Wednesday, October 7, 2015

The Impossibly Possible Hodgepodge

Click the Gimme Five Minutes button on my sidebar for my Write31Challenge posts.

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Thanks for joining the party here today. If you've answered this week's questions, add your link at the end of my post. Be sure you say hi to the blogger who linked before you, because comments help keep us rolling right along. Here we go-


1. It's October so let's get this out there first thing...have you jumped on the all-things-pumpkin bandwagon? How so?

No. And I won't be anytime soon. Why is pumpkin such a big thing? I don't get it? I might eat a small sliver of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving (heavy on the whipped cream), but if it's not on the menu I'm okay with that.  

I don't care for flavored coffee drinks or creamers so I've never had a pumpkin latte or frappe. I enjoy a slice of homemade pumpkin bread, but my preference is cranberry or banana. The other day I saw pumpkin flavored chewing gum. Ewwwwww.  

2. "We have more power than will; and it is often by way of excuse to ourselves that we fancy things are impossible." Francois Duc De la Rochefoucauld

What's something you once thought impossible, but in hindsight see as more a matter of lack of will?

I'm struggling to come up with an answer for this one. I'm stubborn as the day is long, so I fall more into the camp of believing nothing is impossible. How about running a marathon? I've never run one by the way, and it sounds impossible (also horrible). 

I'm sure it's not, but I definitely lack the will.  

3. The rose is America's National Flower, but every state also has its own (click here to see the list). Are you happy with yours? If you were in charge what would you declare your state's flower? If you're outside the U.S. what bloom would you like to see labeled as your country's national flower?

I've only been a South Carolinian for a couple of months, so I had to look it up-Yellow Jessamine. I'm not familiar with this bloom, but will be on the lookout now that I've seen a picture. NJ's state flower is the violet, and I love that one. 

4. What have you lost interest in recently?

Cooking? It's not so much losing interest as it is not enjoying the process in my rental kitchen. I miss my Calphon Cookware, my Kitchen Aid mixer, and most of all a sharp knife! We broke down and bought a new paring knife yesterday because I honestly think a dull knife can be more dangerous than one you know is razor sharp. Especially when you're me, ahem. 

5. In your opinion, who's the best living musician?

Too hard! There are so many factors to consider, but in my mind whoever earns this title needs to sing well, write, and play at least one instrument. Oh and I also need to like them. The first couple of names that popped into my head were Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, and the Boss. 

6. S'mores-love 'em or no? Ever make them indoors? Last time you sat around an outdoor fire? Are making s'mores and sitting round a fire pit on your autumn bucket list? Do you have an autumn bucket list?

I don't love s'mores, they're too rich and too messy. I do love roasted marshmallows though, with my chocolate served alongside. I've never made s'mores indoors, and haven't sat around a fire pit since we moved out of our house in NJ way back in June. We do have a fire pit in the community area of our apartment complex, but we haven't spent any time there. 

No real autumn bucket list written down anywhere. There are two or three things I want to do while the leaves are pretty though, so I guess I have a mental bucket list of sorts. 

7. Your favorite small town? Why?

I'm a fan of small towns, and it would be hard to choose a favorite. Small towns each have their own character and appeal, and if they were all the same I don't think I'd love them nearly as much. 

I will say you can't beat an English village with a charming High Street and lush green Commons. The one I lived in will forever be my favorite.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

How about a brief house update? Brief because honestly there's not a lot to make it lengthy. Since last we spoke it's rained. We're away from the devastating flooding that has occurred and continues to occur across parts of South Carolina, and for that I'm thankful. Others have not been so fortunate, and will be in recovery mode or in many cases starting over. Please keep these families in your prayers.

I'm thankful too, that we only had the lot cleared, rather than beginning the foundation prior to the storms moving in. We're so very fortunate not to have a giant muddy hole to deal with, and our excavators were able to get back to work this afternoon.  



I tried to post a little video clip here of the Septic dig, because I know everyone needs to see that-ha! but it wouldn't play, so I'm posting something pretty instead.  Hubs snapped this yesterday when he was out at the lot.  




28 comments:

  1. I must have missed this fact. Where in South Carolina did you move?

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  2. Pumpkin flavored chewing gum??!!! Now that has got to be the most disgusting thing I have heard of in quite a while.

    I'm so glad you're away from the devastating flooding!

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  3. Stevie Wonder is certainly a great choice! I love pumpkin stuff, I must admit. Sounds like a good morning for the pumpkin spice keurig to come out...

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  4. Pumpkin flavored chewing gum sounds nasty, but I bet my oldest would love it. I think she loves all things pumpkin.

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  5. Again, we have similar answers! (I guess I should stop being surprised! ha) Yes - Paul McCartney. Duh!! He should have also been on my list of best living musicians.

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  6. Oh, I'm glad for you too, that the hole for the foundation hadn't yet been dug! Love your sidebar photo, Joyce!

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  7. I am glad someone else doesn't like pumpkin!! Your video made me chuckle...but it is a very important component and has to be done before anything else. Congratulations! :)

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  8. I was thinking about you watching the news about the flooding. Glad to hear that you weren't affected. Enjoy your week.

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  9. I am with you 100% on the need for sharp knives!! On my vegan diet there's a lot of cutting/slicing of fresh veggies involved, so a dull knife is pure frustration. I have an electric knife sharpener and I use it. Thanks for letting us know the worst of the Carolina rains were not in your area. I was wondering about that.

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  10. I didn't think about "cooking" as an answer to something I've lost interest in, but that's a great answer for me, as well.

    I'm happy y'all weren't affected by the recent flood, and glad to hear that work on the building site has resumed.

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  11. I love to read what folks post to your questions. I'm not a fan of pumpkin in things either, not even pumpkin pie. My daughter is one of those pumpkin spice latte folks at Starbucks.

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  12. Hi Joyce,
    I am not a fan of all the pumpkin drinks and other commercial stuff. We do like to get two big pumpkins for the boys to carve for Halloween. I always seem to bake more pumpkin goodies this time of year, pumpkin bars and bread are a favorite.
    Carla

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  13. My mother-in-law lives on Lake Murray in Chapin, just north of Columbia and her dock was completely submerged. Chris has a cousin that lives in historic Charleston near the Battery and he was about two blocks away from terrible flooding. Glad all is well where you live!

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  14. When I was answering I was thinking of decorations. I do love pumpkin to eat but I haven't gone overboard at all. Just gathering recipes. I don't do any of the coffee stuff. Love the yellow flower. Those are great musicians and it is a hard choice. I'm glad you picked a English Village, exactly where I would love to live! What a beautiful view. Have a great day Joyce!

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  15. aA beautiful picture of your lot. You will have an amazing view! I cannot imagine what the "building a house " process is like. I didn't even think about drinking and eating pumpkin when I answered the question. I was just too focused on getting mine at the right time to put on the porch!! LOL!

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  16. I thought of the same three musicians, Joyce!

    I'm so glad you're not affected by the flooding. It looks horrible down there! Really hoping the dams are not breached....

    I can't wait to see how your house progresses. It is a dream of mine to someday build a house!

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  17. Running a marathon is a good answer. I don't think I could think of one for that one. Love me some Cranberry Bread too, but I love Pumpkin Bread. I have my momma's recipe and it is so good. I even go as far as to make it in 5 lb metal coffee cans. By the way...what a view you are going to have!

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  18. Oh, so glad that you are not involved in the awful flooded areas and that your foundation was not dug yet. Oh, me, the perils of rain while one is building. We prayed for it to stop back in July so we could finish our driveway and when it stopped, it stopped forever. We are now praying for rain. We need our yard plowed up and ready for grass and it cannot be done until the rains come. It seems to be either feast or famine.

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  19. Did you see that 'smore dip' ... you put chocolate chips & carmel chips (or PB chips) in the bottom of a iron skillet - put marshmellows on top - put in the oven & brown them... then take graham crackers & dip in it while its hot & gooey... I could go for that.

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  20. No desire (or will) to run a marathon either. Sounds horrible indeed. And I'm in agreement on the pumpkin frenzy. Just. don't. get it. I'm glad you were at a good point on the building when the rains came. I will be anxious to follow along with the progress! Nothing like a house on the water. :)

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  21. No desire or capability at this point to run a marathon either. I did a 5K once and won my (old) age category and did a Breast Cancer 5K walk a couple times but those days are over for me. I will stick to the elliptical and treadmill for now. So grateful you are away from the flooding. And, so sorry we missed the septic video. :)

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  22. The only marathons I participate in are the ones that involve television series and Netflix or Hulu. LOL I think I'm more into the idea of pumpkins. They're so pretty and I enjoy them but I don't go for pumpkin spice coffee or creamer nor do I go for the pie except at Thanksgiving. We do carve them though and eat the seeds. I like the bread but I don't eat carbs anymore so, that's out. Lots of yummy stuff is out, come to think of it. Sigh.

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  23. I much prefer the pretty picture thanks. Glad the work can continue.

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  24. I was just wondering if you were in the thick of the flood situation. Ditto on the s'mores and pumpkin flavor.

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  25. thanks for hosting this - it got me writing again after quite a hiatus!

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  26. Pumpkin spice chewing gum? That's just NASTY.
    BTW--when the house is finished, I want to be there for the housewarming party. You've picked a gorgeous spot.

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  27. Thanks for hosting the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I hope you and Hubs have not been severely impacted by the recent torrential rain and flooding. The news footage was amazing to watch.

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  28. I was born in South Carolina and spent the first 39 years of my life there. I love the state flower. :) I had my 40th birthday here in Texas, another state with a beautiful state flower...the bluebonnet. We've been here 11 years now and my younger children have no real memories of South Carolina. I sure miss home! The Blue Ridge Parkway is absolutely breathtaking in the fall!

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