Wednesday, May 10, 2017

From The Hodgepodge Desk

Welcome to the new and improved Wednesday Hodgepodge! Less questions, more fun! For me anyway. teehee Thanks for playing along today. If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say howdy to your neighbor. Here we go- 1. Share a favorite memory of your mother or share a favorite something from your own life as a mother. If you're a mother (or stepmom) tell us how your experience as a mom differs from your own mother's experience.

My most favorite memory of my own mom is sitting snuggled up beside her on the living room couch, my little sister snuggled up on the other side, as we listened to her read aloud. Books feature large in my childhood, as does my mother's sure love.  

I also have very vivid memories of her sitting with my sister and I to cut out paper dolls. My mom is artistic and was always so careful to cut them just so, never taking off a tab that would have to be taped on later. I always wanted to take great care with mine the way she did hers, but usually became impatient and lopped off the tabs. My mom would always fix them for me though. She could make any little wrong right.  Happy Mother's Day Mom! I got the best one. 

2. In May we celebrate teachers (May 9) and nurses (May 6) both. Most every family has at least one in their midst, so tell us something (or a few things) you appreciate about the teacher or nurse on your family tree.

My daughter2 is a teacher and easy to appreciate. That's her on the right in this photo, waaaay back in July, hard at work setting up her new classroom. She moved from third grade to kindergarten this year, which in teacher speak is the equivalent of starting from scratch. Her sister was in town visiting so we went over and helped her cut, hang, and sort. 

Also, teachers have summers off, right? 


This girl always wanted to be a teacher, and as far back as I can remember she set this goal for herself and worked hard to make it happen. Teaching comes naturally to her. She loves children, words, books, and being in charge. Ha! Her mother's daughter for certain! She is organized, creative, hard working, dependable, patient, and funny. She has high expectations but knows all children cannot be put in the same box. She has a mega watt smile that can light up a classroom, a dark day, or a life. I know it's lit up mine. 

It's easy for teachers to feel under appreciated and discouraged these days, but I pray she continues to use her gift for a long while.

3. Chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad...which would you go for if all three were on the menu? On bread or a bed of lettuce? If you answered bread, what kind of bread would make it the perfect sandwich?

These are three of my favorites, and on any given day I could choose any of them. I like chicken salad fixed a variety of ways, but it must be white meat only and either small bites or shredded, no big chunks. The egg salad needs plenty of mayo and the tuna salad too. And as much as I love tuna I really do need to be in the mood for that one, so how about we go with egg salad on rye and put an end to all the overthinking? 

4. Do you have a desk? Is it organized? If so, share your secret to keeping it that way. If you don't have a desk, where in your home do you take care of family paperwork and business? Where do you normally sit to blog?

I do have a desk and it's mostly organized. 
Can you be partly organized? Is that a thing? 

It's totally a thing. I need to go through my files and purge, which is something I haven't done since the move so in that sense it's not perfectly organized. Everything is filed, I just need to weed out some of last year's paper, so let's say I'm semi-organized. 

I keep bills to be paid in one spot, file receipts as I go, have pen-stapler-paper clips-scissors within arm's reach and my calendar handy for easy reference. Also, the paper shredder sits just behind the desk, and if I'm offering an organizational tip that would be it-keep a working shredder within reach and use it often. Don't let paper accumulate. 

I like to write on the desktop as opposed to a smaller device, so almost always blog from the office. This room is tucked away in a far corner of the house so it's quiet, and I like quiet for thinking and writing. Given it's location (below and behind our screened porch) we didn't expect to have much of a a view from this room, but...


Alternately inspiring and distracting. 

5. When I was nine years old....

I had long hair and skinny legs. I loved to read and still played with paperdolls and my sister. I liked to swim, ride my bike, and roller skate. 

I was in the fourth grade and loved my teacher, mostly because she was pretty. My dad returned from Vietnam and Okinawa that year, and he visited my class to talk and share pictures (slides). I remember being slightly disappointed he didn't wear his uniform, but so proud he was there. 



That's me on the right and my little sister on the left, front and center which was her modus operandi back in the day. We're wearing silk p.j.s my dad sent from Okinawa. 

My siblings and I all remember the day that same year, he took us to the circus and bought us every edible treat we asked for. This was soooo unlike my dad, which is probably why that day stands out in all of our memories as a favorite from childhood.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I think I finally have one fireplace mantle to the point I can quit fussing with it. 



This fireplace is in my keeping room, an extension of my kitchen.  I love all things French and already owned the Epernay sign, but I was excited to find these jars in an antique/home decorating shop just a couple of weeks ago.  




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22 comments:

  1. Your mantle is lovely! I talked about my teacher daughter, too. You are so right about how switching grade levels is the same as starting over. At our school, I've seen the switch happen less than one week before school started. We all pitch in when that happens which I find to be completely unacceptable but they never asked me so... :) My teacher daughter is still in first grade and coming up on her third year. There are many changes coming to our school- 7 or 8 new teachers (several retiring this year and one because of her first grandbaby! and the principal, who has been there since my oldest and her youngest were in 3rd grade, is retiring) and it seems very odd. They've already hired a couple of new ones. I'm not sure it's the school for Baby M to attend anymore. We do have a few years yet to determine that but I'm always on point when it comes to education so I'm paying close attention. Ok, it may very well be a control issue. Haha! Sorry about that tangent. I didn't realize I was on one. :) Do you know I haven't been able to eat tuna since the last time I was pregnant? I hadn't thought about that since you asked the question. Have a wonderful day!

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  2. Teaching is such a wonderful profession, but I do feel that teachers are under-appreciated, for the most part, in today's world. Sure sounds like your daughter has found her calling. There is no doubt that if I had a view like yours from our home office, I'd never get any blogging done. Beautiful! You did a great job on your mantel...it's a real eye-catcher! Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day, Joyce!

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  3. What wonderful memories of your childhood; and your mom and dad! The silk pajamas look so detailed. Kindergarten is such a fun age to teach - the kids are so eager to learn. The view outdoors is lovely. What a beautiful place to write from.

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  4. Your description of your teacher daughter is so sweet. I am positive that you modeled exactly what it means to be a great teacher through your tender mothering. Happy Mother's Day, sweet friend.

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  5. Wonderful answers and memories, Joyce ... and wonderful questions too. I think the Hodgepodge is going to be even better with only five questions. Loved your memory of your dad buying you and your siblings "every edible treat you asked for" at the circus. What a day! No wonder you all remember it!

    I would be seriously distracted by the view from your office. Thanks for the desk-organizing tips!

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  6. Sweet childhood memories. I give you an A+ on the mantle decor. Lovely! Have a great rest of the week!

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  7. Your home and the environment is so beautiful and peaceful. I love your statement about your mom because it is true. Mom can make any wrong right. I'm so with you on the white meat. I don't want any chicken dish served with dark meat, especially my chicken salad or enchiladas. Your daughters are beautiful and the children are lucky to have her for their teacher. You mentioned some things from nine that I left out. You and your sister are so cute!

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  8. Your mantle looks great! I used to have skinny legs too... for a day. Enjoy your day.

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  9. I agree! Your mantel doesn't need a thing - its a keeper! What a view from you desk, but I can understand the dual distraction/inspiration thing. Loved the story about your dad. Dads are so special!!! Happy Mother's Day to you.

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  10. LOVE your mantle...it's perfect. Your childhood memories made me think of how much my sister and I played with paper dolls. Soo much fun. Nothing more exciting then a new set. Do they even have those anymore? If not, they should. Oh the hours of fun we had. Your view honestly can't be beat. I would be very content to sit in many places around your house most of the day!

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  11. Joyce, thank you for continuing the Hodgepodge. I like the new and improved version!
    Great memories of your dad and mom. You were so blessed.
    Your mantle looks great, and that view from your office is to die for. You must have a wonderful view from every room in the house! Enjoy :)
    Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day,
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  12. Love your memory of snuggling with your mom and her reading you a book. Your mantle looks perfect, you can stop fussing....

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  13. Pretty fireplace and what a beautiful view from your office.

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  14. Great memories. I'm thankful for your father's service especially in that war where our returning military members were not treated well. Those silk pj's are very cool. The mantle looks great. Happy Wednesday to you!

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  15. Your mantle is beautiful and I love the picture of you and your sister. Thanks for letting me play along. Happy Hodgepodge!

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  16. I hope that your daughter has a long and happy career as a teacher. It is one of the things that I wanted to be when I was a little girl. My siblings and I played school often and I was always the teacher. It was a lot of fun.

    I think the view from your office is great. How blessed you are. :)

    Have a wonderful day.

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  17. That mantle...and the NON-view...WOW. I so enjoyed your answers and I can tell that you are just a wee bit proud of your teacher girl, as you should be...as I'm sure you are just as proud of daughter #1. I have a few memories of my own being snuggled next to mommy, telling her I never wanted to leave her. And I think the five question format is great. Was it easier on your end this week?

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  18. Love the mantle. Beautiful. I am really enjoying everyone's memories of mom. I also like fewer questions! Thanks for our Wednesday fun, Joyce!

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  19. Great post Joyce. I would get very little work done if that was the view from my desk.

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  20. I'm finally getting here, Joyce! Your mom sounds lovely, and teaching her girls a love for books wasn't wasted on you, was it. And passed down to your own girls, no doubt.
    So your mom has two girls and you have two girls. Love the photo of you two in your oriental pj's. Thanks for the fun and shorter Hodgepodge. Have a wonderful Mother's Day.

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