Good Grief, It's The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say hi to your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. Did you watch any coverage of the 9/11 services on Monday? How do you feel on this day some 22 years after the events occurred? Share more if you want to share more. 

We did watch coverage of the services and remembrance ceremonies. It still is just so incredibly sad and listening to the names read aloud and family members speak of their losses still makes me cry. When I think of the firefighters, police, and emergency responders especially I want to weep at their courage and their sacrifice. 

I think the day should be marked and am glad we don't just lower the flag and carry on. I think it's a disgrace the President wasn't at any of the sites on Monday, but he struggles so much these days to speak coherently perhaps its best he wasn't present. 

2. September 13th is National Peanut Day...do you like peanuts? Your favorite dish that contains peanuts? 

I do like peanuts. My favorite dish made with peanuts is a Thai chicken curry. 

3. Something you're currently 'nuts' about? 

Surprising no one here...grandbabies of course. 

4. Your favorite Peanuts character? There are several quizzes online if you're curious...I took two and got the same character for both so I'm sure they're accurate lol. (Click here for the link)

I got Charlie Brown and based on the quiz description it mostly fits...it says I'm an ambivert which I do think is true (both introverted and extroverted depending on my mood or the situation). 'Gentle, lovable, determined, and hopeful'...I'd like to think I'm all of those things. 'You mean well and care about your friends' -for sure! When it comes to failure you 'stay optimistic, press on, and cheer for your friends to keep on going.' Pretty accurate for a ridiculous online quiz. 

5. Tell us about a job you worked 'for peanuts'? 

Well I was a camp counselor for several summers and the actual pay was peanuts. The rewards though, were pure gold. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hubs and I went to a local small town apple festival over the weekend and yesterday I baked an apple pie. I followed a new recipe very carefully, even rechecking the instructions before putting it in the oven. Just as I was closing the door it I thought, 'hey I never put any sugar in the mix...was there sugar in the mix?'

Yes of course there was supposed to be sugar in the mix. I mean what's apple pie without sugar? So I went back and checked the ingredient list and there was indeed sugar mentioned, but adding it was nowhere in the recipe. I carefully peeled the top crust back, put most of the apples back in the bowl, added the sugar, and baked.  

Delish! Now bring on fall! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 519

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, the hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the world wide webbers. See you there!

1. Did you watch any coverage of the 9/11 services on Monday? How do you feel on this day some 22 years after the events occurred? Share more if you want to share more. 

2. September 13th is National Peanut Day...do you like peanuts? Your favorite dish that contains peanuts? 

3. Something you're currently 'nuts' about? 

4. Your favorite Peanuts character? There are several quizzes online if you're curious...I took two and got the same character for both so I'm sure it's accurate lol. (Click here for the link)

5. Tell us about a job you worked 'for peanuts'? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Birthday Wishes

It's birthday month in our house and today we're celebrating daughter2. Technically we celebrated her last weekend because we were all together. She shared a chocolate cake with her dad and uncle who've also marked a birthday in recent days-

My birthday is next week and I don't share-ha! I kid. 
Sort of. I'm a bit of a baby about my birthday. 

Wait!! This is about daughter2 and her birthday. I know her hubs will make the day extra special because this girl y'all, is an absolute star. She's funny and kind, smart and loyal, beautiful inside and out. A wonderful mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and friend, and I could not love her more. Truly. 

Daughter2 and her hubs will add a baby daughter to their family in just a few months time, and I pray this little girl brings to her momma's life all the joy her momma has brought to mine. 

Happy birthday daughter2! I'm not with you to add candles to a cake today, but here are 33 wishes from me to you for this coming year ...    

a healthy pregnancy and delivery
a little girl who's just like you
a light heart
a sense of optimism
peace
growth
deepening friendships
an awareness of God's amazing grace over your life
contentment 
humor

the courage of your convictions
new recipes
good books 
countless moments of laughter and joy with your precious children
sister time
momma time
porch sittin' time 
wisdom 
gentleness
good health
cake
music
beautiful vistas
more words written
small wonders observed
patience 
tender sibling bonding between your two littles
surprises of only the very best kind
a fun trip somewhere new
date nights
answered prayers
hours and hours spent unplugged 
and...
more love than your great big heart can hold 

xo
Momma 

A Bookish Hodgepodge

Welcome to another 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. It's National Read A Book Day...whatcha' reading? What's a book you want to read? 

I just started The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry, which is our book club selection for next month. I've always got more than one book going though, so I'm also reading The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell and Where Do We Go From Here by David Jeremiah. Hubs and I are listening to Follow Me To Hell: McNally's Texas Rangers whenever we're in the car, and I'm also listening to You Are Not Your Own by Alan Noble.  

What's a book I want to read? Obviously too many to name, but you can look for me on Goodreads if you want to see my list. 

2. Which is better...having high expectations or low expectations? Explain why. 

Hmmm...is this a trick question? It feels like a trick question. If you keep your expectations low you're probably not going to be disappointed. You're also going to miss out on the excitement and satisfaction that comes when your high expectations are set and met. As a parent and a teacher I set high expectations and found in general children/people rise to the level you set. Sure they disappoint you sometimes, but more often than not they meet or exceed my expectations and there is a great deal of joy to be found there. 

3. Serenity is________________________. 

A sense of calm, the ability to breathe-sleep-move through the day with a sense of untroubled purpose. 

4. What's  the most interesting thing in your purse or pocket right now? 

I found a duplo block in my bathrobe pocket this morning. Is that interesting?  

5. What helps you calm down? 

A nap, a pretty view, prayer, turning off the news/social media, walking away, and a cup of tea to name just a few. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Guess who's getting a baby SISTER!?

Grandbaby number 5 is joining the party in the first part of 2024. We've known for a while now, but daughter2 has only recently shared with folks outside her own family. We're all so excited!! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 518

The Hodgepodge is back and here are this week's questions. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the rest of the world wide webbers. See you there! 

1. It's National Read A Book Day...whatcha' reading? What's a book you want to read? 

2. Which is better...having high expectations or low expectations? Explain why. 

3. Serenity is________________________. 

4. What's  the most interesting thing in your purse or pocket right now? 

5. What helps you calm down? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Some Things On A Monday

Hello. Just a few bits of this and that on a Monday morning  afternoon. 

First things first...there won't be a Hodgepodge this week. I apologize for the late notice but it can't be helped. The Hodgepodge will be back next week (September!! 6th). 

We never know what a day will bring but I take comfort in knowing the One who does. 

My brother-in-law passed away, somewhat unexpectedly this past week and my whole family will be coming to town in a few days. My mom, siblings, my own girls ,and my grands will all make their way here to celebrate his life, share funny stories, and support my sister and niece especially. None of my family (except my sister who lives nearby) have met the two newest littles, and I know their sweet faces will bring a bit of cheer in the midst of all the sadness. 

Hubs and I were supposed to be traveling this week so we spent the weekend cancelling hotel, rental car, the kennel and, always a delight, the flights. It only took two days, three phone calls, and four agents to make it happen, but everyone was very nice and eventually we did manage to get those flights cancelled. 

Yesterday we were sitting on the dock waiting on a crazy, sudden, and might I add unpredicted storm to pass, when an enormous gust of wind swept through. Hubs stood up to grab something that was blowing away and when he did his chair literally blew off the dock and into the boat lift. The storm came out of nowhere and it was a doozy. In my efforts to be helpful I jumped up to grab hubs chair and my own chair tipped over. Unfortunately my phone was sitting on the arm of said chair and it was only after a few minutes we realized it had gone into the drink. 

The lake, but the weather was ka-razy so drink sounds more like the right word. 

We could have a diver come and try for retrieval, but this is not my first rodeo in terms of a phone taking the plunge, ahem, so we opted to just get new. 

And that's how I spent my Monday morning. 

What about you? 

Something's Fishy In The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. What's your earliest memory?

I don't know if it's my earliest, but it's definitely early. I must have been about five years old because I know which house we were living in when this happened.  I have a very clear memory of company in the house and we kids were upstairs in the bedroom I shared with my sister. We were playing records on our record player if that gives you an idea of the decade, and I had a lifesaver in my mouth. 

I accidentally snapped one of our records in half (it was Peter Pan) and was so distraught I inhaled the lifesaver which momentarily stuck in my throat. I quickly ran and hid in the closet which is where my parents found me a few minutes later. Still breathing lol. 

2. What's something about you today that the old you would find surprising? 

My hair color? 

3. Do you like to fish? Are you a fish eater? Favorite fish (to eat)? Favorite way to prepare fish? 

I do like to fish and I'm also a fish eater. My favorite is probably halibut but I cook salmon almost every week so that's a close second. My favorite way is blackened. Hubs normally grills our salmon on a cedar plank and that's yummy too. 

4. What's your biggest first world problem? 

Recently it would be the broken ice maker in my kitchen freezer. It took about three weeks and three visits from the repairman to finally get it fixed.  It was so annoying, and very very first world. 

5. What one word would you use to describe your year thus far? 

Patchwork

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Spent the weekend with sweet baby J and we had lunch on Monday at Nic and Normans in the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Nic and Normans is owned in part by Norman Reedus from the show The Walking Dead and Greg Nicotera a special effects makeup artist, produceer, and director on that same show. 

 Last time I was at the Choo Choo was for a sorority formal in 1980. 

None of these people were with me lol. 

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