A Fearless 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. What motivates you to work hard?

Sometimes it's houseguests ha! I mean company coming kicks us in to gear in terms of having the house in order. For the record, my house is almost always in order, but company motivates me to dig a little deeper. 

In terms of projects I love a deadline and find having a list of tasks needed to meet that deadline motivating. 

Sometimes love motivates me to work hard. I want to accomplish something for another person and the idea of adding a bright spot or a bit of kindness to someone's day is motivating in its own way. 

2. It's been said "Ignorance is bliss"...is it? 

Well now that depends what we're talking about. I don't think we can stick our head in the sand about what's going on in the world today, but I won't be consumed by it either. If there's some element of a problem or situation I can control then ignorance is definitely not bliss.

In thinking a little more about this question I'm going to say that most of the time ignorance isn't bliss. Ignorance quite often turns what would have been a small manageable problem into a larger issue. 

3.Would you rather be stuck on a broken elevator or a broken ski lift? Explain. Have you ever actually been stuck on either? Of the common fears listed here what's your #1-

heights-enclosed spaces-snakes-public speaking-the dark-flying

I think a ski lift, as long as we're talking chair lift. If we're talking gondola then I'll take the elevator please. Thankfully I've never been stuck in either, but my hubs was stuck in an elevator several years ago. He was in a hotel in New Jersey and the lift stuck between the 6th and 7th floors for several hours. The fire department had to extract him lol. 

Actually it wasn't funny, but all's well that ends well. Also he was alone and was happy about that. 

Of the common fears listed enclosed spaces are my #1. 

Which is why I'd prefer the ski lift. 

4. What's something you like about the town or city where you live? 

I live in a small town and I guess the smallness is something I enjoy. I do love a city, but I love them the way I remember them, not so much the way they are now.  People in my small town are friendly, there's not a lot of traffic, and there's a lake in my backyard. Can't beat the view-

Tuesday morning sunrise

5. Life is too short to waste time on things that don't matter. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I made a chocolate-raspberry ice cream cake for dessert last weekend and it was so good. I used this recipe (foodandwine.com) and will definitely make it again. I did crush the raspberries when layering because biting into a whole frozen raspberry might ruin someone's night. And I forgot to take a picture but trust me, it's a keeper. 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 516

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

1. What motivates you to work hard?

2. It's been said "Ignorance is bliss"...is it? 

3.Would you rather be stuck on a broken elevator or a broken ski lift? Explain. Have you ever actually been stuck on either? Of the common fears listed here what's your #1-

heights-enclosed spaces-snakes-public speaking-the dark-flying

4. What's something you like about the town or city where you live? 

5. Life is too short to_________________________________. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

August Snaps

It's been all Hodgepodge and only Hodgepodge here for the past three weeks, so let's shift course and talk life lately. 

Or life for the past three weeks anyway. 

For starters we've been home. Can we just pause and give that sentence it's due, because it's a rare and welcome thing to have a block of time at home, especially late summer. 

We spent a relaxed Friday night one week floating with friends, sharing pizza on their dock, catching up on all their comings and goings, and savoring the sunset. 

One Saturday morning we took the little brown dog to a nearby waterfall, which meant a hike through the woods and lots of splashing in the stream. 

It was a beautiful day and we went early so had the falls practically to ourselves. 

Even though the falls are a mile and a half into the woods I think he smells them as soon as we get out of the car. 

He would run the whole way if we'd allow it, but there are rocks and narrow paths and we're not as nimble as a dog on the hunt lol. 

Hubs and I have taken the boat for a couple of sunset cruises on our own too, which is one of the best parts of lake life. 

This past weekend college friends came to town and that's always a favorite. One couple arrived Thursday evening and we went to a local wine bar for mussels and bubbly...

We came home and boated into the sunset (yes again!) because boating into the sun lowers your blood pressure like very few things can. 

Another couple arrived Friday around lunchtime and we floated the afternoon away before dinner was grilled and games were played. We laughed a lot and it felt so good to be with people who knew us when we were just becoming us. There are stories y'all. 

Saturday we boated to a nearby beach, had a delicious dinner in town at a local restaurant, then talked and laughed and listened to music and of course played more games. It was just a really fun, low-key weekend and we all enjoyed being together. 

And of course there's the other side of life always happening too... an extended family member in the hospital, a nagging sinus infection, a garage door repair, two dock lights that were taken out by lightning and in need of replacement, some little boat thingamajig that needs attention (at least we hope it's little!) and the on-going saga of the ice machine in my freezer that's not making ice and will get a second look by the repairman on Wednesday. Third look actually. 

Such is life and its the reason we need sunsets...a beautiful reminder at the end of the day that God has His hand on it all. 

A Cat-chy 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. August 8th is National Cat Day. Do you own a cat? Are you a 'cat person'? Your favorite 'famous' cat?

We're dog people here. I'm allergic to cats so have never owned one as a pet. Certain breeds seem to bother me more than others. When we visit family with cats they always clean thoroughly ahead of time, and keep their cats out of sight. 

My favorite cat?  Sylvester. My hubs does a great imitation too. 

2. Cat nap-copycat-scaredy cat-curiosity killed the cat-cat got your tongue-like herding cats...which cat phrase applies to your life in some way currently? Explain. 

Well I'm all about a cat nap so let's go with that one. 

3. What's your favorite or most- often-made one pot meal? 

I made a sheet pan dinner last night which is what inspired this question. My favorite one pot meal is homemade soup or chili. Those two dishes are also my most often made, and one of the things I love best about the changing seasons. It's almost soup time! 

4. What do you wish you'd placed in a time capsule fifteen years ago? 

My passport. It was chock-a block full of stamps and visas from so many fabulous travel destinations, not to mention the countless entries/exits to and from the UK recorded there. I loved getting my passport stamped and wish that was still a thing. The last foreign travel I did was South Korea in 2019, and they didn't stamp. Most destinations now create a digital record of your entry which isn't nearly as much fun. 

5. Your favorite hour of the day? Tell us why. 

The first one. As I've said here no less than a hundred times I am a big fan of the sunrise. I love early morning silence and the promise and possibility a new day brings. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Whatcha reading? My book club met yesterday and discussed the novel Honor by Thrity Umrigar. The subject matter is heavy, but everyone gave it a favorable review. Last month we read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, which I loved. The central characters are video game designers which sounds like the last thing I'd want to read about, but the writing and character development were superb. 

Other titles I've read recently and enjoyed include Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt, Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro, and Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Issacson (strap in because its heavy on detail and is not short...it is fascinating though). 

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 515

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. August 8th is National Cat Day. Do you own a cat? Are you a 'cat person'? Your favorite 'famous' cat?

2. Cat nap-copycat-scaredy cat-curiosity killed the cat-cat got your tongue-like herding cats...which cat phrase applies to your life in some way currently? Explain. 

3. What's your favorite or most- often-made one pot meal? 

4. What do you wish you'd placed in a time capsule fifteen years ago? 

5. Your favorite hour of the day? Tell us why. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Hodgepodge Homemade

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you because comments make the blog world go round. Here we go-

1. Hello August. What's one thing you're looking forward to this month? 

A weekend on the lake with friends, a few days with sweet baby J and his parents, and a concert in The Garden State. 

2. What are you doing to beat the heat right now? If you live in the southern hemisphere are you enjoying cooler temps or counting the days until summer? 

There's a lake in my backyard which helps a lot, but honestly it's been so humid this past week I've been more about the indoor a.c. 

3. How do you see the world? 

Currently, and I suppose always, something like a beautiful mess. It's God's masterpiece and we humans have mucked it up in so many ways. While my rose colored glasses become a bit more smudged with every passing news cycle I know God remains sovereign over all. 

I choose to focus on the natural beauty in the created world, kindnesses extended, simple pleasures, and the gift of new mercies every single morning. When things feel bleak I remind myself this earth is not my home. 

4. What food product do you think is better store bought than home made? How about something you refuse to buy because it is so much better homemade? 

Store bought? Mayonnaise. We live in the land of Duke's and if you've never had Duke's Mayonnaise you've been missing out. Homemade doesn't compare. 

Better homemade? Many things including most baked goods, but for some reason what popped into my head first was potato salad. It's not something we have often, but I made a big bowl for little guy's first birthday back in June and remembered why I never buy the deli kind. Homemade is the only way to go. 

For the record I am also not a big fan of jarred marinara and always make my own. Almost always. I will occasionally use a jar of Rao's in a recipe if I'm strapped for time, but I enjoy the process of slow cooking my own tomato sauce. 

5. Are you easy to get along with? 

Well I guess that depends who you ask lol. Still going to say yes, I'm easy to get along with. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Speaking of homemade...my daughter's mother-in-law recently brought me some of their garden grown eggplant. Fresh from the garden eggplant means it's time to make my once-a-summer treat of eggplant parmesan. 

I like to use Alex Guarnachelli's recipe (here) which, not gonna lie, is pretty labor intensive. It took me a good half a day to make, but was molto deliziozo!! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 514

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

1. Hello August. What's one thing you're looking forward to this month? 

2. What are you doing to beat the heat right now? If you live in the southern hemisphere are you enjoying cooler temps or counting the days until summer? 

3. How do you see the world? 

4. What's food product do you think is better store bought than home made? How about something you refuse to buy because it is so much better homemade? 

5. Are you easy to get along with? 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.