Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 525

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

1. Besides Thanksgiving (in the USA) what's one thing you're looking forward to in November? 

2. Do you like candles? Your favorite scent? How often do you burn a candle in your home? 

3. What gadgets did you use today? 

4. This question is a repeat from one asked in November of 2014, but I liked it so it's coming round again. Many of you weren't here in 2014. Okay, you can have fifty pounds of something (anything but money)...what will you choose? Also, since I mentioned it...what were you up to in November of 2014? 

5. 'Tis the season...what's something you're feeling especially grateful for today? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Stuck In The Middle With You

Today my second born grandson turns four years old, and this fabulous little boy needs a letter from his Nana. 

Dear Max,

It's your birthday! Today you're four and I cannot wait for you to be celebrated big by your family and friends. Your birthday is number five in a family of five, and it's not easy to be the caboose on the family birthday train. 

You were right there beside your big brother when he had his extended celebration(s) this summer. Then earlier this week your sweet little sis had her first birthday, and you were there cheering her on, still waiting your turn. 

And now it's here.You honestly didn't seem to mind the wait and I think that's because there's something very special about you (many things actually), but one big thing is this- 

You my sweet boy are the one in the middle. The middle child. The younger brother and the older brother too. But not the oldest brother. And not the baby either.

A lot has been written about the middle child phenomenon, but Nana is going to tell you a few things she knows first hand, because guess what? Nana is also a middle child. If you were sitting beside me right now we could fist bump. 

I'm a little sister and a big sister too. But not the biggest sister. And not the baby either. 

I'm like you, only not quite as smart. You're so smart Max, and you have the vocabulary of someone much older. In fact sometimes we forget how old you are because you have so many words and you know how to use them. 

You're always working things out, the hows and the whys, but also context, tone, and nuance. It's pretty remarkable. You wear your emotions right there on the surface too, and sometimes they spill out all over the place, occasionally in the form of mad tears, but more often in the form of the biggest best hug anyone could ever want or need. 

You moved this year, your third house in four years. There are grown adults who've lived in fewer places, and you Max have settled in so well to this new home, new neighborhood, and your new place in the middle of your family. 

Did you know middles are good at lots of things? Waiting for one. We come into this world never knowing what it's like not to have to share or wait a turn. We become good at negotiating and keeping the peace. We're often introspective. We form strong bonds and learn to go with the flow. We want fairness and we're trustworthy friends. 

Who wouldn't want to be a middle child? You're surrounded by love on all sides, and that is a marvelous thing. 

You played on a soccer team this fall and I think you liked it. You work your own Lego projects now, have become skilled at riding your bike, love trips to the zoo, bugs and lizards and playing outside, books books and more books, and most of all your big brother and your baby sister. You have opinions and big feelings and the absolute best smile in the whole wide world. 

Happy birthday 'baby wheel'. You keep us laughing, on our toes, and feeling ever so grateful for the gift of you. Keep bringing the fun, keep learning more and more about this big beautiful world and the One who made it, and who made us too. Know always your Nana loves you deep and wide xoxo 

"Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

The Art Of The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge, our last in October of 2023. Next week November is upon us and the holidays are coming up quick.  If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Trick or treating, hodgepodge style. Here we go-

1. October 25th is International Artists Day...do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why. 

I'm not sure I have a favorite. I love the ballet paintings of Degas, the gardens of Monet, and the birds of John James Audubon.  Why? I love ballet and the great outdoors. 

2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

No not in the sense of having skill in drawing or as a painter or sculptor. I'm creative with words but I'm not artistic. 

3. What's a skill, task, hobby, or job you've done so often you now have it 'down to a fine art'? 

Loading the dishwasher lol. 

4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you've had recently (or not so recently if that's easier).  

We don't dine out a lot because choices here in tiny town are pretty limited. We mostly cook at home or dine with friends in their homes. We don't eat fast food (maybe the occasional Chick fil-A when traveling). We love fine dining (our favorite) but again, it's a drive to get to so not something we do often anymore. We belong to a couple of wine clubs that pair wines with food and we enjoy that a lot. Hubs and I get lunch out maybe once a week? Dinner maybe once a week, probably less...depends on the week. 

A less than stellar experience? We met friends for pizza before a concert a couple of weeks ago. The show started at 7:30 and we met at the restaurant (one block from the concert venue) at 5:45. At 7 PM we went to check on the food (or lack thereof) and were told they hadn't even put the order in yet. Bother. 

The bar for restaurant service post-'you know what' is pretty low, but communication is key. If the server had given us an update on the situation (understaffed and overwhelmed) we would have had options. 

5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

Some years we have something going on, and other years it's quiet. This year we're going to a party and will be dressing up. I do love a costume. I don't decorate my house for Halloween, but do put a few fall pieces out, mums and pumpkins on the porch, that sort of thing. Our neighborhood is hosting a trunk or treat if they get enough of a response. There aren't a lot of young children in our neighborhood. The kayak group is doing a 'dock or treat' and we're hosting a stop at our dock. You give the kayakers a sip of something and a small bite of something before they paddle away. Should be fun. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

This has nothing to do with anything which I suppose is the definition of random but...

I follow a site on insta called SBMowing. He has a landscape business and I think it's once a week he drives around, finds a yard that is overgrown, out-of-control, a community eyesore, and he takes care of it for free. There is something so satisfying about these videos and what he's doing. A little pick me up in a world that needs picking up. 

Here's the link-SBMowing

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"I'm Half Crazy...

 ...over the likes of you..." 

Name that tune. You should know I sing it every time I think of my granddaughter, which is several times a day, every single day. 

Dear Little Miss, 

Today you are one. ONE! 

This is your first birthday letter from Nana and there are so many things I want to tell you. I would love to post dozens of pictures too, but alas it's 2023 and there's too much 'iffy' stuff happening online in terms of pictures, so one or two it is. 

You are my first granddaughter. When your momma was expecting your biggest brother (the mancub as he's known on my blog) and she told us she was having a boy I didn't know what to think. I mean I raised daughters and girls were what I knew. 

But then the mancub came along, followed by your next biggest brother Max, then your cousin sweet baby J, and it was just all boy all the time and we have loved these boys more than I ever imagined was possible. These grandboys we call ours are the grandest, and we have gone all in on the cars and the trucks and the balls and the noise and the go-go-go and the run-jump-wrestle and the build-build-build. 

In five fast years we completely settled in to being Nana and Pawpaw to all the baby boys God would bring into our lives and we have loved every single second of the fabulous chaos they bring. 

Then came you. 

The sweetest, loveliest, little flower in the garden. 

You little miss, are the first grand of ours to actually look exactly like the momma who birthed her. Except for your hair coloring you are the spitting image of my once upon a time baby girl, and you're so much like her in personality there are days my heart wants to literally burst. Sweet and spunky, cheerful and gentle. Completely and utterly enchanting. 

I will say you might be just a little bit louder than she ever thought about being, but then your momma didn't have two big brothers showing her the way, ahem.

It has been so much fun adding a girl to our family. I don't care what the politically 'in'correct culture of today tries to tell us-boys and girls are not the same and I celebrate God's grand and marvelous design. 

It's been a complete joy to watch you insert your girly self into a family of boys. To quote your oldest brother, 'she's the queen' lol. So true mancub, so true. You my darling girl are already adored by all who know you, but by no one more so than your big brothers. They think you hung the moon and we all nod our heads in agreement. 

Some things you love right now are your momma (you're the luckiest), your Daddy (who very quickly and completely discovered the absolute joy of being a girl dad), bubbles, books, the water, standing on your head, looking out the back window for deer in the yard, swinging, cruising around the furniture, getting into your brother's toys, making your brothers laugh, being where they are, doing what they're doing, watching them....

In just a few months you will no longer be quite so outnumbered. Your Auntie M will give us another granddaughter to love, and give you a girl cousin. You will be close in age and I pray always close in heart too. I look so forward to tea parties, girl trips with your momma, aunt, and cousin, and finally getting into all your momma's American girl dolls stored safely in our attic, just waiting for you to come and play. 

Happy birthday Little Miss. It is my great great privilege to watch you grow and bloom. Jesus loves you this I know. And so does Nana...deep and wide xoxo 

"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 524

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

1. October 25th is International Artists Day...do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why. 

2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

3. What's a skill, task, hobby, or job you've done so often you now have it 'down to a fine art'? 

4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you've had recently (or not so recently if that's easier).  

5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Speak Now Hodgepodgers

Welcome to this mid-October version of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. What's something small you tend to sweat even though you know you shouldn't? 

Getting places on time. I am very rarely (as in almost never) late anywhere, but if I'm delayed for some reason I sweat. Or if I even just think I'll be delayed, I sweat. 

2. October 17th is National Pasta Day...do you like pasta? What's your favorite? Cooked at home or eaten in your favorite Italian restaurant? How often do you make/eat pasta? 

Scratching my head on this one...does anyone really not like pasta? I'm sure there will be someone who answers no, but that someone is not me. I love pasta. That being said I don't eat it very often because carbs and all that jazz. 

I don't make my own pasta but do make my own sauces. I love a good Italian restaurant but am also happy with pasta at home. My favorite is spaghetti bolognese. Or marinara with a side of homemade meatball. 

3. Do you consider yourself a spontaneous person? Explain. 

I just asked hubs if he would say I'm a spontaneous person and he said, 'Once you're talked into it, then yes, you're spontaneous' lol. He admits I can be spontaneous, but mostly I like a plan and I like to know that plan ahead of time. Then I can sweat about whether we'll be late or not-ha. 

Also, we're never late. 

4. Who are some of your heroes? Tell us why. 

My dad. Corrie Ten Boom. Joni Eareckson Tada. The 911 first responders, police officers, and firefighters running into those falling buildings when everyone else was running out, our soldiers and their families who make so many sacrifices for us every single day. 

Why? Integrity, bravery, doing something hard when hard is necessary, swimming against the tide of popular culture, having the courage of their convictions, living out their faith...these are all qualities I greatly admire. 

5. Let's wrap it up with something light...Taylor Swift...are you a fan? On a scale of 1-10 how much so? (1=who's Taylor?, 10=a true Swiftie, seen her in concert more than once). If you're a fan what's your favorite T. Swift song? 

I'm not a Swiftie but I do like her music. I'll give myself a 7, although I might rate her higher if she stuck to music, and the business of music, etc. She occasionally gets on a political bent I'm not keen on, but if we're talking music then yes, I like her. Mostly I have tremendous admiration for her songwriting skills. Girl has an amazing way with words. 

Also, she is my own girls peer if you will, so we've all grown up alongside her and her music. I like a lot of her songs, but one of my most favorites is Love Story, which is an oldie but a goodie. I cannot hear this song without picturing my daughters in the backseat of my car singing it at the top of their lungs. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

That last question reminded me of once upon a time when my daughter1 wrote a special birthday post for me and in that post she recorded herself singing the T Swift song-The Best Day. I went on the hunt for that post and then I listened to it about ten times in a row. Be still my heart. 

Thirteen years, one husband, three children, and five moves have happened in her life since she sat on her bed as a recent college grad, in an apartment not far from where I live now. She sang and played the guitar for me for my birthday that year, and this recording is every bit as precious today as it was way back when. Maybe even more so because time y'all. It slays. 

You can hear it for yourself by visiting her blog via the link here-Sincerely-Shannon

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 523

The Hodgepodge is back this week and here are the questions. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. Strangers too. See you there! 

1. What's something small you tend to sweat even though you know you shouldn't? 

2. October 17th is National Pasta Day...do you like pasta? What's your favorite? Cooked at home or eaten in your favorite Italian restaurant? How often do you make/eat pasta? 

3. Do you consider yourself a spontaneous person? Explain. 

4. Who are some of your heroes? Tell us why. 

5. Let's wrap it up with something light...Taylor Swift...are you a fan? On a scale of 1-10 how much so? (1=who's Taylor?, 10=a true Swiftie, seen her in concert more than once). If you're a fan what's your favorite T. Swift song? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Words and Time and Memory

When you don't blog in real time real time flies right on by. 

It's hard to go back and write about simple things that weeks ago brought joy when time is racing forward. When the wider world is screaming in war and heartbreak. Why even bother? 

I was chatting with someone recently who didn't know I had this little corner of the internet, and when I explained what my blog was she asked, 'So what's the purpose'? She wasn't asking in a snotty way, she was genuinely curious about the point of it all. 

I struggled to answer in the moment, but have given it a lot of thought since, and here's where I land-there is no point. Ha! Actually there are many many points. This blog is a place for all my many words to rest and jumbled thoughts to put themselves in order. It's a place to record what life looks like in this time and this place and also remember what life was like in other seasons, cities, stages of parenting and how a family is growing, stretching, and changing. It's mainly a place I love to visit from time to time to see how God has worked, protected, and walked with me down many a winding road. 

If there's one thing growing older has taught me it's that while the 'big milestones' in our lives will likely remain etched in memory, the small, ordinary, often achingly beautiful ones do not. Blogging allows me to record what would likely be lost, but is oh so worth remembering. 

This was not where I was going when I opened my computer today, but here we are. Blogging ala stream of consciousness which is not unusual here. 

What I was thinking about today was a big ol' photo dump to bring things current, so let's do that too. Maybe a downsized photo dump since this is a little on the long side (also not unusual here). 

Recently...

There was a gorgeous hike on a blue sky day-

Fun with friends at a Steely Dan Tribute band concert-

Peace, quiet, and coffee with the morning sunrise-

The lazy dog days of autumn-

Boat rides that sparkle-

Punkins-

Sister time-

Teenage nephew photo bombing sister time-

Momma time-

And so much beauty in the changing colors of fall-

I read back through this post and smile. Small joys. Beauty. People I love. Ordinary days full of goodness and grace. 

I know blogging isn't for everyone, but it's still for me. 

'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...'

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

The No Hodgepodge Hodgepodge

Hi friends. Apologies for the late notice, but I just cannot manage a Hodgepodge this week. The Hodgepodge will return next Wednesday (October 17). 

I had company all weekend and then my mom is here with me all week. Plus the world has gone absolutely mad and I just need some space from the noise of the internet right now. I am praying for the nation of Israel, for an end to the horrors we are seeing from afar, for peace and healing for the very many who are hurt and grieving. 

I hope each one of you reading here knows the peace only God can give. We can turn to Him when this world spins out of control and we can trust Him in the midst of so much chaos and sadness. The One who set the stars in the sky knows your name and He cares for you. 

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day" Psalm 46:1-5

A Cup Of Pumpkin Spice Hodgepodge

Welcome to another week in The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go...

1. What's something that scares you? 

Besides our government you mean? I kid. Sort of. 

I'm going with bats. They give me the heebie jeebies. 

2. Do you care where the food you eat comes from? To what degree? 

Do I care? Yes. I read labels, am on the lookout for the GM tag and do my best to steer clear, we eat very little processed foods, and if I were ever to have dinner with Bill Gates I'd tell him real meat only please, none of that synthetic stuff he thinks Americans should be eating. 

Just to be clear, Bill Gates is not someone I'd care to have dinner with. 

3. What's something you wish you'd spent more time doing when you were younger? 

Oh wow, lots of things I suppose, but realizing that is part of growing up. A few things that come to mind would be speaking French, asking my dad about his childhood, keeping up with a journal, and learning to play the piano. A few more serious bits too but I don't think they're for sharing here. 

4. Let's play autumn this or that....pumpkin spice or apple cider? Corn maze or haunted house? Horror film or Hallmark movie? Blanket or sweatshirt? Watch football or watch the World Series? Foliage-red, yellow or orange? 

I'm not a pumpkin spice fan at all so cider it is. I've never cared for the scary elements of Halloween so I'll go for the corn maze. I definitely don't watch any horror movies, but it's also a rare day I watch a Hallmark movie so really neither. Hallmark if I have to choose. I love a cozy blanket, and college football is what fall Saturdays are all about. As far as the foliage goes, I love a mix of all three colors. 

5. This time last year where were you and what were you doing? 

This time last year hubs and I had just returned from a fabulous trek up the coast of California (mucho posts about that trip starting with the link here).

On the first Tuesday in October of 2022 we were finally back in the southland. I spent that morning in the orthopedic surgeon's office having my fractured elbow assessed. Good times. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

October, 2023. It's not the coast of California...

...but it's awfully pretty here too. 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 522

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 that scares you? 

2. Do you care where the food you eat comes from? To what degree? 

3. What's something you wish you'd spent more time doing when you were younger? 

4. Let's play autumn this or that....pumpkin spice or apple cider? Corn maze or haunted house? Horror film or Hallmark movie? Blanket or sweatshirt? Watch football or watch the World Series? Foliage-red, yellow or orange? 

5. This time last year where were you and what were you doing? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.