Home Is Where The Hodgepodge Is

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 hop over and leave a comment for your neighbor there. Everyone is thankful for comments. Here we go-

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

Best thing about my home? The view. 

Have I taken time to enjoy it lately? Absolutely. Every single day. There is never a day I walk out of my bedroom in the morning, see the lake, and feel anything less than a lot of gratitude for the beauty of what's right outside my window. 

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

I do like squash, all varieties really. My favorite is probably yellow squash in the form of a squash casserole. I make this one when I have squash on hand and sometimes add zucchini too. It's easy and delicious (Mrs. Hopkin's Boarding House Squash). I also love butternut squash roasted or as a soup. 

I'm not hosting Thanksgiving this year, but I am bringing a vegetable and think I'll make it squash. 

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 

Not exactly squashed but...hubs and I had sushi on Friday evening and we sat at the bar to eat. There was an empty seat between my chair and three gentleman who were talking business. On the other side of hubs there was one empty seat and then on the other end of the bar there were two or three empties, maybe more. A man came in and asked hubs if he'd mind if he squeezed another seat in next to him? Huh? Why? 

It was so odd. He jammed this bar stool in where there clearly wasn't enough room to sit without being right on top of hubs when there were empty seats on the other side of the bar. We were getting ready to pay, so we just rolled with it, but it was odd and I wouldn't have wanted to eat my dinner that way. I was trying to decide if he was on a date with someone he hadn't met before, because it kind of felt that way. I mean we were all squashed in together so it was hard not to hear.  I wanted to tell him this wasn't the best way to begin his evening, but I refrained. 

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

I've never played squash and only played racquetball a couple of times in college. I have played all of the racquet sports at some point in my life, but none seriously. Except maybe ping pong. I'm competitive at ping pong. 

Hubs and I played pickleball some when the craze began, but then I broke my elbow (unrelated to pickleball) and we never picked it back up. The injury count is particularly high in this sport (just ask my son-in-law the orthopedist) so I don't think I'll go back to it. 

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'. 

Personal property taxes. I own the car. I've paid for the car. I paid taxes on the car when purchased. Why do we have to continue to pay 'personal property taxes' on a movable asset we own outright? Real estate I sort of understand because you live in the community where schools and other services you require benefit from them, but vehicles and boats are something entirely different and I burn a little every year when I have to pay that particular tax. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

I've been running all day so am light on random thoughts at the moment. Who's cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year? What's on the menu? 

No Kidding It's The Hodgepodge

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

1. What's your favorite room in your house and why? 

Does a porch count? Because the porches in my house are definitely my favorite spaces and we use them like rooms. 

We have a covered upper deck, a screened porch off the kitchen, and then the lower level space with a covered patio, a covered dining space, as well as an uncovered patio. Lots of options for sitting outside.

The upper deck is my favorite because it's easy to just step out there first thing in the morning, and the view is so pretty. 

I do love the new lower level space, but we haven't spent as much time there yet. It does have the potential to become my new favorite, especially in the summer months. 

2. What's something that will instantly annoy you? 

Getting behind someone in the left lane driving below the speed limit. Even if they're driving right at the speed limit I can feel annoyed. It's the passing lane. Move over. Please. 

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...will you celebrate? How do you like yours? If you're not cooking at home is there a favorite place you like to go for a burger? Did you ever work in a fast food  restaurant? 

A hamburger on the grill is one of my favorites, and I think yes, we'll 'celebrate' (AKA-grill a burger on May 28th).  I like mine with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and mayo. I have never worked fast food, and there's not really one favorite place here for a burger. There is a place that's more or less a sports bar in town and they do make a good burger. 

4. What are three scents you like? 

It's hard to narrow it down to just three, but I'll try. I love lemon (or any citrus really) and also cinnamon in terms of candles and baking. For the third I'm going with the scent of freshly mown grass, which I wouldn't want in a candle or perfume, but which does have the power to wing me back to my childhood in the blink of an eye. 

5. What do you miss most about being a kid? 

I don't know if miss is the right word, because I don't have any desire to be a kid again. I do sometimes have a longing for the sense of carefree-ness I felt as a child. (I looked it up because carefreeness didn't sound like a real word, but it is indeed a real word). 

By carefree I don't mean free from having any responsibilities because I think we're made to have those, and I like having some responsibilities. 

I'm thinking more along the lines of not being weighed down by the world and all its trouble and strife.  The division, the conflict, the endless complaining.  I know that's part of growing up, taking those things on and trying to make the world better in whatever way we can, but the 2020's so far have been more than a little exhausting. 

My childhood was for the most part carefree, and for that I'm grateful. I was protected from the heaviness of the world that, while different than what we have today, was still there. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I started this post a little late so will just say enjoy this last week of May...it's flown! 

Happy Wednesday everyone~