Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Stars, Stripes, and The Hodgepodge

Here we are at the end of June, still random-ing on. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go- 

From this Side of the Pond
1. It's been said the best things in life are free...are they? What are a few of those things? 

Hmmm...what do I think are the best things in life? Relationships and daily interaction with the people I care for, the beauty of creation, God's love, grace, and forgiveness...

None of the things listed cost money but there is a cost of another kind that comes with each one. I feel like this is somehow a trick question.

2. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Apple pie or home made ice cream? Do you like hotdogs, and if so what do you like on yours? 

stars-blue-home made ice cream

I like hot dogs topped with mustard and relish, but haven't had one in over five years. 

3. One thing on your summer bucket list? Any plans to make it happen soon? 

Swimming, boating, story reading, ice cream churning, and lots of hugs around the neck, stolen kisses, and lap time with my grandsons. 

Are there plans to make that happen soon? Yes there are!!

4. What's your summer anthem? Yes, you need to have one. 

I don't know if it's my anthem, but this song gives me all the feels for the sweet days of summer, for youth, for small town country life...


5. What's something you love about America? If you live outside America, something you love about the place you call home. 

Her beauty. Her optimism. The men and women who defend our flag and the freedoms it represents all around this world. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

c. 1998

For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wishing you all a safe and happy Independence Day! 

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 425

Winding down the month of June today in our weekly random. Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the world wide webbers. See you there! 

1. It's been said the best things in life are free...are they? What are some of those things? 

2. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Apple pie or home made ice cream? Do you like hotdogs? If so, what do you like on yours? 

3. One thing on your summer bucket list? Any plans to make it happen soon? 

4. What's your summer anthem? Yes, you need to have one. 

5. What's something you love about America? If you live outside of America, tell us something you love about the place you call home. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Coming Up Roses In The Wednesday Hodgepodge

When I restarted the Hodgepodge we were mid-pandemic with a little too much time on our hands. The pace has for sure picked up here and I'm once again back to being somewhat busy. Fun busy, but busy all the same. 

I am going to continue the HP because I enjoy the mid-week motivation to blog, and also keeping up with my favorite reads, but it's likely I will take a break now and then too. There are weeks where something has to give, and this is often that something. I'll try to give you a heads up and appreciate you rolling along with the current here. 

It's on today so if you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you, because everybody loves company. In blogland anyway! Here we go- 

From this Side of the Pond
1. What's something that reminds you of your grandmother? Tell us why. 

Many things, but one of the first that comes to mind is iced tea. My grandma made the best iced tea, each glass hand-crafted with care. No big pitcher in the frig,  instead there were pretty tall glasses on the counter with just the right amount of ice, lots of sugar, and the perfect squeeze of lemon. 

She stirred each serving with a long iced tea spoon and we never drank iced tea in the winter months. I live in the south so it's a year round beverage here, but no matter the season I always think of my Gigi when I pour a glass. 

2. Is your life currently more 'moonlight and roses' or a little more 'every rose has it's thorn'? Elaborate. 

I'm pretty much a moonlight and roses girl, even when life feels thorny. 

3. June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink? Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink? Your favorite pink food or beverage? Your favorite shade of pink? 

I don't own a lot of pink but I love it in nature. Our mandevilla, dogwoods in bloom, the evening sky just after sunset...

My favorite would probably be a peony painted in a soft shade of blush, which is also my favorite shade. I have some bright pink sandals that are fun to wear. 

4. Last thing that had you 'tickled pink'? 

The cutest big and little brothers in the world sharing an ice cream cone...

photo credit: Sincerely-Shannon 

Be still my heart. 

5. What are two or three words that describe your style. 

Classic and relaxed most days, but I can do fancy too. I love dressing up, but fancy dress is not often required when you live the lake life. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Two of my nephews have birthdays the first week of May and I was feeling pretty pleased with myself this year for getting their cards and gift cards mailed more than a week before the dates. Postmark April 24th for the record.

The cards were traveling just a couple of states over but days went by and nothing. 

They waited and waited and waited some more and I texted with my sister-in-law a number of times but still no cards. Mothers Day came and went and another week went by and not a word. We debated about what to do, but then her Mother's Day card to me postmarked April 22nd arrived on May 21st. We decided maybe we should wait a bit longer and yes, her card arrived here 29 days after mailing.

Finally, convinced the cards had been swiped somewhere along the way I did the very impersonal thing known as Venmo-ing birthday money into my nephews accounts. 

And then- on Saturday June 12th, my sister-in-law texts me a picture...they got the cards. 

49 days later. 

What in the world is happening with the mail??

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 424

We're back! And here are the questions for this brand new week. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. What's something that reminds you of your grandmother? Tell us why. 

2. Is your life currently more 'moonlight and roses' or a little more 'every rose has it's thorn'? Elaborate. 

3. June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink? Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink? Your favorite pink food or beverage? Your favorite shade of pink? 

4. Last thing that had you 'tickled pink'? 

5. What are two or three words that describe your style. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Monday, June 21, 2021

Monday Dusting

Happy Summer everyone! It's official! It definitely feels like summer here and we are back to busy. So much so that I didn't post a single entry on my blog last week. I plan to make up for that today though, with an extra long post. 

As opposed to my normal long posts I mean. 

So let's talk about last week and life in general. Remember the adorable newlyweds? 

They were finally able to take their honeymoon trip and spent last week celebrating married life in a beautiful tropical locale. Only four different Covid tests were needed to get there and back but one does what one must when the sea is calling. I think Daughter2 plans to blog about their getaway on her own blog, which you'll find here (It's Elementary). 

While the kids were away we kept their sweet pup who is so sick and the dearest best dog we've ever known. Dogs y'all...

They fill up your heart but they wrench it real good too. 

Meanwhile on the other side of the world...daughter1 and her family also spent a week vacationing in a beautiful tropical locale. Jeju Island which is sometimes called the 'Hawaii of Korea'. 

If you follow Daughter1 on Facebook she's posted a bunch of pictures, and hopefully will share the fabulous vlogs she made on her own blog soon. (Sincerely Shannon)


We have their sweet pup too, but I think I've told you he's technically our dog now. Saturday morning we took him for his first official boat ride of the season and he was, as per usual, living his best life. 

Everyday is your best life when you're him. 

Always helping the Captain-

Retrieving til the cows come home. 

He would swim after this rubber duck all the ding dong day if we'd let him. 

The lake was quiet Saturday morning so hubs and I had breakfast and iced coffee while the little brown dog wore himself out. 

fyi-he never wears out. 

In other last week news, hubs and I celebrated an anniversary...37 years so whoohoo! Go us! A random number to be sure, but I say every year is a milestone and should be marked. We had a lovely dinner at a restaurant we enjoy and talked about how both of our girls were vacationing somewhere fabulous while we're at home with the dogs. Not mad about it at all though, because happily married children are a true gift. 

Early in the week hubs brother and sister-in-law drove over from their lake in Tennessee to our lake in South Carolina. We did some boating and some grilling and lots of porch sitting which was fun. The men went skeet shooting one day while we girls shopped and lunched and we look so forward to more family fun with them soon. 

I'm all over the map here so this post might feel like more than a week's worth of recap, but I promise it's really only a week. 

I had plans to make hubs his favorite breakfast on Father's Day but just before church the power went out and was out all morning. Blueberry waffles for lunch are okay too. It rained all day so we watched movies and then he opened gifts and facetimed with his girls and I capped things off with his favorite dinner- meatloaf. 

The skies cleared so we met up with neighbors for an evening kayak to a nearby island. 


Gray days can surprise you with their beautiful endings. 

Monday, June 14, 2021

Note to Hodgepodgers

Apologies for the late notice, but there will not be a Hodgepodge this week. We’ll be back to the random next week, June 23rd. See you there! 

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Hodgepodge Bounty

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Or all the bloggers before you if you've got the time. Here we go-

From this Side of the Pond

1. Something you've seen recently that's 'cuter than a June bug'?

This-

Nobody's surprised are they? 

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren't born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008. 

On this day in June of 1988 I was spending all day every day marveling at my newborn baby daughter. 


I marvel at her still-

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'? 

I'm going to say curled up on the screened in porch... no real bugs allowed. 

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day? What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits. A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg? How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I always get my 4-5 servings of fruit and veg, but summer's bounty is my favorite. I love a homemade peach cobbler. I live in peach country and look forward to making one soon. Vegetable is a little tougher because so many are my favorite...a caprese salad made with basil from my herb garden and fresh from the vine tomatoes, a summer squash casserole, corn on the cob right off the farm...there's not a summer fruit or vegetable I don't love. 

 I don't mind cooking any time of year, but I do enjoy a break now and then. 

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

My reading list is not specifically for summer, but is something I work through year round. It's never ending because every single day new books are born and added to the list. I always have a long list of 'want-to-reads' and a few near the top currently are-

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate (our July book club choice), The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker, God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China by Liao Yiwu, A Hundred Suns by Karin Tanabe....

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Somebody was in his happy place this past weekend-

May your summer days be filled with all the things you love! 

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 423

Here are the questions for this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. Something you've seen recently that's 'cuter than a June bug'?

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren't born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008. 

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'? 

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day? What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits. A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg? How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Friday, June 4, 2021

Five Minutes of Slow

Joining the Five Minute Friday crew this week and here's how that goes...tell your inner critic to hush, then write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word. Next hop over to Kate Motaung's blog and add your link to the list. Lastly, be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you, because comments keep the blog world spinning. Here we go-

Today's word prompt-slow

Time is a mystery isn't it? It's either moving too fast or too slow for our liking, and it's rare we say the pace is just right. I think learning to make peace with the pace is what leads to contentment, and while I'm always craving blank space in the calendar, I know days and seasons of busy need to happen too.

I have not seen my grandsons in person in 20 months. Baby Max was three weeks old when he last laid his tiny head on my chest and now he's a running, talking, laughing toddler boy. The mancub too, has grown at least a foot and added a hundred million words and questions to his vocabulary, and just saying that makes me want to rewind the clock and replay all the seconds I've missed thanks to geography and a global pandemic. 

Time moves in one direction only though, so we tell it now to hurry. To bring those boys and their parents back to our side of the world pronto and once they're here to please then slow back down so we can savor all the minutes we'll have with them in the flesh instead of facetime. 

Of course time never really speeds up or slows down, but rather is marked by change. The clock ticks, the calendar turns, we grow up and older, and it's neither fast nor slow but rather steady and constant and completely outside of our control. The creator of the universe is the keeper of the clock and thankfully is always right on time. 

Never too late, never too soon, never running behind, never racing to catch up. Always seeing time in all its fullness and acting accordingly. Nudging me to get busy or quietly whispering slow down. Reminding me with the speed or slowness of a moment that while I don't control the clock I do control how I spend what I've been given, and to spend it well. 

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say howdy to the blogger linking before you. We're all about being good neighbors here. 

From this Side of the Pond

1. Besides the flag, tell us about something red, something white and something blue from your weekend. 

I made a trifle to take to a cookout at Daughter1's in-laws house. Hubs and I tell our girls we see their in-laws a lot more than they do-ha! It's so nice when you enjoy the families you add to your own via your children's choice of mate. 

Back to the trifle...I used the recipe found here and it was delish. The lemon syrup makes a difference so don't skip that step.  

2. June is here and it's National Give A Bunch of Balloons Month. Who would you give a bunch to if you could? Tell us why. 

This one's easy...Daughter1. It's her birthday month and I think every birthday needs balloons. 

3. What are three adjectives you associate with the month of June? Something you're looking forward to this month?

Soft, sweet, and summery.  June feels like the screen door opening into summer, and with a daughter's birthday and our own anniversary it's full of sweetness too. 

What am I looking forward to? Seeing daughter2 and her Mister, opening up the guest rooms to company, boat rides at sunset, and summer sunshine. I love June. 

4. Tell us about a time (besides the obvious Corona answer) when you felt stuck in second gear.

I feel a little bit that way right now. Lots of home projects happening, but it's slow going. 

5. Sum up your May in fifteen words or less.

The calendar looks less empty now and that's mostly a good thing. Mostly. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm a big fan of this band and her voice and this song...enjoy!


Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Monday Rememberings On A Tuesday

These weeks that 'start' on a Tuesday always throw me off, and I will be a day behind until at least Sunday. 

How was your weekend? Ours was lovely, leisurely, filled with friends, the flag, extended family and lots of yummy food. Saturday I prepared a trifle then had a nice long nap.


That's basically the highlights-ha! 


Hubs and I went out to breakfast which is one of my most favorite things to do on any given weekend, and we stopped in a local produce market to pick up a tub of berries. Daughter1's in-laws invited us for a cookout at their lake house and I was bringing dessert. I love to make a trifle but you need to be feeding a crowd so this was perfect. Plus the patriotic nod made it extra pretty. 

Sunsets from their deck are not too shabby either. 

The weather was gorgeous all weekend long and we spent a lot of time outdoors soaking it in. We didn't take the boat out because holiday weekends can be a little crazy on the water, especially this early in the season with lots of newbies out there. Unless we have company we like to boat on weekdays when things are quieter. We still did a lot of porch sitting and there was almost no humidity so that was wonderful. 

On Sunday afternoon we went over to the nearby university for a very special Memorial Day program. The Star Spangled Banner was sung, an alumni who'd lost his life in service to our nation was honored, a bugler played Taps, and I felt so much pride and gratitude for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for this land I love. 

On Monday we met up with some former neighbors who were in a nearby town to attend a graduation ceremony. We had lunch and caught up and it felt like old times. 

Our current next door neighbors came over for dinner Monday evening and hubs grilled brats and we had our first corn on the cob. We dined al fresco because did I mention the weather??? And please just ignore the ginormous spider bite on my arm. It feels as delightful as it looks. 

In other news, I recently purchased an ice cream freezer because I think it will be a fun thing to have when the grandboys are here. Hubs did not object. 

Somebody was ready to act as taste-tester. 

We thought we'd do a test run and I'm sure there will be a few more "test runs" before they actually arrive, but I had loads of strawberries in the frig so we opted for strawberry first.


It was really really good but I think the base needs a bit of tweaking. If you have a recipe you love for home made ice cream send it my way. 


All in all it was a low key weekend with just the right amount of activity, people, and patriotic happenings to feel pretty perfect. 

We're ever grateful to the men and women who let it be so. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 422

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. Besides the flag, tell us about something red, something white and something blue from your weekend. 

2. June is here and it's National Give A Bunch of Balloons Month. Who would you give a bunch to if you could? Tell us why. 

3. What are three adjectives you associate with the month of June? Something you're looking forward to this month?

4. Tell us about a time (besides the obvious Corona answer) when you felt stuck in second gear.

5. Sum up your May in fifteen words or less.

6. Insert your own random thought here.