Welcome to another week of Wednesday Hodgepodge-ing. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then be sure to say hi to your neighbor there. Here we go...

1. Let's compare this May to last May. What's changed? What remains very much the same?
I looked back over my blog from last May and it seems life is not all that different than it was one year ago in terms of the month itself. As far as what has changed in the last year, the biggest would be my oldest daughter's geography.
She and her hubs and kids were living in Cincy last May, moved to the UK for six months, and are now living literally right down the road from us in SC so that's one big change.
The grands are all a year older and so are we.
2. What's something you may do this month?
I may visit a farmer's market. They're opening up in our area now and that's something I like to do this time of year especially. We have a few weekend happenings on the calendar already, but hoping I can make it to the market some Saturday.
Our town has a Thursday night music thing, where they close the main road and there's a band and food trucks, and it's just a fun night out. It runs April-October, but we haven't made it to one yet. Hoping to get there in May.
3. Mother's Day is approaching (in the US of A)...in what way(s) are you like your mother?
I've always been a lot like my mom. For starters we're both stubborn-ha! I'm gonna own it because it's true. We both love Jesus, books, shoes, beautiful gardens, and time in the kitchen. We see motherhood as a calling, we're independent, and we love our people and also our space.
My mom will turn 95 on her birthday this year, so not all of these are part of her life now, but they're definitely what I associate with her and how I picture her in my head.
4. Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it and why was it a favorite.
I had several favorites...Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne, and Crow Boy by Taro Yashima are definitely at the top of my list. My mom read aloud to my younger sister and I all throughout our childhood, well past the point we could have read those same books ourselves.
Growing up we had a formal living room and a den in our house, and we never played in the living room. That space was for grown up gatherings and holidays, but my mom would read to us there which made the time feel extra special.
My sister and I would sit on either side of her on the couch and through those books we developed a real and lasting love of reading, as well as a shared language and a closeness with our mom that carries weight. There are several expressions from the books I mentioned that we still use today. They gave us lots of 'scope for the imagination', and if you don't know that expression then you've never met Anne. With an e.
If you've never read Crow Boy by Taro Yashima, check it out.
5. Are you more of a tortoise or a hare? Explain.
I have always been a hare, but these days I'd say I'm 'a little more tortoise. I'm savoring slower mornings and a slower pace in general. Pretty sure people might still say hubs and I are a couple of hares though.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
In honor of Mother's Day I'm linking to a post I wrote back in 2012, a sort of ode to motherhood. You'll find it linked here -K is for The Keepers.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas reading here today...

...most especially to my own sweet girls who are now mothers themselves, and who continue to teach me so much about so many things.
"For all the things my hands have held, the best by far is you."-Author unknown
A damn good post, liked your answers.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture of you and your mom! Ninety- five- that is impressive. It sounds like she was a great mom to you and your sister. Giving the gift of time and the gift of the love to read are both incredible gifts. Love that quote at the end. Awww- so sweet and true. Thanks for the link up and have a great day!
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I are a lot alike too; we even tend to say the same things at the same time. I'm hoping to visit our farmer's market too but I've said that for years and I don't think we've been once.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh . . . I recently read Anne of Green Gables for the first time and am completely entranced! I just finished the fifth book in this series and absolutely adore the author’s storytelling. You are fortunate to have such wonderful memories of your mom reading to you.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have your daughter living so close, so much can change in a year. For me not much has changed but that's not a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteOhh! I do love a farmers market and the music thing in your town sounds fab.
I used to love Charlotte's Web as a child, looking back on it now, it was so sad. The reading time with your mom sounds so special.
Beautiful post! Your mom sound amazing. I read to my kids on the guest bed. We spent summer afternoons there and it was lovely. You just made me remember that! Happy Mother's Day to you!
ReplyDeleteThe picture of you and your mom is so sweet!! Enjoy being with her every time you can.
ReplyDeleteLove your words about your Mama and the picture of you both! 95 years!!!! Love that she read aloud <3
ReplyDeleteWe also had a mostly unused living room and for me its sole purpose was for looking at the "fancy" Christmas tree and listening to my Mom's collection of records on the stereo. There's a word you don't hear much anymore!
Love your final quote; I wrote about my kids in my post and now I'm feeling a bit weepy!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your mom! That's such a good picture of you both. What a blessing to not have had much change in the last year, except for age. I know you love that your daughter is so much closer now!
ReplyDeleteAhh, what a sweet hodgepodge tribute to your mom and I love that quote. I never read the Anne of Green Gables series until I was an adult. Happy Mother's Day to you and your mom and your girls!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful having them live so close to you now. Enjoy the Farmer's Market and the Thursday night's of music and the food trucks. That is so awesome about you and your Mom. Their generation is amazing. Love your answer for favorite book. What a lovely time with your mother and her reading to you in the living room. Happy Mother's Day to you and your beautiful daughters.
ReplyDeleteHello Joyce, I loved reading about your mom. 95 years old... that is amazing. Happy Mother's Day,
ReplyDeleteCarla
Lovely photo of you and your Mom. Our kids have done the opposite of yours of course so I can relate to that. Hopefully ours will find their way back at some point. I always feel that you are haring around lol. Like Ellen I never read Anne of Green Gables until recently but loved it. Happy Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely photo of you and your mum, Happy Mother's day for Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYou have such lovely memories around your favourite books, I think you always remember when someone reads a story to you.
Wonderful tribute to your mom. I have enjoyed watching your girls enter adulthood, becoming wives, and now as mothers. I think I began reading your blog while you were planning Daughter 1's wedding. The quote at the end of this post is especially touching.
ReplyDeleteYou and your mom are both beautiful! Great photo!! Thank for another fun Hodgepodge, Joyce! Happy Mother's Day to you, your mom, and your girls!! xo
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! Lovely photo of you and your mom ... and the one of your little girls, back in the day, is precious! 💕
ReplyDeleteHappy (early) Birthday to your mom who will turn 95 this year. My Farmer's Market opened up last week, and I am hoping I can get there sometime this summer!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day to you, Joyce.
How amazing your mom is 95! Thanks for hosting and Happy Mother's Day to you!
ReplyDelete