Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Midterm Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! So glad you've stopped by today! If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Let's get started-


1. Growing up, were you close to your grandparents? Tell us one or two specific things you remember about them.

For most of my growing up years we lived on the East Coast and both sets of grandparents lived out west, so we didn't see them often. They typically came for a visit once a year and we went out west even less than that. Back then families didn't hop on airplanes and fly here there and everywhere like we do now. Different times. 

When I was a year old my dad was sent to Okinawa and my mom and all my siblings moved in with her parents in Albuquerque New Mexico. My baby sister had a lot of illness that first year of her life, so my grandma spent a lot of time with me. My mom was just telling me the other day how my grandma would take me back on her bed at naptime and talk to me and then have me show off all the new words she taught me. Perhaps this is why I'm chatty to this day? Hmmm....

I know I loved her dearly and as I grew into adulthood she spent more and more time at my mom's house so I did know her well later in life.  I have lots of memories of her, but one favorite is the way she prepared iced tea by the glass with just the right amount of lemon and sugar in each serving. It was fascinating to watch and thinking about her homemaking skills makes me feel a bit lazy. 

My paternal grandparents had a farm and we absolutely loved visiting there, exploring the barn, and especially the ultimate treat-a 'swim' in what I think was an animal trough of some kind, which only goes to prove kids don't need much in the way of entertainment. 


This is the only picture my mom has of all four of us kids with both sets of grandparents. I'm the one in the orange dress and that's my maternal grandparents behind me and my big sister. My paternal grandparents are standing behind my younger sister and brother.  I must say my mom is looking very glam here! 

About five years ago I wrote two posts sharing some of my memories, here (Colorado) and here (New Mexico) if you're curious. 

2. What's an item you were attached to as a child? What happened to it?

My thumb. I've still got it-ha! Also my very special baby doll, the one I named Catherine and who I mothered to death. I think she's in a box of keepsakes I've saved for my girls. They played with her sometimes too. 

3. When you look out your window, do you see the forest or the trees (literally and figuratively)? Explain.

Literally I see more trees than forest, but figuratively I try to keep my eye on the bigger picture and what's important in the grand scheme of things. 

4. Do you like sour candies? Which of the 'sour' foods listed below would you say is your favorite?

grapefruit, Greek yogurt, tart cherries, lemons, limes, sauerkraut, buttermilk, or kumquats 

Have you ever eaten a kumquat? What's your favorite dish containing one of the sour foods on the list?

I love sour candies and many sour foods too. I like everything on the list except maybe buttermilk, although I like that too if it's used in cake baking or a biscuit. I've had kumquats in Indian food and liked them, but have never eaten one plain. Do you eat them plain? My favorite on the list is probably tart cherries, but I eat more lemons and limes on a regular basis. Lemonade, limeade, and cherry cobbler rank up near the top of my list of favorites. 

5. July 1st marked the mid point of 2017. In fifteen words or less, tell us how it's going so far.

Bit of a roller coaster, but always the happy knowledge a baby boy is on his way. 

Two words over, but it's the best I could do. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I made this simple dessert the other night and it's definitely a keeper. 


Super easy and so delicious, especially if you have access to Carolina peaches. You'll find the recipe here.  Note-I baked mine a bit longer than suggested but probably depends on the firmness of your peach. 




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25 comments:

  1. I see you also had a great relationship with your grandma ! Unfortunately I have not the same with my grandson, he lives in Holland and he is only 6 lol,

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  2. How nice to have a family photo of everyone that way. I have seen photos of all grandparents together because they were friends, but the grandchildren and parents aren't included.

    Any time that a grandchild is expected is an exciting year!

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  3. Believe it or not, my answer to #2 is the same as yours started out!
    I'm always jealous of people who know/knew their grandparents. What a blessing!

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  4. I can't ever remember a time when all my grandparents were together with the grandchildren. My first glance at that pic and I thought the girl in the orange dress was one of your daughters. That dessert looks quite edible. Yummy. Isn't it wonderful that you will be able to visit more often with your grand baby, thanks to planes, FaceTime and Skype?

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  5. Such a great picture of your family with both sets of grandparents. I don't think we have one of my mother's parents and GrandMoore. Granddaddy Moore passed before my parents married so I never knew him. One of my favorite things to do is go through old photos. I've scanned most of them onto an external hard drive but I need to get the rest of them. Now, if we have a dreaded hurricane, all I have to take is the hard drive instead of a gazillion boxes of pictures. How's your girl feeling? Are Y'all voting on an arrival date yet? I'm beginning to visualize my life with Baby M and Baby R now so I feel the time getting close. Of course, I could just be crazy. LOL Have a wonderful day!

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  6. I agree that it's wonderful you have that photo! I've never eaten a kumquat in Indian food. I didn't know they were eaten any way other than plain. Maybe that explains it.

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  7. Lovely questions today ... and what?! You didn't mention SAUERKRAUT!?! Ha, I understand; one either likes it or not. :) Looking forward to hearing about grandbaby boy's arrival. Have a great week. C.

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  8. I didn't realize people used kumquats in food, that's interesting!
    How blessed you are to have a photo including both sets of grandparents.
    Thanks for hosting, today. I'm sure your life is getting crazier by the minute, these days. Thankfully, I could see the linky today, so I didn't have to bother you about that!
    Take care,
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  9. I enjoyed the memories of your grandparents and the photo...how precious is that?! I can agree with your description of the year so far and with the bit about the baby. Our youngest grandson, who lives close enough to visit every day, always brightens the mood. The peaches look amazing. I love a good peach dessert and will have to give that a try.

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  10. Awe, thumbsuckers are sooooo cute! My daughter was one and my youngest Granddaughter is one and she absolutely loves that thumb. My daughter will say to this day that if she ever goes into a nursing facility that she's sure she'll revert back to thumb sucking. Have mercy! Oh, and I see those pretty Pomona dishes. I found the Bontanic Garden Bird dishes at Tuesday Morning a few weeks back and could not resist. They had 6 each of dinner plates, salad plates and mugs and they now reside in my cabinets. They are just gorgeous and they only made them in 2011 and 2012 so I'm hopeful I can find a few more of them over time because I really need more dishes. NOT! Happy rest of the week!

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  11. The memories of your Grandmother are so very sweet. I am glad you have them.

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  12. Love your questions and answers today, Joyce. What a treasure to have a photo (even if only one) of you and your family with both sets of grandparents. That is something that many people (me included)will never be able to have.

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  13. It's been a crazy year for us so far, but here's to a happier and less eventful second half.

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  14. How nice to have that family shot with both sets of grandparents. Ha, I just had our first group of summer visitors leave and you can tell by my answers to this weeks questions I'm a little tired :)
    Have a great week!

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  15. I loved reading about your relationships with your grandparents. I so much want to have my future grandchildren know me. Your thumb....LOL! I'm with you on the buttermilk. Hooray for grandson who is on his way!! Your dessert looks delicious.

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  16. My first thought was being attached to my thumb too!!!!!
    Love the family picture.
    "Mothered to death" LOL!

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  17. The questions were really fun this week. Thanks Joyce.

    That peach dessert looks delicious!

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  18. It's great that you have that photo of all your grandparents. Unfortunately my Dad died before any of my kids were born so they don't have that and although none of their grandparents are still alive I think my kids would say they had a good relationship with the the 3 grandparents they knew when growing up.

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  19. Your memories of your grandparents are just precious! One of my aunts had a farm, and when we took a trip to Canada, we got to stay with her for a couple of days. I absolutely loved it there! All the fuzzy feels!!

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  20. That peach dessert looks SO good!! I was also attached to my thumb. LOL I knew which child was you because your girls look just like you!!

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  21. You have some wonderful memories to cherish! Although I didn't have the memories to share, the grandparent question was great. It gave many of us the opportunity to share photos and a little information. The peach dessert looks absolutely mouth watering! Thank you for hosting and enjoy the rest of your week, Joyce!

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  22. Having grandparents with a farm is great. We swam in their cow trough, too. Just us kids and the water moccasins. We would get in and several would crawl out. Good times, good times.

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  23. What a precious family photo. I think your mama looks pretty glam there, too. Her hairdo is great. :)

    Those peaches look absolutely yummy, Joyce! I love peach cobbler, cherry cobbler, most any kind of fruit cobbler (well, except citrus fruits). Now, I'm hungry for cobbler. haha

    How much longer before that grand-boy gets here?

    Have a blessed day!

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  24. Like you, I've got my thumb! (smile)

    We look forward to the news of your grandson's safe delivery and the joy of your daughter and her husband. We are waiting on the birth of a great nephew just any day (hopefully TODAY).

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  25. The peaches look scrumptious! They make me think it's time for a trip to our favorite East Texas Peach Orchard. Nothing sweeter than a fresh peach. Loved the picture of your family. That was such a neat question and one I think everyone enjoyed answering. Thanks for always coming up with neat questions to both challenge and bring enjoyment to the Hodgepodge.

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