Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Y The Hodgepodge?

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge and (yahoo!) the second to last letter in the April A-Z blog challenge. Not that I'm counting. I've included letter Y in my random thought today (question #6 for anyone new). 

If you've answered today's Hodgepodge questions add your link at the end of my post then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Y not?  

From this Side of the Pond
1. Are you feeling more reset, restart, or full speed ahead as we move into May? Tell us why. 

Can rest be an option here because that's what I'd like right about now? If not then full steam ahead it is. 

2. Painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, cinema, theatre, music...what's your favorite form of art? Elaborate.  

Impossible question. I like them all and while each would be considered art, they're not at all the same kind of art. My answer is all of the above. Each one appeals to me on some level. I suppose if you forced me to choose I'd say literature, but I love museums, beautiful architecture, live music, and live theatre too. 

3. What time is dinner at your house? How do you feel about leftovers? 

Dinner time varies here. In the summer it's generally sometime between 7 and 8. In the winter months we dine earlier, usually between 6 and 6:30.  My hubs would love for us to eat late year round and I'd love to eat at 5 so we're most often somewhere in the middle. 

As far as leftovers my feelings are mixed. I am good with things like pasta or pizza leftovers, but I'm funny about meat. I don't usually care for leftover meat warmed up, unless it's in a casserole. A leftover piece of chicken warmed up? No thanks. Chicken pot pie left over? Sure. 

4.What's the last thing you fell down a rabbit hole investigating? 

My husband shared something he was reading about AI doing an analysis on the Shroud of Turin and I then went down the rabbit hole myself reading about it. Don't ask me to explain it though. 

5. And now for a question from the book Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me...

At what are you 'self-taught?' 

I'm going with all things computer related. I'm the only one in my family with no formal computer classes or training. I've muddled through and learned by doing. I'm a work in progress here still. Obviously. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We're nearing the end of the A-Z blog challenge and I'm using this space for today's letter. I didn't think too hard on this one, but instead ran through a mental list of things that start with Y and picked one I could work with. 

Day 24-Y is for Yardstick 

Do you own a yardstick? Do you know where it is? I own one and bonus, I know where it is. I feel like a yardstick is one of those things you need very rarely, but when you need it you need it. 

Mine lives tucked into a corner of my pantry and it has a felt sleeve to fancy it up.  This yardstick was part of an end of year gift from a kindergarten student I taught in the year 1999. 

His mama made the sleeve and I've kept it all these years. fyi-it does have my full name down the front but I try not to put my full name here on the blog. Anyway, I've used this yardstick from time to time, and when I do I think of that super sweet kindergarten class, the wonderful parents who made that year an absolute joy, and the little boy (Brent-yes I remember his name) who would be 33 years old today. 

That's the kind of math that makes me feel another Y word-not young. 

17 comments:

  1. What a neat yardstick holder! That was a nice gift from Brent's family- the felt sleeve and the yardstick. We have several yardsticks and I do know where at least one of them is. Thanks for the link up and have a great day!

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  2. My post will be up on the blog tomorrow. I too had a hard time picking just one form of art as I enjoy them all. I don't have a yard stick though.. but my husband quite literally almost always has a tape measure on him so I just have him measure whatever I need for me.

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  3. What a cute teacher gift idea!! I do have a yardstick, but it doesn't have a fancy cover :-). In my post, I said I like leftovers. I should have said, "I eat leftovers." I'm not fond of meat reheated in the microwave. I sometimes eat leftover meat cold and heat everything else.

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  4. I hope you get some rest soon. It sounds like you need it.
    I would love to eat between 7 and 8 but my family say that is far too late. Hmmf.
    Oh yes! I am pretty much self taught when it comes to computer things. My dad is learning and thinks I am an expert but I just muddle through. lol
    I think we have a yardstick, in the garage.

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  5. I think we had a yardstick at some point but I'm not sure it survived the last move. It could be tucked somewhere in the garage but I'm not going down that rabbit hole today lol. Yours is fancy with its own cover. Definitely something to be kept.

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  6. We do have a yardstick, actually we have two and a meter stick. :) I also have a handful of rulers because it use to be I never could find one when I needed it. That's not a problem anymore. I reheat most things in the toaster oven, except veggies. Meat that is covered does very well in the oven. Microwaving meats make it tough. Congratulations for nearing the end of the A2Z challenge! Thanks for sharing and hosting the mid-week fun, Joyce! ~CAAC

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  7. I don't think we currently have a yardstick so that is so cool!
    I agree on the heated up chicken - or fish. I am going to try to make myself use some leftover salmon on a salad for lunch today but I'm not excited.
    I agree about the computer stuff. Tech changed so rapidly in my career from 1994-2026. High school students taught me much of it! Now I know I can find a YouTube vid on anything I need to learn.

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  8. I loved your answers! The varying dinner hour made me laugh. I can't eat late! I also agree on that first one...if not rest, then full steam ahead. My head is spinning from all the May things that are lined up! Thanks for being our gracious host each week, my friend. Happy Wednesday!

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  9. I not only have a yardstick I used it just yesterday to see if a window cleaning tool I was going to order would be long enough to reach the top of my windows. The yardstick is very old, from an old paint and wallpaper store back from when they used to give the away. I keep it in my closet and used it often.

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  10. you know, I also love all the art forms listed......I chose to write about my top two but there's something about the architecture in new to me cities that I just love exploring. (think paris, rome, florence (the only european ones i've toured) or San Francisco, Montreal, Toronto, Albany (where I live), etc etc). I do love various forms of art my fave being impressionists. That was a great question!

    How cool that you had neighbors in the Philly Orchestra. (thanks for sharing that on my post). And that your sis plays violin! both daughters studied violin and were in orchestra from grades 4-12. One still plays sometimes.

    OOH....now AI research would definitely lead me down a rabbit hole!

    Happy Wednesday!

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  11. Another round of amazing questions-thanks Joyce! I love how late you eat dinner in the summer- oh can't wait for the days to feel longer. I appreciate all art forms too :)

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  12. Funnily enough, I had to use my yardstick the other day to swipe a fallen dog treat from under the dryer! That's what I use it for the most - reaching under things!

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  13. Rest would be a great answer. You are always so busy. Those are all wonderful things to love. We don't eat that late unless we are visiting Adam's house or have company here. Pizza is always a good leftover. I'm usually okay with meat leftovers. I am not a fan of AI. Good choice picking the computer for self taught. I love the yardstick.

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  14. Yard sticks...I think every house needs a yard stick. funny thing...We attend many conventions with our business and it seems that every other booth is giving away yard sticks...For this reason..we have many. I so enjoy the Hodgepodges and I just want to say that I appreciate the each week.

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  15. I had to laugh about how you meet in the middle to dine. ;-) I cannot eat a big meal late, so we try hard to make it before 7pm.
    I loved your yardstick story. My husband uses our yardstick to measure our total snowfall. Our yardstick has a home too, it is tucked in the entry of our home, it is easy to get at to go measure the snow. Hee Hee!

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  16. Wow, that yardstick brought back memories. My parents had one and it was a cool thing to me as kid, for some reason. We do not own one now. That's pretty late to eat! I know it's normal most places but for me, I have to be eating earlier or I won't sleep well.

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  17. I know we don't have a yardstick in the house at this point. Maybe my guy has one in his stuff in the shop. Sweet gift and memory. Yep that question about the arts was a tough one. I like your answer.

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