Wednesday, October 8, 2025

A Caramel Colored 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. We've had some new bloggers participating in recent weeks, so be sure you visit your neighbor on the list and leave a comment. That's what keeps the blog world spinnin'! Here we go-

From this Side of the Pond
1. 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made? 

The saying rings pretty true both directions here. I'm a lot like my momma, and I see myself in my girls too. They're each uniquely their own person of course, but we're also alike in many ways. 

We've always said Daughter2 is my mini because she looks so much like me, but it's more than that. I wrote a post (linked here-And The Seasons They Go Round and Round) on her 30th birthday about some of the other ways we're similar. 

I wrote about my own momma too (linked here-One Of These Things Is A Lot Like The Other). 

Hmmm...I guess daughter1 never got a post of her own in this department, so I'm going to think about that and write one soon. I've always said she's a lot like me only better...softer, gentler, wiser, and definitely more coordinated-ha! 


2. Something you're nuts about these days? How about something that's driving you nuts? 

I'll reverse the questions and say what bugs first. I could write a long list of things relating to our current political climate, but let's go with people texting, face timing, or in general driving distracted.  

Something I'm nuts about these days? The weather for one. 


October skies might be my favorite and the temperature has been just right too. I love nature's gem tones and this is their season to shine. 

3. What does abundance mean to you? 

As a christian this term makes me think of the goodness of God. I love the lyrics to the song Reckless Love by Cory Asbury. '....Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the 99, I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still..You give yourself away... Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God...'

Here's a link to the whole song if you'd like to listen-Reckless Love 

4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto...what's your caramel treat of choice? 

I prefer an apple dipped in caramel rather than an apple on a stick. I feel like I might lose a filling with that one. I like a bite of a caramel cake, but the icing is usually a little too sweet for me so I don't need a whole piece. I don't like flavored coffee drinks and while a sundae would be good I'm going with caramel corn. I love the mix you can buy that has half caramel corn and half cheese popcorn. The salty sweet combo is so good! 

5. What's a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall? 

I'm not sure there's one single memory, but more of a feeling I have when the leaves begin to turn. I think you'd call it nostalgia. When fall rolls around I think of back to school days, my dad raking piles of leaves in the yard, trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, and my favorite holiday-Thanksgiving. 

6. Insert. your own random thought here. 

Our camellia is loaded with blooms and so pretty...



Happy Wednesday everyone! 

27 comments:

  1. Your flowering bush is so pretty! I love the song Reckless Love- especially the lines whose words you referenced in your post. I would also rather dip an apple in caramel but I love the look (and taste) of a gourmet caramel apple. We have a gourmet caramel apple place in town that sells the prettiest looking caramel apples. They also have caramel dipping classes that are so fun though my finished product never looks as good as theirs, lol. Thanks for the link up!

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  2. Can totally relate to the leaves changing colors and the nostalgia that comes with that- great one! So sweet about your daughters- looking forward to reading more about them

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  3. I never thought of mentioning how alike my daughters and I am. We are so similar.
    I hate it when people are out and about and they are face timing, just have the conversation later!
    October skies are the best, every evening the sunsets are stunning.
    Toffee apples were more common when was younger and I was amazed not to lose any fillings or teeth as they were so hard to bite into. lol

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  4. I have never had or seen a caramel cake but I definitely cut my caramel apples into wedges and right off the stick. It's so much easier to eat that way! Our weather has been really gorgeous this fall-- weirdly warm and dry but beautiful.

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  5. Oh that song . . . I was singing along as I read the words you shared. Humankind has been especially blessed by a God who loves us abundantly and forgives us expansively.

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  6. Reckless Love - such a good song!! Now I'm going to begin the day with that in my head!!

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  7. Great answers and many of ours were similar. I love caramel corn, too, but not mixed with cheese.

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  8. I enjoy your perspective and how you express it so well. That is a healthy camellia bush, beautiful. Autumn is beautiful on your lake!

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  9. love your answers! yes, I'm "Nuts" about autumn and the colors and temps too. As a hiker it's my absolute fave season! I can climb mountains with no bugs!!

    I have never had caramel cake. I'm not a cake eater anyways but definitely would think caramel is way too sweet.

    That's so sweet that you wrote those posts regarding your daughter and mother. Thankfully I'm not much like my mother. I'll leave it at that :)

    I enjoyed today's hodgepodge! thank you for the awesome questions.

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  10. gorgeous Camilla blooms Joyce!! beautiful color. I usually mix candy corn with peanuts in the fall. Not this year cause Sam and I don't need it sitting around here. it is very addictive and one spoon full requires another. The apple doesn't fall from the tree is used a lot in reference to someone who makes bad decisions and so does their kids. I prefer the good things that you can refer to in this statement...Hope you have an awesome day...I sure enjoyed this Apple, fall, caramel hodgepodge..

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  11. I love the sweet sentiments about your daughters and your mom! Oh yes, October skies is a good one. They truly are a beautiful gift from God. Reckless Love is one of my favorites. Side note - I saw a video where Cory Asbury is trying to get together with more Christian artists to make an alternative half-time show for super bowl. I thought that was pretty great! Nostalgia is a great way to explain the feeling of leaves falling. Your camelia is beautiful!!

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  12. Hi, I just love how your favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, it is also my son Atticus'.
    Enjoy those October skies. Did you see the moon? We had clear skies last night and it was HUGE. :-) I love when it shines in our bedroom windows.

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  13. Your camellias are gorgeous!! I thought I commented early this morning, but evidently I didn't hit publish! I love that song and the lyrics and will be thinking about them today. Thanks for putting a good song in my head!!

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  14. I LOVE the caramel popcorn and cheese popcorn mix! Best of both worlds!

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  15. Down here, our camellias won't bloom until late January! Good questions this week. I don't care for flavored coffee drinks either. Every once in a while I'll get a flavored cold brew (the pumpkin cream is ok) but I am a black coffee kinda person.

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  16. Our daughter Amber takes after her dad. You did a great job answering that question. I agree, people on their phone and you can hear everything. Glad you are enjoying your weather. Beautiful answer for #3. I will have to go check out the link. I wouldn't eat the apple from the stick but definitely cut it into pieces. Your popcorn sounds yummy. I like what you listed for things you think of for Fall. Beautiful flowers.

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  17. The beautiful picture of the October sky could make me forget all the troubles in the world.
    A healthy camellia bush.

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  18. Are Camelias supposed to be blooming right now? Ours aren't. Hmmm.

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    1. I think they bloom between the fall and spring. Another Florida blogger said theirs don't bloom until January so it may just depend where you live.

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  19. Hi Joyce, thanks for visiting my blog. I am glad your husband's forehead healed well. I am following the after care instructions as well as I can. I love that CoryA song. I like to listen to worship music as much as I can and trust in God with the things I don't understand. I agree with the nostalgia thing. I have thought more about my parents and really miss them. That picture of the sky and trees is so pretty! Now I am craving a caramel apple.

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  20. That camelia bush is beautiful! I enjoyed your answers and enjoyed answering on my blog!! Thanks, always, for the Wednesday fun!! xo

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  21. Your camellia is beautiful!! I agree that the October skies have been incredible! Thanks for hosting!

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  22. Loved your answer about abundance! I believe all the abundance we experience is a result of God blessing us in so many ways. I think nostalgia is a good description of the feelings I associate with fall, and I said something similar about not having specific memories but more general ones. Thanks for the link-up and I hope you're having a great week!

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  23. Wow, your camellia is so beautiful. We had a few at our old house here in Houston. They bloomed in January. Do yours bloom at other times of the year, or just the fall? I think our kids did not fall far from the tree. They have traits from both of us, but my daughter looks similar to me and studied Biology like I did in college. My son looks similar to hubby, and studied mech eng. in college like he did. Funny how that works!

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  24. O wow that camellia is beautiful!

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  25. I think we had several similar answers! Especially being nuts for the weather..isn't it just perfect these days!! Your flowers are beautiful, too! Thanks for sharing the link-up. This one was fun and I have enjoyed reading all the answers. And thanks for sharing about Kim's photo challenge. Going to check that out now:)

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  26. I've been out of town this week, so am just now getting back to the Hodgepodge. Your camelia is beautiful, and yes, the blooms are profuse. I miss that plant from the majority of my life spent in Louisiana. I have yet to see one here in Plano. It is such a southern thing. Yes to the caramel corn mixed with salty. I choose peanuts but the popcorn sounds delightful. I have not eaten any yet because it is pure sugar and I'm trying to abstain as much as possible. That became my denied fall delicacy.

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