Let's Get This Hodgepodge Party Started

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. Sum up your November in ten words or less. 

So much to be thankful for. 

2. Are you hosting any holiday parties this year? Attending any? Party pooper, party animal, or life of the party...where do you land when it comes to parties? 

We're not hosting, but we are attending. Several in fact and they're all happening the first two weeks of the month. I enjoy a party but prefer smaller gatherings. A dinner party with two or three other couples is my favorite. 

Where do I land on that party list? Hmm...I'm a happy party guest who's married to the life of the party. 

3. Do you purchase holiday clothing of any sort (sparkly tops, Christmas jammies, Santa suit, etc). 

Some years I buy holiday clothing. We typically attend a few holiday fetes and I like to have something new and maybe sparkly to wear if the occasion calls for it. We're going to a Santa Pub Crawl again this year, and everyone dresses up like Santa or some other Christmas related character for that. Hubs and I bought something new to wear and if it's as cute as the catalog I'll share a picture. 

Here we are with friends at last year's event-

I always buy Christmas jams for my girls and this year I got all the grands matching pjs too. Hubs usually gets me pjs and we all open these gifts (and only these gifts!) on Christmas Eve. 

4. What's your go-to recipe when you're asked to bring an hors d'oeuvre to a party? 

Depends on my mood, but pomodori al forno is always a favorite. The tomatoes have to roast for several hours so it's not a last minute option. I also like to make a layered greek dip with hummus, tomatoes, cucumber, feta, and olives served with pita chips. It's yummy too. 

5. December 3rd is National Play Outside Day...what might you do to celebrate? 

There's a chance of rain here on Saturday, but I'm sure we'll get out for a walk with the pup no matter the weather. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Definitely on the nice list this year...

Also, I'm pretty sure this is the real Santa. 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 486

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. Sum up your November in ten words or less. 

2. Are you hosting any holiday parties this year? Attending any? Party pooper, party animal, or life of the party...where do you land when it comes to parties? 

3. Do you purchase holiday clothing of any sort (sparkly tops, Christmas jammies, Santa suit, etc). 

4. What's your go-to recipe when you're asked to bring an hors d'oeuvre to a party? 

5. December 3rd is National Play Outside Day...what might you do to celebrate? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Joy To The World

In the past 60 days we've been out of town 30 nights, had people overnight in our own home another 6 nights, I've broken my elbow, hosted two dinner parties separate from the aforementioned company, done the usual grocery shop-bill pay-laundry-haircut-volunteering things on my weekly to-do lists, and all of that to say...we've been busy.  

We are in serious need of a recharge before the holiday crew rolls in, which if you're counting happens in something like 25 days. We have five holiday related events in the next two weeks which will be loads of festive fun, but also, where's my nap gonna go???

The thing about this season of the year is there is always something you could be doing and maybe even should be doing, but I'm including times of rest and quiet on my to-do list too. If I don't, by the time my family arrives I'll be like Bumble the Abominable Snowman before his tooth was pulled. 

Less is more, right? Except stuff needs to get done and somebody's gotta do it. 

There's shopping, wrapping, mailing, addressing, meal planning, meal shopping, meal cooking, baking, cleaning, decorating, and whew! December can exhaust and overwhelm and most especially it can distract from the baby in the manger. From the simplicity and the beauty and the peace that is ours if we don't allow ourselves to be derailed by the modern world, social media, and some unwritten expectation that things need to look a certain way. 

Talking to myself here but perhaps you feel it too? 

Hey, remember Thanksgiving? Remember how for the entire month of November everyone was focused on their many blessings instead of their many to-dos? Let's keep calm and carry on this way, k? 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Daughter2, her hubs, her darling little boy, and my mother-in-law. Daughter2 trekked over to pick up her grandmother earlier in the week and then we took her back home when we left on Friday. 

Four generations right there which is so, so special. 

It was a relaxing couple of days. My son-in-law smoked the turkey and we had all the usual sides. I was in charge of the sweet potatoes which I forgot to bring from my house to hers so had to run up to the store soon after we arrived. 

Told you I need a nap. 

Little guy had his first taste of 'real food'-cereal, and he was all in. He loved it once he realized what was happening, and watching a baby take their first taste of anything is a day brightener for sure. 

We left Daughter2's house Friday morning to take my mother-in-law home, with a stop at Benton's ennroute. Have you heard of Benton's? They have a great story, but basically it's the best, smokiest bacon, ham, and country ham you'll ever eat and you should get some. They ship but it's also served in many higher end restaurants around the country. 

Actually Mr. Benton came out and chatted with us because it's that sort of business and he's that sort of man. We bought some bacon to take home and we ordered a holiday ham for Christmas which hubs will pick up in a couple of weeks. Mr. Benton himself told me how to cook it and I'll be following his instructions for sure. If you want to read a little of his story check out the article he was featured in a while back for Garden and Gun magazine (On The Iberico Trail) 

We spent Friday night at hub's brother's house, enjoyed their leftovers, watched football and basketball, then got on the road to head home Saturday morning. We were hoping to avoid the nightmare holiday traffic that was sure to happen Sunday and we mostly did. Traffic was light and we stopped for a lunch break at Sierra Nevada because they have a great patio and we had the pup with us. He was a model guest. 

We got home late afternoon, unpacked, and then I left hubs with the leftovers we'd brought home while I soaked in the tub for an hour. In my opinion, a long hot bath is almost as restorative as a nap. 

And now we're here. The first Sunday in Advent. 

While it may feel like we've been talking about Christmas for weeks now, today is where it begins for me.  Advent is the season where I make a conscious effort to quiet my heart and my brain and my need to do-do-do, and listen instead as heaven and nature sings. 

May we all make room. 

A Hodgepodge With All The Trimmings

Welcome to our Thanksgiving edition of the 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. Everyone is grateful for comments on Wednesdays and everyday. Now let's talk turkey-

1. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so where did you go and how did you like it? If not, do you have any desire to take a cruise someday? 

No and NO. 

2. Tell us about your Thanksgiving plans...are you hosting? cooking? eating out? turkey or some other main? is it stuffing or dressing in your house? homemade cranberries or cranberries in a can? are pies on the dessert menu? what kind? what are your 'must have' sides? Tell us one thing you're especially grateful for this year.

We'll be having dinner with daughter2 and her family, along with my mother-in-law. Turkey for sure, but daughter2 will also bake a small ham because that's her hubs tradition. We call it stuffing in our house, but it's not stuffed so technically I guess it's dressing. Also, it's my one must-have side. 

I'm making homemade cranberry sauce, but we'll have the canned variety too. Don't you need that as a condiment on your leftover turkey sandwich? There are pies on the menu, pecan for sure. I'm bringing a fruit salad which has been my family's tradition forever, and honestly is what I want for dessert after a big meal. 

One thing I'm grateful for this year~family

3. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

I do give if I happen to have cash on me, but that's rare. I don't normally carry cash. We support specific charities year round including Compassion, World Vision, Cru, and St. Jude, others as needs arise that we feel led to support. I also volunteer in person in a local soup kitchen here and find that meaningful. 

4. Have you started decorating for Christmas? Is your tree up? Shopping done? Wrapped? 

I've started decorating but only a very little bit. Our main tree isn't up because we're going to have a real one this year and we haven't gone to get it yet. Hubs put a tree on the screened porch but it's not decorated yet. We always put a tree on our dock too, and that still needs to be done. There's a small tree on the bar with lights but no decor, but my snow village is up which feels like a huge win. My shopping is not done and there is lots of wrapping still to do.  We have time though...it's still November! 

5. Create your own acrostic using the word THANKS. 

Traveling over the mountain and through the woods to

have Thanksgiving dinner, turkey with 

all the trimmings, including potatoes, dressing, and cranberry sauce, 

not to mention pie. Can't wait to 

kiss and snuggle baby boy and 

say a prayer of thankfulness for our many blessings this year. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours...

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 485

Welcome to another week in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then wobble back here tomorrow (Wednesday) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so where did you go and how did you like it? If not, do you have any desire to take a cruise someday? 

2. Tell us about your Thanksgiving plans...are you hosting? cooking? eating out? turkey or some other main? is it stuffing or dressing in your house? homemade cranberries or cranberries in a can? are pies on the dessert menu? what kind? what are your 'must have' sides? Tell us one thing you're especially grateful for this year.

3. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

4. Have you started decorating for Christmas? Is your tree up? Shopping done? Wrapped? 

5. Create your own acrostic using the word THANKS. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Think Fast! It's The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. When did you most recently need to 'think fast'? Elaborate.

Probably when we discovered our water heater recirculation pump had sprung a leak. Hubs is actually the one who had to 'think fast' but I did race for the towels so that's something. 

2. The Hodgepodge lands on National Fast Food Day. What was the last fast food you ate? What's your favorite fast food? How often do you grab fast food? 

I'm not a big fan of fast food and we have it very very seldom. The only real fast food we eat would be Chick-fil-a, and we typically only grab that when we're on the road. I do love it though! 

3. Life in the fast lane, get nowhere fast, on the fast track, not so fast...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life in recent days. 

We're all on the fast track now, aren't we? 39 days til Christmas. 

4. Are you a fast walker? fast talker? fast worker? fall asleep fast? stay fast asleep without too much trouble? 

I used to be a fast walker but I'm in less of a hurry these days lol. In terms of 'fast talker' if you mean the actual speed with which I speak, then yes definitely. If you mean 'fast talker' in the derogatory sense then no. 

I can fall asleep fast, hubs would say faster than anyone he's ever known and his goal in our married life is to just one night fall asleep before me. Staying asleep is sometimes more troublesome, but I wouldn't describe it as an actual problem. 

5. What is one 'hard and fast rule' in your house? 

Be respectful of others. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Love this one-

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 484

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. When did you most recently need to 'think fast'? Elaborate.

2. The Hodgepodge lands on National Fast Food Day. What was the last fast food you ate? What's your favorite fast food? How often do you grab fast food? 

3. Life in the fast lane, get nowhere fast, on the fast track, not so fast...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life in recent days. 

4. Are you a fast walker? fast talker? fast worker? fall asleep fast? stay fast asleep without too much trouble? 

5. What is one 'hard and fast rule' in your house? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Five On Friday

Actually I have seven not all that important things to share but Seven On Friday isn't a thing in the blog world and Five on Friday is. Quite often you have to use your imagination here. 

1. It's been a really rainy day here and we've taken advantage of the 'at home' time to get a few things done that needed doing. We've been gone more than we've been home these past two months and it feels good to slow down (ish) and catch our breath before the holidays roll in.  

2-I'm so excited to have my whole crew here for Christmas this year and we got the very first bit of decorating done today. I don't put my Snow Village out every year because the set up/take down is a bit tedious, but I know the grands will love it so up it went. 

I love it too. Takes me back to Christmases at my momma's as some of these buildings used to be hers. 

We won't put up any trees until after Thanksgiving, but I'm doing bits and pieces starting now to get  ready for the holidays. I've got my card sorted, stockings ordered for the two newest littles, and a few gifts bought. Baby steps. 

3. Last weekend daughter2 and her hubs and the cutest little boy in the world spent the weekend at a college reunion in Charleston. 

We were on their route home Sunday so they stopped for an overnight visit. We loved the unexpected snuggles with this munchkin. 

I could eat him up with a spoon. We Facetimed with the cousins and I cannot wait to have all four grands in the same house at the same time. 

42 days, not that I'm counting. 

4-We started watching the new season of The Crown and I have to say I'm not loving it as much as I enjoyed the previous seasons. I think the Diana storyline is still too fresh, and it feels strange to see the current royals in the news, then watch them fictionalized on tv. I bet it feels strange to them too. 

5-I loved the Amor Towles novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, and I saw this week it's being made into a Showtime movie starring Ewan McGregor. I'm excited.

6-This was the entrance to our neighborhood just a few days ago-

I'm sure all this rain will mean the end of the gorgeous color but we have really soaked it up these past several weeks. We've had beautiful moonlit nights too and while I love summer, it's the autumn skies that are my favorite. 

7-Heading to a little neighborhood Veteran's Day recognition ceremony this evening. My heart is so tender towards all who serve and towards their families too. I grew up in a military family and am not sure I truly appreciated the load my mother so often carried in my father's absences due to wars and other responsibilities relating to his service. 

And now I have a son-in-law in the Army and their various postings have once again given me the chance to spend time around the military community. These men and women and their families give so much that goes mostly unrecognized and is very often under appreciated  I'm glad we have this day to acknowledge all those who have served. 

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation 

is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John F. Kennedy

Nine Out Of Ten People Read The Hodgepodge

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. Here we go-

1. Last time you were 'dressed to the nines'? 

I'm not sure 'to the nines' describes it, but I suppose it would be a late September wedding we attended. My favorite heels and fancy jewelry made it so. 

2. Something recently that had you on 'cloud nine'? 

The birth of this little beauty of course-

3. Tell us about a time, circumstance, experience, or decision you made where the saying 'a stitch in time saves nine' proved true. 

Hmmm...I guess adding the wood to the stairwell wall when we did 'saved nine'. This wasn't part of the plan but when  the carpenters were here doing another project we had them price it out and then went ahead with it. The painted wall had been taking a beating with both big and little hands going up and down the stairs and especially with suitcases being toted up and down. Now that we have the wood installed we won't need to spackle, sand, and repaint on a regular basis.

4. A recipe you make that calls for exactly nine ingredients? 

I immediately did a mental run through of my Mexican style recipes because it feels like there are lots of little ingredients in many of those. This yummy baked taco dip calls for exactly nine items. So good! 

5. This coming Friday is Veterans Day in the US of A. Will you mark the day in some way? Are you a veteran? If you live outside the US does your country have a day dedicated to celebrating veterans? 

I'm not a veteran but my dad served and my son-in-law currently serves. Members of our military are near and dear to my heart always. If I see someone when hubs and I are out and about wearing a cap that indicates they served I make an effort to speak to them and thank them for their service. 

Our neighborhood is having an event in the clubhouse with a speaker and the chance to recognize neighbors who are vets. We're hoping to attend. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Today is my one and only brother's birthday. He grew up in a sea of women (three sisters, which I'm sure probably felt more like an ocean at times) and he is one of the nicest most easy going people I know. 

I like to think we sisters helped shape his character ha! He's a good listener and has always had boatloads of patience for all of our moods, worries, and emotion. 

"To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time." ~Clara Ortega

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 483

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

1. Last time you were 'dressed to the nines'? 

2. Something recently that had you on 'cloud nine'? 

3. Tell us about a time, circumstance, experience, or decision you made where the saying 'a stitch in time saves nine' proved true. 

4. A recipe you make that calls for exactly nine ingredients? 

5. This coming Friday is Veterans Day in the US of A. Will you mark the day in some way? Are you a veteran? If you live outside the US does your country have a day dedicated to celebrating veterans? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Good Monday morning everyone. It's the 7th of November and I'm blogging in shorts and a t-shirt which feels wonderful. 

Less than wonderful might be the truck needing breaks, the water heater needing a plumber, the Vols losing to Georgia on Saturday (not totally unexpected as GA is firing on all cylinders), the Tigers losing to Notre Dame on Saturday (whew, definitely won't talk about that!) or the Phils losing the World Series on Saturday night (they're my original home town team). 

Let's go back to wonderful and talk about these past two weeks spent with the sweetest little miss there ever was, and her big brothers too.

 Who are also sweet. 

And busy. 

But so so sweet. 

Baby girl made her entry into the world two weeks early, weighing in at a healthy 8 pounds. The early birthday was a blessing I'm sure-ha! 

When her momma was born people couldn't get over how alert she was. And how easy she was. She ate and slept and rarely fussed and now her own little girl? Well she is her mother's daughter. 

She's alert, looks you right in the eye, eats and sleeps like those baby books tell you they should but which most babies usually don't, and she's got an easiness about her that is so lovely. 

To be fair there is a lot of activity happening around her and we joke her mantra is serenity now. She will be in the middle of it all before we know it I'm sure. 

An added bonus on the timing meant we were in town to celebrate little man's third birthday. We missed his first two due to geography and Covid travel restrictions so this felt extra special. 

He was most excited about his adorable firetruck birthday banner and his momma's homemade strawberry cake. 

Next up was Halloween and y'all my daughter is a rock star. She made these adorable costumes while nine months pregnant and the boys absolutely loved them. 

It's Thomas the Tank Engine for those of you without toddler boys, James the red engine for the little mister who loves all things red, Sir Topham Hatt for dad, and the railroad crossing sign for momma because a woman who gives birth a week before Halloween needs a little bit of a costume too. 

The weather could not have been nicer and my daughter and I reminisced about all the Halloweens of her childhood spent trick or treating in the cold, trying to come up with a costume you could wear a fleece under. So nice to be out enjoying the people and the excitement of little ones as they shouted trick or treat and Happy Halloween to the neighbors. I think they loved handing out candy almost as much as they did the collecting. 

Hubs has acted as chauffeur these first two weeks of baby's life, and was able to take the boys back and forth to school which was a big help to mom. I know she's my daughter and I might be a little biased, but she truly is a remarkable woman. I'm in awe of how she is managing all the things, and creating new routines to include baby girl. Still the extra hands these first few weeks were appreciated. 

p.s. we're tired lol 

Also totally and completely in love with this precious baby girl.

Comfort and Joy In The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to November and another week in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer today's questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. What about your upbringing are you most grateful for? 

My parents deep faith and their commitment to raise us to know the Lord. 

2. What are two or three things that bring you comfort? 

an afternoon nap, a cup of hot tea, the Psalms

3. Something beautiful you saw today? (or yesterday depending on when it is you're answering this question)

This little nugget-

I mean, can you even??? I'm sure she'll have a post of her own one day soon. 

4. Have you ever used a typewriter? Tell us a memory associated with that. 

Yes I've used a typewriter. My parents had the traditional kind, but when I was in college I got an electric typewriter as a Christmas gift one year and that was exciting! 

When I was in high school typing was a class taken mostly, but not solely, by girls. We knew we'd have term papers to type and you might have a job someday that called for typing. It seemed like a good skill to have in your repertoire. HA! Who knew that would be the one subject we'd carry with us into the next century and use more than almost any other? 

I loved to type and was pretty fast. I remember doing timed drills as it was important to know how many words per minute you could type. I had a couple of jobs over my college Christmas breaks that required typing. I did not like carbon paper or corrective tape and just 'typing' that makes me feel a teensy bit old. 

5. Something you are grateful for today. 

73 degrees on the first of November and the beauty of fall-

Happy Wednesday everyone!

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