Bibbidi Bobbidi Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! I've been traveling, so I'm scrambling a bit to get this one posted. If you've answered the questions, add your link at the end of my post, then go see what your neighbors had to say.  Here we go-

1. Did you watch The Oscars? How many of the Best Picture nominees have you seen? (American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Selma, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash)

Do you think actors should use their acceptance speeches as an opportunity to promote their political and/or social agenda? Does that sort of speech make you more or less inclined to change the channel?

I did watch The Oscars. All four+ ridiculous hours, plus some red carpet coverage beforehand.  We were at my sister's house and about halfway through debated calling it a night, but figured we'd lasted this long, might as well see it through. 

I thought the show was particularly bad this year. Bad as in NOT entertaining, and isn't that why we watch? Can't anything be purely entertainment anymore? Must everything have something weighty attached to it ? Yes this is America and everyone has a right to express themselves, but I do think there's a time and place, and The Oscars are neither. It matters not whether I agree or disagree with whatever cause or issue is being touted by the celeb, that's not what I want to see and hear when I tune in to a show called The Oscars. 

Kind of like you not dropping in here hoping to read a rant about Hollywood.   

An-y-way...I saw three of the nominated best picture pictures-American Sniper, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The Imitation Game. I think I'd like to see Whiplash and will probably watch for it on DVD. 

2.Speaking of the movies...are you comfortable going to a movie alone? How about dinner in a restaurant (not fast foo, but an actual restaurant)? The second half of this question was posed by Carrie who blogs over at It's Not Easy Being Queen. Thanks Carrie!

I don't have a problem going to a movie alone, although I can't say I actually do that too often. If I'm spending money on a movie, it's usually an outing with the hubs. I wouldn't go to a restaurant in town and dine alone, but if we're traveling and hubs has an evening work event I'd have no problem dining alone in a restaurant.  I'd also have no problem staying in my jammies and ordering room service-ha!

3.What's the last home repair or home improvement project you had to pay someone to complete? In hindsight was this a project you could have done yourself?

Just today (Tuesday) we had a carpet guy here to re-stretch our bedroom carpet.  He was punctual, neat, reasonably priced, and we're very happy with the end result. It's not a job I'd try on my own. 

Most home improvement projects are not things I'd try on my own.  I'm not what you'd call handy. 

4. Have you ever had Indian food? Like it or no? If you're a fan, what's your favorite dish? Have you ever prepared this yourself at home? Is there an Indian restaurant in your current hometown?

I love Indian food, one of my favorite cuisines. I love spicy food and normally order chicken tikka masala and bhindi bhaji (an okra dish). I've tried lots of dishes though, and as long as they're not Vindaloo kind of heat I'm happy.  Hubs loves the heat and asks for diced chilies on the side. 

When we lived in the UK we ate in our local Indian restaurant at least once a week. The staff gave us big hugs when we moved, and everyone got a bit teary eyed. No Indian restaurant in tinytown, but there is a place we like several towns over. 

5. A song that reminds you of your parents?

Anything by The Bill Gaither Trio. Every now and then I'll see them on TV and I have to stop and listen.  

6. The 26th of February is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. What's your favorite, or one of your favorite, fairy tales? Do you have any childhood memories associated with a particular fairy tale?

When I was little my sister and I had a record (the kind you played on a phonograph) of songs from Hans Christian Anderson stories. We played that thing to death, and in fact just typing this I find myself humming the tune to Thumbelina.  

My mother spent hours reading to my sister and I all throughout our childhood, so hearing a fairy tale now awakens some very tender memories for me. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, but I've always loved Cinderella. 

And while nothing beats a book in my opinion, I did love the movie version of this one too.  Lesley Ann Warren played the title character and when the fairy godmother turned her rags into a gown it was pure magic. There's a new version coming out in March, with Lady Rose Lily James in the lead role. I'm looking forward to seeing that too. 

7. What's a problem you solved yesterday?

Hmmm...yesterday (Monday) hubs and I spent a leisurely afternoon in Greenville South Carolina, so nothing  immediately comes to mind. Maybe where to have lunch? 

Tupelo Honey! Problem solved! 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

A little too much going on round here today to give this a lot of thought. Nobody minds if I just share another wedding picture do they? 

Good because I love these...

I love that my son-in-law recognizes handing over a daughter means handing over a little piece of a father's heart too. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 210

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

1. Did you watch The Oscars? How many of the Best Picture nominees have you seen? (American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Selma, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash)

Do you think actors should use their acceptance speeches as an opportunity to promote their political and/or social agenda? Does that sort of speech make you more or less inclined to change the channel?

2. Speaking of the movies... are you comfortable going to a movie alone? How about dinner in a restaurant (not fast food, but an actual restaurant)? The second half of this question was posed by Carrie who blogs over at It's Not Easy Being Queen. Thanks Carrie! 

3. What's the last home repair or home improvement project you had to pay someone to complete? In hindsight was this a project you could have done yourself? 

4. Have you ever had Indian food? Like it or no? If you're a fan, what's your favorite dish? Have you ever prepared this yourself at home? Is there an Indian restaurant in your current hometown? 

5. A song that reminds you of your parents? 

6. The 26th of February is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day. What's your favorite, or one of your favorite, fairy tales? Do you have any childhood memories associated with a particular fairy tale? 

7. What's a problem you solved yesterday? 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Live! From This Side of The Pond! It's The Hodgepodge!

Welcome to another edition of the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered the questions today, add your link at the end of my post and then go say hi to your neighbor. Newcomers are always welcome to join the party! Here we go-

1. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)

Government agencies...IRS, DMV, Social Security? Nothing in recent months, unless you count helping my newly married daughter obtain all the many ID docs she needs in her married name. That's been more her headache than mine. 

Wait-The United States Postal Service! I've had a lot of recent in-person interaction with our local PO in the past few months...Christmas, wedding mail, sending packages to the west coast, etc. While the PO can be a frustrating place to do business, my recent experiences there have all been pretty positive, so I'm giving them a 9. 

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?

I don't know many post 40-year old adults in any field, who want to be judged til the end of time primarily on their college career or lack thereof.  

That being said, we do all hold college degrees in my house, so I'm definitely not knocking the value of higher education. I think the way we view higher education is changing, and there will be more and more candidates out there who either didn't complete university or didn't attend at all. 

When it comes to voting I want to know where candidates stand on important issues. I want to know they are persons of integrity who don't wait to see how the winds of political correctness blow before determining their own sense of right and wrong. I want a candidate with experience in the working world... someone who has managed a business or a classroom or a household. Dealt effectively with employees, bosses, co-workers, or cranky toddlers. Accomplished something besides running for office.  

I want my elected leaders to unapologetically love this land and to hold in high regard the men and women who fight to defend our freedoms.

There are so many things wrong with our political system at the moment, it makes me tired.  Love him or hate him, the Governor of Wisconsin has a very public record as a state leader. Let's talk about that. Let's examine how a candidate has performed in real world job environments. If they're already in public office, let's assess how they've managed those responsibilities. 

I can't say where someone attended uni, or even if they attended uni, has ever swayed my vote. 

3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?

We crossed the George Washington Bridge last Thursday evening, or the GW as it's known round here. For a mere $11.75 ($14 if you don't hav E-Z Pass), you can enter NYC via the bridge. They only charge you to come in...you're free to leave-ha!  Hubs and I met up with a college friend who was in the city on business, so worth every penny. We had dinner at Bobby Flay's which is one of our favorites.  

4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day. I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds?

I do like almonds, but as far as snacks go, a small handful doesn't really satisfy. I'd rather have a whole apple and feel full. My favorite food made with Almonds? That's easy...an Almond Joy. 

5. The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated its 40 anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite (or one of your favorite) skits, sayings, or characters to come out of the program?

I was fifteen when SNL first aired. I haven't watched the show in recent years, but as a teenager and young adult I was definitely a fan. Some seasons were much better than others of course, and its hard to pick a favorite, but a few would be-

Dan Ackroyd as The French Chef, Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi as The Blues Brothers, Steve Martin as Theodoric of Yorick-The Medieval Barber, and John Belushi in The Samurai Delicatessen. I also loved Jan Hooks and Nora Dunn as the Sweeney Sisters and Phil Hartman who was on the show in the mid-80's. 

6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it?

I don't have much in the way of home decor or furnishings in the color purple, although I do love it in my closet. I'm in our home office at the moment, and I spy several books on our bookshelf with purple on the spine-Lonely Planet's Guide to Western Europe, Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. How's that for eclectic?

7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens. Thanks Zoanna!

She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 

This is exactly the kind of question I tend to overthink. 

I make my bed every single day. I'm not a meticulous housekeeper, but I cannot abide an unmade bed unless someone is in it. And if it's past 9 am they better be sick. Kidding! Sort of -ha!  

We have a duvet on our bed so I pull it all the way up, prop the sleeping pillows on top of that, prop the shams on top of the sleeping pillows, and then prop the decorative pillows on top of the shams.  It's not as much work as it sounds. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Thinking I may use my random thought as a place to share some wedding photos over the next couple of weeks. I posted this one on Facebook and it's one of my favorites-

p.s.-they're all my favorite.

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 209

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. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?

3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?

4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day? I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds? 

5.The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated it's 40th anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite (or one of your favorite) skits, sayings, or characters that came out of the program?

6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it?

7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens. Thanks Zoanna!

She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Just Write. And Also Maybe Wedding Post 10.

Time for a blog post.  A regular ole what's been happening around here kind of blog post. The kind I haven't done in months. A lot has been happening around here, and I really dislike when a blogger says they have all kinds of big things happening in their life, but they aren't ready to blog about them yet.

We have all kinds of big things happening in our life, but I'm not ready to blog about them yet.

Haters gonna hate, right? I'm mulling over the notion of somehow saving it all for the A-Z challenge, but that's not til April, and I'm not sure I can keep quiet that long. We'll find out I guess. The problem is, when big stuff is going on and you aren't ready to blog about it, blogging becomes so tricky. You end up yammering on and on about inconsequential things like the weather.

The weather!! y'all. Not for the faint of heart in the great northeast this winter. Of course it could be worse. We could be further north-ha! Things were chugging along just fine until late January, and then kaboom. Snow! Ice! Snow and ice!

For the record, I'm not a fan of ice. Our little town deals with snow quite effectively, even large amounts of snow. Ice is another story though, and there's only so much you can do when you've got inches of ice coating your steps and patio.  Hubs does his best to keep up with it, but we could surely use some bright sunshine and warmer temps. It's currently 9 degrees and gusty here, so melting is not happening.  At all.

Something I love about winter? Footprints and glitter. Sunshine has been in short supply here in recent weeks, but when it shines our snow covered yard looks like a small child has been see free with a sprinkle can full of glitter. So pretty!

We can see exactly where the deer, coyote, and bear trek, and we've been watching our little fox as she slinks about looking for food. Hubs spotted her just the other evening with a rabbit in her mouth as she made a beeline for her warm cozy nest in the woods on our side hill.

The trees may be bare this time of year, but life carries on.

Hubs and I stayed in for Valentine's Day and cooked dinner together. We enjoy celebrating in this way, and while I did most of the prep, hubs did most of the cooking. We make a good team.

We made a recipe I'd seen on the Williams Sonoma site-Seared Scallops with Warm Shredded Brussel Sprouts and Prosciutto. Really good, and something I'd make again.

Here's some big news I can talk about. Big news as far as we're concerned anyway, you all may be a little wedding-weary by now. We got our pictures back from the wedding photographer and to quote my grandma, 'Oh my stars!'...they're heavenly. I don't know how to begin choosing a favorite because they're all my favorite. I'm overwhelmed by how exactly to go about sharing.

How about I just share?

photo credit: Chris Isham Photography

My daughter posted the link to the whole lot on her Facebook page, but I've just shared a few on mine
so far. I might make an album to post with some of my favorites, but since they're all my favorites I'm going to have to give that some thought.

I'm sure you'll see some here. ahem.

photo credit: Chris Isham Photography

This picture was taken just before we climbed into the limo for our ride to the church. Don't let gray skies and a little drizzle spoil your day because I'm pretty sure gray skies actually make for better photographs. I love the lighting here, the pop of color, the gorgeous flowers, and most of all, how happy we look. I remember the sense of anticipation we were feeling in this moment. Mostly though, I  I remember the love, so palpable it seemed like you could reach out and grab it.  

And we did.

Lovin' The Hodgepodge!

Happy Hodgepodge! A heart-felt welcome to everyone reading or playing along here today! If you've answered this week's questions, be sure to add your link at the end of my post. Also, please say hi to the blogger who linked before you, because there's no love like comment love. Here we go-

1. Have you ever written a love letter? Have you written one recently? Had one written to you? Did you keep it?

It's no secret words are my love language. Words are powerful. They can encourage or tear down. Heal or wound. Destroy another's spirit or build it up. I love the verse in Matthew that says, '"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." 

The written word I especially love, so yes I've written some love letters. Received them too. Hubs doesn't love to write like I do, so I cherish any letters he's written. 

2. What's a movie that ends in a way you especially love?

Quite a few came to mind, but I'm going with the one that inspired this question-Secretariat. I've seen it many times, and caught the last half again this past weekend.  I absolutely love the ending, when that beautiful horse comes racing 'round the bend and O Happy Day plays her home.  It's a fantastic story, and best of all, it's true. You couldn't make up a better ending if you tried. 

3. Something that makes your heart sing? And for those of you who are parents, I mean something besides your children that makes your heart sing?

A crystal-clear, cloudless, blue sky day. 
I'd love to experience one right about now. 

4. What's the last event you had to attend, phone call you had to make, routine task you needed to complete, or meal you had to prepare, that you did do, but only half-heartedly?

I half-heartedly cleaned out the frig last week. I did get rid of all the various and sundry Tupperware containers lurking there, but my heart wasn't really in the job so I didn't pull out all the shelves or wash out all the drawers. 

Tomorrow is another day. 
My mantra when it comes to housework many some days. 

5. Tuna fish salad-yay or blech? If you said yay, how do you like your tuna salad prepared? Hey, this is the Hodgepodge, right?

I love tuna salad, one of my favorite things to make for lunch. I like mine with a little bit of chopped sweet pickle,  finely chopped celery, and a very little bit of mayo-not soggy. I like it on a bed of lettuce, or on toasted rye topped with lettuce and tomato.  

6. What's something you 'know by heart'?

The books of the Bible in order, all 50 US state capitals, our bank account number, and every single word of  Taylor Swift's song 'Love Story'. 

7. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, what two or three word phrase would you write on a conversation heart for someone you love? That someone could be a spouse, child, parent, cousin, bestie...anyone at all whom you love.

Still the one. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Our wedding photographer got the digital scans back from my daughter's wedding, and posted a sneak peek on his website Tuesday.  So pretty!  I can't wait to inundate my blog with more pictures-ha! 

And because it's February...a love song-



Happy ♥ Day Everyone! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 208

Hello Hodgepodgers! Here are this week's questions...answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow (Wednesday) to share the love. See you there! 

1. Have you ever written a love letter? Have you written one recently? Had one written to you? Did you keep it?

2. What's a movie that ends in a way you especially love?

3. Something that makes your heart sing? And for those of you who are parents, I mean something besides your children that makes your heart sing?

4. What's the last event you had to attend, phone call you had to make, routine task you needed to complete, or meal you had to prepare, that you did do, but only half-heartedly?

5. Tuna fish salad-yay or blech? If you said yay, how do you like your tuna salad prepared? Hey, this is the Hodgepodge, right?

6. What's something you 'know by heart'?

7. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, what two or three word phrase would you write on a conversation heart for someone you love? That someone could be a spouse, child, parent, cousin, bestie...anyone at all whom you love.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.