Wednesday, November 1, 2017

A Giant Of A Hodgepodge

I'm in the middle of recapping our trip up the California and Oregon coasts and if you'd like to follow along you'll find those posts here (Post 1), here (Post 2) and here (Post 3). I'll be back at it with Thursday's post, but today it's Wednesday and Wednesdays are all about the Hodgepodge.

If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you because comments make the blog world go round. Here we go-
From this Side of the Pond  
1. What does/did Halloween look like at your house this year? Did you decorate? Pick pumpkins? Carve pumpkins? Expect trick or treaters? Wear a costume to a party or event? Make a costume? Feel glad you didn't have to come up with a costume? Cook a Halloween themed treat? Eat all the leftover candy?

I generally answer the questions on Tuesday morning, so while it is Halloween not a lot has happened here yet. And likely won't because a) hubs and I both feel like we've got sinus infections and b) I'm contemplating staying in my pajamas all day and c) our driveway is long and there aren't a lot of young children in the neighborhood. A neighbor did tell me we will get some trick-or-treaters and I do have candy to hand out. The weather is great so I might be surprised by how many visitors we get. Also am I the only one who buys a big bag of candy, but has a moment of panic on the actual day and then runs out and buys two more? 

Last night hubs and I looked at each other and said, 'Wow we didn't even buy a pumpkin this year.' We didn't go to any Halloween parties this year either, but that's okay because I lack the creative costume gene and am happy to skip the stress that comes with trying to figure something out. I purposely bought hubs favorite candy, not mine so I would not be tempted to eat all the leftovers.  

Bring on November and my favorite holiday of the year-Thanksgiving! 

2. What are you waiting for? Elaborate

For life to fall into some sort of semi-predictable rhythm. I'm beginning to think no rhythm is our rhythm but maybe that's what keeps us young?

3. Do you wish you were friendlier, braver, more creative, more athletic, or something else? Explain.

Maybe more athletic? While there's always room for improvement I think I'm pretty comfortable with my level of friendliness-bravery-creativity. I am clumsy though, and a little more athleticism would be nice. 

4. When it comes time to paint are you a do-it-yourself-er or do you hire someone? What was the last paint job completed at your house? What room most needs painting now? How do you feel about wallpaper?

Hubs can paint and has painted various rooms in various houses we've owned, but no more. Now we hire a professional and if you can find a good painter they're worth the money. We're particular about edges and corners. 

We've been in our new house almost a year now, so everything is freshly painted. It's time for the painter to come back and touch up a few places, but nothing needs a complete re-do right now. Our painter here is fantastic and also fantastically busy which is what happens when you're good at what you do. 

Wallpaper-eh. I prefer painted walls, and we're strictly painted in this house. I can handle wallpaper in small doses, maybe a powder room or an accent wall, but I prefer paint.

5. What is one specific thing you felt gratitude for in the month of October?

Our slow meander up the California and Oregon coast, the beauty of creation all around us from the mighty Pacific to the towering trees, and time with my grandson which is rare and precious. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.


"...No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe." ~John Steinbeck



21 comments:

  1. Halloween is not a big deal in Belgium, it depends the regions. There was nothing organized by the city and only very few decorations outside. I did a bit this year and had some children coming but it is nothing compared to the States.

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  2. Joyce,

    Oh goodness, here it is November 1st! I'm excited that the holidays are growing near. Thanksgiving was a forgotten holiday between Halloween and Christmas for me as a child but after adulthood the meaning took deeper root in heart. No trick or treaters here last night. I enjoyed reading your answers and loved the random fill. I'd love to see a Redwood some day! What ginormous trees they are!! Thanks for hosting the mid-week fun and have a good week. It's slipping away fast. :) PS: Can you believe I'm the first on your linky?

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  3. Great questions Joyce. Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip.

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  4. I always wonder if this is the year we will get Halloween slammed and run out of candy and chips!!! I probably opened the door less than 10 times, the show was over by 7:15, and we were not even close to running out!
    Beautiful pictures, I have enjoyed travelling with you! Looking forward you your grandbaby pictures!
    Moonpie and her folks are coming in tonight for a week! <3 <3 <3

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  5. Hope you and your husband feel better, Joyce. Enjoy your week.

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  6. I can only imagine the awe one must feel when standing next to a redwood tree. Glad you got to experience that!

    Blessings~

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  7. Be sure to stay on top of that possible sinus infection. Or daughter is dealing with possible mastoiditis from a sinus infection, and it's painful and lingering. As for paint, we should probably hire someone. My two hip replacements and the years prior have prevented ladder climbing/standing, so that might be a good idea. Now to find someone. Hope you're feeling better soon

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  8. I've found the best way to get a room painted around here is to start and from that start, ask questions. What happens next is the husband says things like, "Here, let me get you started" which turns into him doing the job. And he's a perfectionist in this one area so...and yes, I do it every single time and no, he doesn't seem to catch on. LOL We had a slight few little ones last night and they were just the cutest little things. I put the rest of the candy out for the big kids who come around later to see if you have anything left. :) Have a great day!

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  9. Oh someday I just know I'm going to see those redwoods! Your answers are so good and especially the gratitude. I'm not sure there is a normal anymore for any of us at this stage of the game.

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  10. I'm thinking this is the first year we didn't buy a pumpkin either. Our Thanksgiving will be too quiet. Amber and Dylan in Montana and Adam/Gabby get home from their honeymoon that morning. We will still cook but it won't be the same. I missed the question on Wallpaper. I use to love it and boarders but haven't done any in this house. I could possible do some someday. Nothing like seeing those Redwoods in person!

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  11. We so want to get to the pacific northwest. Someday soon. Looks like you had a fantastic trip!

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  12. Here it is...November! Yikes. Love that last quote. So true about those huge amazing trees that stretch to heaven. :)
    Sorry you and hubs are down for the count. Our lives have no rhythm at present, either. Oye.

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  13. Wow! What a huge tree! I am following along, reading about your trip along the coast. Believe it or not, we are actually contemplating doing the same route next summer. Still in the planning stages, so we'll see if it will really come true.
    We don't celebrate Halloween here, so I just enjoy all the hype I read on fb and the blogs.

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  14. Hi,
    Both of my boys favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.
    I have enjoyed traveling with you. Amazing beauty indeed! Thank you for sharing your photos.
    Carla

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  15. I'm not a huge fan of Thanksgiving. I'm ready for Christmas. I'm pretty sure I finished shopping for my brother today.

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  16. Halloween is not my favorite event. When I was teaching I always enjoyed it when this fell on Sat. or Sunday.

    My favorite holiday is Easter. Christ is risen!!

    My painting and wallpaper days are over. Used to enjoy that, but now I like to hire someone.

    Your photos are awesome!! Standing by a redwood! How great is that.

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  17. Those redwoods are bigger than big. I tried to think of a word and bigger than big is all I could come up with. Oh my gosh! I enjoyed your HP today, Joyce! Thanks for the great questions!

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  18. Most of the kids in our area (Montreal) go door-to-door in one neighbourhood where they really decorate the houses. Lots of candy to be had and all the homes are free standing houses (not apartment complexes)but most of the elementary schools host a halloween party during the day so the kids can go from classroom to classroom collecting candy and still get into the fun but safely!

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  19. I'm sorry to hear about your friend with Multiple Myeloma. #cancerreallysucks!
    Life having an unpredictable rhythm can be exciting. I hope that your life becomes more predictable. I love the picture with the redwood trees. Several years ago we visited Yosemite National Park and visited a nearby grove of redwoods. Impressive trees indeed!

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  20. Those trees are just unbelievable! I would love to be see them one day. As always, great questions...thanks for the time you put into the hodgepodge every week Joyce!

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  21. Love all your answers but especially that you shared the John Steinbeck quote which I totally agree with. In Tasmania I always try to take pictures of the beautiful trees but they never convey the true majesty of them.
    Have a good day Joyce.

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