Traveling Into The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another week of Wednesday Hodgepodging. If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post, then fly over and leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Thanks for writing along today... 

 

1. Just your weekly mid-week reminder that it's fall y'all and it's my favorite. I love nearly all the flavors of fall but let's weigh in with an either or today...pumpkin or cranberry? hot apple cider or pumpkin spice latte? cinnamon or maple? apple or pear? ginger or sage? carrot or butternut squash? Yes you have to choose. What's a favorite dish made with one of the flavors listed here? 

I wouldn't say no to any of these flavors, they are some of my favorites no matter the season. Since I have to choose I'm going to say cranberry, hot apple cider, cinnamon, apple and pear (sorry, can't choose), ginger, carrot and butternut squash (again because I cannot choose).  

A favorite dish made with one of these? Homemade apple pie, butternut squash soup, cranberry bread, and I'll have my sushi with a side of pickled ginger please, because that's the best part. 

2. Do you miss traveling? In this season of almost no travel do you think you've grown anxious or fearful about traveling again? Or has all this staying home not going anywhere made you restless to get out and see the world? What book have you read or what movie have you watched that has inspired you to travel? 

I do miss traveling. Or maybe I miss having the ability to travel. I'm eager to plan a trip somewhere I've never been, and if we weren't sticking close to home I'm sure hubs and I would have made another trip to Asia this year. I'm not anxious about traveling, just a little anxious about when everything will open up so travel can be truly enjoyable again. We could get in the car and go somewhere right now, but if I'm going somewhere new I want the locals around and things to be open and not so strange. 

A book or movie that inspires me to travel? Anything set in the French countryside....A Year in Provence, The Nightingale, Suite Francaise...also anything set in the English countryside or London or England. Basically anything England. Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Notes From A Small Island...anything by Kate Atkinson or Kate Morton. 

As far as films go I'll say Under The Tuscan Sun. Didn't everyone want to buy a fixer upper in the Italian countryside after they watched this one? 

3. A time you felt like you were 'flying by the seat of your pants'? Explain. 

Any time I blog. That phrase pretty much sums up the way I write. 

4. Do you struggle with road rage or are you more of a 'Sunday driver'? Do you like to be 'in the driver's seat (literally and/or figuratively speaking) ?

No I don't struggle with road rage. Like anyone I can become irritated while driving (I'm looking now at you people poking along in the passing lane!), but life is rarely an emergency. Also, I'm someone who allows plenty of time to get where I'm going since I hate feeling stressed by the journey so I typically don't need to rush anywhere. 

Literally speaking I'm okay in either seat, but if we're speaking figuratively I want to drive. 

5. Something you've recently 'put the brakes on'? 

I know I sound like a broken record, but time spent on social media. Talk about road rage! What's the online equivalent of that phrase? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We met up with Daughter2's soon-to-be in-laws Monday afternoon for a tasting of the rehearsal dinner menu. It was fabulous. It might not look like it in this picture, but there was a lot of food to go with all that wine tasting-teehee. 

I'm so grateful both of my girls have such genuinely nice in-laws. It certainly takes some of the stress out of married life. 

Hodgepodge Questions Volume 391

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. Just your weekly mid-week reminder that it's fall y'all and it's my favorite. I love nearly all the flavors of fall but let's weigh in with an either or today...pumpkin or cranberry? hot apple cider or pumpkin spice latte? cinammon or maple? apple or pear? ginger or sage? carrot or butternut squash? Yes you have to choose. What's a favorite dish made with one of the flavors listed here? 

2. Do you miss traveling? In this season of almost no travel do you think you've grown anxious or fearful about traveling again? Or has all this staying home not going anywhere made you restless to get out and see the world? What book have you read or what movie have you watched that has inspired you to travel? 

3. A time you felt like you were 'flying by the seat of your pants'? Explain. 

4. Do you struggle with road rage or are you more of a 'Sunday driver'? Do you like to be 'in the driver's seat (literally and/or figuratively speaking) ?

5. Something you've recently 'put the brakes on'? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The Sweetness of Autumn

I think in the age of Corona and conflict and crazy political ranting we have to really look for life's sweetness. It's still there, but you have to step over a lot of dooty to find it. 

Question-does anyone above the age of three use the term dooty? 

My girls will say no. 

Anyhoo here we are on this sunshiny Monday morning where the air is cool and the sky is blue and the leaves are tinged with gold and that right there is pretty sweet. Embrace it. There is a sense of melancholy that rolls in this time of year but I don't hate it. Cozy follows close behind. 

This is cozy and also super sweet.

And NO, the pup is not allowed on the furniture ahem.

My grandson yelling 'Hey Nana!' when we're on Facetime is pretty much the sweetest thing ever. I literally feel my heart dissolve into a puddle inside my chest. 

Baby brother (who still needs a blog name) turns one this month and he is handsome and loud and walking and throwing and clapping with delight and is just the sweetest little almost one year old I know. 

The geographical distance between us is not so sweet, but we see what we choose to see and today I'm looking for silver linings. 

Want to know what else is really sweet?

This beautiful bride who was celebrated on Saturday by some of the groom's family and friends. 

The shower was small because that's the world we live in currently, and was in a private room with plenty of space for the same reason, and everyone turned up wearing a mask because again weird times, but still it was completely lovely.  

We enjoyed every minute including the almost three hour drive there and back because my sister and niece (who is also a bride-to-be) rode with us and we were long overdue for an in -person catch up. 

The weather could not have been more fabulous and there was a delicious lunch, yummy mimosas, fun gifts, marriage advice, and a beaming bride who is loved far more than words can say. 

Everyday we have a choice. Look at this not that. Think about this not that. Focus on this not that. Wedding planning in a season where the rules change on what feels like an almost daily basis is not a simple thing. But love is in the air and all around too and we are keeping our eyes and our minds on this not that. 

Life is sweet and sure it's salty too, but on this gorgeous Monday in October I choose sweet.

Having One's Cake and Hodgepodge Too

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Grab your coffee and some cake to go with, because it is national dessert day and it's also 2020...aka the year in which cake for breakfast is a very good idea. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, and before you hurry off be sure to leave a comment for the blogger who linked before you. Here we go-

1. Let's start things off right...Wednesday is National Dessert Day. What are we having? How often do you make/serve dessert? Store bought or from scratch?

Finally a National Day I'm on board with! When dining out I almost always look at the dessert offerings first and plan my entree accordingly. What can I say? I'm a fan of dessert. Wait, I'm going to amend that to say I'm not a fan of just so-so desserts. I won't eat store bought cookies just to have something sweet at the end of a meal, but if you give me a truly delicious, perfectly concocoted, perfectly baked, perfectly set dessert I'm a happy camper. Also, make it pretty. Pretty is good. 

What are we having tonite? Nothing. I mean I'm not having dessert today because dessert is not an everyday thing here. Hubs will likely have a bowl of ice cream because that's his favorite, but I save my sugar consumption for occasions. Dining out definitely counts as an occasion. 

fyi-the month of September was chock a block full of special desserts which is why October needs to be dessert-lite. There's a dress I need to wear in the not too distant future and too much dessert might spoil that. And I am all about from scratch but if it's a really scrumptious store bought treat I won't say no. 

Apparently I could have written a blog post sharing my thoughts on dessert. I kinda did. 

2. Slow as molasses, icing on the cake, that's the way the cookie crumbles, have your cake and eat it too, half-baked idea, that takes the cake...which phrase might be applied to something in your life in recent days? Explain. 

We had a wonderful lunch with a spectacular view on a gorgeous blue sky day where the service was s-l-o-w as molasses. When anything in my world is not moving as fast as I think it should I feel like God is telling me to chill. So I do. Mostly. 

3. Something that's 'easy as pie' for you to do?

Answer the Hodgepodge of course. I mean I do write the questions-ha! 

4. Are you someone who likes to 'sugarcoat' news you think might not be well received, or are you more of a tell it like it is and let the chips fall where they may? Do you like to receive your news the same way you give it? 

Pour a little sugar on it please. Find some tiny sliver of good in whatever bad you need to tell me because I'm going to set my mind on that. I give and receive the same way. Blunt is not my love language. 

5. Something you did recently that made you feel like a 'smart cookie'? 

I've had to figure out a fair amount of technology lately and with a wonky computer to boot. Anytime I accomplish even the smallest of tasks I feel like someone should give me a high five. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Are you watching or listening to any of the Supreme Court confirmation hearings? I don't care which side of the political fence you land on (and please no need to tell me or explain why these hearings should or should not be happening) but Amy Coney Barrett is one smart cookie. She's enduring hours and days of questioning without a single book, note, or index card in front of her. It's both remarkable and impressive. 

I can't remember what was on the grocery list I wrote ten minutes prior to leaving the house. 

She clearly and articulately (and I might add with great patience and restraint) recalls details of a long list of court cases, written decisions and opinions, the precise wording of our constitution, and the rule of law like it ain't no thing. I so admire her intelligence, poise, and grace under pressure and I do hope students are watching.

Hodgepodge Questions Volume 390

It's time for another edition of the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. Let's start things off right...Wednesday is National Dessert Day. What are we having? How often do you  make/serve dessert? Store bought or from scratch? 

2. Slow as molasses, icing on the cake, that's the way the cookie crumbles, have your cake and eat it too, half-baked idea, that takes the cake...which phrase might be applied to something in your life in recent days? Explain. 

3. Something that's 'easy as pie' for you to do?

4. Are you someone who likes to 'sugarcoat' news you think might not be well received, or are you more of a tell it like it is and let the chips fall where they may? Do you like to receive your news the same way you give it? 

5. Something you did recently that made you feel like a 'smart cookie'? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

About That Birthday And Also Life Lately

So it's been a while since I last blogged about anything interesting. Other than the Hodgepodge I mean, which let's be honest, is always fun but not always that interesting. I have good intentions to blog regularly and have several posts composed in my head, but lately they don't seem to make it on to the page. 

I want to write about turning a big number, but maybe it's too soon. Maybe I need to be this age for a while and see how it goes? I do know as a kid the age I am currently sounded positively ancient, and while 60 may not be the new forty it's not the old 60 either. 

It wasn't that long ago 60 year old women wore stockings every single day, 'put their face on' before breakfast, had their hair done weekly at the local beauty parlor and cooked three squares a day forever and ever amen. They did not carry personalized water bottles or walk around in yoga pants. In fact they didn't do yoga. 

My mom was the 'new 60' when she was my age. (That sentence makes sense in my head) Fun fact, my mom started jogging in her 40's which might not sound like a big deal now, but back in 1970 it was unusual for a mom in the 'burbs who'd never been particularly athletic to suddenly start jogging. 

I'd forgotten about 'the running years' but a family friend reminded me of it recently and my mom and I had a little giggle about it. She told me she hated jogging but my brother the runner talked her into it, so she gave it a try. 

Is this what I wanted to blog about today? Is it interesting? Does anyone else feel like one day is longer than the next here lately? I'm wondering if that's due to my new age, the exhausting insanity known as American politics, or the virus and  2020 in general? 

I choose d-all of the above. 

I'm tired of people on the internet telling me how to vote and what to think.

Just throwing that out there. 

In happier news we've had some gorgeous weather this month which I appreciate. Sunny skies and low humidity make it easier to exhale. I feel like we all need a big exhale, don't you? 

My mother-in-law was here for a few days this past week so cue the photo dump.

We boated to lunch one day-

Motored into the setting sun one evening-

                   

And took the back roads to lunch at a nearby 'farm'. 

Mostly it's about the view here. The food was very good, but they did not have a handle on managing the queuing and the ordering and that area definitely needed a little managing. It was the kind of thing that causes me to plant my feet firmly on the floor so I'm not tempted to run behind the counter and sort it all out for them. 

Which really would have been so simple, but also rude so I refrained. Plus the view here reminds me we don't need to get worked up about life's every little annoyance. 

You might have noticed hubs has not had a haircut since pre-Corona. This is way out of the box for him, but ten months later and I'm thinking this might be the new box? I guess in this strange season we find joy where we can. 

Fun fact-if you grow up a redhead and turn gray as an adult you look as blonde as a California surfer boy. Also not so fun fact-if you grow up brunette and turn gray you just look older than you would like so you let your hairdresser work her magic and make it look sort of sun kissed. teehee.  He says he'll cut it before the wedding, but we shall see. 

Did you remember that we have a wedding coming up in not too many months? And the bride's sister-best friend-kindred spirit-this bride can't get married without her by her side- is still living in South Korea? Yeah. Not losing any sleep over that at all. I know the world's a mess and there are far bigger problems, crises, disappointments and inconveniences pummeling us on a daily basis, but if you're a praying person and want to add our wedding travel logistics to your list I'd be grateful. 

And now I'm remembering why I haven't blogged a whole lot lately-ha! 

Playing Nice In The Wednesday 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 linking before you. Or all the bloggers linking here today.  Let's go-

1. What's one part of your everyday routine you'd be better off without? 

Facebook. It used to be a much looked forward to part of my everyday routine, but other than linking my blog and sending birthday greetings I am rarely there these days. I won't yammer on about why because surely everyone can agree it's not the congenial little corner of the Internet it once was. 

2. October 5th is/was National Do Something Nice Day. So what did you/will you do? 

I baked peanut butter cookies. Does that count? Hubs would say yes. He brought his mom over from Tennessee yesterday (Monday) and what should have been a 3-hour drive took them five. Ugh! Peanut butter cookies fresh from the oven made his day. 

3. What question do you hate to answer? 

These days pretty much anything relating to politics. So much hate and judgement out there. 

4. Do we have control over technology or does it have control over us. In that same vein, have you watched The Social Dilemma (available on Netflix) and if so what did you think? 

Y'all.  If you have not watched this documentary you need to, particularly if you're a parent. Prior to watching it I might have answered this question differently, but since I have seen the program I'm going to say technology does control us, and it controls us in ways we might not have considered. Unless you're off the grid, but of course if you're here reading this blog I suspect you're not off the grid. teehee. 

5. What are three small things that make your day better? 

that first cup of steaming hot coffee, a cloudless blue sky, dinner plans

6. Insert your own random thought here.

As much as I hated to say farewell to my beautiful geraniums that bloomed all summer long, these huge mums were too pretty not to buy.

And if you give a porch a mum you need to add a pumpkin. And a pansy. And maybe a baby pumpkin and also a white pumpkin and then another mum in a different color. Did I tell you I love fall?