Love Is In The Hodgepodge Air

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave some comment love for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'? 

2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way? 

It's a thorny world and I try to always find that rose. A husband who makes me laugh, the sunrise, grown girls who make my heart sing, time, memory, toddler giggles and observations, a bright blue sky...I honestly don't have to look all that hard. 

3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated? 

Small kindnesses, thoughtful gestures, words with actions that follow suit. 

4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day? 

Fresh flowers for sure. We typically cook something together at home on Valentine's Day, often a new recipe that might feel a little bit fancy. I'm going to be traveling on the actual day so we'll celebrate a day early. Hubs will be home with his other Valentine-

5. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My hubs knows I love flowers (anytime), but since I won't be home to enjoy them next week he sent me this really beautiful single rose. 

It's real. 

It's hard to appreciate in a photograph, but it's a real red rose that's been dipped in some sort of resin, then the stem and leaf edges are dipped in 24K gold. It's amazing. 

Hope this week is filled with all the things and people you love ❤️

No Surprise It's The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's 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. Here we go-

1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree?

Not by choice. We're retired so we're pretty low risk with investments at this point in our lives. I'm not at all a risk taker in the athletic/adrenaline sport department-snow skiing, rock climbing, that sort of thing. 

That being said if hubs said he wanted to pick up and live somewhere new, visit a country we've never before seen, eat something unusual, then I'd be game.  I'm open to change and I guess that qualifies me as somewhat of a risk taker. 

Out of curiosity I took an online quiz and came out as a sensation seeker but on the low end of that spectrum-

'...Your relatively low score in sensation-seeking indicates that while you may take risks on occasion, you usually choose the well-traveled path. You probably prefer to work in a stable environment in which changes are made gradually and with ample warning...'

So that is my preference and my comfort zone, but of course I've lived outside of that in a lot of ways. While I don't seek out risk I can cope if it comes my way. 

2. What's your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth? 

Let's start with the easy part first-do I have a sweet tooth. In a word, yes. 

Next question-my favorite candy? I'm not sure I can choose just one, but Jelly Bellies, Starburst, Hot Tamales, Mike and Ikes, and a PayDay candy bar rank right up there. Also they're what you'd most likely find stashed in my candy drawer. 

Everyone has a candy drawer, right?  

3. Somewhere you've been recently that had you feeling 'like a kid in a candy store'? 

Hobby Lobby always feels a bit like a 'candy store' to me. I met my daughter for coffee on Tuesday and she needed a red feather for her son's costume so we popped in Hobby Lobby after. 

Yeah. We bought more than a feather. 

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world? 

I think the best way to make a positive change in the world is to make a positive change in your own little corner of it. Most of us won't change the world on a grand scale but we can make a difference in someone's life and of course the lives of our own families. This good has a ripple effect. 

Be a good neighbor. Be a considerate patron of the businesses and restaurants you visit. Volunteer. Be generous in supporting those in need in your own home town in whatever way you're able. Smile. Speak to the sales clerk. Hold that door for the person coming behind you. Make a meal for a new mom or a family grieving. Express your appreciation for kindnesses large and small. Vote. Pray for the needs of the people whose paths cross yours. Stand up for the things you believe in.  

'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' Luke 6:31 

5. Do you like surprises? 

The good kind, sure lol. An unexpected repair, a broken bone, that sort of surprise not so much. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Hmmm...how about a picture of the most delicious entree I had for dinner Tuesday evening? Pretty sure that qualifies as random. 

I got a little too close when I snapped the picture, but it was very pretty-grilled mahi mahi over charred corn risotto, topped with lemon basil cream sauce and pickled onions. I didn't make it, but wow it was so good. We met friends at a local distillery and I think when they first opened the owners were all about the beverages. But they hired a very well-trained and experienced chef and now people are coming just for the food, and the place is always hoppin' which is nice to see. 

The owners of the venue are former rodeo riders which is not a profession you encounter every day. I think the wife may still compete and the venue has their buckles on display along with some fancy saddles. It's a fun place. 

In a completely unrelated vein...this is your weekly reminder I'm hosting a Day In The Life link up here on Thursday, November 13th. If you need more info check out my random thought in this post-A Freshly Painted Hodgepodge. 

Happy Wednesday everyone! My favorite middle grandson turns six years old today. His birthday letter from Nana is here-Snips And Snails And Birthday Tails  for anyone who enjoys reading these. 

A Hodgepodge Picnic

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

1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Picnic Day...will you celebrate? Do you enjoy picnics? Dining out of doors picnic or otherwise? What are three or four things I'd find in your picnic basket? 

I do like a picnic and dining al fresco is my absolute favorite. If we're somewhere with outdoor seating and the weather is conducive to it we will opt to sit outside. It's supposed to rain here on Wednesday so a picnic is unlikely. 

Three or four things you'd find in my picnic basket?  Fruit, something sweet, bread or crackers of some kind, and cheese. We do a lot of boat picnics in the summer and lean more towards the charcuterie style of eating there. 

2.  A time recently where you felt 'antsy'? 

I'm not a restless person so this is a tough one. I suppose I feel a little antsy about getting the 'kids' moved into their new house. Everything has gone super smoothly so far but we're all just anxious to have the keys handed over and get them settled. So many hoops to jump through in a move, and they have furniture in storage and some belongings here and some at the in-laws and it's not really my donut, but I feel a little antsy with all the boxes that have needed ticking. They've pretty much all been ticked at this point so just waiting now for closing day to arrive. 

3. As the saying goes...'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'  Do you like lemonade? When did you recently need to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking?

Well I suppose Easter Sunday might qualify. We envisioned a full pew at church and a full table for dinner, but my son-in-law ended up missing the whole day. There was no choice but to roll with it, he was on call and ended up having a very busy day, which I guess is par for the course on a holiday weekend. We had a nice time with his mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law though. This is how life goes sometimes and in general we're good at making the most of things. I told my grandsons we might need to make a 'flat Daddy' to hold up in family photos when he's working. 

I do like lemonade, but what I really like is an Arnold Palmer-half lemonade/half iced tea. 

4. Recently five 'celebrities' made a brief (ll minute) foray into space aboard Jeff Bezos Blue Origin rocket. Did you hear about this? Your thoughts? If money were no object is this something you'd like to do someday? 

I did hear about it. I mean I suppose they were technically in space, but calling themselves astronauts feels like a giant stretch to me. As far as this being something I'd want to do someday? That's a hard no. A very very hard no. Like concrete lol. 

5. Favorite thing about the 'space' you're sitting in right now? 

I'm in my office and my favorite thing about it is the quiet. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I enjoyed posting some Easter throwbacks in this space in the weeks leading up to the day, and I think I might do the same now for Mother's Day which is the next holiday on tap. There are just three Wednesdays before Mother's Day is here, which is hard to believe but the calendar doesn't lie. 

I cut myself some slack on Wednesdays in the A-Z Blog Challenge and work the Wednesday letters in to my random thought space too. Two posts on Hodgepodge Day would be one too many for me. Here goes- 

T is for time passages

'the process of time going past'

My very first Mother's Day with the one who made me a momma...

1988

And here's that same little girl on her very first Mother's Day, with the one who made her a momma...

2017

'Time moves slowly, but passes quickly.' Alice Walker 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 599

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (April 23rd) to share your answers. See you there! 

1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Picnic Day...will you celebrate? Do you enjoy picnics? Dining out of doors picnic or otherwise? What are three or four things I'd find in your picnic basket? 

2.  A time recently where you felt 'antsy'? 

3. As the saying goes...'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'  Do you like lemonade? When did you recently need to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking?

4. Recently five 'celebrities' made a brief (ll minute) foray into space aboard Jeff Bezos Blue Origin rocket. Did you hear about this? Your thoughts? If money were no object is this something you'd like to do someday? 

5. Favorite thing about the 'space' you're sitting in right now? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.