Wednesday, November 15, 2017

A Grand Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I've got a houseful this week, but will do my best to read your posts before next Wednesday rolls around. Here we go-


1. What takes you out of your comfort zone?

Physical challenges if I'm with a group of athletic types. 

2. Your least favorite spice?

Sage. I can only handle it in minuscule amounts. 

3. What's a small change you'd like to make?

After living in this house for a year I really need to rearrange my pantry. There's also that one kitchen cabinet driving me bonkers and I should deal with that too. I have a large pantry and organized it the way I thought best when we moved in, but there are a couple of shelves that don't make sense now that I'm using the space on a daily basis. I also have a cabinet that every time I open it I say to myself, '  'I really need to get in here and rearrange', but have I? No. 

4. Do you enjoy visiting historic homes? If so, of the homes you've visited which one was your favorite? What historic home near you is open to visitors? Have you been? Southern Living rounded up eleven of the best in the southern part of the US and they're as follows-

Monticello (Jefferson's home in Virginia), Nathaniel Russel House (Charleston SC), Swan House (Atlanta), Ernest Hemingway's home (Key West), The Biltmore (Vanderbilt home in Asheville NC), Mount Vernon (Washington's home in Virgina), San Francisco Plantation (Garyville, Louisiana), Windsor Ruins (Port Gibson Mississippi), Longue Vue House and Gardens (New Orleans), Whitehall (Palm Beach FL), and Pebble Hill Plantation (Thomasville GA)

Have you been to any on the list? Of the homes listed which would you most like to visit?

I love touring old homes (or new homes for that matter) and if a fabulous garden is attached so much the better. My favorite? Impossible! I lived in England for six years and pretty much every village has an historic home or ten.



Then there's all those castles, which I think could correctly be labeled 'historic home'. All of Europe too, so like I said-impossible! We lived not far from Waddesdon Manor and I always enjoyed visiting there. In the USA I'd say Monticello and The Biltmore are both favorites. 

Currently I live very close to Clemson University and there's an antebellum home there called Fort Hill. It was at one time the home of 19th century statesman John C. Calhoun. We haven't been yet but will definitely visit sometime in the new year. 

Of the homes on the list I've been to Monticello, Ernest Hemingways home, The Biltmore, and Mount Vernon. I'd like to see Longue Vue House and Gardens because I love historic homes, but I especially love pretty gardens. 

5. What's something you think will be obsolete in ten years? Does that make you sad or glad?

The U.S. Mail and yes that makes me sad. I still look forward to my daily stroll to the mailbox, particularly this time of year. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Look who's here-


Is he just the cutest, or what? This is his very first trip to The Palmetto State which I'll write about as soon as I write about our recent trip from the Palmetto state to see him in his own home state. 

Which might end up being one big post all lumped together under the title grandparenting is grand.  Because y'all! This grandparenting thing is the absolute best! 




14 comments:

  1. Joyce,

    Usually when I'm around someone more versed than me no matter in what area I'm generally impressed by their abilities and make no excuse for my awkwardness. I use sage in my dressing and on my turkey for the holidays. On rare occasions I like sprinkling a little on my sausage while frying. I have a whole of organizing that needs attention but living in a house that's too small with no more room to move here or there and two people (one more than the other)who find it difficult to part with things then this is a nightmare! Oh, well if the good Lord blesses us with a new larger home in the very near future then one thing for certain is we will not everything will make that move. You are blessed to not only live in the US but the experiences of life in merry ole England. That must have been awesome! While DH was laid off in 2015, he got hooked on Periscope and it was especially nice to see quaint villages in Europe decorated for Christmas. What was interesting everyone used the term "Christmas" to describe the season over America's political correct "holiday". I love it, too! I'm afraid you're right the postal service probably will vanish. It's out lived it's usefulness. People don't correspond like they once did and businesses do everything electronically now. Package deliveries can easily be handled by UPS, Fedex, or another carrier. I made the decision several years ago to scale back because of the disappointing returned greetings at Christmas, even the now smaller circle I send to isn't responsive as I'd like but I can live with it. I'm sending warm wishes to our closes family and friends who are often in my thoughts year round. So happy to see you get to spend time with the grandbaby. I remember all too well how my in-laws went gaga crazy every time we visited them. We were just the handler and barely noticed. lol Thanks for hosting the mid-week fun, my friend!

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  2. Yes! He IS the cutest. I love seeing you with him, because I know exactly how you feel and am so happy you get to hold him. Enjoy the visit with your kids too! :)

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  3. Good morning Joyce. It looks like you are going to have the best Thanksgiving with your darling grandson!

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  4. The thought of having the U.S. mail becoming obsolete in ten years makes me sad! I hope it won't.

    Your grandson is adorable! Enjoy your time with him. I know you will.

    Blessings~

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  5. When I saw that picture a few days ago, my heart just melted. I can't imagine how complete your joy is when you're holding him in your arms.

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  6. I'm surrounded by grands this week, too. Yes, they're usually around but not nearly every day so it's been crazy and wonderful all at the same time. :) Mother is so much better at organizing than I so I decided to take advantage of her being here and had her reorganize my pantry. I'm thinking up other things for her to reorganize too since she'll be back home next week. LOL Have a great day!

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  7. My mother feels the same way about Sage. Your grandson just gets cuter and cuter...as I'm sure you'd agree! And I groaned aloud as I read your pantry answer...I need to do this too! Happy Hodgepodge. Thank you so much for hosting!

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  8. Oh how wonderful that he's at grandmother's home for the first time. That first sight of them coming out from the secure area of the airport is so special. When they recognize us and come to us happily makes our heart happy. Hope they get to stay past Thanksgiving! I was going to say the U.S. Mail but I couldn't bring myself to say it and yes, I'll be very sad if that happens. Thanks for posting the questions! It will be fun to see your time in Washington and the Palmetto state, too.

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  9. He is beyond the cutest!! Thanks for the HP this week. I know you have much better things to be doing!! :)

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  10. I'm so glad your little grandson is with you. I know it will make for a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  11. It looks like agree on the sage thing, huh? There are so many things that I think will be obsolete in ten years...it was hard to think of just one but I agree with you about the mail thing. And I know you are certainly in baby snuggle and kisses heaven about now! It is amazing how fast he is growing...what a little darling! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  12. Let me just say that living in our home for 12 years every single inch needs to be cleared out and rearranged. I think we had ants once in our pantry when Amber and Adam were both living here last year. They just shoved everything back in after the clean up so I did finally get it organized! Now if I could visit some Royal homes in London I would definitely do that. Wouldn't you know that when I visited Kensington Palace they were remodeling for Kate and William! The mail would make me very sad too. I love sending cards and notes. Enjoy your time with your grandson. He is so darn cute!

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  13. For many years I lived not all that far from the Biltmore estate in Asheville, NC, but I never went. My wife and I almost went a few years back at Christmas, but I just couldn't get it into my schedule.

    I love visiting historic homes and have been to many.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  14. One of the reasons I really don't like ever going to a gym is how fit and physical everyone else seems to be. I'd forgotten about sage - like you, I can only take a small amount of that herb.
    I so hope mail doesn't become obsolete as I still love getting proper post in the mailbox.
    Have a lovely week Joyce.

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