Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to hop over and leave a comment for the blogger linking before you today, because comments make the blog world go round. Here we go-


1. Thursday (September 22) is the first official day of autumn in this part of the world...how will you welcome the season? I know some of you have been celebrating way too early, but it's official now so permission granted. House Beautiful recently listed ten ways to make your home smell like fall (you can read the list here) What's a scent you love this time of year and how will you add it to your home?

We're still in the upper 80's/low 90's here, so temperature wise it doesn't feel very fall-like. I do love the light this time of year, particularly just before the sun sets. The air feels different too, and there's a hint of turning in the leaves. That said, I'm still wearing flip flops and a bathing suit on the boat so we're not quite there no matter what the calendar says. 

How will I welcome the season? I have a little unexpected trip in the works so I'll likely spend Thursday getting my head around travel, which isn't very fall-like but is necessary. I generally change up my meal plans about now too, and have homemade soup on my Thursday menu. I guess that's my shoutout to the day. 

 As far as scents go I love candles year round, but especially this time of year. And I enjoy simmering cinnamon sticks with orange peel and cloves to make the house smell inviting, but not in September. Maybe November? 

2. Apple pie or pumpkin pie? Apple cake or pumpkin bread? Warm apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte?

Apple all the way! Apple pie, apple cake, warm apple cider. I do enjoy a very small slice of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day (heavy on the whipped cream please!), but other than that I'm not a big fan of pumpkin anything, especially coffee-yuck. 

3. Do you occasionally suffer from what's sometimes referred to as an afternoon slump? What helps ward it off before it hits and/or tell us what helps you shake it off once it's here?

Sometimes I 'slump' mid-afternoon. If I'm busy and power on through it passes, but if I sit down forget it. I have a cup of tea most afternoons about 3 o'clock and that usually does the trick. A cup of hot tea makes nearly everything better. 

4. Ladies-how have your friendships with women inspired you or made you a better person? For the men here today- how have your friendships with men inspired you or made you a better person?

I think when you have healthy friendships with women, healthy in that these women friends support, encourage, and love you for you, then you are so lucky. I know I've been inspired by so many of my women friends all across the decades of my life. Inspired to think differently, try harder, let go, forgive fully, laugh more, dig deeper, offer a helping hand, create something, extend grace, step out on that limb, get off that limb!, learn something new, and most especially- to love well. 

5. Are you a people pleaser? If you said yes, do you think that's a good or bad thing? If you said no, do you wish you were more of a people pleaser?

Yes for the most part. When the people around me are happy I'm happy. I'm not a doormat, but I like peace to rule the day and if I can make that happen I will. 

6. The seasons are a-changin'...share a favorite song relating in some way to change (not necessarily seasonal change, it could be change of any kind).

Landslide by Stevie Nicks...'can I sail through the changing ocean tides, can I handle the seasons of my life...'

7. What do you wish would never change?

I don't know the answer to this one. Change is inevitable, and for the most part in my own life God has used change to grow me up. I guess if I have to pick something I'll say we're all reasonably healthy right now, and I'd like that to continue.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

This isn't new, but I just saw it recently and it's pretty incredible. FYI-you'll want a towel to dry your sweaty palms! 



24 comments:

  1. Stevie Nicks is a classic! I like both pumpkin and apple. Hope you have a great Fall season. This is my first time participating in Hodgepodge. Excited to be a part of it!

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  2. I am not a fan on anything pumpkin...well maybe a slice of pumpkin roll go easy on the pumpkin and pile on the cream cheese. Changes are inevitable, indeed. Enjoy your trip.

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  3. Being Autumn is my favorite time of year, I couldn't wait to answer this week's questions. Love your answer to #4. Well said! Thanks for another fun week.

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  4. Guess who was up in the middle of the night??? We have been really hot too. Enjoy your little trip. I totally missed #4. I like your answer for #7. It is scary when your not well and you don't have the answers and you wonder about your own mortality. OMG, that video is amazing!!! Have a great day Joyce.

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  5. Another week of great questions, Joyce! It's still warm around here and the leaves has been changing. Have a great week!

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  6. So now I'm curious about that upcoming trip. Train to somewhere, maybe. I enjoyed your answers, especially the one about women relationships. Thanks so much for the weekly Hodgepodge, Joyce.

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  7. From your post title I thought you picked Changes by David Bowie. That was what I was going with but then thought that was too easy of an answer. So I chose Landslide too :)

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  8. I agree with your #7. Here's to continued good health for all!

    Thank you for the Hodgepodge, Joyce. We really enjoy it. Have a blessed day. :)

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  9. Apple Jack from My Little Pony Friendship is Magic would get along with you just fine. Her family makes all sorts of apple treats.

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  10. Hi Joyce,
    I am with Judy, I am curious about your trip as well. :-)
    We will leave for South Dakota on Sunday. I will miss next weeks Hodgepodge. We are hiking in the Badlands and visiting Mt. Rushmore. Our boys are so excited. Me too. Family time!!!
    I love how you answered #4!
    Have a great week! Carla

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  11. I completely agree with you on the cup of tea. I was just thinking about that last night and wondering why I can't ever remember to just sit down in the afternoons and have a cup. Maybe I'll start setting an alarm and rekindle this old habit. :) We don't usually see fall weather until November. Last year, we hardly had any at all. I'm always hopeful that it will come by October at the latest every year. The leaves will be lovely up there where you are. Here, not so much. It seems that ever since Hugo blew through in '89, the trees with changing leaves were all destroyed. I could just be crazy but I do remember fall trees before Hugo. Of course, I had only lived here for 4 years before he hit so... Have a wonderful day!

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  12. I enjoyed today's questions. I didn't have to tax my weary brain too much :)
    Treasure your good health! It's truly a blessing.
    Our temperatures are the same as yours, still more like summer than fall.
    Enjoy your travel plans, whatever they may be :)
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  13. Wow to those workers on Christ the Redeemer! I always enjoy your answers to your questions! Now I'm anxious to hear about your trip!! Safe travels!!

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  14. Yes, I agree, it's hard to get in the fall mood when the temps are in the 80's and 90's. Because we used to live in Florida, that was me for many years.

    This is a fun meme, and I'm so glad I discovered it last week. I'm looking forward to linking up today.

    Thanks for hosting,
    Patti @ Joy in the Middle

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  15. Great answer for #4. It was a hard question for me. I've been experiencing let downs in the friendship area lately. Can it be one of those life changes? Hmm.

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  16. Apples are my favorite also. I am in agreement that everything is better with a mug of hot tea!

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  17. That's a great video. Curious now as to why they were up there. Interesting questions as always. I think we'll all be curious about your trip. Hope it goes well.

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  18. I am happy to keep wearing flip flops for as long as possible! And, you are right - the sunsets are so pretty this time of year and it must be the cooling air (sounds good but I'm no meteorologist!)

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  19. Love your song choice. Glad to be playing along again.

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  20. I made up a mixture of sliced lemon with whole cloves and some peppermint leaves and simmered on the stove for a couple days. It filled the house with such a refreshing aroma. So interesting to see the video. I just read a book where the opening in the arm was mentioned and explained. I cannot imagine the stair climb much less venturing outside to walk around.

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  21. I don't know how you keep coming up with these questions but I'm glad you do.
    Mama Bear

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  22. Landslide is a great choice! I was just cruising down the road singing along to it the other day.

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  23. I too love the music of Jim Croce. I visited a restaurant that bears his name in San Diego, CA, many years ago. Thank you for you regards for SWMBO, they have been dutifully passed on. Thanks for the Hodgepodge!

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