Adventuring Into The Hodgepodge

Welcome to our end of September Hodgepodge. So glad you've landed here today! If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. And before you run off say hi to your neighbor on the linky list because being neighborly is what it's all about.

  

1. What pets did you have while growing up? Tell us a little something about them.

We had a wire haired terrier for most of my growing up years. I think she was about six years old when we got her from a friend's neighbor. The woman had remarried and her husband said he was allergic to dogs. I remember going to their house to pick up the pup and her son was sobbing as we drove off with their dog. Still not sure the new husband was actually allergic to dogs. ahem. 

Misty was already very well trained by the time we got her, and while all dogs have one bad habit or another overall she was a wonderful pet. One of my favorite memories of her was the time we came home from church and she came slinking down the stairs, playing it all cool and nonchalant. She was a terrier so had a 'beard' and stuck to the side of her beard was one of those gigantic lollipops my sister had gotten at a fair. The whole thing was stuck to the side of her face, stick and all. 

She loved to play Frisbee, ride with her head out the car window, and 'try' to drink from the hose. She lived to the ripe old age of 16 and was loved to the end.  

2. What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?

Groceries! And I need to finish booking hotels for an upcoming trip, change the sheets in the guest room, reschedule a doctor's appointment, and answer the Hodgepodge questions of course.  

3. Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?

Ten years ago hubs and I were living in a little village outside of London. Daughter1 was here in SC beginning her sophomore year of university, and Daughter2 was home in England with us just starting her senior year of high school. High school! Whaaaat???

Italy, Summer 2007

I spent my days volunteering with the American Women's Club, the PTA, and Young Life. Also traveling, lunching with friends, hiking in the pastoral English countryside, drinking proper tea, popping into London at least once a week, and pinching myself that this was my life. 

4. September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate? Apple dumpling, xiaolongbao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi...which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice? Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?

I didn't celebrate, but am not opposed to it either. I'm a fan of everything on the list but xiaolongbao is my favorite.  I think I had an order every day we were in Shanghai.  

I've made apple dumplings and homemade gnocchi but it's been a long while since I've made either. 

5. 'There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don't.' William Trogdon

So which kind are you?

I think we know which kind I am-ha! Actually here's my answer-I'm an adventurer who goes secretly hoping they find adventure, just not too much of it. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The new TV season has begun...what are you watching? We typically don't watch a lot of TV here, and as a result I'm often out of the popular culture loop. I'm okay with that by the way. 

We watched the season premier of  The Good Doctor and hubs and I both really liked it. We'll keep watching. I'm also recording Navy Seals and thought the first episode was just okay, but we'll stick with it for now. 

Daughter2 and her boyfriend like Survivor and she's convinced me to give that a try this year too. Hubs and I watched for several seasons way back when, but haven't seen it in years. The teams this season do look interesting-heroes, healers, and hustlers-so maybe I'll give it another chance. 

My secret guilty TV pleasure is The Making of the DCC. My girls and I all watch it and we love it. I may give up on the NFL, but I do like to see the intense competition that goes on in trying to become  one of the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. It's nearly over for this year, but I'm sure it's available somewhere. 




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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 323

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. What pets did you have while growing up? Tell us a little something about them.

2. What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?

3. Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?

4. September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate? Apple dumpling, xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi...which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice? Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?

5. 'There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don't.' William Trogdon

So which kind are you?

6. Insert your own random thought here.

End of September Stuff

Y'all what happened to September? Do we say that about every month now? I feel like maybe we do except I really truly mean it about September.

We've had one whole entire complete month at home. Whoohoo!

Well not counting this coming weekend when I'll be traveling with some friends, but since October rolls in on Sunday that doesn't count. It's been so nice to have weekends here at the lake as opposed to weekends in the car. I do enjoy going but I also enjoy not going.

Back to September. I had a birthday. To be honest I wasn't feeling it this year and I told my family not to make a big deal about it, so they made a small deal instead and it was perfect.

Friday night Daughter1's in-laws came for dinner and surprised me with the most delicious coconut cake from one of my favorite little spots in town (Brick Street Cafe for you local peeps). We spent the evening catching up and talking about our favorite tiny human.

It never gets old. Daughter1 facetimed us and we all shriek and carry on when his little face pops up on the screen. We're ridiculous.

As all good grandparents should be.

Saturday hubs and I went out for lunch and arrived home in time to watch some of the Tennessee-Florida game on TV. We missed the sad brutal end because I'd requested a sunset cruise.

Sunsets and game clocks don't always mesh, and in case you're wondering the sunset was way better than the game.

Sunday afternoon we packed lunch in the cooler and took the boat out to a little island we love. We planted ourselves in the sun, sand, and water for the day, and later some friends boated by and pulled their boat up on the beach to hang out with us.

Hubs wanted to take me out for a fancy dinner but I asked him to grill me a steak at home instead. He was happy to oblige and you really can't beat the view from our own backyard. My actual birthday was on Monday and hubs spoiled me with a steak and egg breakfast. Side note-he insists on buying these crazy ginormous steaks which are delicious, but also crazy ginormous and impossible for me to finish. The upside to that is steak and eggs for breakfast the next day.

I spent the afternoon right here-

...floating and reading.
I highly recommend.

That evening we met up with friends at a local hangout where we dined on Mexican food and German chocolate cupcakes because German chocolate is how I like to roll on my birthday. The day after (don't worry, eventually my birthday ends) we met Daughter2 for dinner at Tupelo Honey downtown. We had a wonderful meal and she and her sister spoiled me with sweet gifts.

Which I think catches us up to this past weekend (yes, the birthday's over). We were invited to the Clemson game by a friend with a box in the stadium. Let me just say it's the only way to go on a hot hot hot September Saturday.

I'd never been to a game in this stadium before and I loved it.

The tailgating atmosphere is fantastic and the fans are true blue (or rather true orange), the band is great and for those not in the know, Clemson has what has been dubbed 'the most exciting 25 seconds in college football'.

The team makes their entrance onto the field by running down a hill into the stadium aka Death Valley.  I haven't tried it myself, but the hill looks pretty steep to me. The players all touch Howard's Rock for good luck as they run in, and I have to wonder if any players have ever been injured on the run in before making it to the actual game. I suppose youth and coordination help.

The band plays Tiger Rag, balloons are released and the fans go wild. So much fun!!



Especially when you're watching from an air conditioned box on a 90-degree day.

Just keepin' it real.

And now here we are nearing the end of my favorite month and I've got a jam packed calendar staring me down in October. There are no unclaimed weekends, lots of travel to book-organize-manage, and several appointments to squeeze in-between.

September is the lull before the storm. I'm thankful this month for time at home, daughters, coffee on the porch, technology that allows me to see my grandson miles away, rest, friends, the gift of growing older...

...and sunrises that remind me birthdays and every day offer us a clean slate-fresh start.
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Five Minutes of Accept

Joining with Five Minute Friday today. If you've got five minutes you can too-click here. 

Today's prompt-accept

When I was ten years old I stepped out of a church pew and made my way down the aisle. I accepted an invitation to make Jesus my Savior. I don't remember a bolt of lightning or drama of any sort really. Just me and my skinny legs walking forward to the pastor waiting up front.

I grew up going to church. Every single Sunday, and then some. My parents taught Sunday School classes of all ages and stages, worked in the nursery, carried covered dishes to many a pot luck supper, my mother started the church library, my dad was a deacon, and the list goes on. I loved that church and the people in it and the memories I have growing up there are so very tender still.

When I told the pastor I wanted to be baptized he gave me a little booklet to read that I've held on to-'What Saith The Scriptures?' No pictures, just words.

And Saith because it was 1970.

And then he drove to my house every Friday for a month and we sat in the fancy living room, the place reserved for special occasions, and my mama listened from the kitchen as we went through that booklet together, page by page.

Salvation
Repentance
Baptism
Communion

I think about that pastor from time to time. He and his family moved on from our church and I grew up and moved away too. I think about how my ten year old self had nothing to offer, yet he invested in me and made me feel important. Like this decision was no small thing and that while maybe there was no lightning bolt in 1970 there would be plenty as the years rolled by.

Roll by they have. In 2017 the world is in turmoil, and we feel powerless to fix it. Christianity has taken a beating in the media, rightfully so at times, but still I cringe a lot. I don't want to be lumped in with the loud mouths, the ranters and the haters, with a generalized point of view, or a particular political ideology lock, stock and barrel.

What I want is to know people. To hear your stories and invite you to accept an invitation from the One who tells the ocean where to stop. He extends to each one of us the very thing we seek-peace, purpose, hope. Nobody can reply for you, but think about it...how amazing is it that the creator of the world hung the stars in the heavens yet knows us by name, and invites us to know Him too? Not on social media. Not through blogs or podcasts or heated debate, but from the inside out.

In the quiet hidden places of our heart.

He invites
We accept
He meets us there

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? 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 322

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

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

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

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

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?

5. What is your goodbye message to summer?

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Five Minutes of Support

Joining with Five Minute Friday today, where the rules are simple- write for five minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word. Link back to Five Minute Friday, and leave an encouraging comment for the person who linked before you.

Today's prompt-support

While we were not in the eye of hurricane Irma she did make her presence known around here. More so than expected I think, or maybe with all the weather reporting we were getting our area forecast simply hit my brain as white noise.

Nevertheless she was here.

In the grand scheme of things we had very minor stuff to deal with, a messy yard littered with hundreds or maybe thousands of sticks and branches, and no power for a couple of days. We love our electricity and don't do very well without it, do we?

Our power went out Monday evening and on Tuesday morning a friend called saying they'd hooked a generator up and would I like to bring over my frozen food and leave it for the duration to avoid spoilage. Yes please.

The worst of the wind and rain left our area on Tuesday so hubs and I got busy picking up sticks and debris. A neighbor down the street stopped by to see how we had fared and our next door neighbor phoned later to see if we needed anything.

Hubs and I went one town over in search of power and landed in Starbucks (naturally). It was packed with students as the local university had cancelled classes, and there were quite a few folks like us in search of a free outlet to charge devices. Everyone scooted in and moved over and passed cords under chairs to get connected. We got to know the man stuck in the corner beside us who, as it  happens, live in a neighborhood very close to ours. We exchanged contact info and made plans to meet for dinner soon.

We went out for dinner with friends that evening, and as we left the house hubs pulled the garage shut manually. When the power's out you do things the old fashioned way. A couple of hours later we pulled back into the driveway in the pitch black of night and much to our surprise the garage door was locked. Somehow when hubs closed the door he must have pulled it down just hard enough for the locking mechanism to kick in.

Which wouldn't normally be a problem but neither one of us had house keys. Oops.

We phoned the friends we'd just left and they said come on over and sleep in their guest room. They didn't have power either, but they did have a small generator and promised us an actual cup of coffee in the morning. Besides that hot cup of coffee they gave us toothbrushes and loaned us pjs and t-shirts for sleeping and we were so grateful.

On Wednesday we mentioned to another friend we were locked out of the house and her hubs came over and attempted to pick the lock. Apparently that's in his skill set-ha!, but our locks were too much even for him so we resorted to calling a professional. On the bright side, nobody's going to be breaking in here.

And now it's Friday, the sun is shining, we've had hot showers at home, done laundry, restocked the frig and carried on with life. We're not in an area where the cleanup will take months, where homes are gone and businesses demolished. Our little piece of the storm was an interruption to our daily routine, a frustrating few days, aggravating but certainly not devastating, and still the kindness and support we felt meant so much.

It's nice to have people worry about you. To do practical things like give you space in their freezer and a toothbrush from their cabinet. And I think about how everybody is just doing the best they can. Making their way through life, managing one storm or another.

How from time to time we all need someone to ask, 'are you okay?'