Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Celebrating the Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered the questions today, add your link at the end of my post and be sure to leave a comment for your blog neighbor.
1. What do/did you call your grandparents? If it's something unusual tell us the story behind the name. If you're a grandparent what do your grands call you? Who chose your moniker?

We called both sets of our grandparents Grandma and Grandpa. We sometimes added their surname to differentiate in conversation, but in person they were just Grandma and Grandpa. My girls call my mom Mema and my mother-in-law Grandma. I'm still thinking about what I would like to be called, which may or may not be why you're answering this question today-ha! 

2. Ever taken a road trip along the California Coast? If so what was the highlight of your trek? If not, any desire to do so? What's one tourist attraction along the coast you'd add to your must-see list?

I've never taken a road trip along the California Coast, but it's definitely on my travel bucket list. I have a whole itinerary of stops I'd want to make, but Santa Barbara and Big Sur are near the top. 

3. What are three things you don't know how to do?

Wow, only three? How about three things I don't know how to do that I wish I knew how to do? 

Play the piano, speak a foreign language fluently, knit. 

4. Tom Peters is quoted as saying, 'Celebrate what you want to see more of.' If that's true, what and how will you celebrate?

Gentleness. 

Harsh, sharp, and angry is most definitely not working for us. 

I think gentleness in word, tone, and deed invites conversation, and I love that. 
In fact I'll pour the tea. 

5. Thursday (February 16) is National Almond Day. Do you like almonds? Which would you prefer-an Almond Joy or a macaron? What's something you make that calls for almonds?

I love almonds and would not turn down an Almond Joy or a macaron. If I have to choose I'll opt for the macaron. 

In France. 

I mean if we're imagining we might as well go all in, right?

I put sliced almonds in my chicken salad because I love the little salty crunch they add to the dish. I also add sliced almonds to my spinach salads. Yum! 

6. What does Saturday morning look like at your house?

Opening up the bedroom curtains to watch the sun stream in over the lake. Coffee sipped in our comfy chairs beside the sliders in the great room, or if it's warm enough out on the covered deck. Then more coffee. Then breakfast with hubs while we construct a loose outline of our plans for the day. We try to keep Saturday mornings low key and leisurely round here. 

7. Share with us a favorite book you've read this winter.

I've been reading a lot this winter and probably my favorite has been A Man Called Ove by Frederik Bachman. I really loved his book My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry and A Man Called Ove was almost as good. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The moon was absolutely gorgeous last week. Hubs snapped this photograph from our back deck on Thursday evening...



 If you didn't know better you'd think that was a spotlight on the lake, wouldn't you? 

Raise your hand if you're singing Taylor Swift right now? 



29 comments:

  1. Oh, that picture of the moon is absolutely gorgeous!

    And I am seriously envying your Saturday mornings.

    Great questions as always. Thanks for hosting!

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  2. Gee, I wish I had expounded more on our Saturday mornings as you did. 😉 Trying to find a good name to be called as grandma can be challenging in a way. There are so many to choose from. Most everyone I know is called Mimi or Nana. One of my friends waited to see what the kids would call her and went with that. All of them now call her Dya. She loves it because her first grandchild gave her that name. Your photo of the moon is stunning. I would definitely love to see more gentleness. Too much hate right now.

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    1. I learned something today about macarons. They are not macaroons as I know them. They look delicious and yes, I think I might opt for one rather than an Almond Joy. I found a recipe online and may give them a try.

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  3. Both step grandsons call me Mamaw and they call hubs Buddy! They have never once called him Papaw. The moon was bright and beautiful here last week. The pic of the moon is gorgeous.

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  4. I see that we picked the same book. Wasn't it wonderful? Thanks for hosting.

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  5. I could have put, play the cello on my list of things I don't know how to do. Maggie (DD1) plays beautifully but never brings it out to do so. I love the forlorn sound of the cello. The moon has been absolutely gorgeous since last week. I can see it from my bedroom windows and have enjoyed it. I never made it over to the beach to look. I'm a mere 3.1 miles from the beach and I rarely go over there. Ha! I thought the Saturday morning question was asking about Sunday. Gotta go edit! LOL

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  6. What a gorgeous view of the lake. I love nuts in a salad - that crunch takes it to a whole new level. What a great answer to #4 - reminds me of my Mum, she always practiced gentleness and always had the teapot ready!

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  7. I LOVED A Man Called Ove. His newest one is getting great reviews. Beautiful shot of the lake. Have a great week, Joyce.

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  8. There are so many great names for grandmother these days. I love when the kids come up with a name and it sticks. Love your answer for #4. The world can use more gentleness for sure!

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  9. That's a beautiful photograph of the lake! I still love that view!
    "Gentleness" is a good choice for #4.
    I can't wait to see what name you choose to be called by your grandchildren :)
    Enjoy the rest of your week, and thanks for continuing to host.
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  10. We were all so blessed by that amazing moon last week, but I love the way you captured it at your house. I forgot about slivered almonds in my green beans and sliced almonds with smothered spinach. Just give me almonds. You might have a grandparent name in mind, but it is always fun to see what the little one comes up with. Have a great rest of your week while looking forward to Saturday morning.

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  11. I love your Saturday morning description! How wonderful to be on the lake. The picture of the moon over the lake is gorgeous! I love moon pictures! Your celebration answer was very good! I think I might have misunderstood that question when I answered mine. I like your's so much better!

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  12. I knew you were wondering what to call yourself, lol. So exciting for you. That moon is just gorgeous. Your sat mornings sound kind of like ours minus the view. I am going to look for that book!

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  13. Don't be surprised if we all show up at your house next Saturday morning! Have plenty of coffee on hand. :-) Baby, huh? Hmmmmmmm. These are exciting times! Your item to celebrate is perfect. I'm so sick of such contentious conversation and vindictiveness in our country. Thanks for the Hodgepodge, Joyce. You did it again! xo

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  14. Ahh, gentleness, agreed.
    That moon has been amazing, love your picture!
    I almost checked out MyGrandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry! It was on my book list. I put it down for some unknown reason, will have to get it next time.
    Have fun choosing your name!

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  15. That was very clever of you to ask the Grandparents name ! Now you have the choice probably !

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  16. Exactly, the list of things I can't do is a very long one! I did like your answer. I agree, France is the best place to eat that macaron. Your Saturday sounds perfect. Great shot of the moon on the lake.

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  17. Enjoyed reading your answers. Your gentleness answer is very good and encouraging to me right now. I didn't go deep on that one. :) We just found out the doctor is predicting the delivery of our first grand up a week from the 26th of March to the 19th. Things are getting exciting!

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  18. Both of those books sound really good. In fact, I now am on the waiting list for both of them at my library.

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  19. I love almonds in chicken salad and in spinach salad! Awesome photo of the moon!!

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  20. Loved the questions. Glad to be back after 18 days in the hospital, a month of recoup. So glad to be among the land of the living.

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  21. Oh, that picture is sort of "Halloweeny" to me, just beautiful though. You will have so much thinking through your Grandmother name. I have never thought of putting almonds in my chicken salad but I certainly will from now on. Great idea!

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  22. How about JoJo? :) I could do Saturday mornings with you and tea and gentleness. :)

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  23. That photo is lovely. You definitely picked a good spot for your new home. That book is on my wish list - only heard good things about it. I find it hard to believe you can't knit (especially with a grandbaby coming ;) Making the time for it is probably the tricky thing.

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  24. I've missed two Hodgepodge posts because of our crazy schedules. Moving (as you know) can knock the wind out of your sails. I had to pop in and I always laugh that a co-worker has her grands call her Queen. Ours call me Grandma and Joe Grandpa. Mine were Grandma and Papaw and Granny and Pawpaw.

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  25. Congrats again on the little grand due this summer. You will LOVE being a grandma, grammy, memaw, nana, or whatever you decide upon. I'm Granny. It's what I called my paternal grandmother. It's classic, a bit old fashioned, and not that common these days. My husband had a "Grandma D", which would work for you, and I do like the "JoJo" suggestion. Whatever the name, the meaning is love. ❤️

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  26. I'm sure whatever your grandkids call you and hubs will be fine. The joy of being a grandparent trumps all. Thank you for your kind words and prayers for SWMBO. They have been duly passed on and she sends her gratitude in return. She is resting today from the heavy dose of Chemo that she got last night. She receive her stem cells tomorrow (Friday) night. Things are going as the doctor's expected that they would go. Thanks again for the prayers and encouraging words.

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  27. Gentleness, kindness, soft-spoken words -- all are in short supply of late. It's like the entire country is edgy these days.

    Your photo of the moon over the lake is wonderful.

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  28. I'd love to visit California someday. The three things you can't do are three things I can't do either.

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