We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Hodgpepodge

Hi Hodgepodgers (and anyone else who stumbled in here today)...just a reminder the Hodgepodge is on summer holiday this week.  Go here to read why, or just hop back next week (June 25th) to grab the new questions.  See you then!

Snow Day

It has been a busy June, and as such this blog has been a teensy bit neglected. There are seasons. I've got a lot going on just now, and have decided to call snow day on the Hodgepodge this week. I know those who play along every week are always disappointed to see I need a break, but I need a break.

I have a calendar full of appointments starting today, with the dentist this morning and the gyno this afternoon. No idea what I was thinking booking my two fun things on the same day, but Hello Monday!

Tuesday and Wednesday look similar, except those days events will actually be fun, and then I'm heading out of town for a reunion with old friends in one of my favorite places-camp. I've committed to giving a brief devotional on Saturday morning to the group (not sweating that at all-ha!), and will also be run/walking a 5K, both of which require some prep time this week. Actually, that 5K prep should have been an ongoing thing, but whatever.

On top of that, the dust is approximately knee deep on my furniture, my Plantation shutters are not going to clean themselves, and my patio pots need attention, i.e.-plants.

So-that's the list of excuses  reasoning behind the 'No Hodgepodge' declaration this week.  I love the Hodgepodge, and appreciate everyone who participates, the faithful and the intermittent alike. Thank you for understanding that my attention needs to be somewhere else this week, and rest assured Volume 130 will be up and running again soon. (Our next set of questions will be posted on June 25th/the link on June 26th).

Wherever this Monday morning finds you, enjoy!

Discovering the Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge (Volume 129!) So glad you played along today, and if you're visiting for the first time, know that everyone is welcome to join the party.  Answer the questions on your own blog, then add your link at the end of my post. Here are my answers~

1.  What do you think makes a good dad?

I imagine my answer will sound a bit old fashioned, but I think a good dad provides for his family, and sets a good example when it comes to honesty, integrity, and work ethic. He makes time for his children and encourages them in the pursuit of their dreams. He loves his children's mother, and treats her with gentleness and respect. He kills spiders and other creepy crawlies, changes smoke detector batteries in the middle of the night, and investigates suspicious noises coming from a dark basement. He is not above zipping little girl coats, or brushing little girl hair, and is the voice of reason when hormones run amok in a houseful of women. He's solid and can be counted on whatever this world brings.

2.  What's something you learned from your own father?

Lots of things, but in a nutshell-

Work hard
Elbows off the table
Help others
Jesus loves me

3.  It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having?

Growing up I always asked for a German chocolate cake for my birthday, the kind with the real German chocolate icing, homemade, gooey, coconut caramel-y goodness. My mom will still make this for me if I see her on or around my birthday. Hubs always gets me a decadent chocolate cake, super rich with a raspberry filling, because he knows I love that too. 

4.  When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons?

I go with my gut, but I will think through the pros and cons to be sure my gut reaction makes sense.

5.  June is National Dairy Month. what's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item?

My favorite dairy item is most definitely cheese. 
My most purchased would be yogurt.

6.  Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910...what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore?

Something I'd like to explore?  
Pretty much anywhere in this world I haven't been.  

7.  Are you typical of your generation?

Probably. I'm married, educated, have two young adult children, worry about aging parents/ in-laws, pay attention to what's going on in the world around me, and spend a lot of time thinking about what retirement will look like for us. I try to keep up with technology, but a recent conversation with my ten and thirteen year old nephews let me know the gap in that area is wider than most of my generation wants to admit.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

My daughter2 was home all last week, and like all visits with my girls, it was just too short. I ended up flying back to SC with her on Sunday, because why not?  Today I drove her to class so I could use her car and I snapped this picture when we pulled onto the mall.  No matter the season, this campus is always so beautiful.  

Hodgepodge Questions-Vol 129

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge...answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to see what the neighbors are saying.

1. What do you think makes a good dad?

2.  What's something you learned from your own father?

3. It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having?

4. When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons?

5. June is National Dairy Month. What's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item?

6. Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910....what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore?

7. Are you typical of your generation?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Happy Fragments To You...

Twenty five years ago today I became a mother-

How's that for a fragment?

Here are my sweet girls on Easter Sunday this year, the birthday girl is on the left.

She's all grown up now, her heart still so kind and gentle.

She makes me want to be a better person.

Happy Birthday Daughter1! She has a cute blog, so if you have a minute hop over and wish her a happy day today. You only turn a quarter of a century once, and she has the sweetest friends who've got a fun weekend planned. You'll find her blog here.

In other news, Daughter2 is still home for a few more days, and we're off to my gourmet group's luncheon in just a little while.  We have a luau theme this month, but a steady rain is falling, so not looking too tropical outside.

We can still eat mango cheesecake, right?

We're bringing two desserts, the cheesecake and these Blue Hawaii cupcakes with a spiked whipped cream icing.  Daughter2 is serious about her baking.

We used this recipe for the cupcakes and bought fun little umbrellas and pink flamingos for the top.  We also crushed a handful of plain graham crackers into fine crumbs to resemble sand. We had to display them on two trays because just like the Jersey shore, umbrellas crowd.

If they don't taste good at least they'll look good.

No worries...they taste good.
When you're taking a baked item to a party the rule book says you must first taste.

We resisted cutting in to the cheesecake.
Believe me, we considered it about 10 PM last night, but we talked each other down and the cheesecake is still intact this morning.

While Daughter2 made the treats for today I made meatballs and spaghetti sauce for last night's dinner.  Except instead of spaghetti we had spaghetti squash. Have you tried that? We'd both seen the recipe all over Pinterest, and if you watch The Biggest Loser, they make it a lot on there too. As I smelled the sauce simmering away I was kind of wishing we were having actual spaghetti, but this was pretty good too.  I'd never cooked spaghetti squash before and it's an interesting vegetable. It really does look a lot like spaghetti!  Next time I'll drain it more, before topping with sauce because we thought it was a teensy bit soggy, but overall pretty tasty.

I'm sure I've got more fragments to share, but I've also got a luau to get to so will end this post here. Why not hop over to Half Past Kissin' Time and share some fragments of your own today?

Rollin' on the Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you'd like to join the party, answer the questions on your own blog, then add your link at the end of my post. Here are my answers~

1. Have you learned more from success or failure?  Explain.

Success.

While I do believe we learn from failure, I think success is what's given me the confidence to try something new, different, or even hard.  

2. What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents?  If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

When I was a toddler, and we lived with my mom's parents for a year, I called that grandmother GaGa. Eventually though, that became Grandma and my sibs and I called both sets of grandparents Grandma and Grandpa. If we were talking about them within the family we would add their last name to differentiate, but in person they were just Grandma and Grandpa. Once great grandchildren arrived my mom's mother became GiGi. 

My girls call hubs parents Grandma and Grandpa, and when my dad was alive he was known as Poppie. My mom is Mema to the girl grands, but my nephew calls her Mimi and she answers to both. I don't have grandchildren yet, and am not quite sure what I want to be called. In England it seemed most children called their grandmothers Nan, and I kind of like that. I like Grandma too.   

3. You're invited to a luau.  In keeping with that theme, what dish do you bring to share?

My gourmet group this month has a luau theme which is what prompted this question. The menu is set and each person chooses a recipe from the set menu. Since my daughter2 loves to bake, and will be going with me to the luncheon, I chose two desserts. One is a mango cheesecake and the other is a Blue Hawaii cupcake, made with blue curacao, cream of coconut, and crushed pineapple. Sounds good to me!

4. Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know?

Who came up with this question? I had an answer in my head and asked my hubs what he would say and his answer was identical to mine. 

Hitler-so we don't forget what evil is.  

5. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or disagree?

It depends. For the most part small stuff is just that-small stuff.  It shouldn't ruin our day, week, or outlook on life. I do think an exception to this can, in some instances, be found in parenting.  If you allow the seemingly small stuff to accumulate unchecked, before you know it you have a kid nobody wants to be around.  

When it comes to parenting sometimes you do need to sweat the small stuff.   

6. June is National Rivers Month...when were you last on a river?  What's the prettiest river you've ever seen?  What's a river you'd like to see?

We spent the Labor Day weekend with my sister on their boat down in Maryland, which was probably the last time I was on a river.  The marina is on a creek which runs into the Chester River.  You can pretty much put me on any Maryland waterway, and I'm happy. 

As far as the prettiest? Most rivers are pretty in some way, but we lived in Maryland for nine years, and kept our boat on the Magothy River which is still near and dear to my heart.  

C. 2002

I think I've posted this picture about four or five different times on my blog, so what's one more? A rainbow painted river sunset never gets old.  

What's a river I'd like to see? The Danube. 

7. Speaking of rivers-paddling, swimming, fishing, or bird watching safely from the shore?  Which activity would you choose?  Yes-you have to choose.

All of the above? I guess if I can only choose one, it would be paddling a canoe or kayak, although my real favorite is a motor boat. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Sometimes your grown up 22-year old daughter comes home for a week, and the weight of a real world job hunt, a last looming semester of grad school, the two part time jobs she's juggling, and an impending move to a new city and state weigh heavy on her mind and heart. You listen, advise, wipe tears, and decide what she really needs is a Friendly's hot fudge sundae at 11 o'clock on a Tuesday morning.  

Because sometimes you just do.  

Hodgepodge Questions-Vol 128

Here are the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors.

1. Have you learned more from success or failure? Explain.

2.  What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents? If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

3.  You're invited to a luau.  In keeping with that theme, what dish will you bring to share?

4. Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know about?

5. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or Disagree? Why?

6.  June is National Rivers Month. When were you last on a river? What's the prettiest river you've ever seen? What's a river you'd like to see?

7.  Speaking of rivers-paddling, fishing, swimming, or bird watching safely from the shore? Which activity would you choose? Yes-you have to choose.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.