Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 410

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

1. Is March coming in like a lion where you live? Aslan, Simba, Elsa, The Cowardly Lion...your favorite 'famous' lion? 

2. In what way do you 'march to the beat of your own drum'? 

3. What item that you don't have already, would you most like to own? Any chance of that happening soon? 

4. March is National Flour Month...are you a baker? Cookies-cakes-or pies...your favorite sweet treat to bake? What's the last non-sweet thing you made that called for flour? 

5. There are 31 days in the month of March...where were you and what were you doing when you were 31? If you haven't hit that milestone yet, then tell us where you were and what you were doing 31 months ago? (if math is not your thing, that would be August 3, 2018)

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Ka-razy!

Good Monday morning to you all. I hope there was joy in your Easter weekend and everyone found ways to mark the day as special in spite of the distance between you and those you love.

Earlier in the week I asked hubs if we could get up before the birds on Easter Sunday and watch the sun rise from our dock. Our own little Easter morning sunrise service if you will. The weather forecast was not looking stellar, and he thought it would be too cloudy for any beauty to show up, yet there she was-

But only for a minute and then the rains came. Also lightning, thunder, howling winds and a couple of tornadoes. We ended our Easter Sunday sitting side by side at 3 AM in our lower level storage room which is concrete and windowless. What a day.

What a year.

What a world.

We had Sunday School with our class via Zoom and enjoyed our traditional Easter dinner (ham and pineapple stuffing) eaten on the good china in the dining room just because. We face timed with family, even getting my mom in on a call with all my sibs which was special. And we especially loved watching our grandsons from afar via pictures and video calls with my daughter.

Our little town did sustain some damage from one tornado that touched down, and sadly there was a fatality as well. Your prayers are very much appreciated as people mourn and clean up and repairs begin. Life feels a bit extra hard these days, which makes me more grateful (or maybe just more aware) than in years past for the significance of Easter and a hope that cannot be shaken.

I'm still writing each day in the April A-Z blog challenge but am taking a slightly different tack with today's letter and word.

Day 11-K is for Karaoke

This word comes to me courtesy of my sister-in-law, the one who plays the violin with an orchestra, who can carry a tune, and has that music gene in her DNA. Alas I do not. Have you seen the movie My Best Friend's Wedding with Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz? Well for those who have not, Cameron Diaz's character is peer pressured into performing karaoke, and it's not pretty but it is hilarious. 

Me doing karaoke would be similar. 

Since this word feels light and kind of fun I've decided instead of a whole post on the word I'm going to incorporate it into my Wednesday Hodgepodge questions this week . Let's see who might be a fan and who realizes they suddenly have somewhere else they need to be when a D.J. announces it's karaoke night. Stay tuned.

Also stay well-stay safe-stay home-stay happy. 

Turn Turn Turn

It's only taken 18 days for me to complete the 10-day writing challenge, but nobody's got anywhere they need to be, right?

Here we go...

Day 10 word prompt-clear

Let's talk about something that's on everyone's mind right now.

Pollen.

Ha! You thought I was going to say that other thing, didn't you?

We have had a crazy amount of rain this winter and everyone is so ready for warmer temps, sunnier skies, and the start of spring. But then spring arrives and with it comes rain of a different sort. I almost forget pollen is a season all it's own in the southland, but on the first day of spring we were indeed greeted with sunny skies and yellow everything.

I've always struggled with seasonal allergies and have learned it's best to stay inside as much as possible until a fair chunk of this stuff has hit the ground. Conveniently almost everyone is sticking close to home just now, so not quite as much of a hardship this year.

We had a little bit of rain overnight and woke up to crystal clear blue skies this morning. Hubs and I were like, 'Quick! Get the dogs and let's go for a walk before the air dries up and we're back to pollen everywhere.' 

This too is just a season.
It won't last forever.

Most hard things don't and it's good to remember that in pollen season.

In every season.

That Four Letter Word

I guess everyone is sick of all the snow talk, and the snow pictures, and the actual snow, right? No?  Great, because life around here has been all about snow, predicting snow, prepping for snow, removing snow, figuring out where to put snow on top of snow, gutters overflowing with snow, cars covered in salt and snow, and most of all, relishing the snow. Because above all the back breaking, pocketbook emptying, are-those -gutters-gonna-hold worry, a great big snowfall really is beautiful.

A couple of inches of snow is aggravating, not enough to stay cocooned indoors, but so sloppy to navigate when you're out and about. Two or three feet on the other hand, and there's no question you're not going anywhere. You settle in and enjoy, or at least we did.

We had a lovely Valentine's Day dinner at home on Friday, cooked by moi, four new and untested recipes, all keepers. Especially this one-

Chocolate glazed chocolate tart. So rich, a tiny sliver is all you need. Not necessarily all you eat, but it is all you need. Definitely a special occasion dessert.

Saturday it snowed.

Let's recap...we had fourteen inches of snow topped with a thick coating of ice on the ground already. Wednesday into Thursday we got another sixteen inches of very wet, very heavy snow. Saturday another six or eight inches fell. No point in measuring, suffice it to say there's a whole lotta snow out there, and the way it's been pushed and plowed and mounded I'll likely still be posting photos of the white stuff in July.

I wonder if the gutters will have melted by then?

Probably, but will they still be attached to the house? That's the million dollar question. Did I mention it's pretty?

Today the sun shone so hubs and I got out for a walk. Our pup loves the snow and cold weather so we maneuvered her paws into her boots and she joined us.

She sounds like a Clydesdale as she clop-clop-clops across the iced over pavement. Every now and then she shoves her whole face into the nearby snowbank for a snack.

Our dog is ever on the lookout for that elusive blade of grass. Hubs has been forced to lug the snow blower around back to make a path into the yard for her.

Course, first he has to move the mountain our plow guys have pushed in front of the fence gate, but he's nothing if not determined so, voila-

...'la toilette du chien'.  Everything sounds better in French, don't you think? How do you say dangerously large icicle on the corner of the house?

I'm happy to report our mailbox is still standing. We have a Dunkin Donuts gift card for our mail lady in the hopes she won't give up on us.  I've doled out freshly brewed coffee and hot chocolate to our snow plow guys every time they appear too, which has been a.lot. Kudos to the road crews as well, because they are relentless.

Hubs has also moved a mountain of snow this winter. He clears the sidewalks, patio, porch, and steps which is no small feat.

In fact it might even be considered somewhat hazardous.

But y'all...

...it's awfully pretty. 

True Tales from Inside the Vortex

So it's Monday, and not a whole lot has happened round here since Friday. Such is a winter weekend lived on the front lines of a polar vortex.

Is that a new term? Because I'm pretty sure we had some super cold weather when I was a kid, but we just called it cold. I think not having the vocabulary made it a lot less scary.

Is a polar vortex scary?

It sounds like something you should pay attention to, but perhaps it's just another way of saying super cold weather. Either way we've got it, and it's not leaving anytime soon.

It snowed here all day long on Saturday. Hubs suggested we go out to lunch, to the movies, anywhere...he wanted to get out of the house. I looked at the falling snow, the icy road, and the thermometer, and declared I would be staying put.

One thing I love about snow on the yard is seeing where the animals have been. There are three deer in our yard on a regular basis and I like to see where they roam.

Super close to the house it would seem.

We also have bird city happening in our back hedge. I don't know what it is about these bare branches, but the birds love them. Hmmm...they must not be completely bare. The big fat cardinal hung around all weekend too, and I love him. He doesn't appear to be having any trouble at all finding food this winter.  Look at that belly!

Hubs just throws seed on the ground below the hedge, and they find it. We used to have a bird feeder there, but after hubs came almost face to face with a bear on a mission to get to the seed inside the feeder, we had to rethink the whole bird feeder thing.

In hubs defense, it was dark.
In the bear's defense, he was hungry!

I finished my book club book this weekend, Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune, by Bill Dedman. Really interesting! A true story about not only Huguette, but the whole Clark family. Her father was at one time the wealthiest man in America, and made his money mostly in copper and the railroads. He also helped establish the city of Los Angeles, owned land that became what is now Las Vegas, and some pretty significant real estate on Fifth Avenue too. Huguette died under somewhat mysterious circumstances in 2011.

I made a big pot of chicken soup on Saturday, because it felt like a homemade chicken soup kind of day. I will just add here that the smell of chicken soup simmering has to be one of the best smells in the entire world. Maybe the entire universe.

We ended up going to a movie Sunday afternoon, still cold but not snowing. We saw Lone Survivor, and a whole day later I'm still not sure I have words.  I left the movie with a proud, grateful, aching heart. That old adage 'war is hell' is brought to life in this film, and it matters not whether you're a highly trained Navy Seal, or a young Afghan child living in a remote desert village. While there is unimaginable brutality and horror in the middle of the nightmare, there is also extraordinary kindness, and courage on a level that truly defies description.

I honestly couldn't watch some of the scenes...it's a picture of war we don't really like to think about in living color. We prefer to keep war 'over there', but these men were somebody's husband, father, brother, son and the film helps us remember that.

I do think there are things in this world worth fighting for, and I'm grateful there are men and women willing to do just that. I'm in awe of the bravery of our military men and women, particularly our special forces.

Hard to segue from that, but it's Monday and I've got a Monday morning kind of to do list here in front of me, so I best get to gettin'. Enjoy your day everyone!

Pedaling Through the Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge...add your link to the bottom of my post and then go see what the neighbors are saying.  Here are my answers~

1.  It's National Bike Week...do you own a bicycle?  When did you last ride a bike?

I do have a bicycle. It's hanging on the garage wall and would definitely need a tune up if I wanted to ride.  Which I don't, because seriously it's steep here. Even walking in my neighborhood is tough on the knees. 

When did I last ride a bike? It's been a while, unless you count the stationary bike at the gym I pedal for miles every week. My last ride on a 'real bike' was probably the first summer we were back in the states ('09). We spent a weekend at a friend's lakehouse, and she had one of those cute bikes you see people riding in beach communities...I loved it.   

2. What's something you learned in school that wasn't part of the curriculum?

Looking back I'm not sure I can separate what was learned strictly in school from what was learned elsewhere. I think most of my life lessons came from the combined experience and interaction with all the people who lived and grew beside me, not just in school, but also those in my own family, my church family, and my neighborhood.  

I do think my sense of empathy for the underdog was forged a bit in school. 

3. What's a food you've never tried, but would like to try?  What's a food you've tried, and will never try again?

I think it's been well established we're adventure eaters here, so I'm struggling to come up with something I want to try but haven't. I know there are millions of ethnic foods eaten regularly in kitchens around the world that I don't even know about so I'm certain the list would be long. If I'm traveling and you offer me something local I'll generally give it a try.  

As far as something I've tried and will never try again?  Liver and onions. I haven't had this dish since I was a kid, but the smell of it cooking is indelibly etched in my brain. It's possible this is one of those foods I disliked as a kid, and would now love as an adult, but I cannot get past the childhood memory.  Maybe if it were served in a restaurant and I didn't know what I was eating?  

4. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less?  Why?  Do you think that's a good trend?

I'd say more. I've been really serious about exercising regularly in recent weeks, plus I'm working on meeting some personal goals that require more self discipline than I typically posses. I'm pushing myself a little more than normal and that's good. For the time being, anyway.  

5. Who is your favorite book, movie, or TV show villain?

Hmmm...in other words, who do I love to hate?

I did love Larry Hagman as JR Ewing back in the day, but I think I'll say The Wicked Witch of the West. That green face and terrifyingly creepy little laugh still kinda gives me goosebumps.  

6. How concerned are you about identity theft?

It doesn't keep me up at night, but it's definitely on my radar. Sadly in this day and age everyone needs to be vigilant in reviewing bank and credit card statements and in safeguarding passwords and pin numbers.  I think bank and card companies are working hard to get to the fraud before it impacts the customer, but that's not always possible.  

7. I saw this last question on Dawn's blog and asked if I could share.  Everybody hop over and say hi, but first answer this...would you rather have an ordinary home in an extraordinary place or an extraordinary home in an ordinary place?

Definitely an ordinary home in an extraordinary place. I'm all about a great location!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Thinking of all those whose lives have been turned upside down this week.  Joining my prayers with the prayers of many...  

'I can see clearly now the rain is gone...'

So what did you do this weekend? Anything fun?

We had some fun if you count staying mostly tucked snugly into the confines of our own house listening to the wind blow and the rain lash while we watched a forest full of huge trees on the hill behind us sway and dance to the music of Irene.

Saturday was gray and drizzly but we ventured out early in the day to do a little shopping because someone has a birthday coming up and birthdays wait for no man. Or in this case, woman. Why are hurricanes women? One of the stops we made was at Best Buy and we were surprised at the crowds in the store. People were buying televisions and appliances and all sorts of electronics as a hurricane zipped up the coast. Something about that seemed strange but maybe they all had daughters with birthdays in the next few weeks too. And daughter2, in case you are reading this, rest assured you are not getting an appliance for your birthday. Nor are you getting a big TV but I think you already knew that.

We stopped for lunch on the way home because Irene was determined to put a damper on the minimalist cooking mantra I adopt on the weekends. We always eat out at least one meal on the weekends and hubs usually grills the rest. Hurricanes and grilling do not mix although I know some people resorted to boiling water for coffee on their grills Sunday morning. We do what we have to, right?

The worst of the storm hit here after midnight on Sunday morning. Hubs was asleep on the couch and the next day pronounced that it wasn't too bad. You do know its only people who sleep thru hurricanes that say things like that, don't you? I was awake throughout because someone needed to worry about the possibility of falling trees and flooded basements. We never did lose power so I was able to distract myself browsing Pinterest.

Sunday was a nasty day weather wise and although the storm had technically passed by early morning the winds and rain continued most of the day. We came thru it without anything more than some tree branches down and leaves scattered across the yard but there is significant flooding in our area and many are still without power. Hubs is working from home this morning since we know his route to work has 'issues' but the sun is shining in a bright blue sky and the air outside feels like fall.

This morning we have a chimney inspection scheduled in preparation for cooler weather and tonite we're going to a football game. Summer is winding down and we're gearing up for autumn, my favorite season of the year. Minus the hurricanes of course.

The weather, the workers, the weekends-oh deer!

What to talk about on this Monday morning? Hmmm....well, I could tell you that it's raining. It rained every day last week with the exception of a few bright spots on Saturday which were mixed with downpours. I don't think I want to talk about that.

Our patio workers were out in full force on Saturday trying to wrap up the landscaping and other remaining bits and pieces of this project. They almost succeeded.

Almost does not count.

The sprinkler is not working correctly in one spot and there is an entire length of gutter currently laying across the patio that will need to be reattached to the house. Lovely. I don't think I want to talk about that either.

I'm going to the dentist this morning. 'Nuff said.

Daughter2 arrived safely back in South Carolina yesterday afternoon and I for sure don't want to talk about that. How about something deer?

Is this the most precious thing or what?

Daughter2 and I had a girlie day on Friday which consisted of shoe shopping followed by a nice lunch out and then a visit to the salon for mani/pedis. Bliss.

As we turned onto our street I noticed some ears peeking out from under the tall grass (see paragraph 1, ahem) at the entry to our neighborhood. At first I thought it was a rabbit but we decided to turn around for a better look since something about that thought didn't seem quite right.

A newborn fawn. Oh my word. I've never seen one this tiny. We looked around and didn't see the mother at first so we got a little closer. We wondered if she was injured. (Yes, of course she's a she....so sweet and delicate.) She didn't look injured but she did sit almost motionless watching us with her beautiful brown eyes.

Can I have a pet deer Mom?

Tempting, but no.

We finally spotted the mother on the other side of the pond and she was chowing down like there was no tomorrow. Remember giving birth and feeling ravenous afterwards? She was just like that. We were cautious as we didn't want to disrupt the relationship in any way. We were pretty sure this fawn was only a day or two old.

Daughter2 googled baby deer and we learned a few things-

It's common for the mother to leave the newborn for extended periods of time following birth. The baby is safer this way than trying to keep up with an adult who is looking for food. And the newborn will sit almost motionless which is what this one was doing. If they are injured they will bleat continually and ours didn't make a sound. It did say that if they're left for more than 24 hours in the same spot they might have been abandoned and would need rescue. And although small and delicate apparently the hooves of a baby deer can still slice you and cause serious injury so that's a word of warning. Also, if you pet or handle the baby in any way it will bond quickly and attempt to follow you as if you are its mother. Daughter2 was all ready for this little thing to think she was its mother but we resisted petting or handling her in any way.

When we went out later that evening she was still there so hubs got to see her too. We all worried about her, not so much being hit by a car because she really wasn't up and moving, but we know there are fox and bobcats and who knows what else in the area that might feel the need to snatch her for their dinner.

Hubs walked down to the spot on Saturday morning and she wasn't there but he could see where she'd been laying. We didn't see any sign of her (if you know what I mean) so we assume she is now up and about and safely with her mother.

So deer dear isn't she?

I'm sure her mother thinks so too.

Eye on I

I need to talk about some other goings on around here besides where our travels have taken us these past twenty+ years. Since it goes against my nature not to carry on with the alphabet challenge I'm going to attempt a little bit of both here today...how about a game of I Spy?

I spy...Home Improvement.

Yes we are still in the middle of multiple projects around here.

I'm not going to post pictures until things are more complete but you should know that at one point on Friday I had the tiler here, someone else arrived to measure for the new shower doors, still more people turned up to deliver the furniture we'd ordered for Daughter1's bedroom, and our lawn guys decided the yard needed tending at that precise moment too.

It was like the perfect storm only it involved trucks in our driveway.

I spy...a Tennessee Volunteer

a whole 'nest' of them in fact...

...in Red Square

Hubs arrived home Friday after a week in Moscow with this matryoshka doll...isn't it funny to think Moscovites know the Vols?

I do believe they are working to embrace capitalism.

That's hubs on the left standing with a dear Russian gentleman who worked for my brother in law when he was living in Moscow not too many years ago.

They've stayed in touch and hubs was able to spend some time with him on his most recent trip.

I spy...the last (hopefully!) remnant of snow in our driveway.

How pathetic is that?

I spy...ice cream.

Coconut-yum!

Eaten at an outdoor table under sunny skies makes it taste even better.

In case you're wondering-the pup had plain vanilla.

And because I know some of you would be disappointed if I ended this post without a travel blurb here you go...

I is for The London "Eye"

Oh I love clever.

Most people visiting London take a spin on the Eye.

You can't miss it...a ginormous Ferris wheel like structure sitting beside the Thames. We have taken many a spin with many a house guest and I guess 'spin' isn't really the right word. Technically you are moving in a circular motion but it takes thirty minutes to go around.

Whew, we're high.

The pods are nice and roomy and they're not crammed full of people...you can move around and see the city and beyond from every direction.

If you happen to be in London on a crystal clear day the views from the Eye are pretty incredible....

Even my mom joined us one year...

that's the top third of her face in the corner there.

I think the photographer was focused on the view.

Which is fabulous....

On a day like this one, not so much....

As long as you're in the neighborhood might as well give that crazy bungee thing a whirl...this would be Daughter2.

Of course it would.

Do I even need to say it?

I heart London.

Really I do.

If you'd like to read more from the blog challenge click the A-Z button on my sidebar.

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes...

So.

The weather forecast is saying we may get anywhere from 6-9 inches of snow later tonite.

Words fail me.

Not really.

I always have plenty of words.

I think what is called for today are some happy thoughts, don't you?

In no particular order here are some things that have made me happy in recent days~

These shoes~

I'd been admiring them every time I passed the store window and on Monday I caved.

I may have purchased a sweater first that had just a hint of this shade of green in it so I'd have a legitimate excuse to buy the shoes.

Daughter2 left a message on our answering machine on Tuesday.

She has the absolute sweetest voice.

It was a nothing message...just hi/how are you sort of thing, but I've listened a few times because I love the sound of her voice.

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy.

Clean sheets.

Is there anything more wonderful than sleeping in a freshly made bed?

Dancing with the Stars...lame I know but tis true.

I've never watched this program before but its fun.

I'm rooting for Kirstie Alley.

Daughter2 is directing a play for a theatre class she's taking and yesterday she shared with me what she considers the best part of the whole directing experience....

she gets to use a clipboard.

If you knew her you would smile.

She is her mother's daughter.

I love a good clipboard.

I might also like to be in charge.

Airline miles.

I just booked flights for my girls to come home for the Easter holiday.

The four of us have not been together since Christmas.

And the two of them have not been together in this house since Thanksgiving.

I am more than a teensy bit excited.

This picture was taken in Tennessee last Easter.

This year we'll be celebrating in the lovely Garden State with its April snow showers and freezing temperatures.

They might want to re-think 'sleeveless'.

On March 31st, 2002 the sweetest pup in all the world made her debut~

We had our pick of the litter and we're all so glad we picked her...

She is nine years old today.

Sixty-three in dog years.

She acts more like a nine year old child than a 'senior'.

Just sayin'.

We love this dog like we've never loved another~

Thus concludes today's list.

You will notice a spring snowstorm is nowhere to be found.