An Apple A Day...

...keeps the Hodgepodge in play. Welcome to a brand new month and another edition of the weekly Wednesday random. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then spread a little cheer by leaving a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. As we begin this brand new month tell us, on a scale of 1-10, where does your life fall in terms of being in 'apple pie order'? Please elaborate. (1=nowhere near it, 10=practically perfect in every way)

If you read my Monday post then you know we're not a 10. Is anyone's life ever really a 10? I have managed to book a number of appointments for September, some of them had been hanging over my head for a while, so that feels like putting at least one or two things into apple pie order. My house currently is not in apple pie order, but once the dog recovers we will tackle that.  Let's say 7. 

2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away...are you doing your part? Red or green? Sweet or tart? Ever played the game Apples to Apples? Do you like apple pie? If so, ala mode or just gimme the pie? 

Am I doing my part? Most days I have an apple for a snack so if that's what counts then yes. I prefer a tart red for eating and a Granny Smith green for baking, but I like all kinds of apples. Yes I've played Apples to Apples, but not in a long time. And who doesn't like apple pie? I prefer mine with a scoop of vanilla but plain is okay too. 

3. Tell us about a time recently where you 'upset the apple cart' or the last time someone 'upset your apple cart'? 

I'm someone who tries hard not to ever upset the apple cart. I like order, routine, and plans and I don't want to be the person who wrecks any of that for someone else.  I guess we could all say Covid  upset the apple cart, with so many plans-events-things on the calendar that had to be cancelled, rescheduled, or just plain gotten over. It reminds me of the book by Dr. Seuss, 10 Apples Up On Top...

4. What are three words that come to mind when you think of September? 

bravery, birthdays, back-to-school

5. What are you most looking forward to this month? 

I bet you thought I was going to say my birthday didn't you? 

I'm going to say my birthday. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Today this guy marks another trip around the sun-

Still and always pulling everyone into the fun...happy birthday hubs! 

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Saturday Sunnies

The sun is shining, the weather is wonderful, and it's the birthday of this land I love. Thank you to all the men and women around the globe protecting the freedoms we cherish. May we be mindful of your sacrifices both large and small, today and every day.

Doing a little phone dump here because summer is flying by at mach speed and my blog is where I keep track of the time. Actually my phone is where I keep track of the time. If it weren't for the photos snapped there the weeks would be a blur. 

So what's been happening in these parts? 

Well for starters we had company. Last summer was so strange in terms of no company. No friends coming to visit, no family barbecues or porch sitting, no fun dinners with piles of friends. Nothin'. 

We are back in high gear this summer though, and on Monday some of our Maryland cul-de sac neighbors were in the area and spent a couple of days here at the lake. Our children collectively put about 100,000 miles on their Little Tykes car once upon a time, and even though everyone is all grown up I see them still, little blonde pony tails bobbing in the sun, negotiating a turn at the wheel. 

There were only about six houses in our cul-de-sac and we all had kids about the same age. It was the sweetest little spot to spend a childhood. We had backyards with swingsets but most of the time you'd find all the kids congregating in the middle of the court for games of kickball, roller blading, flashlight tag, and one memorable winter (I don't need to remind them which one!) sledding down the ginormous hill made of plowed snow right in the center of our street. 

The day they arrived the weather was grand and we showed them the lake and even boated to dinner. The next day brought some morning drizzle so we headed over to college town to see what we could see before grabbing lunch. By the time we got home the skies had cleared enough for some cornhole and a swim. 

So many shared experiences raising our children beside the bay, and it was so great to see them in person and catch up on everyone's lives and goings on. 

Thursday evening I hosted a BBQ for a group from church. Originally I thought we'd number about 15 or 20 so hubs volunteered to smoke pork butts on the Big Green Egg. 

We ended up a group of more than 30, and kudos to the grillmaster extraordinaire who started the meat just before midnight and produced a fabulous entree at 6 PM the next day. 

We're pooped by the way. 

In completely unrelated news, we've been moving my sewing machine table from house to house and I finally said enough, I'm not sewing anymore so let's go ahead and get rid of it. One of my friends made a table out of hers and I told hubs about it and next thing you know we've got this-

I love it! We removed the box from the legs, ordered a piece of glass with a beveled edge, and ended up with a new old patio table. 

Also, by 'we' you know I mean the hubs, right?

This morning we looked out and saw two young deer walking across the drive, no doubt dining on something from my yard they shouldn't be dining on, but they are so cute it's hard to be annoyed. 

Daughter2, aka the newlywed Mrs.,  is on her way here as we speak. She's going to spend a few days and collect the sweetest dog in the world who has been staying with us since their honeymoon. Her pup is not well and it will be so hard to send her back to PA in a few days. Dogs fill some of the coziest spaces in your heart but they break it a little bit too. 

Daughter2's mister has a work trip this week so she's going to hang out with her momma and I cannot wait to pepper her with questions, talk too much while we try to watch our favorite cooking shows, ask her to straighten my hair every other day, and show me one more time how to do something on my phone that she's shown me a hundred times. I bet she can't wait to get here. 

Enjoy this holiday weekend everyone! America may not be perfect, but she learns and she grows and tries her best to stay true to her noble ideals. "May God shed His grace on thee..."

Post-Pandemic Blogging

Are we post pandemic? Depends who you ask-ha! We have resumed normal life for the most part here, with a few exceptions when exceptions are called for. I am not getting into a fist fight or verbal altercation with anyone over masks, vaccines, or the like, and wish everyone could at least agree on that. 

Mostly hubs and I say it feels like someone flipped a switch and the train is back on track. Our calendar has certainly ratcheted up a notch or ten and it feels good.

At the same time, this past year and a half has shown me I don't want to be busy every single day. While I'm super excited to have houseguests once more, I am purposely leaving some blank space in the summer calendar for quiet daydreams, naps on the porch, and the occasional orange crush from our lakeside Cabana. 

The weather is most definitely saying summer here, so on Saturday night hubs grilled steaks on the Big Green Egg, and afterwards we took our first boat ride of the season. 

Early evening into sunset is one of the best times to be on the water, partly because day boaters have exhausted themselves and are docked for the night, but mostly because the sky is everything I love about summer. 

On Sunday we had Sunday School via Zoom, but church in person. Hmmm...here's how I feel...everyone is doing their best to make good decisions for the benefit of all so we're rolling with it. Funny story-we attended church in person last Sunday too and y'all! In true 2020 fashion (yes I still call the whole big mess 2020) a baby possum entered the sanctuary mid-sermon, and created a bit of a ruckus. 

We had the side doors open at both the front and rear of the church and he walked on in like ain't no big thing. One of the Deacons sitting nearby leapt to his feet and gently nudged the possum out the back door, and if that isn't this past year in a nutshell I don't know what is. 

In other news, my favorite people will be stateside in the not too distant future (time is relative of course) and I cannot wait to get my hands on these happy little men. I don't want to wish away the summer, but it's awfully hard not to count the days. 

God grows us in seasons of waiting and I guess I've still got some growing to do. 

In the meantime I look at the beauty of a watercolored sky and remember He's got the whole world in His hands.

Tuesday

It's feast or famine here in terms of blogging. How about just an ordinary Tuesday what's new with you kind of post? 

We spent a lovely spur of the moment weekend in the mountains where we did a little bit of shopping and a lot of eating. We stayed in the charming town of Highlands NC which has so many wonderful restaurants it's hard not to indulge. 

I took almost no pictures and just enjoyed the views and the company. 

It seems like we've gone from doing absolutely nothing to a somewhat busy calendar these past two weeks which may explain why, when we pulled in the driveway on Sunday I remarked, 'Hey look, someone has gifted us a beautiful bird bath.' 

I don't know who I thought might have done that, but hubs said, 'yeah, I put that out there about four days ago and have been waiting for you to notice.' Apparently all this staying at home has messed with my powers of observation. 

We're still blaming everything on Covid, right? 

Anyway, the lovely purple finch has been enjoying the new splash pad and I'm sure has friends who will join him before too long. 

I heard from both my girlies via Facetime on Mother's Day which is not as fabulous as having them here in person, but still very special. Daughter2 sent me a framed wedding pic of the two of us that I absolutely love, and daughter1 sent Farmgirl Flowers of which I am a big big fan. Their creations are completely extra, plus there was a fun little bag of goodies tucked inside the box too...Swedish candy, salted caramels, toffee popcorn, a couple of face masks, and a candle. 

I spoke to my own mama Sunday afternoon and every Mother's Day I have with her in my life means so much to me. 

In other news we've got a couple of little-ish interior home projects going on, and I specify interior because if you know my hubs you know he has a never ending list of exterior home projects and would happily landscape, plant trees, plant shrubs, plant more trees and more shrubs if I didn't intervene. 

I'm changing up my office right down to the walls, re-doing our keeping room with a larger, lighter hued rug, and four new comfy chairs, adding wallpaper to a water closet in one of the guest suites, new bedding in that same guest suite, and reconfiguring shelving in my closet. It will be a lovely re-fresh when all is said and done. It's hard to believe we've been in this house nearly four years now but the calendar does not lie. 

Does 2020 count double time because I feel like maybe it should? 

The weekend is looking lovely so perhaps an inaugural boat ride is in order. We like to let the pollen calm down before we do too much boating, and like I said, we've been busy with projects and assorted other goings on. Hubs had the boat out once for a quick 'let's make sure it's running' spin around the neighborhood, but I haven't had a ride yet this season and I'm thinking it's time. 

Yes it's Tuesday and I'm already talking about the weekend. 

It's nice to be a little bit busy but I also know I cannot be busy all day every day. Chalk that up to life lessons learned courtesy of Corona and the crazy year that was. Is? Whatever. Here's a picture of the Cobb salad I made for dinner last night-

Because salad pics are blog content on ordinary Tuesdays. Enjoy yours! 

A Hodgepodge Legacy

Welcome to another edition of the weekly Hodgepodge. For anyone visiting from the A-Z Blog Challenge today, I host a weekly random Q and A here every Wednesday. Feel free to play along, but please add Hodgepodge links only to this hop. Thanks! Scroll down to question six for my letter L entry. 

If you're here to Hodgepodge and you've answered today's questions, add your link at the bottom of my post. Then leave a comment for the blogger before you because that's what good neighbors do. Here we go-

   

1. What is something you currently find 'taxing'? 

I'd like to never mention this word on my blog again but! in a word Corona and all it's many tentacles...the way we don't have any idea what's true, what's exaggerated, what's real, and what's imagined. The mask shaming, vaccine shaming. All of it. Taxing is a good word. 

2. I've seen this question asked in various forms on several social media sites...you can only keep three-

coffee, jewelry, tacos, wine, books, dogs, chocolate, Netflix, make-up, leggings, cheese, cats

Which three do you keep and how easy or hard was it for you to decide? 

Hmmm...harder than it first appeared. The first is easy, because of all the things listed I for sure would miss my morning coffee the most. I'm allergic to cats so that one lands at the bottom of the list. In fact, besides cats I think the bottom half of my list would include jewelry, wine, Netflix, make-up, and leggings, not necessarily in that order. 

Dogs are living things while most of these other items are not, so dogs would have to make my list. And since I can't imagine a world without books I guess my top three are coffee, books and dogs. 

But I will really really miss my cheese and chocolate. 

3. Tell us something you know or have learned about forgiveness? 

It's hard to keep forgiving someone whose behavior doesn't really change. When I stop and think about it more deeply I realize God could say the same thing about me. But He doesn't. I'm forgiven and need to extend forgiveness to others. It's not always easy, but it is truly freeing. I love the Matthew West song called Forgiveness (linked here). The lyrics are wonderful and so true. 

4. What's something you'd recommend that is often overlooked and under appreciated?

The physical, mental, and emotional benefits of a walk in the woods, a nap, and a long hot soak in the tub. 

5. Give us a favorite word that starts with letter K and tell us why this is the one you chose. 

I don't know if it's a favorite but I seem to use the expression 'kit and caboodle' fairly often. Don't ask me why. I guess it's just the way my brain works, and it's often the right sort of phrase for the point I'm trying to make. Plus it's fun to say.

6. Insert your own random thought here-

Day 12 in the A-Z Blog Challenge...

L is for legacy

Do you ever think about what sort of legacy you're leaving for those who come after you? Are you intentional in living up to what you want that legacy to be? How we're remembered will mostly be based on how we lived. 

Not many people have the financial means to name a building or build a school or the like, but we all have people we hope our lives impact and perhaps continue to impact after we're gone. 

How do I want my children and grandchildren to remember me?

Not going to complicate it...

She loved well. 

She used her words for good.

She pointed to Jesus. 

It's Always Sunny In The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. 

One item of business...I'm declaring next week Spring Break in the Hodgepodge. Between Easter weekend happenings, wrapping up the wedding recap, the A-Z Blog challenge starting, and life in general, I need a breather. So no HP on Wednesday April 7th, but back in action on April 14th. 

Okay, here we go-

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the last day of March...in ten words or lest bid the month adieu. 

Were you really only 31 days? 

2. March 31st is National Tater Day...your favorite way to have a potato? Given a choice would you opt for sweet, white, or red? How often are potatoes on your menu in one form or another? Ever been to Idaho? If not, is that a state you'd like to visit someday?

I love potatoes pretty much any which way you want to serve them. The tiny red ones are my fave. That being said I try not to indulge too often and I steer clear of fries. Except when hubs orders and then it's okay if he wants to share. My favorite is for sure homemade mashed potatoes, reserved for holidays and special guest dinners only. 

I've never been to Idaho, but sure I'd love to visit. There's some beautiful scenery and Yellowstone creeps across the line there, so absolutely let's go. 

3. Last time someone or something 'rained on your parade'? Explain. 

Pretty sure we can all say Corona and the ensuing restrictions, lockdowns, and nonsense dumped buckets on everyone's parade. Specifically hubs and I wanted to a) spend my birthday in the UK and b) take another round the globe trip to visit our daughter and her family in South Korea. We were hoping to see a little bit more of Asia while they were there, but are so thankful we at least were able to meet baby Max in person. 

If you're new here, his name is not Max. That's just how he's referred to on the blog.  

4. Put all your eggs in one basket, get cracking, nest egg, bad egg, good egg, egg on, have egg on your face, or walk on eggshells...choose a phrase from the list that applies to something in your life currently and tell us how or why.

There is a fairly significant home project I need to get crackin' on. While there's no firm timetable for getting this particular job done, hubs is a 'git 'er done' kind of guy, so I need to 'get crackin'. 

5. If I visited your home would I find a lot of baskets there? Something you like to keep in a basket? 

Not a lot of baskets, but some yes. I used to have more but really pared down to just the ones I actually use. Something I keep in a basket...crackers? I don't really decorate with baskets anymore. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I've been recapping my daughter's wedding in words and pictures and this seems like a good place to share one more. Her dress y'all...

Swoon!

In A Word

I saw this writing prompt on Tanya's blog (The Other Side Of The Road) and thought I'd play along. This month marks one year since the world went topsy turvy (topsy turvy-er?), and as my blog is more or less a journal of my observations about life, this seemed like a nice way to sum up the year that was. 

Can it be summed up? 

We shall see. 

If you'd like to answer the questions copy the graphic and have at it. Let me know if you do so I can read what you write-

What was life like in early 2020? Well, it was ordinary is what it was. I only wrote three blog posts in all of January and February and they were about the everyday beauty found in a pinky red sunrise, adorable baby boys growing up fast, a road trip to my mother's house in New Jersey which, as it happened, was the last time I saw her in person until a couple of weeks ago. I also posted a list of small seemingly manageable goals for the year. Ha! 

2020 just laughed at our goals and resolutions, wouldn't you say? 

Unlike many Americans Covid was actually fairly high on our radar because we have family living in South Korea, and they'd locked down there two months prior. We were naturally anxious for their safety, but the country and the Army both seemed to have the situation mostly in hand. 

In early March hubs and I drove to Florida to spend time with lake neighbors who had recently purchased a home there. We had a wonderful few days of fun in the sun before the clouds rolled in. 

And rolled and rolled and rolled and remained pretty much to this day.  

Covid struck here for real the day we headed home, and in those early days we were all pretty much on the same page as far as staying home, apart, and a little on edge. It was almost as if we'd been issued a group challenge and as a nation were determined to master it. We felt up to the task and thought fourteen days at home to slow the curve would be very do-able.  

Yeah. Remember fourteen days? Well it morphed into something else entirely and people lost their ever lovin' minds ransacking the toilet paper aisle and buying up all the yeast, flour, rice, and clorox wipes they could get their hands on. 

In a word-ridunkulous. 

What was the biggest change? America turned ugly. It wasn't just Covid though...I think it was Covid combined with so many people's endless (and I do mean endless), borderline-sick, white-hot hatred of our president and their inability to not carry on and completely melt down over every single word he spoke, tweeted or thought. It's really hard for me to separate the pandemic from the political fallout because I think it was a double whammy we have yet to recover from. 

In a word-exhausting

What were my coping mechanisms? Baking for one, but of course I couldn't keep that pace up for an entire year. I mean I could have, but we had a wedding to plan and a dress to wear which was highly motivating. 

Mostly I spent very little time on social media, and when I did scroll I hid or muted anyone spewing vitriol and judgement about lockdowns, social distancing, mask wearing, and the election, all under the guise of opinion stated as fact. Hubs and I intentionally listened to as little news as possible and I read books, prayed a lot, Zoomed with family and friends and I blogged. These things kept me sane when the world felt...

in a word-insane. 

What did connection in my relationships look like? 

It looked a lot like text threads, faces on a screen, and a perpetual longing for things to be different. Like wishing I could hop on a plane and see my grandsons, hug my mom around the neck, and have a conversation with the person sitting beside me at a table, in a church pew, or standing less than six feet away in the check out line. 

Still we made it work. Things were far from perfect but the ties still bind. 

What will I remember most?

Lots of things...how one day felt so much like the next, how time was blurry and we kept thinking tomorrow would be different...better..

Masks and hand sanitizer and wrinkled fingertips.

Netflix, no makeup, and cooking all the meals all the days every day. 

Cancelled appointments, cancelled parties, cancelled trips, cancelled fun. 

So much judgement. 

In a word uncertainty. 

What was a beautiful memory?

My girl got married. I highly recommend a wedding in the middle of life's most uncertain seasons. Where no one knows what tomorrow will bring. Where hate is poison and joy is the antidote.

In a word-love wins. 

What do I believe now that I didn't one year ago? 

The media is lost. News is now commentary, very often without any facts at all behind it, and we are so much the poorer for it. 

In a word-dismayed 

What would I do differently? 

Buy stock in Purell, Clorox, and Kimberly-Clark? 

Honestly there was so very little we had the power to control that I'm not sure I could have done things differently. We live on a lake with plenty of space both indoors and out and took full advantage of the natural beauty in our own backyard. We're retired with no school aged children in the house, so we didn't have to figure out the whole work from home while also overseeing a child's education thing so many struggled with. 

Mostly we considered ourselves luckier than most. We rolled with the ebb and flow of life as best we knew how and I reminded myself daily God is bigger than any challenge we might face and He is still in charge of the universe. 

In a word-fortunate

What will I carry forward? 

That in the midst of both enormous challenges and minor irritations, quiet acts of kindness make things easier to bear. That God is present, working, and available even when we humans struggle to understand the hows and whys of a situation. 

Also this. These people. The knowledge that even when the world tilts love will find a way-

In a word-2020

About Last Week

Just doing my usual here aka playing catch up. We've actually had a few things on our calendar which feels strange and fun and not quite normal, but let's say almost normal. 

My mother-in-law celebrated a birthday last week and we were able to surprise her by showing up for lunch on the actual day. We drove over to Tennessee the night before and had a great time catching up in person with hubs brother and sister-in-law. They live on a lake and we like to compare notes and landscaping plans and projects amongst other things. 

There's a restaurant in their nearby town we've been wanting to try and we finally had a chance to do just that. The Walnut Kitchen was started by a chef who came from Blackberry Farm, and let me state for the record Blackberry Farm is high on my list of places to someday spend a night or two. Anyway the original owner of the Walnut Kitchen has I think moved on, but the restaurant has retained his vision. We had a wonderful meal and it felt so good to be dining out. 

My mother-in-law was not expecting to see any of her family on her actual birthday and we'd all made excuses as a cover story. Her best friends told her they wanted to take her to lunch and she was so surprised to walk back to the table and find her oldest and youngest sons there to greet her. 

We were missing two of the sibs, but since Covid continues to wreak havoc on people's ability to move about if they have kids in school or in-person jobs they weren't able to join us. 

Still a real day brightener to at least have half of her crew sitting beside her. After lunch we went back to my brother-in-laws lake house and my mother-in-law came too for an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon of porch sitting and face to face conversation. We headed home Friday morning because we had company of our own coming for dinner on Saturday evening. 

No pictures of the people but I did make a key lime pie for dessert and snapped a picture of that. I served the pie on these pretty plates, a recent addition to my dish collection courtesy of my grandmother via my mother. Question-can a person have too many pretty dishes? Asking for a friend who is hoping the answer is no. 

And now here we are rolling in to a brand new week. I see the dentist first thing in the morning which feels like a very Monday thing to do. Tell me what fun thing you have planned that can top that? 

Coming Clean In The Hodgepodge

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 the blogger before you. It's the neighborly thing to do in this mid-week little blog hop. 

 

1. Your favorite cleaning product? Do you clean your own house or hire out? Most disliked household chore? What one chore do you not mind so much? 

100 meaningless extra credit points to anyone who figured out what inspired this question...

I can't say I have a favorite cleaning product. Maybe my hubs? Ha! He is really helpful and there are a few tasks he regularly takes care of around the house which I very much appreciate. He vacuums and I clean bathrooms. He takes care of the wood floors and windows and I cook, meal plan, dust, and handle the laundry. 

Housekeeping is definitely a shared job here, and we clean our own because we can. I've had a housekeeper in the past and that was nice too, but right now we're home, it's just the two of us, and we're neat. 

My most disliked chore is ironing. Hubs likes to iron so I rarely have to take this one on. I don't mind washing dishes. I have a dishwasher, but still wash a lot of things by hand. 

 2. It's Canned Food Month...do you use a lot of canned goods? What are the three canned items you purchase most often? Last thing you made using a canned ingredient? 

I don't use a lot of canned food items but the three I purchase most often are probably Del Monte Blue Lake fresh cut whole green beans (they must be whole and I can eat them right out of the can), RO-TEL, and kidney/black beans for chilli. 

Last thing I made using a canned ingredient? Baked ziti...I made my own sauce but used some canned tomatoes. 

 3. Can of worms, anything can happen, can you imagine?, as best I can, kick the can down the road, more than one can take, no can do, not if I can help it...choose an idiom and tell us how you currently relate.

Nothing particular relates but I was reminded of something from childhood that feels like it might fit. When I was a child I spent a week or more at summer camp. Each week had a theme and one week was always Anything Can Happen Week.  The year 2020 2021 feels a little bit like that week. 

4.The last Tuesday in February is National Spa Day. Are you someone who enjoys a day at the spa? Last time you visited a spa? Do you have a favorite spa? Are salons open for business in your area? Have you made changes to your hair and nail routine since Corona hit? In what way? 

I do enjoy a day at the spa, but sadly have not visited one since Corona struck. I especially love the spa at the Harbor Beach Marriott in Ft. Lauderdale but obviously don't get there regularly. 

Salons are open here with safety measures in place. My hair salon is small and I've been several times since March of last year. When I'm there it's just me and the stylist so I feel fine about that. I haven't visited a nail salon in the past year because that felt a bit more risky in terms of exposure. Plus I can live with bare nails more easily than I can gray roots. Just sayin'.  

Also,  for the record I'm not going another whole summer without a pedicure. 

 5. Believe it or not this is the last Hodgepodge of the month. In one sentence sum up your February. 

February? I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that it's 2021. 

Okay...it was cold, gray, and wet but also short so no complaints here. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

I know some of you have followed my daughter1's blog for a few years. She's left it quiet for a bit (211 days, not that I'm counting), but is back at it this week with a brand new post. Pop over and say hi if you have the time. The link is here-Sincerely-Shannon

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 409

Here are the questions to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

 

1. Your favorite cleaning product? Do you clean your own house or hire out? Most disliked household chore? What one chore do you not mind so much? 

 2. It's Canned Food Month...do you use a lot of canned goods? What are the three canned items you purchase most often? Last thing you made using a canned ingredient? 

 3. Can of worms, anything can happen, can you imagine?, as best I can, kick the can down the road, more than one can take, no can do, not if I can help it...choose an idiom and tell us how you currently relate.

4.The last Tuesday in February is National Spa Day. Are you someone who enjoys a day at the spa? Last time you visited a spa? Do you have a favorite spa? Are salons open for business in your area? Have you made changes to your hair and nail routine since Corona hit? In what way? 

 5. Believe it or not this is the last Hodgepodge of the month. In one sentence sum up your February. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

A Penny For Your Hodgepodge Thoughts

Welcome back to another week in the Wednesday Hodgepodge! If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say howdy to your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday which signals the beginning of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? If so tell us more. Did you grow up 'celebrating' Lent? Is attending church part of your weekly routine? Are churches open for in-person worship where you live? 

I didn't grow up in a denomination that put a great deal of emphasis on the season of Lent, but Easter was most definitely a very special day. As an adult I've grown to appreciate this idea of intentional focus on the days leading up to the crucifixion and the great sacrifice made at the cross. I  don't give anything up, but I do try to read something that sets my mind on that sacrifice and what it means to me and for me as we head into Easter. 

I love church and one of the biggest negatives to all this virus mess has been the disruption to our weekly routine of 'going to church'. Some churches are open, others closed, others open but with limited access. Ours was open for a brief period then returned to virtual. We've been attending our Sunday School class via Zoom for almost a year now, and that's worked surprisingly well. 

I'm ready to be back in the building, which I know is just a building, but again I think worship feels more like worship when we're physically in the same space. Far fewer distractions too. 

2. When is the last time you sat beside a 'real' fire? Do you have a fireplace in your home? Wood or gas logs? Favorite thing cooked over a fire? 

A real fire as in a wood fire? Yes I think that's what I meant when I asked-ha! 

We have an outdoor fire pit that uses 'real' wood and I think the last time we had a fire there was sometime in the fall.  It's been a while. I love a wood fire, but gas is so much more practical and for sure less messy. I always feel like I need a shower after we've had an outdoor fire.  

We sit beside a gas fire most days in the winter months. We have a two sided-fireplace with one side facing the keeping room section of our kitchen and the other facing the family room. We also have a gas fireplace on our screened in porch, which is where we live about 3/4 of the year. 

And finally, we have a 'fire table' on our covered deck which I absolutely love! If you're thinking of getting one I highly recommend. It runs on a propane tank hidden on the under side of the table. 

Favorite thing cooked over a fire? Hubs makes a cobbler in the dutch oven and it's scrumptious. 

3. Something that's currently got you fired up? 

I'm trying hard not to let things fire me up these days. All it takes is for hubs to read me a sentence or two of what's going on in our country on so many levels and I feel my blood begin to boil. So I shut it down. 

I am not a hide your head in the sand kind of girl, but most of what is out there is not helpful, often not accurate or even true, and it's definitely not in line with my current way of thinking which is ...'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...think about these things..."

I think it's okay to take a break from the bickering, the 'but I must make my point' way of thinking and try being still for a while. Where have all the opinions stated as fact gotten us? Nowhere we want to be that's for sure. At least nowhere I want to be. 

4. February also happens to be National Cabbage Day. Who knew? Do you like cabbage? Is cabbage on your menu Wednesday? Of the following cabbage dishes which is your favorite-coleslaw (mayo or vinegar?), sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, cabbage soup, kielbasa and cabbage, grilled cabbage, bubble and squeak, kimchi, or haluski? 

I do like cabbage. I mean I don't want it on the menu every night, but I like most things on that list. It would be hard to pick a favorite but my top three would be coleslaw of any kind, kimchi, and bubbles and squeak, mostly because I like saying it, and also because it wings me back to the days of dinner in the local pub in our little English village. 

5. Do you hang on to pennies? What do you do with them? Last thing you purchased for $1.00? Last thing you purchased for $5.00? 

I make hubs crazy digging for change when change is called for. We rarely use cash these days so it doesn't happen often, but if you tell me I owe x dollars and .62 cents I'm going to dig up 2 quarters, a dime, and two pennies from the bottom of my purse. Is that a woman thing? I feel like it might be. 

Last thing I purchased for a dollar? I paid a library fine that was considerably less than one dollar and told them not to bother with the change. Five dollars it's harder to remember....maybe the donuts we bought from the Donut Wagon a couple of weeks ago? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A friend shared this with me and I thought it was lovely...a little snapshot of heaven perhaps? It came out quite a while back, but somehow I missed it.  Still timely though-

Stuff On A 2020 Monday

Yes I know it's 2021. It's also another gray Monday in these parts, and I don't know why I say 'these parts' because I live in a neighborhood, not some remote cabin in the woods. Sometimes saying 'these parts' just feels right. 

It's going to be one of those posts isn't it? 

I got nothin'. 

Let's blog anyway. Actually I have many somethings, but I try so hard not to whine in this space and the thoughts in my head feel a teensy bit whiny. Where is the sun???

On the bright side all this rain is not snow. 

I might rather have snow. 

How was your weekend? Did you celebrate Valentine's Day in some way? Mine started early with hubs walking through the door Friday, the most gorgeous red roses in hand-

For the record fresh flowers make February feel less February-ish. 

We rarely dine out on Valentine's Day, or any day lately, but on Valentine's day we typically cook something together at home. This year our local wine store offered a 'to-go' cook at home special which included a half bottle of champagne, two filets, two crab cakes, and a bottle of red so that's what we did. Hubs grilled the steaks, I cooked the crab cakes, we added a wedge salad and shared a baked potato and it was all super delish. 

We made a creme brûlée for dessert. I cooked and hubs fired up the sugary top and I meant to take a picture but wasn't quick enough. Oh well. There's always next year. 

Saturday night our neighbors invited us over for a spur of the moment get together which was really fun. Fun friendly neighbors are a blessing y'all. It was just the four of us and we had tacos and played cards and listened to music and discussed life and marriage and summertime fun. It all felt very un-2020 ish.  

I know!! It's 2021 but somehow 2020 is a better descriptor, don't you think?

I have three books going currently so read a lot, and we watched more television than is probably good for us but we do what we must in the middle of a rainy, gray, corona-y winter. 

We had a fabulous Facetime with our grands, the highlight of which was my 3 year old grandson singing a new song he'd learned that is essentially Proverbs 17:22 set to music. He sings it with great enthusiasm and not a little drama proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that a joyful heart really is good medicine. 

In other unrelated news, I'm hoping to participate in this year's April A-Z blog challenge and am trying to come up with a theme now. I do better with a theme, but blog content is in short supply these days. As evidenced by this post,  ahem. Can I even write 26 posts in a row in 2020 2021? I'm open to suggestions. 

Okay. I guess we're done here. Summer's comin'! but in the meantime let's find our blessings in the small things, k? Have a great week everyone!

Let's Talk

About what I don't know because it's that time of year where people are cranky and blog content is a bit thin, still I'm going to ramble on anyway. 

It's cold here in the Palmetto State, BUT! not as cold as the state we previously called home. I heard our little NJ town was mentioned on Good Morning America because they got a whopping 32 inches of snow yesterday. That is a lot of snow people. 

This picture popped up on my Facebook memories today, a photo snapped from my front porch six years ago. I guess piles of snow and groundhogs go together, and we had a lot of both in NJ. 

Hubs is so happy he's not dealing with it right now, but shhh...don't tell him...I kind of miss seeing the beauty of a great big snowfall. Just one though. We're not accustomed to those temps anymore so it's best enjoyed from a distance. I'm here shivering in 45 degree weather counting the days until we're back living life outdoors and on the water, hopefully soon. 

Did I mention here the bride and groom live in the snowy northeast? 

photo credit: the bride

Well they do. Many states away from the warm(ish) sunny southland and their people. Still America so there's that, but a ten hour car ride so not geographically close. I remind myself almost daily that it's good for newlyweds to establish themselves as a family unit separate and apart from their family of birth. And they're happy y'all. So so happy. 

My son-in-law's job means this is where they live right now, and so many things have fallen into place for this precious couple that you can't help but see God's hand in it all. The bride even landed an in person teaching job which she enjoys as much as one can in these weird times, but still...can't one of my girls live nearby? 

Maybe someday. 

This is why I declare technology my best friend. 

Wait, no it's not. I just remembered the cable company was in our house half a day yesterday to switch us over to the high speed internet now available in our community. Which is great except now none of the TVs are working right and I loathe having to deal with this sort of thing. Sorry for the run on sentence but ugh...

Also, hubs would say technically he is the one dealing with it, but ugh... 

In other less than pleasant news, our tax organizer appeared in my inbox today. 

Hello February. You're lucky you come with chocolate. 

And beauty. Because y'all there is beauty if you look for it even in the middle of a winter that feels grouchier than most. So let's throw some beauty into the mix.

You thought I was going to post a wedding picture didn't you?  

I would, but we're still waiting on our photographs. This one a guest snapped of the bride dancing with the groom's granddad is awfully sweet. 

And don't you worry...when we get the pictures back you'll know. Ha! 

When daughter2 started teaching from home back in March of 2020, she brought a half-dead plant to the house with her. A student had given her a 'bulb' which hadn't grown into much of anything save one lonely green stalk. Sadly the pot tipped over in her car enroute to our house and that lone green stalk ripped in half. 

She was going to chuck the whole thing but hubs intervened. He loves to shower half-dead plants with TLC and I want you to know he brought this plant back to life. I kept saying it looked like an amaryllis, and while it grew taller and taller every day for a year, it never sprouted any sort of bud or bloom. Hubs though, did not give up and this week-

Yes he attached a grow light to a pool cue. I told you hubs is serious about bringing life to sad situations. 

The world is kind of sad right now, isn't it? Yet here we are with two buds ready to pop, and another  following close behind smack dab in the middle of a cold gray winter. 

A gentle reminder that a little patience and some tender loving care can make all sorts of thing grow. 

G'Day Hodgepodgers

Welcome to another week in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post. Before you run off do the neighborly thing and leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Here we go-

1. Have you done more binge watching this past year than in 'normal' years? Any plans to break that habit in 2021? Tell us one or two shows you binged last year that you really liked. 

We have definitely watched more television in the past year than any other year of our married life. In a 'regular' year we're not big bingers, but one does what one must in the age of Corona. If life resumes some normalcy we can easily break the tv habit. We live on a lake and enjoy being out of doors and on the water, hopefully with friends and/or family nearby. 

Shows we've binged and enjoyed?  The Americans, Yellowstone, Bosch, The Queen's Gambit, Outlander...probably more, but these are the shows that popped into my head first. The Americans was my favorite. 

2. January 26th is Australia Day. Have you ever visited or lived in Australia? Have you ever tasted Vegemite, and if so what did you think?  Is a trip down under on your bucket list? We answered a question about travel three months ago (the October 21st Hodgepodge), but let's revisit now...where are you when it comes to planning or even imagining travel this year? 

I've never been to Australia but it's definitely on my list, New Zealand too. I have friends from that part of the world and I'd love to see them in person. I've tasted vegemite and it's just eh for me. 

As far as travel goes...it's still really hard to imagine anything international, and we don't have anything outside of the US currently on the books. We were planning to attend a wedding in Mexico, but the bride and groom have changed plans and we'll now be celebrating stateside. That will be fun too but means no toes in the sand so we need to figure out how to remedy that somewhere this year. 

3. Something that zaps your energy? Something that energizes you? 

As far as what zaps my energy I think everyone knows what my answer will be...anything and everything relating to 'politics' via social media lately. 

Something that energizes me?  That first cup of coffee with the sunrise makes me feel anything is possible, a hike in the great wide somewhere, meaningful conversations with my daughters or close friends...lots of things. 

4. On a scale of 1-10 what are your eating habits like these days? (1=all junk food all the time and 10= juicing every green thing in the frig) Healthiest meal you've eaten in the last week or so? 

Well we're coming off a wedding which was highly motivating in terms of watching my diet. Plus, I thought we were going to Mexico which would have meant bathing suits, and that thought is also motivating. 

Overall we eat pretty healthy. I am not into juicing, but fruits and veg are my favorite so there's always lots of both in our daily diet. I do watch my carbs and admit I had too much sugar over the Christmas holidays, but have made an effort to get back on track there so I'm going with an 8. Not bad, but still room for improvement. 

5. What's your most often 'Back in my day....' thing to say? 

I feel like I use this expression more in my writing than in my speaking, but maybe something along the lines of ..."we learned how to wait for things." Waiting is something of a lost art. Everything is so instant these days which means we don't get a lot of practice. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I do plan to write more about the wedding weekend, but I would love to have some photos to go with all my many words and as a nod to question #5, we're still waiting for the professional pics. Until then, here's a little snapshot of the I Dos captured by one of our guests-

Practice Makes Perfect

While I don't have many photos yet! from the wedding day itself, I do have quite a few from the rehearsal so let's go there next. They're  a little blurry and my computer hates my photos so editing is a problem, but I'm sharing anyway. 

Somehow we missed taking a whole group shot at the rehearsal dinner but we were busy enjoying life in real time and which is more important?  

Okay, let's back up...the bride and groom arrived at the lake Thursday afternoon, followed shortly thereafter by the groom's parents. His folks are the absolute nicest people and we have a lot in common. We are looking forward to making many happy memories together as extended family in the years to come. Hubs grilled chicken and my next door neighbor dropped by with the most delicious appetizer (a hot bacon and onion dip that was so good you could have eaten it with a spoon) and we had a wonderful relaxing meal as soon-to-be family. 

The in-laws headed back to the small big city to check into the hotel and we got the cars loaded and the bags packed and checked and re-checked we weren't forgetting anything before heading to bed. Friday morning the kids headed out to deposit their two pups at the kennel and we headed out to pick up the wedding dress from the seamstress who kindly offered to steam it for us. Steaming a wedding gown makes me nervous so I was grateful for the assistance. Actually I don't really like to iron so probably would have had hubs do it. He's good with the iron and the vacuum both, so yay hubs! 

We all met up at the downtown hotel, dropped the gift bags we'd put together for our guests at the front desk, and got busy celebrating. Hubs went with the groom and the groom's dad, brother, and good friend to lunch at a local sports bar while the bride, her mother-in-law and I went to a bridal luncheon with the bridesmaids at a nearby charming little bistro (Brick Street Cafe for you locals). 

Daughter2 passed out gifts to her wedding party and we had a lovely couple of hours just chatting and letting the excitement build. 

The rehearsal was at 4 PM in the venue, but not in the space where the actual wedding would be performed. We had the day of ceremony in the building's lovely glass lobby but on a Friday afternoon non-wedding people were coming and going in that space, so we moved the rehearsal upstairs. 

Is my daughter a teacher? Yes, how could you tell?  

 

Did I take a single picture capturing the scope of the venue? No I did not. But there will be some to share very soon. 

Our reception was held on the 6th floor of a downtown building,  a gorgeous rooftop venue with views of the city, and that's where the bride and groom practiced getting married.

Is that something you can practice? Hmmm...in normal times I might say not really, but in the age of Corona yes, a little bit. The newlyweds have learned a lot in this season of making ready to join their lives and much of what they've had to 'practice' will be put to good use as the years roll by. 

Patience-check.

Flexibility-check.

Adjusting expectations-check.

Focusing on what is most important-check. 

Regularly asking God to show you the path you need to be on, and then cheerfully walking that path-check and check. 

After the rehearsal we headed to a most fabulous evening hosted by the groom's parents. The rehearsal dinner was held in a cozy nearby loft space (The Loft at Soby's) and it felt almost like we were celebrating in someone's home. We had a delicious meal and then the words flowed. 

 

First the groom's dad spoke and as he described the traits he and the groom's mom love best about their son I couldn't help but think he might be describing my very own hubs. Hubs and his new son-in-law are alike in very many ways and he tucks so nicely into our family. 

Several of the groomsmen also spoke and I loved hearing people talk about my now son-in-law, about what a good friend, encourager, fun-loving, optimistic soul he is. I got a good one y'all. Bridesmaids were up next and it was again so special to hear these sweet friends tell how much our girl means to them. 

One has known her since the second grade, one as an adult, and one is a cousin so a first friend to both my girls. A cousin is the next best thing to a sister and we were so happy to have some family in the wedding party. 

Nobody knew about Daughter1's video toast and we saved that until the end. Thankfully, because everyone present agreed if we'd played that first nobody would have wanted to follow. It nearly wrecked me and the bride both, but we recovered and it is a memory I will treasure forever and ever amen. 

After all the emotion what we needed was cake. Cake is the answer to a lot of life's questions and this one was super cute. 

The cake was followed by the real thing...bourbon and cigars on the rooftop along with a touching champagne toast courtesy of hubs brother and sister-in-law. We decided up front that anyone who wanted to celebrate the bride and groom in some way would be welcome to do so because in this crazy upside down world there can never be too much love. 

And y'all these two are so very easy to love.