A Colorful Hodgepodge

January is rolling right along, which means it's time for another edition of the Hodgepodge. Please only link here on Wednesdays if you've answered the questions. Thanks! Also, there are not a lot of rules associated with this meme, but I do ask if you link your answers that you take a minute to visit the blogger who linked before you. Everybody needs somebody, right? Here we go-

1. Share one thing that really makes your day.

I ran into my daughter2 in the grocery store on Sunday afternoon, and couldn't stop smiling. Quite often it really is the little things. 

2.  Lots of these kinds of lists out there, but one found here says the fifteen most colorful places on earth are:

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, italy~Burano, Italy~Havana, Cuba~Rio de Janiero, Brazil~Chefchaouen, Morocco~Balat, Istanbul, Turkey~Menton, France~Jodhpur, india~La Baca, Buenos Aires, Argentina~Guanajuato, Mexico~Capetown, South Africa~Valparaiso, Chile~Wroclaw, Poland~San Francisco, California~and Pelourhino, Salvador, Brazil.

Of those listed which would you most like to see up close and in person? Of all the places you've seen or traveled in your own life, what would you say was one of the most colorful?

If you didn't click on the link to see the pretty pictures you should! So many colorful little towns and villages around the world. When I read questions like this one, where I have to choose a single fabulous destination, I'm always torn between re-visiting a country I know and love (Italy! France!) or opting for a new and different locale. In this case I'm going with Vernazza because Italy. 

In thinking about colorful spots I've been fortunate to see in my life and travels, several places came to mind.  Three off the top of my head would be:

 Rapeseed in bloom, as far as the eye can see-UK

The Christmas Market in Strasbourg France

 Shanghai, China...definitely one of the most interesting and colorful cities on planet Earth

3. "Everything you want is on the other side of fear." Jack Canfield In general, would you agree or disagree with that statement? Why?

I think there's some truth in the saying, but hesitate to use the word everything. Sometimes what I want is on the other side of laziness. ahem. 

4. Imagine you're stranded on a desert island and dessert appears...what do you hope it is? Do you ever struggle to remember which spelling is desert and which is dessert?

I hope there's a perfectly torched creme brulee headed my way. The kind where you very gently tap the topping with a spoon, and it just barely crackles. 

Regarding desert and dessert-I don't struggle with that particular pair of words because I fall back on an old childhood trick known as sweet sugar. A sure way to remember the double s belongs in dessert. 

5.  What song almost always makes you cry?

The Star Spangled Banner, when sung well, can easily make me cry. The same is true of a beautiful rendition of How Great Thou Art. And if Garth Brooks song The Dance comes on the radio I almost always change the station. Cannot.handle.it. 

6.  January is National Soup Month.  Everything from soup to nuts, in the soup, thick as pea soup, souped up...which saying most recently applies to your life in some way? Explain.

We're building a house from start to finish so 'from soup to nuts' seems fitting. 
Especially the nuts part! 

7. Write a two word note to your younger self. What does it say.

Be brave. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

If you've never listened to Shane and Shane's Psalm2 I highly recommend. I might be wrong in saying this, but I don't think it's available in CD format, strictly a download via iTunes. Maybe I'm the only one out there still buying actual CD's-ha! Everything is downloaded or streamed or some such nonsense now. I'm not quite there. 

Anyway...about the 'CD'... I'm obsessed. If you're looking for soul-soothing music, uplifting, encouraging, and beautifully written lyrics check it out. There are 12 songs on the playlist? and I wanted to link to my favorite, but couldn't decide which one that would be. Here's one of my favorites~Better Than Life-



Enjoy your Wednesday all! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 251

Welcome to another week of random. I provide the questions, you provide the answers...on your own blog of course! Hop back here on Wednesday and add your link because great minds and all that. See you there! 

1. Share one thing that really makes your day.

2. Lots of these kinds of lists out there, but one found here says the fifteen most colorful places on earth are:

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy~Burano, Italy~Havana, Cuba~Rio de Janiero, Brazil~Chefchaouen, Morocco~Balat, Istanbul, Turkey~Menton, France~Jodhpur, India~La Baca, Buenos Aires, Argentina~Guanajuato, Mexico~Capetown, South Africa~Valparaiso, Chile~Wroclaw, Poland~San Francisco, California~and Pelourhino, Salvador, Brazil.  

Of those listed which would you most like to see up close and in person? Of all the places you've seen or traveled in your own life, what would you say was one of the most colorful?

3."Everything you want is on the other side of fear." Jack Canfield  In general, would you agree or disagree with that statement? Why?

4. Imagine you're stranded on a desert island and dessert appears...what do you hope it is? Do you ever struggle to remember which spelling is desert and which is dessert?

5. What song almost always makes you cry?

6. January is National Soup Month.  Everything from soup to nuts, in the soup, thick as pea soup, souped up...which saying most recently applies to your life in some way? Explain.

7. Write a two word note to your younger self. What does it say?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

January Things

You can only write so many random posts filled with un-related bits of non-essential mumbo jumbo before you run out of synonyms to use in a title. Hence the original and uninspired heading January Things. 

Let's catch up. Not a whole lot is happening around here besides the usual January not-that-interesting-but necessary-life-stuff. There's my ever optimistic post-Christmas efforts to organize the paper piles accumulated when normal life has been temporarily suspended for holiday life.

Holiday life is so much more fun, isn't it?

Also, I thought we were moving towards a paperless society? What is all this paper? I do so much 'bookkeeping' online now, but think I'm part of a generation that still feels the need for a paper backup 'just in case'.

January is also the time of year I update our calendars and book appointments with all the medical professionals a post-50 life requires. For those of you who are something less than that magical number, let me just say it creeps up on you and suddenly keeping up with your healthcare is the equivalent of a part time job.

In January I return to a stricter routine in terms of meal planning, exercise, and tackling some of my goals for the new year. My girls gave me a beginner's calligraphy set for Christmas and I can't wait to dive in. They ordered the kit complete with video how-tos,  from Laura Hooper Calligraphy, and she does absolutely gorgeous work. I've always had a thing for pretty paper and beautiful handwriting, and am anxious to learn from a professional. If you're a fan of words that look like art check her out on Instagram.

Of course January is also filled with football. You should know I have a rather complex system in place for determining team loyalty in any given game, both college and professional. Essentially it's based on where I was living when and who's who in any given match-up. For instance if the Eagles are playing the Cardinals it's simple. I grew up a Philly fan and feel no loyalty to Arizona, so Go Eagles! If on the other hand, the Ravens are playing the Broncos, well that's where things get a bit more dicey. We lived in Maryland for a number of years and naturally cheered for the Ravens.

Except we always, always root for Peyton because our number one loyalty is to the TN Vols and Peyton was a Vol before he was a horse, Colt or Bronco. Do you see my dilemma?

One of our 'rules' when it comes to college football is that we root for teams in the SEC. Now within the SEC there's a hierarchy too, with our Volunteers at the top of the heap and the Crimson Tide and/or Florida at the bottom. Still, if an SEC team is playing a non-SEC team we root for the SEC, even if that team is Bama.

Except tonite. Tonite we're rooting for Clemson because Clemson is in our backyard and we love! the coach. Go Tigers!

What else? We're finally ready to pour the foundation at the lake house, and are really hopeful it will happen this week. When I say 'we' you know I mean the professionals, right? Hubs and I will watch. Or hubs will watch and I'll go see it once it's done, because that's pretty much how I roll when it comes to this part of the home build puzzle.

January weekends often find hubs and I at the movies because it's January. What else is there to do? Last weekend we saw The Revenent, and I think I've almost recovered. It was super intense and I 'watched' most of it with my eyes closed. Even the weather in this film is stressful. Leonardo DiCaprio is always completely convincing in whatever role he plays, and this was no different.

He won the Golden Globe if you pay attention to such things. Hubs and I watched a bit of the awards show because I enjoy the fashion, but honestly we are so out of touch with the programs nominated and the actors too. I didn't know who half the people were, and hadn't heard of more than half the series mentioned. We must be old.

And on that note, I think you're caught up.
Carry on.

So It's The Hodgepodge

Happy New Year! The Hodgepodge is back and I'm glad you are too. If you've answered this week's questions add your link and join the party. Please visit the blogger who links before you since that's the neighborly thing to do. Here we go-

1.  Are you ready for new? Is 2016 likely to be very different than 2015? Do you want it to be?

Am I ready for new? I think so. If by new you mean new house-ha! Every year tends to stand on it's own, so certainly 2016 will be different in some form or fashion from 2015. Of course there are constants in life too, but has there ever been a year that's looked precisely like the one before? We're moving into our lake house this year, so a new chapter. 

2.  January 6th is National Technology Day. Currently, what is your single biggest struggle or frustration when it comes to technology?

Currently? The Internet in the apartment is somewhat intermittent. Most days I log onto the computer and get a message saying I'm not connected. Grrr... I have to refresh it a few times and eventually it connects. The wireless printer has to be shut down and rebooted every time I want to print because of this irregularity, and hubs can't get our Apple TV to work for the same reason. The struggle is real, but a very first world problem.  

3.  It's that time again...time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words (or phrases) they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, or general uselessness) in 2016.  You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's top vote getters are-

So (at the start of every single sentence), conversation (as in hotly debated topics where we're invited to 'join the conversation'), problematic, stakeholder, price point, secret sauce, break the Internet, walk it back, presser, manspreading (common in larger cities where some men take up the entire bus or train seat by sitting wide), vape, giving me life (refers to anything that may excite a person or make them laugh), and physicality

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?

So, they want to banish so? I know I overuse that one in both my speech and my writing, but I suspect it's more annoying in speech. 

None of the words listed bother me too much. Maybe if I were in the business world I'd find them more annoying because they're more prevalent and  problematic there. If I have to choose I'll go with 'break the Internet'. Most things that 'break the Internet' are Kardashian related or just plain ridunkulous.  

What word would I add to the list? Like-'She was like all mad because we couldn't like go shopping.'  

4.  Share one of your current health related goals.

Go to bed earlier.

5.  Let's talk fifty shades of gray. As in the color. Gray is currently a popular color in home decor, pain, wardrobes, wedding party attire, and more. Are you a fan? Do you have the color in some variation in your home or wardrobe? Gray hair, the old gray mare, gray matter, gray area...which gray idiom can you most relate to right now?

I like the greige tones as opposed to a gray gray. I think the color is too sterile and cold and needs the beige to warm it up. I will likely have a bit of greige somewhere in my new home. As for the idioms, I'm going with gray hair.  Nothing a visit to my favorite stylist can't fix. 

6.  Certain foods are considered 'lucky' if eaten on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.  Cooked greens to bring economic fortune, black-eyed peas or lentils also symbolize money, pork which symbolizes progress, fish for good luck, and if you're in Spain 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight.  Did you eat any lucky foods on the first day of the year? Is that a tradition in your home? Of the foods listed, which most appeals to you?

My mother might correct me, but I don't remember eating particular foods on New Year's Day. It wasn't until I married my Tennessee boy I learned I was supposed to be eating black eyed peas at the start of every new year. Initially I wasn't a fan, but they've grown on me and I enjoy them now. I also love cooked greens and we had both over the Christmas holidays. I say that counts. 

7.  What's the single biggest time waster in your life and what, if anything, will  you do about it this year?

I think I might save this question for a blog post all it's own. One of my favorite things about the Hodgepodge has been the writing that springs from a question or someone's comment. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

True confessions...my Christmas tree is still up. Today might be the day. Might.

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 250

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first official Hodgepodge of 2016! Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow (Wednesday) to link answers with the universe. See you there!

1. Are you ready for new? Is 2016 likely to be very different than 2015? Do you want it to be?

2. January 6th is National Technology Day. Currently, what is your single biggest struggle or frustration when it comes to technology?

3. It's that time again...time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words (or phrases) they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness) in 2016. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's top vote getters are-

So (at the start of every single sentence), conversation (as in hotly debated topics where we're invited to 'join the conversation'), problematic, stakeholder, price point, secret sauce, break the Internet, walk it back, presser, manspreading (common in larger cities where some men take up the entire bus or train seat by sitting wide), vape, giving me life (refers to anything that may excite a person or make them laugh), and physicality

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?

4. Share one of your current health related goals.

5. Let's talk fifty shades of gray. As in the color. Gray is currently a popular color in home decor, paint, wardrobes, hair, wedding party attire, and more. Are you a fan? Do you have the color in some variation in your home or wardrobe?  Gray hair, the old gray mare, gray matter, gray area...which gray idiom can you most relate to right now?

6. Certain foods are considered 'lucky' if eaten on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Cooked greens to bring economic fortune, black-eyed peas or lentils also symbolize money, pork which symbolizes progress, fish for good luck, and if you're in Spain 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. Did you eat any lucky foods on the first day of the year? Is that a tradition in your home? Of the foods listed, which most appeals to you?

7. What's the single biggest time waster in your life and what, if anything, will you do about it this year?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The Post Christmas Post

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the slower paced, relaxed week that follows Christmas. While I love all the activity during Christmas I really love the quieter less frenetic days that follow. I enjoy sitting by the tree, afternoon tea time, and lots of breathing space. 

Daughter1 and her hubs flew back to the West Coast the Sunday after Christmas, but Daughter2 was here and she spent most of the week hanging out in our apartment. Her apartment might be just a couple hundred yards up the hill, but she and her greyhound made themselves at home in our extra bedroom and I loved every minute.  

Daughter2 is a Beach Body coach and she and I went to the gym and worked out which was necessary and fun, but mostly just necessary. ahem. Her aunt had given her the Fixate cookbook for Christmas and we enjoyed looking through the healthy recipes and trying several, most of which were keepers. 

Every afternoon around 3 o'clock we'd make tea have a cookie and play Skipbo or Dominoes or Yahtzee. We cooked dinner together and watched football and had some really good talks. We face-timed her sister in Washington and made plans for a couple of fun things to do together later in the month. 

It felt so good to have a daughter in the house after Christmas. To not have all the family fun come to a screeching halt immediately after the big day. We eked out all the goodness we could and I've tucked it away with the advent wreath and memories of another year gone by. 

Oh, and I didn't take any pictures because I didn't feel like it-ha! I just enjoyed being. Plus when I look at my daughter2 this is still pretty much what I see in my head-

She might now be a quarter century in years, running her own life, and master of her third grade classroom but still... this is her...full of mischief, tender hearted, and the biggest bluest eyes you ever did see. 

Hubs and I welcomed 2016 with friends at their home near Atlanta. I like to ring in the new year in the comfort of my own home or someone elses, and have never been big on being out amongst the masses (and scary drivers). This was perfect. 

Particularly this cheese tray-

Also the company, but especially the cheese tray. It was fab!

We stayed in our pj's all day Friday, or at least until we had to leave the house to meet more friends at a nearby Mexican restaurant for dinner. I wonder if waiters get tired of 'could you take our picture?' requests. 

Doesn't stop me from requesting, but I do wonder. 

Hubs and I headed home Saturday morning. The sun was finally shining and we detoured past the lot to see how wet is wet. Seriously, this weather is for ducks and fish and loch ness monsters, not for people building a house! 

We grabbed lunch at a nearby restaurant on the lake and soaked in the spectacular view and all that gorgeous sunlight glistening on the water, reminding ourselves it will all be worth it in the end. 

Now when that end will be is still a mystery, but that's what keeps life interesting, right? It will be THIS year, and that's good enough for me. Hello 2016! 

As Time Goes By

A lot of life is contained within a single year.

Joy and sorrow. Boredom and adventure. Routine and surprise. Change.

One year ago today we watched our first born baby girl become a wife.

She took the hand of the boy she loves and promised to cherish him forever and ever amen.

He promised the same right back and set her like a seal upon his heart.

Surrounded, buoyed, loved beyond measure by family and friends, they stepped confidently into the future as husband and wife.

They moved to the far off land of Washington and made a house a home.

They have loved well.

Happy First Anniversary to the Dr. Captain and his Mrs!

May your love grow deeper, wider, and more wonderful with every passing year.