Still Finding Sweetness

Earlier this summer I wrote a summertime sweetness post, and then another, and today there's another. In this season like no other it's good to seek out beauty, to notice the small things, and to feel grateful. Here's a few things on my list today-

A scrunchy faced baby boy who makes my heart soar from an ocean away-

photo cred: sincerely shannon 

Weekends. We like to say when you're retired everyday is the weekend, and it kind of is, but somehow they still manage to feel like an exhale when an exhale is needed. We finally had a full weekend of gorgeous summertime weather and spent all day Saturday out of doors.

My sister and brother-in-law and my niece and her fiance came for a late morning brunch on the patio and it was fun to catch up in person after months of not catching up in person.

These adorable cousins are both brides-to-be, and it's so much fun to be in this planning season together.

Normally we come and go a lot round here, but one of the blessings of not coming and going is all our plants are getting lots of tlc and it shows. They're blooming and thriving in a time when life feels the opposite.

We've tried to get a mandevilla to climb this little trellis several summers in a row and it seems 2020 is her year. She has been showing off all summer and it makes me so happy to step out on my deck and see her bright pink blooms.

Hubs superhot chili pepper plant is loaded and nearly ready for picking too.

Nothing sweeter than a summertime 'mater samich with a side of Duke's.

If you could read that and were nodding your head, you might be from the southland.

The lake is always a little busier on the weekends so we try to save our boating for later in the day on Saturdays. Sunset cruises are my favorite anyway, and I love watching the sky change as clouds move about and the sun sinks low-

Sunday afternoon we hit the neighborhood pool for a swim and had the place pretty much to ourselves.

My book is good. Ha! The Huntress by Kate Quinn. Bonus, someone has been crafty during this time of #stayhome and left sweet reminders all around the neighborhood. We found this one at the pool.

This morning I was up before the birds and the mowers and the buzz of ordinary Monday morning life and I took a deep breath of quiet stillness to help carry me into a somewhat busy week.

Busy for us retirees anyway.

Which in the scheme of things is not all that busy, but there are more than a few things on the calendar so it feels busy-ish.

Hope you found the sweetness of summer in your weekend too!

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?

The Gift Of A Mother

If you're here for the Hodgepodge you'll find that post by clicking here. 

Today my mother celebrates a milestone birthday. Except because of you know what she's in New Jersey and I'm in South Carolina many many miles away. Boo.

But!! One of the many wonderful things about mothers is they're always close in heart. She'll be well celebrated by my sibs who live nearby, but since she loves to read my blog it seems only right I add something here too.

Without mentioning her actual age (she would not like that at all) here's a list of oh, let's just pick a random number...say 90 things I know-love-appreciate about my mom.

1. she was raised in New Mexico
2. but there's a little bit o' Jersey in her too
3. she's smart
4. still a beauty
5. with a great smile 
6. she loves Jesus
7. taught us to love Him too
8. she took us to church
9. said grace before meals
10. studied her Bible
11. studies it still 
12. knows scripture from memory 
13. loves books
14. especially mysteries
15. and novels set in England
16. she read to us when we were small 
17. and also when we were too big for her lap
18. she's a little bit shy
19. loves words 
20. is an excellent cook
21. taught us all to cook
22. baked Christmas cookies by the hundreds
23. tells a plant to grow and it does 
24. presses a tablecloth to perfection
25. cut out all the paperdoll clothes without snipping off any of the tabs
26. bought a dress for my favorite doll every Christmas
27. bought dresses for my real life daughters every Christmas 
28. brushed out all my tangles
29. listened to all my worries
30. listens to them still
31. prayed for me
32. prays for me still 
33. raised four children
34. is Mema extraordinaire to four grands
35. great-gran to my daughter's darling boys
36. was a caring sister
37. a loving daughter
38. a devoted military wife
39. moved like a boss umpteen times
40. learned to sew
41. do needlework
42. has an artists' eye
43. arranges flowers like a pro
44. started a church library
45. taught Sunday School to young married couples
46. could speak Spanish
47. volunteered in lots of ways
48. kept a super clean house
49. manages a large home still
50. makes the best pan of enchiladas anywhere
51. was a librarian
52. is a good neighbor
53. loves to shop
54. has great style 
55. a perfect complexion
56. she collects angels
57. loves chocolate
58. eating out
59. traveling
60. she set a good example
61. rocked my babies
62. never didn't have time to drop everything and play pretend
63. loved my little girls with all her heart
64. still loves my girls with all her heart 
65. has trouble saying no to my girls
66. really has trouble saying no to my nephew, her only grandson
67. she cried when our dog died
68. solves difficult crossword puzzles
69. is independent
70. determined
71. capable
72. generous
73. loves a cup of tea
74. pretty teapots too
75. ties beautiful bows
76. always did Christmas up big
77. chooses gifts with tender loving care
78. wraps gifts with that same care
79. hung tinsel one single strand at a time
80. sent us to camp
81. loves games
82. hates to lose at games 
83. still plays in her neighborhood bridge club
84. made me feel safe 
85. is always happy to see me
86. talk to me
87. spend time with me
88. is loved beyond measure
89. a part of myself
90. her children call her blessed

...and feel grateful to have grown up and older with a mother like ours.

Happy birthday Mom! We all love you BIG xo

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.

'Merica 2020

Happy July 4th! I know I'm a couple of days late, but it's never too late to mention Independence Day in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

We're still that, in spite of all the messaging out there currently.

I'm a bit weary of it to be honest. Weary of the complaining and the nit picking and the nastiness. The steady stream of fault finding and blame/shame and most of all the thought police who tell us loving our country is wrong.

America is an imperfect place full of imperfect people. She was founded by imperfect people too, people doing what they felt was right given the times in which they lived. Making mistakes, failing in a lot of ways, but also gettting a whole lot right because here we are more than 240+ years later and America still stands, still brims with opportunity, diversity, and a long long list of freedoms so many people around the world can only dream of.

A long time ago, before the internet, television, or even the telephone, courageous men and women envisioned something beautiful and set the wheels in motion to birth a nation.

The wheels are still turning and we're not there yet, but we have come a long long way.

If this country were my children I'd send them to their room to write a list of all the good and hopeful things to be found in America. I'd make them read it every morning as a reminder that gratitude is a habit just like complaining, but it's gratitude that softens hearts while complaining makes us bitter.

Are there things in this nation worthy of real complaint? Absolutely. But those very real issues are lost in the noise and chaos of so much that is not. Somewhere along the way we adopted an 'everybody get out there and change the world and be loud about it' sort of mantra. And p.s. if you're not you don't count.

Maybe we need to stop aiming for the whole world?

This is planet Earth not heaven, and I for one wish we could each strive to bring peace, forgiveness, and kindness to our own little corner of it. America is a beauty. Flawed and free. Pained and  passionate. Imperfect, impatient, strong and generous. She is not just one thing. She is not an either or.

America is a mixed bag of people, emotion, imagination, wit, brains, skill and heart.
'May God shed His grace on Thee....'

It's A Grand Ol' Hodgepodge

Welcome to 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 the blogger linking before you. Here we go-

1. Are you currently making plans of any kind? What kind? What emotions are associated with the planning process? Tell us about one plan you had to cancel due to the current situation which shall remain nameless. Ha!

As far as current planning goes we're trying to make some wedding plans for Daughter2 and her groom. How does it feel? A wee bit complicated. Also exciting, joyful, overwhelming, and fabulous. Taking it in small chunks and making the best decisions we can with the information we have at hand which, quite honestly, is conflicting depending on who what when where the information comes from.  

On a smaller scale, we're trying to make plans to see my sister in a couple of weeks and praying everyone stays well in the meantime. 

One plan we were forced to cancel due to you know what was a birthday luncheon celebration for my mom in N.J. She has done so well during this crazy at home time and I'm so sad we're not going to be able to mark her big day as we'd hoped. Still, my brother and younger sister live in her neck of the woods, and will have a small outdoor party for just the six of them, and no matter where we are in the world she's still my mama and I thank God every day for giving her to me. Me to her? Either way, I'm truly grateful for the way she has loved, supported, and prayed for me all of my life.

2. Last time you saw stars, either literally or figuratively?

Literally seeing stars would be pretty recently. Hubs and I like to sit on our covered deck in the dark of night and star gaze. Figuratively? Hmmm...the thing that came to mind immediately was my mishap with the step ladder a couple of summers ago where my foot slipped causing the ladder to collapse. I came down with a bang on my rib cage and definitely saw a few stars.  

3. Blueberries yay or nay? Blueberry pie, blueberry muffins, blueberry yogurt, blueberry pancakes, or blueberries by the handful...what's your pleasure?

Blueberries are my favorite berry so yes please! Of the choices given I'd go for the pie or just blueberries by the handful. 

4. swim against the tide, swimming upstream, in the swim, sink or swim, makes your head swim...choose one of the 'swim' idioms listed and tell us how/why you relate?

Let's go with makes my head swim. 'Merica. No explaination needed is there? 

5. Sum up your June in a single sentence.

Young love, old love, longer days, shorter fuses, riots, cruelty, self-centered humans and a God who loves us in spite of ourselves. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

If June were a picture. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 375

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

1. Are you currently making plans of any kind? What kind? What emotions are associated with the planning process? Tell us about one plan you had to cancel due to the current situation which shall remain nameless. Ha!

2. Last time you saw stars, either literally or figuratively?

3. Blueberries yay or nay? Blueberry pie, blueberry muffins, blueberry yogurt, blueberries by the handful...what's your pleasure?

4. swim against the tide, swimming upstream, in the swim, sink or swim, makes your head swim...choose one of the 'swim' idioms listed and tell us how/why you relate?

5. Sum up your June in a single sentence.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.