Trick or Treat! It's The Hodgepodge!

BOO! It's the Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions, add your link at the end of my post. Then head over to your neighbor there, and leave them a comment. What a treat!  Here we go-

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I think the older you get the more aware you become of the passing of time. I know I want to invest in things that matter for eternity. I want to stay healthy and active. Hubs and I enjoy going and doing and we have five grandchildren who I want to see grow up. 

I especially want to be intentional as a grandparent in spending time with them, praying for them, encouraging them. And for my daughters too who are in the thick of it with young children in the house. I want to be available for them when they are available. The flexibility in my daily schedule is a gift and I want to listen and support and laugh with them at all the funny things their babies say and do. 

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

Self-discipline.

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

We do celebrate Halloween. We usually go to a party and I enjoy dressing up. We have wedding festivities happening this weekend, so will be celebrating young love instead of Halloween.  

When the girls were growing up we carved pumpkins, chose costumes, and then usually the dads in the neighborhood took the trick or treaters out and moms were home handing out the candy. 

The dads enjoyed it as much as the kids, and they sometimes dressed up too. I don't decorate for Halloween per se, but I do put pumpkins on my porch and add some fall decor inside. 

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate?

I haven't had a lot of chocolate lately. I guess the last thing I ate would be the last thing I made. These chocolate peanut butter bars my sister gave me the recipe for. I've only had one but hubs has been enjoying them a lot. In fact I didn't take a picture when I made them and this is all that's left-

Super easy and no bake! The recipe is linked here-No Bake Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Squares

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

I like both. I need both. I enjoy plans but need down time to recover too. Last weekend was pretty laid back. I wrote about it in Monday's post-Monday Morning Quarterbacking

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I dug out a couple of Halloween pics from years past. This was last year's costume-

And an Austin Powers themed costume I loved from a few years back-

And one more of my girls from way back when...

Enjoy your Halloween fun, and I'll see you in NOVEMBER. Say what??

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 575

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

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate? 

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 525

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! 

1. Besides Thanksgiving (in the USA) what's one thing you're looking forward to in November? 

2. Do you like candles? Your favorite scent? How often do you burn a candle in your home? 

3. What gadgets did you use today? 

4. This question is a repeat from one asked in November of 2014, but I liked it so it's coming round again. Many of you weren't here in 2014. Okay, you can have fifty pounds of something (anything but money)...what will you choose? Also, since I mentioned it...what were you up to in November of 2014? 

5. 'Tis the season...what's something you're feeling especially grateful for today? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The Art Of The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge, our last in October of 2023. Next week November is upon us and the holidays are coming up quick.  If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Trick or treating, hodgepodge style. Here we go-

1. October 25th is International Artists Day...do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why. 

I'm not sure I have a favorite. I love the ballet paintings of Degas, the gardens of Monet, and the birds of John James Audubon.  Why? I love ballet and the great outdoors. 

2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

No not in the sense of having skill in drawing or as a painter or sculptor. I'm creative with words but I'm not artistic. 

3. What's a skill, task, hobby, or job you've done so often you now have it 'down to a fine art'? 

Loading the dishwasher lol. 

4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you've had recently (or not so recently if that's easier).  

We don't dine out a lot because choices here in tiny town are pretty limited. We mostly cook at home or dine with friends in their homes. We don't eat fast food (maybe the occasional Chick fil-A when traveling). We love fine dining (our favorite) but again, it's a drive to get to so not something we do often anymore. We belong to a couple of wine clubs that pair wines with food and we enjoy that a lot. Hubs and I get lunch out maybe once a week? Dinner maybe once a week, probably less...depends on the week. 

A less than stellar experience? We met friends for pizza before a concert a couple of weeks ago. The show started at 7:30 and we met at the restaurant (one block from the concert venue) at 5:45. At 7 PM we went to check on the food (or lack thereof) and were told they hadn't even put the order in yet. Bother. 

The bar for restaurant service post-'you know what' is pretty low, but communication is key. If the server had given us an update on the situation (understaffed and overwhelmed) we would have had options. 

5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

Some years we have something going on, and other years it's quiet. This year we're going to a party and will be dressing up. I do love a costume. I don't decorate my house for Halloween, but do put a few fall pieces out, mums and pumpkins on the porch, that sort of thing. Our neighborhood is hosting a trunk or treat if they get enough of a response. There aren't a lot of young children in our neighborhood. The kayak group is doing a 'dock or treat' and we're hosting a stop at our dock. You give the kayakers a sip of something and a small bite of something before they paddle away. Should be fun. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

This has nothing to do with anything which I suppose is the definition of random but...

I follow a site on insta called SBMowing. He has a landscape business and I think it's once a week he drives around, finds a yard that is overgrown, out-of-control, a community eyesore, and he takes care of it for free. There is something so satisfying about these videos and what he's doing. A little pick me up in a world that needs picking up. 

Here's the link-SBMowing

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 524

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

1. October 25th is International Artists Day...do you have a favorite artist? If so tell us who and why. 

2. Would you describe yourself as artistic? Elaborate. 

3. What's a skill, task, hobby, or job you've done so often you now have it 'down to a fine art'? 

4. How often do you dine out? Fast food, fine dining, or somewhere in between? Tell us about a less than stellar restaurant experience you've had recently (or not so recently if that's easier).  

5. Do you celebrate Halloween? To what extent? Are there trick or treaters where you live? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

A Merry Halloween Hodgepodge

Boo! It's the Hodgepodge! If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. In two or three sentences describe yourself to someone who has never met you. 

I actually have an 'about me' tab on my sidebar, but it's in serious need of updating. For now let's stick to the prompt-

Married for 38+ years to my college sweetheart. Mother, daughter, sister, Nana. I love Jesus, books, words and finding beauty in the great wide somewhere. 

2. Will you celebrate Halloween this year? If you answered yes tell us how? Let's play this or that-chocolate candy or fruity candy? pumpkin seeds or pumpkin pie? Halloween party or scary movie? hay ride or corn maze? carve a pumpkin or paint a pumpkin?

We'll be spending Halloween with daughter1 and her family so definitely celebrating. The boys are so excited about their costumes which their crafty momma made. They live in one of those neighborhoods that has lots and lots and lots of children, the kind of neighborhood other people drive into so their kids can also trick or treat there. I'm expecting a lot of the fun kind of chaos.  

As far as this or that-chocolate, pie, party, hay ride, carve

3. What's something that scared you when you were young? Are you still afraid?

Our basement lol. If my mom needed me to get something from the basement I begged my sister to go with me, and she did the same. We eventually got over it, but even as a grown adults we disliked being sent to the basement to fetch something. No logical reason why, nothing truly scary ever happened in that basement, but it was a childhood fear that stuck. 

4. Your favorite soothing drink? 

Hot tea with a very small splash of milk. 

5. Are you thinking about Christmas yet? Does this make you feel happy or stressed? 

My September-October brain has not had a lot of room for thoughts of Christmas. 

Besides, I love the fall and Thanksgiving especially, so I don't want to move ahead too quickly. I guess I've thought about Christmas a very little bit in terms of who's coming when, and I've purchased a handful of gifts, but not enough to make a real dent in my gift giving list.  

I don't feel stressed thinking about Christmas. Not yet anyway. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I have what feels like a million random thoughts currently rolling around my head but for now let's all just take a deep breath and appreciate the Tennessee sunset in my daughter's backyard-

Happy Wednesday! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 481

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! 

1. In two or three sentences describe yourself to someone who has never met you. 

2. Will you celebrate Halloween this year, and if so tell us how? Let's play this or that-chocolate candy or fruity candy? pumpkin seeds or pumpkin pie? Halloween party or scary movie? hay ride or corn maze? carve a pumpkin or paint a pumpkin?

3. What's something that scared you when you were young? Are you still afraid? 

4. Your favorite soothing drink? 

5. Are you thinking about Christmas yet? Does this make you feel happy or stressed? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Happy Halloween! And Other November Things

I am obsessed with autumn this year. Every year I guess, but this year especially. 

I think it's the light. The light is pure gold and the lake off peak is gentle and still. 

I know the days are shorter, but the way the sunlight breaks through the trees makes up for that. Blue jeans, fires, cozy mornings, change...just give me all the autumn things. 

Hubs and I took a drive across the border a couple of weeks ago to have lunch at The Greystone Inn on Lake Toxaway. 

Spectacular. 

Let's see...what else...hmmm... hey, remember Halloween? Ha! 

Cutest family ever. I love all the 'themed' costumes you see young families coming up with today. 

Speaking of cute, do you also remember the newlyweds? 

They were here this past weekend en route to their new home some distance south of us. West of us? Somewhere that's not here, but not too too far from here either. We had a wonderful visit as evidenced by this picture taken late Saturday afternoon-

And I'm sure you remember Hunley-

He won the Garden and Gun Magazine Reader's Choice award and continues to live his best life every single day. You can read a link to the article on their website here. 

The contest was a lot of fun and he received over 90,000 votes. People had to detox from their phones and their Facebook when it was all over because friends, and friends of friends, and former coworkers, and their friends, and Boykin Spaniel lovers the world over were all in on this thing for an entire month. 

I've thought about the way we entered this contest on a lark and how it literally took off, and why that was. I've decided it was about so much more than a dog photo. I think people were so eager for a distraction from this upside down world we are living in, so hungry for a break from all things political, anxious to forget all the scolding and the judging and the lecturing and the shaming and the canceling, so much so that they devoted themselves to something simple, something happy...

A little brown dog, who for a time in the middle of a beautiful autumn and an angry world, connected us in a way that made us smile.

Let's keep smiling. 

Nothin' Scary About The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge, our last in October.  If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my blog, then leave a comment for the blogger before you.  Here we go-

1. Is Halloween a big deal in your neighborhood? Was it something you celebrated as a child? With your own children? Do you like candy corn? 

It's not a huge deal in our neighborhood, but it's not no deal either. There are not a lot of young children in our neighborhood and the driveways are long and the roads a bit dark so not ideal for trick or treating. Last year someone organized a trunk or treat in the clubhouse parking lot which was fun and made trick or treating easier for everyone. We don't get trick or treaters at our door, which is just as well because I tend to buy way too much candy and consequently eat way too much candy. 

We did celebrate when I was growing up, nothing over the top but it was a fun day and much looked forward to. We always had a costume parade at school and then we trick or treated around the neighborhood that evening. This was back in the day when you wore those plastic masks that covered your face, had tiny little slits for eyes, and a rubber band that went around your head to hold it in place. If you know you know and if you don't, well you're young and lucky lol. 

My dad always carved a pumpkin but we didn't do any extreme decorating. Early on in my blog life I wrote a (very wordy) post about my Halloween memories. I've linked it here if you're curious-It Was A Dark and Stormy Night...

We kept it pretty low key for our own children too. Costumes and trick or treating around the neighborhood with the dads leading the way. We carved pumpkins but again, I wasn't in to a lot of Halloween decor. 

As far as candy corn goes...I can take it or leave it. 

2. Are you a scaredy cat? About what? 

Hmmm...we probably all have one thing or another that would qualify us as 'scaredy cat'. I have done and still do a lot of things many people would define as 'living unafraid'...international travel, swimming in a deep lake, public speaking, etc. 

How about traversing a gorge in a hanging cable car? I'm fraidy scared but I still do get on them and go so does that really count? 

I know...bats. I am a scaredy cat when it comes to bats. Shudder. 

3. Last time you were somewhere that should have been busy but felt like a 'ghost town'?

Maybe a restaurant on a Friday night that would normally be hopping but these days is not?

4. Do you like chili and if so how do you like it? Beans or no beans? Meat or no meat? Beef or chicken? Spice or no spice? Favorite toppings? 

I love chili and I love chili weather. I make mine with beans-meat-spice, but can happily eat chili all sorts of ways. I tend to use beef but also have a white chicken chili recipe that's tasty. We like spicy and then hubs also needs a side of jalapeños because there's no such thing as too hot for him. I like shredded cheese and sometimes a small dollop of sour cream on mine along with a side of cornbread.

5. Would you describe yourself as a night owl? What time of night qualifies? What are you doing while everyone else is asleep? Do you then 'sleep in'? Define 'sleeping in'. 

Ha! No. What's the opposite of a night owl, because that's what I am? I'm an early bird and love the wee hours of the morning as the sun is rising, not the wee hours of the night after the sun has gone to bed. My level of productivity goes way down late afternoon, and sleeping in for me would be 7:30. If I'm still in bed at 8 am I'm probably sick. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." L.M. Montgomery

So is the little brown dog...

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 439

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to link your answers with the rest of the world wide webbers. See you there! 

1. Is Halloween a big deal in your neighborhood? Was it something you celebrated as a child? With your own children? Do you like candy corn? 

2. Are you a scaredy cat? About what? 

3. Last time you were somewhere that should have been busy but felt like a 'ghost town'? 

4. Do you like chili and if so how do you like it? Beans or no beans? Meat or no meat? Beef or chicken? Spice or no spice? Favorite toppings? 

5. Would you describe yourself as a night owl? What time of night qualifies? What are you doing while everyone else is asleep? Do you then 'sleep in'? Define 'sleeping in'. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 392

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

1. Boo, boo-hoo, make a boo-boo, boo(ze)...pick one and tell us how it relates to life lately. 

2. Do you like the color orange? Would we find this color in your home? Your wardrobe? Peach-pumpkin-tangeringe...your favorite shade of the three listed? 

3. October 28th is National Chocolate Day. What's the last chocolate something you tasted? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being out of this world delicious, how would you rate it? 

4. Life is like a box of chocolates or so says Forrest Gump's mama. Would you agree? Aside from the pandemic fallout tell us one way this saying has played out in your life. 

5. As October winds down tell us three things you loved about the month we're bidding adieu. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

A Giant Of A Hodgepodge

I'm in the middle of recapping our trip up the California and Oregon coasts and if you'd like to follow along you'll find those posts here (Post 1), here (Post 2) and here (Post 3). I'll be back at it with Thursday's post, but today it's Wednesday and Wednesdays are all about the Hodgepodge.

If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you because comments make the blog world go round. Here we go-

  

1. What does/did Halloween look like at your house this year? Did you decorate? Pick pumpkins? Carve pumpkins? Expect trick or treaters? Wear a costume to a party or event? Make a costume? Feel glad you didn't have to come up with a costume? Cook a Halloween themed treat? Eat all the leftover candy?

I generally answer the questions on Tuesday morning, so while it is Halloween not a lot has happened here yet. And likely won't because a) hubs and I both feel like we've got sinus infections and b) I'm contemplating staying in my pajamas all day and c) our driveway is long and there aren't a lot of young children in the neighborhood. A neighbor did tell me we will get some trick-or-treaters and I do have candy to hand out. The weather is great so I might be surprised by how many visitors we get. Also am I the only one who buys a big bag of candy, but has a moment of panic on the actual day and then runs out and buys two more? 

Last night hubs and I looked at each other and said, 'Wow we didn't even buy a pumpkin this year.' We didn't go to any Halloween parties this year either, but that's okay because I lack the creative costume gene and am happy to skip the stress that comes with trying to figure something out. I purposely bought hubs favorite candy, not mine so I would not be tempted to eat all the leftovers.  

Bring on November and my favorite holiday of the year-Thanksgiving! 

2. What are you waiting for? Elaborate

For life to fall into some sort of semi-predictable rhythm. I'm beginning to think no rhythm is our rhythm but maybe that's what keeps us young?

3. Do you wish you were friendlier, braver, more creative, more athletic, or something else? Explain.

Maybe more athletic? While there's always room for improvement I think I'm pretty comfortable with my level of friendliness-bravery-creativity. I am clumsy though, and a little more athleticism would be nice. 

4. When it comes time to paint are you a do-it-yourself-er or do you hire someone? What was the last paint job completed at your house? What room most needs painting now? How do you feel about wallpaper?

Hubs can paint and has painted various rooms in various houses we've owned, but no more. Now we hire a professional and if you can find a good painter they're worth the money. We're particular about edges and corners. 

We've been in our new house almost a year now, so everything is freshly painted. It's time for the painter to come back and touch up a few places, but nothing needs a complete re-do right now. Our painter here is fantastic and also fantastically busy which is what happens when you're good at what you do. 

Wallpaper-eh. I prefer painted walls, and we're strictly painted in this house. I can handle wallpaper in small doses, maybe a powder room or an accent wall, but I prefer paint.

5. What is one specific thing you felt gratitude for in the month of October?

Our slow meander up the California and Oregon coast, the beauty of creation all around us from the mighty Pacific to the towering trees, and time with my grandson which is rare and precious. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

"...No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe." ~John Steinbeck

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 327

I'm in the middle of recapping our trip up the California and Oregon coasts and if you'd like to follow along you'll find them here (Post 1), here (Post 2) and here (Post 3). I'll take a break on Wednesday to host the Hodgepodge, then get back to it Thursday.

In the meantime...here are this week's questions to the Wednesday Hodgepdoge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. What does/did Halloween look like at your house this year? Did you decorate? Pick pumpkins? Carve pumpkins? Expect trick or treaters? Wear a costume to a party or event? Make a costume? Feel glad you didn't have to come up with a costume? Cook a Halloween themed treat? Eat all the leftover candy?

2. What are you waiting for? Elaborate

3. Do you wish you were friendlier, braver, more creative, more athletic, or something else? Explain.

4. When it comes time to paint are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone? What was the last paint job completed at your house? What room most needs painting now? How do you feel about wallpaper?

5. What is one specific thing you felt gratitude for in the month of October?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Hello Hodgepodge, My Old Friend...

100 random points to whoever gets my title today. Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Please don't link today unless you've participated in the HP.  I'm sure your blog is fabulous, but Wednesdays round here are strictly Hodgepodge. Thanks for understanding. 

I'd love for you to play along though, and newcomers are always welcome. Answer the questions before adding your link at the end of my post. Then hop over and say hello to the blogger who linked before you, because that's what good neighbors do.

Also, if you're visiting here from the Write 31 Challenge, you'll find my thoughts on today's prompt by scrolling all the way down to #8.

Here we go-

1. Are you comfortable with silence? If you're home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What's your favorite place to find silence/be silent?

I'm very comfortable with silence. Unless of course it's an uncomfortable silence, then not so much-ha! I tend to fill uncomfortable silences with excessive chatter, but silence for the sake of being quiet? Definitely.   

Hubs likes background noise, but if I'm home alone the house is generally quiet. Until recently my favorite place to find quiet space was the sun room in my NJ house. The room was all windows, with a super comfy couch, and I could see the woods around me, watch our mama fox tending her babies, the leaves changing color...so much quiet beauty right outside my window. It was such a cozy room and that's where I liked to take my coffee and my Bible and start my day. 

Finding silence in this space is a bit more challenging. There's only so many places I can go in the apartment, and if the TV is on or hubs is on the phone I can hear it, even if I'm down the hall. Probably the thing I'm most looking forward to in our new home are all the outdoor spaces. There will be no shortage of places to find a quiet corner. 

In the meantime, I love to walk in the mornings. I do some of my best thinking and most of my heavy-duty praying there. I like the silence of the great outdoors anytime really..sitting by the water, on a mountaintop, hiking a woody path through the forest. I actually wrote about this topic on Monday (click here) and a reader mentioned he finds silence in a snowfall. I feel the same. 

2. October 28th is National Chocolate Day. Can't let that go by without a mention now, can we? Will you celebrate? How? Let's say you can have one of the following right this very minute...a cup of hot chocolate, a strawberry dipped in chocolate, a bowl of plain chocolate ice cream, or a slice of chocolate pie...what's  your pleasure?

I think you have to celebrate, right? Isn't that the law? If I had to choose one of the chocolate treats listed to consume right this very minute I'd probably choose a cup of cocoa. With marshmallows please!

3. How do you feel about blue jeans? Favorite thing in the world to wear or nope, don't own a single pair? How often do you wear blue jeans in a typical week? Do you own a blue jean jacket?

Blue jeans are my love language and they're one of my favorite things in the world to wear. I can go the opposite way too, and say I love fancy dress and wearing a great pair of heels, but that's not an everyday thing. 

If I'm at home I'm usually wearing blue jeans, which means I wear them several times a week. I do own a jean jacket that I purchased at Kohl's several years ago for the bargain price of $10. It was one of those items that had been marked down about eight times, then I had a coupon, and they were having a promo, and how does Kohl's make money again? Whatever, it was a great purchase. I still love the jacket, and still wear it pretty often. 

4. Are you superstitious? If so, in what way?

I don't think I am superstitious. I tried to think of something, and came up with nothing. Chain letters, Friday the 13th, walking under ladders...none of that worries me. As a leftover habit from childhood I sometimes refrain from stepping on the sidewalk cracks, but I don't expect trouble if I hit one now and then. 

5. If you had to come up with a costume using only things you have on hand right now, what could you come up with?

Everything we own, including the costume box, is in storage right now, except for our clothing and just a few personal items. How about a fisherman? We have a couple of fishing poles here and a tackle box. I could wear hubs fishing shirt and my rubber boots. It wouldn't win any prizes, but would work in a pinch. 

6. What scares you a little? What do you do when you feel scared?

Just a little? Building a house. 

What do I do when I feel scared? I pray a lot. I listen to praise music. I move...go for a walk, run the vacuum, empty the dishwasher, bake, do something physical to get me out of my own head. 

7. Perhaps today will be the day I _____________________.

Finish the great closet switch I began last weekend. Not my favorite task. Obviously. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Using this space today for my Write 31 Challenge one-word prompt. 

Day 28-hope

I almost skipped today's prompt, because the word  felt a little deep for the Hodgepodge. By the time I come up with the questions and then answer them and then live life I'm pretty much running on fumes. But that's why I signed up for the Challenge. To make me think, and nudge me to write when I'd rather be napping. 

I started thinking about what I'm hoping for right now. Today. Quite a lot actually, and if I were to put it in list form it would run the gamut from unimportant in the grand scheme of things to quite important in the grand scheme of things. I mean I hope it quits raining so work on our build can continue, but I also hope the babies in South Sudan had food for their bellies this morning. 

Hope has become one of those words we use perhaps more casually than we should. 

The dictionary defines hope as a feeling of expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen. I'm a hopeful person. I live with a feeling of expectation that tomorrow will be better than today. That an hour from now something can happen to change circumstances that are currently not great. 

I'm often told I see life through rose colored glasses, and I guess there are times that's true. But not all my hopes are simply wishful thinking. My greatest hopes, my heart's desire, the hopes nestled into the deepest recesses of my being are based on something far more powerful, more real, than wishful thinking. 

They're based on what I know about God, and what I know He can do. 

Anything. That's what. He can move mountains and calm the seas. God can make a way when I can't see a way. He can do immeasurably more than I ask or imagine so yes, I hope. Not baseless, unfounded, pie-in-the-sky hope, but real hope. Hope based in the knowledge that God knows and cares about my hearts desires. 

Live expecting friends because He.is.able. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 241

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

1. Are you comfortable with silence? If you're home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What's your favorite place to find silence/be silent?

2. October 28th is National Chocolate Day. Can't let that go by without a mention now, can we? Will you celebrate? How? Let's say you can have one of the following right this very minute... a cup of hot chocolate, a strawberry dipped in chocolate, a bowl of plain chocolate ice cream, or a slice of chocolate pie...what's your pleasure?

3. How do you feel about blue jeans? Favorite thing in the world to wear or nope, don't own a single pair? How often do you wear blue jeans in a typical week? Do you own a blue jean jacket?

4. Are you superstitious? If so, in what way?

5. If you had to come up with a costume using only things you have on hand right now, what could you come up with?

6. What scares you a little? What do you do when you feel scared?

7. Perhaps today will be the day I ______________________________.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Freaky Friday Fragments

Happy Halloween! I saw an ad for Best Buy last night while watching The Biggest Loser, and while they didn't say ho-ho-ho or the ever popular 'happy holidays', there were Christmas lights twinkling, snow falling and the sound of bells in the background. On October 30th. They didn't even wait for Halloween.

Our local supermarket is also confused, and it seems they've kind of just waved the white flag on this whole holiday season. In a single aisle you can find Halloween candy on one side, Christmas lights and assorted decor on the facing side, and running down the middle are Thanksgiving napkins and turkey related paper goods.

One question-why???? I just do not understand why this is necessary in October. Christmas especially, but even Thanksgiving is late this year. We have a solid month to shop?? for Thanksgiving once Halloween ends, so why???

Hunting was a theme in this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. It's funny how strongly people feel about hunting. Most hunters I know are the most responsible of gun owners, and most eat what they kill. With all the talk of hormones and gobbledy-gook injected into our food, hunting is truly getting back to basics. You know where your meat comes from if you hunt.

Unless we're all going vegetarian, our meat is killed in some form or fashion, oftentimes much less humanely than by a hunter's bow or bullet. I think the 'gun debate' in our country has lost all perspective. I'm still waiting for a real discussion about the mental health crisis in our country which, if not at the root of our most recent tragedies, is certainly a factor in nearly all of them.

In happier news I had a facial yesterday. I need to have my skin looking ten years younger by January-ha! Is that possible? I'll let ya know.

I fi-na-lly got Daughter1's car booked with a mover. You're relieved I know. Getting a car from the East Coast to the West Coast within a very narrow window of time has been a teensy tiny bit stressful. But!...her belongings and her vehicle will be collected next week and on their way. I'm pretty sure I'll sleep easier once this portion of the 'wedding planning' is behind us.

Lastly, this video surfaced on YouTube and is making its way round social media. This occurred just up the road so to speak, not far from the mall where I shop, a couple of little towns over from where I live. Hubs and I saw something very similar in our backyard the first year we lived here. The bears reminded us of the way brothers sometimes wrestle. Experts consulted believe the two in the video were likely worked up about a girl-bear. Anyway, it's a pretty incredible snapshot of suburban NJ wildlife. Creation never ceases to amaze-

If you've got fragments from your week to share, hop over to Half Past Kissin' Time and add your link to the party. Enjoy your Friday everyone!

And Merry Christmas! Happy Halloween! Don't eat too much turkey!

The Spooktacular Hodgepodge

'Twas the Hodgepodge before Halloween, and all through the web...

So glad you've joined in this week, October's last Hodgepodge hurrah! Next week we're into November and all things gratitude, turkey and wedding.  

That last bit might just be me. 

If you've answered the questions today, add your link at the end of my post.  Then go say hi to the blogger who linked before you because everybody loves company.  Here we go-

1. My hubs spent last weekend pheasant hunting. Are there hunters in your family? If so, what do they hunt? Which of the following have you tasted-pheasant, rabbit, venison, duck, goose? Which of those would you most like to taste or be most willing to taste?

Vegetarians keep calm and Hodgepodge on.

Hubs enjoys the great outdoors, but is not a big hunter. He really loved the pheasant hunt though, so perhaps there is more of that in his future. Not deer hunting because deer are like family in our neck of the woods.  

That being said I have tasted venison and it's okay. I've tasted all of the above with the exception of rabbit and I really have no interest in trying that one. Course if you served it to me I'd try it, but I wouldn't order it in a restaurant if there were other options. 

I like duck, but am not a big fan of goose. Unless we're talking roasted potatoes with Sunday lunch like they serve in the UK...pretty sure they cook those in goose fat which is what makes them so completely delicious.  

2. What high spot have you visited that gave you a wonderful 'bird's eye view' of something below?

I started to answer this question and realized there were far too many to name. I have a lot of favorite high places, and I think I might give them their own blog post one day soon. Or not soon, but eventually. For today let's keep it simple and go with the one closest to home-

Highpoint...the literal highest point in NJ. It's a great place to hike, you can see NJ, Pennsylvania, and New York from up here, and the surrounding parkland is gorgeous. 

3. Do you have any birds in your home? These could be either real live pets or decorative, as in prints, fabrics, knickknacks, or pottery.

I don't have any birds as pets, although I do refer to the hawk who lives in our backyard tree tops as mine. I love incorporating birds into my decor. We have a couple of Audubon prints in our dining room, framed bird prints in my sunroom and powder room both, and wooden duck decoys in the office. 

I also have a real live bird dog, who can most often be found in her favorite chair, but who also loves to be out stalking birds, squirrels, rabbits, fox, groundhogs, and the occasional fly away plastic grocery bag.

Everyone wave to Dixie.  

4. Tell about a time you killed two birds with one stone.

These kinds of things are always a little hard to come up with off the top of my head. Kinda lame, but a couple of weeks ago hubs needed something from the hardware store and he was going to trek north to a place we frequent. However we were going to grab breakfast at the diner first, and that's south. Then I remembered there was a hardware store practically next door to the diner, so we sort of killed two birds with one stone. We avoided going both north and south in the space of an hour so that was nice. 

5. Your favorite song with a bird in it's title?

Freebird by Lynrd Skynyrd. Everyone knows this one, right? If not, you can listen here, but be forewarned it's gonna shave 9 minutes off your life. Back in the 1970's lots of songs went on for more than two and a half minutes. 

6. What most recently gave you goose bumps?

I can't think of a thing. 

Check back with me on Friday...I've heard talk of a snow shower, but lalalalala.

7. Halloween is this Friday...any plans? Did you trick or treat as a child? Carve pumpkins? Share your most memorable costume.

This is the first Halloween we've been in town for a while so our plan is to dole out candy to the brave, athletically inclined children who hike up our steep drive in the dark of night.  I might make a pot of chili or some kind of soup because it's supposed to get cold here Friday evening. When my girls were growing up we always had chili on Halloween, something warm before they headed out for candy collecting with the hubs and other dads/kids in our little cul-de-sac. 

Did I trick or treat as a child? Of course. Just ask my dentist. We'd go in a big group and walk for what felt like miles, but was probably more like blocks. I grew up in a big neighborhood with sidewalks and street lamps and a more innocent world all the way round, so trick or treating was a much anticipated event. My dad usually carved the pumpkin, but we helped scoop out the guts. 

My most memorable costume was the year I wore a Japanese kimono and wooden shoes, and one of those plastic masks over my face that made it hard to see. The kimono made it hard to walk and I was chased and knocked down by a big German Shepherd. Good times! 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

How 'bout a throw back, Halloween style? That's the bride-to-be on the right, with her maid of honor on the left-

October 31, 1991. 
Be still my heart. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 196

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

1. My hubs spent last weekend pheasant hunting. Are there hunters in your family? If so, what do they hunt? Which of the following have you tasted-pheasant, rabbit, venison, duck, goose? Which of those would you most like to taste, or be most willing to taste?

Vegetarians keep calm and Hodgepodge on.

2. What high spot have you visited that gave you a wonderful 'bird's eye view' of something below?

3.  Do you have any birds in your home? These could be either real live pets or decorative, as in bird prints, knickknacks, fabric or pottery.

4. Tell about a time you 'killed two birds with one stone'?

5. Your favorite song with a bird in it's title?

6. What most recently gave you goose bumps?

7. Halloween is this Friday...any plans? Did you trick or treat as a child? Carve pumpkins? Share your most memorable costume.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A Tricky Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you're new here, I'm glad you've joined the party. Everyone is welcome to play along-answer the questions on your own blog, then add your link at the end of my post. Hop around and say hi to the neighbors too. Here we go-

1. What's something you're dealing with that might be described as tricky?

I'm not going to answer my own question. It's something I don't really want to blog about, but it's definitely tricky.  

What's Halloween week without a little mystery?  

2. What's your treat of choice?

Hmmm...as in candy? Like trick or treat? If that's the case I'll take a Payday or a Mounds Bar please. If we're talking treats in general then a shopping spree through Nordstrom's shoe department would be pretty awesome.

3. Did you/will you carve a jack-o-lantern this month? Which real (living or dead) or fictional 'Jack' would you most like to meet in person? Why?

We did not carve a jack-o-lantern this month. Did we have time to carve a jack-o-lantern this month? It doesn't feel like we had a lot of spare minutes in October, plus no littles in the house to clean out the 'guts'.  

Which Jack would I like to meet in person? Why Jack Bauer of course!  

4. In your opinion, what's the grossest sounding word in the English language?

I'm going with crusty because ewwww! That word gives me the shivers. There was a sandwich shop in our little village in the UK called Mrs. Crusty's. I'm sure the food was fine, but my girls and I never did go in there, because crusty...ewwww. 

5. When did your heart last skip a beat?

Probably the last time I was on an airplane. My heart skips lots of beats when I fly. Or it might have been my last visit to the dentist.  I lose a few beats every time I'm in that chair. 

6.  Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon or Ray Parker Jr.'s Ghostbusters...your favorite 'scary' tune?

Is everybody going to say Thriller? I imagine that will be the most picked, but I'm going out of the box on this one, and will say Werewolves of London.  

You had to know I would. 

We used to break into that song everytime we went to Chinatown to eat at Lee Ho Fooks. The restaurant closed while we were living in the UK, and I'm not sure we ever ordered the beef chow mein, but we definitely 'did some walking through the streets of Soho in the rain'.  

Some of you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?
Suffice it to say, music and memory go hand in hand.  

7.  It was a dark and stormy night when__________________________

Hurricane Sandy struck this time last year.  Stormy doesn't even begin to describe the sound she made.  It was scary. The storm made landfall on October 29th and one year later people are still displaced and many businesses continue to struggle, not just at the shore either.  There are some literal ghost towns in this part of the country as a result of Sandy.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Once upon a time there lived a bunny and a princess.  
They were the sweetest in all the land.   

Halloween, circa 1992

They still are. 

Hodgepodge Questions Volume 148

Here are this week's Hodgepodge questions. Hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the rest of the Internets. See you there!

1. What's something you're dealing with that might be described as tricky?

2.  What's your treat of choice?

3. Did you/will you carve a jack-o-lantern this month? Which real (living or dead) or fictional 'Jack' would you most like to meet in person? Why?

4.  In your opinion, what's the grossest sounding word in the English language?

5. When did your heart last skip a beat?

6. Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Picket, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon, or Ray Parker Jr.'s Ghostbusters...your favorite 'scary' tune?

7.   It was a dark and stormy night when______________________________.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.