but really I was so excited to have five whole days with my girl. She and I both said we couldn't remember the last time it was just us, sans boys.

Other than the boy I mean. But he rolls where we roll so he's easy.

Anyway I thought I'd post a top ten list kind of like David Letterman used to do back when late night TV was funny. I don't think late night TV is all that funny anymore. I don't mind a little political humor, there's always been that and I think politicians are fair game, but it feels like that's all it is now so I just don't watch. Also I'm usually sound asleep by 10 PM so there's that.

Whatever. All this has absolutely nothing to do with my trip west except to say when I started thinking about a recap I thought of a top ten list which sent me down the late night TV rabbit trail.

In no particular order here are ten things I loved about my week in Washington-

1. His face when he sees me. It's like Christmas and my birthday and shooting stars across the sky.

2. Dance party with the baby boy while we belt out old Taylor Swift. Daughter1 and I agree we don't hate the new Taylor but we sure do miss the old Taylor.

3.  A cup of tea and homemade coconut raspberry scones mid afternoon.

4. Working a jigsaw puzzle with a Paris scene. Ma fille et moi aimons tout ce qui est francais!

5. Bathtime. Is there anything sweeter than a freshly bathed baby?

6. Shopping at Nordstroms.

7. Their mischievous puppy dog successfully vomiting up the two baby socks he swallowed when I turned my back for a literal split second. Just keeping it real people.

8. My daughter cooking dinner while I stack colorful plastic cups then laugh and exclaim uh-oh as baby boy knocks the tower down. Also, reading my favorite board books, making animal noises, and chasing the mancub across the room as he makes a bee line for the dog's water dish. He's fast y'all! Almost as fast as the dog going after a baby sock. Almost.

9. Grabbing hold of the teeny tiny pockets of sunshine for walks and talks and Vitamin D.

10. Knowing they will be at the lake in less than a month!

A Jazzy 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. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you because comments make the blog world go round. 

1. April is National Jazz Appreciation Month. Are you a fan? If so what's a favorite you'd recommend to someone new to jazz listening?

I don't dislike jazz, but don't feel like I know a lot about this particular genre. I will be interested to hear from some true jazz lovers here. 

2. Mandolin, ukulele, harp, accordion or banjo...which would you be most interested in learning to play? Or do you already play one of the instruments listed?

I'm not musically inclined, but if I were I'd opt for the banjo or the mandolin. 

3. Do you judge a book by it's cover? Elaborate. You may answer in either/both the literal or figurative sense of the word.

An actual book? Sometimes yes. A book’s cover can make me want to read more or pass it on by and opt for one with a more appealing cover. 

Now if we're talking in the figurative sense I'd like to think I don't judge people based on how they look. Honestly though don't we all do that do a degree? And I’m not sure judge is the right word but I suppose whenever we meet someone for the first time we make some assumptions about that person,  for better or worse. Sometimes a favorable first impression can be incorrect too-ha! I think we all know I like to talk so given the opportunity I'm going to get beyond the 'cover'.  

4. According to a recent study the ten most nutritious foods are-almonds, cherimoya (supposed to taste like a cross between a pineapple/banana), ocean perch, flatfish (such as flounder and halibut), chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, pork fat (shocking! but I don't think they mean bacon), beet greens, and red snapper. Are any of these foods a regular part of your diet? Any you've never ever tasted? Which would you be most inclined to add to your diet?

I have never tasted a cherimoya but it sounds like something I'd like. I do eat almonds pretty regularly and fish too, although not sure I've ever eaten perch. I love red snapper! 

5. Besides a major holiday what is the most recent thing you've celebrated with your people? Tell us how.

Daughter2's recent engagement. I blabbed on and on about it in a post right here.

6.  Insert your own randomness here.

My son-in-law had to travel for work this week so I’m in the PNW soaking up a little girl time with Daughter1. And her baby boy of course! 

We're having no fun at all-ha! 

SaveSave

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 347

Sorry to have missed here last week (you can read why here), but the Hodgepodge is back and this week's questions are listed below. Answer on your own blog then hop back tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. See you there!

 

1. April is National Jazz Appreciation Month. Are you a fan? If so what's a favorite you'd recommend to someone new to jazz listening?

2. Mandolin, ukulele, harp, accordion or banjo...which would you be most interested in learning to play? Or do you already play one of the instruments listed?

3. Do you judge a book by it's cover? Elaborate. You may answer in either/both the literal or figurative sense of the word.

4. According to a recent study the ten most nutritious foods are-almonds, cherimoya (supposed to taste like a cross between a pineapple/banana), ocean perch, flatfish (such as flounder and halibut), chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, pork fat (shocking! but I don't think they mean bacon), beet greens, and red snapper. Are any of these foods a regular part of your diet? Any you've never ever tasted? Which would you be most inclined to add to your diet?

5. Besides a major holiday what is the most recent thing you've celebrated with your people? Tell us how.

6. Insert your own random thought here.