Now We Are Six

Dear Mancub, 

Now we are six. 

I bet you laugh at that because you know Nana is not really six, but in some ways I'm growing right along with you. I'm learning about all kinds of new things including why dung beetles are helpful, what's a pangolin, how to run with abandon, the trick to prying the teeniest tiniest lego away from another piece of teeny tiny lego, why is there a crescent moon, and so much more. 

Mostly I'm discovering how the clock and the calendar wait for no baby turned toddler turned six year old boy. I'm learning to put down the dish I'm drying and read a book on the couch with you instead. 

You are still a complete delight. You're bright and cheerful. You eat like a teenager and ask all the questions. So.many.questions. Pawpaw and I say often how much we love chatting with you. You're interesting and curious. You still never let a new word or phrase go by without asking what it means, and you keep asking until you understand. And you still love books which makes this family of readers oh so happy. 

You're a wonderful big brother to both of your siblings and watching you and Max play together these days is pure joy. You both gained a baby sister this year and she absolutely loves watching her boys. You make her laugh and are so sweet and tender with her. 

You're a master builder, putting together complicated lego projects and creating your own designs too. These days you color inside the lines, tell actual jokes, and think deep thoughts. You're a whiz at mazes and Sudoku and you love to play games. Our new favorite to play together is Sorry. When your momma was little she could never send anyone back to their base without shedding a tear, but you knock Nana's player off the board with a twinkle in your eye and I love it. 

Your favorite thing still is running off the dock, and if you're holding my hand even better. It never gets old and I hope when you're three x six we're still running into water somewhere, hands held tight, shouting Cowabunga as we splash. 

3 x 6 =18. I know you're asking. Numbers are your thing. 

As your birthday rolls around you are once again settling in to a new home in a new city, your 4th! house in six years. You are resilient with a capital R thanks in large part to your Momma and Daddy, and the way they manage all the transitions with patience and enthusiasm. When I write these birthday letters I always like to remind you of how very fortunate you are to have such wonderful parents. Honor and obey them because God says so, but also because they love you to pieces, they recognize and encourage your gifts, and they will always be your safe place to land. 

Six. It feels like time is moving so fast and I sometimes want to tap the breaks and freeze the frame we're in right now. At the same time each new year brings so much joy and the gift of being your Nana is one I never take for granted. I pray today and every day the Lord blesses and keeps you, that He makes His face shine upon you and He is gracious to you. May you grow to know and love Him more each day. 

Happy birthday Mancub...keep jumping in to life with both feet and know your Nana loves you deep and wide xo

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.' Proverbs 3:5-6

And The Hodgepodge It Goes Round And Round

Welcome to the last Hodgepodge in July. Summer is a-flyin'! 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. July 25th is National Merry-Go-Round Day. Do you call it a merry-go-round or a carousel? When was the last time you rode one? Did you enjoy that? Metaphorically speaking what feels like a merry go round you're on right now? 

I've used both terms, but probably use merry-go-round more often (although neither are said a lot!).  I haven't ridden a merry-go-round in years. I think the last time might have been September, 2007 on a weekend trip to Disney Paris with hubs and our girls. I'm not a fan of spinning anything, but as long as the ride doesn't last too long or spin too fast it's okay. I did enjoy this ride and everything else about that weekend. 

As far as what feels like stepping on to a merry-go-round...maybe home ownership? You tackle one project and turn around only to discover three more have been added to the list. 

2. What word do you have a hard time pronouncing? What word do you have a hard time spelling? What's your favorite word in another language? 

Pronouncing? Anemone, which fortunately doesn't come up in conversation too often. 

Spelling? Lately that would be Cincinatti. I have to think about it every single time. Necessity is another. 

Favorite word in another language? I love the phrases c'est la vie, carpe diem, and chin chin. 

3. What's a phrase or cliche you use pretty often and find to be true?

'Every little thing's gonna be alright.' 

I said this often to my girls when they were growing up, and I say it to myself sometimes still. 

4. When it comes to grocery shopping what is your most dreaded chore-menu planning, the actual shopping, or the unloading/putting away? How often do you shop? Do you use any of the pick up and/or delivery services?

Unloading and putting them away. Ugh. My energy is generally pretty high in the meal planning stage and even with the actual shopping, but it dips about the time I pull into the garage and think about putting it all away. I shopped on Monday and it took me almost an hour to get everything unloaded and 'dealt with'.

I bought a watermelon and like to cut that into cubes to go in the frig right away. And of course it's too much for one container which means a trip downstairs to put the second container in my other frig. I also bought a rotisserie chicken to use in a dish I was making for dinner so that had to be cut up too. Then between the rind of the melon and the carcass of the chicken I had a lot of rubbish which meant a trip up to the curb to get it in the can before the rubbish was collected. I think I got at least 1000 steps in just putting away groceries. 

I shop about every 4-5 days. I like fresh produce and it starts to get wilty beyond that.  I usually meal plan enough dinners for a full week -ten days. We don't have a delivery option out here in the country, and I don't use pick up. 

Is all this more than you wanted to know about my shopping habits lol? 

5. Something you need or want to do before July comes to a close? 

Organize a little crafty project I have in mind for my daughter's birthday, complete some lingering paperwork for our financial planner, and read the books on my nightstand that need to be returned to the library. I'm halfway there in terms of the books. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Curious to know if you've seen, or have plans to see, any of the new movies out right now-Barbie? Oppenheimer? Mission Impossible? The Sound of Freedom? If so what did you think? 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 513

Here are the questions to 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. July 25th is National Merry-Go-Round Day. Do you call it a merry-go-round or a carousel? When was the last time you rode one? Did you enjoy that? Metaphorically speaking, what's something in your life right now that feels like a merry go round? 

2. What word do you have a hard time pronouncing? What word do you have a hard time spelling? What's your favorite word in another language? 

3. What's a phrase or cliche you use pretty often and find to be true?

4. When it comes to grocery shopping what is your most dreaded chore-menu planning, the actual shopping and paying, or the unloading/putting away? How often do you shop? Do you use any of the pick up and/or delivery services?

5. Something you need or want to do before July comes to a close? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Summer Says

Summer's in full swing and I have a small collection of things to share. An old-fashioned blog post if you will, which is my favorite kind to write and my favorite to read. A day in the life. What I'm cooking, creating, and savoring in the middle of July. 

My limelights are blooming and they're so pretty. 

I cut a few blooms for my kitchen island and they make me smile every time I walk in the room.

 Hydrangeas say summer to me. 

Crepe myrtles too, but only the crepe myrtles on the left side of my driveway. The one on the right looks like this-

They were planted at the same time, both when the house was built. Both have grown and both do bloom in spite of what it looks like here. This one is about three quarters the height of the other one, and blooms later and not nearly as much. I'm sure there's a reason and suspect it has to do with an electrical box on that side of the property, not too far from the tree, but who knows? 

I bet The Grumpy Gardner knows. 
I should ask him. 

The Grumpy Gardner is not my hubs, in case anyone is wondering lol. The Grumpy Gardner is the garden editor for Southern Living Magazine and he has a lot to say about crepe myrtles

Next thing...'mater sandwiches-

I didn't grow this tomato, actually purchased it from our local grocery store. Tomato sandwiches are usually made with red red ripe tomatoes but I couldn't resist this heirloom and it made the absolute best sandwich. I think the law also says you gotta make a tomato sandwich on white bread, but I don't do white bread so wheat it is. Lightly toasted and slathered with Dukes light mayo. Add a good shake of salt and pepper, and enjoy. Tomato sandwiches say summer to me. 

As does a Caprese salad-

I'd love to have a small garden, but that never happens here. We're away too much to manage the watering and weeding, plus it's ridiculously hot and humid, and we have a lot of red clay in the soil, which isn't the best. Or maybe it is and I lack a green thumb? No matter, my daughter's in-laws have an abundance of fresh veggies growing and are happy to share. They bring me squash, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and the absolute best cucumbers I've ever eaten. Sweet and crispy which is how I like them. 

I am managing to keep two easy-to grow edibles alive, things we eat on a regular basis that don't need a lot of care-basil and mint. Hubs makes a mean mint julep and I love a Caprese salad. I'll probably make some pesto in the next week or so because that's another favorite round here. 

Caprese salads say summer to me, and I'm sure hubs would add his hand crafted mint juleps to the list too.

Like a lot of places around the country we've had some wonky air this week. If you read here you know I'm all about a great sunrise, and we've had some really unusual daybreaks lately. Normally the sunrise is splashed across the canvas in all the pastel colors of the paintbox, but this week we've awakened to a lot of haze and a giant hot pink ball in the sky. The reflection on the lake has been so pretty, but those in the know tell us this air is not great for outdoor activity. 

Is porch sitting an outdoor 'activity'? 

We have our coffee on the porch come clear or cloudy skies because sunrise coffee on the porch says summer to me. 

Hubs and I have basically been in regroup mode here since the grands left and we enjoyed a boat ride one evening, just the two of us. Some dark clouds rolled in and then later thunderstorms, but it was fun while it lasted. Late day storms and sunset cruises say summer to me. 

We finally found a plant that can withstand the afternoon sun in the front of our house and is beautiful to boot. It's called purslane and is related to portulaca, but the leaves aren't as spiny. I looked it up online and apparently it's edible and nutritious too, high in Omega-3 fatty acids. 

We're just watching ours grow and congratulating ourselves that after almost seven years in this house we've finally found something that works on our front porch and in the pots beside the garage. 

Blooming things say summer to me. 
So do plants that wilt from the heat, but hooray for blooming things. 

And hooray for the beauty and sweetness of summer.

Wandering Through The Hodgepodge

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

1. What's something bizarre you've seen or heard recently? 

Oh wow, where to begin? How about men 'chestfeeding'??? A man winning the Miss Netherlands title? The list is long.

2. July 18th is National Sour Candy Day. Who knew? Do you like sour candies or other foods with 'sour' flavors? Kimchi, rhubarb, gooseberries, tamarind, dill pickles, sour cherries, sauerkraut, cranberries, and  grapefruit...of the sour foods listed which is your favorite? 

I love sour candies, and actually all the sour foods (that I've tried) on this list. I don't think I've ever had a gooseberry. Hard to pick a favorite, but a good dill pickle ranks right up there.

3. Share a favorite memory of an aunt or uncle. 

My extended family included lots of aunts and uncles, but I didn't grow up living geographically close to any of them. We used to visit my dad's parents and his brothers and their families in Colorado. Whenever we made one of these trips we always made a trek into the mountains with everyone. We'd cook a big breakfast beside a stream and have some fun with our cousins. 

Another favorite memory I have is with my mom's only sister. She lived a long way from us too, but she and I became pen pals after one of her visits and we wrote a lot of letters to one another for many years. 

4. How would you describe your ability to manage stress? 

Pretty well I think. Depends on the day and of course what sort of stress we're talking about. I might have a moment of panic, but I don't stay there. I pretty quickly fall back on my faith, remind myself God is good and in control of this upside down world. That nothing surprises Him and He cares about the smallest details of my life. That He works all things for His glory and my good. Resting in His unfailing love is the best stress buster I know. 

5. What do you think about when you let your mind wander? 

I could make a list of about a hundred different things because I'm a daydreamer and sometimes an over thinker, but I'll spare you and just say generally it's one of two things-the never ending list of things we need or want to do to this house, and also 'how we want to live going forward'. 

We love our home, but it is a lot of work in terms of maintenance and upkeep so not sure we'll stay here forever and ever. No plans to go anywhere anytime soon, but it's good to dream and plan and think about what we want/don't want someday down the road. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have a short list of random nothings that I think I'll turn into a something. I want to get back to blogging and random is my wheelhouse. Stay tuned.  

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 512

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's something bizarre you've seen or heard recently? 

2. July 18th is National Sour Candy Day. Who knew? Do you like sour candies or other foods with 'sour' flavors? Kimchi, rhubarb, gooseberries, tamarind, dill pickles, sour cherries, sauerkraut, cranberries, and  grapefruit...of the sour foods listed which is your favorite? 

3. Share a favorite memory of an aunt or uncle. 

4. How would you describe your ability to manage stress? 

5. What do you think about when you let your mind wander? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

These Are The Days

Somehow it's the middle of July. I can't quite get my head around that but the calendar doesn't lie. It's been a month since I blogged anything other than the Hodgepodge, and declaring today the day I'm gonna try. I'm tempted to photo dump and call it a day, but words are more my jam so here goes.

We've been busy. I wonder how many times I've written that here? Hmmm....

A fun sort of busy though, filled with comings and goings and grand babies, new houses and cousins and fireworks. 

Floating and popsicles and sunshine and stories. 

Meals shared and messes made and whew! we.are.tired, but in the best sort of way you can be.

Daughter1 and her family moved from south to mid-west (ish) right around the 4th of July. My son-in-law has completed his Army commitment and is embarking on a one-year orthopedic fellowship in a new city. This new city is slightly further away than their previous city, but! an easier drive and in our same time zone so we'll take it. 

My son-in-law brought their two oldest to his parents house a few days prior to their move so the boys could have a little summer fun, and they could pack and load without the boys underfoot. Then, once the moving van pulled away, they would all come to our house and spend the week of July 4th at the lake. They'd meet the truck sometime after. 

Moving y'all. It's a bear. The movers decided to deliver their furniture to the new place on July 3rd, which meant my son-in-law had to go on ahead and start the unpack. Daughter1 stayed here with baby girl and both boys, then daughter2 and her hubs and sweet baby J joined us and it was a big loud happy holiday party. Minus one son-in-law who I'm sure was having a lot of fun too-ha! 

Daughter2 and her family headed home the Thursday after the 4th, and Daughter1 and baby girl drove on to the new house to finish unpacking and rearranging (if ya know ya know lol). Hubs and I had the boys here a few more days and we kept them moving. They kept us moving? Whatever. 

All I know is I have jumped off my dock no less than 700 times at the request of the mancub and that is a lot of jumping. A LOT. 

We had the most fun one day taking the boys to a little beach on one of the lake islands. We packed a picnic lunch, fished (the mancub reeled in 8!!) and did more jumping and swimming and floating and of course both boys had a turn taking the wheel. 

Loading and unloading and remembering to bring all the gear -snacks-sunscreen-snacks-hats and more required for a day on the lake ain't no joke. Sometimes you need a nap after-

There were s'mores one night, and yes it was 90 degrees but one does what one must. 

They were delish, and conveniently there's a lake to jump in right after. 

I was thinking recently about parenting versus grandparenting, and how when you're a parent the years can feel so long. 

As a grandparent you know that isn't true. You're more in tune with the passage of time, your own health, and growing older. Oh sure we love our grandparents all of our lives, but the days of exploring the world one rock-fish-firefly at a time are fleeting and precious. 

So I yell cowabunga as I jump off the dock for the nineteenth time, a little boy's hand held tightly to mine. I play Sorry and Crazy Eights and Uno ten times in a row. I finish a book then 'read it again Nana' because they love it and I love them and these are the days. 

Simply The Hodgepodge

I have much to catch up on here, but for now let's get back to Hodgepodging. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. Is your life simple? Elaborate. 

Hmmm...yes and no. I strive for simplicity but sometimes life mucks it up. In terms of responsibility my life really is pretty simple. We live a mostly quiet life except when it's loud and chaotic-ha! We tend to have two speeds here-180 mph or parked. 

2. What simple pleasure are you are currently enjoying? 

Having a few quiet minutes to answer these questions. We have been busy busy busy since July rolled in and it's nice to be able to sit with my computer and think about what to say here.  

3. Travel by plane or go on a cruise? walk or ride a bike? swim or ski? ocean or mountains? 

I've never had a desire to cruise so travel by plane for sure. I love to walk and swim and I'll say mountains, although I love the ocean too. 

4. What's the last thing you bought online that you really loved? 

I've done a lot of Amazon-ing this month, mostly items we needed/wanted to have in the house for our grands. I've bought birthday presents, a new life jacket, two children's books, a baby float, a board game, pulleys to hang our ferns and more. I guess my favorite recent purchase would be some summer pajamas that are super soft and comfy. 

5. What’s your 'back in my day we__________' story? 

I use this expression every now and then, mostly when I'm writing here, reflecting on life now versus life 'back in the day'. 

'Back in the day' we learned to wait. 

For pretty much everything. The newest toy (Christmas is coming), new clothes (your birthday is almost here), Saturday morning only cartoons, holiday television specials, a turn to use the telephone, to get in  the bathroom shared with all your siblings, etc etc etc. 

Waiting is something of a lost art in 2023. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

We've had a jam packed couple of weeks, and I’m sure I’ll catch up on all of that here eventually. We're traveling home all day today (Wednesday) so for now let's just take a deep breath and exhale nice and easy...

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 511

The Hodgepodge is back in action this week and here are today's questions. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there! 

1. Is your life simple? Elaborate. 

2. What simple pleasure are you are currently enjoying?  

3. Travel by plane or go on a cruise? walk or ride a bike? swim or ski? ocean or mountains? 

4. What's the last thing you bought online that you really loved? 

5. What’s your 'back in my day we__________' story? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.