A Note To Hodepodgers

Hello Hodgepoders! There is a little too much going on in real life here at the moment and somethings's gotta give. Sadly today that is going to have to be the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I have so much to blog about and would love to be doing just that, but real life before blog life right? I hope you'll drop back by here later this week for my fun family news and more.

The Hodgepodge will be back in action next week, April 11th. Thank you so much for understanding!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 342

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. Where do you go when you need some inspiration?

2. What's under your bed?

3. Thursday, February 22nd is National Chili Day, National Margarita Day, and National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Of the three which would you most like to celebrate? Is that likely?

4. What are you 'snowed under' with right now?

5. Tell us three to five things that make you feel balanced?

6. Insert your own random thought here.

January Kinds Of Stuff

Which is code for sort of slow and not that interesting, but y'all know I'm going to talk anyway.

Let's start by stating the obvious. It's cold here. I feel like it's cold everywhere, but this is the south and we're delicate. Ha! Not really, southerners are tough except when it comes to cold weather. I probably sound like my granny saying this, but I think my blood has gotten thinner since we moved to the Palmetto State.

On the bright side I've been wearing my favorite jacket, warm boots, and fur collar which typically don't come out of the closet here in the southland. Hubs and I bundled up Saturday for a walk because even though it was frigid the sky was bright blue and the air was crystal clear. Also we ate far too many cookies over the holidays so a walk seemed in order. I had to be talked into it, but as is nearly always the case once I was out I loved it.

I also loved lounging by the fire in my cozy bathrobe but this was nice too.

We went to the movies Saturday afternoon because hubs cannot be sitting around doing nothing for more than a day even though in my mind napping and Netflix is not 'doing nothing'. We saw The Greatest Showman and both of us really enjoyed it. There weren't many people in any of the theaters and I feel like maybe everyone is sick of Hollywood.

Or is that just me?

I did not watch a single second of The Golden Globes because I'm so weary of people behaving badly then congratulating themselves for calling attention to the fact that people are behaving badly when they are those people.

Were you here for a rant today? Sorry.

The movie was good, a musical so you do have to appreciate a musical, but I loved the soundtrack. Afterwards we had a glass of wine and a small bite to eat because we just haven't been doing big dinners this week, and then we hunkered back down in front of the fire which is where January is meant to be lived.

We went to church Sunday and while I'm on a rant, if you have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad cough please stay home. God understands. I feel like it's a real challenge to avoid the flu this winter, but I'm trying.

Sunday evening my teacher daughter2 texted to say she wouldn't have school today. She said the forecast called for ice and all the area schools had already announced they would be closed on Monday.  I had a doctors appointment in the small big city at 9 am today so figured I'd spend the morning rescheduling.

Except not so much as a raindrop fell.

Hubs drove me since we were thinking there would be ice at some point, but instead I was in and out of the doctors office in record time, we had breakfast at a favorite little spot in town, then hubs sat and waited for me to get my nails repolished because why not? It wasn't raining ice.

Or even rain for that matter.

Hubs pointed out I mistakenly chose a crimson shade for my nails when I really should have picked red, except when it comes to nail polish I prefer crimson. Football teams are another matter. We're going to watch the game with a bunch of GA fans tonight which is fine by us since GA has always felt like Tennessee's cousin and also we never root for Bama.

I think that catches you up on our weekend, but just to be sure I glanced at the photos in my phone to see if I'd forgotten anything. Pretty sure the only thing I left out here is a picture I sent to my daughter of the shampoo bottles in my guest bathroom because she wanted to buy that same brand.

January was made for slow.

Five Minutes of Life In The Slow Lane

I'm linking with Five Minute Friday this morning, and yes I know it's Monday. The word prompt last week was SLOW, so I've got that covered.

Here's how Five Minute Friday works...you tell your inner critic to hush, then write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word. Next hop over to the party hosted by Kate Motaung and add your link to the list. Be sure to leave a comment for the writer who linked before you, because that's the neighborly thing to do. Here goes slow-

I've slowed way down here this month, and while I'm feeling nearly back to normal I want to keep life more slow lane, less passing lane. That's sort of new for me, because we've always been top down-sunglasses on-fast lane passing the slow Sunday drivers going way below the speed limit kind of people. We're do-ers, go-ers, entertainers, travelers.

Slow helps me see how impatient I am. 

I read fast, walk fast, drive fast, talk fast.

Slow helps me see how bossy I am. 

I'm quick to spit out words, quick to act and react.

Slow tells me there are rhythms to life and I need to embrace both the seasons of busy and the seasons of stillness that come my way. 

It's quiet here. Did you know you can hear quiet?

I've spent hours sitting on the deck watching the water, sky, and woods change. Fish jump high and land with a splash, the water rippling outward in ever widening circles. Bluejay and hawks and kingfisher soar and swoop. Squirrels are tiny trapeze artists in the branches overhead. The sun rises across the cove and paints the sky all kinds of magnificent.

If I don't slow my feet and my mouth and the rushing whirl inside my brain I miss it, this quiet beauty that was made for us not to miss.

You miss a lot of things if you're perpetually on the go. Not just the what in life, but also the why. Some of life's most needed, best loved skills and traits require a slowing down of schedules, pace, and endless chatter, opinion, and activity.

It's in the slow I find space for listening and creativity. For deep thought and focused prayer. 

For awe and gratitude.