Playing Nice In The Wednesday 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 then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Or all the bloggers linking here today.  Let's go-

1. What's one part of your everyday routine you'd be better off without? 

Facebook. It used to be a much looked forward to part of my everyday routine, but other than linking my blog and sending birthday greetings I am rarely there these days. I won't yammer on about why because surely everyone can agree it's not the congenial little corner of the Internet it once was. 

2. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. So what did you/will you do? 

I baked peanut butter cookies. Does that count? Hubs would say yes. He brought his mom over from Tennessee yesterday (Monday) and what should have been a 3-hour drive took them five. Ugh! Peanut butter cookies fresh from the oven made his day. 

3. What question do you hate to answer? 

These days pretty much anything relating to politics. So much hate and judgement out there. 

4. Do we have control over technology or does it have control over us. In that same vein, have you watched The Social Dilemma (available on Netflix) and if so what did you think? 

Y'all.  If you have not watched this documentary you need to, particularly if you're a parent. Prior to watching it I might have answered this question differently, but since I have seen the program I'm going to say technology does control us, and it controls us in ways we might not have considered. Unless you're off the grid, but of course if you're here reading this blog I suspect you're not off the grid. teehee. 

5. What are three small things that make your day better? 

that first cup of steaming hot coffee, a cloudless blue sky, dinner plans

6. Insert your own random thought here.

As much as I hated to say farewell to my beautiful geraniums that bloomed all summer long, these huge mums were too pretty not to buy.

And if you give a porch a mum you need to add a pumpkin. And a pansy. And maybe a baby pumpkin and also a white pumpkin and then another mum in a different color. Did I tell you I love fall? 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 389

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

1. What's one part of your everyday routine you'd be better off without? 

2. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. So what did you/will you do? 

3. What question do you hate to answer? 

4. Do we have control over technology or does it have control over us. In that same vein, have you watched The Social Dilemma (available on Netflix) and if so what did you think? 

5. What are three small things that make your day better? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge Coffee Hour

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge, our last in September. How do we feel about the end of summer and the start of fall? Something to ponder I guess as we roll into October. Today though it's a bit of this and that. If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Here we go-

 

1. When is the last time you experienced nostalgia? 

When I find myself feeling nostalgic music is usually involved. I think music has the ability to whisk us back to a place and time and create a sort of longing for something simpler or perhaps for a second chance to get something right that we missed along the way.  

Recently though I was driving with my window rolled down and the big mowers were cutting the grass along the highway. The smell of that freshly cut grass took me back to the Saturday mornings of my childhood and made me feel something that is hard to put into words. Nostalgia. 

 2. September 29th is National Coffee Day. Do we need this? Ha! So are you a coffee drinker? If so how many cups per day, and tell us how you like it. Is there a recipeyou enjoy that calls for coffee as one of the ingredients? 

Pretty sure coffee drinkers would say every day is National Coffee Day, but there are stranger days out there so Happy National Coffee Day. I am a coffee drinker and sometimes go to bed thinking about how much I'm going to enjoy tomorrow morning's first sip. 

I don't drink coffee all day, usually two cups in the morning with a splash of half and half. I'm not a fan of flavored coffees, fancy coffee drinks, or flavored creams with one exception. Summer afternoons call for iced coffee and I like sweet cream in iced coffee. 

As far as recipes go, we make a coffee rubbed pork tenderloin that is really delicious and I also love an affogato dessert. Affagato is basically freshly brewed espresso poured over vanilla gelato and it's yummy. Ice cream works too. 

 3. Do you find praise or criticism to be more motivating? Explain. 

This is an interesting question and I think both can be motivating. With criticism it definitely depends on how its expressed. If it's harsh I retreat and maybe want to do the opposite of what it is you're trying to get me to do. Ugh. That's not very attractive, but it is a little bit true.  I'm a people pleaser so I'm going to say praise is always more motivating to me.  

 4.  What's a television series you keep coming back to and re-watching? 

The Andy Griffith Show would be one. Hubs and I also re-watch Everybody Loves Raymond when we can't find anything else on tv. I feel like today's pc culture has killed comedy. Everything has not so subtle political overtones and to that I say yuck. Comedy has always touched on politics, but it feels mean-spirited and personal these days and it's actually not very funny. 

 5. As the month of September draws to a close give us three words to describe your mood. 

tired/disgusted (I'm lookin' at you social media and complainers everywhere), hopeful (Thanksgiving, Christmas, family time, a wedding, and knowing the government is not my Savior no matter how this election goes), and cozy (hello Autumn! You're my favorite)

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

"...and all at once, summer collapsed into fall." Oscar Wilde

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 388

Wow this one rolled around fast. I haven't blogged since last week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Anyhoo, you're probably not here to read about my plans to blog later so let's move along. Answer the questions on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the rest of the world wide webbers. See you there!

 

1. When is the last time you experienced nostalgia? 

 2. September 29th is National Coffee Day. Do we need this? Ha! So are you a coffee drinker? If so how many cups per day, and tell us how you like it. Is there a recipe you enjoy that calls for coffee as one of the ingredients? 

 3. Do you find praise or criticism to be more motivating? Explain. 

 4.  What's a television series you keep coming back to and re-watching? 

 5. As the month of September draws to a close give us three words to describe your mood. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

Falling Into The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you because who couldn't use a little mid-week company these days? Here we go-

  

1. It's fall y'all. What's something you love about this season and also something you don't? 

Autumn is my favorite season of the year and I think there's a lot to love. The color, the light, the sky, blue jean weather, soups-stews-chili on the stove, a blanket on my lap, a fire in the fireplace, and Thanksgiving to name just a few. 

Something I don't love? Hmmm...how about election ads? 

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite? Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory? Will you? 

This is a toughie, but I'm going with gold. I loved my New Jersey backyard this time of year...

The color never got old.  The snow and ice and taxes did which is why we live in South Carolina now, but the color was a stunner. 

I live within a half hour of fantastic fall color in the Blue Ridge Mountains and would love to take a leaf peeping drive sometime this month or next. 

3. What's one thing you've let 'fall' by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away? 

Housework. Oh the basics are getting done, but we normally have a steady stream of company in the summer months which is highly motivating in terms of really staying on top of keeping things pristine. Hubs and I home alone=not so motivating. 

4. If you're wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie? 

A cardigan or v-neck most likely, especially if I'm seeing actual humans or we're going somewhere. For lounging around the house I love a zip up fleece. 

5. What's your secret to dealing with change? 

Less digging in of the heels, more surrender. Know that one day you'll look back and see all the ways God used change to grow you, to draw you closer to Himself. Know it's possible in hindsight, if not in present day, to  feel tremendous gratitude for this change you never wanted and were so sure you didn't need. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each." Henry David Thoreau

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 387

It's that time again, and 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. It's fall y'all. What's something you love about this season and also something you don't? 

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite? Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory? Will you? 

3. What's one thing you've let 'fall' by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away? 

4. If you're wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie? 

5. What's your secret to dealing with change? 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

1,892,160,000 Seconds

So I had a birthday.  

A pretty big birthday number wise, but maybe not as big celebration wise because thanks Covid. Can you tell from my face it was still pretty great? What can I say...I love my birthday and my family tried so hard to make the day special and they succeeded. 

While I do have a few thoughts on this next new decade, I think that will be it's own post and today I'll just recap all the sweet stuff that made up my birthday week.   

Daughter2 was in the house and we had the best time running wedding errands all week long. We spent Monday morning at the party rental place, then met with the florist that afternoon. We had our hair and makeup 'trial' on Tuesday and wrapped it up with a dress fitting for the bride-to-be on Wednesday. 

Y'all. I forgot how stunning this girl looks in her wedding dress. 

No this is not her wedding dress, but I will tell you the sight of her in that gown literally takes my breath away.  I cannot wait to see the groom's face when he sets eyes on his bride on their special day.  

After the dress fitting we celebrated with crepes at our favorite crepe spot, so the order of these events would feel correct. 

1. Try the dress on and be sure it fits perfectly. 

2. Share one sweet and one savory crepe with your momma because it's almost her birthday and because we both love crepes and can never decide between the sweet and the savory. 

3. Pledge going forward not to feast on crepes or sweets in general pre-wedding. 

4. I mean except for the birthday cake we'll eat later. 

If it looks like we're eating in a parking lot it's because we are. The restaurant had some indoor seating available but we opt for dining outdoors whenever we can, especially when it's a crystal clear morning or there's a pandemic hanging about. 

On my actual birthday my little family planned the absolute best surprise. Let me just say I think every birthday needs a surprise. Not necessarily a surprise party, but definitely some unexpected little bit of happy that brings a smile to your heart and maybe a tear to your eye. 

And that's what they did.  

They had many many of my friends and all of my family record video wishes for me, then Daughter2 magically put them all together on the big screen (aka the TV) and it was too wonderful for words. No one had come close to spilling the beans which made it a real surprise. 

That evening we had a delicious dinner at a very nice restaurant in tiny town and shout out to my hubs who never fails in sourcing a chocolate cake with raspberry filling, because that's my favorite. He also knows I don't think it's a birthday without balloons and believe fresh flowers are one of the secrets to a happy life so he obliged.

It's true y'all. Fresh flowers in the house makes the world feel less harsh.  

Hubs kinda went all out on the balloons this year. I don't think he knew about these until I sent him last week to collect a giant 3-0 for daughter2's birthday, but now that he's on to them I predict there will be more jumbo going forward. 

Of course Daughter1 called and the mancub sang happy birthday from a million miles away and helped me blow out all the candles via Facetime which tickled him so much.  I have to tell you that when he utters the word 'Nana' in his precious little boy voice I have an actual pain in my heart. It's a happy/sad sort of pain but it's very real, and if you're living away from your own grands you know what I'm saying.  

Little brother clapped and smiled big and took a couple of steps on camera which also made my day/week/year, and all in all it was a lovely way to end the day and usher in a brand new decade. 

"With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come." William Shakespeare