Wednesday, August 12, 2026

It's The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. For bookkeeping purposes...last week was Volume 665 and next week will be Volume 667. 

Also, I don't actually keep books here. 

Anyway...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 before you run off. Here we go...

From this Side of the Pond
1. I saw a meme on Instagram that went like this-'The movie Dirty Dancing came out in 1987 and was set in 1963, so if remade in 2026 it would be set in 2002. Now I need a little lie down in a dark room for a while." 

Time is crazy isn't it? So...what were you up to in the year 2002? 

I'm going to show great restraint in how many pictures I post. But we need a few, right? 

Living in Maryland. We had a boat and were out on it every weekend. We had friends with boats and we'd all raft up together. Lots of fun! 

I was working as the Director of a church Preschool and Kindergarten, and our girls were in grades 7 and 9. I have to say that makes me feel a little bit ancient. 


We got a puppy that year. A Gordon Setter we called the supermodel, the life of the party, and the absolute sweetest pup ever. 

Hubs and I went to St. Lucia for a reward trip with work colleagues. 



We took a family vacation to the Outer Banks of NC and rented a big house in Duck with four other families. 

We went camping a couple of times. Tent camping which we loved. 

We had a really fun family trip to St. Thomas for Thanksgiving.  

And it was another tender Tennessee Christmas spent with hubs family. 


2. "Me? I'm scared of everything..." What's something that scares you that you'd like to try anyway? 

I feel like this kind of question wants bungee jumping or sky diving or some other physical kind of crazy feat as an answer, but those are not things I've ever had a desire to do. 

How about camping with toddlers? Is that scary? I think it would be the fun sort of scary. 

If I dig a little deeper I'd say being bolder in speaking the truth with courage, and sharing my beliefs without holding back.

3. Watermelon-yay or nay? Which melon is your favorite-watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew Of the watermelon food/beverages listed which would you say yes to...

watermelon salsa~watermelon feta salad~watermelon sorbet~
a watermelon Jolly Rancher~a watermelon margarita 

I love watermelon, all melons really , but especially watermelon. Of the food/beverages listed the only one I'd pass on is the Jolly Rancher. As much as I love watermelon I don't love watermelon 'flavored' candies. 

4. August 12th is National Middle Child Day. Are you a middle child? If not, where do you fall in the birth order in your family of origin? Do you think this has influenced your personality? Elaborate. 

There are four children in my family of origin so no real middle. 

Except I do consider myself a middle because three of the four are girls and I'm the middle girl. I have an older sister and a younger sister and then an older brother, but as the only boy and king he doesn't count lol. 

I have a lot of the traits typically associated with middle children which include being "adaptable, easygoing, and independent people who excel at compromise". Middle children are often the peacemakers and that is very much me. Middle children are said to have high self-reliance which can be both good and bad, but my most uttered phrase as a child was-"I can do it myself" so you be the judge. 

I have a 2-yo granddaughter about whom I think you could say, 'the apple does not fall far from the proverbial tree', ahem. 

5. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time, or have a significant conversation with two people? Explain. 

Probably the second, significant conversations with a couple of people. Huge parties aren't really my thing, but give me a dinner party for 6 or 8 and I'm a happy hostess (or guest). 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Speaking of time passing...


Happy Wednesday everyone! 

28 comments:

  1. We were more tough back in the day. Now Univ of M is hiding students' grades from them for their mental health. Oh dear! Those Dominoes workers had more fortitude (and didn't even know it!) and life skills than many college students of today! Great pictures! It looks like 2002 was a good year for your family. I did answer sky diving for the fear question but I like how you answered it :).

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  2. I remember those days of calling in a pizza order and hoping the delivery guy didn't get lost! Luckily we lived in a small town and the best pizza place in town was run by the family just down the street from us and his kids were in high school at the time so they knew our street well. Large parties aren't my thing at all either. I find the more people there are the less I talk to anyone as I just find it overwhelming. Even with my family or my husband's family... but if there's just a handful of people I 'll talk to anyone and everyone.

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  3. I love all of your photos! I love the Domino's meme - so true.
    This was a fun one! I can see you being a middle and that makes sense when you only count the girls. The male was the king - ha!

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  4. I have been to the Outer Banks and enjoy going there. My Bible Group tries to do something for everyone's birthday. Of course, the birthday girl gets to choose the event; and this year I chose skydiving!! That was quickly shot down!! Maybe one day I can experience this. Before the internet, I don't ever remember complaining about my pizza being cold!!! but now so many people complain when door dash delivers and the food is a few minutes late and cold!

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  5. Oh my gosh that meme cracked me up! Seems like yesterday right? Love all of your throwback pics- you have traveled to some beautiful places :)

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  6. It looks like you were having the best time in 2002! Fab photos!
    I said sky diving for question 2 but camping with toddlers does sound terrifying. lol
    I am not one for big parties either, I like the smaller get togethers.
    My girls found it fascinating that we used to phone up to order food, now they just go on the app on their phone and it's delivered without even having to speak to anyone.

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  7. What a fabulous answer for question #1. The pictures are so precious. You really do a wonderful job at blogging. Yes, I think camping with toddlers would be scary. Yes, watermelon is really good. We have them growing in the garden right now. I would say you could be considered a middle child with being the middle of the 3 girls. Interesting about being the peace maker. Good answer for #5. Love your random thought. Enjoy your day.

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  8. Oh Gosh your random. How did we do it? Ha!
    I enjoyed your 2002!!

    We did go camping when our youngest was 6 months old. We went tent camping! And I was breastfeeding. It was a blast and we have a lot of stories about the trip. Most of the stories are about the on lookers of me breastfeeding our baby. And yes I was covered up. Ha Ha. ;-)

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  9. Ahh...love all the 2002 photo memories. What a great year for your family of 4...I mean 5 with the pup. Haha, yes scary camping with toddlers. I do appreciate your thoughts about being bolder in our faith and stand. Your after thought, yikes, we were a hardy people once and hopefully we aren't losing all our good skills of the past! Have a wonderful day!

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  10. Camping with toddlers is very doable but back when I had them, camping was the only getaway I could afford so I made it work.
    I get what you said about the courage to share your faith. You just never know what type of feedback you'll get. But it's not about us.

    As always Joyce, you pulled out another fun week of questions. Thank you for all that you do to pull this off, once a week!

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  11. Camping with toddlers sounds very terrifying! I'm just imagining a fire and trying to keep littles away!! I love all of your photos. I love watermelon, but now that you mention it . . .watermelon flavor is sort of like grape flavor - neither tastes like the actual fruit!

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  12. I will definitely meet you around the table. We recently enjoyed a 4 couple brunch hosted by good friends, and it was delightful, and my favorite entertainment. I was so disappointed to find I had only the picture I shared from 2002. Because it was a busy year is the only explanation, I suppose. Enjoyed the Hodgepodge this week.

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  13. Loved all your throwback photos, and it's fun to think that we were living in the same state in 2002, although in very different counties I think.
    I've been tent camping with a toddler - I mentioned it in my 2002 memories. We had a lot of fun, but we were also with a couple of other families so there were plenty of older kids to help me keep track of my littles and for my bigger kids to hang out with.
    Would love to have conversation with you at a small dinner party. :-)
    My respect for the pizza delivery guys of days gone by has only grown as I've personally become more reliant on GPS. How on earth did any of us manage? ROFL

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  14. I enjoyed your answers..and the entire Hodge Podge this week. It has been fun reading all the answers to the first question! And seeing lots of photos. I would say 2002 was a very good year for you!! My favorite, though, was your random. Ah, those were the days!:)

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  15. I liked looking at all your archive photos. Looks like a happy family always. I'm surprised at how many people are saying they don't like big gatherings - I thought I would be in a minority with that, but then maybe it is a norm among bloggers? Thanks for coming up with interesting questions again!

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  16. What terrific photos! I love what you said about speaking with courage and conviction. That (question) has had me struggling since Sunday. Now that my computer issues seems to be fixed, I hope to get my post up before bedtime. Thanks again!

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  17. Thanks for another fun and interesting Hodgepodge, Joyce! I loved seeing all of your 2002 photos! Doing anything with toddlers is scary to me.... I have NO experience with toddlers!! LOL Happy Wednesday!! xo

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  18. These were such fun questions, with a great "blast to the past" - although it's wild that 2002 was so long ago! I would definitely count camping with toddlers as an adventure!

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  19. What a blast from the past with the Dirty Dancing reference and the Domino's picture. Loved seeing your memories from 2002!

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  20. I had fun reminiscing with these questions, and enjoyed your photos! The question “What are you afraid of?”, prompted an interesting discussion for our family dinner:)

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  21. Hi Joyce, I really liked doing this meme today and all the pictures! It really gave me a chance to reflect on the past. I even went back and read my blog from 2002. I read what I wrote on my birthday back them. But it was the post from the next day that made me smile because it was about my parents. Your grands are little so enjoy them before they hit their teens and they become independent Thanks for hosting this Joyce and visiting my site!

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  22. What fun photos from 2002... and the Dominos photo and pizza recap were spot on, too!

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  23. These were great questions, Joyce, and I enjoyed answering them on my blog. As for the middle child being a peacemaker? Yes, my middle child is that. I am sooo thankful for him!

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  24. Didn't "play" again this month but always enjoy thinking about what my answers would be and then reading others. It was funny how many people said they didn't prefer watermelon - we happened to have one the night before and it was DELICIOUS. I don't generally like watermelon-flavored things but a real one that is ripe and firm. . .what a treat :)

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  25. That last meme is so funny to think back on that we really lived like that for most of our years!

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  26. Enjoyed your answers. I remember wanting a Gordon Setter. They're so pretty.

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