tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69341226310541042752024-03-19T00:30:32.463-04:00From This Side of the PondObservations on mid-life by a mom livin' it. Reluctantly adventurous traveler. A little humor and the occasional deep thought. Host of a fun weekly meme-The Wednesday Hodgepodge. Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.comBlogger2485125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-28681951800677938952024-03-19T00:30:00.001-04:002024-03-19T00:30:00.160-04:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 543<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then spring back here to share answers with your peeps. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNGI3xwxjTg/WVmWedFfZaI/AAAAAAAAPAA/lsgY_VeWUnU4Y7mezjBvT7KgxwvT_GslgCLcBGAs/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>
1. Spring is officially upon us, no matter what the weather may be in your neck of the woods. Is there any 'spring cleaning' on your to-do list? What's your most dreaded task? <p></p><p>2. What's something many people seem to love, but to you feels like 'watching the grass grow'? </p><div>3. Mint grows in abundance during the spring season. Are you a fan? What's your favorite food with a 'minty' flavor? </div><p>4. It's been said, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.' Agree or disagree? Explain. </p><p>5. Are there any festive spring events in your city or town? If so, will you take advantage of them? </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-71228571256613009632024-03-13T04:30:00.111-04:002024-03-13T04:30:00.136-04:00Home Is Where The Hodgepodge Is <p>Welcome to another 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 your neighbor there. Here we go- </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div>1. Thursday is National Pi Day...are you good at math? What was the last thing you had to calculate? Did you use your head or technology? Last slice of pie you ate? <div><br /></div><div><i>I'm not bad at math, but I'm much better with words than numbers. The last thing I had to calculate was probably related to our tax organizer. I used my head for some of it and a calculator for the rest. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>As far as the last slice of pie I ate? I made an angel pie to take to my neighbors when we had dinner there recently. It was heavenly. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>2. What makes a house a home? </div><div><br /></div><div><i>The people I love are in it. </i></div><div><p>3. Your current favorite green thing? </p><p><i>I'm going with spring, in spite of the pollen that blows in with it! The leaves beginning to turn, the grass starting to green up, lots of leafy green bulbs popping up out of the brown earth, these are all things that lift my spirits. February tends to be gray and rainy in our neck of the woods so signs of spring are very welcome. </i></p><p>4. How do you define achievement? How does your personal definition look similar to, or different than, society's definition? What's something you think is worth achieving in life? </p><p><i>I guess I would define achievement as doing something successfully, and I think the world's definition is probably similar. Where we differ is in what that 'something' is, in defining the value of 'something'. </i></p><p><i>I think raising a family is a worthwhile achievement.</i> </p><p>5. What song is a good soundtrack for your life right now? </p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/ptkWYhX79N8?si=ydIbWXUOKjVv1PPE"><i>This one-Blessed by Martina McBride </i></a></p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p><i>My mother-in-law celebrated her birthday on Monday, so hubs and I drove over to TN on Saturday to spend the weekend with her. We had a fun dinner out on Saturday night, then drove her to daughter2's house on Sunday to meet her newest great-granddaughter. </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eGSDgZchvkl7L51EBVtVBVypl0K6twIOFpLPc8YYyFjOjxhEmIhjWP-R_VpDy6EIkryTc_tDy7BTLbh1HZ8_sWD33z_C0nqVbSNBJzanPZJHyD5Lb-n0RXTnZHKiJy2lEKQxGp1Wgen4OL_DpDsjgTn4QrhBoxmCN7JwvPhocBh1JHbAhndQgwInql0/s640/IMG_1259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eGSDgZchvkl7L51EBVtVBVypl0K6twIOFpLPc8YYyFjOjxhEmIhjWP-R_VpDy6EIkryTc_tDy7BTLbh1HZ8_sWD33z_C0nqVbSNBJzanPZJHyD5Lb-n0RXTnZHKiJy2lEKQxGp1Wgen4OL_DpDsjgTn4QrhBoxmCN7JwvPhocBh1JHbAhndQgwInql0/w640-h480/IMG_1259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>These generational pictures are so very special. </i></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4f2kUvfuEL_N9B9s6BLctZdZyzfU0leliAGtFwq6H-340dF1p_WsA9Xb7-kaTWCWU7gpN7RrhdK5DXmyGF49yKOxLCka3nmFjYtWSaMl3-a0umP_lJK11j7q9ir1YZhYUbTsX-t0NrzhB4RW7Clbsy9ADdFgVLPKPPkbwBCI3Fa2OTsAK31IcwiGRms/s640/IMG_3345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="416" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4f2kUvfuEL_N9B9s6BLctZdZyzfU0leliAGtFwq6H-340dF1p_WsA9Xb7-kaTWCWU7gpN7RrhdK5DXmyGF49yKOxLCka3nmFjYtWSaMl3-a0umP_lJK11j7q9ir1YZhYUbTsX-t0NrzhB4RW7Clbsy9ADdFgVLPKPPkbwBCI3Fa2OTsAK31IcwiGRms/w416-h640/IMG_3345.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>And this little punkin' grows more precious by the minute. </i><i>Happy Wednesday everyone! </i></p></div><!-- start LinkyTools script -->
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-70009298163119046242024-03-12T00:30:00.004-04:002024-03-12T00:30:00.141-04:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 542<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>1. Thursday is National Pi Day...are you good at math? What was the last thing you had to calculate? Did you use your head or technology? Last slice of pie you ate? <p></p><p>2. What makes a house a home? </p><p>3. Your current favorite green thing? </p><p>4. How do you define achievement? How does your personal definition look similar to, or different than, society's definition? What's something you think is worth achieving in life? </p><p>5. What song is a good soundtrack for your life right now? </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-33232172935090522942024-03-08T15:28:00.006-05:002024-03-08T15:34:05.247-05:00C'est La Vie<p>I wanted to blog this afternoon, but when I got home I accidentally on purpose turned on my Audible app so I could finish listening to my current read, <u>Demon Copperhead</u>, and holy cow! This book! Who has read it? Barbara Kingsolver's writing is superb. </p><p>Also, that whole first paragraph was written yesterday, but whatever. Trying again today. Friday. TGIF. </p><p>It's gray and rainy-ish here and we've had a busy morning, running errands, getting the dog a much needed and overdue trim, returning some clothes hubs ordered, making a drug store pick up, and then grabbing a few groceries I need for a dish I'm making tomorrow that I forgot to grab yesterday when I was in the very same grocery store. C'est la vie. </p><p>Or at least c'est la vie when you're moi. </p><p>Speaking of life, we've been livin' it, but not blogging about it. February is often that way. Actually 2024 so far has been that way, and when I look at our calendar I don't see things slowing down anytime soon. To bring us up to speed here I think I'm going to look at my phone pics and try to remember what we did last month. This month? Since last I truly blogged. </p><p>Daffodils bloomed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV1Q-wX6ursjvt37dW3ZbgA6W5JmKMHu6n_HdH2MGjafPZz5KnLbTU30_0bmmfagbUM1lJBxvL7jc3kEXBAjkW_a6t5e28N6bA9xkTwk2xquLftcGdQDYd5YepgOfOEQPgeE-lXVsAjYQ99JWQIemoXAaGNrDL1xATqtNu6kBuGcAEivadFAw_MtNpfo/s640/IMG_1213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV1Q-wX6ursjvt37dW3ZbgA6W5JmKMHu6n_HdH2MGjafPZz5KnLbTU30_0bmmfagbUM1lJBxvL7jc3kEXBAjkW_a6t5e28N6bA9xkTwk2xquLftcGdQDYd5YepgOfOEQPgeE-lXVsAjYQ99JWQIemoXAaGNrDL1xATqtNu6kBuGcAEivadFAw_MtNpfo/w480-h640/IMG_1213.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>They have a short sweet life so it seems worth mentioning. </p><p>Hubs and I had a fun night out in the nearby small big city a couple of weeks ago. We had a fantastic dinner at one of our favorite eateries then spent the evening with David Foster and Katherine McPhee in a cozy venue which was so much fun. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2TQfRlqVEXVRi0ZMAGp1xKKasW2vxSQlIiv9Hy7IzuLSqZqH3fX6ivSW73Laki0R7wgImNbo3Ef-OS-yd2wmum1zYeLDFVctl5R1FgGFgpS_cHSGgzUULJSMsIvS2UZGHZDqLUKkDcuGq3G1OozYyJpii-9we2fVUqchuheg_9RQ-QyC7eWOzQutxjg/s640/IMG_3232%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="598" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2TQfRlqVEXVRi0ZMAGp1xKKasW2vxSQlIiv9Hy7IzuLSqZqH3fX6ivSW73Laki0R7wgImNbo3Ef-OS-yd2wmum1zYeLDFVctl5R1FgGFgpS_cHSGgzUULJSMsIvS2UZGHZDqLUKkDcuGq3G1OozYyJpii-9we2fVUqchuheg_9RQ-QyC7eWOzQutxjg/w598-h640/IMG_3232%20(1).jpg" width="598" /></a></div><p>I don't know if you remember Katherine McPhee but she was a finalist on one of the earliest seasons of American Idol and she's adorable. She has an incredible voice and is now married to the producer David Foster who is her senior by several decades. So much talent between them. He's quite the charmer (she's his fifth wife) and he definitely knows it, but seeing him in a venue like this, where they combined music and conversation, you could see the charm. It was a really entertaining evening and we enjoyed it a lot. </p><p>We've been tackling a few small projects around the house, mostly getting people here to tell us how much it will cost to do this or that, and just gonna say it's all a lot. No such thing as a truly small projet it seems.</p><p>C'est la vie. </p><p>We need a dead tree removed which is one of my least favorite but most necessary things to spend money on. And as long as they're here taking out a dead tree we'll have them limb up some of the tall trees that need limbing up. That's what you do at the lake. Limb up to better see the water, while still having some nice tall trees for shade.</p><p>The boat guys (they likely have a title but are the 'boat guys' to me) finally came and got the boat today for a minor repair and oil change. Minor being a relative term of course, <i>ahem. </i>We have a little scratch that needs to be un-scratched and the time is right because summer is coming. Can you believe it??? </p><p>I guess technically spring is up next, but summer's racing in too. We've been on the boat guys books for the past three weeks but every time they get us scheduled the skies open up and we have to re-schedule. They made it out today, but just barely. </p><p>I've been wanting to add some wallpaper to one of the lower level bathrooms and when I pulled out the sample I ordered two years ago it didn't grab me like it did back then. </p><p><i>I know!! Two years!!</i> </p><p>In my defense a lot of life has happened here in the past two years (three babies for starters), so some of our more minor 'want-to-do' projects were moved down a notch or two on the ever growing, never-ending 'still -to-do' list. </p><p>C'est la vie. </p><p>On the bright side, maybe I would have tired of that pattern if I'd gone ahead with it? I've ordered a completely different sample and am happier with the look. Now to hire someone to do the actual hanging because that is not my gift. I've actually gotten a couple of recommendations so hopefully this project gets done before I change my mind again. </p><p>I've recently had several canvases made for the wall in my office that's been crying out for something to be hung there ever since we added the shiplap. Which was probably also a couple of years ago. </p><p>C'est la vie. <br /><br />Just waiting on delivery of the last two canvases, which should be next week. Then hubs will get out his tape measure and his level and will rattle my nerves with his need for precisely precise precision, but he will get them hung. Perfectly. </p><p>What else? We've played cards with the neighbors, celebrated a friend's birthday, listened to live music in the local pub, I've bought birthday presents and Easter treats, mailed packages, selected and signed a lot of cards (<i>a lot!!)</i>, cleaned out my pantry (the real deal... as in emptied it all out, wiped it all down, tossed the stale crackers, and started fresh). I made a big Costco run (<i>is there any other kind?</i>), had my yearly skin check at the dermatologist, face-timed, volunteered, mah jong-ed, bible studied, and I don't know what else. </p><p>Things. Stuff. Details. </p><p>We went and did and read and watched and talked and planned and helped and played and prayed and slept and ate and laughed and loved. </p><p>C'est la vie.</p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-22944935403718619232024-03-06T04:00:00.162-05:002024-03-06T04:00:00.297-05:00A Saucy Hodgepodge <p>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-</p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div>1. Has March come in like a lion where you live? If not a lion then what animal would you use to describe the weather in your area this first week of March? Does the weather affect your emotions? When did you last feel 'under the weather'? <div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Definitely not a lion. We've had a fair amount of rain, but also some really nice spring like weather so maybe more of a house cat than a lion. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Does the weather affect my emotions? Maybe a little, but I can get on board with a drizzly rainy day now and then every bit as much as a bright blue sky day. Too many gray sky days in a row can be a mood-dampener, but there's no such thing as too much sunshine. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Hubs and I were both under the weather in early December. We are rolling in to pollen season here now (ugh! does that count as weather, because if so then that is definitely a downer for me!) and I will suffer with the effects of that for the next couple of months. Not exactly 'under the weather' but pollen hits me hard and the meds make me sleepy. </i></div><div><p></p><p>2. Do you know what your name means? Does the meaning of your name fit with your personality? Do you like your name? If you have children did you consider the meaning of their names before choosing them? </p><p><i>My name more or less gives away its meaning and yes I think it fits with who I am. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other about it. I mean you grow up with a name and it's part of who you are and you just kind of accept it, right? I never wanted another name. </i></p><p><i>As far as our children's names, we picked names we liked. My younger daughter has family names and that was deliberate. I did look at the meaning of their names, but that wasn't the deciding factor in our choices. </i></p><p>3. It's National Sauce Month...what's your favorite sauce? Last thing you ate that used a sauce? </p><p><i>I'm not a big sauce person and don't like anything swimming in sauce. My favorite? How 'bout hot fudge lol? I guess the last thing I ate that had sauce would be spaghetti. </i></p><p>4. Something you've seen, tasted, done lately that you'd describe as 'awesome sauce'? </p><p><i>I made this salad recently and might describe it as 'awesome sauce'. </i> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteRVJPCZmHd678Uf7EMYYr0AhVcUbKY-mqEms4SPikrKo_G9BKkzimkdKBSb7_PL8j0zMb9ucWuSiJ5C4rMlIOKUPG6h3GG7WkTR0duRxi5LUPh8vtxVMeswkMNwHILLsqrNafpI1gZG1Nm_rTmwGXYdiI4TGIJodf9RQAleB0mQnpS-Lpgoi1joqMpM/s640/IMG_1223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteRVJPCZmHd678Uf7EMYYr0AhVcUbKY-mqEms4SPikrKo_G9BKkzimkdKBSb7_PL8j0zMb9ucWuSiJ5C4rMlIOKUPG6h3GG7WkTR0duRxi5LUPh8vtxVMeswkMNwHILLsqrNafpI1gZG1Nm_rTmwGXYdiI4TGIJodf9RQAleB0mQnpS-Lpgoi1joqMpM/w480-h640/IMG_1223.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><i>Honestly I wouldn't because that's not an expression I use, but it was super delish and felt really healthy too. It's a slaw like composition more so than what I think of as a salad and I got the recipe from a reel I watched on Insta. The chef said make as is before you turn your nose up at any of the ingredients and start switching things out thinking you won't like this or that. <br /><br />I'm not at all picky, but am a little cautious when using fennel because it can be too strong. In this salad it was yummy, and hubs liked it too so win-win. The recipe said the serano chilies were optional but I added them and loved the bit of heat they added. The recipe is linked here-<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sivanskitchen/reel/C2Slq9Nxrnw/">Sivan's Kitchen</a></i></p><p>5. What kinds of things do you love to collect? </p><p><i>recipes, dishes, words and phrases, memories... </i></p><p><i>My girls and I buy each other hedgehog 'stuff' now and then, but I wouldn't I say I collect it. I only love it because it's from them and that's a thing we do. </i></p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p><i>Only three years overdue, but finally framed a wedding picture from Daughter2's big day. I wanted the frame to coordinate with another frame I already have on the wall from Daughter1's big day, and finding that took some doing. When I started looking a couple of years ago everything was very bright gold and I needed a softer tone. I set the print aside thinking I'd get back to it 'someday' and turns out that someday is today. </i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD07B7IP9q2c0Mj_7_7_NhA8B_2HlfalEISauUBhcWylKV3SDk7AWrMxv6xvp_jLZgCNl2Y67-4lH9uya0zzJsuXJjugnN8ut1ONOODNuXuddNZi5r-njqzQtFIIpsDtvLuxP3ZtGdwyNA76-0MLRXPyAWpFyNA15dVou2y0MdYnbsfmH_tgdMl3SOX14/s640/IMG_1246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD07B7IP9q2c0Mj_7_7_NhA8B_2HlfalEISauUBhcWylKV3SDk7AWrMxv6xvp_jLZgCNl2Y67-4lH9uya0zzJsuXJjugnN8ut1ONOODNuXuddNZi5r-njqzQtFIIpsDtvLuxP3ZtGdwyNA76-0MLRXPyAWpFyNA15dVou2y0MdYnbsfmH_tgdMl3SOX14/w480-h640/IMG_1246.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i><p><i>If you wait long enough trends will change and I'm so happy with the end result. </i></p></i><p></p></div><!--start LinkyTools script-->
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<!--end LinkyTools script-->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-59770465834000056572024-03-05T00:30:00.001-05:002024-03-05T00:30:00.309-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 541<p>Here are the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>1. Has March come in like a lion where you live? If not a lion then what animal would you use to describe the weather in your area this first week of March? Does the weather affect your emotions? When did you last feel 'under the weather'? <p></p><p>2. Do you know what your name means? Does the meaning of your name fit with your personality? Do you like your name? If you have children did you consider the meaning of their names before choosing them? </p><p>3. It's National Sauce Month...what's your favorite sauce? Last thing you ate that used a sauce? </p><p>4. Something you've seen, tasted, done lately that you'd describe as 'awesome sauce'? </p><p>5. What kinds of things do you love to collect? </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-57104866755216877162024-02-28T03:30:00.219-05:002024-02-28T07:09:46.451-05:00A Hodgepodge Salad<p>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-</p><div><div><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>1. February is coming to a close. Give us a two-word phrase that tells us something about how yours went.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Baby love </i><br /><p></p><p>2. If you had to describe how you're feeling right now as an amusement park ride, what ride are you on? Explain. </p><p><i>I'm going with Thunder Mountain Railroad which is a roller coaster, but without the super big dips, drops, and rolls. It's described as a train racing down a track, bumpy in places, but the main thing is it's fast, which is how life seems to be moving here in 2024. </i></p><p>3. What's something on your desk or a nearby wall that cheers you up when you see it or walk past? </p><p><i>For Christmas every year our girls make us a calendar with pictures of the grands from the year that was. My frig cannot hold a magnet so I have the calendar on a 3M hook on the side of the frig. </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5YgZkbCBwGWyI8eXTJRRC5DVLQ5sQkUirigA2NZYslANQX-n4GCSMhsGr2b0WGV6GhrA3vnQr9l0GQwp_QiX5z5TW5KBaUhetW3yct8gt8_9TjrSZzpqPNhMlGh9R-7AYK1aAHTfstU2EF2U8ILxm_xlFdMHOna_0T-HE54FX6C8UBJj64WgxuPhlEo/s640/IMG_1240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5YgZkbCBwGWyI8eXTJRRC5DVLQ5sQkUirigA2NZYslANQX-n4GCSMhsGr2b0WGV6GhrA3vnQr9l0GQwp_QiX5z5TW5KBaUhetW3yct8gt8_9TjrSZzpqPNhMlGh9R-7AYK1aAHTfstU2EF2U8ILxm_xlFdMHOna_0T-HE54FX6C8UBJj64WgxuPhlEo/w534-h640/IMG_1240.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>I see it many times a day as I open and close the frig, or just work in the kitchen, and it n</i><i>ever fails to make me smile. I look forward to flipping the page to a new month this Friday. </i></p><p>4. Are you a salad eater? How many salads do you typically eat in a week? Your favorite kind of salad? </p><p><i>I love a salad, almost any combo of veggies (love a fruit salad too!), and I eat one pretty much every day, if not for lunch then with my dinner. I love a true Cesar but mostly eat some sort of 'garden salad' with whatever I have on hand. Oftentimes for lunch I make a salad and sprinkle a little cheese and maybe some ham or turkey to add protein, or I add a hard boiled egg. It makes a satisfying lunch, filling without a lot of calories. I do not like a lot of dressing on my salad and sometimes eat it without any dressing at all. </i></p><p>5. Without telling us the category give us your top five ______________. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>How Great Thou Art <br />This Is My Father's World</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Crown Him With Many Crowns</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Great Is Thy Faithfulness</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">6. Insert your own random thought here. </span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="text-align: left;">Today is my son-in-law's birthday so happy birthday to him! Next week my other son-in-law will celebrate his birthday, and what a gift these two men are </span></i><i><span style="text-align: left;">to our family. Throwing it back to when they joined the party here-</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb7WZ3l7cHmeVhYTXwKxWZ98_X1OqFHIhsTyR6CttEraRbbqg0ZQeTFfOzg2vr8JTStpO7Vyb5iDe6Jb15uNL82sYcqFt7-uXrPX0oNU2cfHKunhYO3HwYxDLElGDuzjpXtEpMzuathidi0BJd12LKpBUhgdEbmLZmExXuWVYLJX3H9eY8y2WIuZCsVk/s640/IMG_2848%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="502" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb7WZ3l7cHmeVhYTXwKxWZ98_X1OqFHIhsTyR6CttEraRbbqg0ZQeTFfOzg2vr8JTStpO7Vyb5iDe6Jb15uNL82sYcqFt7-uXrPX0oNU2cfHKunhYO3HwYxDLElGDuzjpXtEpMzuathidi0BJd12LKpBUhgdEbmLZmExXuWVYLJX3H9eY8y2WIuZCsVk/w502-h640/IMG_2848%20(1).jpg" width="502" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">January, 2021</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSEubixCxDOIf6vBQkqBOI2GuB4kkeTlWDpJEEA10PJ_AIegNPyBIkTZtP96eUNTD1M2Pb3HR8a0UBdZT9MpqnmXPwjzAyXi99O7YOpS1IITuTSgV-XkNJ5p1IGDtxvZ8YAWu9pszjys_t-iVK6_KnP-vhG_61ym2P3GQ6KedzXHEEGoyDdFkYdI4tBI/s1536/melton-cip-0270-3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSEubixCxDOIf6vBQkqBOI2GuB4kkeTlWDpJEEA10PJ_AIegNPyBIkTZtP96eUNTD1M2Pb3HR8a0UBdZT9MpqnmXPwjzAyXi99O7YOpS1IITuTSgV-XkNJ5p1IGDtxvZ8YAWu9pszjys_t-iVK6_KnP-vhG_61ym2P3GQ6KedzXHEEGoyDdFkYdI4tBI/w426-h640/melton-cip-0270-3.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">January, 2015</span><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="text-align: left;">They're wonderful</span><span style="text-align: left;"> fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, and friends. Hard-working, even-tempered, dependable, and lots of fun. We're so grateful to their parents for raising them to be the men they are, and we absolutely love the way they've grown our family and care for our girls. </span></i></div><!--start LinkyTools script-->
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<!--end LinkyTools script-->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-43778109786080642852024-02-27T00:30:00.009-05:002024-02-27T07:53:23.614-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 540<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>
1. February is coming to a close. Give us a two-word phrase that tells us something about how yours went.<p></p><p>2. If you had to describe how you're feeling right now as an amusement park ride, what ride are you on? Explain. </p><p>3. What's something on your desk or a nearby wall that cheers you up when you see it or walk past? </p><p>4. Are you a salad eater? How many salads do you typically eat in a week? Your favorite kind of salad? </p><p>5. Without telling us the category give us your top five ______________. </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-80728877175960092572024-02-21T03:00:00.087-05:002024-02-21T03:00:00.131-05:00The View From My Hodgepodge <p>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 your neighbor there because comments make the blog world go round. Here we go-</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div>1. What kind of thinker are you-doer concrete thinking) analyst (analytical and abstract thinking), orator (logical thinking) inventor (imaginative thinking) or original thinker (creative)? What makes you say so? You can try this little quiz <a href="https://psychologia.co/types-of-thinking/">(link here)</a> to help with your answer. <div><br /></div><div><i>Naturally I took the quiz and found it a bit confusing as the total percentages added up to more than 100%. Whatever...it did indicate numbers are not my thing so it's right on at least one count. I'm mostly an orator which is not a surprise to anyone, is it? I think mostly in terms of words and logic and both writers and teachers generally fall into this category. </i><br /><p>2. Do you own a crock pot, air fryer, and/or instapot? Do you leave said small appliance sitting out? How often do you use it/them? Favorite thing to make in one of these? </p><p><i>I still have my trusty crock pot and use it more this time of year (winter) than in other seasons. My favorite thing to make in my crock pot is the Mississippi roast, but I also make stroganoff, jambalaya, and a Mediterranean chicken that are all tasty. <br /><br />I keep my crock pot in the pantry and part of the reason I don't go all in on an air fryer or instapot is because I don't like the idea of them sitting out on the countertop. I'm retired </i><i>so rarely need to cook anything fast. </i></p><p>3. What's something you hold a strong opinion on that matters not at all in the grand scheme of things? </p><p><i>How to load a dishwasher lol. </i></p><p>4. Describe the view from your window. </p><p><i>I normally blog from my office but happen to be sitting at my kitchen island currently. The view is not too shabby...</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBi9f6nEL_EQ7TBvimtyyHXRjW0aftIbOlyg_mJpVL_8ZOGXFUJRVJ1Ui-1UXsLaaE22qdgABy9OXXhk3sNXHluF7MRLVig3VGRlfpJvBhc433wmUwGlQkBwMK1X-lOrw7Zp4cRpasMaYXTK1SzVmGSjpeBdb5bCgOrhyphenhyphenydwI9n1V7CobVze5vmzQuHs/s640/IMG_1225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="524" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBi9f6nEL_EQ7TBvimtyyHXRjW0aftIbOlyg_mJpVL_8ZOGXFUJRVJ1Ui-1UXsLaaE22qdgABy9OXXhk3sNXHluF7MRLVig3VGRlfpJvBhc433wmUwGlQkBwMK1X-lOrw7Zp4cRpasMaYXTK1SzVmGSjpeBdb5bCgOrhyphenhyphenydwI9n1V7CobVze5vmzQuHs/w524-h640/IMG_1225.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><p><i>...blue sky, blue water, tall trees</i></p><p>5. Do you have a favorite brand? Explain.</p><p><i>I'm sure I have many favorite brands. I also have become much more attuned to what some of the companies whose products I love are supporting with their profits. We can't do a deep dive into every single thing we purchase, but if advertising that goes against my own principles is in my face I'll find an alternative product. </i></p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p><i>February got the memo and her sunrises have been so pretty in pink ...</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs3bokGxb9UK4_cawzRDGp6ERBJwXnwM3fporJCyuqbIAC88Et7IzAMIcZqfMgH0LGnMBWPNojiGcleQ51-0A3o4m1xh33UBDHyoy69tPgYMVSgORRylH9ziJH1DW7M2vMj1_3Jou1al7bvWVVebSM3K1lheJuk85B52824cBky69Ygfpam74IF9-JbY/s640/IMG_1216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs3bokGxb9UK4_cawzRDGp6ERBJwXnwM3fporJCyuqbIAC88Et7IzAMIcZqfMgH0LGnMBWPNojiGcleQ51-0A3o4m1xh33UBDHyoy69tPgYMVSgORRylH9ziJH1DW7M2vMj1_3Jou1al7bvWVVebSM3K1lheJuk85B52824cBky69Ygfpam74IF9-JbY/w480-h640/IMG_1216.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Monday morning</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFUG5DK7qPTA2MK4rhrH9IKOFA-ZwgLezmE3dqR9iXYvPIukrZCdhrqe2udhwX3S_qZLxhDOKIyEAiKt-1F57gDneXTDkLEJBU24ZLbWnw1cuKCipeHnNz2dXatdxLpMIjYPnAmtR6V19tgk1Tvnt_4zG4pJct3KuNTD45D4paz18Q6Kk4f9IRgUwJGw/s640/IMG_1218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFUG5DK7qPTA2MK4rhrH9IKOFA-ZwgLezmE3dqR9iXYvPIukrZCdhrqe2udhwX3S_qZLxhDOKIyEAiKt-1F57gDneXTDkLEJBU24ZLbWnw1cuKCipeHnNz2dXatdxLpMIjYPnAmtR6V19tgk1Tvnt_4zG4pJct3KuNTD45D4paz18Q6Kk4f9IRgUwJGw/w480-h640/IMG_1218.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tuesday morning</span></i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Happy Wednesday everyone! </i></div><!-- start LinkyTools script -->
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-90658420213344480202024-02-20T00:30:00.028-05:002024-02-20T00:30:00.158-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 539<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here to add your link to the party. See you there!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div>1. What kind of thinker are you-doer concrete thinking) analyst (analytical and abstract thinking), orator (logical thinking) inventor (imaginative thinking) or original thinker (creative)? What makes you say so? You can try this little quiz <a href="https://psychologia.co/types-of-thinking/">(link here)</a> to help with your answer. <p>2. Do you own a crock pot, air fryer, and/or instapot? Do you leave said small appliance sitting out? How often do you use it/them? Favorite thing to make in one of these? </p><p>3. What's something you hold a strong opinion on that matters not at all in the grand scheme of things? </p><p>4. Describe the view from your window. </p><p>5. Do you have a favorite brand? Explain.</p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-65474049090395411592024-02-18T16:53:00.006-05:002024-02-18T16:57:00.454-05:00No Such Thing As Too Much Sugar<p>So it's been a minute. Where were we? Oh yeah, we were waiting on a baby and she's here! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOXVGJyuzQbRj8vDDRn2dVgFxt9eWb1I45icWlROk4TOdmExiov2A7UistddGftc6GdjcVvBVKnXx9jDegXIGNBYfF_sHJVCuMzrpyEOEC1Z42PB-OzotAd5W8FHSjD72OSFJqsw4JVAEfN-swUg4M1XvvyBrN5XaTubxXulr7CD-2cWrMa86vcbJP1Y/s640/IMG_1130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOXVGJyuzQbRj8vDDRn2dVgFxt9eWb1I45icWlROk4TOdmExiov2A7UistddGftc6GdjcVvBVKnXx9jDegXIGNBYfF_sHJVCuMzrpyEOEC1Z42PB-OzotAd5W8FHSjD72OSFJqsw4JVAEfN-swUg4M1XvvyBrN5XaTubxXulr7CD-2cWrMa86vcbJP1Y/w480-h640/IMG_1130.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>Our fifth grandchild was born a little over a week ago, a precious little girl who already has us completely wrapped around her teeny tiny perfectly formed fingers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Twf77_ICQJzqauR_BCa0aPjCH6suoV-UsK7CALSyYN-4M1ozhEayaMebO48QsHHBvIb8iKwsukncp7qRuMzjYbm7MFKLY4HjJWQpS50K7O_NpkuyuZhhnHy7knXpYJLO913qBvTvx-jbAkLvTVa-CFmSgV3wrGBBQgemWlLGUfhXm5VP8oVn4ua6OX0/s640/IMG_1128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Twf77_ICQJzqauR_BCa0aPjCH6suoV-UsK7CALSyYN-4M1ozhEayaMebO48QsHHBvIb8iKwsukncp7qRuMzjYbm7MFKLY4HjJWQpS50K7O_NpkuyuZhhnHy7knXpYJLO913qBvTvx-jbAkLvTVa-CFmSgV3wrGBBQgemWlLGUfhXm5VP8oVn4ua6OX0/w480-h640/IMG_1128.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>You might think number five would be no big deal, but I'm here to tell you every single birth is a very big deal, every birth an actual miracle. It's amazing to look at the 11-week ultrasound snapshot hanging on my daughter's frig and recognize the beautiful baby I'm holding in my arms is that <i>same </i>girl. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2701pHf0O7zSMKGxQ0eznOJjKqh059v7qzrvRzth3o1ToD6oyXpu8iVGzShbJeJD_ixa_MzoT0_bXKSZRcNZFn2xlGBUTK91bxHjddwmpL1p1bqc0skuyGbOTrhEVtC93ZKzGZo-2l6xP_trAgoH_R2Ohd9zv23nzgm0FzPlr0PGMaJ_q1TajGLF4nfc/s640/IMG_1402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2701pHf0O7zSMKGxQ0eznOJjKqh059v7qzrvRzth3o1ToD6oyXpu8iVGzShbJeJD_ixa_MzoT0_bXKSZRcNZFn2xlGBUTK91bxHjddwmpL1p1bqc0skuyGbOTrhEVtC93ZKzGZo-2l6xP_trAgoH_R2Ohd9zv23nzgm0FzPlr0PGMaJ_q1TajGLF4nfc/w480-h640/IMG_1402.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>I drove over to my daughter's house early (in fact, almost <i>three </i>weeks early) because the doctor was convinced this little girl was in a hurry. Turns out she really wasn't, but I don't mind. It was nice having some time with my own baby girl and it calmed nerves knowing I was in the house should she have to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. </p><p></p><p>She did not, <i>but! </i>she <i>was </i>able to get her haircut, see the dentist, and have a pedicure without her toddler in tow. These are all things that going forward will require a lot more planning and likely be far less relaxing, at least for a while. </p><p>To everything there is a season. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo-sK5xl1QeDjs4cW6jfccEtWVqaesoVP-o-sUhIetY6Af1XfjBM1DKukbp9ZHG4Jq1EiKJ-HF_vTFzpjT9kJy16L394S1vcjFh5GTnT8yg4qGrPze3WS0ucrHJp2Mg_E8OzCKBrFAof8NS4jb2wvzP8e18COckpR2OjHYkIM6DVp6g3EoYzrWpFbk0g/s640/IMG_1466.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo-sK5xl1QeDjs4cW6jfccEtWVqaesoVP-o-sUhIetY6Af1XfjBM1DKukbp9ZHG4Jq1EiKJ-HF_vTFzpjT9kJy16L394S1vcjFh5GTnT8yg4qGrPze3WS0ucrHJp2Mg_E8OzCKBrFAof8NS4jb2wvzP8e18COckpR2OjHYkIM6DVp6g3EoYzrWpFbk0g/w480-h640/IMG_1466.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>My granddaughter's momma (aka Daughter2) was not big on sleep when <i>she</i> was a baby and hubs and I spent many a dinner hour with her wailing (and possibly me too on occasion). But you know what? We laugh about that now. It was just a part of who she was and who she is...a girl who knows her mind, who lives large, and who loves her momma. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-3oWeq1IYzyElbPnUfU92hbxswwO9XnUI0idB3lh6Kn8v4ANv7xBkfTW5kjtifN2sEeIVl1GIwshGZA-32B3h7mZuJOanQGyS-eQVy_3I08lK_gHdJ0Uwb7XdViewi6Jwwk0DBqLUBaK1j_Ojwsj_1PpS_RtmUA0-WzHJ77AsN2SrdjLikTzNUCPnxE/s640/IMG_1112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-3oWeq1IYzyElbPnUfU92hbxswwO9XnUI0idB3lh6Kn8v4ANv7xBkfTW5kjtifN2sEeIVl1GIwshGZA-32B3h7mZuJOanQGyS-eQVy_3I08lK_gHdJ0Uwb7XdViewi6Jwwk0DBqLUBaK1j_Ojwsj_1PpS_RtmUA0-WzHJ77AsN2SrdjLikTzNUCPnxE/w480-h640/IMG_1112.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I look at my girl now, married woman and mom of two, and I remember her sweetness. I remember her spunk and her joie de vivre, but the night after night of interrupted sleep? The days where it seemed like bedtime would never get there??? Well those moments not so much. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8jMs78ORC5ycbaaPTcpXOAaSmv1cK_YYsFstiPmV3w_No5GhK5B0CvoeuncADmg_8uywJlHrgeexArDkrKZ49DDCpymrgBDaEllPNOE3mUkemmjLrJt3mEVQf4Qmmd7zmDOU3nP6YzF_L66GyaXLQW5LxX1YHHKsT-Y9Gf5gPVffqzNRjDJjsk24b8s/s640/IMG_1200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8jMs78ORC5ycbaaPTcpXOAaSmv1cK_YYsFstiPmV3w_No5GhK5B0CvoeuncADmg_8uywJlHrgeexArDkrKZ49DDCpymrgBDaEllPNOE3mUkemmjLrJt3mEVQf4Qmmd7zmDOU3nP6YzF_L66GyaXLQW5LxX1YHHKsT-Y9Gf5gPVffqzNRjDJjsk24b8s/w638-h640/IMG_1200.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><p></p><p>Which I know is not a great comfort when you're in the thick of it, but true nonetheless. Being with my daughter and her newborn baby girl and her 20-month old little man whose world has been rocked a little, it comes back to me how absolutely exhausting those early years of parenting are.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIP8dgbA_DHjAEiv4vvQL93oPZK_vZkJcPI822U4kMhiz1TtWreo4qB8i1Y3lYiIhsFrL5YBzE9I0kpfYxgJFSAYN6jwBuXvAqQB57x5cEEXMavY-sFWbDNnC6aWYLT_PSsrmub2shKAPra36x8WL2F9YbvMSYssYoQKKNsP9jyFvFdp9sZFnJVyllM8/s640/IMG_3115%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIP8dgbA_DHjAEiv4vvQL93oPZK_vZkJcPI822U4kMhiz1TtWreo4qB8i1Y3lYiIhsFrL5YBzE9I0kpfYxgJFSAYN6jwBuXvAqQB57x5cEEXMavY-sFWbDNnC6aWYLT_PSsrmub2shKAPra36x8WL2F9YbvMSYssYoQKKNsP9jyFvFdp9sZFnJVyllM8/w480-h640/IMG_3115%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And how absolutely wonderful too.</p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-12725492840709373922024-02-14T05:00:00.191-05:002024-02-14T05:00:00.308-05:00Be My Hodgepodge Valentine<p>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. Everyone LOVES comments. Here we go-</p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div>1. What does love mean to you? <div><br /></div><div><i>Wow, jumping in to the deep end right off the bat. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>For me love is an action word. It's not just talking the talk which is mostly easy, but it's also walking the walk which is sometimes easy and sometimes not. If you love someone you need to be all in. Love is a commitment and it really is all the things we pledged at the altar... for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>It's an easy thing to say 'I love you' but those words have to be given life, otherwise they're just words. </i><i>Real love demonstrates on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, patience, kindness, and humility. It's slow to anger and requires putting the needs and welfare of another before your own. </i> </div><div><br /></div><div>2. Is love blind? </div><div><div><br /><i>Maybe initially, but love that lasts a lifetime is not blind. </i><i>I read a quote attributed to a Rabbi Julius Gordon that said, " Love is not blind. It sees more and not less, but because it sees more, it is willing to see less." </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I like that. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>3. How do you remember Valentine's Day as a kid? Do you have any special plans for the day this year?</div><div><br /></div><div><i>I loved Valentine's Day as a child. We always had a party at school and everyone made and decorated their own 'mailbox' usually out of a shoebox. It was fun to choose Valentine's and then decide which friend would get which Valentine. Always one for the teacher too. It was simple and generally they were just small cards in tiny envelopes, and our parents were not involved in their creation lol. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Hubs and I typically make a special dinner at home, which we plan and cook together. This year he and I will be in two different places, but we do have a fun evening planned next week and will call that our 'Valentine's Day'. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>4 Are you a fan of the movie genre known as 'rom-com'? What's your favorite (or one of your favorites)? </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Am I a fan? I guess so. It would be hard to choose just one favorite rom-com but Sweet Home Alabama, 27 Dresses, and When Harry Met Sally are three I can watch again and again. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>5 What's something you recently put your heart into? </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I'm drawing a blank. I mean I don't do things halfway so if I'm working on a project, cooking a special meal, hosting guests, selecting a gift, etc I'm going to put my heart into it. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>6. Insert your own random thought here. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Spending the day with my newest little Valentine...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkdR0hCFy8McQhGMfOtIcsBmKf6eLi2h6SjLV2AKT6GvGSHpOgHtPj0p5pd5OhSlCIxIvIYTTiMZvhUhEk97j-RWOEJOoZHzytDlfjKYIo0Z003XSpoNVZShXg8u2F5P1yD-97HUGa68cpfJO6DxpEjUf1BELc1Cip_thoIprYzPXfc90aiMBOxMQU4E/s640/IMG_1152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkdR0hCFy8McQhGMfOtIcsBmKf6eLi2h6SjLV2AKT6GvGSHpOgHtPj0p5pd5OhSlCIxIvIYTTiMZvhUhEk97j-RWOEJOoZHzytDlfjKYIo0Z003XSpoNVZShXg8u2F5P1yD-97HUGa68cpfJO6DxpEjUf1BELc1Cip_thoIprYzPXfc90aiMBOxMQU4E/w480-h640/IMG_1152.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i><div><i><br /></i></div>Wishing you a day filled with sweetness too! </i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Powered by Linky Tools</b></div><p><a href="https://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=313416&type=basic">Click here</a> to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...</p>
<!--end LinkyTools script-->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-83573859234773570662024-02-12T00:30:00.031-05:002024-02-12T19:24:46.405-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 538<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the Valentine's Day party. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>
1. What does love mean to you? <p></p><div>2. Is love blind? </div><div><br /></div><div>3. How do you remember Valentine's Day as a kid? Do you have any special plans for the day this year? </div><div><br /></div><div>4 Are you a fan of the movie genre known as 'rom-com'? What's your favorite (or one of your favorites)?</div><div><br /></div><div>5. What's something you recently put your heart into? </div><div><br /></div><div>6. Insert your own random thought here. </div><div><br /></div>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-40791764195874550782024-02-07T04:30:00.157-05:002024-02-07T04:30:00.243-05:00Waiting On The Hodgepodge <p>Welcome to this week's edition of TheWednesday 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. Or <i>all</i> the bloggers before you if you've got the time. Here we go-</p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div>1. Something you've waited for recently? <div><br /></div><div><i>Our new granddaughter to arrive. She's not in a hurry. </i><br /><p></p><p>2. What's something you loved to do as a child? </p><p><i>Ride my bike without holding on, run through the sprinkler on a hot summer day, jump rope, read...it's a long list...</i></p><p>3. Something you learned from a grandparent? <br /><i><br />From my maternal grandmother: the importance and power of prayer in daily living, how to make iced tea by the glass, and to know there is great beauty found in a gentle quiet spirit. </i></p><p>4. The most visited cities in the world last year <a href="https://www.traveloffpath.com/these-are-the-10-most-visited-cities-in-the-world-right-now/">(according to this site)</a> were-<i>Bangkok, Paris, London, Dubai, and Singapore.</i> Have you been to any of the cities mentioned? Which would you most like to see? How do you feel about international travel in general these days? </p><p><i>Of the cities listed I've been to Paris, London, and Dubai. I don't feel the need to make another trip to Dubai, but would happily revisit London and Paris. Singapore would be a place I'd like to see, but not sure I'll have the opportunity. So much world, so little time. </i></p><p><i>How do I feel about international travel these days? Well, travel in general in recent years has its challenges and the actual getting from one place to another (by air) requires an extra measure of patience. Still it's worth seeing the world I think. </i></p><p>5. February is the perfect month to ______________________.</p><p><i>Cozy up beside the fire with a stack of books. </i></p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p><i>Been singing this one all week long lol...</i></p></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M-C-IbkuNWs?si=OaBLFQKBpXh5aN1V" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><!--start LinkyTools script-->
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<!--end LinkyTools script-->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-24549328827378223752024-02-06T00:30:00.020-05:002024-02-06T00:30:00.239-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 537<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here and add your link to the party. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>1. Something you've waited for recently? <p></p><p>2. What's something you loved to do as a child? </p><p>3. Something you learned from a grandparent? </p><p>4. The most visited cities in the world last year <a href="https://www.traveloffpath.com/these-are-the-10-most-visited-cities-in-the-world-right-now/">(according to this site)</a> were-<i>Bangkok, Paris, London, Dubai, and Singapore.</i> Have you been to any of the cities mentioned? Which would you most like to see? How do you feel about international travel in general these days? </p><p>5. February is the perfect month to ______________________.</p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-76024086626307259492024-01-31T04:00:00.157-05:002024-01-31T04:00:00.249-05:00Puzzling Over The Hodgepodge<p>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-</p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div>1. January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Do you enjoy puzzles? What kind (crossword, jigsaw, sudoku, etc)? How often do you work a puzzle? <div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I love puzzles, word puzzles more than jigsaw but I like those too. I work a puzzle of some sort every day. My favorites are crosswords and logic puzzles. </i><br /><p></p><p>2. Something you currently find puzzling? </p><p><i>Honestly I look around and the list is long</i><i>. Just one thing? </i></p><p><i>How in our country today the desire for a secure border somehow means you lack compassion. </i></p><p>3. What's your go-to dish to take to someone who needs a meal (new baby, bereavement, etc)? </p><p><i>It kind of depends on the occasion and the family size. I made four meals for my daughter's freezer so she'll have something easy when the baby arrives. I made chicken and rice soup, beef stew, baked ziti, and chicken spaghetti. Chicken spaghetti is one of my go to meals for someone in need. </i></p><p>4. Do you watch any HGTV and/or The Food Network? If so, what's your favorite program there? </p><p><i>I watch now and then. I enjoy watching people cook, but I don't watch any of the Junior versions of cooking programs (featuring kids). My favorite 'food' show is The Great British Baking Show which is on Netflix. I love Home Town on HGTV mostly because I admire their mission and think Ben and Erin are super adorable. </i></p><p>5. Wrap up your January in five words, with a five word phrase, or with a five word sentence. </p><p><i>Wait, what? It's over? Whoa! </i></p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p><i>Not a lot of random to share today. Or maybe too much? Happy Wednesday everyone! </i></p></div><!--start LinkyTools script-->
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<!--end LinkyTools script-->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-59204673581688488622024-01-30T00:30:00.039-05:002024-01-30T00:30:00.354-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 536<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then ski back here to share answers with the universe. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>
1. January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Do you enjoy puzzles? What kind (crossword, jigsaw, sudoku, etc)? How often do you work a puzzle? <p></p><p>2. Something you currently find 'puzzling'? </p><p>3. What's your go-to dish to take to someone who needs a meal (new baby, bereavement, etc)? </p><p>4. Do you watch any HGTV and/or The Food Network? If so, what's your favorite program there? </p><p>5. Wrap up your January in five words, with a five word phrase, or with a five word sentence. </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-34004047112543951992024-01-28T20:54:00.034-05:002024-01-28T21:06:37.606-05:00A Ragtag Post <p>We finally had a quiet at home weekend doing a whole lot of very little which was long overdue. Also not much to blog about, but of course I'm blogging anyway. C'est la vie. </p><p>Hubs had been duck hunting all week and didn't get home until very late Friday night. His trip meant I had four whole entire days in the house by myself which, if you're livin' the retired life, you know is rare. And also appreciated now and then.</p><p>Hi hubs! I'm glad you're home. </p><p>It's okay, he gets me lol. Celebrating 40 years of married life this June so yeah, he gets me. </p><p>Back to last week...I'd naturally made a lot of overly ambitious plans (in my head) with hopes of completing some small organizational projects, and got exactly none completed. Oh I<i> did</i> plenty, I just couldn't quite get to my mental list which is still there, still rolling around my brain. <br /><br />Here are my excuses...</p><p>I said I had the house to myself but that's only partly true. The little brown dog was here keeping me company, pining for his favorite mister, racing to the window every time someone pulled down the driveway thinking maybe it was him, needing to go outside in the ridiculous pouring rain which meant <i>I</i> had to go outside in the ridiculous pouring rain, and then I had to get out the towels and the brush and the dryer and do all the things hubs normally does when it rains and the dog needs tending</p><p>Hi hubs! I'm glad you're home. </p><p>What else....hmmm...here's something...I talked on the phone. A lot. Not a bad thing as a friend I hadn't spoken to in about a year and a half called and two hours later we were almost all caught up. Then one daughter called, then my mom called, then another daughter called and before I knew what was happening the clock said noon and I was still in my jammies. </p><p>Which is fine, but it's not me, and it throws off my mojo aka my enthusiasm to begin a project. Let's watch HGTV instead, k? </p><p>I still had my usual weekly to-dos like groceries and laundry and bible study on Wednesday and volunteering on Thursday and I got my nails done because priorities people. And I did manage to get beds changed from the last set of houseguests and some lingering bits of Christmas put away with the exception of two nutcrackers whose boxes have to be hunted down. </p><p>Yes. Christmas. I told you, it's been a whirlwind. </p><p>In other news I didn't kill any plants while he was away. Hubs babies the plants here in his efforts to keep outdoor plants alive indoors throughout the winter and I did not let him down. </p><p>I put down a book I was reading and picked up another. Life is too short to read books that are just eh. <u>Normal Rules Don't Apply</u> by Kate Atkinson. I enjoy her writing but I was not getting this one at all. It's a series of stories which I thought were going to be related somehow but I was four stories in and it just wasn't happening. Moving on to <u>Demon Copperhead </u> by Barbara Kingsolver, which is our March book club selection. </p><p>Hubs and I are also listening to an audible of <u>The Wager : A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder </u>by David Grann (author of <u>Killers of The Flower Moon</u>). We started this one on the windy curvy drive to Tennessee a couple of weeks ago and had to turn it off because the description of the rough and rolling sea and the conditions the sailors lived in was making me car sick. It doesn't take much. <br /></p><p>Back to my excuses...I cooked. A lot. I didn't <i>eat </i>what I cooked but I did freeze three meals to take to my daughter. Her friends are wonderful and I know will bring food in the early days, but these meals are for that day down the road when the baby is fussy and the toddler needs his momma, and she cannot face making dinner. </p><p>I guess I did more than I thought. </p><p>Hubs spent the weekend getting his hunting gear cleaned and put away and then I washed all the hunting clothes and got my own stuff organized so I'm ready to go to my daughter's when it's time. We had a rainy Saturday so we finished watching the second season of Reacher. We liked it, a bit corny and totally unbelievable in spots, but still we liked it. I'd booked us a date night dinner for Saturday at a restaurant we'd never been to and it was a lovely night out.</p><p>Question-when you're retired empty nesters do you still need date nights? </p><p>Yes. Yes you do. We go out all the time, but often it's with other couples or groups of people or to events of one kind or another, and date night is dedicated let's talk about <i>us</i> time. </p><p>We watched all the football today and I guess Taylor Swift is going to the Superbowl lol. What a year she's had, of course she'll be at the Superbowl. Personally I think everyone should calm down about Taylor and direct their outrage toward things going on in our own country and the world at large that are genuinely worthy of outrage. </p><p>I didn't take any pictures all weekend but here's a snapshot of hubs plants, blooming and growing and bringing joy on the grayest of days. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB7LugQKR8JCJ0vgrBMFZjL7tXmUhO3LP4I5Fn_sAsoRPmhVlPpby17hlgsP3mra5VCLYNEgewZwbGYFO00g4kM527XUCw5deh4RkWPilN1o1f9iaMXNJ6QGjB4H6A1_bv8p1cLXyTqAewTqAaxGOWz2_WETByYTh0WBuHOkusPI4RjqF1o1COpJZkew/s640/IMG_2944.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB7LugQKR8JCJ0vgrBMFZjL7tXmUhO3LP4I5Fn_sAsoRPmhVlPpby17hlgsP3mra5VCLYNEgewZwbGYFO00g4kM527XUCw5deh4RkWPilN1o1f9iaMXNJ6QGjB4H6A1_bv8p1cLXyTqAewTqAaxGOWz2_WETByYTh0WBuHOkusPI4RjqF1o1COpJZkew/w480-h640/IMG_2944.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p>May we all do the same. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-1090655302761109592024-01-24T03:30:00.181-05:002024-01-24T03:30:00.165-05:00Hodgepdge Ala Mode <p>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-</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></div><p></p><p>1. Do you have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you'd like to share, please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don't have a word are you still on the hunt for one for 2024? </p><p><i>I do not. Not yet anyway. I have a couple rolling around my brain and may land on one still. It's never too late. I prefer the word come to me as opposed to me choosing one at random. When I've had a WOTY that's how it was settled on. I don't put any pressure on myself to have a word, but when I do I enjoy the focus it gives me and especially the way I can look back at year's end and see all the ways the word was woven into my life. </i></p><p></p><p>2. January 23rd is National Pie Day...will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What's your favorite? </p><p><i>I love pie, but have no plans to eat a slice today. It's almost impossible to choose a favorite so how about (in no particular order) my top five-ish? -Angel pie (<a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/search?q=angel+pie">see the description in a post here</a>), cherry pie, key lime, blueberry, and coconut cream. </i></p><p>3. Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where? Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a 'suggested amount'? Have you ever left an extravagant tip? </p><p><i>In terms of dining I always tip. I was in a deli recently and ordered one sandwich to go. When I paid I was offered the option to tip 25%-30%-35%. Really? Not sure how I feel about that. It seems this has become a thing though, with so many places you never used to tip now suggesting you should.</i></p><p><i>I rarely get coffee to go but if I do I'll leave something in the tip jar. We tip for bar beverages and I always give my hair stylist a very generous tip because she definitely earns it. If we have truly excellent service in a restaurant we will leave an over the top tip, but even with just so-so service we always tip at least the minimum. In the US in 2024 that's at least 20% of the tab. </i></p><p><i>I love leaving a big tip for a server who does a good job and is not expecting more than the minimum. </i></p><p><i>Hubs and I used to go to a diner in NJ where there was a particular server who obviously did not enjoy his job. He waited on us quite often and one day dropped an entire very full tray of food and drinks all over the floor beside our table. We decided we were going to give him a 100% tip and see if maybe that would help him enjoy his job more, but nope. Still surly lol. </i></p><p>4. Share with us one 'household tip' that works for you. </p><p><i>Not sure if this is considered a household tip but it's something I've found useful recently. If you're like me you have far too many photos on your phone, and the idea of deleting such a large number is daunting. My daughter suggested this and it makes the task manageable. </i></p><p><i>Every morning enter the current month and day in your photo search bar. All the photos you've saved on your phone, taken on that day/month (all years) will come up. Go through those, then repeat the action daily. This way you deal with just a few at a time rather than your entire photo library. </i></p><p>5. Influencers on social media are people who've built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new because of that 'influence'? If there's one you particularly enjoy tell us who and why. </p><p><i>I follow a few. Some live lives very different than mine and that's kind of fun to see. Some have a style I admire. Some are funny. Many cook, bake or create in some way. Some share news/politics. Some share books and book news. A few favorites are @cristincooper (I've purchased from her shop and a few things she's recommended too), @lifebyleanna, @halfbakedharvest, @cleerelystated.</i> </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p><i>One of my favorite follows is an account called The Leighton Show. He reads actual texts teens have sent to their parents and they are the absolute best. He's on youtube I think too, but I follow him on Insta (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_leighton_show/?hl=en">click here) </a> Happy Wednesday everyone! </i></p><!-- start LinkyTools script -->
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-26911067464578127352024-01-23T00:30:00.073-05:002024-01-23T00:30:00.140-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 535<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then skate back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>1. Do you have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you'd like to share, please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don't have a word are you still on the hunt for one for 2024? <p></p><p>2. January 23rd is National Pie Day...will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What's your favorite? </p><p>3. Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where? Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a 'suggested amount'? Have you ever left an extravagant tip? </p><p>4. Share with us one household 'tip' that works for you. </p><p>5. Influencers on social media are people who've built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new because of that 'influence'? If there's one you particularly enjoy tell us who they are and why you enjoy them. </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-6170730728066231912024-01-22T20:14:00.001-05:002024-01-22T20:14:32.913-05:00Showered With Love<p>We have had the craziest start to the new year. End to last year? I cannot believe it's almost February and I still feel like I'm racing to catch up with the calendar. </p><p>Is it annoying when people go on and on about how fast time is passing? </p><p>It's flying y'all. I cannot seem to get my foot on the rung that is this new year. </p><p>We have a new granddaughter joining the party (yes, we're a party) very soon. We're anticipating a February arrival, but she may make her appearance sooner, and how in the world is it already February???</p><p>Technically it's not, but I've already made the leap into the next month because this one has me bamboozled. </p><p>Also, I'm getting another granddaughter (insert all the heart eyes and emojis here).</p><p>Hubs and I trekked to Tennessee Thursday afternoon so we would be available Friday morning for baby's momma to visit the doctor without her toddler in tow. Remember when going to the doctor, followed by a stop at the grocery store by yourself was a real treat? </p><p>We spent the morning indoors because it was something like nine degrees outside. We stacked blocks and read books and played 'baby pretend to go night night' in the great big blanket, and then Nana did 600 laps behind the tricycle on the living room-dining room-kitchen circuit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnwDlgTIkdX7iuO-kG0A0FBnc1X6hY3svGh7SByVLM2WEXjaUwYvAkSyDPQNZvKYTiYfJwy78lfaLPy80GEIGJkCPJmWVblJTM_ho1IQGVgxaWKWxMqRdjLjHqwvfam5AiCRtQGkOollm9dzrMR3LkVjQ_wgaK_KO5IfHjYd0MIpP6es9VcbBT9GIl6A/s640/IMG_2728%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="505" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnwDlgTIkdX7iuO-kG0A0FBnc1X6hY3svGh7SByVLM2WEXjaUwYvAkSyDPQNZvKYTiYfJwy78lfaLPy80GEIGJkCPJmWVblJTM_ho1IQGVgxaWKWxMqRdjLjHqwvfam5AiCRtQGkOollm9dzrMR3LkVjQ_wgaK_KO5IfHjYd0MIpP6es9VcbBT9GIl6A/w506-h640/IMG_2728%20(1).jpg" width="506" /></a></div><p>Little man sat so quietly and was so happy on that trike seat that we just kept doing the loop. At one point I asked hubs to take his picture and we discovered sweet baby J was sound asleep. Sitting up on his tricycle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzZq2uWEcE8mwEvjLsezcJ60c8gu6Yen2DRfGl8GveyoxxCXG6dj-AosaiqegdogzzmxVgq0xAXhwD_HxQMXBRRVmRNBpdbEJm6wH4Vk5cecwKKEQdNLo7WYc0NNCdn9GlHoKHx9pPjMehEZeaVHXZroWRmd9hd2JNrcAphGOv7S2iSmlM5xj2TZ7Ehg/s640/IMG_2730%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzZq2uWEcE8mwEvjLsezcJ60c8gu6Yen2DRfGl8GveyoxxCXG6dj-AosaiqegdogzzmxVgq0xAXhwD_HxQMXBRRVmRNBpdbEJm6wH4Vk5cecwKKEQdNLo7WYc0NNCdn9GlHoKHx9pPjMehEZeaVHXZroWRmd9hd2JNrcAphGOv7S2iSmlM5xj2TZ7Ehg/w480-h640/IMG_2730%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>He is so precious. </p><p>My daughter's in-laws arrived Friday afternoon and my son-in-law grilled wings and we had them with a nice charcuterie for dinner. Saturday morning we girls headed out in the bitter cold to attend a shower for baby girl. My daughter has the loveliest, kindest, most wonderful friends who made the morning so very special. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28zpJawGDy0LOE7CYmznE_bX0hg9GAe87kXg-0GGxDlyj5dxFX_-1CBgy4goEXPo1CapVRPrOnSv4oXknO7xO8oAhloMGDmSf9sXBPp7vIcr6wgl8f5l-DT8U3XKzG-WVu0YDqu6rcg5mhyphenhyphenlWjbeUcDG3qbSPWNv8ea-LDsURY6efnEcqfSHRxLI6V3s/s640/IMG_0931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28zpJawGDy0LOE7CYmznE_bX0hg9GAe87kXg-0GGxDlyj5dxFX_-1CBgy4goEXPo1CapVRPrOnSv4oXknO7xO8oAhloMGDmSf9sXBPp7vIcr6wgl8f5l-DT8U3XKzG-WVu0YDqu6rcg5mhyphenhyphenlWjbeUcDG3qbSPWNv8ea-LDsURY6efnEcqfSHRxLI6V3s/w481-h640/IMG_0931.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><p>They started the shower by going around in a circle and reading scripture and prayers for momma, dad, and baby. Not only for her physical health and development, but each one also tied to her spiritual health and development. They were very specific and absolutely beautiful. Made me quite teary actually. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zwlYB6wiRLe-D9hvhOrmD55NqNk5yi2wUilCGqeiNkrGD4dzmVP-2DGtqwEwVr6h-Ol7-KGh7iPwfntFvofzlSL6jKwDJ14pcwjO0W__Ro4seuUm18CwsLyQIojojkLbgz81g6s7niUQJpBAoRLg0W7wKeD74Pb7sqVzKYUKF8B3FRJD403yZBu8Cw0/s640/IMG_7262%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zwlYB6wiRLe-D9hvhOrmD55NqNk5yi2wUilCGqeiNkrGD4dzmVP-2DGtqwEwVr6h-Ol7-KGh7iPwfntFvofzlSL6jKwDJ14pcwjO0W__Ro4seuUm18CwsLyQIojojkLbgz81g6s7niUQJpBAoRLg0W7wKeD74Pb7sqVzKYUKF8B3FRJD403yZBu8Cw0/w480-h640/IMG_7262%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We had tea sandwiches and a pasta salad along with fruit skewers, baked brie, and a delectable assortment of sweet treats too. </span></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlUjMIEhDCEv13f7NQI-_4T0s5-vqB73LkaKu5Nd5aARww5kUojaBZbwytafv2aSSA4aBhSxuwcgRc7HvvURjPbRplC6qw5oIAcTnMlboM0Df3YcWhC4LFxwXh_8bAZ4UCh3V_OpM8BUTBXSm2m7F55Kv8FklbqvbwcY8EQB3vGKtqV1YpyW77kqJ4Vc/s640/IMG_0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlUjMIEhDCEv13f7NQI-_4T0s5-vqB73LkaKu5Nd5aARww5kUojaBZbwytafv2aSSA4aBhSxuwcgRc7HvvURjPbRplC6qw5oIAcTnMlboM0Df3YcWhC4LFxwXh_8bAZ4UCh3V_OpM8BUTBXSm2m7F55Kv8FklbqvbwcY8EQB3vGKtqV1YpyW77kqJ4Vc/w640-h480/IMG_0933.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p>My daughter is so very fortunate to have these friends, and even though my baby is having a baby she's still my baby. I love that there is a circle of friends to support her and to be 'on call' should any need at all arise. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EZYF1kEc9Cpb0CJu8PySwNlB0wJGFzsL-Fw6TJBCSck9dLKcv8l7v7VYOn9XPQzo9pPdjGgW0O4Hfz6Fbrq5fguw5IQe-EsZi07vneFIRd0HMlJcKQV41bPUDL14PY5qJ5hpfRlzYlprLbJHNgq3FBGkamL6hksy3jIkcMIBSmTV38t0Mfw7fHeH-Cs/s1280/FullSizeRender%20(15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1280" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EZYF1kEc9Cpb0CJu8PySwNlB0wJGFzsL-Fw6TJBCSck9dLKcv8l7v7VYOn9XPQzo9pPdjGgW0O4Hfz6Fbrq5fguw5IQe-EsZi07vneFIRd0HMlJcKQV41bPUDL14PY5qJ5hpfRlzYlprLbJHNgq3FBGkamL6hksy3jIkcMIBSmTV38t0Mfw7fHeH-Cs/w640-h482/FullSizeRender%20(15).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">What a gift! </span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTbc6cUzY7Ue9-AiDDBPx93KNHG_hebbtQYY0dK9qMRxfXiAVmJP6DiygQUhTcn_eBwp2arbqjaYDSC_cqvEV6B76uPz4Y5Z83I88r-59fvkRQzYbNjz0C18PrRcMnZzbNASIi6CochSZ3vUIzW0TeL_hrDe0v967Fng_nuMTRpS-Z40SbeZsTZa3OCQ/s640/IMG_2741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTbc6cUzY7Ue9-AiDDBPx93KNHG_hebbtQYY0dK9qMRxfXiAVmJP6DiygQUhTcn_eBwp2arbqjaYDSC_cqvEV6B76uPz4Y5Z83I88r-59fvkRQzYbNjz0C18PrRcMnZzbNASIi6CochSZ3vUIzW0TeL_hrDe0v967Fng_nuMTRpS-Z40SbeZsTZa3OCQ/w480-h640/IMG_2741.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>While we were at the shower the men were out doing manly things lol. They had Mexican food before coming home and little man was napping when we walked in the house. We spent the afternoon reading, chatting, and watching basketball, then dined on some super delicious ribs my son-in-law grilled. </p><p>We headed home on Sunday and are now playing the guessing game as to when baby girl will celebrate her birth-day. I have plans to go back sooner rather than later so I'm in the house with the soon-to-be big brother. Having your second is easier in some ways, fewer surprises at what your body is capable of, but then so many feelings about your first born too.</p><p>I want to remind my daughter of <i>her </i>big sister's reaction when she first laid eyes on this new little person who was suddenly part of her life. The big sister who became her very best friend for always. Who knows her like no other. Who has loved her since she was rolled into the hospital visitors room and we were quickly commanded to <i>'gimme dat'.</i></p><p>Be still my heart. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TF3boO4iXgd8T5oANWjOEge39IwWnJknil-8jB593KRXyXyz-e4F36AvjJlMF0Cd34QMf-RNQLDLuhUb5j3XgQoPnS3AahFbVeEePptU3L1gCBZQqRkoNF04JsFy4CePo0t6OkUtEKnew_uNOHiH5JONzk9mO6ythkwZbIWwpxfPANAjjI30POx1z7g/s1504/Attachment-1%20(3).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1504" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TF3boO4iXgd8T5oANWjOEge39IwWnJknil-8jB593KRXyXyz-e4F36AvjJlMF0Cd34QMf-RNQLDLuhUb5j3XgQoPnS3AahFbVeEePptU3L1gCBZQqRkoNF04JsFy4CePo0t6OkUtEKnew_uNOHiH5JONzk9mO6ythkwZbIWwpxfPANAjjI30POx1z7g/w640-h450/Attachment-1%20(3).jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>May this new little one be loved so well. </p><p></p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-69245455101448701932024-01-21T21:32:00.026-05:002024-01-22T08:35:20.836-05:00Fifteen Years Ago Today<p>January 21, 2009</p><p>The day this little corner of the internet became my own. </p><p>Fifteen years ago I started blogging. I had no idea what a blog was, I just knew I had one. It has definitely been a learn as you go proposition and fifteen years later I'm still forever playing catch up, still sharing snippets of life in the season I'm living, still doing what I can to mark the moments and bloom where I'm planted. </p><p>Fifteen years ago I lived in England. My girls were both university students (in the US) and hubs was working, traveling here there and everywhere with his job. </p><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHTTvY250K23WXMGchyO7MOKRvG-Fa9IJ2nKr01Ym461vwBQGmbaKvpZWkSWhuuio3RjZLcZgcNjp6p_gg2tKDVV2yHHRFIWNIRRu2-b-y1GS_4vQ6nAmJFUO59GI89u664BSbDALIseiPGE1sa6u63Amv8gSvsFeKbQb6nPiQWR_GEB7P755PPYRx7U/s604/IMG_0941.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHTTvY250K23WXMGchyO7MOKRvG-Fa9IJ2nKr01Ym461vwBQGmbaKvpZWkSWhuuio3RjZLcZgcNjp6p_gg2tKDVV2yHHRFIWNIRRu2-b-y1GS_4vQ6nAmJFUO59GI89u664BSbDALIseiPGE1sa6u63Amv8gSvsFeKbQb6nPiQWR_GEB7P755PPYRx7U/w640-h480/IMG_0941.JPG" width="640" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">that was then</span></i></p><p>Fifteen years ago I hopped on a train to London any old day of the week. I ate Indian curries on a random Tuesday and met friends at the pub every Friday night. I hiked through fields of rapeseed, woods abloom with bluebells, slipped through kissing gates and across public footpaths in the land of tea and scones. </p><p>I wondered where we'd go next? <i>When</i> we'd go? Did I <i>want </i>to go? What would life look like for me on the other side of the pond? <i>America.</i> America had somehow become the other side of the pond. </p><p>Life is funny. </p><p>In fifteen years I've gone from paying college tuition to buying Christmas presents for grandchildren. Hubs retired and we built a home on a lake, something we always imagined we'd do but were never quite sure we'd get there. </p><p>We did. We're here. In a completely new season of life than the one we were walking through when hubs first said <i>"you should have a blog".</i> I'm glad he said it. Glad he knew to say it. Glad he pushed me to write down some of the myriad thoughts in my head. To record life in real time. To view through the lens of now the life I lived before I had a blog. </p><p>When I look back at the pieces I've chosen to record here I see with perfect clarity all the things I didn't know I didn't know. I've lived and loved and learned a lot in fifteen years. There have been massive changes, blessings large and small, growth, goals met and others set aside to make room for new dreams. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkbEzG1Uk_jUfUBvqSe2VVVrIg_j2_YArqljXY73hZqkkv42X_TSWM-FYRjT91DZR1F1OyQ2kUuncf7or6AQl-hLwskwCEi77aBrDVJXONt_392lyo-w7cW04WGaTiwxXcPqNzLvM5uoSHk4z67bvT3OYRMLoaJeM8QrWXcqEtH_BfUtcW09Yz-tu37k/s640/IMG_9215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkbEzG1Uk_jUfUBvqSe2VVVrIg_j2_YArqljXY73hZqkkv42X_TSWM-FYRjT91DZR1F1OyQ2kUuncf7or6AQl-hLwskwCEi77aBrDVJXONt_392lyo-w7cW04WGaTiwxXcPqNzLvM5uoSHk4z67bvT3OYRMLoaJeM8QrWXcqEtH_BfUtcW09Yz-tu37k/w480-h640/IMG_9215.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">this is now</span></i></div><p>Heart aches and heart fulls because that's life in <i>every </i>season. </p><p>I'm glad God unfolds the future one day at a time. Glad we don't know what we don't know. Grateful for love and memory and grace for the moment we're living now. </p><p>Cheers to fifteen years, and who knows? There might be fifteen more. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-12910747274131940162024-01-17T03:00:00.201-05:002024-01-17T03:00:00.206-05:00The Hundred Acre Hodgepodge<p>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- </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /></a></p><p></p>1. On January 18th we commemorate A.A. Milne's birthday. Milne is the author of the beloved classic Winnie the Pooh. In many ways Pooh represents innocence and simplicity. His optimism and ability to see beauty in everything reminds us to appreciate the little things. What are three little things you're appreciating in mid-January? <div><br /></div><div><i>~precious long time friends who go out of their way to see us when they're in the US...</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8spFsgyAI749co3AkWjs4HJigK63klHIYBxQFMDTIa42QYWhOT7d_OFQsSmY3nqMUu3skjWV9yL5Bvfie2pBfrUFgTgnDyG0oJ4ICsfcBND6OiRNALFVo-y3iDTt5-nDb_-xwQtaXRoy8psxdWobGg1dzfdn5p3Ta8jG5AJC-v4GZhXh3BCHLls3n_4o/s2048/IMG_0926.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8spFsgyAI749co3AkWjs4HJigK63klHIYBxQFMDTIa42QYWhOT7d_OFQsSmY3nqMUu3skjWV9yL5Bvfie2pBfrUFgTgnDyG0oJ4ICsfcBND6OiRNALFVo-y3iDTt5-nDb_-xwQtaXRoy8psxdWobGg1dzfdn5p3Ta8jG5AJC-v4GZhXh3BCHLls3n_4o/w640-h480/IMG_0926.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>~this gorgeous bromeliad they brought as a gift...</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4vTPV5-ayqoapLG-dl6BbD0uoYQ2xuqc-Fyp_fGLLw_IM5IIw90RNLKgEEToLM0RjMntvUC5h0yJwVUU7pYidp5koYk3o-_N-lx13UKTQAcQ4b2RKcPnP_Dlc4inby2rBeI8RBeyGR3sltaGmic3jDfPOul-_harLk_3m0YVwsSL2_Jx1_WnOA76jgg/s4032/IMG_0927.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4vTPV5-ayqoapLG-dl6BbD0uoYQ2xuqc-Fyp_fGLLw_IM5IIw90RNLKgEEToLM0RjMntvUC5h0yJwVUU7pYidp5koYk3o-_N-lx13UKTQAcQ4b2RKcPnP_Dlc4inby2rBeI8RBeyGR3sltaGmic3jDfPOul-_harLk_3m0YVwsSL2_Jx1_WnOA76jgg/w480-h640/IMG_0927.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>~conversations with my grandchildren...</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvEvaCQ6OQng__nS6Jibe-QVr6t2Hdt8redfI26UbXzVTLA6Yxvgm59ZDkU-9LyU9iMr7UVv8BAhPyuer4KF22eiIQ1pTmuwqD7stT9_T4vi3rfZY2voRDuzvegBSpDd4Z5ciKF0z5nOqQ6I1FYLMTb9aZ0klFq7QogbuqMetCPqPFDvmXbRKWNW8JhI/s3221/FullSizeRender.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3221" data-original-width="2559" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvEvaCQ6OQng__nS6Jibe-QVr6t2Hdt8redfI26UbXzVTLA6Yxvgm59ZDkU-9LyU9iMr7UVv8BAhPyuer4KF22eiIQ1pTmuwqD7stT9_T4vi3rfZY2voRDuzvegBSpDd4Z5ciKF0z5nOqQ6I1FYLMTb9aZ0klFq7QogbuqMetCPqPFDvmXbRKWNW8JhI/w508-h640/FullSizeRender.jpeg" width="508" /></a></div><div><p></p><p>2. Piglet teaches us even the smallest of individuals can achieve big things with the proper amount of determination. How do your current responsibilities make you feel? <br /><br /><i>I'm retired and have grown children so my current responsibilities are not overwhelming. Of course there are occasionally tasks that add stress to my life, or logistics that frustrate me at times, but for the most part life is pretty manageable in this season. </i></p><p>3. Tigger is known for his enthusiasm and energy, his boundless joy and love of life. What's something you're interested in learning more about in this new year? </p><p><i>naturally building my immune system, gardening, pastry dough, memory boosting tricks</i></p><p>4. Eeyore, while a melancholy character, teaches us the importance of resilience and perseverance. How do you stay motivated and persevere in difficult circumstances. </p><p><i>To put it simply- I focus on what I can control, avoid negative people, get enough sleep, and pray. </i></p><p>5. Last thing you ate that was made with honey? </p><p><i>I don't know if it was the last thing I ate that was made with honey, but it was a recent thing made with honey and it was scrumptious- <a href="https://www.boursin.com/recipe/crispy-baked-boursin-with-hot-honey/">Crispy Baked Boursin with Hot Honey. </a></i></p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p><p><i>January is wedding month in our house...</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTRz5cW-UpKMwuprYHGOa_8Nvajmz0cEvMAEkzD6YmNYQ02LfVd3ZlcDxoP39i0ZM9cFvo3WTFR53kig4N85eMdrt9zJfRbURQFDnZxlBDPWQBbNNJg9V5nXQJOquUXbS-S6ISWAGAtTKpLSK22NFOYjSE2GtH_WupE3y46DdyddCBP9RO0eSdKBprJ4/s1204/IMG_0925.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1204" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTRz5cW-UpKMwuprYHGOa_8Nvajmz0cEvMAEkzD6YmNYQ02LfVd3ZlcDxoP39i0ZM9cFvo3WTFR53kig4N85eMdrt9zJfRbURQFDnZxlBDPWQBbNNJg9V5nXQJOquUXbS-S6ISWAGAtTKpLSK22NFOYjSE2GtH_WupE3y46DdyddCBP9RO0eSdKBprJ4/w640-h426/IMG_0925.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>...cheers to my youngest daughter and her wonderful hubs celebrating three years married this week. </i></p></div><!--start LinkyTools script-->
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<!--end LinkyTools script-->Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-63118216410950200652024-01-16T00:30:00.023-05:002024-01-16T00:30:00.188-05:00Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 534<p>Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here to share answers with the universe. See you there! </p><p></p><div class="from-this-side-of-the-pond-button" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 273px;"> <a href="http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="From this Side of the Pond" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK-yhKNVwj3sjifV77kit9gclxJGZP61Bf1tTjFKKjwdhIstEVWOb2xpfBsjPn8oIfxYKw3fbe1-SbiZ8D2HPPT0MDRKZVbgcLQzcq9l583CZubEiAwhgwf0EcUt66Lwr07-6V7ZVjQ/s1600/hodgepodge-button.png" width="273" /> </a> </div>1. On January 18th we commemorate A.A. Milne's birthday. Milne is the author of the beloved classic <u>Winnie the Pooh.</u> In many ways Pooh represents innocence and simplicity. His optimism reminds us to appreciate the little things. What are three little things you're appreciating in mid-January? <p></p><p>2. Piglet teaches us even the smallest of individuals can achieve big things with the proper amount of determination. How do your current responsibilities make you feel? </p><p>3. Tigger is known for his enthusiasm and energy, his boundless joy and love of life. What's something you're interested in learning more about in this new year? </p><p>4. Eeyore, while a melancholy character, teaches us the importance of resilience and perseverance. How do you stay motivated and persevere in difficult circumstances?</p><p>5. What's the last thing you ate that was made with honey? </p><p>6. Insert your own random thought here. </p>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6934122631054104275.post-40313435157431562712024-01-12T15:09:00.001-05:002024-01-12T15:09:26.013-05:00Five Minutes Of Pattern<p>Linking up with <a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2024/01/11/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-pattern/">Five Minute Friday</a> today, and here's how that looks- </p><p>Tell your inner critic to hush, then write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word. Then hop over to the <a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2024/01/11/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-pattern/">Five Minute Friday link up</a> hosted by Kate Motaung and add your blog to the list. Don't forget to leave a comment for the writer linking before you, because that's the neighborly thing to do.</p><p>Today's prompt-<i>pattern</i></p><p>I remember being a little girl of about nine or ten, accompanying my mom to the fabric store. Back in the day there were lots of fabric stores and there was always an area set up with big conference style tables where you would start your hunt for just the right thing. </p><p>There were enormous catalogs to peruse...McCalls...Simplicity...Butterick...these were my favorite, and we'd spend a lot of time trying to find something I loved that my mom would be able to sew. Choosing the fabric was my favorite part of the experience and sometimes I'd want a particular material, but my mom would explain it wouldn't work well with the pattern we'd chosen</p><p>We'd settle on something then go home to lay out the pattern and cut the pieces of material to fit. She'd pin and sew and I'd try on, and it was fun to watch it all come together. My mom loved buying fabric and had a couple of trunkfuls she never made into anything, but couldn't part with either. Sometimes when I think of my mom I picture her at her sewing machine. She didn't have a dedicated room but she made it work, sometimes in the dining room, sometimes in my brother's room after he went off to college. </p><p>I learned to sew somewhere along the way, mostly by watching and my mom teaching, but also in Home Ec in junior high and high school. Is that still a thing? I learned to follow a pattern, but I didn't stick with it and don't own a machine anymore. </p>I have a lot of friends who quilt so I know there are still fabric stores out there, but they seem few and far between now. Do you still choose a paper pattern or is everything somehow digital in the 21st century? Do you sit in a store in a too big chair and turn pages in a too big book until you find the dress that calls your name? <div><br /></div><div>Do you lean over your mama's shoulder and beg to press the pedal and guide the fabric through the machine? Does she lean over yours as she helps you hold it straight? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_VVIe4vhDDnSAAXUVjeQ2halM-3K9W2cTOhf4g2TSJKWVy9E644YNT8jfS1aBNURMr_1XwFlug0BPPIdL_3qdacPjjINUu-WMy0LE-to9xz780gX6ddhS_eqVcGEYV31ii6RGeSpJKA5lVZ0Wg2j6-biL2BQP4fKo8YkBjmxSovWFlJZooE6xMFeWrU/s640/IMG_0921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="640" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_VVIe4vhDDnSAAXUVjeQ2halM-3K9W2cTOhf4g2TSJKWVy9E644YNT8jfS1aBNURMr_1XwFlug0BPPIdL_3qdacPjjINUu-WMy0LE-to9xz780gX6ddhS_eqVcGEYV31ii6RGeSpJKA5lVZ0Wg2j6-biL2BQP4fKo8YkBjmxSovWFlJZooE6xMFeWrU/w640-h548/IMG_0921.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Do you grow up and write a blog where a word sparks a memory? </div></div>Joycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16727615822243830106noreply@blogger.com7