Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Et Tu 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 leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go...

From this Side of the Pond

1. Are you a naturally trusting person? Is trust built on logic or 'gut instinct'? Does everyone deserve a second chance? Elaborate. 

I'm a naturally trusting person for the most part. I like being given a second chance myself and I want to extend one whenever it seems like the right thing to do. That being said I do think a second chance might depend on the nature of 'the initial crime/offense'. We can forgive wrongdoing while also setting boundaries to prevent being taken advantage of, lied to, hurt in some way a second time. Or third, fourth, whatever the case may be. 

Wow, that got deep fast. 

Is trust built on logic or gut instinct? Hmmm... a bit of both I'd say, but I'm going to lean more towards gut instinct. Like I said. I'm a naturally trusting person. 

2. 'Beware the Ides of March'...March 15th on the ancient Roman calendar, these words were made famous by William Shakespeare in his play Julius Caesar.  Caesar was assassinated on March 15th 44 B.C. Have you read any Shakespeare? If so, do you have a favorite? Have you ever been to Rome? 

When I was in the 6th grade, which was still elementary school where I grew up, we put on the play A Midsummer Night's Dream, which I think was my first exposure to Shakespeare. I remember not quite understanding it all, but also having so much fun with the play. 

I feel like I want to re-read some Shakespeare as I don't know it well and probably haven't read any since high school. I started thinking about some of his well known titles and realized I've been to more than a few of their settings...

The Merry Wives of Windsor-

Only one of of us was actually a wife when this was taken-ha! We spent a lot of time in this town when we lived very nearby. 

Romeo and Juliet aka Verona-

Celebrating our birthdays with pottery, opera, and amazing food in the beautiful city of Verona 

The Globe...

And his birthplace, Stratford-Upon-Avon to name just a few. Quick sidebar-Daughter2 went on an overnight with her grade 8 classmates to Stratford and they did some cool things like a wig workshop and a sword fighting demo. I know she remembers it well because there was also a little mischief made, which the moms remember. Hi Daughter2 teehee. 

I've been to Rome and loved it. 

Europe has changed so much since we lived abroad and I don't have a burning desire to go to some of the bigger cities there anymore. I adore the countryside and village life and wouldn't mind more of that in terms of European travel. 

3. Do you like a Caesar salad? If given the choice between a garden/house salad or Caesar which do you order? Anchovies or no? What's your favorite salad dressing? 

I love a Caesar salad and will most often opt for that if there's a choice. I do not like it (or any salad for that matter) swimming in dressing, but I do like Caesar dressing. 

With or without anchovies? Either way is fine. 

My favorite dressing is currently a champagne vinaigrette. I like Hidden Valley Light Ranch too, but again I go really light on the dressing. My family always wants to add more.. 

4. Where do you typically work (or blog if that's easier) at home? Do you have a dedicated home office space? Are you happy with that space? 

Right here whenever possible-

I do have a semi-dedicated office where I sometimes work and sometimes blog. It's mostly where bills are paid but I do blog there now and then too. I like the space, it's roomy and I can see the lake so there's that. We had a Murphy bed added to the room for the overflowing houseguests we often have here. The room is mostly an office, but also serves as additional sleeping space when needed, which is useful. 

I often blog from the couch in the evenings while watching tv. I really like blogging while sitting at my dining room table with a view to the front yard. It's a sunny spot and there's something about the order in this particular room I find helps with my concentration. 

5. Snow drops, daffodils, lenten roses, crocus, hyacinth, or early tulips...what's your favorite early Spring flower? 

Impossible to choose! If you make me pick I suppose I'll say daffodils because they're generally the first ones up here and are bright and cheery against the gray skies we so often see in February. I have iris popping up now and they usually arrive on the early side of spring too. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My March mantra-

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

27 comments:

  1. That pretty much sums up my travel anywhere-- small towns and countryside with not much desire to see big cities. Though those little out of the way places are getting harder and harder to find.

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  2. I can see how the European countryside would be a more ideal place to visit than the cities. I have a dedicated office space as well but that is not normally where I blog or do much work. I said daffodils, too, as they are in bloom here right now. Thanks for the link up and have a great day!

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  3. Loved reading your Shakespeare connections/sights/adventures...fun pictures. The mug is perfect!

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  4. Great photos! You must have great photo organization because I love your throwback photos and you always find several!
    I forgot to say that I can't eat salad with too much dressing. There is a place we go to hear that ruins the salad if I forgot to say light or on the side!

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  5. Love the mug and that message- yes for this all March long for sure- thanks for another round of very fun questions!

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  6. A Midsummer Night's Dream was my first experience of Shakespeare too. It sounds like Daughter2 had fun at Stratford Upon Avon. hehehe
    What a beautiful place to work, with the view over the lake!

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  7. What you said about trusting someone and second chances was so well said. I completely agree. In the younger picture of you and your daughters, you all favor so much. Thanks for hosting!

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  8. I love all of your pictures today! We prefer the "smaller" places, too. When we were in Dublin (just 24 hours or so), Mark kept saying that we could be in a big city anywhere - a big city is a big city . . .

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  9. I went deep pretty fast with the first question too, and said some of the same things you did.
    I loved your Shakespeare memories and the photos of the places you've visisted. How wonderful to see so many storied and historic sites! I'd love to visit Europe but it's not a priority for me at this point.
    Love the mug and the mantra! Have a great week!

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  10. I am the opposite with dressing haha. I was/am a "you want some salad with that dressing??" person

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  11. Love your mantra! And your office:) I think I would actually work (er, blog) more often if I could sit down and "work" there!! What wonderful travel memories you have....and I always enjoy your travel photos! Thanks for the link-up this week!

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  12. I've never gotten to travel in Europe.

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  13. Hi,
    Oh, I like the sound of the Champagne Vinaigrette. I will have to look for that one the next shopping trip.
    I like your March mantra, I am with you. ;-)
    Have a great rest of the week.
    Carla

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  14. True, a second chance should be given on the nature of the crime. Glad you enjoyed doing that play. Sweet photo of you and the girls. Your photos are wonderful. I'm a hidden valley ranch person too. That is an awesome setting for blogging. Enjoy your flowers. Love your mug. Have a wonderful day.

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  15. Love seeing where people work/write. I'm with you on loving ALL the spring flowers!

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  16. I couldn't agree with you more about the European travel. I'm so thankful we had a few years over there to travel during the time we did. On my recent trips to Spain and UK, I really saw a difference in the crowds. There don't seem to be many hidden gems anymore in the cities now that everyone can see them on social media. One regret I have from our time in England was not going to Stratford upon Avon!

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  17. I need to find a mug with the mantra you shared. Choosing calm has huge benefits.

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  18. So many amazing photos of somewhere I will never visit

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  19. I enjoyed all the photos you shared, Joyce! Thanks for another fun Hodgepodge this week! xo

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  20. Verona is nice city, I have been there several times, as my husband stems from the lake of Garda and we have been in this region for 15 years to see my mother in law and the family. I have also been in Shakespeare's town, but I didn't pay 5 € just to look at his grave ! The house was on the street and looked nice. I had to laugh about your mention that Europe has changed ! We say the same about the States and nobody wants to go there on holidays anymore. All this comes from News. I have the privilege to speak several languages and listen to the main News of each country, then I mix what I have heard to find out the truth but who knows what is the truth. Anyway we have been in 1971 for the first time in the States. It was beautiful to see the tourist places, but we didn't want to live there because so may things were not allowed and it was called a "free" country. The last time I was in Madison was when my aunt died and I had to deal with the administration, there both countries are the same administrations seems to be the same everywhere. But now with your orange president, I prefer to stay here in my peaceful castle, as you love to stay on the patio and look on your lake !

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  21. I'm sorry I'm a bit late to the party...but things were busy...and the more I read others posts, the more I wanted to join in. Thank you for doing this! This was fun and your answers were wonderful. Love your mug!!!

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  22. Thank you for more thought-provoking and interesting questions! I agree with you on Qu.1, but you expressed it far more succinctly, whereas I started to tie myself in knots! It looks as if you have done a lot of happy travelling - we have visited a lot of the same places.
    I have added my link FWIW, but I don't want to annoy/frustrate people by doing so. (I guess you would say if you preferred me not to...) For some reason it feels in some way rude to participate "covertly". I am always more than happy to add new readers, or just play for my own pleasure if that is what is wanted.
    Have a great weekend!

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    Replies
    1. If I wanted to read your blog how would I do that?

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    2. I would send you a link.
      I had hoped to be polite/friendly but see now that I failed. For that I am truly sorry.

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    3. You weren't unfriendly. I do like to know who's linking, but am fine with you staying private. I'd love to visit your blog.

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  23. Your answers were fun. I'm late getting around to commenting. I enjoy Europe and sometimes wonder what it would be like to live abroad.

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