Wednesday, April 26, 2017

April Showers Bring The Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! So glad you joined in today. If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger who linked before you. Here we go
1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Has your April been filled with showers? Do you carry an umbrella, wear a slicker, or make a run for it? Besides rain, what else has filled your April?

The second half of April has been pretty soggy in the Palmetto State, plus I spent a week in Washington so yes, I've had my share of showers this month. I keep an umbrella in my car and have a small one I can throw in a tote bag if I'm out and about and the weather is dicey. I recently bought a new purse and Brighton threw in a really pretty umbrella 'for free' (Ha!). I've put it to good use this month.  I do have a lime green slicker I wear for running errands in the rain. Life must go on, right? 

Besides all the rain, I guess travel would be the something else that has filled my April. 

2. What's something you could you give a 30-minute presentation on at a moment's notice and with zero preparation?

Moving house. 

3. Share with us a favorite food memory from childhood.

I'm not sure I can choose a specific memory here. Warm feelings wash over me when I think about growing up, watching my mom cook, standing on a chair to help stir the gravy or dip a buttercream in melted chocolate, mixing up the salad dressing before dinner...lots of small moments in the kitchen mush together in my heart and spell home. 

4. What's a song you thought you knew the lyrics to, but later discovered you were wrong?

 I have older siblings so they were teens when I was still in grade school and there were several songs they used to play where I misheard the lyric. Most famously, 'Let's Live For Today' by the Grass Roots. My younger sister and I used to belt out the chorus which is actually...'shalalalalalala live for today' only we sang 'shalalalalala newportie lane'. Dont' ask me how we made that leap, but we did. 

5. According to one travel website, the most overrated tourist attractions in America are-
Niagara Falls (NY), Hollywood Walk of Fame (California), Times Square (NYC), Epcot (FL), Seattle Space Needle (WA), and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (Boston). How many of these have you seen in person? Did you feel like a tourist? Did you care? Tell us about a place (not on the list) you've visited that might be considered a tourist trap, but you love it anyway.

Hubs and I love to get off the beaten path when we travel. We love to eat-stay-shop where the locals eat-stay-shop and we're not group tour kind of people. In general we're more traveler than tourist, but that being said, tourist attractions are called attractions because there's something there to see, so let's see it.  I wouldn't stay away just because a place is labeled as 'touristy', but I would say try to visit very popular spots in the off season, or off peak hours and it will be more enjoyable. Also, try not to look like a tourist. teehee. 

Of the spots listed I've seen Times Square (don't go to NYC and skip Times Square!!), Epcot (love it!) the Space Needle (worth doing once), and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (worth seeing). The most recent place I've been that might be labeled a 'tourist trap' is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The town itself is filled with tourists and candy kitchens and shops selling knives and beef jerky, but the Smoky Mountain setting makes it worth a see for sure. 

6. Your signature clothing item?

I'm not sure I have one, but I guess I'll say blue jeans and heels. Those are the two things I wear most often. 

7. What's an experience you've had you think everyone should experience at least once? Why?

See #2. 

Moving. As in to a new city, state or country. You see new places, meet new people, experience new things. Moving builds your confidence, makes you brave, gives you a fresh start when you might not have realized you needed one. I'm sure I could write a whole post on this topic (or give a 45-minute talk), but I think picking up your life and moving it somewhere new allows you to know things about yourself you might not otherwise have known. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Hubs snapped this photo from our dock the other night,  and I love the reflection in the water-


April's had it's share of rain, but has also been chock a block full of beautiful rainbows. 




SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

28 comments:

  1. I'm more a fan of off the beaten track, too. These days it's the crowds that get to me so if I can see something nice without 10,000 other people stepping on my heels I'm happy. Great rainbow and reflection. Double the fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wholeheartedly agree about Gatlinburg. Pigeon Forge is worse. Branson of the Smilies. Yikes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I thought of Gatlinburg, but then I thought about how we pretty much avoid it like the plague! Except for the Artist Colony...that's my favorite thing about G'burg!
    Very cool picture your hubs captured!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rainbows after the rain... 🌈

    You could probably write a book about moving!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We haven't had much rain in our part of the Palmetto state. The bottom did drop out on Monday but that's about it. I loved Gatlinburg when I was growing up. My aunt took me there many times and it was touristy then. There are several places in the NC mountains that are more touristy now than they were when I was growing up and I would never have thought they could get even more so. So many times, in my opinion, the touristy stuff ruins a place. Guess who just got here? Baby M! Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree with you about moving; and the benefits and growth it provides. The view from your dock is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your food memory thoughts and I can relate to those times in the kitchen with mom and my sister and sister-in-law moving about preparing food or cleaning up. I do have great memories from childhood in the kitchen. I guess my thoughts went toward the food itself! I am terrified of the thought of moving at this stage of life because of all it would entail, but it is probably in our future. That photo is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. A fun Hodgepodge, Joyce! Thanks!! I enjoyed reading your answers. It's been years since I've been to Gatlinburg but (except for the awful fire) it seems to have not changed much! Happy Wednesday!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your kitchen memories brought a smile to my face. I've seen, in many of your posts, that you shared many such moments with your own girls...and still do share a love for cooking with them. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I thought about Gatlinburg, too, and probably should've used that as my answer.
    Ed and I have only moved twice, and the second time was only moving across our yard, but that's quite enough moving for me!
    The view from your dock is quite peaceful... Now THAT just might be worth moving for :)
    Kathy (Reflections)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Funny how we both picked Gatlinburg. I've been many times and it holds a special place in my heart. That photo your hubby snapped is a beauty! I wish I could enjoy wearing heels more often, but my feet hurt, hence the reason I wear my running shoes frequently.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful photo. We love to eat-stay-shop where the locals do as well, just take off in the car and see where the road leads us.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is also the way Hubby and I prefer to travel. We are not big group kinds of people and just enjoy those little out-of-the-way places as well. Such a beautiful picture!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I've always wanted to visit the Gatlinburg area. Maybe someday! We tend to go west more (rather than south) in recent years because our daughter and family are there. Loved your photo for #8. The rainbow reflection is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've done my fair share of moving, so I hope it is not an experience to do again for awhile. Joyce...I have a tease for you because it's a little too early to announce "this" just yet. Let's just say I continue to be right behind you in family news!! ( :

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Joyce,
    I was just about to choose moving for my #7. My dad has been on my brain, so I went with all the kindness strangers can give.

    You are so right and I liked how you said moving builds confidence. We moved away from family and friends to start our life here. We were young, newlyweds and had no friends or family. Jeremy and I both will say it was the best thing that happened to us. It made us GROW. :-)

    Have a great week!
    Carla

    ReplyDelete
  17. love your thoughts on food making memories, and have enjoyed everyone's answers on it. Some wonderful memories there. I agree on your thoughts about moving, though we haven't done it much at all in the last 30 some years.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think you are so right about moving. I moved so many times as a child and I enjoyed it so much. Since marrying, not so much other than from house to house in the same city. That doesn't count. :o)) What a beautiful picture of the rainbow reflection.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your comment on moving is making me itch to move. We've not moved 'house' in 28 years. It's high time, I think. Love the shot taken from the dock. I'm so glad you enjoy the move you made.

    ReplyDelete
  20. My slicker is yellow. I love Brighton purses. I don't ever remember helping my mom in the kitchen. Heels....OMG I haven't had heals on in at least 15 years! Love the rainbow/shadow photo.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Life must go on... understatement for sure. If we didn't keep on keeping on in the rain, we'd never get anything done. Ha. Especially this year!
    Fabulous rainbow picture!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Glad to back to the hodgepodge this week...another batch of great questions! That is one stunning view of that gorgeous rainbow! Thanks for hosting, as always, Joyce!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Joyce :)

    I'm doing this for the first time, I keep seeing friends do it, so I thought... why not? Anyway, thank you for hosting!

    And I agree with you about going off the beaten path :)

    rue

    ReplyDelete
  24. We returned to winter ! It's freezing ! I also love to see how people live after I have seen the attraction !

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Joyce, this was fun! Came over from Vee's "A Haven for Vee" blog - thanks so much for hosting. : -)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Joyce, this is Ginabean (from my life in a blog) I have followed and joined on the hodge podge for along time I will be joining you once again!!! this coming week

    ReplyDelete
  27. It's good to be able to participate in the Hodgepodge again. Thank you for you kind words and, of course, your continued prayers...not to mention the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm a wee bit jealous of all the traveling you've done. I've always found moving to be too stressful to actually enjoy. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete