Driving Into The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. 

Please note-there won't be a Hodgepodge next week (July 5th). The Hodgepodge will return the following week, July 12th. God bless America! 

Here we go-

1. What's one thing you're excited about in the coming month? 

Having both girls, their husbands, and all the grands here to celebrate America's birthday. 

2. What was your life like when you were ten years old? 

That would have been the summer before I started fifth grade. I had very long hair and the skinniest legs imaginable. Life was sweet. I was loved and well cared for. I enjoyed school but also the freedom of summertime. I'm sure my sister and I spent a lot of time at the pool and riding bikes. I had a lot of friends in the neighborhood. I spent a week at sleep away camp. I don't remember too many specifics, just an overall sense of a happy childhood. 

3. What's something from your childhood you still enjoy today?

reading, swimming, freezer pops, having someone else do my hair, Sunday morning church, and time spent with family 

4. What state (that you haven't been to) do you most want to visit? Tell us why. 

I've been to more than 30 of the 50 states and honestly I'd like to see them all. I guess if I must choose just one I'll say Wyoming because The Grand Tetons are high on my travel bucket list. 

5. Do you like to drive? Tell us how you learned to drive. 

I do like to drive. I grew up mostly in New Jersey and 'back in the day' you couldn't even get a permit until you turned 17. I was a senior in high school when I learned to drive. Our Junior year we did take  Driver's Ed in the classroom, which involved no actual driving but lots of terrifying videos of car crashes. This was how we learned to wear a seat belt. And I guess they were films not videos because there was no such thing back in the mid-70's. 

My dad taught me behind the wheel, and while I can remember thinking I was a good driver, that's definitely something that comes with experience. I have always enjoyed driving and still love a good road trip. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hubs and I spent Tuesday morning painting the Adirondack chairs that sit beside our fire pit. We've had them about six years and have never done anything to them in the way of maintenance. They were looking a bit faded so it was time. 

The chairs were made by a gentleman we met in a nearby mountain town and I have to say they've held up exceptionally well. None of the wood is rotting and all the screws are still in place. We decided to change up the very neutral color scheme and went from this-

To this -

 Spanish Tile is the color. It was a beautiful day and we got the job done. 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 510

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. 

Note-there won't be a Hodgepodge next week (July 5th). The Hodgepodge will return the following week, July 12th. God bless America! 

Now back to today~

1. What's one thing you're excited about in the coming month? 

2. What was your life like when you were ten years old? 

3. What's something from your childhood you still enjoy today? 

4. What state (that you haven't been to) do you most want to visit? Tell us why. 

5. Do you like to drive? Tell us how you learned to drive. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Summer Solstice Hodgepodge

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

1. Hello Summer! In the northern hemisphere anyway. What's something on your summer bucket list? Do you have an actual summer bucket list? If not, use your hypothetical list.

It's currently raining cats and dogs here and we are so ready for summer to get with the program weather wise. On my (hypothetical) bucket list...cowabunga off the dock with my grandsons, make home made ice cream, snap one photo of the whole entire crew together, hike to a waterfall, and host an outdoor dinner party. 

Hmmm...maybe I'll make an actual list. 

2. What for you is the defining scent of summer?

A lit charcoal grill and freshly mown grass. 

3. What's a (music, food, wine, or flower) festival happening in your part of the country that you would like to attend if tickets/travel/timing was no object? 

There's a nearby foodie fest called Euphoria held in mid-September every year and I'd like to get tickets for the Michelin starred dinner. The festival also features winemaker dinners, tastings, cooking demos, and singer-songwriter events, but I'm sure the Michelin dinner would be over the top. 

4. Apparently a military whistle blower claims the US has a UFO retrieval program. What say you? Do you believe aliens are out there?

This is honestly not something I've thought too much about. Not something I'm all that interested in. My initial thought is not likely, but I wouldn't say it's outside the realm of possibility. 

5. Besides your wedding day and the birthdays of any children you may have, what are three of your top experiences in life? 

This is tough. Do I go with three big events or three small moments that I treasure? A bit of both...

• Lunch in the House of Lords as a guest of David Cameron
• Standing beneath a California Redwood
• an 8-day hike on the AT when I was fifteen years old

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Inspired by the Hodgepodge last week I did make a strawberry shortcake on National Strawberry Shortcake Day (June 14th). I tried a new recipe and it was delish. The cake was made in a cast iron skillet and you put cut strawberries on top before baking.

I sliced mine and layered with more strawberries, then topped with whipped cream before serving. 

Yum! The recipe is linked here-Skillet Strawberry Shortcake

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 509

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

1. Hello Summer! In the northern hemisphere anyway. What's something on your summer bucket list? Do you have an actual summer bucket list? If not, use your hypothetical list.

2. What for you is the defining scent of summer?

3. What's a (music, food, wine, or flower) festival happening in your part of the country that you would like to attend if tickets/travel/timing was no object? 

4. Apparently a military whistle blower claims the US has a UFO retrieval program. What say you? Do you believe aliens are out there? 

5. Besides your wedding day and the birthdays of any children you may have, what are three of your top experiences in life? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Holiday Palooza

There's a weekend in June where worlds collide and our family gets to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, and Father's Day all at the same time, and ain't nobody mad about it. Let's discuss. 

First things first...

39 years y'all. 

Marriage is a lot of work and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being truthful. It's not a lot of work all the time of course, in fact much of the time it's a walk in the park on a blue sky sunshiny summer day. 

Most years though, it's a little bit of both and that's how we grow.  

After 39 years we can still say we're glad we chose each other. Glad we're still laughing a lot. Grateful for memories and shared experiences and growing up and older and grandchildren and above all God's amazing grace across the years and miles and minutes of our marriage. 

My son-in-law's grandparents just celebrated their 70th!! wedding anniversary, which let's just pause for a second to say wow...WOW! and hubs and I did the math and figure we've got a chance lol. Hey hubs! Cheers to the next 31!

Our third grandson was born on our anniversary last year so we trekked over to East Tennessee to celebrate his first birthday with thirty of his closest friends. Ha! His parents friends but they all have lots of littles so there was a crowd. 

What a wonderful day and party it was! 

A local farm brought a small petting zoo to the backyard and everyone enjoyed the animals. There were kids of varying ages so it was the perfect activity, and the farmers were so nice and the animals so clean and well cared for, and the weather absolute perfection~whoohoo! 

I'm sure my daughter will write about the day in detail so I'll just say this little guy was the star of the show and loved every minute. 

I think the small cow might have been his favorite, but he is an animal lover and the whole thing made him happy. fyi-he is very rarely unhappy. 

What joy this sweet boy has brought to our family, and we loved celebrating him. 

He smashed his smash cake like a boss. In case anyone is wondering, there was a black and white cow on top of the little cake which made for quite the cleanup afterwards. 

His other grandparents were there too, and we always have a great time together. Such a blessing. 

Post party day was also Father's Day and there were three dads in the house. The in-laws left early as they were headed out on a long vacation road trip, but we hung around until Monday so the 'kids' could have a date night Sunday. We ate leftovers and watched golf and baseball and relaxed on the porch and it was a very good day. 

A great day. 

A truly great weekend. 

Rockabye Sweet Baby J

I like to write letters to my grandchildren when their birthdays roll around, and today is one of those days. 

Dear Sweet Baby J-

Today we celebrate you, which is the easiest thing in the world to do. 

You're the sunniest little boy I know and you brighten not only your parents and grandparent's lives, but also those of your entire extended family, friends, neighbors, strangers, co-workers, random waiters, grocery baggers, sales clerks, the people standing in line behind you, any and all who encounter you as they go about their day. 

  

You light up the world little man and we are all here for it. 

These days you wave bye bye, shake your head no, and are taking your first steps. You give high fives, clap, and laugh from your belly which is everyone's favorite thing. 

You love dogs and people and the wind in your face. You love books and breakfast and momma's lap. You love the vacuum, watching Daddy mow,  and water water everywhere- in the tub, the ocean, the play table and soon the lake. 

You have wonderful parents sweet baby J. They adore you and want what's best for you always. Nana prays for you every day and I pray for them too. For wisdom and humor and the courage to swim upstream when swimming upstream is required. 

It's easy to sometimes feel discouraged by all that's wrong in the world in 2023, but one look at you and I'm reminded of all that is right. I'm reminded that God's ways are higher and better than anything we can dream up on our own. That He has placed you in this time and this place, in this family, not by accident, but on purpose and by design. 

Keep spreading your sunshine sweet boy. The world needs more you. You're so precious and Nana loves you deep and wide. 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with your wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 

Splurging On 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. Comments keep the Hodgepodge sunny! Here we go-

1. What does productivity look like to you? 

Making my bed every day. An empty sink and clean counters when I go to bed every night. A daily to-do list with lines crossed through it. Some days the list is long, other days it might not contain anything critical, but having a to-do list then following through makes me feel productive. 

I don't work anymore so productivity is something of a relative term. I need to have some time blocked for tasks each week, not every minute of every day but definitely something to provide structure. In this season (retirement) that might include times of work, writing, volunteering, hobbies and rest. 

2. What was your fondest (or one of your fondest) memory of High School? 

It's been a while lol. High school was okay, but I loved college. As far as a fond memory...I loved spending time with my church youth group. We were a close knit group, a mix of ages and high schools and backgrounds. It felt like a family, and many of us are still in touch with one another today. 

3. What did you do the summer after High School? 

I spent the summer after high school in one of my favorite places in the world-camp. I was a counselor for the oldest campers who were young teenagers. Camp was so much fun. For the counselors too! 

4. June 14th is National Strawberry Shortcake Day...are you a fan, and if so will you celebrate? How do you make yours? Have you been strawberry picking? If so what do you do with all those berrries? 

I might celebrate. Strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts. My oldest daughter has a June birthday and always asks for shortcake on her special day. I sometimes make mine with Bisquick, or sometimes I make an angel food cake and use that as the cake base. I'm not picky about the cake but want lots of juicy berries and whipped cream. 

I haven't been strawberry picking, but I did buy a big bucket full from a local grower when my mother-in-law was visiting. We ate some, froze some, and I made a strawberry cobbler one night. We might make strawberry ice cream with the frozen berries when we have a houseful 4th of July. 

5. What's something you always splurge on? 

My hair feels like a bit of a splurge. I go about every six-eight weeks and while I know I could do it for about 1/10th of the price with a boxed product, I've never once considered that. I have a lot of hair, it's thick, and needs a professional. Hubs is 100% on board with this splurge. 

Although, I'm not 100% sure he knows exactly how much the splurge actually is teehee. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My mama is here visiting this week and we're doing our usual puzzle working-card playing-book reading thing. Our neighborhood had a luau on Friday night, we went to church on Sunday, hubs has grilled some five star meals, and today (Tuesday) is book club. Such a blessing to have in-person time together. 

Hubs and I spent the weekend before she arrived at the ballpark. We watched the College Regionals held in our area which meant seeing our hometown team (Clemson) and our all-time always favorite team (Tennessee) go head to head. The game went fourteen innings!! but our Vols prevailed. They won in the Super Regionals this past weekend too, so now it's onward to Omaha. 

I'm talking about the college baseball world series for those of you who don't know. And maybe don't care-ha! 

We care. Go Vols! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 508

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. What does productivity look like to you? 

2. What was your fondest (or one of your fondest) memory of High School? 

3. What did you do the summer after High School? 

4. June 14th is National Strawberry Shortcake Day...are you a fan, and if so will you celebrate? How do you make yours? Have you been strawberry picking? If so what do you do with all those berries? 

5. What's something you always splurge on? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The Hodgepodge Is Still Young At Heart

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 your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. Tell me something you remember (or if you're not there yet, something you look forward to) about being 35.

I'm going to say this was one of my favorites. We were living in Maryland and I went back to work part time after several years at home. I taught preschool two days a week and loved it. My girls were five and seven and those years are some of the sweetest in a child's life. A mother's life too. 

Mom jeans and all. 

2. Last time you 'burned the candle at both ends'? 

I'm not really one to burn the candle at both ends. Never have been. It doesn't matter what needs doing late late at night I just can't. I can get up as early as you like, before dawn no problem, but don't ask me to stay up way late and get up way early too.  

3. Are you someone with the 'gift of gab'? Elaborate (which shouldn't be a problem if you answered yes teehee).  

I can and do talk a lot so I'm going to say yes. 

Here's another question for you...iIf someone said you had the gift of gab would you consider that a compliment? Hmmm. 

4. Do you request a special meal on your birthday, and if so tell us what that meal is? Do you want the same kind of cake year after year or will any flavor work? Do you want cake at all? Growing up were birthdays a big deal in your house? Are they a big deal now? 

I don't request a particular meal on my birthday, but hubs usually asks me what I'd like and either grills something or takes me out. Growing up I always always always wanted my momma's German Chocolate cake for my birthday, and would not say no to a piece right now. 

No matter where we've lived hubs has always gotten me a chocolate cake with raspberry filling for my birthday, and that's for sure another favorite.  I definitely want cake on my birthday. 

Growing up my mom made birthdays special. I don't think we had parties every year, but there were presents and cake and each one of us felt celebrated on our big day. 

Are birthdays a big deal in my house? Ha! Have you read my blog during the month of September? I am a fan of birthdays and marking the day, especially my own lol. 

5. 'Age is just a number.'..agree or disagree? Tell us why. 

Yes and no. I mean yes you are only as young as you feel, except not exactly. You are the age you are, and no matter how young you might feel on the inside the calendar does not lie. Nor does your lower back, your failing eyesight, or the color of your roots. Just sayin'.

Still I will say it's good to think young. To keep moving, try new things, meet new people, see new places, read, stay current with what's happening in the world of technology and the world in general. These are all things that I do think can help slow the aging process. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This little beauty has a birthday today. I'll let you guess which one-ha! 

She has a beautiful blog, just not a lot of time to write these days. If you have a chance, hop over and wish the girl who made me a momma a sunshiny day. You'll find the link here-Sincerely Shannon. 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 507

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

1. Tell me something you remember (or if you're not there yet, something you look forward to) about being 35.

2. Last time you 'burned the candle at both ends'? 

3. Are you someone with the 'gift of gab'? Elaborate (which shouldn't be a problem if you answered yes teehee).  

4. Do you request a special meal on your birthday, and if so tell us what that meal is? Do you want the same kind of cake year after year or will any flavor work? Do you want cake at all? Growing up were birthdays a big deal in your house? Are they a big deal now? 

5. 'Age is just a number.'..agree or disagree? Tell us why. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

More Stuff I Was Going To Tell You But Never Did

I could probably start a weekly series here with that same title, but for the time being let's move forward. Actually backwards to finish the two week catch up I was supposed to finish last week. 

Guess I'm back to being two weeks behind. Hmmm.

One nice thing about the cities my girls are currently living in is their proximity to hubs family, specifically his mom. It's not too far out of the way to go by her house on our way to/from Daughter1's, so we made plans to pick her up on the way back to the lake when we left the kids. 

We have not spent a lot of in-person time with her this winter, mostly because she made a move in December, everyone's calendars are so busy (hers maybe most of all-true story!) and the comings and goings have just not gelled. 

This time we intentionally made it happen, breezed by her house, met hubs brother and sister-in-law for lunch (the pup always so so happy to see my sister-in-law), then drove on to the lake to spend the week together. We had such a nice time working puzzles, playing cards, talking about how cute and completely precious her great grands are, and we squeezed in a couple of fun outings too. 

On our first day home we finally took the inaugural boat ride of the season. The only boat ride so far, but technically it's not summer yet, right? Boating on a weekday here is the way to go, especially early in the season. The lake is calm, quiet, and gorgeous. 

Hubs had appointments all day Thursday so we girls went to lunch, then rode up to a nearby waterfall to see what we could see. My mother-in-law is always game for everything and was wishing she had a different pair of shoes with her so we could climb down to the bottom. 

I was happy she did not have a different pair of shoes with her. 

It was a spectacular day weather wise, the trees were every shade of green God created, and so many beautiful plants were in bloom. 

On Saturday we had tickets to go to the Scottish games in the nearby small big city. They're actually held every year on the university campus where my girls went to school and it's a gorgeous setting. The Memorial Day weather was not the best, but we had a fun full day there, leaving just as the rains came. 

The thing you need to know about my mother-in-law is she knows someone everywhere she goes. We saw a woman wearing a Tennessee hat at the festival and next thing you know she and my m-i-l are chatting like long lost friends. Turns out the woman's husband had played the bagpipes at a funeral the week before in my m-i-l's church so of course they had mutual friends. 

Also, hubs did not fall far from the tree when it comes to never meeting a stranger. Just sayin'. 

We watched a lot of the athletic events including the caber toss and the sheaf toss, both of which are pretty impressive. We also spent some time watching and listening to the pipe and drum competition which was fun.

A drummer in one group was blind and had someone standing beside him (maybe his dad?) to assist with direction. 

People are just amazing, aren't they? 

There were lots of Scottish and British treats and while we opted not to have the haggis, we did have some really good fish and chips. We wandered the many vendor stalls, found my son-in-law's clan, and just enjoyed the festive friendly atmosphere and all the people watching. 

On Sunday we went to church, then to lunch at a local 'landmark' which is one step up from a dive but is very, very well loved. It's always busy, and the 'meat and three' on their Sunday menu is  good. Do you have meat and threes where you live? We did not have those where I grew up, but it's a thing here. 

Hubs and the pup (where hubs goes he goes) drove his mom back to Tennessee on Monday and I stayed  home to regroup here. It's a rare day where I'm alone in my own house and I gotta say I didn't hate it. Hubs will laugh when he reads this and declare that an understatement, but whatever. I enjoy having him home and I hope he knows that. I am also someone who needs space and I know he knows that lol. 

Okay, we're all caught up. 

Almost caught up. 

Halfway caught up which is something. 

Have a nice week everyone!