Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 678

Okay. November. Here we go. You'll find this week's Hodgepodge questions below. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (November 4) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. Our  November Hodgepodges always include a question related to gratitude. What is one small thing you're grateful for today? 

2. Chrysanthemums-pansies-burning bush-ornamental cabbage-camellias...your favorite in an autumn garden? Would we find any of these in your yard/garden this year? 

3. If you could clear out or organize one physical space or mental habit before the year ends, what would it be?

4. Brussel sprouts...love 'em or no thank you? If you said love 'em how do you like them prepared? 

5. It's reassuring to know that____________________. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Not So Seedy Hodgepodge

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 a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. What most recently gave you goose bumps? 

I learned a new word while trying to answer this question-frisson. This term is a more accurate description of the 'goose bumps' we get related to something moving as opposed to something scary. It's defined as a sudden strong feeling of excitement or thrill; a shudder of emotion.

So not in the scary sense but in the 'frisson' sense I would say watching the Marines as they helped with my mama's service at Arlington National Cemetery. I wrote about it on Monday (That Peaceful Piece Of Property).  

Often patriotic moments give me 'goose bumps'...the anthem beautifully sung, a flag unfurled against a bright blue sky, a soldier coming home...

2. What does Halloween look like in your home and/or neighborhood these days? Do you participate? 

Mostly pretty low key. Some years we'll go to a party, some years we're home. We love seeing our grandchildren in their costumes, either in person or in photographs. We normally won't have trick or treaters here as the driveways are long, and there aren't a lot of young children in our neighborhood. Some years there's a trunk or treat in the Clubhouse parking lot but I don't think that's happening this year. There are lots of them around the area though, so plenty of places for kids to snag candy. 

I know there are strong feelings about the day, but for us it's always just been low key fun and a chance to dress up and hang out with friends. I don't decorate for Halloween, but do have fall decor on the front porch that incudes pumpkins, and a few things inside but nothing scary. That's never been my thing. 

This year our neighborhood is having a costume party so hubs and I will be going to that and I think it will be fun. I'll post a picture at some point. We like our costumes. We try to come up with something original and I think we've ticked that box this year. 

Our neighborhood kayak group does a dock or treat and some years we've been a host dock where they stop for a small nibble and beverage. It's a lot of fun, but we're not home the day they're doing that this year. 

3. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy, chia...your favorite seed on the list? What's something you like to make/eat that calls for one of these seeds in the recipe? 

I like all of these but probably eat more poppy and sesame than any of the others listed. I have a salad I love that calls for poppy seeds and I like poppy seed chicken too. I add sesame seeds to several Aisan dishes I make, and chia goes on my morning oatmeal.  I love an everything bagel which uses several of these seeds. 

4. What's the most (or one of the most) 'fall photos' you've ever taken? Share it here. Just one. 

Just one? But I have so many. Okay, here's maybe my most favorite of all my favorites-

This picture was snapped in my NJ backyard, my first backyard if you don't count the NJ backyard I grew up in. Technically I've had three NJ backyards, but this one is a snapshot of life in 1991. 

Little girls in their matching Land's End jumpsuits, our first pup Abbey getting in on the action, hubs still mustached, me with my God-given hair color and a full full heart, and the most beautiful red maple that burned a fiery red every autumn and made you grateful for the beauty of creation and the imagination of the One who made it. 

5. Somehow we're rolling in to November next week. If your October were a chapter in a book, what would the title of this chapter be? 

Grief and Grace In Autumn

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It's soup season and this one is easy and delicious...

You definitely taste the lemon. So good! You'll find the recipe here-Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 677

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (October 28th) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. What most recently gave you goose bumps? 

2. What does Halloween look like in your home and/or neighborhood these days? Do you participate? 

3. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy, chia...your favorite seed on the list? What's something you like to make/eat that calls for one of these seeds in the recipe? 

4. What's the most (or one of the most) 'fall photos' you've ever taken? Share it here. Just one. 

5. Somehow we're rolling in to November next week. If your October were a chapter in a book, what would the title of this chapter be? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Back To The Hodgepodge

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 a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on 'Back To The Future Day'. October 21, 2015 was the date the movie characters (Marty McFly, Doc, and Jennifer Parker) traveled to in the future in the 1989 film Back To The Future Part 2. 

Did you see the movie? Tell us a something about what was happening in your life in the fall of 2015. 

I did see the film and thought it was just ok. I loved the first one and the third, but didn't think the second was as good. The fall of 2015...hmmm... this is when it's good to have a blog, right? 

As it happens October 22nd, 2015 was a momentous occasion here as our dock was installed. No house yet, but we had a dock. I wrote all about it here-What's Up Dock

2. Which -ber month is your favorite? (September, October, November, December). Explain why. 

This is a toughie. If you make me choose I guess I'll say September. It's my birthday month, I love the 'back to school' feeling that hangs in the air, even though I'm no longer headed back to school, and although it still feels like full on summer there's the promise of autumn, cooler weather, and of course college football. Go Vols! 

3. Red, yellow, orange, bronze...your favorite fall color to wear? To eat? To see in nature? 

To wear? Orange. To eat? Probably red. To see in nature? All of them together but an orangey red and yellow sunset is definitely a favorite. 

4. What do you miss most about being 20? 

A few things spring to mind including my parents, the ability to eat anything I wanted anytime I wanted, a more civil discourse, and probably most of all the future stretching out endlessly in front of me. 

5. We're roughly three quarters of the way through the year. What's one goal, habit, or mindset you want to purposely carry into the final weeks of the year? Elaborate. 

For my own mental health...keep my holiday expectations in check. 

Going to be honest and say even writing that makes me tense. I don't think I ask too much, but I've been given feedback that suggests otherwise lol. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

2015 me had no idea how much fun would happen on that dock a decade later...

I will be away from my computer for a fair chunk of the day, so might not get around to reading your entries until later this week. Y'all can make up for it though by visiting each other : ) Happy Wednesday! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 676

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (October 21st) to share your answers. See you there!

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on 'Back To The Future Day'. October 21, 2015 was the date the movie characters (Marty McFly, Doc, and Jennifer Parker) traveled to in the future in the 1989 film Back To The Future Part 2. 

Did you see the movie? Tell us a something about what was happening in your life in the fall of 2015. 

2. Which -ber month is your favorite? (September, October, November, December). Explain why. 

3. Red, yellow, orange, bronze...your favorite fall color to wear? To eat? To see in nature? 

4. What do you miss most about being 20? 

5. We're roughly three quarters of the way through the year. What's one goal, habit, or mindset you want to purposely carry into the final weeks of the year? Elaborate. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

An Independent Hodgepodge

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 a comment for the blogger there before you.  Here we go-

1. Do you think you're driven more by curiosity or comfort? Explain. 

I think curiosity is what makes us grow, and I want to always be curious. That being said, we need rest and stability in our lives (comfort) as a base for dealing with the changes growth brings, so I guess my answer is a combination of both. 

2. What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer? 

I keep my 'face roller' in there. I'm sure there's another name for it, but that's what I call it. 

And eye masks. I love them cold. 

3. 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 am very comfortable with silence. Unless it's an uncomfortable silence and then I'm uncomfortable too lol. I often feel the need to fill an uncomfortable silence with a lot of chatter. 

I keep my house mostly quiet during the day. Sometimes if I'm baking or doing household tasks I'll have my book or a podcast playing, but mostly I like a quiet house. I need quiet, especially after a busy weekend, emotional experiences, a party, or lots of people kinds of events. My favorite place to find silence? Right here-

4. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping...which skill would you most like to possess and how would you put that skill to use today?

Well I think my hubs was just on the phone with an electrician so for today I'll go with that one. We're trying to switch our internet provider and there's some sort of blah blah blah with a wire and honestly I am depositing this whole transition in hubs basket. Just tell me when it's over and make sure I have internet please. 

In general I think a plumber would be the most useful skill to have. 

5. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others? 

I suppose I lean more towards being too independent. Hubs might say stubborn, but I'm going with independent. I think it comes from years of being married to someone who traveled all the time for work and me having to manage all the things. So many things. 

In others I guess neediness is a little harder for me to deal with, but that really depends on what sort of need we're talking about. There are people who are sincerely in need and I have all the patience and compassion in the world for them. 

Then there are people who just can't be bothered to figure things out for themselves and ask someone else to do the figuring for them. Those situations are a little harder to take, but I try to always be kind which means sometimes dealing with another person's neediness. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

My book club met yesterday and discussed The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. Have you read it? What did you think? Did you read The Help? If so which did you like best?

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 675

Yay! I remembered. Here are this week's questions for the Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday (October 14) to share answers with all your friends and a few strangers too. See you there!

1. Do you think you're driven more by curiosity or comfort? Explain. 

2. What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer? 

3. 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? 

4. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping...which skill would you most like to possess and how would you put that skill to use today?

5. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others? 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Let's Not Forget The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. Better late than never, right? Thanks for your patience and for playing along today. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger there before you. Here we go-

1. Let's embrace it shall we? What's something you recently forgot to do? Is your memory these days more like a sieve or an elephant? 

The obvious answer is this week's Hodgepodge questions. And when I say I forgot I mean I totally completely 100% forgot. I didn't think about it for one single second until Myra sent the first message sometime Monday morning asking if she'd missed me cancelling this week.

I wouldn't say my memory is a sieve, but it's no longer an elephant either. 

2. Share a trick/strategy you have to help you remember things you need to remember. 

I play a lot of word games, work crossword puzzles, play mah jong, and read hard books, all of which are supposed to be good for keeping your brain active, engaged, and working. 

I also write everything down. If it's not written down it might. not happen. I use Notes on my phone and sometimes send myself a message or screenshot. 

A long time ago I read a book about memory and the author shared one trick I still use.  If you're a person who leaves the house and can't remember if you unplugged the iron/curling iron/coffeepot, etc here's what you do-as you unplug the item you picture your face in the outlet. Then when you later find yourself trying to remember whether or not you unplugged said appliance the picture of your face in the outlet comes to mind. It sounds a little crazy but I've found it to be effective. 

3. What's your favorite fall vegetable to cook with? Do you prefer your fall veggies roasted, blended into a warm soup, or fresh in a crisp autumn salad? 

I love all fall vegetables so it would be hard to choose a favorite. If pressed I'll say sweet potatoes. I like my fall vegetables in all the forms listed. I most often have them roasted.  

4. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. Did you? If so tell us about it. Or maybe someone did something nice for you, and if that's the case please share. 

I was at Costco on Monday trying to free a cart from a mess of carts and a man walked over and managed to separate them for me. I was grateful.  It was a small act of kindness but little things mean a lot. 

5.  Nathaniel Hawthorne is credited with the quote "I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."  

Do you tend to spend more time outside this time of year? 

We pretty much live on our porches year round, but autumn is my absolute favorite time to be outdoors. 

Do you actively pause to soak in fleeting moments of beauty in your daily routine? Elaborate. 

Do I actively pause. Yes I think so, and I think blogging helps with this. You begin to notice ordinary moments, conversations, and what's happening around you, and consider how you would frame those things if you were writing abut them. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here's something new and kind of fun for me. I participate almost every April in the A-Z Blog Challenge.  This year I was notified I'd been awarded a guest spot on their blog. Have you ever done a guest post? I think there were five participants given a slot and my post published on their site yesterday (Tuesday). 

You'll find my entry here-The ABCs of Why I Still Blog. I'd love for you to hop over and read, then comment there with an answer to the question I asked at the end of my post. 

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 674

Oops! I forgot to post this week's Hodgepodge questions like I normally do on Sunday. Actually I forgot to write them so winging it a bit here today. Winging it and hodgepodging go together so it's fine. Hop back here on Wednesday (October 7) to add your link to the party. I'll be there! Promise! 

1. Let's embrace it shall we? What's something you recently forgot to do? Is your memory these days more like a sieve or an elephant? 

2. Share a trick/strategy you have to help you remember things you need to remember. 

3. What's your favorite fall vegetable to cook with? Do you prefer your fall veggies roasted, blended into a warm soup, or fresh in a crisp autumn salad? 

4. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. Did you? If so tell us about it. Or maybe someone did something nice for you, and if that's the case please share. 

5.  Nathaniel Hawthorne is credited with the quote "I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."  

Do you tend to spend more time outside this time of year? 

Do you actively pause to soak in fleeting moments of beauty in your daily routine? Elaborate. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Climbing The Hodgepodge Mountain

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 go say hey to your neighbor there. Leave a comment too because comments make the blog world go round. Here we go...

1. When you think of autumn what sounds come to mind? 

a crackling fire, leaves crunching underfoot, geese honking overhead

2.  Is a trip to the mountains something you enjoy? What's your favorite mountain? 

A trip to the mountains is one of my favorite things and I can't possibly choose a favorite. I  live on a lake surrounded by the Blue Ridge. Boating under the bridge and seeing the main channel open up with the mountains as backdrop takes my breath away every single time. 

My grandparents had a Colorado farm with a view of the Rockies which was truly breathtaking. 

I'm  also really partial to the Great Smoky Mountains which is where hubs grew up, where we've spent a lot of time, and where we have family still. Lots of Smoky Mountain memories in my mind and heart. 

And then I've always been a little bit obsessed with Mt. Rainier. My daughter1 lived in Tacoma for several years when she was first married and you could see the mountain from her neighborhood. Swoon. 

We got up close to it on one of our trips there and she's a beauty. 

Wait. The Alps. I forgot the Alps. How did I forget the Alps? 

The village of Chamonix with Mt. Blanc looming large is pretty spectacular. 

Are all mountains spectacular? I'm going to say yes. Did you come here today to see my scrapbook of beautiful mountains? 

3. What's something that once felt like a mountain, but is now just a molehill? 

Retirement. There's so much to figure out and understand in the early days, and while there are still things to figure out, we've got this. It's no longer a mountain. 

4. Let's play this or that-fall foods edition. Yes you have to choose. 

• pumpkin spice latte or chai latte 
• apple cider or hot chocolate  
• stew or chili
• sweet potato casserole or green bean casserole 
• butternut squash soup or creamy mushroom soup 
• cranberry sauce or gravy 

Here are my choices-

chai latte 

apple cider but only if it's warm, if it's cold then I'll take the hot cocoa

chili, especially the first pot of the season-this meal says fall and football season have arrived 

sweet potato casserole-green beans are my favorite green veg, but not in casserole form

creamy mushroom soup

cranberry sauce 

5. Sum up your September in a sentence or two. 

Festive family birthdays, fun with friends, fierce football games, and fantastic mountain views.

Thirty days has September. Each one lasted approximately 2.4 seconds. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I was with friends this past weekend and we spent an afternoon wandering around our old university. The campus is still so beautiful. 

Question-why are college kids so stressed out? They can literally take a slide from their dorm and grab Chick-fil-A in the student center. 

We were typing papers on actual typewriters for professors who literally measured the margins with a ruler. Then we'd go to Kinkos at 1 AM to make copies because copiers were rare and kind of expensive. Kinkos was open 24/7 for just such a purpose. 

Progress, right? 

But hey, I think the times helped make us strong and resourceful. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 673

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday (Sept 30) to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. When you think of autumn what sounds come to mind? 

2.  Is a trip to the mountains something you enjoy? What's your favorite mountain? 

3. What's something that once felt like a mountain, but is now just a molehill? 

4. Let's play this or that-fall foods edition. Yes you have to choose. 

• pumpkin spice latte or chai latte 
• apple cider or hot chocolate  
• stew or chili
• sweet potato casserole or green bean casserole 
• butternut squash soup or creamy mushroom soup 
• cranberry sauce or gravy 

5. Sum up your September in a sentence or two. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Falling In To The Hodgepodge

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 a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live?What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall? 

*If you're answering today from the southern hemisphere feel free to sub spring for the word fall. 

It doesn't look or feel much like fall here yet. We've had temperatures in the 90's and the humidity has been thick, but! we're 'cooling off' and will be in the upper 70's later this week and I.am.ready. We're back into the 80's next week so there will be a little more summer before fall finally lands. 

Everything is still green here, but I'm going to the mountains with some girlfriends this weekend and I'm hoping we might see a few pops of color. 

I always miss my NJ yard this time of year. 

Something I love to do that makes it feel like it's officially fall? 

Apple picking. 

I hope we can find a day to do that soon. 

2. What's a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?

Dusting my bedroom. In fact, answering this question inspired me to go dust. 

3. What's something you're falling for lately? 

I bought some wide legged jeans and have to say I love them. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the fit, but I wore them for the first time recently and several people commented on how cute they are. 

4.  Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year.  Are you a fan?

Pumpkin is not my favorite. I like pumpkin bread but am a hard no on pumpkin flavored coffees, creams, and candle scents.  I like to decorate with pumpkins, but can take or leave the flavor in food and drink. 

I do have a good recipe for a pumpkin french toast that my daughter found a couple of years ago and I'm going to make it this weekend. It's just the right amount of pumpkin and makes a nice fall company breakfast dish. 

5.What's something you wish would never change? Explain. 

Our love for this country and the core values of our founding. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

What's everybody watching? We need a new show. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 672

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

1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live?What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall? 

*If you're answering today from the southern hemisphere feel free to sub spring for the word fall. 

2. What's a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?

3. What's something you're falling for lately? 

4.  Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year.  Are you a fan? What's your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?  

5.What's something you wish would never change? Explain. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Beauty Of A Hodgepodge

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday (September 16) to add your link to the party.  See you there!

1. How do you define beauty? 

It may be cliche to say, but beauty comes from within. Of course there are people who are physically attractive, but I think real beauty goes deeper than that. Confidence, the way you treat others, and being 'real'  all make one's beauty something more than just appearance. 

2. Have you ever taken a trip by train? If so where did you go and what did you think of the experience? If not do you have any desire to do so? Where would you like to go? (You might find inspiration here-The Best Train Trips in The World)

No, but it's definitely on my bucket list. I've ridden a lot of trains around Europe, but have never taken a real train vacation. I'd like to take the Rocky Mountaineer as we have several friends who've done that and loved it. Course if money were no object you could book me on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express which runs from London to Venice. There may be options in terms of route, but I think that's the most popular. The original Orient Express route went from Paris to Istanbul, but that service ended in the late 1970's. 

3. Shell shocked, bombshell, bandshell, shellacking, in a nutshell, walking on eggshells...choose one and tell us why you chose it, or how it relates to your life in some way currently.

Our home town team took a shellacking in the college football season opener. It was painful. They looked slightly better Week 2.  Our VOLS won games in weeks one and two both though, which made us happy. 

4. Tacos, pistachios, oysters, clams, eggs...your favorite food on the list that comes in/with a shell? 

I like all of the above so it's hard to choose...eggs would probably be my favorite on the list. 

5. Are birthdays a big deal in your house? Is your own birthday a big deal in some way? Elaborate. 

Maybe you should ask my family lol. I try to make birthdays a big deal, including my own. I like party planning and celebrating the people I love. I want you to feel special on your birthday and I try to do something to make sure that happens. 

As far as my own birthday goes the thing I want most is to know I was thought about prior to the day. I know people say if you want the day to look a particular way then say so, but the main thing I want is someone else to do the thinking and the planning and the booking and the cooking.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I've been a bit off the grid here lately and have so much to catch up on. Just know I probably won't. I want to get back to my blog and hopefully I will. In the meantime...

I'm definitely turning a year older this week. 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens...' 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 671

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday (September 16) to add your link to the party.  See you there!

1. How do you define beauty? 

2. Have you ever taken a trip by train? If so where did you go and what did you think of the experience? If not do you have any desire to do so? Where would you like to go? (You might find inspiration here-The Best Train Trips in The World)

3. Shell shocked, bombshell, bandshell, shellacking, in a nutshell, walking on eggshells...choose one and tell us why you chose it, or how it relates to your life in some way currently.

4. Tacos, pistachios, oysters, clams, eggs...your favorite food on the list that comes in/with a shell? 

5. Are birthdays a big deal in your house? Is your own birthday a big deal in some way? Elaborate. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Ready-Set-Hodgepodge

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 a comment for the blogger before you. Or all the bloggers if you've got the time.  Here we go-

1. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?  On a scale of 1-10 how much of a fan are you? (10 is never miss a game and 1 is I'm just here for the snacks). Who's your team? If you're playing along today, but live outside the US feel free to sub your feelings about futbol for the more American sport of football. 

I'm a fan. Maybe not a 10 but more than a 5. More so college football, although that's changing by the day and not for the better in my opinion. My feelings about it might change too. 

Call me old but I miss the days when kids played for a team, fans got behind their team, a player or two might transfer once at some point if they weren't getting play time, but mostly your team was your team and that was that. 

I'll hush. Go Vols!! And if we're talking NFL then Go Eagles! 

When it comes to futbol my grands love Tottenham so I've declared them my team now too. 

2. What's something you currently have a game plan for managing? 

Honestly I could use a game plan for managing a few things right about now. 

3. Do you like chicken wings? Hot, mild, or some other flavor? What's a must have food for you on a tailgate menu? I know tailgating isn't as big of a thing outside the US of A as it is inside the US of A, but you can also answer the question this way-what's a must have food for you at a sporting event viewing party? 

I do like wings. Hubs makes them on the Big Green Egg and he's got it down pat. 

Wings are messy though so I need to be dressed appropriately. I like hot wings with some celery on the side to cool things down. I like a teriyaki wing too and some of the creative saucing restaurants do. 

A must have food at a sporting event? I'm not sure there's a 'must have' food for me, but I like to see sliders of some sort, chips and guac, and popcorn. 

4. Teams typically have strict playbooks they follow. What is one unwritten rule or piece of advice in your 'life playbook' you think everyone should know?

The Golden Rule would be one entry in my life's playbook-'Do unto others as you would have them do to you.' 

5. This is the week we remember and mourn all that was lost and changed on September 11, 2001. I always include a spot for bloggers to share anything they'd like to share about 9/11. Share as much or as little as you like. 

I've written about this in various ways over the years, and this year think I'll just say this -don't forget.

Don't forget the lives lost. Don't forget the families whose lives were divided into a world where there is a before and there's an after. Don't forget the firefighters, police officers, first responders, and ordinary citizens who ran into the danger while others were running out.  

We're a long way from that awful day and some of what is going on currently in our country is downright frightening in terms of what's become popular ideology. The notion that we won't label what happened that day as terrorism is ludicrous. 

We were living outside of D.C. on 9/11 and we knew people who worked in the Pentagon. We also had a lot of secret service members who made their home in our community. I was the Director of a church preschool and kindergarten and the husband of one of our aides was George Bush's number one guy. We've also lived and worked outside of NYC and I think those of us who knew people who worked in the Towers or at the Pentagon cannot forget. A bright blue September sky is a quick and vivid reminder of that tragic day. 

I pray for the families who lost so much, who continue to grieve, and for our nation, that we would turn our hearts toward Jesus.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The beauty of the sunrise reminds me the same power that paints the skies is not surprised by anything a day can bring. He goes before us into each new day. 

What a comfort. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 670

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (Sept 9) to share your answers. See you there! 

1. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?  On a scale of 1-10 how much of a fan are you? (10 is never miss a game and 1 is I'm just here for the snacks). Who's your team? If you're playing along today, but live outside the US feel free to sub your feelings about futbol for the more American sport of football. 

2. What's something you currently have a game plan for managing? 

3. Do you like chicken wings? Hot, mild, or some other flavor? What's a must have food for you on a tailgate menu? I know tailgating isn't as big of a thing outside the US of A as it is inside the US of A, but you can also answer the question this way-what's a must have food for you at a sporting event viewing party? 

4. Teams typically have strict playbooks they follow. What is one unwritten rule or piece of advice in your 'life playbook' you think everyone should know?

5. This is the week we remember and mourn all that was lost and changed on September 11, 2001. I always include a spot for bloggers to share anything they'd like to share about 9/11. Share as much or as little as you like. 

6.Insert your own random thought here. 

A Gritty Hodgepodge

Welcome to September and this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I appreciate all of the kind comments and messages sent regarding my mama. I'm going to ease back into the blogosphere today with the 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. What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to doing? 

Quite a lot actually. I took a look at my summer bucket list, which is admittedly filled with mostly simple stuff, and there are many things I never got to do that I wanted to do. I've still got three weeks to squeeze it all in, so maybe?

We didn't go peach picking this summer and I missed that. We did have a neighbor gift us peaches from their tree which were super delicious, but I love the view from the orchard when we go for pick-ur own. 

2. Were you the student who sat in the front row or hid in the back of the class? If you could go back and take one high school class again just for fun, which would it be? 

I loved school and was a rule follower, so was happiest in the front row. If I were back in high school taking a class just for fun I'd choose French. 

3. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher (this can be applied to anyone who teaches, not just classroom teachers)? 

Tops on the list would be they must like children. It seems like that shouldn't need saying, but...

Other qualities I'd deem essential would be the more obvious- patience, stamina, the ability to think on one's feet, flexibility, and the ability to communicate effectively. 

4.  September 2nd is National Grits Day. Have you ever eaten grits? Are you a fan? If so how do you like yours? Would people describe you as 'having grit'? 

Have I ever eaten grits? I live in South Carolina so of course I've eaten grits and yes I like them. My favorite way to have grits would be in the form of shrimp and grits which is a Carolina staple. So delicious! I also like grits for breakfast with a little bit of butter and/or cheese. 

Do I have grit?  I think in areas that matter, yes. 

5. What's something you're never too old or too young to enjoy? 

Lots of things...a beautiful sunrise, music, going barefoot, dancing, a good nap...

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Speaking of the sunrise...

...some are pure gold. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 669

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday (September 2nd) to share your answers. See you there-

1. What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to doing? 

2. Were you the student who sat in the front row or hid in the back of the class? If you could go back and take one high school class again just for fun, which would it be? 

3. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher (this can be applied to anyone who teaches, not just classroom teachers)? 

4.  September 2nd is National Grits Day. Have you ever eaten grits? Are you a fan? If so how do you like yours? Would people describe you as 'having grit'? 

5. What's something you're never too old or too young to enjoy? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Today's Hodgepodge

Hello Hodgepodgers and others who are reading here. I'm posting today's link below, but will not be participating today. My sweet mom passed away earlier this week and there is a lot to do and feel and think through before I write about anything. I will though. 

In the meantime if you've answered today's questions add your link here, then leave a kind comment or two for the bloggers before you on the list. Life is short and precious. Spread some joy today. 

If you missed the questions visit the post linked here (Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 668)