A Bird-Brained Hodgepodge

Here are the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then fly back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. See you there!

1.  April 26th is National Audubon Day, honoring John James Audubon, the French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter known for his detailed study and illustration of birds in their natural habitats. Do you have a bird feeder? Any birds in your home decor? Have you ever owned a pet bird? What's your favorite bird?   

We have a hummingbird feeder, but not an ordinary bird feeder. We have bears in the area, and bears and bird feeders do not go together. We also have a bluebird house and we do feed them, but for some reason the bears aren't interested in that sort of food. 

I like birds in home decor and we have quite a few bird prints throughout our house. I've never owned a pet bird and never will.  My favorite kind of bird? Hmmm...that's a toughie. The blue heron, the red tailed hawk, and bluebirds rank right up there

2. What's something you took to 'like a duck to water'? 

Blogging? 

3. Empty nest, nest egg, proud as a peacock, free as a bird, birds of a feather flock together, or the early bird catches the worm...choose one and tell us how it currently applies to your life. 

Empty nest is something of a misnomer I think. Our nest is technically empty but our home, guest rooms, and calendar rarely are. 

4. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds...your favorite seed and a favorite food or dish made with that seed or topped with that seed? Have you tried all the seeds on the list? Any you don't care for? 

I like all the seeds mentioned, sesame and poppy are my favorite. I love an everything bagel which has both. 

5. Something in the past week that made you 'happy as a lark'?

A little breathing room. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The question about John James Audubon sent me on the hunt for a photograph of daughter2 taken when she was in grade 4. It also sent me down a rabbit trail through stacks of other pictures taken in the late 90's/early 2000's, but for now let's focus on this cutie-

If I'm remembering correctly students had to read a biography, then give an oral book report dressed as the subject. Her subject was John James Audubon. She's wearing hubs pith helmet, has his trusty binoculars around her neck, a beanie baby bluebird pinned to her shoulder, and sketchpad in hand. 

She's a mom now. 

''How did it get so late so soon. It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness, how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" Dr. Seuss

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 501

Here are the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. See you there!

1.  April 26th is National Audubon Day, honoring John James Audubon, the French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter known for his detailed study and illustration of birds in their natural habitats. Do you have a bird feeder? Any birds in your home decor? Have you ever owned a pet bird? What's your favorite bird?   

2. What's something you took to 'like a duck to water'? 

3. Empty nest, nest egg, proud as a peacock, free as a bird, birds of a feather flock together, or the early bird catches the worm...choose one and tell us how it currently applies to your life. 

4. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds...your favorite seed and a favorite food or dish made with that seed or topped with that seed? Have you tried all the seeds on the list? Any you don't care for? 

5. Something in the past week that made you 'happy as a lark'?

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Drivers Start Your Hodgepodge

This week's Wednesday Hodgepodge marks our 500th episode. That's a whole lotta Hodgepodging, wouldn't you say? 

Yes, yes I would. 

3,122 questions to be precise. The first 306 episodes had seven questions plus a random thought, but then I got smart (or ran out of steam!) and backed it down to five plus a random thought. Pretty sure that's why we're still here lol. I did have a nice long break in the middle somewhere, but Covid brought me out of retirement, and here we are, still blogging away. 

If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave comments for the other folks there, but particularly for the blogger before you. Comments keep the blog wheels turning. Here we go-

1. Last time you drove/flew 500 miles (ish)? What's a place you'd like to visit that lies approximately 500 miles from your current location? 

We have done a whole lot of driving in the past several months. A whole whole lot. And we've got more coming up because that's how we roll. Literally. 

Mid-March we drove Daughter1 and her crew back to their TN home, which is less than 500 miles one way, but more than 500 miles round trip. Does that count? Hubs and I drove well over 500 miles late September on our trip up the California coast, and we drove almost exactly 500 miles in July to a wedding in Virginia, so yeah. Plenty of road tripping here. 

Somewhere I'd like to go? Maybe somewhere in Florida? Just head south for 500 miles, set up my beach chair, and put my toes in the sand.

2. Tell us about a time recently it felt like you were 'racing against the clock'. 

I can't say I've been racing the clock here lately. I mean we did just file our taxes at the almost deadline, but I wasn't racing to get it done. We have an accountant and we'd been in touch, so I knew he'd get them in on time. 

3. Have you ever attended any really large sporting events? yes What was your impression of the experience?  I give it five stars. 

The Superbowl, The Kentucky Derby, The World Series, FIFA World Cup, The Indianapolis 500, The Daytona 500, The Olympics, The Masters, Wimbledon, The Boston Marathon, March Madness, Tour de France, Monaco's Grand Prix, The Open (golf), The Ryder Cup, The Stanley Cup Finals..of the events listed which would you most like to attend in person? Or maybe one that's not listed? 

I've been to Wimbledon and would happily go again. I loved everything about the day-England on a sunshiny day, friends, strawberries and cream and a cup of Pimms, and then of course there was also great tennis. Of the events listed there are quite a few I'd love to attend in person. If I have to pick one I'll say The Masters. It just seems like a great day out. 

4. Are you an iced tea drinker? If so, do you drink it year round, or only in the spring and summer months? Do you make your own or buy it bottled? Sweet or unsweet? Flavored? Lemon or no lemon? How about a Long Island Iced Tea? 

You cannot live in the southland and not drink iced tea, can you? Pretty sure it's the law here. I have always loved iced tea, homemade please, with a hefty squeeze of lemon. I like sweet tea, but not overly sweet tea which is often what you'll find in restaurants here. I usually order half sweet/half un-sweet if I'm having tea out. I make my own and from April through October will always have a pitcher in the frig. My family loves my iced tea. Also, I make mine decaf and cannot tell the difference. 

I prefer hot tea in the winter months so usually transition to that late fall. Long Island Iced Tea is not my drink of choice but if it's made well I like it okay. It's not something I order. 

5. April 20th is Volunteer Recognition Day...do you volunteer in some way? Tell us about it. If not, tell us about a volunteer you appreciate. 

Volunteers make the world go round and there are so many I greatly appreciate. I volunteer in a few different ways, but the local soup kitchen is my favorite and I love my team. We make a hot lunch and everyone cheerfully does their part, which means it mostly runs like a well oiled machine. 

I've enjoyed so many volunteer roles in my life and they've all been meaningful to me in some way. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I just finished the book Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. It's been getting a lot of buzz, but I knew one of the main characters was an octopus, and that didn't sound like something I'd enjoy. Actually loved this book and definitely recommend. It's about so much more than an octopus! 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 500

Whoohoo! We've hit our 500th episode here in The Wednesday Hodgepodge, so go us! Answer today's questions on your own blog, then race back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. Last time you drove/flew 500 miles (ish)? What's a place you'd like to visit that lies approximately 500 miles from your current location? 

2. Tell us about a time recently it felt like you were 'racing against the clock'. 

3. Have you ever attended any really large sporting events? What was your impression of the experience?  

The Superbowl, The Kentucky Derby, The World Series, FIFA World Cup, The Indianapolis 500, The Daytona 500, The Olympics, The Masters, Wimbledon, The Boston Marathon, March Madness, Tour de France, Monaco's Grand Prix, The Open (golf), The Ryder Cup, The Stanley Cup Finals..of the events listed which would you most like to attend in person? Or maybe one that's not listed? 

4. Are you an iced tea drinker? If so, do you drink it year round, or only in the spring and summer months? Do you make your own or buy it bottled? Sweet or unsweet? Flavored? Lemon or no lemon? How about a Long Island Iced Tea? 

5. April 20th is Volunteer Recognition Day...do you volunteer in some way? Tell us about it. If not, tell us about a volunteer you appreciate. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Ruminations On A Monday

My plan today was to blog first thing. Didn't happen, but maybe that was a little too ambitious for a Monday? For my Monday anyway. 

Before I could blog I needed to tackle the paperwork mountain that somehow popped up here last week. You probably know how that goes...one thing leads to another and another and before you know it it's 8 PM and you're trying to remember what it was you wanted to say twelve hours ago?

Nothing important. 

That's my blog lane and I'm stayin' in it.  

My momma was here all last week and when she's here I put everything on hold and just hang with her. We played at least a hundred games of Hand and Foot and worked no less than four jigsaw puzzles, minus a few pieces, thank you very much little brown dog! What is it with snagging a puzzle piece before it even hits the floor? Why??? I promise you we feed him. 

Besides cards and puzzles we enjoyed the beauty of the lake from the back deck, once hubs washed down the pollen. Ugh. He also grilled the most delicious ribs one night and they were every bit as yummy as they look.

                   

My mom and I discussed many of the world's ills and how we got here, and now how do we get out of 'here'? We talked about how our faith keeps us going when planet Earth tilts like one of those amusement park rides that make your head spin and your stomach lurch. 

We reminded each other not only does God have the whole world in His hands, but He is completely sovereign over it. 

I love my momma. 

Every day I expect to wake up and find the general population has come to its senses on any number of issues, which I won't elaborate on right now, mainly because I cannot abide mean people. Talking common sense, stating the obvious, and swimming against the current culture craziness are all things that bring the meanies out of the woodwork, and I cannot deal with all of that and file taxes too. 

On a Monday no less.  

Did you file your taxes? 

How about this face? 

Daughter2 drove over on Monday morning because her hubs was traveling and also because she wanted to see her Mema, and her Mema wanted to see sweet baby J. 

And her granddaughter lol, but especially sweet baby J. 

Chasing rainbows. He is everybody's day brightener. 

We have a few home and yard projects in the works (always!) and today the people showed up to make our garage doors less creaky and also to adjust the sensor so the door will go up and down on a sunny day when you press the button. 

Somehow the whole thing was off kilter so if the sun was shining the sunbeam would hit the sensor and the door thought (do doors think?) there was something in its path so you'd have to stand there and hold the button down until it was all the way down. Or up. Which kinda defeats the purpose of having an automatic garage door. 

First world problems I know, but annoying nonetheless, and now it's fixed and the doors make far less noise because somehow it was all related to being off track, and this is why we needed a professional. 

Next up will be sanding the yard which I know you won't want to miss-ha! 

We're home this week in case anyone wants to know. Seems worth mentioning because that's been a bit of a rarity here lately. Not gonna lie, when I looked at my calendar for the week I let out a big exhale and felt my shoulders relax. 

And now I'm thinking maybe this would be a good week to get the boat in the water and declare it officially lake season. What say you hubs???

Hodgepodge For Nineteen Points

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 leave a comment for the blogger before you. That's how the Hodgepodge rolls. Here we go-

1. April 13th is National Scrabble Day...are you a fan? Do you enjoy word games in general? What's an eight letter word that tells us something about your life currently? 

I love words games, Scrabble included. An eight letter word that tells you something about my life currently-abundant, which is only 10 points at face value but more than 30 if I can play it on a triple word score. 

Some of you have no idea lol. 

2.  Do you have a junk drawer? Is it full? Do you know what's in it? What's in it? 

Doesn't everyone have a junk drawer? It's not jam packed but it's got a nice collection of miscellaneous items in there that you need when you need. Keys, a tape measure, a lighter, scotch tape, hand lotion and gum. 

3. When does time pass quickly for you? When does it pass slowly? 

Quickly-when my girls are in the house

Slowly-sitting in the dental chair

4. These eight vegetables are in season during spring-asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, collard greens, garlic, herbs. What's your favorite? Any on the list you refuse to eat? Last one on the list you ate? 

There's nothing on the list I won't eat, but my favorite is probably garlic. The last thing on this list I ate would be carrots in a pot pie Monday night. 

5. What's the oldest thing you own? Tell us about it. 

We have several antiques but I'm not sure which one's the oldest. Probably our clock. We bought it in a small village near our home when we lived in England and it's a sweet reminder of the time we spent there. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My mom is here for the week so daughter2 trekked over with sweet baby J so they could spend some time together.

Love across the generations is such a gift. 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 499

It's that time again...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. April 13th is National Scrabble Day...are you a fan? Do you enjoy word games in general? What's an eight letter word that tells us something about your life currently?

2.  Do you have a junk drawer? Is it full? Do you know what's in it? What's in it? 

3. When does time pass quickly for you? When does it pass slowly? 

4. These eight vegetables are in season during spring-asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, collard greens, garlic, herbs. What's your favorite? Any on the list you refuse to eat? Last one on the list you ate? 

5. What's the oldest thing you own? Tell us about it. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

A Basket Full

Hello Peeps! Happy Easter to you all! I hope you've had a joyful day celebrating the gift of God's great great love for us. We went to church then had a wonderful lunch with friends from church who also happen to be our neighbors. Such a lovely way to spend the day. 

Both girls Facetimed so we could see our grands. Is there anything cuter than littles all dressed up in their  Easter clothes? The answer is no. 

We have been the usual busy busy here and don't know if we're coming or going a lot of the time, but it's been fun. We spent all of last week taking care of sweet Baby J, aka grandson number 3, while his parents had a vacay in the islands. 

Hubs and I could now use a vacay in the islands, just sayin'. 

Little man was good as gold the entire week, eating and sleeping and smiling, and eating and sleeping and smiling, lather-rinse-repeat all day every day for seven days.  

Truly when you're nine months old life revolves around these activities. He crawls and laughs and plays with toys and knocks down every block tower Nana builds and loves his train book, his cups, and the stuffed bunny he named Irv. 

For real. Hubs asked him the bunny's name and he said 'rrr' so Irv it is. It fits. 

We had a little outing each day because the days start early and last for what sometimes feels like more than a day-ha! 

We spent our first day there walking in the park followed by lunch and a milkshake at a favorite local spot. Little man about face planted into this drink when the waitress set it down, and who could blame him? 

Hi Daughter2! Promise we didn't give him a milkshake on day one. We might have given him a teeny tiny taste of the whipped cream and the waffle cone, but the milkshake was all Pawpaw.

We also grocery shopped-

                     

read books-

did some backyard bird watching-

and a whole lotta vacuuming, Swiffering, and chasing the Roomba because grandparents are all about keeping their charges happy-

Sweet baby J loves him a vacuum. 

We took him to his swimming lesson one day-

Another day we visited a college friend of mine (hubs too!) who we hadn't seen in years. She lives on top of a nearby mountain and we had the best time catching up in her beautiful home. 

Thursday hubs brother and sister-in-law drove over from their home to have dinner with us and spend the night. We grilled steaks after the little guy went to bed and it was so nice to have some new faces and extra hands in the house as the week was winding down. 

We watched some golf on that last day because it poured rain all the ding dong day and we were tired. 

Keepin' it real here always. 

Shoutout to young moms everywhere at home raising babies. The days so often feel repetitive and more than a little bit exhausting, and maybe there are moments you wonder if what you're doing really matters. The answer is yes. One thousand times yes. 

Too little sleep, reading the same story over and over, singing the same song over and over, stacking the same block over and over is, as they say in the times in which we live, 'essential work'. 

Of all the essential work there is to be done in the world, raising vulnerable humans from infancy all the way to adulthood is the most essential work of all. Don't let this upside down world tell you anything different. 

Happy Easter...hoping your basket feels full to overflowing today too. 

Hope And 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 of my post then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go- 

1.What would you say is the most difficult task when it comes to spring cleaning? Have you completed that task this year? Any plans to get it done?

Windows for sure. Some years we hire out, but hubs and I have decided to tackle it ourselves this year. We haven't gotten to it yet because there's still a lot of pollen out there, but soon.  

I am currently working on cleaning out my closet and drawers which is another dreaded seasonal task. 

2. Your favorite pastel color? Favorite thing you own in a pastel shade? 

I like all the pastels but tend to wear more jewel tones. As far as a favorite I guess it depends on what we're talking about. A soft peachy pink is high on my list, and while I don't own this per se...

It's definitely a favorite. 

3. Do you like ham? Do you fix ham year round or is it mostly just a 'holiday food'? Baked ham-ham and eggs-ham and cheese sandwich-scalloped potatoes and ham-Hawaiian pizza....what's your pleasure? 

I do like ham, but pretty much only have it as a main dish at Christmas and Easter. Every now and then I'll bake a ham for another sort of get together, but not often. Of the foods mentioned I'll say ham and eggs, preferably in the form of an omelette. 

4. Do you celebrate Easter? What did Easter look like when you were a kid? What are your plans for Easter this year? 

We do celebrate Easter. I've written a couple of posts about the Easters of yesteryear (my own) which you can read here-(Fashioneaster), and (my girls ) which you can read here (Golden Oldies ). 

This year we'll go to church, and then we're having lunch at a neighbors house with four other couples who all go to our church. We all have grown kids who live away, and we all had Easter lunch together last year. It was so nice we're repeating it, so maybe an annual thing? 

5. Something that makes you feel hopeful amidst all the chaos and confusion this world brings? 

My faith in God who always keeps His promises. Who does what He has said He will do. Who has the whole world in His hands. Who is never caught sleeping, off duty, unprepared, or by surprise. Who is never doing nothing about the ills of this world and is the ultimate judge and  final arbiter of justice. 

I like this quote by G.K. Chesterton- 

"Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all...As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength." 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have many many thoughts about many many things and lots to blog, but that won't happen until I can carve out some breathing space in my calendar. Today is not that day. This week is not that week, and next week may not be that week either, but one day soon I intend to blog more than just the Hodgepodge. No offense to the Hodgepodge of course, because it's been a blog lifesaver here lately. 

In the meantime, happy Easter to you all!

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. 
But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 498

Second week in a row I've managed to just barely eke out the Hodgepodge and get nothing else on the blog. Honestly it feels like an accomplishment to get the Hodgepodge done right now, so go me-ha! 

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

1.What would you say is the most difficult task when it comes to spring cleaning? Have you completed that task this year? Any plans to get it done?

2. Your favorite pastel color? Favorite thing you own in a pastel shade? 

3. Do you like ham? Do you fix ham year round or is it mostly just a 'holiday food'? Baked ham-ham and eggs-ham and cheese sandwich-scalloped potatoes and ham-Hawaiian pizza....what's your pleasure? 

4. Do you celebrate Easter? What did Easter look like when you were a kid? What are your plans for Easter this year? 

5. Something that makes you feel hopeful amidst all the chaos and confusion this world brings? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.