Wednesday, November 11, 2020

11 on 11 In The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! If you've served in our country's military or are the spouse of someone who has served I truly thank you. I hope you feel honored and appreciated every day, but especially so on this Veterans Day. 

Now on with the questions. Add your blog link with today's answers in the space at the end of my post. And please leave a comment for the blogger linking before you so everyone has a little company in their corner of the internet.  Here we go-

1. It's the 11th day of the 11th month and bloggers often make lists on days like today. Let's go with a list of eleven things you're feeling grateful for today.

daughters who stand firm in their faith, grandbabies who make me forget for a minute the troubles of this world, the colors of fall, insurance, nice neighbors, books, God's word, imagination, new mercies, time

2. What's something you decided to do or act on at the '11th hour'?  

Hmmm...I'm not really much of an '11th hour' operator. I am more of a let's plan weeks in advance and also have a plan B and maybe a plan C too.  I guess I'm often an 11th hour blogger-ha! As in let me just sit down for a minute and see what words happen. 

3.  Apparently the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe contains 11 herbs and spices. What's a dish you make that calls for exactly eleven ingredients? Feel free to share the list and/or recipe. 

Well this question sent me on a ridiculous hunt through my most used 'shared recipe' cookbook and what I discovered is most of my recipes call for nine ingredients or fewer than six. My momma's enchilada recipe does list 11 ingredients as best I can determine. I have it written down in narrative form as opposed to a list so if I counted correctly it's eleven. 

It would be a lot to share here and not gonna lie, this recipe is super labor intensive. Hubs says I use every pot and pan in the house when I make them, but they're his absolute favorite thing. 

4. Something you remember about your 11-year old self? 

It was 1970-something which would have been the end of grade five and the start of grade 6. In the 'old days' 6th grade was the last year of elementary school before moving on to Junior High and I remember loving that year...my teacher, my friends, lots of fun experiences, one foot still planted happily in childhood, the other stepping tentatively into adolescence...

I found a couple of pictures from that year in a scrapbook my mom made me. That summer I turned 11 we traveled out west to visit my grandparents in Colorado and New Mexico. I'm the one in the middle with the ginormous smiley face button on my shirt, standing between my sisters. It was always exciting to make a big trip like this one. Families didn't travel the way they do now so this was a big deal to my 11-year old self, and to most kids I knew. 

Later that summer we took my sister to college. In Tennessee. A hop, skip and jump from where I'd eventually meet the hubs. Life is funny isn't it? 


Here I am in Maggie Valley NC, not far from where I live now, wearing what we used to call 'hot pants' and now I guess would be called just plain old shorts. Hot pants were short shorts which in 1970-something earned them a name all their own. There's Adidas on my feet and my very own camera, the kind that needed flashcubes for indoor picture taking, hanging in my hand. I don't even know what to say about those skinny legs, except I promise my mom fed me very well. 

Sidebar-I look so much like my own daughter here it kind of makes my heart beat fast. Hey Daughter2...I bet my momma said the words 'too leggy' when I walked down the stairs in a short skirt too. 

Mostly I remember this year as one of carefree innocence. I grew up knowing I was loved. 

5. The 11th of November is Veterans Day in the US of A. This is a day to honor those who have served their country in war or peace-dead or alive-although according to the government's website it's largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices. 

Memorial Day is when we honor military personnel who died in service to their country. 

Share a thought relating to Veterans Day or tell us something about a Veteran you know-love-admire. 

I have many friends who are veterans, I'm the daughter of a career Marine, and I have a son-in-law currently serving in the US Army so I guess you could say this day feels very much worth the pause. I honestly don't think a lot of people in this land I love recognize the quiet sacrifices made every single day on their behalf and I find that disheartening. 

Hubs and I watched a movie over the weekend called The 12th Man. It had subtitles but was so good we didn't care. It's based on the true story of a Norwegian man named Jan Baalsrud, who was a commando in the Norwegian resistance trained by the British in WW2.  It's the story of bravery, fortitude, and survival, but also the courage of those who helped him along the way. It's the story of selflessness, sacrifice, and truly doing something for the greater good of humanity. It's a far cry from what's happening in our cities today. 

I'll hush now. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We went to church in person this past Sunday, our first 'live' service since March. We had to reserve a spot ahead of time, wear a mask, sit spaced apart, doors were wide open, and there was no singing along, but still it was wonderful to be back in the building. 

Afterwards we went to brunch with friends which felt almost like the good old days. 

Almost.


16 comments:

  1. I think I totally misunderstood #2, relating to the 11th hour of today lol. Thanks for the questions Joyce and your great answers.

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  2. I have always been a planner, too and had plans in case A, B, C, fell through!

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  3. Joyce,

    Maggie Valley isn't far from Knoxville. We love to visit the western hills of North Carolina. I'd love to see your recipe for your mama's enchiladas. I made some a few weeks ago. They turned out good for my first attempt and I hope to make them again using the revisions. I love Mexican food! I didn't understand the 11th hour. My brain must have been shut down given my response but I'm like you I prefer to plan things. Thanks for sharing your answers and hosting the mid-week fun. Have a wonderful day!

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  4. I think I had that same top, about that time...

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  5. Love your 11 things. Yum on the enchiladas. Enjoyed reading #4. You are so good at memories and telling your story and having photos. I agree with you and it brings tears to my eyes that so many people don't appreciate all that our service men and woman do for us. Glad you got to attend church. Enjoy the rest of your week.

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  6. Great photos of your 11-year-old self! I had a hard time finding one but finally got sort of close. People didn't take as many photos in the black-and-white days when I was 11.

    Loved your random thought. We were finally able to have communion at church this past Sunday, which felt like such a privilege.

    I couldn't think of any recent 11th-hour decisions, but now that I think of it most of my Shutterfly photo books have been made at the last minute.

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  7. Attending church in person is also one of my favorite things although I didn't list it in my eleven. I'm glad you were able to attend.
    Oh yes. I remember hot pants! I don't think I ever wore them as I was in college and those weren't on the approved clothing list. LOL

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  8. Thank you to your hubby and your son-in-law for their service to our country. How fun to have these photos of your cute leggy 11 year old self. I had a very hard time coming up with one. How nice to be able to return to the church building. Brunch afterwards sounds so nice!! Happy Veterans Day to you and yours!

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    1. My husband wasn't in the service...my dad was : )

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  9. Thank you to your father and son-in-law for their service. I could also see your daughters in that childhood photo! I think I had the same camera, and also remember what it was like to travel back then. I think our only family vacation was a road trip to the Grand Canyon. Back to Veteran's Day, I truly didn't appreciate it until I saw the somber respect given to Remembrance Day when we lived in the UK. Now I see it in a different light. Hope you have a good day!

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  10. Love seeing your 11-year old self and D2 does look like you! Thank you for another fun Hodgepodge, Joyce! xo

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  11. Some really beautiful pictures & you go on with your beautiful self! Too cute! Thanks for sharing you cutie you! All are wonderful pics and I love scenery pics too! Have a great day!

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  12. I love the pics of your 11 year old self!! Also, your answer was perfect about the 11th hour. I couldn't think of anything and when I read your answer, I thought, "of course - sometimes I do blog at the 11th hour!" I think I'm the last one most weeks. One week, I was number 1 or 2 but that is a rare thing! I like to plan. I have lists for my lists!

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  13. Church. Yes, "almost", like you said.

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  14. I am a planner with backup plans for my plans too and try really hard not to have to do anything at the 11th hour. Love looking at the old photos of you and hearing memories from when you were 11.

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  15. Thanks for hosting! Appreciate your efforts each week. HUGS across the miles XO XO XO XO

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