Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Mooning Over The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge! If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and say hi to your neighbor on the list. Here we go-




1. Did you watch the solar eclipse? Your thoughts? Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, a Blue Moon beer, a Sunkist orange, or a Milky Way candy bar...what's your favorite eclipse related snack on this list?

First things first-the snack list Ha! Pass the Milky Way please. 

Absolutely we watched the eclipse. We live in the path of totality and skies here were clear. I thought it was completely amazing. Hubs and I went to a viewing party in a neighbor's backyard where we all wore our special glasses and collectively oohed and aahed as the moon showed off. A stunning display of God's handiwork. 

2. What are you 'over the moon' about these days? What's something you enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon'?

Well the answer to that first one is easy-

photo courtesy of my daughter's mother in law

As far as something I enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon' hmmm....how about drink a diet coke? Every once in a while I get a craving for a bubbly Diet Coke with lots of ice. Definitely not something I drink on a regular basis so I think the phrase fits. 

3. Tell us about something in the realm of science that interests you. How do you feed that interest?

Birds, specifically hummingbirds, bluebirds, and hawks. We put up a bluebird house and mom and dad moved in the very next day. Babies were born and have grown and now the whole family flits around the birdhouse when they hear my hubs whistle. They know he's bringing the chow. It's really fun to watch. 

We also have a couple of hummingbird feeders, one in my kitchen window so I can see them up close while I'm at my sink. They're just amazing little creatures.  We have two regular bird feeders too, and a couple of bird books, and the bird man at our nearby shop has been really helpful in educating us, particularly about how to attract the bluebirds.  

4. What are a few things you remember about going back to school as a child?

I remember new clothes for the first day, and always getting new shoes too. I remember in elementary school we used to have to bring in a cigar box for our pencils, etc. Cannot imagine asking parents in 2017 to send in a cigar box, but back in the 1960's everybody seemed to come up with one. I don't even know where we got ours but we always had one for that first day of school. 

I remember the night before jitters and the anxiety on that first day waiting with my friends to hear my name called and know who my teacher would be. I remember the feeling of a fresh start. I have always liked fresh starts. 

5. I've seen several versions of this around the net so let's make one of our own...share with us five words that touch your soul and briefly tell us why.

mother-everything about this word says comfort to me. 
It soothes my soul. 

dream-I've always had a big imagination, and I'm still a dreamer at heart. 
Dreams awaken my soul. 

water-being on, near, or in front of the sea (ocean, lake, a good spring rain) helps me refocus when life feels tilted sideways. Water refreshes my soul. 

rest-because life is quite often too full. Hitting the pause button helps me remember I'm more than my literal and figurative to-do list. Rest energizes my soul. 

hope -because I still like fresh starts. 
Hope restores my soul. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Hubs and I met Daughter2 for dinner last night. She's been back at work for a while now, but Tuesday was the official first day for students. This is her fifth year teaching, her second in kindergarten, and she still gets excited for that 'first day of school'. 


My daughter told us a neighbor couple brought over a quiche for her and her roommate in case they were 'too tired to cook this first week'. What a wonderful gesture that meant so much. This couple has grown children, which made it all the more special. May we all look for ways to bless the teachers who cross our paths this next school year. 




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23 comments:

  1. A cigar box for pencils? I never would have guessed! That's so cool!

    (Still loving all the baby pictures!)

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  2. I am not so into birds, I like them maybe it's because I have 3 cats ?

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  3. Joyce... Again, we think alike! I especially love your words that touch your soul. What a lovely gesture bringing the quiche to your daughter and roomies! Yeah to teachers!!

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  4. Hi,
    I loved how you did your soul words.
    We are also bird people. Both my boys enjoy watching the bird feeders and we have a few 'new' birds come our way every once in awhile. Pileated Woodpeckers do not usually visit us, we had one the winter of 2016 visit several times. That was a treat.

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  5. You mentioned the cigar box. You question triggered a memory of buying a school box (similar to a cigar box) but there were different designs that kids could pick from. I love watching birds too. However, we've not as lucky as you are to have the bluebirds and hummingbirds so close to our home. Thanks for hosting!

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  6. I'm with you on the candy bar. Baby M and I like to enjoy breakfast with the back door open so we can eat with the birds. I put food out on the deck rails just so I can watch them throughout the day. Photographing birds was one of the first things I did to fill up the empty hours when the nest was finally empty. :) My teacher daughter is in her 3 year of teaching. She teaches first grade and she loves it. She was chomping at the bit to get into her room this summer. The thing I like is her school is only less than 2 miles from our house. I'm hoping to go up to do some volunteer tutoring in her class this year. How absolutely wonderful your sweet girl has such thoughtful neighbors! Our girl is at 4 cm this morning. We're so ready to meet this baby boy!

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  7. I remember the cigar boxes and I too wonder about where we got them. Dad never smoked cigars. Your words are beautiful and I so agree with them. Our daughter-in-law has been a teacher's aide for the past two years, but she is now certified and is teaching fourth grade this year. She begins today. So kind of your daughter's neighbors. I bet both of your daughters are very lovable ladies.

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  8. How blessed you were to have a great view of the eclipse!
    I can certainly see why your "over the moon" about that cute little fellow :)
    I'd forgotten about the cigar boxes for pencil/crayon boxes. What a fun memory!
    Our daughter has a pair of bluebirds that return each spring to nest in her birdhouses, and we both feed the hummingbirds.
    PS I was in a hurry to get my Hodgepodge posted, and I forgot to say thank you...so "Thank you, for all you do, and for continuing the Hodgepodge."
    Have a great week,
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  9. Thanks so much for hosting in the midst of such a busy life. Your questions are thought-provoking as always and I enjoyed reading your answers. Of course I knew what you were "over the moon" about -- that new grandbaby!

    My dad did smoke cigars for a time in my youth, but we had regular pencil boxes for school. He used the cigar boxes to store drill bits and other small items in his workshop.

    I wasn't sure if the five words were to be a list or a phrase. Mine are in a phrase!

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  10. Love your soul words, mother was an exceptional one!
    I also love the occasional Diet Coke, fresh starts,and grandbaby pictures!
    Honey is ALL obsessed with feeding his hummingbirds, we really notice them when we eat dinner!

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  11. How awesome that your daughter is still excited about the first day of school! I pray she never loses her enthusiasm as I'm sure it makes her an even better teacher.

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  12. I love watching hummingbirds. They are so tiny and cute.

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  13. Love your hodgepodge and seeing little Mr. Still love his head of hair. Woohoo for that special neighbor who thought to bless you daughter and her roommate that way. I enjoyed reading your words and the thought to go with them. Hope you get some relaxing in the rest of the week.

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  14. Definitely new shoes and clothes. I love your five words. Hard to believe it has been five years already that your daughter has been teaching. Enjoyed reading your answers. Have a great day.....

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  15. That is a sweet neighbor to think of the teachers as school is starting.

    I enjoy seeing pictures of the new little guy. I love the head full of hair. My youngest was the same way and people always commented on his blond head of hair.

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  16. I like crows, myself. No reaason, just CAWS...

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  17. Yes me too about hummingbirds. I am so jealous you got to see the totality. We are hoping in 2024 we will get to see that. We saw 88% here. Thanks for hosting. Great questions this week.

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  18. I used to drink at least one diet coke a day. Ever since I decided to drink water instead, I just can't stomach the sweetness of the soda anymore. Crazy. A cigar box?! Interesting. We had shoe boxes. ha.

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  19. Interesting questions this week Joyce. Your little one has so much hair. Mine is losing his lol

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  20. How cool that the birds moved in so quickly! I've never seen hummingbirds in this yard. I've only ever seen one in person in my entire life (well, at least once I knew what a hummingbird was!) and it was at the medical center here. How blessed you are to be able to watch them through your kitchen window.

    I think that was such a sweet thing for your daughter's neighbors to do. :)

    I love the baby photos. So sweet! I am living the grandma life vicariously through friends that are blessed to be grandmas and love oohing and ahhing over the babies. I have been inspired for what to do in this next stage of life, thanks to you and the other grandmas out there. Thank you for that. :)

    Have a blessed day!

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  21. Of course you are over the moon for that child!! I enjoyed reading your answers, Joyce!!

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  22. Such kindness with the quiche for your daughter and her roommate.

    I enjoyed reading about your birds!

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  23. Got to love the Diet Coke. I drink mostly water but, the only soft drink I drink is Diet Coke. Have a great week.

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