Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Hodgepodge Leftovers

Hello Hodgepodgers! And everyone stopping by here today!  I don't know about you, but I'm loving this 'extra week' at the end of November. I know there are still only thirty days in the month, but when Thanksgiving lands the way it did this year, I feel like we've somehow gotten a bonus in the time department.

Which means no excuse not to Hodgepodge...


From this Side of the Pond  

1.  What's something blogging has taught you about yourself?

Blogging helped me find my writer's voice, made me aware I even had a writer's voice. It's given me the courage to be vulnerable in print. It's taught me the power of words, which we all know in theory, but blogging really brings it home. I like to describe my blog as a 'slice of life' and writing in this way has forced me to really examine what I think and why about a whole laundry list of topics. 

I've never thought of myself as creative, but blogging has shown me there's a streak of creativity there, just maybe not in the artsy traditional sense of the word. 

Blogging teaches me time is swift and I've learned to be more intentional about how I spend it.    

2.  Leftovers...are you in the 'reheat and eat' camp or the 'put them in the fridge until they spoil and then toss them' camp? What's your favorite thing to have leftover? What can you not abide as a leftover?

Hmmm...depends on the leftover and my mood and how full my frig looks and how re-heatable a particular left over might be. In my opinion there are some things that should never be reheated. Turkey. Roast chicken. Shudder. I love them left over, but definitely NOT reheated. I don't save a salad that's already been dressed. I sometimes save Chinese food, but usually end up pitching it as opposed to reheating. If I have just a little tiny bit of something left over it gets tossed. I sometimes deliberately make enough for left overs-soups, pastas, meat loaf...those are all dishes I love left over. 

3. 'Me time'...your thoughts?

I'm going to be honest and say my first thought is usually 'ick'. There's something about that particular combination of words that doesn't sit right in my brain. I know we all need time to ourselves, but when it's expressed as 'me time' it's off putting. Don't hate! I don't think taking time for self-care is in itself a selfish act, but generally when someone tells me they need 'me time' it's laced with resentment and is used to justify some choice or behavior they feel needs justifying. 

Hey I'm all about filling up a steaming hot tub and locking myself in the bathroom on a fairly regular basis so I'm not judging a person's need for solitude or socializing if that's more your thing.  If you  need 'me time' by all means take it. Maybe just don't announce it to the world. Or call it 'me time'. 

4. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?

Well not the computer. Not the iPhone or the television remote or even the menu options on my car dash-ha! My girls frequently phone me for help with a recipe or a general cooking question and I absolutely love that. I still sometimes phone my own mom for those very same things. 

5. If your childhood had a smell what would it be? Tell us why.

A lot of things but the first one that came to mind was freshly mown grass. When I catch the scent of freshly mown grass I'm whisked right back to the Saturdays of my childhood. Back in the day it seemed like all dads (and it was mostly dads as opposed to moms, although there were likely a few) were outside cutting their grass first thing on a Saturday morning. Oftentimes a son was drafted for the job, but I don't recall anyone having a lawn service or mowing on a Tuesday night or any time other than Saturday morning. The sameness of it up and down the street and around the neighborhood was comforting. The smell of freshly mown grass makes me feel light and just a little bit nostalgic for the carefree days of my childhood. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Y'all the lake this time of year! Swoon! 





20 comments:

  1. Joyce,

    My youngest daughter sometimes asks for recipes and I love it, too. That's the kind of help I love giving! I hear you on the 'Me time' whiners. I remember when our children were small I'd hear other moms complain about needing said 'Me time' but these are the moms who had regular babysitters (parents) and often had date nights with their husbands or did stuff with the girls where I was a 24/7 mom with no outside help with our families in another state. I never felt comfortable getting a neighboring teen (not that they wouldn't do a good job but it's a paranoia thing did not ask)to sit for ours. The only 'Me time' I got was sometimes DH would take the children so I could do some fun shopping occasionally and that was it but the good news is I really loved being with our kiddos 24/7. I do get that moms do need some down time, though. It refreshes the mind. You know your childhood scent made me think of line-dried sheets. Mom used to do that in the spring and I loved climbing beneath freshly sun dried covers. That's something I miss on occasion and hope one day to have a nice backyard where I can hang our bedding out to dry like that. :) Thanks for hosting the mid-week fun and have a good day!

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  2. I like what you said about blogging showing a streak of creativity that you didn't know you had, I think I would put myself into that column as well!
    Beautiful, beautiful picture Joyce! Enjoy every moment of the season <3

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  3. I used to feel similar about the 'me time' phrasing however I know so many young moms today who are raising multiple children, work full time jobs (some are entrepreneurs), are actively involved in our community and their children's lives and make sure they have time for their SOs. I've never seen women who are so energetic and involved without making anyone feel shorted in my life. So, when I hear one of them say they are having some 'me time' my thoughts are- go for it! If I say I'm having 'me time' I feel about it the way you do. That's why I call it alone time. LOL But yes, I totally understand your thoughts on the phrasing. My girls still call me about recipes, too. And I still ask my mom questions about the ones holding the honored place of being traditional in our family. I couldn't narrow my childhood smell down to one. I did try, though. :) I love the lake nearly every time of year but especially right now. Dad lives right on Lake Norman and it's gorgeous up there. So glad you're one of the lucky ones who gets to live on a lake. It really is glorious. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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  4. Oh yes, that lake! It is gorgeous. Mr. C. drove past Lake Chetek yesterday at sunrise, and the lake was flooded with the brilliant oranges of sunrise. I hope you take lots of lake photos. Btw, my thoughts about leftover turkey or chicken are exactly the same as yours!

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  5. Me time...my thoughts exactly! But I will write about it in my answers.
    LOVE the tree colors this time of year at your lake.
    I am working on my post. Will be up soon.

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  6. I'm a bit relieved to see we have similar answers on the "me time" thang. Also, I initially misread the questions as 'your child' instead of 'childhood'....I had to go back and edit it...my first response about my son smelling like BBQ chips and little boy stickiness was probably a more entertaining entry. Baahaha! Happy Hodgepodge!

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  7. That is a wonderful answer on what blogging has taught you. I love that you girls will call with help with a recipe. The smell of freshly cut grass is an excellent answer. That's a great memory from my childhood. Awesome photo. So incredibly calm.

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  8. Such a lovely peaceful view to enjoy!
    I was nodding my head as I read your answers. I do enjoy it when my boys and girl call to ask about a recipe. Hope the rest of your week goes well.

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  9. I said grass too! And that lake picture is fabulous. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Im right there with you on blogging.. it does make living a bit more intentional, in fact sometimes the desire to post a home related post will inspire me to get up and do something creative or just clean up a bit more so I can have something to share along with a photo!

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  11. It's funny what powerful memories a simple smell can bring back. Interesting that in my neighborhood the dads all mowed on Friday nights.
    Your lake is lovely!

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  12. That photo of the lake...Wow! We don't reheat the turkey either. It's interesting how the microwave can ruin a good leftover anything, which is why most things get tossed. Warming in the oven works better but takes longer...and who has time? Ha! Thanks for the Hodgepodge, Joyce, and I agree about the "extra week". Advent doesn't start until this coming Sunday!

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  13. the picture of the lake -- BEAUTIFUL!! What a view!! Thank you again for writing the questions each week! p.s. I love that smell of freshly mown grass!! I've really enjoyed reading everyone's answers about the smells!!

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  14. I may have miss interpreted the "me time" question because I have to agree with you that when looked at from your perspective it does seem selfish. My approach was from my own need to have alone time, not necessarily me time. Anyway, it was an interesting question and there have been some very interesting responses. And yes to that view! Just have to tell you that I jumped over to Shannon's blog to read about your 3 month old Tommy. Such a precious post and those pictures. My goodness!

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  15. Oh my! What a gorgeous pictures. That would make a wonderful jigsaw puzzle.

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  16. I'm with you on this extra week, it makes all the difference for me. And, since we're celebrating early, I desperately needed this week. As usual, I enjoyed all your answers and especially the freshly mowed grass. I interrupted the question totally different. That'ts what makes the HP so fun.

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  17. Good morning O' great Hodgepodge Mistress! Your smell of childhood, freshly mown grass, I say "Amen!" I once worked as a caddie at a local country club and I absolutely loved the smell of the freshly mown fairways and greens. Also, your lake looks wonderful. You and Hubs have done well. All the best as the rest of your week unfolds. Thanks for your visit and comment.

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  18. I could have written all of your answers myself. Does that surprise you? I thought not. ha. I feel like I'm behind already but then I remind myself that's it's not even December yet!! The fact that we didn't spend the 'first' week of December in Seattle 'wasting' time is such a blessing this year for sure!

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  19. I agree about "me time" I kind of cringe when I hear it and the new term "self care" is like nails on a chalkboard to me. It's not that I don't believe in it, but does it have to be a fad?

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  20. YES...it's only December 1st and my house is decorated! (well, mostly) And, that lake IS gorgeous!

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