A Grand Hodgepodge

The Hodgepodge is back so grab your coffee and join the fun here on Wednesday mornings. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post then go say hey to your neighbor there. Here we go-  

1. Do you think intuition is as valuable as rational thinking? Explain why or why not. 

Probably a silly question because of course the world needs both. I do think mothers especially have a sense about their children that might be described as 'intuition', and they should not ignore that. I wrote a whole post about this a while back, which you can read in the link here-I Had A Feeling. 

2. In the grand scheme of things____________________________. 

...small acts of kindness and forgiveness mean a lot. 

3. Last place you went that felt like 'Grand Central Station'? Have you ever actually been to Grand Central Station (and by Grand Central Station I mean Grand Central Terminal)?

Hmmm...getting two toddlers out of the house and into car seats and then out of car seats and back into car seats and then back into the house can feel a little chaotic lol. 

I have been to Grand Central Terminal. The saying generally uses the terminology Grand Central Station, but New Yorkers will tell you that's incorrect.  Besides the trains running to and fro there are restaurants, shops, and even a self-guided audio tour (or at least there was pre-Covid). If you're in the city it's a fun place to wander, eat, and people watch. 

4. October 6 is National Noodle Day. What's your favorite dish made with noodles and have you made/eaten this dish lately? 

It's tough to pick a favorite but I'm going to say beef stroganoff. I have a fancy recipe, but also a crock pot recipe that's delicious and less labor intensive. It's more of a winter dish in our house. I also love spaghetti and made that while my grandsons were here last week. 

5. A time recently you had to really 'use your noodle'? Elaborate. 

I try to 'use my noodle' regularly to keep it in good working order-ha! I enjoy puzzles and word games and hope the hype about those activities keeping you mentally young is true. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had a fun full week with our grandsons so a post about that will be forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to hop over to the Garden and Gun Magazine link and vote for our pup who is currently (as I write this post) in 1st place in their good dog photo contest. I know many of you have been voting, and while it feels like the contest might never end, it will. Friday at 5 PM EST. 

You’ll find the voting link here-Garden and Gun

Thank you to the many who have gotten on board with the crazy way this has taken off and have made it so much unexpected fun. 

Hunley thanks you too.

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 436

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

1. Do you think intuition is as valuable as rational thinking? Explain why or why not. 

2. In the grand scheme of things____________________________. 

3. Last place you went that felt like 'Grand Central Station'? Have you ever actually been to Grand Central Station (and by Grand Central Station I mean Grand Central Terminal)? 

4. October 6 is National Noodle Day. What's your favorite dish made with noodles and have you made/eaten this dish lately? 

5. A time recently you had to really 'use your noodle'? Elaborate. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Autumn Leaves And Pumpkins Please

Let's start on a high happy note...the weather. It has been absolutely spectacular here these past few days and we've been soaking up the sunshine, low humidity, and still warm waters of the lake. Yes we are swimming in late September and early October looks promising too. 

I am not going to host a Wednesday Hodgepodge this week (Sept 29) because I plan to be busy entertaining the cutest little punkins in the world while their parents have a mini-holiday and attend a wedding in Charleston. They arrive tomorrow and we are planning all manner of fun while they're in the house. The Hodgepodge will be back to it's regular programming the week after (October 6). 

Can you believe it's October???

Well, almost October???

I bought a couple of small pumpkins today that I will let the boys paint and I've pulled out a few of my fall decorations too. I bought a couple of mums for my front porch but need to make another trip to the nursery so I can replace dead summer plant pots with the colors of fall. My favorite. 

I looked back through my photos to see how we've been filling the time, and I guess you might say we've spent it enjoying the little things.  

Cool mornings with a blanket on my lap, coffee cup in hand while the fire dances and the sun rises. Lots of in person time with friends and neighbors... college football watched and some hand wringing too, good books read, identifying planets in the night sky while the moon shines like a spotlight on the lake.  

Did I already tell you fall is my favorite? 

We have also pretty much devoted ourselves full time to keeping our pup in one of the top ten positions in the Garden and Gun Magazine dog photo contest. He has moved from no place, to ninth place, to currently 5th place out of a few thousand dogs, and he's still going strong. It has been a lot of fun and if you're one of the many who have voted we thank you. 

Also, keep voting because our competition never sleeps-ha! The link is here- Garden and Gun Good Dog Photo Contest link . If you haven't voted it's not too late...it's easy, free, and we've got to keep this momentum up until the 8th which means I'll probably mention it again (and again).  

I think this is the only magazine we still subscribe to because the aesthetic is lovely and every issue is full of delicious recipes, interesting places to go-see-do, and usually dogs, particularly the sporting breeds. If you love the south, southern food especially, the outdoor life, travel, music, and the sporting culture you would most likely enjoy it too. 

In other news, my niece is getting married in a couple of weeks and I am super excited not only for her big happy day, but also to have both girls and both of my sons-in-law on the same terra firma. Fun fact-my sons-in-law have never met one another in person because the stupid you-know-what prevented the South Korean contingent from attending Daughter2's wedding back in January. 

Another fun fact-my son-in-law (the recent groom) has never met Daughter1 in person (thank goodness for Facetime), or the cutest little men on the planet, aka his nephews, so we are all so excited... for the wedding, for family togetherness, for the beauty of fall, and for love all around. 

Happy fall y'all...may the beauty of the earth this time of year remind you that you're known and loved by the Maker and Creator of it all. 

A Hodgepodge of Fall Favorites

Welcome to Fall y'all! And welcome to 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 fall y'all! Officially that is and in the northern hemisphere only, so if you're visiting from down under happy spring! Does it feel like fall where you live? Does it look like fall aka are the leaves beginning to change? What is your favorite fall color? Scent? Flavor? 

Today it actually does feel a little like fall, mostly because it's been drizzling all morning and isn't 93 degrees outside. The leaves have not really begun to change, but the light has and that also makes the sky look like fall. We are not too far from the Blue Ridge Parkway and nearby mountains so I'm sure we'll see color there before long. 

My favorite fall color-burnt orange, scent-cinammon  flavor-cranberry

2. What's something you're not?

Mechanically inclined?

3. Share a favorite quote related to fall and tell us why it's a favorite. 

"The earth has music for those who listen." William Shakespeare  

Maybe not strictly in Autumn, but I do think especially in Autumn. 

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite fall meal? 

I love all the soups, stews, and chili on the menu this time of year, but my favorite is probably homemade vegetable beef. I especially love Paula Deen's recipe found here. I do not add all the salts she lists, but adjust to our personal taste. Definitely make it with the short ribs because they take the flavor to another level.  

5. Share a favorite photo you took last fall? 

Obviously I didn't take this picture, but I do love it. Hubs and I had taken the little red car for a spin up the nearby mountain road and it was glorious. We asked someone at the lookout to take our picture, November 2020. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I know this was my random thought last week, but y'all!...our pup has made it into the top twenty thanks to the persistent voting of friends and strangers so I'm sharing again in case you want to get in on the fun. The link for voting is here-Garden and Gun and voting is free. Voting runs until October 8th, and you can vote once an hour. 

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If There's A Birthday There's Gonna Be A Birthday Recap

My brother phoned last night and asked how I'd celebrated and I told him it was ongoing- ha! Truly I feel like it started last Wednesday and carried on through Monday. I took almost no pictures the entire weekend (week???) but if I had you would likely be seeing a lot of food shots. 

Last Wednesday my neighbor took me out to lunch. We've been like ships passing this last month and it was so nice to sit and catch up on all the goings on in our lives. Thursday evening hubs and I drove into the nearby big small town for dinner with our builder and his wife. We have remained friends and she is currently helping me with a slow re-do of my office space (eventually there might be pictures) but mostly we just enjoy one another's company and have a lot in common so a fun night. 

Friday I went to lunch with some college friends who live in roughly the same geography as I do. We were all in the same sorority way back when and can sometimes still act like we're 20 years old when we get together. Except now we also lament our failing eyesight, share in the joys of retirement life, catch up on the well-being of our aging parents, and vow to get together more often. 

If you've read here for a while you know hubs always makes sure there's cake, a specific cake that I love which is chocolate with a raspberry filling and a chocolate ganache poured over all.  This year he asked the baker to decorate with books and so besides being delicious it was super cute too. We invited the next door neighbors over to share and hubs and I might still be enjoying it one small sliver at a time. 

We haven't even gotten to my actual birthdate yet. 

Saturday! My birthday! Both my girls phoned and we facetimed with the grandboys who were very excited about their card...Nana Nana Bo Bana, Banna Fanna Fo Fana, Nana...so cute, especially when sung by an almost 2-year old. Course the card did not arrive until Monday and Daughter2's gift is still out there floating from place to place up and down the east coast and what in the world is going on with the mail anymore???

No matter, because I like my birthday to last lol. 

Hubs and I took a short day trip to the neighboring state of North Carolina and the charming little town of Brevard. I'd never been and everyone here loves it and it's just about an hour from us so not a bad drive. We parked on Main Street and meandered in and out of shops, finally having lunch at Rocky's before heading back home. 

I'd say the only negative to the visit there was all the mask on/mask off as you go in and out of shops. Most required masks and we live in SC where most do not and it was a lot of on/off on/off and raise your hand if you're past ready for it all to miraculously go away. 

Some neighbors had invited us over for an at-home tailgate party to watch the hometown team play Georgia Tech. The hometown team should have walloped them but instead eeked out a win by the skin of their teeth. There was also a pesky two hour delay mid-game due to lightning so we left early and watched to the bitter, nail-biting end at home. 

With birthday cake so not complaining. 

Sunday we went to church, then it was my week to deliver the sanctuary flowers to some folks unable to attend, then hubs and I had brunch followed by a ridiculously fabulous nap on the couch. Sundays don't get much better than that! 

And then on Monday morning I woke up to this-

What a grand and glorious way to begin a brand new year, wouldn't you say? 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 435

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

1. It's fall y'all! Officially that is and in the northern hemisphere only, so if you're visiting from down under happy spring! Does it feel like fall where you live? Does it look like fall aka are the leaves beginning to change? What is your favorite fall color? Scent? Flavor? 

2. What's something you're not? 

3. Share a favorite quote related to fall and tell us why it's a favorite. 

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite fall meal? 

5. Share a favorite photo you took last fall? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The Good Old Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday 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 before you. The link continues being contrary and wants to open in a new window. That works though, so keep calm and link on...here we go- 

1. How would you define 'old'? At what age is someone old? 

A complicated question, one even experts around the world cannot agree upon. I think life is essentially a three-parter...you're young, you're middle aged, you're old. The word old has negative connotations so we hesitate to say that out loud, but we don't live forever, nor do we stay young forever. 

I'm not sure I can put a number on old. I know vibrant, energetic, healthy 80-year old people and frail and fragile 60-year old people.  Old to me is linked to our mental and physical health and that's different for everyone. That being said 40 isn't old and 80 isn't young. 

2. A place you've been that's old? Tell us something about your visit there. 

What's old? Is 200 years old or is 1200 years old? I guess both are true. Even when you're talking buildings old is a relative term. 

I've been to so many old and interesting places (some would even be termed ancient) that it's hard to zero in on just one. I love an ancient castle, the ruins of an ancient castle, tell tale signs the Romans once stood where you are standing now, old churches and cathedrals and really just take me back to Europe please, pre-pandemic of course. I've also been to parts of Asia and loved seeing the beauty of the old world mixed with modern day there. 

                                                 12th century ramparts over Provins, France 2009

Athens, 2007

Okehampton Castle, Devon, UK 2008

built between 1068-1086

Yu Garden, Shanghai, 2012

completed in 1577

I could post a hundred pictures, but I'll stop at four. 

3. Something you miss about the 'good old days'? When were they anyway? 

In answering this question I had to remind myself there's good and bad in every decade. While there are things I might long for from days gone by, no era is all sunshine and roses. 

I'm going to say the 'good old days' were somewhere back before the Internet ruled the world. I appreciate the internet as much as the next person, but it's a different world we are living in with the universe at our fingertips. 

Things were simpler. Your car didn't run on a computer, your oven didn't run on a computer, you weren't available by phone-text-email 24/7, you didn't have to download an app to make a purchase or log in to your medical chart or remember what you changed the password to when your account was hacked..we knew how to wait and waiting is a lost art in the age of instant everything. 

4. In what way are you a 'chip off the old block'? Or if you'd rather, in what way is your child a 'chip off the old block'? 

I am my mother's daughter in so very many ways. If you want to know all the very many ways you can read the post I wrote for Mother's Day, 2017. The link is here-One Of These Things Is A Lot Like The Other.  

5. Old fashioned, Old Testament, old timer, same old same old, old glory, good old boy, old wives tale...choose an 'old' phrase that relates to something in your life or the wider world currently and explain. 

I was reading about some of the old wives tales related to aging and whether or not there was any truth to them. Can you tell I have a birthday coming up soon? We've all heard it said 'you're only as young as you feel' and apparently that one is mostly true. I mean there are candles on the cake regardless, but staying active, grateful and optimistic help us feel young at heart. 

Then there's the one that says if you pluck a gray hair out ten more will grow in it's place. I'm here to tell you the gray hair grows whether you pluck it or not. Experts say this one isn't true but add you may end up with thinning hair if you keep plucking, so do yourself a favor and don't. 

Finally, how about that old wives tale that says  smiling too much will give you wrinkles. Sadly this is true, but let's agree to smile anyway. Who wants to live to be 100 in a world where everybody's cranky? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our super sweet pup (Hunley) is currently entered in a good dog photo contest hosted by Garden and Gun Magazine. 

Voting is free and he appreciates the love. If you would like to vote you'll find the link here- Garden and Gun 

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