Moving Into The Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Yep, we're still at this nineteen weeks after I brought it out of retirement to carry us through the mostly at-home time we thought was temporary. Hmmm...not feeling so temporary is it? What a world!

If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post then jump over and leave a comment for the person linking before you on the list. Or everyone on the list if you've got the time. Here we go-

 

1. Last time you moved house? Something you've learned in moving house?

We moved into our current home a little less than four years ago. 

Something I've learned moving house? Well pull up a chair because I've done some moving and I've done some learning. I looked at my blog tags and found I've written somewhere in the neighborhood of 88 posts labeled moving house so obviously a topic close to my heart.

I think the post linked here sums it up quite nicely. 

2. Move mountains, move along, make a wrong move, moved to tears, get a move on, move up, move over, move out of the way, move the deck chairs on the Titanic, move it!...pick one and tell us how it fits your recent circumstances.

Make a wrong move? What is the right move to make in the age of information overload, misinformation, non-expert experts, biased reporting, and so much unknown. 

3. What have you been doing to make yourself move (aka stay fit-active) during these strange times?

Baking doesn't count, does it? 

Yeah. There was a bit too much of that sort of 'exercise' happening in the early days of Corona, but my daughter the bride has us on a plan now and we've been sweating for the wedding side by each on the screened-in porch for the past month. Surely working out in the heat and humidity counts double, doesn't it? It must count double. We're doing a 100 day meltdown via Beach Body and let me just tell you, melt down is an accurate descriptor. 

4. This week's calendar includes celebrations for the following foods-

National Coffee Milkshake Day (Sunday), National Creme Brûlée Day (Monday), National Milk Chocolate Day (Tuesday), National Chicken Wing Day (Wednesday), National Lasagne Day (Wednesday), National Cheesecake Day (Thursday), and National Avocado Day (Friday)

Which one on the list would you be most inclined to celebrate? Which would you be most inclined to skip?

The one I'd most like to celebrate would be National Creme Brûlée Day, but see question #3. If that's off the table I'm going with the avocado because I can make that work with my m.o.b. dress goal. 

I'm most inclined to skip the lasagne. Maybe if you asked me this question in the dead of winter I'd answer differently, but with temperatures near 90 and the humidity making it feel like something more than 90 a plate of lasagne is not at all appealing. 

5. Next week's Hodgepodge lands in August! I know!! Raise your hand if you feel like July flew by in the blink of an eye? Now bid farewell to your July acrostic style. If you don't know what that means click here.

No jetting anywhere, unusual times, loud voices, yearning for hugs and handshakes and in person connections with the people we love...

J-Just
U-Us
L-Loathing
Y-this Yucky virus

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I am loving this song-

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 379

Rolling into another week with the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the whole wide world. Here we go-

1. Last time you moved house? Something you've learned in moving house?

2. Move mountains, move along, make a wrong move, moved to tears, get a move on, move up, move over, move out of the way, move the deck chairs on the Titanic, move it!...pick one and tell us how it fits your recent circumstances.

3. What have you been doing to make yourself move (aka stay fit-active) during these strange times?

4. This week's calendar includes celebrations for the following foods-

National Coffee Milkshake Day (Sunday), National Creme Brûlée Day (Monday), National Milk Chocolate Day (Tuesday), National Chicken Wing Day (Wednesday), National Lasagne Day (Wednesday), National Cheesecake Day (Thursday), and National Avocado Day (Friday)

Which one on the list would you be most inclined to celebrate? Which would you be most inclined to skip?

5. Next week's Hodgepodge lands in August! I know!! Raise your hand if you feel like July flew by in the blink of an eye? Now bid farewell to your July acrostic style. If you don't know what that means click here.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Three

Dear Mancub,

Today you are three.

And of all the three year olds in all the world you're my favorite.

I was looking back at my post from one year ago today and my oh my but the world has done some shifting and changing and groaning and grieving. It's a pandemic year, an election year, and a chaotic year in so very many ways yet there you are, spreading all kinds of sunshine and happiness from seven million miles away.

Okay, but it might as well be seven million.

We are grateful every single day for the miracle of technology that allows us to watch you work and play, to hear the sweetness of your voice, and to feel all the feels we hold in our heart bubble right on up and over because you're ours.

And you're remarkable.

Smart and tender.

A little bit o' Momma, a little bit Dad, and the rest all extraordinary you.

Two parts curiosity, one part mischief.

Always happy to see us and now old enough to understand you miss us.

We miss you too darling boy, more than words can say.

You love throwing the football with Daddy and baking with Mommy. Helicopters, trains, kids, the splash pad, Mickey Mouse, new words, big words, vacuuming, and baby brother, not necessarily in that order, but every once in a while in that order. teehee.

This year you became a big brother and speaking as one of four children myself I can tell you that with every candle added to your cake you will become exponentially more grateful for the gift of siblings. Little guy watches you with awe and wonder and you make him laugh from his belly. You are growing a friendship whose roots go deep and will last a lifetime.

You were born into a family of readers and you love your books.

You're a charmer and comedian. A mover and a shaker who loves to throw and catch-run and jump-ride and climb. You eat and sleep like a teenager but still snuggle onto Momma's lap because mothers love us like no other and you were gifted the best of the best.

We love watching you learn and grow and love your people, and know we're the luckiest grandparents in the world to call you ours.

Happy birthday mancub. You are so very precious and your Nana/Didi loves you deep and wide.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He makes straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 

Hot Hot Hotdgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. It's a hot one here in the Palmetto State, hence our theme. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then be a good neighbor and go leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Thanks for playing along today-

1.  Do you think the pandemic has had any kind of positive impact on your mental health? Explain.

Hmmm...I will say I've honestly appreciated the slowdown to an always busy jam packed calendar. I think too, the opportunity for rest and reflection without feeling like I should be doing a hundred other things has been good for my soul.

2. A hot mess, hot under the collar, in hot water, hot button, hot diggity dog!, hot shot, hot seat....choose one and tell us how it applies to your life currently.

I live in the southland so I'm going with a hot mess. 
As in America is a bit of a hot mess these days. 
Bless her heart. 

3. Speaking of the hot seat, do you work well under pressure or do you actively avoid high pressure situations?

If we're talking about accomplishing tasks and getting things done then yes, I work well under pressure. If we're talking confrontation then no, I do my absolute best to avoid it. 

4. Hotdogs-yay or nay? If you said yay how do you like yours? Did you know July is National hotdog month?

I do love a hotdog, make mine with mustard and relish please, except hold the hot dog because I rarely indulge these days. 

5. I read here a list of America's coolest Southern towns. They are Marfa Texas, Greenville South Carolina, Abindgon Virginia, Athens Georgia, Bentonville Arkansas, Florence Alabama, Oxford Mississippi, Abita Springs Louisiana, Wilmington North Carolina, Monroeville Alabama, McMinnville Tennessee, Natchez Mississippi.  How many on the list have you seen in person? Which town on the list would you most like to see?

Well one of these cities is near and dear to my heart and I happen to live nearby. I don't want to say which one because it's made a lot of these types of lists and is becoming something of a destination for tourists. Besides the one I'm not mentioning I've also been to Abindgon Virginia but it's been a while. 

Of the cities listed I'm most interested in Athens, Bentonville, and Oxford. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

"It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream." Bernard Williams 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 378

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

1.  Do you think the pandemic has had any kind of positive impact on your mental health? Explain.

2. A hot mess, hot under the collar, in hot water, hot button, hot diggity dog!, hot shot, hot seat....choose one and tell us how it applies to your life currently.

3. Speaking of the hot seat, do you work well under pressure or do you actively avoid high pressure situations? 

4. Hotdogs-yay or nay? If you said yay how do you like yours? Did you know July is National hotdog month? 

5. I read here a list of America's coolest Southern towns. They are Marfa Texas, Greenville South Carolina, Abindgon Virginia, Athens Georgia, Bentonville Arkansas, Florence Alabama, Oxford Mississippi, Abita Springs Louisiana, Wilmington North Carolina, Monroeville Alabama, McMinnville Tennessee, Natchez Mississippi.  How many on the list have you seen in person? Which town on the list would you most like to see?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Hodgepodge Sweetness

We are rolling right along through summmer and the weekly 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. That's what keeps the wheels a-turning.

1. The sweetness of summer...where have you found it recently? If you're in the Southern hemisphere, feel free to find some sweetness in your winter.

Well I've written three posts (so far) about summertime sweetness which you can read here, here, and here. In a nutshell though I'm finding sweetness in the beauty of nature and my adorable grandsons. 

I 'borrowed' these pics from my Daughter1. Sweet! 

2. Take your sweet time, sweet tooth, home sweet home, short but sweet, the sweet smell of success, sweet talk...choose a sweet idiom and tell us how it fits your life currently?

It's 2020, right? Then home sweet home it is. 

3. Sweet as honey, sweet as sugar, or sweet as pie, which phrase do you use when a sweet phrase is called for? What's the last sweet treat you indulged in?

Of the three phrases listed I think I tend to say sweet as pie. As far as sweet treats go, my sister and brother-in-law were here for an outdoor brunch on Saturday and my brother-in-law celebrated a birthday a few days earlier. Daughter2 wanted to bake him something, and since it was breakfast she opted for coffee cake. 

My brother-in-law likes carrot cake so she made a scrumptious carrot coffee cake with a cream cheese glaze. The best part of the cake though, was the topping under the glaze,  a buttery streusel. Yum! Sadly I did not take a picture, but you can find the recipe here. 

4. First thing that comes to mind when you hear the word fidget?

Church? I kind of remember my parents whispering down the pew for us to 'stop fidgeting'. I might still fidget a little in a church pew. I mean if we were actually having church in church instead of online, then you might find me fidgeting. Church from my couch not so much. 

5. Share with us one of your favorite childhood travel memories.

I have quite a few, so it's hard to choose just one. We did not travel the way people travel now. Travel was a treat and not a regular occurrence, which is perhaps part of what makes those trips memorable. 

One of my favorites was a road trip from our home in the Garden State all the way to East Tennessee.  We were dropping my sister off at uni and visiting colleges along the way too as my brother was starting his Junior year of high school. 

I guess I must have been almost 11 and my younger sister was almost 10. We didn't book hotels ahead of time, and we kids begged my dad to stop at various lodgings based solely on the look of their pool. I think he mostly obliged. 

It was also my very first trip to the Smokies, Gatlinburg, and a place some seven years later I'd call my home. In fact I'd marry me a Tennessee boy, but of course nobody had any inkling of that back then. Back then we were all about a hotel with a great pool. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

People are so creative...did you see this story of the 14-year old girl from Libertyville IL who has done chalk drawings featuring her 9- year old little brother every day during quarantine. So clever!! You'll find the link here. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 377

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

1. The sweetness of summer...where have you found it recently? If you're in the Southern hemisphere, feel free to tell us about the sweetness you're finding in winter.

2. Take your sweet time, sweet tooth, home sweet home, short but sweet, the sweet smell of success, sweet talk...choose a sweet idiom and tell us how it fits your life currently?

3. Sweet as honey, sweet as sugar, or sweet as pie, which phrase do you use when a sweet phrase is called for? What's the last sweet treat you indulged in?

4. First thing that comes to mind when you hear the word fidget?

5. Share with us one of your favorite childhood travel memories.

6. Insert your own random thought here.