Puzzling Over The Hodgepodge

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

1. January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Do you enjoy puzzles? What kind (crossword, jigsaw, sudoku, etc)?  How often do you work a puzzle? 

I love puzzles, word puzzles more than jigsaw but I like those too. I work a puzzle of some sort every day. My favorites are crosswords and logic puzzles. 

2. Something you currently find puzzling? 

Honestly I look around and the list is long. Just one thing? 

How in our country today the desire for a secure border somehow means you lack compassion.  

3. What's your go-to dish to take to someone who needs a meal (new baby, bereavement, etc)? 

It kind of depends on the occasion and the family size. I made four meals for my daughter's freezer so she'll have something easy when the baby arrives. I made chicken and rice soup, beef stew, baked ziti, and chicken spaghetti. Chicken spaghetti is one of my go to meals for someone in need. 

4. Do you watch any HGTV and/or The Food Network? If so, what's your favorite program there? 

I watch now and then. I enjoy watching people cook, but I don't watch any of the Junior versions of cooking programs (featuring kids). My favorite 'food' show is The Great British Baking Show which is on Netflix. I love Home Town on HGTV mostly because I admire their mission and think Ben and Erin are super adorable. 

5.  Wrap up your January in five words, with a five word phrase, or with a five word sentence. 

Wait, what? It's over? Whoa!  

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Not a lot of random to share today. Or maybe too much? Happy Wednesday everyone! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 536

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

1. January 29th is National Puzzle Day. Do you enjoy puzzles? What kind (crossword, jigsaw, sudoku, etc)?  How often do you work a puzzle? 

2. Something you currently find 'puzzling'? 

3. What's your go-to dish to take to someone who needs a meal (new baby, bereavement, etc)? 

4. Do you watch any HGTV and/or The Food Network? If so, what's your favorite program there? 

5.  Wrap up your January in five words, with a five word phrase, or with a five word sentence. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Ragtag Post

We finally had a quiet at home weekend doing a whole lot of very little which was long overdue. Also not much to blog about, but of course I'm blogging anyway. C'est la vie. 

Hubs had been duck hunting all week and didn't get home until very late Friday night. His trip meant I had four whole entire days in the house by myself which, if you're livin' the retired life, you know is rare. And also appreciated now and then.

Hi hubs! I'm glad you're home. 

It's okay, he gets me lol. Celebrating 40 years of married life this June so yeah, he gets me. 

Back to last week...I'd naturally made a lot of overly ambitious plans (in my head) with hopes of completing some small organizational projects, and got exactly none completed. Oh I did plenty, I just couldn't quite get to my mental list which is still there, still rolling around my brain. 

Here are my excuses...

I said I had the house to myself but that's only partly true. The little brown dog was here keeping me company, pining for his favorite mister, racing to the window every time someone pulled down the driveway thinking maybe it was him, needing to go outside in the ridiculous pouring rain which meant I had to go outside in the ridiculous pouring rain, and then I had to get out the towels and the brush and the dryer and do all the things hubs normally does when it rains and the dog needs tending

Hi hubs! I'm glad you're home. 

What else....hmmm...here's something...I talked on the phone. A lot. Not a bad thing as a friend I hadn't spoken to in about a year and a half called and two hours later we were almost all caught up. Then one daughter called, then my mom called, then another daughter called and before I knew what was happening the clock said noon and I was still in my jammies. 

Which is fine, but it's not me, and it throws off my mojo aka my enthusiasm to begin a project. Let's watch HGTV instead, k? 

I still had my usual weekly to-dos like groceries and laundry and bible study on Wednesday and volunteering on Thursday and I got my nails done because priorities people. And I did manage to get beds changed from the last set of houseguests and some lingering bits of Christmas put away with the exception of two nutcrackers whose boxes have to be hunted down. 

Yes. Christmas. I told you, it's been a whirlwind. 

In other news I didn't kill any plants while he was away. Hubs babies the plants here in his efforts to keep outdoor plants alive indoors throughout the winter and I did not let him down. 

I put down a book I was reading and picked up another. Life is too short to read books that are just eh. Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson. I enjoy her writing but I was not getting this one at all. It's a series of stories which I thought were going to be related somehow but I was four stories in and it just wasn't happening. Moving on to Demon Copperhead  by Barbara Kingsolver, which is our March book club selection. 

Hubs and I are also listening to an audible of The Wager : A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann (author of Killers of The Flower Moon). We started this one on the windy curvy drive to Tennessee a couple of weeks ago and had to turn it off because the description of the rough and rolling sea and the conditions the sailors lived in was making me car sick. It doesn't take much. 

Back to my excuses...I cooked. A lot. I didn't eat what I cooked but I did freeze three meals to take to my daughter. Her friends are wonderful and I know will bring food in the early days, but these meals are for that day down the road when the baby is fussy and the toddler needs his momma, and she cannot face making dinner. 

I guess I did more than I thought. 

Hubs spent the weekend getting his hunting gear cleaned and put away and then I washed all the hunting clothes and got my own stuff organized so I'm ready to go to my daughter's when it's time. We had a rainy Saturday so we finished watching the second season of Reacher. We liked it, a bit corny and totally unbelievable in spots, but still we liked it. I'd booked us a date night dinner for Saturday at a restaurant we'd never been to and it was a lovely night out.

Question-when you're retired empty nesters do you still need date nights? 

Yes. Yes you do. We go out all the time, but often it's with other couples or groups of people or to events of one kind or another, and date night is dedicated let's talk about us time. 

We watched all the football today and I guess Taylor Swift is going to the Superbowl lol. What a year she's had, of course she'll be at the Superbowl. Personally I think everyone should calm down about Taylor and direct their outrage toward things going on in our own country and the world at large that are genuinely worthy of outrage. 

I didn't take any pictures all weekend but here's a snapshot of hubs plants, blooming and growing and bringing joy on the grayest of days. 

May we all do the same. 

Hodgepdge Ala Mode

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

1. Do you have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you'd like to share, please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don't have a word are you still on the hunt for one for 2024? 

I do not. Not yet anyway. I have a couple rolling around my brain and may land on one still. It's never too late. I prefer the word come to me as opposed to me choosing one at random. When I've had a WOTY that's how it was settled on. I don't put any pressure on myself to have a word, but when I do I enjoy the focus it gives me and especially the way I can look back at year's end and see all the ways the word was woven into my life. 

2. January 23rd is National Pie Day...will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What's your favorite? 

I love pie, but have no plans to eat a slice today. It's almost impossible to choose a favorite so how about (in no particular order) my top five-ish? -Angel pie (see the description in a post here), cherry pie, key lime, blueberry, and coconut cream. 

3. Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where? Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a 'suggested amount'? Have you ever left an extravagant tip? 

In terms of dining I always tip. I was in a deli recently and ordered one sandwich to go. When I paid I was offered the option to tip 25%-30%-35%. Really? Not sure how I feel about that. It seems this has become a thing though, with so many places you never used to tip now suggesting you should.

I rarely get coffee to go but if I do I'll leave something in the tip jar. We tip for bar beverages and I always give my hair stylist a very generous tip because she definitely earns it. If we have truly excellent service in a restaurant we will leave an over the top tip, but even with just so-so service we always tip at least the minimum. In the US in 2024 that's at least 20% of the tab. 

I love leaving a big tip for a server who does a good job and is not expecting more than the minimum. 

Hubs and I used to go to a diner in NJ where there was a particular server who obviously did not enjoy his job. He waited on us quite often and one day dropped an entire very full tray of food and drinks all over the floor beside our table. We decided we were going to give him a 100% tip and see if maybe that would help him enjoy his job more, but nope. Still surly lol. 

4. Share with us one 'household tip' that works for you. 

Not sure if this is considered a household tip but it's something I've found useful recently. If you're like me you have far too many photos on your phone, and the idea of deleting such a large number is daunting. My daughter suggested this and it makes the task manageable. 

Every morning enter the current month and day in your photo search bar. All the photos you've saved on your phone, taken on that day/month (all years) will come up. Go through those, then repeat the action daily. This way you deal with just a few at a time rather than your entire photo library. 

5. Influencers on social media are people who've built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new because of that 'influence'? If there's one you particularly enjoy tell us who and why. 

I follow a few. Some live lives very different than mine and that's kind of fun to see. Some have a style I admire. Some are funny. Many cook, bake or create in some way. Some share news/politics. Some share books and book news. A few favorites are @cristincooper (I've purchased from her shop and a few things she's recommended too), @lifebyleanna, @halfbakedharvest, @cleerelystated. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

One of my favorite follows is an account called The Leighton Show. He reads actual texts teens have sent to their parents and they are the absolute best. He's on youtube I think too, but I follow him on Insta (click here)  Happy Wednesday everyone! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 535

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

1. Do you have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you'd like to share, please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don't have a word are you still on the hunt for one for 2024? 

2. January 23rd is National Pie Day...will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What's your favorite? 

3. Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where? Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a 'suggested amount'? Have you ever left an extravagant tip? 

4. Share with us one household 'tip' that works for you. 

5. Influencers on social media are people who've built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new because of that 'influence'? If there's one you particularly enjoy tell us who they are and why you enjoy them. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Showered With Love

We have had the craziest start to the new year. End to last year? I cannot believe it's almost February and I still feel like I'm racing to catch up with the calendar.  

Is it annoying when people go on and on about how fast time is passing? 

It's flying y'all. I cannot seem to get my foot on the rung that is this new year. 

We have a new granddaughter joining the party (yes, we're a party) very soon. We're anticipating a  February arrival, but she may make her appearance sooner, and how in the world is it already February???

Technically it's not, but I've already made the leap into the next month because this one has me bamboozled.  

Also, I'm getting another granddaughter (insert all the heart eyes and emojis here).

Hubs and I trekked to Tennessee Thursday afternoon so we would be available Friday morning for baby's momma to visit the doctor without her toddler in tow. Remember when going to the doctor, followed by a stop at the grocery store by yourself was a real treat? 

We spent the morning indoors because it was something like nine degrees outside. We stacked blocks and read books and played 'baby pretend to go night night' in the great big blanket, and then Nana did 600 laps behind the tricycle on the living room-dining room-kitchen circuit. 

Little man sat so quietly and was so happy on that trike seat that we just kept doing the loop. At one point I asked hubs to take his picture and we discovered sweet baby J was sound asleep. Sitting up on his tricycle.

He is so precious. 

My daughter's in-laws arrived Friday afternoon and my son-in-law grilled wings and we had them with a nice charcuterie for dinner. Saturday morning we girls headed out in the bitter cold to attend a shower for baby girl. My daughter has the loveliest, kindest, most wonderful friends who made the morning so very special. 

They started the shower by going around in a circle and reading scripture and prayers for momma, dad, and baby. Not only for her physical health and development, but each one also tied to her spiritual health and development. They were very specific and absolutely beautiful. Made me quite teary actually. 

We had tea sandwiches and a pasta salad along with fruit skewers, baked brie, and a delectable assortment of sweet treats too. 

My daughter is so very fortunate to have these friends, and even though my baby is having a baby she's still my baby. I love that there is a circle of friends to support her and to be 'on call' should any need at all arise. 

 

What a gift! 

While we were at the shower the men were out doing manly things lol. They had Mexican food before coming home and little man was napping when we walked in the house. We spent the afternoon reading, chatting, and watching basketball, then dined on some super delicious ribs my son-in-law grilled. 

We headed home on Sunday and are now playing the guessing game as to when baby girl will celebrate her birth-day. I have plans to go back sooner rather than later so I'm in the house with the soon-to-be big brother. Having your second is easier in some ways, fewer surprises at what your body is capable of, but then so many feelings about your first born too.

I want to remind my daughter of her big sister's reaction when she first laid eyes on this new little person who was suddenly part of her life. The big sister who became her very best friend for always. Who knows her like no other. Who has loved her since she was rolled into the hospital visitors room and we were quickly commanded to 'gimme dat'.

Be still my heart. 

May this new little one be loved so well. 

Fifteen Years Ago Today

January 21, 2009

The day this little corner of the internet became my own. 

Fifteen years ago I started blogging. I had no idea what a blog was, I just knew I had one. It has definitely been a learn as you go proposition and fifteen years later I'm still forever playing catch up, still sharing snippets of life in the season I'm living, still doing what I can to mark the moments and bloom where I'm planted. 

Fifteen years ago I lived in England. My girls were both university students (in the US) and hubs was working, traveling here there and everywhere with his job. 

                              

 that was then

Fifteen years ago I hopped on a train to London any old day of the week. I ate Indian curries on a random Tuesday and met friends at the pub every Friday night. I hiked through fields of rapeseed, woods abloom with bluebells, slipped through kissing gates and across public footpaths in the land of tea and scones. 

I wondered where we'd go next? When we'd go? Did I want to go? What would life look like for me on the other side of the pond? America. America had somehow become the other side of the pond. 

Life is funny.  

In fifteen years I've gone from paying college tuition to buying Christmas presents for grandchildren. Hubs retired and we built a home on a lake, something we always imagined we'd do but were never quite sure we'd get there.  

We did. We're here. In a completely new season of life than the one we were walking through when hubs first said "you should have a blog". I'm glad he said it. Glad he knew to say it. Glad he pushed me to write down some of the myriad thoughts in my head. To record life in real time. To view through the lens of now the life I lived before I had a blog. 

When I look back at the pieces I've chosen to record here I see with perfect clarity all the things I didn't know I didn't know. I've lived and loved and learned a lot in fifteen years. There have been massive changes, blessings large and small, growth, goals met and others set aside to make room for new dreams.  

this is now

Heart aches and heart fulls because that's life in every season. 

I'm glad God unfolds the future one day at a time. Glad we don't know what we don't know. Grateful for love and memory and grace for the moment we're living now. 

Cheers to fifteen years, and who knows? There might be fifteen more.