Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Appreciating the Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Hodgepodge friends..it's nice to be back on the blog. I have so much to catch up on here, both reading and writing. Let's get started. Add your link at the end of my post IF you've answered today's questions. Happy Wednesday!


1. What's a phrase your mother often said to you? If you're a parent, is this something you now say to your own children?

'Be careful.'  Worry is something that must be tamed in a mother's DNA. 

When I say this to my own girls (and I do) they like to reply back with, 'Thanks mom..good thing you reminded us of that because we were planning to be completely reckless.' 

They think they're hilarious. 

2. What is a scent you associate with your mother or your childhood home?

Chocolate sugar-y goodness. I think my mother will be absolutely fine with that answer. She is a wonderful baker, her Christmas cookies are legendary and her homemade brownies and cakes world class, so definitely the scent of something wonderful in the oven. 

3. What's an activity you remember always doing with your mother (or someone who was a mother figure in your life)?

Cooking and baking would be the obvious answer, and I so appreciate my mother's skill there and the fact that she passed her love of home and hearth on to me. The thing that popped into my mind though, was something completely different-paperdolls. Can you still buy paperdolls? My sister and I absolutely loved them, and spent hours playing with ours. That was probably one of my favorite things to do growing up.  

Some of the paperdolls came with the kind of clothes you punched out of the page, but the best kind were the ones you cut out yourself.  They had tabs to hold them in place when you folded them over the doll. My mom didn't actually play paperdolls with us, but she helped us cut out the clothes and we loved that so much. I have such a clear picture in my head of the three of us at the kitchen table chatting as we worked. My mom is very creative with a bit of the artist in her, so she was never sloppy, and she never ever ever cut the tabs off the shoulders, which made them unwearable. I quite often snipped off the tab. 

I feel like so many people reading won't have a clue what I'm talking about, but if you loved paperdolls you'll understand. 

4. Flared jeans, maxi dresses, and jumpsuits are 70's fashion trends back this spring. Are you on board? Which trend would you be most inclined to try? For the men...flared corduroys, wide-collared shirts, and floral prints...what say you?

I will not be wearing any sort of jumpsuit, that much is for certain. I think that might have been a cute look for me back in the 70's, but not in the 00's. ahem. 

While I like the idea of a maxi dress and have tried to make it work, it just doesn't. I do love them on my daughter though. I would probably wear a flared jean, not a super wide crazy flare but a small flare would be okay.  

I'm not keen on any of those man styles. I think then and now, 70's fashion suited women more so than men. 

5. May 6th is Teacher Appreciation Day and also Nurse Appreciation Day. Is there a nurse or teacher you have especially appreciated along the way? Tell us why?

I've been fortunate to have so many wonderful teachers all throughout my schooling, but the teacher I most appreciate right now would be my Daughter2. I got to spend a few hours volunteering in her room last week, and I'm so impressed with her skill in the classroom.

She has such a wonderful way with her students, and strikes precisely the right balance between loving and firm. I know I'm her mother, but seriously the girl's got skilz! 

6. If I came by your house, what would I find on your frig door?

Not a thing. We're selling our house and have to pretend nobody lives here. Even if we weren't selling I wouldn't have much there. I like the minimalist thing when it comes to refrigerators. When my house wasn't for sale the only things on my frig were photos of the three children we support through World Vision and Compassion. Their photos are a reminder for me to write them letters and keep them in my prayers.  

7. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana made her royal entrance on Saturday, May 2nd. On a scale of 1-10, how much attention did you give to all the news coverage? 1=Who's Charlotte? 10=sat glued to the telly, cuppa in hand.

I'm right up there in the 8 or 9 range, and excited to have a girl in the mix. Those cheeks! Completely adorable. I think her name is lovely too.  I had a full day on Saturday, so could not sit around in my pjs watching the telly, but I did check for updates on Twitter. 

Also, let's discuss Kate's hair because it's pretty much perfection. I wish her hair team could do my hair now and then. Remember the old Breck commercials? Kate could totally be a Breck girl.  Am I dating myself here today? Regardless, I think she handles all the attention, scrutiny, and criticism with a lot of grace. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So here's a fun thing. I posted that picture (above) of my Daughter2 on Facebook earlier this week and her long ago fifth grade teacher left this photo in the comments-


She had a picture of my daughter taken in her fifth grade classroom in almost the same pose! I know! And that face! Pure sweetness with just a hint of mischief in the eyes. I remember that adorable little blouse too with it's dainty embroidered flowers. 

Be still my heart. 
Seriously, I might have to go lie down now because it's all too much.

Also, how amazing is it that her fifth grade teacher could put her hands on this very photo taken fifteen years ago?! Miss S. taught both my girls in the fifth grade and we all adored and appreciated her. 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day Ms. S! 
This picture made my day, and I'm sure Daughter2's as well. 





26 comments:

  1. Lovely post a what a nice thing for your daughter's teacher to have done. She must have been a special student. Thanks for hosting. I'm taking part for the first time today.

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  2. Lovely post. Your daughter must have been a great student for her teacher to remember her and post about her.

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  3. What a happy memory of cutting paper dolls with your mother! My daughters and I do a lot of that. Somehow I had never stopped to think that it might be a memory in the making.

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  4. I remember paper dolls and Breck, I must be from your tribe!
    What a precious picture of your girl!!!
    Happy Mothers Day Joyce!

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  5. I remember paper dolls with the punch out clothes. They were fun to play with even though I didn't have that many. I also agree with you about Kate's hair. OMG it is always so pretty and makes her look more beautiful then she already is.

    Thanks for this portion of the Hodgepodge. It brought back alot of great memories.

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  6. Hi Joyce - I've come to visit via Pamela's recommendation, and have really enjoyed reading through some of your posts. I planned to take part in the A to Z challenge this year, but wasn't able to due to some unexpected 'real life' issues getting in the way - maybe next year. I'll be back again now I've found you! Caroline :)

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  7. The picture comparison is really quite something! So...yes, I remember paper dolls, especially the one that came in McCall's magazine every month! And, the Breck Girl!! Wow! I had forgotten about the beautiful pictures/ads (usually on the back of the magazine) of the Breck Girl! And, yes, Kate does look just like one! I think you and I just took a couple of trips down "memory lane" thinking of these things from another time!

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  8. Thanks for the walk down memory lane! I loved playing with paper dolls and I remember the Breck girl, too :)

    I know you enjoyed getting to spend time with your daughter at work. How special for both of you!

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  9. I loved this post, Joyce! And your daughters completely sounded like mine in your answer to#1. Cracked me up!! Love the teacher-daughter photos. Too sweet! And your whole post made me smile. :-) I know you're crazy busy, but thanks for the Hodgepodge and have a wonderful mother's day.

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  10. My girls sound just like yours, when it comes to taking advice. Love the pic of your #2!!! So cute. Hope you sell your house this weekend!!

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  11. I so well remember cutting out paper dolls, what a sweet memory. Yes, Kate could do a Breck commercial, you are so right. So enjoyed this week's questions as it brought back a lot of precious memories of my Mom. Happy rest of the week!

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  12. I played with paper dolls when I was little, too. And my 9 year old has a set of Little House on the Prairie ones that she plays with pretty regularly. I am the master cutter so she has me cut them out. She loves them! And ... "Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful." :)

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  13. Couldn't you just cry when you cut off the shoulder tabs!!?!! Happened to me all the time and there was no pretty way to fix it. Tape back then was shiny and didn't disappear like tape today. The waist tabs would never hold the dress on. And you are right about Kate making a great Breck model. Her hair is gorgeous!

    Love the daughter2 photos and that her teacher could pull out that photo and share it with you. Awesome. Teachers are amazing.

    Another great Hodgepodge, Joyce! Thank you!

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  14. OMG, I hadn't thought about paper dolls for a long, long time....but I remember them well. Great memories. Can you believe how Kate looked walking out of the hospital just 10 hours after delivery? Too much.

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  15. OH, my goodness, YES, I remember paper dolls! I loved them! My mom was also super careful not to cut ANY of the tabs, but especially the shoulders. Hasty me didn't always get the rationale of "be careful" cutting and henceforth my paper dolls would lie naked on the floor till I got the scotch tape and mended their clothes at the shoulders.

    Your daughter posing in her fifth grade teacher's classroom and NOW you have that pose of HER teaching in her OWN 5th grade classroom? That's surreal. I feel your pride and joy in watching your daughter teach . It's a wonderful feeling to see them flourish in ways they were born for.

    Happy rest of week.

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  16. I remember cutting out the clothes for paper dolls. I just saw a paper doll book at Target a few weeks ago - of the Duchess of Cambridge no less! And yes, she could so be a Breck girl.

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  17. Your daughter looks like she would be a very understanding, loving teacher that cares about her students, I love the picture that her teacher found how cool is that! And paper dolls, see I could of used that but my mind just was not working...

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  18. Their day will come when they will be saying the same thing to their children!!! I agree, Kate could be a Breck girl. That is so sweet of her teacher to send you the photo.

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  19. That is so incredibly sweet of her 5th grade teacher to send you the picture so you'll have it!
    I wasn't much into paper dolls...I wanted the real doll. Maybe it's just that I was too clumsy to have the paper ones!
    My boys do the same thing & think they're hilarious, too.

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  20. May the Lord bless greatly your daughter's influence in the lives of her students. And may she continue to have the freedom to teach them all that is good.

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  21. Hi Joyce,
    I do say "Be Careful" to my boys every time they leave the house. ;-)
    I liked your answer to #1.
    Happy Mother's Day
    Carla

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  22. I was interested in reading Hodgepodger's answers about the royal baby. I would have been a 3 or 4 but I ended up being in London when she was born so I turned into a 10. By chance, the hospital was near my hotel so I got to meet and chat with some of the hard core baby watchers and reporters. I was outside the hospital when they announced the birth but had to leave to catch a train to the airport before they came out with the new princess.

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  23. I totally played with those paper dolls. I loved them but do recall being frustrated when the tabs fell off. Do you remember the color form ones? I loved those! No tabs and they smelled good. Ha.
    Sweet pictures of D2!

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  24. Teaching is one of those professions that is more vocation than profession. People who become teachers answer a call to do a noble thing. I wish we valued teachers more, sadly we don't. So kudos to Daughter #2 for her service to the next generation.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

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  25. That is so cool that all your kiddos had the same teacher! It was like that in my elementary school too! Thanks for the invite to do the hop!

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  26. Hey-so sorry I haven't been able to participate-hopefully soon! I love reading the post you have written. I am sure your daughter is a great teacher!! I am planning on retiring this year, and my emotions are getting to me.

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