Rainy Days And Monday (also Friday Saturday Sunday)

Hello friends and happy Memorial Day. I’m especially grateful today for the men and women who've given their lives in service to our country, and the freedoms we enjoy because of them. It's good to pause and remember. 

Our weekend was, in a word, drenched. Wow. It rained here. A lot. The whole weekend in fact. We're in a bit of a drought situation so it's good I think, although not sure we needed it all to come down in a single weekend. Hubs and I just embraced the forced relaxation, because no way were any outdoor projects happening, no fun cookouts, no sunset boat rides. You'd need sun for that. 

We cancelled our Netflix subscription about a year ago, but my daughter2 and I wanted to finish watching the Great British Baking Show we started when I visited her in March, plus I wanted to see Remarkably Bright Creatures, so I resubscribed and we spent the weekend catching up on all the shows we've missed. 

This post is gonna be a little bit 'here's what I watched on TV' the past three days, but whatever. An alternate title might be 'what I didn't cook this weekend' but I'll let you decide. 

Thursday we went out for sushi and I had the spiciest spicy tuna roll ever. We came home and watched the octopus movie which we both enjoyed. I read the book quite a while back but hubs didn't know the story. I appreciate a movie that follows the book plot. 

Friday morning we went out to breakfast at a new-to-us spot. I had their french toast which was delish.  We stopped at Daughter1's house on the way home because she had the new bow ready to go for my front door wreath. These bows are somewhat pricey online, so we buy the ribbon at Hobby Lobby and she works her diy magic to make one that's pretty for half the price. 

She made me one in the fall, then a second I've had up since Valentine's Day, and now a patriotic summer design which I love. 

We wandered through her garden while we were there, and it's thriving. I'm looking forward to her sharing the harvest. 

Friday night we watched The Woman In Cabin 10, another book I'd read a while back that was turned into a movie, and the movie reminded me how annoying I found the book. 

Saturday we woke up to more rain, a ridiculous amount in fact, the kind that spills out of your gutter and causes even the turtles to run for cover.

Hubs had been fighting a cough for a couple of days so I decided to make a pot of chicken soup, which is good for whatever ails you. I don't normally make chicken soup in May, but the gray skies and cooler temps made it sound inviting.  

We started watching Season 3 of The Diplomat, which is so good! We binged a few episodes until we could no longer stay awake, and finished it Sunday afternoon because...it was still raining. 

We went to church Sunday morning and it felt good to leave the house. My son-in-law had taken the two boys to watch the Braves play in Atlanta so hubs and I took daughter1 and her little miss to brunch after church ended. Since you're tracking all the things I didn't cook you should know I had Eggs Benedict. 

Hubs and I finished The Diplomat and since there was a break in the rain (not the gray skies) late afternoon, we decided to take iced coffees down to the dock and see what we could see. There were a few boaters out, but it was breezy and we didn't stay long. 

We had a frozen pizza for dinner. Whoohoo! What a weekend! 

shhh...don't tell anyone but I kinda loved it. 

Linking with Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) today for their weekend recap blog hop. 

A Noisy Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks for joining in here today and every Wednesday as we talk about pretty much everything under the sun. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. America celebrates turning 250 years old this year. Primary cities set to lead the celebrations on July 4th are Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other significant locations for celebrating will be Charleston SC and the 'historic triangle' which includes Jamestown-Willimasburg-Yorktown Virginia. 

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What's one place in America you think everyone should see? If you're not American what's one place in the US you'd like to see? 

Of the cities listed I've seen them all. I've visited Boston...

and have lived in or around the others. I grew up on the NJ side of Philadelphia and my sister and her family (along with my mom) live in the city still. 

you have to run up the stairs and raise your fists like Rocky when you're in this spot

I've lived in the NJ suburbs of NYC twice. 

celebrating my 50th in The Big Apple

I also lived on the Maryland side of D.C. for nine years so am very familiar with D.C. 

                                Be still my heart

Daughter1 worked in DC after uni and I enjoyed spending time with her there. And my dad is buried in Arlington which is a really special place. 

I currently live in the Palmetto State, but in what's known as the upcountry as opposed to the low country, which is where Charleston is located. I have been to Charleston though and love it. 

I also lived in Richmond Virginia for a few years and have visited the three towns mentioned here, a lovely corner triangle of the country. 

I'm sure I'll be in Philadelphia this year, and maybe Charleston too. 

We've moved a lot. Can you tell? 

One place I think everyone in America should see? This one-

Arlington National Cemetery. 

If you visit D.C. make a stop here.

2. Three sounds you love to hear? 

children laughing, NANA!!!, and the many sounds of water including a gentle rain, waves lapping the shoreline or crashing along a rocky rugged coast, babbling brooks, and waterfalls including the one in my own backyard. 

3. Three sounds you hate to hear? 

chewing, the sound of someone flossing their teeth, and a dental drill

4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips? 

I do like tortilla chips and my preference is to have them with a side of both salsa and guacamole. I like nachos but we have them very rarely. I'm good with whatever you want to throw on top. I don't like them soggy so go easy on any chili style toppings. Definitely lots of cheese, tomato, olives, onion, and jalapenos. 

I put a handful of broken (not crushed or pulverized) tortilla chips in the bottom of the bowl before adding my taco soup on top. So good! 

5. We March into March with next week's Hodgepodge...what's one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile? 

What isn't on my March calendar? Whew. Gonna be a busy one, but I'm looking most forward to a few days later in the month I've blocked to spend with my daughter2 and her kiddos. I'll go there during the week when her hubs will have some work travel, so it will be just us once her little ones go to bed. 

When we're together it's often related to an 'event'...birthday celebrations, Christmas, that sort of thing. It will be nice to have nothing we absolutely have to do. We plan to shop, watch baking, and solve all the problems of the world. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Do you follow The Leighton Show on social media or maybe on his youtube channel?  If you have teenagers this site is a gem. Even if you don't have teenagers you'll enjoy it. Parents send him texts their teenagers have sent and it's hilarious. 

He also has a book out called 'What Time Is Noon' which was a text message a parent received. He's easy to find online but here's a link to his Insta (The Leighton Show). It's one thing on social media that always makes me smile. 

Have a happy Wednesday everyone! 

Grab Your Mug...It's The Hodgepodge

Welcome to our mid-July random aka 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. Or all your neighbors if you've got the time. Here we go-

1. What's a characteristic you admire in others? Elaborate. 

There are many, but one of the biggest is selflessness. I so admire people who think of others first. Humility and integrity are other traits I greatly admire and they often go hand in hand with selflessness.

2. Do you have a favorite mug? Let's see it. Why is this one your favorite? 

This is my favorite-

And it has somehow disappeared. It may have broken and no one told me because they knew it was my favorite? It's also possible I set it down somewhere and it's still sitting there waiting for me to re-discover it's whereabouts. Too bad it's not linked to my watch the way my phone is. Bother. 

Daughter1 gave it to me because she knows how much I love the verse in my blog header and the mug design reminded her of that verse. Now I'm going on the hunt for it, because I'm wondering if I stashed it somewhere when I made room for the Christmas mugs. Do you need to know this? Carry on. 

I have other favorite mugs in terms of size, both the width and the depth and especially the handle. I'm particular about the handle. I have a couple of others that are favorites in terms of the giver and the meaning behind them. You know I have a hedgehog mug because of course I do. 

3. July 15th is/was National Give Something Away Day...will you (or did you, depending on what day you answer these questions) give something away? If so what? Do you regularly give away or do you 'accumulate'? 

I didn't give anything away on the 15th, but I keep a bag in my closet that once filled will be donated. We pretty regularly get rid of clothing we no longer wear. Hubs thinks our attic is full of things we could give away, but I disagree. We'll see once we get up there for the great clean out, which will not happen until the temperature drops about twenty degrees and I can walk without a boot. 

4. You're planning a trip. Do you prefer exploring big cities or smaller, more off the grid towns? World Atlas lists these 12 'off the grid' towns to see in 2025. How many on the list have you seen? Of those listed which one would you most like to visit? Tell us why? 

Boothbay Harbor Maine, Middlebury Vermont, New Hope Pennsylvania, Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Brevard North Carolina, Saugatuck Michigan, Medora North Dakota, Ouray Colorado, Lamoille Nevada, Neah Bay Washington, Hood River Oregon, or Cambria California

*You can read more about each destination by clicking the link above. 

I can get on board with a trip to a big city or a small town, as both appeal to me in different ways. I live in a small town, and I've been to a few of the small towns that made this list-New Hope PA (really cute!), Rehoboth Beach Delaware (we vacationed in neighboring Bethany Beach several summers) Brevard NC (not far from where I live so an easy day trip for us), and Cambria California-

California is such a beautiful state, one of the prettiest I think, but between the cost of living and the crazy politics there I would never want to call it home. 

It's hard to choose just one, but if I must I'm going with Medora North Dakota. Why? Because I've never been to that particular state and it's in a part of the country I'd like to explore.  Also my hubs has read several books about Theodore Roosevelt who is a really interesting man, so I know he would enjoy making the trip with me. 

5. Have you ever...ridden a motorcycle? been to a Disney park? met a celebrity? won a contest? Tell us something about whatever you answered yes to on this list. 

I had a brief ride on a motorcycle when I was young, about ten I think. My cousin gave my sister and I both, plus another cousin, a short ride around the neighborhood on his bike, and he went super slow. Still it was exciting to my ten year old self. That being said, my son-in-law is an orthopedic surgeon and not a fan of motorcycles. He's worked in ER Trauma and has seen too much, which kind of puts me off motorcycles. 

I've been to Disney World in Orlando three different times, and Disneyland Paris once. 

I've never been to the California Disney park. And I've never won a contest, but I have met a handful of celebrities. Here are two that stand out-

When we lived in the UK I was invited to a small luncheon in The House of Lords with David Cameron. I think there were about a dozen guests at the table.  He wasn't Prime Minister at the time, but became Prime Minister a couple of years later.  The club I was president of did a lot of fundraising for a charity very close to his heart and I was invited to the luncheon as a representative of our group. I sat next to Felicity Dahl who was Roald Dahl's second wife. It was a completely surreal experience for me. 

Closer to home-I met George Clooney in a NYC hotel when hubs and I were there with a group of his co-workers for an event. Meeting George now wouldn't be as exciting as it was then because I'm completely over celebrity culture in general, but especially celebs who bring politics into every situation. Still it was a fun night. 

The blogger  who hosted the random dozen which was the precursor to the Wednesday Hodgepodge sometimes mentioned George on her blog in a humorous way, and when I told her I'd met him once she demanded an explanation lol. I've linked the post with all the details here for anyone who's curious- George Clooney...here's the 411. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So who here has joined the Mah Jong craze? I learned to play towards the end of the Covid 'era', and I still play almost every week in my neighborhood. When I was growing up Mah Jong was a game Jewish grandmas played and that's kind of what I associated it with. That and China which is where the game originated. Who knew it was so much fun? It's surging in popularity now with lots of young moms playing too. So who here plays?