A Summer's Tale

I mentioned in yesterday's post that there was one anecdote from our week in Hilton Head I wanted to share separately. But first, the back story. 

Because there always is one on From This Side Of The Pond. 

Also, it's not as much fun if I just get straight to it, so let's roll back time to the 1990's. 

Remember the 90's? 

Thirty years ago but whatever. Hubs started working in 1985 for the company he then stayed with for thirty years. The company's headquarters were in Northern New Jersey and we lived there two different times during his career. He started as a rep in Richmond, but we moved not too long after (1989 to be exact) to the main office in NJ. As hubs says, those were some of the most fun years of his work life and this was mostly due to his colleagues. 

Colleagues who became friends. 

New Jersey geography is funny. It's a tiny state but there are many many towns squished side by each and lots of traffic. Lots. Hubs office at that time was situated almost in NYC. Not quite, but close enough you had to get into all the Lincoln Tunnel traffic just to get to work. 

I know young adults today talk a lot about how they can't afford to buy a house, but let me just tell you in 1989, five years married, working good jobs, and we bought a house with no air conditioning, a one car garage, an hour+ commute in some of the world's worst traffic, and a mortgage interest rate of more than 12%. 

Hey, the 90's wasn't all neon windbreakers, beanie babies, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. 

I'm not saying it's not tough out there today, but our expectations for the kind of house we'd live in were pretty small. 

Anyway, what does all this have to do with Hilton Head in 2025? 

I'm getting there. This post is 90% a trip down memory lane and 10% present day. Back to the 90's. Work friends lived in various towns all around the office town. Nobody lived in office town, and very few lived in the same town as any other but that didn't stop us from socializing together. We thought nothing of driving 45 minutes to have dinner or go to a party at someone's house on weekends. 

We were all young (ish) and most of us were raising children and trying to get ahead, but also loving life and sharing life and encouraging each other in whatever way we could. It's a mega ginormous beast of a company today, but back then it still felt a bit like family. 

After five years in  New Jersey (that first stint) we moved to Maryland, still with the same company, and other friends moved around too. Some we kept in contact with for decades, are still in contact with today. Some have visited the lake and some were in our lives for just a season. When we think back on those friendships, those early hard years of working like crazy and raising children, we think of them with tenderness. 

Okay, back to 2025. Finally. We had plans to go into Harbour Town on Thursday evening, but the kids were worn out and decided they wanted to stay home and order pizza, so hubs and I were on our own.

We walked around for a bit and had a drink at the Quarterdeck's Umbrella Bar in the marina there. 

Charcoal roasted oysters and spicy strawberry margarita with a view. 

We shopped a little then decided to grab dinner at The Crazy Crab. So cute! It's exactly what you think of when you think of a beachside restaurant with it's nautical decor, fishing nets, that sort of thing. 

We'd ordered our food when we noticed a family being seated at the table beside ours. There was a mom with her three small children and what we guessed were the grandparents. As they were seated hubs said,  'that guy looks just like Dan C'.  So I looked more closely at his wife and said, 'you know I'm pretty sure that IS Dan C.' 

Dan C. and his wife are some of those 90's work friends I mentioned above. Friends we haven't seen since the 90's. 

So hubs said, 'Dan?' and the guy immediately turned his head and then he did a triple take before giving hubs a big hug. Their daughter was born about a month after my youngest, and now here she is with her three kids, and we're all grandparents trying to cram thirty years of catching up into an aisle conversation at a Hilton Head restaurant. 

We exchanged new contact info and since they live in HHI now, and also want to come our direction sometime, we hope to make another get together happen. 

I'm a sucker for a small world story. Hubs and I marveled at the odds of this happening and they're miniscule. We've had a few in our lifetime and they always make me feel grateful. I guess some would call it coincidence, some say serendipity. I say it's just one of the many ways God shows us He's got this whole big-little world in His hands. 

Linking today with Joanne at Talking About It Tuesdays 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 598

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (April 16) to share answers with the universe. See you there! 

1. Do you complete your own taxes? Besides actual taxes, what's something you've found taxing lately?

2.  What are three values you treasure most in a friendship? 

3. Do you meal plan or do you mostly wing it? Share your dinner menus for this week. 

4. Thomas Sowell is credited as saying, ''There are no solutions, only trade-offs.' Agree or disagree? Discuss.

5. What's the best perk you've enjoyed at a job?

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Everybody's Workin' For The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions, add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you, or all the bloggers if you have the time. Here we go- 

1. Something you're working on currently? 

Cleaning out my closet and getting myself organized for our hop across the pond. I've needed new luggage for a while now and finally ordered myself a two piece set from Travelpro. Hubs has traveled round the world with his and it's held up well so I went with them again.  

I rarely use an extra large suitcase, but for longer trips it's nice to have that option. I'm bringing birthday gifts for two of my grandchildren and a few Christmas items I've picked up as well so I think I'll need the space. 

2. Tell us something about your first job? Was it a positive or negative experience for you? Did your parents insist you work while in school (either high school or college) or did you work because you wanted to? 

I guess technically my first job would be babysitter. I started babysitting after school for our across the street neighbor's nine month old daughter when I was in Jr. High. I was a responsible young teenager, and my mom was right across the road. My neighbor was a nurse and worked the second shift, so I'd sit for a couple of hours after school until the dad got home. They overpaid me all the time and I loved that little girl so much. They were true New Yorkers and would go out to dinner at something like 9 PM and come home in the wee hours of the morning and occasionally they'd find me sound asleep. 

Babysitting was a positive for me. I've always loved children and enjoy spending time with them. I always wanted to be a mother and I think babysitting only made me more certain of that. 

The family moved my senior year in high school and I got a job in a nursing home, working in the dining room. I liked the work and the people so would say this was also a positive experience. 

I don't think my parents insisted I work. I guess they probably expected us to work and we all did. That's just what teenagers/college students on summer break did. I'm not sure any of us saw not working as an option, but we didn't complain about it either. There were far fewer activities on the calendar when I was a teenager, so that probably helped. I enjoyed having spending money and liked the sense of responsibility a job gave me. I think those early jobs were confidence boosters too. 

3. Have you ever had a job that required overnight travel? How did you feel about that? Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a uniform? Do you work better in the morning or at night? 

I've never had a job that required overnight travel, but my hubs always had a job that required a lot of overnight travel, so I've experienced that side of it. When you have a hubs who travels a lot you learn to manage things you might not manage otherwise, you get on with things, and take care of the business of running a home.  I would say those are all positives. 

Here we are back in the mid-90's at BWI Airport, picking up hubs from an out of town work trip. How sweet it was to step off a plane and have your girls run right into your arms. Remember when you could greet your family right at the airport gate? Remember Continental Airlines-ha! 

Re: uniforms...the nursing home position I mentioned above required me to wear a white uniform, apron, white hose!, and white work shoes that were truly ugly. I didn't love the uniform, but it was part of the job. 

No question about it, I work better in the morning. I have never been a night owl. 

4. What's something you bake or cook that is labor intensive? Is it worth it? 

Eggplant parmesan would be one. I make Alex Guarnaschelli's recipe and it's definitely labor intensive and definitely worth it. I usually make one a year with eggplant my daughter's mother-in-law grows and shares. 

My mama's enchilada recipe is an all day affair too, also totally worth it. My mom used to make them every year for hub's birthday because he could eat a whole pan himself. I haven't made them in a long while, but this post has me thinking about how good they are so maybe that will happen soon. Or at least before year's end. 

5. One thing you're looking forward to in the month of September? 

The list is long, but first things first...it's my birthday month. On top of that I'll be seeing both of my girls and all of my grands in person (not at the same time but we take what we can get) and, best of all, we're making a trip back to a place I lived and loved and have tucked into my heart for always (England). 

Out of all the months on the calendar I think September might just be my favorite.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

There were no less than a dozen people here Tuesday working on 'the great backyard reset' as I've taken to calling it. As a result lots of progress has been made and I can finally see what it is we're doing lol.

Of course we still have a ways to go...

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone! 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 567

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. Something you're working on currently? 

2. Tell us something about your first job? Was it a positive or negative experience for you? Did your parents insist you work while in school (either high school or college) or did you work because you wanted to? 

3. Have you ever had a job that required overnight travel? How did you feel about that? Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a uniform? Do you work better in the morning or at night? 

4. What's something you bake or cook that is labor intensive? Is it worth it? 

5. One thing you're looking forward to in the month of September? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Good Grief, It's The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say hi to your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. Did you watch any coverage of the 9/11 services on Monday? How do you feel on this day some 22 years after the events occurred? Share more if you want to share more. 

We did watch coverage of the services and remembrance ceremonies. It still is just so incredibly sad and listening to the names read aloud and family members speak of their losses still makes me cry. When I think of the firefighters, police, and emergency responders especially I want to weep at their courage and their sacrifice. 

I think the day should be marked and am glad we don't just lower the flag and carry on. I think it's a disgrace the President wasn't at any of the sites on Monday, but he struggles so much these days to speak coherently perhaps its best he wasn't present. 

2. September 13th is National Peanut Day...do you like peanuts? Your favorite dish that contains peanuts? 

I do like peanuts. My favorite dish made with peanuts is a Thai chicken curry. 

3. Something you're currently 'nuts' about? 

Surprising no one here...grandbabies of course. 

4. Your favorite Peanuts character? There are several quizzes online if you're curious...I took two and got the same character for both so I'm sure they're accurate lol. (Click here for the link)

I got Charlie Brown and based on the quiz description it mostly fits...it says I'm an ambivert which I do think is true (both introverted and extroverted depending on my mood or the situation). 'Gentle, lovable, determined, and hopeful'...I'd like to think I'm all of those things. 'You mean well and care about your friends' -for sure! When it comes to failure you 'stay optimistic, press on, and cheer for your friends to keep on going.' Pretty accurate for a ridiculous online quiz. 

5. Tell us about a job you worked 'for peanuts'? 

Well I was a camp counselor for several summers and the actual pay was peanuts. The rewards though, were pure gold. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hubs and I went to a local small town apple festival over the weekend and yesterday I baked an apple pie. I followed a new recipe very carefully, even rechecking the instructions before putting it in the oven. Just as I was closing the door it I thought, 'hey I never put any sugar in the mix...was there sugar in the mix?'

Yes of course there was supposed to be sugar in the mix. I mean what's apple pie without sugar? So I went back and checked the ingredient list and there was indeed sugar mentioned, but adding it was nowhere in the recipe. I carefully peeled the top crust back, put most of the apples back in the bowl, added the sugar, and baked.  

Delish! Now bring on fall! 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 519

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, the hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the world wide webbers. See you there!

1. Did you watch any coverage of the 9/11 services on Monday? How do you feel on this day some 22 years after the events occurred? Share more if you want to share more. 

2. September 13th is National Peanut Day...do you like peanuts? Your favorite dish that contains peanuts? 

3. Something you're currently 'nuts' about? 

4. Your favorite Peanuts character? There are several quizzes online if you're curious...I took two and got the same character for both so I'm sure it's accurate lol. (Click here for the link)

5. Tell us about a job you worked 'for peanuts'? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Everybody's Workin' For 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. Before you run off be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you, because that's how the Hodgepodge rolls. Here we go-

1. Something you've labored over recently? 

Hmmm...I can't think of anything recently that involved true labor.  I guess I'll say planning a trip. Not physically laborious but it's been a bit of a brain drain getting all the bits and pieces to come together. 

2. How will you rest on Labor Day? 

Ha! We'll have a houseful here, including all three of my grandsons, so I'm not sure rest will be on the agenda. We're all looking forward to being together though, and there will be plenty of time to rest next week. In the meantime I plan to embrace all the noisy fun. 

3. Margaret Mead is quoted as saying, "I learned the value of hard work by working hard." Would you agree? Where and how did you learn the value of hard work? 

I agree with the saying. 

I learned the value of hard work from my parents. Growing up we were expected to work hard- try hard- do our best-whether that meant in school or in a household chore we were assigned. My parents worked hard too. They lived within their means, saved for a rainy day, and were generous with their time and resources with those less fortunate. That was the example I had and the one I have tried to emulate. 

4. It's National Eat Outside Day (August 31st). Will you? Do you enjoy dining 'al fresco' or do you prefer indoor seating? 

Hubs and I love dining al fresco and we eat outside every chance we get. If the humidity is ridiculous then we opt for indoor seating, otherwise we're all about eating outside. We have a table on our screened porch and love to eat out there in the autumn months especially. 

5. Somehow it's the end of August. What was the best day of the month for you and tell us what made it so?

We've had a lot of 'best days' this month so it's nearly impossible to choose just one. My best day would definitely be one where grandchildren were part of the equation. A day at the beach with Daughter1 and her family or a morning spent sitting on the porch with the cutest little nugget I know.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of the littlest man, here's the cutest thing you'll see today. This month. Maybe ever-

Be still my heart. 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Laboring

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday 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 linking before you.  Ready-set-GO!

  

1. Something you've done in recent days or months that might be described as a labor of love?

Planning my daughter's birthday dinner with all her favorite things, finding one or two special gifts that will be meaningful to her, shopping for family Christmas pjs for my daughter overseas...

Preparing foods and shopping for/making small gifts with meaning are a labor of love for me. 

2. Last time you 'worked your fingers to the bone'?

I pulled weeds on our back slope for an hour on Saturday morning, and I don't know about my fingers but I definitely worked my back to the bone.

3. According to a recent survey people named the following ten jobs as the hardest-nurse, doctor, paramedic, police officer, firefighter, surgeon, healthcare worker, bomb squad, farmer, and prison warden. Of the jobs listed which would you say is the hardest? The one you'd most like to do? Least like to do? What's one job you would add to the list?

Currently I'm going to say being a police officer in America is the toughest job there is, and the one I'd least like to do. Of the jobs listed the one I'd like most would probably be nursing. I thought about being a nurse while in college, then changed my major to speech pathology which was also a rewarding field. 

What job would I add to the list? How about window washers on our city skyscrapers? Or oil rig workers, the people who climb those ginormous communication towers...anything where you need your wits about you to do your work all the while knowing there is a danger of falling from a great height. Shudder. 

4. A recipe you make that is labor intensive, but worth it?

My mamas homemade enchilada recipe. They take me all day, but of course that could just be me. Honestly they've always taken my mom a fair chunk of time to put together too, so I think it's just a labor intensive recipe. Worth it? Absotively posilutely!!

5. Last job you did or task you completed that required teamwork?

I feel like hubs and I do things on a fairly regular basis that require teamwork of some sort. Managing the dogs (I'll feed while he waters), getting the kayaks back on the rack (he lifts and I help guide then in to place and hang on to the straps), docking the boat (I hang the bumpers while he maneuvers the boat into the slip, then I carefully, and also occasionally not so carefully, step off and pull us in), and the list goes on. We docked the boat more than once this weekend so that's probably the best example of recent teamwork.  And good news! There was hardly any yelling or swearing. 

We need this shirt. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Daughter2 has a birthday coming up this week and I will write a birthday post on the actual day because years ago she told me it's the one thing she looks forward to the most (no pressure Mom-ha!) but for today I want to share this-

For my beautifully strong hilarious girl on the eve of a brand new decade xoxo 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 385

I don't know why, but a post-holiday weekend Hodgepodge always catches me by surprise. Here are this week's questions...you supply the answers on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday to share answers with the universe.  See you there-

 

1. Something you've done in recent days or months that might be described as a labor of love?

2. Last time you 'worked your fingers to the bone'?

3. According to a recent survey people named the following ten jobs as the hardest-nurse, doctor, paramedic, police officer, firefighter, surgeon, healthcare worker, bomb squad, farmer, and prison warden. Of the jobs listed which would you say is the hardest? The one you'd most like to do? Least like to do? What's one job you would add to the list?

4. A recipe you make that is labor intensive, but worth it?

5. Last job you did or task you completed that required teamwork?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

High Five From The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered the questions add your blog link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor on the list. Here we go-

1. Five years ago this month hubs and I relocated from New Jersey to the Palmetto State. What were you doing five years ago this month?

I mentioned we moved, but when I glanced back at my photos I saw a few other things were happening too. I have some thoughts so instead of writing a short answer here I think I'll make this the subject of my Thursday post. Why use fifty words when you can use 250? 

2. What was the last 9-5 job you worked? Tell us about it.

It has been a long time since I've worked a 9-5 job. The last full time job I held was serving as the Director of a local church preschool in the state of Maryland. To put it another way that was four moves ago. 

I loved it though. I remember standing in front of a crowded sanctuary filled with parents, and telling them I was leaving. I got so teary I could hardly speak. It was a job that was well suited to my temperament and training, the people were wonderful, and it was a really nice place to work. 

3. Plead the fifth, high five, take five, it's five o'clock somewhere, or the big 5-0...which number five phrase relates to your life in some way currently? Tell us how.

Hmmm...maybe the big 5-0? I wrote a whole post about that decade here (Check Engine Light), and with another big birthday coming up fast I suppose the calendar turning has been on my mind.  

4. During this season of spending so much time at home, what distractions get in the way of being your most productive? Or have you been extra productive since this whole thing started?

Definitely not standing in the extra productive camp. I need a little pressure to get things done and the past few months have (in a sense) been pressure free. No deadlines, no company coming, no trips  to plan, nothing to shop for...everything feels like it can be done another day.  

I do meal plan, grocery shop, cook, and all the basic household chores get done, but I'm not one of those people who've learned to speak Italian, took up painting, or reorganized their attic just because they've had a lot of time to fill. I'm more of a let's read a book on the porch kind of pandemic survivor. 

5. Give us a list here of your top five anything.

Not sure if this is my top five, but here are five Instagram accounts I enjoy following, all pretty much politic-free. I am so over that side of social media. 

Chateau de Gudanes-the ongoing restoration of an old chateau set in the south of France. 
Cristin Cooper- a semi-local instagrammer sharing southern style, home and all things beauty
Half Baked Harvest-NYT best selling author of HBH Super Simple Cookbook
National Trust -protecting special places and outdoor spaces in the UK
Ruth Chou Simmons-mom to six boys, artist and author, founder of @gracelaced

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Life feels like a whole bunch of random lately, which is maybe why I've been struggling to fill this question #6 space the past few weeks. We had friends come for dinner Tuesday night (on the patio because 2020) and I made a delicious creme brulee for dessert. How's that for random? I use the recipe found here.

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 382

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all the other world wide webbers. See you there!

1. Five years ago this month hubs and I relocated from New Jersey to the Palmetto State. What were you doing five years ago this month?

2. What was the last 9-5 job you worked? Tell us about it.

3. Plead the fifth, high five, take five, it's five o'clock somewhere, or the big 5-0...which number five phrase relates to your life in some way currently? Tell us how.

4. During this season of spending so much time at home, what distractions get in the way of being your most productive? Or have you been extra productive since this whole thing started?

5. Give us a list here of your top five anything.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Hodgepodge Secrets

First things first, happy birthday to my mama! I wrote a celebratory post earlier in honor of her big day, which you'll find in the link here. Now for 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 linking before you. Here we go-

1. The Hodgepodge lands this year on National Secret Keeping Day...on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being I'm a blabbermouth and 10 being I'm a vault) how good are you at keeping secrets?

I read here nine jobs for people who can keep a secret-cybersecurity worker, executive assistant, housekeeper, lawyer, nuclear plant technician, physician, private investigator, psychologist, security guard  Of the jobs listed, which one most interests you and why?

I think I'm pretty good at keeping a secret, particularly if it's related to something serious in nature. Giving myself a 9 because I'm not sure I've never accidentally spilled something I shouldn't have. 

As for the jobs listed I'm intrigued by the private investigator, but far too chicken to actually try it. I'll say psychologist since I'm a mom and I've also worked as a kindergarten teacher, speech pathologist, and school director, all roles requiring a bit of psychology. 

Plus hubs says I like to analyze him-ha! 

2. What's the secret of life (or one of them anyway)?

I think Solomon summed it up best...'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

3. Off the record, best-kept secret, a fly on the wall, top secret, my lips are sealed, secret shopper, as quiet as a mouse, poker face, spill the beans, open secret, bite your tongue...which secret idiom can you best relate to right now? Explain.

When to speak and when to bite your tongue...a real dilemma in the year 2020. 

4. Spill here the secret ingredient in one of your favorite recipes?

Since it's my mama's birthday and she's both a fabulous baker and a serious chocolate lover I'll say her chocolate cake, the one with coca cola in the mix and also cooked into the fudgy icing. So yummy! 

5. Speaking of my mom...she celebrates a birthday today and she reads my blog.  Share a favorite quote, song lyric, saying, or verse of scripture that will add some sunshine to her day (ours too!)

'Mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled.' Emily Dickinson 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Was this really just last year? 

Little man says yes indeed. 

And where's the party this year?

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 376

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Hop back here tomorrow to share answers and link your post with Hodgepodgers around the globe.

1. The Hodgepodge lands this year on National Secret Keeping Day...on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being I'm a blabbermouth and 10 being I'm a vault) how good are you at keeping secrets?

I read here nine jobs for people who can keep a secret-cybersecurity worker, executive assistant, housekeeper, lawyer, nuclear plant technician, physician, private investigator, psychologist, security guard  Of the jobs listed, which one most interests you and why?

2. What's the secret of life (or one of them anyway)?

3. Off the record, best-kept secret, a fly on the wall, top secret, my lips are sealed, secret shopper, as quiet as a mouse, poker face, spill the beans, open secret, bite your tongue...which secret idiom can you best relate to right now? Explain.

4. Spill here the secret ingredient in one of your favorite recipes?

5. My mama celebrates a big birthday tomorrow (Wednesday).  Share a favorite quote, song lyric, saying, or verse of scripture that will add some sunshine to her day (ours too!)

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

It's Tuesday

I felt that needed to be said, because when a weekend lasts three days it's easy to forget what day it is. That also explains why there are no Hodgepodge questions on my blog today. I normally write them on a Monday so they'll post on Tuesday, but I spent all day yesterday thinking it was Sunday so no Hodgepodge this week.

Let's talk about other interesting things. Like the weather! Ugh! Memorial Day weekend feels like the official start of the summer season which I guess is why we expect the weather to be lovely and summer-like. We're almost always disappointed. I keep reminding myself it's May and it's still spring so rain is the norm, but it feels like warm sunny skies should be the norm.

I remember when my girls were young we always went to a friend's parents house on Memorial Day weekend because we lived in Annapolis and the Blue Angels would fly right over her parent's pool. The water would be freezing and the skies were most often gray and cloudy but the kids would try to convince us it was perfect swimming weather and we'd let them swim because it really does feel like the kick off to summer.

In spite of the dreary weather, or maybe because of it, we had a really enjoyable, low-key, restful weekend here at the lake. Daughter2 drove out after work on Friday and made it in time for dinner. Hubs grilled chicken and made yummy margaritas, and we set up a taco bar of sorts. It was perfect.

We ate almost all our meals this weekend on the screened in porch which is my favorite thing to do. The lake is never not pretty, and honestly watching rain fall from the comfy coziness of the porch is good for the soul.

We've had a houseful of company all month long so a quiet weekend was definitely in order. Hubs likes the idea in theory, but in reality not so much. He can create a project where none exists. At one point this weekend I actually uttered these words, which I know some of you won't understand, but if you're married to a do-er like I am you'll get it..."Hon, I really need you to do less this weekend." 

Seriously, how can I stretch out for a nap with a book on the back deck when he's killing weeds, rearranging hoses, and moving rock??? Turns out I can, but 1% of me feels like I should also be 'toting that barge and lifting that bale' right along with him.

Daughter2's fiance arrived from out of town late Friday evening and the four of us had a great time lounging. I actually got the kayak out early Saturday, they're new so this was my first time in ours and it was nice. We're still waiting on the other one to get here because somehow the place we ordered from 'lost' the other one. Not sure how you lose a lime green kayak, but apparently it can happen.

Hubs took my advice mid-morning Saturday and joined us on the porch. There were a few pockets of sunshine late in the day and some neighbors popped over for cornhole on the back drive. We had steaks for dinner and taught the fiance how to play Hearts which was fun. Daughter2 and I both LOVE to play games, the fiance likes to play games, and hubs (once he's talked into the fun) tolerates playing games.

He did grill some awesome ribs on Sunday which is basically an all day kind of process, so while he did that Daughter2 and I played dress up. We pulled out my wedding gown, circa 1984, and I took pictures of her and marveled at my once tiny waistline. I was so in love with those Cinderella sleeves and seeing them again makes me secretly happy.

There's nothing quite like seeing your baby girl in a wedding gown, yours or the very elegant and beautiful gown she'll wear on her actual day. I'm so looking forward to that!

Sunday evening the weather perked up long enough for a boat ride which we all enjoyed. The clouds were impressive!

Monday the monsoon rains were back again. Daughter2 and I spent the morning looking at all things wedding related while the fiance took care of some work stuff on his computer, and hubs...wait for it... napped! in the porch rocker.

Porches make life sweeter y'all.

Before 'the kids' headed back to the small big city Monday we had an afternoon of bowling and burgers at a nearby place. I'm a terrible bowler but it was really fun and we will definitely do that again before summer's end.

Which isn't for a long long while because summer hasn't even started yet.
SaveSave

It's Not So Elementary

My daughter2 has been teaching school for over five years now. She started her career as a third grade teacher but transferred to kindergarten last year. I've visited every one of her classrooms at least once to help with some sort of special project and to read a book to her students. Shhh! Don't tell, but my real reason for going is to see my girl in her natural habitat. When it comes to teaching she is a natural.

Until yesterday hubs never had the opportunity to see her run her classroom like a boss. Yesterday he spent a couple of hours in her classroom, ate lunch in the cafeteria, and basically tried his best to keep up with the crazy pace and activity level of a room full of five year olds.

Here's his takeaway-

1. His daughter is amazing.

2. Seriously, if he had to do what she does on a daily basis he said he'd likely pull the covers over his head and never come out. It's a steady stream of walking, talking, not sitting, re-directing, suggesting, guiding, consoling, herding, answering, having a Plan B, smiling, encouraging, helping and whew! 

Teaching is not for the faint of heart!!

3. Kindergartners are busy busy busy. There are many moving parts and they ask a lot of questions.

4. A whole lot of questions. Not always about the topic at hand.

5.  Besides a room full of students there were chickens.

6. Baby chickens. Daughter2 had seen a program available to teachers through I think the Cooperative Extension where you could pick up eggs and everything you'd need to hatch chickens in your room including feed, brood box, water bottles, incubator, and instructions. They will also take the new baby chicks back unless someone takes them home.

No she is not taking them home, but don't think for a minute she hasn't considered it-ha!

7. Anyway, one evening after school she trekked down to the Extension Office and picked up all the necessary materials and three weeks later she and her room full of kindergartners watched six baby chicks enter the world right before their eyes. One is still struggling to make his way out so here's hoping today was the day. Her students have recently completed a unit on animals and there's nothing like hatching your own chicks to make it all come to life.

8. Hubs brought her chick-fil-a for lunch. Circle of life?

9. He read a book to the class too. Horton Hatches The Egg because great teachers know how to work a theme.

10. After he read the book Daughter2 told her students they could ask him questions. She told them he knows a lot about a lot of things, for instance snakes. He knows a lot about snakes.

11. He was then asked approximately 546 questions about snakes.

12. This profession is under appreciated on so many levels.

13. And his daughter is completely amazing.

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

In this week's Hodgepodge we were asked to sum up our 20's in one sentence. I found it nearly impossible to sum up a decade filled with more change than perhaps any other in my life in one measly sentence, and decided instead I would need a whole blog post. So here we are.

I mentally scrolled through the years and took inventory of what all transpired in my life between the ages of 20 and 30, and while I remember it as chock-a-block full of fun, new experiences, and a mostly light heart some of the biggest decisions of my life were also made in this decade. Those decisions included who I would marry, what sort of career I would have, when should we start a family, and where do we want to be in ten years.

Actually that last bit we probably didn't think about as intentionally as we tell our 20-somethings now to do, but if you'd asked us back then our answer would have been simple and straight forward. We wanted to be moving forward. Always moving forward. Ahead of where we are now. That was our expectation and I think it's safe to say most of our friends had similar expectations.

We wanted a house, children, meaningful work, and a thriving marriage. The way to make that happen was nose to the grindstone, work-save-throw in some fun, but definitely keep your eye on the ball with the ball being your future.  Now that might sound predictably boring but I assure you it was not. It was a million happy-hard-hilarious-humbling moments that grew us into the people we are today.

Here's my 20's in a nutshell-

Met hubs
fell head over for his devilish charm and the way he made me laugh
graduated from university
working girl
married and moved-new city
moved and married-new city and state
bought first house-new city only
preggers
bought second house
moved-another new city and state
birthed a baby who today has a baby
and surprise! moved-still another new city and state

I was looking for some pictures to include and y'all we just have so many awful pictures from those years. The people are far away and teeny tiny or out of focus and their eyes are red or closed or rolled sideways. And there's a lot of junk in the pictures. Why didn't we ever neaten up the table beside us or the floor in front of us or wait until that random stranger exited the shot?

Because we just didn't. People who took the time to do that when I was in my 20's were called professional photographers.

I worked and had three different employers in my chosen profession in my 20's but I loved this assignment best-

I was a speech pathologist in a public school setting (a preschool) and it was rewarding on so many levels. It might have been three decades ago but I still remember nearly every child from that particular school placement.

On a lighter note I wore bows in my 20's. If your 20's were the same decade as my 20's you likely wore bows too. This particular bow was not attached to the blouse either. You could buy them separately kind of like we do now with scarves, and tie them on any old blouse or top. This picture also reminded me of my love for electric rollers which I used every morning before work way back when.

Also I miss my 20-something skin. Carry on.

1985-Washington D.C. on the 4th of July. A whole lot is going on with that group behind us but maybe you didn't notice because you were distracted by the size of my glasses? It was really hot this particular day which might explain why all those boys in the backdrop have their shirts off.

My girls have seen a picture of me in this outfit and ask if I still have it because rompers are once again a thing. For the record I do not. Hubs and I had been married one whole entire complete year in this picture. I loved being married. I was never that girl who wondered if she wanted to be married or not.

Hubs and I share a birthday month and I found these two pictures taken at my mom's house the year I turned 26 and hubs turned 27. Look how excited we are to be getting a STEAMER!!

And a BBQ GRILL!!  

We're not acting either. We were genuinely thrilled because we didn't go out and buy non-essentials for ourselves in our 20's. We asked for those things for birthdays and Christmas and our families generously obliged. Many meals were cooked on that Weber grill, and it lasted nearly 20 years.

I guess I don't need to point out that tanning was a thing in my 20's. Real sun, not sunbeds or salons but still my 50-something self wishes I'd slathered on a little more SPF back in the day. I'm also loving that stereo cabinet in the background of this picture. Technology didn't move at the speed of light like it does today so adding anything new to your home technology wise was kind of a big deal. I don't remember what year my parents bought that, but I can tell in this photo it's still pretty new.

And here I am 4 months pregnant-

I was working full time and when I wasn't working I'm pretty sure I was sleeping. Hubs would say some things never change-ha! That pup lying beside me is the first dog hubs and I had as a married couple because getting a dog is mandatory in your twenties. She was abandoned as a puppy, left behind our house, so she had a few 'issues'.

You maybe can't tell from the picture but she was still figuring out how to behave indoors. AHEM. She loooved to chew things...the carpet, the arm of the sofa, the linoleum in the laundry room... yeah. Wasn't sure we were going to survive her puppy years, but of course we did and she lived and was loved to the ripe old age of 16 so well beyond our 20's.

Now here's that baby I mentioned-

People sometimes see a picture and say wow that feels like only yesterday, but when I look at this it feels like a lifetime ago. Maybe that's because baby girl has a baby of her own now or maybe it's because it really was a lifetime ago. Let's see if this next sentence makes your head spin like it did mine-

My daughter is 8 months old in this picture and I'm the age she is now. Huh???

I look so happy in this picture and I'm pretty sure it's because I was. So happy. Motherhood was everything I imagined it would be and a thousand things more. The sweet soft essence of the baby girl in this photograph is still so real and present in the grown up woman she is today. God is good like that.

My 20s were a decade of enormous growth and change, but I'm not sure I ever acknowledged that while I was actually in my 20s. I was always just doing the next thing which I think is pretty good advice for anyone struggling in any season of life. Do the next thing. In my 20's that meant finishing college, graduating, getting married, having babies, raising babies.

There is one thing that rings true in every decade of my life and it's that God always makes me ready for the 'next thing' with the 'what's now'.

In my 20's the 'what's now' was a whole lot of change. Change has most often been the medium God uses (and continues to use) to accomplish His purposes in me. I'm always resisting a little or a lot, but in the end there's a very deep sense of gratitude for the roads He's led me down.

In my 20's those roads were filled with so much new. A husband and baby for sure, but other relationships too- friends, jobs, neighbors. My 20's found me navigating new places too, and figuring out how things are done in different parts of the country. I had to extend myself often when what I really wanted was to pull the covers over my head. As a result I grew in confidence, discipline, intention, and most of all faith, which as it happened were all things I would be needing in later decades.

While I didn't take note of everything I was learning in the moment one thing that was crystal clear to me before I hit 30 was this-whatever road I'm on I am never alone. There is grace for the day and strength to be had for the asking.
SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

In Sync With The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another 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 howdy to your neighbor there. Thanks for playing along each week!

1.  In a rut, in a jam, in the groove, out of sync, off balance, out of touch...which saying best fits some area of your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

Well I think we all know I was physically off balance back in August of this year, so that fits. My ribs took a good three months to heal completely and I hope I never experience that sort of injury again. 

More than off balance though I feel out of sync. We were away for a large chunk of October and then hit the ground running upon our return. Still trying to catch my breath, and seem to be always a step or two behind where I need to be. 

2. What is it about somebody else's style of work (coworker/employee/shared volunteer project/household chore) that makes you crazy? Why?

habitual lateness, laziness, being unprepared on a regular basis

3. What's a tradition that always makes you feel at home?

I think partly why I love Thanksgiving is because at the core it's celebrated in a very similar way all across America. Family and/or friends gathering, shared cooking, turkey and dressing, pie, parades and naps...this is Thanksgiving. Yes I know that's not 100% across the board true, but in general we celebrate this day counting our blessings and eating a little more than we should. 

I've eaten Thanksgiving in a country not my own and the smell of turkey roasting and the sound of my girls chatter in the kitchen as friends from various parts of the globe gathered round all said home to me.

'Forever on Thanksgiving Day

The heart will find the pathway home.'

~Wilbur D. Nesbit

4. A favorite song with a girl's name in the title or lyrics? Any reason why this is a particular favorite?

Just one??? There are so many I love... Georgia (Boz Scaggs), Aimee (Pure Prairie League), Amanda (Boston) Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac), Aubrey (Bread), Annie's Song (John Denver), Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)...

I'm going with this one though because I've always loved the name. ahem. This song was written about a big Irish Setter (cue the waterworks).  

Shannon by Henry Gross-



5. Share a favorite quote, verse, or saying relating to gratitude or thanksgiving.

'Come thou fount of ev'ry blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise...'

~Come Thou Fount by Robert Robertson

6. Insert your own random thought here.

So much to love about this time of year-

SaveSave

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 328

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.  In a rut, in a jam, in the groove, out of synch, off balance, out of touch...which saying best fits some area of your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

2. What is it about somebody else's style of work (coworker/employee/shared volunteer project/household chore) that makes you crazy? Why?

3. What's a tradition that always makes you feel at home?

4. A favorite song with a girl's name in the title or lyrics? Any reason why this is a particular favorite?

5. Share a favorite quote, verse, or saying relating to gratitude or thanksgiving.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Fall In For The Hodgepodge

Welcome to the last of the summertime Hodgepodges for this year. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a sunny comment for the person linking before you. It's what all good blog neighbors do.

1. What's something you'd rate a 10/10? Tell us why.

That's easy...grandparenting. Why?

photo cred: Daughter1

Do I really need to explain? 

2. What job would you be terrible at? What makes you think so?

Quite a few, but for starters-high rise window washing where you dangle by a thread off the side of a high rise, bridge building where you dangle by a thread over the wide open sea, and flight attendant because there's not enough Dramamine in the world. 

3. When did you last take a fall? What's something you're falling for (in a good way) these days?

I think we all know when I last took a fall. One month ago today and I'm still feeling it. Ugh.

Something I'm falling for these days?

Well it's not pumpkin spice lattes. When did we all go crazy for pumpkin? Hubs saw a pumpkin- mustard hotdog condiment the other day. Ewwwwww. 

Right now I'm loving real books checked out of the library and Pandora radio where one great song leads to another. Oh and cupcakes. I've been baking cupcakes for all the birthdays round here, and it's rekindled my love affair with baking period. 

4. According to the Travel Channel here are some of America's best fall festivals-

National Apple Harvest Festival (near Arendtsville PA, close to Gettysburg), Harvest on the Harbor (Portland Maine), German Village Festival (Columbus Ohio), Wellfleet Oyster Fest (Cape Cod), and Wine and Chile Fiesta (Santa Fe NM)

Have you ever been to any of the festivals listed? Which one appeals to you most? Does your hometown have any sort of fall celebration, and if so will you make it a point to attend?

I haven't been to any of the festivals listed, but they all sound like fun so how do I pick just one? I think I'd go for Harvest on the Harbor because lobster + Maine in the fall sounds like a winning combination to me. 

There are a couple of little towns nearby hosting Oktoberfest events, and we've also been to what is known as the Pumpkintown Festival the past couple of years. We love to attend Fall for Greenville which is all about great eating, and we've done that recently too. Most of these fall festival events land in October and our October weekends are already chock-a-block full, so not sure we'll make it to any fall fests this year. 

5. What is your goodbye message to summer?

Dear Summer-

You were complicated, but I love you still and am not quite ready to let you go. 

Signed-

A fan of bright blue skies, warm weather, and sunshiny days

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Just curious if you took any steps to protect yourself from the Equifax Data Breach? Does anyone use one of the credit monitoring services, and if so are you happy with it?