A Not So Seedy 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, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. What most recently gave you goose bumps? 

I learned a new word while trying to answer this question-frisson. This term is a more accurate description of the 'goose bumps' we get related to something moving as opposed to something scary. It's defined as a sudden strong feeling of excitement or thrill; a shudder of emotion.

So not in the scary sense but in the 'frisson' sense I would say watching the Marines as they helped with my mama's service at Arlington National Cemetery. I wrote about it on Monday (That Peaceful Piece Of Property).  

Often patriotic moments give me 'goose bumps'...the anthem beautifully sung, a flag unfurled against a bright blue sky, a soldier coming home...

2. What does Halloween look like in your home and/or neighborhood these days? Do you participate? 

Mostly pretty low key. Some years we'll go to a party, some years we're home. We love seeing our grandchildren in their costumes, either in person or in photographs. We normally won't have trick or treaters here as the driveways are long, and there aren't a lot of young children in our neighborhood. Some years there's a trunk or treat in the Clubhouse parking lot but I don't think that's happening this year. There are lots of them around the area though, so plenty of places for kids to snag candy. 

I know there are strong feelings about the day, but for us it's always just been low key fun and a chance to dress up and hang out with friends. I don't decorate for Halloween, but do have fall decor on the front porch that incudes pumpkins, and a few things inside but nothing scary. That's never been my thing. 

This year our neighborhood is having a costume party so hubs and I will be going to that and I think it will be fun. I'll post a picture at some point. We like our costumes. We try to come up with something original and I think we've ticked that box this year. 

Our neighborhood kayak group does a dock or treat and some years we've been a host dock where they stop for a small nibble and beverage. It's a lot of fun, but we're not home the day they're doing that this year. 

3. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy, chia...your favorite seed on the list? What's something you like to make/eat that calls for one of these seeds in the recipe? 

I like all of these but probably eat more poppy and sesame than any of the others listed. I have a salad I love that calls for poppy seeds and I like poppy seed chicken too. I add sesame seeds to several Aisan dishes I make, and chia goes on my morning oatmeal.  I love an everything bagel which uses several of these seeds. 

4. What's the most (or one of the most) 'fall photos' you've ever taken? Share it here. Just one. 

Just one? But I have so many. Okay, here's maybe my most favorite of all my favorites-

This picture was snapped in my NJ backyard, my first backyard if you don't count the NJ backyard I grew up in. Technically I've had three NJ backyards, but this one is a snapshot of life in 1991. 

Little girls in their matching Land's End jumpsuits, our first pup Abbey getting in on the action, hubs still mustached, me with my God-given hair color and a full full heart, and the most beautiful red maple that burned a fiery red every autumn and made you grateful for the beauty of creation and the imagination of the One who made it. 

5. Somehow we're rolling in to November next week. If your October were a chapter in a book, what would the title of this chapter be? 

Grief and Grace In Autumn

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It's soup season and this one is easy and delicious...

You definitely taste the lemon. So good! You'll find the recipe here-Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup